Kalim seems to be having a rare time of reflection when Azul finds him in the botanical gardens, sitting by the chickens as he watches them idly peck at the ground in their enclosure. He smiles as he sees his warden--and friend, in his mind--approach. Still, there's no bombastic waving and jumping around as he greets the merman.
"Oh, hi, Azul. Looks like you found me--what's up?"
Expecting or perhaps hoping that he'll have some company for a few moments, he scoots over to make more room beside where he's sitting.
Kalim laughs as Azul sits, shaking his head. "Oh, no, nothing like that. I get really excited when I'm around others, especially since there's so much to see and do and talk about that I couldn't have back home. And when I get excited like that, I have a hard time keeping my thoughts in order, so..."
He threads his fingers together in front of his knees, still smiling softly as he looks out over the gardens.
"I'm trying to start making room for myself to just think a bit more, without getting distracted. I didn't realize it until I started doing that, but I have a lot on my mind."
Azul simply listens to Kalim quietly. It's a bit of a novelty, seeing him a bit more down-to-earth. Actually contemplating, something that Azul wasn't even entirely sure he could do, at least not unbidden.
"It's not a bad idea to have time to oneself now and then."
It's clear Kalim didn't expect the question--even with Azul as his Warden, he's never been good at putting his thoughts into words. Has never really had to stop and think about things so hard--at least, not until after Jamil's Overblot.
"I don't know--about home, I guess, and about Jamil. The one that isn't here, I mean, but I guess the one here, too--and you, and everyone who could go home if they wanted." He hesitates, clarifying. "Why are you still here?"
His own eyes lid with consideration. There's a soft hum.
There's quiet for awhile, gaze drifting away as he considers what to say. And then he begins, clearly at the start of a story:
"About a year ago, now, we were all whisked away to different, yet similar ships to the Barge. Myself and Jamil ended up on the Brigantine."
He shakes his head.
"If you thought the Barge was chaotic, then the Brigantine was raw and unfiltered madness. It wasn't long after I arrived I was nearly beaten to death, were it not for the kindness of a strange man.
"His name was Jecht, and he inspired a great change in me. Him and one other named Tiernan protected and guided myself and Jamil while we were on that ship.
"At first, I wished to free them of that ship. It's not so benign as the Barge, you see. Those captured were doomed to remain forever trapped there. As it was, we would never see them again."
And then he closes his eyes.
"Yet, there was nothing the Admiral could do... or so he says. Nothing in his power would break them of their cage."
Kalim listens with a sort of patience one wouldn't normally expect from him--he is a polite boy, though, exuberance bordering on inconsiderateness aside. He watches Azul as he talks, nodding here and there, expression changing throughout what's said about the Brigantine and their time there.
"That's awful...there's really nothing that can be done? Not even a chance?"
At the moment, the people stuck on there is much more of a concern than his own thoughts.
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Date: 2023-08-29 02:32 am (UTC)"Oh, hi, Azul. Looks like you found me--what's up?"
Expecting or perhaps hoping that he'll have some company for a few moments, he scoots over to make more room beside where he's sitting.
(no subject)
Date: 2023-08-30 11:09 pm (UTC)"I hadn't heard much of you lately. I was beginning to suspect you'd fallen ill."
After a moment, he does take a seat next to Kalim. He doesn't look unwell, at least...
(no subject)
Date: 2023-08-30 11:24 pm (UTC)He threads his fingers together in front of his knees, still smiling softly as he looks out over the gardens.
"I'm trying to start making room for myself to just think a bit more, without getting distracted. I didn't realize it until I started doing that, but I have a lot on my mind."
(no subject)
Date: 2023-08-30 11:49 pm (UTC)"It's not a bad idea to have time to oneself now and then."
And then a raised eyebrow.
"Such as?"
(no subject)
Date: 2023-08-31 01:03 am (UTC)It's clear Kalim didn't expect the question--even with Azul as his Warden, he's never been good at putting his thoughts into words. Has never really had to stop and think about things so hard--at least, not until after Jamil's Overblot.
"I don't know--about home, I guess, and about Jamil. The one that isn't here, I mean, but I guess the one here, too--and you, and everyone who could go home if they wanted." He hesitates, clarifying. "Why are you still here?"
(no subject)
Date: 2023-08-31 01:23 am (UTC)His own eyes lid with consideration. There's a soft hum.
There's quiet for awhile, gaze drifting away as he considers what to say. And then he begins, clearly at the start of a story:
"About a year ago, now, we were all whisked away to different, yet similar ships to the Barge. Myself and Jamil ended up on the Brigantine."
He shakes his head.
"If you thought the Barge was chaotic, then the Brigantine was raw and unfiltered madness. It wasn't long after I arrived I was nearly beaten to death, were it not for the kindness of a strange man.
"His name was Jecht, and he inspired a great change in me. Him and one other named Tiernan protected and guided myself and Jamil while we were on that ship.
"At first, I wished to free them of that ship. It's not so benign as the Barge, you see. Those captured were doomed to remain forever trapped there. As it was, we would never see them again."
And then he closes his eyes.
"Yet, there was nothing the Admiral could do... or so he says. Nothing in his power would break them of their cage."
(no subject)
Date: 2023-08-31 05:01 am (UTC)"That's awful...there's really nothing that can be done? Not even a chance?"
At the moment, the people stuck on there is much more of a concern than his own thoughts.
(no subject)
Date: 2023-09-02 11:56 pm (UTC)"However, it ended up there being no need. Jecht and Tiernan found their own way out of there, as confirmed over the network recently."
"The next deal... I am still mulling over."
He looks to Kalim.
"I too think a lot about Jamil. And especially his lifelong struggle with his parents.
"Family is of the utmost importance, and I've seen the pain in his eyes when he's told me of how they've been towards him."
He glances to Kalim once more, contemplating...
"Mm... You'd find out sooner or later.
"When Jamil returned home after graduation, he returned with the news that his parents had disowned him."