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Some slightly mature themes mentioned in here, use caution!
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The day finished itself out almost too fast.
When they had first exited the ship, Lard Nar remarked his fears that this day would slip through Pepps' fingers.
Thankfully that was not the case, but the sand in this day's hourglass seemed to drain more quickly than any day any of the Resisty could remember.
They had played games, hiked around the woods, snacked, laughed and just felt free for hours on end.
But as the sky began to change colors, their hearts all began to secretly sink with the lowering light.
They all knew all things must come to an end at some point, and this gorgeous day was no exception.
Tomorrow, they would have to pack up and get back into space and get back to trying to rescue those who had suffered at the hands of Irkens -- which they loved doing, but the affliction of a beautiful, peaceful day spent in nature put a bittersweet pang in their hearts.
Lard Nar was bringing a couple things to snack on to a spot he and Pepps agreed to sit at while they watched the sunset.
But when a shadow cast over him, he looked up in surprise to see Exhedra awake and standing in front of him.
She looked sleepy, but happy as she smiled down at him.
"Good evening, captain."
Lard Nar quickly stood up to greet her.
"Oh!
Exhedra, good evening," he said as he smiled.
"You're awake a tad early, aren't you?"
"A little, I suppose, but I am happy to be awake nonetheless.
I was hoping to see the sunset."
"Ahh, well you're just in time, then."
She nodded, seeming gradually more alert.
Lard Nar looked back to see Pepps was with Dex, another Vortian and his child, Rin, an Irken toddler he rescued before The Falling.
They were playing together.
Seeing he had a moment, Lard Nar turned back to Exhedra.
"Here, would you sit with me a moment?
I'd like to speak with you."
Exhedra's eyes seemed to light up a little, a hint of surprise in her voice.
"Oh, yes of course.
Thank you."
Exhedra moved to Lard Nar's side, sitting as he sat and keeping her legs straight with her hands folded in her lap.
Lard Nar fidgeted for a few moments as he got comfortable, and even once he was finished he seemed to struggle to get the words he wanted to speak to come up.
He just stared off at the horizon, his company waiting patiently.
Lard Nar glanced up at her a few times, then finally cleared his throat and spoke up softly, but with purpose.
"I just wanted to ask...
How are you?"
Exhedra was slightly taken aback at the question.
Being the specific person she was, this question appeared as somewhat ambiguous.
She blinked a few times while trying to make sure she answered what he wanted to know.
"Oh, I'm quite all right.
Rested, temperate, full."
Lard Nar chuckled a little, now aware that he was not specific enough.
"Aha, I'm glad to hear that, but that's not entirely what I meant."
Exhedra tilted her head slightly, waiting for him to specify.
The Vortian was hesitant, as though he was guilty for asking.
"I was wondering how you are being here, with us instead of back home on Schaw.
We don't interact often, so...I figured maybe now would be an okay time to check up on everyone before we get flying again."
Now Exhedra looked surprised for a different reason.
It was true, the two rarely interacted, but that wasn't anymore Lard Nar's fault than it was hers.
He was busy, she was shy; thus, little interaction, and her crushing on him didn't help.
But as it always had, she could hide her infatuation easily.
"Oh, I see.
Well...
If I am to be honest, I'm okay, but also sad.
It's bittersweet..."
She looked ahead at the ground, her lids falling a little as a more somber expression wrote itself into her petite facial disk.
"On the one hand, I have been presented with an opportunity that almost no one else from my planet has, and it was one that I wanted.
I have friends of races I never knew even existed, I have gone on adventures, I am seeing the universe, and I get to be a part of something great.
But...I do miss my family, and my friends from Schaw.
I miss the smells, our culture, our sunsets.
...
If I had the chance to do this all over again I certainly would -- I knew what it meant when I chose to come with you, but I suppose I underestimated time, and how much of it would be needed to make a difference.
On Schaw, issues like this are not common at all, so I suppose I was a bit...naive?
Hm...
So, to answer your question, I am...good."
As long as it had taken her to talk through to her answer, by the time she managed to conclude it she was bearing a small, moderately sad, but nevertheless warm smile to Lard Nar.
The tiny captain sighed a little sadly, but soon nodded and managed a smile of his own.
He looked a little tired.
"I understand.
And -- for the record, I am so grateful you chose to come with us.
For one thing, I never expected to meet a Schawnee, let alone get the privilege to work beside one.
In fact, your people are so far off the grid I sometimes wondered if you were even real."
