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

[Several things interest Skulduggery about the conversation before it even starts. The first is that Kratos and all the other angels apparently use telepathy as a matter of course, since there's no visible cue that Yuan Ka-Fai has contacted Derris-Kharlan. The second is that Yuan, who presumably hasn't left Aselia, has contacted Derris-Kharlan. Not just long-range communications, but long-range communications over light years. When Kratos first touched down, Skulduggery had wondered if time travel was at work. Now, he's fairly sure the angels' technology exceeds Earth's. By a lot.

Yuan, when his face appears, even looks vaguely Chinese in conjunction with his name. Skulduggery's head tilts in his customary indication of surprise when the language Yuan speaks sounds much more like Irish than it does Chinese. Irish syllables, Irish cadence, combining to form words Skulduggery's never heard before in his life and can't decipher.

It's also, if he's not mistaken, different from both the languages Kratos has used thus far.

Skulduggery doesn't move except to straighten his head and say, in a very amused tone:] Now that's the proper reaction. See that, Kratos? That's someone who's never met a friendly skeleton before.

[And here Skulduggery was beginning to think Kratos encompassed all glittering-wing-state angels.]

[Kratos gets enough from this sentence and Skulduggery's tone of voice to know that Skulduggery is rebuking him in a friendly fashion, and throws an amused glance over his shoulder.]

No friendly skeletons on Aselia.

[He turns back around to speak to Yuan.]

Peace, Yuan. This is Skulduggery Pleasant. He's a resident of the planet we're orbiting. They're all human, Yuan -- and they can use mana.

[He can't overstate how incredible this is, and knows he won't have to try, where Yuan is concerned. He does speak in Tethe'allan, if only so Skulduggery has some degree of familiarity with the few words he's learned -- like mana.]

Skulduggery's situation is unique. His soul is still whole, if static.

[Kratos is addressing the skeleton like it's sentient. To be fair, as seconds pass, it becomes evident that the skeleton isn't about to attack Kratos. Unless it's lying in wait.]

[And it knows Kratos's name, though Yuan doesn't recognize the language. He scowls, looking down his nose at the image of the skeleton for a moment before transferring his attention back to Kratos.]

[He doesn't deign to switch to the language Kratos is using.]

--the humans can use mana?

[The scowl fades in favor of bemusement, in making sure Yuan heard Kratos right and there wasn't some kind of glitch in the transmission.]

Are you sure they're human? They might only look it.

[The thought of still mana in a living creature is an odd one. Yuan trusts that Kratos knows what he's talking about, though.]

I take it this means you're nowhere near to turning around.

No friendly skeletons on Aselia. [Skulduggery repeats this to indicate both his agreement and his amusement. Kratos's stoicism, it seems, has nothing whatsoever to do with being an angel. That's reassuring. Secretive people, Skulduggery has dealt with before. Angels are still new territory.

Yuan and Kratos are definitely not speaking the same language, however. Is that normal? In Skulduggery's experience, changing to match your companion's language is fairly automatic. If angels are at all similar, then Yuan is deliberately not switching. Either that says a lot about him individually, or the rules are different where angels are concerned.

More importantly, Yuan seems to be expressing surprise at the idea of mana on Earth. Skulduggery can't imagine why. They haven't seen the entire universe, have they?

And more importantly still... Skulduggery leans a little closer. Is that -- blue hair? Bright blue hair, and not a trick of the light.]

Yuan has blue hair? [Kratos may have learned some colours already, and if he hasn't, Skulduggery can always specify.]

Edited (I can totally remember what happened just a few short tags ago) 2016-12-27 20:34 (UTC)

We triple-checked.

[Patiently. After all, he'd asked the same question; and it is very nearly unbelievable. What Kratos wants to know is the difference between the ones who do use mana, like Skulduggery, and the ones that may not. He hadn't missed that Skulduggery had felt the need to hide his use.]

Not unless something dire is happening on Aselia. Is it?

[Skulduggery's voice by Kratos's shoulder makes him glance back, and sidle a bit away so Skulduggery can see the screen a little better. Luckily, the colours page in the thesaurus was among the first, and Kratos follows Skulduggery's gaze back to Yuan.]

Blue, yes. Yuan is a human-elf angel.

[Don't turn that teaching patience on him, Kratos. Yuan gives him a flat, thoroughly unamused line of an expression.]

