On the Outskirts [Lumis]

[COORO]

Cooro yawned, trying not to drag behind. Something about the slowly rising sun made him sleepy. Perhaps it was that they'd been traveling during the night and resting during the light hours for days now.

They were nearly to Astar. The path they'd tread had been largely familiar - similar to the one they'd walked from Fantale. He was just relieved they hadn't passed through Kilter or Lilt. There was no need to get tangled up in unpleasant memories when they had so many other things to think about. There were plenty of memories in Astar, too, but that wasn't what they were there for. They were there to find Lumis' friend and to gather what information they could about the enemy.

He swallowed. The enemy... This could end up being the first time he really came face to face with them. It hadn't sounded so scary before, but now that they were almost there...

He looked up at Lumis. "What are we gonna do when we get there? Do you know where your friend is?"

[[OOC: Hopefully this works.]]

[LUMIS (Ender)]

The journey, for Lumis, had been one of silent worry. She hadn't shown it, of course, and not really said much about it for the time being as she cited - falsely - that her attention was on the present travel instead of Astar. She wanted to give this impression to keep Cooro's mind on anything that could have lashed out at them nightly and off of the suspicion that she was, in fact, quite distracted. Her guard hadn't been down, per se, but it could be said that she was relying more on her keen sense of hearing than active observation. Fortunately, nothing more than birds and other normal nightly creatures seemed to bother them on the road. No wolves this time. However, all of her thoughts - paranoid or otherwise - were going to come to a head at some point, as the very town of her birth now came to stand before them.

"What are we gonna do when we get there? Do you know where your friend is?"

He was anxious, and so was she, but in two completely-different fashions. Cooro was always filled with wonder and curiosity. Lumis was a more pragmatic person. True, she was one who liked to explore, but this wasn't exploration at all. This was walking on hallowed ground, the place she left for fear of discovery and being killed. She had told nobody that she was leaving this place, and thus any suspicion at all that they could have...they would have...but there would be no confirmation of anything at all, a total mystery. Now, however, she might have to explain a few things to those she left, and she was not sure how to do it other than blatant lies. Lumis stopped for a moment after Cooro had spoken.

"I'm not entirely sure what action we should take yet, because we don't even know what's going on. I may have used the quiet lately as a ruse to come here, but it's no less a fact that something strange has been going on. Chances are, I'm going to be recognized by someone here. If for some reason it starts to look bad, don't get too close or they'll start to give you suspicious looks as well."

This was because there might be someone who thought the worst, that she left for exactly the reasons that she had left.

"We're going in there like I've just been taking in the world, and that I met you along my travels. I know where Kamino lives, but I don't know if he'll be there. I'm worried that he's a soldier..."

[COORO]

Cooro listened intently, trying not to bite his lip. "Right." He nodded, but smiled slightly. "But I'm not leaving without you, so let's try to stay together as much as we can."

It was true that he wouldn't abandon his companion, no matter who recognized her, but there was another reason he felt the need to stay close. Was it fear? He scratched his chin, having to think about it for a while. It was a rather unfamiliar feeling. He could describe the last few years as unpleasant and uncomfortable, but he was rarely scared of anything, and when he was, it was the type of terror that happened quickly. This was different...this was a slower burning sense of dread.

While they'd used the enemy's strange silence as an excuse to come, she was right - something felt wrong. He didn't like it.

At her next words, though, he managed another grin up at her. "What are you talking about? We're both just travelers paying a visit to Astar because we both have memories here, right?" May as well start the act now. "But if he is a soldier, we'll worry about that when it happens. It's a waste of energy to assume the worst. If you're his friend, then I'm sure he'll listen!"

He may have been nervous, but that wasn't any reason to forsake his optimism. Maybe that meant he needed it all the more. Even if he didn't feel it, he'd fake it. That was simply what he always did. ...Had he really changed that much since the last time he'd come to Astar at all?

[[OOC: Sorry for the huge delay. I started working full-time and fell behind with a lot of things...]]

[LUMIS (Ender)]

"Right, but I'm not leaving without you, so let's try to stay together as much as we can."

"Agreed."

She couldn't imagine returning to her old life, Kamino or not. It was just too dangerous, too easy to be discovered and too many problems for those around her. So, there wouldn't be any foolish senimentality going on from Lumis' end. That wasn't her style anyhow.

"What are you talking about? We're both just travelers paying a visit to Astar because we both have memories here, right?"

To his grin, she returned a knowing smirk, but he was slightly wrong in that her 'memories' were that this was still her home, regardless of the danger. It was always going to be home, even if she couldn't live here.

