enchanted forest . mingle

[misconceived]

WHO Forest planet occupants!
BROADCAST N/A
ACTION Enchanted Forest / Spa Time
WHEN Upon reaching the system (Jan. 4) to leaving it (Jan. 31)

[ It's another day, another planet for the Drift Fleet to explore. Whether it be relaxing in the landing field, checking out the spa (and subsequently getting urged to enter the woods), or taking on the Enchanted Forest's game, there's enough to do for stir-crazy Fleet members.

Just remember one thing: make it look good. ]

Comments

[wilder]

[He meanwhile eases up on the scolding face to give a little snort]

If you say so, man.

[Still the one who wanted go in here and tried to stray off the path!! What is trust here man. But he'll keep on walking. Sometimes, discreetly, as they walk if there's a flower or brush that is in arm's length of him- he'll reach over and brush against it to see the lights come out of it]

[What? He said it was pretty]

[idealistic]

[ yeah he's just gonna keep going with a pout on his face, though it does fade after about a minute or so. occasionally he hears the plants rustling even though he was pretty sure neither of them were walking close enough to them to disturb them. at one point he looked back in time to see some of the lights floating out of a nearby bush and heading into the forest.

after god knows how long (another hour? who even knows man), Lloyd's feeling impatient and bored. again. with a sigh, he turns back to Kaneis. ]

How long's it been now?

[wilder]

[He honestly was starting to feel bored himself as he walked in silence. Just how long was this forest supposed to go anyway?]

How should I know? I don't have a watch.

[idealistic]

Yeah, but...

[ yeah, he's got nothing. he's starting to regret coming in here. with a frustrated groan, he kicks a pebble that hits a nearby tree sapling. yellow and green lights are shaken out and swirl around the pair before joining the other in the forest. ]

If this stupid forest wasn't so dark I could tell...!

[wilder]

[Did it make him a petty man to feel some level of satisfaction by Lloyd's frustration? ...Eh, like he cared.]

Hey, c'mon- look on the bright side, Lloyd.

Sure we're stuck in a dark forest with a path that never seems to end. But at least we don't have to worry about resorting to cannibalism!

[idealistic]

[ the next pebble that he kicks is kicked backwards. it's sent in Kaneis's direction. ]

Very funny, Kaneis.

[ he doesn't notice because of his fuming, but there's some rustling coming from the forest. ]

[wilder]

[That pebble will hit and bounce off his leg. It doesn't really hurt, but he'll still make a "heeeey" sound. So rude Lloyd!]

[Except oh, what was that rustling?]

What was that?

[idealistic]

[ the rustling stops before Lloyd takes notice. he looks around, opening his wings a little in an attempt at more light, but it doesn't help any. ]

What was what?

[wilder]

[He's trying to look around, frowning, but it's far too dark to make anything out]

I thought I heard something...

[idealistic]

[ okay this isn't really helping much but Lloyd still looks around. he steps behind Kaneis enough so that he could fan out his wings completely without hitting him.

even with the slightly extra light, there's nothing that could really be seen. some leaves are rustling a bit further on (some lights are shaken out), but that could just be a woodland creature... right? ]

I don't see anything... It's just been us for a while.

[wilder]

Yeah...

[His eyes wander over to the leaves further on, trying to see if he can see anything]

Maybe it's just an animal or something.

[idealistic]

Probably. Kinda weird that we didn't hear any until now--

[ he's interrupted by the rustling starting up again. it seems to be coming from a bush that's next to a tree, well away from the pair. ]

[wilder]

[....]

So.

Do we check it out, or keep walking?

[idealistic]

[ he was already going to investigate the best he could without leaving the path, but what comes out from behind the tree is definitely not an animal.

in fact. it looks like a man. but with how dark the forest is, it's difficult to even get a good look at him. ]

Wait. [ one of his hands goes to the hilt of his sword. ] Who's there?

[wilder]

[YEAH THATS...WORRYING. He moves into a defensive stance behind lloyd, his hand going for the hilt of his sword]

[idealistic]

[ for a little while the figure in the trees doesn't respond, and Lloyd nearly calls out to it. blue lights start to surround it, though as Lloyd soon discovered with a hitch in his breath, the lights didn't come from the plants. a pair of blue fairy-like wings appears behind the figure, their sharp appearance bearing a resemblance something close to sickles.

GOSH GOLLY DOESN'T THAT LOOK FAMILIAR. ]

[wilder]

....No way.

[CRAP THOSE WINGS. HE KNOWS THEM ANYWHERE]

But- that's impossible! That can't be him!

[JUST NO HE WAS HAPPY NOT SHARING A GALAXY WITH HIM GOD]

[idealistic]

[ while Kaneis is having his own freakout, Lloyd was having a mental breakdown next to him. he couldn't think. he hadn't seen the man for over a year. sure, he had his own mission to do and Lloyd respected that, but he still missed him like crazy.

a hesitant foot steps forward as Lloyd calls out to the figure with an uncharacteristically small voice. ]

...Dad?

[wilder]

[Kaneis meanwhile is definitely having a bad feeling about this. and not just because it's Kratos (okay, so it's partly because it's Kratos)- but why would Kratos be out here- in the middle of an enchanted forest?]

[Something wasn't right.]

Lloyd, hold on. Something's not right here.

[idealistic]

...No. No, that's... That's gotta be him.

[ he doesn't sound sure of himself. he wants to believe because Martel knows he wants to see Kratos again, but of all places... why would he be in an enchanted forest? did he end up on this planet somehow and got lost? did he come aboard the fleet without their knowing?

nothing made sense.

another step. ]

Dad! Dad, is that you? [ he's not sure if he wants it to be him or not. ]

[Kaneis Strongly Disapproves: -180]

[wilder]

[He takes a couple steps after him. This isn't right. This can't be Kratos]

Lloyd! Stop! Why would he be out here - off the path we're supposed to stay on? It doesn't make any sense!

oh my god

[idealistic]

[ he's right. as much as Lloyd wants to see Kratos again, seeing him out here makes zero sense. why would he be hiding in the forest with zero visibility? although he's done it before...

he pushes back the conflicted feelings, shaking his head. he's right. this can't be him. ]

You're right. There's no way he could be here, especially out there. Though... [ he pauses before shaking his head again and turns away from the figure, which vanishes the moment he does. ] Forget it. Let's get outta here.

KRATOS >O

[wilder]

[He watches as the figure vanishes, feeling relief that he didn't have to drag Lloyd to stay on the path- or that illusion or whatever didn't try to attack them.]

[But...he can tell Lloyd seems upset by it. It was his dad, even if Kaneis hated the guy...well, it's understandable why it'd be a letdown.]

[So he hesitates for a moment before reaching over and giving Lloyd a...shoulder pat. Okay it's kinda brief and awkward, but he tries!]

...Yeah. Sure it can't be long now.

[idealistic]

...Yeah.

[ letdown is a bit of an understatement, but he does at least appreciate the shoulder pat. as short as it was, it's enough to pull him out of his mild depression and continue down the path quietly.

but hey. Kaneis probably deserves a bit of an explanation since he wasn't... around for Kratos's departure. he turns back with an apologetic smile. ]

Sorry. It's been over a year since I saw him. Heh, guess I kinda let it get to me.

[wilder]

Over a year?

[That...surprises him. This is the first he's heard about it]

Where'd he go?