twenty [action]

[imatreenow]

[Almost a week ago Mithos had returned from a mission, the first he'd ever volunteered for. It may have seemed a strange choice for someone who trusted no one, who loathed being a pawn for others, to submit himself as a lab rat for combat testing, but his choices are narrowing around him. There is something he is after. Something he can finally close his fingers around, after watching it all scream past him for so long. If he is going to be used by the Malnosso regardless of his choices, it is better that he gains something from it - which he'd had to remind himself many times to dampen the sour taste sitting in the back of his throat.

Now back in the village, he has resumed the same quiet routine as before. In the early morning, before the sun is too hot in the sky, and before too many villagers are awake, he can be seen hunched over in the garden around House 52. He tries not to wonder if the flowers, planted with the thin hope that his sister might have the chance to enjoy them, amount to anything more than a vain effort. When he decides he needs more supplies, he makes sure to visit the flower shop in the early afternoon - wondering, like a scratch in the back of his mind, if school is still in session at all, or if he'll run into someone he would rather not see at all.

Later in the day, he withdraws to the woods south of the village to train. Four thousand years of fighting are wired inside his muscles, but it doesn't hurt to stay as sharp as possible. He's still getting used to the subtle differences between a proper sword and the knife he now relies on. Slicing the air, going through the motions of killing, he feels like he is building something. When he's done, he settles in against the base of a tree and draws the ancient set of panpipes from his pocket. He usually prefers to play inside, where the music of his sister cannot be heard by prying ears, but surrounded by the forest and his thoughts he can almost forget that people exist. And so the notes come out, clear and steady.]

Comments

[sketchingideals]

[Mithos isn't the only one who likes to sit at the base of trees--Jeb's doing the same, head tilted upward. His hands are planted firmly against the soil as he breathes softly, inhaling through his nose and exhaling through his mouth. As time passes, his earth magic has caused him to be more and more at peace around plant life and nature. As he tunes into it, he almost feels a second presence around him. A kind, powerful, nurturing presence... Terare of Earth? but it's so fleeting that Jeb can only wonder if it's just his imagination.

He can hear music. It's faint, but Jeb can definitely hear it even in his meditation-like state. He's still so deeply tuned into the nature around him to check it out just yet, though.]

[imatreenow]

[Mithos will likewise remain ignorant to the other boy's presence as the tune effortlessly spins out from his memory and he tries to sink away from the confines of himself. He exists and his sister exists in memories - not memories of her death, but of her life, their life - and nothing else. He tries to let nothing else matter right now.]

[sketchingideals]

[Jeb eventually allows himself to pull away from his focus, opening his eyes. The music is a lot louder, now that he's pulled back down to... reality? Is that the right word for it? He's not sure. Either way, he follows the music.

However, the moment he notices where it's coming from--the moment he notices Mithos playing the panpipes--he freezes. He takes a quiet step back. He... he shouldn't stay here. He should go back to the apartment now. But he promised Mithos his loyalty, his friendship, back when Mithos was someone far from who he is now and Jeb was able to reach him. Even if Mithos doesn't want any of it, Jeb feels he's only as good as his word.

So he's torn, not even really listening to the music anymore as he decides what to do.]

[shiningbinds]

[What a great day to train in the woods! Kratos is doing the same. Or rather, he was going to before he noticed Mithos. It would be better if he left before Mithos noticed him in return--with any luck, the boy is wrapped up enough in his training to not notice him.

He turns to leave, remembering a time when it wouldn't be like this at all, and another time where he had been given a false second chance... and then the beginning of a mysterious song plays.

Blame your fate, Kratos.]

[imatreenow]

[He redirects his step when the music - if it can be called that - suddenly blares from behind him, and his eyes end up following the point of his blade to land on Kratos. He says nothing at first, the air thickening with his hatred and the grating noise that seems to be emanating from Kratos's person. Then, he must ask.]

What are you doing?

[shiningbinds]

[Kratos has no interest in explaining to Mithos what has happened. It's frustrating enough that the music has decided to make itself known again just as he was trying to leave undetected, but it's not something he wants Mithos to know the details of anyway. Not when things have returned to "normal" between them and there's nothing left to truly connect them to each other--

And the music blares louder at those thoughts. Oh, damnit.]

