Kick Out, Break Out, The Place That I Flee To Is Always Inside Of My Heart

[spirialink]

Who: Kor Meteor (spirialink & Caius Qualls (accepted)
Where: The world of Areulla.
What: Kor finds himself transported suddenly to another world, and with Caius' help, must find his way back home! Empatheias CR imported!

Comments

[spirialink]

[Kor had absolutely no clue what was going on. One moment, he had journeyed with his friends to the bottom of that mysterious Triverse Gate. Despite his friends, especially Gall, insisting he not mess with that giant door there, he couldn't help but push on it. Surprisingly enough though, the door gave way and Kor was sucked inside, with it slamming shut before his friends could chase after him.

And then the next moment, he found himself suddenly on a boat, half-buried under a pile of cargo.]

Nnnnhh... What the...? How'd I get here...? [He pushes against the stuff piled on top of him, wiggling himself free. The room he was in was poorly lit and pretty cramped. What the heck was he doing here?

...Aha, maybe he blacked out in that stupid place, and Ines got him and the others to a ship home! That must be it! Sure doesn't explain why he's in a cargo hold though...]

Hey, Ines! Are you out there? [No answer.] ...Beryl? Hisui? Kohaku?!

[Thinking about it, his connection to all his friends felt really faint, like the bond was being stretched really far. But how could that be? Even when he and Kohaku were on the other side of the planet from each other, it didn't feel this faint...]

Anybody at all?!

[accepted]

[Nope. No one. Not a soul responds to Kor yelling out. All he gets in response is the quiet hum of a steam engine from somewhere else on board...

That is until the sound of heavy footsteps rushing down the hallway outside can be heard. The steps get louder and louder until briefly stopping at the door to the hold. It's soon thrown open by Caius with his sword drawn and ready.

Once his eyes briefly register there's something that isn't another box or package in there amongst the cargo he jumps into action, ripping his sword across the floor and sending shockwave after shockwave rushing towards Kor.]

Demonic Chaos!!

[Arria said there was a Spot on board coming from below deck, and Kor in all his red and black looked pretty Spot-like in he blur of a moment Caius noticed him before jumping into throwing artes around. Sorry man.]

[spirialink]

[the silence that once permeated the dark cargo hold was broken as the door flew open, slamming against the wall. The light that flooded in hurt Kor's eyes, only mitigated by the figure standing in the doorway blocking some of it.

The figure that was now attacking him. He struggled to get free of the boxes, but they were just heavy enough that pushing them aside was no easy feat. But one of the shockwaves crashed into a box, smashing it, giving Kor the chance he needed. His reflexes kicked into overdrive and he leaps to his feet and out of the way of the remaining two shockwaves, landing on top of one of the remaining boxes.

He had no idea why he was suddenly under attack, but if they wanted a fight, they got one. He activates his Soma, the shining gold blade manifesting in his right hand, a glow cast from it illuminating his body. He leaps towards Caius, blade swung high. ]

Impact Event!

[he swings the blade down on Caius as he descends on him. ]

[accepted]

[Oh man, this is an agile Spot! Sure some of the smaller ones can be pretty quick but this is something else. That attack usually would have hit even the speedier Spots he and his friends have found.

Thankfully Caius quickly stops thinking he's facing a Spot here when he notices Kor activating his Soma. There's only one person who ever used a weapon like that and they definitely wouldn't be here. Surely that would be impossible... Maybe? Heck if he knows, now isn't the time for puzzling that out when he should be focused on dodging.]

Whoah, hey! Hey!!

[Caius quickly stumbles back out the door, shoulders hitting the wall behind him as he barely avoids the attack and has to support himself with his free hand to avoid tumbling to the floor.]

Nngh, damn it... [Sword still raised as a precaution, Caius calls out with a hopeful voice.] Is that you Kor?!

[spirialink]

[Alright, direct hit! He just needs to keep up the pressure now.

As his attacker calls out his name, though, he gives pause, before leaping back, sword still held in front of him.]

