sticksandbones IC Inbox

[livlaughlove]

livio

netbook · overflow

©

Powers nerfed & gained

Self-healing: Nerfed on arrival from near-instant to delayed by a few minutes. Think 5-10.

Superhuman strength: Nerfed on arrival. Still super strong, but not to the same extent.

Dragon Blessing - Strength: Makes up for original nerf. Plus dual sets of horns, one pair curved down to frame his face, one pair curved back and up. Sharp and harshly angled, like his sunburst tattoos.

Dragon Blessing - Balance: Thick, alligator-like tail.

Deaths & Resurrection prices

Death - August 2024: Killed by a Corrupted Vash.
Price: Marksmanship skill. Can no longer aim a gun worth a damn.

Other permanent changes

Memory Loss - February 2024: In Razlo's heartspace, his memory of Chapel defending him to the other Masters was destroyed. He still recalls having been fiercely loyal to Chapel, but not why.

Scarring - March 2024: Scars in an enormous jaw pattern spanning from his thighs to upper arm, with teeth marks along both his chest and back.

Temporary changes

Hydra form - May 2025: from Event/TDM 24. A bunch of fungi made LR into some fun guys.

CODE

weasel's note: livio's handwriting is extremely neat and uncannily consistent. every letter is always the same exact size and shape. as if simply writing perfectly in times new roman was a humanly possible thing.

livio can commonly be found where he lives at vash's house or looking after the school.

plotting contact: PM // discord @ fuckweasel

Comments

INVENTORY

[livlaughlove]

GROVE TOOLS:
++ bone ring
++ fishing gear
++ undying lantern

WEAPONS:
++ Double Fangs (2 double-barreled SMGs) - given to Wolfwood
++ 1 pack of silver bullets - given to Wolfwood
++ these hands.

GENERIC ITEMS:
++ (x2) half of a coin (not matching; both halves are from different coins)
++ a really fucking cool rock
++ ipod classic [brick]
++ 1 jar of lavender essential oil

TOYS, PLUSHES:
++ Petunia, black lamb plush
++ PBJ, crocheted horse from Elsword
++ Ivy, patchwork deer plush
++ Ms. Baabara, crocheted sheep from PV

CLOTHING:
++ shirt & pants
++ cloak curtain
++ sweater & fur-lined cloak
++ probably a suit idk i hiatused during prom
++ swim trunks
++ sherwal trousers
++ poncho & hat :)
++ ???

MISC REFERENCES:

coat

Double Fangs

Petunia, PBJ, Ivy, Ms. Baabara Estelle Cottonbottom

oops its 2 am and my not!boyfriend broke up with me-

[lupusxylem]

[For most of the night, Wolfwood leaves the Grove.

He just. Leaves. With no intention of coming back. He has the magic of the golden glasses baked into his own, meaning he's able to see the correct paths. He can't get himself turned around, not anymore. So he puts on that coat from Heimr, grabs the Punisher, and just fucking leaves.

From around 8PM to 2AM, Wolfwood is gone. If it weren't for the jacket, he probably would have died of hypothermia at the rate he's going, but the cold just spurs him on further. It drives him to keep moving, to try to get away from this awful place and everything it stands for. He walks until his shoes are soaked and his feet are threatening frostbite, until his entire body is coated in a layer of ice, until every step causes physical pain.

As the night reaches its zenith, he takes one more step out into the open, and finds himself back in the Grove.

...

Is Livio asleep? There's a dull knocking at his door.]

[livlaughlove]

[With how fucking frigid things get at night, Livio has been in and out of sleep. Even bundled up in all of his new clothes, he shivers himself awake every so often.

As it stands, he's already getting up when he hears the footsteps approach his door. It's only a few seconds before he opens the door following the knock. And he's immediately horrified by the ice covering Wolfwood.]

Nicholas! What the hell happened?

Christmas Day

[simplicitas]

[There's a note taped to Livio's door. It's in Elsword's awful handwriting, sorry if you can't read this.]

Hi Liveeo!

[There was an attempt.]

I made you a gift. I hope you like horses!

[this is an offensive cowboy stereotype, anyway here's a horse. It's... definitely shaped like a horse...?]

