thread ☆★☆ when generations come to call

[clockfoxxed]

CHARACTERS: Quentão household + Traydor extended family
WHEN: Approximately 7QJ90
WHERE: Quentão (Anjouverse), later Songverse
SUMMARY: Khrista brings her family (back?) to Aquavitae. Joyous reunion for Nausy and Marcus, cousins meeting, and cute kidlets.
WARNINGS: Subject to massive ret-conning

Comments

[queens_shield]

And then something shot out of the sky: a metallic bird, only... not.

Khrista gripped the controls tighter. It was that feeling again, that feeling she had when Vita marched into the Exercitus' stronghold. This had to be it. Her rightful home.

She flipped a switch, studying the terrain. It was hard to miss Quentão, however, and she maneuvered her ship closer to take a better look at the grand palace. Well, at least there was something.

She turned to her co-pilot. "Alright, we're here. I'm pretty sure this is it." She closed her eyes for a moment, then nodded in confirmation. "Aquavitae."

[dyne_amic]

Marcus smiled. "All right. You know, after so long with you, I almost think I can feel it, too..."

He looked down at the world below them. "So, where do you think we should go first?"

[queens_shield]

"You might be feeling Nausy." There was something about twins she'd never understand; after all, he'd been right that she was alive all those years. "Anyway, my feeling tells me that... there."

She went ahead and landed her ship on the bridge of what was essentially a palace hanging above a waterfall. With no strings whatsoever. She powered down the engines, but didn't completely shut them down; she likewise made sure to check if she had her gun. "Hey, I'm just making sure both our fight or flight options are available. Just in case."

[dyne_amic]

"Just in case," he agreed. He had the Crimson Scourge, but then, he'd started out in the military. He could easily claim it was ceremonial or something like that.

He looked around as they left the ship. "How did they do this? It looks almost like the Aquatic Gardens..."

[Nausy & Marcus - Guest Rooms]

[clockfoxxed]

Re: [Nausy & Marcus - Guest Rooms]

[dyne_amic]

Marcus chuckled. "Naturally. So, how have you been, Nausy?" he asked as he followed her toward the guest rooms. He wanted to put off the news from home as long as possible.

[inmyfathersname]

She hooked an arm around his and leaned playfully as they walked. "I'm fine. Pretty good, actually, in spite of all the things I've had to do here. Everyone here has just been amazing... but of course I also miss you guys back home." Thankfully she skipped the rest of the home stuff and went back to talking about her life in Aquavitae. Well, about Paris, mostly.

Then she grinned. "Enough about me! How about you?" She punched him on the arm playfully. "So you and Khrista finally did it, huh~"

[dyne_amic]

"Yeah." He smiled. "It's taken way too long, but we finally did it. New Aquor's running pretty smoothly now; they don't need another couple of old soldiers."

[Khrista & Paris - Kitchen]

[entitlementheir]

[queens_shield]

Khrista followed Paris to the kitchen, already thinking of what to prepare. She knew an odd assortment of dishes given all the places she's lived and traveled to, so she wasn't sure which ones to do for their special family dinner.

"Got any special requests?" she asked Paris, smiling.

[entitlementheir]

The kitchen, like the rest of the palace, was large and open-concept with a large island in the middle and as many amenities that Aquavitae had to offer. "How about we both pitch in? Something from each of our homes. If you have any of your father's talent, I can already tell we're in for a treat."

He took a moment to really smile at Khrista. "They're going to be so happy, you know. You have no idea the good you're doing by coming home."

[queens_shield]

"I can say I have a decent share of my father's talent - at least half of it. And a lot of time to practice. Marcus and I pretty much 'ran away' after the war to give ourselves the break we believe we deserved."

She returned Paris' smile with one of her own. "I'm glad. I've been trying to find my way back home for the longest time. I'm happy to be here, at last."

[Marc, Kahlua, Macie, Sercial - all over]

[anjouprogeny]

[notvanquished]

"Alright, you guys," Marc started, "where do you want to go?"

Macie had warmed up to Kahlua very quickly and was hanging around the older girl. She'd always wanted to have a big sister, anyway. "Anywhere fun!" she chirped, then she grinned suddenly as she had an idea. "Do you want to see our ship?"

[anjouprogeny]

"Yeah!" Kahlua cheered immediately. "I've never seen anything like that before! Did you really fly through the stars in that? Like in Grandpa's stories??"

Sercial trailed along silently, a couple steps behind the rest of them. Although he'd never say it, he was very interested in seeing the ship as well.

[likesdifferent]

"Uh huh!" Macie answered enthusiastically, half-skipping as she walked hand in hand with Kahlua. "Mom can make it go anywhere! But dad helps out so she doesn't get lost. And then we went to this planet called Roak once, and there were all sort of people! Some had pointy ears and fluffy tails and others had wings, although I've already seen people with wings because Aunt Kakali's got wings."

[Sercial - Library - open]

[clockfoxxed]

After leaving the other three, Sercial returned to his usual haunt -- the vast library wing. He felt more than a stirring of disappointment when he thought of the others exploring the fascinating ship. But he resolutely picked up one of his earlier discarded books and settled into a chair. But although he tried to resume reading, his mind wouldn't stay on the pages in front of him.

So his new task was to guide these three to the other side? But that would mean that Vita would be arriving before too long, and the thought sent a shiver of trepidation down his spine. Unconsciously his ears flattened against his head. He could not think of that woman -- not even an appropriate term for her -- and not recall how close he'd come to death the day he'd come to Quentão.

[likesdifferent]

It was much later when she came, but she did. And she seemed to have been looking for him, for her eyes lit up when she found him.

"Sercial!" Her voice bounced off the walls of the vast library, and she ducked her head, suddenly sheepish. But still she made her way to him, eager to hear about what Bonded were and learn all that she could about them.

[clockfoxxed]

Sercial closed his book, having probably not read more than a half dozen pages in the entire time, and stood from his seat. "I am here, Miss Macie. Is there something you need?"

He was pleased that his voice didn't betray his conflicted thoughts.

[likesdifferent]

"You didn't stay for the tour," Macie answered with a pout. But it only lasted for a moment. "Um, are you busy?"