audio;

[dusk_and_dawn]

[It's a brilliantly sunny day, everyone. It's raining, of course, but not lightly enough to turn to mist and block the light, and not heavily enough to drive everyone indoors.

The cause for the brilliance is sitting atop the highest structure he could find near the center of the city, shining like a star. Best not to look at him directly. You might even want to buy sunglasses, although there's probably no one who sells them.

He's not illuminating the whole city, of course, but he's trying.]

Greetings all, 'tis Balder the Brave. If others can bring snow, I thought I might try to bring the sun. Let me know if it is too much. And if you would, entertain me with your best stories. I ask not that they be true, merely interesting.

Comments

[dusk_and_dawn]

'Tis my most oft-used kenning. I am also called Balder the Bright, The Shining One, and so on.

[struckout]

But- surely there's a story behind that particular label.

[ Or two. Or thirty, if it's the most common. ]

[dusk_and_dawn]

'Tis simply because I do not retreat from battle. I cannot place it in a single moment as I have lived so long and so many times.

[struckout]

... Suit yourself.

[ AKA, "tell whatever you want, then." ]

[dusk_and_dawn]

[He chuckles.] All right, all right. There was an incident that did seem to make it somewhat official. I had stopped mid-battle to place a baby bird back in its nest, and Odin Allfather was angered. He ordered me to stand still to be executed, which I did. One after another he had my friends throw their spears or let fly their arrows, but each time they missed their target. Vines sprung up to protect me from their spears and whiteface the eagle dove down to snatch the arrows from their course, and at the end I remained still standing, unarmed and unharmed.

In reward for proving my loyalty without flinching, Odin blessed me with invulnerability in the realm of Asgard. Thereafter, I believe, did the name truly catch on.

[struckout]

[ Lightning goes silent, letting herself absorb and mull over this strange story for a few moments. At first she's tempted towards annoyance, point out that she'd already mentioned having no interest in something that wasn't true, but holds her tongue.

After a few beats, it might not be visible, but she leans forward on her hands, eyes closed and voice low. ]

Are you familiar with Valhalla?

[dusk_and_dawn]

Yes. Although we may not interact with those who have gone, we are permitted to see that they are safe and happy.

[Or confused, in Bill's case.]

[struckout]

[ Interesting. Or, well, Lightning's not sure what she was expecting, but the reply manages to sadden her, cause what's usually such easy motion for her to turn to heaviness in all her limbs instead. Again she thinks on this for a few moments, breathing slowly... and then oddly, seems to back up a bit- ]

In my world, Baldr was a l'Cie, conscripted to fight in the war that came very near to - was supposed to eradicate all of humanity. The gods' fal'Cie were very careful in the schemes they had woven and carried through. Already many had died; Ragnarok came and Cocoon was torn.

However... when all seemed lost, it was not to be. The goddess Etro forced Ragnarok to fail, sparing even those who chose to bring it forth first-hand. It was a miracle.

Regardless, with so much destruction and chaos already wrought, so much instability... the entire world still threatened to fall apart. Perhaps many, many more would have perished had nothing else been done.

... Yet Baldr refused to do nothing, even with his Focus technically completed. He merged with his Eidolon, taking in all of the power he was able... and for thirteen minutes, Cocoon was lit with the strength of his magic. In just that short amount of time, he managed to save hundreds... perhaps thousands of lives.

[ And alright, so there's not really any way for her to know what names and events will or won't be familiar here, and she already figures all the talk about l'Cie and stuff won't make that much sense, but there ya go. FFXIII!Baldr was apparently a hero in this story that was mostly made up just now, anyway. ]

[dusk_and_dawn]

[Balder frowns at this. It's such a strange story. He's used to hearing things like this, sort of, but usually they aren't supposed to be true.]

Though the names are the same, that is very different from my own story. For us Ragnarok was a cycle we could not escape, Thor being the exception.

[struckout]

A cycle?

[ It's quiet in the wake of her little tale, but (a little warily) curious about what that might mean all the same. Who- or whatever Thor is, she isn't aware. ]

[dusk_and_dawn]

Yes. We were forever repeating the same action, the same lives, the same roles, as though we were but parts in a play. Once Ragnarok was finished we would be reborn and start the cycle anew.

Thor eventually put an end to this, and now our lives are our own.

[struckout]

Fascinating...

[ Which she means in absolutely no sense of sarcasm or dishonesty at all. There's a touch of familiarity in that too, though she remains in thoughtful silence. ]

[dusk_and_dawn]

'Tis strange to us, as it is a tale we did not know we were apart of until recently.

[struckout]

How did you find out?

[ Again it's an automatic question, though she recognizes a moment later that it's probably complicated and perhaps even something he's not as willing to share... ]