ACUITY.

also for those of you who knew of this au things happened on the side while I was inactive and there were MASSIVE CHANGES. like, plotwise. please read this in-character summary post ( it’s shit ), and the new about pages for rav and lorin, as well as the au about. there is also a timeline page. That page is the fastest summary in the west.

ekaa’s about page is here.

honestly you can get away with just coming in blind I guess but if you want context for literally anything that’s going on there u go.

@revaeli

- - - - ⌘ >

༄ “ … ‘Kay. “

Lorin would suddenly find Vaati in a much more agreeable mood all of a sudden. Can’t imagine why that is. Maybe he just needed to blow off some steam?

Either way, that hand hold would be returned once more. He looks sheepish, staring at the ground the way a child getting chastised would. It’s the closest thing to a bow in deference Lorin’ll get out of him, but the gesture means much. Finally. Some shred of respect.

Oh, but how low he’s fallen. What happened to the big and scary Sorcerer Vaati, wielder of the four winds and other such nonsense? Could it be there’s some layer of child beneath all that hot air he’s blowing?

Of course there is. Vaati just thinks he’s very good at hiding it.

•-)•–––– ♛ ▽  

And the truth is, he isn’t. He never was.

Lorin has seen this time and time again-- children who never allow themselves to be children. It’s a song and dance he knows by heart. It always starts the same, too.

They talk. He listens. They lash out. He consoles. All measured steps in the dance.

After all, he knows how it feels. He was there, once. The only difference was that there wasn’t a gentle and kind soul to take his hand. Someone who understood. Someone who believed children should be children, regardless of what power they held.

He has a big heart, he’s been told. Wears it on his sleeve. Today’s events have made that more than evident.

Despite barely knowing this child, Lorin already cares immensely for him.

...Or maybe that’s just the empathy at play again.

Regardless...

The walk back is quiet and quick. They were only just outside of the house, after all, and it looks like a familiar purple-clad... boy? Girl? Person? Has been leaning up against the door in wait.

He’ll greet the both of them as soon as they round the corner.

–––– ❝ Hey! Took you guys a while, ❞ she says, waving the pair over. ❝ I uh... I admit to overhearin’ what just went on, but I won’t press either o’ you about it. ❞

–––– ❝ ...Thank you. Mine apologies for taking so long. ❞ He’ll look down to Vaati, now, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. ❝ I have... a question to ask of you. Given that the next task is to furnish this... house, and to give you a place to stay... do you have something in mind? Describe it for me, and I can replicate it. ❞

–––– ❝ An’ don’t be modest about it either! Tell ‘im what’cha want. He’ll make sure it’s up to snuff. But uh... Try to keep it on the small side, would’ja? Needs to fit on this property. Otherwise I gotta deal with even more legal nonsense than I’m about to for this. Yer gonna basically be a legal citizen once we’re done.

...But anyway! Shuttin’ up now. ❞

- - - - ⌘ > 

An eye twitch.

༄ “ Tch… “

There’s this… aura, about this man. One that Vaati is mistakenly assuming is the influence of the Light Force, an inherent commanding presence which stifles his own willful disobedience. This Force smothers and kills each disagreement and irritated tone that tries to escape, dying right there in his throat.

You know he’s doing this for your benefit, it whispers into his mind. He is trying to do what’s best. Do not question him. You know nothing.

A shiver runs up and down Vaati’s spine.

Go with him. That is an order.

༄ “ … Okay. “

A servant and sovereign both.

•-)•––––▼ ▽ 

A familiar weight ‘pon the deity’s crown begins to feel... warmer, than usual. Are the effects of being touched by Creation itself being made manifest? In response to this, Lorin will release the boy from his grip and stand up a bit straighter, holding his head a bit higher.

It’s glowing very faintly but, there, near the back of his head... rests an ephemeral antler-shaped crown of pinpoint stars. They are followed by a crown of smaller white antlers moving in on themselves and circling around. All in all, it’s a mesmerizing sight.