"But if he is a soldier, we'll worry about that when it happens. It's a waste of energy to assume the worst. If you're his friend, then I'm sure he'll listen!"

She wondered if Cooro really understood how much of a friend she was. For instance, he was at least the right age for puberty, right/ Did the prospect of having a girlfriend - which was what she was to Kamino - ever occur to him? Well, if not, he'd figure it out one day. Now, they were coming upon the city limits and...this didn't looks good. What we have here are a pair of soldier types, men of the watch as it were. They were armed, but nothing was drawn...at the moment. It seemed that the roads into Astar were covered, which left them little choice about getting in. Lumis decided to see what was going on, because this was not an everyday occurrance when she was in...

"Excuse me..."

"Stop where you are. Entry into Astar is prohibited."

"Prohibited? Why?"

"I am not at liberty to say, other than the fact that the town is under marshall law."

Definitely noty normal, but a good argument for why getting out while she still could was the best idea. She certainly didn't want to be trapped here. Lumis tried a different approach.

"So, I'm not allowed to go home, then? I've been traveling, you see, but this is the town of my birth."

"Name?"

"Melaney."

"Full name."

"Lumis Helial Melaney."

"Is he a resident too?"

"No, he's my friend. We met on the road."

"We're not authorized to allow people to pass. You must wait for a patrolman to carry a message to my superior, as situations as they are warrant caution."

"And you have no idea what happened.?"

"Oh, I have plenty of idea. I'm simply not allowed to discuss the matter. Orders."

That did NOT sound good at all. Lumis had no idea what exactly was going on, but she did know this much: They didn't call in a marshall law decree in Astar unless it was a state of emergency. Something bad happened here...

[COORO]

Any hope of slipping in and out quietly was dashed when they neared Astar's limits. Guards blocked the street, their bored faces belying the weapons hanging from their belts. He paused. Human soldiers. He had to fight the twitch impulse to shift into his +anima form and take to the skies. Even if they tried to fly over them, it wasn't likely they'd make it without being spotted - watchmen's eyes had the place covered. ...Why? What was going on?

He wasn't sure what to do until Lumis addressed them. He replaced his nervousness with his usual carefree face and followed after her, listening both curiously and carefully.

Martial law? He wasn't quite sure what that meant, but it didn't sound good. Something had definitely happened. And either way, it seemed they were at the mercy of guards if they wanted to get inside. Was it really okay to just talk with the watchmen like this? If the guards found out why they were really there...

He looked up at his companion worriedly, whispering. "Is this okay? Are they gonna let us in?"

There was no way they could just leave now, though. If something was going on, that was all the more reason to get inside somehow. They needed to make sure Lumis' friends were okay, and they needed to report the situation back to the faction, like they'd said they would. Hopefully it wouldn't take long for the watchmen to contact their superior.

[LUMIS (Ender)]

Lumis looked over the soldiers the whole time, assessing their threat level as border guards. There were only two of them, but they were no mere flunkies, she could tell. The two men leaned on spears, wore light-to-medium armor, had each a sword and a knife attached to belts, and would not bend the rules for anyone, not even themselves. In short, they weren't just soldiers, but practiced defenders. Whatever was going on...it was serious.

"Is this okay? Are they gonna let us in?"

She shook her head.

"Not without permission from someone inside. They'll be waiting on someone to check on them and take a message back, and no sooner than that. I've never seen an arrangement like this."

Even as the conflict of human versus +anima started, there was nothing like this. Soldiers on patrol, watchful eyes and suspicions, but never a complete cut-off of the town itself. Even when she thought it was too dangerous to remain here, it wasn't... Well, they had to find out what this was and if they had any hope of gaining entry. She approached the men once more.

"When do you expect the patrolman?"

"It should be any time n- Ah! He's here already. Stand back and I will address him."

They made her return to Cooro's side while the speaker of the two guards called over the patrolman. He was in lighter armor with a few weapons, and he was on a horse. In the field, this man would be a scout. They shared some hushed words, obviously regarding the visitors. Lumis actually could hear them, a bit annoyed as the guard described her as claiming to be a resident. It was a good thing her expression didn't change, otherwise the other guard - still watching them - would know that she could hear. The young man on the horse looked up from the conversation at Lumis, then.

"Lumis Melaney?"

"Yes."

"We've your face posted up in our office, listed as 'Missing'. What's this about travel, then?"

She had to fake this one out...

