Group Intro

[oi_theoi]

Who: Newkids AND YOU!!
When: Day 67, Afternoon
Where: New shrine area (Level four, south of fountain)
What: Arrivals

[With the fairy light nearly dead, and level 3 lost, apparently the gods decided you might want some additional man power or something! Some new arrivals appear amid the shrines on level 4]

[Undertaker | Link/Book | Arisato Minato | Ico | Tripitaka | Faika | Tali'Zorah]

Comments

[lyvus_daddy]

[Hopefully bewildered isn't a bad sign. BUT WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED.]

[...eh, not like I'm gonna chase you out anyway. Better than you making yourself sick or choking.]

[Takes a more careful sip of his own tea. Okay, now the more difficult part.]

Can you remember, what was happening before you got here?

[bornwithhorns]

Before I got here? Yeah... [He swallows and takes a sip of tea, the though of what happened causes his appetite to sink and he starts picking at his food more than actually eating it.]

[lyvus_daddy]

[Noting that and sighing.]

...

[Nods.] That happened to everyone here. Thusia is a place that people come to...after they die.

[bornwithhorns]

I guess I shouldn't hope that Yorda shows up, then.

[That was a harsh reality to face.]

[lyvus_daddy]

....

Yeah, that's...always the problem with this place. It's good to see the people you know....until you realize why they're here.

But there's nothing wrong with missing someone.

[bornwithhorns]

[He desperately tries to find an upside to this--and then, suddenly, it comes to him.]

So if she doesn't show up, then I know she's still alive, right?

[lyvus_daddy]

...

[O-oh no. There is a delay here, as he thinks how to answer. Though, there was ONE thing...]

The chances...are very high she is. It seems like when people are from the same world, people they know come here too. It's...it's not a guarantee, because this isn't a normal after life, but it's a very strong possibility.

[bornwithhorns]

[He nods a bit to himself. It wasn't fool proof, but it did make him feel better...if only a little bit.]

[With some surprising vigor.] Th-then I'll send her all my luck! Even if I can't see her, I want to protect her in any way I can. As long as she doesn't show up here, I can hope maybe she managed to get out without me.

[But it seemed impossible, when he thought about it too much.]

[lyvus_daddy]

... [He smiles.]

Then I think that'll be enough. It's surprising what people can do, after they've met someone special. 'They wouldn't want me to give up.' That can bring a lot of people out of their lowest points and they can do amazing things.

And it sounds like you two were pretty special to each other.

[bornwithhorns]

[Ico returns the smile, almost beaming with his new sense of hope. He'd been so sure Yorda was doomed, but now...maybe she wasn't.]

Y-yeah! ...We were. At least, she, um...was...

[Whoops, he looks away suddenly, cheeks red.]

[lyvus_daddy]

[So cute.]

In times of distress, it's rarely not something felt both ways. You're special to her too.

[bornwithhorns]

[HE'S SO EMBARRASSED...]

[Ico covers his face with both hands because his cheeks are burning now, not to mention he can't help a goofy smile.]

I hope so...

[lyvus_daddy]

[So very cute.] What's she like?

[bornwithhorns]

[Fidgeting now. Stooopppp, you're embarrassing him.]

She's tall... [He stretches his arm above his head to show that she has a good foot or so of height on him.]

And her skin looks like clouds. And she's smart...sometimes she even figured out how to get past stuff in our way before me.

[lyvus_daddy]

[But it's adorable.]

Skin like clouds...she does sound pretty cool.

[bornwithhorns]

[A little laugh.] Y-yeah, she's really cool.

[After a moment of thought.] I think it's because...she never gets to go outside. Like, I'm outside all the time.

[He holds out his arm curiously, skin tone a bit olive by comparison.]

[lyvus_daddy]

Why wouldn't she go outside?

[bornwithhorns]

...Because she was locked up in a cage.

[lyvus_daddy]

Why?

[...no, wait, maybe he shouldn't have asked. '-']

[bornwithhorns]

[Whoops, too late Rory.]

[Ico's tone is still soft, but there's a hint of fright and anger in it as he explains.] Because the shadow monster Queen--she was going to use her to make herself young again. That's why we had to get out of there together--!

[lyvus_daddy]

[Why are kids involved with dangerous things.]

...I see. Then it really is good she got to meet you.

[bornwithhorns]

[Because.]

[Guilt creeps back up on Ico, and he's just about ready to revert back to his earlier worries.]

Except that...I couldn't help her. At least not while I was--was...alive...

[lyvus_daddy]

...

[And he's going to get up and move over to Ico, putting his hands on his shoulders.]

There is no doubt you helped her.

[bornwithhorns]

[Ico's really not used to this whole "getting comforted" thing, or sharing his feelings at all for that matter, so he just stares at Rory warily.]

Okay...

[lyvus_daddy]

It's true.

To be locked away that long, to only be used, it's not anyway to live. It's the kind of thing that would make anyone lose hope.

But to have someone come along, whose kind and cares? Which you obviously do. It's amazing how much that sort of person can just make the world seem b right again, how they make anything seem possible just because you met them. Never doubt how valuable that is.