awashlogs | May catch-all

[Even despite their previous trip into the forest, Akira hasn't been daunted by the need to keep exploring and fulfilling quests. He does intend to be careful this time, however, especially without the protection of a sun pendant, and because he doesn't want all the effort that was put into reviving him to go to waste.

Which is why he's agreed to hunt the manticore with Ryo. He's armed with the fire sword he gained from a quest last month, which he offers to his friend as they enter the forest.]

Ryo, you should hold onto this.

[It could be useful in an emergency, like if he runs out of ammo, or if using a firearm just doesn't cut it. The guardian was impervious to bullets, after all.]

[ Ryo sort of just. Looks at the sword for a moment, a crease forming between his brows in what appears to be distaste. He wants to snap the blade in half and melt it down to a shapeless lump, and he isn't sure why he feels this way over an inanimate object. ]

...Keep it.

[ IT SUBCONSCIOUSLY REMINDS HIM OF MICHAEL AND HE DOESN'T WANT IT. ]

Huh? But you know I don't need a weapon.

[He's confused over Ryo's response, and if he'd anticipated it, he would have just left the thing behind. He hooks it back onto his belt, wondering what could possibly provoke active dislike for a sword, of all things.]

Tell me if you change your mind.

I won't.

[ Firmly, a note of irritation seeping into his tone. He'd rather rely on one of the knives he keeps under his coat than use that sword, honestly.

As they walk deeper into the forest, the town disappearing between the trees behind them, he changes to change the topic. ]

What do you know about the manticore? [ Not much, he assumes, but he'll ask so he doesn't have to tell him things he already knows. ]

[Akira almost wants to ask what's put him in a bad mood, but it seems a little more subtle than being generally grumpy, so he'll leave it for now.]

Not a lot. But since there's a quest to fight just one of them, I figure it must be pretty tough.

It's a Persian legendary creature similar to the Sphinx. It has the body of a lion, the head of a human, and the tail of a scorpion; in some depictions, it has a tail of venomous spines similar to porcupine quills instead.

[ In other words, watch out for the tail. ]

Right. [He doesn't need to spell it out, Akira is going to be way more careful this time and steer clear. A quest isn't worth risking his life for.]

Will it give us riddles like the Sphinx?

No, it'll just try to devour us whole. [ As usual, his voice is neutral, almost disinterested. He steps over a thick root potruding from the ground as they walk, eyes searching for movement between the trees. ]

We should try to find one with a scorpion tail—there are accounts of the other variant being able to shoot its spines like arrows, making it more dangerous to deal with.

Edited 2019-05-07 22:54 (UTC)

So long as it's just one stinger, that should be easy to manage.

[As compared to the forest guardian, which had way more appendages than Akira was able to deal with.

And yet while he should be paying attention to his surroundings and focusing on the quest, Akira is a little distracted today, casting sidelong glances at Ryo as they walk. Since it's obvious there's something on his mind, he eventually decides to come out and say it.]

Hey, uh... When we get back, can I ask you something?

Of course, Akira. [ He thinks Akira could just ask right now, but he doesn't get to say that when he spots movement in the distance. ]

Did you see that?

[Akira tenses instinctively and looks between the trees, narrowing his eyes. Were it not for his devil instincts he'd be a little more cautious after his encounter with the guardian, but as is, he's excited for another chance to fight. This time, he'll be the one to get the kill.]

I see it.

[He stabs the sword into the ground -- it's useless to him, but he can leave it behind for if Ryo changes his mind -- and begins to transform, wings splitting from his back and fur from skin, letting out a roar to challenge the manticore to come out into the open.

And it does, padding out from where it lurked in waiting in the tall grass. Just as Ryo had said, it's a lion-like beast with a a scorpion tail arched over its back. Jarringly, it also has a man's face. As Akira stalks towards it, he hesitates.]

...It almost looks human.

[ Ryo's attention orients briefly to the sword when the other stabs it into the ground before pulling back to the beast stalking out of the grass, poised to attack. He opens his coat just enough to pull out his gun, flicking the safety off and before moving to stand behind a tree. ]

Don't let its face distract you, Akira.