"I thought I left a note to my family. They reported my 'disappearance'?"

"And worried sick, I might add. Why did you go? There's a war on."

"I'm not part of it. I wanted to see more of the country. I didn't know that I was causing trouble..."

Obviously, this particular fellow had been around to see or hear the aftermath of her departure. Hearing him go on about it made Lumis feel guilty now, even though it was completely unavoidable. She looked at the horseman now, right in the eye.

"I'm sorry for causing such duress. May I see my family now?"

"You may. It's alright. I know who you are. I'll file the paperwork later. Go on, then."

"Ah, one moment... The boy."

"Oh, for- Look, they're together, right? Then, she's responsible for him. Again, paperwork, handled, let it be done."

Obviously, the young man on the horse wasn't as keen about the whole Marshall Law thing as the defenders were, so he was prepared to let bygones be what they were in order to run things a bit more smoothly. Sighing, the two guardsmen parted to either side of the road to allow them through. Lumis led Cooro past quietly, not really interested in speaking with this patrolman any longer. He had seen her, knew of her passing and when. It was best that they didn't have to answer more awkward questions...

[COORO]

Cooro shuffled his feet - he never had been good at waiting patiently, but it seemed they didn't have any other option. Luckily the guard the others were waiting for arrived surprisingly quickly. Good. Maybe this wouldn't be too much of a hassle after all. They talked amongst themselves, voices hushed, before the patrolman looked up and addressed Lumis.

A note for her family, huh? Listening to them, he realized that he really didn't know much about Lumis' family, but he thought that was a lie. From what he could gather, it sounded more like she'd tried to disappear.

How would her family and friends react, he wondered. If they were really family, then it wouldn't matter if she was a +anima, right? Or were they going to see them at all? The only person he knew they were looking for was this Kamino friend of hers. He'd never really had a family to go home to, though. What did that even feel like?

Thankfully, the guards relented and let them in pretty easily. He grinned, hurrying after Lumis and relieved that he didn't have to explain anything to the guards. His history with Astar wasn't really something he could talk about.

The city itself didn't look so different from what he remembered - the same buildings on the same streets - but it was much quieter. The silence weighed down the air. The bustling liveliness he remembered it for was gone.

"That wasn't so bad." He waited until they were out of hearing range from the guards before looking up at Lumis. "Where to next? Do you wanna go look for your friend right away, or should we see what's going on?" There were also the matters of how long they were going to stay and where, but those would probably work themselves out once they had a better idea of what they were dealing with.

[LUMIS (Ender)]

There was an unseen reason for it, this lack of great activity. Not just the war. Lumis knew this town. This wasn't normal, that the streets were mostly quiet and that any gathering of people was largely quiet with hushed words shared. It wasn't so much a dead town as one stifled. Something was wrong here, more so than the war. Marshall Law, they said...but for what reason? Civil unrest? Sabotage? Rioting? There no obvious signs, just that something currently out of their grasp was going on here and they had to find it out.

"That wasn't so bad."

"No, but this town is."

"Where to next? Do you wanna go look for your friend right away, or should we see what's going on?"

She shook her head.

"Parents first. I need to see them, and frankly doing anything before this after my being gone so long would look suspicious. Besides, I'm a little worried now..."

Without another word, she headed down the streets and avenues with complete knowledge of her surroundings, no question of where she needed to go because she knew what was there. Cooro had probably, in the past, gone by the house they came to without thought or incident, likely on his way to somewhere else while he was in Astar. It was a fair-sized home due to the amount her parents earned in their work. Of course, during a marshall law situation, there would be little trade for her father to get into at this time. Lumis stood outside with the air taking on a chill.

"Cooro, we have to tell them the truth. Are you with me?"

[COORO]

"No, but this town is."

Cooro nodded absently, looking from building to building as they walked. They passed hushed groups and candle-lit windows, but any signs of life were swallowed with tension. It looked much like the Astar he'd last seen several years ago, but it certainly wasn't the same.

He followed after Lumis, careful not to get distracted by the somehow unfamiliar familiar sights, as she made her way through the winding streets with the sureness of someone who lived there. She was right. She'd told the guards she was going home, so it would seem odd if she didn't. How long had it been since she'd last seen her family? It would be strange to suddenly see them again, wouldn't it? Then again, he had no real experience to guess on, never really having had a family to come to. Not unless he counted the Sisters and the other children back at the orphanage. He supposed that was the closest he'd come to a family, but... A chill nipped the back of his neck, stirred by the memory of a certain man's face. No. It hadn't quite been the same. He'd been waiting for him then, too. His eventual homecoming there hadn't been a happy one, and he had no particular desire to go back again. Too many bad memories mixed with the good ones.