For perhaps the first time ever, Lard Nar saw and heard Exhedra really laugh instead of chuckle.
It was soft and wispy, but came from the gut, and was genuine.
He couldn't help but to smile to see her that happy.
"Hahahahah!
Ahahaha!
Oh, we are very reclusive and shy, hmhmhm.
I'm glad I could confirm your belief in us!"
This time, Lard Nar laughed a little.
"Me too!
Hahahah.
Ohh, boy...
I wish we could stay here forever.
Today was great."
"I share your sentiment, it was a blessed day.
At least we can leave knowing this world is untouched."
"Hm, for now.
My hopes are we can keep it that way, I'd hate to see those Irken scum get their crummy digits on this great rock..."
Exhedra didn't have a remark for that, but Lard Nar didn't mind.
As soon as he realized he was irritated at the thought of Irkens destroying something, he shook it off and sighed quickly, and then stretched his arms up above his head.
"Mmmmm!
Ahh, I had to stretch, sorry."
"Hmhm!
I understand."
She studied him for a moment before hearing Pepps' loud laughter in the distance.
He had moved on from Dex and Rin to the twins and Ixane, and a couple others.
From the looks of it, he was working up to departing from the group, most likely to come and take his place by Lard Nar.
Not wanting to be in their way, Exhedra sat forward and prepared herself to move.
"Was there anything else you wanted of me, sir?"
Lard Nar had spaced out by this point.
"Hm?
Oh no, you can stay if you like, but that was all I wanted to ask you."
He smiled.
"Much appreciated, but there are a few things I would like to do before settling in."
"That's fine," he answered happily.
Exhedra nodded and excused herself in the usual way, standing calmly and walking off somewhere.
She passed Pepps on the way toward the others, who was giggling from the just-passed conversation.
"Hehehe -- hey Exhedra."
"Hello, Pepps."
She nodded to him happily as they passed.
Lard Nar looked over his shoulder, watching as his fellow Vortian strode up and finally sat beside him in the grass.
"AAHhhh, okay, I'm here."
They smiled at each other.
"You just been sitting here this whole time?"
"No, I set up some bedding, then talked to Exhedra for a bit."
"Ah," he nodded.
"She's cool.
You should totally look into that."
Lard Nar looked at him quickly.
"Look into what?"
"Ya know..."
Pepps grinned and nudged him, prompting Lard Nar to groan and lightly push him off.
"Oh God, please don't."
Pepps laughed.
"Whaaat?
She's super nice, quiet, intelligent.
Totally your type!"
"I -- you don't know my type!"
"Eh, true.
Guess you have to have a type first, HEHEH--"
"Will you--"
They started to push against each other, Pepps cackling while Lard Nar tried not to giggle as he wrestled his big friend.
"What, what, what--"
"JUST -- shut your rotten mouth, you nutbag!"
"..Did you just call me testicles?"
Lard Nar stopped fighting him and hung his head, his shoulders quivering from his silent laughter.
Pepps chuckled deeply as Lard Nar looked back up, shaking his head.
"Hahah suppose I did call you that, fine.
Ohh...
No, Pepps, I...I'm not interested in that sort of thing, not now.
And she's a lovely woman, but I doubt, one, if she'd be interested in me, and two, like I said I'm just...not interested."
"When was the last time you went on a date?
Did you see anyone while I was, well...away?"
Staring off, the little man just shook his head.
"No...
Things almost happened a couple times, but never went anywhere.
I was either too busy, too in my own head or just too sad."
"Like you are now?"
Lard Nar looked back up at his friend with, at first, a somewhat hurt expression, but as soon as his eyes met Pepps' he knew harm was not implied.
His voice had been soft, and his eyes full of compassion, as they almost always were.
It softened Lard Nar again; Pepps was a very real person, and for as long as he could remember, he knew Pepps was not the type to hide from the truth, nor shield others from their own truths.
Finally, Lard Nar just nodded.
"Yeah..."
Pepps patted his back before leaning away, propping on his hands and relaxing.
He knew exactly where to leave a conversation.
"You'll get there, bud.
And if not, well that's all up to you I guess.
I for one, MISS.
WOMEN.
Like -- I myself aren't even interested in dating right now, I just miss looking at em, ya know?
I miss..."
Lard Nar smirked and raised a brow.
"Porn?"
Pepps stared at him, and then blinked once.
"...Well yeah."
Lard Nar snorted, not even slightly surprised.
"Of course, of course."
They both chuckled while looking ahead.
It wasn't long before everyone started to gather up on the hill, some bringing a blanket to sit on, others just sitting in the grass.
Most people sat a ways ahead of the Vortians, some behind and some on the side.
Everyone had plenty of space between one another.
Exhedra was modestly separated from others, as she was wanting to pray while she watched the show.
"Looks like everyone's gettin' comfy.
I feel like we're at a drive-in, like a movie's about to start or something."
"Hmhm, it does feel that way."
"God I miss movies...
I can't remember the last time I watched one."
Lard Nar quickly looked up at him.
More and more, all the time he learned and realized new things about his old friend, and how little he truly had while imprisoned.
"Well...
When we get all this madness sorted out, you and I are going to watch a movie.
How does that sound?"
Pepps smiled down at his buddy, elated inside to hear this idea.
"Sounds great."
A little more time went by, but finally they all began to notice the orange and pink coloration get stronger in the sky.
This section of the world they were sitting on was steadily turning away from its star, casting a brilliant display of colors to turn up to those within the planet's atmosphere.
Chatter arose through the group regarding the impressive colors, and it occurred to everyone just how much they'd missed seeing something this simple, yet special.
A bittersweet peace fell over everyone's hearts, filling them with warmth, and a deep longing for their homes and loved ones.
Some people teared up, others just shook their heads in awe at the sight.
A few birds flew overhead, making their way to a roost of some kind to prepare for bed.
Within a few minutes, little unseen insects charmed the crowd with their faint, nocturnal songs.
For reasons they couldn't explain, every single person found themselves thinking of the warmer, more Summer-like moments of their childhood spent with friends, family, and days they hoped would never end.
Lard Nar had a warm, sad smile on his face the whole time as the sun seemed to kiss the horizon in its descent, preparing to leave that half of the world in darkness so it could warm the other side.
Suffice it to say when Lard Nar looked up at Pepps, he expected to see an expression similar to his own before looking away again, but this was not what he saw.
With a second look, he saw Pepps was sitting rigid and holding one of his own hands in a clasp, staring ahead at the light while tears left his eyes one by one and landed in his lap.
He didn't even know he was being watched, but Lard Nar could see the mixed emotions and plethora of thoughts run in Pepps's eyes.
He watched him for a minute, then looked ahead again quietly.
He really wasn't sure if it was his place to disturb Pepps or bring attention to him being emotional, but he figured it would be better than to say he did nothing at all when his friend was clearly upset.
Finally he looked up again, and this time placed a hand on Pepps's back.
"Pepps...?
Are you okay?"
Pepps startled a little and glanced at his companion quickly before trying to wipe his tears away, though to no avail.
"Y-yeah I'm f-ine.
Um..."
He paused to think through the mess in his head, trying to conjure up the words he wanted.
"It's just b-een so long since..."
He looked away and continued to pointlessly wipe the wetness off his face.
Pepps hadn't seen a sunset in our equivalent of decades, and after so long he forgot about them entirely.
But now, presented with this opportunity, he was overwhelmed.
Sunsets were emotional as it was, according to fiction, but until he had been torn away from his own world and its simple pleasures, he hasn't the slightest clue just what simple things he took for granted, as does everybody.
Looking forward again, Pepps gave up on trying to stop the tears.
"S-orry..."
"No, no it's fine.
Don't be sorry..."
Lard Nar leaned on him and after a minute or so, felt Pepps lean back.
Pepps would remain in tears until the light had all but finally slipped away, making room in the sky for the more distant stars to be viewed.
There was no moon yet to be found, but the stars were immaculate, with meteors whipping by every couple of minutes.
Pepps wiped his eyes a final time, at last managing to get rid of the liquid, and sighed.
"Damn, what a day...
Sorry about all that, I knew I was gonna be all feely during that but I didn't think it would be that bad."
"Don't worry about it.
It was evidently something you needed.
...I was crying on the inside, does that count?"
Pepps laughed lightly, amused and appreciative of his friend's effort to make him feel better.
"Yeah, sure.
Thanks."
They both looked up at the sky.
Everyone else was lying on their backs, pointing and talking about what they saw.
The songs of the insects and frogs in the distance had grown considerably, but no one complained.
"That's just beautiful, isn't it?
More stars in this galaxy than Vort's, I bet."
"Probably.
Oh!"
He pointed as a shooting star flew by.
"Hahah, that never gets old.
