lobsterbox | time stop

Entry tags:

time stop

Mithos kept his eyes forward as the Rheaird sped over Gaoracchia Forest. He was situated behind Genis, who was piloting the single craft, and somewhere behind them...was Lloyd, who had trailed them on their entire trip to the Fooji Mountains. Naturally, Mithos had sensed him. He wasn't certain if Genis had figured it out, but he supposed it had worked out in a way—he hadn't needed to use any of his own powers to help them ascend the mountain, and so they had obtained the Fandalia flowers without arousing any suspicion.

And Genis had agreed to stand by him, anyway. It was only natural. Lloyd may have accepted him for now, but he was still only human. He was still different.

Well, once his Age of Lifeless Beings was realized, they would all be the same. But for now...Mithos was already the same as Genis, and half-elves could only exist amongst each other.

"There's the house," he piped up over Genis' shoulder, his gentle voice betraying none of his sinister thoughts. Sure enough, they were almost directly upon the rock face where Altessa lived, and Genis brought the Rheaird into a quick descent, so that they soon landed in front of the dwarf's home. Surprisingly, all but Lloyd's Rheaird were now there—meaning the others had returned earlier than he expected. Mithos' angelic senses easily picked up words from inside the house, but...they caused him to narrow his eyes.

"Lloyd was supposed to be-"

"I can't believe this..."

"What are we going to tell the kid?"

Mithos held tight to the flowers they had gathered as they hopped off of the craft, and he gave Genis an encouraging smile tinged with worry. "Let's hurry in. Even if they found a doctor, they should still be able to use these flowers..."

He said that, but he was beginning to suspect that the doctor plan hadn't worked out in the least. Most likely, any high-profile doctor that the group thought of wouldn't waste their time treating a half-elf.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

His steady steps soon brought him to Genis, and Mithos slowly came to a halt just behind him. After everything--the scene in Altessa's house, Lloyd's disgrace, the crumpled flowers in his hand--and now, watching Genis, a pressure squeezed his chest, so tight it made his ears ring and his words come out almost icy when he spoke.

"Don't cry, Genis. It won't change anything."

She was gone. His sister was gone.

(Both sisters...)

He wouldn't accept it.

His hand shot out to grab Genis' shoulder in a tight grip. However, the sharp edge faded from his voice as he continued in a more soothing tone. "But don't worry. We can still change things."

Genis choked back a sob, flinching like Mithos's words themselves were a blow. It won't change anything. He knew that, and he knew Mithos knew that, but why? Why was it like this?

He jumped again when Mithos took his shoulder.

And his confusion was enough to make him finally lift his face from the ground.

They can...change things?

He blinked past his tears, wiping his face on the back of his arm. Change things. What were they meant to change when Raine - when both of their sisters - were gone? Nothing was going to bring them back. And now, that was the only change he cared about.

He didn't have it in him to be anything more than numb and confused. His voice was small, still unsteady with grief. "Change what...?"

"Even if the body dies, it's not the end...not as long as the soul remains." He paused for a brief moment, then added, "You all use Exspheres, don't you? Including your sister. Do you understand?"

He waited expectantly for an answer; he was sure that Genis would begin to realize what he was getting at. There was even the possibility that he would start to understand even further--understand who Mithos really was--but it no longer mattered. Mithos felt his faith in Lloyd was shaken enough at this point, anyway.

"Mithos...?"

As he stared at his friend over his shoulder, it started to sink in. He thought of Marble and how he could always feel her presence when he used his Exsphere. Like her soul was still there, always there, with him. It continued to live on.

He knew what Mithos was trying to say. He knew knew what he meant now.

But Mithos was his friend. When he looked at him and remembered all the time they spent together, he couldn't see him any other way. If Mithos knew what he was thinking now, he'd probably take back what he said and apologize, and things would go back to normal. Right? He just really missed Raine, and now he was losing his grip on himself.

He shook his head. "That's true, but... Mithos, what are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying it's not too late yet," he responded, his manner encouraging but holding an intense edge in the stare he fixed on Genis and the fingers that gripped a little tighter.

And that edge only sharpened as he hissed, "You don't need to let those inferior humans take your sister away from you!"

Raine, Martel... Those inferior, filthy, treacherous humans! echoed in the back of his mind. Nothing ever changed, even after hundreds of years.

"Mithos-"

His eyes only grew wider as Mithos continued, as he watched him begin to crack. His grip felt painful on his shoulder, and the intensity of his gaze left him frozen. He couldn't have any doubts now. He wanted to, but he knew now. He remembered that night when they couldn't sleep and stayed up talking together.

I couldn't forgive the humans who killed her!

You understand my feelings, don't you?

