caughtinanetwork | [action/video] - Returning

Lunaday, Ifrit-Decan 13, ND 2018

[There were only three things that Guy really could remember from the last few moments of his life.

Pain. Rage. Fear.

All of them, all in a sudden burst; controlling his actions, forcing his body to act on what his mind had pressed back for years and years. It was the horrifying feeling of having no control and yet being completely aware of your actions, raising his sword above his head to give a blow he thought he'd never have to see with his own eyes. The curse slot was in control, and there was absolutely nothing he could do but watch.

There was a shaking of the ground, a shout. The twang of an arrow, the ruffle of leaves... and then the world went white. He wasn't in Auldrant anymore; not surrounded by a forest of thick trees and mockingly clear skies, but instead blue-stoned buildings, humid air, the bustle of people, the roar of water... the eerily familiar glow of a massive coral out of the corner of his eye. His clothes were also sopping wet.

Too bad that sense of de-ja-vu wasn't quite what was on his mind.

The moment Guy feels his feet against the cobblestone, sword still raised above his head, there is a mental snap; a severing of control and emotions so sudden and harsh, his entire body tenses, limbs locking and vision goes black. He falters, stumbling forward a step. The katana slips from his hand, clanging to the ground as the blonde crumples beside it.

What a disaster. What a nightmare. But at least he was separated from that monster. At least for now. Thank the Score... darkness would do him some good. Here's hoping someone familiar doesn't leave him out on the pavement.

...]

[It isn't until early afternoon that the network is finally accessed. Guy himself doesn't seem to be having any trouble figuring out the SFC - it's coming back to him like he'd only been here yesterday. In fact, he's back in a very familiar apartment, sitting heavily on a couch he remembers sharing for far too long, the balcony of the second floor of a Yutopil apartment just visible in the background.

He looks very tired. But hey, no need to let that stop a smile.]

Hey there, Vatheon. Seems I had a vanishing act for a little while there, hah. Sorry.

I hope you guys haven't had too much trouble lately.

[He pauses, lips pressing together in thought, before bluntly speaking again--]

And hey... whoever went and "borrowed" my energy gauge? I'd really like it back sometime. Please.

[[ooc: ACTION IS FOR LIMITED CR ONLY PLEASE - it has been plotted in advance. :Db Feel free to respond to the video otherwise.]]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Mmm. Lots of things can happen while you're here. Becoming friends with an enemy isn't too farfetched.

[Although he couldn't see him doing it anytime soon. But that's beside the point.]

So what changed?

I could again say that it's complicated...

_{[he sighs a little.]}

The only reason why we were enemies was because I don't agree with what she and Arca - the organization she belongs to is trying to do.

_{[No Arca here and no Mathias means they didn't have any reason to fight.]}

We could go looking for her. I'll see about getting her name from Rin. Then maybe we can track her down and ask some questions.

[...

There's something more to this. Luke knows it.

But he decides not to push it. If this is as dangerous as Guy's implying, then maybe it'll come up later. When Guy wants to say it, when Luke is ready for it.

He trusts Guy. And he wants Guy to trust him, too.

So, after a pause, Luke shuts his eyes and nods.]

... Right. But if Sync isn't here, then it's okay, right? We don't have to worry about it suddenly taking control again?

That's right. Or, well, I assume so, at least. Not unless something happens with the coral.

[He feels he doesn't need to explain, what, with how unpredictable the coral's powers can be. He can't make any guarantees, just like he can't guarantee that Sync might not ever show up in the bubble himself.

But Luke is smart. He knows that much.

He hesitates for a moment before finally letting his posture relax, leaning over in his bed just enough to raise a hand and mess up Luke's hair in a gentle tousle. His most common sign of affection... but eh, after what Guy just spilled, the redhead probably needs a distraction of some sort.]

It's good to see you again, Luke.

Do you mind if we go home? I'm not really up for staying here much longer.

Or at least plenty of things that we can attempt to do. Adapting to your environment is better than just doing nothing at all, though.

[He hesitates for a moment, running a hand across the back of his neck.]

...Ah, speaking of which: You're on the Defense Force, right? Are you guys still looking for help?

Some of it, at least, we can succeed in.

I am, and we always welcome more help.

So it's more because of her goals than who she was as a person, then.

[He can relate to that so well. You don't even know.]

So what where they attempting to do - this Arca group, why couldn't you go along with them?

Haha, if you think that's necessary? Then go right ahead.

Right now, I'm just seeing if someone who knew me nabbed my stuff. If people thought I wasn't coming back, I guess it's only natural.

Kind of obnoxious to go searching for it like this... But I'd really rather not go digging for all those parts again. And I don't wanna go throwing blame unless I cover all my bases first.

Oh. I guess I get that. Better than just jumping the gun. Heh heh. Maybe it isn't all that necessary.

[Someone sounds a little embarrassed.]

_[...]

My world isn't the greatest place... and Arca claimed that they want to help people...

_{[he frowns.]}

All of that was a lie, though. Arca's leader - Mathias believes that everyone would be better off dead... She doesn't care about anyone. She didn't even hesitate to use people who came to her seeking help...

_{[he actually sounds a little angry.]}

There's no way I could help someone like her...

[No worries, man - have a chipper smile.]

Maybe not. But it was a good thought, at least.

I'll have to look at those tracers of yours sometime. [Maybe just stick one onto his meter so that this wouldn't happen again!] Is it frequency-based, or do you use something else?

[The anger is understandable - Guy doesn't move to stop that. Having someone openly take advantage of others for horrible reasons...

...]

But your friend thought otherwise. Did you ever figure out why?

My friend admired Mathias a lot and she agreed with her completely.

Just like Mathias, she believed that there is no hope for our world; that trying to do something to save it is pointless. She tried to convince me that Mathias is right and I'm wrong.

[Ratchet recovers with a happy smile of his own.]

It's frequency based but has great range. You could track something from on planet to another as long as they're in the same sector.

[Luke, in return, raises his shoulders a little and ducks his head slightly, a half smile on his face.

He likes affection of that sort. It kicks his self-worth up a notch.

But... Guy's right. He seems to be okay now... despite what happened, and despite what he's hiding. And Luke would rather not keep him here if he doesn't want to be here any longer.

So, he bumps Guy's hand away, and he gives a nod.]

Sure, yeah. I don't mind. Let's go. I tried to touch all your stuff so it wouldn't disappear, so...

[He stands, and he reaches a hand to help pull Guy out of the bed, and maybe as a sign of trust as well.]

---Hah, really? You didn't have to.

[It's not like he had a lot of things that were worth much or that couldn't be replaced. At the very most, he might have had to rebuild some of the trinkets he made. And while Luke had the tendency to be sentimental, Guy wouldn't really assume he'd stoop to the level of keeping all of his belongings just because he might have missed him.

Nah. It meant that Luke believed his best friend would come back someday. Kind of touching, in a sense.

Guy takes Luke's hand with a firm grip, pulling himself onto his feet with a teasing grin.]

Well, I guess I'll have to trust that you didn't go snooping through my journals or anything. Wouldn't want you to be embarrassed.

...Thanks, Luke.

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[Action] I'm fine with ending it like in the next couple tags. o/