a thing; w/ ruinsprofessor & conductingresistance

[simulsimul]

universe list
canon
breached
confessed
dadly
future
grigori
mercenary
MEover
origin
reversal
titans


scenario list
canon: Kratos needs to stop running off
confessed: wing reflex
confessed: actual wingpull
confessed: turning Renegade
confessed: son meets father
dadliness: confrontation
dadliness: awakening
dadliness: illness
dadliness: a fundamental lack of understanding on the word 'abducted'
dadliness: updating parameters
dadliness: assassination assignation
mercenary: hiding in the library
mercenary: aftermath of librarian saviour
reversal: oracle destroyed
titans: storming the tower
titans: safety in the canyon
titans: night horrors


canon
- combo of Kratos and Zelos ending
- Zelos does the stupid thing, but not so far as his death, and is still the eighth member of the party to Derris-Kharlan.

scenarios
scenario one: Yuan tracks Kratos down at Dirk's.


breached
- canon right up until after Botta’s death
- no one uses Yuan’s name around Mithos so Mithos walks right into the Triet base with them
- cue an epic OH SHIT in which Yuan gets a lil bit beat up while covering the evacuation of the rest of the base
- until Kratos appears to intervene and have the Chosen group get Yuan out of there
- Mithos gets Kratos tho and he’s a bit mad cos, yanno, traitor and all
- time to be locked up and punished and need to be rescued
- kind of puts a crimp in the creation of the Eternal Ring plans
- mostly cos Mithos turns Kratos lifeless, with some armour to regulate his mana so he remains a seraph. can't have the seal becoming less powerful, yo
- it does mean he can only obey orders tho
- the first rescue fails miserably but at least no one dies and they know they need to reforge his key-crest
- the second rescue attempt (circumstances of canon-point under percolation) goes a little better, though Yuan almost gets killed by Kratos trying to attach the key-crest
- luckily that and the first telepathy in a while gets through and Kratos manages to break out a la Colette, and heal Yuan enough for Raine to get there
- after which, angreh father-son beatdown on Mithos.

scenarios
None yet.


confessed
- almost successful assassination lands Kratos as an injured stranger in Iselia (1-2 years pre-canon)
- recuperation leads to accidental-on-purpose 'holiday' in Iselia
- doubts result in a request for Dirk to make a key-crest like Kratos' own
- oracle room undergoes some stealth sabotage
- regeneration journey is slightly delayed, prompted by Genis and Lloyd being discovered at the ranch
- Triet is awkward. so very awkward. for the Renegades -- whose side is Kratos even on these days and why was he vanished for two years?
- initial overall journey similar to canon, save that Kratos is a bit less circumspect about advising Colette on how to cope with angel transformations
- there are more overt Dun Wanna Feelings
- then Luin, wherein things happen and the group is in town during the Desian attack. the others naturally want to fight but tis a mite difficult against an army and building-destroying magitech. luckily, angel on their side. unluckily, wingpulls in order to muster the power to cover the townspeoples' retreat
- questions and confessions ensue
- Colette rejects the key crest (for the moment) so there's still hopefully maybe ambiguity about Kratos's position re the last seal
- it wouldn't fit anyway, it's modelled for the hand like Kratos's is because he was a derp and did not specify otherwise, so Lloyd needs to make a thing to make it fit
- slow protective retreat toward Asgard.

scenarios
scenario one: Kratos confesses before Salvation; Raine wants to follow up.
scenario two: Raine's examination of an angel; and also Kratos realises how far he's put his foot in it.
scenario three: Kratos goes to taunt Yuan a little, and also ask for his help.
scenario four: in which Raine makes Kratos tell the children all the things, and Yuan takes too much amusement from it.


dadliness
- Kratos retires in Iselia under the name Irving to raise Lloyd after the death of his wife
- no exsphere. ageing occurs! so does a beard and a braid
- teaches Lloyd swordplay, but on the sly, to avoid the other villagers noticing. his daytime job is weaving
- Lloyd finds the box of their exspheres and wants details. after some prodding by Dirk, Kratos explains how exspheres are made and that one is Anna's life. Lloyd is too young yet, but when Lloyd comes of age (~15) Kratos lets him make his own decision re wearing it
- Lloyd chooses not to wear the exsphere
- Genis befriends Marble and Lloyd meets her, as in canon; this happens before the journey begins, with the fallout
- difference being that Colette is still in the village so they can't be too horrible, so they just demand Lloyd be turned over for a flogging
- Kratos stands in his stead because natch. luckily, they're only mooks and don't recognise the bearded weaver as anyone important
- gives Lloyd his guilt complex early tho
- the oracle happens much the same way except Botta doesn't quite recognise the weirdly familiar bearded swordsman
- he does when he's reporting to Yuan tho
      'there was an exceptionally skilled human'
      /brief physical description/
      /did x other faintly recognizable thing/
      and both he and Yuan are aware that Kratos has been awol for a while, so there's a moment of pure silence and dawning 'no, it couldn't be'
- but then obviously one of them has to go make sure
- cue an interruption just out of Triet.

