01.

[blamesfate]

[Following his encounter with Roy at the Easter event, Kratos has sequested himself in the quietest corner of Mac Ainu's harbour he can find. With one hand, he flicks through each of the menu options on his Relic, attentively studying each one before moving on to the next. Between the thumb and forefinger of his other hand, he rolls a small object back and forth without paying it an apparent mind.

After some time, he lifts his attention from the Relic and stares out in the direction of the ever-present sunset, mouth set in a firm line.]

Hm.

Comments

[blessedrose]

[ Also seeking quiet and solitude, Beatrix is slightly disappointed when she sees the harbour occupied. Then again, in a small city there is little chance that you're ever truly alone, so she takes it with grace.

Speaking of grace, she nods to the man as she passes him. ]

Good day.

[blamesfate]

[He seems startled by the voice, and looks up as though coming out of a daze. Once his eyes light on Beatrix and he identifies her as the likely speaker, he dips his head, tone apologetic and words quiet.]

Good evening.

[... A moment later, he corrects himself ruefully.] ... I suppose we have no means of knowing with any certainty what time of day it is.

[blessedrose]

[ her mouth quirks, and she turns to look at the frozen sunset. ] Unfortunately not. A city of twilight, this.

Pardon me for intruding upon your thoughts, but you seem troubled.

[blamesfate]

Indeed. [At her comment regarding his thoughts, he clenches his fingers tightly around the object within them and casts his gaze away once more.] I suppose I am. The circumstances I left behind concern me.

[ladyofruinmode]

[Were her eyes deceiving her? Raine had merely been exploring, for lack of anything better to do when she comes across Kratos.

She supposed it was something of a pleasant surprise, nonetheless.]

... Kratos.

[blamesfate]

[He startles at the sound of his name, and rises to his feet even before he turns to identify the speaker. He lets his hand fall away from where it had crept to his sword hilt, and straightens his spine.]

You are... Raine, correct?

[ladyofruinmode]

Yes, that's correct. [She approaches.]

You're one of the last people I expected to see in this place.

[blamesfate]

... [His jaw works as he considers her words. The object in his hand vanishes into a clenched fist.]

[blamesfate]

[When he speaks, it's sudden.] ... What happened to Lloyd?

[reified]

[ ah. have an inquisitive, floating god peer over your shoulder from above, staring at your device. ]

What are you doing with that?

[blamesfate]

[The invasion of his personal space sees him stiffen and lean forward, the movement just smooth enough that it seems practiced.] Studying it.

[reified]

By pushing at it? It could break.

[antiside]

[ A tired looking boy flops down not very far away, having also been looking for a relatively quiet place to sit. He looks vaguely disappointed for a moment before he's distracted by the older man's fiddling. ]

That thing won't give you any answers.

[blamesfate]

... [Kratos casts him a sharp look, then shrugs slightly.] It has offered more than anyone else I have found.

[antiside]

[ He seems to consider letting the topic drop, but in the end he continues, ]

And what has it told you, then?

[eightofseven]

[A white-haired man lightly floats next to him, landing almost noiselessly. He had... eventually... decided to be somewhat proactive in interacting with people, after the Persona-user and the man that could detect him despite his invisibility. Anyone could be useful.]

Hello. What are your thoughts on our situation?

[blamesfate]

[Kratos only looks up once the man speaks to him, and lowers his chin with deference at the question. His words are low.] I have not yet reached any conclusion.

[eightofseven]

I see. I suppose it is too early to completely understand it, if such a thing can be done.

...hmmm, you're not like others.

[uwawa]

[ doesn't even notice him! But you might notice her appear to trip on nothing. ]

W-wa!

[blamesfate]

... [He reacts more quickly than even he expects, a forearm extended to catch the falling girl.] Are you well?

[uwawa]

E-eh? EH?! [ someone caught her! ] Did I fall?

Um, I'm okay! Did I fall on you?

[inhearts]

[ How rare, to see someone in her usual spot for practice. Curiously, she approaches, smile on her face. ]

Hello!

[blamesfate]

[A cheerful approach prompts him to look up with a vaguely puzzled expression, and he nods only once to her.]

Good day.

[inhearts]

[ She nods to that response. ] Are you new here?

[benevolence]

[from behind one of the crates comes ... a wolf.

who looks a little surprised to see someone over in her little napping corner (yes - she's taken to "thinking" places as her own; blame it on how long she had just been in The World) but she gives a little tilt of her head. ears perking forward.]

Whuff!

[well, hello there man she's never met before. what are you doing? enjoying the sunset? it's rather pretty isn't it?]