noblerise | IC Inbox

You didn't know any of this would happen.

We were able to recover everyone and retrieve the peach. That's what matters.

That does make it easier to bear, but I expect it will weigh heavily on my mind for some time still. However, I'd rather look at that as a lesson to learn than something to chain me down.

[Jusis sure as hell is going to try his best to make sure another debacle like this won't happen again. He won't do that alone from now on, either.]

Thank you for doing what you could when the plan fell apart. Truthfully, I don't think we could've recovered nearly as well as we could've without that.

[Well, at least he seems honest about it. And not just coming from a place of excessive guilt like his actions last month ... maybe this had an impact on him.]

...I just did as I said I would. It's the other app users who did most of the work.

[HE IS SO AWKWARD WITH THANK YOUS OK]

[Jusis stares at Shroud for a moment before scoffing in what looks like genuine amusement.]

Hmph, I see that you feel about as comfortable with gratitude as a friend of mine does.

[Rean is just as bad and awkward about being thanked.]

Your efforts are no less significant for laying the groundwork for them to mobilize as quickly as they did. You would do well not to downplay such actions in the future. That being said... about the power that protected you from those hands. May I ask where it comes from?

[He remains silent at being called out about the gratitude, rather glad his shroud is covering the embarrassed look on his face. ]

...I'll keep that in mind.

[He says to Jusis's advice, knowing full well he absolutely won't. But the follow up question gets a brief pause, a bit of hesitance at how he should answer. ]

There's a spirit that grants me a little of His power. It seems He took issue with the plan, and acted on His own accord.

[It's not a lie, even if it downplays some aspects of it]

Edited 2023-04-24 16:13 (UTC)

Please do.

[Jusis will believe it when he sees it. It's an answer he's heard several times from certain people he can name.

He listens to what is said about the source and nods at that.]

In a way, it's comforting to know that He, in some capacity, took issue with it. [...] But this doesn't sound like possession. Am I correct?

[Look it's how these types roll ok]

You'd be correct. I have no contract price to fulfill.

[Why, tho

Jusis mulls that over for a moment, thinking. Maybe to some eyes, he looks as if he's calculating.]

...Does the power He grants you extend to ending or exorcising possession?

[He pauses. That...is a complicated answer, really. Sorey could have power like that, Mikleo's told him, but it wasn't like he was there yet]

...Is there a reason you're asking?

[Jusis debates with himself for a moment on how much detail he should give. However, given that he's asking for Ash, and at how quickly the teen's situation is deteriorating... It's worth risking the guess to Shroud's identity.]

I believe we have a mutual friend who is currently suffering under a possession that causes unique problems for him. This is strictly off the record as far as the Order is concerned. However... I fear his situation is beginning to deteriorate. I almost couldn't stop him from killing that... Other side of me, for lack of a better word.

[He sighs softly.]

At this point, I'm trying to ascertain just how many options we feasibly have before it gets worse. Or at least buy more time until a solution is found.

["A mutual friend"- well he certainly catches that and the implication that Jusis has figured out his identity. But more trouble than that is what Jusis is referring to, that Ash's possession is getting worse. He's heard the stories before, how ugly it can get when a possession loses control.

Ash...]

...Such exorcism magic exists, but I don't have access to it right now.

[Or if he'll ever be able. He may have to go to Sorey for that. But Sorey is far from ready to take on such possession cases, and it's not sure when he will be. So Jun decides to forgo mentioning that, Sorey doesn't need that kind of pressure put on him.]

Besides...I don't know if he'd accept my help. I suspect what I am runs a little too close to wounds he's never fully healed from.

[he remembers how Ash reacted to his pact with Mikleo. He can only imagine him finding out about the Holy Spirit would go much more poorly]

Edited 2023-04-24 20:20 (UTC)

[Jusis will listen without interruption, though it's hard to tell from his expression if he's disappointed, expected the answer, or both. Or the secret fourth option of uncaring, which is far from the truth.]

I see. Unfortunate, but I can see where Ash would struggle with it. It was why he had a hard time in that prison I was in.

[It's getting out of hand, or at least starting to, and Jusis can't be everywhere to support the teen. No matter how much he wants to. Not even Elliot and Rean can be everywhere at once, and they have their own, normal lives to attend to, too. However, Jusis should give it to Jun straight.]

I won't ask for you to take any permanent actions against him, no matter how dire it gets. I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure he comes out the other side alive and without his passenger. All I ask is for your help in watching him.

[The blond hesitates and then crosses his arms.]

Ash is a friend from my past life, and I'm proud to continue to consider him family, if that's what he wants. I don't want anyone to kill him, and that goes double for if that person is a friend of his. I'm not giving up on him, not even if he's given up on himself.

...I wouldn't do it even if you did ask me.

[He says that to clarify. Even though he had agreed to comply with the perimeters of the last mission, he was far from a tool at the disposal for anyone in the Order.

But...he can't deny how Jusis seems to sincerely care for Ash, and seems to truly want to help him. Not just help him, but sees him as family. It doesn't seem like it's some Order line claiming that everyone in the Order is "family" - it hardly seems to be that kind of organization.

