#that first cactus is mine!!! he was inside for the longest time but i placed jim outside a couple of years ago and now he blooms every year

[alfareria]

From walks in April & May

[darkhymns-fic]

The Stars Pull Us Together

Having recently transferred to Luin Academy, Colette prepares to start on one of her first assignments - which she needs to use the school's own observatory for.

She didn't expect to literally run into Lloyd on the way.

Fandom: Tales of Symphonia Characters/Pairing: Lloyd Irving/Colette Brunel Rating: G Mirror Link: AO3 Notes: For Colloyd Week, Day 4: Stargazing! Because I need to write at least one modern au fic of them.

--

It was still early evening when Colette arrived at the observatory, the sun just teetering at the edge of the horizon, painting the sky in shades of pink. There were only two of the dome structures, a bit smaller than she expected, just off to the side of the campus grounds and overlooking the undulating hills that made up the Asgard terrain. The autumn season made the air brisk, the wind slightly strong as it tugged at her hair. She had to hug her books close, hunch her shoulders just to withstand the sudden cold.

I just need to get inside, she told herself, feet crunching against the gravel. A hand reached out to the door handle of the first observatory, pulled on it and… found it stuck? Oh…

It took Colette a good minute to realize that this was the wrong observatory anyway, once she saw the construction sign to the left of her, half-hidden in the shadows. Slightly embarrassed, but at least relieved that no one was around to see her blunder, she then walked to the second observatory.

She sensed there was something different here, until she noticed the rows of potted plants that lined the steps and small ledge that circled around the building, from small ficuses to even a charming aloe vera. It was a pleasant spot of greenery over the stark whiteness of the observatory’s walls. There were no construction signs here – unless you counted the little greeting by the small steps (with a small cactus plant placed next to it) that said, ‘Welcome to the Luin observatory! Please watch your step!!!’ The letters looked to be handwritten, and Colette couldn’t help but draw her attention to it, marveling a bit at the multiple exclamation marks…

And by looking at it, she didn’t watch her step at all.

Colette flailed, and by doing so, she had let go of her books to fall to the ground. She was about to crash headfirst into the door until it suddenly opened inward, along with a shout of, “Whoa what-!?”

So she wasn’t the only one at the observatory tonight. 

Papers falling around them like lost wings, a groan beneath her chin, and Colette was ready to faint from the shame of not only falling down, but bringing another person down with her… “Ah… I’m so sorry…” she voiced, blinking open her eyes to find herself inside the observatory now. It was mostly bare except for a few laptops on a nearby desk, a coffee maker to the side, and of course, the great telescope that was in the middle, its end pointing upwards to a currently shuttered roof.

Another groan. “S’okay… I kinda walked into that one anyway.”

The voice was familiar to her. Colette looked to see a guy half-seated, one hand planted against the floor. His plaid jacket caught her eyes on the rich redness of the fabric, reminding her suddenly of winter flurries that would freeze her cheeks, and summer storms that always came by so fast, and how he would try to shield her with a broken umbrella… “Wait, Lloyd?”

He blinked, looking so confused for a moment that she wondered if she was mistaken. But the tousle of brown hair on his head, going off in different directions, told her otherwise. “Hold on a sec… Colette! It’s you!”

“Y-yeah!” When he smiled, she was brought back to the boy with the scuffed sneakers, whose home she’d visit that was off the road, overrun by bramble on the way. “I haven’t seen you since we graduated.”

“Right, like that was what, three years ago?” Lloyd mused on that as he tried to shift upwards, and then couldn’t with Colette still half on him. “Um.”

“Oh, right. Sorry.” She giggled as she hurriedly got to her feet, trying very hard to not slip and fall again. She inwardly winced at her laugh, that nervous tic that she could never get rid of, even now. “Guess I’m still a klutz.”

“Don’t worry about it… It’s good, because I’m still catching you!” He laughed too, and the sound brought back even more memories out on the grass, with the sky stretching overhead that, for a brief moment, she was lost in it.

Lloyd looked older, now that she got a better look at him when she wasn’t at a tilt anymore. There was only the hint of a stubble at his chin, but his hair had grown out more, even as it made the same waves that she remembered back from childhood. He wore similar clothes from high school still, with his plaid jackets, his frayed jeans, and his work boots. It was so familiar, that she wondered if maybe they had never separated at all.

“…Colette, you alright?” Lloyd asked her, in a tone that felt comforting all at once. “You didn’t really hit your head, did you…?”

“Ah, no no, don’t worry! I’m still just… surprised to see you!” Her hands clasped each other as she looked up at him, noticing the few inches he had gained in height now. “Does this mean you go to Luin Academy too?”

“Oh, well… about that…” Lloyd’s gaze shifted to the side, and she thought she caught something pass in his expression – that is, until a flying piece of paper smacked him right in the face. “Ack!”

“Oh no, I forgot!”

After a hectic dash of Lloyd and Colette trying to grasp the sheets that had escaped her textbooks, some of them flying far back outside to the second observatory, eventually they’d gotten them all. Or, Colette hoped they did. But at the end, she was shivering and felt a little winded from chasing about various articles that her professor had given her all over the grounds.

“It’s seriously cold out. You don’t have a jacket with you?” Lloyd had latched shut the metal door, leaving them both in the observatory that was basically one mid-sized room with a giant telescope in the middle. Colette noted the metal staircase on the side, leading to the curved ceiling and any other mechanisms that she missed. There was even more of an assortment of plants here, some set nearer the ceiling while others were at the table she sat at. There was the soft hum of a laptop next to her, which she carefully placed her books near. Lloyd was already brewing up coffee, the scent quickly filling the air.

“I didn’t think I’d need it.” Colette shivered in her blouse. Though long-sleeved, the material was still light. She gratefully took the warm mug he handed to her, heating up her palms. “It gets even colder out here than back at home.”

