prismatica | video - > text | un: stormflower [Backdate: June 30th]

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video - > text | un: stormflower [Backdate: June 30th]

[Sounds come first, scraping and rustling with a black screen until the viewfinder is finally shifted enough to catch a glimpse of the outside of the Moon Knight's HQ before turning fully and capturing a very haggard, exhausted, pale looking Lie Ren, one hand picking bits of crystal out of his long unkempt hair and the very red remnants of what killed him on his face and neck. Not scars exactly, and they'll fade with time, but for now it's a painful reminder on his skin of what happened to him.

He blinks in an almost startled manner after a moment, seemingly catching his own face in the video. He quickly tugged a hood over his head then shut the video off, opting instead for text.]

I'm back.

I know people were looking for me.

I'm sorry for being the cause of worry.

I'll be heading back home shortly.

[He doesn't offer an explanation for anyone who missed what happened. If asked he'll say, but he won't name the person responsible if it's not already known.

He could also be run into on his way back to Level 2, if anyone chances upon him that way.]

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[The 'being content with what they were given' attitude was also something Lio sought to change. Because there was power in numbers, far more than if he'd just been acting on his own.]

Don't mention it. Even if you were a stranger to me, I would have offered.

[Noticing the exhaustion in the other, Lio paused in his movements, tugging Ren's arm lightly.]

Want to wrap your arm around my shoulders for support? I can keep you on your feet better that way.

[Good luck on that, man. For a lot of people this place is a vacation compared to the hells back home.]

You're very kind...

[Says the man who got himself murdered for his kindness to a devilman.]

Ah-- ... y... yes. Thank you. I'm... sorry for being such a burden.

I've just... always been like that.

[Growing up, Lio had to rely on the kindness of strangers just to get by, and many of the burnish had relied on him in turn. That kind of behavior just tended to stick around.

Once he had Ren's permission, Lio adjusted his grip, sliding his shoulders under one of his arms while gripping Ren's other arm to steady him as they continued walking. On the bright side, the Moonlacing from this position was a lot more potent than the simple hand holding.]

You're not a burden. Not everyone can take care of themselves all the time, that's just the way things are. Anyone that thinks otherwise is an idiot.

[Ren gets it. He's the same. Unfortunately this time his kindness got him killed and that's not something he'd have a second chance at were he still in Remnant, but he can honestly say he would have regretted turning his back on Akira more even if it had been final.

He is starting to feel a little better through the moonlacing, but he can't imagine he's going to be back to 100% any time soon. He was always slow to recover anyway.]

Mm. I suppose... my pride did still take a bit of a hit from it all...

[Normally that's something he knows and knows well. It's a reason they're put into teams in school, and why so many teams remain together even after graduation. No one person can hold up the entire world.]

Even I relied on my friends and allies when I was still a resistance fighter. Maybe when I was younger I would have felt the same... I was sort of a loner when I was a teenager. [A lot of time had blurred together at that age because of it, which was partly why he'd lost track of how old he really was.

Eventually, the bus stop did come into view. Along with it, another bench to rest at while they waited for the next bus to arrive.]

Come on, let's have you sit and rest again. You can keep your arm on my shoulder so it'll be easier for you when you need to get up.

[That was a good question. Lio looked younger than Ren, who already looked young for 20, but then there was also Ruby who would probably never look her age no matter what so anything was possible. Especially in worlds not their own.

Ren nodded to sitting down, still feeling unbalanced and shaky but actually finding some strength returning with the moonlacing. It wouldn't remedy everything and he was liable to suffer from a migraine later but that was better than still being dead.

Anything was, really.]

I... always had Nora. Then Jaune and Pyrrha. But I never wanted to be the weak link of our team.

[Meaning he often kept his problems and worries to himself, sometimes to the detriment of the situation.]

[Lio may have looked young, but he was older, somewhere over 21, though he could only go by a range between 21 and 25. He'd grown past the idea that he could do everything on his own, evidenced by the fact that he'd specifically gone to Mad Burnish for help in realizing his ambitions.

Lio let them sit, glancing at the bus schedule, then pulling out his phone to check the time. They wouldn't have to wait long, thankfully. He pocketed his phone and kept his grip on Ren tight.]

... I understand, wanting to hide your weaknesses. I believed the only reason anyone ever thought to put any faith in me was because of my physical strength. When I lost that strength, I figured that weakness would make those who followed me turn away. I thought I'd be incapable of protecting the things I cared about anymore.

[Lio shrugged lightly.]

It took time to learn that I was wrong. I'm still learning that.

I'm not a leader, though.

[Nor would he ever want to be. He had actually been quietly nervous that whatever team he got put on, Ozpin would look at his reserved and calm nature and assume him the right fit for it.]

Jaune is. He's grown a lot since I met him, and I'm... proud of him, but--...

[Ah. There it is again. He knows the words to say but his chest tightens and his tongue feels useless in his mouth.]