scenarios
scenario one: Yuan feels the need to investigate; this results in Kratos injured and abducted.
scenario two: Yuan realises he can't kill Kratos with his own two hands; Kratos gets mothered.
scenario three: Kratos gets sick on the heels of his recovery. Yuan mothers him some more. Botta disapproves.
scenario four: Kratos recovers and makes an escape attempt. Sort-of.
scenario five: Kratos recovers more and talks to Botta, when not needling Yuan about his lack of preparedness.
scenario six: Sheena's contract takes a slight shift into undercover instead of assassination work.


future
- Aselia is Earth ~10,000 years in the past
- all is peachy-keen except the tree is now underground and the elvens/half-elves/some humans are in hiding in the centre of the planet, hidden thanks to the summon spirits
- Colette is working with humanitarian aid in various impoverished nations
- Zelos is a diplomat in West Asia / Middle East trying to keep the peace
- Yuan is a crotchety lecturer at Cambridge who's also HUGE into environmentalism
- Lloyd and Kratos are having family time in space
- occasionally the trio on Earth meet reincarnations of people they used to know
- but rarely at the same time and almost never in a position where they meet
- but then they start meeting them
- lots of them
- all in the same span of years
- they're starting to think something's hinky
- until the space-elves attack
- and then they know something is hinky.


scenarios
None yet.


grigori
- at some point significantly before canon, Kratos actually calls it quits
- the Church's institution calls him a fallen angel of vengeance
- really he's just going around trying to help people and avoiding being taken back to Cruxis
- assigns himself to the Chosen parties whenever he can, up to Colette
- ????? idk some kind of profit somewhere

scenarios
None yet.


mercenary
- when Yuan visits Kratos at the beach when Lloyd is 3 months old, he does not manage to escape before Anna and Lloyd return
- accidental attachment to this kidlet who likes pulling his hair
- three years later, Yuan can't stand to hold back while Kratos fights Kvar, so he throws caution to the wind to help
- Anna is still killed but they rescue Lloyd and Noishe and both are branded as traitors
- Lloyd is raised as a Renegade with Dad, Uncle Yuan and the extremely reticent Uncle Botta (how dare)
- meanwhile in Tethe'alla Yuan infiltrates the castle as the library archivist
- stays out of sight, mostly, but has a good ear around the politics thanks to recruiting Princess Hilda
- also happens to stumble on Zelos hiding in the library right after his mother's death
- look he's got a 'nephew' he can't just do nothing (even if all he meant was to recommend a book)
- unwittingly accidentally 'adopts' the Tethe'allan Chosen by virtue of being the only one who doesn't treat him like the Chosen
- sometimes Kratos brings Lloyd to visit and basically they're all separate pairs of exasperated bros
- by canon Lloyd and Kratos are wandering mercenaries, helping people on the sly while gathering intel to send back to the Renegades
- Yuan and Zelos are actively building resistance to the Church using inside knowledge
- the ninja are all Renegades
- Colette is escorted by Raine and by the priests
- yes the 'chain up the Chosen and drag her to every seal if necessary' priests
- she meets Lloyd randomly in Triet but Lloyd doesn't know her as the Chosen. they're a bit out of touch on the Journey of Regen timeline
- stuff happens and they keep missing each other up until Palmacosta, which is a warzone between the Desians (and Dorr as their figurehead) and the Renegades (with Neil as their leader)
- Colette wants to help; priests say no
- out come the chains
- Raine objects, but she has no exsphere so what can she do
- btw Genis got caught in the Iselian ranch and tossed in as a traitor to be made a host
- he gets sent to the Palmacosta ranch
- right after Neil manages to take the city, after Colette and Raine leave it, Botta takes the Palmacosta ranch and rescues Genis, among others
- Genis becomes his little shadow and is much preferable to Lloyd, in Botta's opinion
- Lloyd and Kratos are still trying to catch up to Colette to rescue her when they drop by
- Genis hears what they're trying to do and insists on coming along.


scenarios
scenario one: in which Yuan accidentally adopts a Chosen instead of a book from a library.
scenario two: in which Yuan is accidentally-deliberately adopted by the Meltokio Castle Knights.


