songerein | I've been shaking, waking in the night light

Entry tags:

I've been shaking, waking in the night light

Who: Joshua (

empyreancatastrophe) and your character
Which: Open Log
Where: You get to pick! Outskirts of Reverein, Wikki Archives, or Crystal Caves
What: A catch-all for part of October!
Warnings: If you haven’t finished Final Fantasy XVI and/or care about spoilers, don't click that cut text.

No More Playing Flames [OPEN]
[Joshua finds himself practicing at the edge of town—far enough not to hurt anyone, but close enough to seek help if he should need it, if he thinks to ask. He’ll have to see if it’s worth it if he finds himself in a groove. Only time will tell.]

[With a deep breath, he begins to channel this still mysterious power of dreamotion, both familiar and foreign, carrying its own weight distinctive from the magicks of home. As he extends his hand, a fiery glow envelops his fingertips. It dances like flames in the night, ethereal and unpredictable. He's practiced this skill tirelessly, seeking to harness its potential and overcome the fatigue that always follows. He has to become stronger. He has to be able to protect others.]

[And that’s today’s goal. He’s created barriers back in Valisthea, yes, he hasn’t honed the art to accommodate the split-second decisions necessary in battle without Phoenix’s raw power. Not yet, at least.]

[Drawing upon his emotions, he reaches deep into his heart, searching for a source strong enough to bolster his attempts. Although not outwardly emotional, Joshua finds no trouble in tapping into the one well he knows will never run dry: the love he holds for his brother. He remembers their childhood, the laughter, the shared dreams, and their promise to protect each other. He’s already decided that it’s this love, this unbreakable bond, that will fuel his magicks here in Songerein.]

[Now he just has to get them to work in a way that won’t leave him drained.]

[The barrier materializes like a fiery wall, a translucent, otherworldly shimmer that wavers in the air with the intensity of a blazing inferno. His brow furrows in concentration as he infuses it with the strength of his emotions, willing it to hold strong and last longer than before as it crackles with power, a fiery resonance that vibrates through his veins. Still, Joshua can feel the toll on his strength, the way dreamotion saps his energy with every passing second. It's a different kind of fatigue from what he's used to, a weariness that settles deep within his bones. Vastly preferable to coughing up blood after greater manifestations of his power, but not ideal.]

[Regardless, he stands his ground, determined to push the limits of his abilities. The barrier remains stable, its fiery glow unwavering, as if infused with the essence of his love. A sense of accomplishment washes over him, and for a moment, Joshua believes that not only can it contend with the exhaustion, but possibly win. He's making progress, slowly learning to control this enigmatic magic while connecting it to his deepest emotions!]

[But all good things must come to an end. With each passing second, the shimmering wall weakens further. The fiery glow fades to a smoldering ember, and cracks start to appear, like a fragile glass sculpture on the verge of shattering. Desperation takes hold as he struggles to pour more energy into the failing shield, to reignite the fiery glow, but his fatigue proves too heavy an anchor. The barrier sputters and disintegrates into a shower of fading sparks and dissipating flames.]

[Joshua stumbles backward, drained and defeated, his body aching from the effort as he lowers himself to the ground with heavy breaths.]

[He didn’t mean to make such a show, and thankfully there are few civilians who can see him from where he is, but it’s still enough to call attention to anyone curious enough to check up on that peculiar burst of flame.]

Page Against the Machine [OPEN]
[The Songerein Wikki Archives proved far smaller than Joshua initially thought they would be when he first questioned about their existence. However, the treasure trove of information is far from disappointing, and he’s found himself darting in and out of the archive over the course of multiple days, poring over text after text in search of the truth about his noctaere incident.]

[Days that he’s easily spent hour upon hour deep in research. Sure, he could take the books home, and he has a couple of times, but there was something about the atmosphere that made him more productive in his search.]

[Or it would if he could find exactly what he was looking for.]

