AU October: The new age

[terabient]

Not actually an AU this time--it's an "after EP6" idea, one that serves as the set up for an eventual "Varuna & Hariette on Halpha" fic and also my crackship you're welcome :)

A few years after the defeat of the Profound Darkness, the Falspawn threat has nearly been eradicated, and ARKS turns their considerable resources to more peaceful pursuits. One of their major goals is establishing consistent and efficient interdimensional space travel, in hopes of strengthening ties with their Earth and Omega allies.

Though Hariette, the Goddess of Omega, is eager to unite her world with that of Oracle, cannot leave Omega for long--an extended absence might well destabilize Omega's existence. She sends Varuna, once again acting as her adjutant, in her stead.

Of course, while Hariette has explained the situation to ARKS, there is understandably concern about accepting a former enemy--one of the most deadly in their history, no less--in their midst. After careful consideration, Casra is put in charge of observing and, if necessary, restraining the former God of Justice. Officially, it is Casra's insight and ability to be discrete makes him best suited for the role. But Casra has his own motives for working with the last remaining Photoner. With ARKS in a period of peace and looking towards expanding its influence on a universal scale, Casra recognizes that ARKS is already starting down the path that ultimately destroyed the Photoners. With the Photoner's historical records effectively wiped out by Luther, and Aurora unable to provide little more than impressions and vague memories, Varuna represents the last, best chance for Casra to reconstruct the Photoner's history and hopefully, avoid their deadly mistakes.

Luckily for everyone involved, Varuna is more than willing to comply with all requests from the ARKS Fleet. Struggling to find purpose in a peaceful Omega, Varuna is relieved there is a need for his knowledge and skills. And Casra, too, knows what it means to be born a tool, beholden to the whims of an uncaring master...an unexpected friendship begins to form between the two men who never expected to find themselves free.

Though Varuna's Cuento attire is well-suited for field work, it proves a bit clumsy in the lab, and while nothing really sticks out in the phashion melting pot that is the ARKS Fleet, it is a bit archaic by modern standards. In order to make transitioning between field and lab work easier, and help Varuna blend in with Oracle's population, Casra lends him his own uniform as a temporary solution.<sup>1

1</sup>Honestly tho? Given Casra's modified or custom-ordered his canonical outfits and essentially works as Quna's manager--he'd never settle for just lending out his clothes. No, he would go the extra mile to design an entirely new multi-purpose outfit for someone he's only known for a few weeks. Casra has an inner phashionista he rarely lets out and you cannot convince me otherwise.

Comments

[shivarin]

and they were *gasp* colleagues

i think a recolored EP4 casra basewear would work... even if two former servants would rather go for individuality, wouldn't matching clothes make everything more fruity between casra and varuna? :eyes:

[terabient]

colleagues with similar trauma...truly the hallmark of a good ship.... ToT

HMMM...I think Varuna would be all-in on matching clothes--although we only see him in uniforms I think he likes clothes that connect him to other people he cares about. But Casra would hesitate b/c the idea's a bit twee, and matching outfits make their relationship a bit too obvious.