I haven't really even heard of it happening more than one other time.
[Which would be when it happened to Sophia. Cool, they have this thing to bond over?? Except Kratos isn't really all that beat up over the being dead part. He has other worries, naturally. He vaguely remembers bits and pieces of the events that transpired... it's probably best if he doesn't try to think too hard about it right now.]
Two weeks... Is Lloyd all right? And Alphen? I haven't been able to contact anyone since I was brought back.
[WHICH. Maybe they should call Lloyd soon? Maybe.]
[ Ah, but she'd returned to Kiichpan, back into the fountain she'd originally dropped into. That's a little different than being deposited back in the jungles, stunned and tired and recovering from traumatic death. But at least traumatic death can be a bonding moment, some day.
Not right now, though.
She still isn't looking at him directly. ]
They're both alive, both recovering. They weren't in the best shape when they returned, but they both survived. Lloyd should be asleep right now, but..
[ She reaches towards Noishe, still present in the room and wagging their tail at being acknowledged. ]
Why don't you go tell your boy that you're home, Noishe? And tell him his father's home, too.
[Yeah they can bond over technically being zombies later.
He doesn't remember specifics very well, but he seems to be realizing that 'oh yeah, I fucked Lloyd and Alphen up real good'. It would have been enough to make him lose his appetite if not for the fact that he was in physical pain from hunger. He almost protests when Sophia sends Noishe to get Lloyd, because he'd feel bad for waking him up on top of everything else.
He doesn't say anything though, instead finishing his food and trying not to look like he feels as anxious as he does. In fact he's kind of weirdly quiet, don't worry about it.
NOISHE, on the other hand, perks up immediately, does an excited little dog wiggle, and heads out of the room to do what Sophia asked.]
[ Very alive zombies with a pulse. It's all really very very strange, no matter how you think about it.
It's not what either of them are thinking about right now.
The silence that falls in the room is almost painfully loud once Noishe has departed, taking their happy energy and the shuffling sound of wagging tail on floor with them. She has no regrets sending him to Lloyd, because she knows how worried Lloyd had been when Noishe had run off, and would no doubt want to know Kratos is back now - sure, there is always morning, but she's watched them bond, awkwardly but genuinely. This isn't something that should wait.
Her hands finally close together, finger threading, and she doesn't lift her gaze as the quiet between them stretches on. But, eventually, she does speak. There's even an attempt at a smile, but it seems to fall apart as her words break the silence. ]
I— I wasn't sure, when you didn't return..I wasn't sure I'd see you again.
[We'll circle back around to Noishe waking his boy up eventually.
The silence is a bit intense, Kratos chooses to try to act like it's not just adding to his weird anxiety by moving the empty plate to the nightstand, but then just ends up fidgeting a bit once that's out of the way. He's glad that Sophia breaks the silence, even if it's likely to end up being a tough topic.]
My apologies. It certainly wasn't my intention to vanish for so long. I'm... sorry if it was distressing.
[He gets it, losing people that you care about so suddenly is one of the most difficult things that a person can experience. He's just, y'know, completely oblivious to how deep this friendship really goes.]
[ if anyone would know something about loss, it would be Kratos. Which makes his obliviousness all the more frustrating, really. Or it would, save that Sophia has no one to blame but herself for not being more clear on her feelings to him.
Perhaps eventually. To her mind, now simply isn't a good time for it. He has enough on his plate while recovering, after all. ]
You don't need to apologise. After all, you could hardly choose how or when you came back. If anything, the fault is mine, for assuming...anything. [she does look at him now, and if her eyes are wet, its with unshed tears - happy tears, but tears nonetheless.] If dying had sent you back somehow, then— Well. We're not even from the same world. But at least Lloyd would have had a chance to see you again.
[HmmmMMMM He's just going to avoid the part where he totally ditched Lloyd just before arriving here. He feels guilty enough without dwelling on all of that right now, so for the time being he's going to try to push all that aside and focus on Sophia.
Almost cautiously, he reaches over and places a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently in what he hopes is a reassuring way.]
I don't feel that assigning fault to either of us is terribly productive right now. I'm just glad to be back. Glad to see Lloyd again, and you.
[ A chance. Not a certainty. But a chance, which was more than they would have had.
Any further thoughts along those lines are scattered when he reaches over, hand coming to rest against her shoulder. Her own lifts, immediately covering it, squeezing in return, and she gives a watery smile. ]
[that's...not the word she meant to use, even if she does in fact mean it completely and utterly; home has so many possibly meanings tied to it. and yet, what other word would be more fitting?]
[I mean this is the house that he's made his home, and Sophia also lives here, so like yeah. It's home. It's the most at home he's felt in a long time. Part of him is concerned that he's getting too comfortable here, but maybe that's not such a bad thing?
He nods in agreement... and then the awkward silence sets in. At least he's kind of used to that by now, so it's not too uncomfortable? But maybe he should stop squeezing her shoulder before that becomes awkward? He lets go of her shoulder, but instead takes her hand and gives it a squeeze instead.]
[ Hand squeeze is returned, Sophia's fingers curving around his palm. Perhaps it will take time for the comfortable silence they've had previously to return, for it to replace the awkwardness that lies here. Until then, they can pretend it isn't there. ]
Ah, no. [still, what news has there been?] There's been talk of some sort of festival preparation coming out of Kiichpan, and surface mining near Tikal is being troubled by native ore-eating creatures. But other wise, I've not heard of any new details pertinent to anything relevant.
[That awkward silence again? Maybe a little, but yeah he's just going to ignore it. Kratos's gaze drops to their hands absently-- is this awkward too? Should he be holding her hand? She doesn't seem bothered by it, and he's finding that it's... like a comfortable, normal feeling thing?
Friends can just casually sit on a bed while holding hands, right?
Right. Well, it's not weird if they just sit here and keep right on doing that, then. BUT maybe it's time to stop sitting in silence before this gets too awkward.]
Well, I'm glad that nothing more serious seems to have happened in my absence.
What happened to you is the most serious thing to have happened in a while.
[ Her hand squeezes his as she says that, a mix of apology for confirming it, and reassurance that things hadn't fallen apart in his absence. Just quiet enough right now that he can at least recover without too much anxiety. ...Well, no more than he usually carries.
Her expression is pensive a moment, the tiredness in her eyes evident, before she straightens her shoulders, takes a breath— and the kettle begins to whistle from the kitchen, catching her attention. ]
—Ah. The water's ready for tea. I can go make you some.
[ ..She could. Yet she doesn't make an effort to rise yet, nor release his hand. (The kettle can whistle a while longer yet.) ]
[Was it that serious though? Maybe to the like 20 NPCs he attacked LMAO.
Honestly though, if that was the only serious thing to happen lately, maybe that's not such a bad thing? Crazy as it is, that does bring him a little comfort. At least things hadn't gotten worse while he was gone.
He notes the expression, about to ask her if she's okay or something?? But then the kettle goes off and Y'KNOW WHAT IT'S PROBABLY FINE??
She doesn't seem to be in a hurry to get up though, and he'd feel like a dick for rushing her, soooo. It's just gonna make that noise for a minute.]
Ah... right, I'd almost forgotten.
[Or they could sit here and hold hands? That's also fine. Maybe the kettle would wake Lloyd up since apparently Noishe forGOT HIS MISSION]
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[Which would be when it happened to Sophia. Cool, they have this thing to bond over?? Except Kratos isn't really all that beat up over the being dead part. He has other worries, naturally. He vaguely remembers bits and pieces of the events that transpired... it's probably best if he doesn't try to think too hard about it right now.]
Two weeks... Is Lloyd all right? And Alphen? I haven't been able to contact anyone since I was brought back.
[WHICH. Maybe they should call Lloyd soon? Maybe.]
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Not right now, though.
She still isn't looking at him directly. ]
They're both alive, both recovering. They weren't in the best shape when they returned, but they both survived. Lloyd should be asleep right now, but..
[ She reaches towards Noishe, still present in the room and wagging their tail at being acknowledged. ]
Why don't you go tell your boy that you're home, Noishe? And tell him his father's home, too.
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He doesn't remember specifics very well, but he seems to be realizing that 'oh yeah, I fucked Lloyd and Alphen up real good'. It would have been enough to make him lose his appetite if not for the fact that he was in physical pain from hunger. He almost protests when Sophia sends Noishe to get Lloyd, because he'd feel bad for waking him up on top of everything else.
He doesn't say anything though, instead finishing his food and trying not to look like he feels as anxious as he does. In fact he's kind of weirdly quiet, don't worry about it.
NOISHE, on the other hand, perks up immediately, does an excited little dog wiggle, and heads out of the room to do what Sophia asked.]
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It's not what either of them are thinking about right now.
The silence that falls in the room is almost painfully loud once Noishe has departed, taking their happy energy and the shuffling sound of wagging tail on floor with them. She has no regrets sending him to Lloyd, because she knows how worried Lloyd had been when Noishe had run off, and would no doubt want to know Kratos is back now - sure, there is always morning, but she's watched them bond, awkwardly but genuinely. This isn't something that should wait.
Her hands finally close together, finger threading, and she doesn't lift her gaze as the quiet between them stretches on. But, eventually, she does speak. There's even an attempt at a smile, but it seems to fall apart as her words break the silence. ]
I— I wasn't sure, when you didn't return..I wasn't sure I'd see you again.
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The silence is a bit intense, Kratos chooses to try to act like it's not just adding to his weird anxiety by moving the empty plate to the nightstand, but then just ends up fidgeting a bit once that's out of the way. He's glad that Sophia breaks the silence, even if it's likely to end up being a tough topic.]
My apologies. It certainly wasn't my intention to vanish for so long. I'm... sorry if it was distressing.
[He gets it, losing people that you care about so suddenly is one of the most difficult things that a person can experience. He's just, y'know, completely oblivious to how deep this friendship really goes.]
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Perhaps eventually. To her mind, now simply isn't a good time for it. He has enough on his plate while recovering, after all. ]
You don't need to apologise. After all, you could hardly choose how or when you came back. If anything, the fault is mine, for assuming...anything. [she does look at him now, and if her eyes are wet, its with unshed tears - happy tears, but tears nonetheless.] If dying had sent you back somehow, then— Well. We're not even from the same world. But at least Lloyd would have had a chance to see you again.
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Almost cautiously, he reaches over and places a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently in what he hopes is a reassuring way.]
I don't feel that assigning fault to either of us is terribly productive right now. I'm just glad to be back. Glad to see Lloyd again, and you.
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Any further thoughts along those lines are scattered when he reaches over, hand coming to rest against her shoulder. Her own lifts, immediately covering it, squeezing in return, and she gives a watery smile. ]
Yes. You're right. And...I'm glad you're home, too.
[that's...not the word she meant to use, even if she does in fact mean it completely and utterly; home has so many possibly meanings tied to it. and yet, what other word would be more fitting?]
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He nods in agreement... and then the awkward silence sets in. At least he's kind of used to that by now, so it's not too uncomfortable? But maybe he should stop squeezing her shoulder before that becomes awkward? He lets go of her shoulder, but instead takes her hand and gives it a squeeze instead.]
Did anything of note happen while I was away?
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Ah, no. [still, what news has there been?] There's been talk of some sort of festival preparation coming out of Kiichpan, and surface mining near Tikal is being troubled by native ore-eating creatures. But other wise, I've not heard of any new details pertinent to anything relevant.
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[That awkward silence again? Maybe a little, but yeah he's just going to ignore it. Kratos's gaze drops to their hands absently-- is this awkward too? Should he be holding her hand? She doesn't seem bothered by it, and he's finding that it's... like a comfortable, normal feeling thing?
Friends can just casually sit on a bed while holding hands, right?
Right. Well, it's not weird if they just sit here and keep right on doing that, then. BUT maybe it's time to stop sitting in silence before this gets too awkward.]
Well, I'm glad that nothing more serious seems to have happened in my absence.
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[ Her hand squeezes his as she says that, a mix of apology for confirming it, and reassurance that things hadn't fallen apart in his absence. Just quiet enough right now that he can at least recover without too much anxiety. ...Well, no more than he usually carries.
Her expression is pensive a moment, the tiredness in her eyes evident, before she straightens her shoulders, takes a breath— and the kettle begins to whistle from the kitchen, catching her attention. ]
—Ah. The water's ready for tea. I can go make you some.
[ ..She could. Yet she doesn't make an effort to rise yet, nor release his hand. (The kettle can whistle a while longer yet.) ]
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Honestly though, if that was the only serious thing to happen lately, maybe that's not such a bad thing? Crazy as it is, that does bring him a little comfort. At least things hadn't gotten worse while he was gone.
He notes the expression, about to ask her if she's okay or something?? But then the kettle goes off and Y'KNOW WHAT IT'S PROBABLY FINE??
She doesn't seem to be in a hurry to get up though, and he'd feel like a dick for rushing her, soooo. It's just gonna make that noise for a minute.]
Ah... right, I'd almost forgotten.
[Or they could sit here and hold hands? That's also fine. Maybe the kettle would wake Lloyd up since apparently Noishe forGOT HIS MISSION]