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]

[Carpentry? There is definitely an edge of laughter there, though Kratos barely smiles on the outside. It's duller than it should be, given Kratos has something to relearn about emotions, but it's there. It does bear a relation to your taste for interior decorating, I suppose. I can only imagine what your house must have looked like.]

Hmh.

[Kratos pauses with the braid hardly begun. He's missing something. Not a braid -- ah. Ribbons. For a moment he's still, figuring out how he's meant to get some, before glancing toward Raine.

[Talking to explain that he needs ribbons, and why, and what he's doing, takes too long. He isn't sure of the words. Instead he sends a gentle, hesitant query to her mind, half words and half an image. Black and white, please?]

[conductingresistance]

[Yuan himself laughs very softly in return. It's true, he wouldn't have expected it of himself.]

[I started by keeping my practice pieces, but I couldn't leave them alone. Controlled lasers can be used to create intricate patterns, however. And Yuan didn't let people see him work, given that he was more or less passing for human. The Sages got a pass, as did Dirk. As time had gone on, he'd grown more lax about it.]

[At first, when Kratos stops, Yuan simply waits; but there's something different.]

[The question is answered before he can ask it when Raine startles from her thoughts and looks around. She herself isn't entirely unfamiliar with mental contact, having had Yuan do so especially in battle, but Kratos is new and unusual.]

Ribbons? I believe among us we might have some, yes.

[She doesn't actually have to ask for any further clarification, after seeing how the two of them are sitting. Raine turns to go looking. She's sure Colette has something like that she wouldn't mind, or--]

[There are some in my things, Yuan provides. It had been just a moment of sentiment when he packed them, and he's been wearing braids in the old style without them, but... he's certainly not about to object.]

[simulsimul]

[The threads of amusement become more pronounced, carrying with them intonations of you're saying that you invented a new arte to make your house prettier and I am not even surprised.

[He sends a sense of gratitude to Raine, along with a suggestion to look in Yuan's things; Yuan is more likely to have ribbons of suitable length. In the meantime, Kratos starts picking apart the braid he's already begun. By the time Raine returns he's got the lengths of Yuan's hair ready.

[This braid begins with a flat, four-way knot which leaves all four ends for his use, pinning some of Yuan's bangs back. The ribbons twined with the four-threaded plait down Yuan's back, though Kratos takes it slowly to ensure the right amount of pressure, and doesn't hesitate to redo the braid if need be. It's still not to his best, but he's still remembering some degree of fine motor control.

[The braid ends with the white ribbons wrapped in the place of the tie, in a similar flat knot and with the ends tucked into the binding. The black ribbons were left free at the end of the braid, nearly a foot left loose. Black and white for balance. Black, for the one who mourns.

[There.]

[conductingresistance]

[Yuan can't even really deny it, though he does pass mild irritation back. He can't quite work the fondness out of it, though, which rather detracts from his impact.]

[Raine, as she is going back to do just that, laughs aloud. It's a bewildered sound. Both of them, separately, have mentally told her nearly the exact same thing.]

[The ribbons are easy to find, though, and Raine brings them back with some bemusement. There's rather a lot of them, and she's not clear why Yuan would be carrying them.]

The two of you could perhaps benefit from speaking aloud. Here.

[She passes what she's found to Kratos, and doesn't leave, but settles in to observe with undisguised curiosity. She doesn't say anything, though, until Kratos is done and Yuan is running a hand back over the plait with a peculiar expression on his face.]

This seems... unnecessarily elaborate. What does it mean?

[It's the only thing Raine can conclude, that there's some meaning to it beyond the aesthetic. Yuan likes fine things well enough, but he has practicality in him as well.]

[Yuan, who's brought the braid over his shoulder to eye the black ribbons trailing at the end, says nothing.]

[simulsimul]

[Kratos very nearly responds mentally, but he had heard Raine's suggestion to speak out loud. After a moment of casting about he manages to find some words.]

In Asgard a very long time ago, the people used braids and ribbons to indicate social and marital status. I -- don't remember how to combine the two, so this one is only for the widowed.

[But when he turns to Yuan, all he sees is Yuan looking at the part of the braid in his view.]

Did I do it wrong?

[It's not anxious, precisely; not by anyone else's estimation, is it anxious. But there's an edge of uncertainty there which would not have been, for Kratos, until recently.]