Perhaps the other travelers he'd met during his journey that time had actually been the closest thing he'd had to a family. They were the ones who'd freed him from that place after all, from that man. He smiled sadly, going over their faces one at a time in his memory. The last time he'd come to Astar, they'd been beside him. He still hoped he'd meet them again, one day.

"Cooro, we have to tell them the truth. Are you with me?"

He blinked, realizing that he'd been spacing out for a while, there. He'd barely noticed that they'd stopped. He blinked a few more times before the present came back to him. "Oh! Yeah. Right!" He stammered, taking in the house in front of them for the first time. That had to belong to Lumis' family. It was big, or at least, compared to most of the other houses he visited, but he swallowed down any comment on it and instead looked up at her with a more certain nod. "Yeah, I think that'd be best."

It might be convenient for a while, but in the end, lies never really solved anything. That was one thing he'd learned from his old friends.

[[OOC: Sorry for the huge wait]]

[LUMIS (Ender)]

"Yeah, I think that'd be best."

She was definitely glad he said so, because her own feelings alone had never been enough to push herself into telling. There had already been a lie in this family, the guise of normality in the face of actually being a +Anima in Astar. Such as that wouldn't have even been possible if her mark had been somewhere less obscured than near her armpit. Lumis delayed in reaching for the door. There was a bell you could ring, but she wasn't going to use it. Her ears were too sensitive. She knocked...then waited.

A few minutes later, she was about to knock again when there was movement by the curtains of the nearest window, and then the door-latch was undone before opening. The person standing in the doorway was a taller woman with blonde hair and striking blue eyes. She was wearing a teal shirt with a slightly-lighter skirt and warm winter leggings with her dark shoes. She had on something that was dark brown and looked warm, the combination of a poncho and a cape, almost like a wearable fleece blanket. This woman was Solis Melaney, Lumis' mother and clothing designer/maker. She was surprised, to say the least.

"Lumis... You're home... Where have you been?"

"Mother...I..."

She was interrupted by a tight hug. You know the kind, where your parent seems to squeeze the life out of you in toll of their worry? Cooro might have trouble thinking of such a time, but there was one now. Even Lumis' stoic exterior couldn't hide how much she'd missed this kind of caring and love. When Solis finally pulled away, her reaction was naturally to ask away with all the mother-questions of concern one has at this juncture. 'Where have you been?', 'What were you thinking?', Why didn't you tell anyone?', and so on until she noticed Cooro.

"Is this a friend of yours?"

Lumis nodded.

"Mother, this is Cooro, a friend. Cooro, this is my mother, Solis Melaney."

It was pronounced 'SAW-lis', as in solar, much in the way Lumis' name was pronounced 'LOO-mis' to denote the strangely-luminous way her eyes were in the dark. It was actually theme-naming, because they were thinking of the moon, ergo mother and daughter were that of the sun and the moon in her father's world. Speaking of which...

"Where's father?"

"He's at the main office, in the latest attempt to find some avenue of trade during Marshall Law time. I'm afraid his business is suffering as a result of things."

"Yes, why is that? Astar doesn't just close its borders without good reason. Even this war-"

There was a sudden and fixed glare upon the two from that woman now. By god, she was as wonderful to behold as sunshine itself, but a pointed stare like that had the strength of a lightning bolt and quickly shut Lumis up.

"This war is entirely the reason for that. I'd explain, but your father knows the most details on the matter."

"I see. Well...it's for the best, since I need to talk to you both..."

In the meantime, they were invited inside, where it was significantly warmer. Lumis' house was indeed big, and the build of it said 'well-to-do'. She never bragged or really even talked about home. Giving up all of this must've been hard for her, so her talk of 'necessity' had all the more seriousness attached to it. They would settle in a well-furnished sitting room with a full fireplace/mantelpiece setup and a blazing fire to warm by.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The main office was what they currently dubbed the postal/trade service hub of activity, more lately an area to organize a number of in-going and out-going war-related papers for reasons of emergency and situational concerns of the public. Anything official to and from those in charge of the war effort - Astar's army personnel - would come in here and be sent out by the regular staff, who had little else to do during Marshall Law for the most part. They'd been annexed during this time of emergency. Not everyone knew the details of what exactly had happened, but even those with little information had circulating rumors to work with. Military leaders in isolation, extremely close scrutiny of town residents, little or no contact with the outside... Oh, something had happened alright. Something big.

