Finding Jacques's door, she hesitantly held her hand for a moment, biting her lip before taking a deep breath and knocked firmly on it for a few moments, waiting, and then sighed softly as there was no answer, and she turned around, starting to walk away when she heard Jacques' voice whisper in surprise from another door, "Sia?".
She looked over to see Jacques looking at her, closing the door to Vinny's room, and she widened her eyes as she was stupid not to realize that Vinny would want some reassurance and all from his papa, and she stammered, "I'm sorry to intrude, Jacques...You better get back to your son if he's still up.", starting to leave.
"No... he's obviously old enough to understand...", Jacques said as he took a deep breath. "We... we obviously have things to talk about...". She nodded in agreement, "Kida and Milo... they, in a way, sort of set this tidal wave going, in a matter of speaking...", as she rubbed her arm.
Jacques exhaled, looking at his door and then down the hallway, and seemed to make a decision before replying, "There's a window seat in my bedroom, do you wish to take a little break from walking all this way?".
Sia smiled softly, "I'd love to, if it's very much okay with you...I don't want to trespass too much on your privacy...", with a little sigh.
"You gave me and Vinny our own guest bedrooms and all...It's fairer that I could offer my hospitality to you, Sia.", Jacques replied gently, and then walked over to his door, opening it with a gesture, "Milady.".
Sia had a little blush on her cheeks as she thanked him, and entered his guest bedroom, heading straightforward to the window seat upon the open-air window that is looking over the back gardens and ponds as she sat down, looking at Jacques as he sat across from her, "I hope this room has been to your liking. I thought you'd appreciate a bit of nature after being on the road and in the war up there...".
"It's been a long while since I truly could sleep relaxed...", Jacques admitted. "Back in France, with the Germans occupation to the north; sleep is almost a rarity for folks like me, wondering if the Gestapo is planning on paying a visit that night...". He took a deep breath, "We've tried to resist, but sadly, the resistance is all disorganized; too many factions wanting to vie for leadership, the communists, the leftists, the nationalists who ironically would be aligned with the Germans but their fervor for France amazingly outweighs it.".
Sia curiously asked, "Sounds like it's very complicated...What would they describe you as?", and Jacques replied, "A leftist, for sure...I want social equality for all, to have woman to keep the same rights as men, and blacks not to be treated as inferior people, and to have all people across social classes to be seen as the same, not poor or rich, but people to share common beliefs and such.".
"That sounds like a wonderful goal, Jacques.", Sia smiled warmly, and Jacques smiled, "Thank you, Sia...I'm a bit more conflicted now than before...I want to go back and help stop the war somehow, even if it's putting explosions in enemies' camps and helping my people resist, yet I want to stay here, to see Vinny happily growing up in a safe and incredible place, to get to know you, and be there to be a shoulder for you to cry on...I lost people...My mother died when I was young, and my father died shortly before I signed up to fight in the war a few years ago..", with a heavy sigh.
"I know it sounds selfish...", Sia admitted. "But I would very much want you to say... to not have to leave... but I know I ask too much of you, you'd never feel right so long as your people still remained enslaved...".
Jacques reached out to grasp her hand gently, "Hey...I'm glad you admitted that...It means that you have a good heart, Sia...And I'd really want to say that, but I'd feel so much better about you keeping an eye over Vinny for me, just for a while, and yes, I know that'd mean maybe a few years if this war is much like the previous war...Yet I'd return back to you and Vinny the first minute once the war ends, that I can promise...".
Sia smiled tearfully, "Oh, Jacques...I said it before, I'll say it again. I promise to look after Vinny as if he's our son...And I will not push you into anything those few days of freedom before you have to leave, including...making you feel guilty if you leave me as a mate...".
"Sia... you could never make me feel guilty...", Jacques said as he gently placed his hand onto her cheek as he slowly caressed it.
Sia sighed softly, leaning her cheek into his hand, looking at Jacques, speaking softly, "How much have you gathered to understand what a mate is?", knowing that Jacques is both an observational man, yet also a man of action as well.
"Well, from what I understand, a mate is a bit more than just a lover, and it gives each other an understanding, like they know each other so easily after many decades of life together...And that only they are called mates after...becoming as one, unmarried or married either way.", Jacques replied thoughtfully and quietly.
Sia gave a soft smile, "You'd be right, and for the understanding between mates...it's a much personal given and received gift when they became one the moment that they do...But to know if someone's your destined mate...they get visions of the person, shortly after puberty, or far into the prime of a young adult...I got the latter part...".
