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]

Tough, but not impossible. There's a difference.

[His grip on the handle tightens, almost possessively.]

Can't say that I am. I'm a little selfish when it comes to these sort of things.

[demonsheath]

[ Don't worry, Lavi. She's not even trying go get closer.

While Hannah may have no memories, she could only have a survivor's instinct to get to her actual age. ]

So no demonstration of these other things? A shame.

[ She has no interest in trying the weapon out herself, Lavi. ]

[lostinshadows]

[Lavi chuckles.]

We're not particularly close for me to demonstrate anything more.

[As if Tettsui can be used by anyone else other than its chosen user.

He's still wary, still not used to displaying things to anyone he doesn't feel comfortable around.]

[demonsheath]

[ She at least has enough respect to not even try. Just as she wasn't about to push the boundaries of an already rocky relationship. Not that there's much of one at all, but she still recognizes and respects those limits. ]

No, I suppose we're not. You've made that refreshingly clear.

[ Lavi was one of the few, so far, that was open about not trusting her and saying it was more instinctual than anything he could pin down in particular. ]

My apologies for pushing my curiosity.

[lostinshadows]

It's better being blunt to you than allowing you to think otherwise.

[Even though he suspects that she wouldn't be bothered by such a trifling thing.]

I don't mind the curiosity. If we were closer, I'd be more willing to show you.

[demonsheath]

I prefer it this way, honestly. It makes things easier when everyone is open with their feelings, whether or not I understand the reason why.

[ Which is also why she doesn't push things with a comment of them possibly being closer in the future. That would only complicate things further and implicate there being an agenda where she hadn't thought of one yet. ]

[lostinshadows]

At least you can tell for sure whether or not those people could be considered two-face.

[He can respect that, at least.]

[demonsheath]

Do you often come across people like that?

[lostinshadows]

Only the fair few.

[demonsheath]

Then I suppose it's up to me to recognize when I come across these 'fair few.'

[lostinshadows]

[A laugh escapes.]

Oh, I've no doubt that you'd be able to recognize them soon.

[demonsheath]

Are they quite active or social?

[ Which were similar in this place, but different enough. She'd been lucky enough to come across mostly direct people.

Aside from Hakkai, who she couldn't quite read, but felt something of a kinship with. ]

[lostinshadows]

Active, mostly.

[A glance at her before he tightens his grip on Tettsui again, silently commanding it to revert to is deactivated form.]

[demonsheath]

[ That certainly answered one of her curiosities about this unusual weapon- Or was it only really a weapon to demons, such as it was designed for? At least from what Lavi said. ]

That certainly makes it easier to travel around with.

[lostinshadows]

It is. Carrying a giant mallet around would attract too much attention.

[demonsheath]

Though I imagine this will still draw in more than you might want.

[ It's still something of a war hammer. Not many people carry that around. ]

[lostinshadows]

A lot better than allowing people to see what kind of seals it has.

[demonsheath]

Would it help if I promise not to ask about anything that seems to be related to this... demon extermination lifestyle?

[ She's pretty sure it's not a complete jab at him wanting her to avoid getting too familiar with him, but the promise could help. She can accept and respect that he's wary and could prefer that she keep her distance.

It's not as if he's the only one with those feelings in this place. ]

[lostinshadows]

[That simply gets Lavi to look somewhat interested, if not just a little intrigued.

He flips the hammer in his hands.]

That's fair enough.

[demonsheath]

[ She's simply making notes and offering things based off of how uneasy she seems to make him. Who knows, maybe it'll help her figure out why his instincts are having him act that way. ]

And for the best, yes? Given that you've essentially said it's your instincts that has made you wary of me, we probably won't ever be familiar enough for you to share such things. It's easier to keep that off the table.

[ It's more a fact than anything else- she's certainly not holding it against the 'exterminator,' though exorcist would probably be just as effective a term, she supposes. Though it's more unconventional compared to what comes to mind. ]

[lostinshadows]

....

[He laughs.]

You're an interesting person, Miss Hannah. [The title can be considered an easy slip of the tongue or there's possibly something more to it.

Not really an acknowledgment of deserving the title, but he's no less genuine than he has been so far.]

[demonsheath]

[ She'll take that as a bit of progress, whether or not she deserved such a 'title,' if that counted as such. ]

Am I now? To think, I was simply being considerate.

[lostinshadows]

If that's what people calls being 'considerate' nowadays.

[But his hammer grows again, a seal appearing underneath him.]

[demonsheath]

I can't say anything about how things are 'nowadays.'

[ Yet her instinct, after hearing what the hammer is, is to take a step further away as the hammer starts to grow. She's not particularly thinking on that. After all, if you thought too much on your actions and responses, it'd make interactions less organic. ]

Was I wrong?

[lostinshadows]

...Thank you for your consideration.

Might take another step back, though.

[Because the seal is getting bigger.]