the Outline

"Quite adorable, aren't they?" Adar crooned, sprouting a motherly smile. He had grown modestly tolerant of alcohol at this point, but he couldn't help but to be sympathetic of the newcomers to the world of intoxication.

"Let's." He'd respond to the shenlong, helping himself up with a nearby box. "There's not much to do here anyway, other than continue to drink. And I don't feel like that would be healthy, especially unaccompanied."
(Adar Gutt)
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[21:24] "Mmh. Let's get going then."

There's a brief glance given to Adar as he comes to a stand, carefully turning to the south. This places wasn't exactly fitting for this sort of conversation.. and he imagines just what Adar's reaction would be.

"And, ah.. have a good time, Tobias, and.. young lady." Not knowing her name, he decided to address it like that.

"Don't drink far too much. You don't want to collapse here."

On that note, he was leaving.
(Keitaro)
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[21:24] Adar Gutt says, "Later, you two."
[21:27] The cliff.

It had to be there. Away from the others, so perhaps they wouldn't overhear whatever reaction Adar is about to give. There's an evident pause before he actually speaks up, all while he seats himself down.. and when his gaze turns to Adar, he continues.

"Well, you see- Setsuna actually spoke to me about you."

He should've known she would speak to at least someone. Nonetheless..

"I realize what you're feeling for her, but.. she's the wrong woman to feel such things for, Adar."

"She doesn't see you this way, and I'm fairly convinced she has someone else as interest in her life."

It would hurt. Even if he already knew about this, he imagines thatthis being a reminder would still be unpleasant. Though, before any reaction is given..

"I know how it's like. You shouldn't feel all too sad about it, because eventually, you'll find someone who actually fits you."

"I've been there. Trust me on that one."
(Keitaro)
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[21:38] His eyes rather numbly traced from the figure of the Shaman towards the clashing waves down below, each one of them splashing and crashing against the bottom of the scarp. After a modest pause of roughly a dozen seconds, Adar hummed ponderously.

"I know." He'd reply, casting his stare at the nude palm of his left hand, stretching out each of his lanky fingers and moving them haltingly one by one. "I haven't chosen to bare these feelings."

Then, returning the purple, opaque set of hues back at the voice of Gehenna, he'd serenely smile.

"Adonis?" He'd inquire, almost in defeat. "Or is it someone else?"

The navigator chuckled with irony, making clear he knew his place in the scheme of things. "I've talked to her about these things. I appreciate your concern, Keitaro."

Yet then, morphing his face into one of burden, he finished.

"But I can't help it."
(Adar Gutt)
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[21:44] It's never good telling about such things. But.. remembering back to the old days, he can't help himself- he can't just stay silent when he sees another suffer over unrequited love like this, because he knows how it's like.

"I'm not sure whether it's Adonis or someone else. I just know that it's someone in general."

A pause. It's made to comfort, but he pats Adar on the back. He could empathize to this situation.

"You can't help it now, but eventually, you will." Another pause.

"I used to be in love with Thalia, you know. Sacrificed my time to fight against Dusk for her and her family, fought against Fallen Angels, bled for her on expeditions."

"I almost died three times in captivity in Briar. Each time, my last thoughts were about her. But.. when I returned?"

"All she said is that she hated me, after all the signs of love she showed to me - how she held me in the dark, when we were younger, how we swam under waterfalls together, how we.." An idle purse of lips. He decides to end it there..

"...What I'm trying to say is, love can be very cruel."

"I felt shattered to find her cling to Ilui instead, after all those sacrifices made. I almost killed myself, but I learned to get over it."

"I found someone else. Someone who made me whole - someone I could love, despite being.. used this way."

Steadily, the shaman's eyes turn to Adar.

"I wasted years chasing what I could not have. Only then, I realized I should focus on myself - and while pursuing my own dreams, someone paid attention to what I do. That's how I found someone else... someone better, actually."

"You should do the same."
(Keitaro)
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[22:00] Keitaro had properly opened his heart, almost inadvertently. It had become increasingly difficult to connect all the dots as to what his motive would be. Adar was skeptic in nature, constantly so - yet, for whatever reason, he believed each and every one of Keitaro's words.

His throat felt shut, his larynx was constantly pressed down against the back of his neck. It was like being strangled by an invisible force. A feeling impossible to pin down, but the scholar could relate.

"You've had it… hard, haven't you?" He rhetorically questioned, once more lost amidst the waves. His soul felt numb, empty - even. Adar silhouette had been blurred off somewhere, like losing one's ego. "I'm sorry to hear this. I'm sorry you have to see me go through… things similar."

The navigator, too, had bled. He had fought, he had overcome. All for the Qilin's wellbeing.

"But - I think I've only bettered myself from the experiences she's put me through so far." Almost thinking out loud, Adar reflected. "It's not as if I was pursuing a ghost. She's the one who reached out; the one who looked for me. She cares. Even if it's not in the same way I care about her."

"I would've bled all the same, she's a dear friend of mine."

He sighed, letting loose of all the pent up tension deep inside his system.

"Perhaps I should do as you say. Quit while I'm ahead… or whole, or… whatever this is."
(Adar Gutt)
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[22:08] There's not a single lie in this tale. In fact, plenty of people all around were actually a witness to it.. and some know his tale very well. They prefer not to speak about it, just like him, but.. for this? It feels necessary.

What is shown next is a careful revelation of drakanite's flesh in the places of scars- myriad number, all representing something in its unholy, tormented beauty. With such skin, you'd think Keitaro was a victim to torture many times.. and it wasn't that different from the truth.

The scars of large cuts and gashes.
The markings of severe burns.
The scars belonging to once protruding, broken bones.
Signs of attempted murder all around his body.
And worst, a single spike-shaped scar next to his heart.

