But there is no life on Earth.

[waterfell]

Near the north pole of planet Mercury, there are signs of life, all enclosed in a thin, transparent dome that still allows a clear view of the heavens. Inside, the air is clean and breathable, and even stirs itself in artificial breezes.

The entire city is a mass of blue crystal, luminous with the glow of thousands of solar trees both within and without, their blue cels attached to silvery branches and trunks. It makes a striking contrast, and the structures provide the city's energy, veritable solar power farms, bustling and thriving like the city itself. . Everywhere, the roads lead inward towards a palace, attention drawn to it by its height, taller than any nearby building.

The lush sound of splashing water comes from a clear, ornamental pool in the entryway. Tropical fish swim contentedly there, glimmers of golden koi amid and around the stems of water lilies. There is greenery, too, and flowers provide a seasoning of color. Overhead, the ceiling is dizzyingly high, adding to the sense of open space.

Seated at the edge of the pool, dressed in an elegant gown and with the sigil of her planet showing proudly on her forehead, is the Princess Mercury, now queen of her reborn kingdom. She plays a simple, longing melody on the harp she holds in her lap.

Comments

[waterfell]

"What do you like? What hobbies?" It's the simplest of questions, whether it comes from a girl, a doctor, a soldier, or a princess. It's also been a long time since she's asked anyone something that simple. She let the people under her brainwashing go years ago, and she's never been good at believing she could draw someone to her without it.

"Training, I suppose," she guesses before letting Cloud answer. "Maybe sports." He seems the athletic type to her, even aside from being a SOLDIER.

[findmyownreason]

His shoulders shift a little at her question and his face turns toward her as she muses over the answer herself, his lips lifting a little at their edges. His head dips though, chin almost touching his chest for a minute at her assumptions.

"I never was good at sports. No one was ever interested in having me on their team." It feels like a lifetime ago. He's got friends now. Friends that insist on being on his team despite knowing how messed up he can be. It goes a long way toward filling that hole in his childhood even if the insecurity from it isn't probably ever going to be gone for good. His chin comes back up. "I train. I like tinkering though. Fixing things." It made him feel useful. "There's a lot to fix where I live."

Physical and emotional. He felt more confident in the physical area.

[waterfell]

"I see. So that's why you wanted to work on Talaria together," Mercury guesses. It had been a long time ago, for her as she is now; centuries. The motorcycle had been sound, but there's always more to do in those cases.

Cloud fixes more than he knows, by being there and by things like that, wanting to do things together and spend time together. The corners of her mouth lift in that still-mischievous smile. "So do you want to try your hand at fixing the things here?"

It's a bit of a joke and a bit of a trap; most of it wouldn't be familiar to him.

[findmyownreason]

"Hn." A brief dip of his head is his nod. He'd wanted to work on her bike because if he could explore its guts, he'd feel as if he'd somehow helped make it safer for her. And he'd wanted to work on it because everyone should know how to break apart and put back together their own bike. Mostly though, silently at least, he can admit that he just wanted to work on it because he would have been working on it with her and times like that, being useful and together and not having anything expected of him but what he already knew he could handle, were special.

At her question though, his eyes slide sideways to look at her and he knows she's teasing. A mild shrug.

"I could. But I might break some of it before I figured out how to fix it."

[waterfell]

A part of her would like to be in the midst of working on the computer system, or immersed in research, herself; but it isn't this future that took that away, not really. It's the same busy life she would have had as only a doctor, or any other profession she gave herself to.

"You'd break it," she says, "but if you did, you'd try to fix it." She isn't sure whether this is noble, or futile.

[findmyownreason]

"I would. But it would be easier if I didn't break it in the first place."

[waterfell]

It's still better than someone who'd expect to be forgiven without consequences, without making it right; but today is not the place for those thoughts.

"It won't be broken," she says easily.

[findmyownreason]

He looks over at her and maybe they're not talking about tech any more.

"You're sure?"

[waterfell]

She'd claim to her dying breath they're talking about tech.

"I'd be here," she says, and a mischievous smile starts to form. "As if I'd let you break something of mine."

shall we wrap this up?

[findmyownreason]

It makes him smile, just a little.

"Good. Than I guess I'm safe."

sure~ seems about right and i wanna steal him elsewhere

[waterfell]

"Stay be me," the queen says simply, "and nothing will go wrong for you here."

It isn't quite the arrogant statement it sounds like; she simply wants him at her side, and while he is, she will show him the things of this world. They have plenty of time to do it.