Aellae van Neru
The Emperor's Knife - Legatus Frumentarius
Ascended Ascian Shard - Igeyorhm
Biographical Details:
Name: Aellae Athena Neru
Rank: —
Military: van
Civilian: goeBirthplace — Garlemald, Ilsabard
Birthdate — 14th Sun of the Fifth Umbral Moon in the year 1542 of the Sixth Astral EraAge — 35 Years
Status — Very Much AliveFamily —
Father:
Lucius fae Neru - Praefectus MunicipalisMother:
Dulcinea dus Neru - Notarius Municipalis
(Nee Amata)Nanny:
Tajhia bas Neru - Civis Mercatus
(J'Tajhia Mhasi)Faith — None
Blood Type — O+
Sex — Non-Binary (Feminine Pronouns)
Species — Garlean
Height — 6 fulms 3 ilms
Weight — 185.5 ponzes
Eyes — Green
Hair — Indigo
Soul — Igeyorhm
Elemental Affinity — Ice
Favoured Colour — Forest GreenNicknames:
Crow — The counterpart to calling one partner 'Darling Dove' She's a 'Clever Crow'.
Posh Spice — So called by her cat.Note - Aellae has undergone the Magitek Knife so many times records of her true face were initially lost in the fall of Ala Mhigo. The Miqo'te face is the one she feels most at home in.
Education:
Imperial War College:
Matriculated with High Honors
She studied in the command track. Her observational abilities were noted, and she was counselled towards the Frumentarii.Note - Her classmate’s father was reassigned to a posting in Othard prior to graduation. Leaving her to the position of Valedictorian as the former to hold the position was unable to be present.
History:
Aellae Neru was born to Lucius fae and Dulcinea dus Neru in the city of Garlemald on the continent of Ilsabard on the world of Hydaelyn. She was raised as an only child. Her parents barely had time for one child, let alone the prospect of multiple children. As a result, Aellae was often in the care of the nanny.Her parents did not resent her existence, they simply expected her to adapt and grow strong in the situation. She was of Garlean stock after all. She dutifully adhered to her studies, learning her letters, her numbers, her culture, and her allegiance to her people and her nation.Civil Servants as her parents were, the dutiful nature of their child became a matter of pride, and they took no small pleasure in being able to show her off at every occasion.It was however, the Miqo’te aan who served her family that truly raised her. Her education was supplemented by the knowledge provided by this source. How to be present but not noticed. How to listen but not be seen doing so. How to read a document without looking like you are doing so.The foundations of her spycraft were instilled at a young age.This led to two things that were set in motion at such an early time:The eventual citizenship of her Nanny - J’Tajhia, who became Tajhia bas Neru.
Her being moved from Imperatori to Frumentarii at the War College.The Legatus' Education records are available in the archives of the Imperial War College. Further dissertation of such materials in this document is unnecessary.Following successful matriculation she served in The Frumentarii of the XIVth and XIIth Legions. Acquitting her missions admirably. Her willingness to go beneath the magitek knife represents a dedication and zeal to the Garlean Cause seldom seen in a willful individual.Tragically in a counter strike against facilities in the Ala Mhigan capital, the recorded information regarding her original features was lost. She maintains her favourite guise, that of a Gyr Abanian Miqo’te, much to the amusement of his Radiance Varis zos Galvus and the ire of many of the Council and Senate.Through her dedication to the Imperial cause, willful nature aside, she won herself the praise of her superiors, and proceeded through the ranks. To a place where she enjoys patronage, and the ability to ply her services at the behest of her Sovereign and the Senate.*Her true political leanings were unknown to many prior to the fall of the Garlean Empire, and would likely be a surprise to many if they were discovered even now. In truth, she wished to do away with the monarchy and have a return to full Senatorial rule. Her homeland fell before this could ever be possible.