[livlaughlove]

[Livio's animal toy collection grows...

This is really cute. Livio has never actually seen a horse before, but he loves her.

... Her name is Peanutbutterjiggles.

He'll have to find out who his mysterious benefactor was and thank them.]

forward dating slightly!

[mermaidcursed]

( very rapid light knocks on his door- )

Mister Livio! You got a lot of blankets and stuff, right? I need to borrow one please, someone's about to resurrect but she died before winter so she doesn't have anything to protect herself from the cold!

[livlaughlove]

[She's already halfway through that spiel before he gets to the door and opens it, though he heard everything. With the panicked and (at least from his perception) child-like voice, he's instantly locked on.

... It takes him a few seconds of staring at her to actually register the words, though. And even then... he doesn't fully comprehend them. At least the how. He does turn pretty quickly to grab the requested blanket, as well as the sweater and coat Heimr gave him. He's still wide-eyed and slack jawed when he returns to the door with them.]

Do -- do you need help?

[oleaeuropaea]

[A few days after everything, there's a very quiet knock on Livio's door. Vash waits for him to open up, then swiftly raises his hands.]

I know I'm probably the last guy you wanna see right about now but. I wanted to say thank you. You really knocked some sense into me the other day, y'see. [His hands lower, tucking into his pockets.] And... I also wanted to apologize. For hurting someone you cared about. And for puttin' you through all that trouble.

[livlaughlove]

[Contrary to what Vash expects, Livio isn't outwardly irritated when he sees him. Maybe a little on the inside, but he has years of training in the Eye to shove that down effectively.

Mostly, he's just quiet and lets Vash say his piece. When he does finally speak, it's as even-toned as ever.]

You don't need to apologize to me. I'm going to assume you did to Nicholas, though?

After Vash has seen him but before Nai shows up

[lupusxylem]

[Livio just has a ton of visitors lately.

There's little fanfare. At some point in the day, Wolfwood is at Livio's inn room door, similarly to how he'd retreated to him the first time. This time though, he's not freezing to death, nor is his head bowed with misery. He looks...a lot more content than he's been since he got here.]

Oi, Livio. Mind if I come in?

[livlaughlove]

[Does he? Sure he's been feeling kind of overwhelmed, but... it doesn't quite occur to him that it's because of socializing.

He always has time for Wolfwood, though. His answer is instantaneous.]

Go ahead.

[He'll just be putting away his netbook and getting up from his two side-by-side twin mattresses on the floor.]

I am in your walls also mid-lateish month u kno why I’m here

[lupusxylem]

[A couple of days pass after Wolfwood’s conversation with Vash. He very well could have gone to find him that same day, but as it stands he had no idea he needed some time to chew on it until the aftermath hit, so. It’s still kindof hard for him to believe that Vash would be okay with this, but…he believes him. If there’s anyone he’d believe isn’t lying to him, it’s Vash.

Though, what he doesn’t want to admit to himself is that he’s nervous. Even though the two alluded to the idea when they were under the influence of the chocolates, it’s just as easily possible that Livio didn’t really mean that. It’s hard to say, especially when they didn’t really…talk about it further beyond that one moment in passing.

But he has to talk to him. He wants to.

Wolfwood decides to wait until he knows Livio will be in his room. Best to be someplace like that than catching him outside or at the school.

Livio will hear a soft thump at his door.]

Liv? It’s me.

[livlaughlove]

[it's still chilly enough that livio would much rather be in his inn room than a drafty schoolhouse, so... he sure is in here! wolfwood will hear the soft thunk of an object dropped on a mattress, followed by liv's hurried footsteps toward the door. it's true his footfalls are usually surprisingly light, but... hey, he knows it's nick at the door, so pardon him for being eager.

he does try to restrain himself before he opens the door, though. just a little.]

Hey, Wolfwood -- everythin' alright?

closed prose log: march.