In... any case. What happened to me was my own fault. It's not a situation they need to be involved in.

Being the leader doesn't make you more important than the rest of your team. That's not how teams work.

[Lio let him talk. And he was curious, about what Ren was going to say but... obviously not in any place to push it. He shook his head, though, at the notion that it was his fault.]

It isn't your fault. From what you've told me, it doesn't seem like it's anyone's fault, just... an accident. And I don't think they would see this as something that doesn't involve them. Why would they?

[He knows that, logically. More and more, though, he feels like he's falling behind. Pyrrha was already amazing, Nora could send any massive Grimm flying without breaking a sweat and Jaune had come so, so far in his training since their start...

An odd expression came across his face at the question, though. Hard to read even with a long look. Embarrassed? Sad? It was a confusing mess, much like his feelings.]

Because... Akira is someone I've been intimate with. We're not... together but we have a weird relationship I can't really explain to them and I don't want them to hate him outright for what he barely has any control over.

Akira?

[Barely any control? It took Lio a moment to put two and two together, that Ren was referring to the person that put him in this state. He frowned.]

... It sounds to me like you trusted Akira not to hurt you. Do you really think, if they had all the context, that they'd find you weak for not knowing what would happen? Or that they'd retaliate in some way when you don't want them to?

[It was a genuine question. Any team member - or friend - worth their salt wouldn't dare put an accident on either party's head, especially against the wishes of their friend. But if Ren's friends would do that to him or Akira...

Lio's advice would be to get better friends.]

[He's quiet again, staring at his hands but mentally reviewing that night in his mind. Nearly a minute passed before he admitted quietly:]

I knew what would happen if I faced him in that state.

[Lio didn't say anything at first, trying to figure out the rationale. It didn't take long for him to think about it, though. If put in a similar situation, even if Lio thought he might have had no hope in stopping someone with murderous intent beyond that person's control, he wouldn't have backed down.

Especially if it was someone he cared about.]

Then you're a really good friend. It takes conviction, to face down almost certain death, in the hopes of a better outcome.

I'd been trying to help him before it happened. To find ways for him to deal with that rage that comes out during Sanguis. I know we weren't anywhere close to a solution but I also know he was going to regret his actions regardless of who wound up on the wrong end of it.

[Does that make him a good friend? He's unsure. Maybe it was worse that it was a face Akira knew.]

... Were you the only one that was hurt?

[Lio supposed that, if Ren had died in the process of trying to stop him, Akira very well could have continued with his rampage. Or maybe it had been enough to bring the man to his senses.]

I--

[No, he couldn't have been. Akira was already covered in blood by the time Ren found him. And who knows how many after...]

N-no. No, I don't think I was the only one.

[Lio didn't want to make Ren feel worse with that thought, but well... it wasn't his business, despite the concern.]

... Has he checked in with you yet? Assuming he wasn't arrested? I'm guessing not.

[Before Ren could respond, though, that bus they were waiting for finally pulled up. Lio slowly got to his feet with Ren's arm still draped across his shoulders, lifting him up.]

Here, it's hardly a five minute ride to the metro. Fifteen minutes from there and we'll be home. Just hang in there a little longer.

[He knew from experience, having been all over Lunatia via public transport by this point.]

[Ren patted his clothes until he retrieved his phone once they were sitting, finding it thankfully unbroken despite the scuffle. Powering it on found... a lot of messages, which wasn't at all surprising, but not one from Akira.]

Not yet, no. Hey may still be in custody. They didn't tell me, but I didn't exactly ask either.

[Lio was glad Ren had other people worrying over him, and doubly glad he'd decided to come and fetch the man who had been too weak to go all the way home on his own. He leaned his arm into Ren as the bus began to drive off, trying to maintain that constant stream of Chroma.]

They may not have given you a straight answer, either. The authorities can be cagey when it comes to those they bring into custody anyway.

[He nudged Ren with the back of his hand lightly.]

Make sure you let them know you're on your way home, okay?

I can't imagine he's handling it well. Once he came to his senses and realized what he'd done...

[That was going to be a very difficult conversation in the future. One he wasn't even sure Akira would let happen.

He kept his eyes down, sending out a few messages while he was capable of focusing on it, making them short but comforting that he was fine, on his way home and being looked after.]

No... most likely not. I wouldn't recommend going to try and see him right away, though, once you do find out where he is. It may make things worse.

[Lio doubted Akira, or anyone, would enjoy the source of their guilt just marching right up to them after an event like this. Akira would definitely need some space, and probably a good chunk of time.]

No, I wasn't planning on it.

[If Akira doesn't reach out to him first, Ren will give him a few days then do it over text and go from there. Until then he honestly and truly felt like he could sleep for a month and still be exhausted.]

I'm sure the others would rather I get home first before I do anything.

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video - > text | un: stormflower [Backdate: June 30th]

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