through the trials of time

[leschath.livejournal.com]

[Milo appears on the Astral Plane wearing the bottom half of his cloth. Like so but uh hotter. His expression is relaxed unlike the last time he made himself known and he almost seems content, if a bit tired.]

Quite a feat to repair my temple in such a short time, even for me. But it is done.

...with the help of the kitten of course. Seems we won't be fighting each other any time soon.

[His mind is clearer and more open than usual today. In his head he's thinking,] If I could simply enjoy this peace given without holding back... [Aaand his mental guard goes back up.]

[He lies on his back on the "ground" of the Astral Plane.]

Tell me, anyone know where the Northern Cross is?

Comments

[leschath.livejournal.com]

Perhaps you should take the time to map it. If this is the only way you can see them.

[a pause, before he speaks again.] And where's Aquarius?

[contract_star]

[Looks thoughtful.] Hm. I like that idea...maybe I will. [Sits down nearby.]

[Searches the sky and then points.] There, close to the, um, ground. It's brighter than usual--closer, I think.

[leschath.livejournal.com]

...what is it about stars that you like?

[turns until he can see it clearly.] Ah, there it is.

[contract_star]

[Long pause.] I don't know, really. I never really thought about it.

The Water-Bearer. Does it also have a Saint for it?

[leschath.livejournal.com]

I see.

[And Milo pauses again as well.] It did, also a gold saint. But he died.

[contract_star]

[Staring at Aquarius,] I'm sorry.

[leschath.livejournal.com]

No need to be. We're all prepared to die.

[contract_star]

[Smirks a little.] Maybe that's why your reality hated me so much. I don't think I could live like that.

[leschath.livejournal.com]

Being ready to die and wanting to die are different.

[closes his eyes.] But you're right. People shouldn't live, prepared and expecting to die.

[contract_star]

[Hei's in a good mood today too, and he doesn't want to ruin it for Milo either, so he smiles.] No, I know. I didn't mean it that way.

[Shrugs,] It's unavoidable, for some.

[leschath.livejournal.com]

I know. He was my closest friend.

[He nods slightly, agreeing though he has his protests.]

I hope some of them live to adulthood though. [He says it like it's a confession but it's not as if it'd mean much to Li. Milo's turned to look at the Northern Cross/Cygnus again.]

[contract_star]

What was his name?

[Hei isn't sure what to say to that, so he follows Milo's gaze, smiling gently.]

[leschath.livejournal.com]

Camus.

[contract_star]

[Very long pause. Isn't looking at Milo when he answers.]

I had a sister. Bai. [Another pause.] I did everything in my power to protect her. But I couldn't. [Oversimplified version FTW.]

[leschath.livejournal.com]

[He's quiet though he definitely heard.]

You don't have to say more. [There's an unspoken thank you somewhere, for sharing it but thank you isn't really appropriate and neither of them are looking for comfort really. And Milo's not the type to commisserate. So he's just quiet next to Hei.]

[contract_star]

[And Hei actually finds himself not completely upset at the thought of his sister, since it's not all bad memories. He's thankful to Milo, though, for not pressing. He sits in silence for awhile.]

[Then, carefully, he says,] Got any family?

[leschath.livejournal.com]

Depends what you mean by family.

I left th-- [a short pause] My mother. I left her when I was around three years old. She's still alive.

[contract_star]

[Surprised,] Only three?

[Noncommittally,] I'm not sure what happened to my parents. They disappeared the same time the Gates appeared. So did a lot of people.

[leschath.livejournal.com]

Gold Saints begin training young, by the time I was seven I had already earned my cloth.

[curious] Is this a physical gate?

[contract_star]

That's pretty impressive.

Sort of. We don't really know. It's...you could call it a chaos realm, I suppose, where physics don't matter. [Pause.] When it appeared, the stars were replaced with fake ones. And the moon disappeared.

[leschath.livejournal.com]

Inhuman is probably more fitting a word.

What are the fake stars?

[contract_star]

[Vague smirk.] You're still human, though.

[Surprised at the question.] They're...I don't know. Just...fake.

[leschath.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's a good thing to remember. [grins slightly to himself]

[He's quiet for a moment.] If you ever need a spot for stargazing, there's a spot I would share.

[contract_star]

[Faint smile.]

[Curious now.] Oh? Where?

[leschath.livejournal.com]

Where I trained as a child. It's a small desert island, with nothing in the way.