eighteen [action]

[imatreenow]

[Friday afternoon finds Mithos dragging a granite statue through the streets of Luceti. It will look familiar to those who can claim Aselia as their home world, carved adoringly in the likeness of a young man wielding dual swords. The figure is planted atop a base that bears a plaque engraved with the simple honor, "The Hero Lloyd Irving." All together, it stands at about three and a half feet, scaled down from the original model.

For Mithos, it's a bitter reminder of things that could never have been. Its sudden appearance in his house had been an elbow nudging him sharply in the ribs, an obnoxious stage whisper prompting, "Hey, remember that time all your hopes and dreams were crushed?"

Yes, yes he remembers.

Which is why he had to get rid of it. The first day, he dragged the statue behind the house, let it topple into the river, and watched the determined stony face sink below the surface. The next morning, it found its way back to his living room. Each day, he drags it farther away, and each morning it proudly comes back.

His route today takes him up from the south end of the village through the north end and into the woods. The farther away, the better.]

Comments

[shiningbinds]

[No, that's absurd. Absurd like the disco suit.

The noise attracts Kratos' attention, and it isn't long before he notices Mithos. ...Mithos, who he hasn't seen since before the draft.. He can't bring himself to leave, despite how he knows Mithos will react to him. Despite his inability to feel and the chance that Mithos will catch onto it. Despite the embarrassing garment underneath his arm.

He approaches.]

[imatreenow]

[He hears the approaching footsteps and looks up, suddenly aware of the pungently familiar presence of mana a second before his eyes land on Kratos. The cosmic irony of this situation just increased tenfold, but Mithos doesn't appreciate the joke. He straightens himself up, momentarily abandoning his struggle with the statue, to direct all of his energy into glaring at Kratos.]

What do you want?

[shiningbinds]

[He doesn't answer, continuing to approach. His attention falls to the statue--now that he has a closer eye on it, he realizes who it's supposed to be.

...oh.]

[imatreenow]

[He follows Kratos's line of vision to the statue and his glare burns more darkly. He laughs, a dry, crackling burst.] You would love to have this piece of trash, wouldn't you?

[shiningbinds]

I don't know what would give you that impression. [The purple atrocity under his arm is momentarily forgotten.] I'm merely surprised that you would have such a statue.

[imatreenow]

[Have a "right, whatever" sort of scoff.] A gift from the Malnosso. I don't intend to keep it.

[shiningbinds]

[And now Kratos is reminded as to why he's out there in the first place. He has no intention of keeping his gift, either.] I suppose that makes two of us.

[imatreenow]

[His eyes fall momentarily on the bundle tucked under Kratos's arm; he's vaguely curious, but mostly he doesn't care.]

I'm surprised you haven't started preaching to me about how great your son is, or how this statue belongs in the center of town, where everyone can praise him all day long. [Each word is spat out bitterly.]

[shiningbinds]

If you expect me to start, then you're sorely mistaken. [Even if Kratos agreed with those sentiments, Lloyd wouldn't wish for something like that.]

[imatreenow]

I suppose I was always sorely mistaken when it comes to you.

[shiningbinds]

There was a time where you weren't... but we are not those people anymore, are we? [Not said in anger, but defeated acceptance.]

[imatreenow]

No, we’re not. [His words are frigid - steel icicles.] Sometimes I can’t even believe that I used to think you were the person I could rely on the most. [No, most of the time... The memories are like something out of someone else’s life, and he hates that the most.]

[shiningbinds]

[He's silent. He should never have been the one Mithos relied on in any way. Not with how things ended up, not with how weak willed he was. In Kratos' mind, it's an endless loop of regrets, always coming to the same conclusion and then starting all over again. He waits if Mithos has anything else to say.]

[imatreenow]

[His eyes narrow in Kratos's silence.] Are you done wasting my time? [He has a statue to get rid of, man.]

[shiningbinds]

[Hmph. It's a question Kratos should have expected.]

In a place such as this, do we not have all the time in the world? [No matter how they have changed as people, Kratos still has lingering concern for Mithos. No amount of change could destroy it, even if it would be for the best.] One must wonder how you came into possession with... that.

[He has his suspicions.]

[imatreenow]

That doesn't mean I want to spend it listening to you.

[His expression grows sharper and uglier the longer this so-called conversation wears on him. As for that stupid question...] What do you think?

[shiningbinds]

I never assumed that you would.

[...]

Ah. Yes, of course. [The same reason he has the purple atrocity underneath his arm.]