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[fionnuisce]

'You've reached Lord El-Melloi II. Leave a message and I'll get back to you.'

[network username: silverrose]

Comments

[hoshikiri]

i know it isnt i know

[His anger so rarely manifested in any way, let alone in text where he could control it the best. He was livid and anyone who knew the Doman language or a relatively archaic Japanese would hear him swearing from behind his door.

There's a delay before a reply is sent.]

I might take you up on that, if I may.

[fionnuisce]

[we're both so fine and not completely falling apart]

Of course, you're welcome any time.

text -> action

[hoshikiri]

Thank you. I'll bring something.

[Food most likely. And something to drink. Like Drink. Because he didn't have a good method of processing the fact that not only was children being experimented on deplorable, but them being brought into an organization and tailor made for the sake of power was too real. Too familiar.

He made a few detours just to let the cool night air calm his soul before there was a light knock at Waver's door.]

[fionnuisce]

[The door opened almost immediately in a flicker of wire, which swiftly returned to Waver himself across the room--having dropped onto the couch in a show of blatant exhaustion and turning his sunglasses over and over in one hand.]

Say what you will about them, it wasn't Zodiac themselves setting off the fucking time bomb for once.

[hoshikiri]

[Takame didn't even blame him. He just set what he brought on the table and taken a seat wherever there was room. He still had rum from the Christmas Goose and the food was just parts from various meals he'd been teaching himself to cook in his attempts at a bento box. Chicken, rice, fish (sorry bud), and a hardy amount of veggies.

But once it was set down, he'd almost forgotten about it and shifted all his might into remembering his composure. It was almost there in his expression, but the way he slouched in his seat combined with the stiffness of his tail spoke louder.]

Perhaps not. But whatever they are planning is no less worrying.

[fionnuisce]

We've got a list of problems that only gets longer by the minute.

[Hanging the sunglasses off of his shirt collar, Waver leaned forward and pressed both hands to his face with a humorless laugh.]

Fuck.

[and that's the day in summary]

[hoshikiri]

Indeed... [Takame wasn't the sort to make himself at home at someone else's place but at this point he'd already decided to find shot glasses or something and serve them both some of the rum he brought.

Then he just. Brought them over to hand one to Waver and sighed.]

[fionnuisce]

[If he took issue with it (he didn't) Waver didn't raise an objection. Just took a slow breath and lifted his head, accepting the glass with an exhausted and halfhearted smile.]

Thanks. I do appreciate the company, I don't know about you but I probably would have gone completely mad were I stuck in my own head alone.

[hoshikiri]

[A small dip of his head in acknowledgement before in a move unlike him, he backed the shot down in one go. More of a testament to how he felt than anything he could say.

Didn't even flinch aside from his tail. He shook his head.]

I do better around others. [He sighed softly.] I apologize, I... don't often let my anger get the better of me.

[fionnuisce]

Why are you apologizing for that?

[Asking like it was the most absurd thing in the world, Waver downed his own shot with barely a wince and frowned.]

If someone could look at all that while having no trouble controlling their anger or frustration, I'd probably think they had no soul.

[hoshikiri]

[Had no soul... The only reason Takame thought he had one at all was because Hythlodaeus and Emet-Selch were able to see it.

Without that tangible proof, he'd assume the only thing he could feel was anger because that was the only thing he knew how to identify. Good thing he brought the bottle along too because he's serving another shot.]

I'm rarely at liberty to allow my emotions to manifest. [Said setting the bottle back down, then clenching his fist.] It is, ah... a difficult habit I've been trying to break.

[fionnuisce]

...I can understand the feeling. [He sighed, running a hand back through untied hair.]

It's-...I can't act like the Association is a lot better than all of that, because it's not. Mage society is just as broken and horrifying as anything here, and we--they act as though they're above such paltry things as human sentiment. If any of today had happened back at home, I wouldn't have been able to show a damn thing over it no matter how I felt.

...In that regard, this place isn't that bad. There's nothing to hide from and no obligation for either of us to say anything but how fucking abhorrent that all is.

[hoshikiri]

Mm. I needed to stand as the pillar of what a hero should be in my world. Others here did as well. And I'd prefer to hold the line so that they may feel freely, separate from our title.

[He still did it. Rhel offered to take it, but he refused. She had emotions to feel. She... she had more humanity than he did.]

Perhaps we don't need to hide it here. [But this was his shut down mode. Something to keep him from crashing.]

There is yet much to do. We've no means to infiltrate Krusnik, however if Zodiac is plotting something sinister we may have the chance to stop them. We... we need to do something.

[fionnuisce]

I'm... [Whatever he'd been about to say stuck in his throat in a confused tangle. One of the twelve Lords whose presence commanded power and influence? A knight of the Fianna who could not, would not stand for such injustices?]

[Or just a terrified human that pressed a hand to his face in deep exhaustion?]

We...we will. I promise you whatever happens, whatever we find out from here on...I'll be there to stop it.

[hoshikiri]

[Takame wasn't gonna force it out of him. He could barely force himself to say anything.