[conductingresistance]

It went by a different name, then.

[This for Raine's benefit, forestalling her likely question about exactly how long ago. Her mouth rounds silently, an unspoken oh.]

It's for the best you don't recall the other aspect, I think. I wouldn't have used it in any case.

[Though his military status would have amended the half-elf problem. Yuan catches Kratos watching him looking. The uncertainty is strange, something that doesn't match his memory of Kratos. Not entirely unexpected, no, after what he's been through. But... odd. He draws his hand along the braid once more and drops it.]

No, this is-- correct. I'm not used to it any more, that's all.

[simulsimul]

[The reassurance makes Kratos relax, though only Yuan would feel it, through their mental link; but there's an intonation of a smile, there, albeit one which doesn't show on Kratos's face.]

You should have grown your hair out sooner, then.

[He feels slightly more stable, now; not whole, but stable. Attending to something which harks so far back makes him feel as if his lost fifteen years isn't such a great divide after all. And he's noticed that Lloyd didn't come back out; he can't doubt his son's concern for him, but he is mildly curious as to what kept him.

[Curiosity. Kratos remembers that being a good thing.]

I think I'm ready for the next room, now.

[He waits for Yuan to rise first, though, unsure that he has the balance to step around the half-elf at his feet.]

[conductingresistance]

I was in hiding.

[And it wasn't practical between children and learning carpentry.]

[This is something of an excuse. There were other, more existential reasons. Yuan isn't going into those at the moment.]

[But he does get up, flicking the tail of the braid over his shoulder again so it will hang down his back as it should. He steps aside for Kratos, moving a few paces toward the other room before glancing back to make sure Kratos is coming and balancing all right.]

The kitchen, then. I'm beginning to think Lloyd got lost.

[Amused, Raine trails them in that direction.]

[simulsimul]

[Kratos is indeed coming, with precise and conscious steps, and a faint tilt which indicates he is still fighting a sense of balance which is lying to him. Still, he doesn't waver, even if he puts his hand on the doorjamb when he reaches it.

[The conversation inside ends nearly as soon as they appear. There's evidence of Genis's meal on the table, though apparently it's been long eaten; Kratos has to wonder how long he took to braid Yuan's hair. Kratos is not sure what he's expecting, but he's slightly relieved when everyone's attention is drawn to Yuan's hair before himself.

[The one-armed half-elf by the corner, sharpening a sword, rises and bows.]

Lord Yuan.

[Across by the window, the dark-haired young woman shakes her head.]

Jeez, and I thought Lloyd was kidding. What's with the new style? And that 'lord' stuff, you?

[This last is directed to the half-elf in the corner, the one with the vaguely familiar mana.]

[conductingresistance]

[As though in response to Botta's address, Yuan's shoulders are squarer, and some of the gentleness Kratos brought out in him is absent from his bearing. He inclines his head in return, measured and precise.]

Botta. I believe you've met Kratos.

[For a given definition of met. Raine slips past them into the kitchen, going to actually reclaim her staff from Lloyd. Genis, still by the table with his hands on the dishes, gives Yuan and Kratos both a measuring look. Not suspicious, per se, but like he isn't sure what to make of them. He's motionless for a few moments before he starts moving again to take care of those same dishes.]

This is how I wore my hair a long time ago. Since hiding is no longer necessary nor possible, I returned it to its original state.

[This is for Sheena's benefit. Yuan gestures to her, turning to Kratos.]

Sheena Fujibayashi, summoner of Mizuho. I don't know if you recall Botta, my second.

[simulsimul]

I remember.

[Now that Kratos can see his face, the sense of his mana is more distinct. Kratos does remember that Botta held the door while Yuan freed him; he does remember the three of them trying to flee, Yuan very nearly carrying the man after the injury which took his arm.

[Not good memories. Kratos tears his gaze away to look to the ninja, and Botta sits again, taking no offence. Not given the look in Kratos's eyes.]

A summoner?

[Have you been planning this the whole time you were in Iselia? How else could Yuan have so neatly gotten what must be the only summoner in both worlds, save Mithos? There's a pause of empty air which implies there should be the words Kratos sends to Yuan alone instead. Sheena gives him a measuring look.]

Yep. That's me. I've already got a pact with Undine.

Sheena's amazing.

[That is from the girl who feels and smiles far too much like Martel, sitting beaming at the table.]

