((OOC: Collab with [@JBRam2002] and [@Landaus Five-One]))

Nadia had much on her mind even though they now had a prisoner of convenience in terms of Isis. [color=lightpink][i]”W-Why am I feeling as if I need to cry?”[/i][/color] Nadia pondered to herself, with her tears going down her face. She was exhausted and yawned with her hand over her mouth because all of this was too much for her. She started to cry with her tears kinda overflowing since all of the problems leaving Pulse felt more or less tough. She did, however, notice her mark on her hand change. [color=lightpink][i]”W-What does that mean?”[/i][/color] Nadia thought to herself, a bit confused looking at her l’cie mark. She sighed with a bit of a confused look on her face.


As Julian led the way, he noticed Nadia crying again. For some reason, no one else seemed to step up whenever her tears began to flow, so Julian waved her forward. “What’s wrong?” he asked quietly as he pushed forward, using his cane as his walking stick. “I guess a better question would be what isn’t wrong, huh?” he added rhetorically. “First, this mission was sabotaged. Then, we became l’Cie. And then we got ambushed again by both PSICOM and the GC.” Evidently what he was saying wasn’t helping much, so Julian decided to change tactics. “What I mean to say is... well, everyone’s had a really rough day. And I’m here if you want to talk. I know I’m from Cocoon, but I’m a pretty good listener. It’s sorta my job.”

Nadia heard Julian’s voice and her confused look was still on her face a bit. She couldn’t really understand what was going on right now. She continued to walk forward but looked at Julian. [color=lightpink]”Everything is happening to fast… and I can’t keep up,”[/color] Nadia said, with tears going down her cheeks. She was vulnerable and didn’t really understand the speed at which the world was going. [color=lightpink]”I’m trying to keep a positive outlook but… what you said when we met on the beach… troubles me,”[/color] Nadia sobbed. She couldn’t hold back her tears since that pains her what was said on the beach.

For a moment, Julian wondered how long Nadia had been a soldier. From her reactions, it was likely she had never seen real combat before. If so, the way she had held herself in battle so far was admirable. “I wish I could tell you that it gets better,” Julian said softly, avoiding her gaze. “It doesn’t. Every death hurts you just as much as the first until you feel like you have nothing left inside. I never wanted to fight people either. That’s why I went into intel, but then I realized that’s where the worst things happen. It seemed every day I was learning something that destroyed everything I had been taught, everything I knew to be true. And then finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and left.”

Julian drew in a ragged breath. It would do neither of them any good if he began shedding tears as well. “Eventually, you just have to realize that there’s nothing else you could do. War is terrible, but not fighting, especially now that we’re l’Cie... well, that’s just suicide. We’ve got to press on. We have to defend ourselves and each other. Hopefully one day we’ll learn the truth.” Julian finally turned back to look at Nadia, his eyes searching hers. “That’s what worries you, isn’t it? The truth about your family? It’s why you joined up with me. Honestly, I don’t know what happened any more than you do. But as I was reading through the files of potential recruits, that’s what caught my eye. I’m not looking for everyone in my camp to be hardened soldiers or trained scouts. They don’t all have to be sharpshooters and assassins. We need people like you as well: people with compassion and the desire to search out the truth, no matter the cost.”

Nadia heard what Julian had said but was crying. Her hands were shaking again but at least she wasn’t wielding her scythe or would have dropped it again. [color=lightpink]”I only been… in the army for two years…,”[/color] Nadia said, with a sigh and tears going down her cheeks. She was bit saddened when he asked her the two questions in a row. [color=lightpink]”The truth… means everything for me… I hope we do uncover that,”[/color] Nadia said, with tears. She was walked with a bit of a saddened body language to her. [color=lightpink]”H-How big is your camp?”[/color] Nadia asked. She tried to calm herself down with a question that helps her because she is these people’s cook after all.

“It’s not too large. We’re only about a dozen people strong, but with this group, we’ve added a few to our numbers. I’ve also got a network of people that aren’t in the camp.” Julian reached into his pocket and produced a handkerchief. “I suppose you could use this, although I would like it back once it is washed,” he said, handing it towards her. “But everyone in the camp works together and pitches in. They take turns on watch, run errands, and make sure everyone has what they need. Even me. I believe tonight’s watch is... some sharpshooter by the name of Rice. Good eye, better shot. I’ll introduce everyone to them in the morning.”

Nadia heard what Julian said and gratefully took Julian’s handkerchief. [color=lightpink]”T-Thank you… Julian…,”[/color] Nadia said. She started using the handkerchief to dry her tears, that keep on flowing. She felt a bit better with what he had said. [color=lightpink]”Y-Yeah, that will be nice. To meet everyone,”[/color] Nadia said. She had been through much but she has to stay strong for everyone else too. [color=lightpink][i]”I’ll need to remember to do that,”[/i][/color] Nadia thought to herself, mostly thinking about the handkerchief that Julian gave her to clean after she’s done with it. She had a soft smile on her face.