[ Thancred is initially surprised to find the message in the peripheral of his vision, but when he thinks back on his jumble of implanted memories, he recalls Cid always being a good sort.
So, perhaps this is all as expected, and he's open to meeting the actual man now. ]
It's Thancred, actually. It seems half of us kept our names and half did not, for reasons that escape me.
All is as well as it can be on my end. I'd be up for a chat, certainly. I'm going to assume you're not in Thorne, however.
[ Or he would have seen him around by now, surely. ]
Your guess is as good as mine. Better, in fact. This was my first adventure of this sort and I can't say that I've quite wrapped my head around it.
'Aegis' wasn't related to anything you knew of? I'll be frank, I thought it would be good to get a sense of what was real and what wasn't, is all.
I'm in the Free Cities, though I have some friends in Thorne. Are you acquainted with Clive? Big scowly fellow with a scar on his face. You can't miss him.
[ While Thancred has long shifted out of letter format after years spent here, he now reverts back for Cid's comfort. ]
Cid,
You had quite the introduction into this world, then. I could hardly imagine being thrust into such an involved "dream" when I was still finding my feet within Abraxas.
I can make a guess for "Aegis." The fighting style which I most recently picked up, that of the gunbreaker, revolves around protecting one's companions and applying shields. "Aegis" fits that theme.
I am acquainted with Clive, as well as Jill and Dion. [ It takes him a moment to recall their actual names, and not call them Mythos, Metia, or Sajj'aka. ] You're another denizen of Valisthea, then? I suppose that makes sense, given your name and your abilities.
I'd be interested in taking a look at that weapon of yours sometime, before you get to the breaking part of your skill set. [ This is not the first time he's made this joke in 800 years. ] You'll forgive me if my memory's a bit fuzzy — these shields of yours, they come from the projectiles? Bullets, I think?
Yes, I'm from Valisthea as well. Jill's a good sort. Give her my regards if you see her again before I do. [ No comment on Dion. He's not ready to unpack that. ]
More from the gunpowder that's expelled by the projectile than the projectile itself, but yes. It uses cartridges which, if I'm lucky, are aetherically-imbued by someone to increase their potency. I had a somewhat steady supply coming to me with the help of a close companion, but he vanished from Abraxas prior to our 800-year excursion.
[ However, partly due to the association created by Cid's name, Thancred wonders if he's an engineering sort and might have another solution for him. It's possible, though given that his gunblade can't be smuggled into Nocwich with any sort of ease, they might have to resort to the Horizon at first. Maybe that would grant Cid enough information to work from.
Thancred notices the way that Dion isn't acknowledged by Cid at all and finds that noteworthy, but files it away for now. There's much more for them to speak about. ]
I'll let her know if I come across her, certainly.
Mayhap Himeka has already told you as much, but we've found many similarities between our home, Etheirys, and Valisthea. Chocobos, moogles, aether — the list goes on.
More specifically to you, Ramuh and Odin exist in Etheirys as well. The way you manipulated levin also seemed quite familiar, and we even have a friend named Cid back home.
I'll not make any promises, but if you bring it to the Horizon I'll see what can be done. Perhaps Aether isn't the only solution to such a problem.
[ He doesn't make weapons in the normal course, but a shield is something he's willing to investigate, if nothing else... and if he does decide to pursue something, the technology already exists. He won't be bringing some new monstrosity into an unprepared world.
As for the rest of it... Maybe Thancred can hear him sigh all the way in Thorne. ]
You have a great deal of faith in your sister's tact, though I admit I do appreciate her candor.
Himeka told me that your world had shattered into a number of shards, and she believes that Valisthea may be one of them. I'm sure you understand that I'll need at least four of those eight centuries we were promised before I've made any sense of that.
As for the rest of it, she told me of Primals as well. I believe they're different from what we know of as Eikons.
This friend of yours, what's his full name? I'm curious.
~ The Other Cid, Apparently
Edited (oops she called them shards and not reflections) 2024-05-27 23:51 (UTC)
If we're due a chat anyhow, I'm happy to let you see it. I assume this is also a personal curiosity of yours and not simply because you want to help me out of the kindness of your heart?