Hobbies - Pastimes - Martial Skills:
Aellae’s life is more than simply espionage and assassination. She keeps apartments in the Capital of Garlemald, and several bolt holes throughout the City States of Eorzea. Her network of contacts certainly still exists throughout the world. Both in society and in the underbelly thereof.It is through these networks that she has also cultivated many hobbies, tastes, predilections, and experienced far more culture outside what would be considered the norm for a Garlean Citizen.Aellae has developed a passion for theatrics and drama, as well as music, both courtly music of Ishgard, and the street music of Ul’Dah. The dancing styles of Thavnair both entice and delight her. She has herself learned several steps, enough to pass herself off as a dancing girl if she truly needed to, though it is far more a passion done for her own amusement and the laughter of a pretty girl.Aellae has taught herself to cook since resettling in Ishgard. She is now able to make traditional Garlean dishes with the success of a home chef, as well as several Hannish dishes, as living without curry was proving to be no life at all. While she still has little skill with painting, literature and regaling you a story completely from memory is something she is more than capable of doing.She has learned the art of fencing, and Ishgardian swordplay. Both of these are far more for points and sport. If true combat were to come her way, or even the need to demonstrate her abilities. That which she always falls back to is her skill with a Gunblade, or War Scythe trained at the Imperial War College.
Resonant Shard:
True Name: Refers to herself as AthenaBirthplace: Amaurot, Etheriys
Title: Igeyorhm - The Martyr
Glyph: Shemhazai, the Whisperer
Constellation: Sagittarius
Constellation Crystal: GreenConstellation Crystal Quote: "There can be no greater joy than to use our wisdom for the good of our people. No greater pride."Aellae was never the Warrior of Light. On her particular reflection or shard, Igeyorhm was a stand in. The one who had to stand up, as Azem sided with the convocation. As the seat of Enlightenment and Rhetoric, Igeyorhm felt that everyone, even those she did not agree with, required someone to take their part.So she took up the cup.She became Hydaelyn's Advocate. Even if she did not at first believe in the cause, and tried to hedge towards both sides. Seeing some of what befell and what the Ascians were willing to do for the rejoining, she began to defend Hydaelyn and her cause with the ardor of a believer, eventually she did become a true advocate.In her timeline she journeyed, reflection to reflection. Gathering up her fragments of herself and stitching her fabric back together. Unsundered by her own hand.Until finally she confronted Zodiark, and Azem. Alone.And lost. She was hurled by the elder primal from her own reality across the void between realities, to arrive in the unlikeliest of places, taking up residence back inside a reflection of herself.
Concerning Ancient Transformation:
Aellae and Igeyorhm, since they are both part of her consciousness have had to come to certain agreements vis a vis their presentation, and appearance. This stretches to their Transformation as well. (Which of course they haven't done yet, because it's just /rude/ to transform without good or just cause.)Their transformation form is a Lamia, with eight arms, and long indigo serpentine lower half with golden patterning to the indigo scales. Her face bears four forest green eyes. In her hands she carries her chosen weapons: Her Garlean Gunblade Nemo, Her Ktiseos Zaghnal, A Scholar's Grimoire named Reason, A Summoner's Grimoire named Rhetoric, a longbow, and a pair of hands left empty for open palm striking.As a token to the Ancient name Athena, she bears a pair of owl's wings sprouting from her back. The skin of her torso is tan. Her indigo hair is far longer, reaching down to the small of her back, and hanging long in front to keep her covered.
Summoned Eikon
Guardian of the Young - Tajhia bas Neru
Aellae would never consciously call for an Eikon. Not that many in that deep place of despair truly fathom what they are doing.If Aellae was pushed beyond the limits, beyond what she has already endured, there is one person on this star or any other that she would cry out for. Who she would cry for from that place of what she cherishes the absolute most, the memories of her Nanny and her childhood in Garlemald, her Primal summon would be less one invoked into herself, than one called for in brutal desperation. It would be an Ala Mhigan Miqo'te of middle age, adorned in a mixture of Ala Mhigan attire, and Garlean over coat for warmth. She would be wielding fang, claw, and kitchen knives. In her right hand, a meat knife, and in the left a chef's knife.Tajhia would have several wide sweeping multiple target attacks involving the claws and cleaver. An attack that targets the healers in particular where the chef's knife is thrown brutally to deal savage damage to the healer targeted. The tank crushing attack would be a cross slash with both knives followed by a bite attack to the throat to leave them bleeding.In order to prevent her aetheric assault that would eliminate the whole party, the party would need to resist the sleep induced state as she began to read a bed time story. Completing the bed time story she's reading, which summons forth characters from Aellae's cherished childhood story Octavian and the Missing Matanga will cause all party members to slip asleep forever, and to be replaced by characters from the story. If the story is resisted by all, none of the characters are summoned. If some party members fail the spell, they will slip into that slumber, and in addition to that individual death, a character from the book is summoned, and must be defeated in addition to Tajhia.Trial Name:
The Rent Pages Of YouthMusic Choices for the Phases of the Fight by In This Moment:
The Beginning - First Phase
Born in Flames - Second Phase
God is She - Final PhaseFor the cut scenes before and after the fight by Dan Lambert:
Mother
Tattoos - Abilities - Equipment:
Tattoo - Biceps:
Aellae bears tattoos of a military that is not of the Source. They come from time spent on the reflection of the fourth that she knows.On her left arm over a red field is a golden stylized phoenix with the words 'We are the will of the senate' on a banner.On her right is a spear, hoplon, and snowy owl in flight.