“Yeah, no kidding.” Lloyd took a seat next to her easily. “I can give you one of mine if you want.”

“I’m sure I still have the last one you gave me!” She laughed, making sure to swallow her sip of coffee before doing so. Not too hot, not too bitter. In fact, it had a sweetness to it – of vanilla creamer – and she was surprised he still remembered.

“That old thing?” Lloyd asked with such curiosity in his eyes that it made her smile even more. “It’s fine if you wanted to throw it away! Does it even still fit?”

“Yup! It fits me like a blanket still!” And it was true, that old spare jacket that Lloyd had once given her as a joke gift, but she had treasured it all the same. It wasn’t uncommon for her to wear it often when they went to school together, getting stares from other students, but neither caring at all.

She clutched the now half-full mug, looking at Lloyd with a bit of awe. He was holding his, its surface a bit more scratched, but fitting him oddly well. “You know, I thought you went to that other college?” he asked, scrunching his forehead as he tried to remember the name. “The…Spirit…something?”

“The Spiritua University,” Colette corrected kindly. “But, I was having trouble adjusting, so I transferred to Luin instead. Sorry, I think I forgot to tell you that in my last email.”

“Oh, don’t worry.” Lloyd rushed a hand through his hair, grinning. “I kinda…forgot the password to that email anyway… Genis was supposed to make me another one but he’s been busy over at Palmacosta.”

“I haven’t talked to him much either.” It had been so many months without seeing her old friends – yet here was Lloyd before her, as if walking straight out of her memories.

Maybe she had been staring for too long – a nervous chuckle from Lloyd, the exact same tone that she remembered from years back. “It’s probably weird to just find me here, huh?”

Colette shook her head. “I don’t think that’s weird. I think it’s lucky that we’re able to find each other again.”

Lloyd visibly relaxed his shoulders. “Heh, you know, I think so too.”

She took her time studying him even more, from his more grown-out (but still messy) hair, to the way he sat on the plastic chair. The lights inside of the observatory were dim, just bright enough for reading, but not too much light pollution to make using the telescope difficult. It felt relaxing being in here, with him.

She remembered his words from earlier, then gently asked, “How come you are here though?”

It only took a moment longer before Lloyd explained himself. “Well… I did actually try to get into Luin. Did the application and everything. I think I wrote the longest essay of my life too. But… my grades really held me back anyway, I guess.”

Lloyd had still been undecided when she left for school back then. He would travel instead, he told her, or he’d take over Dirk’s specialty workshop. She’d never asked him if he’d wanted something else entirely. “I’m sorry.”

“You dork, you’re still apologizing for nothing after all this time?”

“I can’t help it!”

Another laugh, feeling as warm as the dim lights around them. “I don’t think I’m a good fit for it anyway.” Lloyd shrugged, but she saw the grin still on his face, boots tapping the floor in barely concealed excitement. “But you know? One of the teachers read my essay and contacted me! He…kinda kept talking about all the spelling mistakes and junk, until he told me about a side job I could do here. I wouldn’t have to be in classes but he said he’d teach me anyway.”

Even Colette was stunned at this random act of kindness from a stranger. “Really?

“Yeah! And, it definitely seemed a little weird that he just offered, but then I thought, why not? So that’s why I’m here!”

Curious on the story, and having her suspicions, she asked. “Who was the teacher that spoke to you?”

“Oh, it was…” Lloyd scrunched his forehead, but then his eyes lit up, remembering. “Kratos Aurion, I think. Maybe you know him? He really liked what I wrote.”

“He’s my astrophysics professor! I’m actually doing an assignment for his class.” Colette was slowly figuring out what he must have written. She gauged it from where they sat at, from the past nights they’d both lay on the grass of his backyard, matching patterns in the black as much as they could go. “You did always like the stars, didn’t you?”

The same smile she would sometimes think about before she slept beamed at her just then. “So do you. That’s why you’re here, right?”

She nodded, feeling more excited than before – or maybe it was just the caffeine in her system taking over. “And now you work at the Luin observatory. That’s great, Lloyd!”

“Yeah! But uh… I didn’t realize that you basically needed to know math to be an actual astronomer… So I just clean up things here and make sure stuff is working alright. It’s good enough!”

Colette giggled, looking around at the small room, neatly tidied up, just how much coffee he drank in here. “You even got some of your plants here too!”

“Hehe, well at least the ones that at least don’t need much sunlight. So no flowers or anything..”

So natural had they fallen into the rhythm of talking aimlessly like they used to, that Colette nearly forgot why she was here. It took the beeping of her phone alarm – to warn her of the small time window that she had – to jog her memory, as well as Lloyd’s.

“Oh shoot, sorry! You came here to use this thing, didn’t you?” Lloyd quickly got to his feet, downing the cup of coffee in one go, surprising Colette that he could do so while it was still fairly hot. “I may not be smart, but I’ve been learning how to operate these machines. It’s not too hard once you get the hang of it.”

“Ah, well, maybe then…” Colette went to grasp the papers, at the numbers she had written out hastily over the gridlines. “Professor Aurion gave me some coordinates to look up, can you use these?”

She suspected Lloyd wasn’t as bad at math as he claimed. Because when it came to something he really liked, he always did try his best. He looked at where she pointed, then gave her a thumbs up. “You got it.”

Luin’s observatory was a first for her, but she had used such things before. She gathered her notebook in her lap, looking over at the telescope that was bigger than most. It swiveled gently as she moved it to the right, checked over the viewing piece. It was well-maintained, which she had expected.

“Ready?” Lloyd called from the side, hands hovering near a panel.

“Ready!” she called back. Her hands turned the dial of the telescope, and then adjusted the contraption just a bit on its tripod so that it hit the exact angle for her. It was a tall piece of equipment, so she had to perch on a metal seat just underneath to view it properly.

