exsilium | video

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Why have we not returned to Exsilium? The danger is over, isn't it?

[Kili looks frustrated and tired. He's not used to being cooped up indoors like this, and no one can really blame a dwarf for not understanding radiation. and nuclear bombs.]

This place wasn't meant for living on. We can't even go outdoors! It doesn't feel like we're living anymore, merely... surviving.

And Kang, forgive me, but it seems it will be a while longer before I can continue with the blade my uncle forged you.

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['You can see it from the glass windows', he nearly says, and then-]

What is your Sun like?

[The question throws him off and Kili frowns.]

Same as the Sun always is. I don't understand what you mean.

Red, or yellow?

[He gestures, his hand making a vague circular motion.]

The sky, is it black, or blue?

[These are ridiculous questions. How can the sun be red or the sky black, except at night?]

She is yellow, and the sky is blue. [His tone is confused, words slow as though waiting for something. In truth, he's half expecting to be pranked or made fun of.]

[Kelsier offers him a sad smile.]

In my home, the sky is black, ash falls like rain, and the sun is red, when we can see it.

[Beat.]

Can you tell me more, about your world?

Sounds even worse than Exsilium, before we moved here.

[He feels kind of bad, but mostly he still just...misses the sun.

Kili's quiet for a moment, letting out a sigh and pulling his knees up to his chest from where he's sitting on his bed.]

I guess home is the best place to start. I grew up in Ered Luin, the Blue Mountains. Cold, mostly underground, but the woods were full of game. [He pauses.] I used to go on hunts with my brother all the time.

[Where he is, he perches, and wraps his cloak around himself more thoroughly. He's not terribly bothered - the ash was normal to him, and why worry about that when he can listen to stories?]

You left? To travel? Or hunt more?

[Thorin told him not to talk about the quest, but Thorin's gone now, and who's going to care? He can't even get back to Middle-Earth on his own; Kili's starting to believe he'll live out the rest of his days here.

So he takes a deep breath and continues.]

My uncle took us with him on a quest. There were fourteen of us. Feels so long ago, now.

Incredible. This all sounds exactly like the stories I heard, as a boy.

[He didn't, but Kelsier's an accomplished liar.]

Did you succeed? What did you face?

[Kili shrugs.]

We haven't reached our journey's end yet. I was taken before that.

I wish you well in your quest, friend.

[That, he means genuinely. Adventure stories are something after his own heart.]

[Kili is surprised by the earnestness in the stranger's voice, and he nods, a little touched.]

Thank you. I...thank you.

[There's a brief pause before he speaks again.] I'm Kili.

[A nod.]

Kelsier.

Have you been here long?

It's been... [He frowns, thinking. Time passes strangely here, after all.] Four months? Roughly.

And we are no closer to defeating the enemy?

[He shakes his head.] It's hard to say who exactly is the enemy. There's this...UE thing that's trying to kill all of us apparently, but the Initiatives or whatever they call themselves aren't much better.

[A long pause.]

I'm afraid I don't follow. How so?

[Kili hesitates a moment.] They dragged us here without our permission, and in doing so, they've put our worlds in danger. We're their sellswords now. They don't care about us, just about winning their own stupid war.

[He sighs and rubs his head.] I just want to go back, but if I do, I could be putting Middle-Earth in danger. I don't want to think about everyone I know dying because I was selfish.

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