Remember that huge meteor shower back home when we were still studying to get into 9?"
"Oh yeah!
Glix constellation."
"I...think so, sounds right.
That one always had meteor showers."
"OH yeah.
It's probably had ten more since those bastards came and put everyone up.
Shame no one can see it now..."
"Yeah..."
And as it always had, they were sad again in an instant.
Rather than brush it off, Pepps chose to face it, and looked at his friend.
"...Do you think Miyuki's up there...?"
Lard Nar took a moment before reciprocating.
His voice was as soft and inquisitive as Pepps'.
"Like, in the heavens?"
"Stars, heavens, yeah..."
Along with the sunset and being outside in general, Pepps hadn't seen stars from a ground view since before his imprisonment.
Actually, the last time he had taken the time to look at them intently was the night before he presented his creation to the Irken leader.
As he recalled, he was praying that things would go well.
But it seemed the universe, and that which controlled it, had other ideas, and had chosen him for a life lived another way.
It broke his heart, but in the same sense gave him strength, and the will to fight and stay alive and help bring things back to the way they were, or close.
"I...I don't see why not.
After all, that's where I'd say she deserves to be."
"Aw yeah, definitely."
The two of them just blinked up at the sky, watching as the stars blinked back.
"...Sometimes, I dream of a big blue comet, and in those dreams I always see it as her.
Just this beautiful blue thing of light and dust slowly passing along, gracing the heavens with its presence...
Heh, maybe she's a comet now.
Sounds stupid, but hey, kinda hard to disassociate from that now, ya know?"
"Hahaha!
I don't think it's stupid.
I think it's lovely.
I think it suits her."
A couple minutes of silent star gazing passed again until, as always, a thought hit the purple Vort.
"HEY!
I just got an idea!"
Lard Nar jumped, holding a hand to his heart.
"JESUS, Pepps!
So loud..."
"HEH, sorry."
Lard Nar sighed.
"What's your idea?"
"Well, you kinda found this place.
Why not name it?"
"What, name the planet?"
"Yeah!
That'd be kinda cool, and all you'd have to say is your friend encouraged you to.
That way you don't look like a conceited prick."
"Tch, thanks."
Pepps chuckled again, grinning.
"Hm, no.
I think it'd be best to just leave it unmarked, unnamed.
This place is so beautiful I almost feel bad for landing on it and risking having spoiled it."
"Pff nah, man we can't ruin this place by just sitting down."
"Hey, you don't know!
It could have a very delicate ecosystem.
Some planets have to begin life all over if an asteroid strikes them, you know."
"Okay, but that's an asteroid.
If you pilot the Resisty ship -- which is super small, honestly, into a planet so hard that it coats the whole place in fire and blows it up, it sounds to me like you need to go back to flight school.
...Or become a fuckin' superhero, because that's just impressive."
Through the middle of that, Lard Nar had started another little laughing fit.
It was no question that even with a sad or serious conversation passing just minutes ago, Pepps always found a way to turn it around and make someone happy.
These were the moments that gave Lard Nar faith in the fact that he still had his best friend in the universe, even if he was a little damaged.
After staying up late and exploring the nighttime side of the world, then getting a little sleep, the crew packed up and loaded back onto the ship.
Unsurprisingly, a few of them took some pictures, as they had done the day before, and of the sunset, and the night sky.
Lard Nar said he didn't want to name the planet, but seeing they had pictures of it to remember it by, he finally did decide on a name that everyone agreed with; Majesty.
Everyone got back into their positions, waving goodbye to the unspoiled treasure as the engine revved up for flight.
And all at once, everything went back to standard on the Resisty.
"Ixane, set a course for the nearest exit."
--The End--
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FINALLY
SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG even though like...one person has read this XD
Still, in the end it benefits me and Kitten the most.
THIS WAS SO FUN AND GOOD FOR MY BRAIN, AH the art and writing both presented fun and unique challenges that pushed me out of my comfort zone a little, and i am forever grateful for that
It sort of kills me that the ending of this little adventure is so bittersweet, but that's just kind of how Resisty life is, yk.
So it's happy, but also sad.
...Bittersweet!
---DO NOT STEAL MY CONCEPTS, ART OR IDEAS!!! I DO NOT OWN IZ BUT I DO OWN THIS ART!!!---
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The day finished itself out almost too fast.
When they had first exited the ship, Lard Nar remarked his fears that this day would slip through Pepps' fingers.
