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

[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?

[livlaughlove]

[it sure won't, vash.]

I would worry about you. So would Nick.

[but still...]

I'll stay here until you'd rather I go, then.

[oleaeuropaea]

I'm not going anywhere. I promise.

[But he's not saying no to company.]