The kind that eat ya!! They're really big, and breathe fire and stuff.
[ Yes Rin...that's generally what dragons do. At least these reptiles didn't paralyze him with one look like a Certain Someone, but it was still scary to be attacked by them. ]
Some of 'em are like pets, y'know? [ He waves his free hand, while putting more food in his mouth. ] Those ones are really cool...but the ones I was dealing with were super scary.
[l o o k she told him he was strong, okay!! That's his fault for looking him in the eye...]
Pets? That kind of pet sounds like a hassle.
[Whatever happened to normal kinds of pets? Wasn't a cat good enough? Admittedly, even a pet rock wasn't super appealing to her, but even that was better than a giant lizard who'd bite your head off...]
Were you helping hunt them down or somethin'?
[you'd better swallow before answering, son... But that wasn't too terribly different than a lot of exorcist jobs. Take down something big before it became a problem. Hopefully he hadn't been slacking off too much on his training.]
[ Keith seems human to Rin since he's not a demon or ghost, so it's not like he can just magically pick up on that blade also being connected to his identity. The longer the injection takes, the more he squirms, but he at least makes an attempt to continue making small talk. ]
Maybe you'll just find out stuff about it by accident, like me. The blade I have isn't like any other in the world, so it's not like I can just ask anybody... so sometimes learning stuff just takes trial and error. [ He pauses for a beat. ] Anyone else got a knife like yours?
[It's fine, there's not a ton left. Prolonging it would just make things worse in a completely different way.]
My blade is...it's an alien thing. [Wow he's never actually had to go over this before, even with his chums.] It's a Galra weapon, so other Galra have something similar.
[And he's done, withdrawing the needle only to cap the point of entry with another piece of cotton to stifle any bleeding.]
How have you been able to learn about yours? Just by using it-?
Uhhh, pretty much, I guess? But I have a teacher who's good at using a demon's blade like me, and even though she's not a demon, she's still able to teach me useful stuff... like technique and stuff like that. That helped me figure out better ways to use it.
[ He shrugs, opening and closing his hand once the needle is retracted. ]
So even if ya can't talk to any of those aliens - the ones yer mom got it from, right? [ He doesn't wanna go assuming that Keith is an alien, even though that would be really cool, maybe his mom was just really into UFO sightings and things of that nature. ] Maybe ya just need a teacher. Someone who's all good at knives. Ya might find it can do something ya didn't expect it to.
[Rin's mentor has him thinking of Kolivan. Weird.]
I was training with them, before all of this.
[While peeking under that cotton, testing it to the puncture once, twice -- there's a tiny bit of blood. He'll let the cotton rest in place while fishing through his pouch for a bandaid. It's not a lot, but enough to make a mess if left unattended. He's pretending to be extra distracted by his Doctor Quinn Medicine Woman Schtick, even though he facilitated this entire conversation?]
What would be nice is a sparring partner.
[Still wouldn't be much like going on missions with/for the blade, but he hasn't had anyone decent to train with in...uh...ever...]
[ Well if he's bluffing, Rin doesn't notice because he hasn't received enough medical attention from his brother in his life to know how long these things take. So your secret is safe with him Keef... ]
You were training with aliens? [ He guesses that makes sense, since Keith had been to space and what not. ] I'm probably nothing like an alien, but...
Maybe I could help ya? When I'm feeling better. I haven't really officially sparred with anyone other than my teacher, but I got in a lot of fights when I was a foolish younger person.. [ That was literally not that long ago??? ] So I kind of know about fighting. Y'know, kind of.
[ Though rather than study a martial art he always just got by using brute force...so.. ]
[ Training with someone normal-ish (to his knowledge) like Keith would probably make him feel a lot better about his loss of control over his powers during being sick. And it would give him a chance to work his confidence back up. ]
Yeah, you can help me avoid getting in trouble with my teacher when she finds out how bad I've been slackin' off. But don't worry, I'll go easy on ya~
[ He's only joking, leaning back down against the pillows now that he has his sweet bandaid and everything. ]
She can't be too angry with you. You just survived the plague.
[Keith can vouch for him...it'll be fine.]
I'll touch base with you later on.
[Rin's visibly preparing for some more R&R, which is great. Less persuading on his end, and he can be on his merry way. Though hanging with him wasn't bad at all...weird...strange.]
[ Rin immediately tenses up, swatting the other's hands away from his tail. ]
Ow - don't touch that!! [ It's really painful for his kind if their tails are tugged even in the slightest, so he tries to pry the other's grip from around him as quickly as he can. ] I'll be fine if ya just leggo of me.
[ What could this person possibly need... other than a calendar that says it's not Halloween. ]
[ he's the kind of doggo who might shred that calendar into pieces if he was given a chance, so... probably not the best future gift choice. still! he'll aim to get a present one day by letting go, pulling his arms to his sides and his back stiffening. ]
Sure! Well, that and someone to show me the right way. These trees all look and smell the same. It's weird.