The patrol man who'd recently been on horseback stepped in and stood before a number of papers stuck to a wall before fixing his glare on one of them. It was a Missing Person poster, with an illustration of a black-haired girl with the name written below it 'Lumis Helial Melaney'. Smirking, he reached over and he tore it down. That was one case closed, anyhow. No sooner had he thrown it away than an office door opened and two men stepped out. One was an employee here and the other was a man who still had his outdoor coat on, due to the nature and frequency of the arguments that were being had here. The worker was, by all accounts, a friend of his, but current times were making that stretched a little thin. The man in question was a clean-kept black-haired fellow with brown eyes and a mustashe. They were having raised voices over what neither of them could effect: The closing down of the borders and how it affected trade.

"I can only keep requesting and trying to pull in a favor from those we know in uniform, as I know you have as well, but there's nothing I can do if the answer keeps coming back 'No'."

"But it isn't simply about business, Max. The town will stagnate eventually, even one such as this. All of our well-being is at stake, not just mine!"

"And I keep telling them that too, but still-"

"Wait, what's this?"

He had just noticed the vacancy on the wall, rounding on the man he'd been talking to with sudden anger that hadn't been there a moment ago.

"What are you playing at here? You're not giving up on my daughter now, are you? I didn't say anything about your SON!"

Maximillian Williams' lower lip trembled during the shocked reaction he was giving his friend. He'd gotten a letter every month from his son, Bryce, who was in an advanced hunting party against the +Anima...but then all of a sudden they stopped and there was no word as to where his party went or what condition they were in. However, a hand descended on the shoulder of the man who'd driven in that ice-pick of a reminder.

"It's not what you think. The case just got wrapped up nicely."

Confused, he turned around.

"What do you mean?"

"Go home to your family, sir."

He spoke this, and then watched as Calvin Melaney left in a hurry. He then said that someone would have to tell the commander, but the blank look that Max was giving him made it clear that he wasn't dealing with it.

"Okay, okay, I'll do it."

[OOC: Setting the mood for Astar and the happenings and goings-on there. Also? Foreshadowing.]

[COORO]

Cooro padded after Lumis quietly as she approached the door to her own house and knocked like any visitor would. Well, mostly. Some visitors would likely have gone for the door bell, but she ignored it. Was it because of her ears? A flicker of a grin crossed his face before dying out. He'd known another bat +anima, once - one of the friends who'd been with him the last time he'd visited this city - and she'd hated loud noises just as much. One time, they'd -

He cut off the memory, blinking. Why was his mind racing off in so many weird directions lately? It just wouldn't quite do what he wanted it to ever since they'd entered Astar.

He blinked back to the present when the door opened and a woman he'd never seen before appeared in the doorway. There was a tense moment, before sparse words gave way to an embrace between mother and daughter. He simply stayed where he was, watching quietly as Lumis' mother tossed out worried question after worried question.

At some point, he realized dimly that his heart was racing. Lumis looked happy, he thought, her current face much different from the dull one she wore daily at the base. He smiled just slightly, too, but somehow, that only made his pulse pound harder.

They looked so content now, but what would they think once Lumis told them the truth? Would that happiness go away? The smile wilted on his cheeks and he mentally chided himself. He hadn't been so worried about it before - if they loved her, surely they'd still accept her, and it was in his nature to always believe in the best of everything. But now that it was here, that little bit of joy seemed delicate. The city itself seemed delicate, like it was ready to break at any moment.

Maybe there was something else, too. Too see someone welcomed home like that, held like that, drenched with so many questions and so much concern. Maybe it hurt, just a little bit.

"Is this a friend of yours?"

"Mother, this is Cooro, a friend. Cooro, this is my mother, Solis Melaney."

He startled. "Hi! It's, uh, nice to meet you!" He chimed almost too quickly, scratching the back of his head and trying to find his usual friendly grin.

Lumis and her mother kept talking after that. Something about her father and business. He listened dazedly until he heard the word 'war', but Solis said no more for the time, instead inviting them inside. He swallowed, brushing away a twinge of guilt and following Lumis inside. Right. For the time being, he just needed to be happy for his friend.

It was warmer, at least, the group settling near one of the fanciest fireplaces he'd ever seen. The feel of the house was much the same on the inside as on the outside - a far cry from the home he'd grown up in. What would it have been like to grow up in a place like this? He'd have to ask Lumis some time, but...

