realityshifted | † lost and insecure, you found me

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tales of symphonia (d1) kratos aurion

† lost and insecure, you found me

[Kratos looks less than talkative when he finally appears on the Plane-- that is, darker than usual. His recent discovery has shattered him in a way he isn't prepared for, but he has to keep going. At any cost. Can he really separate his heart from his duty?

He senses people in the vicinity and slips his locket back into his collar, gloved hands falling back to his sides. This doesn't change anything. The Chosen must be led to the Tower of Salvation. And Lloyd...

Lloyd...

He unsheathes his sword in one swift motion, then practices a few slashes and jabs with a military sort of discipline.]

[ooc: Kratos was also canonbumped to the night before they leave on the journey. :3 Fate is trolling Kratos, as per usual.]

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[This is the first time Conan's seen anyone practicing with a sword on the Plane and he stops to take in the sight. Kratos himself is also a new sight, and Conan's quiet, trying to place him.]

[KUUUUUURATOSUUUUUUUUUUUUU

YOU BIIIIIIIIITCH

... Rather, Lloyd pauses some distance away as he watches the man go through the slashes of the sword as if he'd been practicing all his life. And it makes his blood boil, enough to make him scowl and clench his fists. Was this why Kratos was good enough to go on the journey with Colette? Because he happened to be better than Lloyd with the sword? Did they even ask Colette if that's what she wanted?

And one of the last times he saw Kratos, he called him a child. Damn it...

So he can't really stop himself from walking closer, from speaking up once he's close enough with a bitter tinge to his voice.]

Getting ready for the journey?

Edited 2011-09-24 03:11 (UTC)

[Kratos you have 1 (one) more fan today. Mu looks to be four or five ish now, and is sitting a safe distance away watching in AWE.]

[He's... rather intense. His posture speaks of military experience, and there is confidence and expertise in the way he swings his blade. He finishes an tough set of jabs focused more on strength than showing off, then decides to say something.]

What is it?

[So deep in his thoughts, Kratos nearly misses Lloyd's approach. He sheathes his sword with a snap and regards the boy with a dark, watchful expression.]

Perhaps.

[A pause, and then he looks away. He gives a faint sigh.]

If you're looking to convince me of anything, it won't work.

[After he's finished practicing Soaring Light Spear, he puts the sword away and glances at Mu.

... ] Greetings.

[Doesn't look like anyone he knows. It could be someone on an experiment, but... a child is a child.]

Hullo, mister. You're good at that!

I've trained for most of my life. [He approaches Mu slowly and carefully. Though his eyes are a deep red, they are strangely warm.] Are you lost?

[Lloyd presses his lips together at that. What he'd like to do is keep arguing that he should be coming along. Him and Genis both. But... it never seems to get anywhere.

Besides, Lloyd has a plan.]

Then I won't. [He says all too casually and with a shrug of his shoulders. It's not like anyone can tie him up and lock him in the closet or anything.]

[His eyes narrow at those words. He watches Lloyd for a minute, his gaze heavy and measuring. And then--] ... Hmph.

If you have the time to wander this place, you can study basic combat from the manual. Or have you finished it already?

[He doubts it.]

Ah, it's nothing!

[Conan's all set to make the childish excuses -- but something in the other's manner decides him against it.]

I was just wondering -- did something happen?

[Yeah, he probably wouldn't fall for it. They're kind of similar in at least one aspect...

Conan's question makes him pause. He could lie.]

I'm fine.

[But he just ignores the question. He sounds a little tired.]

[... Silence. He'd almost forgotten about that stupid book.

But at least he still has it with him, stuffed into his traveling pack which lays beside his desk.

So after that moment, he blushes slightly out of embarrassment and glances off to the side.]

I haven't... had any time to read it. [And it's the truth. The day was packed with one thing after another, and now he's spending the time here to make Colette's necklace. It's already coming out better than expected. After getting hit by Dirk, he's not eager to break any dwarven vows even on the Plane.] B-But I'll get to it! I swear!

[They do have a lot in common -- Conan's not sure he believes that. But it would be rude to ignore so obvious a disinclination to discuss a subject.]

Ne ... do you mind if I ask you a few questions?

[the half-elf stands off to one side quietly watching and waiting for Kratos to finish before speaking up]

It's been a while since I've seen someone use a sword that well.

[not thinking about Decus... And he isn't sure if Emil would count, all things considered]

[He shakes his head] Nuh uh, I'm not lost.