MEover
- Mass Effect crossover someplace in the realm of 15,000 years after TOS canon
- except started before then, cos elves are really from Feros, planet of the cranky telepathic plant
- got decimated by the protheans trying to assimilate them into their empire
- elves objected, got killed a lot, fled Feros and got stuck in Aselia's orbit
- kinda forgot a few things but planted a seed from the Ferosian mother plant on Aselia
- Origin hasn't forgotten tho, kinda has a grudge against grumblegrumbleprotheansgrumble
- the entirety of TOS happened, and then some
- Kratos, Yuan, Lloyd, Colette and Zelos are the only ones left, but tis okay, they have each other
- somethingsomething natural space disaster, Aselia is destroyed but they manage to move Yggdrasill onto Derris-Kharlan and do a quarian by becoming a roaming ship
- mana is a variant of eezo lbr
- Derris-Kharlan's too big to use the mass relays, but c'mon it generates its own mass effect field so they develop tech to do hops on their own
- they're in no hurry tho, i mean lbr primarily angelic, elf and half-elf population
- so they're just bumming around their local clusters doing thorough investigations on all the things
- so much eezo on their ship
- so much
- suddenly the Normandy running from a reapers comes along to hide behind them
- reapers start shooting
- everyone on Derris-Kharlan objects
- JUDGEMENT IN SPACE
- so much profit and judging of reapers.


scenarios
None yet.


origin
- Kratos tells Lloyd the dad thing in Triet
- dad and son feelings ensue
- they culminate at the Tower of Salvation in Kratos stabbing Yggdrasill in the back
- unfortunately he does not quite die but impales Kratos against a wall and goes berserk on the Chosen party to the point of Yuan stepping in to help
- that is, by threatening to stab Kratos in the back while he's vulnerable (with Kratos's permission)
- Yggdrasill calls his bluff and fails, and Yuan does the thing
- while Yggdrasill is distracted the Chosen's group nail him but good and he retreats
- luckily while heart-stabbing happened, Kratos's cruxis crystal is still intact, and between Raine's healing and Yuan's mana transfusion he survives long enough to be taken to the Triet base and a refresher
- stuff happens in some fashion or other up until opening Origin's seal
- as it turns out, the mana tranfusion has fused the lock, so to speak, and Kratos can't unlock the seal even voluntarily
- only way to get Origin out at this point is to let him fuse with Kratos, so Kratos becomes Origin
- stipulation of this: Kratos refuses to let go of his humanity
- luckily Yuan already has a literal bond with him thanks to the mana transfusion, so with him as his summoner Kratos can keep his humanity, and only use Origin's powers when Yuan summons them
- commitment like woah for a literal eternity
- but hey, they messed up but good and it's the only way they can reunite the worlds.

scenarios
none yet.


reversal
~ 2000 years in, Kratos and Yuan conspire to kill Mithos and succeed, sorta
- he's stuck inside his exsphere, possessing people
- but he manages to survive and while Kratos and Yuan claim Derris-Kharlan for their base, he takes most of the angels as 'fallen', as well as the Eternal Sword
- most of his bases are hidden behind dimensional slips created by the sword - Iselia included
- Origin refuses to trust either Kratos or Yuan with the job, anyhow, and they don't have a summoner
- instead they're forced to fight Cruxis, embroiling the worlds in an angelic war between Cruxis and the new organisation of Chayim
- the Chosen bloodlines are more important to Cruxis than Chayim, but Mithos seals the seals so only the Chosen bloodline can flip the mana switch. Kratos and Yuan need someone to do that until they can reunite them, so the Journey remains an institution, just without compulsory death at the end
- there is angelification tho, if only so Chayim gets more soldiers and so the Chosen can defend themselves against Cruxis
- Kratos sends Anna and Lloyd to Iselia, because even though enemy territory, it's the safest place there is for them
- Anna get word to Kratos that the Desians are using Iselia as a long-term cruxis crystal cultivation location, and that the sword is held there
- her spy succeeds but is intercepted, and Mithos locks down the dimensional slip to prevent exit and access by angels for ~15 years
- Lloyd grows up in a town with a heavy half-elf population and believing he's training to help the good guys
- he has his own cruxis crystal as a host, but doesn't tell his mother due to the faith-based propaganda encouraging hosts not to bring it up or risk the powers not taking
- he wants to help though, so he steals a key-crest to ensure he can fight
- Yuan and Kratos plan to assault the town and shrine but Mithos uses the sword to interrupt travel between worlds, keeping Yuan in Tethe'alla and forcing Kratos to attack Iselia alone.

