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[The first thing Sorey thinks as he falls is what Lailah said as they left Camlann; that without his domain, all of them would instantly be hellions. The ground collapses beneath his feet, the wind drake behind him snaps up his cloak in its jaws and he sees the terror on Mikleo's face just before Symonne's laughter shrieks out and he and the drake fall together.

If they're too far away from me-

He can still feel their connection. He can still feel them, even if they can't go to him, and Sorey prays that's enough.

Wind rushes past them and Sorey tries to wrench out of the drake's grip (It's gotta be a wind seraph, Zaveid had shouted as they were thrown into the thick of battle in the tight corridors of the fortress), twisting and turning, sword in his hand. They'd weakened the drake considerably as a team but he's not sure he's powerful enough on his own to purify it, not even with all the strength he's gathered. Not without the others.

Hopefully, because Rose is there, they'll be okay. Please, please, I can't lose anyone else-

They fall far but hit a collapsed spire at an angle; in the mess the drake releases Sorey (or maybe his cloak tears, he can't tell) and he tumbles, bumps against it and hits the ground hard enough to rattle his teeth in his head and jar his bones. He pushes himself up, ignoring the bruises and aches, the constant, thumping worry of his heart and puts his sword between he and the drake as it sways up to its feet.]

Don't worry, [he promises the poor thing, because thank god, thank god it's not a dragon yet. There's still hope.] I'm going to save you. Don't worry, it'll be over soon.

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[Well, he wouldn't be Sorey if he didn't say something about this, because despite all this time he still feels so strongly about it:]

This might come off as rude, especially after what you've done for me, but...I hope there comes a day when you don't get any more contracts. I'm going to continue working toward that day.

[Surprisingly, the Scattered Bones leader doesn't flinch or really change expressions. He's heard some of the stories even if Dezel isn't one to sit down and share them. There's a book or two about the Shepherd Sorey, after all.]

Every time we see each other, my brother asks me if I want to join him in the Sparrowfeathers. And every time, my answer is the same.

I walk this path so that good people like you, Shepherd, don't have to get their hands dirty. That's the life I've chosen and everything that comes with it.

[His eyes close halfway. There's a hint of a smile.]

If the day comes that the Scattered Bones are no longer needed, I hope I can meet you there.

[They really ought to get going. Dezel makes a note of this and says his farewells, then leads Sorey back up the stairs and out into the alleyway. He thinks Sorey might need a moment. Dezel certainly does.]

[Sorey is quiet all the way up and through the alleys back to the main road, half a pace behind Dezel as he collects his thoughts.]

...he looks just like her, huh?

... Yeah. He does. [And talking like that... It's enough to give him shivers, sometimes. Rose, too, had been so resolute, and sometimes resigned to what she had to do. But she never let it get her down for long.]

Is there anything else you need before we hit the docks?

Yeah, just one more thing. [Sorey stops, waits for Dezel to stop before taking a couple swift steps forward and wrapping his arms around him, pressing his face against Dezel's shoulder.] Thank you. You kept it safe all these years too.

[Dezel freezes for a moment as Sorey's arms find their way around him, but it's only for a moment. He relaxes after that, something felt more than seen. He can't help himself. Home is the people he loves, and Sorey is all that's left.]

Like I really had a choice, [he murmurs, leaning ever so gently into the hug.] We-- we all made sure this was a world you'd want to live in. At least, that's what we hoped.

I know it still has problems. There's still work to do. Feels like it never ends, sometimes.

[Sorey pulls back to get a good look at Dezel's face, concerned.] You guys...I'm not disappointed or anything. You know that right? This world is beautiful.

[Sorey's face brooks no argument, that's for sure. Dezel can tell from voice alone that he isn't lying-- but just in case, while no one is paying attention to them in the shadow of the buildings, he wants to make sure. He touches Sorey's nose so gently, like he'll flinch or pull away at anything, and then draws a bare thumb across the boy's lips.]

... It is, [he murmurs, and finally lets him go.] I guess I believe you. You only make a face like that when you're really serious.

[Dezel's thumb passes over his lips and Sorey's cheeks flare red, but he reaches up to return the gesture, emboldened.] And you only make this face when you're unsure. [And he'd noticed Dezel glancing at him whenever humans mentioned having 'a seraph friend' or when people came up to Uno and spoke with him like everything is normal. Dezel wants to see if Sorey loves the world they'd all created with him.]

I promise. Seeing humans and seraphim living together makes everywhere feel like home to me now. [He takes Dezel's hand in his and winds their fingers together, hiking up his own gear and bag onto his shoulder before pulling him down the alley.] Now let's go! We're skipping the library because if I set foot in there, I'll want to stay for weeks. So that's on the list for next time!

