25th Combo - Rune Crest

[redcladidealist]

Who: Lloyd Irving and castmates/CR who would be aware of the Rune Crest stuff going on
Where: Winespring Inn and forge
When: Today, morning and evening
Style: Either!
Status: Closed... ish? If you feel you have an IC reason to stop in, feel free!

Note: Please mark in the subject whether you are tagging before or after the making of the Crest. The actual forging of the Rune Crest is going to be handwaved to help simplify things.

Before

[Anxiety flutters in Lloyd's stomach as he carefully gathers his tools. Today is the day. He doesn't think he can prepare himself any more than he has. He doesn't feel prepared, though, especially not when he knows he's going to have to remove his own Key Crest. Before he'd become an angel, that wouldn't have been a problem. A Key Crest applied before an Exsphere was attached ensured that the Exsphere never rooted itself so deeply that the bearer's mana became irremovably entwined. He'd taken his Exsphere off before, to no ill effect, and if he'd wanted to, he could have removed the Key Crest after that. It would have hurt, sure. Key Crests weren't meant to be easily removed. But it wouldn't have done anything worse than maybe leave a scar or two.

Now, though... Now he can't remove his Exsphere, not without risking his already unstable mana going out of control. With his angelic transformation, the Exsphere has become too much a part of him. Unfortunately, the Key Crest has to come off so that they can attach the Rune Crest to it. For however long it takes him to do that, he'll be a ticking bomb. They'd made plans to help prevent the worst, but still! Worry eats at him. If the worst happens despite everything...

He swallows. I should go warn Mat.]

After

[One breath. Another. He's not sure if it's safe to feel relief yet. Sitting on the porch of the inn, Lloyd closes his hands. Opens them.

They're shaking.

Another breath. And then another. How will he know? How will he know if the Rune Crest works? Afternoon light glints off the newly forged metal, the runes carved in it both foreign and familiar at once. He knew a lot of the basic runes, learned from Dirk since he was three, but some of these he'd had to copy from Colette's crest, had to trust Dhaos's word that they were good. If even one stroke of a rune was off, though, how would it hold if he ever had reason to really put it to the test? What if something went wrong?

One breath. Another breath.

I'm scared.

At the same time, though, he was strangely elated. The advanced metalwork that he'd just done...

I made a Rune Crest myself!]

Comments

[after]

[martelapproves]

... Good luck, Lloyd.

[ The voice came from Mithos, now standing a good several yards behind him, finally awake from his coma. It was his first one in a long time, but he wasn't going to complain. The winter was almost over now... he could finally force himself to think about something other than Martel.

The rune crest was definitely crude, but... it should work, in Mithos' opinion. For now, anyway. ]

Kratos should be here soon, too.

[redcladidealist]

[At Mithos's words, Lloyd snaps out of his thoughts. He looks up at the blonde, and for a moment he doesn't know how to word what he wants. If not for Mithos...]

...thanks. [His voice is solemn as he meets Mithos's eyes. He only hopes he can convey how much he means that word.] I'm pretty sure I owe you my life, Mithos.

[Or something close enough. He has no idea how long he would have held out, or exactly what would have happened, if he'd gone on with just his old Key Crest.]

[martelapproves]

I-I didn't do it just for you. [ Aaaaand, cue tsuning. ] Kratos asked me to.

[ So did Zelos, for that matter, but hell with him. And then there's what Colette told him about their world's future. ]

Just... tell me one thing. [ A sigh, as he looks away, and closes his eyes. ] Did you really consider me a friend? Even after you found out who I really was?

[redcladidealist]

That doesn't change what you did, or the fact that I owe you for it.

[Tsun all you want, Mithos. Lloyd's still going to think what he thinks.

He goes quiet then, looking down at his hand. His fingers trace the edge of his Rune Crest, his thoughts circling, trying to sort through all his memories and his feelings. It's not an easy question to answer, even though it feels like it should be.]

Being Yggdrasill... doesn't change what you did back then, either. Mithos was my friend, and you're still Mithos, even if you're Yggdrasill, too. So that means... [He looks up, still as solemn as before.] That means you're still my friend. You're still you. There's just more to you than I thought there was. [He takes a breath.] Even if I don't like all of it.

[Before]

[radiantwingedone]

[ Duke doesn't seem that worried about why he's here for what Lloyd is planning.

He's more worried about finding a comfortable, out of the way place to sit and... read, by the book he's holding. ]

[redcladidealist]

[Duke may not be worried, but Lloyd could use some reassurance. Setting down his tools after the third time cleaning them, he shuffles closer to the man.]

Hey...

[radiantwingedone]

.... Hmn?

[ Lloyd, why would you go to him fore reassurance?

He's found a chair that he likes, though, and angling it how he wants in the corner. ]

[redcladidealist]

[Because you'll be the one making sure his mana doesn't go out of control.]

So, um... Are you ready?

[WAITING TO GET STARTED IS THE HARDEST PART OF ALL.]

[after]

[clumsyblonde]

[Colette, standing not too far away, smiles.]

You did it, Lloyd! You made one.

[She'd known he could do it but having it actually done...It's a relief. It may be crude, but as far as she can tell, it'll work. And that's what matters, right?]

[redcladidealist]

[Looking up at Colette, he manages a smile.]

Thanks, Colette. You know I couldn't have done it without your help.

[clumsyblonde]

[She shuffles her feet, looking down.]

I didn't really didn't do much, just let you look at my rune crest.

[She looks back up, still smiling.] But you did it!

[redcladidealist]

Hey, don't sell yourself short. You were there for me, too. That meant a lot to me, Colette.

[His smile broadens.]

Yeah, I guess I did! So... This means I might start getting hungry again?

[He looks up at Colette curiously.]

What changed when you got your Rune Crest?

[Before]

[princeoftheravens]

[He blinks.]

You're doing what in the forge?

[redcladidealist]

We're going to make a Rune Crest.

[He holds up his hand and turns it so that Mat can clearly see the gem embedded on the back.]

It's for my Exsphere. My Exsphere's... changed now. It needs something better, or I'll... [He swallows.] I might... lose control.

[princeoftheravens]

[Wait, what? He frowns.]

Lose control how? [If Lloyd's doing this because he's going to go insane...he doesn't understand what those crests or exsphere's mean, but well, not losing control is always a good thing.]

And how long do you think it'll take?

[redcladidealist]

I mean...

[Why is this so hard to admit out loud?

Maybe because it feels like... like sayings it's possible that things might go wrong somehow means he's not confident enough to make sure they don't. Like he's admitting that he can't always live up to his own idealism.

But he knows he needs to be real.]

I mean that there's a chance I could turn into a monster if I don't make the new crest right. [He shakes his head. It shouldn't take me more than a few hours.

[after]

[chosen_gigolo]

Bud~!

[Suddenly Lloyd is cursed blessed with a red-headed accessory as Zelos drapes himself over Lloyd's back in a seemingly happy-go-lucky hug. He'd been lurking and fretting around most of the day in something like a Kratos impression, making sure things were going well, fetching and carrying if need be, but always out of view. Lloyd was nervous enough, the last thing he'd needed with someone else around in an anxious flutter. He's got it under control now, though, and so decided to inflict himself upon the unwitting hero.]

How's it going? Looks like you're all in one piece!

[redcladidealist]

[A small 'oof' escapes as Lloyd slumps under Zelos's weight, which he puts up with for all of one moment before he playfully shoves his friend back.]

I won't be okay if you squash me flat, Zelos. Come on, get off!

[chosen_gigolo]

I'm not that heavy! Especially with that thing on.

[He relents though, switching to drop next to Lloyd on the porch.]

How're you feeling?

[He asks it open ended on purpose. Physical or emotional, he'll listen to either and be here to support his friend.]

[Very much after]

[stickinthemud]

[Yuan is late to the party and, for that matter, unaware that there even is such a proverbial party. With the way he's been keeping to himself ever since he arrived, he hasn't heard anything at all about the progress on the Rune Crest. Still, he likes to think that no news is good news. If they'd needed his help, they'd know where to find him. Or, well, Kratos would.

Either way, he just happens to be passing by later in the day when he spots Lloyd. That red shirt isn't hard to miss. There's a moment of hesitation before he decides to step towards the boy.]

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd hadn't really told many people what he'd be doing today, or where. Mostly it was just the people who'd had a part to help out with, though he'd told his roommate, too. He hadn't spoken to Yuan, so he isn't expecting him. Something tickles at his mind, though - that same funny feeling he'd felt with Duke a while back. Maybe half a breath before Yuan steps forward, Lloyd looks up - and blinks, surprised.]

Yuan? What are you doing here?

[stickinthemud]

[The way Lloyd voiced that is almost offensive, but really, Yuan shouldn't be surprised. Kratos's son has proven himself very adept at being blunt already.]

I'm headed for the library. [And taking a wonderful detour through the city while doing so.] What are you doing here?

[before]

[fistfullofmagic]

[In contrast to Lloyd, Dhaos seems remarkably calm about the entire process. He's there to do a specific task, and knowing that has helped clear his mind.]

Whenever you are ready to begin...

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd takes a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves.]

The forge is ready, and I've got the zircon heating up. Just give it another minute.

[Another breath. He really is nervous, his heart fluttering wildly.]

Dhaos, if this doesn't work... What'll happen to me?

[fistfullofmagic]

Truth be told, I am uncertain. However, I do believe that you will be no worse off than you have been until this point.

[He smiles softly.]

No matter what might happen, you will always be Lloyd.