- 87 [Accidental voice / Action]

[fortunefail]

[Locked]

[Yuan's scribbled something in his journal. It's a tally on how often certain people from Aselia have arrived in Luceti, to his knowledge. He was hoping to find a pattern, but there doesn't seem to be one.]




[Voice]

[And just as Yuan finishes locking up the filter, something distracts him, causing him to activate the recording function without realizing it. It's a soft but rapid tapping sound.]

Oh, Selene. [Footsteps, and a window opening.] It's snowing again, hm? ... Come in, then.

[The window is shut again and the journal catches a glimpse of Yuan walking past, holding something small, grey and fluffy in his hand. He's on the other side of the room now, but his voice can still be heard if you listen closely.] I doubt the cold will let up any time soon. It'd be best if you continue to sleep here until winter ends. ... No, I won't mind at all.

[He returns a moment later to find that the journal is recording him and shuts it with an annoyed grunt.]


[Action]

[Four years. Four years of being stuck in Luceti. He remembers being astounded for his first anniversary, but four years is something he never expected to happen. Compared to the long life he's already lived, four years might seem like nothing- just a small fraction. Yet Luceti's always been so hectic, so full of painful and awkward experiences that those four years seem like an eternity in itself.

Martel is in Luceti. Yuan still hasn't spoken to her since she left the house to meet with Mithos. Not properly, anyway. He knows she's all right, because she sent him the occasional message on the journal system, but nothing concrete. He never got around to telling her anything about Cruxis, the Church of Martel, the Desians, the Renegades... All the mistakes they've made after her death. ... He couldn't even tell her that she'd died. But how much had Mithos told her by now? How far would he have twisted the truth? He must've told her who's responsible for his death penalty. There is no excuse for this, Yuan knows that, but he still feels the need to explain himself to Martel.

It's leaving him very restless and the fact that Lloyd is still staying in the house isn't exactly helping that. Despite the cold, he's been venturing out into the forest every day to train- 'Train' being a very generous word for it, because most of the time is being spent just sitting and thinking in peace.

Feel free to catch him either by house 8 or in the forest itself.]

Comments

[notreesplease]

[To say that Martel has had a long week would be an understatement. Not only has it been longer than a week in the literal sense, but it has been entirely too packed with contradictions and distant friends for her tastes. So when she rises this morning, she sits on the edge of her bed in silence for a long moment before putting on her newly-acquired shoes. She tiptoes through the room, trying not to wake Mithos, and leaves her journal in plain sight by the door before quietly slipping outside.

It takes her much longer than she likes to make her way back to House 8, but she has only herself to blame. She could have taken the journal along with her and consulted the map, but what would Mithos have thought, then? Better to leave the book where it can be easily found, as a sign that she left on purpose - and will be back soon enough.

When she finally makes it to Yuan and Kratos' house, she sighs in resignation. First, she has to apologize. That is the most important thing right now.

Then she has to make the world make sense.

Her right hand hovers a few inches away from the door for a very, very long time, until she finally knocks on the door.]

Yuan? Kratos?

[fortunefail]

[Yuan had been too busy flipping through his journal to notice Martel's approach. Too distracted by other matters. It isn't until she knocks that he realizes she's right outside the house. He storms out of his bedroom so fast that he wakes Selene, who ruffles her feathers indignantly before dozing off again.

When he answers the door, he doesn't even bother to try any sort of bluff or facade. He hasn't been sleeping well this past week, and it shows. Cruxis Crystal or no Cruxis Crystal, that sort of thing takes its toll on him.]

... Martel.

1/2

[notreesplease]

[Martel is pretty certain of what she wants to say. She wants to apologize, make sense of the world, make sense of Mithos, and many other important things. And there Yuan is, looking even more tired than her.]

I-

2/2

[notreesplease]

[The world could wait. And so could she.]

-Am perfectly fine! See? I told you so. Mithos is doing... well enough, too. He... sends his greetings!

[It does not take a grand diviner to guess Martel is lying.]

Are you alright? And Kratos?