It's so great to see you up and about! How are you feeling?

[Kratos pauses to take stock, so he can answer that question.]

... Alive.

[conductingresistance]

[Not the entire time. It was later when Botta got word to me about what was happening in Mizuho. Yuan skips over those details as well, at least for now. Kratos doesn't need them, and it's still his first day back on his feet. Better to nudge past worse memories, if possible.]

And Sylph, as well.

[Since Kratos was more than likely too insensate to notice Sylph speeding their escape. Yuan glances around the kitchen once more, nods to Colette.]

Colette Brunel, the Chosen of Sylvarant.

[Raine's helping Genis with the dishes now, her staff leaned precariously against the counter. Genis is studious over them.]

That's everyone. It's a small rebellion.

[Yuan sounds dryly fond as he surveys the room. A tell, for someone who's known him as long as Kratos has.]

[simulsimul]

[What was happening in Mizuho ...? It's a query, but a faded one without much need for an answer; enough to highlight that Kratos did hear that, and see there's some information there. It's more interesting to watch the interactions, to hear the fondness in Yuan's tone.

[It makes Kratos feel conflicted -- that Yuan has, finally, again found pople about whom he can care; and that Kratos missed it.]

Uh -- yeah, and Sylph. It's not that great.

[Sheena sounds embarrassed, but Colette shakes her head at her.]

No one's gotten one summon spirit, let alone two. Not since Mithos the Hero. It's amazing. You're amazing.

Ah, stop.

[Definitely embarrassed, and very nearly blushing. Kratos glances at Yuan sidelong, dry humour suffusing his mental voice. You've surrounded yourself with people who lack self-assurance, I see. How do they put up with you?]

[conductingresistance]

It's true that Sheena's accomplishments shouldn't be downplayed.

[A not-quite-gentle reminder from Raine, tossed over her shoulder with briskness.]

[The ninjas took over the remaining Renegade facilities in Tethe'alla. It was... a learning experience for many people. Yuan answers even though Kratos doesn't necessarily need it, giving a broad stroke of the situation without too much detail. Botta helped, naturally, once it became apparent what was happening.]

[And the Sages are self-assured enough. On matters other than race, anyway. Kratos can likely guess at that. Yuan gives Kratos a lofty look in return. As is Botta.]

Are the two of you talking telepathically?

[That's Genis, finishing up the dishes and drawing a not inaccurate conclusion from the odd silences and the faces that at least Yuan is making. He comes over a little closer, drying his hands on his shorts.]

[simulsimul]

Yeah, they have a habit of doing that. I guess they used to do it a lot, huh?

[Lloyd grins at the from his seat at the table, and then makes a face.]

It's weird. There's no way to even know whether they're talking about us! It's almost worse than overhearing someone by accident.

[Sheena laughs.]

Hah. You only say that because it means you can't eavesdrop.

[Almost instantly Lloyd bristles, but it's the kind without heat; more sheepishness and embarrassment, and maybe a touch of amusement.]

Shut up! I just figure, if someone's gonna talk about me, they may as well do it to my face.

[Kratos watches them argue with some amusement and no prickle of unease from it. It's the sort of argument which feels familiar, enough that he manages to bypass the whispering dread of what came to be without falling into it. He doesn't realise the amusement is showing on his face as a tiny smile, but it is, and Colette notices.]

Oh! You should smile more. You have a nice smile.

[conductingresistance]

It's... an old habit.

[One that's easier to slip into when he's wearing the ghost of his younger self so closely. It's easier, too, to forget years of estrangement when they're on the same side again, pointed at the same target.]

I can also explain more rapidly that way than aloud.

[At this Raine nods, like that makes perfect sense to her. Of course it does.]

It's only useful one-to-one, though, correct? --The two of you gave me the same information separately.

[She sounds slightly amused by this, rather than anything else.]

[At Colette's mention of a smile Yuan flicks his gaze sideways just on principle-- it's been years, after all.]

[simulsimul]

[Kratos blinks at Colette in mild startle, and his hand lifts to touch his face in something near to surprise.]

Am I?

[He would have thought that would be something he's forgotten. A moment later Kratos realises this is not the sort of thing a grown man should be wondering about, and curls his finger in as if he hadn't just tried to make sure of it.]

No, it can be used with multiple people. But unless the telepathy lines are regulated and everyone understands the mechanics of how to separate their messages, it's easy for communications to be lost or overruled by one another by accident.