[Joshua’s tired eyes scan the pages with increasing frustration. The symbols blur together, and the words become a dissonant jumble in his mind. If anyone were to ask, he’d vehemently deny it, but the truth is that he hasn't slept much, if at all. The lines between the past and present practically disappear as fatigue gnaws at his resolve. He's run himself ragged, driven by the need to understand why this incident echoes the burden his body bears back home. He’d trapped that monster within him wholly of his own volition, and he would gladly undertake the task a hundred times over if it meant protecting his brother, but he can’t deny its mental and physical toll.]

[Joshua should have been free of that malady—he certainly was from others—in this form made to traverse dreams, and yet…]

[…he has run into nothing but wall after wall. He’s uncovered plenty regarding the dangers of nightmares and noctaere, the cleansing thereof should one find oneself in possession (in all senses of the word) of one, and how to confront them, but nothing on their unique brand of affinity towards him. Or the other way around.]

[Leaning back in his chair, arms limp in an undignified spread over its sides as if defeated, Joshua huffs his displeasure aloud.]

Founder preserve me, if it is not one thing it is another.

[Lamentations thrive on woe and despair, neither of which are solutions, but they sure feel good when you’re grumpy.]

[This probably isn’t a good impression for anyone meeting him for the first time, and to anyone who’s gotten to know Joshua a little bit over the past month and a half, it’s definitely a change.]

Fortune Favors the Cave [CLOSED TO RYU]
[Joshua's heart pounds in his chest as he and Ryu stand at the entrance of the cave, the glow from the small orb of fire he’s called forth to light their way flickering against the rough, jagged walls. Shrouded in darkness, the deep cavern holds the answers he seeks to the mystery of what has happened to the Orkilins’ precious dreamotion crystals. Despite their undeniable beauty, Joshua can't shake his feelings toward these otherworldly, yet somehow familiar, gems.]

[He remembers his home, where the power of crystals was both revered and feared. They were coveted for their power to cast the magicks that only came naturally to a select few, manipulating the very essence of life. But it was that very power that slowly inched Valisthea into chaos and ruin. The Blight, its swathes of death and decay sprawling across the land like a sickness, was, as far as he and the others knew, the product of the Mothercrystals’ insatiable thirst for aether. Joshua had seen firsthand the destruction crystals could cause. It would be foolish to say this knowledge doesn’t at least partially fuel his determination to uncover the truth behind the recent thefts.]

[As they begin to venture into the cave, the walls seem to close in around them, and the echoes of their footsteps bounce off the rocky terrain. Joshua's eyes remain fixed on the crystal formations, their soft, ethereal glow casting an eerie light. He can't deny their beauty, but it's the knowledge of their potential devastation that keeps his fingers from reaching out to touch them.]

[Joshua's oddly quiet, even for someone as reserved as he is. Ryu may want to break the ice for this one!]

Wildcard!
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[He's had to track down a number of creatures, mostly to help people. Cray had taught him the basics of hunting and tracking, but he's not here right now. Ryu studies the marks and makes digging motions with his hands. If the claws are pointed this way, then it's probably headed...]

That way.

[He points down the tunnel, into the darkness.]

I'm pretty sure, at least.

[He's not confident, but it's his best guess. He can't see through the darkness any better than Joshua can, unfortunately.]

[He’s more confident than Joshua is, and that’s good enough for him.]

[He begins to head in the direction that Ryu indicated, careful to tread lightly and deftly around the rocks. The walls here are nearly barren, undoubtedly mined by the Orkilins, similar to the state of the cave around the entrance, where what crystals they could find were small and bunched in clusters unworthy of harvesting. This is definitely not a weird workaround/retcon on the player’s end because she has the working memory and reading comprehension of a small rodent and forgot the description the mods gave her until it was too late.]

[Joshua pauses as another gash catches his eye. The orb of fire raises again to follow its trajectory and his brow furrows quizzically.]

Ryu, is this mark different than the other?

[They're still pretty. These are even prettier, but Ryu's focused now and - huh. Is that crushed crystal they're starting to tread on? The composition of the floor is definitely different. It's a little hard to tell, but Ryu has a hand on his sword and - oh. They've stopped.]

[He takes a moment to breathe and looks at the gash. It's a little hard to tell, but there's a very faint gleam on it. He reaches out to touch it - it's faintly wet.]