To both command and receive respect in turn. That was Creation’s gift.

And... as quickly as it appeared, it is gone. The crown fades into nothing, but its effects are eternal.

Pleased with the young mage’s response, Lorin will smile softly toward him. Finally, a breakthrough.

–––– ❝ Thank you for your cooperation, ❞ he says, relieved. ❝ Now. Let us make for our destination once more. We have kept Ravio waiting long enough, have we not? ❞

Given that she was watching this entire squabble some ways away, maybe.

- - - - ⌘ >

Vaati continues to face away from him, ears flattening at the play comment.

༄ “ I… I have made my point. If I am wrong, if Love is truly- as you say- Power, then that would mean… “

That would mean he’s been powerless since day one.

༄ “ …That would mean anyone could become powerful simply with a hug or a kiss on the cheek. Reality does not work like that. “

༄ “ Love is but a weakness that inflates the ego. It does not bring one any closer to Power. “

He uncrosses his arms, taking a step or two away from Lorin.

༄ “ Perhaps neither of us know the true meaning of Power. However, unlike you, I am going to seek the real definition on my own. “

And just like that, he’s walking away. To where? Well… he doesn’t know, either. From the direction, though, he’s headed straight for the settlement formerly known as Thieves’ Town: Oppidelia.

He’s gonna get mugged out there. Or starve. Who knows, certainly not him! That stubbornness Will be the death of him one day.

•-)•––––▼ ▽ 

Nope.

Without thinking, Lorin will fast-walk up to him and immediately pull him back by the shoulders. Then, when he has the boy secured in his grasp, he will spin the young mage around and kneel down to look him properly in the face.

That is a stern look.

–––– ❝ Absolutely not. ❞ His grip is loose. Could wriggle out of it. ❝ I will not let you come to harm under my watch. I care not for whatever definition of power you seek-- you are not going anywhere on your own. Do you understand me? ❞

Please. Just put him in time-out.

–––– ❝ ...You will not find power in the den of have-been thieves and brutes. You will only find misery and pain. My hometown may look normal on the surface, but there is a seedy underbelly I cannot allow someone like you to find.

I promise you, you are better off coming with me.

- - - - ⌘ >

༄ “ Love. ”

An eye twitch.

༄ “ Love, you say…? “

He stares at that hand blankly, arms at his sides.

Then,

he snaps.

༄ “ LOVE?! HAVE YOU COMPLETELY LOST YOUR MIND?! “

His voice takes on a shrill tone unique to prepubescent children. It’s ear-piercing.

༄ “ What has love got to do with any of it?! Here you stand before me, fully engulfed in the Light Force, yet you dare lecture on the power of Love?! Love has nothing to do with power in the SLIGHTEST! “

༄ “ Does a dragon consider Love as it rends the flesh of its prey?! Does the hurricane treasure the Love it has found as countless others are washed away, torn asunder?! Does a child with a magnifying lens show their affection as the rays of the sun scorch the hides and limbs of the ants beneath them!? “

༄ “ Power, however minute, cannot and WILL NOT coexist with LOVE! I refuse to believe Love is what makes you great! “

༄ “ You say Love is what brought your nation together, saved it from the brink?! Nay, all Love has ever– or WILL EVER– do for you is hide you from your own WEAKNESS! Love is but a tool for lesser beings to cower in their dens and make themselves feel mighty! Love is naught but the path of the meek! “

He spins on his heel, facing away from Lorin now.

༄ “ Love will never save anything. Love will only weaken you. “

•-)•––––▼ ▽ 

He cannot help the bodily reaction ( a grimace, some flinching ) to such shrill screeching. It’s grating on the ears-- so much so it is physically painful. In response, he will pull the invisible hood of his glamoured robe up and over his head, making it look like is he merely running a hand through his hair. The screeching is immediately dulled. He’ll say a mental thank you to his husband for helping him to acquire this, and flatten everything down before sallying forth with... whatever the rest of his plan is.

