fortunefail | - 84 [Written / Action]

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- 84 [Written / Action]

[Martel]

We need to talk.

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[Action]

[This afternoon, Yuan can be spotted walking around the village perimeter. To the stores, then the library and finally he'll take a break near the fountain, watching people as they pass by. By then, he's gathered up a bag filled with assorted foods and a few books and he's flipping idly through his journal. It may seem like he doesn't have a particular reason for sitting out there, but that's exactly what he wants people to think.

Once he's sure nobody's around to see him, he'll slip into the tunnels. There's a certain someone down there he needs to check up on.]

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[Sheryl's never really been much of a reader, but her wanderings around the village have brought her in the direction of the library. She spots Yuan's blue from behind and immediately stares in shock as she's never seen Alto wear clothing like that before. She'd heard about him wearing it from his brother but it was the first Sheryl had ever seen it in person. Her pace brings her up to Yuan eventually as she reaches to grab his shoulder.]

You should've said something if you were here too, Alto.

[Guess who isn't happy to see you, Yuan? Raine stopping by the previous day had been bad enough. As soon as Mithos sees him, he ceases his irritated pacing and simply glares.]

Did you come here to gloat?

[Yuan never expected Mithos to be happy to see him. In fact, the feeling is very mutual. Sadly, Mithos is his responsibility and Martel won't forgive him if he lets her little brother starve or anything like that. He isn't here to gloat, he's here because he has to.]

I came here to be certain you aren't doing anything stupid.

[Yuan had sensed someone approaching him, he just didn't think too much of it. He's sitting in the village plaza, after all. It's a busy location, so people pass him by all the time. Still, the presence is getting awfully close and he looks up just in time to feel a hand on his shoulder. Yuan is one of those people who doesn't appreciate being touched, so he wastes no time in jumping to his feet to shrug that hand off again.]

What the- Who? [Who the hell is Alto?]

Does it look like I can do anything down here? [He gestures around the sparsely-furbished cell. Acknowledging his helplessness in front of Yuan...that's a tough blow, but his former companion's patronizing attitude just pisses him off. He wants to shove every bit of it back at him.]

If I could do anything to escape, I would have come to spill your blood by now. [Still falling back on threats, despite the great disparity between their ability levels.]

[If Yuan's expression is any indication, he's grossly unimpressed by Mithos' threat. That's not just because a set of thick metal bars is separating them, either.]

You mean you'd have attempted it, which would've been a rather trivial affair. ...I brought you something to keep you busy.

[He crouches down and slides the bag he was holding between the bars. It's got a loaf of bread, a few bottles of water, some assorted pieces of fruit and three library books. Yuan had no idea what Mithos likes to read these days, if at all, so he got some fantasy literature from other worlds. Nothing too violent, in case it gives him any ideas. Have fun reading the Tales of Beedle the Bard, man.]

[And if Mithos's expression is any indication, he didn't want to be reminded of how ineffective his threats are. It's the only way he knows how to deal with Yuan.]

I don't need your charity. [Not true - food and water are pretty darn important. But he sure as heck isn't going to thank his captor. Rather than being thankful, he mostly finds it annoying that they're faking kindness. If they really wanted to do him a favor, they'd let him go. And maybe let him send his sword through them, not that he even has that anymore.]

[Yuan straightens up again, shaking his head. He was half expecting Mithos to throw those supplies at his head. It's nice to see he's being so calm about it. Arrogant as always, but at least he's not violent. Not yet, anyway.]

Responsibility isn't the same as charity. It's a warden's task to make sure their prisoner doesn't starve to death. [He's not saying it triumphantly, he really means it.]

[He scowls as Yuan echoes Raine's words from the day before. His reponse will be more or less the same.]

As if a traitor like you would care if I did.

[He makes no move to retrieve the supplies from the floor - that would be admitting that he require's Yuan's help.]

[There's no need for Yuan to beat around the bush with this one. No need to lie, either.] I care because Martel cares. Despite the crimes you've committed, she would be devastated if any real harm befalls you.

[This is going to lead to another argument about Martel's wishes and he knows it, but he wants to make it perfectly clear he isn't doing this for Mithos. If Martel weren't here in Luceti, Yuan would've skewered Mithos for his crimes instead of simply imprisoning him.]

[Yuan always manages to set off that trigger. Then again, it's an easy one to set off. Mithos's eyes narrow dangerously and his hands ball into fists]

Shut up. Don't pretend that you hold even a shred of care for Martel - you forfeited that right a long time ago.

There are some things you can't dictate, Mithos. Emotions are one of them. Believe whatever you want to believe, it won't change a damn thing.

[He wishes he didn't care about Martel. It would make things so much easier if he didn't have to worry about her all the time- didn't have to feel that pain every time she got sent home. But if there's one thing he absolutely refuses to be, it's one of Mithos' lifeless beings. Those wretched, heartless puppets who can't do anything but do as they're told. Feelings are what prove Yuan's still alive, even after all those years.]

I don't want to hear from you what I can or cannot do. I'll do whatever is necessary to ensure that harm does not befall my sister again, and that includes protecting her from everyone else in this village. Even if you pretend to be her friend - or anything else - I won't be fooled, and neither will she.

[Sheryl's hand snaps back almost immediately as Yuan turns to face her. Nope... definitely not Alto.]

You're not him.

[Sheryl folds her arms across her chest before leaning in closer to get a better look at Yuan, studying him intently before smirking.]

But you do act like him.

The person she needs to be protected from is you, Mithos. You've become the very essence of the people we used to oppose and some day, you'll unwittingly destroy whatever you have left.

[As soon as Yuan finishes that sentence a book will be whipping through the air toward him, aimed for his face. Thrown vertically like a tomahawk so that it can sail through the iron bars.]

Miserable liar! You don't have any idea what you're talking about!

[Yuan may not have enhanced senses down here, but he saw Mithos reach for the book and it wasn't hard to predict why. It's dodged with a simple step to the left. The poor book keeps sailing and hits the wall behind Yuan.]

... Childish behavior for a man your age. And yet you're surprised you have no one left.

Is that so? [He doesn't sound entirely interested. It's nothing personal, he just can't bring himself to care about acquaintances of complete strangers, even if they do seemingly look and act like him.]

Perhaps now, you've learned to make certain the person you're approaching isn't just reminiscent of who you're looking for.

I have Martel! [He reaches for another book and chucks it at Yuan. This one misses, clanging against the iron bars and landing inside the cell with a thud.]

I don't need anyone else. [...well, there's Kaori too, but Yuan doesn't need to know about that. It's pure stupidity to give an enemy any sort of opportunity for leverage.]

[Oh, how much he would love to claim that Martel is only by Mithos' side because she pities him... But that's not true. She really does care about her little brother.]

She won't be around forever. You'd do well to remember that.

And whose fault is that? If I had been allowed to succeed in all my plans, that wouldn't be a matter of concern. I should have had an eternity to spend with my sister, but all of you took that away!

That kind of ideal came at too great a cost and it would bring only you happiness. It's one of my greatest regrets that Kratos and I went along with your plans as long as we did.

You think that Martel wouldn't be happy being by my side forever? That just proves how little you understand. Nothing you say holds any truth!

No, you simply refuse to listen the moment it doesn't agree with you! But I'm done with these petty arguments. It's obvious you won't learn your lesson, so you can rot down here like the common criminal you are.

[He's turning to leave, now. Mithos, if you wanna stop him, you'd better make it quick.]

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