[livlaughlove]

[cw: disordered eating and sleeping, dissociation, religious trauma, mentions of child abuse.]

between checking on angelina and elsword, livio has other obligations to attend. before the bonfire broke apart his world, he had already given his word, either aloud or silently, to many others. as much as he wants to lie down and cease to be for a while, he knows in his heart that nothing he could do would make wolfwood sadder.

so he holds himself to his promises.

he builds a minimal shrine to the behemoth. it's more of an offering plate, really; smaller rocks in a half-circle partially surround one large, flat stone a few feet from the riverbank. the central "platter" stone soaks up some of the blood of his first official tribute, marking its significance if the deliberate arrangement of the rocks didn't already do so.

he spends another day or two at the river, scattering cattail seeds along the shore and seeking out quiet coves with mostly still, shallow water to sow duckweed.

he walks the perimeter of town. any vines or particularly hardy weeds that seem to be choking trees or bushes, he plucks as respectfully as he can manage. unless, of course, they're black. those, he sets aside to burn. maybe he should feel differently about that, given... everything, but it feels the safest bet. and after he makes his rounds, he harvests a handful of blackberries and a lemon to offer to moder. the lemons are odd, in a word, and likely as sour as any, but they're fruit nonetheless, after all.

even collecting and ensuring future food for the guardians, he forgets to feed himself. he can't sleep; doesn't even try most nights, simply wanders the floor of vash's house or the shore of the river or the paths around town. when he does lay in bed, it's sleepless, just staring up at the ceiling and feeling how heavy his eyelids weigh without ever actually letting them close.

yet, it's all exhausting. livio already feels like he's only half present, though it isn't in the same way as when razlo scratches at the surface. it feels more like his body is on autopilot, but every movement still tires him. he feels weary in his bones, in his soul. he almost wants to pretend that this is just a long nightmare, a dream state like he's already experienced many a time in the grove. but the angry scars on his arm, legs, and torso are undeniable reminders of reality, and the power wielded by the ever-looming false god.

god.

livio is painfully near willing to believe that the creature is closer to god than any deity he's ever worshipped. the merciful god miss melanie tried to show him wouldn't rip out from under him a second chance with his best friend and first love. the wrathful god his father and chapel brought him to heel to always felt more like a convenient excuse to abuse him than the divine. not that the creature is much different from the latter. the only difference is its undeniable presence. now, he has seen it. heard it. as much as he's discouraged others from giving it the power of belief, livio feels absolutely crushed under the enormity of its might.

livio doesn't pray to god any longer. he prays in the dirt at the foot of wolfwood's grave to the punisher. he prays to nicholas for the strength to carry on without him once again. prays that vash, wherever he is, will come home safe one of these days. prays that he can care for angelina well. prays that nothing like that night ever happens again. more than anything, on all these sleepless nights, he prays for forgiveness. that nicholas would pardon him for allowing history to repeat itself.

and in spite of his own constant, desperate pleas, he prays that nicholas can rest.

he buys two enchanted plants. they're hardy, but he'll tend them regularly nonetheless. heimr says chamomile aids one's sleep. livio places one pot beside the punisher. the other, he takes to the manor. for a while, he's laid wildflowers purchased or picked at audrey's gravesite. he'll keep doing so, he thinks, but she deserves something alive, unwilting, too. the other pot rests next to her headstone and its cloth flowers.

even if the living can't rest, livio continues praying that the dead might be able to.

after the meeting so a base has been established, also you can pick a spot

[purevanillacookie]

[ Watching Livio ghost around the Grove after Wolfwoods death had set Pure Vanilla upon a mission. The problem is finding the balance - as well as finding the man. After the meeting, Pure Vanilla had started as he had before. Though it's probably no secret who it all comes from, Pure Vanilla lays food and drink in spots he knows Livio frequents. The problem with this, is he knows Livio will more than likely ignore them or offer them up to the guardians in turn. Which is fine, and sweet, but leaves the man unfed.

So that means tracking him down, and gently bullying the bigger man into some food. Like before, he made sandwiches, and made them bite sized. Easily picked at pieces, that can be eaten over time, as the stomach can handle. Sweetened lemonade with the odd lemons.

Something to give him energy, to nourish his body.

