#replicamodel

"Oh. Now that's a low blow." He was kidding of course, but being compared to Jade was its own very weird experience. As much as Yuri was joking about the melodrama, too, he wasn't joking about the original topic. It was mainly just his way of keeping it more lighthearted and from getting too dark. Maybe it was weird of him to do that, because he certainly wouldn't have worried all that much about it with his own home group, but he was trying to put at least a bit of a lid on it with other groups from the other worlds.

After getting Ix back, Yuri had hoped that would be the end of dealing with Living Dolls. Not only had it not been the end of that, but it gotten even worse - more out of hand. It still made him angry, but as he understood it... he was starting to scare people a bit with that anger. Not that he blamed them, but... seeing Demetrius toy with people's lives so easily and carelessly still set him off.

kind,   luke   had   called   him   kind.   while   kratos   knew   he   was   giving   and   compassionate,   kind   was   not   exactly   his   first   word   of   choice   of   words   to   use.   true   kindness,   in   his   eyes   did   not   require   seeking   atonement   nor   redemption   for   past   atrocities   committed   in   misplaced   grief.   kindness   was   found   from   a   heart   that   picked   love   instead   of   hate—joy   instead   of   sadness   even   in   a   world   that   gave   it   nothing   but   misfortune   back.   how   often   had   a   boy   with   a   fondness   for   the   color   red   bestowed   upon   kratos   new   perspective? the   crackling   of   the   fire   gleamed   as   a   glowing   ember   engulfed   in   twilight,   kratos   used   one long   log   to   twist   and   turn   the   others   to   keep   the   flame burning   hot   and   bright—celeste   hued   divinity   appear   as   stained   glass   broken   off   a   shrinechurch   behind   his   person,   the   slight   chill   in   the   air   was   unaffecting   the   angel   (   being   able   to turn   on   and   off   senses   at   will   had   perks   ):   it   allowed   him   to   do   something   else   ‘kind’   as   luke   would   put   it—such   as   giving   the   replicated   man   his   cloak   to   use   as   a   blanket   as   a   way   to   keep   himself   warmer.

❝   there   is   much   more   to   humanity   than   common   decency.  ❞   or   rather,   kratos   had   kept   daemon   and   creature   that   sometimes   had   more   morals   and   ethics   aligning   with   humanity’s   law   than   humanity   itself.   it   was   an   age   old   question   he   pondered   on   from   time   to   time—what   it   meant   to   be   a   human   and   what   it   meant   to   be   something   far   more   grandiose   or   horrifying.   was   it   the   ability   to   rationalize   thoughts   into   the   categories   of   emotion   or   logic   (   or   perhaps   it   was   some   other   third   thing   inbetween?   ):   even   a   man   past   ten   thousand   still   had   questions   the   universe   at   his   fingertips   had   yet   to   give.   ❝ but   mayhap   it   is   that   common   decency   ideology that   makes   one   human.  ❞ kratos   stares   at   luke,   his   visage   slightly   distorted   by   the   fire   between,   and   within   him   sees   someone   that   has   over   gone   much   change   on   a   journey   like   himself—but   luke   still    had   much   growing   to   do—but   so   did   kratos—   (   did   people   ever   stop   evolving?   could   a   person   ever   truly   be   complete?   ):   maybe   they   did,   maybe   they   did   not   but   kratos   was   proud   of   the   fact   the   man   he   occasionally   saw   in   the   mirror   was   like   nothing   of   the   him   of   the   past—but   pieces   of   every   version   of   himself   lingered   behind   his   eyes   and   deepest   memories   just   out   of   reach—some   more   tragic   than   the   last. ❝   every   kind   deed   has   come   at   a   cost—some   great   and   some   small,   but   a   price   was charged   all   the   same. ❞

Yeah, training might not be good right now. For a while, actually. The last thing Yuri wanted to do was seriously hurt a training partner because his mind was elsewhere. Distracted and angry. Luke had sparred with him enough by now that he probably had a handle on his swordplay, but... he hadn't exactly sparred with Yuri when Yuri was distracted by thinking about things that made him angry.

"Look, I appreciate it, I just... don't wanna end up thinking about why we're training and risk hurting you. Just... not sure I should be pointing a weapon at my allies right now even for training." Not to say Luke was bad at swordplay and would get injured, but... he hadn't dealt with erratic behavior from Yuri before. As much as Yuri would like to think he could stay composed, if his mind wandered to the wrong place, it could certainly cause an unwanted burst of negative energy.

And of course, they also couldn't take too long. This whole thing was affecting Ix too, and it was weighing on Mileena. Honestly, it occurred to Yuri that he and Mileena might have been having a hand in making the mood sour at their base, but... it was difficult for him to think of anything else now. No doubt it was the same for her.

@replica-model

Those words from Luke snapped Yuri out of it. His moodiness, his aggravated tone... For the most part he had recovered from the constant anxiety when they were on their Ix rescue mission. Flynn was here, he was safe, he was himself... but Yuri also recognized that what was happening to these new beta Living Dolls probably would've been Flynn if they'd decided to do this to him later on. In some sick way, Flynn was lucky he was chosen earlier.

