~A cut dialogue exchange~
In a previous draft of this story, I included the conversation the Razan and Lucar have with Emer and Dimon in private. I decided to cut this from the main story because the subject matter of the conversation plays a part in future stories, but doesn't really play a part in this one. If I left in this story, it would've cut up the flow early on.
It was a pity to cut, because I felt like it gave good characterization to Dimon and Emer while explaining aspects of the Densius people. Though I did work in aspects of this conversation elsewhere.
This conversation still canonically occurs, but is now unseen. I didn't want to completely toss this out, so I thought I'd at least share it here.
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While Ruben went with the children to explore the mountain, Razan and Lucar met privately with Emer and Elder Dimon Dimon was a short and stout Densius, building its body to be structurally sound. Emer on the other had its body resemble the Ralosian proportions much more, standing a bit taller than Razan and Lucar.
Lying around Dimon's abode were various rocks set out in the shape of limbs. Dimon liked to have spare parts in case pieces of his current body fell away.
Dimon turned to the two men and gave them a rocky smile, "You know, most Densius don't live as long as I do. They don't plan ahead like me. Did you know that I am 424 years, 5 months, and 16 days old today?" Dimon asked proudly, his eye-stones gleaming. He had white irises from the diamond that rested deep within him.
Razan responded flatly, "I believe you told us before."
"You know; I may be one of the oldest Densius in the world. Perhaps THE oldest. Besides Amethi of course." Dimon continued to praise itself. Emer's green irises looked from the two Ralosians to Dimon.
Lucar asked, "How old is that little Densius with the kids? Ruben was its name right?"
"Ah, Ruben's not quite fifty yet. Still young."
Lucar raised his eyebrows, Ruben was technically older than him by over a decade. Yet it was still so childlike.
Dimon, never one to mince words, asked Razan and Lucar, "Did it happen again?"
Emer wished the old Densius would take more care with his words.
Razan replied, "Yes."
Emer frowned, "I suppose that infamy of yours is catching up to you?"
"I suppose so." Lucar responded.
Razan said, "We've stayed in one place for too long. I think we'll have to relocate soon and lie low. If we stay under the radar long enough that notoriety might disappear."
Lucar recalled the last time they had to relocate. Jirro trusted his father and left without a fuss. Corri was a child and hardly remembered the occasion. But Aero threw a terrible fit and refused to leave. Razan had to pick up his son and take him away.
"Do the kids know?" Emer asked.
"No. We haven't told them we're going to have to move." Lucar replied.
"Not that." Emer continued, "Do they know why you're being pursued?"
Lucar's eyes darted away. The rock's around Emer's mouth curled down into a frown, "You ought to tell-"
"I don't want them to know." Lucar says sharply. "Under any circumstance."
Dimon exhaled... at least it would have if Dimon had lungs. But exhaling in frustration was something other species did, so Dimon had come to pantomime it. "They're going to find out eventually. As they get older, they're going to ask more questions. And its not fair to your children to keep moving them around the world without explanation. " Dimon explained.
Both Lucar and Razan were silent.
ns 18.68.41.147da2
