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"It's nice having a companion you can rely on, even if you don't speak the same language." Cepheid smiled from under his mask. "She is a beautiful horse. Where did you first get her?"

Yes, the Ship cost him everything he had, and even then it seriously needed work. It was only as good as it was because he racked up some decent money as a chart peddler. Though the upkeep still made things very very tight.

Ceph glanced to Ben and pondered the conundrum. "Well, you still have a good few years before that becomes a real issue. But once that time runs around, I think the church might be willing to keep her. I mean, even if they can't ride her, children still love horses and she seems friendly enough."

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<sub>Benedict shuffled a bit modestly when mentioning Lila. She was indeed a very sweet horse, but he was more concerned about what might happen to her and all. Poor thing. Maybe he shouldn't worry about her too much, anyway.

"She is. As for where, I have no clue. She was a runaway, after all." He shrugged. Nobody came up to claim her either, so... he had her all to himself.

"Yeah, i'm just concerned because the church won't be able to afford her once she gets older. She'd have to have a vet look at her and care for her, she'd need a decent meal..." Ben shook his head. Oh well... change of subject? He'd look around the place. "Well, enough about my problems. You mentioned we're going to Truesdale, right?"</sub>

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"Hm. I see. I just bought Clicky from a farmer, no real story there." He smirked from under the mask as the engine came to life and the ship began to lift. Ceph was experienced enough that the liftoff was smooth, and they didn't bump the dock or the neighboring ships.

"I'm sure you'll figure something out, Ben." He answered, putting 60% of his focus into getting the ship towards the right bearing, using some of his own maps and some scales to determine direction.

"Yep. Inventor's quarter. We'll be meeting up with Andy and his crew there." Ceph explained as he sat his tools down and locked the steering wheel in place once they were going in the right direction. "He'll be sending a member of his crew to meet us and bring us to him."

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<sub>Benedict looked out in admiration at the ship lifting off, though he wobbled a bit, clearly unused to air flight as he put his hand on the self-destruct button wall for support. He'd then look over to Ceph as he explained about Clicky, and his optimism about Lila.

"Some day I'll retire early, get another job, get a farm, and make a living." He spoke up. It sounded fun to him anyway. So they're meeting with Andy there. Benedict suddenly felt nervous about it.

"... Um, so... You know him best, right? What's he like?" Stupid thing to ask, really, but Ben was honestly curious.</sub>

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Ceph nodded as Ben mentioned his dreams of starting a farm. Sounded nice. It wouldn't be a feasible route for him, though. Not with his genetic relations.

The man listened as he was asked that question. "My brother? He's aggressive, hard headed, and not exactly the sharpest tack in the box when it comes to social interaction." He answered honestly. "He has trouble showing how he feels, but he cares about everyone around him. He always does what he thinks is best for those he loves, even if they might not be morally right." Stepping away from the locked wheel, he pulled off the mask, smiling softly. "He is a good man with a heavy burden, and a wounded heart. He really does care, though he can be a real idiot sometimes. And he loves his sons, no matter how they came about."

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<sub>Benedict shuffled a bit, trying to get used to the flight and what to do. Unfortunately, Cepheid was right about his relations not allowing him to do that, but at least he had more of his mother's genes in him, like Reuben. He just had to bear the thought of having a dad like Andy.

Which he was just learning about. "Oh really?" So Andy was socially awkward and cared for his family. That's really good to know. "That's new. Well... I've only heard of the stories, not from people actually close to him."</sub>

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"The stories? You mean how he's a murderous monster who rapes and kills?" Ceph asked, his expression falling. "I wish I could say they weren't true. They are. I will not try to justify him in that respect, but he is my brother and monster or not, I will defend him, even if it means sacrificing myself. I also know he would do the same for me, the girls, and his sons."

Cepheid remained quiet for a moment. "He is a mixed bag. But I have found that those who are capable of great good are equally capable of great evil. I believe that Andromeda is an example of that concept." Cepheid took a few steps and sat down. "The same man who steals, kills, and harms, is also the same man who rescued three women from abusive homes and brothels, willingly took in a little girl kidnapped from her father and dotes on her like his own, and took responsibility for all of his sons." Pause. "He's complicated. Most people don't know if they should hate him or pity him. But I promise you, when you meet him you will have trouble seeing the monster. You don't see it unless you threaten someone he loves. He isn't completely heartless. He idolizes Robin Hood, actually. He's just lost his way some."

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<sub>Benedict looked down when Cepheid said those rumors and stories were true after all. Well there goes his hopes. Benedict took a deep breath and then observed his surroundings.

"Half of me said they weren't true, half of me told me to stop being so optimistic." So this man had such a loyalty for those girls and even his sons? Did that include Benedict himself?