He travels the places he's seen Livio frequent: the school, Wolfwoods grave. He doesn't know he stays at Vash's as well, though he has checked on the house from time to time to see if his friend is there (another disappearance...?). ]

[livlaughlove]

[pv has livio's number. he may take a bite here or there before he finds something else to feed the remainder to, but at least he makes an effort to drink, and return the dishes to the inn kitchen afterward. it keeps him from collapsing from dehydration and gives him something to do every so often, so... it's nice.

despite being aware that pure vanilla knows his frequent haunts, it doesn't occur to him that they might actually run into each other again. today, he's sat against the wall inside the school. just on the floor. he has company in the form of a cat-shaped fir plantimal curled up beside him, so at least he isn't alone alone.

still, his lips part in surprise when pure vanilla enters with fresh sustenance to inflict upon him.

... why is he still trying, when livio has obviously given up?]

[some night, times fucking fake yall]

[mermaidcursed]

( bingbong

aka

open. the door. stop. having it be closed. )

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYA

[livlaughlove]

[guess who finally fell asleep cuddling the dog? and is now awake? THIS GUY!

when he opens the door, his bleariness melts away instantly.]

Nene? Is everything okay?

before ww comes back, slightly after he gets his quest

[soundsurfing]

[ If one had to ask who the saddest mfer around right now was, other than Elsword, Beat would say Livio. Which is why the werewolf hunts him down, sunflower seeds and ribbons in hand, nose in the air until he finds the big guy. He won't approach immediately though, peeking around corners until Livio spots him lurking, then perks his ears up and wags his tail. ]

Hey brotha, you wanna help me wid somethin'?

[livlaughlove]

[it helps that livio has been spending so much time around angelina. he doesn't seem nearly so bothered by beat's appearance as he did when they first met face to face. granted, given the circumstances he isn't happy, but... it's something.

plus, it's always been far easier for him to get motivated to do things for other people than for himself.]

... Sure. What do you need?

gift

[purevanillacookie]

[ When next Livio visits the School, he will find a little round blob of a crocheted sheep waiting for him. It's a little lumpy, and a little uneven, but it's made with heart. And a note from Pure Vanilla, saying he hopes it acts like a good luck charm or just a friend when he needs one.

It smells faintly of vanilla and if Livio looks at it under the moonlight, the wool yarn takes on a rainbow iridescent shimmer. ]

[oleaeuropaea]

[Early one morning, Livio and Wolfwood will wake to the sound of shuffling in the kitchen, some joyous whistling, and the smell of freshly cooked eggs. Venturing out of the pile of limbs, blankets, and dog will reveal that Vash has three perfectly folded omelettes laid out. There's even some fresh cut fruit on the table. Just don't ask where it came from, yeah?

The magnificent chef in question, one Vash the Stampede, is currently standing near the table. As his partners emerge, he lifts a hand up, fingers wiggling in a little wave. He seems... nervous? Weird.]

Mornin' you two. Come eat!

[livlaughlove]

[livio has never and will never take food for granted, so jot that down. his sniffer leads him right to the kitchenette, as he waves right back at vash. his own partners might possibly find it disgusting how much of a morning person he is, perking right up at the breakfast vash has whipped up.]

Well, I'll be damned, sunflower, I didn't know y'could cook all fancy. Looks great. Thanks.

[incoming for a g'mornin' kiss --]

Y'alright?

[oleaeuropaea]

[As much as Vash wants to turn tail and run after everything, he... doesn't. There's a lot that needs to be done, and he won't leave Wolfwood to shoulder the burden. Before anything else happens, he needs to find Livio.

It turns out that takes some doing. The pier is one of the last places he expected to have to look, so it takes him some time to make his way out there. Once he finds Livio he just sort of... sits down beside him. He folds his hands into his lap and... waits to be acknowledged.]

[livlaughlove]

[if it wasn't for the tides, livio wouldn't even be here. he'd much rather be out on the beach, secluded and all, considering how wet his face and how red his eyes are. he does his best to wipe away the evidence as he hears someone approach -- vash, by the sound of his footsteps.

he isn't sure whether hope or dread is stronger. maybe he can pretend it's hope for a little while longer if he doesn't look directly at vash yet.]

... You're home. Thank you. [at least he can be grateful vash honored his word.]

gift @ end of month // no need to reply unless ur hankerin

[eidxiety]

[Since Vash and Wolfwood also got gifts this month... Ain doesn't want to leave Livio out! Of course he did not ask before doing this, he has no hint to what kinds of things Livio would want, and his "that guy is cute" brain is going overtime so.