[ which is why he got lost. ]
I like your tail. It's a lot different than the ones I've felt at home!
[ At least he backed off... Rin shifts a little to put himself back in place, trying to recollect some of his cool-guy aura, jutting his bottom lip out. ]
Ya must be new around here, [ Asking for directions, talking about where he's from... ] So I can lead ya outta this place...
[ Since he's cool and reliable. Totally. ]
But don't go pullin' my tail again, got it? I ain't used to people doing that, ya startled me.
[ oh, he seems really cool and reliable! tbh anyone with a tail is clearly 100% trustworthy because, just like his, it can't possibly deceive anyone??? and he doesn't notice the slight pout! he's too busy wagging. ]
Okay, fine. I won't do it again.
[ for now. maybe. ]
And yeah, I'm new. Of course I'm new! Do I look not new to you?
Okay, yeah, sure, yer right...the orbiters probably ain't that messed up.
[ Rin doesn't know, he doesn't spend a lot of time thinking about them. He mirrors what Lance did and the systems in the ship seem to respond, a voice over the intercom saying they were ready for takeoff. Whatever metal wall is keeping them inside the hangar opens, revealing the vast vacuum of space as the engines rumble - and he thinks it's a good time to mention: ]
I'm afraid of flying, so don't go too fast, okay?
[ And he's saying this while pressing buttons clearly meant to initiate take off. ]
[ now it's lance's turn to freak out, which then of course causes the ship to jerk forward and plop out of the hangar clumsily. thankfully, he's quick to right both himself and the ship, though that doesn't stop him from snapping his head towards his co-pilot. ]
[ The ship goes out of the hangar, which makes Rin's heart jump and his hands clutch onto the controls as they regain steadiness thanks to Lance's skills. Now that the ship is warmed up and their minds are all, melding and stuff, Lance would slowly come to realize that Rin is a lot more afraid than he's letting on, since on the surface he still seems mildly okay. ]
I haven't exactly done stuff like this before except in games! I'm afraid of planes 'n stuff...
[ Mutter. He's trying to overcome his fears!! ]
Ya said ya were good at it, so I thought it would be okay with an expert on board!!
[ She's right, he hasn't, and he gives her a careful look before obediently unlatching the red cover and pulling the Kurikara out, sheath and all. It takes him a moment of just staring at it, it's silver trimmings gleaming even in the dim light of the abandoned building, to put his hand at the handle and try to give it a tug.
To no avail. ]
Ugh. [ He tries a bit harder, brows furrowing and his forearm clearly straining with the effort. And yet it still doesn't budge. ] Damn it...
[ Maybe it's his recent outbursts, combined with his months without any formal instruction, that fans his deep-seated fear of harming people; after all, if he was doing so well before, then why was it so easy for him to go back to where he started from? False bravado and dumbassery aside, Rin is quite sensitive, and above all else hates being the cause of pain to others... he can't say he didn't somewhat expect this outcome after witnessing first hand all the damage he'd done to buildings and others alike.
Though, there's a difference between this time and Kyoto: he feels more frustrated than torn up over it, more angry at himself than self-pitying. ]
This is so frickin' annoying. [ Why do magical swords have to be so temperamental... ] Isn't there a short cut, or something...
[ He tries to jest to hide the creeping sense of failure and shame that grows in his chest, since being unable to draw the Kurikara had to be the most embarrassing way of making it obvious to her that he's scared of himself. ]
[Again, she'll observe quietly, watching as he strains trying to draw the Kurikara with no luck. This wasn't ideal. But, she reminds herself, it could be worse. The Impure King wasn't breathing down their necks, and it wasn't as if the sword itself hadn't been lost to the Storm's corruption.]
You haven't trained much since you woke up, have you.
[That's not a question. Of course, there were excuses. First arriving, getting sick--those were reasonable excuses, but it sounded like there was plenty of time in between those events. Just what had he been doing?]
If you can't draw it, then we'll work on it until you can. I'll have to figure out how to rig up some training dummies that can stand up to ya, but we'll have to get you back in good shape. If you're scared, you'll just have get more experience and work through your frustration.
[Less thinking, more action. It was going to be a pain with the only other kid from home being Shima, but it sounded like Rin hadn't isolated himself, so there was something to distract him when he needed to just play. Maybe Kamiki would reawaken, or the others would wake up for the first time soon. There doesn't seem to be that much of a need to scold him, not when he's already berating himself for what happened. Shura reaches over to him, gently ruffling his hair.]
No short cuts, but you're tough. You'll get over this hurdle jus' like all of the others you've managed.
[ As in: he continually felt low-key guilty about his lack of practice, but it was hard to be pushed to do it when there was no imminent reason to. He'd been using his powers when it was convenient for him - if it was cold or the stove wasn't working properly. But it definitely wasn't Sword Techniques 101 here. At least he has the mind to look slightly guilty about it.