Once the lights dimmed even lower, the ceiling of the dome shifted. She could see it rotate to the coordinates she had told Lloyd of. Another small shake, and then the middle shutter of the dome slowly panned open, revealing the now clear night sky, the blanket of stars up above.

Sometimes it was a gamble when the skies would be good for observing, especially during the cold seasons – but the cold season was also the best time to stargaze too. That was one thing that she remembered from back then.

And looking at the stars had always calmed her.

“Can you see through it okay?”

“Um, just a bit…” She tried to get more comfortable in her seat, but the metal of it was prodding her leg, and soon she knew she had edged out too far to nearly stumble off.

By then, she already felt hands on her shoulders, Lloyd quickly climbing up to join her in the observing seat. “Do you need me to be your seatbelt?”

Colette hoped her happiness didn’t show off too obviously, but his hands felt even stronger too now. “Hehe, maybe for a little while if you don’t mind it.”

She leaned back to the telescope and near the eyepiece, hands gently placed on the handles while she felt Lloyd nearby, keeping her steady.

The night was clear, and the coordinates Lloyd had set the observatory had been right. She didn’t have to get used to any haziness, or peer through a cloudy sky. The stars were so numerous, painted against greyscale, or an old film reel. But she found the cluster she had been looking for, and already set to write down her findings.

“Lloyd, you should see this too!”

“You sure? I’ve looked through it plenty of times this week.”

Colette shook her head, bringing Lloyd’s hands from her shoulders to the telescope. “I think you’ll like it.” She winked at him. “Besides, have you seen it from this spot?”

“Ya got me there.” And like an excited kid, which she had already suspected had never left him, he looked through it too, hands handling the telescope with care and precision. Colette craned her head to look past the instrument to the sky above. While specific nebulae and clusters were hidden from her, the stars to the naked eye were still spread out, like a trail through the dark.

“That’s awesome! That’s the Hercule something, right?”

“The Hercules cluster, yeah!”

It was and yet wasn’t like stargazing out in the fields, with just the crickets and the gentle breeze for ambience. A metal room instead of outdoors, (though the plants helped) and the sky partially blocked from the roof, but she still saw the same light in Lloyd’s eyes – always whenever he would look up at the starry skies.

“So, what did Kratos wanted you to do for this?”

She tilted her head. “You know, it was kind of strange but… he just said I should count the stars here.”

Lloyd turned to her in disbelief. “Huh? Wait… all of these stars? There’s too many! And just plain impossible!”

“He said that too! That an average human lifespan isn’t enough to count every single one…not to mention new ones appear while others fade away.” She tapped her pen against the paper, feeling a smile curve her lips. “But he said we should try anyway.”

“Man… this guy’s weird.”

“Hehe. But he’s very kind. Don’t you think?” Colette took Lloyd’s hand, held it like it was second-nature. “I told him about Iselia. I wonder if he figured out that we knew each other.”

“Huh.” Lloyd gripped her hand back, still half perched on the side of the observing seat, not at all mindful to the height. “He could’ve just asked one of us.”

Colette, feeling more confident then she had in years, scooted a bit from her seat and gestured for Lloyd to come near. “There’s room for both of us here! Maybe if we counted together, we could get it all.”

Lloyd barely hesitated, sitting next to her in only a somewhat tight fit. But she didn’t mind the feel of his jeans pressed against her leg, the scent of him comforting in its familiarity. “I bet I could count more! Though, can we even share the telescope between us?”

“Hmm…we can take turns!” And even as they did at first, giggling as both tried to take their stay at the eyepiece for longer, they eventually leaned back to watch the stars through the open shutter, clear from light pollution and misty clouds.

She had always liked the stars too, she thought, with Lloyd leaning against her shoulder, eyes bright as the night continued, way past the closing hours for the observatory. But now, she knew the exact reason why.

[believerindaydreams]

I think I should perhaps stop having wild hopes that I got to the end, but this does leave off where Broken Steel starts and I haven't played that

Arcade

He doesn't much like the Purity rotunda. Two solid doors that wouldn't be difficult to block off, it wouldn't completely surprise him if the Enclave was planning to wipe out every leader in the Wasteland with a few well placed mines. It's very crowded in here.

He mentions this to Sarah Lyons, surely the person with the most reason to mistrust this situation, only to find her surprisingly calm about the possibility. "If I die, Liberty Prime moves in on Raven Rock and reduces it to rubble. That's a price worth paying."

"What even is a Liberty Prime?"

She almost smiles. "Two hundred feet of robotic destruction."

He's afraid to ask whether she means that literally; but Autumn grimaces.

"Gannon. I confess I'm surprised to see you here."

"All that's necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. I- hope to be doing something."

"As do I," Autumn drawls.

"Then go stick your head in a swamp," Lyons advises. "A good start to that beautification Eden is always claiming to care about."

"You were so much less bitter to the Lone Wanderer," Autumn retorts. "Help us out and maybe you'll rate initiate one day?"

"And I was right to be dubious. We only take the best."

The backchat is cut short by Hannibal Hamlin, armed with the microphone from a ham radio.

"If I may have your attention?"

Conversation slows, stops, leaving only a tense silence.

"I'll keep this brief- there's little I can say that would speak to all of you equally, bounty hunter and Follower, Brotherhood or Enclave. I hope to make common cause with many of you; I'm wise enough to know some of us will still part as enemies, not friends. But there's something all of us share, and that's the simple human need for water. I'm told that James Autumn has a plan to help solve that pressing problem for all of us- and so, let us hear from him."

There's a ripple of interest as the microphone passes from abolitionist to scientist; James Autumn's height is accentuated by the raised steps he stands on. It makes it easy to see the smooth grey briefcase he's grasping in his other hand.

