"Things could be worse..." Elanore glanced around the cell Darius had been thrown into after the attempted rescue, making an attempt to sound reassuring. It failed misserably. "At least we're all still alive... although I think they're pretty angry at you for killing crew members."

Only two of the Yggdrasil's crew had actually died during the attack... she didn't know which ones, only that there hadn't been much left of them -- which meant that it had been ether to kill them, and not a physical attack. It spoke well for Darius, of course, since she knew he preferred the 'traditional' way of doing things... but Shaina was going to be in trouble...

"I wasn't the one who was throwing Ether around trying to fry people..." Darius grumbled after a moment, his gaze locked down on the pair of heavy manacles that had been fastened around his wrists before they had thrown him in the cell. He might have been able to escape without them on, but these things were going to make that all but impossible.

"I wouldn't have even gone with that crazy woman if she hadn't insisted that I needed her if I was going to get in here..."

What was the worst is that for some reason Darius had managed to convince himself that he would be able to rescue Elanore without actually hurting anyone... Shaina's actions had seemed all the more shocking because of that daydream, and were one of the reasons he had gone so quietly to the cell.

He let out a long sigh and looked up at the auburn haired girl, his eyes showing a little of the hurt he felt. "I'm sorry... I didn't think that anyone would get hurt..."

Elanore sighed, bending knee to settle down onto the floor with him. The metal was freezing cold where her bare legs touched the floor, but she winced and endured it, wishing Kandi had at least given her a longer dress wo wander around in. After her jumpsuit, this thing felt like a nightgown. No, even less than /that/.

But hey, at least it covered her decently. And it wasn't soaked with blood - that was always a plus. "Don't blame yourself, Darius... you didn't kill anyone. I haven't ever heard of anyone being executed for punching a few people out. Shaina is the one who has to worry."

Marien wasn't pleased - and that was probably the biggest understatement of the year. He didn't show his anger much, at least not to her, but it was very clear when she looked into his eyes. He was kind at heart; she had known that the moment she met him. But this had drawn out whatever demons were hidden within his mind - at least, that's what it looked like to her.

"Marien is really nice..." She shrugged, catching Darius's gaze. "He might be ready to flog Shaina, but I think he'll let you go if I ask him to. He doesn't have anything against you."

"I hope so... I don’t intend to spend a long time in here, but it would be better for everyone if we found a way to just walk off of this... erm... just what IS this thing we are in, anyways?" Darius shook his head after a moment, a slightly embarrassed expression on his face as he looked about the interior of the cell.

Of course, there was also the fact that Elanore was wearing something that was not exactly the uniform that he remembered her in...

Or it could also be the fact that he was stuck in this cell and she was here to visit, when he had expected to be up and gone by now.

"I do hope this Marien is as nice as you say he is... I'd rather not get caught up in any more problems. At least, not until we get..." After a moment he lapsed back into silence, not certain of what to say.

What was he going to do now? All of his thoughts over the last few days had been on this rescue, and now that he had managed to get here and find Elly, he wasn't sure of what to do next.

He could not go home now, not after... whatever had happened between Aishou and that black gear, and whatever had happened to destroy the town. And then there was that incident in the desert... Darius let his head sag forward, his expression somewhat defeated as he realized that he did not have anyplace he knew that he could go.

Elly pulled the skirt as far down over her knees as she could, feeling a little heat rise in her cheeks. Maybe she should have taken the chair... "You didn't really do anything - beyond... well..." She bit her lip a bit sheepishly. "You helped blow a hole in their sandcruiser... I'm sure Rivian isn't happy about that, but I think Marien might be more understanding, that's all."

She /hoped/ he would be more understanding, anyway. His attention was mainly focused on Shaina, and he seemed to know exactly who the Element was... or at least what she was. How that was possible was beyond Elly, since Marien was only a surface-dweller, but... life was full of mysteries.

Mysteries like that 'surface-dweller' nonsense. What was it from? It was so familiar to her, yet so far away... It made an odd sort of sense in her mind, though.

"I just hope Shaina can get by without insulting them with any more of that 'land-dweller' stuff. Honestly, she has to know it just makes her situation worse..." She fiddled with the hem of her skirt nervously, afraid - for some reason - to look up at her companion.

"I don't think I ever got that part... 'land-dweller'? 'Lamb'? What is she talking about, because she seemed rather happy to call me that when we were traveling together..." Which was rather typical of his situation of the moment... no idea of what was really going on. But he would try and fix that... as soon as he got out of these chains.

