How? How are you going to fight it? You can't just charge in here like it's a battle with fists...
[Piety trails off, letting out a shaky breath.]
If you draw too much attention to yourself, if you're too loud, if you make yourself a threat before you can guarantee your actions will pay off...whoever did this will just come after you first.
[He nearly shouts it, but strangles it back, the result choking in his throat. Not even where to start.
Before, on Auldrant, everyone had worked together, and figured out a solution. Here, it was like starting back at square one, with what felt like all the wrong people holding all of the cards.
Desperate and despairing, he turns away, kicking an arc of water at the horizon.]
[As Luke falls silent, Piety's shoulders sag. He wasn't sure when his hands had clenched into fists, but they slowly lose slack. For a moment, he just watches Luke's back, watches where he's staring at the horizon and the sample of a world far away. A place that Fortune had missed desperately enough to make it here.
He missed something that desperately, too, and there was only one reason that he hadn't embraced the sight of it.]
I know it's hard. It's easy to feel powerless in a situation like this...I'd be lying if I said that I never felt that way, myself, even now.
[Piety reaches up and pulls down the hood of his robes, shaking his hair free.]
There are so many times that I just want to shake the whole world...because there has to be, just has to be any other way. An easier way, a simple way that makes sense. Sometimes that's not how things work out. And I know...as much as you've put your trust in me, it seems as if I've been doing the opposite of what I can to earn it.
[Untying the mask from behind his head, he pulls it off and lets it fall into the sand.]
[He doesn't turn around when Piety speaks. Instead, he listens to their words, staring into the distant dividing line of ocean and sky, not caring about the water pooling into his shoes as the adrenaline in his system washed over him, numbing everything else out.
What was he fighting for, now? Certainly, his wish—not that he'd mentioned it to anyone—and for Guy, for all his friends. But in a way, he'd also started fighting for Piety, for their ideals—and for they themselves. What he'd first dismissed as a coincidence turned into a trend, and something more than just seeing eye to eye—a real friendship, in its own whimsical way. It had its ups and downs, of course—Piety was a god, and couldn't give much of themselves away—but there seemed to be a depth beyond the standard promises.
Every time he'd had something to complain about, or trouble with something, Piety had been solidly there. They were doing what they could, within the frustrating constraints of a broken, abusive system, and taking Luke's frustrations with it in a kind, caring stride. That Piety felt as frustrated with the whole thing as he did... it was a relief, somehow, and again... familiar. How many times had he thought about it, throughout their collective conversations, or when he watched him speak with everyone during the trials? His heartfelt sincerity, his hopes and earnest beliefs...
Closing his eyes, he exhales, letting the tension trail out with his breath, the ghost of a smile twitching unseen on his lips. Most of all... his kindness.
From the moment they'd first met.]
You know, Piety, sometimes, you remind me so much of--
[Beneath his robes, he feels his knees shake, but Ion tries to retain his composure as he steps slowly closer, as if afraid acting too quickly will somehow obliterate the moment, completely.]
I wanted to tell you the second you chose me...there are so many times I wanted to reveal myself, but I needed to know that I could prove myself. I wanted you to trust me...just for what I had to say.
Was it a trick? Ion was--but so was he. Guy said he hadn't seen him for two years. So it was as likely as he was.
Except, one of them was a god.
As the gap between them closes, Luke stays rooted to the spot, barely daring to breath, in case the mirage, this bubble, a vision of his friend, pops, leaving him with only memories and a handful of nothing—again.
But Piety--Ion speaks, and the barely-registering quiver in his voice, conversely, helps Luke find his own.]
I did trust you--I mean, I do!
[Taking a few tentative steps of his own forward, he meets Ion halfway. Proof. Proof of self. Proof of ability. Proof of trust, of friendship. It was understandable. But...]
...But... you don't need to prove yourself to anyone. Especially not to me.
[Luke takes Ion's hands reflexively in turn, and smiles at the squeeze. It was Ion. It was Ion all along. It felt like taking a drink of water after being parched for hours, days. It was Ion all along who--
...
He starts to chuckle—and then laugh.]
There's nothing to say sorry about! I'm just... happy you're here!
[It must be how Guy felt, when he saw him at the courtyard that first day. After so long...
This time, it's Luke who gives Ion's hands a squeeze, his face genuinely elated.]
Ha, I can't believe you managed to keep quiet when I was talking to you about... you!
[The look on Luke's face is contagious, and Ion laughs, too, soft and serene.]
It made me happy. I never questioned how important we were to each other, but...still, to hear you say things about me that I feel about you, as well...
[He looks down at their joined hands. His own, pale and small, are so warm inside of Luke's.]
[Genuinely elated, he huffs happily, cheeks coloured with emotion, the excitement finally setting in.]
I wish you would've told me on day one! [He laughs again, realising something.] And I picked you out of everyone!
[The anger, adrenaline, shock, and confusion of mere minutes before seem like a distant dream. Here and now, with Ion, it's the happiest he's been since he was brought to the game.]
