FORTY-TWO souls » a moonlight stroll

[martelandmany]

[The sun set a while back and raindrops are beginning to fall lightly over the village. Martel should theoretically be asleep, but she'd been restless, so she's out wandering along the riverbank. Eventually, she comes to sit on the bank of the river near the center of town

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[salvationfound]

[Kratos has been out on a walk on this winter night. He'd never been able to sleep properly ever since they disappeared. He was originally just going to... walk aimlessly and try to give himself some peace, but instead, he finds Martel. The melody is easy to hear, too.

He can't keep up his aimless walk at this point. Instead, he goes to her, stopping a few feet behind her. He knows that she knows that he's there, so he feel she doesn't have to say anything.]

[martelandmany]

[She glances up at him over her shoulder, her eyes warming slightly in welcome, but the mood tonight is quiet, suppressing any greeting smile. She'll turn her eyes back forward again, to the river this time. You can tell she's not gonna force conversation on you, so you're free to sit with her if you like.]

[salvationfound]

[Indeed, he will. He sits down beside her, one leg pulled up with his arm resting across his knee, and keeps his eyes on the river as well. It's a quiet, peaceful mood that's surrounding them, something that's calming Kratos' erratic thoughts.]

[martelandmany]

[She's still humming softly of course, and only after a couple of minutes spent sitting otherwise silently beside him did she realize this. At this point, though, she's in the middle of a tune and would be conspicuous if she stopped. Sorry, Kratos, I hope you don't mind.]

[salvationfound]

[It's actually quite soothing. Martel's voice has always been a source of comfort to everyone in the past, and this is no different. In fact, he shuts his eyes to listen.]

[martelandmany]

[She'll come to the end of the song and draw a breath to start a second, but then stops. She has news, first. Quietly:] I'm not certain if Yuan has told you... We've decided to pursue a relationship again. Carefully, of course... [You know he well enough, you can hear the unspoken apology in her voice. She's sorry to bring this up while you still grieve for the loss of Svala. And she doesn't expect you to respond. You have about 30 seconds' worth of time to reply, and if you don't, she'll be drifting into hummed song again.]

[salvationfound]

[Kratos gives no visible reaction to that - He feels it was expected, really. He doesn't mind it being brought up either, but he has to wonder what Yuan's thinking. He was the one who told him to be careful with such chances. Happiness has a way of screwing them over, and Svala leaving was a perfect example of that, as is the fact that Martel left Luceti several times already. Still, it was expected, and part of him is glad for it. He approved in the past, and he approves now.

He'll probably take about 20 seconds to respond, and he opens his eyes once he does.]

... Good. [About the fact that they're treading with caution, anyway, as he explains next.] This world has a tendency to play the hand of fate at the worst of times.

[martelandmany]

[She nods in understanding; it feels like almost an insult to offer a sympathetic 'I'm sorry', since she knows he's trying really hard not to seem too broken up over things.]

We've not had the free time to truly put it to effect... Mostly on my part, I'll admit.

[salvationfound]

This seems like a good opportunity as any.

[But he won't leave, not yet. Martel's presence is soothing, and he hasn't spoken to her in a while. Kratos blames himself - he's been quite a recluse this past month.]

[martelandmany]

[And with another nod, she begins to hum again. Not gonna push for too much conversation at once. They both came to think, after all.]

[salvationfound]

[Kratos closes his eyes once more and lets out a long, relaxed sigh. Even if things are bad for him, it's getting a little better. And he is glad that Yuan's found happiness in Martel again... He'd have to talk to him about it next time he got the chance.]

not trying to end it, just not sure what else to say. ^^;

[martelandmany]

[She'll be humming various songs, with breaks for conversation between them. Some are familiar, from long ago or just from her time in Luceti, and some are new, concocted on the spot. There will be pauses in between songs, in case he has anything he wishes to say. If not, she'll continue to hum to him until his thinking is done and he decides to return home.]

Let's see what we can do then \o/

[salvationfound]

[During one of the breaks, Kratos decides to open his eyes and speak up.]

... Hm. I recognize that melody. If I recall, you would sing it for Mithos during our journey.

[martelandmany]

Indeed. [She's pleased that he remembers. Then, attempting to sound as unbiased as possible:] I played it for him when he was here, as well... It soothed him, of course, but not deeply like it used to.

[salvationfound]

[He shakes his head. It really is a shame what happened to Mithos, the once bright and young idealist who wanted everyone to be treated equally.]

He had become corrupted. No amount of comfort could soothe his vengeful soul.

[martelandmany]

So I came to understand.

...What shall we do, if he joins us again? I know what's probably right, but I'm not sure I could bring myself to reject him, even knowing.