Thankfully that was not the case, but the sand in this day's hourglass seemed to drain more quickly than any day any of the Resisty could remember.
They had played games, hiked around the woods, snacked, laughed and just felt free for hours on end.
But as the sky began to change colors, their hearts all began to secretly sink with the lowering light.
They all knew all things must come to an end at some point, and this gorgeous day was no exception.
Tomorrow, they would have to pack up and get back into space and get back to trying to rescue those who had suffered at the hands of Irkens -- which they loved doing, but the affliction of a beautiful, peaceful day spent in nature put a bittersweet pang in their hearts.
Lard Nar was bringing a couple things to snack on to a spot he and Pepps agreed to sit at while they watched the sunset.
But when a shadow cast over him, he looked up in surprise to see Exhedra awake and standing in front of him.
She looked sleepy, but happy as she smiled down at him.
"Good evening, captain."
Lard Nar quickly stood up to greet her.
"Oh!
Exhedra, good evening," he said as he smiled.
"You're awake a tad early, aren't you?"
"A little, I suppose, but I am happy to be awake nonetheless.
I was hoping to see the sunset."
"Ahh, well you're just in time, then."
She nodded, seeming gradually more alert.
Lard Nar looked back to see Pepps was with Dex, another Vortian and his child, Rin, an Irken toddler he rescued before The Falling.
They were playing together.
Seeing he had a moment, Lard Nar turned back to Exhedra.
"Here, would you sit with me a moment?
I'd like to speak with you."
Exhedra's eyes seemed to light up a little, a hint of surprise in her voice.
"Oh, yes of course.
Thank you."
Exhedra moved to Lard Nar's side, sitting as he sat and keeping her legs straight with her hands folded in her lap.
Lard Nar fidgeted for a few moments as he got comfortable, and even once he was finished he seemed to struggle to get the words he wanted to speak to come up.
He just stared off at the horizon, his company waiting patiently.
Lard Nar glanced up at her a few times, then finally cleared his throat and spoke up softly, but with purpose.
"I just wanted to ask...
How are you?"
Exhedra was slightly taken aback at the question.
Being the specific person she was, this question appeared as somewhat ambiguous.
She blinked a few times while trying to make sure she answered what he wanted to know.
"Oh, I'm quite all right.
Rested, temperate, full."
Lard Nar chuckled a little, now aware that he was not specific enough.
"Aha, I'm glad to hear that, but that's not entirely what I meant."
Exhedra tilted her head slightly, waiting for him to specify.
The Vortian was hesitant, as though he was guilty for asking.
"I was wondering how you are being here, with us instead of back home on Schaw.
We don't interact often, so...I figured maybe now would be an okay time to check up on everyone before we get flying again."
Now Exhedra looked surprised for a different reason.
It was true, the two rarely interacted, but that wasn't anymore Lard Nar's fault than it was hers.
He was busy, she was shy; thus, little interaction, and her crushing on him didn't help.
But as it always had, she could hide her infatuation easily.
"Oh, I see.
Well...
If I am to be honest, I'm okay, but also sad.
It's bittersweet..."
She looked ahead at the ground, her lids falling a little as a more somber expression wrote itself into her petite facial disk.
"On the one hand, I have been presented with an opportunity that almost no one else from my planet has, and it was one that I wanted.
I have friends of races I never knew even existed, I have gone on adventures, I am seeing the universe, and I get to be a part of something great.
But...I do miss my family, and my friends from Schaw.
I miss the smells, our culture, our sunsets.
...
If I had the chance to do this all over again I certainly would -- I knew what it meant when I chose to come with you, but I suppose I underestimated time, and how much of it would be needed to make a difference.
On Schaw, issues like this are not common at all, so I suppose I was a bit...naive?
Hm...
So, to answer your question, I am...good."
As long as it had taken her to talk through to her answer, by the time she managed to conclude it she was bearing a small, moderately sad, but nevertheless warm smile to Lard Nar.
The tiny captain sighed a little sadly, but soon nodded and managed a smile of his own.
He looked a little tired.
"I understand.
And -- for the record, I am so grateful you chose to come with us.
For one thing, I never expected to meet a Schawnee, let alone get the privilege to work beside one.
In fact, your people are so far off the grid I sometimes wondered if you were even real."
For perhaps the first time ever, Lard Nar saw and heard Exhedra really laugh instead of chuckle.
It was soft and wispy, but came from the gut, and was genuine.
