Echoes of Ages Past [closed]

[hammerbearer]

Who: Gaia, Duty (Pyrrha)
What: Meditation, Conversation at Sanctuary. Gaia struggles to handle emotions surrounding her lack of control powers.
When: Early-Mid November
Where: Sanctuary Courtyard

Content Warnings: Loss of Control, possible warp of reality into alarming shapes.



Should Duty still be aiding the efforts of Haven, he'd no doubt have caught wind of Gaia's latest troubles. She gets her work done and at least this time whatever time spells she's using are holding as they should be (even if their use has moved on from preserving blood for the special mortar by this time). But another Darkblood power has gone on the fritz- the power to change reality itself- and while she certainly puts on a brave face, it certainly has been taking its toll.

Gaia can be found in a quiet corner of Sanctuary's courtyard, eyes closed and features relaxed after a session of purification. She would have to admit learning meditation has helped sort the confusion of memories. What is hers, what were D's or others she picked up months ago with the unfortunate onslaught of psychometry. And she's even found ways to benefit from the skills they hold while not completely losing herself to them.

But it's only effective as a stop-gap to her current issues. Before, Gaia had been frustrated but determined to find work-arounds to her time spells' working with varying degrees of strength and success. This latest problem had triggered a primal fear sewn so deep into her subconscious that even the utter lack of memories had not seemed to lessen it. Gaia has her suspicions of why, but there's little she can do about it but endure the emotions.

For the time being, meditation or the attempt to focus on it does bring some calm back if nothing else. And with calm could come control.

Right?

Comments

[hammerbearer]

Gaia looks up to study Duty carefully. There's been trust built between them, yet it's clear this is one of those things you don't talk about with just anyone. Well... that's how a lot of things are with peoples' 'world before Trench' isn't it?

"It's more a matter of who wouldn't be connected where I came from," Gaia begins after a moment. "It's just that there are some who are more aware of the story than most."

Even she doesn't know all of it. Her memories were jumbled from incidents that happened even before her experiences in Trench. Most of what she has is what she had written down and was blessedly found in her bag on arrival. And what she's written since.

"A long time ago, mankind was a lot more powerful. Apparently, they could even create whatever they pleased. Something made them lose control of that ability. I think... those events were so terrible, even people of the present- in my world- are able to experience that fear when confronted with something similar."

Gaia seems to think for a while. Then she focuses on Duty again and adds. "Nara'a Sunvara is from my world. Sort of." It's complicated. "He might be able to explain more." The teenager shrugs half-sheepishly.

"There's only a little I remember about it. Even before I came to Trench, my memories weren't great. And I wasn't ever much of a scholar."

Gaia certainly has more connection than most to the whole tale. In part she's reluctant to get into that much personal detail though it might be obvious she isn't saying everything. Offering Nara'a's name to Duty might be seen as an invitation to learn more about the less personal bits of the situation.

She isn't entirely adverse to the man seeking to learn more about it.

[martyrofduty]

The issue isn't only Gaia's, it's far larger than that. Some of it will come back to her, but the basics he can get from someone else. Fair enough. Perhaps then he can better help. At the end of the day, however, Gaia has to handle it herself. He cannot do it for her.

"Traumatic," Duty says, serious and heavy. That word carries an understanding of world ending, humanity ending trauma. Not the same one, but he gets it to some degree. His apocalypse was in his lifetime, but he doesn't have memories from before it. He doesn't have all of his memories from after it. He doesn't need Darkblood memory issues to have holes in his memories.

"I'll talk with him, thank you," Duty says. He decides against the serious but honest statement that, at the end of the day, they each must carry and recover as best they can from the traumas they carry. Not all injuries can be healed; the rest takes hard work.

Instead he sits and considers her dilemma. "If possible, would you want an on/off switch?" Duty asks. He means of her powers. Darkblood. Possibly (possibly not) her natural abilities. Some extreme if inconvenient measure of control.

[hammerbearer]

Gaia certainly didn't need the Darkblood memory issues in her life either as she already had a lot of holes in her memory. But that's what she keeps journals for.

In any case, she seems a little curious about the level of empathy in Duty's tone. However she doesn't pursue it. It's not as if she has much to go on to offer in turn and the conversation wasn't really about Duty's past. She is thankful he seems to understand.

The question he poses earns a brief flinch that implies an instinctive alarm that Duty might have just implied it was in his capacity. But that's not what he said, was it? And even if it was, Gaia scowls and seems to think it over for a moment before shaking her head firmly.

"No," she finally offers. Her gaze focuses on him and her answer seems certain. "It's a part of who I am and I've no intention of running away from it. Besides, something that convenient would probably come with a heavy price. Especially here."

Trench was not so kind as to offer a solution without any strings attached.

"Even if it was a switch I would have complete control over," her tone indicates this is highly doubtful, "Giving up an advantage against the dangers in this world seems like something someone should do as an absolute last resort. No matter how temporary."

To protect herself and those she cares about.

"It's like you said. It's better to learn how to adapt. And making certain the fear doesn't overwhelm me."

Duty may not have said it in so many words, but that's what Gaia took from them.

[martyrofduty]

Her initial reaction shows on her face—fear, judgment, reflection, determination. After a conversation filled with uncertainty, doubt, and fear—none of those bad things in and of themselves, to be certain—it pleases Duty to see Gaia again sure of herself, of her beliefs and what path that means she chooses.

Whether Duty agrees with Gaia's reasoning or resulting answer doesn't matter. The girl living by her beliefs is the point.

He nods. "You have a path," he says. She still needs to walk it, but Gaia doesn't need to hear that from him. Nor does she need his approval, though she has it.

[hammerbearer]

A path. Duty may not say many words, but the ones he does offer are ones that are good to hear. Gaia closes her eyes a moment to think about it before they open again and she smiles toward him. Approval aside, she's grateful.

"Thank you, Duty. It's nice to talk to someone, even if it's just a little."

D is in and out, Gaia is often busy with her own thing and Nara'a has been unavailable this month- that latter thing she's a little worried about but fortunately it will resolve itself by month's end.

Just like a lot of things, such as the focus of her current troubles. Gaia's attention is drawn to the Guardian Tree.

"I hope things have been going a bit more smoothly for you." It's not as if she's ever asked what Duty's bloodtype is. Nor would she want to pry to much. The man will tell her if he wants her to know.

[martyrofduty]

"You're welcome," he says and means it. So few words can carry a great deal of meaning; his always do.

He too watches the tree, relaxed into a meditation pose. "I find my rhythm," Duty says, "every month." Whether it's the cold or the need to sleep or the need for song. A song plays in the back of his head, and he hums faintly without opening his mouth.

He's never hidden his blood type. He is who he is.

[hammerbearer]

Gaia smiles wryly. "So you pace yourself. I know a few that could stand to learn that lesson."

She might get thrown off from time to time, but Gaia doesn't consider herself lacking in the sense to at least consciously make an effort to find her rhythm.

Duty then gets a quick, suspicious look when he starts humming. She's trying to ignore how catchy it is and the urge to hum along.

"Oh, rhythm. Was that a joke?"

[martyrofduty]

Duty's eyes gleam. He inclines his head slightly—enough it could be an acknowledgment or an adjustment. Is it a joke? He asks her to make that judgment in his silence.