driftfleet | April System Mingle

[Mikleo's not surprised by the question, but he can't help his own reaction, anyway; the wound is too new, too fresh. His neutral expression falters, a flicker of resigned sadness showing before he glances awkwardly away.]

I'm prefer not to discuss it here, if you don't mind.

[Even if nobody else can see or hear him, it doesn't make it any less of an inappropriate location for something so deeply personal. Considering his response isn't "we're fine", he figures that in and of itself is an answer.]

You-

[Allen freezes. It is an answer in and of itself. So is Mikleo's faltering expression. It's the type of non-answer he's gotten many times over the years. Never did they mean something good. And the thought of that type of news could involve Sorey and Mikleo...

No. No no no no no. It hurts to think about. His chest feels tight from just the thought of it, and he can barely hear the store's music anymore. He can't help it. He's lost too many people, received word like this too many times. For it to be true for these two, who were so young, so full of hope--

God he wants to ask, but Mikleo doesn't want to talk. Understandable, even if he so badly wants to ask (and at the same time, doesn't want to ask. doesn't want to ever know.)]

I-

...O-Of course. Sorry-

[He swallows. Yep, sure is feeling the panic coming in. He's looking even paler than normal.]

-- Would you excuse me for...just one moment?

[Mikleo is momentarily taken aback by that reaction, leaning away, his eyes widening. It's so sudden and visceral that he doesn't know what to make of it- it's a bit like the conversation cut short months ago, when he'd said the wrong thing unintentionally - slaves, was it? - and he'd seen that unexpected stress.

It's familiar, something he knows well by now. He's felt it himself enough times, after coming back from the dead. That fear, that panic, spun from an innocent and guileless source.

He's a heartbeat away from agreeing and letting Allen go, but it occurs to him just how his own words might have come across. And yeah, he still won't say it all ended well, but whatever Allen's imagining... it isn't quite that bad. He can't leave it at that.]

...We didn't die. It's important for you to know that we made it out alive. So please, don't worry about us.

- Y-You didn't? Really?

[The words cut through the rising panic some, since yeah, that's exactly what it was about. The fear that more of his friends were dead. That yet again, more people he cared about would have their lives cut far too short. To hear it's otherwise.]

[Quiet and breathlessly:] Oh thank God...

[He reaches out to hold onto a display rack for balance, making sure to slowly breath in and out like Clay taught him. Sorey and Mikleo were alive. History wasn't repeating itself. It's okay. Well, something wasn't okay, but if they're both alive...it's better. Much better.

After a moment, he speaks, acutely aware of how this must look, and feeling rather embarrassed about that. ]

Sorry ... I'm fine.

Edited 2017-04-25 07:47 (UTC)

It's okay. I... I understand.

[Mikleo reaches a hand out, an offer for stability if it's needed. And he does understand- he'd resigned himself to death the moment Mayvin told them that they'd have to become sacrificial bullets for Siegfried in order to defeat Heldalf. He thought he'd just disappear, the way Dezel had, and it's only by chance that they survived. Sorey was fast enough to finish the job, or they were strong enough to endure the malevolence until they were set free... even he doesn't know the reason.

Death may not have come for them, but he still recognizes the fear of it.]

Need some air?

[He won't pull away from the hand, at least. Mostly, he's focusing on making sure he's breathing, reminding himself to calm down. It's only when Mikleo asks that he realizes...

...Ah.]

That'd...probably be good. [Laughs a little at himself.] I'd imagine the shopkeeper's wondering why I'm getting so worked up over a dress.

Well... like I said, the fabric's lovely. Anyone would be stunned.

[Maybe if he attempts to lighten to mood a little it won't seem so grim. At the very least, it's easier to focus less on his own problems when he's helping someone else, so... stay strong.

He gives Allen a bit of a nudge towards the door, trying not to make it too obvious that he's being guided out.]

Have you had lunch yet? I saw a quiet cafe around the corner on my way here. We can talk there.

[Okay Mikleo's attempt to lighten the mood does make him snort, as he's guided out of the store. Luckily, the shopkeeper isn't staring too much. He's pretty used to seeing weird stuff, okay.]

That sounds good-

Wait. Are you okay with food again? I don't want to cause you more trouble.

[Mikleo frowns at that, glancing aside again; he's not as uncomfortable as he used to look about the subject, so there's that.]

Not a hundred percent or anything... I still stay away from meat when I can help it. But I'm better than I was. It won't bother me to share a meal.

I see. [He gives a little nod of understanding. It helps to focus on food...food is always good.] I'll order something vegetarian then.

If it's no trouble, I'd appreciate it.

[He's seen Allen and food, this could be a legitimate sacrifice here.]

[He shakes his head]

It's no trouble at all. I was a vegetarian for years, actually.

[And one of those years was spent living with Sokka even!!]

Ah... that's convenient.

[He'll take whatever comfort he can get these days. It's been kind of rough.]

It's this one here- [He points to the cafe sign before they pass it, small and cozy, and not busy at all, which is what he'd been hoping for.]

