It's been a while, hasn't it?

[1andnotthesame.livejournal.com]

[And well, besides the mun being a pile of fail they've actually got a reason for why they haven't been around, haven't contacted anyone for all this time.

They're in hiding.

After what happened, Ryuusei's found it prudent to keep out of touch. They haven't even returned to their subway home, instead leaving Raichyuu's body near Old Momentum to come back to life, like all those who died on the island, and just hiding. Never staying in one place for longer than a day, never reaching out to talk with others. They've kept themselves completely alone, as best as they can.

But as much as they're trying to keep safe, they're slipping. More and more it's becoming evident that the bond between the two is strained, that something is different between them. They talk, but it's not as often or as closely as before. They stay close, but it's clear that both want to go in two different directions: Ryuusei wants to continue hiding, surviving, Yuusei wants to go back, to face things down even when they're clearly not equipped to handle things, might even make the situation worse.

And it's clear that both of them are struggling with their own internal struggles. Ryuusei looks haggard and harried, and if he could get tired, he'd certainly look the part. Ever since that damn thing had tried to strike a deal with Mallki, the damn weed had been seeking out cracks in his guard, had slowly been trying to grow through them and gain control. It was a little easier, seeing as he had lost the card some time before, but at the same time, it was harder-the loss of a channeling object had made Mallki all the more determined to break free and either reclaim it or craft a replacement.

Meanwhile, Yuusei looks as if he's struggling to still see his brother the same way he always has, with the same rose-tinted glasses that most people tended to look through. But even so, even with his more forgiving demeanor, his willingness to see the good in everyone, his nature also forces him to acknowledge the brutal truth, to see what he's usually good at not seeing.

To see that his brother, in terms of personality, in terms of who, if not what he is: that he's just as much an extension of Mallki as he is one-half of a broken, wayward soul. That he could easily be one or the other, but never both, not without conflict.

With all this time to face these thoughts and only these thoughts, they're slipping. They're not hiding quite as well as they used to be, not quite as obscure as they once were. It's easy to catch some noise coming from their direction, spot them turning a corner, catching up to them-perhaps a small, betraying impulse of their bodies and (half) minds-a desire for human contact, perhaps a brief relief from their strain, if only for a short while.]


[[ooc: So yeah, I'll probably be tagging real slow-like so if I take a long time to reply, I'm sorry! Mostly I'm doing this just to have an excuse to direct y'all's attention to this modpost. Plus I just miss RP-ing here. ;w; ]]

Comments

o-omg hi :'DD

[academiaruka.livejournal.com]

Yuusei! Ryuusei-san!

[Have a Ruka running up to the twins. She missed them <3]

hey there :3

[1andnotthesame.livejournal.com]

You-?!

[Oh hey, he's surprised, although he doesn't like to admit it. It's been so long without human company, after all.]

[academiaruka.livejournal.com]

[Both of them get hugs~]

Yup! [Grin] How've you guys been~?

[1andnotthesame.livejournal.com]

[When she hugs them, she might feel the dirt and grime on their coats brush off on her-they smell awful, the usual scent of motor oil hidden under the pungent scent of sweat and blood and dirt. They clearly haven't been keeping well, and it's even more apparent when Yuusei gives her a tired smile, shadows under his eyes as they close slightly.]

Ah...we've held together, for the most part. [It's the best he can say without outright lying.]

[academiaruka.livejournal.com]

[She frowns; that's not good.]

When's the last time you slept...? [She's worried now]

[1andnotthesame.livejournal.com]

It ain't lack of sleep that's bothering him.

[It isn't quite a lie, but its enough of one that he can get away with it. They (or rather, Yuusei) haven't slept much, but...there are other things keeping him up, even if he slept, there are still things weighing them down and keeping them tired. All these worries...]

[academiaruka.livejournal.com]

[She frowns more and starts thinking; there has to be something she can do to help them, right?]

Oh...

[1andthesame.livejournal.com]

[Oh hey, look who else just decided to pop up.

He's looking...confused, to say the least.]

[1andnotthesame.livejournal.com]

...You? Again?