"I'm honoured, Hamlin. And so to business- this, ladies and gentlemen, is a G.E.C.K. A Garden of Eden Creation Kit, capable of terraforming land on an astonishing scale."

Anyone in this room, Arcade knows, would kill for such a thing; and perhaps James Autumn is wiser than he thought, in gathering so many people that no one can make a play for it without being caught in a massacre.

"But I, and my team at Rivet City, have gone beyond this simple pre-war functionality. The G.E.C.K was meant as a one-time device, but what we sought- what we succeeded in doing- was to craft a device that would last for generations. Project Purity will cleanse the Tidal Pool of radiation, and give the Capitol pure, clean water."

There's a rising hum of awe, amazement. No or never.

"Is that it?"

"Is that- what? I've solved a problem that the greatest pre-war scientists couldn't solve, for the benefit of everyone."

"And if this was twenty years ago, maybe that would have meant something," Arcade retorts. The others have his back, his voice carries easily in the hush. "But what use is that now with the Mojave imports? The Followers have already adapted prickly pear to DC conditions, every caravan that visits Nacochtank leaves with clean cactus water. In a generation every house in the wastes will have their own garden- and then what price the Rivet City pool, eh?"

The scientist's hands are white at the knuckles. "I can think of no better use for for the kit than purifying the waters."

"Well, I can. You know what would benefit everyone here? Use it at the Pitt."

Silence gives way to a babble, until the voice of Mister Burke rises above it. "An elegant solution! Turn a toxic slum into the richest prize in the wastes, and protect your Follower water trade!"

Arcade flushes, but keeps his temper. Burke isn't so wrong, at that.

Other voices are rising in a confused babble.

"-imagine the looting, they say there's an ammo press-"

"Pay back Ashur, once and for all-"

No: it won't be hard to raise a war against the Pitt at all. Economics and crusading combined will be a terrifying combination.

Moira Brown's voice is shrill in the commotion. "What does the Lone Wanderer say?"

The call is taken up by a number of people, becomes almost a chant, until Augustus Autumn walks up the steps to take the microphone from his father's hands.

"My friends...I have helped many of you as the Lone Wanderer. I hope to help many more as Colonel Autumn, even-" he bows towards Sarah Lyons, "those with the least love for the Enclave. And in my travels, I've tried to listen to you, tried to discover what kind of America you all would want to live in. So I'll ask you now, in the best republican tradition of America; do you want Project Purity, or shall we cleanse the Pitt?"

"Pitt! Pitt! Pitt! Pitt!"

Arcade catches a glimpse of Hannibal, looking content for perhaps the first time in years; and smiles to himself.

"Then the Pitt it shall be," Colonel Autumn says. "And I know that President Eden-"

His words are cut short by James, yanking the microphone from his hands. "This is nonsense. You- Follower, call yourself a scientist? Come here and see why it won't be possible to reconfigure the G.E.C.K. like that."

His blood is running hot, as he squeezes through the crowd, walks up to James. The ripper feels heavy in its holster.

"Come inside the chamber, and if you can change the settings, you can have your damned kit. I promise you that."

The others have been separated from him, Boone cursing and elbowing his way through towards him; and Arcade lets James pull him inside the Purity airlock quickly, before anyone he loves can be caught in the trap.

Because he knows that's what it is, even before they leave the airlock for the weird silence of the Purity catwalk. Knows it as James lays down the G.E.C.K. and pulls a lever to blast them both with radiation.

Wasteland habit makes him automatically reach for the Rad-Away, the Rad-X; the other man watches and laughs.

"A little test of convictions," the elder Autumn says. "A duel. Whichever one of us lasts longest will decide the fate of that kit...but I know who'll win. That's called faith. For I am the alpha, and-"

"And you can stick it up your ass, Father."

Arcade doesn't turn at the familiar voice; doubts he can, with the world starting to spin and buckle around him. The radiation venting is already reaching murderously high levels, he's going to die here.

"Augustus. I'm disappointed." Quite as calmly as if he wasn't dying; but James makes a move for the G.E.C.K-

Autumn shoots him with his weathered pistol, collapses to the floor in a weird symmetry with his father.

He wouldn't be a doctor if he didn't try to help; he kneels down. "I'll get you out..."

"And roast the entire leadership of the wastes? You'll wait until it dies down...it will, this was...contingency plan." Autumn reached out with a syringe of Rad-X, jabs him with it. "Code's from Revelation."

"Why would you do this?" What kind of wastelander only carries one syringe of Rad-X, Autumn is dying in his arms and he's helpless.

"I believe...in the Enclave," Autumn rasps, and dies.

His own passing out comes as a merciful relief.

*****

Chronologically, he finds out later that it's about six hours between that moment and his waking up again, with a stiffening corpse across his thighs.

In the Mojave, maybe he'd leave Autumn be; but he pockets the pistol, takes the heavy overcoat with the unconscionable weapon inside it. James he strips clean of everything except clothing.

And the G.E.C.K., sitting innocuously on a table.

He cycles the airlock, unlocks it- given Autumn's hint, finding the circled passage in James' metal-covered scripture wasn't hard- and walks out to Boone's waiting arms. Manny and Carla and Daisy are asleep on the steps below.

"Don't do that to me again, you bastard," Boone whispers. "Thought you were gonna die."

"I would have agreed." A few other people have stuck it out; Sarah Lyons gruffly offers her rad-counter, raises an eyebrow when it proclaims him to be clean. Hannibal gives him a nod of approval.

"You're a brave man, Arcade Gannon."

"I wish I was in some shape to appreciate the compliment, but- thank you." He dumps the kit into Hannibal's hands. "I think you'd best hang on to this for now. In case the Enclave comes looking for revenge."

"You might be surprised," Hannibal says, his dark eyes twinkling with amusement.