Yeah.

[The face has to be an intentional distraction, much like Jinmen's death masks. He darts forward, and feints to the side at the last moment, dodging an impossibly fast strike from the creature's stinger.

He grabs the appendage with the intention to rip it off from the base, but the tail is tougher than he expected -- and so the manticore twists and bites down on his leg with fangs far sharper than its human face suggested.

Akira snarls at the splitting pain, but he has at least given an opening for Ryo to take a few shots.]

—!!

[ Ryo immediately seizes the opportunity, lifting his rifle. He takes aim, inhales a deep breath, firing off a bullet on the exhale. A splatter of blood hits Akira when the bullet goes through its ribcage; the manticore makes a pained noise but isn't about to throw in the towel yet, slashing at Akira with sharp claws. ]

[Akira can't get away from the claws when he's keeping one hand on the manticore's tail to keep its sting away, and he hisses as the claws gouge deep into his chest. In response, and to get it away from him, he flings it by the tail into the nearest tree, where it hits with a dull crunch. Its body slumps to the ground, motionless.

Akira walks forward to finish it off, yellow blood dripping from his leg and chest. Yet a cornered monster is at its most dangerous. It stirs, and pounces-- Akira finds himself pinned under deceptively immense weight, its claws buried into its shoulders and arms. It raises its stinger, and Akira realises the manticore is angling to paralyse him with venom and bite out his throat.]

Ryo--! [The manticore is completely distracted by Akira, so now would be a good time to get a killing shot before it tries to kill him.]

[ Ryo recalls the description for the quest and realizes they're probably not supposed to kill the thing, but as he watches Akira get pinned to the ground under its weight it becomes obvious that he's going to have to kill it. He doesn't care about the quest when Akira's safety is at stake and the mere thought of having to watch him die again makes his stomach twist.

He fully steps out from behind the tree, ready to fire. He quickly brings the rifle to his shoulder, takes aim at the head to guarantee the kill, and squeezes the trigger hard—

—only for the weapon to conveniently jam on him. ]

Fuck— [ He curses, tossing the weapon aside. Left with no other option, he clenches his hand and focuses, trying to will that power into manifesting. He inhales, and in the next second something sparkles and several lightning bolts fly through the air toward the manticore, tearing through its flesh. ]

[From his position Akira can't tell what happened except for those familiar flashes of light, and the sharp scent of blood as limbs are severed and flesh shredded by the bolts. He reacts instantly, pushing the mangled remains of the manticore off him, and this time it doesn't get up.

Drenched in blood, but nonetheless alive, Akira turns toward Ryo in disbelief.]

That power... Is that yours? [He remembers now-- seeing that before, when he was dying in the forest. Now he's sure he didn't imagine it: Ryo had been protecting him.]

[ As Akira gets back up on his feet, Ryo steels himself for the questions he knows he'll have to answer; there's no lying his way out of this one, no claiming what Akira saw wasn't real.

He nods, keeping his expression as neutral as possible. ]

I'm not human, Akira. My memory's still full of holes, but I recall enough to start putting the pieces together.

What? Ryo, of course you're human.

[Akira shakes some of the blood out of his fur and off his arms before he transforms back to his usual self, approaching Ryo with an expression of disbelief.]

What did you remember? Something from before we met?

Humans don't summon lightning bolts. [ Or make make a walnut grow into an adult tree within months, or recover so fast from injuries; a normal human wouldn't be standing after taking several hits from a baseball bat to the head, nor would their broken leg heal within a week. Did Akira never notice how quickly he had the cast removed? ]

I was born in a village in the Peruvian Amazon. When I manifested strange powers, they began to worship me as a deity.

[ ...he decides to tactfully omit the memory of actual human sacrifice. ]

Edited 2019-05-11 21:41 (UTC)

[Akira is visibly struggling with this information. He always knew Ryo was different, but he'd never thought about it too deeply. He was his smart and tough best friend. Unusually gifted in academics, sure, but that was it. Now, if what he's saying is true, maybe he didn't know him at all.]

