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

[justno]

Oh my god that's so- [He facepalms.] Do you realize how much worse that is? Why wouldn't you wait to see what feelings he has for you before making it a soap opera across the whole damn network?

[ruinsprofessor]

Because once he's chosen a path he becomes exceptionally stubborn, he's already aware of my presence, and he's had a chance to approach me on his own terms.

[Her chin lifts. She looks mulish.]

[...Just because Kratos is several thousand years old, does not mean the rest of them, even her, enjoy that kind of elongated time frame.]

I asked for assistance locating him so I could ascertain those feelings. There's a significant chance he believes I consider him either an enemy or dead.

[A beat. A quiet sigh.]

And I owe it to his son to try to ensure he doesn't cut himself off from the rest of the world.

[justno]

If he doesn't want to talk to you, why are you- [Penny cuts himself off.] No. Forget I asked. I'm not getting in the middle of this domestic dispute. Good luck with your boyfriend and the kid.

[ruinsprofessor]

My--

[What.]

[Raine goes bright pink, though whether embarrassment or temper would be difficult to say.]

I'm married. And certainly not to Kratos.

[...She can't even imagine Lloyd being her son.]

[How did this happen. How.]

[justno]

Your husband isn't here and you clearly have strong enough feelings about this guy to stalk him.

[ruinsprofessor]

[A deeply aggrieved sigh.]

Platonically. I--

[Calm.]

Naturally they're strong feelings. We fought together, after all.

[...in both possible senses of it.]

[justno]

[That he definitely understands. So, changing tack.]

So you consider yourself single. He just ain't doing it for you.

[ruinsprofessor]

[Did she not just say she was married?]

I don't consider myself single. My husband may have returned to his world, but there is still the possibility of seeing him again. He isn't dead, after all.

[justno]

Wait- You got married here? In this place? Are you kidding me right now?

[He laughs.]

[ruinsprofessor]

[Helping, Penny.]

Both my husband and I were well aware of the pitfalls, and what we were setting ourselves up for.

In any case, time spent here is highly variable; I've been here nearly four years now.

[justno]

[Slightly more serious, though not exactly sensitive.]

How long's he been gone?

[ruinsprofessor]

Nearly seven months.

[A faintly rueful smile.]

He arrived here only about two months after I did.

[She had hoped their times would match better, but she knew the risks.]

[justno]

How long you going to pine for his abandoning ass?

[ruinsprofessor]

It isn't as though he made the choice to leave.

[Quite the opposite: Solomon tried his utmost to stay.]

No more than any of us did to come here in the first place.

[justno]

Okay, how long are you going to pine for his unintentionally abandoning ass?

[ruinsprofessor]

As long as I wish.

[This said with a bit of finality.]

So long as I retain the memories of this place, that choice is mine. Why does it matter to you?

[justno]

Maybe I'm interested.

[Said with just enough sass to possibly be a joke.]

[ruinsprofessor]

[...Raine can't honestly tell if he's joking. It takes her a moment to speak.]

You're--

[Utterly bemused. This did not occur to her as a possibility.]

Hm. Are you?

[justno]

Does it matter, if you're still holding out for the runaway groom?

[ruinsprofessor]

[Hm. Does it? Raine considers that for a moment.]

It's unlikely that my own feelings on the matter would change; but I would hardly like to run roughshod over yours, either.

[justno]

[He chuckles lightly.]

Relax. You're not my type.

[ruinsprofessor]

[Raine does unbend a little at that. Ah. He was teasing. That makes better sense.]

Then why do you have such a concern over how I choose to hold on to him or not?

[justno]

I need a reason?

[ruinsprofessor]

[What kind of question is that.]

Every action has a reason behind it, even unconsciously.

[justno]

You know, most people would take that as a cue that they're not going to get an answer. [He sounds vaguely exasperated.]