[ In truth, his false memories tell him that Cid is both a skilled engineer and a person who looks out for others. The question now is if he is actually both of those things in reality. It's hard to know just how much license the Singularity took with their personhoods. ]
Believe me, I know that tact is not exactly Himeka's strong point. [ What did she do. For a moment he wonders if he should correct Cid about Himeka being her sister, but... isn't she, in all the ways that matter? It's fine.
Except then Cid gets into it, and... ah. She came right out with it, did she? ]
Ever since my first chat with Jill, I suspected that Valisthea might be a shard broken off from our world. However, I wasn't convinced it was the right time to reveal that theory to all of you.
[ Read: he does have tact. ]
Nothing for it, I suppose. Now you know, though I will say that detail doesn't affect much about our situations in the here and now. And yes, there do appear to be some notable differences between primals and eikons, even if their names and appearances are quite similar. They occupy slightly different roles.
Cid Garlond is his name. [ Thancred leaves out the "nan." Cid left behind that part of his name when he defected, and he doubts it would mean anything to this Cid anyhow. ]
Very much so. As I've said, I can't make any promises until I see the thing for myself. It may be that I can't help you at all.
[ Or that he won't, Cid doesn't say. Even if he can figure it out, even if Thancred is all that Cid hopes he might be, there are plenty of ways for it all to go awry. ]
I appreciate the attempt — and to be fair to the lass, I asked. There are worse things to be than too honest.
You're right, it likely doesn't change much in the here and now, but it may be something to keep in mind. If our worlds are connected in such a particular way, what of the others? Is there some common thread that the Singularity has seen fit to pull on? I have no shortage of things to think about, for better or worse.
That name bears only a passing similarity to mine, I think. Cid is a nickname for me. As for my familiarity with Ramuh and Odin... if it's all the same to you, I would appreciate if you kept that connection to yourself, at least for the moment.
Perhaps it's a mistake to show my hand by asking as much, but it's my hope that your discretion is still as it was when we called ourselves friends.
I suppose if nothing else, you will at least derive some enjoyment from seeing how a gunblade functions.
[ So many people here are fascinated by it. This is hardly the first time he's had someone express interest. ]
For all that our worlds might be similar, and there is another — Gaia — that is as well, I can't say I have found the same among the worlds of other Summoned. Perhaps there are others finding similarities between their respective stars, however.
[ Trying to make sense of how the cosmos is weaved together is a bit above Thancred's paygrade, but Urianger and Y'shtola would have been fascinated. He has neither one to turn to, now. ]
It is no burden at all for me to keep that secret for you. I doubt most here know what those entities even are, to be honest with you.
[ But... Dion asked the same. Thancred senses that they have good reason to want to keep their abilities hidden based on what they experienced back on Valisthea, even if he doesn't know the gory details. The little he'd picked up on regarding Dion's past via those chatty blackbirds had told him more than enough. ]
If you would like to work toward considering each other friends once more, I am also amenable.
[ Cid had seemed a good man, from what Thancred can remember, and while not all of that may be based in truth, he sees no reason not to learn for himself. ]
Well, I'm glad we're both a bit out of our depth with this one. I had wondered, once or twice, if there might be other peoples out amongst the stars -- I suppose I should be more than content to have that curiosity now satisfied. Would have been a shame if it was only the one bastard.
You're correct about the Eikons, near as I can tell. It's my hope that they remain in the dark, and that our gracious hosts know even less. I'll explain the why of it sometime, if you like. If you're at all like the man I knew, I think you'll understand.
As to rekindling our friendship... I would like that.
[ It did draw a chuckle out of him, he'll admit. And while this might be in reference to memories that did not in truth take place, he suspects it's true regardless, based on what he knows of Cid. ]
One bastard, you say? And who would that be?
[ His mind immediately supplies that it could be an Ascian, but he'll wait to see how much Cid is willing to share. ]
Then to be certain we're on the same page, we're in agreement on rekindling a friendship, perhaps with even more intimate relations as the mood strikes, and you explaining more about why this all needs to be kept so secretive. Though I can hazard a guess or two.
Himeka tells me that you've something called Ultima Weapon in your world, a machine of sorts. Ultima for us was... a man, in a manner of speaking. He came to Valisthea in the hopes of draining it of aether and using it to restore his own world, as I understand it. She mentioned that it sounded like one of your Rejoinings.
