∞ 100: Silent night [action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Backdated to the late evening of December 24.

He is not surprised to find it snowing when he returns to Luceti and climbs out of the tunnels. The snow had proven to be irritating while he was outside of the barrier, and he is looking forward to getting inside before heavier snow begins falling.

He walks with a slight limp and stops once in awhile on the snow-covered streets, looking at the pale lights decorating various houses as he catches his breath. In the artificial light, the dark bruise across his left cheekbone may be visible.

Despite his frequent pauses in the snow, he walks with purpose. He'd like to sleep in his own bed tonight.]

Comments

[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert was ready to walk past the other person on the street without incident, not even giving him a second glance until a hand is lifted in greeting. He blinks slowly, tiredly, as he realizes who he had almost passed by.]

Ah, Prince. Good evening.

[falenandawn]

[He approaches the other, frowning slightly as he notices the bruise.] You are injured?

What happened?

[chikaidestroyer]

[He waves an ungloved hand dismissively before slipping it back into his coat.]

A minor injury from the mission I was on. I just returned.

[falenandawn]

I see.. I hope things went well for you? I've heard some of them can be quite strange. [Like retrieving bodies...]

[chikaidestroyer]

It was a physical labor task -- cargo loading. They did not exactly warn that the Third Party may attack, though I was not surprised by it happening. [He was more surprised that he had been expected to fight.]

[falenandawn]

So that's why.... do you need healing? [He might not have the dawn rune anymore and he had yet to find the time to speak to Nala again, but he still had his cyclone rune.]

I wish I could say it surprised me, but it does not. There is likely a lot of unrest given the Malnosso stirred up some trouble near an underground city and brought us in to fight only a few days ago- The civilians there escaped though, from what I could see. [Unless the third party could clear out more then just bodies...]

[chikaidestroyer]

I will be fine, thank you. [It was more the lack of sleep and physical exhaustion than the injuries that were hampering him.]

The Malnosso started the conflict? [That was certainly different.]

[falenandawn]

It seems like a Malnosso mining project broke through to a third party underground city. I imagine it was considered an invasion, and they reacted accordingly.

[This was indeed one of those battles he hadn't been entirely comfortable fighting in.]

There was something else new, too. We were given the option of taking prisoners rather then killing them this time. Odd devices that transported them away. [He'd like to think an exchange would take place, but he wouldn't put it past the Malnosso to do something crueler. Either way those soldiers would not be returning to the battlefield and someday threatening villagers.]

[chikaidestroyer]

[He can't help but snort at the option of taking prisoners.] So they stumble upon inhabitants and then send residents in to kill or abduct them. With such incidents, it is no wonder the war has continued for so long.

[Even if the Third Party's army was not zealously loyal to whatever was their ultimate goal, the Organization was not doing itself any favors with battles like this.] Did you take advantage of the non-lethal option?

[falenandawn]

Exactly so.... I would like to hope they tried negotiation or at least will return the prisoners, though.

I did. It was at least safer for the people here, though I cannot say what will happen to the captured soldiers afterwards.

[chikaidestroyer]

Considering the Organization's goals to minimize the threat against them and those under their protection, it seems unlikely. But I suppose negotiation is possible. [They certainly had not heard about such things within the enclosure, though.]

Did you find it a safer approach than killing outright?

[falenandawn]

[He just nods in response to the first part. It was true.. it was probably unlikely, as much as he hope it would happen.] I did.

Ah.... I don't think I've seen you since I returned, now that I think of it.

[chikaidestroyer]

Since you... [He blinks slowly.] Ah. You were sent back to our world?

[falenandawn]

I was.... the war is over now. We reclaimed Sol-Falena, though there were complications. [He rubs the back of his now short hair, a bit awkward. He couldn't help but wonder if Albert knew of that... or if such things had stayed out of the history books.

Not likely, though, in his aunt's case. She was officially a traitor to the crown and the murderer of Salum Barows ... it wasn't something they could change just because of her motivations.]

Strangely enough, the Malnosso returned me here only days after I left, though it had been weeks since I left for me.

[chikaidestroyer]

That is ... quite a short period of time, even for a return. [...] Though I have heard of a time where a few were sent home for one day, the returned the next.

But I imagine it is a comfort, not having to wonder about the war's outcome anymore.

[falenandawn]

....Quite a few people were angry at me for it, actually. [He can no longer recall exactly how many times he got punched but it was a lot.]

It is, in a way. I had heard secondhand from people... but it is different, experiencing it. [The unabridged, real version.]