Livio will come home to find a box on the bed with a note that says simply: TO LIVIO <3 FROM AIN! Inside is an outfit: Daisy dukes and a cropped shirt in a nice, earthen green tone. There's a new poncho in there too, in case he gets cold wearing that. Somehow, it's all in Livio's exact size. Do not question where Ain got the measurements from just roll with it.

There's another note underneath that saying if Livio doesn't like the colours or the articles themselves, he can stop by the tailor shop and Ain will replace it.]

9/27 cw: disassociation

[lupusxylem]

[Wolfwood barely remembers falling asleep.

Everything post Livio's death had been a sickening blur. Though, he hesitates to call it a death so much as a slaughter, given the fact more of Livio ended up on him and the ground than where Wolfwood actually buried him. For you see, Wolfwood wasn't just going to leave his corpse to rot in front of the god damn house, even if he's pretty sure it would have just disappeared on its own anyway. There's a shallow grave dug a decent distance from the house because it felt wrong to put it in the yard, in the hopes that nothing would come by and dig it up later. It's sloppy but the job is done right, and...he doesn't remember really how long he spent there, knelt there, detatched from himself to the point where he still doesn't know if a few hours or days had passed before he finally dragged himself back inside to take a shower.

Vash is gone. Again. He doesn't know where, doesn't know what, but he can't go after him right now. Not unless he, too, wants to get himself shredded like confetti. He's not so bold as to think he can fight that, insomuch as he doubts he could get more than a few clean shots off before Vash took him down, and that's if he managed to do any real damage.

It hurts. He's exhausted, confused, and he hurts. So he crawls in bed and simply...doesn't wake up.

For a solid month of time, Wolfwood dreams. To Wolfwood, it's as if the Grove had been the dream, as he snaps awake back in No Man's Land in the wake of having prevented disaster with the orphanage, his hands still vaguely burned from where the serum hadn't fully repaired the damage yet. His memories of the Grove of course no longer exist while he's there as he goes through the course of his already predetermined future. They make it to JuLai, Vash waltzes face first into the trap Wolfwood knowingly led him into, and the city gets completely vaporized off the face of the planet. But unlike Vash, Wolfwood doesn't live years worth of time before he wakes up again. He remembers getting Meryl out of harm's way, just before the nuke went off, and...

He snaps his eyes open with a start, a sharp breath rattling through his lungs as if he'd forgotten how to breathe. He sits forward abruptly as the entire room around him swims dizzyingly, the things left behind around the house (and the general fucking state it's in) things he'll have to discover later. The sense of being overwhelmed is simply unmatched as he sits there staring straight ahead, eyes flickering down to the empty space of the bed where his leg once was. The memories don't come flooding back so much as crashing over him like he's being pelted mercilessly with each one, and it's honestly too much.

Then he looks over to the form sitting in the bedroom, and if he weren't so out of it, he would have fucking screamed right then and there. Instead he stares like he isn't sure what he's looking at, for a long time.

He recognizes the difference between them, now.]

...s'you.

[livlaughlove]

[after he trampled the house and found the trio's stupid fucking dog -- you're WELCOME, by the way -- razlo decided to... well, what else, but sit there seething in hate for a guy who can't even fight back at the moment. he definitely tried shaking the bastard awake a couple times, but given the notes and everything... it's been pretty clear that he isn't waking up until he's good and ready.

so raz eats, and watches, and sleeps, and watches.

and finally, his... well, not quite patience, but hostile obsession pays off. wolfwood's eyes open instantly, and he breathes, and eventually takes notice of him. it must be quite a sight -- saucer eyes full of malice staring him down with the confident calmness of a predator about to pounce.

yet somehow, razlo feels... sluggish, where he'd normally be keyed up from sticking around one spot for too long. suppose he can blame livio's influence.]

Fuckin' right it's me. Been waitin' for ya. Get up, bitch.

[the words and tone carry the implication of "so i can kick your ass," but razlo's volume is uncharacteristically low. there may or may not be any weight behind the threat.]