He looked from her to her mother. He suddenly felt a bit like a third wheel. With her mother there, he wasn't sure what to say, what he could say. And for him, feeling short of words was a strange sensation, indeed. He just hoped her father would get back soon so that they could get the intense conversations over with. It'd be more comfortable then.

[[OOC: Grah, longer wait than ever. Sorry >.>]]

[LUMIS (Ender)]

[OOC: I had gotten a tad worried. The new board layout is strange. For some reason, the textfield for posting starts out purple like the board's background color.]

They were given a chance to relax, to be seated near a warm fire with no more concerns for now than which part of the body was to be the toastiest. Yes, Lumis was indeed feeling happy enough. But...Cooro had to know that underneath all that, she was also dreading this a great deal. He knew that she left her home to avoid all this, and now it was confrontation time...and at a most peculiar moment in time. What in the world was going on around here? If you were ever in trouble at school and you were waiting to hear what your father had to say about that, you understand the feeling going through her mind right now. Not long after, the door unlocked, opened, and slammed shut before a man - Calvin Melaney - entered the room. Lumis stood up, of course, ready to take whatever anxieties he might've had at full force.

"Dad, I-"

Aaand another hearty embrace. Lumis decided to stop trying to open a conversation with people she hasn't seen in so long. It really wasn't working out. He let her go after a moment, his worried face still present even while Solis was much more calm at this time. Calvin did manage a slight smile, though.

"Been map-making again, I take it?"

She shook her head at him.

"No, nothing so innocent, I'm afraid."

"What's wrong, dear?"

She looked down for a moment.

"It's the war. I didn't want to be involved with it, but I had no choice. I stayed for as long as it was possible, as long as had the ability to keep under suspicion, but when it wasn't possible anymore..."

It was easy to read their faces, that they were following the lines of this conversation. The look on their faces said that something, or several somethings, were wrong. And maybe it wasn't just regarding her. Maybe...

"Where is Kamino?"

"He joined Astar's service."

Cooro would see proper shock, actual wide-eyes and crestfallen expression on Lumis' face now. If the reaction could be summed up in one word, it would be 'Nooo...'. Solis elaborated.

"We asked him why, when he hated the idea himself. He said that 'Lumis would understand...because it seems necessary'."

So, there it was then. Her worst fears...confirmed, and in fact given fuel by her own life views. She'd tried to get Kamino to think in the ways that she did and he...used it in a manner she did not expect at all. About this time, her father spoke up.

"You're being plain with us, then? You're really...?"

"Yes, +Anima. Both of us."

She pulled up her sleeve and raised her arm to allow the mark to be seen. Once they seemed satisfied with that, Lumis dropped her arm again, speaking about as deadpan as ever.

"If you're going to do anything to me, please let Cooro go. He hasn't fought and killed as I have. He is not...a soldier yet. I was teaching him, but you can take it out on-"

"Will you hush up a moment? Honestly, we're your parents, not the officer of the block."

"We would not turn in our own child. We understand the way you think, and how much it mattered to you to stay despite the danger."

This brought back some of the life into her expression. She smiled, and perhaps there was some tearing up as well. Of course, this left the obvious problem of the boy she left behind being on the opposing side for sure...

[COORO]

[[OOC: Yeah, it is strange. I think Proboards must've updated to a new version that killed the custom scheme/layout, since it just reverted to a default on its own. I changed the color scheme to something else. Is this better?]]

A few more quiet moments passed, before the door opened and revealed another stranger. Or rather, a stranger to Cooro, at least, but the man, wearing equal measure relief and worry, went straight towards Lumis and wrapped her in an embrace. Cooro blinked up at them, still seated at his place by the fireplace. Her father, he presumed. He smiled while he watched them, trying to hide his own worry. Another warm welcome home for his companion, but the real test would come soon. They wouldn't be able to ignore the elephant-in-the-room much longer, and knowing Lumis, she wouldn't try to.

"It's the war. I didn't want to be involved with it, but I had no choice. I stayed for as long as it was possible, as long as had the ability to keep under suspicion, but when it wasn't possible anymore..."

As expected, she cut right to the chase. The muscles tightened in his arms and legs, and a peculiar twitch tingled at his shoulders. The instinctive part of his mind preparing his body to flee if he had to. There was a time when he hadn't worried about being a +anima - when he'd almost been proud to show it off, but the country's current state didn't allow that anymore. He'd learned to always keep his guard up. Even with people and in places where he should've felt safe. Some of the reactions he'd seen nowadays were far worse than the mere disdain he'd usually received in earlier years, before the war. They lived in a time now when simply being yourself with friends and family could be a dangerous thing.

