∞ [action || Kratos and Albert only]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Anyone who throws a careless glance at the adjacent cells would think they are seeing double. Two tall, red-haired men sit slumped against the prison bars in the two cells, out of sorts from their various trials since they were taken away from the village.]

Comments

[salvationfound]

[Resting his back against the bars with his wings fitting through the spaces of them is Kratos, head low as he tries to get a hold of himself. He's stronger than this. That's what he tells himself as he lifts his head, speaking in what he hopes is a stronger tone than what it most likely is.]

Is anyone here?

[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert's lips twitch into a deeper frown as he focuses on that sound. Though he prides himself on knowing various 'useful' people in Luceti, it takes him a moment to place the rarely-heard voice.]

...Yes. Kratos?

[salvationfound]

[That voice is familiar, and though his worries haven't ceased, he does feel some sense of relief. At least he won't have to put up with someone annoying or talkative.]

Albert.

[chikaidestroyer]

[The strategist grimaces as he sits up a bit; his neck and back complain after he's been in that slumped position for awhile.]

You as well? They're getting bold.

[salvationfound]

[Kratos shifts slowly, tucking his wings in as he moves away from the bars and closer to the wall where he's chained. It's a better surface for him to lean against, his wrists won't have pressure against them, and his wings are out of harm's way for now.]

There have been a number of kidnappings since you disappeared. I imagine there will only be more after me.

[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert stretches his legs out in front of him, but doesn't shift from the bars; his lower back is comfortably numb from sitting on the floor for so long.]

Approximately 14 kidnappings in the past month. It's been difficult to keep track with the New Feathers brought in.

[salvationfound]

[Kratos lets out a long sigh before he takes in a deep breath, trying to gather himself together.]

Do you believe the Malnosso intend to threaten us this way? Tensions were rising within the village before I was taken.

[chikaidestroyer]

[A snort of disgust.]

Threaten us? I believe anyone who has put any decent thought into our situation should know we can be gathered and culled at any time.

Realistically however, it's likely that this is the common amount of kidnappings that were happening early on. We simply have a better network and more relations to notice the disappearances.

[salvationfound]

Yes, that could very well be. However, there is a valid reason for the threat that I mentioned. You do recall the Malnosso asking us for information? Perhaps they're trying to scare everyone into doing so, regardless of what we may or may not know. [They're right in the base, so he has to speak carefully.]

[chikaidestroyer]

When one doesn't have information, there's only so much they can pry out of you. None of us know where those shopkeepers went.

[salvationfound]

They still believe us to be hiding something. If they ask again, someone may speak out falsely.

[chikaidestroyer]

And then what? They will follow up on the lie and punish those responsible. We cannot help them, even if we felt the desire to. So their threats won't yield them anything but more busywork.

[salvationfound]

It may cause danger for the rest of the village.

[chikaidestroyer]

It certainly can't be any dangerous than the experiments we've been faced with.

[salvationfound]

I suppose.

In any case, there isn't anything we can do about it in our current situation.

[chikaidestroyer]

I can't say I'm looking forward to anything our dear captors have in store for us.