burningrescue | lio catch all

[Afterwards, he doesn't go looking for Lio, exactly. It's more like he can't possibly avoid running into Lio after everything. He can't really go off without looking towards Lio as he does.]

[Lio doesn't bother to avoid catching Galo's eye as he leaves the scene of the trial. He supposes their "plan" had worked as intended. Though there's no proving it, beyond the fact they're both still alive.

Still, Lio won't wait to talk to him immediately after trial ends. He disappears off into the house before Galo can catch up. Eventually, much later, he can probably run into him where he's likely to be: in front of the fire in the library again.]

[That. Kind of pisses him off. That Lio really would leave, like they don't have anything to talk about. He stubbornly avoids going to look for him for a while. But a little later, he happens to just be in the library, too.]

[He honestly didn't intend it to be cruel. He simply had to process. He didn't want to speak to anyone immediately after. Looking up when Galo walks in, stopping the incessant clicking on the lighter he was doing.]

. . . Thymos.

Thymos is my last name. The first name's Galo. Looks like you forgot, Lio Fotia!

[He's acting like he somehow got one over on Lio with this lame opener.]

[GOD he hates him]

I remember it. I wrote the whole thing on my vote. Did you vote for me?

I said I would, didn't I?

[...]

It didn't help Nikki.

You did.

[Turning back to the fire, going back to clicking the lighter on and off, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees.]

No.

[Making a bit of a face at Lio's lighter safety, but he isn't going to try to take that away from him right now. Sighing, exhausted.]

But you were right. Everyone made up their minds already.

For many, it is easier to have someone to blame.

[For what it's worth, he isn't judging them too harshly. Looking over again once he sighs out, then at the space next to him on the floor.]

Are you going to sit?

[Wow, an invitation to sit. That's new.

Lio's comment about being Kray's dog is still pretty clear in his mind. But after the trial, he can't hate Lio for feeling that way. He only hates that Lio sees him that way. So he wordlessly accepts the invitation, sitting cross legged in front of the fire, finding his gaze fixed on Lio.]

You tried to fight them in the morning. What changed?

I should have kept fighting, I realize now.

[He hasn't forgotten that Galo is Kray Foresight's pathetic dog, either, or, rather, he isn't thinking of it now . . . for now, he wants to talk. So he's doing that. He looks ahead instead, at the little flame from the lighter.]

Michiru . . . seemed upset. We wanted answers. I thought an answer might help.

[The thing is, he respects Lio so damn much. Everything Lio says, everything he does, aside from the mess that's between them. It only makes Galo respect him and like him even more.]

...I didn't think you'd care that much about something like that.

[He didn't mean that as rude as it sounds. Just. Michiru is a random girl, and not one of Lio's Burnish.]

[It certainly comes across as rude! Lio's expression tightens, finally turning to look at him, but it's with a sharp glare. If he had flames still, it'd be likely he'd be firing one at him for that.]

Why would I not care? Am I not human? I don't want to see any of these people suffer.

[Oops. He's immediately apologetic, though.]

Sorry! I didn't mean it like that. I know you don't want anyone to suffer.

[Trying to think how to explain without making Lio even more angry.]

It just seemed, uh, kind of sentimental. Or some people would say it was sentimental. I didn't expect you to be.

[He honestly didn't expect Galo to back down so quickly - he blinks a bit in surprise when he does. Scoffing and turning back forward again, breaking his gaze.]

What did you expect, exactly?

I dunno. I expected you to care about what was happening, and want to stop them from killing anyone else. I guess I thought you'd think one girl's feelings weren't as important as the bigger stuff.

[Shrugging!]

Obviously I got it wrong.

[bro did u come in here just to throw me into an existential crisis. He finally stops flicking the lighter, putting it back into his pocket and sitting with his arms wrapped across his chest instead. He thinks that one over for a long time - quiet for probably a full minute before he responds.]

Maybe I am getting distracted.

[Shaking his head, fierce.]

No. It's right to care about people. If you decide the only thing that matters is the bigger picture, you're going to wind up hurting a lot of innocent people along the way.

[He's. Definitely thinking about Kray right now. And how Lio isn't like Kray. There's the Lio who was willing to burn down an entire city, and there's the Lio who brought food to hungry kids and was determined to save a dying girl's life. The Lio who thinks Michiru's feelings mattered. He wants to think the latter is who Lio really is.]

[Lio isn't sure who this Lio is. Somewhere between the Lio willing to burn the whole city, willing to kill Kray Foresight, and the Lio who only wants a peaceful life for the Burnish. He knows he burns too hot, too quickly, that unless there's some lines he keeps for himself, he could cross a threshold and never look back. He could stop caring and consume it all in flame instead.

He had also known, on a level, that it was obvious Galo feels like that. That people matter - he works as a rescuer and had offered to help save the life of a dying Burnish. But it doesn't fit with the image of him as loyal dog, willing to ignore the suffering of others in the name of a monster who tells him not to look. He doesn't want to respect him, but he does. Right now, anyway.

He digs his hands into his hair, sighing out.]

So, is what we did wrong? The voting. Is putting others at risk for our morals hurting innocent people?

[Shrugging. He doesn't really know the answer to that.]

I don't think it's wrong. I don't know if it's right, either, though. I don't want to play their dumbshit games, and I don't think it's hurting anyone, but I don't think it's helping, either.

It's okay, but okay isn't enough. You know?

[Same . . . moral system . . . same moral system!

Actually looking at him now, like he's not quite sure what to make of this. Like a dog started to talk.]

I know.

[Yeah. Gazing at him and meeting his eye contact. It's very intense. Nexus starts to play again.]

So...if you're going to fight them again, if you have a plan, let me know.

[There isn't even a rat here to cut the tension this time! Lio feels . . . conflicted. Like maybe he shouldn't have just asked Galo to discuss his choices, brought him into this. But he wanted to, and did it.

Just nodding.]

[How can they be expected to just stew in all this tension without a rat or giant robot or hologram to distract them???

Haha what if we kissed in our week 0 post trial log and we were both rivals 😳😳 just kidding...unless...

(He isn’t doing it but there’s. A vibe.) ]

W 0 - Post Trial

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