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

[fortunefail]

[And just when Mithos might think his day can't get any worse, he'll encounter Yuan near the north end of the village. He isn't out to dispose of aggravating presents, simply to get some fresh air.

While the sight of Mithos dragging a statue of Lloyd around is enough to bring a frown to his face, he's not stupid enough to approach. He'll just watch from a distance. Not that he's hiding- Mithos could easily spot him or even sense him if he wanted.]

[imatreenow]

[He can feel the offensively familiar presence nearby and he sees Yuan in his peripherals, but he doesn't acknowledge him. The last time he saw Yuan, he was a bleeding corpse at his feet, and he had almost been looking forward to the next time their paths crossed. But not like this, with this stupid statue taunting him mercilessly.

As his path draws him closer to the traitor, he can't help but be curious, though: what had been taken from Yuan in exchange for restoring his lost life? He seems perfectly fine, which Mithos finds perfectly annoying, but there are many wrongs that cannot be seen.]

[fortunefail]

[And still, Yuan just watches. He has no memories of their previous 'encounter'. Yet, with his death penalty comes new questions. How close was Mithos to Martel when she was here in Luceti? How did her younger brother cope with that situation, especially more than once?

He wishes he could remember, but anything even remotely affiliated to Martel has been wiped. All he knows is that there isn't a single moment where he got along with Mithos, so evidently Martel's presence did nothing to bring peace between the two of them.]

[imatreenow]

[The closer he gets, the more oppressive Yuan's gaze feels. He shoots a hard glare over his shoulder as he approaches.] If you have nothing to say, then go about whatever business a mongrel like you has. [Not that he wants to hear anything Yuan might have to say anyway/]

[fortunefail]

[There isn't anything truly important that Yuan has to say. Martel isn't a topic he'd like to discuss with Mithos and he's convinced that feeling is mutual. However, that won't stop him from shooting a snide remark the boy's way, if only so he can have the last word.]

Of course. I wouldn't want to take your attention away from your own pressing affairs.

[imatreenow]

[Bitch, please. He will have the last word. He ceases with the statue, so he can stand up tall and glare at Yuan straight on.]

I see your death penalty hasn't kept you from being your usual irritating self. [Yeah, burn.]

[fortunefail]

Kch! [Well, that wiped the smirk right off his face again. Yuan's instinctive urge is to question how Mithos even knows about the death penalty. However, that'd be just what the boy wants, wouldn't it? To gloat over the fact that Yuan died, however briefly it was. Besides, considering they were both drafted, it wouldn't have been too hard for Mithos to find out.]

It'd take more than something like that to have me turn a blind eye to your actions.

[imatreenow]

[He does feel a twinge of disappointment, wanting to relish any leverage over Yuan that he can. He'll wait for any chance to gloat he can seize hold of later. And look, he can scoff too.]

I've done nothing, if you must know. Not that it's any of your business.

[fortunefail]

It's always been my business.

[The only problem is that he hasn't been very good at it in the distant past. He should've paid more attention to Mithos before the boy had become a lost cause, not after.]

[imatreenow]

So you've claimed. [The words are sharp but the meaning is vague enough to point toward any number of things. He'll just let Yuan have fun figuring it out.]

[fortunefail]

[Honestly, Yuan's not going to look too far into it. He has claimed a lot of things that ultimately turned out to be 'empty'.]

So I still do. However, I'll be the first to admit that I failed to do my job when it mattered most.

[imatreenow]

It's a little late for that. [They're not having this conversation now, or ever. It's the same as with Kratos - while he may be furious at Yuan for turning against him in the end, a quieter part of him is more hurt that Yuan turned his back to him at the beginning.]

[fortunefail]

[A small part of him still wishes it wasn't too late. That he could find a way to get along with Mithos- not just Martel's younger brother, but his own old companion. However, that small part is being drowned out by what Yuan can only assume is common sense, so he gives another bitter response.]

Yes, it is.

[imatreenow]

[If he can't figure out what Yuan's death penalty is, then this conversation is a waste of his time and his non-existent patience. The traitor doesn't deserve any parting words - Mithos pins him with a final glare before continuing on his way. Which is slow and cumbersome with the statue, so it's not like he's going anywhere right away.]