He couldn't help but to smile to see her that happy.
"Hahahahah!
Ahahaha!
Oh, we are very reclusive and shy, hmhmhm.
I'm glad I could confirm your belief in us!"
This time, Lard Nar laughed a little.
"Me too!
Hahahah.
Ohh, boy...
I wish we could stay here forever.
Today was great."
"I share your sentiment, it was a blessed day.
At least we can leave knowing this world is untouched."
"Hm, for now.
My hopes are we can keep it that way, I'd hate to see those Irken scum get their crummy digits on this great rock..."
Exhedra didn't have a remark for that, but Lard Nar didn't mind.
As soon as he realized he was irritated at the thought of Irkens destroying something, he shook it off and sighed quickly, and then stretched his arms up above his head.
"Mmmmm!
Ahh, I had to stretch, sorry."
"Hmhm!
I understand."
She studied him for a moment before hearing Pepps' loud laughter in the distance.
He had moved on from Dex and Rin to the twins and Ixane, and a couple others.
From the looks of it, he was working up to departing from the group, most likely to come and take his place by Lard Nar.
Not wanting to be in their way, Exhedra sat forward and prepared herself to move.
"Was there anything else you wanted of me, sir?"
Lard Nar had spaced out by this point.
"Hm?
Oh no, you can stay if you like, but that was all I wanted to ask you."
He smiled.
"Much appreciated, but there are a few things I would like to do before settling in."
"That's fine," he answered happily.
Exhedra nodded and excused herself in the usual way, standing calmly and walking off somewhere.
She passed Pepps on the way toward the others, who was giggling from the just-passed conversation.
"Hehehe -- hey Exhedra."
"Hello, Pepps."
She nodded to him happily as they passed.
Lard Nar looked over his shoulder, watching as his fellow Vortian strode up and finally sat beside him in the grass.
"AAHhhh, okay, I'm here."
They smiled at each other.
"You just been sitting here this whole time?"
"No, I set up some bedding, then talked to Exhedra for a bit."
"Ah," he nodded.
"She's cool.
You should totally look into that."
Lard Nar looked at him quickly.
"Look into what?"
"Ya know..."
Pepps grinned and nudged him, prompting Lard Nar to groan and lightly push him off.
"Oh God, please don't."
Pepps laughed.
"Whaaat?
She's super nice, quiet, intelligent.
Totally your type!"
"I -- you don't know my type!"
"Eh, true.
Guess you have to have a type first, HEHEH--"
"Will you--"
They started to push against each other, Pepps cackling while Lard Nar tried not to giggle as he wrestled his big friend.
"What, what, what--"
"JUST -- shut your rotten mouth, you nutbag!"
"..Did you just call me testicles?"
Lard Nar stopped fighting him and hung his head, his shoulders quivering from his silent laughter.
Pepps chuckled deeply as Lard Nar looked back up, shaking his head.
"Hahah suppose I did call you that, fine.
Ohh...
No, Pepps, I...I'm not interested in that sort of thing, not now.
And she's a lovely woman, but I doubt, one, if she'd be interested in me, and two, like I said I'm just...not interested."
"When was the last time you went on a date?
Did you see anyone while I was, well...away?"
Staring off, the little man just shook his head.
"No...
Things almost happened a couple times, but never went anywhere.
I was either too busy, too in my own head or just too sad."
"Like you are now?"
Lard Nar looked back up at his friend with, at first, a somewhat hurt expression, but as soon as his eyes met Pepps' he knew harm was not implied.
His voice had been soft, and his eyes full of compassion, as they almost always were.
It softened Lard Nar again; Pepps was a very real person, and for as long as he could remember, he knew Pepps was not the type to hide from the truth, nor shield others from their own truths.
Finally, Lard Nar just nodded.
"Yeah..."
Pepps patted his back before leaning away, propping on his hands and relaxing.
He knew exactly where to leave a conversation.
"You'll get there, bud.
And if not, well that's all up to you I guess.
I for one, MISS.
WOMEN.
Like -- I myself aren't even interested in dating right now, I just miss looking at em, ya know?
I miss..."
Lard Nar smirked and raised a brow.
"Porn?"
Pepps stared at him, and then blinked once.
"...Well yeah."
Lard Nar snorted, not even slightly surprised.
"Of course, of course."
They both chuckled while looking ahead.
It wasn't long before everyone started to gather up on the hill, some bringing a blanket to sit on, others just sitting in the grass.