[Nah, he's not bothering to hide the distaste in his voice. Then again, did he ever?]

[1andthesame.livejournal.com]

Hello to you too, Ryuusei.

[1andnotthesame.livejournal.com]

[Ryuusei just harrumphs at that.] I'd say hi, but I'm still not entirely sure how to address you, no-name.

[1andthesame.livejournal.com]

I have a name.

[1andnotthesame.livejournal.com]

Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise.

[And despite all the sarcasm he tries to put in it, his-or rather Yuusei's-curiosity is piqued. Neither of them have forgotten the last time they met up...]

wahhh gaaaaaaale /tackles!

[raichyuu.livejournal.com]

[And here's the Raichu brought back by a Max Revive! or something like that. He's a little sluggish, having just coming back to life a few days ago. He's almost positive that the twins have perished, all because he couldn't protect him. So, he's doing the Yuusei thing and blaming himself.]

[But he sees the two and takes off running towards them, hoping this isn't some kind of cruel joke.]

Ryuusei, Yuusei!!

uuuwah! *tackl'd*

[1andnotthesame.livejournal.com]

...Ah! [So you're back. He's certainly happy to see you, Pichyuu Raichyuu. Ryuusei, on the other hand...not so much. But that's what you can really expect from them, eh?]

I hope you get moar internet access soon! ♥

[raichyuu.livejournal.com]

[RAICHYUU USED TACKLE HUG. He ran and and embraced Yuusei tightly, holding him and balancing so Yuusei wouldn't fall for the ground. He just held on to Yuusei with his face buried in the nape of his neck and stayed there, digging his nails into Yuusei's back. He was way passed happy to see that they were okay.]

<3~

[1andnotthesame.livejournal.com]

((what tackle hugs are always okay from their adopted kidletmon))

Ahh... [He doesn't say much. It's startled him, yes, because even if Pichyuu was fond of tackle hugging, Raichyuu was fully grown. It was strange to have a fully grown double jumptackle that way. But he's accepting of it nonetheless, as long as the other man is aware that he can't use as much force as he'd used to like he was young (being tacklehugged by Pichyuu was like being hit in the stomach by a football).]

*shares moar cupcakes*

[raichyuu.livejournal.com]

((ffff kidletmon♥))

[Raichyuu just holds tighter, and tries not to cry out of happiness or whatever he was feeling right now, but his breaths and words come out in shuddered.]

Y-You're... alright...

Re: *shares moar cupcakes*

[1andnotthesame.livejournal.com]

((i can come up with nicknames all day seriousl 8U))

[Yuusei nods, reaching up to headpat Raichyuu.] A...aa...Niisan managed to snap out of it and get us out of there while the double was surprised...

[stardustg2ma288]

[Oh guess who's bumped into you two? He's not Lumiere anymore, though... he looks tormented and sick and horribly thin. Someone's freed him, at least for now. His footfalls are completely silent, even his breathing muted as if he fears what that very breath would do to those around him.

When he realizes who he just bumped into, he reels back with a shriek, flailing with his hands to keep the twins from getting too close. He's terrified of what he'll do to them.]

[1andnotthesame.livejournal.com]

[Just so you know, Chimera, it was Ryuu. Probably not the best of the two to bump into.]

...!!! YOU! [He doesn't seem to quite register that you're still not Lumiere yet.]

[stardustg2ma288]

[Chimera collapses to the his knees, hunched over, his hands over his head to protect himself. He's sobbing, fear pouring off him in an overwhelming flood. He can't control the way his emotions are projecting, it's taking everything he has just to hold the City back.]

[1andnotthesame.livejournal.com]

[Like Ryuu cares.]

Oi. Get up and face me like a man.

[stardustg2ma288]

Get away from me before something happens!

[It feels them. It knows the twins are right there, and it starts clawing for freedom. Chimera's voice pitches into a frightened scream, the tears coming like rain.]

PLEASE! RUN AWAY NOW!

[1andnotthesame.livejournal.com]

!!! But- [Yuusei knows exactly what Chimera's scared for, what he doesn't want to happen...and yet he's been wanting to go back. Wanting to help even when he can't...]