burningrescue | lio catch all

[He wants to scream. He wants to erupt into flames and burn the whole room down with them both in it, until it is nothing but ash. He wants to grab Galo's injured hand and squeeze until he can feel how tight his chest felt in those moments when thought he might have doomed Galo along with his friend.]

You promised me.

I know I did. Fuck.

[He feels guilty, too. He actually does get why this was a big deal; how angry and betrayed he'd feel if Lio did the same thing to him. But Galo can't ever look anything but defiant in the face of being yelled at.]

But I was worried somebody else would vote for you!

I don't care! I will not carry the burden of watching you die by your own hand! We made that decision together, you will respect it!

[Pacing in a little circle, like he can't quite figure out what to do if he stops moving.]

It won't happen again!

[He shouts it at Lio, still defensive, but also trying to break through his anger and at least get that key point through his head. He knew as soon as the votes closed he'd made a mistake.]

[He isn't even truly angry is the thing. Just desperately, desperately sad, and scrambling at the walls of a thousand things inside his brain. Does he not trust me, does he not trust me, does he not trust me.]

You're right. It won't. We will not be voting for each other. We will have to make decisions - who we actually think it is.

[He trusts him. He'd rather have his fingers cut off than risk losing him. He's sorry for the betrayal but he's not sorry for feeling that way.

...But he nods.]

Maybe you're right. I had no fucking clue who it was this time. But I knew, I knew it wasn't him. I think almost everybody had to know.

It was an easy answer to an unsolvable problem in the moment.

[ He finally sits down. On the edge of the bed. Collapsing into himself a little, now that the heat has burnt off.]

To allow others to make difficult decisions while we stand by . . . I cannot do it anymore. If I am wrong, the consequences will be the same as this. Failure.

Okay. If that's how you feel, I'm with you.

[He's more conflicted than Lio, but he knows Lio is conflicted in the same ways he is. If Lio's reached a conclusion about the right course of action, he'll follow it.]

[He isn't sure it's how he feels. It is decision made with a gun to his head, but he feels like inaction is proving to be more cowardly than action. Which is, of course, probably how they want them to feel. A hand on the knife, instead of simply a witness.]

If you hurt yourself again, I will never speak to you again.

Then you should probably stop talking to me now.

[It's some brash, cocky thing he'd say. But he's more serious this time.]

I won't vote for myself again. You have my word there. But I'll always choose to protect other people, even if it puts me at risk. And that means sometimes I'm gonna get hurt.

[Backing down a little. Because, yeah. He knows that about Galo.]

Fine. Without reason.

Hah. Okay. I can try.

[Against his will, his lips turn up a little at Lio making compromises because he does want to keep talking to him.]

I’ll probably fuck up more than you like. But I’m not going to get myself killed. I told you, I’m going to help you stop Gov Kray. I meant that.

[ He’s already fucked up more than he’d like and he’s not quite sure why he cares this deeply. He stands up again, to pace more. Mostly in a little circle - it’s not a big room. ]

If anything happens to me— [ He stops. Because he can’t ask him that. It’s his own responsibility. ] I need you to ask for a few things. From the staff. Hairspray, or any sort of aerosol spray. They might give it to because of [ gesturing to hair?? ]

[He hears Lio cut himself off, and interjects, fierce.]

If anything happens to you, I’ll still go back and stop him. But nothing’s gonna happen to you.

[He just wants Lio to know he can rely on him. At the latter, though. He frowns. He has an idea where that’s going.]

What for? Your hair looks fine to me. You can’t just ask a firefighter to help you make a flamethrower!

[ Stamping a foot! Like a horse. ]

You can’t ask me to be totally defenseless. Listen, it isn’t ideal - but you need some way to fight back that will leave an obvious mark. Someone got hurt committing those crimes and we missed it. No one will miss a well-placed burn.

It doesn’t work like that, Lio! It might make a flamethrower but it’s just as likely to overheat the can and explode in your face!

[That doesn't sound right, but Lio doesn't know enough about hairspray flamethrowers to argue it. Whatever, he'll ask someone else then.]

You should find a weapon as well.

[It's! True!]

I have my fire extinguisher. If anyone tries to attack me, I'll put them right out. Also, it's not the type of extinguishing fluid we usually use, and it irritates your skin if it gets on you. It did to Nikki.

[Google experts have varying opinions! On murder game logic, I assume it would be fine. Anyway, he's making a face at the idea of being sprayed with extinguishing fluid, because. He has before and it sucks?]

. . . Do not use that on me.

Hah. If you come at me with that flamethrower, I'm using it on you.

Hmph.

[A LONG PAUSE.]

If you do, I'll turn into a werehorse, and eat your head.

[IS NOW THE TIME FOR JOKES.]

[I mean. He snorts loudly at that? But more because it's Lio.]

Wow! You're horrible at jokes! Somebody died!

Ah.

[oh. yeah. But also no one's ever told him he's horrible at jokes before? He's too hot and no one has ever criticized his attempts. Honestly he just seems shocked.]

[

He shakes his head.]

It's okay. You got other qualities. Anyone who can make their own motorcycle out of fire shouldn't also be good at jokes.

I didn't ask for a critique.

[IS HE SULKING. The Mad Burnish always tell him Great joke, Boss! and We support you! This is just insulting.]

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