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.]]

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[Luke pulls his hand back then, both to think and to give his arm a rest. He had gotten done carrying dead weight that's even heavier than he is to the clinic, after all. The memory was far back, but he tries to recall just what was said about it.]

Yeah, sort of. It's a Daathic fonic arte, and... something about using the person's memories to control them? I don't know, it sounded dangerous.

Yeah. It cripples rational thought - basically, just gets the person to stop thinking as clearly as they should - and uses their memories freely against them.

[Another pause. He swallows, his voice growing quieter.]

Do you remember what happened the first time? While we were at the consulate's office?

[Following Guy's cue, Luke himself lets his voice grow quieter as well. Yeah... he remembers. It'd been startling, to say the least.]

... I tried to see if you needed help, and you hit me. [Hard enough to knock him down, even.]

[Surprisingly, he smiles, although it's small and a bit rueful. A little apologetic... or at least, it's trying to be.]

Right. It was new enough that I could still fight around it. But it didn't stop me from doing... something.

[He lets out another breath. Shaky - a gentle dip in his composure.]

Before I showed up here, the curse slot was... well, it had been there for a while. Enough that it was incredibly difficult to fight off. Almost impossible. And...

...

I didn't just hit you this time.

[There's a long pause as Luke unconsciously moves his hand to grip his shirt, just in front of his chest. Didn't just hit him... But that means... What did he do? Attack him? Fight him?

...

Kill him?

Despite Luke thinking that his life isn't worth anything, he's too scared to die. What a coward, huh? ... At least, not for such a meaningless cause like someone being mind controlled. Especially by the hand of his best friend.

He swallows, keeping his eyes glued to Guy's face.]

... What?

[Nope.

Nope nope nope this was going exactly where he didn't want it to go. He's dug himself a little too far in already, and there's no way to just slide out of it. What is he supposed to say?

"I tried to attack you."

"I tried to kill you."

"I wanted to kill you."

"It might come as a surprise, but I have memories that would scare you. Hey, you might even hate me."

"You probably should hate me, you know."

...

There wasn't a way out of this. Not without playing with his words.]

It was a little violent, yeah. I pulled my sword on you.

But you weren't hurt.

[The words leave a bitter taste. It wasn't a lie, but it also wasn't entirely the truth. He doesn't know. He doesn't know and that's part of what bothers him so badly right now. But catching the look in Luke's eye, seeing how his hand is clenched into the fabric of his shirt... he knows he's already scaring his best friend enough as it is.

He doesn't like it. But dancing around the truth is much, much easier right now.

This Luke... doesn't need to know.]

[The grip on Luke's shirt lessens, and he lowers his hand to his lap again.

That's mostly the only thing he was afraid of. Even though Luke doesn't think much of his life... he doesn't want to die. Not now. Not when he still has a city to save, people to save, and a means to use his life for good.

So he's calmer. But of course, this is still leaving a bad taste in his mouth.]

... So why me?

[Why him?

If Guy told the truth, that would be it. That momentary calm that he sees passing over Luke? It would be gone. He would have no excuses, no way to back out of it and keep Luke together.

He doesn't need to know.

He doesn't need to know.

...]

I'm not sure.

Ion might have known more, but we never really talked about it.

[It's a half-truth. He technically doesn't know why it's pulling at that one memory out of any others, other than that it's a prominent one. But he does know why Luke is the target of his anger.

He just chooses to tuck it away once more. Let it rest behind a lie and hope it doesn't have to come up again.

He doesn't like it. But right now, he needs Luke to feel safe and comfortable. This isn't home, and if this is the Luke he remembers from his last stay... he'll need all the help he can get with as little distraction as possible.]

Regardless of why, though, it's important that you know about it, alright? I don't expect Sync to be around, but... I'll try to see if I can get it removed somehow.

[...

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.

[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.

[action/video] - Returning - 010

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