The ruffling of his hair only causes him to look away bashfully, not exactly pushing his head away but definitely not leaning in to the affection. There's even a slight coloring on his cheeks out of embarrassment. Shura's kind words and advice towards him make him feel more secure, but it's always embarrassing when he gets the feeling of being babied...and that major showing of weakness he had just a few moments ago makes him want to cover up his vulnerability even more.
Not more than a year ago, he'd been holding her sword by the blade to keep her from killing him. But in this moment, for the first time in months, he almost feels at home. He accepts the oncoming practice - it would be hard, but familiar, would give him a sense of routine that he hasn't had since he woke up. ]
So, [ He clears his throat after a calculated silence, hands feeling clammy around the scabbard. ] Should ya hold onto this again?
[ That was the trend following his outbursts after all. Even if she couldn't ~magically store it away~ anymore, he still had to wonder. ]
[Take your head pats and like them, Rin. It's hard to not want to grind her knuckles into his scalp, just the teeniest bit, when he admits that he's only gotten as far as meaning to train. Uh huh. He was going to regret that choice of his when she was sure he was fully recovered from his illness.
Pulling her hand back, Shura straightens, waiting for Rin to decide on what he wants to say. But that isn't what she's expecting him to say, and her brows raise.]
I ain't gonna take it from you this time. This is different from before.
[This place was too unpredictable for leaving him unarmed, and keeping track of one sword the regular way was enough trouble as it was. Besides, taking it from him again wasn't going to help him regain his confidence.]
But there is somethin' else we gotta talk about.
[Now it's Shura's turn to take a pause. Her hands clench at her side, and she exhales, forcing herself to unfurl her fists.]
Rin, tell me the last thing you remember from home. Tell me about the last couple'a hours.
[ Oh - well, that's a relief. He guesses he would feel a little insecure without it, more insecure than he already feels, but still. Her change of topic quickly distracts him from the issue with the Kurikara, his clammy hands moving to place the scabbard back in it's cover for the time being while he speaks. ]
Uhh, me 'n everyone else were at Mamushi and Shima's brother's wedding...
[ Don't get him wrong, he's glad to move on to a different topic and talk about something completely different. But despite the fact that he'd met with Izumo, who'd forgotten a large chunk of history, he doesn't consider that he could be like that. So he just assumes Shura is asking since they weren't together from the time he remembers. ]
On TV, we saw somethin' about a big cyclops...? [ The more he goes on, the more uneasy he becomes about the phrasing she's using, and it shows on his face. Though he'd like to believe this is just the routine 'what's the last thing you recall' thing that happened between people of similar worlds here. ] Everything gets hazy after that.
[ He buckles the cover shut, watching her intently for whatever she was about to say to him. ]
Ya remember that, right?
if he's going to interrupt her before she finishes, let me know and I'll change it!
[If there was even a shred of good news in what she was going to tell him, she might try to reassure him. But there's nothing kind or pleasant about what happened the day following her fight with the cyclops.]
Yeah, I remember that.
[Wasn't this dandy? She was going to have to break the news about Yukio twice now! Her hand lifts to pinch the bridge of her nose, feeling something of a headache building. She can't begrudge Rin for not remembering when even Mephisto didn't remember the aftermath of the botched conference, but still. This couldn't be easy, could it?]
A lot happened after that. Rin, what I'm gonna tell ya ain't good. Just listen to me until the end, okay?
[He was going to have questions. That was only natural. But she's not going to pause to answer them until she finishes.]
That cyclops is part of somethin' bigger goin' on--there were attacks like that all over the world, and it was just gonna get worse. Mephisto was gonna hold a conference about it with the prime minister the next day--I was part of his security detail durin' it. But in the middle of the conference, right after Mephisto went on stage, he was shot.
[A pause. Because she's still angry.]
Yukio's the main suspect. It wasn't him--the idiots weren't listening to me, but it couldn'ta been him, the angle was all wrong. But he did have a gun pointed at Mephisto and so he got taken into custody. Whoever did it got away.
[She looks to the side, dropping her gaze from Rin as her lip curls into something of a snarl. She's still so pissed, she can feel herself starting to shake.]
They let me question him, but he wouldn' say a damn thing. But his eyes--Rin. He's inherited Satan's power. There's no mistaking what I saw.
[ He tries to sit tight as per her request, but the more she goes on, the more shocked he becomes. He can't stop himself from interjecting with small 'buts' and 'hows' but Shura seems intent on laying out the whole story before letting him speak.
What could he even say? To be honest, he wasn't even sure what he was feeling - a weird and unpleasant mix of shocked, furious, and hurt. A gun? Pointed at Mephisto? Satan's power? Yeah, he'd kept being sick from her, but keeping all this under wraps was a lot - he felt like he just got hit by a train. Once she finishes, he can't help but retaliate loudly: ]
How... How is that even possible?! [ It doesn't sound possible, and he doesn't want to believe it, not at all. He stands up in his state of confusion, one hand tight around the Kurikara and the other clenched into a tight fist. ] Yukio wouldn't.... he wouldn't do something like that...!