Better. Much better. Now he can focus.

...Hold the phone. Why does he recognize those lines.

–––– ❝ If I did not know any better, ❞ he says, putting a hand on his hip and leaning into it, ❝ I would think you weren’t reciting lines from various children’s plays to illustrate your point. ❞

The sass that’s in that tone of his. Goodness.

–––– ❝ Love is weakness? Where did you hear such tripe from? Tell me-- how? How would love only weaken you? Please. I would love to hear what you truly think. ❞

All right, now he’s just egging him on.

- - - - ⌘ >

༄ “ To get back at someone who… “

He hesitates at that wording.

༄ “ Why would I use the Light Force for such a mundane thing as that?! No one has hurt me; here I stand before all, un-hurt! Witness this truth and burn it upon your mind! “

༄ “ No, to gain the Light Force and the Power it contains is to become unto a god! You know this truth, I can practically smell it upon you! There is no other equal to you at that peak, that pinnacle of Power! You look down upon all, and all worship the very ground you tread, bowing to your whims and praying for your Divine Guidance! “

༄ “ To be so isolated from the mundane and the trifles of life is perfection. It is better to be alone, in such a perfect state. “

Vaati puffs out his chest, letting go of Lorin’s hand and placing both on his hips as a display of superiority in his way of thinking.

༄ “ Yes. Much, much better to be alone at the top than have others around to drag you down with them! “

•-)•––––▼ ▽ 

Ah. I see, he thinks. All this flaunting is simply to cover up the fact that Lorin had gotten right to the heart of the problem. Can’t let people know you’re vulnerable, right? Absolutely.

He wants to just... to just scream, cover his face and just scream in frustration a little, but he will keep that internal. No, no-- he has Vaati right where he wants him.

GODS, he hopes so.

–––– ❝ ...No. ❞

It’s very curt. Very blunt. A simple no, a simple “you are so, so fucking wrong”.

...Has to cover his face for a moment. No screaming, though. He’ll start speaking through his fingers, then let his hands drop.

–––– ❝ I... no. No? No. I cannot physically express how incorrect you are, but I shall give it my best effort. First off-- I do not look down upon people, and not everyone worships the ground I tread. I wish to meet them where they are at, and use my abilities to assist where I can. In a way, everyone is equal to me. As my younger brother likes to put it, I am “just some guy”. My people pray for my guidance, sure, but beg? Absolutely not. ❞

The urge to slap himself upside the forehead is real, but he will not commit. Instead, he will throw his arms out to gesticulate his next point.

–––– ❝ Furthermore! I prefer the mundane! One might think me insane for preferring to, say, wash dishes by hand rather than instantly clean them with mine own magic, but... it is a grounding tool. I used it as a coping mechanism in the past, and it is still treating me rather well to this day. I feel more... connected to this world, one could say. ❞

This is not impossible. He can do this. He sighs again, in an effort to calm himself down.

–––– ❝ I am very powerful. I can alter this very reality in any way I desire if I so choose. Do you want to know why I do not do that? Why I do not force people to worship me, to kiss the ground I walk on?

...Because of that very force I spake of. I will tell you, right now, what it is.

it is love.

Love is what I, and those around me, utilized to bring my homeland back from the brink. Mine own power alone was not enough. But, through what various abilities my family brings to the table, anything is possible.

...Vaati.

I can tell you are hurt. Someone did something to you, and you craved the ability to strike back at them in a feeble attempt to nurse that hurt.

Seeking the power you sought has only brought you to further ruin. I would advise you to tread a different path.

...This time, perhaps, not alone. ❞

Again, a hand outstretched.

- - - - ⌘ >

༄ “ Of course you do not seek power; you already have it. “

He breathes a tired sigh as Lorin rambles on about this mysterious other ‘force’, very much not understanding it at all.

༄ “ Yes, yes, I know this already. The Light Force. Your land is practically inundated with it, is it not? My former master knew of it quite well, I can assure you. “

Vaati tries to say it matter-of-factually, but it comes off as bragging.