Mithos was so angry, but then - and now - he was hurt too. And...he did understand, didn't he?

He hated the humans despised him just for existing. He hated the humans that just let her die in front of them. He hated that Lloyd didn't trust him. He hated that he abandoned her when she needed him. He hated that he was alone now.

He would do anything to see Raine again. It was the same for Mithos, wasn't it? He just wanted his sister back.

Without realizing it, his body began trembling. In the back of his mind, he knew this was wrong. He could feel the reality of it looming over him like a dark shadow. But he picked himself up onto his knees and turned to face his friend, resting his hands on his shoulders.

"Do you really think that it's not too late...?"

His hatred writhed in his chest like an angry beast ready to lash out at anything--even Genis, if he couldn't ultimately accept the truth that Mithos was revealing to him. The look on the other boy's face suggested that he might not be able to...

"Do you really think that it's not too late...?"

Just like that, his agitation calmed--the raging beast caged once again--and he loosened his tight grip on Genis' shoulder. He couldn't help but have doubts, but now he was a little relieved...after all, if anyone were to understand, it would be Genis.

In response, he nodded, all traces of his former intensity gone for the time being. "Of course! Her soul should be tied to the Exsphere, but it won't last forever. Eventually, her consciousness would be weakened and fade away...but we can prevent that with a temporary vessel and a source of mana."

It was strange. Just moments before, he was a little scared, but seeing Mithos change and calm down before his eyes, some of that fear faded. He seemed like his old self - the Mithos he knew - again. What he was saying hadn't changed, and neither did the situation, but...he wasn't as scared. This was his friend. The one who wanted to be with him forever.

His hands remained on Mithos's arms to keep both of them grounded as he ran over his friend's explanation in his head. Eventually, her consciousness would fade away...and she'd really be gone. He couldn't help but think of Presea's sister, trapped and fading away in her Exsphere, unable to move or speak. How miserable she was. That wasn't the kind of life Raine would have wanted.

But she wouldn't always be trapped, right? She was going to come back again.

(At the cost of what other lives? Someone else would die so Raine could live again, right? Like Colette...)

He couldn't stop shaking; his hand still trembled over Mithos's shoulders. But he steeled himself. There had to be another way, right? One where their sisters and everyone else could live.

Right.

"Then what should we do? How will we find a temporary vessel?"

Mithos placed his free hand over one of Genis' shaking ones in a calming manner. Of course Genis would still be upset--he wasn't quite over everything that had just happened, after all, nor did it change the fact that those humans were at fault...

But first things first. He was confident as he gave a brief explanation, well-versed in the knowledge of Exspheres and the maintenance of souls by this point. "It would be enough to house the Exsphere in a stable environment, one created by magitechnology. After all, having it placed on a person isn't good enough--the mana wouldn't remain stable, and a human would be dead in the blink of an eye compared to us.

"But think about it!" As he kept going with a smile, enthusiasm crept into his voice. "You can still talk to her this way, and a vessel like that would last for centuries!" Long enough to find a permanent vessel...if one was to be found at all.

You can still talk to her this way.

That was all Mithos really had to say to get tears to sting at Genis's eyes all over again. Being reminded of humans' short lifespans didn't exactly make him happy, but not needing to sacrifice anyone (immediately?) did. He could talk to Raine again, just like that. He didn't care about the mana and how long it would take to bring her back. She would be back. And he wouldn't need to be alone anymore.

And as long as he and Mithos were together, it was possible. Mithos was here for him. Mithos understood him. Mithos was going to help him, just like he always did in the past.

"I- I'll really be able to talk to her again? I won't be alone?"

His hand curled under Mithos's, gripping at his cloak.

"I want to do it! Please, Mithos. Let's bring our sisters back, together."

"That's right!" he affirmed with cheerful conviction. "You'll never have to be alone...so don't worry."

Hearing Genis say that he wanted to go through with it would have pleased Mithos enough. But for him to want both of their sisters back... It was like music to his ears. A hint of a deep and genuine smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Genis...we'll bring them both back."

A brief pause, and then he closed his eyes a moment, continuing, "Nobody else can understand what I want...except you, Genis. I know I can count on your help for everything." After all, there was no way that Genis would return to his other sad excuses for friends, not after this. Right?

They'll bring them both back. Neither of them would have to be alone. They would both have their sisters.

It had been so long since Mithos had seen Martel, had spoken to her. He could only imagine how much pain he had to be in after so many years. Mithos was the only one who could understand him now, and he was the only one who could understand Mithos.

Thinking of that made him feel pretty important. For the first time since they returned, a warm feeling swelled in his chest.

A small smile came to his face that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Yeah. You can count on me for anything. I'm here for you, Mithos. We're friends forever, right?"

