[Akira looks between Bruno and the shouldering remains of his door, nonplussed.]
Well, yeah. Violence is the whole point.
[Akira's seeing the vision here, though? Bruno's the one who has to choose and utilize the card. This is more to aid Bruno than it is Akira, but as far as he's concerned, that's exactly how it should be. What kind of partner would he be if he wasn't meant to help Bruno reach his full potential?
Akira grabs his chair and inches a little closer, dropping the casual tone to address Bruno more seriously.]
There will be times when we have no choice but to fight for our lives... and the lives of our friends, too. If you don't want me wasting time chasing unreliable people around, then be the person I can count on to have my back in a pinch.
[ Violence is the whole point, he says, and that's the problem Bruno has with it. ]
I'm not going to hurt people for you, Akira. I can still have your back without resorting to that. I mean, if it's... I don't know. Knocking things into the path of someone or something or taking out a door or. Or stuff like that, then maybe, but violence? C'mon.
[ he won't mention punching solomon that was a rare exception and bruno punches don't even bruise ok ]
[Akira shakes his head. There's no offense in his tone, but perhaps there should be. Maybe Bruno is right to assume he's some kind of thrill-seeking degenerate, but in either case, his point still stands.
Akira slowly rises from his seat.]
And if your life is on the line, are you going to roll over and die because you're afraid to save your own skin? What about your friends? Your family? Would you let them die too?
[ Look at how Akira stands up to be dramatic, though, how can he not be a thrill-seeking degenerate? Ha, okay, really though, Bruno just... isn't sure about him. He likes Akira. He's slotted into the same collection of teenagers here that he worries over relentlessly.
But... ]
I... N-no, I would... [ That's a hard question for Bruno to answer. He looks down, fingers twisting in the soft fabric of his ruana, anxiety peaking. Would he blow someone up to protect the people he cares about? Well. ] If... if I had to... to protect you or... or my friends or. Or my family, I. Yeah, I. I guess I wouldn't just roll over and. And die.
[ If it were only him, though? He's generally of the opinion he's better off dead, actually. ]
[He sees the way anxiety eats at Bruno and wishes there were a kinder, gentler way to get his point across, but there isn't. He offers his hand to Bruno, insistent, and waits for him to take it.]
Then you wouldn't mind if I put that theory to the test, would you?
[He believes in Bruno. Knows that Bruno is more than capable of standing by his side in a fight, so the only one left in need of convincing is Bruno himself. What Akira has in mind may ultimately stress the man out even more, but it's necessary. He'll apologize for this later.]
[ There's immediate hesitation. Bruno's thoughts run through dozens of ways that Akira might test that theory all in a second and he can already feel fear crawling up from deep in his gut. There is, understandably, a moment that passes where he looks at the offered hand as though it's a trap, waiting to take his own hand right off. ]
Uh. I... n-no, of course. That's. That's fine.
[ He finally does reach out to take Akira's hand. It only takes a minute to build up the courage to. If nothing else, he wants Akira to know that he trusts him. ]
[Good. Bruno should trust his own partner, though whether that trust will remain after what Akira has in store for him is a question yet to be answered. Helping Bruno to his feet, Akira tips his chin towards his window. He'll, uh, throw a barrier up to replace Bruno's door until they've returned — if they return — to properly replace it.]
[ Bruno is up on his feet with Akira's help. His fear is quickly replaced by confusion. Going South isn't some terrifying prospect for Bruno. He goes there regularly, checking on his farming projects and the people they had healed nearly two months ago now. ]
[Akira, bemused, stops before the now open window.]
Would you rather take the elevator?
[Sure, it would be a longer trip by broom, but Akira doesn't obey speed limits. He'd like to build up the anticipation a bit, you know? But he'll defer to Bruno's preference regardless.]
Don't be a spoilsport, Bruno. Let's have a little fun.
[A pretty ominous answer when Akira just revealed his intention to put Bruno to the test, but it's fine! Akira summons his fancy gun-shaped broom and takes to the air at reckless speeds. Bruno can follow at his own pace, of course, but Akira will probably beat him there.
Where they ultimately end up is a nice, peaceful lake.]
[ Bruno says with a sense of great resignation. Kids these days, why are they like this? But he'll carefully creep out the window and get his broom floating so he can sit on it. He'll magic his window shut again before taking off after Akira.
He does not go as fast.
He does at least try to keep him in sight, though. So he'll be about ten minutes behind when Akira finally lands at the lake. ]
Here? [ He asks as he hops off his broom. ] I mean, it's a nice lake. I think Yodarha comes here to fish sometimes.
