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]

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.]

[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]

... 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.

[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?

[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]

[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]

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]

[he flinched and steps away from her like she might burn him]

No... No. I know how to fix it. This... this isn't just about Hoshido and Nohr anymore. I used to think the people of my world were bad. But out here... it's even worse. We've SEEN IT first hand.

It has to stop. I'm going to stop it. All of it.

[desperateprayer]

Takumi. It isn't worth it. Trust me. It will never, ever be enough. It'll be a never-ending cycle of revenge. How many mothers, sisters, brothers, friends... How many do will you kill because of this? Violence... It won't solve anything here.

[ She won't lower her hand. ]

...We have to work together. We have to get the story out. They kept every reference of it not being faked off the actual show. Trust us, Takumi. The people who you trust, who saved you--and each other. Please.

[tacomeme]

[he takes a deep breath, starts to reach out-

-and stops, hand shaking so hard it's clearly less fear or grief and more like physical agony. Like his very bones are vibrating. He yanks back, and in an icy tone the true Takumi could never manage:]

They don't deserve the truth. Only death.

Clarith I don't think diplomacy is going to work

[desperateprayer]

...Is that what Takumi--the one I think of and love as a brother--thinks? Or is that what his guest thinks? [ She has to be brave. She's terrified, but... She knows she can reach through to him. ] ...Takumi. I know you can beat this. You are far stronger than you think. So please--come back to us.