The Woods, Sunday Night

[suitably_heroic]

The stone had laid dormant for two full days, its light no more than a gentle heartbeat.

But as the sun began to sink in the distance, that light pulsed back into radiance. Mist crawled back from the edges of the clearing, pulled by the stone's irrepressible gravity.

And so were the dead drawn back to the stone, its call gentle but insistent: come home.

[[ for all your teary goodbyes. open ]]

Comments

[notconflicted]

The weekend hadn't gone at all like Sia would have wanted. She and Roan hasn't talked about their fight, an unspoken agreement that if they only had so much time, this was an argument they would keep having. The problem was that Sia's entire life now was a job she hated and, if she was being honest, she resented him for. That was all she did, which meant that the only thing she could really talk to him about were galactic matters, which he had opinions on, mostly that everything was all wrong.

She'd listened, because she still wanted to hear what he thought, even if she didn't agree, even if he didn't have the most current information, even if it was his fault several times over she was in this position. She'd listened because he'd so far taught her to fight a war but not to govern and maybe she could learn something, and because she'd missed him.

When it was time for him to go, it was both a relief and hurt at the same time.

[fel3]

Roan hadn't wanted her to come all the way with him. There was something about her watching him disappear that he didn't want for either of them. Instead he stopped at the edge of the woods, where she first found him, and turned to look at her.

"I left the Empire in good hands," he told her.

It was a very short way of saying a lot of things. If he could stay and fix things for her, he would, but their ideas of how to fix things were very different. He just had to trust that she would be fine.

[notconflicted]

"I know," Sia nodded, even if she had some giant misgivings there. She reached out to hug him, and felt like she should have more to say here, but she wasn't sure they needed it.

They'd spent the weekend avoiding things so that they could feel okay about it, why stop now?

[fel3]

Roan felt about the same. Apologies wouldn't happen, and nothing would change, now wasn't the time to decide it had to. He hugged her back, and kissed her cheek. They weren't exactly a warm family, but this was better than how things had ended before.

"May the Force be with you," he said, and turned to start off into the woods.

[dishonored_dreamer]

For some, the visit had been short, though with purpose, and was going to end with no fanfare at all. Angeal had said his piece to Zack. Zack had said so much more back, and now it was time for him to leave.

It was a shame there were no Gaian monsters on the island, SOLDIERs aside. He couldn't keep an eye on Zack from the lifestream so long as he was here.

Ruminating on that thought, and deciding it was possibly for the best that Zack couldn't see what had been left behind, he made his way into the woods without a sound.

[defiance_in_exile]

After the bar, Meetra was moving. And fast.

Not because she didn't want to talk to Atton about it. But because she wasn't sure there was anything she could say that would make any of it better.

[rebelseekspizza]

Eva went, and Dante trailed after her, trying not to fidget, trying not to cling to her.

"Mom," he said softly, when they were close. When he could see the fog, roiling in the distance.

[an_angel_scorned]

That one word was all Eva needed. She turned around, her arms wrapping back around her boy. He's alive. He's alive. He's alive.

"You are so strong, and so good," she whispered. "I am so proud of you."

[suitably_heroic]

"Meetra!" Atton called.

He was running towards her as fast as he could. Space, that stone was too close.

[in_mipha_we_trust]

Could there have ever been a Zora to drag his heels so much or be as forlorn as the prince himself that night? It would almost be comical if the situation weren't quite so dire and serious. Sighing softly, Mipha stopped as they neared the spot in the wood where the gateway would be and turned around, looking up (and up and up!--there certainly no questioning which of them was truly meant to lead the Zora!) at her brother and offering what she hoped was her most compassionate and gentle smile yet.

"Really, now, Sidon," she said, unable to keep the faint sigh out of her whisper of a voice, realizing that some things may never change, no matter how many years and across how many thresholds may separate them and she will always have to play the part of the big sister, "must you sulk so? It serves little purpose but to make our already difficult task that much more heartbreaking."

[in_sidon_we_trust]

"Yes, sweet sister, I know," Sidon couldn't help a heaving sigh of his own, a great gust compared to her soft breeze, "but I can barely help myself, can I? I hardly mean to diminish what we have been able to share these past few days, but how can I not find myself utterly devastated by the cruel double-edge of this sword? We both know all too well what it is that you must return to, and I am expected to just helplessly stand by and allow such misfortune? If only there were something...anything!...that could be done!"

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy had done this once before from the other side. Turned out this side wasn't any better to be doing it from. At least when it had been her turn to go, she'd known that she was going to rest, and sleep, and stop hurting.

On this side, she was fully aware of how long this hurt was going to linger.

"Sarah--" she said, voice cracking.

[spectre_alenko]

Kaidan walked with Ash into the woods. He wasn't sure where she was going but he let her lead the way. There was a weird mist and he wasn't sure if it was normal - and didn't really want to speculate.

[nobodydoesntlike]

"Shhh, it's okay unni," Sarah said. "It doesn't hurt. And I'm leaving you with people who love you. That's important. And I totally left them some tips on how to be even better to you in the future, so the next time Dante, like, does a load of laundry, light some incense to me in thanks or whatever."

[random_encounters]

Ash lead the way. She could feel the pull of the stone, the same sense of presence asking her to come home. Felt the border like a thin membrane. All she had to do was step beyond it.

She stopped just this side of it and took a breath. "This is it. L-T.. Kaidan.. " She'd said everything she felt the need to say. Heard everything she thought he needed to say. Didn't know what to say now.

[spin_kick_snap]

"But nobody loves me quite like you do," she said. "And I don't love anyone the way I love you."

[spectre_alenko]

Kaidan reached out and pulled her into a hug. "This time, we get a goodbye, right?"

[firstofitskind]

Two days.

He'd had two days to get to know his mother. Actually know her, and not just of her through inherited memories.

It had been two days more than he'd ever thought he'd have, and also not nearly enough time at all.

"Mother," he started to say, for once not stumbling over what to call her.

[random_encounters]

She fell into it, hugging him back tightly. This was also a new thing. The Kaidan she used to know wouldn't have initiated a hug with anyone. It wasn't a complaint.

"Don't you feel guilty," she said fiercely, "Shepard made the choice I would have made in his shoes. You would have made it too. You don't carry that anymore, do you hear me? You let me go this time and you let the guilt go, too, because so help me if I have to come back here and have this talk with you again, I will kick your ass!"

[spectre_alenko]

His voice was a little thick but he laughed all the same. "I'll try, Ash. When you go back, try to find Shepard. Kick his ass for awhile."

[random_encounters]

"You're sure he's.." She looked up at him.

[spectre_alenko]

Kaidan bowed his head and nodded. "I'm sure. There was no body but.. I feel it, you know? It's different than the last time. There's just sort of this serene space where his presence used to be. He's really dead, Ash. I'm sorry."

[random_encounters]

She sighed. She'd expected that answer but it still didn't make it easier to hear. "I'll look for him," Ash promised him.

She held him a few moments longer. Then she stepped away. Helmet under one arm, she snapped into a full salute. The only thing not regulation about it was her smile.

"Commander Alenko," she said softly with a single shake of her head, "I don't regret a thing."

[tiedtothestars]

"Liam," she interrupted him, her voice soft as she reached up to touch his cheek. "Shh, now. I know- you feel it's too soon. But this time was a gift, for both of us. I don't want you dwelling too much on what could have been."

[spectre_alenko]

Kaidan saluted her back and held it. "It was an honor knowing you, Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams. You served with honor. Your sacrifice helped save the galaxy. You will not be forgotten."

He swallowed against a rising lump in his throat. "Goodbye, Ash. I'll miss you."