scenarios
scenario one: Iselia is attacked by Chayim to claim the sword, with the sword already gone


titans
- Yggdrasill captures Kratos before Kvar finds Anna and Lloyd, but after Kratos makes an Eternal Ring
- Yuan figures hell no and raises the Renegades to try and take Derris-Kharlan, rescue Kratos and solve the split-world problem
- the attack fails. a lot.
- Renegades are wiped out, Kratos is still in Cruxis's hands, but Yuan manages to escape with the Eternal Ring
- Cruxis follows him to Triet base, which gets destroyed and the few remaining Renegades scatter
- Botta is still around tho, helping out how he can
- mostly Yuan just goes searching for Lloyd and Anna
- doesn't manage to find them before Kvar does tho, and Kratos hears from Yggdrasill that they're dead
- this is slightly inaccurate, cos Lloyd still winds up rescued by Dirk in Iselia
- where Yuan eventually finds him, not knowing that he's 'supposed' to be dead
- so Yuan settles in Iselia for a bit to watch Lloyd and the Chosen
- cuts and dyes his hair, the whole shebang
- learns how to carpentry, invents a new use of magic lightning and light can totally become a laserbeam amirite
- winds up being Genis's role model just because scholar and magic-user and half-elf who can pass but also takes no shit from people
- is one of Colette's companions on the Journey when it starts
- he's been challenging their understanding of the Church's institution this whole time lbr
- Sheena is still a thing because the ninja have taken over the Tethe'allan base, which has survived, somewhat
- a grilling ensues
- sometime just after the Asgard Ranch Yuan does have to drop the bombshell
- about how the Journey is just a front, he and his bestie are angels, btw his bestie is Lloyd's dad
- how they're out to topple the institution of religion
- forget sacrificing Colette for the Regeneration, when they get to the seal they can do that without anyone dying
- and then move straight on to rescuing Kratos in Derris-Kharlan
- then they get to the Tower and realise Yggdrasill has Kratos under a Prometheusesque punishment a la 'impaled on the Eternal Sword to suffer the Seed's pain and watch the Chosen get murdered'
- luckily this does not happen, as they manage to rescue him and escape Yggdrasill instead, barely
- retreat to Botta's hiding-place in Asgard so Kratos can recover
- and also find out that Lloyd is actually alive
- the Chosen group goes around to make as many pacts as they can while in Sylvarant
- they get up to Aska when Yggdrasill sends his angels to attack Asgard
- cue Yuan and Kratos being unstoppable battle gods together


scenarios
scenario one: in which Yuan leads the Chosen's party to the Tower of Salvation to dismantle all the traditions ever, and find Kratos waiting for them in serious need of a rescue.
scenario two: in which being in safety reveals that Kratos is not precisely unscathed, but he's doing his best.
scenario three: in which Kratos is emphatically not okay, but with Yuan's help, could be.

Comments

[simulsimul]

[This is ridiculous. And vaguely irritating. And there's something about Ka-Fai's words which set Kratos on edge, enough that his own tone leans toward sharp when he answers.]

Since when has Yuan Ka-Fai ever been biddable?

[conductingresistance]

[Kratos, sharp. There's the day. Something deep in Yuan is perversely satisfied by this.]

Not for years. What do you want from me, Commander Aurion? Shall I tailor my behavior to your preferences?

[...if he ever truly softens, there will be hordes of people wondering if he's all right, apparently.]

[simulsimul]

[That's almost a relief, that cutting tone. It's more scathing than Kratos has become accustomed to, but it's far better than the subdued, economical assent.

[Still. Kratos isn't going to let this pass and let Yuan think his being 'biddable' is somehow preferable.]

Hmh. So in the end, this is all it takes for Yuan Ka-Fai to truly be defeated.

[conductingresistance]

[Yuan's on his feet before he realizes he's stood up.]

I repeat: what the hell do you want from me?

[He can't even drag Kratos outside for a fight, serious or spar.]

What can I do?

[Spirits damn it all, this is public. Yuan inhales sharply, feeling his ears go hot with anger or shame or some mixture of the two, and he squares his bearing off, scowling mutinously at Kratos.]

[simulsimul]

[Yes. Excellent. Kratos doesn't even flinch when Yuan rises so suddenly, despite the frustrated rage rolling off the Sylvaranti commander. He does put out a hand to stop the flight crew guarding them from making any foolish moves.]

That's better.

[It's softer than his words before, though not gentle; but not quite so sharp, either. He does meet Yuan's gaze evenly. He may not have had much time for Yuan, lately; but he thinks he can guess why Yuan's mood would take such a sudden down-turn. The last prisoners they'd taken had all chosen Toize, after all, nor been silent about that choice.]

Your Sylvaranti peers and superiors aren't here to tell you what they think. Don't fill in their words for them, and defeat yourself on their behalf.

[conductingresistance]

[Yuan jerks his chin up, sharp and uncompromising.]

If you're expecting thanks, you'll be a long time waiting.

[...but it does make a difference, what Kratos has said. There's simply no way for Yuan to figure out what it is, or what to say about it.]

[simulsimul]

I wasn't.

