sticksandbones | [CLOSED] bring back my 7ft cowboy i miss him

I'm watching the surroundings. [His gaze swiftly flicks back to Razlo, a brief but almost impossible to spot expression of shock forming on his features.] What do you mean, Vash ate him?

[HELLO?]

How far along is his Corruption?!

[raz is at least perceptive enough to notice how quick the eye movement is. his whole life's training has been on studying others, after all.

not that he particularly cares why. interpersonal relationships are the farthest thing from his forte.]

I mean he ripped 'im apart.

It got better for a bit. Lost some'a the worm bits. Then he went all biblically accurate outta nowhere.

... Ya got a pal here. Overgrown weed said the guy used part'a y'all's "El" on 'im.

[Well! If Razlo is specifically trained to watch eyes, he's going to absolutely love (?) how Elsword's gaze flicks down to his own arm. What used to be black with corruption is now "healed", yet he still wonders if some part of that lives on in him. If he "got better" or if he's biding time.

Right now, this isn't about him. Elsword can't understand "biblically accurate", but he does know there's a different Ain from his own here, and he does know that any iteration of Ain will try to interfere with humankind in some variety. His own was a violent warmonger; this one seemed softer in comparison, but still with that "I can fix it" type of personality that they definitely get from him.

Timeline anomalies are confusing. Elsword's head hurts.]

...it's the same with me. The El briefly helped me, before my Corruption went haywire and ripped my eye out. I guess Ain didn't know, but...

...I'm sorry. I'd bet he was trying to help, but too much El Energy causes the Illuminous Phenomenon. That's the amnesia and angel powers thing I have. You — or Livio-hyung — might have some bad news to deliver.

[... yeah. that tracks. it sounded too good to be true at the time, but something about being around vash the stampede has stolen some of livio's sense and replaced it with blind idealism. fuck's sake, he made a complete 180 in the time since the punisher's death -- refusing to kill, just like the plant, even with literal armies in his way, even if it would've been easier. shit, raz doesn't think liv would've even killed the crimson nail if he hadn't been just as present.

the point being, liv never should have trusted that some other world's magic doohickey would work better than the cosmic serpent's rain, since that was already established as something that could cure the corruption.

... christ. protecting liv only gets harder and harder in this place. raz has his fucking work cut out for him.]

Yeah, I'll let 'em know, alright. Anythin' else I oughta pass along? [because idle conversation is razlo's favorite.]

Ha. [Completely flat, not because he wants to be, but because he's just like this. It's the ghost of a laugh.] Yeah, even though you don't seem like you want to. Tell Mizuki I love him and not to do something reckless.

[Rich talk coming from GUY WHO DOES RECKLESS THINGS.]

Nothing else to pass on. When Nene gets here, which will probably be pretty soon... you'll have to hold her hand as you go back. Do not let go. You'll die again... and I know that's just gonna make you more pissed off.

[In the meantime they can :) wait around here :) yaaaay!]

Shit, just in general, or about me havin' talked to ya here? [mizuki does what he fucking wants, elsword should know that. not that razlo is objecting to the request. he just isn't promising that he'll stop the jelly or anything.

the corner of his mouth twitches up in a smirk before he deigns to actually chuckle, deep and rumbly in his chest. even having just met raz for the first time, elsword sure has him clocked.]

Yeah, okay. Promise I'll be good 'n hold 'er little hand.

[given a few beats of silence, his toothy grin eases into a flat line. he almost wants to congratulate elsword on the show back in march, on doing as much and more to wolfwood as razlo has always wanted... but what comes out is far more genuine. and raz sure as hell won't be meeting elsword's eyes again because of the sincerity of it.]

... Thanks for bein' kind to Liv.

Just in general. [Mizuki knows he's here, Mizuki bit him. It was the most Mizuki thing to ever happen. But:] You don't have to thank me. Just take care of him, and of yourself. I don't want to see anyone else showing up.

[Even though the spirits do carry words of "someone died! but they came back it's okay!" to him directly sometimes.

He reaches out and claps Razlo on the shoulder, gives him the flattest, most emotionless thumbs up... and then his eyes shift to the edge of the fog.]

Nene's here. Remember what I said. You've gotta get back in one piece.

( she sure is! and so is the sound of horribly shrill insults about her new changes in the distant trees, because suri can't be mature about anything, ever. there's been a lot of yelling today. as she steps through the fog though- )

Hi, guys! We're here! You know the drill, right?

[ Guess whose also here! It's Peepaw, because of course he's going to arrive to pick up his boys from Garden Camp. And while he is not one to hurl insults- ]

She looks lovely!

[ "You Brat" is implied, then he beams at Razlo and Elsword. In the crook of his arm, the one holding his staff, is a overly large familiar rabbit. First he goes to Razlo to pull the mad dog into a hug, shockingly tight. Squash the man. ]

Hello, my dear, you have been terribly missed. [ Yes, even you Razlo, then he hands Elsword the rabbit. ] You left this behind, sweetheart, I thought you should have it back.

[he doesn't really have anything to say to that. despite that he might have just failed, or they wouldn't even be here, that's razlo's entire purpose, and he will sure as shit cling to it as long as there's more life in their body.

... even if it might kinda feel like it's being squeezed out like toothpaste by the little goat man.]

Jeez -- "dear" again, old man? [despite the sardonic tone, there is the impression of a grin on his lip. he missed you too, shortstack.

once released, he nods once at nene.]

Yeah, little lady. I got the idea.

One sec, though. [snapping his head toward the catty shrieks from the forest --] FUCK YOU TOO, YA SLIMY BITCH!

[is this a terrible move, right before they have to navigate the forest to get home? yeah, but, come on, it's raz, he HAS to start shit.]

[Oh... holding his rabbit... patting Nene on the head, cool new legs girl! Looks like Gnosis is still alive that's great! He won't be when I'm done with him, anyway—]

Thanks, gramps. I'll keep it safe.

[But hold on he needs to join Razlo to yell at the woods—]

FUCK OFF, DIPSHIT!! GO PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE! COWARD-ASS BITCH CAN'T EVEN SHOW HIMSELF FOR AN ASSKICKING!!

[this is

the most curse words you will Ever hear from Elsword. and also the most emotion other than when he uwus over Mizuki. Homeboy is fucking pissed.

Anyway!]

Remember what I said when you go home. Hold onto Nene's hand and don't let go. I don't want to see you back here, got it?

[ Mein Gott, his poor Peepaw ears! He tsks a little to their language but his tail is wiggling which is obvious code for: Suri sort of deserves this, so Vanilla isn't actually that upset. ]

Oh now, you two. No swearing around Nene. [ Lmao, the smile says he's he's aware of the absurdity. ] Do you two feel better?

[ He will tut over them both, then gently take Nene's hand again, Staff being situated into a little make shift hook on his back so he can hold his other out for Razlo. Yeah, if you thought you weren't going to hold hands with both Peepaw and Nene, you were wrong. Give him. Hand. ]

Edited 2024-09-27 21:11 (UTC)

[somewhere deep in the back of razlo's mind, livio is like. BIG 😨 at elsword. but raz himself? puffing out his chest, grinning with teeth, and BEAMING. he is so absurdly proud to be part of this quiet, chill guy losing his shit and screaming profanities.

even so, he continues snarl-smiling as his eyes snap to pv.]

Don't tell me what to do! [the tone is surprisingly chipper.

he gives elsword one final nod of respect before he actually does as he's told and reaches for nene's hand.]

Let's ditch this shithole, huh, kid?

[CLOSED] bring back my 7ft cowboy i miss him

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Cw for brief eye horror mention

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