[conductingresistance]

You are.

[And it's good to see, which is a note Yuan keeps to himself for now.]

There have been issues. With only a few people, however, or one-way communications, there aren't many complications.

[Raine is nodding, as though this makes perfect sense and she's taking notes for future reference. She probably is making mental ones. Genis... still seems to be on the fence about something, which Yuan will chalk up to his general slowness to trust new people.]

...we'll be here for a little while. It may be a good idea to relax as much as you can, since after we're moving again the opportunity will be in short supply.

[Yuan looks over everyone's heads at Botta, pairing the brief glance with a thought. Kratos is still recovering. We may be here longer than I thought. I'll help you make sure everything's secure.]

[simulsimul]

[Botta gives a nod in return. He and Sheena hadn't seen what happened in the seal room, save that the venture had been much shorter than they'd all expected. From the lingering horror in the way the children spoke, and how they cut around actually mentioning anything they saw in there, Botta suspects Aurion had been much worse than simply imprisoned.

[Aurion, also, doesn't act the way Botta remembers, the rare times they met. The unflappable seraphim who had been one of the Renegades' terrors would never have been uncertain about his ability to smile.]

Relax, huh? Man, I'm not sure I remember how to do that!

[But Lloyd says it laughingly, delighted by the idea more than put off by it. This changes in moments as Colette speaks.]

I know! Let's do some studying! It's been a while since we could sit down and do that.

[Lloyd's face goes from laughing to tragic, and his head hangs.]

Aw, no, Colette ... don't give the professor ideas!

[conductingresistance]

[Raine's face lights up. It's too late; she has already been given the idea. Yuan's mouth twitches like he's trying not to laugh.]

It's true that your studies have fallen somewhat behind while we were traveling. There were rather more pressing issues, naturally, but if we must needs lay low for a little while...

Yes, this is an excellent idea. Thank you, Colette.

[Yuan turns aside a fraction to get himself under control. It isn't a joy in Lloyd's misfortune, but rather amusement at his overdramatic response. Studying doesn't merit that much tragedy.]

[They'll be adequately distracted from you for a while, he provides for Kratos.]

[simulsimul]

[Kratos is more fascinated by the emotions Yuan is trying so very hard not to show on his face, but which ring loud and clear nevertheless. How long has it been since Kratos has seen Yuan moved to laughter for genuine mirth, to the point where it shows outwardly; how long since it hasn't contained bitterness?

[You love these people, Kratos sends, and it isn't a question. Threaded beneath that are twines of pride and affection and a desire to know these people as well as Yuan does. He had wondered, before, what he had to live for; but even the wonder of knowing his son is alive couldn't dull the doubt in him, that he isn't whole.

[Seeing the camaraderie now, as the children get out their slates and chalk with varying degrees of enthusiasm; seeing Yuan react this way to them; for the first time in years, Kratos can actually see a possible future for him. For them both.

[Yuan's remark only makes Kratos smile, a smile he hasn't worn even with Anna; it's a smile not of tender love, like Anna and Lloyd regularly used to see, but a flash of understanding contentment he hasn't felt since ... since ...

[Maybe not since all the way back then.

[Kratos pushes off the jamb and takes the last seat at the table, beside Lloyd, but he speaks to Raine.]

You said Lloyd's been having trouble. May I sit in on this lesson?

[conductingresistance]

[I suppose I do. As an admission it's casual, but Yuan still isn't quite looking at Kratos. Which in itself, he knows, is some kind of giveaway. Yuan himself is still bemused by it occasionally, when he recalls where he began and how they all came to this. He didn't know he'd love them.]

[Yuan draws his braid over his shoulder and takes up Kratos's previous position leaning in the door, absently tracing down the length of it. It settles into familiarity easily.]

[Raine looks moderately surprised at Kratos for the space of about a second before she smiles. She wasn't expecting Kratos to offer; but she isn't going to say no, either. Perhaps this will help her get Lloyd to engage.]

Certainly. History is off the table for the moment, I think, given how many things I will have to re-examine, but there are language lessons that I'd been putting on hold.

[Sheena has not settled quite as far as the others, still apparently hoping that this doesn't apply to her. She's edging, carefully, toward the door with Yuan in it. Botta watches this with some interest; Genis ignores her attempts at subtlety and tugs her back.]

