Dream/Video, arrival in the plaza

[fatherlineface]

Dream

It's hard to say who exactly is the one dreaming - it seems like more of a memory, playing from behind the eyes of the one that lived it. There's a plainly dressed brunette woman playing with a small boy nearby, a toddler still really. Though both of them are dirty and a little tired looking, through the eyes of the person watching they're the most beautiful sight imaginable. The boy turns and toddles near, holding his hands out. The viewer lifts him up, earning a gleeful little laugh for his troubles.

"Ride?" the boy asks.

A deep voice responds, "All right, Lloyd."

And the dream cuts out as he starts to regain consciousness.



Action

Kratos opens his eyes, just barely finding the strength to sit up. If this is the afterlife, should he feel so weak? It's certainly not what he expected.

Comments

[video

[redcladidealist]

[What... What is this thing playing on his screen? Things have been weird since the start of the week, especially on the island above Vatheon, and the changes to the SFC (Dreamberry?) are still throwing Lloyd off every time he tries to use it. Now it's showing him...

Something from someone else's eyes. Someone whose voice tugs at something in Lloyd's mind, but he can't pin down exactly what. The whole scene fills the teen with a vague feeling that tightens around his chest. But why...? Who...?

It must have been coincidence that the little boy's name was Lloyd.

Hesitantly, he hits the button to call the person back, then waits. He's not even sure if there's someone to respond back. Maybe that was just a movie.]

[video]

[fatherlineface]

[And Kratos answers, if only because he doesn't know what the strange light is and presses the wrong button on accident. He stares in confusion at Lloyd's face on the screen. What... is this, even?]

Lloyd?

[video]

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd's eyes widen.]

You-!

[And just like that it hits him with all the force of a punch to the gut exactly why that voice had sounded familiar. He just hadn't been used to hearing it sound so warm and affectionate.]]

Kratos! Dammit, what are you doing here?!

[video]

[fatherlineface]

[It's especially difficult to hear Lloyd talking to him in such a manner after having a dream - memory? - like that. He looks distant as he tries to pull himself together. What was he doing here? Hadn't Lloyd just killed him? What sort of communicator is this, even? When he speaks again, his voice is as cold and flat as Lloyd would be used to.]

I am not aware of where "here" is.

[video]

[redcladidealist]

[From anyone else, Lloyd probably would have believed that, but in the middle of a kneejerk reaction to the man's presence, the teen isn't thinking logically. He scowls fiercely at Kratos.]

Don't give me that! Did you follow me to try to get to Colette?

[video]

[fatherlineface]

[He's not paying attention to Lloyd at the moment, instead shakily getting to his feet and letting the dreamberry drop to the ground. The coral glows behind him, easily revealing where he is. Kratos isn't thinking clearly, either. It's a little difficult to tell over the network, but he's swaying slightly where he stands.]

[video] --> [action?]

[redcladidealist]

Because if you did, you can forget it!

[Too bad Lloyd isn't paying attention to Kratos's strange behavior. As soon as he recognized where the man was, he took off, already planning on intercepting him to make sure he doesn't go after Colette.

After a moment, he turns his Dreamberry off. No need to give Kratos a way to see where he is and realize what Lloyd is doing.

If Kratos is still there a few minutes later, he'll see a familiar boy storming his way. Lloyd even brought both his swords with him, just in case, fully prepared for a confrontation.]

[ACTION]

[fatherlineface]

[He's currently staring blankly at a towel that he's been offered. He turns when he hears the clank of Lloyd's swords knocking about as he walks, but he makes no move to defend himself at all. The incident with the strange communication device is still hazy to him, but seeing Lloyd in person... he's struck with a sudden bolt of panic. If he's dead, then why is Lloyd here?]

[ACTION]

[redcladidealist]

[Something's off, but Lloyd's already too riled to notice what. He puts his hands on the hilts of his swords as he comes to a stop directly in front of the older swordsman. He looks the man directly in the eye.]

Why did you come here, Kratos?

action

[radiantwingedone]

[ Watching, both with swirling mana and blank stare. Red-head, your mana feels... strange.

Or what very little there is feels strange. It's a similar strange to what he's encountered before, he's fairly sure, but there isn't quite enough to tell. ]

Touching the coral will restore strength.

action

[fatherlineface]

[He looks up at Duke with confusion. According to Duke's scans, Kratos would register as essentially dead at the moment - his mana level is that low. He has no reason to not at least try it, though, so he places his hand on the coral.]