How do you know my name?

[He doesn't recognize this person's voice at all. ...So why does his Spiria feel so funny hearing it...?]

[accepted]

... What? [Wait, no--] How wouldn't I know your name?! I've known you for...

[A period. Of time. Between coming and going, returning to the same time, aging in another world but staying the same at home where he belongs... It's a lot to keep track of. Caius just ends up shaking his head.]

I've known you for a real long time Kor. We lived together! We've done this sorta meeting before too, remember? We were chasing sheep. [...] I elbowed you in the face!

[Was it necessary to include that last detail? Nah. But he is anyway. What, it happened!]

[spirialink]

["I've known you for a real long time"? "We lived together"? Now Kor's even more confused. There are only a small group of people who can claim they've known Kor a "real long time", and only person who can say they've lived with Kor. And that person is currently six feet under.]

I think I'd remember something like that. I never forget an elbow to the face!

[And yet he can't help but shake that weird feeling he's got. He doesn't remember anything like this, and yet... He feels like he should?

He lowers his guard, his stance drooping.]

...But I don't think you're lying about that stuff. Err, whoever you are.

[accepted]

That's what you don't forget?! [He kind of wants to elbow Kor again right now. Maybe that would jog his memory.] Would you quit messing around Kor!

[Kor is just. Joking right? But he wouldn't joke about this. He'd be crying instead and getting all emotional because that's the kind of guy he is. He's not the sort to pretend he doesn't know someone just to tease them.

... He'd prefer it if Kor were just kidding around though. Caius stares at his friend for a moment, grip on his sword loosening until his arm falls to his side.]

I... I'm Caius. You know that. [...] Used to know that, I guess. [This is so awkward. And weird. And such a punch to the gut. Why the heck doesn't Kor remember him?! Ugh.]

[spirialink]

[Kor's gaze shifts to the ground, staring at the wooden floorboards beneath him. He's always been of the opinion that a Spiria never forgets the people whose lives it has touched--whose lives have touched it. Is that why he's got such a weird feeling around Caius? Why he feels like what he's saying has to be right?

But... Even if his Spiria remembers, It sure isn't sharing with the class.]

I'm... sorry...

[This is an awful feeling for him. Why the heck doesn't he remember Caius?!]

[accepted]

... It's fine. It's not like you should be apologising for it.

[Caius sighs, making no attempt to hide how disappointed he is as he quickly runs a hand through his hair. Maybe this Kor really doesn't know him. Could it be a Kor from a time or place who just never ran into him before? Since Kor is even here in the first place it could be possible. Right?

... But that kind of thinking and getting into different worlds and possibilities is enough to make his head spin. And that's all he needs now, a headache.

It's best to keep things simple.]

How did you even get here anyway? Someone would've found you hiding out back in Janna if you got on at the docks.

[spirialink]

[probably for the best that Caius doesn't vocalize those thoughts, or else they'd have two headaches on their hands. ]

That's a good question! [he laughs, because he doesn't really know the answer. ]

I was at this weird gate with my friends, and then next thing I knew, I woke up here!

[funny how that kind of stuff just happens, huh? ]

Speaking of my friends, have you seen them around here? They must be on this ship somewhere if I'm here!

[accepted]

A weird gate? Huh.

[Must have been a pretty impressive, wacky looking gate for him to have ended up here. Maybe... Like the kind of gate the King tried to open? That allowed travel between worlds after all, and here Kor is.

eeehwhateverthatsmorethinking.]

Anyway, I've not seen anyone else on board. Not counting my friends and the guys keeping the boat going anyway. Maybe they're somewhere else. [...] What're their names?

[He's likely talking his own friends from his own world, not friends he made in Empatheias. But still, doesn't hurt to check. If he did mean Emp-friends and he had just forgotten Caius though? He'd be pissed. Even if Kor couldn't help it.]