Arcade doesn't know what that could mean and hardly cares, waking up the others to quit their tired vigil. Carla mumbles inarticulate relief, absently kisses him; Manny wraps him in a bear hug without even trying to talk.

They head out to the gift shop, where a motley collection of the Wasteland's finest are sleeping and guarding, campfires making odd shadows against the green walls.

"The room was wired for sound," Boone says. "Gonna be even more a hero than you were already."

"Almost makes me wish for a nuclear summer."

"Huh?"

Arcade frowns. "A joke. Don't worry about it."

"Okay. You want to sleep in here, or outside?"

"Outside," Carla says, in unison with him.

There's a starry night for once, the wasteland's smog clear for once in a way; and they lay out bedrolls without even bothering to pitch a tent. A Vertibird lands in the distance, its lights a strange beauty against the sky; and Arcade wonders briefly about

They don't go back to sleep after all; they speculate on the war to come, who'll turn traitor, whether Ashur might have weapons to surprise them all.

"I wouldn't put it past him," Carla says, watching her daughter suckle. "Brotherhood, you can't be too sure."

"I'll try not to take that personally."

"Veronica," Manny says heartily. "You've brought a friend, I see."

"Two friends," Christine says briskly. "Everyone, this is Dr Whitley from the Adams Air Force Base, which means he's Enclave."

"Afraid so," Whitley says, sounding a trifle embarrassed. "Um- one of you tampered with my Eyebot. ED-E."

"That was Arcade," Manny says. "We would have been killed quite a few times without him- I'm sorry he didn't make it. Somebody blasted him to bits at Paradise Falls, we were told."

"Then maybe I can put him back together after all! If he wasn't scrapped, that is."

"Stranger things have happened there," Manny says solemnly; and Arcade snorts.

Veronica prods Whitley. "I'm sure that your favourite robot is as important as, oh, the fate of the entire wasteland?"

"Oh, right. Um- I don't know how much you knew about Colonel Autumn, but he did some bad things. And I mean some extremely bad things," Whitley says earnestly.

"...that isn't news," Carla says, after a speechless moment.

"No? Well, I guess it wouldn't be- so, um, the thing is that I didn't really trust Raven Rock leadership any longer, so I programmed ED-E to go find the leadership of Navarro. I didn't know that Navarro had been sacked, you see- nobody ever tells us scientists anything-"

Arcade makes a sympathetic noise; Veronica looks wild with impatience. "Get to the point, Whitley!"

"What? Oh, right...well, President Eden," Whitley says breathlessly, "is a computer. James Autumn programmed him to take over when Richardson died, and he assigned his son to be leader of the Enclave forces."

"Go on," Arcade says, wondering at the scientist's growing embarrassment.

"Why- that is to say- Colonel Autumn never thought of putting in orders for the succession when he died, and I might have, um, decided that whoever was at Navarro would have to be better and wrote a program to transfer power to the highest ranking officer there when Autumn died. Only you came along and told ED-E that there isn't any chain of command at Navarro any more, so- um, happy promotion, Colonel Gannon?"

"Oh, no."

"I'm very sorry," Whitley says apologetically.

"Absolutely not! I'm not qualified, I don't want it, I- sweet rads I'm a stimpak researcher! I grow cacti! Nobody would even want me running the Enclave war machine!"

"President Eden does. He's very excited about it, actually."

"If Autumn wasn't dead I would kill him."

"You can always go punch the corpse," Veronica advises cheerfully. "That has a way of clearing the mind."

"Sure solves a lot of problems," Manny says meditatively. "And I mean a lot of problems. Nobody else ever being held against their will at Raven Rock again."

Arcade groans. "I wouldn't trust myself with this. I wouldn't trust anyone with it."

"I figure it's just as well," Boone says, lighting a cigarette. "Mister Burke caught me for a chat while you were out, says Autumn was trying to convince me to move in with him at Megaton. Now that would have been messy. Glad we don't have that to deal with."

"Boone," Manny says after a moment. "You're great. We all know that. But how the hell is it that one chunky sniper has got damn near everybody in two wastelands trying to get into his pants, for chrissake?"

Boone puffs on his smoke. "Don't ask me."

"I think it's the voice," Carla says critically, swiping the cigarette from her husband's fingers to take a long drag herself. "You'd do anything for that deep voice."

"Are you really going to smoke and nurse simultaneously?" Arcade asks tiredly.

"It's been a long day. Make a law about it, Colonel."

"Oh, for..."

[bottledcake]

Flower Funeral (II)

Ah Cheng (the Disguiser) x Li Xunran (Love Me If You Dare) May make some changes in future, because I’m bad at writing

CHPT 2

Xunran tossed the umbrella between his hands. He eyed the board in front of him. Yan Yujin had been asked for some information, but like the last victims, Xiao Jingrui went missing without a trace around a year ago.

The morning when Yujin came to ask Jingrui to jog together, he wasn’t in his apartment. There wasn’t any sign of robbery or fight. Phone, bank books, and wallet were still intact. His car was still in basement.

If the perpetrator from the series of killing was the same with Xiao Jingrui’s, he could narrow down the suspects – it might be someone close to Xiao Jingrui. But the problem was, most victims didn’t relate one another. They all had different occupation and social strata. It should be someone with wide connections.

Xunran eyed the list of victims. The first victim to be found was a salary man named Cui Zongshi. One hiker found the burial and reported it to forest ranger because the concern of burning incense.  At first they thought someone buried dead animal, but turned out it was human inside.

Second one was Jing, a normal housewife. She was buried near a lake with grave built from stones. She was the fastest to be found comparing with her time of death. It might be because the stone grave was easier to locate.

