- 88 [Action]

[fortunefail]

[With all these newcomers about, Yuan simply isn't comfortable staying at home. Against all better judgment, he ventures out into the village to have a look. Catch him anywhere, any time!

Later, he'll return to house #8 to find it ravaged, after Kratos had a little 'argument' with Lord Kvar. Wonderfully foreboding. What other surprises may lie in wait here?]

Comments

[fortunefail]

[... And still he's not elaborating. It's a little disappointing to think that Botta actually believes he can hide something from Yuan. That he even wants to.]

What exactly is it that you aren't telling me?

[devotedharmony]

[Now is the time to be extremely careful with his phrasing.]

I believe that our experiences even prior to our captivity may not be identical, sir.

[fortunefail]

... An alternate timeline? [Dammit, if Botta brings up that nonsense about him being Cruxis leader again...!]

[devotedharmony]

Yes, sir. [Entirely neutral:] To date, I've met five separate versions of Kratos.

[fortunefail]

Five? [And here he thought two versions were already confusing.]

[devotedharmony]

Yes, sir. Four adults and one child.

[And that wasn't even counting the clone.]

[fortunefail]

That's... [He trails off, shaking his head.] I wouldn't want to be in your position, if you don't mind me saying.

[devotedharmony]

Currently, there's only one present. It's far more--manageable.

[fortunefail]

[He wasn't talking about the five Kratoses in specific, but he understands what Botta is saying.]

... In any case, welcome to Luceti. There are no day trips or doubles from alternate timelines. We're stuck inside this barrier to be guinea pigs and foot soldiers for a group of scientists calling themselves the Malnosso.

[Doesn't that sound appealing, Botta?]

[devotedharmony]

[Not remotely, no. That sounds significantly different from the place he's come from--and he can't say he likes it one bit.

He's silent for a while. The implications of Yuan's words are immense. If the "Malnosso" are able to contain one such as Yuan, their power would have to be equal to--or greater--than Yggdrasill's. His chances of returning home, or even to the town...well, that's a matter for later.

One problem at a time.]

"Guinea pigs," sir?

[fortunefail]

Guinea pigs. The Malnosso have a habit of testing their special technology on us, the captives. There is... nothing we can do to stop them.

[But he's been accused of giving up, before. He's been accused of that by both Lloyd and Martel, so he adds:] ... Yet.