The rock couldn't have been out for that long if it's still wet, right? I think we're getting closer. But it does look different... not just moving dirt but clawing at the wall.

[Something about the implications of Ryu’s observations makes the hairs stand up on the back of Joshua’s neck.]

Then we are guests to two separate hosts, it would seem.

[No big deal, right?]

We should continue with more vigilance.

Now it only a matter of which way.

Mm, probably.

[He doesn't sound too worried. He's fought big things - this isn't going to be that much of an issue, right? Right.]

[In the silence with only their breathing he closes his eyes. Is there anything... ah! He opens his eyes and points in a direction, nodding confidently.]

It's got to be this way. It sounds like... digging?

[Which probably means it's big, given that they're traveling through the tunnels as well. He squares his shoulders a little bit and continues, trying to keep himself from worrying. He doesn't want to disturb an animal in its home, but they have to figure out where the crystals are going.]

[No issue at all. Everything will be fine. This is fine. They're totally having fun.]

[Trusting Ryu's intuition, Joshua silently begins in that direction, hand on the hilt of his sword out of cautious habit. He glances down as he treads closer to the crushed crystal, a bemused hum escaping him.]

I didn't see that before... did you?

[He looks over at Ryu.]

I saw something, but I was more worried about the marks on the wall.

[It seemed more important.]

I don't know what could crush the crystal so easily, but it's bound to be strong.

[The sound grows louder as they head through the caverns. Scritchscritcscritch - scraaaape. Scritchscritcscritch - scraaaape. Ryu tries to run through what he might know... someone from the Earth-Eating Tribe? But they're not this big. He sees movement in the distance, though it's too dark to make out any shapes. Just black on black further down the tunnel.]

[It was definitely more important, and Joshua makes sure to reassure Ryu of that with a confident nod.]

[As for that second remark? It draws out a little more of a resigned sigh from Joshua. Strong creatures, in his experience, had no qualms in showcasing that strength when the need arose. Hopefully the two wouldn’t pose enough of a threat to entice such a display, but he’s a realist at heart.]

[Joshua’s grip on his sword tightens.]

[He turns his attention to the scrapes and scuffs up ahead. His eyes have adjusted to the dimness, but not enough to make out what’s ahead. Whatever made those marks will undoubtedly have an advantage over them in the dark. The only way to even the odds would be to shed light in the cavern ahead so they could at least see what they’re up against.]

[But that risks startling what could be an otherwise docile creature. Unlikely, but a slim chance is a chance all the same.]

[Joshua scans around what parts of the area they can see and spies a small outcropping. It’s not much in the way of cover, but, again, they have to take what they can get.]

[He gestures to the structure, a little above waist high, and lowers his voice to a quieter whisper than before.]

Should we hide there while I send out my light?

[Ryu nods, crouching as he moves towards the stone. He moves slowly, carefully... and then a loose bit of rock gets kicked against the cave wall, echoing softly down the tunnel. He winces and ducks behind the cover, ready to jump out if need be.]

[The creature, whatever it is, freezes at the sound. As Joshua's light draws closer a shape can be made out, at least clear enough for the peeking pair to see. It's a giant mole - or some kind of rodent-related creature - and its coat sparkles faintly like the crystals. A larger sparkle can be seen in its mouth, and it stares in the direction of the light.]

[If one were to attempt to read its expression, it looks... vaguely annoyed? Afraid? Both of those things at once? It freezes, ready to run at the slightest movement. Ryu looks at Joshua. That crystal might be useful?]

I don't think I can negotiate with this one...

[Joshua flinches and does his best to remain as still as possible, but there’s not much that can be done. There’s no point in pursuing anything other than damage control.]

[Especially when it looks like diplomacy is off the table.]

[So, he gives a slow, understanding nod as he considers their options, few as they may be.]

I propose we—

[Whatever plans Joshua has are cut short by the sound of renewed scraping. As if their friend is excavating something large.]

[A lot of somethings large.]

…That isn’t good.

... No. It's not.

