The park - Sunday afternoon

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

This infernal rain would not let on. There was a steady drip that made Dilios' red warrior's cloak heavy on his shoulders. Even the eyepatch covering the left side of his face was soaked through, but Dilios did not let it bother him. The constant patter of the rain on his heavy bronze shield was almost cheering. They did not get much weather like this in Sparta and so Dilios stood, vigil even in this strange place.

Remember us, the rain seemed to tell him and perhaps that was why he was here. To tell of Leonidas and his 300. Of the Spartans who he fought with side by side, but whose grave he did not share.

[Open for rain drenched park needs or anyone wishing to run into a soaked Spartan.]

Comments

[forhisfriends.livejournal.com]

Luka had braved the rain to clear his head a little. He'd lived in Porthpunnet his entire life, and now he was... he didn't even know where, and it felt liberating but also frightening.

Not to mention confusing. Was that someone dressed as an ancient soldier, standing in the rain? Surprised, he stopped to watch the man, from not too far away.

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"Greetings!" Dilios lifted his spear in what one could only assume was meant to accentuate his words. His surroundings were perhaps confusing, but fright was not meant for him. "What brings you here, traveller?"

Not that he knew where here was.

[forhisfriends.livejournal.com]

"I... don't really know," Luka replied truthfully as he took a few steps closer to the man, hands firmly in the pockets of his leather jacket. "I'm not sure how I ended up here."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

Dilios nodded and he rested his spear in the soaked ground. "Then you are not alone in this faith." He paused. "It is a rather wet faith."

[forhisfriends.livejournal.com]

"I suppose it is, yeah," Luka said, hazarding a little smile. "Where did you come from?"

He couldn't help being curious, just like he couldn't help the way his eyes were already picking up details he would try to draw later, once he was alone.

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

Dilios lifted an eyebrow, though the cloth covering his forehead did a good job of concealing it. He laughed a little as he pulled to his full height and he presented his shield to him.

"I am Spartan," he said with pride. "My name is Dilios and I have fought alongside the great king Leonidas. What is your name, boy?"

[forhisfriends.livejournal.com]

"Luka, Luka Bartholomew," Luka obliged with a little nod. Though now it was his turn to raise an eyebrow. "Spartan?"

He was actually almost willing to believe that. Which, to him, was a sure sign that all this freedom had cracked him.

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"Yes. Spartan," Dilios confirmed and he took a step forward, his sandals squelching in the mud. "You can not tell me you have not heard of Sparta, Luka Bartholomew, or surely you must come from very far away."

[forhisfriends.livejournal.com]

"I come from Porthpunnet." Which was far away. Especially if one believed they were in Tokyo right now. "But I have heard of Sparta. It's just... It's just that it's been a while."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"It has been a while?" Dilios grinned, shaking his head in amusement. "I suppose I shall have to allow it as I have not heard of this Porthpunnet. Is that to the North? Thrace or Illyria, perhaps?"

[forhisfriends.livejournal.com]

"England," Luka supplied. "Though I don't know if you'll recognize that, either."

Because it had been a while since Sparta had been around.

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"I do not," Dilios agreed, laughing a little. "I believe this means that I am well and truly lost. How far from here is this England? Not that it matters much since I can't seem to figure out where I am."

[forhisfriends.livejournal.com]

"I --" Luka looked out to where he could see the Tokyo skyline. "To the best of my knowledge, we seem to be in Japan. Which is... about exactly on the other side of the world from England."

If his little laugh sounded a bit nervous, it was because he was still trying to wrap his head around all of this.

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"Japan," Dilios leaned on his spear and he shook his head. "It seems you have more knowledge of this world than I do. Are they in need of warriors here?" he wondered, trying to think of a reason why he would truly be here. "You do not seem to carry and weapons."

[forhisfriends.livejournal.com]

"I don't." He had a sharpened pencil in his pocket. He was fairly certain that was as weapon-like as anything on him got. "I wouldn't know if they needed warriors. They seem to be fairly advanced."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

That got a true laugh from Dilios. "So they called Xerxes' army, but it were Spartan spears that stopped them at the pass. If there are Persians to fight, then I will do it gladly and I will make certain who it was that made them bleed!"