What about Lloyd? What about Colette?

...

Mithos had been alone for so long. He deserved to see his sister again.

He nodded. "Forever." And forever was perhaps longer than Genis actually expected--he was still a normal half-elf, and so could only live for a single millenium--but once he was able to come to terms with his new reality, Mithos could truly show him that forever was in their grasp. Friends forever, their sisters with them forever.

But for now, Mithos turned his focus towards the present. There were a few things they had to take care of, after all. "Genis, let's go. If you want your sister back, we need to get her Exsphere first."

After a pause, with sympathy tinging his voice, he added, "Or would you prefer if I got it back for you?" It would have to be removed from her dead body, unless the humans had already done so--in which case...they still had to retrieve it, one way or another.

Forever wasn't even a thousand years for Genis. It was just as long as the two of them were still alive - as long or as short as that would be. His mind couldn't wrap around any other answer.

But Mithos was already turning that on its head already. Death wasn't going to be the end. His sister was still going to live even after her death. "Forever" might lose its meaning altogether. They'd never die. It was...a little comforting. Not having to fear death or loneliness. (Not the way Mithos had for so long.)

His hand moved to grasp Mithos's, only partially out of solidarity. Raine's Exsphere... It felt like so long ago that he ran out of the room and abandoned her and the rest of his friends. And hearing Mithos's voice grow so gentle, it reminded him of the reality that he was running away from.

He needed Mithos beside him for this. He couldn't do that alone. But he wanted to say goodbye to her one last time before he saw her again...and he needed to face his friends, too.

"...Can we go together? I don't want to leave her there... And I, I should say something to everyone, too."

"Something". That was the most explicit answer he could even give himself now. Rationalize what it means to live forever? Just trying to understand how to go through the next few minutes made his head hurt. But he had Mithos, so he wasn't alone. And Mithos was giving him hope, so...it would be okay.

He slowly pushed himself to his feet, tugging Mithos up with him.

He held Genis' hand tightly in response, gaze remaining closely on him while he let him decide.

"You're family, after all," he agreed with a sympathetic nod, and there were undercurrents of other emotions in his voice, too--pride, approval. Genis was right to see through to ensuring his sister's retrieval himself.

However, his expression still darkened afterwards. "You don't owe anything to the others. They failed you, Genis. They failed to trust you and they failed to save your sister." Voice nearly lowering to a hiss, he continued, "They don't deserve it."

His eyes flickered up to meet Mithos's as he continued, a cold fear sinking into his chest. He couldn't say that this wasn't the Mithos he knew. The Mithos he knew was just like this - more angry than sad. This entire situation must be so much like when Mithos's own sister died...

No matter what he did, he couldn't make him feel better. Only Martel could do that, probably. But he continued to hold onto his hand tightly. Mithos was his friend. And Lloyd, Presea, everyone - they were Mithos's friends too, weren't they? Even if they couldn't save Raine. Even if Lloyd abandoned her when she needed him the most.

He shook his head. "Even if that's true, I can't leave without saying anything to them... They're not like other humans; they're our friends. They wanted to save her, too."

"Do you really believe that?" Mithos had managed to reign in his emotions a bit more, so some of the fury disappeared from his voice, but hints of menace still remained in his eyes.

They hadn't tried. Not really. If Genis' so-called friends had really wanted to save her, they would have found a way to persuade--or coerce--the doctor. But they had just let him walk away.

And that wasn't even the half of it.

"Did Lloyd disappear like that to save her?"

Genis bit the inside of his lip to try to keep his own emotions reined in. Mithos's anger and doubt and mistrust - he seemed so sure of all of it. He hated humans and so Genis did, but he really liked all of them. They were his friends.

Including Lloyd. Even if he did abandon Raine. Even if he actually did just see him as a little kid who couldn't defend himself. Lloyd wouldn't have left her if he didn't think he needed to protect him.

His fingers tightened around Mithos's hand. Tthis was partially his fault, too. It's because of him that Lloyd left. If he hadn't left, maybe Raine would still be alive. He didn't do anything to save Raine, either.

He couldn't look Mithos in the eye anymore. "N-no. He did that for me."

Mithos let out a small sigh. "Even after this, you're still going to delude yourself?"

There was anger this time, no hate. Instead, his voice was soft, and if Genis were to look up, he'd see pity on his face.

"He abandoned your sister not for your sake, but for nothing more than his own selfishness." He shook his head with contempt, and that menace started to creep back into his voice. "They're all the same--all those humans you called your 'friends'. They did nothing more than just enough to satisfy their own self-righteousness and didn't lift a finger to do anything beyond that."

