Excerpt 002: Traveler's Rest

[rekindledtitan]

TYPE: Personal log

LOCATION: The Last City, Earth

PARTIES: Three [3]. One [1] Ghost-type, [1] Guardian-type, designate Blaze-37, Class Titan [rekindledtitan ], One [1] Unconfirmed, designate Willis, Verity [brave_heart_verity ]; [other parties redacted]


ASSOCIATIONS: Multiversal Nexus; Verity Willis; Earth; The City; Vanguard; Blaze-37; Glass-smiths


An Exo ought to be good at waiting. They're soldier and machine both, trained for stoicism and designed for tireless analysis. Blaze sometimes thinks she’s the only one built who ever gets bored. (Aside from Cayde, maybe, and he makes it sound like he's had a very long time to learn.)

Her patrol concluded without much incident, she paces back to the Forum, guns still dozing at her back and her Ghost zipping curiously from one side to the other ahead of her. It murmurs its observations to her in passing, and she responds gladly. A fight would be better, but she’ll take the idle chatter. Her memory is brimming with new half-processed data, even from one patrol in the Nexus – odd discussions heard and alien kitchens smelt, the weird spiky grass in the park crunching under her boots, so many- one hundred and forty-three new faces since the last trip, ninety-one human by visual-

But she isn’t one for dwelling on things. So she circles the Forum to take in the sights, cutting her route through the spot where she and Verity last spoke to make sure of spotting her friend.

Comments

[brave_heart_verity]

That's not a story she's familiar with, but she's barely familiar with stories so she files it away as "something I haven't got to yet". "It's nice to know you'd be so valiant a defender of my honor. Thank you."

Ghost's explanation gets a thoughtful hum. She can't really blame them for using whatever they could. A rash is the lesser of two evils. "I'll be careful. Thanks for the warning." Not that she expects to be let out of the Tower soon, or ever.

"Thank you, Ghost." Ghost is awesome. There is again the urge to try petting him, but again she refrains. Not something to attempt for the first time in public like this. She looks over the blue section, but having no real idea what any of this is, she can't make much sense of it. When he starts setting up the comparisons she leans back and stretches. "Oh, please, take your time. Better safe than sorry."

[rekindledtitan]

"Ah, any time." Blaze chuckles happily, although if Verity ever does have an impertinent dragon on her hands, well, the Titan was being quite sincere.

"My pleasure," Ghost replies, still hovering over the computer, waiting to help with the next comparisons. "It's interesting to stretch my biological protocols once in a while."

The doctor nods to Verity's latter remark. "It's better not to take chances in our situation."

The analysis takes a couple of minutes with Ghost's help, but after examining the results, Dr. Saab pronounces himself satisfied. After a few general-health questions, he'll be able to prep the shots for her. Blaze perks up at this sign of progress, although personally she doesn't envy her friend all that getting punctured. It looks much more uncomfortable than just opening an access panel.

[brave_heart_verity]

Oh, it's really only a matter of time before Verity pisses off a dragon or something. Being her friend is bound to be endlessly rewarding when it comes to these things.

"Well, we wouldn't want you to get out of practice." She's sure there's all kinds of interesting biological things to examine in the Nexus. People and plants and probably the furniture sometimes. Even the rocks are sometimes gargoyles.

Shots are so much more uncomfortable. Needles are not great fun. But, needs must, and Verity holds out her arm when the time comes and closes her eyes. Deep breaths. Staying calm will help it hurt the least.

[rekindledtitan]

That may not be why Blaze likes her now, but it's worth adding to the list.

"Considering all of the new friends we're making, I agree." The gargoyles are particularly exciting, it must be said! But the Ghost has been minding its manners and not taking scans of people without permission.

Notwithstanding all these cryptic remarks (although, youngish Guardian plus obviously crazy exploration missions: he can supply his own answers) the doctor is sympathetic to Verity's dislike for the needles. He does his best to make sure the jabs are as painless and non-jabby as possible, talking to her all the while. "Nice and still now, you'll feel a pinprick and then some pressure, okay? ...And very good, we'll just give that a little wipe now..."

He doesn't rush, because the only thing worse than getting a series of needles stuck in you is having them stuck in you repeatedly to correct mistakes. Still, he's soon placing what feels like a band-aid over the last and sorest injection site. (It is a band-aid, and presumably for important public health reasons, it has a little Ghost picture on it.) "And there you are, all done!"

