009; console; video

[ruinsprofessor]

[Raine has spent much of her week attempting to handle several things at once, and as a result she looks both tired and slightly harried when she appears on video. All the same, there's something she hasn't handled which needs now to be outsourced.]

I'm looking for a Foreigner who arrived here a week or two ago. He's about a head taller than I am-- broad shoulders, auburn hair, carries a single longsword. His name is Kratos.

Should you see him, please don't try to apprehend or otherwise attack him. Simply inform him that I need to speak to him.

[She doesn't know why he's avoiding her. Although she has her suspicions, to confirm any of them would require talking to Kratos and finding out when he's from. Raine hesitates, then adds, very carefully:]

Depending on his point of origin, I may have some messages to relay to him from Lloyd.

...Thank you.

[And back to work. Perhaps this will bear fruit.]

Comments

[choiced]

Oh, you've got to be kidding me.

[Hi! Guess who's not happy about literally anything in Raine's message?]

[ruinsprofessor]

...Pepper spotted him about a week ago. I believed, erroneously, that he would make himself known before long.

[So Raine is forcing the issue, for a variety of reasons.]

[choiced]

Of course not. Why would he do that? It's not like we all fought together to save the worlds or anything. Not like he cares about --

-- wait a minute. Pepper? Like salt and pepper? [There's a short pause while Zelos looks at Raine, flummoxed.] I don't get it. Did a cat spot him?

[ruinsprofessor]

He may be from a different point in time, and under some incorrect impressions.

[It's Raine's best guess, anyway. ...She doesn't think he can be from the era of the war, given how Pepper described their interactions, but... she has been wrong before.]

--no, neither a cat nor a condiment. Pepper is a girl's name.

[choiced]

A girl's name?

[... well, to each their own. It brings the smile back to Zelos's face, anyway.]

When do I get to meet her?

[Because that is TOTALLY THE TAKEAWAY HERE. Kratos is Kratos. He'll turn up eventually.]

[of_deduction]

Any ideas as to where he can be found?

[ruinsprofessor]

The last sighting I'm aware of was in Water sector, assisting in a rescue necessitated by the hurricane damage.

That was more than a week ago now, however, and he is easily adaptable. Unfortunately, he may have gone anywhere.

[Or she'd have found him already.]

[of_deduction]

Adaptable how?

[ruinsprofessor]

[The finer details Raine will not be handing out, for the sake of preserving an ally's tactical advantages, but...]

He has traveled extensively for many years, and as such has the capability and experience to find what he needs almost anywhere, regardless of environmental complications. The only things I can think that he would be drawn to for certain are unique to our world.

[Kratos is a uniquely frustrating individual, in his way.]

[lasergrenades]

This is like grade A levels of avoidance by now. You might want to add 'stubborn' to the list of descriptors if you start posting fliers with his face on them.

[Pepper is trying to be light-hearted about the whole thing, given that Raine looks a little hassled.]

I can try making a few fly-overs now that I'm mostly off hurricane cleanup duty and see if he pops up.

[ruinsprofessor]

[Raine doesn't quite laugh, but her exhalation sounds like it could be laughter.]

He does have a tendency to dig his heels in, once a course of action is decided.

[All things considered, though, she's glad he passed that trait down to Lloyd.]

If you have the time, I'd appreciate it.

[lasergrenades]

Not the worst trait to have, although now I'm starting to see why people find me so annoying sometimes.

[She is similarly relentless, and the comment is said with amusement.]

I'll make time. I know what he looks like, which is a step ahead of most people.

[Pepper pauses, then tilts her head.]

Doing okay?

[The question is intentionally ambiguous, to see how Raine answers.]

[ruinsprofessor]

Thank you, Pepper.

[Raine smiles. Quite honestly, she thinks Pepper will be good for Kratos. Once she can convince him to socialize.]

[The question gets a quiet sigh, and a nod.]

Yes, I'm... all right. There's been a lot to handle recently, that's all. I'm likely doing too much.

[At least she's conscious of it, she supposes. Fortunately there are fewer average injuries to deal with now.]

[redlightgreenlight]

You say that as if you expect apprehending or attacking to be our first instinct.

[Valdis is doing her best to look annoyed.]

I like to think some of us are more evolved than that.

[ruinsprofessor]

[Raine didn't name any names, at least.]

Some of us, certainly. However, some among our number can be... rash. I'd prefer to avoid anyone being hurt when it isn't necessary.

[And frankly, she might even be concerned for Valdis.]

[redlightgreenlight]

Well, I don't go around attacking unknown persons without due cause.

[That one incident with Wan aside. Besides, she hadn't actually attacked him, just thought about it a little.]

[ruinsprofessor]

Then you should have no difficulty.

[...theoretically.]

Still, I can see how some people might interpret a request to see someone as a request for them to drag that person back to me by force. I thought it prudent to ensure no misunderstandings could occur.

video;

[denyamenti]

How about I just lift his soul gem and bring it to you, then he'd have to meet with you unless he appreciates dying?

[ Look how helpful he is, Raine. ]

video;

[ruinsprofessor]

[The worst part is that Raine considers it for a breath before shaking her head.]

I wouldn't inflict that on an ally unless there were truly no other choice.

...All the same, I appreciate the thought.

[It's the thought that counts, right?]

Re: video;

[denyamenti]

[ teasing: ] "Inflict" is such a harsh word.

[ruinsprofessor]

Bakura.

[It's only because she can tell he's teasing that she's gently scolding, instead of genuinely yelling.]

Surely you can come up with some creative method which doesn't threaten his life.

[...wait. she might regret that.]

[justno]

You using the network for your own personal Amber Alert now?

[ruinsprofessor]

Amber Alert?

[Not something with which she's familiar.]

It seemed the next logical thing to do. I'd hoped not to have to resort to it, but...

[justno]

But you did anyway.

Why are you chasing him down like a jilted stalker?

[ruinsprofessor]

I'm not--

[The simile is wholly inappropriate. ...Although, Raine supposes, if someone doesn't have the context...]

Hm. I believe he may be under some misapprehensions about the nature of my feelings toward him, likely due to his point of origin, and I'd like to see if those can be rectified.