- 86 [Written / Action]

[fortunefail]

[It's been three weeks now. Three weeks since Mithos died. Yuan should know, he's the one who killed him. Now everything is quiet- too quiet. Revivals don't usually take this long, which means Mithos could very well be hiding out somewhere. Finally, he decides to put this to the test and makes an attempt to contact him.]

[Mithos]

I know you've returned. Have you finally learned your lesson about keeping a low profile, or is that too much to hope for?

[This was an absolute bluff. For all Yuan knows, the Malnosso have decided to keep Mithos for additional experimenting. Still, if that's so, then he won't even see this entry and no harm will be done.]


[Action]

[Shortly after this, from early in the afternoon on, Yuan can be found sitting on the roof of house #8. He'd been patrolling the village perimeter every so often for the past week, but today he'd rather stick close to home. The roof is a good place to keep an eye on his surroundings and it's relatively quiet.

After an hour or so, he lies back to stare up at the passing clouds. To think, Presea and Zelos were sent home recently, only to be replaced by Lloyd of all people. Luceti never ceases to catch Yuan off-guard, even after this many years.

Anyone is free to spot him and tell him to get down from the roof! Or join him up there. Whichever.]

Comments

[sketchingideals]

...I'm that obvious, huh? Well, that did cause me to panic, but I wouldn't say that's the thing that's bothering me. [Be honest, but don't be specific.]

[fortunefail]

Hm... [Anything else isn't really any of Yuan's business, though. Or so he believes.]

In any case, whatever it is, it'll blow over.

[sketchingideals]

I hope so! I'm thinking that maybe, if I can find someone who can help me to defend myself, that I-- [O-Oh no. Well, there goes not being specific.]

[fortunefail]

... Don't we have a combat school for that?

[Granted, he hasn't heard anything about it for a while now.]

[sketchingideals]

Do we? [Laughs sheepishly.] Maybe I should read over the guide again, huh?

...I just don't want a repeat of something that happened a couple of months ago.

[fortunefail]

Contact a girl named Buffy, then. She's supposed to be in charge of the combat school.

[Yuan doesn't know her personally. He just knows she's been around for years and works in the bar as well. There's a moment of silence, before he adds:]

And learn how to use Filial magic, if you haven't already.

[sketchingideals]

Buffy... [Nods.] Okay, I got it. I won't forget! [Adjusting his glasses, he thinks about the other thing Yuan said.]

I never thought I'd consider learning magic. Then again, I never thought I'd consider learning to defend myself, either. That was a stupid mistake for me to make, though, not doing that earlier. [He should have learned to protect himself years ago, if not when he was being bullied, then after he got beaten protecting his little sister. Stupid.

And then, more to himself than anything:] But Miss Sage said that he was a person to stay away from... if I see him again, I want to be able to...

[fortunefail]

[It isn't until Jeb mentions "Miss Sage" that Yuan's interest is caught. Raine told him to stay away from someone?]

... Who is this person?

[sketchingideals]

...I don't know his name. All I know is that Miss Sage told me he was a person I should avoid. [A pause.] ...and that he attacked me.

[Hands ball up into fists, afraid that he seems pathetic. His art supplies fall to the ground, temporarily forgotten.]

[fortunefail]

[He has a nasty suspicion he knows who this person is. It's a bit of a long shot, but...]

A young boy? Long blonde hair?

[sketchingideals]

[Suddenly, his sneakers are fascinating. Jeb keeps his focus on the ground as he replies:]

Yeah, that's right. About my height, a lot stronger than he looks... [And... those eyes. Things have gotten better in terms of Jeb coping since he posted about having the nightmares about Mithos, but the other boy's eyes keep haunting him.]

[fortunefail]

[Yuan sits back again, shaking his head lightly.]

Do as Raine said. Defend yourself if you need to, but avoid him whenever possible.

[sketchingideals]

[Nods.]

He's really that dangerous, isn't he?

[fortunefail]

Extremely dangerous.

[sketchingideals]

[He's quiet for a bit.]

...I guess there's a lot I don't understand.

[fortunefail]

As long as you learn how to protect yourself, you'll be fine. It's a necessity in this place either way.

[sketchingideals]

[Another nod, looking back up at Yuan on the roof.]

Yeah, I'm beginning to see that. [Unfortunately.] ...the sky's really nice today, isn't it?

[fortunefail]

... It's certainly better than two weeks ago.

[sketchingideals]

A lot better... [Sheepish laugh.] I think it'd be nice to sketch out today.

[fortunefail]

Then, go do so.

[sketchingideals]

It's a nice view from here, but...

[fortunefail]

... But?

[Is this going where Yuan thinks it's going?]

[sketchingideals]

[Most likely. Fortunately for Yuan, while Jeb is a social derp, he's also a polite derp. Or at least he tries to be.]

I-I don't want to, you know, intrude on your property or anything!

1/2

[fortunefail]

[...]

2/2

[fortunefail]

If the prospect bothers you that much, you can always sit just outside my property. I'm sure the view is just as nice from the riverside.