So that's what you meant by divine intervention, huh? [He grins, clearly tickled at the idea now that he understands the meaning a little more.] Maybe that's just the... proof of how strong our friendship is, or something like that!
[beat;]
Or fonons. Could be fonons.
[He's half-making an attempt at a joke! Still...]
But artes don't work here, so... probably just us. [the friendship thing.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[Piety trails off, letting out a shaky breath.]
If you draw too much attention to yourself, if you're too loud, if you make yourself a threat before you can guarantee your actions will pay off...whoever did this will just come after you first.
no subject
[He nearly shouts it, but strangles it back, the result choking in his throat. Not even where to start.
Before, on Auldrant, everyone had worked together, and figured out a solution. Here, it was like starting back at square one, with what felt like all the wrong people holding all of the cards.
Desperate and despairing, he turns away, kicking an arc of water at the horizon.]
1/2
He missed something that desperately, too, and there was only one reason that he hadn't embraced the sight of it.]
I know it's hard. It's easy to feel powerless in a situation like this...I'd be lying if I said that I never felt that way, myself, even now.
[Piety reaches up and pulls down the hood of his robes, shaking his hair free.]
There are so many times that I just want to shake the whole world...because there has to be, just has to be any other way. An easier way, a simple way that makes sense. Sometimes that's not how things work out. And I know...as much as you've put your trust in me, it seems as if I've been doing the opposite of what I can to earn it.
[Untying the mask from behind his head, he pulls it off and lets it fall into the sand.]
But I'm here, and I am fighting.
no subject
THERE HE IS (1/2)
What was he fighting for, now? Certainly, his wish—not that he'd mentioned it to anyone—and for Guy, for all his friends. But in a way, he'd also started fighting for Piety, for their ideals—and for they themselves. What he'd first dismissed as a coincidence turned into a trend, and something more than just seeing eye to eye—a real friendship, in its own whimsical way. It had its ups and downs, of course—Piety was a god, and couldn't give much of themselves away—but there seemed to be a depth beyond the standard promises.
Every time he'd had something to complain about, or trouble with something, Piety had been solidly there. They were doing what they could, within the frustrating constraints of a broken, abusive system, and taking Luke's frustrations with it in a kind, caring stride. That Piety felt as frustrated with the whole thing as he did... it was a relief, somehow, and again... familiar. How many times had he thought about it, throughout their collective conversations, or when he watched him speak with everyone during the trials? His heartfelt sincerity, his hopes and earnest beliefs...
Closing his eyes, he exhales, letting the tension trail out with his breath, the ghost of a smile twitching unseen on his lips. Most of all... his kindness.
From the moment they'd first met.]
You know, Piety, sometimes, you remind me so much of--
BABY BOY. BABY.
it's me ya boi
[Beneath his robes, he feels his knees shake, but Ion tries to retain his composure as he steps slowly closer, as if afraid acting too quickly will somehow obliterate the moment, completely.]
I wanted to tell you the second you chose me...there are so many times I wanted to reveal myself, but I needed to know that I could prove myself. I wanted you to trust me...just for what I had to say.
HE!!!!!
Was it a trick? Ion was--but so was he. Guy said he hadn't seen him for two years. So it was as likely as he was.
Except, one of them was a god.
As the gap between them closes, Luke stays rooted to the spot, barely daring to breath, in case the mirage, this bubble, a vision of his friend, pops, leaving him with only memories and a handful of nothing—again.
But Piety--Ion speaks, and the barely-registering quiver in his voice, conversely, helps Luke find his own.]
I did trust you--I mean, I do!
[Taking a few tentative steps of his own forward, he meets Ion halfway. Proof. Proof of self. Proof of ability. Proof of trust, of friendship. It was understandable. But...]
...But... you don't need to prove yourself to anyone. Especially not to me.
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[Instinctively, Ion reaches out and takes Luke's hand in his, squeezing them like he always had as Piety.]
I'm sorry to have made you wait. I hope...you can forgive me.
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...
He starts to chuckle—and then laugh.]
There's nothing to say sorry about! I'm just... happy you're here!
[It must be how Guy felt, when he saw him at the courtyard that first day. After so long...
This time, it's Luke who gives Ion's hands a squeeze, his face genuinely elated.]
Ha, I can't believe you managed to keep quiet when I was talking to you about... you!
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It made me happy. I never questioned how important we were to each other, but...still, to hear you say things about me that I feel about you, as well...
[He looks down at their joined hands. His own, pale and small, are so warm inside of Luke's.]
I've thought about you every day.
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I wish you would've told me on day one! [He laughs again, realising something.] And I picked you out of everyone!
[The anger, adrenaline, shock, and confusion of mere minutes before seem like a distant dream. Here and now, with Ion, it's the happiest he's been since he was brought to the game.]
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[The last three weeks would have been very, very different, that's for sure. Ion can't stop his face from lighting up, his pale cheeks warming.]
When you did--I'd never been so relieved. It's like some part of us knew just how to call out for each other, don't you think?
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[beat;]
Or fonons. Could be fonons.
[He's half-making an attempt at a joke! Still...]
But artes don't work here, so... probably just us. [the friendship thing.]