Jacques froze up for a moment when he heard that. "Y... you saw me? Before we even came here?", he asked as she nodded, "Yes... it might be one of those little differences between my people and of you on the surface, but that is correct. I sort of knew who you were before we actually first laid eyes on each other.".
"So...the scrolls and stories you tried to read in French and other languages...It was because of me?", Jacques exhaled in surprise, and Sia smiled shyly, "I was really curious to know what the Old World was...And when I saw you in my visions, speaking French occasionally, with those modern clothes and having the ability to create explosions of fire with passion in your eyes...I wanted to know you better through the stories and all in your language...".
Jacques then chuckled wryly, "You didn't realize that the stories were technically outdated and farfetched sometimes...", and Sia blushed so red, and Jacques smiled, "Again, it wasn't your fault for thinking that...And...I saw you too before I technically touched the ground in the air pocket...I thought it was a daydream or something...".
Sia widened her eyes, whispering, "That's why you didn't react rashly even if I had my weapon lowered at the moment...I thought I was the only one envisioning on my own since you weren't a Atlantean...".
"I'm glad I didn't, Sia, as you were really so kind to heal me, and you adored Vinny strangely enough...", Jacques smiled, and Sia blushed warmly, "How couldn't I? You were even more handsome when you endear Vinny as your son, and seeing Vinny as a mischievous, happy, stubborn, smart, and bright-eyed sweetheart, even if he thinks that he's not a child anymore, and he's purely adorable when he calls you Papa and listens to your teaching moments, I'm glad I have room for more than just family in my heart.".
Jacques laughed warmly, "He sure is one of those people that brightens up any day...And to hear that you already saw him as part of...well, this package, and accepted us together...The surface doesn't do well with single parents who's trying their best with their kids with no father or mother in the picture, though they are trying.".
"That is not right...If a Atlantean dies on the hunts or from something else, leaving their mate and children, that mate gets help every day by both families of the mates, to aid in the raising of the children and even live in the same household if needed.", Sia explained as she sighed, "There were a few distant aunts and an adult cousin when we were young. As we grew up to be able to take care of ourselves, our aunts and cousin either became residents of the palace, due to a royal job or left the palace to be regular citizens.".
"Are they still around?", Jacques asked. "I mean, with how long living your people are at least... unless that's more of just a royal sort of thing with how long you can live compared to the other people.".
"Oh, no, we all live a very long, long time, it varies little, and only hunting accidents, fishing accidents, drowning accidents are the only things, next to old age and unable to keep up with the people...Only my adult cousin lives on...My father...he was the oldest of all the elders...", Sia began to choke up, tears falling down her cheeks.
Jacques shuffled closer, and gently wraps his arms around her as she collapses into his chest, crying and sobbing, "I keep hearing it...the sound of that...that betrayer's weapon, and seeing him fall! Khrd...I don't want to sleep alone...That's why I came here in the first place, yet I am glad you distracted me for a bit before...before I remembered again...".
"A gun... that's what the weapon is called. Well, it has a specific name and all, but that doesn't matter; they all do pretty much the same thing, launch a projectile at very high speeds to either wound or kill its target.", Jacques quickly explained before he took a deep breath, "Sorry. I should've said something comforting there...".
Sia whispered, "No...It wasn't your fault...It was that betrayer's fault...At least he...he's at peace now, knowing that Atlantis and his people and family is safe...I had to stay strong to...arrange everything...I do not know how you do it on the surface, but we preserve the body for a day while Atlanteans visit and say their final words, giving gifts around the body, and then at night, the body gets cremated in a warrior pyre on the lake, so their spirit would leave in peace to be with the souls of past Atlanteans, the Great Kings and Queens of the Past, and such, and with my father being a king, he will have a great stone to be worked on for a few more days, and on Kida's coronation, his stone will join the Heart of Atlantis.".
"Sounds like a lot...", Jacques admitted as Sia nodded, "Is it a lot for you on the surface?". Jacques shrugged, explaining, "Well, depends, for most folks, it's more just simply burying the body, saying a few words and leaving a tiny memorial.".
"Hmm, that's respectful as people can return to the earth as the surface is made more with land in mind, yet aren't they worried if people disturb the resting places of their loved ones?", Sia asked curiously as she sniffed, wiping most of her tears.
"Sometimes...", Jacques said. "Most folks do at least think their loved ones will be fine; especially certain places where they are buried, but... sometimes... well, it's a rarity.". He was thinking of grave robbers and the like but that was becoming more of an outdated thing.