[Dezel makes a soft noise of surprise as Sorey just reaches up and does the same thing back. Hey, no one said he could do that! And now Dezel's blushing, too. He had no idea Sorey really paid attention to the faces he made; that's kind of what the hat is for. But before he can argue this, Sorey steals his hand and drags him in a direction, and it's all Dezel can do to keep from stumbling.]

Hey, do you even know where you're going?

[Sorey, please. Dezel's chuckling, though. When they hit the main road proper, he tugs his charge in the correct direction. The docks are facing the water, which is fine, but there are a few very tall, very wide white towers that rise above the industrial part of the city. Dark shadows blanket them briefly-- the arrival of another airship that darts into the side of a tower.

Dezel leads him inside. There's a mechanical lift made of pulleys that takes them up, up, up. No one seems to pay them any attention as this place gets a lot of traffic.]

[Sorey bounces after Dezel, a little giddier than usual with their fingers intertwined, Dezel's hand warm and strong in his. Sorey can feel the edges of his gloves along his fingers with his thumb and he runs the pad of it along their seams, reveling in the town around them and exclaiming whenever he seems something obviously constructed with seraphic artes-

Until they reach the seaport. And there, glittering as it stretches beyond the horizon is the sea as beautiful and amazing and otherworldly as Sorey has always found it, but what really draws his attention are those gigantic spires towering overhead and the enormous machines circling them like carrion birds.

They really are boats. Not completely ship-shaped, but he can see people on the decks of the lower ones, can see them tethering the vessels to the towers. He gets a little dizzy trying to crane his neck and watch them as they head inside the nearest tower, leaning against Dezel on the lift to recover from it.]

Dezel-! It was in the air! How does it do that?! Is it seraphic artes, it looks like it's metal! Isn't it too heavy? How does it stay up in the air, how does it move up and down like that?!

[Sorey's exclamations are actually pretty freaking adorable, and he can't hide a smile even as he's faced with a barrage of questions. They have a little time on the lift so he can oblige.]

It's a mixture of seraphic artes and Rolance ingenuity, [he explains patiently.] Humans made something as light and buoyant as possible with the ability to steer. And some wind seraphim were able to use artes to make a gas that was lighter than normal air.

They use a machine to control the pressure inside the big pockets on top and a bunch of rudders. Fish have little bladders in them, that's how they float or sink. It's the same principle.

They modeled it after fish to make it lighter than air? [The lift shudders to a gentle halt at the top of the tower and Sorey shifts his weight back onto his own feet, gaping at the ship tethered just beyond the open door.] That's incredible. Seraphim and humans really can make amazing things together.

Fish and birds, [he says, gesturing to the lightweight metal forming the outer hull.] You wouldn't be able to tell by looking at it, but it's lighter than an ocean-faring ship.

[He speaks with a midshipman to let him know who he is, and he shows a little bit of paper as proof. The man nods and lets them aboard. In that way, it's not too much different than boarding a boat. There are ropes and anchors, wood forming ramps-- but that's where the resemblance ends.

The massive, massive envelope like construction above them is held in place by metal clamps, but there's plenty of wood in its construction too. It comes together to make something that looks both rustic and timeless, and it's beautiful in its own way, even with the whir of machinery and the clunk-clunk-clunk of gears beneath the deck. There are plenty of places to watch and the intricate railing is certainly high enough to discourage anyone from jumping.]

There's usually three decks in a ship like this. The middle one has the rooms and the kitchen, and there's cargo below that.

[That's all very interesting, but,] They just let us on? We don't have to pay anything?

Edited 2017-01-30 05:28 (UTC)

[Dezel adjusts his hat, feeling a little sheepish about this.]

Wind seraphim can help the ship sail in a fraction of the time, so he's letting us ride for free. Flying over the ocean can take a couple days otherwise.

You're going to work for our fare? Dezel- [Punches his arm! Lightly.] I'll go see if there's anything I can do too. Enough is enough, you've spoiled me plenty. [MARCHES OFF TO FIND THE CAPTAIN]

[Oh Lords, there he goes. Dezel goes after him, equal parts embarrassed and mortified.] You don't have to-- I'm not spoiling you, it's just faster if--

[oh my god]

[SPINS AROUND and presses his fingertips to Dezel's mouth. Shash.] I appreciate it, I really do, but you're definitely spoiling me. I'm not going to live in this world coasting off of your hospitality, okay?

[Sorey drops his hand and smiles.] Relax. I want to learn more about this world anyway. And maybe the captain will let me do something fun!

[there he go]

[Dezel looks like he's about to protest again, but it's hard to be strong when faced with Sorey's smile. And he's actually very, very right. Dezel's been spoiling him this whole time.]