[The sharpness is far more reassuring than any thanks. Yuan has been subdued almost since he was ill; just not quite so obviously. If this stops him from descending into a proper funk, Kratos counts it worth while.

[He turns toward the door, glancing back over his shoulder.]

If there's any problems during the trip, don't keep it to yourself.

[But he doesn't wait for a response, and moves toward the exit.]

[conductingresistance]

[Damn Kratos anyway. Yuan doesn't say anything to this, so it's fortunate Kratos isn't expecting a response to go with his nonexistent thanks. He only watches Kratos go, still scowling, reluctant to turn around and speak to his people.]

[But eventually he does run out of reason to be staring at the door, and Yuan turns, and with a renewed, angry sort of determination, goes among the other Sylvaranti prisoners, touching base with them in a way he's been slacking on lately. Kratos's barbs are good for that, at least.]

[Vanaheim in three days. He doesn't know how to feel about it still, but there's something to be done here.]

[simulsimul]

[It's not precisely the start of a holiday, given the close quarters; but without the need to be on guard the atmosphere among the Tethe'allans relaxes considerably. The laughter isn't soft and quick, the sleep is heavy and sprawled; and there's no tax on their time beyond excising the remnants of tension before they return to some degree of civilian life, even for a few months.

[Kratos would envy them, if it were worth his time; but he's always known he'd have bigger responsibilities. Even his officers, to a degree, finish their reports in time to wind down before they arrive. Kratos, on the other hand, remains sequestered in the small private room allotted to the regimental commander, eating the food Adrasteia delivers and reviewing the reports Leda brings him, and occasionally exiting only to consult with Lirea on their mutual reports -- except once, to attend a dinner held by the skyship's knight-commander in his quarters upstairs. It is, fortunately, relaxed enough that the lack of dress uniforms on the commanders' parts is overlooked.

[A few hours before they reach Vanaheim, they're warned with the crisp announcement of the knight-commander on deck; it gives the regiments a bit of time to pack and dress appropriately. Returns to the city have some degree of fanfare, after all, especially when bringing prisoners.

[The knight-commander invites Kratos and Lirea to the bridge to observe their approach. Kratos sends Adrasteia to warn the Sylvaranti what to expect when they disembark, after she's appropriately dressed; then he himself dresses in his armour and goes to the bridge, a place he's only been a handful of times over the course of his career. It's all glowing lights, transparent screens and alien data. Not all the flight-crew are knights, but only knight-commanders lead the skyships, always recognisable by their white jackets, gold belts and wing-shaped capes. Unless Kratos chooses to join the army proper as a general, knight-commander is his next step up -- the rank of commander being a flexible position intended to bind the knights and the legionnaires. After this, it's one or the other once more.

[The thought occurs -- Yuan wouldn't be barred from a skyship. They aren't, technically, part of the front-line.

[Vanaheim is wreathed in mist and gleaming white in the morning sun, a beacon on endless green plains. The sight of it makes something in Kratos uncoil and something else tighten. He's always relieved to be home; but this time he feels as if he's bringing something back for which he can't quite predict the outcome. His life on the battlefield is about to meet his life at home. It's a touch unnerving.

[The knight-commander gives them a nod. Pleasantries are exchanged; then Kratos and Lirea depart the bridge to attend to their regiments, in formation for their commanders' examination before they disembark. Both regiments are coming off the same side of the transport, the ramp broad enough for two platoons abreast; Kratos will be leading, with Lirea bringing up the rear, and the Sylvaranti between them.

[Kratos gives the Sylvaranti a quick scan on his way past. They've been released of any shackles or bindings, for this; far be it for Tethe'alla to humiliate new citizens before they've signed their names to paper. They've been given new clothes, their Sylvaranti armour and weapons exchanged for something Tethe'allan; but even still, it's clear they're the conquered.

[The knights are guarding the Sylvaranti. Kratos's gaze finds Adrasteia and she gives him a firm nod, despite the smile threatening to break her face. It's a commendation, for the apprentices to be part of the honour guard.

[There isn't time to speak to any of the Sylvaranti, himself -- but even still, as Kratos moves to the front of the formation, he spares a few moments to look for Yuan's blue hair.]

[conductingresistance]

[Yuan doesn't see Kratos for the remainder of the trip, which is fine. He has his own people to see to, after all. And while he likely owes Kratos some form of appreciation for snapping him out of the defeated funk, he's not inclined to seek him out to say anything about it.]

[So the trip is oddly busy despite the fact that they're imprisoned.]