Tattoo - Left Forearm:
Tattooed on her inner left forearm is a list of names of those she has lost, family and comrades. It helps her to keep their memories fresh in her mind.
Tajhia bas Neru
Lucius fae Neru
Dulcinea dus Neru
Aulus mal Asina
Regula van Hydrus
Nael van Darnus
Rhitatyn sas Arvina
Eline eir Roaille
Marcus eir Tacitus
Cecily eir Winters
Magitek Armour
The Shiv:
Builder - Scaevan Armorum Imperialum
Launch - 1561 Sent to Doma as part of the Suppression effort.
Propulsion - Magitek Core
Arma - Claws, Magitek Cannon, Magitek Missile, Photon Stream
Sapient Machine Soul - The Shiv has been in service long enough to have awoken. She's loyal to her Mistress, and will protect her if she can.
Gunblade - Nemo:
Her favoured Gunblade is based upon the standard sidearm issued to Imperial Officers. It is highly balanced and sighted. Weighted and lengthed for her current body.
Standard Abilities of the Legatus:
Garlean Armour
Magitek Operation
Gunblade - Imperial
War Scythe - Imperial
Ferocious Lesbianism
Self Amusing Jokes
Nonchalance
Resonance
Hand to Hand Combat
Garlean Spatial Awareness
Indefatigable Will
Ascended Abilities:
Teleportation
Creation Magic
Memories of the Ancients
Mastered Attacks:
Culling Blade
Fustuarium
The Order
Industrial Force
To the Slaughter
Final Shot
Terminus Est
Micro-Fictions
The Scalpel
"In the dead of night is when the nightmare's return, Aulus."The Praefectus Medicorum sighed as the words reached his ears. His hands hesitated with the scalpel for just a moment. The glow of the Ceruleum-fueled lights above seemed garish against the drug-induced numbness that spread through the Legatus' whole frame. "Of course they do. You were warned. You were cautioned. You were told. Of course there are nightmares. You recall every moment of every procedure I have performed upon you. Including receiving the resonance." After another moment, his finger lifted from the activator, and the scalpel ceased its dull drone. "I could unburden you of your soul for the procedure, but you seem to prefer the more mundane methodology to ease your woes. We have time, your anaesthetic will remain active for a while yet."Her head would not obey her, even though she thought she wished to nod in agreement. It steadfastly, and resolutely stayed put. Oh yes, she was restrained, even if she couldn't feel the bindings. They still held her fast. "I don't have nightmares about the procedure, I have nightmares about losing myself. How many more times until you return my face to me? I don't remember what I looked like. I have no doubt in your ability to do it, it is simply something that I fear." The Vieran woman upon the table of course retained some features of her original form; they always did, the hair, the tone of skin, the iris of the eye."Your face is burned indelibly into my retinas, and safely stored in the Archives of this Pallatium. I shall take them with me when I return to Ilsabard. Your self shall be safe, and returned to you when His Radiance gives you leave of your present duties. Wars must be finished, Legatus, and we must all do our part for the Glory of Garlemald." There was a moment's hesitation before he continued. "You really should allow me to extract your soul, the procedures would take much less of a toll on your mind. I can put it back directly after."Aellae wanted to lift her hand, to rest it on her forehead. All she could do was release a sigh from her chest. "To the Eikons with the soul extraction, and the Hyur form. Make me the Ala Mhigan cat again. I've still got some use out of that guise, all the more, it galls het Tullus to his core to see me in the palace wearing it. I need that pleasure in my life." Her lips couldn't form the smile that her tongue promised, and her tone carried to the man above her. His ears drinking in her words with delight. Though his face was obscured by the procedural mask, the Legatus knew her comrade was smiling."That your mind is wasted in such droll pleasures is a travesty! The research you could do into the nature of the mind itself would be fascinating. Van is a laudable achievement, I dare say you could have achieved mal, had you but gone to the sciences. Now do naught but breathe, we begin." Aulus mal Asina depressed the activator and leaned forward over his patient.The scalpel began its one note drone again.
