vatheon | Zelda keeps bringing people home for some reason...

[They got out of his line of sight when they moved to the couch, allowing Zelos to finish his dinner-related task. He comes out of the kitchen with two plates and nearly even gets into the living room when he notices.

Duke is sitting with his legs crossed.

Ladylike and everything.

The Chosen sets the plates down on the coffee table very deliberately, forcing himself not to take a look at Duke's legs as he leans over to do so and completely ignoring himself, taking note of subtle lines even under the boots.

NOPE. I'm done. That's it. It's over! He straightens again rather quickly and swings his arms behind his head.]

You two nerds have fun playing with your dusty old books. I'm going out on the town~ The hunnies are calling my name!

[He does an abrupt about face and heads for the door, waving without looking back.

He's not actually running, but he may as well be.]

Ah, Zelos...? We were going to discuss Vatheon a bit, not just magic. You usually seem quite interested in the topic when it comes up!

[She turns to Duke and begins speaking.]

I suppose I should start with a history before theorizing on the coral, then. Those who were first brought here to Vatheon originally had more interaction with the locals, two of them in particular - the High Priestess Thalassino and Doctor Alpha. There was once a grand church in the upper district supposedly dedicated to the worship of Lamufao, the coral. It was barred from the foreigners, but eventually someone braved the church and stole some documents that spoke of us.

[She takes out a printed copy and hands it to Duke, allowing him to read over it before continuing.]

.... [ His books are not dusty.

He's confused at Zelos, again, but reading those printed out page- ]

[ He does not like the idea of war and conflict. Again.

Here, even. He hates war, as much as he can hate just about anything.

But. He'll keep on reading for now, even if his expression inches away from blank and toward dislike. Unease? Something negative. ]

... Uncertain what these other names are, almost reads as if there are ... other bubbles.

[Zelos wrestles with himself for a long moment before he lets out a drawn out sigh and retreats back to the couch, flopping on the end opposite of Duke heavily. After their argument and subsequent make up, Zelda's drive to find their own way out of Vatheon hadn't been a source of worry so much as comfort; she wanted a way for them to keep in touch and, well... he can't say he hates the idea.]

There probably are. Judging from that intel this world's either on the brink of or actually at war between several countries and we're in some kind of military lab bubble installation... thing. I dunno what to call it, really. But the curses serve some purpose and they've obviously been monitoring.

The high priestess once said that the curses are a form of communication from the Lamufao. Considering these documents, I am not so sure that is the case.

[She hands him a second set of documents.]

It sounds as if they might actually be an experiment of some sort.

Hmmn. [ It's a low noise in his throat as he reads, and really a lot closer to a rumble than anything with meaning, halving his slow circling of magic as he focuses instead on the paper.

Momentary distraction of noticing Zelos feels a bit strange, even compared to Zelda's different sort of magic, but that's likely because it was strange mana. Not what he was focusing on at the moment. ]

Phrasing, yes, seems like it. Understand why keeping track, now, of dates off arrivals and curses. [ He's studying that line about putting the Lamufao in the center and... ]

... did the locals not say something odd about granted another year, back on the celebration of the year change?

They did, but I just thought it was, y'know, a religious thing. Like 'yay our god let us live another year!' kind of deal.

[He glances at Duke - his face this time - also feeling a change in the ambient mana in the room. Or... it was mana, right? Everyone here in Vatheon feels different to Zelos but Duke's in particular is familiar but totally alien at the same time.

Kind of like Estelle's, honestly.]

I found that to be worrisome as well. I already know that the coral split once... what if the change in this pattern is a sign of it further breaking down? What if we weren't expected to make it another year? Though I have since been told that it used to pull foreigners at random before it split, so this could also be a sign of it repairing itself.

[This time the notes that come out are her own.]

It is difficult to say what the coral pulls from us exactly, but this much is clear: it only brings people who were somehow involved in large events in their homeworlds.

[Her list is exhaustive. The weeks she's spent as Sheik observing people are quite clear. Beside the names of upwards of 60 of the foreigners are roles that they played in their home world.]

Not expecting to make it another year could be a sign of the ... other bubbles, perhaps, growing close to war, as hinted by the first notes. [ Duke's not quite aware that Zelos had noticed Duke's change in mana-swirling, but.. yes, his does feel a little strange. A bit like the boy, who was a bit like the long haired man. ]

..... [ No comment on the somehow involved in large events. He's.. quite aware of that fact among those who had also been pulled from Terca Lumireis - Well.