༄ “ For a god, you seem to be lacking in understanding for what Power is really used for. Disappointing. Is there truly no other soul that can comprehend how important it is? “

He kicks at a rock on the ground, sending it flying towards some nearby bushes.

Still hasn’t let go of Lorin’s hand, though.

༄ “ Honestly. What am I supposed to do now? Start from the ground up? You are a god, are you not? You could send me back to my own land at any moment, right? There is nothing for me here, I need to get back to my own lands and try again. Their Light Force will be mine, I can assure you. And this time, it will not be just a mere fraction. I know their tricks now. “

•-)•––––▼ ▽

A sigh.

–––– ❝ ...That is not what I mean. Mayhap I need to be a bit clearer in my delivery. ❞

The petulance of this child is palpable. He needs to be patient, though. Take a step back. Start from step one.

Right.

–––– ❝ The power I spake of was not mine to hold immediately. It had to be fostered, tended to like a plant. If it was ignored, it would have wilted. Refused to bloom. It is a power I share with others. With it, all things are possible.

It is not the Light Force, either. Mine apologies for not making that clear. ❞

He will ignore the kicking of the rock, mostly, save from rolling his eyes at the display. Children.

–––– ❝ ...Have you considered that the Light Force is not something you actually need? Mayhap you are... compensating for something. ❞ And this is where Lorin will gently squeeze Vaati’s hand. ❝ Why do you want for the Light Force so badly? Was it to get back at someone who hurt you? Was it to prove a point? What would you have done, had you succeeded? What would you have done all by your lonesome, at the top?

Is there any joy to be found in being completely alone?

- - - - ⌘ >

༄ “ Must I answer your questions..? If you are a god, then you already know my response. “

A moment of silence.

༄ “ …Besides, who does not want power? It is human nature, is it not? Power is the ability to change, to invoke reality from theory. It is a driving force within the hearts of man. It is why He seeks solitude atop the highest mountain, why He braves the wilderness in search of treasure, why He constructs mighty and towering cities of glittering stone. Everything is power, and power is everything… “

The last line is tinged with some sort of negative emotion– sadness, or perhaps longing.

༄ “ To lose power is to lose your ability to affect reality. Because of that boy in green… because of him and my former master… “

Another moment of silence.

༄ “ No, they were stronger. More powerful than I. Perhaps they were the ones to deserve the Light Force more. Perhaps… perhaps my power has only ever been ephemeral. Borrowed. My master is the one who made the cap, after all. Perhaps banishment was the only way it could end… “

•-)•––––▼ ▽

There is a... smile, that crosses his lips. This is not a smile born of sadness, mirth, or even pity. It’s one born of a realization: I have a lot of work ahead of me.

...Perhaps it’s self-pity, then.

Regardless, he’ll clear his throat and try to think of the best way to answer this. That specifically requires looking down toward the young man he’s leading by the hand for a moment, making a “tsk” sound, and then looking straight ahead.

What am I to do with you, he thinks.

Then... he has it.

–––– ❝ ...I may be a god, but power is not what I seek. ❞ He will briefly close his eyes and sigh, collecting his thoughts. ❝ Power is not everything. Rather, the power you desire is not everything. ...Power is not why He seeks solitude, nor why He seeks treasure, so on and so forth. He seeks these things due to what truly drives man to do what He does-- curiosity. A sense of adventure. And, sometimes, fellowship. There is nothing to be found in sheer, destructive power, except for misery. ❞

Lorin will look down at him, now.

–––– ❝ ...Power is not the only thing that affects reality, either. No. I know of a force much stronger than that. It is a force than binds us all together, for weal or for woe. It can strengthen bonds, but also sever them. That is the nature of this force-- but, so far, it has been nothing but a boon for both I and my kin.

One day, you might come to understand what that force is. Perhaps it was a force even your master understood.

I will say this, though.