[Peculiarly the greatest sting is when fresh clothes, in the Tethe'allan style, are distributed to the prisoners. They're nothing special, naturally; but they're clean and they're neat and they present the image of Tethe'allans even if the features of the people wearing them for the most part are evidently Sylvaranti. With tunic in hand Yuan misses his armor so fiercely it's like a knife, and as he's surveying the remains of his regiment and giving them the order to assemble he wonders how long it will be before his plants die of neglect. The mandarin in his bedroom would have fruited by the time he got back, if things went to plan.]

[The mind is a traitorous thing. Yuan lifts his chin and orders his people and they go where they're told, near form-perfect despite how long they've been imprisoned, because this is what they have and they will be their best in the situation.]

[Chance has him meeting Kratos's eyes when he glances that way. Yuan holds for a second or two; but they both have other things they should be doing. He slants his gaze sideways to check in with An-Lin, and the troops move onward.]

[simulsimul]

[It isn't long enough to properly read Ka-Fai -- but it's enough for Kratos to see that he doesn't seem to have fallen into the same low-grade mood as he'd been when they first got on the skyship. Good.

[Then Kratos doesn't have time to consider it. He mounts the horse Leda holds for him at the head of his regiment, pauses to check tack and baggage, and that everyone is prepared. Signals are exchanged, the banners are unfurled, and the skyship rumbles as it sets down and lowers its ramp; thus the march begins.

[They emerge onto one of the parade grounds surrounding the city, set aside from farmland specifically for skyship and disembarking troops. They pass by other troops preparing for deployment, families saying goodbye, families who live in the vicinity taking advantage to see the exchange.

[Vanaheim looms over them, a marble sprawl across a series of hills and a river; horns blare and the gates open. These are at least near the castle, so there's a shortened trip compared to having to walk through the whole city -- but still enough of one to be welcomed home by city residents.

[The boulevard is broad enough for only one platoon apiece, but this is a march both regiments have done before. They enter the city with little hassle and a cheer from the fraction of the city who have bothered to show up; which is still, to be fair, enough to narrow the boulevard, particularly where the flower-throwers are concerned. Behind Kratos, soldiers wave and blows kisses, both to actual family members and prospective; they manage to avoid actually breaking ranks. Some of the children running in to see long-unseen parents aren't so disciplined, and Kratos pretends not to notice that his regiment has gained a few extra two-foot-tall helpers.

[The castle horns are a lighter tenor, but those gates are already open and the courtyard where returning regiments report is clear. The imperial guards wave them through without waiting; they're the first to return today. It still takes some time before both regiments, and their prisoners, are properly in the courtyard; Kratos to the right, Lirea to the left, and the Sylvaranti between. A number of the families trail in after, waiting around the edges for their loved ones to be released from duty.

[From the barracks and the castle proper comes a line of officials, led by an extremely familiar woman in an indigo cloak and with braided red hair. Kratos dismounts and hands his horse over to Leda, and then goes to meet Lirea in front of the Sylvaranti, where they wait, in parade rest, for Nike and her entourage. Kratos resists the urge to glance back, and snaps a salute in tandem with Lirea as Nike approaches.]

Consul Legionnaire.

Ho, all.

[Nike, as per usual, is obnoxiously cheerful, and lifts her hand in a wave as she comes close. It's impossible not to see their relation; she has the same build, the same auburn hair which attempts at all times to escape from its braid, the same sharp brown eyes.]

[conductingresistance]

[It's a show. Yuan manages to keep his lip from curling in distaste. Sylvarant is much more businesslike about their war; everyone has family who's a soldier. They're welcomed home and seen off with appropriate love and care, but it's a clan matter, a family matter, not a city's business.]

[Sylvarant doesn't pretend they ought to love the war. It's a work like any other. Determined, and risky, and at the end of the day no one's business but that of oneself, one's country, and one's family.]

[...Yuan will admit, if pressed, that the children so impatient to greet their parents are heartening to see. But no one would know to ask him, and no one will press, so that little piece of secret is safe.]

[To the Sylvaranti's credit, they fall in with relative speed, since they know where they're meant to be and what's expected of them, and even if their rest-stance is a little different from that the Tethe'allans are familiar with, well, they're still attentive and strong-backed and all of them carry their chins up, no slouching in shame. This was a choice. They'll see it through.]

[Yuan doesn't know why it grates.]

[He's distracted from that consideration, however, by the Consul Legionnaire, who could not be more obviously Kratos's sister if she tried. They have the same lean build, the same hair-- Yuan has not, however, seen anything like her expression on Kratos's face. He tries to imagine it and promptly cannot.]

[simulsimul]

[Nike fortunately does not make them hold the salute, but is characteristically lazy in returning it, her smile the unconsciously resting sort as she surveys the Sylvaranti. Her gaze rests on Yuan, hardly ten feet away; and her smile broadens ever so slightly, which is contrast to the sour looks on the faces of several officials behind her.]

