#au | stranded

[loqis]

Hunter Loqi for Stranded AU

[housetummelt]

@meldaciomartyr | X

She had always known a talk like this would come. And Dave had all the right to demand it. he had kept his promise so far. Even more, he had gone over and beyond to protect them, even though he had no real reason to do so. They were strangers. They were of opposing nations. Her nation had attacked his, made his and his friends and family's lives harder. And yet... he helped them in every way possible.

So when he asked her to talk, Ida was not about to pull up lies.

Sitting a little straighter, she put away her own coffee. Her eyes avoided the head hunter for a moment, but then she exhaled a breath and started the answers he needed.

"Our family is not just like any ordinary family of Gralea. We were one of the close noble families that resides there since generations. My husband is... was a high ranking general in the army. I was a researcher for the scientific department, a headresearcher. What I worked on was also used by others for part of what makes up the MTs. My sons were just the next generation of this. We do not pick our duty completely freely. Loqi was put in the mech-pilot project. And Reno... he was selected to become a Turk. A jack-of-all-trades for the 'dirty work' for one of the most influential companies in Gralea, led by a family ranking a bit higher than ours in the nobility scale. They want us back because I and Reno know too much. And because it would make the Empire look bad if we ever again resurfaced as refugees in Lucis. They don't like their reputation sullied."

It were descriptions of their duties. Vague ones - and yet more specific than she had given anyone else. And than she would ever give anyone else. But she trusted Dave that this information would stay with him.

Looking at Dave directly, Ida waited for any reaction. Whether the head hunter would change his mind now. Or get up and leave to even just get rid of them slowly. He wouldn't lose his mind right now, no... he was too calm for that. But now he knew why the search for them was a bit more... excessive.

@meldaciomartyr

[loqis]

@proxnotxaxfool | X

Reno… did not react like Reno at all. There was no snark, no bite, no shrug, no non-caring little shit reaction. Nope. Instead he dropped his tools and got himself hurt like he was a freshman-hunter.

Loqi watched all this without even pulling a face at his brother’s little injury. Especially not when that non-answer followed.

His reaction had given him away well enough. Loqi wasn’t stupid. This might have worked when he had been a little kid still. But something was fucking going on and Loqi hated not knowing…

Raising his eyebrows a little, as Loqi looked down to Reno, he regarded him with the most don’t-shit-me-look only a teenager could muster.

“Verdot. He says he knows you. And that you might remember him, too. He also knows dad. Says they have some story. So, what’s up with him?”

[loqis]

@exiled-turk | X

The small glance this guy exchanged with one of the newest recruits didn’t fly past Loqi’s head. Though his eyes quickly went back to the strange man himself.

There was something so uncanny about him. And Loqi didn’t like it.

“An observer?”, he echoed and scoffed, crossing his arms. His eyes mustering that guy as if he was the one who could judge him. When he actually barely knew anything about him. Something that didn’t sit well with Loqi at all.

“You owe my father a favour?”, he continued his questioning of every word the other spoke, “For what? What kind of favour? From where do you know my dad? If he knows you, you wouldn't sneak around here like a stray.”

[housetummelt]

@proxnotxaxfool | X

He was so confused. Tried to make out any threats. But he was quiet, asked questions. That was exactly why Ida had decided to go to Reno, while Baldur was handling this with Loqi. Loqi would listen to either, but Reno would only listen to her without getting too belligerent.

"Reno.", she caught him by his shoulders, making her firstborn look directly at her. Sleep was still partly in his eyes, so Ida waited for another moment.

"You have to focus, my darling, yes? The Turks took you and the military took Loqi. Your father and I can't let that continue. They will grind you up. Or worse... after what happened to your brother, we decided we have no more time. The Turks send you on more dangerous missions now. We will flee. The Empire isn't our home anymore. They don't care about our lives. About your lives... that is why we will all flee to Lucis."

She cupped his face, tried to let him get over this information. Her tone was honest, no lie or even the hint of a joke in it. There was much more a certain kind of grief. They would kill their old selves. All they had known. But it was for the better.

There was dull crying coming from one of the neighbouring rooms, Loqi, who probably did understand even less than Reno. That was why it was so important, that the teenager understood.

"Reno. We want you to have a chance of a better life. Not end up dead before you even get to your twenties. Please. It's all we wish for. We want you safe. And with the chance to happiness. That is why we must leave. You leave tonight, with Loqi. And we will follow after. Do you understand? I can't let them break you. I can't let them break your brother."

[housetummelt]

@meldaciomartyr

[loqis]

@heartxandxhome​ | X

Loqi needed quite a few more seconds to realize who she was. He stared at the woman and… had no clue. Not even a single one. At first. His mind raced through every person she could possibly be… and it took a terribly long drawn-out moment until it clicked into place.

She had been in Galahd.

On that airship.

A prisoner.

He had questioned her.

She knew he was a Nifen.

Loqi grimaced at her as she quickly looked around and he truly was afraid that the next thing she would do was call out for help, draw attention and yell out his secret for everyone to hear. No one knew. No one beside Dave and Kaleb. And Loqi already didn’t like that Kaleb knew.

“Wait! Wait- shh! I- don’t say anything, okay?!”, he quickly hissed under his breath, looking around to make sure no one was close.

“I’m not- I’m no threat! See, I help everyone. I have a job here, I lived here for years, you have nothing on me... no one will believe you!”

[loqis]

@heartxandxhome​​ | X

Loqi knew what would come now. It was a tedious task. And one he really didn’t like. Talking to these people – people that always disliked them. Even though they had saved them from ruins and rubble? They could be so much worse off. And yet… piloting mechs was so much better...

So when that one woman suddenly spoke up, his attention drifted towards her. Looking at her, Loqi slightly tilted his head as if he didn’t understand why she was so surprised by that.

Only the order coming from the Lieutenant could get his focus away briefly again. They had to help. Find out about these people. And then they could be sorted. Useful or not.

Standing at attention for a moment, Loqi then made his way over to that woman. He was curious, of course, but he also wanted to be taken seriously. So he tried to straighten his back and put on a serious face. She was still dirty, of dust and grime. Her eyes so wide as if she was scared.

“Don’t worry, we saved you. What is your name? And what did you work as? Can you be useful?”