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

[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.]

[oleaeuropaea]

[Right for the trouble spot, it would seem. Vash opens his mouth to explain, but nothing comes out. He tries, for a split second, to put on a brave face. Maybe it's the mutual tears in Livio's eyes. Maybe it's just his own grief rising up. But for whatever reason, he can't put a cap on his despair any longer.

He leans heavily against Livio's shoulder, face turned against his skin. He doesn't say anything, but it won't be hard to tell what's happening. The warm moisture dampening Livio's arm is evidence enough of what Vash is going through, even if he won't speak it out loud.]

[livlaughlove]

[... right. of course it's the worst possible outcome.

livio wants to scream. he wants to yell at vash for running off in the first place. then to stomp his way to their cabana and yell at wolfwood for letting it happen. all while crying, of course. he wants them both to know how much their constant fucking high school lovers' spats hurt everyone around them, not just them.

but that isn't what he does, of course. no, he finds that one safe platform to fall back on. like he'd just recently told mizuki -- relationships are complicated and painful. this is exactly why he's grateful, in a bitter way, for all of the exhausting, cruel training he's undergone. because he knows how to flip that switch in his brain and simply stop feeling.

he won't leave vash, no. he still cares. he still wraps an arm around the independent and allows him to weep on livio. but this way, he doesn't have to hurt, too.]

[oleaeuropaea]

[Vash has no idea of knowing how unfair it is. if he knew Livio had simply switched off, he might have pulled back. Hell, he might have thrown hismelf straight into the ocean for it all.


But instead, he weeps like a child against him. All the grief he was afraid of letting spill in front of Wolfwood, not out of a desire to hide it but a fear of guilting him, comes out like a tidal wave. He doesn't make a noise, but his body trembles with the force of it. So powerful is the burst that he clings to Livio's shirt, fingers balled into the fabric as if it were the only thing keeping him connected to the planet.

He doesn't know how long he cries for. Eventually he runs out of tears and simply remains there. He clings, because he knows after this there will be a line in the sand. Livio and Wolfwood went hand in hand. He wouldn't get between them. Even still, he does eventually lean back. He stares up at Livio, puffy face, water eyes, the whole mess.]

I... tried. I told him the truth. How I was feeling, all that. I told him I felt like I couldn't trust him anymore. He said he'd still do it all over again.

We aren't on the same wavelength, he said. So...

[Livio can probably put the pieces together.]

[livlaughlove]

[even if it weren't for lack of feeling, livio is patient. he allows vash to sob until he simply can't anymore. and so long as vash doesn't complain, he rubs at his back or strokes his hair at times.

once vash leans back and actually looks up at him... well. he knows by now that livio also masks sometimes, especially if he needs to be calm to help someone, so his level expression shouldn't come as a surprise. maybe the best hint that something is slightly off is that his voice is reverted to that same accent-free monotone he spoke in when he first arrived.]

You two are really different.

Sometimes I think that's all either of you see. You're more alike than not. You're both protectors, above all else. And no, you're not always on the same wavelength.

... But you love him, right?

[oleaeuropaea]

Of course I do. This isn't - even what I want. But I can't just force Nick to see it my way, right? And maybe time will help me. Get perspective.

I don't know.

[It's only after he finishes speaking that reality settles him. Guilt doesn't take long to hit him after that. He recognizes the hollow tone of his voice. Livio must be hurting too. He's stuck between them, made to feel like he has to choose. And it isn't like Vash has made it any easier on him.]

Liv - 'm sorry. We don't have to talk about this. I really... don't want to hurt anyone else.

[livlaughlove]

[maybe he shouldn't say it, but so long as everyone is being honest...]

I'm already hurt. At least as long as you're willing to talk to me, I can try to help. Or at least keep you from being alone.

[maybe he can summon just enough wherewithal to soften his voice some.]

Did you tell him? That this isn't what you want?

[oleaeuropaea]

[Vash... wants to protest that badly. His mouth opens to say as much, but something stops him short. A thought occurs to him, one that might have made him laugh, if not for his grief.]

I - didn't. This was his choice. And if I said too much, it'd be like taking it away, wouldn't it. Don't... really want to be a hypocrite.

Same with you. [If being here for Vash despite his pain was Livio's choice, then what could he do?]

I'm sorry you're hurting. That we're hurting you. I almost wish I could make it better, you know. That I could stop being hurt.

[He glances down at the surf below.]

But bottling it up and swallowing it down won't help any of us. And I know that contradicts what I just said but...

[He makes a helpless motion with his hands.]

Guess that's life, right?

[livlaughlove]

You being honest about what you want doesn't take away his choice. It helps him make a more informed choice.

[not that livio wants to sit here criticizing either of them, exactly. though he isn't in a place where he wants to acknowledge vash's apology, either.]