[ Yukio had been acting strangely, had been distant to him, had been lashing out, but he wasn't capable of threatening others, was he...? Did this have to do with that weird fight they'd had? Sure, it was weird for Yukio to yell at him like that, and he'd been meaning to bring it up again despite the fact that trying to smooth things over with him for the past few months hadn't exactly gone successfully, but that didn't mean he was capable of this. ]
If all that happened - then where was I?!
[ Even if all of that was true, which he didn't want to believe, he had to hope that his future self hadn't left Yukio alone. He had to believe that he would've rushed to his side, would've done something. The most important thing of all was figuring out if Yukio was okay, not off to get executed by the order - since the whole Satan's power deal is taking a second to catch up to his brain. ]
[Really, she's surprised that he lets her. It was a lot of information, and considering just how sensitive the matter is, she wouldn't begrudge him for interrupting her. She could almost barely believe the events of the last few hours at home, so to just throw it all at him at once when he had no idea what was coming at him.
Her hands come to rest on her knees as he moves to his feet, but she makes no move to follow him up. He had been in shock when she told him last time]
I only saw you for a minute or so when we were transporting him. You and the others were supposed to be holdin' at the dorms until we called, but I guess you saw the news and you went to try an' find him. I told you what happened and told you to go back to the dorms. Things were about to go to pieces, and we needed you exwires to be ready just in case orders came. He wasn't gonna get executed right on the spot, not with everythin' else goin' on, so I figured I had some time to get him to talk and figure out a plan. Then the Storm hit.
[And that was that. Shura pauses, looks away.]
I thought you just didn't wanna talk about it when I woke up. It wasn't until I talked t'Mephisto that I realized the timelines were messed up. He doesn't remember as much as I do.
[If she knew he didn't know, she wouldn't have waited to tell him. It wasn't a secret that was worth keeping from him.]
Because he's being smacked away, he returns his focus to his own controls, pushing rather than pulling up - which, thankfully, slams them out of the loop, jolting them to a halt and to equilibrium. But Rin's not a master of timing, so the balance between Shima pulling up and Rin pushing down frees them from the loop, albeit upside down.
Big. Sigh. Rather than the clear vibes of bullshitting he's getting from Shima, Rin is the type to dumbly fly by the seat of his pants rather than feel that he's BSing. The ship is still going a little too fast for his liking. ]
There, happy now?! At least it's frickin' straight again...
[ There's no shame in being afraid, but in his opinion it is a bit weird to pretend to go but not... his tone isn't irrate but it is slightly impatient. What's the hold up with this Victorian period piece wearing guy... ]
Okay, Elliot's going to quite literally stomp his way over the bridge now, just because he feels like he has to prove a point. If it collapses under him so be it.]
[ Thankfully, Rin is also a lot stronger than he looks, so the other's pull doesn't really hurt him nor bother him much. Superhumans only!! ]
Yeah - is there anyway to pull me down? I'd cut myself loose but I don't think that's possible...
[ And he's still a bit too afraid to use his own powers with another person so close, given how the illness had treated him. So there's a little bit of guilt on his face at the helpless nature he's in; but at least the other seems pretty kind, from the first impression. ]
( that's good, that Rin isn't torn to pieces by his slight tug, though Peter also does not know what he can and cannot handle. so it is hard to really risk just trying to wrench him further, even though Peter is capable of pulling harder.
cut him down... it's a good idea, though, ) I don't have anything sharp but my wit, and... uh, sorry, not a time for jokes. And it's not that sharp.
( ah... good......... Rin, how confident and safe do you feel in his hands now... rip
that said, he's not willing to just let the trees take him. ) Okay, I'm going to pull harder this time. Just... yell, if it hurts, or if it's too much.
[ He is the one that got stuck in the tree after all. But Rin gives a small lopsided smile at Peter's joke, finding it kind of funny - the situation isn't that dire, and he's also the type to make light of situations. ]
But I'm pretty strong, so don't worry about me too much...
[ He squeezes the other's hand in affirmation, not terribly concerned since he doesn't generally meet anyone as strong as he is - not to mention that on the chance the other was super swole, if he got a little bruised or hurt he'd heal right up. Having regenerative powers really makes you not fear getting hurt too badly, and since the vine doesn't seem to be an immediate threat, he's slowly calming down. ]
( as much as he appreciates the mention of his wit (Rin might take that back in about five minutes), the focus has to be getting the guy free. Peter is always nervous about risking hurting people, and paired with the risk of showing unusual strength... it's a difficult situation.
still, he's not willing to let the guy get stolen by plants, so, he's going to have to get over it and pull.
Peter nods, even though he'll worry about it, no matter what. with that, he decides to yank all in one go, instead of a prolonged and slow tug that might allow the vines to tighten. it's enough to break some of the vines, though it might also be enough to wind Rin if he's not expecting it. ) I think it's working— ( the second tug is a little more gentle, and hopefully will be enough to help Rin get free...
[ He mutters, trying to be quick about memorizing the controls in the face of the oncoming hunks of rock hurdling towards them. There's a short feeling of admiration for the other that cuts through his fear - he has to admit it's pretty cool to be able to do things like this...not to mention to jump in headfirst twice. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
★ shura
The kind that eat ya!! They're really big, and breathe fire and stuff.
[ Yes Rin...that's generally what dragons do. At least these reptiles didn't paralyze him with one look like a Certain Someone, but it was still scary to be attacked by them. ]
Some of 'em are like pets, y'know? [ He waves his free hand, while putting more food in his mouth. ] Those ones are really cool...but the ones I was dealing with were super scary.
no subject
Pets? That kind of pet sounds like a hassle.
[Whatever happened to normal kinds of pets? Wasn't a cat good enough? Admittedly, even a pet rock wasn't super appealing to her, but even that was better than a giant lizard who'd bite your head off...]
Were you helping hunt them down or somethin'?
[you'd better swallow before answering, son... But that wasn't too terribly different than a lot of exorcist jobs. Take down something big before it became a problem. Hopefully he hadn't been slacking off too much on his training.]
★ keith
Like family history, or something?
[ Keith seems human to Rin since he's not a demon or ghost, so it's not like he can just magically pick up on that blade also being connected to his identity. The longer the injection takes, the more he squirms, but he at least makes an attempt to continue making small talk. ]
Maybe you'll just find out stuff about it by accident, like me. The blade I have isn't like any other in the world, so it's not like I can just ask anybody... so sometimes learning stuff just takes trial and error. [ He pauses for a beat. ] Anyone else got a knife like yours?
no subject
[It's fine, there's not a ton left. Prolonging it would just make things worse in a completely different way.]
My blade is...it's an alien thing. [Wow he's never actually had to go over this before, even with his chums.] It's a Galra weapon, so other Galra have something similar.
[And he's done, withdrawing the needle only to cap the point of entry with another piece of cotton to stifle any bleeding.]
How have you been able to learn about yours? Just by using it-?
no subject
[ He shrugs, opening and closing his hand once the needle is retracted. ]
So even if ya can't talk to any of those aliens - the ones yer mom got it from, right? [ He doesn't wanna go assuming that Keith is an alien, even though that would be really cool, maybe his mom was just really into UFO sightings and things of that nature. ] Maybe ya just need a teacher. Someone who's all good at knives. Ya might find it can do something ya didn't expect it to.
no subject
I was training with them, before all of this.
[While peeking under that cotton, testing it to the puncture once, twice -- there's a tiny bit of blood. He'll let the cotton rest in place while fishing through his pouch for a bandaid. It's not a lot, but enough to make a mess if left unattended. He's pretending to be extra distracted by his Doctor Quinn Medicine Woman Schtick, even though he facilitated this entire conversation?]
What would be nice is a sparring partner.
[Still wouldn't be much like going on missions with/for the blade, but he hasn't had anyone decent to train with in...uh...ever...]
no subject
You were training with aliens? [ He guesses that makes sense, since Keith had been to space and what not. ] I'm probably nothing like an alien, but...
Maybe I could help ya? When I'm feeling better. I haven't really officially sparred with anyone other than my teacher, but I got in a lot of fights when I was a foolish younger person.. [ That was literally not that long ago??? ] So I kind of know about fighting. Y'know, kind of.
[ Though rather than study a martial art he always just got by using brute force...so.. ]
no subject
...You're kind of like an alien.
[With a vague grin, drawing away, going as far as to rise to his feet while crumpling scraps of paper (from the bandage) in a fist.]
But that, [Cue him speaking out of his element stilted and whatnot.] it sounds like we'd be helping eachother out.
[Maybe? He may not help in unearthing the mysteries of his sword (and vice versa), but he may come out a better swordsman in general.]
no subject
[ Training with someone normal-ish (to his knowledge) like Keith would probably make him feel a lot better about his loss of control over his powers during being sick. And it would give him a chance to work his confidence back up. ]
Yeah, you can help me avoid getting in trouble with my teacher when she finds out how bad I've been slackin' off. But don't worry, I'll go easy on ya~
[ He's only joking, leaning back down against the pillows now that he has his sweet bandaid and everything. ]
no subject
She can't be too angry with you. You just survived the plague.
[Keith can vouch for him...it'll be fine.]
I'll touch base with you later on.
[Rin's visibly preparing for some more R&R, which is great. Less persuading on his end, and he can be on his merry way. Though hanging with him wasn't bad at all...weird...strange.]
★ keaton
[ Rin immediately tenses up, swatting the other's hands away from his tail. ]
Ow - don't touch that!! [ It's really painful for his kind if their tails are tugged even in the slightest, so he tries to pry the other's grip from around him as quickly as he can. ] I'll be fine if ya just leggo of me.
[ What could this person possibly need... other than a calendar that says it's not Halloween. ]
Ya just want a hug or somethin'?
no subject
Sure! Well, that and someone to show me the right way. These trees all look and smell the same. It's weird.
[ which is why he got lost. ]
I like your tail. It's a lot different than the ones I've felt at home!
no subject
Ya must be new around here, [ Asking for directions, talking about where he's from... ] So I can lead ya outta this place...
[ Since he's cool and reliable. Totally. ]
But don't go pullin' my tail again, got it? I ain't used to people doing that, ya startled me.
no subject
Okay, fine. I won't do it again.
[ for now. maybe. ]
And yeah, I'm new. Of course I'm new! Do I look not new to you?
★ lance
Okay, yeah, sure, yer right...the orbiters probably ain't that messed up.
[ Rin doesn't know, he doesn't spend a lot of time thinking about them. He mirrors what Lance did and the systems in the ship seem to respond, a voice over the intercom saying they were ready for takeoff. Whatever metal wall is keeping them inside the hangar opens, revealing the vast vacuum of space as the engines rumble - and he thinks it's a good time to mention: ]
I'm afraid of flying, so don't go too fast, okay?
[ And he's saying this while pressing buttons clearly meant to initiate take off. ]
no subject
[ now it's lance's turn to freak out, which then of course causes the ship to jerk forward and plop out of the hangar clumsily. thankfully, he's quick to right both himself and the ship, though that doesn't stop him from snapping his head towards his co-pilot. ]
Why didn't you say something earlier?!
no subject
[ The ship goes out of the hangar, which makes Rin's heart jump and his hands clutch onto the controls as they regain steadiness thanks to Lance's skills. Now that the ship is warmed up and their minds are all, melding and stuff, Lance would slowly come to realize that Rin is a lot more afraid than he's letting on, since on the surface he still seems mildly okay. ]
I haven't exactly done stuff like this before except in games! I'm afraid of planes 'n stuff...
[ Mutter. He's trying to overcome his fears!! ]
Ya said ya were good at it, so I thought it would be okay with an expert on board!!
no subject
[ he would have been more gentle with you, rin... u3u;;; ]
no subject
[ Cut him some slack Lance... he thinks you're cool and doesn't want to ruin your image of him... ]
I actually feel a little better since yer here. And I ain't gonna pass out or anything, okay?
★ shura
[ She's right, he hasn't, and he gives her a careful look before obediently unlatching the red cover and pulling the Kurikara out, sheath and all. It takes him a moment of just staring at it, it's silver trimmings gleaming even in the dim light of the abandoned building, to put his hand at the handle and try to give it a tug.
To no avail. ]
Ugh. [ He tries a bit harder, brows furrowing and his forearm clearly straining with the effort. And yet it still doesn't budge. ] Damn it...
[ Maybe it's his recent outbursts, combined with his months without any formal instruction, that fans his deep-seated fear of harming people; after all, if he was doing so well before, then why was it so easy for him to go back to where he started from? False bravado and dumbassery aside, Rin is quite sensitive, and above all else hates being the cause of pain to others... he can't say he didn't somewhat expect this outcome after witnessing first hand all the damage he'd done to buildings and others alike.
Though, there's a difference between this time and Kyoto: he feels more frustrated than torn up over it, more angry at himself than self-pitying. ]
This is so frickin' annoying. [ Why do magical swords have to be so temperamental... ] Isn't there a short cut, or something...
[ He tries to jest to hide the creeping sense of failure and shame that grows in his chest, since being unable to draw the Kurikara had to be the most embarrassing way of making it obvious to her that he's scared of himself. ]
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You haven't trained much since you woke up, have you.
[That's not a question. Of course, there were excuses. First arriving, getting sick--those were reasonable excuses, but it sounded like there was plenty of time in between those events. Just what had he been doing?]
If you can't draw it, then we'll work on it until you can. I'll have to figure out how to rig up some training dummies that can stand up to ya, but we'll have to get you back in good shape. If you're scared, you'll just have get more experience and work through your frustration.
[Less thinking, more action. It was going to be a pain with the only other kid from home being Shima, but it sounded like Rin hadn't isolated himself, so there was something to distract him when he needed to just play. Maybe Kamiki would reawaken, or the others would wake up for the first time soon. There doesn't seem to be that much of a need to scold him, not when he's already berating himself for what happened. Shura reaches over to him, gently ruffling his hair.]
No short cuts, but you're tough. You'll get over this hurdle jus' like all of the others you've managed.
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[ As in: he continually felt low-key guilty about his lack of practice, but it was hard to be pushed to do it when there was no imminent reason to. He'd been using his powers when it was convenient for him - if it was cold or the stove wasn't working properly. But it definitely wasn't Sword Techniques 101 here. At least he has the mind to look slightly guilty about it.
The ruffling of his hair only causes him to look away bashfully, not exactly pushing his head away but definitely not leaning in to the affection. There's even a slight coloring on his cheeks out of embarrassment. Shura's kind words and advice towards him make him feel more secure, but it's always embarrassing when he gets the feeling of being babied...and that major showing of weakness he had just a few moments ago makes him want to cover up his vulnerability even more.
Not more than a year ago, he'd been holding her sword by the blade to keep her from killing him. But in this moment, for the first time in months, he almost feels at home. He accepts the oncoming practice - it would be hard, but familiar, would give him a sense of routine that he hasn't had since he woke up. ]
So, [ He clears his throat after a calculated silence, hands feeling clammy around the scabbard. ] Should ya hold onto this again?
[ That was the trend following his outbursts after all. Even if she couldn't ~magically store it away~ anymore, he still had to wonder. ]
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Pulling her hand back, Shura straightens, waiting for Rin to decide on what he wants to say. But that isn't what she's expecting him to say, and her brows raise.]
I ain't gonna take it from you this time. This is different from before.
[This place was too unpredictable for leaving him unarmed, and keeping track of one sword the regular way was enough trouble as it was. Besides, taking it from him again wasn't going to help him regain his confidence.]
But there is somethin' else we gotta talk about.
[Now it's Shura's turn to take a pause. Her hands clench at her side, and she exhales, forcing herself to unfurl her fists.]
Rin, tell me the last thing you remember from home. Tell me about the last couple'a hours.
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Uhh, me 'n everyone else were at Mamushi and Shima's brother's wedding...
[ Don't get him wrong, he's glad to move on to a different topic and talk about something completely different. But despite the fact that he'd met with Izumo, who'd forgotten a large chunk of history, he doesn't consider that he could be like that. So he just assumes Shura is asking since they weren't together from the time he remembers. ]
On TV, we saw somethin' about a big cyclops...? [ The more he goes on, the more uneasy he becomes about the phrasing she's using, and it shows on his face. Though he'd like to believe this is just the routine 'what's the last thing you recall' thing that happened between people of similar worlds here. ] Everything gets hazy after that.
[ He buckles the cover shut, watching her intently for whatever she was about to say to him. ]
Ya remember that, right?
if he's going to interrupt her before she finishes, let me know and I'll change it!
Yeah, I remember that.
[Wasn't this dandy? She was going to have to break the news about Yukio twice now! Her hand lifts to pinch the bridge of her nose, feeling something of a headache building. She can't begrudge Rin for not remembering when even Mephisto didn't remember the aftermath of the botched conference, but still. This couldn't be easy, could it?]
A lot happened after that. Rin, what I'm gonna tell ya ain't good. Just listen to me until the end, okay?
[He was going to have questions. That was only natural. But she's not going to pause to answer them until she finishes.]
That cyclops is part of somethin' bigger goin' on--there were attacks like that all over the world, and it was just gonna get worse. Mephisto was gonna hold a conference about it with the prime minister the next day--I was part of his security detail durin' it. But in the middle of the conference, right after Mephisto went on stage, he was shot.
[A pause. Because she's still angry.]
Yukio's the main suspect. It wasn't him--the idiots weren't listening to me, but it couldn'ta been him, the angle was all wrong. But he did have a gun pointed at Mephisto and so he got taken into custody. Whoever did it got away.
[She looks to the side, dropping her gaze from Rin as her lip curls into something of a snarl. She's still so pissed, she can feel herself starting to shake.]
They let me question him, but he wouldn' say a damn thing. But his eyes--Rin. He's inherited Satan's power. There's no mistaking what I saw.
it's all good!!
What could he even say? To be honest, he wasn't even sure what he was feeling - a weird and unpleasant mix of shocked, furious, and hurt. A gun? Pointed at Mephisto? Satan's power? Yeah, he'd kept being sick from her, but keeping all this under wraps was a lot - he felt like he just got hit by a train. Once she finishes, he can't help but retaliate loudly: ]
How... How is that even possible?! [ It doesn't sound possible, and he doesn't want to believe it, not at all. He stands up in his state of confusion, one hand tight around the Kurikara and the other clenched into a tight fist. ] Yukio wouldn't.... he wouldn't do something like that...!
[ Yukio had been acting strangely, had been distant to him, had been lashing out, but he wasn't capable of threatening others, was he...? Did this have to do with that weird fight they'd had? Sure, it was weird for Yukio to yell at him like that, and he'd been meaning to bring it up again despite the fact that trying to smooth things over with him for the past few months hadn't exactly gone successfully, but that didn't mean he was capable of this. ]
If all that happened - then where was I?!