[He pokes his head out again and - oh that's rock and dirt the thing's moving, he can tell by the noise. He goes to stand up but has to duck as the material starts being flung their way.]

I don't think we can catch it, either.

[Maybe they should just let it get away? But there's that huge crystal -]

[They don't have much more time to think. The movement is starting to head downwards, and it's not likely that they'll have another chance to do much of anything if they don't act soon.]

[The crystal is tempting, and Joshua can't be sure if it's the same as one of the missing seals to the nightmare reactor. Not without getting closer.]

[It's risky, but he has to be sure. This is the whole point of coming down here.]

Mayhap not, but we need to see what it's carrying. Otherwise our expedition is for naught.

[Joshua takes a few deep breaths and, once the latest mound of rock and dirt sails past their location, he slides out from behind their hiding spot and darts forward.]

[He may not be quick enough to catch the giant mole--he wouldn't know what to do with it even if he was--but at least he can try to gather information.]

[He reaches out to try to stop Joshua, but he's already gone. He winces and runs after him, wildly reminded of having to dodge wind gusts when going to see the Wind Dragon. But this is different - this is enclosed and more dangerous.]

[Another clump sails towards him and he ducks underneath it - sometimes there's an advantage to being short. He tries to make it to the next outcropping, because if Joshua needs to find out information then getting closer is what they need. He can see something sparkling in the light -]

[It's moving fast, and Ryu is now certain that they can't catch it - but maybe they can still find out something. Ugh... there's not much he can do at this point except keep dodging.]

[Impulsivity, thy name is Rosfield.]

[In Joshua's eyes, they have their mission. Their job. Their duty. One that was not complete until they could return with something to help the Orkilins' recovery.]

[He'll chastise himself appropriately when the illogic of his actions catch up with him. Until then, he pushes onward, dodging whatever debris he can and hurling magicks at the smaller projectiles that he can't. He coughs through the clouds of dirt obscuring his vision.]

[He just needs one look! One!]

[As the giant mole disappears into the earth, all Joshua can catch a glimpse of is the glitter of the giant crystal.]

No!

[But it's gone.]

[He turns, breathing heavily, covered in loam and dirt to face Ryu, hoping that his friend may have seen something he hasn't.]

[Ryu rushes to Joshua's side, worried about the other. He's cleared a path, now Ryu just has to follow. His own eyes didn't catch much more than Joshua's did, and he reaches out to grab his friend by the arm.]

[He's concerned, yes, but also -]

You need to be more careful. You could have gotten hurt.

[In fact he's going to check the other over to make sure he's fine right now. ... Despite the fact that there's some kind of sound coming from far off - Joshua is more important!]

That--

["--doesn't matter!", is what he was going to say, but the concerned look on Ryu's face halts his words in their tracks. The pause also forces him to actually consider what has transpired.]

...You're right.

[Grounded by the hand on his arm, Joshua takes a moment to recollect himself. His composure resets and the once intense glint in his eyes relaxes into his normal calm. What's done is done. There's no point in giving into anger. He has to remember that.]

[With a reassuring squeeze to Ryu's hand, Joshua slowly pulls his arm out of his friend's grip so he can better face him.]

I'm sorry for worrying you.

[He nods and leans in, resting his head against the other's shoulder.]

I want you to be safe. We can figure out information other ways. We can't replace you, okay? I just...

[Wait. What's that sound? He pulls back and looks around - there's a slight shaking to the ground, as if something large is coming towards them.]

[Ryu turns to guard Joshua, sword out and ready to either slice or cast magic. The rumbling gets louder and louder...]

Be ready, I don't know what this is -

[Oh.]

[That's what it feels like.]

[As a child Joshua would often cling to his older brother. Such a simple, instinctual action brought immeasurable comfort regardless of how distressed he felt. As an adult, he found himself embracing the rare chance to lean against Clive, as if the brief gestures could make up for nearly two decades apart. During that painful time, he didn't have many chances to reciprocate such notions with anyone. Yes, he appreciated the rare occasion where he shared such quiet moments with Jote, but those were treasures of a different sort, precious in their own way.]

[He never had the chance to provide this kind of basic comfort, and here Ryu was, seeking it as easily as he once did so long ago. Joshua could see the way he raises his hand to gently pat Ryu's shoulder as an obligation, but he understands, truly, that it's a privilege.]

[Is this how Clive felt? Is this how he feels now?]

[Joshua opens his mouth to share some kind of reassurance, something his big brother would've said to him.]

[But the chance doesn't come.]

[He's not surprised. No matter the realm, enemies exemplify impeccably poor timing.]

[Without hesitation, Joshua pulls Burning Thorn out of its sheathe. With what little time they have before their opponent arrives, he directs his fire orb to hover against the roof of the cavern. It's not as good as daylight, but at least they won't be fighting completely blind.]

[He centers himself and calls upon his dreamotion. The fingers on his free hand thrum with energy ready to strike forth in an instant, and not a moment too soon.]

[The rumble that Ryu caught earlier resonates again throughout the cavern, casting pebbles wet with stagnant water like dice clattering around the pair.]

[The air hangs still. Quiet.]

[Then, with another roll, menacing in its subtlety, their host finally introduces itself. A pair of mandibles, each hook easily the size of a man, followed by an unsettling whisper of movement, shadowy tendrils snaking their way amidst broken rock and shards of crystal.]

[A massive centipede, with a chitinous exoskeleton glistening malevolently in the scant light of Joshua's flame, and its countless legs clicking and scraping against the cavern floor rises before them, glowering down at Ryu and Joshua, undoubtedly sizing up its next meal.]

...I don't suppose you can negotiate with this one?

[The comfort is nice, and while he doesn't know all of Joshua's thoughts behind the gesture it's still appreciated. Nina would comfort him sometimes when he woke from dreams of emptiness and wandering, her gentle hand on his shoulder as he jolted awake. It's nice to feel it again, even if it's not from Nina.]

[But as the monster bursts through the rock Ryu is ready for it. His free hand clenches and he shakes his head at the idea of negotiation. This one... it's not an animal - or at least, not fully one. He gets the sense that Snap - a skill that works better on insect-type creatures - isn't going to work on this one either.]

[He has to fight. There's no chance to get away, not with how fast the thing has already proven to be. Ryu grits his teeth and lifts his sword, but not to strike with it - instead he seems to use it to channel some energy, wheeling around and whipping a flame towards the insect. It...]

[... doesn't seem impressed. The flame disperses along the carapace, and the creature tilts its head. It almost looks offended, if a centipede even could look offended.]

[That doesn't bode well.]

[If Ryu's flame means nothing to the monster, then Joshua has little reason to believe his own will fare any better, unless implemented in a different way. Normally, this is where his strategic discrenment would come into play, but the air is so thick with darkness, it's hard to think.]

[No. That isn't darkness. Not in the typical sense. It wouldn't feel like a thin veneer of ice was encroaching on his heart if it were.]

[Joshua braces himself, resigned to yet another stab of pain at the behest of a noctaere, but it doesn't come.]

[Odd. Not unwelcome, but odd.]

[He tries to recall his research. Noctaere proliferate where nightmare energy prospers, nightmare energy prospers when enough nightmares emerge--or when a reactor breaks down.]

[Then is this creature a result of the recent accident? No, it's far too in-control. Intimidating as it is, there's nothing to suggest their foe is any more sentient or willful than any common animal, other than that look it gives Ryu. The centipede may not have eyes, but its body language does well enough to convey its attitude, and its intentions. More importantly, it doesn't outright attack. It's planning--and he's sure they're not going to like exactly what that plan is.]

[There's also the matter of how easily it shrugged off Ryu's power. Noctaere fall against enough dreamotion. If the centipede felt nothing, then that lends further credence to the possibility that it's no noctaere.]

[But there's no way to be sure and Joshua's fogged mind doesn't have the time nor the capacity to theorize further. They'll have to test on the fly if they're to reach any answers on how to get out of this fight alive.]

Ryu! Your sword!

[His sword? Ryu glances at it and shrugs. Yes, it's probably more of a physical attacking sort of situation. It could be that his flame was too weak, his control over dreamotion not solidified enough - but either way he doesn't have much in the way of options. He could -]

[No. Not that. Not yet.]

[Instead he braces himself as the creature charges, jumping to the side to keep himself from getting knocked over. He twists and slashes, cutting through a few of the creature's legs. He can feel... some kind of energy that makes his skin crawl. Is that nightmare energy? He's not sure. What he is sure about is that - wait.]

[Joshua is still -]

Watch out!

[The sudden loss of a few limbs has probably caused the creature to go off-balance. Shit, he shouldn't have left the other exposed -]

[At Ryu’s warning, Joshua’s arms erupt in flame as he hastily calls upon a barrier. The air around him shimmers and blisters with dreamotion as he braces against the centipede’s massive, off-kilter body slamming against the shield. To his credit, it works, even if the force of the blows pushes him stumbling backwards.]

[It’s the proximity of the creature that’s the problem.]

[Whatever control it has over nightmare energy is impressive, and Joshua would muse on such if he and Ryu weren’t in a life-or-death situation. None of that energy manages to slither into his chest, as it did from the wounded noctaere deep underground.]

[That doesn’t stop whatever darkness already lingering there from reacting.]

[The thin veneer of cold erupts into a clenching vice, forcing the air out of his lungs, and with a pained cry, Joshua’s shield drops.]

[Once the barrier shatters, the centipede rebounds and manages to regain a foothold on its remaining legs. Injured and angry, it lashes out at its attackers—starting with the one that’s left himself open. Leveraging its new center of gravity, the massive creature swings its chitinous body.]

[This isn’t the first time he’s been attacked by a monster several times his size (seriously, Clive has dragged him on plenty of hunts that seemed far too dangerous for anyone’s good), and normally, Joshua is capable of taking a hit or two if he’s unable to dodge them. But this is the equivalent to getting hit by a wall. A pissed off wall that wants to see him and his friend dead—the quicker, the better.]

[Joshua tumbles along the cave floor in a mess of limbs and residual embers. He’s vaguely aware of his sword clattering out of his hand as the flames of his dreamotion snuff out, obscuring his view as to where it could’ve gone. Not that their light would’ve done much good—he barely recognizes up from down as he lays sprawled on the ground.]

[All he knows are stars blinking across his vision, the throbbing in his chest, and what he’s pretty sure is blood trickling down his face from a stray rock he must’ve hit along the way.]

[He's about to move when Joshua throws up a barrier - and then suddenly cries out. The creature reacts too quickly for him to intervene, and Joshua is sent sprawling across the cave floor. It's clear that this isn't going to end peacefully in any capacity, and Protect is definitely not going to be enough to defend against whatever this thing is.]

[He smells blood in the air and he's brought back to the last time he smelled blood. He blinks and he swears he hears Rasso's laughter. What is he going to do? He can't protect Joshua as he is. Not in this form - but the last time he used his hybrid form he lost control. Can he risk losing control again?]

[Can he risk not transforming?]

[He can't. He can't risk losing Joshua - who's already become a dear friend and a person he wants to protect. He can't lose him - he won't! Ryu interposes himself between the creature and Joshua's body, a red-orange column of energy engulfing him as he cries out a primal scream at the top of his lungs. The energy disperses, leaving him transformed. He growls, floating there as the creature pauses at this new threat.]

[Ryu takes advantage of the situation, practically disappearing from sight as he moves all too quickly towards the insectoid monster. Fire engulfs his hands as he pummels it with increased strength of body and of magic. There's little left in him but anger as he pushes the creature back, slamming his fists into it with no mercy. What little of his rational mind is left makes sure that he's pushed the creature back far enough before he starts really letting loose. It scratches at him, catching his arms in its mandibles for a moment - but Ryu doesn't seem to care, slamming clawed feet against its throat until it lets him go.]

[He flips backwards and holds out a hand. He's done playing. A sphere of darkness engulfs him, before something else breaks out of it like a chick hatching from an egg. The creature draws its head back and fires a beam of white light, slamming into the creature and burning holes into it. It screeches and twitches, but ultimately the damage is too much. Something plinks to the ground, but the creature Ryu has become has lost interest. Instead it turns back towards Joshua, nearly reaching the ceiling as it hovers. It shimmers for a moment before Ryu is returned to his hybrid form. He lifts a hand and casts a healing spell to close his friend's wounds - and then turns back into Ryu.]

[A Ryu who tumbles to the ground in a heap, silently crying and breathing hard in the sudden darkness and silence of the tunnel.]

[Urgency tugs at Joshua, pushing him, insisting that he crawl back to his feet, but the pounding in his head and around his heart together pin him to the ground. His eyes can’t adjust fast enough to the sudden changes from pitch-black to flashes of illumination. Colors dance in front of his eyes, with little context outside of Ryu’s yells and the screeching of a monstrous insect intent on emerging triumphant, if scarred.]

[Joshua rotates his torso, flopping unceremoniously to his side as he tries to witness the battle. Maybe try to throw in some level of assistance if he can stop his vision from swimming with hard blinks.]

[All he can catch amongst the painful din of sights and sounds are glimpses of mandibles, scales, legs, and teeth. A set of wings? The swinging of massive claws, gutting the now hapless creature—]

[—a memory—]

[—Ifrit’s smoldering talons plunging into Phoenix’s—his—body, the unimaginable pain of feeling oneself torn apart. Joshua flinches into himself and grits his teeth. He clutches at his chest and its renewed throbbing. For the briefest of instances, he feels pity for the centipede, but it’s short-lived and ends with that beam of white, searing light. The cacophony has stopped.]

[And there is a large, fearsome creature approaching him. Undeniably Ryu, but also not.]

[Joshua’s first instinct is to prepare for another battle, and he can feel his inner flames ready to answer the call, a reassuring pulse from the Eikon ready to unleash its power should the situation turn from dire to disastrous, even as he’s lays prone on the ground.]

[There’s a change in its form. Something closer to Ryu, but still not quite. Still suspicious.]

[He can feel the gathering of energy as the figure holds his hand out. The only thing that stays Joshua’s intent to retaliate is the lack of aggression in his body language, and he’s glad for it. The healing energy that washes over him alone is worth the patience. He melts into the relief with a soft sigh that fades into quiet breathing that he tries to steady against what remains of the dull pulses around his heart.]

[The quiet doesn’t last long, broken by Ryu’s hitched panting. Joshua recognizes the unique prosody brought by tears. He allows himself a few seconds of rest before he slowly raises to his feet and calls forth a new orb of fire to light what’s now a mess of debris and, morbidly, insect guts. He can't imagine that he, personally, looks much better, still covered in dirt with the new additions of blood and grit.]

[His first couple of steps are unsteady, but he manages to stumble the short way to the outline he assumes is Ryu. Joshua lowers himself to his knees and places a hand on his trembling back.]

All is well. Keep breathing.

Edited 2023-10-16 19:51 (UTC)

[He breathes, but it's hard. It hurts - his heart hurts, because he'd been so scared. He jerks slightly at the touch to his back but doesn't pull away. It's hard to vocalize what he's feeling, the terror that had gripped him - but the fear of losing Joshua was too much.]

I t... told you... the last time I transformed I killed p... people. Because I couldn't control it. I w... was afraid I'd turn into that form again if I transformed. A... at least I kept my u... usual form, but I...

[He turns, hugging Joshua around the shoulders and sniffling.]

I can't lose you.

[His breath hitches and he sobs again, all of the adrenaline and fear draining out of him. He feels helpless to his emotions at the moment, everything raw and ragged and tender. He was so scared...]

I want... to protect you. I - I know you can fight, but...

[He presses a hand to the back of the other's head, taking in big gulps of air as he tries to keep going.]

You... you shouldn't have to...

[Ryu breaks down into tears again, pressing in close. He'll feel bad about getting tears and snot on Joshua later. Right now... all of the pain and the guilt and the fear is rushing back into him and he doesn't know what to do other than cry.]

['Why do mortals always do this?' He still hasn't found the answer. He still doesn't know why they hurt people. But he knows, at least, why they protect each other.]

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