smash_logs | [Open] A Visit to a City on the Sea

Entry tags:

[Open] A Visit to a City on the Sea

Who: Blaze, Visitors
What: Blaze allows visitors to see her dimension, and her world's version of Soleanna
Where: The Sol Dimension, Capitol City of Soleanna
When: October 24-28

This wasn't the first time she tried to bring people with her to her home dimension, but last time it happened, things were... not so pleasant. They had arrived in the middle of an attack by Dr. Eggman Nega's forces, and thankfully were able to repel him. This time, however, things were different. All was peaceful and calm. She had talked with Jon some time ago about letting people visit, and now seemed as good a time as any. The shadow bugs were hardly a problem now, and the opportunity was there.

And so with a stable portal in place thanks to the Sol Emeralds, Blaze was allowing people to visit her home dimension, and its capitol city of Soleanna.

Visitors were free to explore to their heart's content, so long as they didin't interfere with the regular goings-on around town. And any trouble would be dealt with personally by Blaze. She had her eye on everyone, although not at all times, and certainly more focused on the known troublemakers who happened to visit...

((Feel free to start your own threads! Soleanna in Blaze's dimension is very much like a Venetian town, with all the shops and amenities you'd expect. Most of the population are koalas. Have fun!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

As much as Eirika was often caught up in thinking Renais was the only world she was meant to go visit, something about taking the time to visit someplace less straining on the nerves was appetising. Truth be told, Blaze was someone Eirika had respected from the get-go and learning more about her could prove to be advantageous. And for that reason alone, she'd hoped that she could find the princess cat and make some idle conversation. Or at least practise making idle conversation, because for one reason or another, Eirika felt like her grasp on that was slipping.

There were plenty of things to look at, plenty of things to get lost in, and truth be told, there was a surprising ease that came with the experience. She'd have to ask Blaze how it was even possible, for if Blaze could share a part of her world with the academy, Eirika wanted to do the very same.

If it was possible.

She would get the opportunity soon enough, when she finally found Blaze, just enjoying the sights and sounds of home. "How are you enjoying my world so far?" Blaze asked, looking much more at peace than usual here of all places.

Wearing a smile was the easy part. Not feeling slightly envious was the difficult in retrospect. Eirika tipped her head to the side as she eyed Blaze with some consideration and finally nodded as she gave yet another investigative glance around.

"It is very beautiful," she admitted easily. "Calming. Nothing at all like the world I am from." And as she turned to get a better look at Blaze, she continued. "How is this possible? How did you manage this? It would take a great effort for such a thing to even exist, much less to be shared with us, no?"

"By recovering the Sol Emeralds," Blaze explained. "They are what sent me to Final Destination City in the first place, and with their power I could return. And now that the passage is established, I can bring other people with me."

"They have tremendous power, power that not even I understand fully. But as their guardian, they obey me."

Edited 2014-10-28 05:03 (UTC)

"I see..."

Except she both did and did not. It was just one more thing that she didn't particularly understand fully. She knew of the stones and knew that Blaze had been searching for them. Understanding the true 'how' of the situation was lost to the teal-haired princess, however.

"What a miraculous power, indeed," Eirika found herself continuing. "I can think of a few who I think would misuse it. I think your hands are perfect for wielding it. It must be wonderful to see your home whenever it pleases you to."

"It is," she answered. "Although the word I'd choose is a relief... I was away for so long. It weighs on my conscience to be away from my duties."

She looked up at her friend. "I'm sorry... The Sol Emeralds link my dimension to yours through their twins, the Chaos Emeralds. That is the only way the passage goes."

"A relief," Eirika echoed with a slow nod. "Yes. That would be a good way of putting it. I'm sure I would feel the same were I in your position." And she wasn't, but admittedly she wanted to be.

She gave something of a lighter smile, nearing the edge of a wistfulness, but then she waved it off dismissively. "No, no. I understand. It's fine. I had some hope for my own world, but since your Emeralds would do nothing for me, it'd be silly of me to think it. I'll find my own way at some point."

"And I promise to help you, in any way I can," Blaze reminded her. "I know how it feels to be away from your duties for so long. I sympathize, I truly do, as you know."

The response made it difficult for Renais's princess not to smile. "I know that you do, Blaze. You always have from the very beginning when we met. I wish I could have been of more help to you. Instead, here you are with your goals met and offering to help me with mine. Even if we were successful, and I doubt it's impossible, I would have nothing to compensate you with."

But in the back of her mind, Eirika was reminded that in no way was Blaze a mercenary like Ike. The princess had meant to help her in any fashion necessary and if Eirika's suspicions were correct, Blaze wasn't going to do it to get anything in return.

"I'm not looking for any," she reminded her friend. "Your friendship is enough for me."

"Although... For now, I do hope you can enjoy yourself. If you need anything, ask."

Expected words. And they didn't bother Eirika in the slightest. In fact, she held a smile through it all and nodded.

"I will," she reassured Blaze. "I don't need anything, but I'd like your company. Why not show me some of your favourite places? Tell me about your home, your people, and more about yourself. I would like that a great deal."

"I suppose I could give you the grand tour," she suggested with a smile. "This way."

She led the way through the city streets, bustling and well kept. The koalas waved and greeted Blaze as she passed, showing her great respect and admiration, and for her part, Blaze nodded in response, somewhat embarrassed about it all. As they arrived at the pier, Blaze gestured out to the ocean. "I often like to come here and watch the ships coming into port," she admitted. "As a child, it reminded me how big the world was, and how much was out there to see and do..."