Most people sat a ways ahead of the Vortians, some behind and some on the side.
Everyone had plenty of space between one another.
Exhedra was modestly separated from others, as she was wanting to pray while she watched the show.
"Looks like everyone's gettin' comfy.
I feel like we're at a drive-in, like a movie's about to start or something."
"Hmhm, it does feel that way."
"God I miss movies...
I can't remember the last time I watched one."
Lard Nar quickly looked up at him.
More and more, all the time he learned and realized new things about his old friend, and how little he truly had while imprisoned.
"Well...
When we get all this madness sorted out, you and I are going to watch a movie.
How does that sound?"
Pepps smiled down at his buddy, elated inside to hear this idea.
"Sounds great."
A little more time went by, but finally they all began to notice the orange and pink coloration get stronger in the sky.
This section of the world they were sitting on was steadily turning away from its star, casting a brilliant display of colors to turn up to those within the planet's atmosphere.
Chatter arose through the group regarding the impressive colors, and it occurred to everyone just how much they'd missed seeing something this simple, yet special.
A bittersweet peace fell over everyone's hearts, filling them with warmth, and a deep longing for their homes and loved ones.
Some people teared up, others just shook their heads in awe at the sight.
A few birds flew overhead, making their way to a roost of some kind to prepare for bed.
Within a few minutes, little unseen insects charmed the crowd with their faint, nocturnal songs.
For reasons they couldn't explain, every single person found themselves thinking of the warmer, more Summer-like moments of their childhood spent with friends, family, and days they hoped would never end.
Lard Nar had a warm, sad smile on his face the whole time as the sun seemed to kiss the horizon in its descent, preparing to leave that half of the world in darkness so it could warm the other side.
Suffice it to say when Lard Nar looked up at Pepps, he expected to see an expression similar to his own before looking away again, but this was not what he saw.
With a second look, he saw Pepps was sitting rigid and holding one of his own hands in a clasp, staring ahead at the light while tears left his eyes one by one and landed in his lap.
He didn't even know he was being watched, but Lard Nar could see the mixed emotions and plethora of thoughts run in Pepps's eyes.
He watched him for a minute, then looked ahead again quietly.
He really wasn't sure if it was his place to disturb Pepps or bring attention to him being emotional, but he figured it would be better than to say he did nothing at all when his friend was clearly upset.
Finally he looked up again, and this time placed a hand on Pepps's back.
"Pepps...?
Are you okay?"
Pepps startled a little and glanced at his companion quickly before trying to wipe his tears away, though to no avail.
"Y-yeah I'm f-ine.
Um..."
He paused to think through the mess in his head, trying to conjure up the words he wanted.
"It's just b-een so long since..."
He looked away and continued to pointlessly wipe the wetness off his face.
Pepps hadn't seen a sunset in our equivalent of decades, and after so long he forgot about them entirely.
But now, presented with this opportunity, he was overwhelmed.
Sunsets were emotional as it was, according to fiction, but until he had been torn away from his own world and its simple pleasures, he hasn't the slightest clue just what simple things he took for granted, as does everybody.
Looking forward again, Pepps gave up on trying to stop the tears.
"S-orry..."
"No, no it's fine.
Don't be sorry..."
Lard Nar leaned on him and after a minute or so, felt Pepps lean back.
Pepps would remain in tears until the light had all but finally slipped away, making room in the sky for the more distant stars to be viewed.
There was no moon yet to be found, but the stars were immaculate, with meteors whipping by every couple of minutes.
Pepps wiped his eyes a final time, at last managing to get rid of the liquid, and sighed.
"Damn, what a day...
Sorry about all that, I knew I was gonna be all feely during that but I didn't think it would be that bad."
"Don't worry about it.
It was evidently something you needed.
...I was crying on the inside, does that count?"
Pepps laughed lightly, amused and appreciative of his friend's effort to make him feel better.
"Yeah, sure.
Thanks."
They both looked up at the sky.
Everyone else was lying on their backs, pointing and talking about what they saw.
The songs of the insects and frogs in the distance had grown considerably, but no one complained.
"That's just beautiful, isn't it?
More stars in this galaxy than Vort's, I bet."
"Probably.
Oh!"
He pointed as a shooting star flew by.
"Hahah, that never gets old.
Remember that huge meteor shower back home when we were still studying to get into 9?"
"Oh yeah!
Glix constellation."
"I...think so, sounds right.
That one always had meteor showers."