Commander Yuan Ka-Fai, formerly of Sylvarant, Consul.

[Kratos's introduction is blank-faced and straight-backed, from parade rest without looking Yuan's way.]

So you're the Swallow.

[Yes, Nike's smile is definitely broadening as she eyes Yuan. Kratos manages not to sigh.]

[conductingresistance]

[Why is she smiling. Why is she smiling at him.]

[Yuan inclines his head stiffly, suddenly out of his depth with regards to protocol. He'll just have to make do with Sylvaranti and hope for the best, past what existed of their briefing.]

I'm told that's what I've been called here, yes.

[...it occurs to Yuan that she may have something to say about his persistent attempts to kill Kratos.]

[simulsimul]

Heh.

[Oh, she has things to say. Luckily, she is not going to say them on a parade ground with upwards of two thousand people waiting to be set free. But the smile is very nearly a smirk, and her gaze flickers sideways to Kratos. Then she spreads her arms.]

Welcome to Vanaheim. Who vouches for our new citizens?

I do.

[This is Kratos, answering promptly.]

And who witnesses?

I do, Consul.

[This is Lirea, softer-spoken. Nike's gaze moves back to Yuan.]

And you, Commander Ka-Fai, speak for those of Sylvarant who have chosen to become Tethe'allan, and confirm their choice to do so?

[conductingresistance]

[No, the laughter, abbreviated and cut-off as it is, does not at all reassure Yuan.]

[This much, at least, he expects. There was something resembling a briefing, he was not simply thrown to the Tethe'allan wolves and expected to swim.]

[He swears he can feel the weight of ritual on the words.]

[Yuan considers his life choices. Considers that it is a life, instead of a slow death.]

I do, Consul.

[simulsimul]

[Nike drops her arms and glances over her shoulder at the scribe busy recording.]

Records?

Vouchsafe, witness and representative recorded, Consul.

[Nike turns back, hands folding behind her back.]

Wonderful. Commanders, you may release your people from active duty. Kratos, as soon as you're done seeing your wards settle in with their reams and reams of paperwork, I expect you in my office so I can discharge my obnoxious elder sibling duties.

[Kratos's face and voice remain blandly long-suffering as he answers.]

Understood, Consul.

[Nike gives Yuan one last considering glance, that smile never leaving; then she turns to stride back toward the castle proper, followed by only a handful of the officials. Lirea is already moving toward her regiment, but Kratos catches Leda's eye and gives her a nod. A moment later her voice rings out crisply, echoed by Lirea's lieutenant; there's a great stirring, and the regiments dissolve, discipline vanishing into softly relieved laughter and glad cries of reuniting families.

[Kratos turns toward Yuan; but he doesn't say anything, at first, only regards him and his people, assessing.]

[conductingresistance]

[Yuan isn't sure if 'Commanders' applies to him or not; he doesn't relax, opting to remain precisely where he is until the Consul has turned to go, and the Tethe'allan regiments have fallen into cheerful disarray.]

[And even then, all he does is turn his gaze to Kratos, questioning. He's expecting the paperwork. There always will be some. The Consul has handily answered one of Yuan's questions -- she's Kratos's elder sister, and the thought of Kratos subject to anyone like that is utterly bemusing.]

[His thoughts are a disorganized jumble. Yuan summons them into a semblance of order, and raises an eyebrow at Kratos.]

We're in your hands, Commander Aurion.

[There's no hint of the scorn the title had from him three days ago. It's dry, but genuine.]

[simulsimul]

Hmh. So you are.

[From the glance, it doesn't look like many of the Sylvaranti are particularly put off, or surprised. Not that Kratos expected to see much evidence of it, but it's still vindicating to see that they each seem prepared, if not completely at ease.

[Kratos glances behind him for the remaining officials, clad in the shades of yellow pertaining to numerous civil servants. Their supervisor's cloak is lined in red; she gives Kratos a brisk nod as she comes up to hand a sheaf of paper directly to Yuan.]

You'll be situated in this wing of the barracks; someone will show you where it is momentarily. Someone has already been through to distribute papers to each bunk ...

[The explanations take a few minutes, delivered in brisk, not-quite-impatient tones, and ending with an indication toward the remaining immigration officers.]

If you have any questions or additional requirements, these will be the officers responsible for overseeing your transition. They will be keeping offices in the barracks until you have all been assigned or employed elsewhere. Commander Aurion is responsible for ensuring your understanding of the law and conduct expected of you. If there are any issues, Commander Aurion will be first point of contact for your advocacy. Questions?

[This is directed at Yuan and Kratos both. Kratos shakes his head.]

[conductingresistance]

[Yuan pays close attention, with the scarce exception of looking quickly through the sheaf of paper handed to him to ascertain its nature and its vitality. Tethe'alla has done this before, and the official in charge doesn't miss anything that Yuan, at the least, needs to know.]