People tend to make poor decisions when they're upset or hurt.

I'm not saying either of you are explicitly wrong, or that I speak for Nick. Just that it's... understandable, that you're having a disagreement. And I know he loves you, too.

I knew the moment I got here. Just like you know he's... passionate. To his own detriment, sometimes.

[oleaeuropaea]

Passionate. That's a good way to describe it. [A sigh.] We've... gotten through worse. We'll be okay. It just needs time.

[But Vash... doesn't sound like he believes that. He can't imagine changing how he feels. He can acknowledge where Wolfwood was coming from, can respect it, but he can't forgive it.]

He said that I'd never be the same, now that I knew. And he's right. But... [He pulls his knees up. The more pressure he applies to his chest, the less it feels like it hurts.]

I'll also never be the same, knowing he kept it from me. And it's so frustrating, because I know why he did it! But... [His presses his forehead to his knees.]

As much as I love him. As much as I love you. Or Nai, or anyone... I'll always love humanity more. If sacrificing my own peace might mean saving so many lives, I'd do it over and over again. That's always how I've been.

And if he can't accept that...

[Vash... doesn't want to think about that outcome.]

[livlaughlove]

Have you said it to him? Exactly like that?

[this is precisely what he meant when he called them protectors. while wolfwood's desire is to protect a select few, vash desires to protect all of humanity. one of their goals is more realistic, of course, but both are noble.]

Maybe coming at it from an angle you can both understand will make it easier to reconcile.

[oleaeuropaea]

I just... figured he knew.

[He lets out a sad little laugh.]

Guess he was right about wavelengths, huh.

[livlaughlove]

[the arm around vash squeezes him a bit. gentle but firm, trying to mimic the pressure vash is using on himself.]

I don't think that's anyone's fault. No matter how much you love someone -- doesn't mean you can read their mind. I don't even know what he's thinking sometimes.

[oleaeuropaea]

I guess not.

[He shifts just a little, so he can bury his face in the crook of Livio's neck. Cozy.]

In any case. I'll give him time. He asked for the break, right? S'only fair to listen.

[livlaughlove]

Yeah. Sounds fair.

[part of livio wonders if nick had asked for that out of exasperation or that he genuinely wanted it... but, again, he can't know unless he either asks directly or nick volunteers it. though, this does leave the matter of... the living arrangements of the three of them.]

Where are you going to stay, here? And don't say something ridiculous like the cave or the beach.

[oleaeuropaea]

I'll find somewhere. Might ask Heimr for a tent or something. Or see if anyone has a free space.

[Look at him, being mature!]

Once we're back, I'll crash at the inn. It's too much trouble to ask the both of you to uproot. 'sides, Angelina has her own room now and everything!

[livlaughlove]

[oh, it is a pleasant surprise that vash is being mature about --]

What.

[livio stares hard at the top of vash's head as if vash can see him too.]

Vash. It's your house.

[oleaeuropaea]

Not really.

[But before Livio can jump down his throat.]

It's our house. All three of us. Four, really. I'm not going to ask the rest of you to upend everything. Angelina's grown up there, and she's already going to be upset enough about one of her people right now.

[He leans back, so Livio can see his face.]

This isn't me self-punishing. I'm just trying to be practical.

[livlaughlove]

[... it's almost funny, that the thing that most challenges his ability to remain numb, is... how a dog might feel about all of this. if it weren't for angelina, livio would likely find somewhere else to be, as well. it feels wrong to default to nick's side if it means vash will be alone in the meantime.]

She's adaptable. Took to this place easy enough.

[...]

I've got enough done at the school that I could set up some temporary rooms for all of us. You two could have space, but she could still see you both.

[oleaeuropaea]

Liv, please...

[Vash has already wept his damn heart out. Yet somehow, the idea of everyone uprooting for him is what threatens to make new tears form.]

I'm asking, with all my heart. Please just stay there. I'll feel better if I know you guys are home.

[livlaughlove]

[part of him wants to beg vash in turn, to consider what he and nick might want, but... fine. it isn't the first time today he's had to push his own feelings aside to soothe vash's.]

Alright.

[oleaeuropaea]

[If he only knew how much he'd forced other people to swallow his emotions... well, he probaly would stop sharing so maybe this is the best for now. Temporarily.]

Thanks.

[He starts to draw back into his own space. His hands fall into his lap.]

I... don't really know what else to say now.

[livlaughlove]

[livio's goal isn't to hurt vash, either, so it really is for the best.]

Do you want me to go?

[oleaeuropaea]

Honestly I... don't really know what I want right now.

[His laugh is sad.]

That's not true. I want to run away. Don't... want to have to sit with everything that's happened. But that won't help anyone, right?