You don't even have your feet yet.

[But then the captain's coming out, apparently looking for Dezel-- though Sorey gets there first. A little help around the ship is always nice and Sorey is terribly persuasive when he's like this, so the captain relents. Sorey gets assigned to some sweeping, nothing terribly laborious. He's dressed as a Shepherd, after all.

And Dezel might drop them all into the ocean if he gets pissed off. That too.

Then a horn goes off. The captain begins barking orders, which are echoed by his first mate. Everyone who isn't staff hurries below deck.]

Hey, c'mere. [He gestures to the bow of the ship. It's less fancy than that of a seabound one, but still recognizable as the front.] If you've never been on one of these before, this is the best place to stand.

[It's also horribly dangerous, but Dezel won't let him fall.]

[Sweeping is a pretty easy task, but it's better than nothing and it's something Sorey can do so he takes it. However, when that horn sounds and the crew begin to man the various mechanisms alongside the railings of the ship, Sorey eagerly follows Dezel over to the bow. He's never even been on a seafaring ship, so all of this is new to him; and as the ship retracts its tether and takes to the skies, Sorey feels that familiar swooping sensation he always had when he was in the armatus with Dezel or Zaveid.

They're really, actually flying.]

This- This is easily the coolest thing I've ever done, [Sorey breathes excitedly, leaning over the railing probably a touch further than what Dezel's comfortable with.]

[Dezel comes up behind him. Sorey's enthusiasm is absolutely contagious. With everyone else out of sight manning their stations, there's nothing but the wind around them and a hollow bird below. The seraph tucks his head into Sorey's shoulder and takes a deep breath, his warmth and wind all around them--

-- and then the ship begins to really fly. It's true that wind seraphim can give the ships a boost and that's what he's doing. But it doesn't feel like work. It feels like his awareness is spreading below Sorey's arms, carrying both the former Shepherd and the ship on gentle, invisible wings.

They sure are going fast, though. It isn't long before they begin to enter the clouds and the city is just a speck behind them. While the air is thin up here, some kind of seraphic arte forms a very faint barrier that keeps it breathable. It's still pretty cold-- but Dezel keeps the air warm, so long as he's concentrating.]

Whoa, [Sorey startles as they suddenly pick up in speed and altitude, a joyful laugh bubbling out of his throat. He can't be sure without the pact, but he thinks he can feel Dezel's wind all around them, specific and telling in its sharpness, in the way it lifts them so neatly, so perfectly.

Sorey leans back against Dezel, hanging onto the rails as he watches them approach the clouds, heart pounding even as he finds a peace so intimately quiet that he drops his tone to a murmur out of reverence. Dezel is carrying thisc whole ship, and Sorey can hear the people cheering and calling out their thanks behind them for it.]

You're so incredible.

[Even with the wind around them, Dezel can feel Sorey's heartbeat through his back. He feels it like he feels the bulkiness of the ship, the air sliding across various panels and around the windows and through the rudders. He feels so aware of everything when he does this. It's almost like the armatus, but not quite. Not... quite.]

Any wind seraph could do this. I'm nothing special.

[With the ship on its course, Dezel can finally lower his arms. He finds Sorey's waist. It feels so easy to wrap his arms around the younger man, so he does, and it reminds him of this morning. Gods, he's such a mess. Someone looks at him and suddenly he's crushing like a teenager... it's terrible.]

This is all because of you, Sorey. [His fingers hook into the familiar blue shirt, subtle but still there.] You gave the world your time and your resonance. You gave me time.

[He hasn't wasted a minute. Right here, with his arms wrapped around the only thing from his past, he realizes he doesn't want to let go. He realizes, too, that he's hopelessly attached... and probably in love. He hasn't-- he doesn't know how, not anymore. He hasn't known anything serious since Rose pulled him by the ear that one night and told him to stop keeping secrets.

He pulls back a little. He has more he wants to say, but...]

[Sorey laughs incredulously, hands going to the rails as Dezel pulls away.] Always so quick to pass on the praise, [he murmurs with a grin. It's so like Dezel. For myriad reasons, he never lets anyone just admire him.]

This is just the result of my own selfish endeavor. I didn't do a single thing I didn't want to do. [He glances back over his shoulder at Dezel, sobering.] I even left you and Rose behind for it.

[He turns back around.] ...maybe it's wrong, but when you shouted at me in the castle about valuing my life, I was so happy. The others, they didn't try to talk me out of it. I think they knew if I wavered that we'd all fall to malevolence, but you... [He chuckles and rubs at his nose.] You didn't care about that. And it made me happy. I am only human, after all.