[No. It's straightforward, just detailed. He perhaps didn't expect Kratos to have quite so much responsibility for them -- that's a significant number of Sylvaranti he's just agreed to stand up for -- but really, Kratos has been responsible for them since he accepted the Swallow from Yuan.]

[In turn he shakes his head as well.]

None, thank you.

[Except, perhaps, questions for Kratos; but those aren't to be asked here. Yuan looks to him again, wordless, expectant.]

[simulsimul]

[The pages are, primarily, their names, ranks, and the bunks which have been assigned to them. The supervisor leaves them without further preamble, and Kratos nods toward the immigration officers. Or rather, past them.]

This barracks is just behind the one on the end, over there; these officers will be able to direct your people.

[They're already dispersing around the ex-Sylvaranti, beckoning and instructing ranks to follow. By this point Adrasteia has managed to find them, with both her and Kratos's luggage in hand; she jogs up, vaguely breathless and red-faced. Kratos glances toward her and pauses, considering and glancing down at the page in Yuan's hand. Then he nods.]

Adrasteia, take my things to my quarters. I'm going to show -- Yuan -- and his officers to their rooms.

[They're a bit separate from the rank and file. Adrasteia salutes and moves off again, and Kratos turns to Yuan to hold out his arm in the direction of the barracks.]

This way.

[conductingresistance]

[Yuan turns, briefly, half-thinking to oversee, but the immigration officers have things well in hand. He watches, instead, nodding when his people look to him.]

[Adrasteia's approach and Kratos's subsequent words have Yuan's attention back from them, briefly; he nods, turns again to his people and alternately waves and calls out to gather his officers out of them. Not so many as he might have liked remain, but at least An-Lin is there, and a small assortment of the junior officers. They fall in when Yuan gives the word, and as a result it's an orderly rather than motley collection of ex-Sylvaranti that follows Kratos toward the barracks.]

[Yuan, at their head, almost paces Kratos. Almost. He remains a bare half-step behind.]

How long do you estimate this will take, all told?

[Which he should have asked the immigration official, actually.]

[simulsimul]

[Almost certainly a question for the immigration officers, yes. Fortunately, this isn't the first time Kratos has managed to convince Sylvaranti not to throw their lives away under a mountain -- though certainly it's never been on so grand a scale before.]

That depends on how detailed you can be, and how many labour shortages we have. As we have none of your documents from Sylvarant, the booklets you'll find in your quarters will be Immigration's major reference. If anything in there is vague or inconsistent, it will hold up the vetting process.

[Those booklets contain anything from medical history to preferred careers to a semi-psych eval. Kratos glances over his shoulder, vaguely discomforted that Yuan is a half-step behind instead of abreast.]

Honestly, the booklets alone can take a few weeks; but the more time you take to do them now, the sooner you'll all be offered work elsewhere. The medical evaluations should happen fairly quickly, barring a major loss which requires the healers elsewhere. Unless there's any conditions of which you're unaware, they should be straight-forward enough.

[conductingresistance]

Don't worry. I'm already aware I'm a half-elf.

[Dry, but somehow not bitter.]

[Yuan, for his part, is acutely aware of the difference in their placing. In the field, it made sense for them to be... a little more familiar, perhaps. Here is Kratos's home, and Yuan doubts the fact that he used to hold equivalent rank will hold much water with anyone inclined to get snappy with him for being above his station.]

[For the moment, survival wins out over pride. Until he knows the atmosphere, the ways of Tethe'alla, Yuan cannot afford the pride he'd let himself cultivate in Sylvarant. The point, after all, is living. Kratos painted a fairly rosy picture, but Yuan isn't so hasty to assume his bloodline will be so much of a non-issue to all of Tethe'alla. If that were the case, he'd have fled Sylvarant long ago.]

Understood.

...Thank you.

[This is for making them his responsibility, and for nothing else.]

[simulsimul]

[Kratos doesn't expect the joke, and it wrings a startled breath of laughter out of him, not unlike Nike's just earlier.]

I'm sure they'll leave that out of the interview questions.

[Because there will, of course, be interviews; the official warned them about that. The interviews will hopefully not take as long as filling out their life's story in pages.

[The thanks, also, is unexpected, if only because Yuan had been so emphatic about not giving it only three days earlier. Kratos glances sideways, wondering if it's that belated thanks, or for something else. He can't tell. It's possibly hard to accept thanks when one doesn't know what one is being thanked for.]

Mnh. Well, you shouldn't be limited to the courtyard for long, at any rate, though you won't have free access to the city until after you've been processed. If there's anyone among my or Lirea's regiment who your people would like to request as escorts, we can make that happen.