Many, many more. But when Shenlong shows these scars, he does not look sad. All of these wounds, all of these times he almost died.. the tales of all these tragedies and the times he was broken - it made him what he is today. He doesn't regret that.

"It's been rough. I wanted to be a hero - but that was taken from me. I became who I am today, instead."

"Such struggles and challenges, however, shape you into a better man. But.. there's something you need to keep in mind, Adar-"

"I'm not going to tell you that you shouldn't love - because love makes people do impossible things. It makes them happier, it makes them whole. It will be only fair that you find someone, eventually." A pause. He steadily covers up those scars.. and they fade beneath the garments.

"But do not chase it."

"Seek to become something greater. Seek to make people admire you for what you are - push beyond limits that others could never think of."

"Strive to make a change that nobody else can do. And amidst all of that.. seek to socialize, to make yourself known and apparent."

"Under those circumstances? You will find love. You'll see."
(Keitaro)
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[22:25] What had just been dropped on him may have been the key to breaking free from his usual torment. It'd hit Adar in a slow-burn fashion, creeping in, slowly beginning to make full sense.

The bottom half of his jaw had dropped unwillingly, ending it's usual clenched-up tense state. His eyes scout each and every one of Keitaro's visible markings. Compared to the Shenlong's, the Navigator's were of no significance.

The method in which the drakanite had survived these events, overcome suffering, abandonment, disgrace. It had started to shape itself with each of his sentences, reaching a yet shocked Adar.

"Do not chase it." He mouthed, quoting back at the shaman. The key to bettering oneself; to being sought after; to being looked at; to holding one's state in higher regard; to finding meaning in things prior considered mundane.

"Should I... project myself as that?" The scholar questioned, slowly attempting to uncurve his spine, fixing usual poor posture. His eyes trailed back towards the spiritmancer, seeking.

"'This is Adar. I am here.'" He'd -quote-, drawing the contour of his ego. What separated himself from the outside, yet what allowed the outside from interacting with himself. "Like so? Is that how I should be focused on?"
(Adar Gutt)
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[22:30] The torment is best left in the past.

But.. he never wanted this pain to define him or change him into something else; instead, he allowed each scar to serve a reminder to the way he should be, the way he should bring himself out there - all so he can become something greater.

"Of course, you should not become pretentious or become a snob while at that - you should still treat people fairly, but.." It was different.

"Making yourself something greater is what draws people in, Adar. It's like a magnet - they're drawn to the light that you make yourself to be, and they begin to praise you for what you are."

"Believe it or not.. I've had confessions made to me - after I became Shaman, after I started to become someone of importance in Gehenna and achieved things others could not. I'm not telling you to walk my path, because you can simply make your own."

"But the key to happiness in life is making yourself desirable - not desiring someone else." He meant it, clearly. Perhaps, it's the reason why Shenlong is content.. despite such markings on his body.

"So long as you keep chasing others, so long as you make them center of your life.." A pause. "You will never be anything. You will never become anybody - and nobody will pay attention."

"It's not wrong to be a little selfish, and make your life better. You'll realize just how things change when you begin doing that."
(Keitaro)
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[22:46] For a moment, in his concentration, as Adar's brain slowly wove through each and every one of Keitaro's words, all of his other four senses seemed to fully stop functioning. His mind was fully immersed in the wisdom bestowed onto him by the spiritualist.

The navigator could only project images of the drakanite's strongest moments of profile, his graceful dances, his heated battles, his strong sense of leadership and comradery.

Could he as well be regarded as such in time? Could he manage to regard himself that same way? His battered, blurred sense of self esteem, constantly floored, would have to be fixed, refurbished. Adar could no longer continue to ignore these things.

A glimmer in his eye seemed to spark up. Something burned - though not the outside. It was not the usual scalding feeling of his skin scorching upon contact with others. It was not the haephephobic spasms and panic. Instead, the flame within seemed to flare at a maestoso pace.

Coming back to his senses, Adar bowed his head sternly.

"Thank you, Keitaro. I am in grand debt to you. What you've shared with me is invaluable." It was. Words couldn't have properly depicted it, but Adar's outline had started to become twice as pronounced. "I promise to work myself out as you say. I'll re-align my priorities, I'll be better."

"Again, I owe you. Your wisdom has enlightened me."
(Adar Gutt)
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[22:51] This is the least he could do for another who was in similar situation, who was suffering just like he did at some point. But.. there was a promise about Adar, because at some point, Keitaro was just like him - it took plenty to change, but it happened after all.

So much, that people admired him.

They saw someone to listen to, someone to cherish, someone respectable with many more things about him.. and even those that loathed him at some point, they had to admit that he had gone far - further than any of them ever expected him to.

All it takes is just a switch.
From cold to flames.

"Good." Another gentle pat on his back. "Don't feel so indebted to me. I just did what's right." Because he's supposed to be a spiritual guide.

And what better guide is there than to guide a lost spirit in life?

"I was in same position as you, and yet I made it. I'm sure you'll do great. You have all the resources for that." Carefully rising to a stand, the Shenlong glanced back at Adar briefly.

"Come on. We should probably get going."

It seems that his job was done for now as this spiritual guide. Another spirit set to a different path.

(Keitaro)
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[22:56] In high hopes, this time around, Adar breathed in. Everything around him suddenly felt more livid. There was still a slur of emotions, ones hard to make out, whirling around below his ribs - though their weight was now severely reduced.

He felt lighter, less bombarded with distress.

"We should. Yes." He replied, contentedly smiling. There was a serene air to the navigator, as usual. But with a big difference in it's color. Warmer, tighter. Yet looser.

"Let us return."
(Adar Gutt)