[spirialink]

Well... [He puts away his sword and then thumbs his chin thoughtfully. Where to start? It's a good thing Kor immediately trusts Caius or else telling him about all his friends would be a horrible idea!

There's Kunzite, he's a big, purple metal guy! And Chalcedony's got armor and wings! Gall's an old guy who dresses like he's out of this world, and Ines is a really impressive looking lady! Beryl's got a big hat on, and Hisui's really violent. Especially towards me.

[None of those descriptions are all that helpful, Kor. But the last one he lists is a name that Caius will probably recognize, though it won't be any help.]

And then, there's Kohaku...

[He trails off, blushing slightly and scratching the back of his head. Guess who's got a crush.]

[spirialink]

[Despite the initial excitement, the rest of the boat ride was fairly uneventful. Which is about what one could hope for when riding a boat to a new land. Stories were shared and good times were had, but it's once the boat docks that the excitement truly begins.

Kor's the first one off the boat, his excitement having him practically leaping over the edge of the boat into the port. He looks around with awe, standing around with an intense look of curiosity on his face. And making it all the more obvious that he's a tourist.]

This is it, right?! We're finally here!

[accepted]

[Uneventful, but really just watching the open water pass by with maybe the occasional sea creature being spotted under the water was pretty exciting! To the guy who's never sailed between continents anyway. Sue him he's had no life.

Rubia probably dropped a story or two about Caius being embarrassing, a loser, or an embarrassing loser which he thoroughly denied. Arria might also have talked about the church. Fun fun.

ANYHOO.

Caius disembarks with the rest of his party, still a bit in front of them but not running off leaps and bounds like Kor. He's trying to look cool, playing this all chill like, but he's bouncing on the balls of his feet excitedly as they finally arrive in port.]

Of course this is it! We wouldn't have come all this way just for us to arrive at the wrong place.

[Rubia makes the fair point of how the heck would Caius even know anyway, prompting everyone to stop and look at Tilkis.

"Ah, well, this is one of Senshibia's main docks. We have other landing points too of course for travelers making the long journey over the ocean..." Arria gives him a tilt of her head. Now isn't the time to brag about his country. "But right, we're here on Senshibian soil at last."

Caius' face lights up as he looks at Kor with a big grin. They're here, across the whole wide big blue ocean in a whole other country!]

[spirialink]

[This was starting to see exciting to Kor now. Not only is he in a brand new world with brand new friends, he's officially started off a brand new adventure with those friends in a brand new city! It's all brand new!]

Awesome! [If it wasn't already obvious to the people nearby that he was a tourist... Well, it sure is now.]

So... Now what? Why were we coming here again?

[He was so excited to come to this town and he doesn't even know why.]

[accepted]

Well, uh... ["Cai-us! You never even bothered to tell him why we were on a boat in the first place?"] It's not like I didn't bother! There was lots of other stuff to talk about, that's all!

[Tilkis rolls his eyes as Arria stifles a giggle at Caius and Rubia bickering as per norm.]

I came here to explore and see the other side of the world for myself! But on the way over we ran into Spots on the boat. So if there were Spots on board then there might still be Spots in Senshibia and all around here.

[He looks to Tilkis to make sure he's got all that right, purposely looking past Rubia who looks ready to give him grief for mentioning his wanderlust.

"Right. I'll be heading to the castle to check in there and make sure everything is okay, see if anyone has encountered any Spots. Arria, would you accompany me?"
"Of course, Tilkis. It'll be fun seeing where you grew up."
"Aah, when you put it like that it's a little embarrassing!"

Rubia has the biggest grin on her face as she listens to the two of them talk. Caius blinks... And then just turns to Kor.]

Guess we could go to the castle too, that might be-- [Rubia hurries over shoves her elbow into his side, leading to him wincing back with a yelp. "No, you can't go with them now! Go find something else to do so we don't disturb them!"] Fine, fine! We'll go look around the rest of the city, yeesh!

[Rude. But anyway. Up for some city exploring Kor? Since aPpArEnTlY they can't go to the castle for ReAsOnS.]