"So he really cares about people? He really has some kind of heart behind that exterior?" God creates such strange human beings. Or maybe it was fate that ensured that for Andy. "... Perhaps people should aspire to be like him. Except for the whole... raping people thing. And stealing. And all that. I hope he isn't a liar." ANd no, he wouldn't be, Benedict. It's his good point.</sub>

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Ceph wasn't gonna lie to you, Ben. You deserved to know the whole truth.

"I know how you feel. When I was looking for him, I myself was rather disheartened to learn the valitity of his crimes." He said.

"He does. I know it sounds odd, given what he's done, but he is actually not a complete monster. Some would say he's a good person, though I fear there are probably some innocent people who may claim differently." He frowned, sadly. Then Ben asked if Andy was a liar, and Ceph had to laugh.

"Andy? A liar? He'd have to care what people thought before he'd do that!" He chuckled. "Nah, Andy is probably a little TOO honest, if you ask me. He clams up when he doesn't want you to know something, he doesn't lie."

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<sub>Benedict looked over to Cepheid when he explained Andy. Okay so he was too honest, and despite being a monster, he was still a good person. Hm, maybe that's where he got that goodness from.

"Well, I guess in the end it's up to God to judge him, if he's a good person or not..." He spoke up. Well, he wasn't aware of Andy being an atheist. Even if Ben did find out, he'd believe God would still love and forgive him anyway. "I guess the people he's victimized? I'd like to know who they were..."

He might never know. There were too many, after all. "Brutal honesty, huh? Well, a mirror does that, you know."</sub>

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"....Right." Ceph said after a pause. Yea. That was going to be an interesting conversation that he didn't look forward too.

"Who else?" Rhetorical question. "...Good luck tracking them all down. Andy hasn't been idle in our years apart. He's....gotten better since I've been around, but..."

He paused. What would happen if he asked Andy to stop? Did he have enough pull over his twin to make him stop? They could go to the cove where he grew up. They could get real jobs, live a real life, it'd give the girls stability, and give them a family.

He looked back over to Ben when he spoke up, and raised an eyebrow. "Mirror? What's that supposed to mean?"

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<sub>Benedict folded his arms as he watched the waters below crash together into waves, heading towards the shoreline in an attempt to grab the life on land and pull it away with its watery fingertips.

Benedict was, however, completely unaware of Cepheid's thoughts, at least those that weren't spoken out loud. As for family? Well... that was going to be a bit of a stretch.

"Well, you are right. It is going to be tough. It's not like we have DNA testing kits to see which ones are Andy's sons or daughters." Sorry, I had to pull an Anachronism Stew. Benedict put his hands on the flat surface and leaned on it, looking over at Cepheid.

"Oh you know, mirrors. They tell you exactly what you need to see, whether you like it or not."</sub>

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"A whatta' what testing kit?" Ceph asked with a raised eyebrow. He's a sailor's apprentice, not a medicine man, Ben. Speak a language he understands!

Ceph still didn't completely grasp what Ben was trying to say, but he shrugged as though he understood and set the controls at the proper heading. "Anyway, lemmie show you we you'll be sleeping."

He'd gesture for Ben to follow and he'd lead him to one of the spare rooms. It was originally a storage room, but on the voyage to Seria, he had filled his idle hours with clearing it out for his hopeful occupant.

It was a simple room, a wooden bed frame with a decent enough wool stuffed mattress, and blankets with a trunk at the foot of the bed.

"If you run into any problems, let me know." He said. "Lunch is at noon and supper is at six. Lights out is whenever you feel like passing out, but try not to do it in the middle of the floor." He chuckled.

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<sub>Benedict didn't say anything about that question. DNA, son, DNA. Probably something people didn't understand at this time. Either way, Benedict followed Cepheid over to the guest bedroom. He'd look around it, noting how simple it looked.

"I probably won't have any problems." He spoke up. He then pulled out his bag and dropped it on the bed, listening to Cepheid as he explained the times.

"Okay, I should be up at those times." He shook his head as he unhooked his belt and gun and put it in the trunk, along with the spare set of clothing and his trinkets, one of them was indeed a pocket watch and he pulled it out so he could check the time.</sub>

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"It'll be about a week or so before we arrive in Truesdale, so make yourself comfortable." Ceph said, before turning to depart, once he was done explaining the meal times.

As he walked down the hall, he felt slightly uncomfortable and put his mask back on, immediately feeling safer behind it's cover. He still had trouble dealing with people as 'Cepheid'. The only person he didn't feel uncomfortable around was his brother, who was more like looking in a mirror. Even the girls in the ship he felt ever so slightly nervous around without his mask on. Though Andy got irritated when he wore it. He didn't know how to explain it was an object of comfort at this point?

Making sure his mask was secure, he walked over to a window and looked out through it.