His quick pulse dropped further into his stomach when Lumis got the answer to her next question. He looked away, not wanting to watch the sad, wide-eyed shock on her usually stoic face. It...unsettled him, somehow. She was always the calm one, so if she wasn't...the news had to cut deep. Her friend had joined the Astarian army. Her fears had proved true, then. His lips fell into a worried frown while another little piece of optimism died. He'd wanted to believe that she'd return home to find everything the way she'd hoped it would be, that things tended to work out for the best. But...maybe that wasn't true anymore, either.

"You're being plain with us, then? You're really...?"

His fingers dug into his palms.

"We would not turn in our own child."

He exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and smiled just slightly. No. Maybe everything wasn't quite that bad yet, after all. He looked back up at Lumis. Her face wore relief even greater than his. They'd been accepted by her family...now there was just her friend to deal with.

He watched her a while, trying to read anything else from her expression or voice. What was she going to do about Kamino, now? They'd come here to find him, after all. He had to be really important to her. Just how important, he wondered. What was this Kamino guy to Lumis, anyway? The mention of his whereabouts had been enough to erase the stoic face she usually wore. ...Was he more than a friend? Either way, he supposed it didn't really matter - he was someone she clearly cared about very much. He hoped Kamino cared about her the same way. If he did, then he'd understand if they found him and told him the truth...wouldn't he?

He waited until the room quieted down and scooted closer to Lumis. "I'm sorry about your friend." He managed. He was never good at this sort of thing, but felt like he had to say something. "But that just means we have to find him and show him that he's wrong!" He tried to sound more confident than he was. "...Right?"

[LUMIS (Ender)]

[OOC: Yes, this is much better. I can see everything properly now. BTW: I have attempted to actually find +Anima (at conventions, for instance), but to no avail. Any recommendations?]

"I'm sorry about your friend."

A friend...and more. Maybe it was her stoic behavior, that ability to - for the most part - remain even-tempered and focused in at least temperment, if nor other places, but Cooro hadn't quite been able to put it together. Kamino had made it easier to show her inner-self, reaching out to understand her and the way she thought. He was a cool breeze on a warm day, a giddy feeling in the middle of something daunting, a cunning plan in the face of adversiity... Friendship didn't cover it. She loved him. You cannot love your enemy and expect to survive, though, so she left he home and her life, joining Vindico and praying silently never to see him again until peacetime. The alternative would be too much for her to contemplate.

"But that just means we have to find him and show him that he's wrong! ...Right?"

Lumis considered it for a moment. What would it take to convince Kamino to leave Astar - home, army, and all - to become a pro-+Anima on the sidelines, at the very least? Would she alone be enough? Leaving without a word may have been least-confirming than anything else on what she was up to, but it was not the best option towards the feelings of a loved one. One of the fears deep inside her was that Kamino would resent her for her actions, any or all of them. On the other hand, if it was her kind of perspective that drew him to the conclusion, perhaps he would change his mind because her perspective was actually different from what he thought. One thing that Lumis knew was that Kamino didn't tremendous hatred of anything. If he did this, it was out of a sense of duty, much like her motivation was survival.

"It may be possible...but we would have to isolate him to try. Where is Kamino these days?"

Her father, who knew alot more regarding the current state of things, answered.

"He's in town, and will probably remain so for the time being, due to the Marshall Law plan."

"Why is that happening, anyway? What caused it?"

"This situation precipitated as a result of a number of assassinations here in Astar."

Well now... That was unexpected. Calvin told the tale. It seems that, rather unexpectedly, a soldier of Astar was found dead in an alley. Details are not generally open to the public, but he had learned through Kamino that he was definitely attacked and killed. Other deaths followed, always a member of Dignitas. Rumors and speculation followed as the news could not be kept quiet. People - especially those in uniform - feared for their lives, or were at least very edgey. Even Kamino had a touch of worry about him. Guards on the royal family were doubled, though it was clear that the main city was the target area. Finally, when a leader was discovered stabbed and left on the side of a road, drastic measures had to be taken.

"Visitors were checked carefully and deported when no evidence of their being the assassin or assassins could be found. Those known to live here according to the census were looked into, but have no real likelyhood of being the one. It was thought that a +Anima would do the job easily and would have the right motivations, even be able to fly right into town if it were one who could. That is why there are border guards, regular patrols, watchmen at key points of the city, and so forth. The Dignitas Base is even closed to all but authorized people, high-ranking officers only."

