♙ cinq. (video; action threads also accepted)

[diplomatique]

--lease desist!

[ a scuffle can be heard as larsa's tablet drops on the ground, picking up a cloud of dust and dirt as he struggles, boots crunching and scraping across the broken cement beneath his feet. the camera's damaged; it flickers a few times, giving a worm's eye view of a few figures grasping larsa's arms. he's stumbled, one knee bent, like he's about to collapse. whatever damage has actually been made to him is hard to see with the tablet flickering, especially so when a boot comes up to cover some of the already flickering feed.

there's a rustle of fabric and a yelp from larsa, a wheeze following afterward. ]

P-peace cannot be found with fighting me or... or any other Transport. Do believe me, I pray you! You are scared. Wars are-- [ a gasp, and the feed flickers again as the wind's knocked out of him. more flickering occurs, and it's hard to hear the response of the figures before one grasps the emblem hanging from around larsa's neck.

larsa has been a pacifist so far, but he has lost almost everything in the war back home. the sight of someone using his house crest makes him panic, and he starts to cast. immediately, the figures react, two still holding his arms yanking him back against a crumbled wall--it doesn't stop his magic from bursting across all of them.

they all freeze. larsa gasps as he yanks himself out of their grips and slumps to the ground, holding his house crest close to his chest.

he tries to get up--the damaged tablet is scooped up and held close, the camera timing out as he hurries away to try to get as far away as he can. disable would not hold forever. ]

Comments

audio, then probs action

[transgressed]

[She recognizes this kid. The memories of Exsilium are still hard to grasp, thin and light as tissue paper, but she remembers this much.

She isn't loud because she doesn't want to alert Larsa's attackers to his location (loud would come later). Her voice is low, but intense and urgent. She gets straight to the point — any happy reunions would come later.] Where are you? Think you could give me an idea?

audio, alright o7

[diplomatique]

[ his head's a little foggy--he hears her, but not her words, and his mind registers fang while he stares dumbly, the feed still flickering. ]

I--I am near a... tavern? The--the Crown and the Lion, it seems. I suppose I've become delirious...

audio --> action

[transgressed]

I know it. You just hang tight, alright? No sudden movements.

[It would possibly be faster, on Snow's bike, but Fang has her own transportation. Soon, a great black shape in the sky casts a shadow over the streets — her Eidolon, Bahamut. When Fang is near the tavern, there's a flash of bright purple light, and Bahamut disappears. Fang lands from above on her feet, graceful as a cat.]

Hey, kid? Larsa? [She calls out, until she catches sight of the boy stumbling around. He looks like he's in bad shape, and without thinking about it, she reaches out to grab hold of his arm. She's careful not to be too rough.] Steady now.

( action )

[replicates]

[ he's been getting into the habit of wandering around the streets during the day, mentally marking important areas outside the facility and places of interest. it hasn't been long since he got here but with all his free time now, he actually had to try find things to keep himself occupied.

as he turns down one of the streets, he doesn't look up in time before nearly bumping into someone, catching himself and side-stepping at the last moment. ]

Watch it- [ it comes out before he actually gets a good look at who he nearly ran into. once he does, he kind of regrets saying it because wow this kid looks pretty banged up. ]

Hey... you okay?

[ he's already palming his pockets for a potion, keeping an eye on him just to make sure he doesn't bolt or pass out. ]

( action )

[diplomatique]

[ larsa stumbles on his boots--high heels are difficult on their own, with his equilibrium out of balance, it's worse. he presses a little gloved hand against his face when he rights himself, making sure he looks back at the person who's talked to him. ]

I... have seen brighter days.

[ he gives an awkward smile. ] Thank you for your concern.

( action )

[replicates]

[ he makes a harsh sound, something like a "tsk" and a rough sigh as he takes in the way that Larsa tries to balance himself. he shakes his head at the thanks and holds out two bottles of potion to him, bright green and sparkling. ]

Drink this. It'll help with your injuries.

[ he has about three more if it looks like he might need more, but if that's the case he figures he might as well just take Larsa to the Real Thing or the infirmary. he's also pretty sure there has to be at least one person who knows Cure magic around. ]

Did you get caught in a fight?

action;

[onehundredswords]

[Gin's always on the lookout for interesting things around the city, and watching people go about their business is a hobby he enjoys greatly. When he sees Larsa trying to reason with the natives from a rooftop nearby, he can't help but stand and stare simply because it's entertaining, expecting the boy to be beaten and bruised by his aggressors... so color him surprised once he sees the disable spell take effect.

It's enough to get a laugh from him, actually. Nice and unexpected, just the way he liked it.

In the aftermath of the exchange, before Larsa can successfully make distance between himself and his temporarily indisposed opponents, Gin descends from the rooftops and lands in front of the boy, grinning cheerfully as he's prone to do. From the way he's standing, you'd think he was blocking Larsa from leaving...but that couldn't be the case, could it?]

Ouch, that was pretty difficult to watch! Y'okay, kid?

action;

[diplomatique]

[ larsa, in all his tactics, can understand gin's position. he can explain it away--even if he stares up at gin with a shielded and fierce look. that kind of glare has no business being on a child of larsa's age, it's too hardened by loss and despair. it melts, just as easily as it comes, as his mind starts to spur into motion. of course. ]

I shall be.

