vatheon | (no subject)

Who: Yuan and anyone who wants to run into him!
Where: The plaza.
When: September 24th, late afternoon.
Style: [Action]
Status: Open.

[When Yuan awoke, it was in the streets of Vatheon's middle district, around 2 PM. To say he was disoriented would be an understatement. To say he was paranoid this was another one of Mithos' tricks would also be an understatement- He was almost sure of that. Some sort of 'punishment' for betraying Cruxis' ideals. It'd be just like him.

But then he'd found the welcome brochure and began to read. The more of it he'd absorbed, the more his head started to hurt. It seemed more and more unlikely Mithos was responsible for this, but that knowledge did nothing to settle his anxiety. If there's one thing he didn't like, it was being 'stuck'. Was he really supposed to believe there was nothing he could do to get himself out of here? And who else was here?

He would use the communicator to ask these questions, but after looking it over, he decided he didn't trust this device as far as he could throw it. There was no telling who would be listening, after all. He pocketed it for future investigation, but there was no way in hell he would be using it right now. So instead, he decided to seek out this Welcoming Committee. It seemed to be his safest bet for getting more information.

Starting later in the afternoon, anyone would be able to find him in the plaza, either staring up at the welcome building indecisively or observing people as they passed by. At some point, he would actually enter the building to see if anyone was inside, only to return to the plaza afterwards.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[If Yuan is expecting to be able to read anything from Kratos's expression, he should really know better by now. With the initial shock of Yuan arriving passed, he's back to looking like nothing affects him.

Though, there is something a little off there...]

It has been five months now.

[The building looks like it might be an inn of some sort, though since it's the beginning of the arrival cycle it's next to empty. Kratos doesn't much care what it is, he just wants to be able to have a little protection against Mithos sneaking up on him.]

Mithos arrived here at around the same time.

[Yuan takes note of the fact that the building is virtually abandoned. That's good. It offers more privacy than being out in the open. Still, it's Kratos' words that require his attention more. Five months? That brochure certainly wasn't kidding, was it? He's just about to comment on it when the next tidbit of information is thrown his way.]

Mithos? [This is bad. If Mithos finds out he's here, he's bound to seek Yuan out. But why would Kratos warn him of this? If he's still loyal to Cruxis, shouldn't he be running off to inform his leader? It doesn't fit.]

Why are you telling me this?

[He raises a brow at Yuan. Why wouldn't he tell him? Unless...]

Yuan, what is the last thing you recall from our world?

[Were they still enemies from Yuan's perspective? Of course, it wasn't much better from the last thing Kratos remembers. Yuan had essentially blackmailed him into giving up his life to release the seal on Origin, and Kratos had awoken in Vatheon before Yuan gave him his mana to prevent him from dying.]

[The question seems odd to him, but... What did the brochure say again? Something about different points in time. That begs the question, is Kratos from a later period in time, or an earlier one? What if he's from a time where the three of them- no, the four of them are still close companions?]

We were... near Ozette. Outside an old dwarf's house. [He's not sure what else he can say that won't cause a time paradox or... whatever it might cause if Kratos doesn't know about this incident yet. He just hopes that if Kratos is from a later point in time, he can piece it together.]

So we are from relatively the same point in time, then.

[Being honest and straightforward doesn't come easily to Kratos. He shifts his weight, considering how to explain everything - or if he even should. Yuan is sharp, though. He already questioned why Kratos would warn him about Mithos, and if he doesn't explain the entire situation, it's likely that things will only get worse.]

Though I am a bit further along. I agreed to release the seal on Origin, and that is the last thing I did before arriving in this city. Mithos does not yet know that I have betrayed him. He has been... relatively calm while staying here. I would prefer it if he stays that way. People cannot die permanently in this city, we can't simply eliminate him. He's far too powerful to have to contend with every five days.

[Kratos agreed to release Origin... That's great! Yuan knows perfectly well what that would mean for Kratos- if it's the last thing he did before arriving here, that might mean there was no later point in time he could be taken from. It's regrettable, but Yuan has no right to mourn that too much. Not after all he's done to get Kratos to that point.

Which leaves the matter of Mithos.]

How much does Mithos know? [He can only hope that Cruxis' leader doesn't yet know about Yuan's true allegiance either.]

[Kratos knows good and well that he survives, Zelos told him as much. He's still a bit sore on the methods Yuan used to rush him along though, so he'll go right ahead and let Yuan think he died. Maybe he'll even feel a little guilty about it.]

He knows enough. You are in danger. Even if you pretend to be from before you changed your mind, he may still react violently. I would recommend attempting it regardless.

[Mithos might be in a charitable mood, after all. Or maybe he's just lonely here, maybe he would welcome the idea of Yuan being from a point in time when he was loyal again.]

[From before he changed his mind... He changed his mind a long time ago. Two thousand years ago? No, he already started having serious doubts three thousand years ago. However, Mithos wouldn't know that. The Renegades weren't started until eight hundred years ago, and even then it took them a while to take action that got Yggdrasill's attention.]

Hm... Fine, I'll give it a try. [It's not like he hasn't feigned innocence to Mithos before. He has plenty of practice with that.]

So who else is here?

Both of the Chosen Ones are here, as are Lloyd and Sheena. Raine Sage was present as well, but it seems that she was sent home recently.

[There's also Dhaos, but Kratos doesn't even know how to begin to explain that one. He refrains from even trying. Yuan had just come from their world, hadn't he? Then maybe...]

...do you have any of the components of a Rune Crest with you?

[What are the chances of that? He knows it's practically worthless to ask, but he has to. Lloyd is his son.]

[The Chosen Ones, the Summoner, Mithos and Lloyd. None of whom will be happy to see Yuan, he's sure. ... Well, all right, Sylvarant's Chosen might be happy to see him, unwarranted as that is.]

A Rune Crest? Those components aren't exactly easy to find, you know. [How long did it take them to gather all that for Martel, again? The unicorn was especially tricky.]

Of course. Forget that I asked.

[Maybe if he uses the ring of pact that he has with him? It has Aionis, it's possible they can find the other components or some sort of substitute here in Vatheon. Kratos doesn't seem like he's going to explain his request.]

At any rate, we should probably not be seen together until we know how Mithos is going to react to your presence.

[Once Lloyd recovers and grows into his angelic powers, it's very possible that they could overpower Mithos. For now? He feels too vulnerable with Lloyd in such a precarious position.

Awkwardly:]

...good luck.

[Kratos may have good reasons, but Yuan basically interprets this as the man trying to save his own hide. Refusing to be seen with his old friend until he's sure Mithos 'approves' of him. That stings, especially considering they were both supposed to have turned against Mithos now. Things were supposed to change.]

Yeah, yeah. If Mithos decides he wants to kill me, I'm sure he'll tell you soon enough.

[It isn't his own life that Kratos is concerned with, he ceased to care about that long ago now. If Mithos wants to hurt Kratos, he's well aware that the best way to do that is to hurt Lloyd. That simply isn't acceptable. As much as he would prefer for Yuan to not be hurt, he knows he can't spread himself that thin. If he tells too many lies, Mithos is certain to figure him out.

He walks out of the building without turning back.]