"They're protecting their strategists. This isn't good... If they draw suspicion on me or Cooro...we're both flyers. I sound exactly like the assassin, but I'm not the one who did this. So, is Kamino on patrol, then?"

Her mother shook her head.

"Not exactly. When he joined, they had him originally in home defense and he would be on patrol. Since the crisis started, they placed him in investigations. From there, he impressed a few of his superiors with some ideas on the methodology of the killings, and received an emergency promotion to help coordinate Marshall defense against the assassin. He's a commander now, and many times you'll find him at their base."

Kamino's personality was infectious, it seemed... Well, if Lumis remembered right, the royal family assaigned a building to Dignitas to use as a base. Now, what was it...?

[COORO]

[[OOC: The publisher went under, so the series has actually been out of print for a while, unfortunately, but the volumes are usually pretty cheap online at places like Amazon.com or eBay.]]

"It may be possible...but we would have to isolate him to try. Where is Kamino these days?"

Lumis' own belief that it might work strengthened his. He nodded vigorously, trying to wipe the doubt off his face. If Lumis said so, then everything could still turn out okay. That he was still in town was good news, too. At least they wouldn't need to do any more traveling. In a way, this whole Marshall Law thing turned out to be sort of convenient, but -

He stiffened, his resolve wavering slightly at the mention of assassinations. He'd seen some dark stuff in his journeys and in the war, but that word still sent a shiver down his spine. He could adapt to the idea of war - of fighting out of necessity - but a series of serial assassinations was something beyond his level. Something that existed outside his world. Even thinking about combat was different - a mess of violence and desperation on both sides. But assassinations, murders - that was all one sided. Hunter and prey. Someone stalking and killing someone else...it was like the childhood stories of bogeymen brought to life.

He swallowed, pushing the thoughts away and listening to the rest of the conversation. Right. The assassin was after Dignitas, not them, and in fact could very well be a +anima too. They were here to find Lumis' friend, not deal with the murders. It would give them something to report on back at base, certainly, but not something they would necessarily get involved in, themselves. At least, he hoped they wouldn't. And for that matter, he hoped their resemblance to the suspected profile wouldn't get them involved in it, either. They would have to be even more careful than usual when it came to using their +anima forms and hiding their markings.

He perked up a bit at the mention of the base, though, spotting a chance to be useful. "Oh! The base is just outside town, isn't it? An old lab near the port? I think I've seen that building before - it's huge!" That was before said abandoned laboratory become Dignitas' base, of course. It'd been before the war at all. He could only imagine it was even more intimidating, now. He looked up at Lumis uncertainly. "Do you think we'll be able to find him there even with all the extra security?" No doubt it wasn't the safest place for a couple of visiting +anima, either.

[LUMIS (Ender)]

[OOC: Don't suppose you have a general idea of cost. I have a few Amazon cards handy.]

It wasn't as though she was worried that a commander was going to be any more or less difficult to convince than a lower-ranking soldier. Kamino was still Kamino, after all, and her parents didn't seem to indicate that his personality had changed. In fact, his dedication to dealing with the war somehow appeared to be - in part - her own influence at work. If that were the case, he'd be open to a few suggestions, maybe quitting. If he could at least be out of harm's way, that would be enough. Cooro suddenly reminded her of where the Dignitas base was. Lumis had completely forgotten. Good thing he was around, huh?

"Do you think we'll be able to find him there even with all the extra security?"

"Hmmm... I think getting in will be impossible. Strict rules are in place, so unless you feel like risking your neck for just an audience, I would say a more careful approach is in order."

After all, Calvin said 'high-ranking personnel only'. The guards would follow it to the letter, lest they be punished for dereliction of duty, or worse - if someone should happen to die on their watch - persecuted or even executed for a criminal-maybe-treacherous negligence. No soldier in this man's army would risk that on account of a pair of young people. No, Lumis had a far more brilliant and ultimately easier plan.

"We could simply go there and ask him to come out. True, he gets busy, but it's safer and I'm at least known to him personally."

Yes...it was just sane enough to work! The only problem with it was...

"If he won't come, we'll have to wait and get him when he DOES come out. Presumably, he has to sleep sometime, or eat. I just don't feel that breaking right into a military base-turned-lab would be a good idea. The more trouble we avoid here, the better."

This, she felt was the wise move because not only were they looking out for Kamino, but also themselves. It wouldn't do to get so far and be so close to him, then fall victim to a bad mistake and get captured or someting.