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

[simulsimul]

a post for random filings of things


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

Comments

[shopworn]

Can you two stop speaking in cryptic half-sentences?

[Said with the yearning hope of a man who knows he is probably not going to get what he wants, but who nevertheless lives in hope, and must try anyway.]

There could be tea. We could have a conversation.

[simulsimul]

[The lack of response makes it plain that Saracen is handing over the situation to Kratos; and at least part of that is due to -- whatever extreme desire he has not to let his friends know what he can do. It's a desire Kratos both understands and condemns. He'd been wrong too.

[He knows, too, that Ghastly's said something legitimate, that he's being inescapably rude; but the juggernaut of action and intent is still too ingrained to turn aside. Kratos looks back at Saracen, eyes narrowed; takes a breath, and explicitly tries to relax. It's a bit like watching a coiled spring unravel, and doing so deliberately.

[I want to talk more about this, he says wordlessly, projecting to Saracen alone. You do your friends an injustice by vying so desperately to maintain their ignorance. That last phrase, 'maintaining their ignorance', is all tangled up with other things; layered like Saracen's time is layered, and made of things like regret watching the world turn and knowing he's formed it without the consent of others; and Lloyd's shock at discovering his father's identity; and the solid shape of the seal threading time and space together within him, dictating his actions against consent.

[It's difficult to rein that in, when he remembers the half-conversations they've had, barely making it to a whole one across several different timelines. I recognise that this is not my world, and you are not mine to condemn. But I will render to you the opportunity to discuss your capabilities with someone you cannot fool. I can't imagine you've had many of those.]

[skeletonenigma]

Far be it from me to agree with someone about not wanting more puzzles, but in this case, we certainly could have a conversation.

[Skulduggery still sounds bright and unconcerned. Over in the other corner of the shop, Saracen mostly looks like something inside his brain just snapped, staring wide-eyed with shock and a hint of fear. He doesn't move, and he certainly doesn't say anything. Skulduggery spares him a glance.]

Go easy on the telepathy, please, Kratos.

[Telepathy, Saracen thinks. Of course it's bloody telepathy. Only it definitely came with a tangle of strong emotion and he has the strangest idea that he's already made all of the worst mistakes of his life, and he's somehow come back from all of them to have a second chance, except he's making all the same mistakes again, and it's an idea that doesn't quite fit in his mind. It leaves him feeling like he's teetering at the edge of a yawning chasm.

Even if he wanted to reply, he can't. Thinking communicative thoughts feels too much like Hopeless is back. How dare an angel try to act like he's half the man Hopeless was, or means half as much to Saracen as Hopeless did?]

[simulsimul]

Forgive me.

[It's murmured and genuinely contrite, gaze on Saracen. Of all the things these people are capable of, somehow it hasn't occurred that having someone speak in their heads might be somewhat beyond merely 'unexpected'; and Kratos is aware his emotions were not as leashed as he was attempting.

[He rouses himself with a shake of the head, and turns.]

I'm sorry for my rudeness, Mr Bespoke. Some tea would be appreciated, yes.