[brave_heart_verity]

Ghost is a gentleman and a scholar. Blaze is brave and forthright. No wonder they make such a good team.

Verity hasn't had this many shots in a while, but she knows the routine. Deep breaths, let it out while getting the shot, and save the squirming for in-between. Listening to him talk about what he's doing isn't her favorite way of not thinking about it, but he means well so she won't actually kick him.

"Thank you." The picture on the band-aid gets a smirk from her. "Cute. When do I need to come back?"

[rekindledtitan]

"Two weeks, all going well. You might feel some nausea and mild symptoms, like a flu, and your arm will be sore for a little while. But if you experience any strong fever, pains or fainting, you call me immediately, okay? Your friends here will show you how to use the public comms network."

"So she's good to go?" Blaze asks hopefully. "We've got a whole lot of Tower to get to."

"Digestive supplements first, Guardian. Then you can go." Which come in a little cup, so hooray. It tastes like a slightly odd yogurt.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Thank you, Doctor. I will."

She'll eat the yogurt stuff as quick as she can. She doesn't want to make Blaze wait any longer than necessary. It's not the best thing ever but it's better than another shot.

"There. I believe we're now free to go."

[rekindledtitan]

The doctor takes the cup back and smiles approvingly. "Take care out there. And I hope you enjoy the City, for however long you're staying." He shoots Blaze a curious look at that, but she doesn't seem to notice.

"Thanks, doctor. Good luck with the, uh, patients." With a nod to Verity, she leads the way out of the door, eager to get moving. "So, first stop: the Warlock halls." She keeps her promises, although she isn't blessed with a knack for discretion.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Thank you." The doctor and the receptionist get waves on her way out, but she won't let anything delay Blaze any longer. Thank goodness she doesn't have to worry about insurance paperwork.

To be honest, she's glad to be moving again too. Even a good doctor isn't as much fun as exploring. "That sounds exciting. What is it that Warlocks do?"

[rekindledtitan]

"They're another type of Guardian. Warrior-scholars, with more of an emphasis on the scholar. They study the Traveler's Light and draw power from understanding it better."

As they re-emerge onto the plaza, she points out a Guardian nearby, an Awoken man with pale blue skin and a rather punk-looking red hairdo. He's also wearing what looks like a cross between a robe and an armored longcoat. On his left arm is something glimmering, as if it's set with an intricately cut jewel. "See the ones with the coats and the bonds on their arms? That's them."

[brave_heart_verity]

Blue skin and punk hair? Eye-catching. "The bond is the jewel? That... helps them with... the light?" Maybe they should just sit her down in front of a computer and let her read the Wiki up on all this stuff. "How do Guardians choose what they're going to do?"

[rekindledtitan]

Blaze isn't judging. She knows it's a lot to take in. She's been there, and not so long ago. "It's a kind of armband. Doesn't do anything, exactly. It's a symbol. Like Hunters have cloaks, and Titans like me have marks." She slaps the embroidered and battle-stained cloth at her hip.

They're turning right along the side of the plaza, toward an entrance marked by green banners. Blaze sounds thoughtful as she considers Verity's second question. "You know, I'm not sure how you know. It's just an instinct, I guess. Although, Ghost, you put together that light plate and a mark for me the day you raised me. So I guess Ghosts know from the start. Something in how our Light responds, maybe."

[brave_heart_verity]

It really is so much to take in. The shape of the world is familiar, and the people are still people, but so many details are foreign. It's a little unnerving, like falling into the Uncanny Valley sometimes. "Oh. So... Ghost... I'm guessing you don't mean 'raised' like in raising a child because that would take more than a day."

Green banners mean warlocks? She can remember that.

[rekindledtitan]

"Heh, no. More like raised from the dead. The first time, I mean, on the day it found me." Ghost gets a fond look at that. Maybe the familial comparison isn't so far off.

Green banners mean the North Tower, according to the writing on the walls. Or at least a passage leading there. At least the people here believe in good signage? The passage also doubles as storage for odd piles of crates, and it's accumulated a few piles of broad red leaves.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Oh. I'm sorry." Nobody ever taught her the proper etiquette for talking to the formerly deceased, and her condolences are awkward enough under more familiar circumstances. Plus she kinda thought Blaze was a robot.

Good signage is a sign of a good functional society, in her opinion. She approves. She also lingers to look at those leaves, although she doesn't touch them. "What's this?"

[rekindledtitan]

She's an undead robot. Sort of? Death is complicated around here.