Yeah, that's good. [He takes note of the sign and walks into the cafe. He spots some quiet table in the corner, one that won't get much attention drawn towards, and heads over to sit down. As he sits, he leans back in the chair and takes a moment to breath again. At least his face is getting back to a normal color.

I mean, its still pale, but he's always pale so that's normal]

[Once they're settled, a server swings by to take Allen's order. Mikleo uses a menu laid flat to tap his own selection - a simple iced tea and biscuits.]

Get something filling, you look terrible. I'll cover it.

[It's the least he can do for causing the freakout, and it's probably not going to get any better from here.]

Huh?

[He makes note of what Mikleo wants, but at the offer, he blinks a little]

Thank you, but are you sure you have enough money...?

[FILLING ALLEN WALKER IS NO SIMPLE TASK.]

Well... I suspect we're due for a few pay raises on the Huntress this month.

[Lots of drama going on lately, that's for sure. He's been on the fleet long enough to know how this works.]

Ah...good point. All right, thank you.

[Yeah you guys always seem to have some sort of drama going on. But that's good enough for Allen, so he'll look at his menu and pick out his order, giving his and Mikleo's order to a waiter that comes by. Lucky for Mikleo, Allen takes pity on him. Not only is his order vegetarian, but he just sticks to a lunch special and a few sides.

So. Not as bad as it could've been.]

[how merciful, thanks bro

The drinks come within a minute or so, and since the food will take longer, Mikleo spins his straw through the tea for a moment before cautiously speaking up again.]

I can tell you if you want to know. I just don't want to upset you again.

[Allen meanwhile holds onto his own cup of tea, waiting for it to cool. He can almost feel he warmth of it through his gloves. It's a good feeling, though not enough to make him ignore the gnawing dread in his stomach.

But he knew his answer when Mikleo spoke.]

...I'm going to be upset no matter what, I think. [He glances to the side, looking apologetic] Sometimes the past just catches up to me like that. It's not as bad as it used to be.

[Somewhat. Clay and Sokka are pretty good at calming him down, or at least recognizing the warning signs. That alone helps a lot.

He looks back at Mikleo]

But I'd like to know, if you're willing to tell me.

Mm... it isn't like I can blame you.

[He sure as hell finds it upsetting, so he'd be a hypocrite if he did.

He closes his eyes, leans back, and takes a deep breath, debating how to begin. It'd be nice if that were the hardest part about this.]

Regarding Heldalf... the Lord of Calamity we were fighting. We found out that he was bound to a seraph named Maotelus, one of the Five Lords- seraphim worshipped on such a scale that they really could be considered gods to humans.

[The seraphim themselves have a more complicated relationship, admittedly, but they're not here to get into all of that.]

Because they were connected, the situation became that much more of an issue... we had to not only sever the connection between them, and defeat Heldalf, but also purify the hellionized Maotelus as well.

[He listens, doing his best to follow along. He's not sure what's the difference between a regular Seraph and a Five Lord- maybe it was power? Notoriety? He wasn't about to believe a seraph was an actual god, but he bites his tongue on that part. Eventually, his mind finally compromises with the idea that the five lords meant "really powerful seraph". ]

Bound to the seraph Maotelus?

[A Maotelus that had been corrupted. That part makes sense, if only because of his experiences last fall. If a human gets connected, any seraph who are connected to them get corrupted as well. But to be connected in the first place...]

Wait, does that mean Heldalf was a Shepherd?

No, not even close.

[Though the idea of an evil-doing Shepherd isn't as laughable as it used to be. God, how this place has ruined him.]

It's possible for a seraph to be connected to a human even without the Shepherd's pact, though usually it can be detrimental to the human if their resonance isn't strong enough, which is why it isn't usually done. I've been told that sort of thing can kill a human over time.

[If humans started dropping dead after being possessed by ghosts that would probably sour the whole symbiotic relationship between the two species...]

Heldalf and Maotelus were both hellions at the time, though... I'm not a hundred percent on the mechanics of it, I just know they were linked. They were able to perform a twisted version of an armatus, so maybe it's closer to how the exorcists used to work with seraphim in the past- our best weapon against him was something Zaveid used to free tethered seraphim.

[Hey he was assuming a fallen Shepherd. Artorius is still his own special guy.

He continues to listen. The idea of people without resonance potentially dying with that bond...well, it makes sense to Allen. It's not unlike a Fallen One, after all. A non-accomdator who attempts to use Innocence will definitely die. This sounds just slower acting.

But, Mikleo's explanation doesn't explain how Heldalf, someone who wasn't a shepherd, could find a way to get himself bound to something as powerful as Maotelus supposedly is. But maybe it's not important to know.

...He's unable to hide the look of distaste when he hears those Exorcists mentioned again. It's not directed at Mikleo, but seriously, screw those slaver bastards. But at least he's able to focus on the important question.]

Zavid has a way to free tethered Seraphim?

[~~listen allen if you want an explanation of heldalf’s bullshit please write to bandai namco~~

Mikleo nods, clasping his hands together on the table.]

A weapon powered by some kind of old arte, Siegfried. It fires bullets that can sever the ties between connected beings. It's old technology so we don't know all of the details, but we've confirmed that it works.

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