But you came from the sea... [Unless somehow reaching Japan was part of his powers, too. He isn't sure.] Why didn't you say anything sooner?

....I wasn't ready to tell you. I'm sorry. [ He says after a moment of hesitation, not quite looking the other in the eye. He's trusted Dextera with his past, but he just hadn't been able to bring himself to share it with anyone else. Maybe part of him thought Akira would jump to the conclusion that he's actually a demon and turn on him, even though he knows that logically that wouldn't happen..

He isn't sure. ]

The details are fuzzy, but I was pushed into the sea and spent a few months floating all the way across the Pacific. I lost my memories and washed ashore in that small village where you lived.

Edited 2019-05-11 22:07 (UTC)

Ryo...

[Akira steps forward as if to hug him, but he's covered in manticore gore and his own blood, so he thinks better of it. Still, memories like that have to be painful to resurface, and maybe a little scary, when Ryo had lived most of his life as a human.]

Even if you're not human, you're not a demon, either. [He can say that with certainty, being as well-acquainted with a demonic body and instincts as he now is.] And you used those powers to protect me. So... thanks.

[Akira's thought about this for weeks, and if he's honest, he still has no idea what he's doing. What should he say? How should he act? He's gone through hundreds of different scenarios in his head, and in pretty much all of them, he has no idea how Ryo will respond. Or maybe he knows Ryo way too well and can already guess exactly how he'll respond, and that's the part that daunts him the most.

But he promised Dextera he'd try, and he owes it to Ryo, too. So, he musters his courage, and decides to be as casual about it as possible. ...'Casual', for Akira, means ambushing Ryo on the way back from his beehives by sneaking up and slinging an arm around his shoulders.]

Hey, Ryo! I was just looking for you. Let's go for a walk.

[ As always, Ryo is quick to settle back into the usual routine once the regularly scheduled shenanigans are over and done with. He lights a small fire outside the hives to calm the bees, then checks to see if his bees are looking healthy and how the honey situation is looking; he should be able to harvest most of the honey within the next couple of weeks. He's not sure what he's supposed to do with large quantities of honey, but it's fine. Stored properly, it won't spoil.

On the way back to Ruga, when Akira puts an arm around his shoulders, his body renses up, but he relaxes again almost immediately once he realizes who it is. ]

Ah, hello, Akira. [ He blinks, turning his head to look at him. ] A walk sounds good.

[Akira pats him on the back before letting him go, grinning. To hide his nerves, if nothing else.]

Okay. I was thinking we could go to the lake. [Where they're unlikely to be disturbed[ ]! He definitely wouldn't want to have this conversation at home when they're at risk of Duo interrupting.] How are the bees doing?

[ The lake... he hasn't been there in a while. Last time he went he saw a vision of what looked like a version of him with sideburns. Not very fashionable, in his opinion; they should stay in the 70s where they belong. ]

Pretty good. [ He says, sounding a little pleased. ] They're looking healthy and there's plenty of honey that I'll be harvesting soon.

[Oh, that lake? It's laced with drugs.]

Yeah? [Akira smiles, glad to see Ryo happy, even about something so small.] It's too bad they don't follow you around any more.

[He elbows him lightly in the ribs as they walk. You're not living that one down, buddy.]

[ He just gives him that "Akira, please" look. ]

Don't remind me. [ That whole thing was stupid tbh. ] But having them able to comprehend my commands was pretty useful—that part could have stuck around.

Guess you'll just have to hope for the town to get overrun by princesses again sometime.

[He grins. As they talk, they soon arrive at the lake, which looks deceptively calm and still, considering some of the things it shows. There's no one else around, as suspected, so Akira moves over to the water's edge, his hands in his pockets.

Okay!!! He can do this. He looks over at Ryo.]

So... I wanted to ask you something.

Is that why you wanted to come here?