He doesn't know if Ioder had, but being an Emperor at his age might as well count. ]

Would repairing be a good or ill sign?

Who knows? Repairing could mean it's fixing to send us all home or it could mean it's making it harder to leave.

[This whole thing is a complicated mess, really. Zelos is bright but he'd rather just not have to deal with all this. After all, it's not only complicated, it's upsetting to think they're running against an unknown timer that could send any one of them home before they had a chance to find their own way and keep these newly forged relationships. The only solace Zelos takes is in knowing he won't remember anyway, though he feels guilty for thinking that considering Colette. Forgetting, though, can sometimes be for the best.]

I doubt that it is fixing to send us all home. I think that if it was being repaired it would be a good sign for our continued survival. It sounds as if the coral is necessary for us to live here, in many ways. Provided that this isn't some sort of out of body experience, of course...

[And she pulls up yet more notes of her own on that subject!]

..... Communication, clearest way the coral seems to make living hear far more possible. the healing a second, perhaps fixing itself allows for better flow of such powers.

[ Snagging those notes and his hair says that its had enough with leaning and sitting up while it stays put so it slips over his shoulder on one side. Duke absentmindedly tucks it back out of the way, or perhaps more firmly out of the way, over his ear and everything as he studies the paper. Gasp! He has ears! Completely normal human looking ones too. ]

Perhaps even if this is some sort of out of body experience, something would be keeping one "out of body".

[Zelos tries to keep his attention on the conversation, he really truly does, but any words he'd been about to utter die on his tongue when Duke carefully reaches up and tucks his long platinum hair behind his ear. It looks so soft and it's like gossamer the way it catches the light. And his ear, just as white as the rest of him, almost as pale as his hair that's now draping behind it in a gentle curve to his neck, exposed and-

The Chosen swallows hard and slips a pillow into his lap surreptitiously, attempting to make it look like he's simply getting comfortable.]

What, like this is all some crazy dream?

[He is quite pretty, but Zelda only glances at his hair for a moment ~~it looks soft, can she touch it?~~ before nodding to Zelos.]

It's entirely possible. There are so many theories as to what state we could be in while here in Vatheon. It's maddening. For now, I'm mostly going to stick to theories that involve us being physically present. Once you enter the metaphysical things become even murkier.

... Although the limitations are, perhaps, a little more explained with metaphysical theory. [ A pause as he thinks. O b l i v i o u s to what's happening to you, Zelos. Sorry. ]

Or perhaps explained with the 'foreigners' powering Lamufao as well. Metaphysical case pushes for power limit due to its use in enabling what seems to be more physical actions; otherwise there would be a great many forgetting gravity exists and moving as they will.

... although somewhat irrelevant.

I'd really rather not go with the theory that I'm actually still stuck bleeding on the floor of the palace while my consciousness gets screwed over by a lump of ocean critters, thanks.

[That's not a comforting thought. Actually the idea that if he goes back he gets to go back to a damaged body and possibly the princess still after him for marriage does a lot to sour his mood. He'd almost forgetten in all the time he's been here.]

[At least Zelos's other problem is gone, now!]

Interaction with the locals and adherence to most natural laws draws the theory into question, anyway. Whatever the coral draws from is certainly metaphysical, but we may also be here physically.

I apologize, I've deviated into theorizing again... would you like to hear the rest of the history of this place? Perhaps you can come up with your own theories, then.

... Hmn. [ Zelos brings up a good point. While he hadn't been 'bleeding on the floor', he's not quite certain of his exact state when he got here. Foggy memories from a head-strike, likely, and those were never quite safe. Definitely... injured. ]

True enough. [ Although he's starting to think of ways it.. could possibly be explained and yes, back to the previous topic. ]

No need. [ To apologize. ]

Correct, all of the information is best to know before start coming up with explanations...

[With a lean back in the cushions of the couch, Zelos sets in to listen to Zelda's story time. He's never really looking into the actual history of this place, so this is new.

Despite the dour thoughts brought on before, though, that pillow in his lap isn't moving and his eyes remain trained on Zelda for the time being. He was a little disconcerted to realize he sort of wanted to know why Duke "hmn"ed in the way he had. It's stupid, he never wants to know about men!]

