001 ► video/action!

[fruitblocked]

[Good morning, Luceti! I hope you haven't exhausted your whining quota already, because Lloyd Irving is here and he is not happy about it. The video feed clicks on to show a strong, occasionally-scarred back with two blue-green wings attached to it.]

Ugghhhh. I thought I stopped after one Flanoir Potion. Feels like I drank twenty.

[Lloyd rolls

Comments

[voice] 1/2

[shiningbinds]

[The only thing that can be heard from Kratos' end is a soft, drawn-in breath.

Lloyd is here. His son is here.

Speaking to Yuan about how much he didn't want Lloyd here must have jinxed it, must have tempted fate. The last time Kratos saw Lloyd was when the boy was denying him as his father. With no way of being able to pinpoint where Lloyd was from timeline-wise, it would be wise, best for Kratos not to answer...]

[voice] 2/2

[shiningbinds]

[...but he does anyway.]

...Lloyd.

1/3

[fruitblocked]

[That low, familiar voice makes him halt in his tracks. He turns around just enough that the journal catches the tiny tremble of his lip, the way his fingers curl at his sides.]

2/3

[fruitblocked]

[Before he can stop himself, a soft plea makes itself known in the cool autumn air.]

D-Dad?

[video] 3/3

[fruitblocked]

[Then he shakes his head fiercely, trying to dispel that horrible melancholy.]

Ugh, now I know I'm hearing things.

[voice] 1/2

[shiningbinds]

[What did Lloyd just call him?

Kratos is trembling ever-so-slightly. Why would Lloyd...? His mind is suddenly very, very full of thoughts, almost to the point of being completely overwhelming.]

[voice] 2/2

[shiningbinds]

...I assure you, Lloyd, that you are not hearing things. There should be a journal near you.

[video]

[fruitblocked]

But... you...

[He can't believe it. Still, he'd be a huge idiot not to follow Kratos' simplest of directions, so he kneels and looks around for a journal. He finds it in a moment, half-covered with dead leaves. His fingers grasp numbly at the cover, but he manages to clean it off.]

Dad? [There's that word again. Now that he's found Kratos, he's terrified he'll wake up or something.] A-are you still there?

[video]

[shiningbinds]

[...indeed, that word is there once again, isn't it? He reluctantly switches to video mode.]

Yes, Lloyd. I'm... still here.

[video]

[fruitblocked]

[Lloyd is half-naked, aching, and exhausted. But he's found his dad. After almost two years... Not that Lloyd was actively looking for him. Kratos has his own path, and Lloyd believes that. But throughout his journey, he wondered occasionally, 'I wonder what Kratos is doing. I wonder if he's fighting beside us, too, at this very instant...'

His breath hitches. He grins, but there's a telltale pained edge to his voice.]

H-hey. It's been a while.

[video]

[shiningbinds]

[Kratos is in disbelief, and perhaps a bit worried that Lloyd seems to be in that much pain. His thoughts are still refusing to quiet down, refusing to stop reminding him that the last time he saw his son, he refused to acknowledge him as his father...]

Has it? [A typical Kratos response... but he's also smiling. He doesn't want Lloyd to be here, but in a way it brings him comfort to know that his boy is here.]

[video]

[fruitblocked]

Yeah. A long while.

[Holy shit Kratos is smiling. He's smiling. He stares in disbelief for a little while, and then he realizes that his eyes are hurting. He laughs-- soft, and nervous, and closer to a sob than he cares to admit.]

Are you here somewhere? Can you tell me what's going on?

[He'd really like to see Kratos, but at the same time, he doesn't want to bug him or something. Lloyd can take care of himself, after all.

... He shivers violently.]

[video]

[shiningbinds]

I can, but it would likely be best that I do so in person.

[Seeing his son... something within him twists, a swirling combination of positive and negative feelings over being able to see Lloyd.]

If... it is all right, I could come find you. [The hidden implication there is "I would like to come find you."]

[video]

[fruitblocked]

[He perks up a bit.] Of course it's all right! [He gets to see Kratos. He gets to see his /dad!/]

I'm in the woods somewhere. I think there's a creek or something close by. I can't really tell you anything else, though. Sorry.

[video]

[shiningbinds]

Wait where you are, Lloyd. I will be there shortly.

[He shuts his journal, immediately leaving the house he shares with Yuan to find his son... his son...!

He's still anxious. The words Lloyd spoke back home still haunt him... but Kratos keeps going, keeps taking the path that will ultimately lead him to Lloyd.]

[video] -- > [action]

[fruitblocked]

[He nods.] Got it!

[Aaaand now the waiting game begins. He keeps his journal with him so that he can answer anyone else who responds, but he's pacing the whole time. And he's cold. So he's doing that funny shivering dance, too.]

Fffffffff-...