...leaving. [And he tries to do so again. If the situation weren't so absurd, it would almost be humiliating.]

[action]

[etherealblast]

[With recent events Fayt hadn't been sure if it would be possible to try to contact the spirits, but those events are exactly why trying to attempt it is so fresh in his mind. Kipinn had left him the day before yesterday, but the interest about the spirits and filial magic from before remained and grew thanks to the encounter. With the quickly dwindling amount of people who had large wings came the realization that the spirits seemed to be more or less retreating peacefully for the most part, and Fayt figured today would be a safe time to look. He didn’t really expect to have any luck today, but it was something to do.

After reading the guide, he’d figured the closest and most likely bet to try to contact one of them would be the forest or anywhere outdoors. Fayt had been walking for quite a while when the sound of some sort of pipe or flute reached his ear, and curiosity led him to follow the music to its origin. The person playing it looked to be a few years younger than Fayt, and as he steps into view he smiles a bit.]

You’re pretty good at that.

[action]

[imatreenow]

[The expression of focus - like one that could be found in a church, praying for an end to hardships - drops from his face when the human's words break the spell. His eyes spring open into a glare, and the corners of his mouth turn down. His voice, while quiet, is sharp.]

Who gave you permission to listen?

Re: [action]

[etherealblast]

[Well that was a friendly reaction. The sharp reaction compared to the soft, soothing melody of before was quite the contrast, and Fayt's brows raise in surprise before he finally shrugs and runs a hand through his hair.] I didn't realize you didn't want to be bothered. This place isn't exactly private.

[revolutionarygirl]

[Utena is close enough to the entrance of the flower shop to notice Mithos showing up. She looks over to him for a moment, then looks back down at the flowers. Does she risk talking to him? He's taller--that's a bad sign that he's back to normal. Besides, maybe it's better to forget the whole training sessions thing... and also--

Valentine's Day. She groans a little.]

[imatreenow]

[Definitely better to forget. In the years he's passed in Luceti, Mithos has become well-versed in pretending that a lot of things never happened. And absolutely nothing has gone awry in that regard. Except for when it does go awry, but that is neither here nor there.

His eyes pass over Utena, catching for only an irritated second, as he steps into the shop and briskly stalks past her.]

[revolutionarygirl]

[She lets out a tense sigh. It bothers her, just ignoring it like this. Or maybe it's because Mithos bothers her. Just the way he holds himself in general, and the way he acts. Or maybe it's because he's one big case of whiplash. Out of everyone she's met, he's the one who seems to be the most drastically affected by the Malnosso's weird experiments.]

...the rose. The one you gave me the advice on. [She doesn't look at him as she speaks, and her tone is softer than usual. He at least deserves to know this.] I've taken really good care of it.

[savedtheworld]

[Aang decided on a walk in the forest that evening, most likely to try to wash some disturbing music he'd heard earlier out of his ears with some calm, refreshing nature. Goes down smooth.

But then, he hears an added treat: the panflute music. Now that's pleasing to the ear - and he winds up whipping up an air scooter to head towards the source.]

[imatreenow]

[If he follows the music, Aang will find Mithos underneath the tree, head bent and eyes closed as if in prayer, the panpipes held to his mouth. Today, he is not a shuddering child when he plays the familiar tunes. For the first time in a long time, he has a small seed of purpose growing inside him. His heart still aches; everything still lays in jagged pieces at his feet; he is still lost and alone and small. But he has found a foothold.

He just needs time.

He won't notice Aang just yet, lost deep in the music.]

[savedtheworld]

[Aang's approach is softer as he draws near and takes in the scene. So peaceful. It's almost easy to believe that Mithos will open his eyes and smile, greeting Aang as a friend once more.

But he was all too ready for the more likely possibility. That Mithos was gone. Forever.

He doesn't speak yet - he manages to contain his shock at the sight. Instead he looks on. And he takes in the music.]

[winds_voice]

[Of course, Eley spends much of his time in the woods as it is, and when he suddenly hears the distant tone of some music he can't help but be drawn to it. He missed the music of Agkelos, and whatever instrument the musician might be playing, it reminded him of home, and of certain people he had left behind.

