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pc catchall | chroma | itsuki
insert shitpost
[Itsuki looks up at Vax's hand, and his reaction is immediate. He lifts his own hand so he can softly clasp his.]
Right... Right. [because Vax IS right. it might not change anything, but...] If we know what happened, then something will change.
[something, anything. anything to shake him from the way he's teetering, just a little]
Maybe it can help us for next time... If it happens again.
[which it will, as he's starting to realize]
Right... Right. [because Vax IS right. it might not change anything, but...] If we know what happened, then something will change.
[something, anything. anything to shake him from the way he's teetering, just a little]
Maybe it can help us for next time... If it happens again.
[which it will, as he's starting to realize]
[ it's bubble touch time! they're in the void. who cares where!
all that matters is there's one of these bubbles. vax regards it for a moment, regards itsuki, and mutters - ] Might as well get this over with.
[ maybe it won't be that bad. and with that, vax touches the little bubble.
all that matters is there's one of these bubbles. vax regards it for a moment, regards itsuki, and mutters - ] Might as well get this over with.
[ maybe it won't be that bad. and with that, vax touches the little bubble.
and the truth is, the beginning of it is terribly muffled.
you're at the bottom of a hole. vox machina and their friendly band of adventurers have just fought off a beholder in a tomb - the tomb of the champion of the raven queen, in search of a vestige, a godly weapon to help you defeat a conclave of dragons as they attempt to raze your world to the ground. the beholder, while annoying, powerful, and armed with a terrible disintegrate ray, was ultimately not much of a match for you all. you're down at the bottom of this hole, retrieving kima, one of your allies, and you wait for scanlan to throw down the rope so you can clamber back up.
the chaos happens while you're away. you climb, and you climb - you hear a distant thump, and then the sound of footsteps, but that's not unusual.
and you pull yourself to the top of the hole, and you look at your friends, all gathered together, and the joy and easy warmth of a victory on your face turns to nothing.
because as percy turns back to look at you, you realize that he's holding your sister propped up against his body, and she's not moving. not breathing, and your entire world stops.
you're moving before you can even really realize it, the entire world narrowing down to just vex'ahlia, her wide open eyes, her slumped frame. you shove past zhara and kashaw and you drop to your knees in front of vex, your hands shaking, your heart pounding
and you barely have it in you to say: ] ...The fuck happened?
[ your voice is impossibly hoarse, small, barely there, as tears well up in your eyes and drop down your cheeks, as the world seems to go topsy turvy in front of you. not thirty seconds ago, you could hear vex, cooing delightedly to percy about some treasure or other, you looked away for one second just one second and she's -- she's gone.
vex. vex, your sister. your life. your whole heart.
she's gone.
you panic. you reach for the strongest healing potion you have and you pour it in her open mouth. nothing. nothing happens, as the rest of the party stands shellshocked around. it does nothing - you barely even hear as kashaw appears at your shoulder, nudges you away from her, saying something about a ritual, or casting, or something. you want to shove him back, push him away, but you see the glimmer of diamond in his hands and hope sweeps into your chest, desperate. desperate.
"I can bring her back." kashaw says. your chest heaves.
he pulls diamonds, he hesitates, and you, desperate, yell, yell - ] The fuck are you hesitating for?! Do it - what are you hesitating for? Do it!
[ kashaw says something about his god, or something, that she could destroy the entire world in the process of doing this, but you don't care. you don't fucking care, fuck the entire world and fuck the people in it, you don't give a shit if it means that vex'ahlia comes back.
as kashaw starts the resurrection ritual, you watch, staring at vex, watching the energy from the spell move to vex's body.
percy helps first. then zhara. (to 4:30:02, for more details.)
and then it's you.
and you know what you're going to do. you sit in this temple, in this tomb to the goddess of death, the matron of death (and you see her standing behind your sister, waiting to take her soul away - you can see her silhouette) and you think to yourself
no.
you push past kashaw and you grab your sister's body, and you pull her close, and you look that silhouette straight in the face, and you say, with all of the fury and the misery and the grief driven courage that you have: ] Take me instead, you raven bitch.
