The flame inside the breathing ashes

[lostinshadows]

Who: Lavi and Everyone
What: Aftermath of various things
Where: Far Shore
When: August 17-24
Warnings: None at the moment!


[A. August 17th - Afternoon]

[After his fight with Lux and talk with Allen, anyone who would have tried to reach Lavi will discover radio silence on his end. He left a note to Cardia explaining he’d be out all day. He wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone right now, not after the parting words Lux had left him with.

Avoiding everyone seemed to be the best option right now, even if he would argue instead that he was just grabbing some fresh air.

It’s why he’s chosen to walk his temple’s latest addition around the Far Shore instead.

”Someone like you should have never been given a name to begin with!”

His jaw clenches at the memory of it, but it was a mistake to take his eye off the dog since Sisi runs off and Lavi’s quick to run after it.]

Sisi, wait!

[B. I Lost You Again]

[Sometime, at some point during the month, people might find Lavi sitting at an area where Allen’s temple used to be. He has a knee drawn up to his chest, a hand covering his face as if he’s trying hard to ignore the sudden pang of loneliness that hits him. Fortunately, Sisi seems to be his company today, too, sitting beside Lavi and has his head rested on Lavi’s other leg.

The redhead gently gives him a scratch, though he looks distracted.]

Damn it, Allen.

[Sisi whimpers a bit as Lavi retracts his hand to mess with a pair of white gloves that he found - the same kind of gloves he’s seen Allen wear before.

He grits his teeth, the other hand moving away from his face and he slams a fist onto the ground.]

Damn it.

[C. He’s an Exorcist Once More]

[Somewhere in a clearing, there’s Lavi holding what appears to be a hammer that might look a little too heavy all things considering.

He has his eye closed, the head of the hammer pointed upwards as giant seals appear around him, glowing brightly. Gritting his teeth, his eye opens as one of the seals stops and glows a bright red.]

Hi Ban: Gouka Kaijin!

[Slamming the hammer down with the seal stamped onto it, a torrent of flames erupt, taking on the form of a snake that surrounds Lavi briefly before shooting upwards into the sky and disappearing in bits of ashes.]

Comments

[lostinshadows]

[Honestly, Lavi feels as if he might not be drawing out the specifics for Zero, but at the same time, this is drawing out his curiosity to the forefront of his mind.

And effectively distracting him from his own problem.

Lavi rubs the back of his neck.]

Not particularly. You were taking him out on a walk.

1/3

[moonlitknight]

.......

[ That... unfortunately, doesn't sound wrong. ]

2/2

[moonlitknight]

[ But he'll leave that line of thought for another time because he's done with your little walk-around. ]

3/3

[moonlitknight]

[ If you won't get to the point, then he will. ]

I'm not who you remember. [ Whoever that was. ] Whatever happened before, don't expect the same now.

[lostinshadows]

[There's a blink before he laughs, enough that it has the corgi looking up at him curiously.

As he calms down, he gives Zero a grin.]

Oh, I definitely figured that out. It's fine, we were never close anyway back then. All I seemed to do was annoy you every time we've talked.

[moonlitknight]

[ Why are you laughing. -_- ]

I don't see that changing.

[lostinshadows]

No, neither do I.

[He smiles.]

But despite the whole memory loss you're going through, hopefully you've been able to find your footing again here.

[moonlitknight]

[ ..... ]

I know my duties.

[lostinshadows]

Do you mean that as your duties of being a god or as you?

[Because duties can be very conflicting.]

[moonlitknight]

Both.

[ Hunter and God. ]

[lostinshadows]

Then I'll be cheering you on from the side, Mr. Hades.

[A quirk of the lips.]

[moonlitknight]

Zero.

[ He corrects. ]

[lostinshadows]

Zero, then.

[He dips his head in acknowledgment.]

[moonlitknight]

[ A small nod of acknowledgement before Zero turns to leave, heading back to his temple as he leaves dog and owner by themselves. ]

[lostinshadows]

...Wait, I have a question.

[moonlitknight]

[ There's a hesitant pause in his step before he stops, back to him. ]

What is it.

[lostinshadows]

[For once, Lavi himself is hesitant, absentmindedly fidgeting with Sisi in his arms.]

How close were you to your brother? [This isn't a question he'd normally ask, mostly because he normally doesn't care. But Zero might be someone who can help.]

[moonlitknight]

[ He turns to look at him over his shoulder. Eyes cool as snow.

What are you after. ]

What does it matter to you.

[lostinshadows]

I'm wondering how you can deal with the loss of someone special to you.

[It's a weird enough question that Zero is free to walk away, especially if it's enough to bring up bad memories.]

[moonlitknight]

[ He turns then. To fully face him. ]

I didn't.

[ Past tense, implying he had lost him some time ago. ]

But here, I have too.

[ If it came down to his own feelings and Ichiru's well-being, it wasn't even a contest. He'd do anything for his brother. Whatever grief he had to swallow he'd do it. His feelings didn't matter, only Ichiru. ]

[lostinshadows]

[He hears the implication and it causes his expression to shift a bit.

Lavi isn't ignorant enough to miss it, but if Zero had never dealt with it in the past, how could he expect to do so now? Especially when Ichiru's a shinki?]

Would you allow yourself to grieve then if you could?

[moonlitknight]

I didn't know how.

[ It wasn't until Kaito demanded he go see his family's grave that he finally allowed himself to recall the events of that night allowing Ichiru's fragment to surface and reach out to him for the first time since his death. ]

For a long time, I buried more more than my brother in that grave.

[lostinshadows]

More than your brother--your parents, too?

[It's the only connection he could currently make with that.]

[moonlitknight]

[ A dark smile. ]

It's a family grave for a reason.

[ He'd buried his entire family and now all that was left was another vampire they had dedicated their lives to hunt down. ]

[lostinshadows]

[The dark smile causes Lavi's eye to narrow.

But he doesn't push more.]

I see. Sorry for prying.