New Wounds, Old Wounds [Locked]

[crypddyd]

 [Lion had been looking for Ruin after the show with no luck- it was worthwhile thanks to Chiron's advice, but the actual goal was fruitless. Ruin was nowhere to be found.

The next most obvious place to look was back in Limbo- and Lion intended to return anyway. Sleeping in that woman's home seemed a bit too morbid for his tastes. He doesn't find him in the Executor house, but he finally finds sign of the man in the park. A bit of torn up earth that suggested a lance. Hoofprints. He follows the mud to the fountain... and the passage to the Limbo Underside.

... that was concerning. But perhaps he wanted to train before their upcoming mission? He arrived after the last one, after all. So Lion makes his way down, his armor appearing like a second skin as he does so, on guard against the beasts that still lingered within.]

Comments

CW: depression, self-destructive behaviors

[heir_to_ruin]

[It didn't even fucking matter. He should have known better, making a plan on the fly like that. Being the one responsible for a plan at all. It was stupid and it was his fault and probably everyone knew it now.

Lion, obviously, was furious with him. Which he definitely deserved even if that moment, that look in his eye, hurt in ways he didn't know how to explain or justify. He'd tried to still find something of use but in the end returned to limbo. Wallowing wasn't going to help anyone. (Really hadn't he just proven he wasn't capable of helping anything anyway?)

So he'd gone out to train. At least if he could fight maybe he could be useful right? A pawn on someone elses' chessboard.

But there was no satisfaction when there were no enemies and he needed to get better, nothing here would challenge him so clearly... He needed to find something that would. And if some part of him, subconscious and unacknowledged, sort of hoped that in the Underside he would find something that would take payment for his failures out of his flesh well... Hell did that even matter now that he was dead already?

It was all a big tangled jumble of frustration and self loathing and it drove him... perhaps deeper into the Underside than was strictly wise. But after what he'd done? Why the fuck would anyone come looking for him?

By the time Lion finds him he's definitely worse for wear, banged up and breathless. His steed nowhere to be seen, clearly already slain by his recklessness. Ruin lifts his head when he hears Lion's approach, something like relief flickering across his expression before he leans into the strange Lance, pulsing with ruddy light and writhing with impatience. He grins, a hollow, fragile thing, giving Lion a friendly wave.]

Come to get your dues?

so much cw in this whole log honestly

[crypddyd]

[He's never seen the lance up close, and it startles him- not just it's movement, which is distressing enough, but in how familiar it is. Same bone, same stone, even if Ruin's has a different mark. But that's not important now. What IS important-]

Ruin-! Are you hurt?

[heir_to_ruin]

[ Ruin straightens, slings the lance back over his shoulder so he doesn't have to look at the godforsaken thing. (Should his own weapon make his skin crawl?)]

Oh? What, wanna make sure it's a fair fight?

[A bitter laugh that he tries his damnedest to make sound more carefree than it is.]

Not to worry, Lion. I'm yours- [Why does that feel like such a deeper truth?] -remember? You deserve to get your licks in. I won't fight.

Here, make it easier for you. [And regardless of the danger all around them... he dismisses both armor and weapon.]

[crypddyd]

[He snarls, moving to his side... but not to attack, but to cover for any Revenants that would take advantage]

Are you mad? This is no place to run around without protection!

[His own lance doesn't move, but it's trembling with his pent up frustration]

I have not come here to beat an unarmed man... you truly think that low of me? I shouldn't be surprised.

[heir_to_ruin]

[ Lion rushes to him and he flinches, braces for impact and instead is only... scolded? Somewhere in the back of his mind there's a strange dissonance. Others have referred to this man as some sort of elder brother hadn't they?

He blinks up at the blond, clearly legitimately confused for a moment before some connections seem to be made and he resummons his armor, scowling at the Lance as it returns to his hand.]

That wasn't a slight against you.

[It's simply what he deserves.]

[crypddyd]

And what else am I supposed to see it as? After what you did at the show?

[He snaps, baring his teeth but making no overtly aggressive actions]

[heir_to_ruin]

An offer?

[He grimaces but doesn't recoil, doesn't back down, even as his heart hammers in his chest.]

It didn't work so it doesn't fucking matter.

[crypddyd]

... it was not a bad plan. I can't say I am even mad that you didn't tell me what was happening.

[He shakes his head]

But... my anger is something I am constantly fighting to tame. To have it used against me like that... it was cruel, Ruin.

[heir_to_ruin]

You had trouble just acting like you belonged if I told you to fake it there's no way you'd have been able to.

[Ruin sighs heavily, nudging Lion's shoulder and nodding toward a nearby bench? abandoned bus stop? something like that. He sprawls on the bench, even in his armor, gestures excessive and attention grabbing. He doesn't say anything else for a long moment, trying to decide if he should apologize.

He sort of had, hadn't he? He'd said Lion deserved to hit him, attack him, whatever would make him feel better. Wasn't that enough taking responsibility?]

You sure you don't want to deck me?

[crypddyd]

You are not wrong.

[He's no actor. He nods, sitting as well]

Of course, I do- it is only due to Chiron's advice that I did not come down here swinging.

[heir_to_ruin]

Chiron?

[You... talked to Chiron about him? Really?]

Are you sure you aren't being too noble about this? Really you're allowed to hit me. Like I said, I deserve it. At least that much. I mean... I hit you with an amp.

[crypddyd]

If I hit you I may not stop.

[heir_to_ruin]

[He can't help it. They're sitting on a bench together, Lion should expect this. Ruin chuckles, not the bright playful laugh he usually has but something a bit darker, almost bitter, as he leans back and stretches his arm out behind Lion on the bench. It's not the classic trying to be smooth gesture, he doesn't try to make it look accidental. It's just a perfectly confident, casual thing.]