[ the dark, female form stares back at you. the raven queen. you know it, just by looking, and you don't care. you face down god herself.
she steps forward, and reaches her hand towards you. you do not break. you stare.
she nods.
and then, suddenly, you feel the rush of magic through your veins - and you wait, and you wait, and you stare this figure down, down, down - and the silence kills you, one moment, two
then the raven queen is gone.
and vex'ahlia, your sister, your entire heart, your life, your other half, your everything, takes a deep, gasping, living breath as the pact is complete. (@ 4:32:54.) ]
Edited 2022-03-07 20:21 (UTC)
[Itsuki has seen a lot of memories. He's used to being an observer, and he knows when to stay quiet and watch. This is... There's a lot about this memory that's new -- and interesting too -- but the core part of it, the emotions that he can feel from it are familiar. And painful.
That desperation, the way Vax holds onto the girl who looks so much like him, twins -- his heart is in his throat. He doesn't want to see a sad ending, he doesn't want it to end badly,
He lets out a breath the same time Vex does, and the memory fades around them.]
...Was she -- were you... [okay? alive? taken? having clearly made some kind of deal?] ...I'm glad that worked.
[it did, right.... he knows only from what he sees in Vax's memory, but that's his genuine feeling. He's glad that Vex is alive, and that Vax hadn't lost her...]
That desperation, the way Vax holds onto the girl who looks so much like him, twins -- his heart is in his throat. He doesn't want to see a sad ending, he doesn't want it to end badly,
He lets out a breath the same time Vex does, and the memory fades around them.]
...Was she -- were you... [okay? alive? taken? having clearly made some kind of deal?] ...I'm glad that worked.
[it did, right.... he knows only from what he sees in Vax's memory, but that's his genuine feeling. He's glad that Vex is alive, and that Vax hadn't lost her...]
[ actually now that i'm rereading it you didn't vex me nevermind i just can't read
ah.
it's... it's hard, to watch it again. when they blink free of the memory, there are tears at the corners of his eyes, and vax's hand is resting over his heart.
he has to shake his head. once, twice, to clear it, before he realizes that itsuki is talking to him, and vax's voice comes out rough, a little distant. ]
....yeah. She's... she's fine. My sister's fine.
[ he has to keep reminding himself of that, here. vex is fine. ] ...Sorry.
ah.
it's... it's hard, to watch it again. when they blink free of the memory, there are tears at the corners of his eyes, and vax's hand is resting over his heart.
he has to shake his head. once, twice, to clear it, before he realizes that itsuki is talking to him, and vax's voice comes out rough, a little distant. ]
....yeah. She's... she's fine. My sister's fine.
[ he has to keep reminding himself of that, here. vex is fine. ] ...Sorry.
[It can't be an easy memory to see, and Itsuki has seen many -- his and others. This one strikes a chord with him though -- Vax's love for his sister, obviously -- but just that sheer desperation. How does it feel to put your entire life on the line for someone you love? To just do it without being afraid?
he shakes his head]
No, I'm glad to know. Well -- I'm not glad that our memories are out there for everyone to see, but... I'm glad she's okay.
[for vax of course, but also for their cluster of comrades, similarly afraid]
...You and Percy-kun are from the same place? Like Shuu-kun and Yasu-kun?
he shakes his head]
No, I'm glad to know. Well -- I'm not glad that our memories are out there for everyone to see, but... I'm glad she's okay.
[for vax of course, but also for their cluster of comrades, similarly afraid]
...You and Percy-kun are from the same place? Like Shuu-kun and Yasu-kun?
...Appreciate it. [ aw, sweet itsuki... he gives him a little smile, mouth quirking up a bit now that the memory has faded away.
he's not quite shaken by it, but it's still hard to watch, hard to relive those feelings of loss and panic. hard to think about vex being dead - even though he knows, now, how this story ends. ]
... we are, yeah. Teammates, or something like it. We traveled together.
he's not quite shaken by it, but it's still hard to watch, hard to relive those feelings of loss and panic. hard to think about vex being dead - even though he knows, now, how this story ends. ]
... we are, yeah. Teammates, or something like it. We traveled together.
[rooftop birb... gu yun in spirit...
Itsuki will shuffle up here sooner or later, hands in his pockets.]
...Hey.
[is vax on the railing like the birb he is]
Itsuki will shuffle up here sooner or later, hands in his pockets.]
...Hey.
[is vax on the railing like the birb he is]
[ he is on the railing! yeah! of course he is. he's just kind of looking out into the void, at the moment, deep in thought; but when itsuki addresses him, he turns, and immediately, his expression shifts into one of concern. ]
...hey, Fluffy.
[ :( ]
...hey, Fluffy.
[ :( ]
[fluffy... :( his face twitches into a half-hearted smile at that, before he leans on the railing next to him]
...He listened to me last week.
[chinatsu too, but he's thinking of Chang Geng for this, maybe because it's a friday again, and it had been chang geng who found buzen's body,]
Even though I was trying to pretend I wasn't a wreck -- he saw right through me.
...He listened to me last week.
[chinatsu too, but he's thinking of Chang Geng for this, maybe because it's a friday again, and it had been chang geng who found buzen's body,]
Even though I was trying to pretend I wasn't a wreck -- he saw right through me.
[im so sad itsuki's not still a furry,
he'll nudge back]
...Yeah. He seemed like he'd been through a lot, but... [still so kind, Itsuki knows enough of the world to know that's a rare quality.
he's quiet for a moment,]
...You okay?
he'll nudge back]
...Yeah. He seemed like he'd been through a lot, but... [still so kind, Itsuki knows enough of the world to know that's a rare quality.
he's quiet for a moment,]
...You okay?
[ he tilts his head, looking up at the sky overhead. ]
... Death is a part of life. Whether we dread it, or run from it, it's a part of life all the same. [ is first, his voice soft. that goddess who came close to him, the goddess of the raven queen - it's her mantra, one he wears close to himself. ] Even if the threads here that are cut are cut too early, or not right, they're still...
[ ... ]
...I'm okay. [ he thinks about chinatsu's silly laughter and her big, bright smile, and he shakes his head. ] I can't say I'm not used to loss.
What about you?
... Death is a part of life. Whether we dread it, or run from it, it's a part of life all the same. [ is first, his voice soft. that goddess who came close to him, the goddess of the raven queen - it's her mantra, one he wears close to himself. ] Even if the threads here that are cut are cut too early, or not right, they're still...
[ ... ]
...I'm okay. [ he thinks about chinatsu's silly laughter and her big, bright smile, and he shakes his head. ] I can't say I'm not used to loss.
What about you?
[Itsuki thinks back on Vax's memory, remembers that he would know the weight of that especially.
maybe that's why hearing his words calms something in him, makes it settle, even if he's not any less sad.]
I'm hanging in there. ...I'll miss them both, and I'm gonna have a bad time tomorrow while we figure things out, but... It's like you said before. Better to find out, than not.
maybe that's why hearing his words calms something in him, makes it settle, even if he's not any less sad.]
I'm hanging in there. ...I'll miss them both, and I'm gonna have a bad time tomorrow while we figure things out, but... It's like you said before. Better to find out, than not.
Mmn.
[ if there's one thing vax has become kind of wise about, it's death. becoming a paladin does that to you.
he glances over at itsuki as he speaks, finally, just checking him over. he looks worried, the concern on his face clear and visible even just like this, though it's gentle. ]
...You've really gone through it here, huh? [ sweet itsuki :( ] 'm sorry, Fluffy. For your loss.
[ if there's one thing vax has become kind of wise about, it's death. becoming a paladin does that to you.
he glances over at itsuki as he speaks, finally, just checking him over. he looks worried, the concern on his face clear and visible even just like this, though it's gentle. ]
...You've really gone through it here, huh? [ sweet itsuki :( ] 'm sorry, Fluffy. For your loss.
[the trajectory of depression here,
It takes a long moment for Itsuki to decide -- maybe out of cowardice, maybe out of shame. But concern wins out. He can't help but think back on the memory he'd seen, and how close Vax and Percy are -- just from seeing them interact around the prism.
...This has got to hurt.
He's looking at all the high places a birb could be, if he's not around then he'll shoot a text later, but for now...
....
...where's vax?]
It takes a long moment for Itsuki to decide -- maybe out of cowardice, maybe out of shame. But concern wins out. He can't help but think back on the memory he'd seen, and how close Vax and Percy are -- just from seeing them interact around the prism.
...This has got to hurt.
He's looking at all the high places a birb could be, if he's not around then he'll shoot a text later, but for now...
....
...where's vax?]
[ it's okay, because vax is really hard to find! he can take a long time. in fact, as he searches through the high places, he won't find anything, at first.
... but if he's persistent, and if he waits around long enough, he might hear a low, rough voice from the shadows, if he's on the apartment roof. ]
...What are you doing?
... but if he's persistent, and if he waits around long enough, he might hear a low, rough voice from the shadows, if he's on the apartment roof. ]
...What are you doing?
im really glad you're both okay
how's percy
how are you
[HE HAS TO SAY THAT FIRST, HELLO THE EMOTIONAL TOIL THEY'VE BOTH BEEN THROUGH]
how's percy
how are you
[HE HAS TO SAY THAT FIRST, HELLO THE EMOTIONAL TOIL THEY'VE BOTH BEEN THROUGH]
yeah
[he put it the best way honestly]
it was a lot for sure but we were only watching
can't imagine how you guys feel
[he put it the best way honestly]
it was a lot for sure but we were only watching
can't imagine how you guys feel
yeah
i thought she looked familiar
[it takes a moment but Itsuki will send a picture over the phone,
the picture is of that moment -- of the barest outline of a woman with long hair in a braid, with a feather tucked in it, resting her hands on Percy and Vax,
he's taken some artistic license here -- percy and vax aren't injured and bloody for one, but it's a mostly accurate rendition. sometimes, your heliotrope power is good for something,]
i thought she looked familiar
[it takes a moment but Itsuki will send a picture over the phone,
the picture is of that moment -- of the barest outline of a woman with long hair in a braid, with a feather tucked in it, resting her hands on Percy and Vax,
he's taken some artistic license here -- percy and vax aren't injured and bloody for one, but it's a mostly accurate rendition. sometimes, your heliotrope power is good for something,]
the library, why?
[does vax need help... but if he did then he'd ask itsuki to come over right]
[does vax need help... but if he did then he'd ask itsuki to come over right]
✅ SEEN AT XX:XXPM
[ well that seems rude!
it's not, though. it takes vax a little longer than usual, but he appears in the archway and then makes his way through the library, spotting wherever itsuki's hanging out, and calling - ] Fluffy. Can I see?
[ well that seems rude!
it's not, though. it takes vax a little longer than usual, but he appears in the archway and then makes his way through the library, spotting wherever itsuki's hanging out, and calling - ] Fluffy. Can I see?
Sure -- yeah.
[im gonna say that Vax has caught Itsuki before his power fades,
the image is still in the air, exactly like the picture on the phone.]
...The still images last the longest. It usually vanishes quicker if I add motion or sound to it.
[im gonna say that Vax has caught Itsuki before his power fades,
the image is still in the air, exactly like the picture on the phone.]
...The still images last the longest. It usually vanishes quicker if I add motion or sound to it.
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