Hello character limit, my name is Mandie.

[fatherlineface]

Character: Kratos Aurion
Fandom: Tales of Symphonia
Player name: Mandie

[That was it. It was all over, he'd given every last bit of his mana to release the seal on Origin. Now he can finally rest.

That's what Kratos had been thinking before opening his eyes and finding himself in Vatheon, at least. He tries to suppress his anger at the fact that there's an afterlife, instead wondering if he can hope to find Anna here. It doesn't look like hell, at least, so maybe, just maybe sacrificing himself had been atonement enough...]

Comments

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd doesn't actually see Kratos yet. He just came to the plaza to shop. Purchase in hand, he happily steps away from the vender, walking backwards so he can give a cheerful wave.]

Thanks! I'll definitely be back, you can count on it!

[He's walking backwards. He can't see where he's going.

...Kratos, you might want to move.]

[fatherlineface]

[Kratos feels his chest constrict tightly, unable to breathe. He knows that voice. He'd just been fighting him, after all. But Lloyd shouldn't be here. This isn't the forest, this isn't even their world - the mana is completely different. He's dead. If Lloyd is here, then...]

Lloyd?

1/2

[redcladidealist]

Huh?

[That voice is familiar, but at first it doesn't click. He's distracted and it's been a while and he just isn't expecting him here. Lloyd turns around, a question on his lips-]

2/2

[redcladidealist]

[-and his good mood dies the instant he sees who it is. Something cold washes through his body - then something very hot.]

You!

[One hand immediately goes to the hilt of his sword, the other clutching his bag.]

Kratos! What are you doing here!

[fatherlineface]

You shouldn't be here, Lloyd!

[The calm expression that Lloyd is used to seeing on Kratos's face, the one that held even as he betrayed them all... is gone entirely, replaced by a look of utter horror and something else undefineable. His hands are shaking as he reaches out to try and put a hand on Lloyd, just as his voice shook when he spoke. Lloyd can't be dead.]

[redcladidealist]

Yeah, well, it's not like I had a choice!

[Every fiber of Lloyd's being stiffens with belligerence, and he jerks back to avoid Kratos's hands. He's not about to let the man lay hands on him.

It only barely registers that something is wrong. Why is Kratos looking at him like that?]

Besides, neither should you!

[fatherlineface]

[Of course Lloyd wouldn't want Kratos to touch him. He draws his hand back, working to wet his lips so that he can speak. The fact that he shouldn't have to do that if he's dead doesn't even occur to him.]

Was it Mithos? I did not intend - I thought that the power of Origin would allow you to...

[He tilts his head back and closes his eyes, trying not to look at Lloyd.]

I didn't want this for you...

Time-travel shenanigans GO!

[fistfullofmagic]

[Well, it was just one surprise here after another. First Lloyd Irving, and now his childhood hero. Dhaos dares not hope it's really the man he'd been so sure he would never see again. Nevertheless, it is that last small spark of hope that convinces him over to the drenched man.]

...Uncle Kratos...?

[fatherlineface]

[Kratos looks up, not displaying any real emotion at being referred to as uncle. There's definitely recognition for his name, at least. He finally asks Dhaos a question quietly.]

Is this the afterlife?

[fistfullofmagic]

[Yep. That's Kratos alright. Dhaos isn't quite sure if his honorary uncle recognizes him, but the fact that he's here at all is somewhat of a relief, even if Dhaos doesn't show it.]

Not sure actually. Possibly an anomaly in time instead. It's apparently called Vatheon.

[fatherlineface]

[An anomaly in time? That... is entirely possible, considering Origin. Kratos actually looks Dhaos over, somewhat startled at what he finds.]

You are an angel of Cruxis.

[fistfullofmagic]

[Ah. Prior to his time then. That's...disappointing, but not the worst thing in the world.]

Descended from them. Cruxis was disbanded more than three and a half millennia before I was born.

[fatherlineface]

Disbanded...

[He lets out a sigh of relief. If that's the case, then Lloyd must have succeeded. He won't question how this man knows that just yet. Kratos pulls himself to his feet.]

What of Martel?

[radiantwingedone]

[ ....Have a towel, Kratos. Duke's going to more or less drop it in your lap and continue toward the other stalls of the plaza.

Although not without a curious look. Kratos feels a bit weird, to the mana Duke swirls about to help him move around things. ]

[fatherlineface]

[There's not even a hint of curiosity in Kratos. He looks down at the towel in his lap blankly. He hadn't even noticed that he was wet. That seems strange, but there isn't much to be done about it. He'll dry off eventually. It's not as if he can fall ill anymore.]

I'm horrible

[radiantwingedone]

[ It takes Duke until after getting more seed to decide he should wander back over to the man.

'You have very odd Mana' isn't exactly the best way to start a conversation - or even a "why do you feel so strange" short discussion. ]

... a reason, why you still remain aware yet so little mana? [ On second thought that was no better.

No one ever said Duke was good at starting conversations. ]

[fatherlineface]

I do not know. I am dead, I think.

[He looks at his hands. Everything feels so solid, and it hurts. Can a person even hurt when they're dead? It's not making much sense, and he just wants to fall asleep and never wake up.]

[radiantwingedone]

Strange. Feel alive enough. [ Although he's checking - only not physically, just more or less poking at Kratos with mana. ]

[fatherlineface]

Are you not dead as well?

[He looks the strange, androgynous man over. It's possible that this is what a true angel of heaven would look like, so perhaps Duke at least is not dead.]

YAY! A Kratos! Mithos won't be the only Seraphim!

[martelapproves]

Well, at least you aren't dead.

[ Last he had seen you, he was taking you back to Cruxis with Pronyma after being hit with Yuan's shock orb. This oughta go well. ]

wioapjewf I was going to be done with testing him but I do need to practice with Mithos~

[fatherlineface]

[Seeing Mithos here is startling to say the least. Surprisingly, the thought that he might be dead as well makes Kratos... sad. He looks to Mithos with quiet confusion.]

I am not? I was under the impression that this is the afterlife.

[martelapproves]

Well, unless Pronyma screwed up - which wouldn't surprise me - we're both still alive and surrounded by inferior beings.

[ Mithos motions towards the coral. ]

They said that thing brought us here.

[fatherlineface]

[Pronyma isn't alive anymore, either. Kratos is hesitant to speak, wondering if Mithos has finally and truly lost his grip on reality. There were days when he expected his old friend to start speaking as if Martel were conscious...]

That coral? I do not see how it could be capable of such a feat.

[martelapproves]

I don't either. Still, it's the only thing everyone here seems to agree on.

[ Mithos walks over towards it, and looks it over. ]

Did you touch it, yet?

[fatherlineface]

[Mithos doesn't seem angry. Wisely, Kratos decides to keep it that way. He tries to get to his feet, but that proves to be difficult with his mana level as abysmally low as it is currently. He grits his teeth as he forces himself up, then places a hand on the coral. And then he blinks.]

Interesting. Perhaps it possesses some level of power after all.