On Friendship
"Aulus, I don't often see you without... well-"The scientist lowered his coffee cup slowly, a brow arching upwards as he scrutinised the woman before him. It was an inspection of her face and his own handiwork. "True, up until now you've only encountered me in a professional capacity. Have a seat, fae Neru. Or would you prefer rem Neru?""Rem, would be preferable actually, I'm in uniform after all, even if you aren't, Aulus." There was a pause, some distant part of her that had been rather cut to shreds by her training screamed in the back of her mind. "Or... Aellae, if you prefer, we've worked together enough."The woman settled herself down at the table with the older gentlemen. He looked old enough to be her father, or uncle. There was a distinctly awkward moment of silence as they both sipped from their coffee. Her little tray with croquettes rested in front of her.A slight smile touched the medicus lips. "Friends aren't something you can analyse into existence, just as they aren't something I can carve into being on my chirurgeon's table. They are work, Aellae rem Neru." His coffee cup was tipped slightly towards her. "They are difficult."His lips pursed in amusement, even as Aellae's brow creased in consternation at having been so read. "One's medicus," The man continued, "my dear rem Neru, is one of the hardest people to conceal things from. To answer your first question, I do take the claws and magitek assistance off when I leave the office at the end of the day. As to your second, unvoiced question burning at you. I am beginning to consider you my friend."His voice was nearly a purr. "Shall we gossip about politics?"
Adventures of a Garlean Frumentarius
Did I ever tell you about the time I was scouting near Dalmasca and I met the most beautiful thoroughbred racing Chocobo? Of course it was the property of a prince, the son of a local Sheikh…Was I run out of the country immediately? Gods no! Well, I mean, yes eventually, but there's so much between here and there! I could likely wind on for days about how those sun kissed sands shimmered in the distance, the aroma of their coffees and spices, the blessed relief of the star filled nights-But no, instead I think we'll focus on the part that would truly interest you- my dear Chocobo enthusiast and thief extraordinaire. The plot to steal the bird from the Prince in the middle of a cross desert endurance race on Chocobo back in which the Prince himself was participating!The Frumentarii were never beloved by the Empire, the Emperor maybe, Solus had a sense of humor. Varis had one in the quiet moments- much of the Military Black and Golds did not like our way of doing things. They wanted to simply swoop in with an airship and carpet bomb the encampments of those desert dwelling nomads that lived outside the cities like Rabanastre.I, on the other hand, had a scheme that would gall those Bedouin people to the point of murder if they ever found out, and Impress them if they didn't! Perhaps I could win them over and no one would have to die.Now I'd mentioned it was an endurance race. Not merely a single afternoons ride. The other participants weren't the biggest opponents you see. That honour belonged to time, the desert itself, and creatures that dwell out in those open sands.Part of the plan included needing a Chocobo that looked very much like the Prince's bird. So weeks of feeding the right food to cause the plumage to molt into the right shades was the first step. Then of course having to find a way to get the henna to stick to the birds flesh under the feathers so the royal brand would be visible… It took time but I managed.And on the second night of the race, under the dead of night, I managed to sneak myself and an entire chocobo right up to where that Prince had bedded down for the night. There weren't guards this far out in the desert in the middle of the race. How could there have been?
The prize bird was swapped. The Prince lost the race.Now, I was run out of the tribe on that said same bird, but not for that particular theft- I may have seduced a girl from the Prince's Harem and we may have been caught in flagrante delicto. The Prince, for all our laughing over coffee and tea together, did not take kindly to the fact that I may have taken more than just the crown prize on the desert.So you were right, I was chased right out of Dalmasca. Though my mission was still a success, and those nomads never found themselves under threat of carpet bombing, and certainly they did help the Empire.
All for Naught
「The politicians in the Senate would perseverate for weeks on how the battle could have been won, a might have been victory.Ignorant of the truth that we were never meant to win. It was a spectacle for the sole purpose of death, and the decay of the star.A tithe of sundered lives lain bare by Varis upon Solus altar for the rejoining with the other shards of the sundering. In the end, it was all for naught. A true waste of life.」
On Time
「Time? What matter is time to us?!」Time is everything. Time is all we have.「Glib and flippant.」Was I ever not? You know they never look at that phrase from the other side, until it's all too late, and the little remaining time is all they have left.「You've changed.」I have- perhaps this is as I ever was. You've had one sustained existence. I have lived lifetimes, and even for one that exists seemingly without end, time is all we have. Precious time, to love, to lose, to heal, to sorrow.「Meaningless.」How much have you forgotten in time?「...」「Your path pains you.」Yes, it does. - I know, I chose my path, and her cause, when no one else would.「You knew it would come to this.」I did, and I shall ever lament what I must do. That all we can only ever do is move forward, and cherish the time allotted to us upon our beautiful star.