He wasn't quite expecting to see Mithos at the source of the music however. The Spirit stands a short distance away from him, watching him play with some great interest. He knows better than to interrupt someone when they are performing, even if the brief intensity of the wind naturally heralded his presence.]

[imatreenow]

[He doesn't think anything of the wind's strength in that moment, eyes still closed as he plays a steady string of notes. This is one of the ways he can feel close to his sister, even when he hasn't seen her in longer than a year, and even though their differences feel cold and sharp wedged between them.

It isn't until he reaches the song's end that he lowers the pipes to his lap and slowly opens his eyes. The wistful expression clouds his features for a lingering moment, until he realizes that he is not alone. Then his eyes sharpen into a glare, and the silence sours.]

[winds_voice]

[The Spirit remembers that look. Something about those pipes, that song, seemed to subdue it a little. Now though, the focus was on him and Eley realises that he was likely intruding on a rather private, personal moment.

Still, he doesn't falter under that gaze, but keeps watching him for a moment. Daring to come a little closer, he offers a slight bow of his head in apology.]

Forgive my intrusion. I was attracted by the sound of your music. Do you play often?

action: in the woods

[theboywiththebook]

[Henry sort of skipped out on school today. He does that sometimes, especially now that he can't read. But, he can hear. And what he hears is music from what sounds like a flute.

Approaching it slowly, Henry notices the certain teenager that he's had run ins before with. Mithos. Now this is an awkward remeeting. The older boy seemed to be busy playing, so Henry wasn't sure if Mithos had noticed him yet. Still, he looked like he was back to his proper age again, which meant he probably wasn't that nice kid he talked to before.

There's a chance though that maybe that person is still there, so he decides to step out from his hiding place.]

Mithos?

action: in the woods

[imatreenow]

[The serene melody breaks apart mid-note, falling to the forest floor in silence as the pipes drop from Mithos's lips. He's ready with a glare, a warning sign that this is not the boy Henry hoped for.]

Who are you to address me as a companion?

action: in the woods

[theboywiththebook]

[Well, damn.

The glare was not something he hoped for or wished. He almost wished the boy he met, the kinder one, was still around.

When he thinks about it...it still probably wouldn't be right. No one should have their head messed with, even if it was for the best.

Still, it doesn't make it hurt any less hearing the half elf sound like that.]

Henry. We talked awhile back and hung out for a little when you were...um, younger.

[disastergirl]

[Unfortunately for Mithos, she was an early bird. It came with the territory, or at least it did back home. She hadn't figured out what to do with the rest of the day yet, so for the time being she was just wandering around, preoccupied with her thoughts.

Seeing him outside House 52 still managed to catch her attention, though. Did people really tend to flowers this early? She honestly didn't know. Maybe those flowers were special in some way, but that kind of answer wasn't enough to satisfy her curiosity, either. After all, she wasn't going to find out for sure if she didn't take this investigation into her own hands!

The only problem with that idea was that she wasn't particularly good at sneaking around.]

[imatreenow]

[He tenses at the sound of footsteps, and when they come closer instead of walking past, he looks up from the plants that have absorbed his attention until now to assess the trespasser. She seems vaguely familiar but he cannot remember why, nor does he particularly care. He greets her with a glare.]

[halflived]

[Wandering around in the woods was nothing new to Aleos. While his abilities didn't extend to include plant life, he had always felt more at ease, almost peaceful in a way that been hard to find since he got here. Maybe it was because it reminded him of places and people that mattered greatly to him, and he almost thought that the music carrying through the air was another part of his reminiscing.

It doesn't take long to realize that it wasn't, the sound might have been similar but it wasn't what he sometimes heard, nor was it a melody he knew. Despite better judgment he starts to seek it out, until he sees a familiar head of blonde hair and his breath hitches.]

[imatreenow]

[Mithos continues to breathe out the notes, feeling not the presence of the boy, but of people who are not there - people who he had played for once upon a time - until he reaches the end of the tune. When the pipes drop from his mouths, his eyes flicker open to stare into his lap.

Then he is startled to realize he is not alone. His posture stiffens instantly as he flings his hardened gaze around the woods until finding a familiar face.]

Is there a reason for your being here?