We carry our sins in our backs [Possesed Airlocked AU]

[tacomeme]

[Everything was going to be better now.

They had defeated the ones that had ruined their lives, those trapped in the simulation were freed. Somee were going to go home. Some had new homes. Some were still figuring that out. And that was fine- they had time and the entire universe available.

Takumi was quiet.

Everything was fine, surely. It just took some getting used to, being back in a real body again. The PIPs were off, so while he was less powered then some, having his dragon blood freed was something to readapt to.

But with the PIP gone, something else came back. The headache that made his eyes pulse and his ears scream. He had excused himself from Finn some time ago, heading towards the storage where their gear was held. Likely he was eager to have his bow back.

Xander had followed shortly after, saying that... well, if they were both to go home even just to visit, it was best they clear the air between them.

It's been a long time. Neither has come back.]

Comments

[tacomeme]

[he looks over at her with those wide eyes- there's no fear there. Maybe regret, but it's dull.]

No one else is here.

[tacomeme]

You should have stayed out... you're going to get everyone killed.

[he twirls the bow, lifting it in threat, though there's still no string or arrows.]

[tacomeme]

...

You can't help me, Finn. Go home.

[not back to the others. Home.

[nojohnyouare]

...

[She points her sword at Takumi. It looks real again.]

Takumi. And... Something I haven't seen.

[fatherofsin]

My, my, what a naughty boy! You've done something very bad... Used to be I could appreciate it. Things changed. What about you?

[ He's being careful, watching Takumi carefully, because he doesn't doubt he might be shot at in the vent... ]

[tacomeme]

[His grip on the bow tightens... and in a bloom of purple light the string forms, casting off motes of eerie magics.

He grits his teeth]

Just. Me. I a...aM TakuMI. I did this-!

[desperateprayer]

[ She's going to stop, wringing her hands together. ]

...Are you going to kill me? Put the innocent blood of a nun on your hands? Bury yourself in sin so heavily and easily?

[ Her tone is calm, and she tries to be calm herself. She's faced other monstrosities... ]

[tacomeme]

I'm the same!

[he snaps the words, yelling at nothing since it seems he hasn't realized where Seth is yet]

I did this, me!!

[nojohnyouare]

[A small gasp, and in an instant, she rushes him with the sword.]

I won't let you.

[tacomeme]

... your gods aren't my gods, Clarith. I know mine are smiling at me, I can hEAr them...

[he smiles, and it's too much teeth, his eyes starting to darken from their normal warm amber]

I was an idiot, thinking just destroying Nohr would be enough.

[fatherofsin]

Well, now. That's interesting. I never mentioned you being anything else or anyone else. I wonder... Who... Are you sharing a body with, if that's the case...?

[ No one makes that specific claim unless they're actually not who they were... ]

[daughterofthemark]

[Arianna's trying to figure things out. Oh, she knows where she's going--she's staying with the people who have become her family. But she's still unsure of her place in a world where "princess of Caledonia" doesn't answer that question, and she's been paying a little more attention than usual to her fellow princes and princesses in an effort to follow their example.

Most people would still think it's a little weird to try to listen in on Xander and Takumi's conversation with an ear pressed to the door like Arianna is doing, though.]

[desperateprayer]

[ Hear them.

"You have to avenge me, Clarith. You have to. Or else you'll die. This girl will kill you. She'll take everything from you all over again."

She remembers it in her head, clear as day... ]

...Takumi. Do you know my secret? I think you died before it. About Riliane, the person who took Mikaela from me back home? Do you want to hear a story?

[cameupshort]

What-?

[Yeah, the phrasing is not lost on him. That concern has escalated into every mental alarm he possesses going off in his head at once.]

Takumi- Taku, no. Absolutely not. Not without you, I'm not leaving again. Open the door right now.

[tacomeme]

[The bow flairs to life as he shifts to the side, eyes blazing red and hateful]

Back off, Mai!!

[tacomeme]

[he glares at her, face scrunched up in pain.

He doesn't say anything, clearly fighting SOMETHING inside. But he doesn't stop her from talking either]

[tacomeme]

[There is a distinct sound of arguing... which isn't unexpected. Then suddenly.

-THUMP-

Something heavy hitting the door]

[nojohnyouare]

[She skids to a stop and swings to the side.]

I have to.

[daughterofthemark]

[...well, even Arianna can figure out that that's probably a bad sound in this context.
She knocks on the door.]

Lord Takumi? Lord Xander? Is everything all right?

[desperateprayer]

...I took in a little blonde girl named Rin. She was half-starved. And one night, on accident, I overheard her confessing her sins. That she was responsible for the war, the "Green Hunting" that killed Mikaela. I found a knife, and I was... Overcome. With a voice. It sounded like Mikaela. [ She's not tense. Keep relaxed. She's not physically a threat. ] ...I followed her out to the beach, and came up behind her. "Mikaela" begged me to take revenge, whispering that if I did not, Riliane would kill me. I was so... Consumed by my own hatred and anger and anguish... Knowing she'd razed my village, destroyed so much, taken so many lives, all or something simple... [ She'll bring her hands up to her chest, her usual sad and nervous gesture. ] ...I raise the knife. I almost brought it down, when I saw a boy standing there, looking up at me sadly. I was at a loss, so I looked to Mikaela and... And it wasn't her. It was something horrible wearing her face. I almost killed someone for revenge, out of anger and fear, let something into me that wanted to twist me into something else... [ She'll shake her head. ] ...It's not worth it, Takumi. And yes, I'm talking to you. What is it worth? What will this change? ...Will it actually make you feel better? In a week? In a month? You're stronger than whatever this is. ...So fight back. And don't let it turn you into a monster.

[tacomeme]

Please Finn, go away-!

[he's clearly escalating to full hysterics]

[cameupshort]

No.

[That's firm, flat, and urgent, but also hushed. This is bad and he shouldn't let the others see, at least not yet; but he's not going anywhere.]

Taku, please. Let me help. I'm not letting you deal with this is alone.

[tacomeme]

THEY KILLED MY MOTHER!

[His voice cracks, tears streaming down his now fully blood red eyes]

My father, my brother, soldiers under MY command-! Thousands of innocent people!

[He kicks out at Xander's body. The elder prince groans in pain, but doesn't wake]

Did he ever tell you all how many people he's killed?!

[desperateprayer]

She killed the only person I had left, my first friend, the woman I loved. I know. I know it hurts. I know, you want to lash out, to make... Someone hurt. Especially him. [ But she slowly raises a hand. She looks pained, too. ] Nothing... Will ever erase that pain. Nothing will. All you can do is carry it. ...But you don't have to carry it alone. [ "Come here. Let me be someone you can lean on." ]

[tacomeme]

...

[the door opens slowly, and Takumi is there, splattered with blood, eyes cherryred, bow held loosely in his hand]

Finn...