[ He figures he might as well save Thancred the headache of trying to approach this all tactfully when Himeka has more-or-less taken a sledgehammer to it. ]
All of that, yes. Although it strikes me that I've heard plenty of your world, and barely anything of your role in it — perhaps we can speak of that as well.
Yes, it sounds precisely like that. I would not be surprised if this Ultima is an Ascian who sought to bring a calamitous end to Valisthea in order to rejoin it with the Source.
[ It sounds like Cid has a strong enough hold on things now to be able to follow that logic. ]
Was he stopped? Was your star saved? Or does its fate still teeter on a knife's edge?
Himeka and I are of the same order, and our purpose has always been to protect our realm from the many factors that threaten it. Aye, we can discuss that in more detail over a drink sometime.
That's what it sounds like to me, as well — granted, I can't say that I truly understand the finer points of Ultima's plan. You'll have to tell me how you came to know these Ascians so well sometime.
[ He's doing his best to digest and follow all of this, but even what he knows of Ultima is second-hand at best.
He could point Thancred at Clive for a more detailed explanation, but he'll hold off for the moment, until he's certain that Thancred is someone he can trust with the whole truth of Mythos as well. Thancred is cannier than most and Clive, for all his many virtues, can't lie to save his life.
He doubts that it matters too much, anyway. At the moment, this is all speculation, and their homes are still distant. ]
I wouldn't say that all is well in Valisthea, but Ultima is no more, and the realm will live to see another dawn. There are good people looking after it — in due time, it'll thrive again.
Somehow that doesn't surprise me. You've no shortage of work, from what little I've heard. I'll hold you to both the drink and the details, when next we find ourselves idle in Nocwich.
Try to keep yourself out of trouble in the meantime, eh?
That is quite the tale. Suffice to say we're not exactly on good terms.
[ The list of things they would like to learn from each other only grows, though Thancred doesn't mind. He will, as always, take care with what he shares with someone whose trust has not truly been earned, but...
He will admit, it's hard to view Cid as anything other than a future stalwart companion. It remains to be seen whether the reality will match their dreams. He doesn't necessarily want to follow in those footsteps, but their interactions are already different, focused on that of their similar homes. ]
I know that it is not an easy thing for a star to heal after such strife, but those of you who call it home seem resilient. I have every bit of faith in you.
A drink in Nocwich it is, then. I look forward to it. And I will do my best, but no promises.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
about a week after event 18
no subject
So, perhaps this is all as expected, and he's open to meeting the actual man now. ]
It's Thancred, actually. It seems half of us kept our names and half did not, for reasons that escape me.
All is as well as it can be on my end. I'd be up for a chat, certainly. I'm going to assume you're not in Thorne, however.
[ Or he would have seen him around by now, surely. ]
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Cid,
You had quite the introduction into this world, then. I could hardly imagine being thrust into such an involved "dream" when I was still finding my feet within Abraxas.
I can make a guess for "Aegis." The fighting style which I most recently picked up, that of the gunbreaker, revolves around protecting one's companions and applying shields. "Aegis" fits that theme.
I am acquainted with Clive, as well as Jill and Dion. [ It takes him a moment to recall their actual names, and not call them Mythos, Metia, or Sajj'aka. ] You're another denizen of Valisthea, then? I suppose that makes sense, given your name and your abilities.
- Thancred
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More from the gunpowder that's expelled by the projectile than the projectile itself, but yes. It uses cartridges which, if I'm lucky, are aetherically-imbued by someone to increase their potency. I had a somewhat steady supply coming to me with the help of a close companion, but he vanished from Abraxas prior to our 800-year excursion.
[ However, partly due to the association created by Cid's name, Thancred wonders if he's an engineering sort and might have another solution for him. It's possible, though given that his gunblade can't be smuggled into Nocwich with any sort of ease, they might have to resort to the Horizon at first. Maybe that would grant Cid enough information to work from.
Thancred notices the way that Dion isn't acknowledged by Cid at all and finds that noteworthy, but files it away for now. There's much more for them to speak about. ]
I'll let her know if I come across her, certainly.
Mayhap Himeka has already told you as much, but we've found many similarities between our home, Etheirys, and Valisthea. Chocobos, moogles, aether — the list goes on.