[spirialink]

Sounds fine by me. [Kor smiles at Caius. Going to castles always involved serious talks in his experience. Even if these guys were Caius' friends, he had a feeling that whatever chat would end up happening there wouldn't involve cake and tea.]

Getting to explore new places with friends is the best of an adventure, after all.

[He was feeling excited all over again, seeing a bustling city on a completely different world alongside his new friend that seems to know him for some reason? It was the epitome of exciting!]

Let's go, Caius!

[accepted]

[To be fair if they did involve cake that would be a good reason to dodge by itself. Ew. Sweets.]

Right!

[With that he shoots Kor a grin before he goes running off, leaving Kor behind him. Rubia is yelling after him, something about leaving a lady behind, but he doesn't pick up on it as he's too busy making sure he doesn't collide with anyone as he runs through the docks and into the city proper.

She'll verbally murder him later for this transgression against her.

As he runs, Caius beckons for Kor to keep up with him.]

C'mon, we've got lots to see and I wanna see it all!

[spirialink]

Huh? Wait--

[Kor looks at Caius who's running on ahead, and then to Rubia, who's looking none too pleased, glowering daggers at the two of them. Back to Caius, who's getting further ahead, and then to Rubia, who's getting angrier by the second.

...Sorry, Rubia.]

Wait up, Caius!

[He runs after him. He does not want to deal with Rubia anymore than Caius does.]

[accepted]

[By the time they're off the dock, it might be possible to hear a certain pink-haired priestess in-training screeching Caius' name.

If Caius hears it? He's choosing to ignore it. This time anyway.]

Phew! She's not going to let me forget about this later. I'll have to figure out a way to make it up to her, otherwise it'll be years before she lets me off the hook.

[Maybe he'll get an idea as they look around. There's all sorts going on in the city, there'll be something for sure.]

[spirialink]

[As Kor chases after Caius, he can hear Rubia screeching the boy's name. How can he just ignore her like that, is his hearing really bad or something? Poor guy.]

Really, you think so? You two seem like really good friends to me, so I don't think she'd hold a grudge for long.

[accepted]

[If anything his hearing is slightly better than most. Which makes the screaming even worse.

At Kor's comment he just shoots him a dead look, as if there's no way he could be serious in saying that.]

Well... Yeah, we're good friends. But Rubia, she holds onto things for way too long. She brings things up that happened when we were kids like they happened yesterday! Embarrassing things!

[He can only take so much of Rubia telling him how much of a wuss he was as a child. Granted it's normally his fault for pushing her buttons in the first place but anyway.

As they walk along and the streets begin to grow busier, more businesses appearing the longer they head on, Caius spots a clothing store. Hmm. Maybe there are accessories or something in there Rubia would like? He gestures to the shop with a toss of his head.]

Anyway, let's take a look in here for a second. It won't take long. Then we can really take a look around this place.

[spirialink]

[Holds onto things for way too long, huh... Man, she really is like Beryl...

Kor looks at where Caius was gesturing. A clothing store? Why a clothing store, they didn't need new clothes, their clothes were fine. Did they need disguises or something?

Well, Caius seems to think they need to go there, so he just nods to him.]

Uhhh... Okay. Sounds fine to me.

[accepted]

[Bam, they're in a clothing store. It's about what you'd expect, clothes on racks and outfits up on mannquins. There are small stands of accessories dotted around too, which is what Caius makes a beeline for once he spots one.]

Let's see, something for Rubia...

[Just shopping for accessories for his friend who happens to be a girl, it's fine.

Flicking through whats on display he ends up picking out a barrette with fake pink and yellow flowers covering the whole thing. Is it excessive, or is it Rubia's style? She likes flowers. She is dressed as a flower most of time. Can you overkill what has already been killed?

Looking back around him for Kor, he'll show his friend the barrette with a tilt of his head.]

Do you think Rubia would like this? It's got flowers on it, so you know. [Makes sense.]