nineteen [written/voice/action]

[imatreenow]

[Mithos had come to in the forest, and the first thing he knew was that he was alone. The second thing he knew was that the mana here was so thin he couldn't sense it at all. A ripple of alarm spread through him, reaching wider with each second, but he forced himself to remain calm. He called out the names of his companions, but he didn't expect to hear any response cutting through the silence of the trees. His immediate concern is warmth. Through the trees, their limbs black and bare, he can make out the shapes of houses in the near distance - a village. He knows he can't risk venturing inside, especially if he doesn't even know where he is. The clothes he had woken up in are loose on his frame and they provide some protection against the cold, but they can't compare to a warm cloak. The upside of being a mage, however, is that you can build a fire in no time.

Once the flames are crackling, he can turn his attention to his next concern: the small book he had found in the snow, with his name embossed on the cover. He leafs through it, curious. And piece by piece, he figures out how to use it.]

[WRITTEN - mediocrely filtered to Kratos and Yuan]

Kratos and Yuan,

I found your names in this journal device. I hope this message finds its way to you. Where are you, and is Martel with you? I'm somewhere in the woods, but I don't know how I got here. I can see a village nearby, but I haven't approached and I don't know what village it is.

Please reply quickly.

Mithos

[Later, once the situation has been sorted out and he's settled in at House 8 with his two best bros in the whole wide world, he opens his journal again, this time to address a larger audience. He's had a lot to think about, a lot to digest. And perhaps his next move is foolish, but he feels that it's something he must do.]

[VOICE]

Good afternoon. Thank you for taking the time to listen... This message may not seem important, and maybe it will mean nothing to you...but it means something to me. My name is Mithos Yggdrasill. I arrived here earlier today, and the situation has been explained to me clearly enough. I'm not here to ask about that. [A small pause in which he can practically hear Yuan rolling his eyes from somewhere in the house, and his lips twtch in quiet amusement for a second before he calmly continues.]

I come from a world in conflict. Until recently, two powerful countries were at war - for nearly a thousand years, they fought each other for land and resources and power. That war has ended, but there is another, perhaps even more deeply-rooted war that still rages. People hold a lot of prejudices against each other. Elves look down on humans, and they look down on half-elves for having human blood inside them. Humans fear and despise half-elves for posessing magic that they lack. Everyone looks for someone else to blame. They look for someone they can put down to make themselves feel superior.

I don't know what your home worlds are like. Maybe they're similar to the world I know, or maybe everyone has learned to live together peacefully. I just want to be clear... I don't want to deceive anybody.

I happen to be a half-elf. I'm staying in the village right now, but if that makes you uncomfortable, I... Well, no, I won't understand. Whatever my blood may be, I'm no different from any of you. But I'll respect your wishes. I don't mean to cause trouble while I'm here.

That's all I wanted to say.

[ACTION]

[In the afternoon, delighted to learn that literally nobody cares that he's a half-elf, Mithos wanders out to explore the village more fully. First stop: clothes that fit better, because the set he woke up in were clearly meant for someone taller. He'll linger around the plaza, checking out each shop and stopping by the smithy to procure a sword. He doesn't expect to find the Eternal Sword here, but he feels a little naked without any blade at all at his side. He can be found anywhere in the village, a thoughtful look on his face as he learns the streets.]

[OOC NOTE: For those unfamiliar with Tales of Symphonia, or those who need a refresher, Mithos has returned from a mallynap thrown 4000 years into the past, to a time when he was this totally cool hero who stopped a war, stopped the world from dying, worked to end discrimination, and things like that. It's also worth noting that, to anyone who knows him, it will be apparent that he is younger - shorter, rounder face, higher voice. Basically how he was a year ago so his icons are actually accurate again. But he's still recognizable as himself.

Also, I'm staying with a friend tonight and then tomorrow we drive back to campus, so I'll be tagging as much as I can today but after that I won't be around again until late Wednesday night at the earliest. Just a heads up!]

Comments

[written -> action]

[shiningbinds]

Mithos,

I need to speak with Yuan first, but I shouldn't be too terribly long.

Kratos

[And then Kratos is closing his journal, hoping Yuan also got the message and that he hadn't gone out.]

[action]

[imatreenow]

[He closes his journal too, then stands. He'll kick snow onto the fire to put it out, and then he follows the quiet gurgling sounds of water to find his way to the riverbank where he'll wait for Kratos. He's apprehensive about whatever he's gotten himself into - there's too much he doesn't know, and too much he has questions about. The sooner his mentor gets here, the better.]

[action]

[shiningbinds]

[Once he gets to the riverbank, it doesn't take him too terribly long to track down his... pupil. Yes. For now, Mithos is his student once more, and Kratos must act as if that's never changed.]

...Mithos. [A small smile. Surprisingly enough, it's not too forced.]

[action]

[imatreenow]

[As soon as Mithos spots Kratos, he runs up to him as if every second makes a difference.] Kratos!

[His eyes go a little wide as he notices the wings on Kratos's back, similar to the ones he had woken up with. So he did have them too...]

[action]

[shiningbinds]

[He can wager a guess as to why Mithos looks so shocked, but he doesn't say anything. Not yet.]

