exsilium | 03 || Video

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03 || Video

[When the video comes on, it's dark for a split second before immediately pulling back on what appears to be a table in one of the rooms. The picture starts moving around quickly, and anyone watching may catch quick glances of a very happy small boy who seems to be the one holding it. The only certain sounds are that he's laughing and the constant loud banging sound implies that the tablet is being struck against something a lot.]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha~

[It's a few seconds later that the sounds seems to have drawn the attention of another person, as indicated by footsteps suddenly approaching.]

No, Lloyd, that's not a toy. Give it to me, please. [The order is said kindly, but none the less, is an order.]

[After one more slap, the image finally slows down. It finally turns to get a good look at the ceiling, which immediately rushes backwards a bit.]

So what is it, Daddy?

[The picture them seems to be moving, getting a quick shot of Kratos' face before it comes to a rest against his thigh. All that can be seen is the darkness of his black pants, with some background scenery visible around the edges.]

Something used for talking with other people.

Ohhh? HIIIIIIIIII! [It sounds a lot like Lloyd has just walked up behind it and started shouting.]

It isn't turned on right now. You can't talk with anyone unless it's on.

Then turn it on! [Suddenly small fingers appear on the edge of the screen, starting to pull the picture back from its focus on Kratos' pants.] I wanna talk to Mommy!

...You won't be able to talk with mommy using this. [His voice sounds the slightest bit shaky. Kratos doesn't loosen his grip on the device.]

[The fingers don't move from their spots on the screen.] Why not? You said we can talk to people!

[The tablet doesn't budge.] Not everyone, mommy included.

[And fingers still won't budge.] But I wanna talk to her! Where is she?

[There's a long silence on Kratos' part.] Somewhere far away.

Then let's go find her! [Lloyd sounds very cheerful and totally up for this.]

[After a heavy silence, he pulls the device from Lloyd's fingers and sets it down on a table and giving everyone a lovely view of the ceiling again.] No. Right now, daddy has to go take a bath. [Short pause] Do you want to come with?

[There's a quiet thump, almost as though Lloyd jumped.] Yeeeahhh! Let's have a splash fight again!

[A small chuckle can be heard.] If you'd like.

[He says nothing else, the sound of small feet running away from the direction of the tablet being evident. A second pair of footsteps can be heard also walking away. Silence fills the air for a few minutes, being then broken by the sounds of splashing and Lloyd's happy laughter. These noises continue for a few minutes, then they stop and footsteps can be heard approaching. The upper half of Kratos comes into view, shirtless and drying off his hair with a towel.]

Lloyd, put on your clothes. [He glances in the direction of the tablet and pauses. Oh. It's on. Had that been on the whole time? Whatever the case, Kratos picks it up.]

This city is one which exists in another world, isn't it? I... have been here before, correct? Or rather, I am presently here but something out of the ordinary is altering time, going off others' posts on this network.

[As Kratos speaks, a very naked behind of a little boy can be seen behind him and walking out the door.]

Unless a city, if memory serves, in the midst of war is intent on using infants and teenagers to secure a victory. I would appreciate it if someone could explain the situation in full to me. Should anyone know details pertaining to my own time here, those would be appreciated, as well. Finally, is there some place I might purchase children's toys or coloring supplies?

[And that should be it. He reaches to turn off the device.]

Lloyd, are you dr--

[He stops. Surprise instantly flashes across his face, followed by worry. The communicator gets dropped on the table, face down and the sound of Kratos running around can be heard.]

Lloyd?! [More running.] Lloyd!

[The footsteps get softer again before growing louder. Lots of rummaging and noises follow, one loud thump being Kratos tripping over something while haphazardly putting on some pants cause getting arrested for indecent exposure would only make finding Lloyd take longer. The tablet suddenly gets picked up, its owner looking frantic and a mess.]

If anyone sees a three year old boy running around without any clothes on, contact me immediately. [The device powers off... and powers on again.] Put some clothes on him if you are able. [And off permanently.]

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You're a father, Kratos? [Asked before remembering his words about being here "before." Oh well. Her face doesn't reveal anything she's thinking, and her voice doesn't either. For once, she's doing a pretty good job at hiding how she feels.

And then, quieter:]

...I'll keep a look out for him.

Edited 2013-01-29 02:25 (UTC)

I am. And thank you.

[Any help is much appreciated. He reaches to turn the device off but pauses at the last second.Despite the one-track train of thought right now regarding Lloyd, Kratos manages to realize that she knows his name.]

You and myself are acquainted?

[ She had been listening in, heart tight and feeling ill. Arya had switched hers off only to turn it on again. She misses her own father keenly. To the question of toys, she adds her own: ]

Can't you make them?