We were looking at sentence diagrams, weren't we?

[Raine nods.]

Yes, that's correct. Do any of you recall where we were, or shall I start from the beginning?

I wasn't with you in Iselia...

[Sheena lives in hope. Raine comes to a conclusion.]

The beginning, then.

[simulsimul]

Hey, if I have to suffer through this, so do you.

[Lloyd reaches out to tug Sheena into a chair on his other side. His tone is resigned, but Kratos notes the way his shoulders are slumped and the way he pokes the chalk at the corner of the slate while Raine begins.

[At first, Kratos does nothing but sit and observe -- all of them, but primarily Lloyd. Colette seems to genuinely enjoy the challenge, and even attempts to help Lloyd some, but Kratos can see Lloyd getting more frustrated, even though he never snaps. If anything, the frustration is directed internally, making Lloyd more dogged -- and less likely to succeed. After a time Kratos reaches out to take Lloyd's hand t stop him from writing, making the teen look up.]

May I suggest something?

[Gladly Lloyd gives up the chalk and pushes the slate over, stretching.]

Be my guest. I'm never going to make sense of this.

[Kratos wipes off Lloyd's attempt at work and puts the chalk to slate, and pauses. For a moment he feels a pang of doubt that he even remembers how to do this; then stops thinking and lets his hand move. Muscle memory, for an angel, can last a very long time. He writes: The quick fox jumped over the brown dog at the top, and then a list of basic sentence parts at the bottom; noun, verb, subject, object, adjective, adverbial. He pushes the slate back a bit, but keeps the chalk for now.]

Alright. Look at these parts. Imagine --

[For a moment Kratos pauses, dredging his memory. What had he used ...? Ah. Military ranks probably aren't something Lloyd would understand.]

Imagine these are all parts of the social structure in Iselia.

What?

[Lloyd looks at the notes, bemusement all over his face.]

I ... don't get it.

[Kratos manages not to smile. He doesn't want to make light of Lloyd's difficulties.]

That's fine. I haven't explained it yet.

[conductingresistance]

[Raine starts in on the topic with determination, starting with trying to explain why it's important. She's figured out that much about Lloyd, at least, even if getting him to engage is still not as successful as she'd like.]

Diagramming sentences, once you learn the basics, will help you break down anything more complex. Therefore, the end goal isn't necessarily learning how to make such a diagram, but learning how and where to apply them best.

[She goes on, starting with the more basic structures. Genis isn't having much trouble at all with it, mostly because he remembers Raine's earlier talks on the subject, and he follows along perfectly with his own slate. He offers Lloyd his own suggestions, reaching over to prod at Lloyd's writing with his own chalk once or twice, but ultimately he's trying it from the wrong approach.]

[Sheena is making an effort mostly to avoid the faces Raine will make if she doesn't, and there isn't a major dialectical difference, but once it gets into extrapolation she fumbles and starts to hesitate. Genis comes over to look at her work instead when Raine turns them more or less loose to work on a set of exercises on their own.]

[In principle Raine had planned to circle the 'classroom,' such as it is, but Kratos is doing something interesting, and Raine turns her attention to him to see what he has in mind. Whatever it is, he may have better luck than she usually does. Perhaps a different approach will work better.]

[Yuan, too, for all that he's apparently invested in fingering the weave of ribbons in his braid, has an interested ear on this. He hasn't had the opportunity to really see Kratos teaching in this way before.]

[simulsimul]

Look at it this way. A sentence is made up of a group of individual parts, just like a village. Sometimes not all those parts are necessary to the village's survival, but they can add depth and quality of life, or if there's too many of them, they can make communication very complicated.

[Kratos is focussed enough that he doesn't quite notice Raine's attention from across the table, and Yuan's attention hasn't bothered him in a very long time. He uses the chalk to underline 'subject' and 'object'.]

Now imagine these are personages in the village who interact.

You mean like ... Raine and me, or Colette and her dad?

[Lloyd's tone is uncertain, but interested, and Kratos hums.]

More like a position. Let's say that the subject is the mayor, because they're the most important person in the village.

[Colette ducks her head, and Lloyd mutters something extremely uncomplimentary under his breath, along with 'Colette is the most important person in the village'. Kratos pauses again, glancing sidelong to Yuan. Not one of the most favoured of people, I take it?]