I think your arrival here is a lesson in understanding this force. ❞

- - - - ⌘ >

There’s a few thoughts that drift in and out of his mind as he very quickly descends down this abyss. How did it come to this? Why now, of all times, does he lack the ability to just teleport himself out of danger? Why can’t he just use the winds to guide himself up and out?

Why is there the sudden feeling of a lurch?

Why are there arms grasping him around the middle?

Why, oh why, is he now standing on (and quickly crumpling to) solid ground?

…Who IS this man? Why is this man? Why? Why, why, why??

Ezlo would have chewed him up over this blunder… then he would have laughed about it. It would’ve been funny, would have left the two of them giggling about this for hours on end. ‘Remember that time I had to save you from falling into a chasm?!’ It would have been a long running gag.

Why… why is Ezlo coming back into his mind?

It was this man. He was like… like a kinder, softer Ezlo.

Vaati wasn’t sure if he liked that or not. The comparisons were there, sure, but…

༄ “ I- … Very well. “

No more games, no more blind plunges into near death. Vaati would accept that hand, agreeing to be led back to “”””safety””””.

Gods. He hated feeling so small. Powerless.

ᴬᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᵛᵉʳʸ ˡᵉᵃˢᵗ ʰᵉ ˡᵒᵒᵏᵉᵈ ᵐᵒʳᵉ ˡᶤᵏᵉ ᵗʰᵉˢᵉ ᵖᵉᵒᵖˡᵉ ᵗʰᵃᶰ ᵗʰᵉ ᴴʸˡᶤᵃᶰˢ ᵒʳ ᵗʰᵉ ᴹᶤᶰᶤˢʰˑ ᴹᵃʸᵇᵉ ᵗʰᵉʸ ʷᵒᶰ’ᵗ ᵖᶤᶜᵏ ᵒᶰ ʰᶤᵐ ᶠᵒʳ ᵗʰᵃᵗ ʰᵉʳᵉˑ

•-)•–––– ♛ ▽

His hand is warm.

It is soft, too. Well, where there aren’t pieces of jewelry constantly jangling around.

Most importantly, his grip is gentle, gentle enough for Vaati to remove his hand at any point if he wishes. 

The walk back is fairly uneventful. Quiet, even, apart from the occasional birdsong and insect chirps. It’s... relatively peaceful, even, compared to the events of the last few minutes.

Lorin finds himself humming something as they walk, mostly to occupy himself but also to fill in the silence.

Eventually, though, he will cease his humming to ask a question.

- - - - ⌘ > 

Nope, no no no no! No WAY is he dealing with this!

Vaati is scuttling backwards until he hits the wall, staring at this man like he’s a coiled tiger, ready to pounce at a moment’s notice.

He’s got no magic. No magic, no escape– dead meat. Dead, dead dead dead– wait, no! A door! The door that leads out of here! Ravio no longer guards it!!

With little warning, Vaati scampers on all fours to push the door to the house wide open, stumbling and sliding out before running off down the small slope.

Forget whatever deal Ravio tried to rope him into, forget the fact that he knows nothing about these lands, forget that he hasn’t a single spell to his name– that house is cursed! Haunted! Vaati’s heart is beating a million miles a minute as he’s not really paying much mind to where he’s running–

–and that’s a cliff.

He enters a freefall as his gaze drifts down into an endless black abyss below his feet. Time almost seems to slow to a standstill.

Oh. That’s not good.

•-)•–––– ♛ ▽ 

Now this.

This is a problem.

Before Ravio has a chance to get a single word out, hell, even a noise, Lorin barks out a command.

–––– ❝ Stay here. ❞

And he’s off.

The speed with which he moves is almost nauseating. He practically glides over the earth, skipping over every wayward stone and stump with ease. It’s impossible to tell if his feet are even making contact with the ground, what with the lack of noise he produces. All in all, it would probably be terrifying to be his quarry.

Eventually, he reaches his destination-- and without hesitation, he leaps off the edge.