[ ...oh good job, dad, you lost your kid. A pity she doesn't know either or Nymeria could track the scent. ]

[The reply probably takes a while to come. Kratos ignored anything not pertaining to Lloyd until he found him.]

My craftsmanship abilities are sub-par, I'm afraid.

[Well sorry if he's a semi-fail parent. 4000 years makes you forget stuff about kids, like that they run away if you turn your back on them whoops.]

Edited 2013-02-09 04:48 (UTC)

[ good. job. ]

You found him?

[Hey it takes skill to be this great parenting.]

Thankfully, yes.

[Well, someone else found him, but details details.]

[ This whole scenario was ... odd to Mithos. He had met someone named Lloyd prior to this but he was much older. Though, if he thought about what has been happening maybe this was the same Lloyd? But that aside there was something more interesting yet very odd to the half-elf and that was the older man caring for the boy.

He'll see about asking some questions later, specifically the boy and why it is calling him daddy. But first ... ]

Would you like me to come and help you?

[Every muscle in his body tenses at this reply, at hearing that voice, at seeing that face. Yggdrasill. Kratos' eyes narrow at this message. As much hatred as those eyes now held in them, there was a little confusion, too. Why would he offer to help? Why isn't he laughing at Kratos' misfortune or calling him a traitor?

Wait... something about this is odd. It's on the tip of his tongue, but memory fails him. This feeling is what keeps from from snapping at the half-elf as he turns on the device. It doesn't however, keep the coldness from his face or from his voice.]

...That won't be necessary.

Edited 2013-02-09 04:59 (UTC)

[ Mithos almost felt like he can feel the coldness coming from Kratos as he hears the response. And when he looks at the video he could also see it coming from his face. He was confused and wasn't sure if he should even respond. There was something different about Kratos but what was it and... why? ]

Are... are you sure...?

[This behavior really is unusual for Yggdrasill. As tempting as it feels to tell him off, Kratos refrains in favor of figuring out what's going on. This curiosity doesn't make any of the coldness vanish, unfortunately.]

...Why do you want to help me?

W-Wha... why wouldn't I want to help you?

[ It wasn't so much the question that caught him by surprise but the way he asked the question. Just why was he being so cold. ]

[The look of surprise at those words seems genuine. Kratos isn't about to let up his guard, however. He eyes the boy closely, as though the action might somehow permit him to see clearer. Hmm wait, if something is going with the time then perhaps Yggdrasill is affected as well?]

What is the last thing you recall happening back in our world?

The... The Peace Treaty.

[ He thought that Kratos already new that. Is he being affected by what seems to be happening to the others? But how does that explains his actions? ]

[An eyebrow gets raised at the reply. Peace Treaty? What treaty could thi--

The realization hits Kratos like a ton of bricks, as evidenced by the small widening of his eyes. It couldn't be possible. Yggydrasill couldn't mean that treaty... could he?]

The one which ended The Kharlan War?

Y-Yes. The kings had just finished signing it before I was brought here...

[ Kratos seems a bit surprised by that... a bit too surprised. ]

I thought you already knew that ...

[The last thing which he recalls is the signing of the treaty. Any other time, some doubt might've arisen about this, but not this time. Not when Yggdrasill's behavior is not at all what is should be after his loyal dog had gotten off his leash.

...No, it isn't right to call this person Yggdrasill. This is... Mithos.

A lump forms in his throat. Any remaining surprise has by now shifted into a pained expression. This is the hero before becoming a villain. This is his student whom learned the sword from him. This is the innocent boy he failed to protect.]

[Any trace of hurt quickly vanishes. No. This... this hurts too much. It's a cowardly thought, but it's true. Talking with this ghost of the past only brings back memories of unforgivable failure and sin. Nothing can be done to change what has been done, either, since this may only be Yggdrasill affected by the same thing everyone else is.

Additionally, seeing Mithos as something other than the twisted megalomaniac angel is impossible. Looking at the face of this boy fills him with hatred at the same time as it does pain. Hatred towards the man he'll become and hatred towards himself for ever allowing it to happen. It's the hatred, rather than the pain, which shows as he speaks.]

Do not contact me until whatever is going on has come to an end, understood?

[ Mithos' expression becomes a mix between mild shock and hurt when he hears Kratos command. He realizes that it might be because Kratos was ... a lot different than before. But it only made Mithos more confused. They were supposed to be companions, right? So why...

There was silence as Mithos shield his face from sight trying to hold back any questions that were forming in his head. When he does speak he's trying to stay as steady as possible. ]

Understood...

[Even this small show of obedience hurts. If only it had remained in the future... No, if only Kratos himself had spoken up before it had vanished. The one at fault for everything is himself and no one else.]