The third to be found was a military man working for air force named Fang Meng Ao. He was related to Cui Zongshi as his close friend. His body was found on the top of mountain. Not like the other victims, he wasn’t buried, but positioned at a tree like he was asleep while watching the sky. Formaldehyde was injected to his body for preservation and dried flower bouquet was placed beside him. Bo Jiyan had assured Xunran that the perpetrator was same person. Also Meng Ao – like Xiao Jingrui – had peculiar background. He was son of Central Bank owner, although his relationship with his father couldn’t be say in good term condition. But no matter how much money his father had spent for finding the murderer of his son, the case still hadn’t been solved yet.

The fourth victim was found buried in forest under full blossomed tree. A noodle shop owner called Fan Chuan. Most of his customer and the shop owner next to his shop thought he was on vacation, visiting his old friends. But turned out he was found dead two months later.

The most recent one was Xiao Jingrui. But from the condition of his body, he took the longest to be found because the area he had been buried. 

Xunran rubbed his tired eyes. The serial killings had gone for over a year and he didn’t know how many more bodies that hadn’t been found. The killer always chose a forest, mountains, or somewhere near lake, not something which other people would accidentally found something amiss.

‘Sir, are you going overtime?’ One of his subordinate stood by the door with a concerned look.

‘Ah, sorry, I will go home soon. You don’t have to wait for me.’’ Xunran replied. His subordinate nodded and left.

Xunran sighed and turned off his computer. He put the file papers to his bag then he noticed the umbrella. At first he intended to give it back to the flower shopkeeper after work but apparently he stayed in his office until late night. Maybe he would deliver it back tomorrow or when he could get free time from work.

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After few days, at last Xunran could get free time. He visited Jian family first in the morning because Jian auntie said she needed help for changing the curtains and light bulbs. When he arrived, Yao Yao was out (might be with Bo Jiyan again) and Xuan Xuan had study group with her friends. Xunran felt bit relieved because he didn’t have to listen to Xuan Xuan talking about Ah Cheng to him. The flower shopkeeper was her new favorite topic recently. He excused himself after breakfast (and auntie gave him lots of snacks to bring home).

Xunran parked his car and walked across the avenue. It was weekday so it wasn’t very crowded at noon. The flower shop was noticeable from far because the flower display outside.

‘Thank you, come again.’ Ah Cheng smiled to a girl who looked so flushed. Xunran snorted, this girl maybe already fell to that sweet-polite-business-like smile.

‘Mister Li,’ Ah Cheng face changed bit when he saw Xunran.

‘Mister Ming,’ Xunran greeted.

‘Please, come in,’ Ah Cheng opened his shop door for Xunran. ‘At last you come when the weather is nice. Have a seat; I’ll make coffee for you.’

Xunran smiled briefly then went in. He walked towards the table near window; there were some papers on it with drawings of landscapes with a lone house. ‘They are beautiful.’ Xunran commented.

‘Just a little hobby of mine,’ Ah Cheng replied while pouring the coffee. ‘Sometimes I draw for killing time.’

Xunran sat and observed the sketches more. Most of them were landscapes drawings. He flipped some drawings and noticed a sketch of person. He knew well the person because he already briefed Ah Cheng’s background when he needed to interview Ah Cheng for Jingrui’s case. It was the sketch of Ming corp. former owner, Ming Lou, who died in car accident three years ago.

When Ah Cheng walked towards the table with coffee, Xunran put the sketches back to its position. He mouthed thank you as Ah Cheng placed the coffee in front of him. It had nice pleasant aroma.

‘Thank you for the umbrella,’ Xunran took out a paper bag. ‘Also there is some snack, I got lots from my friend’s mom and maybe you’d like some.’

‘You don’t have to, it’s just umbrella,’ Ah Cheng laughed. ‘But if you insist, few snacks won’t hurt,’ he casually smiled – and again Xunran heart was felt like skipped a beat. Maybe because the smile he made wasn’t the polite-business-like which Ah Cheng always wore when he treated his customer. It was more….intimate.

‘It’s delicious!’ Xunran commented after he sipped the coffee.

‘I’m glad you like it, mister Li,’ Ah Cheng chuckled a bit. ‘It’s my special blend.’

They talked stuffs non private, like the weather, recent events in television, and stuffs. Xunran enjoyed the smiles Ah Cheng made – which sometimes it would change into a quirky smirk.

Ah Cheng in the other hand, observed how Xunran covered his mouth a bit when he smiled or laughed. Sometimes he would cover his entire face when he was embarrassed.

A faint tinkling was heard, signified that a customer walked in. Ah Cheng excused himself to Xunran who replied with a nod.

He could hear the casual talk a bit; the customer thought Xunran was Ah Cheng’s brother because they looked almost the same. Ah Cheng replied it with a casual laugh that Xunran was his long lost brother then winked to him.

Xunran wanted to die (lol)

He gulped his coffee. He should calm down; he only met Ah Cheng for like few times as acquaintances and once because of his job. Maybe it was Ah Cheng’s personality that he was kind to anyone, and as a shopkeeper he needed to be approachable to everyone who came to his shop.

He startled a bit when flower in pot was placed in front of him. Ah Cheng’s face peeked from the side. ‘For you, mister Li.’ He pushed the flower pot toward Xunran. ‘It’s easy to nurture it. If it’s still difficult for you, next time I’ll give you a cactus instead.’ Ah Cheng caressed the little blue flowers.

‘Hm? Why are you giving me this?’ Xunran raised his brows bit confused.

‘This is actually a bribe.’ Ah Cheng wore a serious face then sat across Xunran. ‘May I ask your phone number?’

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Xunran was about to sleep when his phone screen showed notification of message

Good night, mister Li

A very simple and short message. Xunran chuckled and typed the reply.

Good night, mister Ming, have nice dream.

The next morning, when he woke up, Xunran found there was a reply around an hour earlier.

I dreamt of you last night

Xunran spluttered his water.

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Xunran was doing his report when his colleague called him, ‘Xunran, there’s a delivery for you at front office.’

