No more procrastinating

[strength_of_tomorrow]

Who: Kratos, Lloyd, possibly Angelo if he's around
When: Morning, August 18th
Where: Lloyd and Angelo's apartment
Style: Brackets forever
Status: Closed

[Early that morning, Kratos heads out to attempt to deliver the portrait to Lloyd yet again. Unfortunately for him, this time there's no Colette conveniently stumbling to the ground to allow him to put off the occasion further. He briefly considers just slipping it underneath the door, but even someone as emotionally stunted as Kratos can see what sort of message that would leave. Bracing himself, he knocks.]

Comments

[strength_of_tomorrow]

It is not perfect, but you can learn to predict people's actions as well. There are a few unpredictable people out there...

[He casts a glance at Lloyd with that statement.]

But for the most part, it will serve you well. For example, say that a well dressed man came into your town with a great deal of luggage. All of his belongings are well secured. He travels alone other than a pair of guard dogs. He seems to be excessively social and smiles at everyone he meets, even people that are rude to him. He doesn't carry many weapons. What sort of guesses would you be able to make about him?

[redcladidealist]

Um... Maybe he's there to sell things.

[It's a tentative guess, his uncertainty showing, but there is some basis behind it.]

Sometimes we'd get merchants in Iselia from other places. They were nice to everyone because they wanted us to buy their things. That's why the guy has all that luggage, and why he has dogs to guard it.

[strength_of_tomorrow]

That's it exactly. You know it's not a nobleman of some sort because they travel with people as their guards for the most part, and they don't take well to people treating them rudely. As such, you would be able to predict that you would be unlikely to anger that man simply by speaking your mind.

[The fact that Lloyd figured it out on his own makes Kratos smile. It's a small smile, but it's there nonetheless.]

[redcladidealist]

Wait, I got it right?

[Surprise and something like childish delight flash across Lloyd's face. It's not just the fact that he solved the puzzle, either, though that's the part he's most aware of. Underneath it, though, he's responding to Kratos's smile. To Kratos being proud of him.

It isn't a conscious thought.

He smiles back, hesitantly pleased.]

I thought maybe it was a priest, since he was trying to be nice, but I don't think I've ever seen a priest traveling with a lot of things.

[strength_of_tomorrow]

Priests in Sylvarant tend to be humble. Though they do make pilgrimages, for the most part they only stop at the houses of Salvation. All they really carry with them are offerings.

[A moment later, almost like it's an afterthought:]

Good work.

[redcladidealist]

[Praise. Praise from Kratos. Words like that were always rare even when Kratos had actively been teaching him. Something warm fills him, making him feel like...

...like a kid whose father had just praised him. Suddenly that warm feeling takes on an awkwardness. He still has no idea how to deal with Kratos as his son.]

Th-thanks. I guess I didn't realize how people could have patterns, too. Maybe... I guess maybe you have a point. At least, sometimes.

[Still not going to concede that Kratos is usually right, but it's hard to pick a fight when the man just complimented something he did.]

[strength_of_tomorrow]

[He can see some of his own stubborn pride in Lloyd, so he doesn't push it. He looks vaguely amused.]

I am going to check on Amaterasu. If she's injured, I'll wait a little while before asking her to... fix this.

[redcladidealist]

Okay.

[And it's still awkward, but there's still that warm feeling, and that knowledge that Kratos is going to get the picture fixed for him. A picture of him and his... family. That thought brings on a whole new wave of feelings that he doesn't know what to do with. Fidgeting, he picks up the dishes, standing up.]

I'll, um... go do the dishes, then. And I'll... see you later?

[strength_of_tomorrow]

Yes... later.

[Making sure he still has the picture tucked safely away, Kratos turns and heads out the door. He's not sure what all just happened here, having gone from fighting to cooking Lloyd breakfast to teaching him about the nature of people all in quick succession, but... he thinks it might have been a good thing.]