He'll turn away so his back is facing Jusis, before he lowers his hood. Jusis will be able to see the head of green hair that is no doubt Jun's. It's easier to speak with his own voice than through that modulator. ]

Possessions don't just deteriorate on their own. As long as one upholds their contract price, they should remain stable.

[In other words, this isn't just happening out of the blue. Something changed with Ash. And Jun has a bit of a guess to what. He has to swallow and take a moment to collect himself, as this isn't an easy topic to talk about]

...Ash was always a fighter, even before he was possessed. He'd always choose to fight, even when it seemed wiser to comply or hide. It's just the kind of person he was.

Our last day at Krusnik, he and the other children were locked in the gate Krusnik used for training. They had no protection against the monsters within. Knowing Ash, he would've chosen to fight until he couldn't anymore.

[He couldn't see it any other way. Ash just wasn't the type of person to run an hide. ]

For years, I thought no one made it out of that gate. It was such a surprise to see Ash again. [He pauses] ...But when I look back on the time he's been here, how he acts...I wonder if for all these years, he never actually left that gate.

Edited 2023-04-25 01:09 (UTC)

[Jusis listens to what Jun has to say without interruption, not at all surprised to see that his guess is spot-on. He's heard most of this from Ash already, but it's not as if the teen knows that. After a moment, the blond is quiet as he thinks.]

Ash... told me about what happened to him not all that long ago. He asked me to promise him that I would hold him back if he started to go too far. But you're right that he chose to fight for his survival.

[He sighs softly.]

And I don't think he left it behind, either. However... since coming here, he's changed for the better. The side-effect being that while he's finally starting to lay down his roots and take steps to move forward, he's running up against his contract price.

[The blond reaches into his pocket and turns off his phone completely. Then, he gets up to get a piece of paper and a pen, writing something down before sliding it over to Jun for him to read. It says: I want him out of the Order. If Jun looks at Jusis, he'll see the blond shake his head. He can't speak this out loud and can't go into further detail, but it's the sincerest truth.]

I'll keep looking into possible avenues. However, if it all comes to a head, I only ask that you be ready. We're going to need all the help we can get to save him from that spirit.

[So he had already opened up about that...huh. He supposes it's to be expected with how much Ash seems to trust Jusis]

...Mm, I'd agree with that assessment. He's said Fugo is his best friend and he cares enough about you to stand up for you. He's made some precious bonds, and it's causing some growing pains.

[When the piece of paper gets passed to him, he picks it up and reads what's said. Ah...so that's what Jusis wants. It's easy for him to figure out why Jusis felt the need to write it rather than vocalize it. It wouldn't be unreasonable to suspect the Black Order tracks them somehow.

Well then, that's easy enough to deal with. The piece of paper in his hands will suddenly burst into small flames, quickly burning it away until it's nothing but cinders left. Christ Jun]

I'll do what I can. Though, you'll have to forgive me if I choose to act on my own accord this time rather than follow instruction.

[He was compliant during the peach mission, but that was because the black order held the cards. This matter was a different ballgame. ]

[Jusis nods at that. There's no need to elaborate on the honest truth. Ash is beginning to stop running, but that's coming at quite the price.

He raises an eyebrow at the paper bursting into flames, but makes no further comment on it. Better to be safe than sorry, and Jusis has played this paranoid game for almost 11 years to the day. Still, at Jun's declaration, he gives a slight shrug.]

I have no authority over you, and I don't pretend otherwise, unlike some of my colleagues. As long as death is off the table, do as you will with the information I've given you. I have others I need to inform for the same reasons.

[Jun will nod]

Just making sure it's clear. You tend to speak with an air of authority, and your response to my power was to immediately try to figure out how it could be of use to you.

[Which sure, he wants to help Ash. And he knows Jusis is doing this out of care of a family member. But don't think he's afraid to call this out for what it is. ]

[Jusis doesn't exactly look like the words have affected him all that much, but he's not a very emotive man to begin with. At least, not to people who aren't close to him.]

Perhaps there is some truth to that, and it's something I'll keep in mind. However, do not misconstrue my intent. If you tell me that you don't want to, I will respect your decision and find another way, even if it was the only power that could save him. To make demands of you makes me no better than my father and the Order.

[He tilts his head slightly.]

I have no desire to use you like some sort of tool or weapon. I'm only asking for help, from one friend of Ash's to another, and you're free to tell me to go to hell and do it myself.

[Jun is going to turn to look at Jusis now]

Did I say I was unwilling to help Ash? If there's a way to help, I will. He was once my brother, after all.

[What their relationship was now...Jun had no idea. Their lives has clearly taken very different paths since their parting- but the weight of their shared experience still holds some anchor in Jun's heart. Something he wanted to make very clear to Jusis]

[Jusis pauses, closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath. After a second or two, he opens his eyes again.]

Alright.

[His voice is somewhat gentler, now.]

I'll let you know if I find anything else or if anything happens to change his situation.

...Very well.

[He pauses, as if waiting for something, and then decides otherwise]

Enjoy your cheesecake, Jusis Albarea.

[And with that? He teleports away]

IC Inbox

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Cw: implied child death/abuse

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject