another thing; w/ fafnirs and skeletonenigma; cw for suicide talk

[simulsimul]

a post for random filings of things


d_p - in which Kratos and Zelos snark as well as they can with Lloyd in hearing.
here - Zelos takes Kratos up on a challenge. (cw for suicide talk)
here - spacedad finds another canon on another planet. it involves a skeleton with a disturbingly similar backstory.

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from d_p; a demand for responsibility

[simulsimul]

[For all that Kratos had challenged Zelos to step up or shut up, he still doesn't quite expect Zelos to 'come find him' as he suggested. There's still too much for either of them to do. For Kratos, his focus is on finding the necessary elements for an Eternal Ring. He's got one. He knows where another is, but can't reach it yet. Still two left ... Which is why he's digging around an abandoned mine.

[He definitely doesn't expect to sense someone else's mana nearby, let alone someone he recognises.]

aka "nut up or shut up, starring two fake angels"

[fafnirs]

❰ 'too much' is a bit of an exaggeration. honestly, there isn't a whole ton for zelos to be doing. his entire part pretty much consists of keeping in touch until the time comes to pull a couple of shady stunts and nick some aionis, and technically that means showing up here is smack dab within the parameters of his job description.

after all, he's keeping in touch.

he makes no attempt to announce his presence. he can sense kratos, which means kratos can sense him - maybe even stronger. after all, he's done this 'seraph' thing way longer than zelos has. either way, it leads him through the caves unaided until he locates the room where kratos is poking around, at which point he leans casually against the wall just inside, arms loosely crossed.

and zelos doesn't say a single word. not until kratos visibly notices him, however long that takes (so if he chooses to ignore zelos's presence, this could be a long night). when he does, though, the faintest grin tugs at the corners of zelos's lips. ❱

Not the ideal place to duke it out... It's almost like you didn't think I'd show. ❰ he probably didn't, really. zelos himself isn't entirely sure why he came. restlessness, maybe - or maybe he's just sick of the way that nobody ever seems to speak their minds, and a part of him craves the sting that comes when someone finally does. ❱

[simulsimul]

[Kratos doesn't acknowledge Zelos until he's sure the material he's looking for isn't to be found in this particular mine. He rises, dusting off his clothes, and turns, head tipping.]

I've no issue fighting underground.

[For all that his mana is dualled light-lightning, there's an affinity for earth in there too. He prefers the closed-circuit energy of lightning in an enclosed space; of sparking power against raw stone. Kratos crosses his arms, watching Zelos watch him.]

Is that why you came, or are you wasting my time?

[Not exactly much to check in with.]

[fafnirs]

❰ though he said 'duke it out', zelos hadn't actually expected combat to be at the top of their agenda. a side effect, maybe, but not the main event.

still, kratos's question has his grin broadening, though not necessarily in a good way. ❱

You tell me. You started this, with your whole 'come find me when you're ready to face up' bullshit. ❰ he shoves up off the wall to step into the room a little, arms uncrossing to spread out to the sides. ❱ Well, I'm here. I'm ready. Hit me with your best shot.

[simulsimul]

Hmh.

[Kratos chuckles low, and while it's not derogatory, exactly, it's cutting, and far from the affectionate warmth he might have used on most of the others. When he lifts his head, there isn't a trace of a smile on his face. His tone is much the same as his laugh -- blunt, unshielded, if not actively disdainful.]

Yet all you do is stand there and wait for me to make a move. You're ready to face up? You can barely think to function. You can't even take your life into your own hands.

[fafnirs]

❰ well. zelos's brow twitches and his grin fades incrementally. that wasn't the reply he expected. he'd had it in his head that kratos wanted a piece of him, in some shape or form, and the only work zelos himself would have to do would be to put up a decently-convincing fight against handing that piece over.

as it turns out, it'll take a bit more effort than that. zelos has yet to decide how much effort he's willing to expend to get what's coming to him. honestly? it's kind of irritating. kratos is pretty much the one person who doesn't deserve to take a shot at him. if anything, the pair of them should line up for the firing squad side by side. ❱

Cut the ambiguous crap, ❰ he says, tone colored by that flare-up of irritation, and he's starting across the room now. ❱ You wanted me here, you had something in mind. And now - what? You want me to guess? ❰ there it is, a little bit of disdain of his own, but it's given no time to linger in the air. he's a few feet from kratos now, and in a movement both quicker and smoother than he could've dreamed before he replaced the exsphere on his chest with his cruxis crystal, his hand dips down to draw his dagger from his belt.

and zelos lunges, with a slice kratos couldn't possibly fail to dodge, should he choose to try. ❱ Is this what you want!? ❰ a similar follow-up slice. he's just chumming the waters, at this point - making it more of a hassle to condescend him than to come out and tell him why the hell they're here. ❱

[simulsimul]

[Kratos does dodge, rather than block -- his shield is still over his shoulder, his sword still sheathed. He's already explored this cave; he knows its dimensions, doesn't even have to look toward he steps.]

I told you to come to me when you're ready, not on my account. You're still pretending to be a victim, at the mercy of the world around you?

[He steps away from the second slice, his winged cape flaring.]

You're a fool. If you wanted to die already -- why haven't you just got it over with?

[It's something of a genuine question. It probably doesn't sound like it.]