[ and he moves to get around gin. ]

[onehundredswords]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, easy there!

[He blocks Larsa from escaping with one arm - he doesn't touch him, but he does block his path.]

I figure as a' member of the initiative formed police around here I can't just ignore a' crime scene like this, or let you go so soon.

video

[hbisea]

[ Is someone hurting a child? She's not going to stand for that, but unfortunately she's not anywhere close to the scene.

Instead, it's just her angry expression filling the feed. ]

What is going on? Are you alright?

video

[diplomatique]

[ larsa has perfected showing sides of himself as a ruler; even though he was grief-stricken, the empire couldn't function without an emperor. larsa really had no choice but to learn how to regulate his emotions thusly, and he's good at it, despite the fact that it's only been a few months.

nevertheless, he gives her a little smile, exuding regality. ]

I simply made an error. Recovery will come when I return to my unit.

[voice]

[highfrequency]

[He's immediately on his feet and running out the door to his apartment... despite the fact that he has no idea where he's going. All he knows is a child is in trouble.]

Hey, kid! Talk to me, are you okay?

[voice]

[diplomatique]

I am quite fine, you needn't worry, it seems the tablet broadcast by mistake.

[ he tries to keep his voice calm, but his disable spell won't last forever, and he can feel it starting to disperse. he needs to get out of here now. ]

action;

[copia]

[ Kaede has a backpack over her shoulder as she glides through the streets, the hood of her jacket up over her face as she does her best to avoid any hostile or aggressive Transports. Every so often, one seems to make a move towards her, but freezing their feet with ice usually does the trick in stopping them.

She rounds a corner as she reaches the street she needs and almost crashes into the injured preteen male. All it takes is one good look to see how scuffed up he is. ]

Oh my gosh, are you okay?!

action;

[diplomatique]

[ larsa has little weight on his body--when he does almost crash into her, he skids on his boots and one heel breaks, sending him toppling onto the ground, scraped up on one side. he groans, grasping his shoulder as he peers up at her. ]

I am... [ worse than he usually is. ] quite alright.

action;

[collectedloot]

[Alex is not a fighter by any means, but when she sees what's happening to this child, she can't just sit back and do nothing. She has her weapon handy, so if it comes down to it... She'd rather not think about whether or not she'd actually pull the trigger on them, just wanting to focus on doing what she could for the him.]

H-Hey, hey! Over here!

Can you run?

action;

[diplomatique]

[ he doesn't have to answer that question with his words; he just breaks into a run. heels are not suited for this, though--especially not the boot-heels he usually wears. victorian fashion, why. he starts to slow a little towards her, breathing hard--larsa may be a fit little kid, but--

he's used to being seated on a throne. ]

Th-thank you.

[Action]

[hornedomen]

[Ico had not been in another fight though he remained cautious. When he heard a disturbance, he hurried over to the source. He nearly ran into Larsa once he arrived.]

Larsa? [He turned direction and he ran along with him. His stomach knotted when he saw the injuries on his friend.

He grabbed his shield.] Can you keep running? I can carry you on my back.

[Action]

[diplomatique]

[ never had he been more relieved to see ico in his time in exsilium. he exhaled loudly, looking to ico with true relief and gratefulness before he continued into his run. ]

There is no need for that. I--I should be able to stay in motion. [ he can feel the heel of his boot wobbling, but he's determined to make it to the housing unit before then. ]

action;

[maskmaker]

[Monica does not like getting involved with fights. But what she does dislike seeing more is scumbags picking on those who are weaker and protesting the violence. She does not particularly care for the little boy she does not recognize, but the violence is familiar, and it upsets her so greatly that she drops down beside Larsa from whatever high-up place she had witnessed the scuffle from just as the boy's magic bursts and the men freeze. She'd been intending to crush those men herself but apparently that's no longer needed, so she turns her attention to the injured (?) boy.]

Are you all right? [Her voice and expression aren't exactly friendly, but it isn't hostile. She quickly looks over Larsa for any obvious injuries before holding out a hand.] I will get you out of here.

action;

[diplomatique]

[ he is not all right.

larsa knows that, but with someone else on the field, he shakily brings himself onto his feet, looking to her, breathing heavily. ]

I am all right. [ he'll just cure himself when his magic replenishes. he takes her hand without hesitation, however. he does know when he needs help. ]

text

[postpones]

[later, when it seems more likely that Larsa will see this after all the other responses, and gotten someplace safe(r)]

Can you make it back?

[time to go haunt a few kids]

text

[diplomatique]

Yes. Ico has helped me.

[video]

[legal_eagle]

Hi. It's Sonya.

[She's smiling, but there's something quite savage about it - she's all teeth, no warmth, and her voice is sharp.]

Did they give you their names at any point?

[video]

[diplomatique]

[ by this time, larsa's crouched down near some of the more local establishments near the housing unit--he's a little more in control of his breathing and himself. he can't... quite put his finger on why sonya feels more harsh. ]

No. [ his voice is quiet. ] I do not know their faces.