catchall for kaoru

[leaberator]

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WEEK 0, MONDAY

[leaberator]

[ wow ty i sure hope you had a plan for this thread when you asked it because Lea's just hanging out near the fire area, lazily tracing fire patterns in the sky as he sits smack dab on the ground.

tfw you wanna practice to test your new skills but your new skills is your old skill and you don't actually care that much anymore ]

[twinsightful]

[Implying I have a braincell. But Lea's here and while he's hanging out, Kaoru enters the area. He's doing his best not to actually draw attention to himself, but that's a little hard when there's someone sitting right there.

On the other hand, Lea is someone Kaoru had an interest in finding anyway, so he stops just before him.]

How are you getting it to work like that?

[leaberator]

[ he turns to Kaoru with a blink, turning off the fire like it's as easy as fucking air because SOMEONE has a type advantage ]

The fire? Ah, well... Truth is, I can kinda do similar stuff to this back home.

[twinsightful]

[Huh.]

Another world of magic? Is it just with fire?

[leaberator]

Nah, there's all kinds of it. Earth, water, electricity, gravity, time, ice, illusions... light and darkness.

[ that last one is said a bit wryly, considering their circumstances ]

There's a bunch I haven't listed to, but my thing's kinda always just been fire, personally.

[twinsightful]

Weird. [That's a lot of stuff he wasn't even aware was real. This is a lot to process. It also sounds like RPG video game mumbo jumbo but whatever, it's fine. It's fine. Nevertheless he did actually come to find Axel for a reason.]

Lili said you were helping her with her powers. Is that true?

[leaberator]

Kinda, yeah.

[ he says it a bit amused, because he knows in most worlds magic is still kind of a big deal. at the follow up, he rubs the back of his neck a bit ]

Oh. Yeah, I guess. Dunno how much help I was for real, but it's not like it was a lotta trouble.

[twinsightful]

[A nod, and also some awkward fidgeting.]

...burning down our house sounds less appealing if this is really where we're supposed to be staying. She said I should ask you.

[For help. But words.]

[leaberator]

[ is he nervous to ask for help? axel can't help but let out a low laugh, stretching a bit ]

For help? Sure, I can give it a shot. I'm not exactly the mentor type, though. [ he said, lyingly ] You manage anything tangible yet?

[twinsightful]

[Part of it is definitely still feeling out strangers, and the other part is having to admit he took Lili's advice.]

Not on purpose. [He looks at his hands.] I made some flames on the first day but nothing since then.

[leaberator]

Alright. What was the context for it? [ he expands, gesturing vaguely: ] I know Lili's thing only started when she was angry, so what about you?

[twinsightful]

[Ahah...]

...the same. We sort of figured it out at the same time.

[Because there's only one bed.]

[leaberator]

[ ... pffthahaha no axel be good don't laugh at the kid ]

Hopefully you didn't set the bed on fire. [ teasing? is fair game? tho? ] Makes sense. Since it's new for you guys, it only shows up when you feel strongly about stuff. As far as emotions go, anger's especially explosive, too.

[ he says that a bit wry, like he's thinking about something specific. ]

Alright, come over here. But face away from me, I don't wanna check if I'm fireproof.

WEEK 5, SATURDAY

[leaberator]

[ wherever kaoru is, axel finds him!! ]

Hey, kid.

[twinsightful]

[He's, surprisingly, at the circus and sitting behind the cannon. Axel finds him and he looks up, expression blank and uncertain.]

Axel. Hey. [And that's all he says.] ...did you need something?

[leaberator]

... [ he takes out a friendship bracelet ]

I know you know about the whole... corruption solution deal. But there's still some time left to make sure that's our only option. Until then, I'd rather keep casualties lower. I got this thing from the gateway trip I went on with Miki.

[ he sighs ]

Xion's got the other one. If you both wear them, you'll be made partners.

[twinsightful]

[Eyeing that suspiciously, and also trying not to flinch at the use of Miki's name, he doesn't immediately reach for it.]

...why me? What about...?

[leaberator]

Well, for one thing, Lili would kill me.

[ that's not funny and he knows it ]

I made sure to give Saïx the option, but I already knew he wouldn't have wanted it. He's got a whole... complex. You saw it the last time, right?

[twinsightful]

[There's a slow nod. He understands, but...] I've never figured out why but that's not really my business. [Hm.] Who told you I knew?

[A beat.] Lili would be furious, but that's hardly her choice.

[leaberator]

The gossip circle in this place is so real.

[ that's all he says about that ]

I wouldn't exactly be thrilled seeing you dead either, Lili or not.

[twinsightful]

I can make guesses. [He goes quiet again.] ...if it was only one of them I could...but...

[He stops talking because he's not in the mood to fall apart. It takes a second, but he eventually finds words.]

I'll take care of her. If that's the choice you're making, my choice is obvious.
[Even if he'd love to follow his partner and girlfriend to death.]

[leaberator]

... I'm sorry.

[ somehow, he's not sure what else to say. ]

[twinsightful]

Don't be. [He should be grateful for the chance to live, frankly.] I understand completely...and it means she'll live and I believe she deserves that.

[...] You kept Miki safe, didn't you? And Lili liked you. [So. That's even more reason to listen.]

[leaberator]

... Is that what she said? I'd say she did a lot more to keep me safe than the other way around.

[ ... ]

But yeah. I liked both of them, too.

[twinsightful]

Something to that effect. She mentioned who she was with and given the other two choices I would trust you with her life more than I would the others.

[...] So thank you for being kind to both of them. That's really all I can say.