engage_the_enemy (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
engage_the_enemy) wrote2015-06-10 06:35 pm
engage_the_enemy) wrote2015-06-10 06:35 pm
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[IC] Inbox!
WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, shulk. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 215.77.554.88 *** shulk has joined 215.77.554.88 <shulk> not actually sure what this is for but it seemed worth setting up | ||||
there's a reason jeager spends so much time away
[Without any warning, Crow whirls around and punches Shulk in the chest, hard enough to knock him onto the ground. Half the reason he'd asked Shulk to sit down was because it'd be harder for him to react, to evade. And Crow is on Shulk in an instant, pinning him to the ground. No, Crow's not letting Shulk run away. Not until he's done with him.]
...You don't know the hell you're going to put Yusei through again! All for what? The Fog God's heart? While selling yourself to the Fog God in the process!?"
many reasons also geeZ CROW
The harpy coughs, harshly, gold eye wide in shock, and he...should have guessed. Crow knew, meaning Yusei...Yusei must have told him. He knows Yusei is scared, but enlisting the help of someone else, all to try and stop him - he hadn't agreed with this in any capacity, had he?
His expressions falls, nearly becoming blank.]
...It's why he's so afraid, right? [He makes no move to escape Crow, winged arms splayed.] Does he think I'll fall prey to the whims of a god that easily?
[A grunt.] Maybe I will. It wouldn't be the first time. But I'd rather try and find a way to end this, than let fear hold me back. Wouldn't you?
shulk has the wrong naked man on him
I'd find another way!
[And Crow has been searching for another way. That's why he went on that mountain expedition. And damn it, Shulk! If he's already fallen prey to the whims of a god before, then why is he still going with this?]
You told me God followers are compelled to attack people of the opposing side. Doesn't that tell you followers already don't have control over themselves?
[Crow's resisting the urge to punch Shulk again, but the earfins flattening are clue to the tension running through his body.]
Do you think it won't happen to you? Do you think you can hold on to who you are just because you have good intentions? That you're somehow immune to it? Don't be an idiot!
[Crow's claws are out, his tail lashing behind him.]
This isn't just about Yusei. I'm tired of losing friends to their stupid choices.
this is his life now
Shulk had turned his head away the moment Crow started shouting, pressing his cheek into the cool dirt, looking off somewhere beyond the lake's shores and trying to ignore the weight of the mer and his words, the rage he's barely containing.
The harpy furrows his brow, and he...he gets why they're scared, now. But it does little to change his mind, because he'd already pushed aside his own fear in favor of resolve.]
If I thought I was immune, I wouldn't have said anything - to anyone - about my intentions.
[The harpy sucks in a breath, a bit strained from the pressure on his chest.]
I...I know it's asking a lot. I know how bad it might get, but all I want is the chance to try.
[That's all he needed, isn't it? He's...not actually sure if he can go back, if he swears himself to the fog god. Nor was he aware that looking to Yusei to keep him grounded was putting an incomprehensible amount of pressure on the gargoyle.
Knowing this, the betrayal he felt when this started, it's gone. It's no wonder Yusei sought help. Shulk lets out a long breath.]
...We barely have control of ourselves as it stands, anyway.
the true cost of joining a side
[The thing is that Crow doesn't empathise with those who've lost control of themselves; everything he's done in Ryslig, it's been done with full control of his faculties, other than his attack on Rita. But he'd known that would be a risk, and so did Rita. As far as Crow's concerned, they do have control over every one of their actions and saying otherwise is just an excuse.]
You even told me the change in behaviour happens when the person frequents the god's domain! And that's where you're going to look for the 'heart', isn't it!? You're asking us to watch you walk into the gods' domain, knowing you'll change! You told me you wouldn't become anything less than yourself, that you wouldn't turn on Yusei!
[Crow reaches forward to grab Shulk by his jacket and shake him.]
