"Well, I certainly hope you're as forgiving about words misplaced as she is then" Caius joked with a small laugh when Terra claimed that friends fight as naturally as breathing. It is how they react that makes them friends. Interesting. Well, Celes didn't seem to hate him yet. Not as far as he knew, anyway. Just had taken a very, very, very long vacation. But considering Caius had spent the first few years of their business relationship as the one primarily on mission abroad, it seemed that the blonde icebrand was simply making up the time.

Terra appeared quick to accept that this Celes was different from the one that she had seen an entire second journey through. Which was good. That sort of thing was something you had to learn to accept around here. Caius had dealt with and needed to accept much more than that. At least Terra still had those bonds from a time past, while Caius did not. But he had done his best not to dwell on that fact, even if it hurt sometimes.

Terra talked a great deal about what Celes had done for her, and how Celes had been the deciding factor in getting the band together to take out Kefka. Yeah, that sounded like her alright. That was definitely the Celes he knew. As gallant, headstrong and confident on the field as could be. Though perhaps a touch less confident outside of it. Something Caius had grown to learn in their time together.

Caius' voice softened however, when Terra asked of his own world. "There isn't much to talk about there. My world was a ruin from when I was a child. I grew up alone, unable to trust, unable to open up. Even after we took our world back from the darkness, there wasn't much of a world left to rebuild. And the damage to my own capabilities to roster relations with people was... Well, it seemed well beyond repair" Caius admitted quietly. "But it's funny that you talk of what Celes means, and what she's done for you. When she too, was the one to set me on the path to make it right."

Caius looked out towards the port, watching as wood made way for a vast ocean that seemed to go on endlessly. Until meeting people like Celes, Caius hadn't cared for sights like these in a very long time. "I was... Difficult. More than I am now. I cared only for the mission, and finding a purpose in this world that would bring me to my next mission. I kept myself far and away, only interacting with people through tavern stories when I was looking for work. Keeping them at arms length. But there was something to Celes that made me want to at least... Try, to speak beyond the bare necessities. I wasn't any good at it. Offended her more than once. But she stuck with me despite, through thick and thin, even through strife that went far beyond supporting a temporary ally or business partner. And to my surprise she was open to the idea of forming the Dragonblades. At first, I wished to form it out of a desire for purpose, bringing work to people displaced from their worlds who only knew battle as she and I did. But in my time spent with Celes, and the people that began to flock to us... I began to see them as something else. A family. A family I would not have if not for she and I finding ourselves in this world and finding one another in turn."

He managed a small smile at that. "Those that I hold dear and close to my heart are here. They are from whence I draw my strength."

Terra didn't really understand the situation in regards to misspoken words, which was fine. It was an attempt at humor anyway. An ill-fated one, at that. Caius laughed a bit when he realized how fruitless the endeavor probably was. "Don't worry about it. Let's just say... Ten years of living in a world of ruin doesn't lend much to one's social capability. Nor use of language. And attempting to tell Celes that I care for her has been... Difficult."

Difficult was one way to put it. Caius wouldn't be terribly surprised if his verbal blundering was half the reason Celes had gone on her now-six month working vacation. Though it felt like they had finally begun to come to an understanding when she had left, so Caius wasn't a hundred percent sure either. However, Celes had promised she would return, so he probably hadn't blundered his words beyond repair.

He had faith in her, either way. She had done much for him, and he wouldn't forget that. There wouldn't be a Dragonblades without Celes. Caius listened as Terra talked about how the Returners had been, going from a group with mutual interests and goals, to a group of friends. A family, not too different from the Dragonblades. She was... Very sincere, was the impression he got. She was simple and honest. It made her very likeable in his eyes. But it was clear she missed her friends. He was surprised she had been able to hold herself from Celes for this long, given their history. It must have been hard, but if she was telling the truth then she had placed a great burden on herself in order to protect those she cared for.

In a way, it reinforced his thoughts about how he felt for Celes and Yuna. When Terra spoke of what she would do for them, it did not come off the same way Caius had heard people refer to their romantic partners. Instead, it came off more as how he'd heard brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers speak of their own families. Would he do the same for them, and for the other Dragonblades? Place that burden on himself to protect them, if it was the only way?

Yes. Yes, he would. In a heartbeat.

He felt Terra's hand on his shoulder, and quirked a brow curiously. Intimacy was still very new to Caius, but he did recognize the motion. It was meant to be a form of condolement. Had he truly painted himself as pitiful enough to merit her sympathy? It was a little embarrassing. But the thought was sweet, nonetheless.

"That's the plan. Obviously I need Celes' blessing, but if you speak the truth I doubt she wouldn't give it" Caius responded with a small smile then. "Once we're settled, I look forward to working with you. To make this world a better place for all. Speaking of places, do you have a place to stay, Terra?"

Caius couldn't help but laugh when Terra said Celes preferred being told to her face these things. "I probably would have been better off if I didn't" Caius admitted sheepishly at that. "I'm not good with words. Especially words of the heart. Err, platonic words of the heart I mean. I'm still learning to vocalize the difference."

Terra brought up her gesture, the hand on his shoulder. It sounded like she knew as little about these motions as he did, however. Caius sighed at that. "No, you did nothing wrong. I am just... Not used to shows of condolement, nor affection. I do not know how to properly give, nor receive. Odds are I am in the same boat as you for that" he expressed, trying to at least ensure she didn't think she had done something wrong. He was thankful she had tried to help, for what it was worth.

She didn't really have a place to go. Just a shack a long ways from here that she'd made out of a busted wagon. Celes would kill him if she found out he let her go back to that shack.

"I understand. I'll pay for lodgings for you until I can hear back from Celes. Is that acceptable for you?" he inquired, then. He'd use his own funds, he'd front the risk for the possibility she could be a threat. Caius didn't use a lot of his funds at a time anyway, so he wasn't too fussed. He did not live lavishly, and he was okay with that. "In the meanwhile there is a bulletin board here. Freelance jobs and all that. That could be a good place to start in getting on your feet" Caius suggested then. "Once I hear back from Celes we can work on sorting you into some Dragonblades jobs as they come."

With each passing day, Caius learned just a bit more about this world, its cultures and social cues. But he wasn’t learning as fast as he would like. And he was acutely aware that he had fumbled his words with Celes time and time again. What impression he may have given her, he had no idea and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to know. But it was just going to have to be something he would continue to work on over time. This world had given him a second chance to rebuild what had been lost, live the life he never had. So all he could do? Is continue to try.

Terra claimed that according to Celes, one of their compatriots had tried to teach her in order to “seduce” her. “Seduce?” Caius echoed at that. Seduce, seduce, he knew that word… The meaning was just on the tip of his tongue. It was a more advanced variation of flirtation, right? He remembered something about that in a book he had read. Though he’d never seen it for himself, as far as he knew…

Caius in fact, had. He just didn’t notice because the offender was a bandit in disguise and their act was very sus. Well that, and it’s Caius. Distracted or not, he wouldn’t have noticed. Celes however, did notice. She just didn’t say anything. She was rather pouty at the time about something, though Caius didn’t notice that either. The sussing had taken top priority.

Terra was fairly thrilled that Caius had decided to foot the bill to ensure she was sorted until Celes could get back to him, and he was happy to help. He just hoped she got back to him soon. Considering the last letter had taken ages to get there, it may be that Caius would have to take a trip to Provo himself to get it done.

“Yeah. Suppose today isn’t too terrable.”

It had to be done.

“Why don’t I show you to the Wyvern’s Rest in the meanwhile, get you acquainted?”