‘Ok, thanks, Chen,’ Xunran nodded.

‘Who is she?’ Chen made a teasing smile to Xunran.

‘What?’ Xunran joined his brows in confusion but his colleague left him and went to his desk.

Xunran walked to the front office. A guy wearing white shirt and plain black apron was there, talking to the receptionist.

‘I thought you’re mister Li’s relative.’

Xunran overheard the conversation. He knew immediately who he was talking to.

‘Afternoon.’ Xunran greeted.

The man turned to Xunran with his usual polite-business-like smile. ‘Hello, mister Li, I have a delivery for you. Let me get it for you.’ Ah Cheng excused himself and went out to his van.

When he was back, he brought a sunflower bouquet.

‘Please sign here,’ Ah Cheng gave Xunran the receipts.

Xunran nodded – still bit confused – and signed it.

The bouquet was passed to his hands. He could feel Ah Cheng’s fingers brushed his. ‘Have a nice day,’ Ah Cheng smiled then went back to his van.

Xunran blinked then stared at the sunflower bouquet in his hand. Could it be Xuan Xuan or Yao Yao send it to him? But there was nothing for him to celebrate, his birthday was still months later and if they wanted to give him flowers or gifts they always went straight to his home – or nagged him to take it himself at their home. Bo Jiyan was out of list.

While walking back to his office, Xunran noticed there was a little envelope tucked in between the flowers. Xunran flipped it, no sender.

When he was back, his colleagues bombarded him with questions. ‘Who is this generous lady, Xunran?’ ‘You should invite her to our party next time.’

‘I don’t know who the sender is, it can be from family we had helped before,’ Xunran replied – which rewarded him with boo reactions from his workmates.

He opened the envelope. Neat writings were shown on the card inside.

Next time, when the weather is nice, please come again.

His coworkers kept teasing him all day. They said Xunran had to admit that he already had girlfriend – or Xunran shouldn’t hide his girlfriend as secret admirer – also they should celebrate for Xunran.

‘Back to work!’ Xunran shooed his workmates.

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The flowers kept coming once every few days. Sometimes after he had to visit few sites, he found a bouquet was placed on his desk – and his coworkers gave him knowing smile. Even in rare times Xunran could take the delivery himself, Ah Cheng kept his polite smile when he delivered the flower to Xunran. And each time Xunran wanted to ask why he did this, Ah Cheng had excused himself and drove off.

‘A very persistent admirer, isn’t she?’ Chen patted Xunran who covered his face while sighing – looking at stuffs on his desk. ‘You should reply to her, maybe when you’re free, visit her more often. Now she sent you bento box?’ Chen peek the contents inside.

‘Yeah..  I should give a visit next time when I’m free…’ Xunran muttered. He opened the box. It was filled with various food with inviting aroma. The other box filled with snacks. Xunran tasted one of the snacks and he swore it tasted much better than all boxed foods he had tried before.

He shared the snacks with his coworkers. ‘You should keep her, Xunran. These are all awesome.’ Chen commented with his mouth full.

Xunran continued eating his lunch. He took out his phone and scrolled the contact list. Should he call?

Thank you for the lunch and snacks. I share the snacks with my friends. They all taste good, may I know from which shop did you order them from?

Xunran decided to send a text message. After few moments, a message notification appeared.

The shop is Jade Porcelain Looking forward to have dinner together next time

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Ah Cheng stopped his car at the front of Ming mansion gate. The big mansion was looked the same like when all Ming family lived there few years ago. Even though they didn’t live there anymore, Ming Jing still maintained it. Every few weeks a gardener would come and Ah Xiang sometimes came did general cleaning.

Sometimes Ah Cheng felt both foreign and nostalgic each time he paid the mansion visit. Ming Jing was right, what was the point of home when no one was home. He unlocked the front door and walked in. Subconsciously Ah Cheng hold out his hand, ready to help Ming Lou taking off his coat.

Ah Cheng curled his fingers, sighed.

He took off his coat and folded his sleeves, then went to kitchen where Ah Xiang put some utilities for cleaning. He took out a cloth, detergent, wood cleaner, and filled the bucket with water.

From the condition in living room and kitchen, Ah Xiang had come yesterday, so all the room should had been cleaned, except one room. Ah Cheng walked to the door at the side of stairs and unlocked it. He had requested Ah Xiang to only let him doing the cleaning inside.

Ah Cheng stepped in.

‘Ah Cheng,’ Ming Lou would call him while concentrating whatever in front of him. Sometimes it was a report from the flour factory or other business, the other day was newspaper.

The desk was in the same condition with family portrait, some economic books, laptop, writing tools, and few notes. Ah Cheng put them neatly aside and wiped the desk.

He carefully put the items back. He remembered he brought some flowers with him, maybe today he would put a little vase on his desk. Ming Lou used to complain when Ah Cheng put flowers on his desk – both at his workplace or home. ‘It’s better if you give them to Da Jie. These flowers don’t suit an old man desk.’

Ah Cheng checked the bookshelves. Few books were a little off placed. It must be the little brother doing again. Sometimes Ming Tai still came and borrowed books but maybe he forgot where the row for the books from so he always misplaced. Ah Cheng arranged the books back to its position. He would remind this brat later.

He took out a fresh bed sheet – he always changed it once a week. Ming Jing had told him that it wasn’t necessary but Ah Cheng still did it. Back in his mind, maybe, someday, Ming Lou would come back.

Ah Cheng dropped himself on the bed, crying.

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Xunran went to the shopping district after send a message to Ah Cheng that he was free today. Ah Cheng replied that he could come to his shop at evening time. He went there by taxi because Ah Cheng said at night most of the parking area was used for food stalls.

