text - PSA from Attleton Guardian's office

[captain_by_the_book]

The effect on Attleton has faded. The town is safe to return for all who have evacuated, life is starting to return to normal.

An announcement regarding the October projects which had to be rescheduled will follow once normal conditions have been restored, at which point the Guardian's office will also hear your concerns.

Comments

[captain_by_the_book]

[ Ummm...

Cassian blinks slowly and stares at his communicator as if it's turned in a jelly monster. ]

I feel like this conversation has just gotten derailed.

[ What the kriff even. ]

I don't understand a word of that and I'm not sure I want to.

[melodiouspacifist]

Oh it's not important, just one of the missions I did...that I failed. Saix was pretty mad.

[It's not important Cassian.]

[captain_by_the_book]

Oh.

[ Yes, yes, it is important to him now.

His voice goes lower, softer again. Trust me vibes.]

Were you punished for your failure?

[melodiouspacifist]

[He shifts a little. It depends on what Cassian means.]

Not exactly. We're really busy and short handed but my orders changed. Bring Roxas back at any cost.

[He signed his death warrant.]

[captain_by_the_book]

Did you do it?

[ He keeps his voice carefully neutral now, no judgement. He wants a honest answer, after all, not the one that Demyx might think he wants. ]

[melodiouspacifist]

[He shakes his head.]

I haven't found him again yet. I was looking...

[Kind of. Unenthusiastically.]

I'm not much of a threat to Roxas. Zexion says it's my fault I'm in this mess.

[captain_by_the_book]

Zexion and Xemnas and Saix, they all have a lot of opinions on you, don't they? But I don't see any of them being helpful. It's very easy to point a finger and blame others, especially when you set them a task they're bound to fail.

[ Cassian heaves an annoyed sigh. ]

You're better than that.

[melodiouspacifist]

Well yeah of course I'm going to fail! It wasn't my job to be stronger than everyone else!

It should have been Axel's job but he's kinda running off places and I doubt they know where he is but then they wanted me to do it.

Not really better, I'm not stronger than Roxas. [Sora, he means Sora, but he's stubborn about naming people.]

They want me to fail.

[captain_by_the_book]

Of course they want that.

[ Frustration laces his voice again. Failure and then death. And there's nothing Cassian can do about it, that's something in a different world. He still doesn't even know how being Heartless works, biologically. ]

But you're better than them. Not stronger. Better is different. You'll remember that difference, given a little more time.

[melodiouspacifist]

Yeah, this time they want that.

[He knows, but he's cornered and thinking about this makes him feel and he doesn't like it. It's not good.]

Better is different? I don't know how I'm better. I'm better at playing sitar, but...

[The way they judge skill and worth is usually in mission success and combat.]

[captain_by_the_book]

[ So does Rebel Intelligence, to some extent, but there's more to it. So much more. Now if only it were easier to find the right words... Once again, Cassian wishes it were one of his leaders here instead of him. They would know what to say. ]

We're stronger for our skills, but we're better people for the choices we make. You're starting to make better choices than your Superior ever will. That makes you better in my eyes.

[melodiouspacifist]

[He can't help it, he's blushing.]

...Thanks Cassian, I'm trying. I'm going to try. That's all I can do, right?

[captain_by_the_book]

It is. And you're doing fine. Just... keep doing what you do.

[ He gives him another small smile. It's hard not to find Demyx endearing, even for him. ]

I'll hear from you soon, alright. Maybe I'll see you at the Halloween party before Kay and I leave town for a little while.

[melodiouspacifist]

Okay, thanks I will!

[He hums and sighs.]

Yeah, I'm going to that, Larxene's got me going as Poseidon.

[captain_by_the_book]

[ That earns him just a blank look from the space man.

Cultural confusion incoming, Demyx. ]

Who or what is a Poseidon?

[melodiouspacifist]

He's the God of the Sea!

[It's totally cool, and perfect for him.]

[captain_by_the_book]

What does the God of the Sea look like?

[ Cassian pictures him as a Quarren. ]

[melodiouspacifist]

Uh, well I think he's supposed to be a merman kinda, but I'm wearing shorts. And some bracelets and stuff. But most important, he has a trident!

[captain_by_the_book]

Oh, a merman, I have seen these around! Especially while we were all transformed. Having a weapon is good, although a trident sounds impractical.

[ Why would you want a trident when you could have a blaster? If rifle-toting mermen aren't a thing yet they totally should be! ]

[melodiouspacifist]

Yeah, kinda. I've never met him or anything, so I don't know if he's really a merman.

[He giggles.]

But I've been a merman. It's really fun! [He clearly has a water fetish of some kind.]

What's wrong with a trident? It's pointy.

[Hey. Hey Cassian. His sitar is his weapon.]

[captain_by_the_book]

Well, for one thing, you can't fire a trident as a long-range weapon.

[ Please don't mention that you're gonna make him cry. What is wrong with good old blasters for Force's sake!?

Cassian gives him a deeply disapproving look. He is so disappointed in your tastes, Demyx. ]

It's an impractical weapon. You need to get close, it's too large to be easily hidden, it attracts attention.

[melodiouspacifist]

Oh yeah, I know. Poseidon does...[Wait. How does Poseidon fight again?]

I don't know what he does, actually. If I had to fight, I'd just use my water anyway. That's gotta be like Poseidon.

[He scrunches his nose a bit. Close ranged fighting. Ick.]

I don't think this trident will do as much damage as my sitar does so...I think it's just a prop.

[captain_by_the_book]

Well that's disappointing.

[ And he gives the trident a scathing look, as if it had personally offended him. Such a subpar weapon, disappointing all around. ]

I would like to see your water powers in action one day. I'm curious about their capabilities.

[melodiouspacifist]

Okay! Remind me sometime!

[captain_by_the_book]

I will. When things are back to normal in Attleton I will. There's a battle colosseum, we could train in it... I don't think anybody would appreciate even more damage to the garden.