That a threat or a promise?

[crypddyd]

[if it had any implications they go right over his head- he's just glad Ruin is relaxing a bit]

...a warning. I doubt guilt over an amp to the head was enough to bring you all the way down here. If violence is what you think you need I can provide, but I refuse to beat an unarmed man.

[heir_to_ruin]

[Ruin cocks a brow, curious and a little amused.]

So as long as I keep my weapon you don't have a problem with that?

[Really? That's the stipulation?]

[crypddyd]

As long as you fight back. And I'm skilled in polearms- if you fake it, I WILL know.

[heir_to_ruin]

[It's really not fair they're both in their armor because it means Lion is unlikely to feel it when Ruin slides his hand across the breadth of his shoulders as he turns, gets back to his feet.]

I am still learning, remember.

[But the lance feels familiar in his hands as he steps back a few feet, spinning the lance deftly between his fingers as he falls back into a ready position that Lion might find eerily similar to his own.]

[crypddyd]

Then consider this a learning experience.

[he notices the stance- even though their weapons have different uses, his own more for slashing, Ruin's more for stabbing- their basics are eerily similar. And he knows it is not some innate thing from being an Executor. Or else all the other polearms in their group would fight the same.

That and the similar construction of their weapons... Lion is not an idiot, and dread crawls in his guts]

Your lance is... interesting.

[heir_to_ruin]

[Ruin is all smirking bravado, waiting for Lion to face him, so the comment about his weapon throws him off. He's..... well he's been doing his damnedest not to even look at the damn thing. It freaks him out, honestly. The way it moves, the ruddy light it gives off giving everything around it the look of being bloodstained before anything has even happened.

For his part Ruin hasn't really seen anyone else's weapons just yet so it's not a logic leap he can make on his side. He merely shrugs, shifting his weight impatiently, trying not to think about the way the lance mimics him. Too eager for violence.

Maybe it's something he should think about... too bad it's not something he wants to.]

Creepy is more like it. Come on.

[crypddyd]

Fair enough.

["Later", he thinks, standing up and summoning his own. If Ruin's lance is like him then what does Lion's say? This massive unmoving thing. Like the corpse of some long dead monster.

Well, whatever. He makes his way over, falling into stance, his pensive expression falling away into something hungry.

He'll even let Ruin attack first- the tattered scraps of his better nature hoping that if it's retaliatory then the horrors coming could be justified.]

[heir_to_ruin]

[If it were a proper battle or a spar and not some strange sort of punishment Ruin would dance around the larger man, bait and poke and goad him into attacking first. Then he could use Lion's momentum against him, duck in beneath a swing, something. There's no way he's going to actually get a strike in, not like this. He knows it. But the point isn't to necessarily make contact with the first thrust, striking out towards Lion's forward leg, aiming for the break in the plates around his knee.

The point is to get Lion on the offensive and shatter that careful restraint.]

[crypddyd]

[If he had fought Ruin before he would have noticed the bait- but he hasn't, and the other man going for a joint was a sound tactic. Enough to ease Lion's fears that Ruin would simply submit.

So he easily smacks the point of the other lance away, careful to not hook the blade of his polearm in the swordbreaker-like protrusions along the end of the spear, and moves in to try and bring the butt of his weapon into play. Aiming for his torso and taking away the advantage of range both their weapons give them.

He has a feeling he can fight up close better than Ruin.]

[heir_to_ruin]

[Considering Ruin's main ability at his point is summoning a ghost pony for cantospeed, agility, and keeping him elevated above his foes, well... yeah, fighting up close is not on his list of strong points. Especially not with a lance. He tries to pull back, to dodge out of the way but he realized what Lion intended too late and that blow knocks the wind out of him, sends him staggering back clumsily.

But it's not serious damage, not yet, and Ruin collects himself quickly, immediately making a mental note to keep himself closer, tighter, not to extend his reach so far. He coughs dramatically, grinning despite the way his breath wheezes a little. Now he'll wait for Lion to advance, holding his lance out but not fully extended, for a reason this time that's not just defense.

If he can time it right, deflect the inevitable arc of the blade he may be able to catch it in those protrusions (claws?) and if not break the other weapon possibly at least disarm Lion briefly.]

[crypddyd]

[Ruin pulling inward is smart- extending himself would be useless against a weapon of similar range wielded by someone physically stronger. It would come down to them poking at each other until one slipped up, and in pure power Lion had the advantage. This now forced Lion to be more aggressive, and open himself up to counters.

Of course, they both knew aggression was what Ruin was after anyway. But it was becoming hard for Lion keep that in mind. Ruin was clear with what he wanted, so the betrayal of a trick was a non issue.

He was just a target.

Lion does as expected and attacks. The wide bone blade of his polearm is easy to catch, but when twisted it doesn't fly from his hands. Instead it creaks in distress as Lion holds on, grinning darkly as his foe before attempting to twist as well... even though Ruin has the better leverage.]

[heir_to_ruin]

[Better leverage doesn't always mean a lot against superior strength and Ruin is startled by the fact that Lion is even able to keep his grip.]

You-?

[A breathless gasp but Ruin has to think quickly because, despite the heavy material, their weapons were not indestructible. Lion might be willing to sacrifice his blade but Ruin is not and in the end that's what pushes him to release the staff.

He uses it, though, instead of just letting go and dodging aside he flings it into the turn Lion is trying to force, sending the butt of the weapon flying at the blond's face, pulled faster by the tension on his own weapon. Ruin, for his part, darts back a few paces, in the direction it would be hardest for Lion to charge into. Let the other man take a moment to reorient himself, Ruin would try to dart in to retrieve his weapon as soon as he could.]