The Tethe'allan Chosen is experiencing the same difficulties with his transformation which you did.

He's taken to throwing things to get attention.

[Yuan catches his name, and the word for elf, and looks, if possible, even less amused.]

I'm not sure I want to know what you're telling him.

[Maybe Aselian hair colour is similar to skin colours on Earth.

A human-something angel. Half human, half the other thing, according to Kratos's earlier attempt at explanation using the thesaurus. Skulduggery was wrong. The unfamiliar word isn't an analogue to 'angel'. It's an analogue to 'human'. That explains why Kratos specified human angel.

Whatever the unfamiliar word means, Yuan sours upon hearing it. That, especially when compared to Kratos and his unreadable face, tells Skulduggery that being a half-whatever-it-is is not something to be proud of. Odd. He'd think being an angel would trump genetic background, but it doesn't look like it does.

And that brings up another question. If the angels identify as their race first, does that mean they weren't always angels?]

Sorry to interrupt. [Since, Skulduggery belatedly realises, that's exactly what he was doing. He takes a small step back, a symbolic declaration of intent that in no way impedes his view of the console screen.] Carry on.

[Not for the first time, and likely not for the last, Kratos wishes Skulduggery had a face. Or at least some movement in his mana. Kratos can't tell what that head-tip means, and doesn't recognise those words, though the step back and vaguely apologetic tone is enough.]

He noticed the colour of your hair. I don't think they have blue hair on his planet.

[Which in no way explains why Kratos used the word 'elf', and yet also does. Or at least will, to Yuan.]

It's a good thing you know how to handle that part of a human transformation, then, isn't it?

[It's deadpan, hiding amusement. And though Kratos knows that Lloyd has never ingested aionis, he has to ask. The Eternal Ring contains aionis; who knows what effect that might have.]

How has Lloyd's transformation progressed?

He's a skeleton, and he finds hair color odd enough to comment on.

[So flat.]

[But it does explain exactly why Kratos is talking about Yuan in that particular way, which Yuan will grudgingly accept and move on.]

He's far more intolerable than you ever were.

The Chosen, that is. Lloyd is doing just fine.

[His tone might be a hair warmer.]

Colette is helping him adjust, and somehow I've wound up teaching all of them, now and then. I'm sure you didn't have anything to do with this.

[His tone implies the precise opposite. This is Kratos's fault. Everything is probably Kratos's fault.]

I've gotten the impression that he's been a skeleton for a while. Blue hair is new.

[Familiarity, and all that. At that, Kratos can only chuckle.]

That's not what you said at the time.

[Of course, at the time it had been concern, and Yuan's only means of broadcasting concern; telepathy had only come later. Not too much later, luckily. Kratos's smile broadens a bit.]

I'm sure I didn't, but it's just as well. You're too at risk of becoming a recluse.

[It was entirely Kratos's fault.]

[No. At the time, Yuan had been much more aggrieved with Kratos, covering concern with it.]

[The look he gives Kratos is still flatly unimpressed.]

I recall complaining a great deal about you. That should tell you something about the Chosen's state.

It's as though he's determined to be even more obnoxious than usual, to compensate.

[He is not going to acknowledge that smile; nor the fact that he is beginning to recognize that it is better, not to be alone with his thoughts. That would mean saying he is, tangentially, appreciative for Zelos Wilder's new ways of getting his attention, which Yuan is decidedly not.]

[There's a quiet grumble which the audio transmitters don't quite pick up, but is probably something to do with blaming Kratos. Then:]

In any case, none of the angels you inflicted on me are in any danger of going to feathers.

[The smile turns faintly melancholy. Acting obnoxious; being annoying. It sounds not unlike the way Kratos had tried to make Lloyd hate him, before Flanoir.]

Obnoxious, hm? How is the Chosen's state, transformation aside?

[Kratos and Zelos are far from being on good terms, but Kratos does feel some sense of responsibility for the man -- whether Zelos realises it or not. Kratos, after all, had been directly responsible for the Chosen lineages; and he'd been one of those blackmailing Zelos with his freedom; and, of course, he'd been a traitor to those to whom Zelos had unwittingly given his heart.

[What Zelos doesn't know is how much looking at him is like looking at himself. Yes, there's a sense of responsibility there. After all this, the last thing Kratos wants is Lloyd to suffer the loss of a friend because they all of them thought the worst was over. Kratos of all people knows how those wounds linger.]