"OH yeah.
It's probably had ten more since those bastards came and put everyone up.
Shame no one can see it now..."
"Yeah..."
And as it always had, they were sad again in an instant.
Rather than brush it off, Pepps chose to face it, and looked at his friend.
"...Do you think Miyuki's up there...?"
Lard Nar took a moment before reciprocating.
His voice was as soft and inquisitive as Pepps'.
"Like, in the heavens?"
"Stars, heavens, yeah..."
Along with the sunset and being outside in general, Pepps hadn't seen stars from a ground view since before his imprisonment.
Actually, the last time he had taken the time to look at them intently was the night before he presented his creation to the Irken leader.
As he recalled, he was praying that things would go well.
But it seemed the universe, and that which controlled it, had other ideas, and had chosen him for a life lived another way.
It broke his heart, but in the same sense gave him strength, and the will to fight and stay alive and help bring things back to the way they were, or close.
"I...I don't see why not.
After all, that's where I'd say she deserves to be."
"Aw yeah, definitely."
The two of them just blinked up at the sky, watching as the stars blinked back.
"...Sometimes, I dream of a big blue comet, and in those dreams I always see it as her.
Just this beautiful blue thing of light and dust slowly passing along, gracing the heavens with its presence...
Heh, maybe she's a comet now.
Sounds stupid, but hey, kinda hard to disassociate from that now, ya know?"
"Hahaha!
I don't think it's stupid.
I think it's lovely.
I think it suits her."
A couple minutes of silent star gazing passed again until, as always, a thought hit the purple Vort.
"HEY!
I just got an idea!"
Lard Nar jumped, holding a hand to his heart.
"JESUS, Pepps!
So loud..."
"HEH, sorry."
Lard Nar sighed.
"What's your idea?"
"Well, you kinda found this place.
Why not name it?"
"What, name the planet?"
"Yeah!
That'd be kinda cool, and all you'd have to say is your friend encouraged you to.
That way you don't look like a conceited prick."
"Tch, thanks."
Pepps chuckled again, grinning.
"Hm, no.
I think it'd be best to just leave it unmarked, unnamed.
This place is so beautiful I almost feel bad for landing on it and risking having spoiled it."
"Pff nah, man we can't ruin this place by just sitting down."
"Hey, you don't know!
It could have a very delicate ecosystem.
Some planets have to begin life all over if an asteroid strikes them, you know."
"Okay, but that's an asteroid.
If you pilot the Resisty ship -- which is super small, honestly, into a planet so hard that it coats the whole place in fire and blows it up, it sounds to me like you need to go back to flight school.
...Or become a fuckin' superhero, because that's just impressive."
Through the middle of that, Lard Nar had started another little laughing fit.
It was no question that even with a sad or serious conversation passing just minutes ago, Pepps always found a way to turn it around and make someone happy.
These were the moments that gave Lard Nar faith in the fact that he still had his best friend in the universe, even if he was a little damaged.
After staying up late and exploring the nighttime side of the world, then getting a little sleep, the crew packed up and loaded back onto the ship.
Unsurprisingly, a few of them took some pictures, as they had done the day before, and of the sunset, and the night sky.
Lard Nar said he didn't want to name the planet, but seeing they had pictures of it to remember it by, he finally did decide on a name that everyone agreed with; Majesty.
Everyone got back into their positions, waving goodbye to the unspoiled treasure as the engine revved up for flight.
And all at once, everything went back to standard on the Resisty.
"Ixane, set a course for the nearest exit."
--The End--
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FINALLY
SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG even though like...one person has read this XD
Still, in the end it benefits me and Kitten the most.
THIS WAS SO FUN AND GOOD FOR MY BRAIN, AH the art and writing both presented fun and unique challenges that pushed me out of my comfort zone a little, and i am forever grateful for that
It sort of kills me that the ending of this little adventure is so bittersweet, but that's just kind of how Resisty life is, yk.
So it's happy, but also sad.
...Bittersweet!
---DO NOT STEAL MY CONCEPTS, ART OR IDEAS!!! I DO NOT OWN IZ BUT I DO OWN THIS ART!!!---
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© 2017 - 2024 Fae-CaptainofDreams
Comments13
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These pure beans I wish I could appreciate sunsets like these guys I've never really been able to notice them as beautiful....everyone always mentions how beautiful they are but they just strike me as a kind of cool I can't tell if people really think they're that great or if it's always exaggerated, kind of like teen romances