hadriel | voice

...It can’t be…
...a nightmare…failed...
...couldn’t have… died…

[He’s muttering to himself, so only a few stray words are clear enough to be heard, at first. He hadn't intended those to be heard, necessarily, as he's checking that the phone is even on. Then, he clears his throat and speaks normally.]

Kain Highwind of the Guard reporting in. What is the current situation with the demons? I can… [He pauses, more mentally disoriented than anything. The reality of the situation is still sinking in, the memories of being possessed are… deeply unsettling. Not again. He can’t believe he’s lost himself again.] I can go anywhere I’m needed to continue our fight.

[Sigh. Well, there it is. He's in a bit of denial over what happened, but he knows deep down the truth of the matter. He'd been possessed, and... killed. Shadow, that hedgehog had ended his suffering. For now, he’ll throw himself into fighting, a warrior above all else. Mental distress will just have to get shoved deep down inside. But there is… something else bothering him. He belongs to the air, to the wind. He wants to feel that breeze on his face, to see the sky change in color. He’ll even take overcast if he could just see clouds again. The withdrawal is real.]

This is unrelated, but… How can everyone withstand a place without a sky for so long, anyway? Does anyone know if there's some way to see it again, even for a few moments?

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[For Kain, it's a sense of honor, he's well used to always paying for anything someone ever does for him. It's the way of things. He doesn't feel right otherwise.]

If you're absolutely certain you don't need anything... I won't hold that against you. I appreciate this greatly.

[He's chosen a top room in one of the spires for a reason, and he really likes this notion of it being his sky room.]

A shame I cannot make it rotate between those depictions. I'm of a mind for the classic blue sky and clouds, though. It's the best sort of sky to jump into.

I can do classic, easy. [ And it requires the least amount of colors, which is great because paints aren't the easiest thing to acquire in this shit hole. ]

But, uh, you jump into the sky? [ She'll need to know where he lives, but first and foremost, tell her about this magical sky jumping thing please. ]

I would appreciate that. [It'll help, it'll be some small reminder of what he misses most. The first few weeks here, he could deal, but the more time that passes... the worse this feeling is.]

Ah. Yes, that's right. I always forget most people here aren't familiar with it. I'm a dragoon... we're a specialized knight class capable of jumping far and high into the air, to attack our enemies from above. I can jump high enough that I'm pretty much unseen to those below.

...I bet you'd be great in the Olympics. [ She knows that's not a reference he's likely going to get, but it's one she makes anyway. ]

That's kind of a neat sounding skill, I wouldn't mind seeing it in action sometime. [ a pause. ] Anyway, I'll need your apartment number, and I'd suggest you open up all the windows in your place—the smell paint can get overwhelming.

[He doesn't get it at all, no.] What are the Olympics?

I'd be glad to show you how it works, any time. [He likes showing off his skill, it's something he takes great pride in, and always will. Of course, he'd chosen the top level of one of those high apartments... a perfect fit for the likes of him.] I'm in Spire One, Apartment 802.

They're this sporting event, kind of big deal on my world to some people. A bunch of athletes get together and compete to see who is the biggest, baddest athelete of them all. I imagine you would beat everyone at the long jump or pole vaulting. [ It's not all that interesting. She's never seen a single one of the games, never cared much at all about the event, but it's hard not to know a little about it all. ]

All right, I'll stop by later sometime. It should only take a couple of hours to get done.

That sounds like it would be a worthwhile contest and way to show off my skills. I've always liked competition anyway... [Even if he doesn't quite know what 'pole vaulting' consists of, it sounds exciting enough. And if there's anything Kain enjoys, it's competition, proving himself in some way.]

I'm glad to hear that, and I'm looking forward to the result. [And who knows, maybe someday he'll still find some way to repay this favor.]

Trust me when I say it wouldn't be a good competition if you can actually jump as high as you say you can. [ Not that she doubts his abilities. She's been here long enough now to know that just about anything is possible.

But maybe one day there will be a way he can repay her. For now, though, she'll just be happy with a way to fill a few hours without thinking about the fact she killed someone she cares for deeply just days ago. ]

I suppose it would only be a true contest if I competed against other dragoons.

[He'll definitely have to prove it, when he can. At least now he's realizing how many worlds are lacking dragoons, and that people are unfamiliar with his skills. All the more reason to show off.]

I'm afraid I didn't catch your name yet...?

[ Exactly. She's seen the monsters of the Otherworld perform such feats, but humans? Nah. ]

Oh, uh, it's Sharon. Sharon da Silva.

[It's all just standard where Kain comes from. Most people have some sort of fighting power. Though this world is more variable than the last one he was in, he's noticing.]

Right. Good to meet you, Sharon. I'll be looking forward to seeing what you create.

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