I never believed they were, under your care.

[It's an admission, as if either of them had any doubts.]

[Transformation aside--]

[Transformation aside, Yuan doesn't really know the Chosen. The essentials of his situation; once, enough to acquire his services as a turncoat; and the fact that Lloyd is, for reasons best known to Lloyd, very fond of Zelos Wilder.]

[He pauses in the flow of conversation to think about it, discarding something ready and snappish in favor of honest consideration.]

...at a guess, he is hiding something because he doesn't want Lloyd to worry. I couldn't say what, or if Lloyd has noticed.

[Knowing Lloyd... Yuan holds up a forestalling hand.]

If it looks like they cannot work it out, I'll step in. I believe I need to speak with him about his mana sense in any case.

[He's doing this as a favor to you, Kratos. As long as you're aware of that.]

Hmh. Sounds about right. The Chosen is --

[No. He needs to stop doing that. They both need to stop doing that; talking about the Chosen as if they're articles, not people.]

Zelos is ... very much like me, in a way. His mask isn't the same, but certain of his motivations aren't all that different.

[Zelos's mask is very like Nike's was, in fact -- all smiles and contentment. Kratos knows what's under it because of the conversation they'd had where Zelos had initially refused to collect the aionis for him.]

I should think Lloyd has noticed, but I doubt he's entirely sure how to deal with it. He's the type to think that once something is fixed, it's fixed.

[Just judging by the fact that Zelos had tried to get Lloyd to kill him, and failed. Kratos hadn't realised until after it was all over, when Lloyd had told him about it -- as though Lloyd felt he owed Kratos an explanation for why Lloyd hadn't been able to kill him either. All Kratos had known at the time was crossing Zelos, still alive and remarkably unharmed, flanking the angels keeping Bryant at bay in the arena.

[Between the two of them and Kate, they had managed to save the rest of the group and get the aionis. It ... had been an unexpected moment of accord.]

Which ones?

[It is, vexingly, a little more difficult to read Kratos through projection alone. And on a first read, Yuan would have said Kratos and Zelos were very little alike.]

[He's going to have to look again. Damn. He sighs shortly, aggrieved.]

If nothing else, I'm sure I can spark a fight with him.

[Kratos will understand that much. Yuan folds his arms.]

You're still trusting me to handle this?

[Please turn Derris-Kharlan around, Kratos. Soon. :|]

He never intended to live to see the end.

[It's a simple response, but a true one. Kratos had seen it, but not been able to do anything with it; he'd barely been handling what was already on his plate. As it turns out, being an angel doesn't endow one with the capability to handle everything at once.]

And he was willing to make his friends hate him to ensure he wouldn't. We're both traitors, more than once, even against those we love. It takes a special kind of self-hatred to accomplish that.

[His voice remains even while he speaks. It's not the sort of thing he'd usually say out loud, but telepathy isn't possible across these distances. They've never really spoken about how tired he's been. It's better than it was. Then Kratos smiles faintly.]

I'd hardly think you need me.

[He's already trusting you with his son's life, Yuan. There isn't much more trust than that.]

[Yuan knows this, on some level. Kratos released all his mana at the seal with no safety net, no knowledge of what Yuan had planned.]

[It still sounds wrong spoken into the open air like that, and he's quiet atypically long, for Yuan. Then:]

Tch. Do you think I have the patience for this?

[Of course Kratos is needed. Yuan shakes his head, and focuses on the skeleton, only very vaguely visible. What was his name? Yuan recalls the foreign syllables with a frown.]

Hey. Skulduggery.

[This is paired with a beckoning gesture, imperious and unquestioning, the attitude of someone who's used to being listened to. He points at Kratos, then lifts a hand and mimes a quick smack, as though to someone standing beside him.]

[Skulduggery doesn't understand much of the ensuing conversation. He hears Lloyd's name, which is to be expected if Kratos is worried about his son's well-being, as well as Colette's. But it's hard to make any other connections, especially since Skulduggery's still sure they're speaking different languages.

He connects enough to hear another name mentioned -- Zelos -- and can surmise from tone of voice that Yuan isn't happy about Kratos not being on Aselia. That's the part that interests Skulduggery; that means Kratos chose to leave without any outside pressure. In fact, it's starting to look like he chose to leave despite heavy pressure to do the exact opposite. Hm.