Grand tour sounded 'grand,' indeed. It'd give Eirika a way to get her mind off of things and onto better things and honestly, nothing seemed more appropriate, all things considered.

As much as she was taken by the world itself, the way Blaze was revered and thought of didn't escape her watchful eye. She must have been a good leader, not that Eirika had assumed any other way.

When they stopped at the pier, Eirika found herself folding her hands together somewhat demurely. She listened attentively, trying to imagine how different her life might have been if Renais had been located by the ocean. It probably wouldn't have changed anything, except it might have been easier to extinguish the fires brought by Vigarde's invasion.

"Your family doesn't seem to be particularly strict," Eirika observed with some intrigue and interest. "Before I came here, I thought all princesses would have been the same, but I suppose different places have different regulations to follow." And different ways of bringing up nobility.

Blaze was silent, slowly looking down at the water below them. "My... My parents are dead," she explained. "I've been on my own for some time now... It's been my responsibility to bear. My attendants have tried to look out for me, but it has been relatively recently that I've begun to... allow them in," she admitted. "I've always felt alone, like this burden was mine and mine alone to bear."

Eirika's expression fell when she heard Blaze continue. She could sympathise with the sentiment. The difference was that she still had a brother to look out for her. Not at the academy and the last time she'd seen Ephraim it wasn't a good time. She didn't feel like she nearly got enough time with him either.

She shook her head slowly. "I'm... sorry to hear of your suffering, Blaze. It may not mean much, but I'm here if you need me to be. When you need me to be. I understand your position far more than it seems. It would appear that we have more than a couple of things in common..."

She nodded. "It would definitely seem so," she answered. "And I appreciate it, I really do. For the longest time, I felt I couldn't rely on anyone, couldn't trust anyone or share my burden with anyone else. But I met some friends who started to change that. I know I don't have to be alone anymore."

"For the longest time, I felt I couldn't rely on anyone, couldn't trust anyone or share my burden with anyone else."

It sounded like something Eirika would say. But many times before Blaze had reflected words that Eirika thought on the inside. There was some admiration where Blaze's open demeanour was concerned.

"Then let's always do the best that we can together, Princess. I certainly feel stronger when I have you around, and mayhap one day I'll be able to show you my homeland as well."

Blaze's small smile returned, and she nodded in agreement. "Agreed," she said. "We will do our best together. I look forward to seeing your own homeland one day. We will get you back there, I promise."

"I know," Eirika admitted, though she didn't sound nearly as convinced as she'd wanted to. Of course one day she'd see Renais again, and she hoped by that time the war would be over and a state of peace could finally reign. "I'll show you my favourite places and everything. There was a beautiful garden and fountain in the courtyards. I used to spend hours there, doing little, but thinking much."

Then she turned to look over to Blaze with a small smile. "Did you have anything like that here? Someplace that took your breath away and made you the most happy?"

Blaze thought hard about it, placing a hand on her chin. When she finally settled on just the thing, she looked up at Eirika. "I do... But it's a bit of a walk. Do you mind?"

"No, of course not."

Like Blaze needed to ask. She could have dragged Eirika around anywhere and Renais's princess probably wouldn't have cared. "Don't feel the need to rush. I don't have anything really waiting for me." At least nothing that couldn't wait for a little later. Connor would survive for a bit without her and of that, she was absolutely certain.

Blaze nodded. "Then follow me," she said, leading Erika down the path. She could have run there much faster, but Eirika didn't have super speed. It was a fair walk, down past the pier towards the mountains and into the woods.

Past the woods, and several clearings, there was quite the sight to behold. A partially flooded castle stood off a cliff, tall towers gleaming. It was an ornate castle on the water.

"This is Kingdom Valley," Blaze explained. "It... WAS the royal residence, when my parents were alive."

The walk in silence was fine. Comfortable, even. Eirika didn't mind. Being a diplomat oft meant listening and hearing to understand people. Or observing. In cases where it wasn't social galas, it was usually observance that she was committed to. Whatever the case, it didn't seem as long as it probably was, and she chalked that up to enjoyable companionship.

As she looked around, she took everything in quietly with much reverence for her own memories, and her own parents. "You do not use it any longer?" she asked as her eyebrows knit together. After all, Blaze was still a princess, with or without her parents. Laws of lineage tended to follow that.

"It serves a ceremonial role," Blaze explained. "But ever since... Well, you know. Ever since then, I haven't been comfortable there."

She looked out over the valley and the towers that dotted it. "Sometimes I forget just how beautiful it is here."

A ceremonial role. A bit akin to Renais's castle, Eirika imagined. She didn't say it, but hearing Blaze made her wonder if she had the opportunity to go elsewhere to rule if she even would. There was only one Palace of Renais, only one place for her to properly raise her sword and lead the people who followed her so willingly. And in the end, she decided every ache of pain was one she had to hold close to her.

Because at least she was alive. Seth had told her once that as long as she and Ephraim were living, Renais still had hope.

"There is beauty, even where there is sadness," Eirika found herself agreeing with a slow nod as she followed Blaze's gaze. "Blaze, are you alone here? I mean, have you no friends, no support behind you? Surely you were not left such leadership on your own."

Curiosity is Curiosity

Re: Curiosity is Curiosity

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject