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fandomweekly2016-04-01 05:25 pm
corvinity) wrote in fandomweekly2016-04-01 05:25 pm
Entry tags:
[#009] Throwing Starfish (Tales of Symphonia)
Theme Prompt: The Night Before
Title: Throwing Starfish
Fandom: Tales of Symphonia
Rating/Warnings: PG? mentions of death and sacrifice, spoilers for probably the entire game lbr
Bonus: no
Word Count: 592
Summary: What difference can he make?
Kratos, sleepless and not a little bit lost, the night before the Tower. Introspection mostly.
Kratos doesn’t sleep.
It’s mostly pointless, and has been for a while, the only use found in appearing to be as human as possible. There are some of their group even so who have determined that there’s something off about him, but that’s almost over now.
So instead he stands outside the inn at Hima, and he considers the Tower. It looks more ominous now than it ever has. A scar against the sky, perhaps. That wouldn’t be inaccurate, though it’s something of a flight of fancy.
He is no closer to a decision than he was the day he realized who Lloyd was. It wouldn’t be wholly inaccurate to say that’s what’s keeping him up right now. Certainly he’d be awake otherwise, but that’s what’s occupying his mind.
He sees too much of himself in Lloyd: in that blind faith in Colette to save the world. Still, he doesn’t think Lloyd will turn away from the truth, either-- he’s already accepted the truth of Tethe’alla, after all, and any number of other painful revelations.
Perhaps it would help, to tell Lloyd the full truth. Perhaps. But Lloyd would have questions Kratos doesn’t necessarily know that he can answer.
So he is, again, still, utterly paralyzed.
He wonders about the others. Colette, he thinks, is full of the determination to sacrifice herself to save this world. She was raised that way, and she is like Martel in more ways than just her mana signature. Raine has a more quiet determination. Not necessarily to make sure Colette makes that sacrifice, but to support her students in saving the world. It’s a fine distinction, but one that’s there. Sheena is still torn, unable to decide between the people in front of her and her world. She makes a very poor assassin, Kratos notes. Perhaps it’s fortunate the Renegades -- for surely she’s their work -- chose someone with such a bleeding heart. Genis, young as he is, is much of his sister’s mind, but softer. He doesn’t know the sacrifice Colette will make. He is, perhaps, the most optimistic of the ragtag little band. The Tower will likely break something in him.
Kratos can’t bring himself to be glad of it, though all of them should have some better conception of the cruelties of the worlds.
And then there’s Lloyd. Lloyd will have some trouble sleeping: he still wants there to be a way to save both worlds without sacrificing anyone. Lloyd will be disappointed.
And Kratos... there’s still the urge to go to Lloyd. To explain everything, to confess. But doing that now, on the eve of the Tower-- what would that solve? Might it just not conflict him further, at a point where resolve is necessary if any of them have a hope of surviving?
He can feel the decision inside him. He can’t-- he simply can’t. He cannot face Lloyd, especially not after leading them this far.
Kratos cannot.
He watches the moon for much of the night, his mind a turmoil that never quite clears, and as the sun rises he whispers to Noishe, gives in and strokes his old friend in echo of years now long gone. Noishe leans into him and whuffs softly, which Kratos takes as assent.
In the end this is all he can do for Lloyd right now. Some sword training and a word in a protozoan’s ear.
If they survive, perhaps there will be something more. If they do not-- then the potential Kratos sees will remain unfinished.
It is far, far too early to hope.
Title: Throwing Starfish
Fandom: Tales of Symphonia
Rating/Warnings: PG? mentions of death and sacrifice, spoilers for probably the entire game lbr
Bonus: no
Word Count: 592
Summary: What difference can he make?
Kratos, sleepless and not a little bit lost, the night before the Tower. Introspection mostly.
Kratos doesn’t sleep.
It’s mostly pointless, and has been for a while, the only use found in appearing to be as human as possible. There are some of their group even so who have determined that there’s something off about him, but that’s almost over now.
So instead he stands outside the inn at Hima, and he considers the Tower. It looks more ominous now than it ever has. A scar against the sky, perhaps. That wouldn’t be inaccurate, though it’s something of a flight of fancy.
He is no closer to a decision than he was the day he realized who Lloyd was. It wouldn’t be wholly inaccurate to say that’s what’s keeping him up right now. Certainly he’d be awake otherwise, but that’s what’s occupying his mind.
He sees too much of himself in Lloyd: in that blind faith in Colette to save the world. Still, he doesn’t think Lloyd will turn away from the truth, either-- he’s already accepted the truth of Tethe’alla, after all, and any number of other painful revelations.
Perhaps it would help, to tell Lloyd the full truth. Perhaps. But Lloyd would have questions Kratos doesn’t necessarily know that he can answer.
So he is, again, still, utterly paralyzed.
He wonders about the others. Colette, he thinks, is full of the determination to sacrifice herself to save this world. She was raised that way, and she is like Martel in more ways than just her mana signature. Raine has a more quiet determination. Not necessarily to make sure Colette makes that sacrifice, but to support her students in saving the world. It’s a fine distinction, but one that’s there. Sheena is still torn, unable to decide between the people in front of her and her world. She makes a very poor assassin, Kratos notes. Perhaps it’s fortunate the Renegades -- for surely she’s their work -- chose someone with such a bleeding heart. Genis, young as he is, is much of his sister’s mind, but softer. He doesn’t know the sacrifice Colette will make. He is, perhaps, the most optimistic of the ragtag little band. The Tower will likely break something in him.
Kratos can’t bring himself to be glad of it, though all of them should have some better conception of the cruelties of the worlds.
And then there’s Lloyd. Lloyd will have some trouble sleeping: he still wants there to be a way to save both worlds without sacrificing anyone. Lloyd will be disappointed.
And Kratos... there’s still the urge to go to Lloyd. To explain everything, to confess. But doing that now, on the eve of the Tower-- what would that solve? Might it just not conflict him further, at a point where resolve is necessary if any of them have a hope of surviving?
He can feel the decision inside him. He can’t-- he simply can’t. He cannot face Lloyd, especially not after leading them this far.
Kratos cannot.
He watches the moon for much of the night, his mind a turmoil that never quite clears, and as the sun rises he whispers to Noishe, gives in and strokes his old friend in echo of years now long gone. Noishe leans into him and whuffs softly, which Kratos takes as assent.
In the end this is all he can do for Lloyd right now. Some sword training and a word in a protozoan’s ear.
If they survive, perhaps there will be something more. If they do not-- then the potential Kratos sees will remain unfinished.
It is far, far too early to hope.
no subject
I try not to do it too often, but somehow this time it was just right.