Good.

[Nothing else gets said as the tablet gets turned off.]

[Sheena's rather new to the network but she knows an emergency when she sees one.]

I'm on it. Did he go looking for-- for his mother?

[All these things she didn't know about Lloyd, not really...]

[An emergency this is. Naked baby on the loose.]

Thank you.

[The suggestion makes him pause for a moment. That could be it... Looking for a mother he'd never find... Maybe Kratos' expression hardens the slightest bit.]

Possibly so, yes.

[She frowns.]

I'll let you know if I find him.

Please.

[With another person looking, finding him hopefully won't take too long. Before turning off the feed, Kratos pauses and adds one more thing.]

Should... should he mention wanting to see his mother, tell him that his father will let him see her later.

[His time here before, huh? Kotetsu snaps his fingers like he's figured something out.]

Oh yeah, now I remember! You're the guy who got hit by a brick!

[Okay, priorities.]

Your kid ran off again already?

[This makes Kratos stop mid-search. The guy who got what?]

He had, however this time no doubt remains that I will find him. [PAUSE] ...I'd gotten hit by a brick?

Edited 2013-02-09 05:08 (UTC)

Yep, right on the network.

[And that's all he's got, so sorry if Kratos was looking for something actually informative.]

Uh, a bunch of people offered to help, so I guess you ended up okay.

[Kratos is just going to sigh. Okay, but with damaged pride, he means. Of all the things to have had happened to him...]

Do you know of anything else aside from the brick incident?

That's about it. I don't think you'd been here very long.

I see. Thank you for at least confirming my suspicions of having been here.

[Or being here presently, whatever the proper wording for a situation like this. He almost makes to hang up cause, hey, naked son on the loose, but pauses. One more quick question can't hurt.]

You wouldn't happen to know anything about why time seems to have gone awry, would you?

Because everything always gets screwed up after a mission.

[A huge and unfair exaggeration, but hey, it's about as far as his understanding of the situation goes.]

Trust me, this isn't as bad as what happened last time. And they're gonna get it straightened out, so--

[Mumbled.] There's probably no point in even talking...

[Kratos raises an eyebrow. Part of him wants to know what happened last time, but that last comment saves the question for later. No point?]

What makes you say that?

Well, uh--it's just...

[Okay, maybe this isn't something he should have gone into.]

People don't always remember when they get back here, y'know? So when you're older again you might forget all about this.

[Ah, so all this might get forgotten. Maybe fortune will happen to shine on him this once and permit him to remember. And if not, writing all these events down on paper might do the trick.

Though, one thing does require correcting. It's why, after a moment of contemplating all this, Kratos finally speaks, saying only a single word.]

Younger.

Eh? Lloyd's roommate said he's usually grown up, so I just figured...

[He gestures with his hand in lieu of continuing and would probably drop the subject altogether, except--huh. That's really confusing to actually think about.]

Don't tell me you guys are gonna be about the same age.

[The confusion doesn't go unnoticed and Kratos can't blame Kotetsu for it. Honestly, when he'd figured out all this time stuff (and from around when he's actually from thanks to various things in his room), that feeling of confusion hit like a ton of bricks.]

There should be a 10 year difference or so, but I am not a father at that point in time.

[Far far from it, actually.]

[...Well.]

Got any post-it notes? That sounds like something you guys might wanna remember later.

Judging from various documents in my room, I appear to be aware of this fact.

[It doesn't count as snooping around through someone's stuff when it's technically your stuff, right?]

You really love your son.

[that's all he has to say to all of this for the time being. it's just odd to him, incredibly odd, to see parents and children interacting like in the storybooks he'd read as a child. so casual, and yet the care is certainly palpable. is this what having a father's like?]

[The reply comes after a good while. Hunting Lloyd down took priority.]

I do. Nothing more precious exists in my life.

[Lloyd is his life and joy, especially since Anna was now dead. This little boy had saved him from despair. His son, simply put, is a little miracle.]

[what a dramatic claim... N can't say the same about his own father. or can he? he isn't sure since the situation doesn't come up often, but he does know that if he were given the opportunity to be with him again, he would take it and do whatever it took to see to it that they could understand each other.]

I have never heard such conviction before.

[his words come out without thought, the same way his shoulders square and a pensive look falls over his face.]

My father and I aren't close, so I don't really understand it.

[Conviction? Yes, it would be right to call it that. Lloyd is his everything, his precious and wonderful son.

And maybe he doesn't know this person's situation, but he does know a father's mindset.]

Most fathers share a similar sentiment. Even if you lack closeness, he likely still feels the same towards you.

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