video; un: runner_boy

[lacrimose]

[The feed starts with an extreme close-up of a brown eye squinting at the camera, which quickly pulls back to show Akira checking the thing is on, a frown on his face. Once he's satisfied it is, he starts to speak.]

This is Akira. If anyone saw a message from a guy this month with the same username... That was me. I know I looked different, but trust me.

[He's referring to this video post, which he hasn't bothered to delete, for anyone who bothers to look it up.]

Sorry if I confused or worried anyone. I'm back to normal now.

That's all.

Comments

video

[lacrimose]

Come on, it's not that big a deal.

[sleepinglotus]

[He's snickering. Quietly.]

You were so cute, though.

[lacrimose]

Honestly, it was actually pretty scary... I didn't remember anything about anyone here, or where I was.

[sleepinglotus]

[Oh.

Oops.

He's not so callous as to keep teasing when it's clearly a sensitive subject and the smile quickly fades.]

I can see how that would be frightening...

[He would probably have an easier time with such things given how so much of his childhood was spent in unfamiliar places, but he wasn't about to undermine what Akira had gone through with his own stories.]

I'm sorry I wasn't around to help then. You're really alright now?

[lacrimose]

Yeah... You don't have to apologise. It was my fault for drinking that light-year stuff in the first place.

[And he's learned his lesson now, if nothing else.]

[sleepinglotus]

[He cants his head to the side a touch, curiosity showing through his usually placid features.]

Why did you? If you don't mind me asking, that is.

[lacrimose]

[He hesitates, as though unsure whether he wants to talk about it. Then--]

I wanted to remember what it was like to be human. And... It was Sanguis. I didn't want to lose control of myself again.

[sleepinglotus]

[Again.

Their past meetings haven't exactly been on the best of terms, have they?]

I could help you with that, if you want.

[He pauses, obviously thinking he's made a fairly simple offer, but given how he's "helped" before it strikes him several seconds later that it could actually be taken the wrong way. He turns a surprising shade of red and quickly waves his hands.]

N-not like-- ! I mean, I have an ability that could help you be calmer.

[lacrimose]

[Akira lets out a short laugh. He already knows a thing or two about Ren's "abilities" from those previous encounters.]

Yeah, okay. What is it?

[sleepinglotus]

[Please kill him and throw him into a Grimm den.

That damn smile isn't making his face any less warm.]

My Semblance. I can calm negative emotions, albeit temporarily. It does have some lasting effects even after, though, and could at least ease some of your issues during Sanguis. I can show you how it works at some point, if you're not sure.

[lacrimose]

Let's test it before Sanguis, just to make sure it works first. I don't want you to put yourself in danger if you don't have to.

[sleepinglotus]

[You know he would do it anyway.]

I'm free whenever you are.

[lacrimose]

How about tonight?

[sleepinglotus]

Sure. Sounds good. It's a-

[Don't say date, don't say date.]

... Uhm. I'll. See you then.

[lacrimose]

"It's a uhm"? [He repeats back, grinning.]

I'll come to your place, unless there anywhere you want to meet. See you then.

[sleepinglotus]

[Brothers help him...

He turns his head slightly, using his hair to (hopefully) cover up just how red his face is getting.]

No, my place is fine.

[Jaune is back but he and Pyrrha are usually out doing something together. Even if they're home Ren does have his own bedroom.]

[lacrimose]

Okay. I'll be there.

[Ren's so cute when he's embarrassed, but Akira's at least not mean enough to point that out.

Sometime in the early evening he arrives at Ren's apartment, knocking on the door. Hopefully he hasn't had second thoughts, given how shy he was acting.]

[sleepinglotus]

[He hasn't, though he may have nervously went about the apartment picking things up and washing what few dishes were in the sink after disconnecting.

Tadashi tried to help. It didn't go very well, but the effort was appreciated.

Having the meeting later in the evening does mean he has some time to relax even after that, though, so he doesn't look frazzled when he answers the door, hair pulled back in a half ponytail and dressed casually.]

Hey.

[Tadashi barks excitedly at his side, tail wagging. Hello friend!]

[lacrimose]

Hey.

[Ren looks cute. That's his first thought as he answers the door, though Akira quickly dismisses the thought, simply flashing him a brief smile and reaching down to pet Tadashi. They're meeting for a serious reason, after all, so he can't get distracted.]

Have you been keeping him out of trouble? [The question is directed at Tadashi. As if Ren could cause trouble for anyone, quiet as he is.]

[sleepinglotus]

He tries.

[Trouble does tend to find Huntsmen, though. Even here.

But Akira probably knows that already.

Tadashi appreciated the attention and it takes a moment for Ren to shuffle him out of the way enough that Akira can actually come in even after the pets stop.]

Would you like something to drink?

[lacrimose]

Soda's fine.

[Once Akira is inside, he takes off his shoes in the doorway and hangs up his black jacket. Then he looks around the apartment, curious.]

Is it just you and Tadashi here?

[sleepinglotus]

[Ren nods and heads for the fridge, opening it to get out a can of soda and bottle of cold green tea for himself. To the question, a shake of his head.]

One of my teammates, Pyrrha, lives with me. Jaune was here, but...

[It's been about a month, and that was longer than any of the others went home for...]

[lacrimose]

Oh... Sorry.

[He looks apologetic as he follows him into the apartment and takes a seat. He won't ask too many questions if it will make Ren sad, but there was one thing he wanted to ask.]

When you say "teammates" -- do you mean like a sports team?

[sleepinglotus]

Heh, no. But you're not the first person to ask that.

[He flops on the couch next to Akira, followed by Tadashi who takes a spot on the floor to lay down and watch the two of them as dogs do sometimes.]

We were training to be Huntsmen, fighters who deal with creatures of Grimm and other dangers in Remnant. Everyone is assigned to a four person team in their first year at the academies.

[He doesn't carry around weird looking pistols for shits and giggles.]

[lacrimose]

[Cute... Akira smiles at Tadashi as he lays down, before turning his attention back to Ren.]

So you went to school to learn to hunt monsters? Sounds useful. Demons in my world were kept a secret, so we didn't have schools for fighting them or anything.