[ Even if all of that was true, which he didn't want to believe, he had to hope that his future self hadn't left Yukio alone. He had to believe that he would've rushed to his side, would've done something. The most important thing of all was figuring out if Yukio was okay, not off to get executed by the order - since the whole Satan's power deal is taking a second to catch up to his brain. ]
no subject
Her hands come to rest on her knees as he moves to his feet, but she makes no move to follow him up. He had been in shock when she told him last time]
I only saw you for a minute or so when we were transporting him. You and the others were supposed to be holdin' at the dorms until we called, but I guess you saw the news and you went to try an' find him. I told you what happened and told you to go back to the dorms. Things were about to go to pieces, and we needed you exwires to be ready just in case orders came. He wasn't gonna get executed right on the spot, not with everythin' else goin' on, so I figured I had some time to get him to talk and figure out a plan. Then the Storm hit.
[And that was that. Shura pauses, looks away.]
I thought you just didn't wanna talk about it when I woke up. It wasn't until I talked t'Mephisto that I realized the timelines were messed up. He doesn't remember as much as I do.
[If she knew he didn't know, she wouldn't have waited to tell him. It wasn't a secret that was worth keeping from him.]
★ shima
[ Why are they literally dumb and dumber???
Because he's being smacked away, he returns his focus to his own controls, pushing rather than pulling up - which, thankfully, slams them out of the loop, jolting them to a halt and to equilibrium. But Rin's not a master of timing, so the balance between Shima pulling up and Rin pushing down frees them from the loop, albeit upside down.
Big. Sigh. Rather than the clear vibes of bullshitting he's getting from Shima, Rin is the type to dumbly fly by the seat of his pants rather than feel that he's BSing. The ship is still going a little too fast for his liking. ]
There, happy now?! At least it's frickin' straight again...
★ elliot
[ He's too blunt to take this. ]
Ya don't look like yer going.
[ There's no shame in being afraid, but in his opinion it is a bit weird to pretend to go but not... his tone isn't irrate but it is slightly impatient. What's the hold up with this Victorian period piece wearing guy... ]
no subject
[JUST!!! LET HIM LIVE!! RIN!!!
Okay, Elliot's going to quite literally stomp his way over the bridge now, just because he feels like he has to prove a point. If it collapses under him so be it.]
★ peter
[ Thankfully, Rin is also a lot stronger than he looks, so the other's pull doesn't really hurt him nor bother him much. Superhumans only!! ]
Yeah - is there anyway to pull me down? I'd cut myself loose but I don't think that's possible...
[ And he's still a bit too afraid to use his own powers with another person so close, given how the illness had treated him. So there's a little bit of guilt on his face at the helpless nature he's in; but at least the other seems pretty kind, from the first impression. ]
no subject
cut him down... it's a good idea, though, ) I don't have anything sharp but my wit, and... uh, sorry, not a time for jokes. And it's not that sharp.
( ah... good......... Rin, how confident and safe do you feel in his hands now... rip
that said, he's not willing to just let the trees take him. ) Okay, I'm going to pull harder this time. Just... yell, if it hurts, or if it's too much.
no subject
[ He is the one that got stuck in the tree after all. But Rin gives a small lopsided smile at Peter's joke, finding it kind of funny - the situation isn't that dire, and he's also the type to make light of situations. ]
But I'm pretty strong, so don't worry about me too much...
[ He squeezes the other's hand in affirmation, not terribly concerned since he doesn't generally meet anyone as strong as he is - not to mention that on the chance the other was super swole, if he got a little bruised or hurt he'd heal right up. Having regenerative powers really makes you not fear getting hurt too badly, and since the vine doesn't seem to be an immediate threat, he's slowly calming down. ]
no subject
still, he's not willing to let the guy get stolen by plants, so, he's going to have to get over it and pull.
Peter nods, even though he'll worry about it, no matter what. with that, he decides to yank all in one go, instead of a prolonged and slow tug that might allow the vines to tighten. it's enough to break some of the vines, though it might also be enough to wind Rin if he's not expecting it. ) I think it's working— ( the second tug is a little more gentle, and hopefully will be enough to help Rin get free...
though if he lands gracefully is another story. )
★ yona
Well - maybe...
[ Actually that would make sense? She'll get a big 'hmm' while he puts his hand on his chin to think rather than look around. ]
Maybe it's so easy we don't need a manual?
★ kagari
T...Twice?
[ He mutters, trying to be quick about memorizing the controls in the face of the oncoming hunks of rock hurdling towards them. There's a short feeling of admiration for the other that cuts through his fear - he has to admit it's pretty cool to be able to do things like this...not to mention to jump in headfirst twice. ]
Ya used to doing this at home or somethin'?
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[He's not even allowed to drive a car back home due to restrictions on Enforcers, let alone a fucking spaceship.]
But Sael said we could come back and try again with other partners, so. [Shrug!!!]
It's fun.