The metal clanked as he gave another experimental tug, before he continued to speak. "I was... I was trying to save you..." he said after a moment, a very faint hint of a blush on his cheeks. He did not look up, but continued to speak rather bashfully down into the floor. "I thought that you had been captured by some murderous pirates... they were going to hurt you, and... well... I didn't know what else to do.

And then it seems that they are taking good care of you, and people got hurt for no reason...

"I should have stayed with you back in Bledavik... I might have been able to protect you, instead of nearly getting myself killed fighting six or seven different gears... I really messed up, I think..."

The chains rattled again and he raised his hands slightly, palm up in supplication as he looked over at her for some sign, some response on how he should continue.

There was something about him she just couldn't resist - and when he looked like that... Elanore unfolded her legs and crawled over the intervening area of floor to lean over and plant a kiss on his cheek. "You worry too much, Darius. It isn't like you knew what was happening to me... Even if you didn't succeed in 'rescuing' me... at least I know I have a prince out there ready to sweep me away, hmm?"

She settled down wtih her legs tucked beneath her, tugging the skirt as far over her knees as it would go. "And I hope Shaina didn't get to you... the 'Lamb' stuff is just..." She shrugged, at somewhat of a loss. "It's what they teach us back home, but I'm afraid that's all I remember about it."

Darius raised both of his hands so he could gently touched his cheek where she had kissed him, a half embarassed, half bemused expression on his face as he listened to her. And his face reddened a little more as he continued to stare resolutely at the floor, not over at the too short piece of fabric they had given her to wear...

After a moment he tried to reach over and touch her on the shoulder, only to nearly knock himself over as the manacles on his hands and feet disrupted his balance again. A sign of frustration escaped his lips as he leaned back against the wall, looking up at the ceiling this time.

"Its odd... I just know that I need to protect you... you're important to me, like I knew you from before..." he whispered after a moment, his voice distant. "I feel really bad about not being able to, but because... its like this isn't the first time? I don't know..." He growled after a moment, and tapped the metal of his bindings against his forehead. "Its frustrating, not being able to remember..."

"Stop that." She leaned forward and pulled his hands away from his head, keeping a firm grip on the chain linking his wrists. "I don't care about the past right now - it's not like either of us can remember it, right? Besides... it wouldn't matter anyway."

Elanore lifted his hands again and slipped under the chain to give him a hug. Ear pressed to the place over his heart, she closed her eyes for a moment. "At least we know we're both safe now. So stop complaining, okay? You don't have to feel bad on my account..."

There was a rustle of fabric as he nodded slightly and rested his cheek against her hair. The chains made it hard to give her a proper hug... but that of course did not keep him from trying. "I'm sorry then... I didn't mean to upset you. I was just so worried...

"Elly... I don't know what I'm going to do now... I can't go home, and... I don't really know where I am, anymore. Doc is probably still in Bledavik..." Darius shook his head after a moment, and let his chin rest on her shoulder for a moment. "And... Shaina probably wants to take you back with her... to wherever you are from..."

"Don't worry about Shaina. I get the feeling I won't be allowed to return home just yet anyway - maybe it's fate speaking to me, or something." She let herself relax just a little more, squirming into a position that she hoped would keep his manacles from biting into her shoulders. "The Yggdrasil is headed toward Nisan right now... Kyoko and I figure we'll be safe there for now. If you want... you can come with us."

"Nisan..." The word was... familar. Darius had heard it before, when people were talking about the world, but it seemed to have a greater signifigance now. "I... I would like that very much. Thank you..." he whispered quietly, and let his eyes close as he leaned against the auburn haired girl in his arms.

"Well, isn't that just sweet..." The door to the cell swung open to allow one of the crew members into the room. He shook his head for a moment, before gesturing over his shoulder with one hand. "Comeon kid, times up. I'm sure young master will want to talk to him sooner than later, and I don't think he'd appreciate seeing you two all lovie dovie when he gets here."

Elanore felt her face go red, and she slipped out of Darius's encircling arms, though she didn't turn around right away. "Hang in there, Darius." She rose slowly to her feet, and flashed him a reassuring smile that she almost felt. "Everything will work out. Don't worry."

She turned around and followed the pirate out of the cell, glancing back to Darius once before hurrying out. She didn't want to leave him there... but there was nothing to be done for now. Marien /would/ understand, hopefully... and maybe things would start to improve for all of them.

But for now... back to check on Kyoko.

(Summary: Elanore visits Darius in his cell, and the two agree to go to Nisan together with Kyoko.)