After the Fuckening

[oleaeuropaea]

[Eventually, Vash has to go home. Maybe Pure Vanilla and Ain encourage him, or maybe Wolfwood goads him. One way or another, though, Vash eventually makes his way back up to the cabin. He's already more or less been told that Razlo is still around which... makes Vash pretty aprehensive. Even without the full understanding of Razlo and what he's capable of, he knows that he's meant to protect Livio.

Which means Razlo failed because of Vash.

He knows whatever happens next simply won't end well. But it has to be done. Or maybe, Vash is just self flagellating per usual. Either way, he enters the cabin and, after clearing his throat once, looks around the enclosed space.]

Uh... I'm home?

[livlaughlove]

[honestly, the grove as it is -- covered in candy and full of positive-vibes skeletons -- razlo is fucking bored. all the time. so when vash comes inside, he finds raz just lying in the middle of the floor. taking up most of it, actually, because the place is so small and he is so, so big.

his head is lifted up already, has been since he heard vash approach, but he doesn't immediately leap up to fight the guy or anything. vash is significantly less feathered and feral than he was on his and livio's gayass little date. so for now, raz just quirks a brow.]

Yeah, can see that. Y'don't gotta announce it.

post fammeet, i am in your walls hello

[eidxiety]

[Ain is so sorry Livio for his Crimes. He'll pull the big man aside after they leave the meeting, though, a very gentle "follow me" before he leads Livio north toward where the bunny bakery is. If it weren't freezing, he'd talk in the cold, but... well, winter has it out for them still.

When they get there and sit at the tables, Ain picks up a bunny and sets it right on Liv's lap, for morale and snuggles.]

Haha, sorry... I didn't mean to embarrass you during the meeting. I hope you aren't mad at me.

no one i would rather have in there

[livlaughlove]

[... bunny bakery. liv can't say he's ever heard of the concept, or held a bunny in his lap before. he hasn't even been in here yet.

really, ain is a welcome change of pace from livio's earlier breakdown. the tearstains on his cheeks are just starting to fade, but he has a gentle smile for ain regardless. and of course, a hand to hold out to the bunny for sniffs. he'd rather an animal invite him to pet it than just assume.]

Not a bit. Reckon I embarrassed myself, if anything.

early june // hi, ain has gifts :))) said in an ominous tone

[eidxiety]

[So. Vash has shown up dead and bleeding on the dimensional library's doorstep. Ydalir has stocked her shop with an item that, while romantic on the tin, will let Ain keep track of his partners... which is, you know. Not a great thought to have about something that's supposed to be all cute and romantic! But here he is!

There's that, and the fact that the amulets would let Livio (or Razlo) (whichever) borrow some of Ain's powers, which may be useless since Ain is mostly a healer with some attacks, but like. What if... it's not. What if it's not useless, what if it's the difference between saving lives aaaaAAAA—

Anyway. Is Livio still a Critter in June? Because Ain is. And this little, satyr-form deer is going to spring-sproing up to him (or them, if he's still a hydra) and slap a bracelet around Livio's wrist. The amulet is set in his hand a second later.]

Ms. Trader is selling these. [He says, as if an explanation is needed here. Where else would he get magical emotion-connecting GPS bracelets??] ...I don't want anything bad to happen to you, so I need to know where you are. I don't want what happened to Vash to happen to you.

[So, Ain is taking this well,]

[livlaughlove]

[they are a single-headed tiger man at this point, but ain probably recognizes razlo's bearing on sight. in fact, ain is pretty damn lucky that raz is comfortable enough around him to not try to put him on the ground on reflex for running up to him and touching him out of nowhere.

and the moment their -- psyches? emotions? are linked, razlo can feel all of ain's trepidation, and ain can feel how razlo is pulled tighter than any spring imaginable, liable to snap at any moment. he's only fronting right now because livio was going to let them waste away if he hadn't taken charge, and he -- relates a little too much to ain's frustration and fear regarding their partners.

he understands what's happening with the bracelets, if not the amulet yet. he looks ain in the eyes.]

Y'don't wanna stay in our head, Ain. [... it should probably say enough that he doesn't have the energy or desire to call him some inane nickname.]