What do you call this then? Was that all a lie!? Do you even care!?
getting yelled at by a whaleman
Because Crow is wrong. They have no control over their forms, their lives. Making a choice, as manipulated as they are, how often their hands are forced, it's hardly a choice at all. The gods are pulling the strings, and he and Crow and everyone else, they're marching along the path laid out for them.]
Of course I care!
[He pauses, breathing harsh.]
But you...you're both asking me to do nothing, when this might be the best chance we have! As if there's time to wait for another way to show itself.
[He can already feel a retort to that coming, and he squirms, trying to edge Crow off.
Bitterness crawling up his throat, because of course Crow would think of alternatives. He had them, back home. Had a powerful and good god, willing to aid the Signers. Here they only have themselves to rely on, and with how they've struggled...feelings of hopelessness creep into his chest.]
You just -- you don't understand.
no subject
I don't understand? I'm stuck here, just like you, aren't I?
[Crow abruptly lets go of Shulk's jacket.]
If you think there's nothing else to try, then you're not thinking hard enough! We're not asking you to do nothing! But you're asking us to stand by and watch you change into someone we won't be able to recognise any more!
[Crow's just so, so tired of all this. He's always losing friends to death or the results of their shitty decisions. Crow raises his fist, as if he's going to punch Shulk, but ends up punching the ground next to the harpy, knuckles sinking into the soil. For the first time in all this, Crow's looking away.]
If you keep going with this... Yusei's better off without you.
no subject
Still, he's annoyed that Crow assumes he hasn't been thinking enough, that all the information he's come across, the only thing that's come close to the answer he's looking for is this. And if her heart isn't in Dyster, well, he'll tear apart this entire peninsula to find it. It was here somewhere, it had to be.
But here, Crow is tearing at him. That sense of self he's fought so hard to preserve - would he really sacrifice it for a lost cause? To be recognized...and that Crow had reassured him before--
He flinches despite himself, when Crow raises his fist, again when that fist hits the ground. Staring incredulously at the mer as he looks away. The breath he's holding becomes painfully tight in his chest, full now with hurt.]
That's....! [True?] That's for him to decide. If he -- if that's what he wants, I-I'll...
[Shulk swallows thickly.
It's probably evident in the quaver of his voice, how much the mere thought terrifies him. Is he going to lose everything again, no matter what he does?]
...My mind's already made up, Crow. Sorry.
no subject
You already know he stays with people longer than he should. And you're taking advantage of that. You'll be using him to make you feel better, but in the end, you'll be yet another person he can't save.
[The words might have been unnecessarily harsh, but... Crow's too angry to care. If he hurts Shulk's feelings, well, good; Shulk will be hurting a lot more than just Yusei's feelings doing this. Shulk deserves to get his heart stepped on, seeing as he seems to care so little about doing the same to Yusei's.]
Do what you want, then. But if you turn on him... [The fins on Crow's arms unfold in an instant, spines flaring out with a wet, ugly sound.] ...I'll make sure you pay for it.
[And with that, Crow folds his fins back up and abruptly stands, walking away. As far as Crow's concerned, he's done here.]
rip their positive CR again
If things went wrong beyond Shulk's control, Yusei could...but what if Crow's right, and Yusei can't? He couldn't save Kiryu back then, right?
What if there's no turning back, once he's done this?
He stares with a wide, wide gold eye, when he hears that sound, catches sight of those spines, cut purple against the darkening sky by the dying light. Unconsciously, futilely pressing his head back against the dirt. There's no way he'd be able to avoid that, if it were more than a threat.
Humorlessly, he thinks of how if things do get bad, it won't be Yusei to end it all, but Crow. If they do get that bad.
When the weight of the mer is gone, Shulk scrambles to his feet, feathers flared and his breath coming in harsh gasps.]
You -- you're wrong! I don't care how far I fall, I will never turn on Yusei! Whether you believe that or not...!
[No, he's had enough. He bends, bunching the muscles of his legs before leaping into the air. Where he'll fly, flee back to Bavan, and he won't look back.
Bye, Crow.]