[Action]

[lunarborn]

[Cecil hadn't known he had a son. He hadn't known how quickly he would grow to love that son, nor how heartbroken he would be when the boy would flee the relative safety of his household due to the tiniest of scuffles with a good friend. A good friend who, evidently, had been wildly and passionately lusting after the woman who is now Cecil's wife. Let alone the things he's been doing with Cecil's own adopted daughter. It's been a hard month, and it just became harder with the tree event and subsequent loss of his son's presence in the house. It hadn't taken him very long to become completely enamored with that boy.

This time, lacking a proper confidante, Cecil is attempting to resolve his inner struggles without a physical outlet. He's gone out to the desert today, dug his blade into the sand, and knelt before the design on its hilt. He's having a moment of prayer, but won't mind discussing it if he's interrupted. All are welcome.]

[OOC: This is mostly a placeholder post; threads will be tagged come morning. <3]

Comments

[esper-flight.livejournal.com]

[Terra doesn't often visit the desert, but with Moro in such a state, there's no sense in visiting the forest for now. Her plans include sticking near the mountains, but occasionally, she ventures out further when something catches her interest. Like now.

Spotting someone below as she soars around in Esper form, Terra grows curious. When she's close enough to recognize Cecil, the half-esper backs away and checks to make certain that he doesn't notice anything before landing and reverting to human form.

Only then does she step forward, pausing with in a few paces. She doesn't say anything at first, curious...and uncertain if she ought to be interrupting.]

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

[After a period, Cecil's concentration breaks long enough to recognize the crunch in the sand denoting someone's presence. He glances over his shoulder at her, smiling softly.] Milady Terra. It has been far too long since we've last spoken.

[esper-flight.livejournal.com]

[Terra smiles in return, remembering that well and relieved that there doesn't seem to be the tension of last time.]

Hello, Cecil...and I suppose it has. What are you doing out here?

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

[There's been enough time since then for Cecil to calm somewhat and become less upfront about his concerns over Luceti's politics.]

I was utilizing the moment to... commune with nature, as it were. [Somewhat]

[esper-flight.livejournal.com]

[Terra glances around at the desert terrain, a little surprised. Most people don't visit the desert for such things, but then she remembers Moro's message.]

Oh, I see. And you chose the desert because the woods are off-limits, for now?

[She glances at him curiously.]

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

That also. [Though he looks eager to skirt the topic completely.]

[esper-flight.livejournal.com]

[Terra nods, though unfortunately for Cecil, she doesn't always pick up on subtleties.]

I saw Ceodore trying to commune with nature, too. Sort of. It seems a strange time for it, but I hope it goes well.

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

Oh, you and Ceodore have met? [There have been far stranger times for such prayer, truthfully.]

[esper-flight.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. Not far from here, actually.

[She glances around, unable to pinpoint the exact location, but it doesn't matter, anyway.]

He's a very nice boy. I'm glad to have met him.

[orchidsandfire.livejournal.com]

[Diana is patrolling the desert when she spots a lone figure amidst the expanse of sand. She hovers high above Cecil, looking curiously at what obviously was a ritual of prayer. This is the first time she's seen someone pray in Luceti.]

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

[That could be because prayer is such a private, personal matter that most would rather do in secret. At least, that's what Cecil has done to convince himself that his Lucetian neighbors aren't all faithless heathens. Diana is high enough that Cecil doesn't detect her presence just yet, and instead bows down lower, issuing his words in a quiet murmur.]

[orchidsandfire.livejournal.com]

[She doesn't want to interrupt, so she only lowers herself to the ground when it looks like he's finished talking to his god/s.]

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

[He pulls himself upright after a short pause, though his gaze remains skyward until the woman appears before him.] Ah... Good afternoon, Milady. Might I help you?

[orchidsandfire.livejournal.com]

I apologize for the intrusion. I was patrolling the area when I saw you, and I grew curious.

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

No intrusion at all, dear lady. I've settled myself in quite an open area. It is to be expected. But curious? Whyever so?

[orchidsandfire.livejournal.com]

It is the first time I've seen someone pray here, though it might be because other religions are more private.

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

Ah... Forgive me if I've offended your sensibilities with my actions. It is unlikely that my prayer was heard from this distance anyway.

[orchidsandfire.livejournal.com]

Oh -- I am not offended. I am actually pleased. It's good to know that there is still faith, no matter what kind, even in this world.

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

I think that without faith, we all would have gone mad long ago from imprisonment.

[orchidsandfire.livejournal.com]

I just hope our gods can hear us from here.

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

If we could only be so fortunate. Has Milady very many gods...?

[orchidsandfire.livejournal.com]

I have quite a lot -- the entire Greek pantheon, in fact. [But she doesn't think he recognizes them.] And you?

[uspoonybard.livejournal.com]

[Tellah will be warping in for a moment and will wait until Cecil's moment is over. He could imagine how hard the month had been on him, and wanted to do what he could to offer any support he could.]

Are you alright, Cecil?

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

[Aww, Tellah. It's less that the month has been hard, but more that it's really quite hard to keep burying the unpleasant in a place where the unpleasant likes to smack you in the face. Metaphorically.] Ah--Tellah, you've startled me! [Though he didn't exactly jump when the old man appeared so close by.] I'm well. How fare you? [Because the proper way to handle concern is to deflect it and pretend they're not talking about him.]

[uspoonybard.livejournal.com]

[Well, when it comes to the rather abusive relationship between Tellah and his pseudo-son-in-law, it's not quite as metaphorical as in other cases. Tellah's going for the high score in 'Whack-an-Ed'.]

I am fine. I did not come out here to talk about me, however... [Nice try Cecil. But he's not a Sage for nothing remember.]

I can only imagine the torrent of emotions you must be feeling right now. I remember, when Anna was born, it was the happiest moment of my life. The simple experience of becoming a father is something that is beyond words... and while I can tell that you have grown to love Ceodore in hardly no time at all, I cannot fathom having that experience stolen from me...

[He pulls his pipe from within his robe and chews on it slightly.]

Ceodore wanted me to tell you and Rosa that he has taken to camping in the forest for the time being, and that he is fine.

[lunarborn.livejournal.com]

Ceodore is a good lad. He's honest and good. Eager and strong. He shall be a fitting heir someday. [He doesn't meet Tellah's eyes as he says any of this; it's far too personal for him to say with any comfort.] As long as he continues to act properly, there is no reason to worry.

....Yet I am happy that he's safe. Why is it that he's left? [The unspoken question is very much there: "Am I a terrible father?"]

[uspoonybard.livejournal.com]

Think for a moment, Cecil. When you were that age, would you have honestly handled being thrust into a hostile environment full of strange and alien beings that all either commanded superhuman abilities or remarkable skill of some sort, find yourself trapped in said environment, find that your parents had been trapped as well as family friends and old men that are supposed to have been long dead, only to find that they did not yet know you?

He's been through a lot, Cecil. We all have. He just needs some time.

[Having counseled several new fathers in their child rearing in Mysidia once Anna had grown to adulthood, Tellah was quick to pick up on that unspoken question.]

He admires you, adores you, with all his heart. He wants nothing more than to be worthy of the pride you have in him. Does that sound like the traits of a bad father? Personally, I can think of no better affirmation for a father that they're doing something right. You are a wonderful father Cecil. Don't doubt that for a second.