More specifically to you, Ramuh and Odin exist in Etheirys as well. The way you manipulated levin also seemed quite familiar, and we even have a friend named Cid back home.
- Thancred
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If we're due a chat anyhow, I'm happy to let you see it. I assume this is also a personal curiosity of yours and not simply because you want to help me out of the kindness of your heart?
[ In truth, his false memories tell him that Cid is both a skilled engineer and a person who looks out for others. The question now is if he is actually both of those things in reality. It's hard to know just how much license the Singularity took with their personhoods. ]
Believe me, I know that tact is not exactly Himeka's strong point. [ What did she do. For a moment he wonders if he should correct Cid about Himeka being her sister, but... isn't she, in all the ways that matter? It's fine.
Except then Cid gets into it, and... ah. She came right out with it, did she? ]
Ever since my first chat with Jill, I suspected that Valisthea might be a shard broken off from our world. However, I wasn't convinced it was the right time to reveal that theory to all of you.
[ Read: he does have tact. ]
Nothing for it, I suppose. Now you know, though I will say that detail doesn't affect much about our situations in the here and now. And yes, there do appear to be some notable differences between primals and eikons, even if their names and appearances are quite similar. They occupy slightly different roles.
Cid Garlond is his name. [ Thancred leaves out the "nan." Cid left behind that part of his name when he defected, and he doubts it would mean anything to this Cid anyhow. ]
- Thancred
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I suppose if nothing else, you will at least derive some enjoyment from seeing how a gunblade functions.
[ So many people here are fascinated by it. This is hardly the first time he's had someone express interest. ]
For all that our worlds might be similar, and there is another — Gaia — that is as well, I can't say I have found the same among the worlds of other Summoned. Perhaps there are others finding similarities between their respective stars, however.
[ Trying to make sense of how the cosmos is weaved together is a bit above Thancred's paygrade, but Urianger and Y'shtola would have been fascinated. He has neither one to turn to, now. ]
It is no burden at all for me to keep that secret for you. I doubt most here know what those entities even are, to be honest with you.
[ But... Dion asked the same. Thancred senses that they have good reason to want to keep their abilities hidden based on what they experienced back on Valisthea, even if he doesn't know the gory details. The little he'd picked up on regarding Dion's past via those chatty blackbirds had told him more than enough. ]
If you would like to work toward considering each other friends once more, I am also amenable.
[ Cid had seemed a good man, from what Thancred can remember, and while not all of that may be based in truth, he sees no reason not to learn for himself. ]
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No, I suppose not.
[ It did draw a chuckle out of him, he'll admit. And while this might be in reference to memories that did not in truth take place, he suspects it's true regardless, based on what he knows of Cid. ]
One bastard, you say? And who would that be?
[ His mind immediately supplies that it could be an Ascian, but he'll wait to see how much Cid is willing to share. ]
Then to be certain we're on the same page, we're in agreement on rekindling a friendship, perhaps with even more intimate relations as the mood strikes, and you explaining more about why this all needs to be kept so secretive. Though I can hazard a guess or two.
- Thancred
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Yes, it sounds precisely like that. I would not be surprised if this Ultima is an Ascian who sought to bring a calamitous end to Valisthea in order to rejoin it with the Source.
[ It sounds like Cid has a strong enough hold on things now to be able to follow that logic. ]
Was he stopped? Was your star saved? Or does its fate still teeter on a knife's edge?
Himeka and I are of the same order, and our purpose has always been to protect our realm from the many factors that threaten it. Aye, we can discuss that in more detail over a drink sometime.
- Thancred
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That is quite the tale. Suffice to say we're not exactly on good terms.
[ The list of things they would like to learn from each other only grows, though Thancred doesn't mind. He will, as always, take care with what he shares with someone whose trust has not truly been earned, but...
He will admit, it's hard to view Cid as anything other than a future stalwart companion. It remains to be seen whether the reality will match their dreams. He doesn't necessarily want to follow in those footsteps, but their interactions are already different, focused on that of their similar homes. ]
I know that it is not an easy thing for a star to heal after such strife, but those of you who call it home seem resilient. I have every bit of faith in you.
A drink in Nocwich it is, then. I look forward to it. And I will do my best, but no promises.
- Thancred