[Interesting. Kratos can use magic, too-- that much is easy to detect. He puts his sword away and lets his hand rest casually on the hilt.]

... I'm a mercenary. It's necessary to be able to do my job.

Still, you shouldn't be alone. What is your name?

[He shouldn't be doing this. He shouldn't, but--]

[Called it. His eyes shift away again, as if he can't look Lloyd straight in the face when he's making that expression.]

I suggest you take the opportunity.

[His eyes narrow slightly. He's just fine giving out information as long as it doesn't have anything to do with himself. Of course, he's supposed to be a helpful mercenary and, well, he can stand it.]

Go on.

[If only he could sleep off what he's feeling.]

Do you know of anyone in your world who has gone missing lately?

[He shakes his head. He thinks briefly of that raven-haired woman...]

People have been disappearing?

Ah. Ten different cases in five worlds. Ne, if no one's gone, maybe you might have seen someone ... ?

[Conan opens his notebook, carefully reading off descriptions of the ten people he knows to be missing.]

That's too many to be coincidence.

[That secondary question makes him pause. He might as well say something.]

I haven't seen any of those people. However, there is a woman with black hair who... appears in my dreams as of late. I have reason to believe that this place is responsible.

[Why the hell is he talking to a grammar school student about this?

... This damn place.]

--ha?

[It's clear this was a development the child wasn't expecting. Conan stares at Kratos, plainly disconcerted.]

She's tall, and her hair -- the same dull sheen as a raven's feathers?

[Kratos is as stoic as ever.]

Yes. Is she familiar to you?

Two dreams now. [Conan looks down at his notebook.] I -- don't know what to say.

[How is this even possible? Why would two people dream the same thing -- two unrelated people from different worlds even?]

[Because it's the Plane.]

... I see.

[He tosses the hair from his eyes, though most of it goes right back to where it was.]

Consider the timeframe of the disappearances and the woman from the dreams. They are likely connected.

[Timeframe is it? In that case --]

Any reports of shooting stars in your world?

[This is a man who watches the stars instead of sleeping every night. He's been counting them for a very, very long time.]

... Yes.

And after the stars? Did anything happen?

Not that I am aware of.

I see. Still -- in correlation with everything else, that's likely to be significant.

They may be leading up to something.

[It's a thought that has occurred to Conan and he nods as he tucks his notebook back into his pockets.]

Ah -- I forgot to ask! What's your name?

[Kratos is such an optimist.

He regards the somewhat panicky kid with a patient expression.]

Kratos.

Kratos-san. Thank you for your help. I'm Edogawa Conan.

Mu, sir. 'M okay by myself.

That would explain a lot. [he shakes his head] Then again, not everyone in the mercenary business seems to know what they're doing.

[incompetence is rampant in the world... Or maybe it's just the people who submit quests to the Katz Guild]

[He gives a nod of acknowledgment.]

Good luck with your investigation.

[And still not even asking why an elementary-school kid is trying to solve disappearances.]

[Possibly the latter.]

If they don't, then they won't last very long.

Edited 2011-09-30 01:26 (UTC)

Certainly something to be proud of. But don't you have friends?

[Conan interprets this as dismissal, bowing in response before turning away to leave Kratos to his practice. He's both relieved and concerned at the other's lack of response -- on the one hand, it'll make it easier for Conan to work if people are questioning his actions but on the other hand ... just what is this place that people are so used to strange happenings that this doesn't even register? It should be a good thing ... but Conan can't quite dismiss the feeling of foreboding he gets from the encounter.

Is Duo right? Have the people here just ... given up? Thinking of how worried Azusa was when speaking of her brother or Yoko's tears as she confessed they hadn't heard from Yatsukawa-san in days, Conan frowned. There was no way he was going to give up.]

Yet somehow, they still manage to make it out in one piece. I suppose even monsters might take pity on them.

[there's a slight frown on his face, like he's thinking about something before he speaks up]

And what is happening in your world, that you can't train there? Or is there another reason why you've come to the Plane?

Dunno where they are!

They must be pitiful indeed.

[How subtle. Kratos' expression doesn't change-- you can't outstoic a stoic, Richter.]

I came here to escape company that would otherwise interfere with my current assignment.

[Not the truth, but not a lie either.]

They may be waiting for you at home.

[He shakes his head] Already looked there.

[he doesn't realize you're older than dirt itself, Kratos. This is the way Richter is]

That seems to be the usual reason. This place seems a bit too convenient sometimes.

[unless your luck stat is like... 1 or something equally hideous]

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† lost and insecure, you found me

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