[ He could've done that back at the house, but while it's a little unnecessary Ryo can't say he minds. Having a moment with Akira all to himself is always nice and it feels like he doesn't get those enough these days now that Duo lives with them. He shifts his gaze across the frozen lake, taking in the view, before turning his attention back to Akira, giving him an expectant look. Go on, ask him. ]

Yeah.

[Even with his newfound confidence as a Devilman, though, the words seem stuck in his throat. Ryo is his oldest and dearest friend, and he has to say this in a way that doesn't mess things up between them.]

Ryo, answer me honestly. [He puts his hands on his shoulders.] Have you ever thought of me as more than a friend?

[ There's a sharp inhale of air at the question, his gaze remaining steady and cool as his mind processes it. He understands the implication of the question, that it means that the person wants to take the relationship up a level and break it off of the platonic foundation.

A swell of something bordering on panic rises like bile in his throat, put he pushes it down, his mouth pulling into a line with his teeth pressing against the inside of his lip. ]

What brought this on?

[Sensing the obvious discomfort, Akira squeezes his shoulder before letting go. This was why he hadn't wanted to say anything, because something like this is so far out of Ryo's comfort zone it might as well be on another planet. But he made his decision, and he has to run with it.]

I realised that... I think that's how you see me. [He's not namedropping Dextera here and getting him into trouble.] And then I started thinking about it, and I think that... I feel that way too. So, if you wanted...

[He rubs the back of his neck. Okay, he has to say it.]

Ryo, will you go out with me?

[ Ryo doesn't respond immediately, his mind struggling to formulate a good response; it's not his first time being asked out by someone, being a world famous celebrity popular among girls, but none of those moments could have possibly prepared him for this.

The silence that follows hangs in the air for several seconds too long, stifled with tension, his fingers curling loosely against his palms and he shakes his head. ]

I have no interest in romantic relationships. [ Something twists in the pit of his stomach as the words leave his mouth, but he pays it no mind. Love doesn't exist; therefore, there can be no sorrow. ]

You're confusing your sexual urges for love, Akira.

[ It's the only rational explanation for this—Akira has discovered bisexuality and realized that his friend is physically attractive, that's all there is to it. ]

[Akira looks like he's been struck across the face, momentarily stunned. Then he narrows his eyes and lets out a low growl at being dismissed so easily.]

This isn't about sex, Ryo! Before this, you know I was only interested in girls! You think if I just wanted to fuck you, I would've waited until now to act on it?!

[Oops. He probably shouldn't confess his feelings to someone only to yell at them a second later, so he tries to rein back his temper. But surely Ryo should understand by now how strong his urges are as a Devilman, and with Ryo, he's definitely never treated him like that.

He deflates, and adds in a quieter voice:]

At least think about it, before you act like my feelings don't matter.

[ There's another pause, the silence almost unbearable. It feels there's something rancid in his stomach and his skin prickles uncomfortably; he almost wants to turn around and leave, to forget this ever happened. ]

Romantic relationships are a waste of time. [ His voice is firm but the words feel heavy, his tongue like lead in his mouth. He lowers his gaze just enough to break eye contact. ] Yelling at me won't change my mind.

Ryo... [Akira's voice trembles, and he reaches as if wanting to take his hand, do something to show how he feels, no matter how simple.

But he doesn't. He simply takes a breath to calm himself, and looks away, his hand balling into a fist at his side.]

Sorry for wasting your time, then.

[He turns to walk away.]

[ Ryo doesn't say anything else, his fingers curling tight enough for his nails to dig into his palms and his knuckles to start turning white. It feels like something in him has been torn in two and he wants to shout at Akira to come back, but as usual he shoves those simmering emotions deep down where they can be ignored.

Instead he simply watches Akira leave, waiting until he's out of sight before he turns to look at the lake stretching out around them. He steps closer to the frozen shoreline, a nagging feeling at the fringes of his mind telling him to peer into the lake; he's long considered the possibility of it being able to break the chains that keep his memories locked away but it's not until now that he feels ready to actually do it.

There's no turning back now. ]

May catch-all

Quest 57 - Ryo

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post-event 23 - Ryo

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