Guilt, possibly. Or a new goal hidden from Yuan. And since Yuan hasn't reacted at all to the passing feathered angels, Skulduggery has to assume the first.

He looks up when he hears his name, startled.] Sorry? [Another Irish accent, some part of him distantly notes, but Skulduggery's too preoccupied with Yuan's pantomime to pay proper attention.

Just when he thought he'd seen everything.]

You're asking me to hit Kratos? [Head tilt.] That doesn't strike me as a very good idea. Although I am less and less convinced you're beings worthy of worship, for what that's worth.

Yuan.

[Kratos's tone is tolerantly fond, and hardly exasperated at all. He doesn't even turn toward Skulduggery, until Skulduggery answers. Kratos can't understand most of the words, but the skeleton's tone of voice seems to be bemused and amused at once; and the skeleton hasn't moved, which bodes well.]

You see, Yuan? I haven't made myself that much of a nuisance yet.

[Yuan sighs an exasperated sigh.]

Clearly you haven't been communicating properly.

[He lives in hope. He motions at Skulduggery again, and transfers to the language Kratos has been using most frequently, in the hopes that Skulduggery will have absorbed something of it.]

He needs it. Slap him or hug him, I don't care which.

[...No, that's not going to help. Yuan makes a note to send an instruction to one of the communications techs, to try forwarding the instruction in a language the skeleton will understand.]

[This is at least partially because the image of Kratos having to cope with a skeleton hugging him is something Yuan takes inappropriate delight from.]

[Returning to old Sylvaranti:]

--we'll manage, until you return, but sooner rather than later would be better.

[... Yes. Two different languages. And they can switch between them, so the fact that Yuan didn't until just now actually does speak volumes about him.

It's a more familiar language, yes, but Skulduggery also hasn't heard Kratos speak it very often. They've been focusing on learning English. As a result, he doesn't understand a word of what Yuan says, though he can imagine it has something to do with clarifying that he thinks Kratos deserves being smacked on the head. Skulduggery shrugs and shakes his head.] I don't have access to Kratos's magic, I'm afraid.

[Because learning a completely alien language so quickly has got to be some form of magic.]

[At that, Kratos only chuckles, and now his mirth shows clean with his smile and the twinkle in his eyes.]

Good try, Yuan. Maybe I will come back earlier than expected -- if only to bring you here. What's the climate like?

[He is not talking about the weather. One of the main reasons why he's taking Derris-Kharlan away is because the undue pressure their presence will place on the situation of the half-elves. In a perfect future, he can wish for the angels to be accepted in Aselia as well; but he knows this isn't an outcome which will come fast or easily.]

[Good try his wingpack. Yuan will absolutely be leaving a message with one of the comms angels, and is in fact reaching for his own console -- slightly out of sight of the projection -- to do just that.]

Sunny, especially near the Tree. We're coming on toward autumn in these parts, but it's mild yet.

[In which Yuan knows exactly what Kratos is talking about, and is blithely ignoring it. Kratos should have used a different language if he didn't want the two meanings to be confusable.]

[He lets that sit for a few moments before relenting into what Kratos actually meant.]

Confused. The removal of the Tethe'allan Pope is still having a significant positive effect, and between Sylvarant and Tethe'alla coming together again the matter of half-elves is beginning to be a quieter one. There's still a long way to go, naturally, but...

It's better than I could have hoped.

[Kratos knows Yuan knows exactly what he meant, and lifts his eyebrows slightly, waiting in silence until Yuan picks up that thread. Still, the news is a bit unexpected; his brow lowers and his mouth turns up a bit.]

Hmh. That's -- better than I was expecting.

[Except for the implication that the kingdoms are suspicious enough of each other for racial bigotry to take a backseat. The fact that Yuan feels the need to add the last is a decent sign, at least; probably no war is brewing.]

Then I may not be as long as I thought.

[Of course Kratos knows. They know each other too well; but by the same token, it's some measure of gratifying to know Kratos does, after everything they've been through.]

It is. Not without problem, of course, but...

[Yuan makes a dismissive sound, waves one hand.]

For now, it's promising. I'll keep you updated.

[Also, the sooner Kratos turns around to help him with this problem, the better.]

That's everything I needed to bring up. Don't start a war accidentally. I'll contact you in another few weeks.

[With a nod to Kratos, and a gesture at Skulduggery intended to indicate that Yuan is watching him, Yuan closes the connection.]

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

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