pile of creds

[catcred]

[ Th'ancred had heard of the Make it Rain event, and had decided... well, he'd look cute in some of those clothes. And the bar there was good - and his daugher had gone, as well.

Perhaps he wanted to simply relax. The Scions were at rest - as far as they could be. They were preparing to see what the Source would bring - since it seemed to be a calm similar to periods of large activity.

But, for now, Th'ancred sat at the edge of the airship there, legs danging over. He could have teleported - he'd never been cursed by Flow - but he still wanted to feel the air against him. Sometimes he wondered if death was even a concept here. No, they'd be there soon, and he could gamble his heart away. (Maybe see if Alisaie would come home. She'd been set up there for days.) ]

Comments

[leader_of_the_dawn]

We shall.

[ The walk there is tense but quick.

In her office, a fancy-dressed man stands - garbed in the Gamblers' Coat, dyed pink. His hair long and messy, he looks almost like a dandy Ul'dahn, if Ul'dahn were Elezen.

But he waves casually, grinning and spreading his arms in welcome. As if he's the one in command here. ]

Filia! Cred!

...Miscarlet.

[ She nods to him, and then looks to Thancred to see how he would react. ]

[wordsinthesoul]

[… what

If Th'ancred hadn't said, Thancred would never have guessed he might've once been Urianger. That- seems incredibly unlikely, even having heard that.

He's got his most polite face on, even as he moves forward- that sure is an entire syllable dropped there. This is very, very bizarre.]

It's good to meet you. I've been hearing quite a bit about you.

[forgottenmists]

But of course, Cred. Would dear Filia not speak of me? Much hast fallen, and yet, I standeth firm.

[ Oh dear, he's sneering, and Minfilia is looking cautious - glad his eyes haven't focused on either of them. But he takes another step forward - trying not to drop his expression. After all - the first thing Miscarlet liked to do with people was... make them not trust him.

Who'd care for him, after all? ]

You're one of the earliest who's fallen in. A curiosity, honestly!

[wordsinthesoul]

All that's changed?

[He's definitely coming off as suspect, and Thancred wants to move- but that's a little close to letting on how uneasy he is. This really isn't the same as dealing with Urianger, not at all.]

The earliest? How do you mean? [he's not sure he should be glad of that.]

[forgottenmists]

So many of you come after your death, to join this multiversal paradise.

[ Minfilia interrupts. ] He speaks of a disaster which... was averted. [ Minfilia looks so uneasy, though - trying to remain professional, as she stands closer to Thancred. ] In it, many of our number were attacked by the Brass Blades, and... were harmed.

[ She's seen Thancred - many - who don't die, but she can't dispute what Miscarlet says. (Especially with Papayda around, who only exists due to dying.) Which is what hurts her the most. ]

I almost missed those eyes of innocence and beauty. Your very look... heals me, if only a little.

[wordsinthesoul]

After- what?

[are they actually dead no he'd. remember if that had happened right?

Thank the gods for Minfilia. He glances at her, shifting a little closer. This is- it's not fine, but it sounds… less extreme, at least.]

The Blades…? I don't- did someone make Lolorito the wrong meal?

[that wouldn't be it, but he's trying. That- where did it even come from? …he's been away too long, perhaps.

…Miscarlet, gods. Thancred looks back at him.]

I think… that may actually be a new one. [a very weird one. gods, what even.]

[forgottenmists]

[ Minfilia tries to speak up, but is interrupted. ]

An assassination of the Sultana! And we were blamed for being involved! I never lingered at that party - it was always time for me to begin again, start anew.

[ He says, as he steps forward - his eyes seeming to shine with a... sadness? One deeper then any Urianger would ever show. But he reaches for one of Thancreds' hands - his gloves nice and silky. ]

I miss your innocence.

[ He misses his own. ]

So much sadness from so many of you - it doesn't suit you.

[wordsinthesoul]

… A false accusation. [Nanamo- no. It would have been- those of the Scions who know her care for her, and the rest- he can't see them doing anything like that.] Start again?

[but then Miscarlet steps forward- reaches out for his hand, and Thancred allows it. He's staring a little, still trying to make sense of this- there's a little that is reminding him of Urianger, but it's still strange, still enough to set him off balance.]

That's- not something I'd expected to hear, you know.

It would be good to alleviate some of that. [everything is just… a lot.]

[forgottenmists]

[ oh dear. minfilia is giving a pleading look, but miscarlet then lowers his head - his voice suddenly sounding a lot leas confident. ]

...My death brings life. For I re-awaken, in pasts I hold no control over. Watching new Warriors of Light, and watching deaths. But such loneliness is worth the price - for I knew what would happen. But even warnings frey, Thancred.

[ ...minfilia is still giving a please stop look but because she's scared. what will he do now...? ]

Everybody else seems to go though motions - but this land frees them. Even if it is filled with chaos.

[wordsinthesoul]

[This- what he's saying now- sounds utterly bizarre, and yet Thancred's still listening, trying to pick out what he means.]

