text | un: fotia

[burningfree]

[It was like, 3 in the morning, and Lio was laying in bed while restlessly typing this on his phone, the subject of the post laying next to him and almost certainly drooling in his sleep.]

To whom it may concern.

If you see an idiot firefighter running around the city shirtless at any point, look with your eyes, not your hands. Actually, I'd prefer if you kept your eyes above the chin.

He's mine.

[Happy first day of Sanguis!]

Comments

[burningfree]

Thanks, for taking my concerns seriously. It's refreshing.

I didn't expect anyone here to listen to me. From what I can tell, a lot of people put a significant amount of faith and trust in the Moon Knights.

[sleepinglotus]

I worry over my friends, too. Jaune can be very accident prone and Yang is reckless even on a good day.

[To say nothing of Qrow's literal bad luck Semblance.]

I believe a lot of worlds generally have authority figures similar to police or military. Remnant has those as well but Huntsmen deal with the things they can't, especially outside any of the protected cities.

People generally want to believe others are inherently good, and it can be difficult for some to accept that entire group can easily be so... corrupted or drunk on power.

[burningfree]

Back in my world, the police force hunted people like me. They were an extension of a corrupt government, but influential and dangerous all the same.

I'm not sure I believe in an 'uncorrupt' government anymore.

[sleepinglotus]

That would reasonably color your opinion, yes.

What do you mean 'people like you', if you don't mind me asking.

[burningfree]

In my world, there were people known as 'burnish', human beings with the ability to freely manipulate fire. I was one of them.

[sleepinglotus]

[Elemental manipulation wasn't anything new to Ren, but he could see why it would be a concern in other worlds.

Still...]

They persecuted you for that?

[burningfree]

Persecution is probably an understatement.

It started with mass incarceration, then devolved into human experimentation. By the time I started fighting back in earnest, the government - the Foresight Foundation, their sceintists, and their task force - had already had plans set in motion to use us as fuel in their machines.

It's over now, thank god, but the anger and paranoia I have for people like that are never going to go away.

[sleepinglotus]

FUEL?!

Good Gods.

[Treatment of Faunus back in Remnant was awful even at the best of times, and many did die in less than ideal conditions in Dust mines or as a result of poor resources, but to be literally turned in to fuel--

It makes his stomach churn.]

[burningfree]

I'd rather not go into the details of it, but yes, it was horrific, and the most painful thing I'd ever felt in my life.

[Talking about this was bringing back unpleasant memories. As important as it was for Lio to make sure everyone knew just how evil humanity could be, the trauma was still fresh, and he was having trouble coping with even the not so unpleasant aspects of everything that had happened.]

So talk to your friend. I don't have any reason to suspect the Moon Knights are doing anything quite so monstrous, but I worry for the people they are mistreating.

[sleepinglotus]

I appreciate it. I can handle a lot but that...

[Ren is not want to react so strongly normally.]

That's fair.

Weiss can be... stubborn. She was worse, when I first met her, but we've all been through a lot and she's grown because of it. Still I can't say how she'll take it.

[burningfree]

I wish you luck, then. Again, I'm glad that someone is taking my concerns seriously.

And I won't blame you, if you can't change her mind. That you're even willing to try speaks volumes.

What did you say your name was?

[sleepinglotus]

Thank you.

Lie Ren. Her name is Weiss Schnee, if you're curious. She also has a sister here named Winter but as far as I know she's not with the Knights.

[Which was surprising given her history with the Atlas Military, but Winter has her reasons.]

[burningfree]

Lie?

I'm Lio Fotia.

[What a coincidence.]

I'll keep that in mind, though hopefully I won't be needing to cross her path anytime in the future.

[He wasn't planning on getting on the wrong side of the law. Yet.]

[sleepinglotus]

[He usually goes by Ren for personal reasons, but the similarities are amusing enough he won't bring that up.]

Nice to meet you, Lio. I hope if you do meet her it isn't on bad terms. She's a good person, but strict.

[So. Y'know. Be careful.]

[burningfree]

The pleasure's all mine, Lie.

[Until that was specified otherwise, poor Ren was going to be called Lie by Lio now.]

I can only hope so too. Strictness and I don't tend to get along, but I'll make an effort.

[sleepinglotus]

[It's fine. A few here do. He's never bothered with explaining his reasoning for going by his surname much anyway.]

She can be nice otherwise but I would understand wanting to avoid her.