"Why? Best day of my- well, you know." She laughs heartily. "All Guardians start out like that. It's kinda confusing at first, but you settle in pretty quick." If you're lucky anyway.

Ghost is quicker to answer the question. It's a type of maple, I think. There are a few of them around the Tower."

Further down the passage, in a corner, there's another frame sweeping up the leaves with an old-fashioned broom. Super-advanced robot using a broom. Odd details, indeed.

[brave_heart_verity]

It's going to take a while for her to get the hang of things around here.

"I mean that you were. Um. Nevermind." Better to keep her friend laughing and happy. Who knows what Blaze is better off not remembering. "So all the Guardians are raised by their Ghosts? And then you work together? It's good you two get along so well."

There's nothing wrong with doing things the old-fashioned way. Trying to reinvent sweeping wouldn't be a super productive use of their time.

[rekindledtitan]

"Yeah. It'd be a disaster if you didn't trust your Ghost. It's the one who'll keep you on your feet and teach you what you're doing in this crazy new world."

"Not to boast, but I think I chose rather well." And it can go the other way, but no need to speak of that.

There are a few other doors along the passage, and the farther they go the more people seem to be around, especially civilians. Some are clearly technicians in well-worn jumpsuits; the rest favor warm thick pants and layered clothing, especially scarves draped over their heads and shoulders. Several of them wear red with the white stripe and dashes of the New Monarchy faction. Humans of assorted shape and color and gender make up a rough majority, with the rest split between Exos and Awoken.

[brave_heart_verity]

She can understand that. It'd be like not trusting a parent and a battlefield partner at the same time. Tragic and dangerous.

"I think you chose very well."

She keeps track of the doors they pass and makes mental notes about the fashion. Thick and warm isn't exactly the fashion where she's from, but it seems a great deal more practical. The scarves are lovely, but she has no idea what the colors mean or that there are political factions. Possibly for the best. She's American and has a deep and abiding distrust of monarchies.

So of course, she has to ask. "What do the red and white scarves mean? There are a lot of people wearing them."

[rekindledtitan]

Blaze shakes her head, chuckling. "I'm definitely great at making friends with sweet-talkers."

She glances around at Verity's question, as if taking stock of the numbers. Even one or two Guardians are wearing bits of red and white. "Oh, New Monarchy. They're one of the political factions here. Their basic deal is that they want the City to be ruled by a king or queen."

From her amused tone, she considers this a pretty hare-brained scheme.

[brave_heart_verity]

"I wonder how you got stuck with me, then." Verity doesn't consider herself 'sweet'. She's never seen much point to it. She's the grown-up version of the little girl who always yanked off Santa's beard.

"Seriously? That's sad. Do you guys remember a little family called the Tudors? Or the Habsburgs? And I'm asking that honestly, because if your historical records don't currently include what happens when royal families get all inbred and crazy then I'm bringing some books next time I visit."

[rekindledtitan]

"I have some really awesome luck." And a way more optimistic view of Verity than she has of herself. If Blaze realizes that, she'll have to give her friend a talk.

"Hmm. I don't know them. Ours couldn't be too picky about who they paired up with, though: the only other royal is the Awoken Queen and- uh. That would never happen." She shakes her head - too weird. Just too weird. "Could pick an Exo, of course, but then you get one person holding power for pretty much ever. Same goes for any Guardian, really. Just wouldn't hold up."

[brave_heart_verity]

"If you say so." Blaze is the undisputed optimist between them and is welcome to the title.

"The Tudors and the Habsburgs were royal families in medieval and Renaissance Europe. The Habsburgs made it to the first world war even. The Tudors went nuts and killed off most of their own relatives, and the Habsburgs were just. Inbred. Distorted features and sometimes impaired mental abilities. Not an ideal situation. But I'm a socialist democrat, I believe in people holding the power, so I'm not inclined to see any form of monarchy as a good thing."

[rekindledtitan]

"That Habsburg business just seems cruel to everyone involved," she comments. She gives an amused glance toward a couple of Monarchists diligently transporting a cart of weapon crates. "You know, the word is they asked Zavala to be their king. He turned them down. I asked him about it one time and he just said some people in the City needed to learn their history. You should bring those books. They might help."

[brave_heart_verity]

"It really was. But I suspect people here have some idea how important genetic diversity is. That wasn't something people understood when cousins were marrying cousins to consolidate political power. Zavala is...? I'm sorry if you've mentioned the name before, it's a lot of new information to take in." And she's not at her best these days.