[Log][Ongoing]

[for-destiny.livejournal.com]

When; March 10, set in the morning, near noon.
Rating; PG
Characters; Jowy [for_destiny] & Lazlo [veniale]
Summary; After viewing the dragons at the zoo, the two teenaged boys sit down for a little serious talk about their life-draining runes.
Log;

The weather was good today too, and he had fun taking a peek of the dragons everyone had been talking about with Lazlo. Albert was right to worry about them; those iron bars looked much too weak to keep in the ferocious looking beasts. For a while, Jowy wondered if the deities did that on purpose and if, sooner or later, those dragons would escape for a prowl around the city... but he figured if that happened, then, it would happen.

Lazlo and him had sat down one of the benches underneath the cool shade of a tree. They were quiet at first, merely content with watching their surroundings at first - at least Jowy was as he toyed with his staff a bit -- but after a while, Jowy finally spoke. His face became serious, almost blank, really.

"....about your rune," he began quietly, almost meekly.

Comments

[veniale.livejournal.com]

It had been an interesting visit to the park - the dragons seemingly frustrated with the bars that kept them locked away, divided into two different kinds: the herbivores and carnivores. It was really interesting; Lazlo loved new knowledge of all kinds, learning about all sorts of things...

- his Rune.

"Yes." The teen closed his eyes, thinking. What could he say, really? "The Rune of Punishment," he explained, quietly. "It's almost like yours- Almost."

[for-destiny.livejournal.com]

[veniale.livejournal.com]

He lifted his left hand slightly and glanced at his gloves. "It's the way the Rune is," Lazlo said, quietly. "The Rune of Punishment governs Atonement and Forgiveness. To use its power is to sin; the Rune takes away its bearer's life in exchange for that power."

To punish the bearer - and those around him...

"It doesn't anymore," he added softly.

[for-destiny.livejournal.com]

[veniale.livejournal.com]

Lazlo understood that more than anyone else did. Glen, Brandeau, Steele, Rakgi's father, the little boy, Graham Cray, the Queen of Obel - that man in the ruins and all his companions who had died before him... A hundred and fifty years had passed since everything had occured-

He knew.

He knew well.

And the Rune understood him too.

"Something happened to it," Lazlo offered, a small smile on his face as he said it. "There're two phases to the Rune of Punishment... It's now in the second stage. Forgiveness. Forgiving the one who bears the rune and uses its power."

"- yes," he said, agreeing, as he turned to Jowy. "That's why I won't die."

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There - it reminded him.

'We'll all fight, right? So he doesn't have to use the Rune anymore.'

It reminded him of companions long past.

"True Runes are cruel like that," he said, "aren't they? Choosing people, challenging them to change an otherwise inevitable fate." Lazlo paused. "They draw people in, hurt them... And - somehow - make them stronger."

"...aren't you?"

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"You don't really believe that, do you?" Lazlo asked suddenly, blue eyes looking straight at the younger runebearer beside him. "Y-you do," he added suddenly, but moreso to himself than to Jowy. "Not really... but you do." He sighed, running one hand through his hair. "I don't know Riou, Jowy. But I know how he feels."

"He misses you a lot - the old you he once knew. The you he sees now. He's... waiting for you to come back."

Raising his head, Lazlo spared a glance at Jowy again before he said, "You won't. I'll make sure of that. At least... Until you've met him once more."

[for-destiny.livejournal.com]

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"It won't be," Lazlo murmured quietly under his breath. If Riou was what he understood the boy to be - he knew.

Remaining silent for a few seconds after, and noticing the expression of guilt written all over Jowy's face that he had seen both on himself and him, Lazlo prompted, "Done too much...?"

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"Stories, rumours," Lazlo answered simply, shrugging it off. "Who knows if what I've heard are lies or otherwise?"

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[veniale.livejournal.com]

He had, of course, heard of the incident, though he had been in the Island Nations at that time, back after visiting and exploring Falena. The Dunan Unification Army - it was common news that the leader was the grandson of Genkaku, and that he held the Bright Shield Rune like his grandfather did once.

"How did you feel about it?" Lazlo asked.

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"About fighting Riou," Lazlo replied, "about the war. Anything."

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Once, he had thought he would merely be a Knight of Razril. Once, that had been his world. The Runes changed everything; perspective, destiny, character... "Do you believe in Riou, Jowy?"

[for-destiny.livejournal.com]

[veniale.livejournal.com]

"If you believe in Riou, wouldn't it make sense to believe in a future with him?" His voice was calm, but Lazlo found himself a little amused, a little surprised. There were rings he wore on his fingers, gifts- and it was one set with a white gem that he looked at as he spoke.

Snowe.

[for-destiny.livejournal.com]

Lazlo~

[for-destiny.livejournal.com]

"It doesn't." Lazlo was sincere, and honest. He didn't feel bored at all. It had been a long time since he had been able to sit down and talk, or even listen to anyone. There was Kyril once - and then all his 'cousins' back in Obel, Bern... But nobody really understood a Runebearer, unless it was another Runebearer. "...you remind me of someone," he said at last.

[for-destiny.livejournal.com]

Lazlo

[for-destiny.livejournal.com]

"My best friend," Lazlo said, a small smile on his lips. "It was a really long time ago- So many things happened and we ended up disagreeing with each other. We were once on opposite sides as well..."

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"It's complicated," Lazlo admitted. "There were so many things going around - the death of our Commander, the Rune's appearance, everything... Jowy? Have you heard of the Island Liberation War?"

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Lazlo's smile widened. "Yes~ It's kind of hard to believe, isn't it?" The teen pressed a finger to his lips and thought for a moment. "Well, Jeane's much older than I am. Ted as well, I believe."

[for-destiny.livejournal.com]

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Lino...

"Lino En Kuldes was the King of Obel back then. He was a very good man. He was really the one who gave the natives of the Island Nations the chance to fight our invaders."

...father.

Contemplating a little, the teen nodded. "The Kooluk Empire... It wasn't really them. Not really- the King of Kooluk had nothing to do with the invasion."

He still remembered the day the Kooluk Empire broke up. He had been there, with Kyril and the rest of them - when Corselia, the remaining Heir, announced her abdication.

"There was a man," he said, "He wanted the Rune of Punishment and the power it would give in. The invasion of the Island Nations was a cover-up."

[for-destiny.livejournal.com]

[veniale.livejournal.com]

He nodded. "I was the Captain of the Dauntless, the headquarters of the Rush - that's all."

How did it happen again? Lino had come up to him and told him he was in charge. It was a very interesting thought to think back to, on hindsight- especially how easily he had accepted that responsibility.

"Ha... It's all so long ago, though."

[for-destiny.livejournal.com]

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Lazlo tilted his head to the side, blinking at the request. Then, grinning, he said, "Of course! I've actually got a eye for good blades..." A hundred and fifty years was a lot of time to pick up skills; Adrienne was a good teacher, too. He stood up first, turning around to face Jowy as he did so. "Shall we go now?"

[for-destiny.livejournal.com]