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

[reformedsinner]

[Well, it's not like they don't both know it's a joke. That information is enough of a surprise that Hakkai drops the innocently questioning expression, though, and blinks in genuine interest.

Allen has a sword that can cut out impurities in a shinki's body without harming them?]

... Was it his shinki who has that form?

[lostinshadows]

No. [Not unless Lux is actually a part of Allen's arm and that--

That's disturbing on its own.]

It was something else.

[reformedsinner]

Hmm.

[Hakkai eyes him for a moment, and then looks back down as Sisi lifts a paw in perfect begging posture. Ah, he's neglected to pay attention to the dog. Clearly this must be remedied: he goes back to scratching the corgi's ears.]

I'd be interested to hear the story, if it's something you're willing to talk about.

[lostinshadows]

Heh.

[Yes, please pay the dog some attention, Hakkai.]

I can't say that it is. All I know is that Allen saw some...dark energy in me and used a special sword to get rid of it. [It's not something he quite likes to remember, but at the same time, it's a toss for him to figure out how much he'd actually tell Hakkai.]

[reformedsinner]

Mm. If I saw someone else with that kind of problem, could I tell them to go speak with Allen?

[Allen had seemed like the sort of person who would jump at the opportunity to help, but if this is a more specific sort of remedy than just curse reversal--

Well, if Lavi can't answer, Hakkai can try asking Allen about it later.]

[lostinshadows]

You could. I won't stop you from directing people if you think it would help.

[And Allen is particularly that kind of person who would jump at the chance to help.]

[reformedsinner]

Then I will.

[Lavi's very cautious about this, isn't he? There's some deeper secret under what he's saying.

It might just be a secret of Allen's, or of Lavi's, though. It's worth a little more investigation, but not interrogation of Lavi; it doesn't seem like he's willing to give many more details just yet.

Hakkai dismisses the subject, and adds cheerfully:]

I hope you've been well otherwise?

[lostinshadows]

[It's more like: how does one tell another that Allen's deformed arm can turn into a sword that supposedly exorcises things?

While it's not in the least bit odd given this place, Lavi feels the urge to keep that to himself.

Hakkai, he still doesn't like you.]

I have. I'm just happy to actually be moving around again without some sort of pain.

[reformedsinner]

Ah, I know the feeling. [He chuckles politely.] I am glad you're feeling better. Please feel free to call me if anything else happens -- although I hope that dark magic is gone for good.

[He glances down at Sisi, and adds, curiously:]

I didn't realize you had a dog.

[Somehow, Lavi doesn't really seem like a pet person.]

[lostinshadows]

We can only hope. I wouldn't enjoy having that sort of experience repeated.

[He shrugs.]

He belongs to my goddess. I was only taking him out for a walk.

[reformedsinner]

Ah, that makes more sense. Very diligent of you, although he seems well-behaved enough....

[Unlike certain other dogs that Hakkai can think of, who are now hopefully keeping Ken and Chikusa company. As annoyed as Chikusa had been by Bon's antics, familarity-- and a large, affectionate dog -- are a good medicine for grief.]

Except for the running off, I suppose. Does he do that often?

[lostinshadows]

[At the question, Lavi groans softly, a hand palming his face.]

Not often, but he does have the tendency to run off and get other people to show him some affection.

[Lowering his hand, he gives Sisi a sort of look that makes the dog seem smug.]

He gave my goddess the same kind of trouble the last time she took him out.

[reformedsinner]

[Hakkai can't help but laugh at that, genuinely, and he ducks his head to give Sisi a severe look.]

I see how it is. Any stranger willing to scratch your ears will do.

[He glances up at Lavi again, still smiling.]

-- Well, at least he's better-behaved than Chikusa's dog.

[lostinshadows]

Not familiar enough with Chikua's dog to agree with that claim.

[Sisi doesn't seem to mind, anyway.

He's getting ear scratches here!

Lavi huffs at the creature.]

Stop going to random people just for some affection.

[reformedsinner]

I'm hoping to convince him to stop tackling strangers as a greeting. He's also much larger than Sisi here....

[Tackling is cute from a corgi. From a hundred-and-fifty pound mastiff, it's slightly more of a problem.

Hakkai blames Hibari's influence.]

Now, now, don't scold him for being sociable.

[lostinshadows]

...He tackles people? Just what kind of dog is he?

[A mastiff is definitely bigger than a corgi.]

I don't mind him being sociable. It's a bit of a pain if he ends up running into someone threatening.

[reformedsinner]

It's a good thing he ran into me, then, I suppose.

[Because Hakkai is clearly unthreatening!

... or at least, Hakkai's unable to resist calling Lavi on that implication, if he meant otherwise. He smiles brightly.]

Bon's a Tibetan mastiff. I had to look up the breed: apparently they were originally bred to help shepherds keep tigers away from their flocks....

[lostinshadows]

[....Lavi just looks at Hakkai dubiously, a silent inquiry as if asking he really believed in his own words at that.]

Right...a really good thing.

[Would it be too much to call him out on that in return?]

...Sounds like a really big dog.

[reformedsinner]

[Hakkai chuckles appreciatively. Well, so long as they're both clear on Lavi's opinion of him... and he isn't unthreatening, after all.

He just has no reason to be otherwise.]

Oh yes. He may be heavier than I am.

[lostinshadows]

[He scoffs.]

Somehow, I don't get the impression that you're really that heavy in the first place, Hakkai.

[If you think that even a giant dog is able to outweigh you.]

[reformedsinner]

Well, I do try to watch what I eat....

[He wouldn't want to resemble Zhu Bajie too much. Or, you know, at all.

Still amused, he adds:]

And it's possible his fur makes him look a bit larger than he is, but he's a very large dog.

[lostinshadows]

It'd be hypocritical of you if the doctor isn't taking good care of himself.

[He huffs a bit.]

A Tibetan mastiff are big dogs in general. The fur would definitely add in to how heavy he is.

[reformedsinner]

It would, wouldn't it? I have to represent my profession well.

[He takes terrible care of himself and everyone who spends any time around him notices it... but, look, as long as they're also too afraid to call him on it it's fine.]

Actually, I'm not sure that Chikusa's caring for him anymore. He might have given him to Sharak Sanzo.

[lostinshadows]

I get the feeling you don't take good care of yourself at all.

[He is no stranger to people who fails at taking care of themselves. He does it all the time.]

Never heard of that person before.

[reformedsinner]

I can't imagine where you'd get that feeling from.

[He sounds very realistically injured, for someone who has had to be carried back home after collapsing. More than once, even. More than once here.]

Ah, haven't you? She's a friend of mine. She has a large chicken flock, and they are herding dogs....