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

[sketchingideals]

[This encounter does not start with Jeb spotting Mithos. No, instead it starts with Jeb noticing the statue while on a walk in that area and recognizing who it's of. Someone he had hoped to know better, but went home...]

Lloyd? [What's a statue of Lloyd doing here? ...and then he notices Mithos. It's not too late to avoid being noticed in return, is it?]

[revolutionarygirl]

[Utena had decided to take a walk herself, wearing the sweater she had found at the foot of her bed Christmas morning, a jacket over that, a warm pair of slacks and some gloves.

Tomorrow was her birthday. With all the stuff that had happened in the last couple of weeks within the village, she had almost forgotten. She probably wasn't going to do much--she usually didn't, and Himemiya and Wakaba weren't here with her. It just seemed... a little pointless.

She's so wrapped up in these thoughts that she runs right into the statue.] Ack--! Ow, what was that...?

[shiningbinds]

[It's likely a bad thing that Kratos and Mithos are on the same wavelength. The man is also making his way into the woods, something purple tucked underneath his arm.

His gift had also been particularly... undesired.]

[imatreenow]

[He turns as if his own name had been called, already glaring because he recognizes that voice. He had paused in tugging at the cumbersome statue for only a fraction of a second, surprised, but he quickly gets back to work. He isn't going to dignify Jeb with a response. Of course the human knows Lloyd - their annoying ideals were made for each other.]

[sketchingideals]

[His world had been turned upside down when he returned home in terms of being "human," but Mithos wouldn't know that. Aware that he's been noticed, Jeb doesn't feel right not saying anything anymore.]

...why do you have a statue of him?

[savedtheworld]

[On one of those occasions, it's Aang who finds the statue after it's abandoned. He recognizes Lloyd and is amazed by his accomplishments, so he has Appa tow it back and sets it up next to the Sokka head statue near his own place. He proudly begins to polish it because of how oddly beat up it looked.]

[imatreenow]

[That was a couple hundred pounds of unbridled omniscient spite, Utena. And it is being lugged along by this kid. He recognizes her after a moment.] Do you ever pay attention, or does walking just use up too much of your brain?

[revolutionarygirl]

Do you ever say anything nice to anyone? [That's truly the best rebuttal for this situation.]

[imatreenow]

[What, did you want to try on the brand spanking new disco suit away from the prying eyes of others, Kratos? Come, feel the power and the glory.

Uh, I mean.

Dragging the statue through the snowy streets was one thing, but the task became more onerous in the uneven terrain of the woods. His movements are hampered by rocks, protruding tree roots, and obstreperous bushes. He doesn't notice Kratos as he viciously yanks at Lloyd's leg, trying to pull the statue up from a divot it had gotten stuck in.]

[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 had ditched the statue earlier in the day, and later had emerged from his house for a record-setting second time in one day to run mundane errands. Getting annoyingly necessary items like food, that sort of thing. On his way back, he decides the world must hate him - of course he already knew that - because standing defiantly in the yard of the house across the street is the immortalized-in-granite Lloyd.

His footsteps halt and he's too livid to even think for a moment. Then he notices the boy polishing the statue. Someone he recognizes.] What do you think you're doing?

[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.]

[calmbeforethe]

[Curiously, his path runs right under Ororo's afternoon flight route. Now, there were many strange sights in Luceti and slowly Ororo was getting used to seeing bizarre things on a daily basis. This one was a little curious.

She follows his route for a while, perhaps half an hour. By the time he nears the woods, she lands some distance away - far enough that she hopes she is not intruding, but near enough to be able to see what Mithos might do with the statue.]

[theboywiththebook]

[And...Henry just see's this kid dragging this statue across the village. Uhhh...okay. The ten year old will approach looking curiously to it before looking to the blond boy.]

What are you doing?

[By the way he's human, hope that's cool.]

[action]

[not_a_troll]

[Now this is the fourth time he has seen this guy dragging a statue along. So this time Loki finally decides to walk up next to the other.]

I notice a certain pattern here.

One option could be that your home is absolutely packed with these statues and you have decided to move one every day. The second option could be that you are fond of dragging statues along every day but that would be strange, since the expression on your face tells me otherwise.

Last option would be that this occurrence has a more mystical reason. One that requires a quest, epic battle music and a variety of monstrous looking beings.

[winds_voice]

[Eleytheria is a watchful Spirit, and he enjoys observing the every day goings-on in Luceti. Something he didn't expect to see was an individual pushing a statue to the nearest river and apparently trying to dispose of it.

...something he expected less was the same event occurring again. More than once.

When he spots Mithos this time, Eley decides to speak up and see if he can gain a better understanding about what's going on exactly. He stays behind a tree, probably looking more stalkerish than he intended.]

Did you not dispose of this statue before?

[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]

[He doesn't have a destination to aim for, but he knows this isn't it. It isn't far enough. He wants to be able to push the taunting statue out of his mind, over the edge, let it smash to pieces. When he reaches the woods, he keeps plowing forward. He's slowed down by the uneven forest floor as he winds his way through the trees, but he shows no signs of stopping.]

[imatreenow]

[It isn't. He glares down at the boy, still pulling at the heavy statue. His arms are already sore and he isn't yet to the edge of the village, but he doesn't need to stop to rest. He doesn't want to.]

If you have eyes, you should use them.

[action]

[imatreenow]

[At first he ignores the other boy, intent on getting the loathsome statue out of his hands as soon as possible, and very not intent on talking with anyone. Finally, he turns to snap at him.]

Is there a reason you're speaking to me?

[action]

[not_a_troll]

[Loki points at the statue.]

Aye. That there.

And because I have vocal chords and an ability to speak.

[imatreenow]

[He pauses in his struggle, eyes sweeping the area to pinpoint the source of the voice. His cooling glare lands on the tree that Eleytheria stands behind. He shapes his voice into something imperial and commanding.] Who is there?

[imatreenow]

It isn't because I wanted one. [Nope, he still isn't stopping.]

[winds_voice]

[Of course he senses the shift in tone. It puts Eley a little on edge and he steps out to show himself now, standing his ground. He'd known many with that voice. Some friends and some foes. Considering he was addressing a stranger, he needed to be wary of him.]

I am Eleytheria. Who are you?