Very well. It is a scattered history, I can't speak quite as thoroughly on things before my own arrival here. I have done my best at questioning others, though.

After the documents were stolen from the church, the priestess begged for the foreigners to not do anything that would anger the Lamufao. Alpha took the man that stole the documents prisoner, then executed two locals in front of him and blamed their deaths on his actions. His communicator captured it on video. That same night, a fire started in the church. The foreigners rushed to the site and recovered some radios and burned documents. It didn't look like a church on the inside either, apparently - the only useful fact discovered in the expedition.

Not much longer after that sea outside the barrier turned green. Everything was quiet for about a week after that, but then possessed undead creatures invaded the bubble. The locals plead for the foreigners to fight as Vatheon apparently lacks a military force of its own. As they fought and grew weaker, the light from the coral dimmed as well. They fought against the onslaught for seven days and were granted reprieve by a sudden shocking heatwave throughout the city that eliminated the undead forces...

[She continued on for a good half hour, glazing over events like the curses and instead focusing on things like Thalassino enforcing a curfew on Vatheon for getting too investigative of the church, the quadrants opening up, the church being eaten by a shadow, the underground caverns appearing, the splitting of the coral and subsequent randomization of the curses and stabilization of arrivals, the people that could walk right through the barrier who all appeared to be injured soldiers of some sort, the disappearance of Thalassino and Alpha, the elevator and the island...

...alright, maybe she talks for more than half an hour. But Zelda is a born leader, and she can talk for an entire day without losing her voice.]

[ .... Duke half forgot Zelda could talk this long without break.

He doesn't.. quite start looking like he was having trouble keeping up, but he does shift from partially facing her to just angling an ear at her and studying the rest of the room while absorbing her information.

Maybe quietly starting in on the snacks, with his careful way of there will be no crumbs.

When she's done, he's ... mostly inspecting how he should feel about this. The idea of being experimented on is something he... does not like. This is, so far, not the somewhat invasive sort of experimenting that he was aware that Alexei had done; no one is replacing organs with Blastia, after all, but perhaps that makes it worse. It's not something obviously physical left after - well, there is the marks.... ]

... Aware of any relation to the marks? [ A bit absently said, a bit absently pressing aside the ruffles of his shirt to show where it hides on his chest, as if making sure he's clear in what he's talking about.

Still thinking about all these things. The place was expanding, growing, seemed like. There were events they weren't aware of outside the bubble, because of the barrier. Blinded.

Yeah, aside from that comment, he's thinking in awkwardly still silence. ]

[Let's just.. stare a second here as Duke moves his shirt collar to the side exposing more pale flesh and a delicate curve from neck to shoulder. It takes Zelos' brain a full two minutes to process that Duke is showing them the brand.

Fingers curling in the top of the pillow in his lap, Zelos forces himself to look away and at some spot across the room. Suddenly that bookcase is mighty interesting!]

My bet is those are to keep track of us. If it wasn't for those, some foreigners wouldn't look any different than locals. It could also be that's what keeps us from leaving the bubble. Some kind of magic sigal or symbol for whatever technology might be behind it.

[Zelda's hand raises to her own mark, though unlike Duke she doesn't move to expose herself. Interesting that they all have it in a similar place...]

The marks are definitely related to the coral. They glow when a curse activates, when we touch the coral monthly or if injured... they can't be removed, though. They go straight down to the bone.

[Judging from the expression on her face, she tried.]

Hmn. [ A short grimace at the "straight down to the bone" comment and accompanying expression. That's... somewhat disturbing. ]

Whatever means it has been applied by, does not give a lingering feel of magic. Or, if it is so, then it is not a magic I can sense. Based upon how far the mark reaches, assume it would requires some sort of magic - uncertain why Zelos' mana seems strange; familiar due to others interacted with and yet not completely similar - could be a native sort of magic that is more passive than those familiar with, designed to be hard to notice...

[ He's pretty much voicing his own thought process at the moment, and while its not the most chaotic train of thought ever, it does jump to something else that he connected with 'some sort of magic'... and then back again. ]

.....Now wish to try something similar... [ He's snagging one of his blank books now. D i s t r a c t e d. ]

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