[He'll kindly wait for Bruno while lying around in the lush grass, the gentle breeze swaying the leaves in the trees and rippling the lake's pristine surface. Maybe Akira changed his mind? Maybe all he wanted to do was take Bruno on a little vacation and preach the virtues of kicking back and relaxing every once in a while.
Wouldn't that be nice?
But that's not what Akira has in mind. He sits himself up with a yawn and hops back up onto his feet, greeting Bruno with a wave.]
It is, isn't it? And the babes of the lake are pretty hot too.
[ Sure would be nice just to take a nap in the grass but even Bruno would doubt that's what Akira has in mind. Although "babes of the lake" was not what he expected to come out of this nasty crime boy's mouth.
Bruno's in the midst of dismissing his broom when... ]
Huh? [ He turns to give Akira a blank look, trying to figure out what that's even supposed to mean. ] Wh... Akira, what babes?
[What babes, indeed? Akira's not surprised Bruno has yet to meet them. There are, after all, specific conditions under which they can be met. People as kind as Bruno and Yodarha wouldn't have met them on accident.
Akira, striding up to the lake's edge, conjures a ball of purple-black flames into his palm. He hurls it into the lake whereupon it sizzles and hisses, burning on the water's surface like an oilslick.]
What's your type, anyway? You like 'em curvy? Tall and skinny?
C'mon, Bruno. This is man talk. You don't need to keep secrets from me.
[Next Bruno will tell him he's a wizard in the classical sense: old with no bitches.
Anyway, he'll see the effect of Akira's fireball once the water's begin to shift and snuff out the flames. The water roils and churns before going still, eerily still, and from the water, several vaguely human-shaped beings borne of water appear.
They don't look happy. Akira points at them anyway.]
Akira, you do realize I was a prophet as a teen, too, right? I looked. I know it doesn't matter because I'm never getting anywhere with any woman at all.
[ Yes, yes he is a wizard in the classic sense, just not entirely by choice. More importantly, why are their women coming out of the lake?! Akira?!?!?! Bruno stops beside Akira and gives them a worried look. ]
Uhhhh, wh-why are there lake babes? They've never been here before? I. I think you made them angry?!
Really? Damn. Time to pitch for the other team, bro.
[Ah, but no time for that. The women of the lake look at Akira with clear vexation, but when their eyes turn to Bruno...? Their expressions soften, one of the three leading the others to approach Bruno at the edge of the lake.]
You there... man in green. What business do you have with us?
[ Akira???? What??? Oh god, but here come the lake women. He gives the one approaching a nervous look, then away again, then... elsewhere... anywhere else... why this? What is Akira even trying at here? In the end, he settles on keeping his gaze firmly at eye level. Yeah. That'll have to do. ]
Oh, we... we're just here to. Say hello? I'm sorry if we, uh, if we bothered you. Ma'am.
[The woman doesn't appreciate Bruno averting his gaze even for a moment, and so her cold, wet fingers take him by the chin to ensure he keeps his eyes on hers. They're... oddly familiar, those warm brown eyes, out of place on her translucent body.]
Oh? Just to say hello?
[The other two silently approach, one winding her arms around Bruno's and resting her temple on his shoulder while the other holds his hand in her own.]
That's a shame... I was hoping you would stay for a while. We've been awfully lonely, you know...
[ Bruno is surprised when his chin is yanked to ensure their eyes meet and for the life of him, he can't figure out why her eyes seem so familiar. That's... odd, and now he can't even pivot his head to give Akira a panicked look, something he increasingly wants to do as the other two get all up in his personal space.
Oh god. What is happening? What is happening?! ]
I, uh, w-well, that's. That's. I mean, I guess we could... s-stick around? For a little? If. If you're lonely.
[ It's better than them deciding to tear them apart for the crime of bothering their lake, right? ]
[The women all coo in unison, overjoyed that Bruno has chosen to stay. Akira, standing silently at his side, simply watches on.]
Oh, happy day! To think the man of our dreams would come along and cure us of our loneliness... What luck.
[The woman with the familiar brown eyes lets go of Bruno's chin and takes his free hand, pulling him towards the lake. The other two follow suit. They pull gently, at first, but more insistently of Bruno tries to resist.]
That's... um. Okay, that's a really weird thing to.. to say... but... oh, er.
[ Bruno does, inf act, resist being pulled towards the lake, only he'll find himself quickly overpowered with it being three versus one. Slowly but surely they drag him, inch by inch, towards the lake. ]
W-wait, wait, can't we... can't we stay up here and just. Just talk?!