Tears began to sting at his eyes again. It was still his fault, but when Mithos put it like that, it made it sound like the two of them were the only ones who really cared about Raine. They were the only ones who wouldn't accept that she died.

Lloyd was willing to change the entire world just so Colette could live, but he wondered if he'd do the same for Raine.

Maybe Mithos really was right. Even in the time that passed since he ran out, no-one came to find him again. If the two of them disappeared now, they might not even try to search for them. In the end, they were just half-elves. Even if they said they were friends, even if they said his race didn't matter, there would always be an impassable rift between them. They would always be human.

He shook his head, bringing his free hand up to rub the tears from his eyes. "Let's just find Raine and go," he finally answered in a small voice.

With his heightened hearing, Mithos was aware that the others had convinced Lloyd to give Genis a bit of space--barely. It wasn't likely to last long; in fact, he could already hear voices raising again in the distance.

His focus remained on Genis, though. None of the others mattered, and he no longer held any curiosity about Lloyd. And now that Genis had given his answer, Mithos nodded and gently tugged his hand to get them started in the direction of Altessa's house.

"Of course. That's all that matters now," he encouraged. "Besides, I'm here with you...so you don't have to worry about anything."

His voice turned quieter again, though it didn't lose any conviction as he promised, "Nothing will have to bother you ever again."

Edited (making this even worse hahaha) 2015-12-16 23:38 (UTC)

Nothing would have to bother him? Genis didn't understand. Not really. Maybe that was just Mithos's way of promising to protect him, promising he wouldn't need to lose anyone else precious to him.

Which didn't really make sense when Mithos was the only other person that was going to be in his life from now on. They would be alone together...at least until their sisters were revived. Mithos was the one who said that his human friends weren't true friends after all, right? It would just be the two of them. The two of them who truly understood each other.

He followed behind Mithos mechanically as they neared the small house again. He wondered what he was going to do when he got there. If Mithos wasn't with him now, he wasn't sure if he could do this. But Mithos was here, like he said. He never let go of his hand this entire time.

"Thank you... I...I know I seem really weak now, but I'm here with you, too. I'll always be with you."

"Thank you, Genis. I'm glad you understand..." He glanced back briefly to give him a small smile, tempered by the intensity of his stare before he faced forward again. "I'll help you become stronger, too. Strong enough so nobody can take anything away from you again."

Strong enough that most wouldn't dare try to take anything from them. Strong enough to punish those that would.

They could start to see the cliff face through the trees when Lloyd's voice began to ring out--somewhere to their left. "Genis!" He was moving away from the house to search. The voices of the others followed soon after, some callng for Lloyd and some likewise shouting for Genis.

But as for Mithos, he barely paused. "Good, they've left the house. That'll make it easier for us."

Mithos's gaze was piercing even when he didn't look back at him for long. There was something unnerving about it...but if he wanted to place it, he didn't bother to. Mithos could walk them off the cliff and into the sea for how much Genis wanted to question him at the moment. He wanted to be stronger. Then he really could protect Raine and Mithos. Then no-one would think he was just a pathetic little kid anymore.

Then, Lloyd called out to him, and he lifted his head to try to spot him through the trees. He blinked, his pace slowing down even further. Maybe he didn't know exactly how he felt about the others, but he couldn't hate them.

His heart twisted painfully as he stood there, staring off into the trees. Mithos was talking to him, and he knew that he couldn't call back to them. He...probably wouldn't see any of them again.

"...yeah," he mumbled, finally looking back at his friend. In the back of his mind, it occurred to him that it really was better if they never saw each other again. He didn't want to see his friends fighting—and he didn't want to fight them, either. "We should hurry."

Mithos was silent for a moment--silent with approval. In the back of his mind, he was pleased that Genis didn't answer Lloyd. He knew that humans couldn't really be his friends. After that moment, he answered and moved forward with a little more vigour. "Right, let's go."

Within a few minutes, they left the trees and approached the rocky base of Altessa's house. The area was silent save for the sounds of the humans still calling for Genis--just Genis now--in the distance. Mithos could tell that only Altessa and Tabatha remained inside, so it didn't seem that they would have any trouble getting the Exsphere.

He tugged Genis straight ahead, right up to the door, and opened it without hesitation. He brushed right past Tabatha without so much as looking at her (he couldn't stand her, less so right now), even as she tried to greet them. He simply pulled Genis faster towards the room where Raine had been.

--And the body was still there. She was covered in a blanket, but there was no mistaking the form that still remained on one of the beds. Only once they saw it did Mithos finally stop. "I can get it for you," he stated as he looked back towards Genis, though the statement was without finality--in case he wanted to get it himself.

What neither of them knew was that there was no Exsphere to be found.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject