icarusalsoflew | 003. and in every raindrop... // open post.

[It's all of the love and respect that he still harbors for you (and will likely always have, because you have been together for so long and been through so much) that keeps him from ignoring that, even if a part of him wants to. Open wounds, see. Some things are a bit too fresh, and he hasn't been allowed nearly enough time on his own to process things for himself. That does, of course, include why this new group is starting to mean so much to him.]

What do you want to know?

[He'd normally volunteer information, but you're going to need to give him a bit of time to relax again.]

[ Passing you a small, sad smile before he turns towards where Brigade is speaking with Hawke. ]

How did you meet? [ You'll be able to tell that he is genuinely intrigued. From what he has managed to piece together, it as been a very, very long time since you last surrounded yourself with the likes of the three blades, and these six children seem to be well on their way to following their footsteps. ]

If I recall, you always did have a way of meeting new people in such interesting ways.

[ There's a fond tone in his voice. For all the terrible things that transpired in 2012, you both came out of it with an exceptional group of people that he is pretty sure you continue to love. ]

I met most of them by chance. Them coming together, much less ending up in Netsach as a blade, wasn't initially in the plan.

[Not really, anyhow. That had partially been Liandrin Delacroix, testing boundaries with him after figuring the pattern out.

They had ended up having Words about that.]

[ A quiet and considering nod as he turns your words over in his head. ]

They appear to have their hearts in the right place. [ He's recalling a little bit of their exchange back in Falner, that first time he'd had the opportunity to speak with them. He's looking at Brianna now. ] She is charming.

[ A beat, and then: ] I am oddly reminded of our darling Tala.

They do share some uncanny commonalities, beyond the fact that they're both Changeling.

[He's starting to relax in earnest now, and it's probably because the two of you are discussing Brianna.]

Bri's durance was terrible, and she spent most of her life living a lie, not realizing that she had never really left Arcadia.

[ This one's gaze is darkening just a little. He had heard. He had not been pleased about it. It does not help, as well, that he is reminded of your own Durance. And good riddance to the one that had done that. ]

It is good to see then, that she appears to be adjusting well. [ A curious look your way, ] Is her family...?

[ Alive? Well? With their daughter again?

Because he has not pried. The others may be moving of their own accord and he can do very little in placating their concerns, but he at least, can willingly give you space. These are your children, in a manner of speaking. ]

Alive and well. Tala and Selene helped her kill her fetch before it could do any real harm to her parents and her siblings. She's their eldest daughter.

[He's not asking why you're pressing for details, because something tells him that you've done him the favor of not looking into every damned fact for yourself rather than consult the source.

No, he doesn't quite regret getting peckish with you just yet, but at least he knows that he doesn't have to be nearly as on guard as he originally thought now.]

[ And he's nodding to the information you've given him. ] That is very good to hear. [ Yes, even that she had to kill her fetch. And that the Vega sisters were around to help.

He's looking down at his cigar with the slightest frown on his lips before he brings it up for a puff. ]

What of the boy? Neeka's grandchild? [ Nodding to Kaz now. ]

The Wings of Therion latched unto him for a time, and he let them. I think it's because he wanted to make something out of himself at all cost.

[Taking a drag for himself now, with a little shrug.]

Legacy angst. With his mother, and given who his grandmother is? It's expected.

[ Huh. Interesting. ]

The Wings of Therion, eh? [ Musing on that, and keeping his thoughts for himself. ] And they are no longer with him, by the looks of it.

[ He won't remark on the Legacy angst. It is something that the boy either gets over or learns to deal with. That and he has faith that Neeka knows how to deal with her family. ]

Yeah. Alistair helped him decide to let them go for himself rather than have them wrenched from him. I think he's starting to learn to stand on his own two feet and not look for the fastest way to shine.

[Insecurity's a bitch, but everyone has to learn how to deal with it properly.]

A sound enough decision, on the boy's part.

[ There's a little smile on this one's lips at the mention of Alistair. He had found it interesting to hear that the Seer had taken on a pupil, even for a short a time as he had.

He's not going to press on how the two of you are though. You both have time to "sort your shit", as the phrase goes, and he knows as well that outside interference on that front will be unwelcome from both sides.

Alistair will come speak to him or Aidan if the need arises, and while you are a little less reliable with heart-to-heart conversations, the fact that you are speaking to him about this new blade is something he is all too glad to take. ]

Your new Bladian is charming. [ Yes, he's going to briefly tease you -- and hope that you take the friendly jab well. ]

[The wan smile on Hikaru's end might tell you that he's getting better around you. For now.]

She can't People at all, but I can fix that. The only reason why she has a hard time dealing, after all, is because she's afraid of getting attached to friends that she might just end up losing again.

That is the predicament.

[ He's watching the way that one moves with the others, quietly noting the levels of comfort with each one. ]

At least she seems to be warming up to one of them. [ Tossing that out casually, because he'll get to the Sin-Eater in due time. Because really, those rings... ]

Which isn't surprising. Josh is an easy person in general.

[And one of the few individuals who knows when to respect boundaries, and when to take things as they are. Granted, he is changing in interesting ways...

But that is, of course, Hikaru's opinion on the matter. He could be wrong. It's been known to happen.

Also yes, you may note how he said 'Josh', not 'LaRue', or 'Joshua'. Nicknames, already?]

[ 'Josh,' eh? Interesting. But he's going to pretend that he didn't note that little tidbit. ]

He seems... earnest. [ He's saying that with maybe a little bit of amusement. He has thoughts on the boy's choice of dress, particularly in this city. ]

A lot quieter than some of the Sin-Eaters we know. [ Because, sigh, Drake. ]

Rethe speaks rather well of Mr. LaRue. Nice to know that our boy is opening up to making new friends.

Edited 2014-05-13 09:51 (UTC)

It's about time he does. Still, LaRue pulled nothing short of a miracle with him.

[Maybe it was excellent timing, given everything that has happened. Either way, Josh DID play a part in it. Anyone who failed to recognize that was obviously blind, in Hikaru's opinion.]

Indeed. [ There's a minute pause right after that comment, because this one's actually wondering if he should ask about the fact that it's Makoto Kuzunoha in those rings. One of the first things he did though, was to read up on the list of casualties from the Darkest Vigil; there were many, and it had put an ache in his heart to glimpse some familiar names.

Perhaps another time. You are only beginning to warm to him, and he is nothing but a careful man where it concerns those that he loves. ]

And what of the mage? [ Lifting a brow your way now, Hikaru. This is the last one he will ask about tonight. Lincoln, after all, knows the Promethean well enough. Everything else he can supplement by observing how you move around Brigade. ] I hear rumor that Tohru had taken him under his wing.

That isn't a rumor: it actually happened.

[Watching Taning now.]

My father seems to like him. It's probably because they share some uncanny similarities.

[Which was why, for the moment, he regards Taning with some respect and care.]

[ And this one's watching you out of the corner of his eye. ]

Pray tell. [ A soft prompt. Partly to see how much you are willing to share, partly because he himself is not in any hurry to ask beyond what he can see for now. Too many presumptions based on one or two interactions does not a proper assessment of an individual make. ]

Lost families, Awakening as Banishers, feeling like murderers because of the abilities at their disposal. The works.

[Drag, exhales.]

You're free to ask him about it, actually. He doesn't really mind talking about it.

I may, [ he has not had the opportunity to properly catch up with The Assassin as of yet, but there will be time. ] But based on that assessment alone, I can see why Tohru seems to have found another pupil.

[ And because he had heard some details of how this life started for you from incredibly reliable sources, he's going to veer away from that subject for now.

He knows how you can get about family. ]

It will be interesting to introduce these children to Marrigan. [ Reclining now into his seat. ] Just as it will be interesting to see how they react to the rest of Shin Yamatai.

[ The Kindred have their own brand of politics, just as they do their particular kind of justice. ]

"Interesting" is one word. "Instructional" would be my other word of choice.

[Many of them still had a lot to learn, regardless of their physical age or combat experience. Shin Yamatai was worlds apart from any other countries.]

[ And this one's nodding in agreement. ]

It is fortunate then, that you, myself and Lincoln are around to answer any questions that might be raised.

[ Because he has no doubt that there will, in fact, be questions. And concerns. ]

Well, it was planned out this way, wasn't it?

[And there is your little brother, shoring up his defenses yet again, drawing lines.

He's not quite ready to cross the gaps that have grown, horrid and yawning, between himself and the other Kings. He's always been bad at dealing with what he considers to be betrayal.]

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