[ He darts a look over towards Akira, eyes wide with growing panic. Help? Help him?! ]
They're not here to talk, Bruno. They're after your soul.
[Akira jumps back and sends his dagger flying at the group, its sharp edge severing the hand from the brown-eyed siren. She hisses and shrieks, her cry that of a predatory beast, her disembodied hand losing its shape and pouring back into the lake.
In an instant, the mood shifts. Those three women reveal their true forms, rage narrowing their eyes, sharpened nails on the ends of their fingers. They drop their hold on Bruno at once and lunge after Akira who narrowly avoids getting caught in their snare with a well-timed backflip. By now, Bruno should know where this is going.]
Bruno!
[Akira sweeps out his arm and a selection of cards appears before Bruno. Sorry to force you into combat, buddy, but Akira saw no better way to get his point across.]
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no subject
Well, yeah. Violence is the whole point.
[Akira's seeing the vision here, though? Bruno's the one who has to choose and utilize the card. This is more to aid Bruno than it is Akira, but as far as he's concerned, that's exactly how it should be. What kind of partner would he be if he wasn't meant to help Bruno reach his full potential?
Akira grabs his chair and inches a little closer, dropping the casual tone to address Bruno more seriously.]
There will be times when we have no choice but to fight for our lives... and the lives of our friends, too. If you don't want me wasting time chasing unreliable people around, then be the person I can count on to have my back in a pinch.
no subject
I'm not going to hurt people for you, Akira. I can still have your back without resorting to that. I mean, if it's... I don't know. Knocking things into the path of someone or something or taking out a door or. Or stuff like that, then maybe, but violence? C'mon.
[ he won't mention punching solomon that was a rare exception and bruno punches don't even bruise ok ]
no subject
[Akira shakes his head. There's no offense in his tone, but perhaps there should be. Maybe Bruno is right to assume he's some kind of thrill-seeking degenerate, but in either case, his point still stands.
Akira slowly rises from his seat.]
And if your life is on the line, are you going to roll over and die because you're afraid to save your own skin? What about your friends? Your family? Would you let them die too?
no subject
But... ]
I... N-no, I would... [ That's a hard question for Bruno to answer. He looks down, fingers twisting in the soft fabric of his ruana, anxiety peaking. Would he blow someone up to protect the people he cares about? Well. ] If... if I had to... to protect you or... or my friends or. Or my family, I. Yeah, I. I guess I wouldn't just roll over and. And die.
[ If it were only him, though? He's generally of the opinion he's better off dead, actually. ]
no subject
Then you wouldn't mind if I put that theory to the test, would you?
[He believes in Bruno. Knows that Bruno is more than capable of standing by his side in a fight, so the only one left in need of convincing is Bruno himself. What Akira has in mind may ultimately stress the man out even more, but it's necessary. He'll apologize for this later.]
time 2 live in fear
Uh. I... n-no, of course. That's. That's fine.
[ He finally does reach out to take Akira's hand. It only takes a minute to build up the courage to. If nothing else, he wants Akira to know that he trusts him. ]
no subject
We're going South. Get your broom ready.
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[ Bruno is up on his feet with Akira's help. His fear is quickly replaced by confusion. Going South isn't some terrifying prospect for Bruno. He goes there regularly, checking on his farming projects and the people they had healed nearly two months ago now. ]
Wait, we're aren't flying the whole way, are we?
no subject
Would you rather take the elevator?
[Sure, it would be a longer trip by broom, but Akira doesn't obey speed limits. He'd like to build up the anticipation a bit, you know? But he'll defer to Bruno's preference regardless.]
no subject
[ But Akira, it's so far away... so far... regardless, he's calling his broom to himself. It's, uh, just a broom. A plain broom. That's it. ]
no subject
[A pretty ominous answer when Akira just revealed his intention to put Bruno to the test, but it's fine! Akira summons his fancy gun-shaped broom and takes to the air at reckless speeds. Bruno can follow at his own pace, of course, but Akira will probably beat him there.
Where they ultimately end up is a nice, peaceful lake.]
no subject
Fun he says.
[ Bruno says with a sense of great resignation. Kids these days, why are they like this? But he'll carefully creep out the window and get his broom floating so he can sit on it. He'll magic his window shut again before taking off after Akira.
He does not go as fast.
He does at least try to keep him in sight, though. So he'll be about ten minutes behind when Akira finally lands at the lake. ]
Here? [ He asks as he hops off his broom. ] I mean, it's a nice lake. I think Yodarha comes here to fish sometimes.
no subject
Wouldn't that be nice?