From that banquet to- a new beginning? [he shakes his head, frowning.] It does sound… remote. [lonely, indeed- and he keeps doing that.] You try, and… well. You can't promise warnings will be listened to.

Frees them- from the future?

[forgottenmists]

[ he's still urianger. if he spoke plainly, then you'd have trouble. but he nods. ]

Did Eorzea listen to warnings of a new Era, before Dalamud began to approach? Even the smartest of Archon... only a few believed that.

But... yes. Freedom from futures of pain, to a land of survival. Even if the future cannot be seen...

[wordsinthesoul]

[where is the lie in that.]

Not quite what I'd call their finest moment. [not really his, either.]

Well- as far as I'd heard, that particular gift wasn't every especially common. So not seeing it doesn't seem that unusual. And then- that's what you meant by 'paradise'?

[forgottenmists]

...It is quite uncommon, though my gift was different. Simply knowing what everybody would do was enough, things oft go the same over and over.

[ He says, still holding Thancreds' hand - but tightening his grip. ]

And, quite simply, yes. Even if there's, well... quite some oddities to play with.

...You know why I called you here, Miscarlet.

[ Minfilia looks focused, trying to place her arm around Thancreds'. ]

Right. You saw an oddity and think it's me.

[wordsinthesoul]

People being themselves.

[ah- that's uncomfortable, but- he'll cope, trying not to let out too much of a sound.

He reaches for Minfilia with his other hand- right. They got distracted.]

Well- I'd like to find that out. Was it?

[forgottenmists]

[ Miscarlet goes quiet, looking away for a moment - letting go of Thancred, nervously. But before he can seem to flee for a period, Minfilia speaks again, pointedly. ]

Did you, or did you not, change Thancred.

[ There's a pause, and Miscarlet laughs. ]

The Scions of so many worlds are so very... victorious, at his time. I thought I'd give some of their enemies a chance. For fun.

[wordsinthesoul]

[He's not sure whether he's glad for that or not. But- in any case, he can't help feeling cold at Miscarlet's confirmation. It's not as visible as some changes- obviously- but all the same-]

… There were better times than in the middle of one fight, you know.

[he's trying to sound even- not entirely succeeding, but. gods. For fun- really?]

[forgottenmists]

[ It's quite frightening, then, that Miscarlet is still grinning. Oh dear... ]

But then I would have needed to linger - and meet an earlier me - to see how it turned out.

[ He doesn't like doing that. He hates it. ]

[wordsinthesoul]

[he's not sure he's seen Urianger smile this much. It shouldn't be this worrying.]

… I'm not sure I see what harm that would've done. [considering he, well. didn't realise Y'shtola would give him so much sarcasm, if she could. But.]

An earlier you?

[forgottenmists]

[ It wouldn't cause harm, but not like he's going to say that. ]

Yes. Each loop of my life, another timeline.

And yet, I linger in my first world, our histories separate. An innocence I still miss.

...Do you wish to meet him?

[wordsinthesoul]

Each loop? That's… [he frowns.] I haven't heard of anything like that before.

He's here? [his eyebrows rise- for a moment, and then he nods, with a glance at Minfilia. Why not- it can't make this weirder. He thinks, at least.]

[leader_of_the_dawn]

Of course not. It's... not quite Eorzean, is it. A curse, given by those outside our realm.

[ Minfilia sighs, ready to try and reason with him. ]

Urianger is currently assisting K'pandolu with matters of Allagan--

[ But then, Miscarlet vanishes - a little bit of his power lingering for a moment. And Minfilia lets herself slump, leaning against Thancred. ] ...I'm sorry I did not warn you more. I truly did not know how he would act.

[wordsinthesoul]

Is that so? A curse… Dare I ask from what source?

[…ah. But he's taken off, apparently? Hopefully he won't… interfere too much with whatever the others are doing. …which he should probably ask about. Eventually.

He wraps his arm around Minfilia for now, turning towards her. Gods- this really is just- so much.]

No… He certainly seems quite unpredictable. More than I was expecting.

[leader_of_the_dawn]

[ Yup, but he would regale the tale to Thancred later, if he remembered. If he... remembered.

As he looks to her, he might finally see how very tired Minfilia looks. Her eyes have bags under them, and her very expression has drooped. ]

This is simply what we must deal with... [ she repeats to herself, beginning to... nip at Thancred? She doesn't realise it, but she's... trying to groom him a little. ]

[wordsinthesoul]

[gods. He'd hoped Minfilia would never have to look like this, but…]

We'll get by. One way or another.

[oh. That's- well, he's not unfamiliar with it, but- well, right now he's concerned it might make things worse for her. He puts one hand on her head, stroking her hair a little.]

Minfilia. Should we head back to your room?

[leader_of_the_dawn]

[ And as he strokes her on her hat, she seems to lean into it. ]

I think so. I still have some paperwork I can do in there.

[ ...She can work. She can do this. Thancred, though... she looks to him. ] If what Miscarlet said is true, Urianger may come at any time. I'll let Tataru know to send him down to us. [ She pauses, gently, and then leans into him more. ] He's... not like that.