001. (v2) [audio + commentlog/open]

[snowtop]

A...Again?

[Xanth lets out a hollow, bitter laugh.]

I... n-no, you, you have to be k--kidding. I-I already d--did this. M-My world was... a-already gone. Th--The End took it. K-K'lai, a-and Grams, they... th-they were... already gone.

[He takes in a shuddering breath. His chest tightens, his voice cracks.]

N--Now you say it... it's all g-gone? Unmade? D--Didn't ev--even-- h-happen? How!? I-- I lived that! It-- it can't-- not again--

[There's a small gasp, like a prelude to a sob, but then Xanth slams the book shut.

Xanth takes his record, takes his key, and immediately sets out into the Keep. He's tired, he's so fucking tired, but he has to know if anyone else got snatched into this mess too.]

Comments

[Audio + Translated Text]

[drinkuntilidie.livejournal.com]

[Ping! Interest got!]

You from the Elegante little mon?

[Audio]

[snowtop]

[Xanth's heart leaps. Elegante. Someone knows! Someone else is here!]

Y...Yeah. I-- I'm-- Xanth. Wh-- what about y-you?

[Audio + Translated Text]

[drinkuntilidie.livejournal.com]

Guess we're a hard lot to kill. Name's Kevas.

[Audio]

[snowtop]

[Xanth laughs, shaky with relief and adrenaline.]

Y--Yeah.

So, Kev--K-Kevas-- is anyone e--else h-here?

[Please say yes. Gods, say yes, please.]

[Audio + Translated Text]

[drinkuntilidie.livejournal.com]

There are, but it's not a lot. So far it's just a couple of us.

[Audio]

[snowtop]

[And just like that, Xanth's hopes are cracked. Not shattered - but there were so many people on the Elegante. The chances that any are people he knows are so small...]

Wh...Who?

text

[thii2ii22tupiid]

aren't you already here?

Audio

[snowtop]

Wh--what? No! I mean-- I-- I'm h-here now, b-but, what?

text

[thii2ii22tupiid]

you WERE at lea2t, ii remember you freakiing out about the tattoo2.

2o eiither there are two of you here or they traded out for a diiferent model.

Audio

[snowtop]

T--

Um. O--Okay.

[This sounds familiar. Didn't something like this happen on the Elegante? All the time?

In any case, doppelgangers and recurring versions are a little much to think about right now. Xanth focuses on something else.]

W-What... tattoos?

text

[thii2ii22tupiid]

everyone ha2 a tattoo, we get iit when they briing u2 iin or 2omethiing.

Audio

[snowtop]

[Xanth scoffs.]

G--Great. I-I bet mine is s--somewhere s-stupid.

[Audio]

[lightwithin]

Hey...

[This is strange.]

Do you mean the letter?

[Because they already talked about that. Weeks ago.]

[Audio]

[snowtop]

[Xanth had been walking as he checked the book, but this reply makes him stumble and stop in his tracks. He knows that voice. He knows this girl. He's hit with a tidal wave of relief and he can't stop grinning.

But just past that relief is a flood of worry.]

K--

Kairi? Wh-where-- wh-- where are you?

[Perhaps he should think something of her lackluster response, but he does not. To that, he is blind.]

[Audio]

[lightwithin]

I'm at the lake.

[And now that he sounds less like he's panicking, she chances teasing him, just a little.]

Did you get lost?

[Audio]

[snowtop]

N-No, um, I-- I'm okay! B-But, can you-- give me d-directions? I-I'm on-- o-on the grounds r-right now, so--

[He doesn't see the lake! But even if he's still all beat up from the battle with The End, he'll run miles to find her.]

[Audio]

[lightwithin]

Sure. There's a gate in the wall west of the hot springs, past the library entrance. You'll see it from there.

[Audio] --> [Commentlog]

[snowtop]

O-Okay!

[Xanth keeps her instructions in mind. He's not sure where the library or the hot springs are, but ten minutes of searching bring him to the place, and the girl, he seeks.

When he sees her, he breaks into a run.]

K-Kairi!

[He looks like the boy Kairi knew before, but so much worse for wear. His shirt is torn and dirty, and his pants are flecked with old bloodstains on the bottom left leg. He's favoring his right leg, too - did she notice the limping step to his run?]

Audio

[stillacaptain.livejournal.com]

They say it's gone.

Audio

[snowtop]

[There's a lot in those four words: a stubborn attitude, defiance. Xanth knows people like that.

Or he used to.]

L...Listen. I--I... I did th-this once, a-and-- and it w-was gone. I--I know it was.

Th-they're.

[He chokes up.]

Pr--probably not... l-lying.

Audio

[stillacaptain.livejournal.com]

Probably. Not definitely.

Until I see a bunch of space dust where that planet was, I'm not buying this shit.

[Yeah, this attitude is probably very familiar to the poor kid.]

Audio

[snowtop]

[It is. It's all at once comforting and spirit-crushing.

He already misses Ironhide so goddamn much.]

You... y-you won't. But... y-you're... not g-going home.

A-And I'm-- I'm s-so, so s-sorry.

Audio -- goddammit ;o; i'm tearing up here

[stillacaptain.livejournal.com]

You just watch. I left a good man back there. Good kids.

I'm getting back to him. I don't care what these people say.

[Video]

[allthesame2me]

[PING! Attention get! Alex hadn't seen Xanth since the kid saved his life, but he recognizes the voice. However, before responding he at least takes the time to read/listen through the entry to see what has the kid so worked up.

Although he knows nothing about the Elegante or the spicifics about Xanth
s stay there, it's clear it was more than a bit traumatic for him. It's also a bit clear in the responses that he doesn't remember being here before.

Shit. And some of the folks here thought they had it bad. After a moments' considereation, he activates the video function.]

Hey .. kid .. you okay? I mean .. I know you're not okay, but .. can I help?

[He looks and sounds genuinely concerned because he is ..]

[Audio]

[snowtop]

[Not unless you can bring his family here with him, Alex.]

I-I don't-- I don't th-think so.

B-But. [Deep breath. In, out.] Th...thank you a--anyway.