But that's not what Akira has in mind. He sits himself up with a yawn and hops back up onto his feet, greeting Bruno with a wave.]
It is, isn't it? And the babes of the lake are pretty hot too.
[???]
no subject
Bruno's in the midst of dismissing his broom when... ]
Huh? [ He turns to give Akira a blank look, trying to figure out what that's even supposed to mean. ] Wh... Akira, what babes?
no subject
Akira, striding up to the lake's edge, conjures a ball of purple-black flames into his palm. He hurls it into the lake whereupon it sizzles and hisses, burning on the water's surface like an oilslick.]
What's your type, anyway? You like 'em curvy? Tall and skinny?
no subject
[ What? Huh? Bruno stumbles a few steps before hurrying to follow Akira to the lake's edge. ]
I. I don't have a type? Because it doesn't matter? Akira, what are you even doing?
no subject
[Next Bruno will tell him he's a wizard in the classical sense: old with no bitches.
Anyway, he'll see the effect of Akira's fireball once the water's begin to shift and snuff out the flames. The water roils and churns before going still, eerily still, and from the water, several vaguely human-shaped beings borne of water appear.
They don't look happy. Akira points at them anyway.]
See? Lake babes.
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Akira, you do realize I was a prophet as a teen, too, right? I looked. I know it doesn't matter because I'm never getting anywhere with any woman at all.
[ Yes, yes he is a wizard in the classic sense, just not entirely by choice. More importantly, why are their women coming out of the lake?! Akira?!?!?! Bruno stops beside Akira and gives them a worried look. ]
Uhhhh, wh-why are there lake babes? They've never been here before? I. I think you made them angry?!
no subject
[Ah, but no time for that. The women of the lake look at Akira with clear vexation, but when their eyes turn to Bruno...? Their expressions soften, one of the three leading the others to approach Bruno at the edge of the lake.]
You there... man in green. What business do you have with us?
no subject
[ Akira???? What??? Oh god, but here come the lake women. He gives the one approaching a nervous look, then away again, then... elsewhere... anywhere else... why this? What is Akira even trying at here? In the end, he settles on keeping his gaze firmly at eye level. Yeah. That'll have to do. ]
Oh, we... we're just here to. Say hello? I'm sorry if we, uh, if we bothered you. Ma'am.
no subject
Oh? Just to say hello?
[The other two silently approach, one winding her arms around Bruno's and resting her temple on his shoulder while the other holds his hand in her own.]
That's a shame... I was hoping you would stay for a while. We've been awfully lonely, you know...
no subject
Gh!
[ Bruno is surprised when his chin is yanked to ensure their eyes meet and for the life of him, he can't figure out why her eyes seem so familiar. That's... odd, and now he can't even pivot his head to give Akira a panicked look, something he increasingly wants to do as the other two get all up in his personal space.
Oh god. What is happening? What is happening?! ]
I, uh, w-well, that's. That's. I mean, I guess we could... s-stick around? For a little? If. If you're lonely.
[ It's better than them deciding to tear them apart for the crime of bothering their lake, right? ]
no subject
Oh, happy day! To think the man of our dreams would come along and cure us of our loneliness... What luck.
[The woman with the familiar brown eyes lets go of Bruno's chin and takes his free hand, pulling him towards the lake. The other two follow suit. They pull gently, at first, but more insistently of Bruno tries to resist.]
Come with us, handsome man in green...
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[ Bruno does, inf act, resist being pulled towards the lake, only he'll find himself quickly overpowered with it being three versus one. Slowly but surely they drag him, inch by inch, towards the lake. ]
W-wait, wait, can't we... can't we stay up here and just. Just talk?!
[ He darts a look over towards Akira, eyes wide with growing panic. Help? Help him?! ]
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[Akira jumps back and sends his dagger flying at the group, its sharp edge severing the hand from the brown-eyed siren. She hisses and shrieks, her cry that of a predatory beast, her disembodied hand losing its shape and pouring back into the lake.
In an instant, the mood shifts. Those three women reveal their true forms, rage narrowing their eyes, sharpened nails on the ends of their fingers. They drop their hold on Bruno at once and lunge after Akira who narrowly avoids getting caught in their snare with a well-timed backflip. By now, Bruno should know where this is going.]
Bruno!
[Akira sweeps out his arm and a selection of cards appears before Bruno. Sorry to force you into combat, buddy, but Akira saw no better way to get his point across.]
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