[action]

[sketchingideals]

[Jeb is all nice and bundled up as he walks through the forest. No art supplies accompany him this time--he's just enjoying a walk in the forest. The moment he notices Yuan, he waves and smiles.]

Hello, Yuan!

[action]

[fortunefail]

[Yuan's not entirely happy that his peace is being disturbed- he comes out here for a reason. Though, he decides that ultimately he has only himself to blame. He'll need to venture further away from the village, next time.

What's this kid's name again? ... Oh, yes.]

Jeb.

[action]

[sketchingideals]

[Jeb takes a few steps toward Yuan, but doesn't get too close.]

I didn't expect to see anyone else out here!

[action]

[shiningbinds]

[Guess who followed you all stealthy-like, because he's who he is?]

...Yuan.

[action]

[fortunefail]

[And then people are going around accusing Yuan of being a creeper. Honestly.

He barely responds to Kratos's presence at first. He just leans back against the tree he's sitting in front of, closing his eyes.]

... Kratos.

[action]

[shiningbinds]

[They're both creepers. Deal with it.

The man says no more, but he approaches the other.]

[rashness]

[In the relative dimness of the woods, a bright blue flame and the great light it gives off probably extend for quite a distance. Right now, Rin Okumura is trying to train the way he told Shura he would. Sure he got derailed and he can't draw the sword right now, but.

Three candles are in front of him. He's trying to light only two of them without lighting the middle. He only has maybe 30 candles so he can only make so many attempts. But he's just sitting there glaring at them. And every now and then, they light up with a bright blue fire. sometimes all three, sometimes he immolates a whole candle. But with a surprising frequency he manages to do his objective. Much more than at home]

[fortunefail]

[The flames certainly catch Yuan's attention, if only because they're blue. That's a rarity in Luceti. He approaches the light source, but makes sure to keep his distance until he knows just what he's facing.

A boy lighting candles with a blue flame... But how is he doing that? It's like the flames are erupting on the candles of their own accord. Yuan will continue to watch from the shadows for a while.]

[rashness]

[Okay Rin focus... focus...

And then the two on the sides erupt altogether, turning into ash in a few seconds. He groans to himself, man, he hates it when he makes it too hot. At least they burned themselves out for the most part and snow doesn't catch fire easily]

[Voice] /blatantly makes excuses

[whatdeheckisdat]

[omg is fuzzeh

This would normally be a written message, but... Dhaos realizes that he doesn't know how to spell whatever it is Yuan said 8| And he may have heard incorrectly anyway. Clearly this was not an intentional post, but Dhaos is not exactly loaded down with things to do.]

Selene?

[Voice] rofl

[fortunefail]

[Yuan gets a little irritated when he notices someone actually bothered to respond to that entry. Until he realizes it's only Dhaos, anyway. Then he accepts defeat with a sigh.]

Selene. I wouldn't go as far as to call her a 'pet'. She's more of an occasional guest.

[Voice]

[whatdeheckisdat]

Ah... I suppose that may happen when animals possess the power of speech.

[Not that he heard Selene talk, actually.]

[Voice]

[lostinmyway]

[Yuan is carrying something. ...And it looks like something cute!

Grune peers closely at her journal, but she can't quite see what it is. And so, after a moment, she asks:] Yuan?

[Voice]

[fortunefail]

[Oh, great. Another response to that unfortunate-- Ah, it's Grune. Yuan can't bring himself to ignore her.]

Yes?

[Voice]

[lostinmyway]

Did you make a new friend?

[Voice]

[knightofratatosk]

Selene...?

[Voice]

[fortunefail]

[There certainly are a lot of people showing interest in such a pointless message.]

She's an owl.

[Voice]

[knightofratatosk]

Oh. I didn't know you had a pet.

[Voice]

[lezareno_prez]

I see you have company for the winter.

[Voice]

[fortunefail]

[...]

Did you need something?

[Voice]

[lezareno_prez]

I was simply curious as to how the two of you had become acquainted. It isn't often that you see the owls here associating with people.