I'm glad you're safe.

[action] 1/2

[imatreenow]

[He almost trips as he nears him - these boots are too big for him - but he catches himself and safely comes to a stop in front of Kratos with a smile ready.]

I'm happy to see you too.

[action]

[imatreenow]

[He's eyeing those wings again.] Are these...a mutation of some sort? Does it have something to do with the Cruxis Crystals? [He's allowed to ask all of the question now, right?]

[action]

[shiningbinds]

[He shakes his head.]

No, they're not. [A small sigh.] The village is not the only unfamiliar thing about this place.

[action]

[imatreenow]

What do you mean?

[action]

[shiningbinds]

This world is not our own.

[Blunt, to the point. He likely could have afforded to be more gentle with that, but this Mithos, the one that was his pupil, is much more likely to just ask more questions than to be angry.

It's nice. Nostalgic... and almost painful.]

[action] s-s-subthread!

[fortunefail]

[Yuan has not received the message yet. He has better things to do than keeping watch over his journal all the time. ... Well, not better things. Other things.

He's locked away in his room, tinkering with a small, unfamiliar device. Unbeknownst to him, it's a cellphone. A useless one, because there aren't any phone networks in Luceti, but a cellphone nonetheless. It even has a camera function!]

[action]

[shiningbinds]

[Regardless of whether or not Yuan has received the message, Kratos is outside his door and knocking. It isn't as if he can leave and bring Mithos back without Yuan being in the loop at all--that would only make this more of a disaster.]

[action]

[fortunefail]

[He's just in the middle of screwing the device open with a tiny screwdriver when he sense Kratos' approach. The knock is unsurprising, but just a little irritating. He sighs and sweeps the screws he's already removed into a neat heap so he won't lose them.]

Come in.

[action]

[shiningbinds]

[Kratos opens the door, steps in, then closes the door quietly and slowly behind him. Slower than usual, as he's making sure he doesn't close his fingers between. Losing his sense of touch really has been irritating, as this has happened a couple of times already. He's at least learning to be more careful now.]

I need to speak with you. It's... well, it's rather urgent. [...] I take it you haven't checked your journal today?

[action]

[fortunefail]

[Yuan already doesn't like where this is going, and Kratos hasn't even explained anything yet. This can only mean trouble, really. Time has taught him, without fail, that anything that Kratos describes as urgent is troublesome for Yuan. He peers up at his friend with a frown.]

Not since this morning. Why?

[action]

[shiningbinds]

Mithos left us a message. [A sigh, then continuing:] Mithos, as he was four thousand years ago.

[action]

[fortunefail]

[The first thought to pop into his head is that that's not a bad thing at all. Mithos as he was four thousand years ago would be a great improvement over how he is now.

However, the full realization of the situation before them then dawns on him. If Mithos is from back then, he'll want to see them. He'll want an explanation. He'll demand to know where Martel is. That sort of information can be avoided, but only for so long.]

... Is this the result of an experiment, or was he sent home and returned from a different point in time?

[action]

[shiningbinds]

I'm actually uncertain of which it may be. [Both are distinct possibilities, aren't they? ...but Kratos knows better than to be hopeful when it comes to Mithos.] However, I think it would be in our best interest to assume it's the result of an experiment.

[action] a little later in the day!

[imatreenow]

[After listening to Kratos's explanation of where he is and what's going on around him, Mithos is settling into his new room. Or rather, since it's not like he arrived with anything but the clothes on his back (not even his own, which is an alarming thought in itself), he's settling into the idea of being here. Without Martel.

The door is wide open and he sits on the bed, diligently reading through The Guide to learn as much as he can.]

[action]

[fortunefail]

[Yuan knows he can't avoid Mithos forever. Eventually, he'll have to go out there and pretend the past four thousand years didn't happen. How did he behave himself around Mithos back then? He can't even remember. Memories of their companionship are being overshadowed by memories of bowing to Yggdrasill.

Ultimately, all he can do is give his best attempts to be pleasant to Mithos. That much hasn't changed in all those years. Trying to make as little noise as possible, he leaves his room and strides down the hall to head for the kitchen. Passing by either of the two guest rooms is a given.]

[action]

[imatreenow]

[Sensing movement in the corners of his vision, he looks up to see Yuan passing by. Lowering his journal, he calls out to him.]

Yuan! It's about time you showed up. I expected a quicker response from the guy who's always hastily rushing into battle. [His tone is light, teasing, like everything is normal even though it's been knocked off kilter.]

[action]

[fortunefail]

[The moment Mithos calls out to him, Yuan freezes in his steps. He shouldn't be this tense, but he just can't help himself. That voice is tied to far too many bad memories. He takes a deep breath through his nose, then turns to face Mithos.]

I've been busy.

[action]

[imatreenow]

[The brusqueness is par for the course, so he doesn't let it slow him down.] With what?

[action]

[fortunefail]

That's none of your business. [He already doesn't like sharing details with Mithos, but the current situation isn't helping any.]

[action]

[imatreenow]

I just thought...it must be something really important, if you barely even realized I'm here now. [This time he does sound a little put out, although he doesn't mean to.]