prismatica | video; un: runner

Entry tags:

video; un: runner_boy

[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.

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[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.

[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.

[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.

[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?

[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.

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.

[You know he would do it anyway.]

I'm free whenever you are.

How about tonight?

Sure. Sounds good. It's a-

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

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

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

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

[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.]

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.]

[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!]

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.]

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?

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?

[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...]

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?

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.]

[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.

[He's a good borfer.]

There's no way Grimm could ever be a secret. They're attracted to negative human emotions. Any place without a proper defense or Huntsmen is at risk of being attacked and decimated.

[He pauses, then continues a little softer:]

That's actually what happened to my village, and how I unlocked my Semblance for the first time.

Oh... [Ren doesn't need to elaborate exactly on what happened. Akira's eyes are brimming with tears, and he looks away and down at his hands.]

I'm sorry.

[Oops.

Ren actually forgot how easily Akira is affected by things like that. He sits up and tries to brush it off, waving a hand a little too frantically to just be dismissive.]

I-it's alright! I shouldn't have brought it up. It was a long time ago...

[Not that long ago, really. At least in the scope of a life that's only twenty years old now. He was maybe six or seven when it happened.

And he's also not great at lying so there's a hitch in his voice that betrays as much.]

[Akira's lower lip trembles, and he says nothing right away, but he doesn't believe Ren for a second. That his tears continue to fall says as much.]

You lost people you loved. People who embraced you...

Well... yes.

[He fidgeted with his bottle, thumb idly picking at the edge of the plastic label that was already peeling away. It was hard to meet Akira's gaze like this, always so unsure of how to handle his own emotions let alone those of others who seemed to feel so much stronger than he did.]

But I gained someone important to me in the end. Nora and I have been together ever since that attack. We even joined Beacon Academy together and wound up on the same team. Her, Jaune and I traveled with Ruby across Anima. We even joined up with the rest of Team RWBY later on. It's... been a lot like gaining another family. Not replacing the one I lost, but giving me something new.

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lacrimose - 2020-08-15 16:47 (UTC) - Expand

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sleepinglotus - 2020-08-20 21:40 (UTC) - Expand

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