But now a lot of people were starting to get it. Yuri's frustration and focus all that time. There were more people now watching their loved ones be turned into these robotic dolls, and in these cases, not even with a human soul. With... nothing. Worse, it was a lot of them. A lot of people known to the people Yuri and Luke knew. There were a lot of unhappy faces lately. Though he'd left her alone at the time because he knew sometimes emotions just needed to happen without someone trying to help a person restrain them, he did pass Anise crying once, and he knew that hadn't been the only time she'd done so.

"Sorry, just... noticing a lot of people seem down in the dumps. Lots of people having to come to terms with the fact that people they care about are soulless, robotic dolls and that the only way to save them is to happen to find their core and hope we can get it to them. Not that I think it's anyone here's fault that the mood is so sour around here, just... it's pretty miserable."

❝ ☆ — BOTANICAL HEADCANON PROMPTS.

hollyhock: how strong is your muse’s ambition and what do they strive for?

kratos, quite literally, has a world destroying ambition and drive when it comes to those he cares about. simply put, throughout tales of symphonia kratos strives for the happiness of those he cared deeply for. this was first shown pre-symphonia ( during the kharlan war era ): in which he spoke against the king of tethe’alla to stop the war and the persecution of half-elves. another was when mithos lost martel and kratos sided with mithos, cruxis, and the twisted ideologies that his pupil had sprout forth in his hate and grief. finally, it shows in the atonement of his mistakes ( which is a major plot point for kratos and his overall characterization ): in how he takes the entirety of cruxis sins on his back to drift along with derris-kharlan to put an end to an era so to speak. there are no lengths that kratos will not go too ( and hasn’t done honestly ): when it comes to what he strives for.

goldenrod: does your muse believe in luck and where do they believe it originates?

kratos believes firmly in the messages of the old aselian gods—the teachings of the world from when he was simply a young human boy amazed by the way of the sword and dabbled in theater—he would wish on stars, try to find the end of a rainbow—that sort of thing. before the world made him so hardened and logic based ( though his emotions definitely still show ): kratos was definitely one who leaned heavily into luck and the superstitions said to enhance them. as most of his age, he believed the origin of all luck and/or fortune was a regifting of the positive energies one put into the world ( which would mix with the mana ): and be redistributed by the gods said to have domain over luck.

magnolia: describe your muse’s relationship with nature and the world.

kratos is very intune with nature and what he feels is how things naturally’ should be. he lives secluded in the woodlands, mostly lives off the land ( even with the abundance of modern conveniences ): and it could even be argued that with his godhood came with it an attachment to aselia’s overall growth and wellbeing—along with the great kharlan tree ( that is also a part of his beloved friend, martel ): he’s almost intertwined with the planet itself, for everyone he’s ever known and loved is buried within its soil—kratos has every reason to cherish the world, everything that it once was, currently is, and will be.

snapdragon: is your muse merciful?

to those that deserve mercy, yes. when looking at someone that has done ‘bad things’ ( including kratos himself ); kratos is one that will look at the circumstances of why those actions took place ( ex. the reasoning behind cruxis’ formation or mithos’ interpretation of martel’s last words in wanting an age of lifeless being ): there are very few decisions that kratos feels are undeserving of mercy except if it is the actions of those like kvar or any other holding the ideology of racism, discrimination, or downright cruelty with no desire to give remorse.

☠ ― 𝑀𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑆𝑦𝑚𝑏𝑜𝑙 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑛𝑠.

🍡 - Can your muse cook? Can they bake? How well can they do either? Do they have any kitchen disaster stories?

Yes, but expect something small. Skyworld's savior is always on the go and, just by habit, eats pretty lightly. His food choice is usually fresh, raw ingredients to snack on, such as fruits, vegetables, dried meats, nuts, cheese - whatever is accessible on the go. One would think that being alive for centuries, Pit would put more effort into cooking, but if he had company, he'd make more of an effort. He'd go about it by making a simple but hearty meal to feed everyone, which is very Captain-like. Usually, a good stew with artos is the first thing he'd go for. As for baking? That's a no-go. The Captain personally prefers to be pampered by others and their cooking. It's one of his favorite things he looks forward to whenever he has to attend diplomatic matters in different regions outside Skyworld, such as Egypt or Hyrule.

'Aw, man! I think I'm lost. Maybe I shoulda taken the north wind instead?' Perched safely within a tree, Pit scans a sacred scroll given to him by his Goddess, not once or twice but three times. His unwavering faith in Palutena's intentions with this world is unshakable, even if he didn't know what those intentions were. Picking an apple from the nearest branch, Pit conceals his scroll, warping itself in light and vanishing. He pushes himself off the sturdy branch's edge, his sandaled feet contacting the ground. With one hand on his hip, as he continues to enjoy the juicy apple, Pit takes a moment to appreciate this world's natural beauty. The vibrant colors of the flowers, the gentle rustling of the leaves, and the sweet scent of the air all combine to create a scene of breathtaking beauty and the perfect opportunity for a stranger to sneak up on him. "What the hell? Are those wings?"

"Mà tòn Palutēnâ!" Ivory feathers ruffle as the bastardized angel's wings span out, startled. Quick on his feet, Pit faced the stranger, panting and flustered, "WHOA WHOA! DON'T DO THAT-ICUS! WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU!? YOU SOME KIND OF WILD ANIMAL, HUH!?"