01st action | quad | arrival

[lumenillius.livejournal.com]

[well...this situation is very much different. She's not on the space station. Shadow isn't here. She's without Grandpa and the other scientists. She's also now enrolled in a military academy and asked to help fight a dangerous war.

Is this the excitement she's been looking for?]

Better to not look a gift horse in the mouth...

[Fresh from her meeting with the Headmaster, Cid, she comes into the Quad, her bags toted, and her long blond hair pulled back in a ponytail. She has the course catalog in another hand, and when she reaches a bench, she drops her bags at her feet.]

Shadow, if you could see me now... [Sighing, she seats herself on the bench, sets the catalog in her lap, and tilts her head back against the bench boards.] ...you'd probably not believe this is really happening.

Comments

[eiusumbra]

[Oh, he can see her. But he doesn't believe it.

Maria, sitting on a bench. Everything looks normal, but that...]

'...Time Compression...'

[But...it's her, without a doubt. And his feet move towards her, making a beeline. He has to make sure. His strides hold a purpose, and everyone moves out of his way. Once he reaches her, he stops and stares.]

'She hasn't changed...'

...Maria...

[lumenillius.livejournal.com]

Oh!

[Maria straightens her posture quickly, sitting up straight, looking much like a child caught being foolish by their parent.]

H-hello!

[eiusumbra]

'...right, I'm human...'

[He feels a bit hurt that she can't recognize him by the coloring, but he looks vastly different. He sighs.] ...it's me. Shadow.

[lumenillius.livejournal.com]

Of course it's you, silly!

[Getting to her feet, Maria steps up, reaching out to put a hand through his hair.]

No one would ever do this to their hair unless it was genetic.

[smirky smirky]

[eiusumbra]

[Blinks and glowers at her. The hand in his hair make him glance at it. It feels nice. The frown gone, he just looks to her stoically.]

You had me thinking you wouldn't recognize me.

[lumenillius.livejournal.com]

I've known you since I was little. You think I'd forget that frown and pout?

[She smiles at him.]

[eiusumbra]

[He sometimes forgets she's older than him.

Gives her a faint, wry smirk.]

I'm glad you're back.

[lumenillius.livejournal.com]

Back? I guess I am back. You look like you haven't seen me for a while...

[eiusumbra]

[He's silent for a few moments. It's understandable that she may not remember being in Garden, but...could it be that she doesn't remember what happened.

Shadow looks to her rather seriously.]

What is the last thing you remember?

[lumenillius.livejournal.com]

You telling me to not move because something was happening on the ship. You were going to check on something...

[eiusumbra]

You don't remember, then...

[Maria not remembering what followed may be for the best, but she'll surely ask. Shadow is unsure if he wants her to know, but keeping secrets from her isn't his style. Maria trusted him, and vice versa. He appears visibly torn at the situation.]

[lumenillius.livejournal.com]

Shadow, why is your face dark? Shadow, what happened?

[eiusumbra]

[He looks away, remaining silent. It seems as if he won't tell her, but it would only upset her further. He takes a seat next to Maria, looking down to his clenched hands. His eyes close before he speaks again.]

Do you really wish to know?

[lumenillius.livejournal.com]

...no.

[She closes her eyes and lets out a sigh.]

I already have a good idea of what it is.

[eiusumbra]

[Red eyes glance to her. Maria was always smart. Could she have figured it out?

He looks back to his hands, opening them. No gloves today, but his gold bands are around his wrists.]

I couldn't do anything... [His eyes narrow.] All this power, and yet...still.

[lumenillius.livejournal.com]

Don't blame yourself, Shadow.

[She opens her eyes and looks sternly at him.]

It wasn't your fault. I don't even know the specifics, and I'm confident that you weren't in the wrong.

[eiusumbra]

That's not what they thought. [Looks at her, matching her stern look.] Maybe if anyone is to blame, it's G.U.N.

[lumenillius.livejournal.com]

What happened with G.U.N.?

[eiusumbra]

[And there is that silence again. His mouth forms a tight line.]

I thought you said you didn't want to know. [Shadow sits up, leaning back against the bench and crossed his arms. Just thinking about them, saying their name. It makes his blood boil.] They were the reason behind all the commotion.

[lumenillius.livejournal.com]

You're right. I don't want to know. Already you look mad enough for the both of us.

[eiusumbra]

[Shadow gives a curt nod, closing his eyes. The anger is still there, but he needs to settle it. They aren't here, and Maria is back.]

As I said, I'm glad you're back. [He looks calmer as he looks to her.] That's all that really matters.

[lumenillius.livejournal.com]

[Maria turns her upper body towards her life-long friend and throws her arms around him.]

I'm glad you're still here.

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[eiusumbra]

[He blinks at the sudden hug, very much caught off guard, but follows through with his own. It's a tight one, since how often does he get to hug her?

He only nods softly at her statement. He's glad as well.

Shadow pulls back after a moment.] I'll show you to your dorm.

[lumenillius.livejournal.com]

[Maria makes a thin line with her mouth when he pulls away, but she replaces it with a happy smile at a new idea.]

Let's go do something else, instead! Like when we were younger!

[eiusumbra]

'...here we go.'

[He saw that face, but focuses on what is up her sleeve.] Such as?

[lumenillius.livejournal.com]

Let's go exploring!

[eiusumbra]

What about your bags? [He doesn't mind exploring.]

[lumenillius.livejournal.com]

Who would steal something in a military academy.

[She hops to her feet, hands on her hips, turning her upper-body towards her friend.]

Now, c'mon! Up, up! Or I'll make you give me a piggy-back ride like I used to.

[eiusumbra]

[Only Maria could order Shadow around like this. He stands, arms still crossed.]

No piggy-back rides with that attitude. [Smirks softly to her] I know the Garden and town well enough to take you around.

[lumenillius.livejournal.com]

Shadow, you'd deny your favorite girl a piggy-back ride?

[eiusumbra]

[Well, there is no denying that she's his favorite girl, but when she says it like that...

Shadow looks off to the side.]

Yes. [And starts to walk off in a random direction. It seems to lead towards the quad.]

[lumenillius.livejournal.com]

Fine. But you owe me, okay?

[eiusumbra]

'I always have.'

[He nods silently, walking. Isn't she coming?]

[lumenillius.livejournal.com]

[Maria runs past him, laughing.]

C'mon, slowpoke!

[eiusumbra]

[Oh, so they're running, now? Shadow won't let her best him! His pride is on the line. He chases after her.]