Xunran noticed the usual buckets filled with flowers were already put inside. He could see Ah Cheng was sitting on the chair by the window – looked like he was writing or drawing something. He had taken off his usual black apron. When Ah Cheng looked up, he noticed Xunran who walking towards the store and waved at him.

Xunran pushed the store door then went inside. ‘Long time no see, mister Li.’ Ah Cheng greeted while closing his notebook.

‘Good evening.’ Xunran  smiled. ‘This is, for the flowers and delicious food you had brought to me the other days.’ Xunran gave Ah Cheng a box of chocolate cake. ‘I don’t know what you like, also I can’t cook, so…’

‘Thank you,’ Ah Cheng received the box. ‘With this much, we can enjoy it together.’ He made that quirky smirk again which Xunran swore that his cheeks went burning red.

Ah Cheng took his coat and car key. ‘Okay then.’ He turned to Xunran who looked confused.

‘We have dinner outside?’ Xunran asked uncertainly.

‘Yes of course, I don’t have kitchen here.’ Ah Cheng laughed while wearing his gloves.

‘Oh,’ Xunran nodded, ‘I’ll wait outside then.’ He walked out.

Ah Cheng chuckled then turned off the light. After he made sure he had locked everything, he approached Xunran. ‘So, shall we?’ He smiled, and again Xunran felt his face was warm.

They walked between food stalls and Xunran wondering which one Ah Cheng would stop and recommend to him. But he didn’t stop and went into a parking building. The security there casually greeted him, seemed they had known for long time.

‘Your brother?’ The security guard asked.

‘No, a friend, at first I was surprised too,’ Ah Cheng laughed then passed by.

Ah Cheng unlocked his car. Out of his habit, he opened the door for Xunran – who awkwardly went in.

‘Where will we go?’ Xunran asked.

‘My place,’ Ah Cheng stole a glance to Xunran who shifted a bit in his seat.

‘Oh ok,’ Calm down, Xunran. Friends visited each other place. It was common.

‘It will take around half hour to an hour depend on the traffic,’ he drove into highway. ‘It’s bit around the outskirt.’

Xunran leaned back in his seat, watching as the road gradually became fewer buildings in sight, replaced with trees. Ah Cheng made few turns until a lone house was seen from far.

‘Here we are,’ Ah Cheng parked his car. It was a moderate house, nothing extravagant. Not far from the house, a river could be seen. At first Xunran thought, as one of Ming siblings, Ah Cheng might have a big gaudy house which would make Xunran felt more awkward than he already was.

Xunran followed Ah Cheng inside. At front room, there were few blank canvases put at one corner near the sofa. ‘Sorry, it was delivered this morning. I haven’t put them aside. Please sit wherever you like,’ Ah Cheng took the canvases and disappeared to second floor.

Xunran sat on the sofa while looking around. It was a normal house, nothing seemed oddly expensive in sight – which made Xunran felt more comfortable. Family portraits were placed neatly on the corner table. He noticed a flower was placed beside Ming Lou’s photo.

‘Sorry for the wait,’ Ah Cheng stepped downstairs. ‘What will we have today?’ He clasped his hands. ‘Do you like meat? Veggies?‘

‘I eat everything. The one you sent to me few days ago tasted all delicious,’ Xunran grinned sheepishly.

‘Thank you for the compliment,’ Ah Cheng laughed, ‘So, ready for dinner?’

Xunran followed Ah Cheng to kitchen area.

‘Want to help?’ Ah Cheng turned to Xunran who smiled awkwardly. ‘Sure, but I don’t know if I can be much help.’

‘It’s fine. You can help with washing stuffs,’ Ah Cheng wore his apron and offered one to Xunran.

They worked side by side. Sometimes Ah Cheng pointed what Xunran should do. Then Xunran would observe Ah Cheng cooked, and let Xunran tasted the food. It was all tasted amazing.

Xunran and Ah Cheng sat at the table and filled their plates. Sometimes Ah Cheng would put food on Xunran’s rice while mouthing ‘eat more.’ Xunran didn’t really mind, because they were all superb. After they finished the meal, they picked up the plates and washed them. While they were wiping the plates, Ah Cheng asked whether Xunran had to work tomorrow.

‘Why?’ Xunran asked. He put the last plate to the rack.

Ah Cheng put out a bottle of wine from the cupboard with a grin.

Xunran pursed his lips. ‘Fine, but only a tiny bit. I don’t have to get early tomorrow though.’

Ah Cheng poured to one glass and handed it to Xunran.

‘Thanks,’ Xunran could smell a fragrant aroma as he tilted the glass a bit. He sat on one stool in the kitchen and saw Ah Cheng poured one for himself.

‘Do you want to ask me something?’ Ah Cheng turned to Xunran.

‘Eh?’

‘You looked like that since we met this evening.’ Ah Cheng sipped his wine.

Xunran took a breath then looked down to the wine glass in his hand. ‘The flowers and dinner, I appreciate it.’

‘I thought you already said that to me before, mister Li.’ Ah Cheng laughed but then he noticed Xunran’s ears were red. He smiled then sat beside Xunran. ‘Hey, it’s fine. I do it because I want to.’

Xunran blushed. Cute.

‘I mean, I won’t hide that I have some motives with the flowers and asking you over for dinner,’ Ah Cheng continued. ‘If you don’t like it, I will stop.’

‘No.’ Xunran snapped – a bit too loud maybe because he noticed Ah Cheng’s eyes widened a bit in surprise. ‘I don’t hate it. So...’ Xunran voice trailed off. His mind tried to find suitable words.

‘Please continue send the flowers and treat me dinner?’ Ah Cheng stifled a chuckle.

‘You don’t have to say it like that.’ Xunran cheeks went pink, he gulped his wine in embarrassment.

Ah Cheng let out a laugh. ‘I will continue to send you flowers, Mister Li. Please wait patiently,’ Ah Cheng bowed - which made Xunran burried his face to his hand.

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