A few seconds pass into his free fall, and his target is in sight. He will make a grab for around the boy’s middle and, once he’s sure Vaati is secured within his grasp, stop the both of them in place. He will then pause for but a moment before ascending the ravine, ignoring any sounds of protest, cries or whimpers.

Only when, and only when the both of their feet are touching solid ground, will he release his grip on the boy and gently set him down.

A part of him wants to chastise the boy for literally not thinking before he leapt, but he knows that would not do the either of them any good in the moment. Instead, Lorin will kneel down to meet the other at eye level, quietly examine him for any immediately obvious wounds, and then address him when he finds none.

–––– ❝ ...You are not hurt. That is good, ❞ he says, heaving a sigh. ❝ I am... still, sorry for scaring you earlier. I misjudged the situation. You have my deepest apologies. Just... know, that Lorule is not a place for wandering about aimlessly. Please be careful. ❞

With that, he will stand up.

...And, offer a hand.

𝑨𝑹𝑰𝑬𝑺.          tries to do everything at once.   doesn’t know when to stop & take care of themselves.      bends over backwards for everyone even if someone did them dirty.     has entirely too much on their plate. over-assertive. both insensitive and oversensitive.

𝑻𝑨𝑼𝑹𝑼𝑺.          idealistic.     spends a lot of time trying to impress others.     doesn’t like to apologize.     eating is a coping mechanism or just addictive personalities in general.     a tad co—dependent.

𝑮𝑬𝑴𝑰𝑵𝑰.          the most flip—floppy people ever.     what’s today’s mood? never apologizes.     in denial 90% of the time.     their way or the highway.     desperately needs a break.     has a hard time setting goals because their goals scare them.

𝑪𝑨𝑵𝑪𝑬𝑹.          the literal meaning of  ‘i’ll give you the shirt off my back’.    isolates themselves in fear of someone hurting them.    wants to change but is scared of change.     complains a lot but never takes the advice people give them.

𝑳𝑬𝑶.          no one takes them seriously because they feel they always have to portray themselves as the fun one.    is actually really sad inside. honestly needs a hug. always exhausted.    a crackhead.

𝑽𝑰𝑹𝑮𝑶.          can dish it but can’t take it.     rushes everything.     anxious.     plans their future but forgets to live in the moment.     sometimes ignores their friends because they have so much on their mind.     talks about themselves a lot & sometimes forgets to ask the other person how they are.

𝑳𝑰𝑩𝑹𝑨.          solves everyone’s problems but their own.     is actually really sad & lonely.     gets easily heartbroken but tries not to show it.    will do anything to justify bad decisions.   honestly just wants everyone to love them but doesn’t really love themselves.

𝑺𝑪𝑶𝑹𝑷𝑰𝑶. easily set off.     will give anyone the cold shoulder at any given time even without reason.     keeps a lot in.     so observant that they often times find out things that hurt them.   too many  ‘what ifs’  swirling in their head.  has trouble showing their true self.

𝑺𝑨𝑮𝑰𝑻𝑻𝑨𝑹𝑰𝑼𝑺.         impatient.   brash.     commitment issues.     body issues.     doesn’t realize they don’t need to change for anyone.     has a lot of different goals to a point where they get overwhelmed.     just wants to disappear & do what they want without anyone questioning them.

𝑪𝑨𝑷𝑹𝑰𝑪𝑶𝑹𝑵.         scared people won’t like them unless they’re at the top of their game 24/7.     it takes a lot for them to talk about their feelings.   secretly struggling.     fake happy.     needs a plan but doesn’t know what that plan is. confident but insecure at the same time.     wants to be stable but sometimes wishes they could drop everyone’s expectations of them & live normally.

𝑨𝑸𝑼𝑨𝑹𝑰𝑼𝑺.          gets heartbroken like 30 times a week.     trust issues.     can be unmotivated & disinterested.     feels they have to adapt to every person they meet so they can be liked.    doesn’t know how to tap into their emotions despite being very intuitive.   confused. expects little.