Sia nodded softly, "That's good at least...", and Jacques rubbed her back comfortingly, sighing softly, "It will feel raw for a while, I know, but you know that your father loved you and Kida very much to the point of protecting you two from people like Rourke and Sinclair...I promise I didn't know...They betrayed me too...I should have seen it coming...", with a frustrated groan.
"Jacques.", Sia looked up to him, "Nobody would have known to see it coming, not even Dr. Erskine and Mr. Thaddeus Thatch, with their suspicions as well...I've received a report by the patrol captain of the flyers...The volcano has made lots of lava tubes, several waterfalls, and even new caves that will have to be explored, with the ancient highway intact in the far distance, but it has encased on itself, as there is now signs that the volcano has become part of the seafloor, far too deep for any surface...what was it you said?...any surface zeppelin to breach now, so we are safe which I am sure everybody else will be glad to hear tomorrow when I inform them...You're the first one I'm telling...".
"Well, that's wonderful to hear that the Nazis won't be able to return even if they sent word back to Germany about where to find 'the other way in'. Still, bit of an issue for us to get out as well, but we'll obviously deal with that later. Right now... I think we need to focus on tonight... and us.", Jacques commented, looking at Sia tenderly.
Sia looked at him in surprise, and exhaled, "I wouldn't rush this if you want me to follow your surface customs...I mean, I came here to only ask if I could sleep in your arms, just sleep without bad dreams as you haven't indicated anything intimate beyond kissing back in my sacred place...right now, in your arms, I feel safe and less raw...if that makes sense...".
Jacques gave a small chuckle, "You know, it wouldn't bother me if we do rush a bit like Milo and Kida did... what was it you said about mates anyways around here?".
Sia replied, "Mates are for life, they cannot marry any other people as it's rather deep and personal beyond belief between mates, unless it's a poly, and that is very rare and unique compared to same-gender couples and regular couples.".
"Poly?", Jacques asked, never have heard that term before, and Sia explained, "Well, I'm sure you heard of harems within certain families in the Ancient world. A poly of mates is way more intricate and easier to keep, like two men with a woman, or two women with a man, and they all trust and love each other for there's no adultery.".
Jacques exhaled, "And I suppose adultery is a law not to cross, then?", and Sia nodded firmly, "Very much so. It's extremely rare for a person not to have visions, and when they feel far more than just alone, they'd do anything to feel something of love, and let's say that the punishment is damaging to their reputations, and other people turn their backs to that person, for it means exile or an indebted servitude for the rest of their lives. If they refuse to be exiled or be an indebted servant...death.".
"Damn...", Jacques spoke, and Sia replied, "Indeed. Father said that the people who doesn't get visions, their mate is either stillborn at birth or had a deadly accident before puberty.", with a sigh.
"That really must be painful then... to have lost your mate before even knowing they existed... perhaps never had even been born...", Jacques thought that was practically a hell that only those whom he most detested deserved, aside from death.
Sia sighed, "You have no idea...We only had ten people over the centuries like that, thanks to the destruction of the downfall of the city last time, and then of course, accidents while trying to make a living down here...I found out the morbid facts when Kida sneaked me around Father and the Council...About 35,000 people, including pregnant women and pre-teenagers who would never get the chance...".
Jacques widened his eyes in horrified shock, "Oh, my god...No wonder why you said that it was extremely rare for the empire is now shrunk down to this city...", and Sia nodded, "Indeed...I cannot remember for I was so young compared to Kida, but she said that the city mourned for many days.".
"And with what it had become now... honestly, a generation or two and that would be it...", Jacques said. "Now I understand why Father always fought with Kida when she was trying to attempt some sort of change to try and help restore even a fraction of what we once were... it was his shame; of how he abused the Heart and made us all suffer for it.", Sia sighed heavily.
Jacques replied, "Yet he was trying to protect the city, his people, and his family in you and Kida...The surface has many mottos, but there's one I very much remember. 'Our intentions may be very good, but, because the intelligence is limited, the action may turn out to be a mistake – a mistake, but not necessarily a sin, for sin comes out of a wrong intention.' So, your father didn't make a sin, but he made a mistake.".
"Yeah... well...", Sia rubbed her arm, "It's still a lot to take in, the truth about things as well as just what we do now that he's gone.", with a deep breath. Jacques pointed out with a nod, "The future actually looks brighter now, thanks to Milo, for starters...".