Consider the Cubus
「The Cubus are beings of creation magic gone awry. Beckoned by a ripple in the fabric of reality, and to say 'consider the cubus'. Is to say Consider what distraction caused your magic to err.Though, it does have other meanings as well.For the cubus were not creations in and of themselves borne of conecpts. They are soilkin, and attracted to magics powerful. When the architect in his loneliness and sorrow, his hiraeth and hubris wove his false amaurot, he did so with magics not seen in this world for 921 some odd ages. He created manifest the city of his dreams complete with the ghostly shadows of his loved ones and kin. The cubus were not invited, and yet they came all the same. Borne of the shades he brought to life when they tried to bring forth creation magic themselves. There was naught he could do, or cared to do.So, Consider the Cubus, a creature without true form, a soulkin being of aether and naught much else. They existed, and wandered. Denizens of that shell of our home made by an old friend, borne of his longing. The Cubus came and populated the streets. Consider the Cubus, brought forth by the magics, only a shade of the past could possess, uninvited by the Architect, who came to wander about a lonely memory of a city in hunger for that which he can never know again. There is naught he can do in regards to either lament.Consider the Cubus.」
Memories
Memoria Trauma:
"Kill him." the voice crackled through the speaker in the room. The concrete floor bore a single drainage grate, the ceramic floor tiles angled ever so slightly down towards it. The prisoner before Aellae dus Neru was blindfolded, hands bound in the small of his back. The Elezen was clearly sweating, terrified. He presented no threat to anyone. The temperature in the room was brisk. The faint humming sweep of the ventilation fan audible.The prisoner was not gagged. His voice was completely audible. It was part of the test, to discern her nerves, her capacity for killing in the field should it be necessary. She'd never taken a life before. His words seemed filtered through a tunnel. Her stomach was clenching and seemed almost upside down inside her. She held that officer's sidearm in her hand. All she needed to do was ease the hammer back, and then pull the trigger. This shouldn't be that hard. What was this man, this - savage to her?He wasn't even an aan, he was a prisoner. He wouldn't stop talking, his family, his homeland, his life- the fan wouldn't stop either. She couldn't fail her own family. She couldn't fail her instructors. What would it all have been for if she didn't succeed now at this juncture? This examination? The harsh ceruleum lighting overhead reflected off the gloss blueing of the barrel. The report was sharp and flat. There was a sound of blood splattering to the tiles of the wall and floor.There was warm moisture upon her cheek, a chip of the tile had ricocheted up and cut her face. Blood was seeping from it. The smell of iron and chordite was pungent."Well done Aellae eir Neru." was the last the speaker reported.The change in title was not lost upon her. She vomited.
Memoria Felix:
"Come along Aellae bas Neru!" J'tajhia called to her. "It's past your bedtime, and if you're further late I shant continue with Octavian's Adventures in Othard!" Of course that just wasn't true. J'tajhia would have continued reading the stories no matter how late the young woman was. Aellae however was just precocious enough to not be denied.This evening however, she was obedient to this final urging. The girl of eight summers called out from the living room of the family's home. "Coming nanny!" Her voice was eager. The stories of adventure, of how Octavian used wit to get out of most situations delighted her, and of course the warmth of J'tajhia's presence was infectious. It seeped through her very being. Her parents were terribly busy, always. J'tajhia, aan though she was, always made the time. Between the house cleaning, and the shopping, she made time for the girl. And for that...For that Aellae loved her like her mother, her true mother.She changed into her nightgown, and curled up at the head of her bed. Fingers wrapping around the mug of cocoa that was sitting on her nightstand beside the little enameled lead Garlean Officer that was labeled "OCTAVIAN" at it's base, and settled in to hear that soothing Ala Mhigan voice read her the next chapter. Her eyes were wide, her expression rapt, her lips pulled into the most radiant smile imaginable."Octavian and the Mystery of the Missing Matanga! Upon reaching the shoals of the Ruby Sea, young Octavian and his companions knew they would be pressed to pay the dread Pirates tithe to gain access...."
