caughtinanetwork | [Action] - A Lit Fuse

Ifritday, Ifrit-Decan 21, ND 2018

[Guy would never say he was one to let his emotions get the better of him. Patience and temperance were his friends, after all. Calm nerves, relaxed posture; better to keep your good foot forward and let trivial things stay locked away, even if it means appearing more cheerful than you might really feel.

Well. Today seems to be a bit different.

There is a heavy cloud over the blonde from the moment he wakes up; an aura of someone who's just on the verge of snapping in frustration. Either the man's just having a bad day, or something else is up entirely.

The residents of Yutopil might encounter Guy on his way in and out of the apartment, gaze at the ground, eyes cold. He is absent from the Welcome Center all day, only stepping in to scribble some shorthanded records down for Zelda before leaving in a tense huff. He kept up with his duties in recording the energy levels, but it seems he doesn't have the patience for anything else.

He stops at Golden Victory for a few moments as well, slipping in to murmer a few words to Zelos, saying he didn't feel well and would appreciate the afternoon off. After an uncomfortable scuffle, he'll find himself back in Yutopil 1-5... only to leave fairly soon afterwards. Neighbors, feel free to ignore the shouts and slamming of doors.

The rest of the afternoon and evening, he can be found over in the forest quadrant, training (or, rather, hacking attacks against one particular tree) with an almost unhealthy frenzy.

He certainly doesn't look in the mood for conversation, to say the least. But Guy is still Guy... maybe he'll at least attempt a "hello" for the observant in the crowd.]

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*At somepoint in the afternoon, Selphie decided to take herself away from the centre of the town to...think? Fight? Something. It was weird being back in Vatheon, and memories were beginning to slowly move into place. At least, Vatheon was beginning to feel more familiar.

But it was still strange, and she had a horrible feeling that she'd let people down by forgetting them. So, she drags her nunchaku into the forest when she notices someone else already there. She pauses for a moment before running over towards the tree*

[It's early in the afternoon when Luke wakes up, so he misses just how Guy's acting that morning. Well, he does pick up on the fact that no breakfast was made. That's okay, Luke can just make a sandwich with leftover chicken and barbecue sauce. But it did seem unusual.

He's about halfway through said sandwich, one hand holding the treat with the other under it to catch whatever might come falling out, when Guy comes back. He quickly swallows, then wipes his mouth with the back of his arm before giving Guy a smile.]

Hey. [But the smile fades when he gives Guy a closer look.] ... Everything okay?

[No, he wasn't. If the grimace or darker expression on his face wasn't proof enough, the decorations on his skin definitely were. There's a couple wonderfully colored bruises right against his jaw and neck, the red marks of a bloodied nose hastily cleaned up still present on his face.

Despite that, Guy doesn't acknowledge the response with an answer - hardly more than a disinterested glance, actually, if he hadn't noticed what the hell Luke was eating. Shoulders stiffening, he grabs a napkin from the other side of the countertop, strides forward, and presses it into Luke's free hand.]

You have manners. Use them.

[It's an incredibly cold remark, and the blonde turns to walk right over to his tinkering desk. God, why was this place always such a mess...]

[Luke responds like he just got shoved in the chest rather than just been given a napkin; he blinks and takes a step back and holds the napkin as if he isn't sure what he should be doing with it. And of course he knows, but - Guy doesn't usually care. Luke's keeping clean anyway, and he usually washes up after his meals. So why...?

But what's got him even more concerned are the obvious signs of a fight. Instead of using the napkin to wipe off whatever sauce might have been smeared on his arm, he sets it down on the counter and places the sandwich on top of it before following after Guy.]

Hey, what happened out there? Who did all that to you?

It's not important, okay. Go finish what you were eating.

[Another cold snap, another refusal to acknowledge more than a glance and a glare. He takes both hands and shoves the chair right up against the desk, a little harder than he should have, before starting to pick through some of the books that were piled up on the desk's surface. Not out of interest, but of sheer annoyance.]

[Luke isn't the type to be intimidated easily, sometimes not in the slightest. But there's something about seeing the one who raised you so agitated and angry, and Luke can't help wincing when Guy shoves the chair under the desk.

He steps forward, not touching him, but at least getting closer.]

It is important! Guy, what happened? Who did you fight with?

[The blonde bristles.

His shoulders tense, fingers clenching around the book in his hand before slamming it straight down, still refusing to turn and look at Luke even though he is completely aware that the redhead isn't backing away.]

No, it isn't.

Why the hell do you even need to know??

[Luke moves to the side to dig his fingers into the wall himself; it's a bit like an anchor, really. Something to keep him there and not flee over how Guy's acting.]

Because you're my best friend! Why the hell wouldn't I want to know?!

Because it's none of your business.

[Sharp and forceful, Guy's statement is as close to an outright yell he can manage while still keeping his composure even remotely intact.

His jaw sets, finally turning just enough to face his roommate, not bothering to hide the disgust on his face. What he wanted what he needed it was always him him him him selfish spoiled rotten little kid who didn't know any better who COULDN'T know any better--]

What you want and what you get aren't always going to match up. You should know that.

So stop being a brat and just drop it.

[Luke's nails dig into the wall until his fingers protest and he feels like his nail will break if he keeps it up any longer.

It isn't really the words that hit him. It's that look on his face, like Luke is some... some piece of trash that Guy doesn't want around anymore.

And why not? Look at him. He's pushing and not dropping it and... ha. Some best friend he's turning out to be.

He knew Guy would be sick of him someday.

So Luke just glares down at the floor, nails sliding a little and creating small scratch marks on the wall, before he turns and walks away and out the door without a word.

Fine. He'll drop it. It's never been his - useless replica who isn't even the real Luke - business.]

[Guy almost protests.

Almost.

But if Luke wanted to run, then let him run. He was just a kid in the end, right? Mentally at least. Why didn't he ever see it before? Couldn't get him to act his age because he didn't know anything.

Fine, then. For once, Guy really doesn't want to bother chasing the redhead down and making sure he's alright. Not even when the front door slams closed.

It's just quiet.

Thank. God.

One more book, then. One more tossed across the room.

...

Damn, the apartment needed to stop feeling empty.]

[Action] - A Lit Fuse - 011

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