He was too busy attempting to figure out where the Warrior of Light ended and Takame Kesi began. Right now he was the former because it was easier... or so he thought. The high running emotions within him, anger and fear and sadness only one of which he knew by name, were all Takame through and through.

He just didn't know it yet.]

I won't let it come to pass either. No matter what. I swear it. [As ever with resolute conviction. He had people here he wanted to protect so desperately...]

1/2

[fionnuisce]

['I swear this on my honor as a knight. We shall see the end together, whether that end is ours or our enemies'.']

[For just a second, he stared at Takame like he wasn't honestly sure who he was seeing. A right hand marked by peculiar scars raised to his throat, fidgeting restlessly with the silver chain beneath his collar.]

You won't be doing it alone. I doubt either of us will be, but I'm...

['Everything y-you've done for me...I swear I won't waste it.']

[He didn't. He didn't waste the life his first friend had sacrificed himself to preserve. Becoming Lord El-Melloi II was a necessity, power gained to achieve an impossible goal. Armor to safeguard what could not survive in a den of serpents like the Clock Tower, steel that risked becoming an iron maiden to destroy the human who hid within it.]

[He took a slow breath, hand closing around the half-hidden pendant.]

[fionnuisce]

[Green eyes hardened, turning sharp and tempered with resolve.]

...I am a knight. I made a promise, and I never break my word. We can't stop every single casualty or save every single person, that's an unrealistic ideal that can never be attained. But so long as I have the power to help someone, then I'm going to do everything I can with what little strength I have.

[And yet he would kill his own humanity to do it if that was what it took. The act of a mage and a Lord, not of a knight. But...that was necessary. 'Waver Velvet' couldn't protect anyone. He was weak, afraid, and always waiting for someone to save him at the last second. Someone like that was worthless, especially now.]

Whatever happens, we'll do all that we can together to protect whoever we're able to.

[hoshikiri]

[Takame knew he was not alone. He could very well act as a one-man army, but an offensive expert alone accomplished only so much. But even acting with others, he had to be the strength. The epitome of strength, the beacon of light that will guide the realm.

As long as people were in danger. As long as he had someone to protect at all costs. Takame Kesi would come second to that.

Realizing Takame Kesi's desire to keep his loved ones safe was integrated with his title would come second.

But as he looked to Waver and nodded, he didn't see a weak man. He saw someone worthy of the utmost respect, the highest honor. Higher than him. With strength of spirit and heart, qualities necessary for a true knight.]

We will. [His tone softened.] Thank you, Waver.

[fionnuisce]

No--I should be thanking you. [He shook his head, hardened resolve lessening into something calmer.] I can't do this alone. I don't have the strength to fight without help, at least not physically. I can say whatever I like, but I can't follow through on it with one good leg and weak magecraft. So I'm glad to have support, both from you and everyone else.

[hoshikiri]

You won't be alone. Whatever comes to pass we will take care of it with allies by our side. Even I cannot act alone. [He sighed, allowing himself to finally lean back on the couch.]

The people here deserve to be kept safe. And... they will be.

[fionnuisce]

Yeah. I don't-...

[He trailed off, leaning back with a heavy sigh and hand pressed to his face.]

...I don't want to have to see the results of what happens when people like that are left unchecked. Not again.

[hoshikiri]

Nor do I. [He won't ask Waver to elaborate on whether he means the victims here or on his world. Though speaking of this realm's victims...

He took another sip of his drink before leaning back again.]

The young man answering questions about Krusnik. Do you know him well?

[fionnuisce]

[Waver paused like he almost wanted to say more, but the color drained from his face at the thought and he swiftly shook his head trying to clear it. After a second to collect himself:]

Well enough to trust his word. Nightroad and I argue on occasion, but he's a good enough kid at heart. Little too serious, but that makes a hell of a lot more sense now.

[hoshikiri]

Mm, I see. I've only seen him on occasion. [The things you don't expect from the barista ringing you up. But the more Takame thought on it, the more rage built in his heart. The more reminders of himself and his experiences. As always his tone was steady and his expression somber but comparatively neutral to the maelstrom in his heart.

A glance at his body language showed how close he was to a boiling point. A tightened grip of his glass and his free hand moving to hover over a scar on the bend of his left arm.

The way his tail trembled and its scales seemed to lift like hair standing on end.]

He's still quite young. Too young to have gone through such a thing.

[fionnuisce]

It's-...

[Waver stopped at a brief glance over to Takame, trailing off and setting his glass down.]

[It was familiar, wasn't it? Called to mind gold eyes burning with murderous rage, paired with a too-calm voice and too-rational mind. He'd had to be rational, because his Master had become a horrified mess surrounded by corpses. Had to push back his indignation and fury for the sake of a terrified child, who even now woke up in the middle of the night from memories of river water and blood.]

Takame. [A light hand was placed on his companion's forearm, marked by the faintest shape of wings and a blade.]

['Look back on this moment saying 'I did the right thing, even if others may blame me for it,' and stand by your decisions no matter what.']

I need you to look at me and take a deep breath. Remember where we are, and try to focus.