[sake-shinigami.livejournal.com]

Solid Snake was still in the park.

Solid Snake was still hidden in his cardboard box.

Solid Snake told you it was a good hiding spot.

[mouthy-merc.livejournal.com]

"What's in the box?" Jan had two whole days without parents around to keep her from having candy.

This was amazing.

God help Poromon, though. He was covered in ribbons and sparkly things.

[sake-shinigami.livejournal.com]

Inside the box, Snake gave a disgruntled sigh. First an old woman, and now a little girl. The box might be an amazing defense against soldiers, but apparently not females.

However, this time he was going to be smart enough not to say anything.

[mouthy-merc.livejournal.com]

Plus, she was awesome. So...

"What's in the box?" she asked, louder this time. Why wasn't it talking to heeeeer?

[sake-shinigami.livejournal.com]

Nope. Sorry, kid. Snake was still staying silent. He wasn't going to blow his cover again, especially not with some little child.

[mouthy-merc.livejournal.com]

"WHAT'S IN THE BOOOOOOX!?"

[sake-shinigami.livejournal.com]

Oh, God. Snake had the feeling she might start crying soon, and he couldn't stand a kid crying.

"Nothin', kid," he grumbled from within. "Go away."

[mouthy-merc.livejournal.com]

"...you have a voice like Wade," she informed him, poking at the box.

Somewhere, in another part of the park, a Digimon was searching for his small, hellspawn digidestined partner.

[sake-shinigami.livejournal.com]

"Don't touch the box, kid," said Snake, sounding particularly grunty. "Who's Wade?"

[mouthy-merc.livejournal.com]

That just earned him another, more firm poke to the box. "M'dad. He's pink now."

[sake-shinigami.livejournal.com]

Oh, great. Now he sounded like some kid's dad.

"Stop that," Snake grumbled. "Why's he pink? Like a Commie?"

[mouthy-merc.livejournal.com]

Deal with it, Snake. Deal with it.

"What's a commie?" Jan asked, kicking the box now. He deserved it.

[sake-shinigami.livejournal.com]

"Hey!" said Snake. "Don't kick the box! And a Commie's a bleeding Red who kicks boxes."

[mouthy-merc.livejournal.com]

"I'm a ginger?" she said slowly. Because that totally counted, right?

[sake-shinigami.livejournal.com]

"Ugh," Snake grunted again. "Even worse."

Sorry, Jan.

[mouthy-merc.livejournal.com]

"Is not! Is not!"

[sake-shinigami.livejournal.com]

"Is too."

No one ever said Snake's skills were in conversation, here.

[inneedofcoffee.livejournal.com]

Io had spent most of her weekend lurking in the park. You know. Just in case there was a heroic type waiting around for her to give vague hints at what they should do to stop gods.

Evil, evil gods.

But look there! Someone who was... very scantily clad, but Greek. "Hello."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

Very scantily clad as it suited a Spartan warrior. Their bravery needed no armour, his shield would do well enough.

Dilios inclined his head, some instinct telling him that this woman was perhaps important. "Hello," he greeted, inclining his head slightly. "Are you in need of assistance?"

[inneedofcoffee.livejournal.com]

Of course she was important! It was her job to stand around and look pretty. Oh, and spur the hero on toward victory. "You're Greek," she said unnecessarily. Because look at all that nudity!

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

And she stood very prettily, even if he did not say so himself.

"I am Spartan," he corrected with a swell of pride and he moved forwards, his cloak sweeping over the muddied soil. "Yet, it is good that someone may know me. Where are you from, lady?"

[inneedofcoffee.livejournal.com]

"Argos," she said, glancing away for dramatic effect. "But we seem to be in neither place."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"So it would seem," Dilios agreed. He raised his shield up against the rain, holding it above her head as he studied her. "Yet it is good to hear a familiar name at least. I am Dilios. I fought alongside the great king Leonidas and his 300."

[inneedofcoffee.livejournal.com]

Her Greece was a special Greece!

"I am Io. I don't believe I have heard of your Leonidas."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"You have not?" Dilios asked in surprised. "I would think even Argos has benefited from the king's sacrifice. He saved the whole of Greece after all, not merely Spart."