"Are you sure you don't want one of the new model Reapers? We've slated these old Predators for retirement. There's a reason they weren't sent with the fourteenth on van Baelsar's campaign." The young officer had never wanted one of those Reapers. Not even when they were mere concept drawings showing up in the news print. Not when they were being used for propaganda- her mind was filled with the stories J'tajhia had read to her. The Young Officer, fresh from Ilsabard stroked her fingers over that rounded canopy. Tracing the unbroken chain on the bonnet cover."I'm quite certain. I want this one right here. I have a feeling that she and I are going to be excellent friends. I think her name is Shiv." Aellae swung herself up, foot planting in the mounting stirrup and from there she was in the control couch."All due respect eir Neru, it's just a machine. It doesn't have a name." came the architectus reply.There was that wry smile and a little snort of laughter. "You should listen with a bit more care. She's quite clear on the matter really." And even though the architectus had insisted the starting motivator was glitchy, the Shiv came to life on Aellae eir Neru's first press. "You just need to know how to talk to her to get her going. Now Shiv... let's go scout what's going on in Yanxia!" She was going to have an Adventure in Othard just like Octavian.
Shattered City
Aellae smiled ever so bitterly, face ringed in smoke from the bright burning fag betwixt her lips. A section of stone fused with rebar and wood held up."Shattered City- can you speak no more of Hyacinths in May or the roses of Autumn?
Did Domina Servila Gaiae not bring the heart of her Caius to heel?
Wail and wail and wail shattered city! Ten thousand and more chiselled bones and blackened eyes reach for heaven in servile supplication for mercy from an Imperious God of Flesh deaf to their tears!
Shattered City- there is no engines whine, no howl of the news boys voice.
Shattered City- I should weep, but there are no more tears to cry."The stone was allowed to roll and tumble from her fingers to the ground, dusting her hands off once more, looking around the ruins. There were only smashed buildings, blasted cermet, Machina searching for answers the same as any other survivor of the Empire. What would the nascent diaspora of the few living survivors lead to in the end? She had no answers yet.She rose to her feet, and let her aether dim, harder for certain machina to spot that way, holding it in restraint once again. There was just that faint outline of her as she moved on through the snow and rubble."If the machina hear me, Ama Mei." she spoke to that voice that was part of her, and existed on it's own in the back of her skull. "I will grind them to dust and from them render a work of art to proclaim what was lost before it truly could have been born." There was the softest of sighs. "In truth- The machina are as lost as we. Following their last orders with no one to give them new ones."That first lab had not borne fruit beyond the fact that the Frumentarii had not given up the ghost of the empire yet. That they yet wished to bring some form of Garlean superiority to the world and exact revenge on all those that might stand in their way."I'm wearing my pain on my sleeve." A reply to that voice in her head again. "An indulgence that doesn't truly have any other place in the world but this for me." It was then that something caught those green eyes with the snow flake shaped irises. "Ahh- now here we are-"The woman bent down and lifted a door from the snow. Some of it charred and missing. But the iron banded wood with intricate scenes of snow flakes and child like sprites bandying about under them. She dusted it off appraisingly and then set it up against the battered remains of a doorway."Not what you're looking for I'm afraid, Just more memories of mine, this was a toy store you see. Right here. There was a huge window to the side of this door. Well, it wasn't that huge, but it seemed that way at the time.""There was a train in the display. It would run constantly! I of course couldn't hear it, but my imagination let me here the clickety clack, clickety clack of the tracks each time it went on it's circuit around the store and down through the display." There was a little moment of quiet and she smiled wanly. "The display would change. Stuffed animals. Toy soldiers. Dolls. Building blocks. The train would stay though, and pass through them all.""I passed it every day on the way to school and back home again. Walking with Tajhia." the cigarette migrated from one side of her mouth to the next. "Every day I'd ask her if I could play with the train! The answer of course, was, no, it wasn't a toy for me to play with, but she always would stop with me, and patiently wait as I pressed my nose right up to the glass and watch that train rumble through whatever display was there... I knew, that if I could someday get her to let me slide past the big wooden door- I'd get my hands on that train."Aellae looked down for a moment, head giving a little shake. Her hand lifted with that bucked hat, tucking it back down as she turned to continue on through the rubble and snow."Never did get my hands on that toy train."
