OPEN LOG

[absolute_npc]

Who: OPEN
What: Event-Location Log ; Seraphim Group just got themselves dropped back off. Offer them a hand?
Where: Library Archives Entrance
When: Now (Right after the Plane Shift)

Comments

[cinerous]

Temper, temper.

As far as Asch was concerned, these guys had led them a merry dance, set monsters loose on them, tossed them around a bit-- no, a lot, and basically toyed with them like cats with mice. And then claimed that they didn't have to explain anything? Asch was so very tempted to punch the bastard in the face for that.

But years of dealing with Van military training had drummed into him that losing control of his temper didn't usually get the results required - except where it came to the replica, because the replica was such an idiot that anything short of yelling at the top of one's lungs wouldn't get through to him - but anyway, anyway. Focus. Focus was important

[riotinstereo]

"It's not just a stick," Reno muttered darkly, tempted to give him a demonstration of how Materia worked. But as satisfying as that might have been, it wouldn't be a great career move. They still needed information from him, and Reno wasn't confident that there wouldn't be others rushing to defend him if he got violent. Caim himself wasn't a big concern, even with the friend by his side, but he wasn't really up for taking on the dozen or so people still crowded around the area. He knew the Magister wouldn't make the first move, if he was serious about that threat he wouldn't be talking so much. He could take his time

[omoidezukuri]

Ritsuka had recovered enough from the aches that accompanied the battle and ensuing number of location changes to focus on about half of the words being exchanged between the Ice Magister and those in his party. Ritsuka understood Reno and Asch's frustration all too well. Back home he'd had to contend with lies and uncertainty, but here in Nuadoria, where so much was confusion and obscured truth, it felt as though each answer Caim evaded was that much more infuriating.

Ritsuka rose unsteadily to his feet, darting a quick glance at Soubi before wobbling over to where Reno and Caim stood, locked in heated conversation. He didn't want to put more stress on Caim than the Magister already had to bear - Ritsuka liked Caim, maybe even trusted him - but the endless stream of unanswered questions and frustrated hopes had frayed his patience.

"Caim, tell us. We can't be of any use if we don't know what's going on."

[undeify]

His expression may have softened a little at Ritsuka coming into the fray. Maybe. At the very least, he looked slightly more restrained now than he had a moment ago with Reno, although no more pleased at the questions being asked.

"For the last time..." and his voice was low, almost already convinced these people wouldn't listen to him anyway because for some reason telling them the truth seemed to equate to a lie to them. "I don't have any use for you. Not particularly. I wouldn't be surprised if you were all brought her for a specific reason and are needed, but I was not the one who brought you here so I don't know it. Other than... getting you to pick sides in our little war for support, I don't have some grand plan for all of you. What I want is for you all to go home and get out of my way. What I want is to be able to not have to worry about what is happening with you and finish what was started." What I want is for this to be over.Caim paused, considering leaving it at that, but instead decided to answer Reno's previous

[riotinstereo]

Of course it hadn't been long before someone else had to chime in. However, watching Ritsuka, Reno couldn't find it in himself to be annoyed at the interruption. After all, he had more leverage to work with and might get further with the Magister. The kid knew as much as he did, and Reno could tell Caim had a soft spot for him. He'd been the one he'd sheltered when he had died, wasn't he

[undeify]

If Caim could read minds, he probably would have snapped. Or, he probably would have just rolled his eyes and agreed. Because, while those details were wrong, the ultimate conclusion was not.

It... well, really was their fault, wasn't it? Even if they'd been doing the right thing to try and stop it, even if having done nothing possibly meant she would have been released fully by the other two... he and Ava did have fault, he guessed, when it was put that way. And he did feel guilty, somewhere deep down, for all those people who lost their lives. He didn't think much on it these days, as it was quite a load to think on, especially when looking at the current circumstances only to realize that... no, they hadn't progressed any further and those people had died needlessly and for nothing. There had been no resolution.

But, Reno really did have a way of rubbing Caim the wrong way. It took a lot to corner the Magister, the just right formula to tweak to really get him to even back down a little bit into submission over something

[riotinstereo]

So that's what it was. Reno frowned but didn't argue the point. If he was going to get so emotional when he suggested they were working together, he might as well admit that they were in some kind of relationship. He wouldn't be surprised after overhearing some of the conversations between the two. And the rest of them were caught in the middle.

Perfect.

The Turk watched him closely as he continued to listen, only twitching when he started listing the reasons why he wouldn't do what he asked. Who said I was giving you a choice? Reno hadn't even started to be unreasonable; they had a right to goddamn thing he asked for. But Caim still had the nerve to think that they'd have to comply with whatever he decided. It just reminded him what he hated about all of these natives; they all assumed the rest of them were completely helpless without them

[undeify]

And the Turk was met with silence for talking to him like that, but Caim's expression said all that would have been said, anyway.

What the fuck ever.

There was a small flick of his hand and the big cat would get up now, looking slightly less panicked that it was not being commanded to stay put. It would go to move, running past Reno and circling to turn around and look back at Caim, waiting for him impatiently. Truthfully, Dalamar was also most likely aware they were going to meet Erielle and that combined with the uncomfortableness of this situation drove him to want to leave.

Luckily for him, Caim was ready to leave to and he would go to do just that. Literally, he'd simply go to walk around Reno now and forward, pretty much daring the other to stop him. No, fuck this game. He wasn't playing, anymore.

[omoidezukuri]

Ritsuka had stayed silent after his initial interruption, uncomfortable with the quickly escalating tension between Reno and Caim. He agreed with Reno that if Caim were more forthcoming, it could make their own survival much easier, but he didn't like some of the broad and accusatory assumptions Reno was making about Caim. Ritsuka wanted answers, but Caim had never done anything to harm him, and Ritsuka couldn't summon the energy to force answers out of him.

Ritsuka couldn't let the conversation end like this; even if he didn't get a response he felt he had to reassure Caim that he wasn't blaming him for what happened in the Seraphim, or even down in the Ice Caves, but that he did want to know more about Caim, about Nuadoria, about everything.

"Caim," he called after him. "Sometime, after you see your sister, could I talk to you?"

[riotinstereo]

Reno didn't miss the look that Caim gave him. One that told him he'd much rather spite him than give him anything he asked. Dammit. He was getting tired of this. It was probably the reason Reno was never sent in to talk during negotiations. The talking didn't matter; it was all about intimidation, and that was a little difficult to pull off when Caim had his friend by his side and Reno's only backup was a boy who was more interested in helping Caim

[undeify]

He gave a small nod to Ritsuka's request-he figured it couldn't hurt to take the time to talk to the boy later if he wanted. But, he just couldn't bring himself to physically stop and talk anymore because he was really trying to avoid a fight. ...Really.

Except some things just had a way of happening. Take how Reno wasn't going to let this go, for instance, and just had to go beyond pushing his luck. People didn't touch Caim. In return, Caim didn't touch people. He didn't particularly like the physical contact in general and the majority of rare physical contact he received was usually violent. Call it a perk of the position and were constantly dealing with war.

But, aggressive physical contact was something he wasn't unfamiliar with and it just turned a switch on-an automatic, defensive, angry reflex, particularly accompanied by those words. Son of a bitch wouldn't let go, would he? And it was so fast-really, just so fast Caim would have to pause a minute and assess what he actually did after- hat he'd turn after getting