...interesting. I appreciate the advice.

action

[radiantwingedone]

[ This may be why he leans a fraction closer, rather than going for a towel. ]

... Fascinating; able to function with so little mana. [ And the redhaired man's mana definitely feels a bit familiar-strange. ]

action

[fatherlineface]

Function is not the word I would use, considering the fact that I have ended up here.

[He folds his arms, getting a better look around now that the spinning in his head has stopped. The sky looks... strange.]

action

[radiantwingedone]

......? [ He can figure these things out, honestly.

Ah. ]

Not your preferred form of afterlife.

action

[fatherlineface]

[Not his preferred form? Way to leave out some words there, Duke.]

Not what I expected perhaps, but it is not so terrible. What form is it, then?

action

[radiantwingedone]

As far as aware, not one. [ A pause. ]

... although it could explain why death is not permanent here.

action

[fatherlineface]

What do you mean, death is not permanent?

[There's an edge of fear to his voice. His life had already been so long, wasn't it over now?]

[action]

[chosen_gigolo]

[Zelos had flown out of the house that night. He couldn't face Zelda again, not after that dream. He'd planned on maybe going up to the island, exploring the morphed environment, but a chance glance down at the coral as he flies toward the elevator-end of the bubble shows a very familiar and very very unwelcome form.

Damnit it all but Vatheon really must hate him if Kratos Aurion is in the bubble.

The Chosen is in no mood to just let things be. Now that Kratos is here, Mithos will be all over him and there's no way the little brat will keep counsel with him when he's got Kratos to obediently wrap around his little finger. Seeing Kratos' stoic face piled onto everything else tonight... well.

White boots clap to the pavement as Zelos lands immediately in front of the other Seraph.]

Just my fucking luck that you'd show up.

[action]

[fatherlineface]

[Kratos looks worn down, and his mana levels are dangerously low. When he sees Zelos, he starts mumbling to himself. Unfortunately, Zelos with his enhanced hearing would actually be able to understand.]

Then it's true. The last circle of hell is filled with traitors...

[action]

[chosen_gigolo]

You son of a bitch!

[Zelos's hands are on Kratos's collar in a second, not quite lifting the older man off his feet - he's taller than Zelos is by a stretch - but getting him to his feet certainly.]

You have the balls to call me a traitor?! YOU?!

[Oh he's right, Zelos isn't disputing that, but to have those words come from Kratos is something he will. Not. Abide.]

I didn't enslave and kill billions of people! I didn't betray Lloyd and let Yggdrasil mop the floor with him! Your own son! And I didn't make him try and kill me! I may deserve whatever metaphorical hell this is but there is no fucking way I will ever be as bad as you!

[Hands twisted in the fabric of Kratos's collar, Zelos gives him a good shake, teeth clenched and uncaring as to if it chokes the other man or not.]

[action]

[fatherlineface]

[Kratos allows himself to be pulled up and shaken, watching Zelos calmly. He's not entirely sure why the Chosen is so angry. This is where they belong, isn't it? It doesn't matter which one of them is "worse". He doesn't try to argue that point in the least.]

We have both met our fate here. There is no use in raging against it.

[action]

[chosen_gigolo]

What the fuck are you even talking about, you jackass?!

[Hands release and Zelos drops Kratos back to the ground in a unceremonious heap, his rage fueled by Kratos's resignation. He thinks they're in Hell and he's just okay with it?!]

You're not dead, as much as you deserve it. [As we deserve it.]

[action]

[fatherlineface]

Lloyd has released Origin's seal. There is very little chance that I survived. Don't try to fool me.

[He levels his gaze up at Zelos, as infuriatingly emotionless as ever - or almost as. There's a spark of denial there. Kratos doesn't want this to be something other than the afterlife.]

[action]

[chosen_gigolo]

[Oh. Oh. Well then. This is good.

A cruel smirk spreads over Zelos's face.]

Oh no, you lived. Why would I lie about that when I'd rather see you dead anyway? In the infinite kindness of your kid, you live another four thousand years of your miserable existence. Isn't that great?

[Thanks Dhaos.]

[action]

[fatherlineface]

You're lying.

[But there it is, the thing that Zelos has always sought from Kratos but never received - a reaction. His eyes are wide and his breathing is coming faster. What sort of hell would tell him that he lives?]