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 Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2018 10:36 pm
...Oh.
Richard didn't know what that was, and he had a flash of alarm at first when he felt the warmth from Encke's hand. The alarm was gone as soon as it'd come, though, and Richard settled back down with a self-conscious half-smile. Encke was still Ignacio. Ignacio wasn't going to hurt him. In fact, it felt... nice. Soothing. Like stepping into a warm room after being outside in the cold, almost. What was more, Richard could feel the vestiges of exhaustion being driven out of him.
His small sigh was a pleasant whuff of air, this time.
"Thank you," he said to the promise, leaning towards Encke in turn as he started to speak again. Richard listened, resisting the impulse to insist he could take care of himself. If he were honest with himself... If they were all like that squid monster and his friend, the walking-embodiment-of-a-bad-burrito, Richard didn't have anything that he could think of that would let him defend against that. He was, literally, a dancer, not a fighter. He wasn't even trained in, like, recreational tai chi. Underwater combat basket-weaving. None of that. As much as that pained him, that didn't mean he was alright with the notion of Encke being in danger. He could explain his abilities to Richard all day, and it was still too easy for Richard to fear the worst.
Being called a 'goddamn protective fool' got the barest of chuckles from him. Richard couldn't really argue. Encke was right, after all. He could explain his abilities to Richard all day, and it would still be too easy for Richard to jump into the middle of things if someone tried to hurt Encke. Objectively, he knew Encke had made a wise decision. Subjectively, he still wasn't happy about it. "I mean, if the news is any indication, it was only a matter of time?" He shrugged half-heartedly. "I'll be fine. Am fine."
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Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2018 10:37 pm
Encke felt some level of relief having Richard this close. He closed his eyes, for a moment, enjoying his warmth, taking a few deep breaths he hadn't taken for quite some time now.
Richard was here, he wasn't going anywhere. He was safe. And Encke had failed at his duty, but perhaps... perhaps he could make sure he wouldn't fail again. Perhaps ... perhaps he could make sure that Richard was safe, that his Arra knew what the signs were, that his Arra was more aware of what was going on. Mistakes had been made, though it felt like the right choice at the time. This was the new right choice. Ignacio had to adjust. He had to let go of the obsession. He needed to find the new normal.
Arra was going to know about this now, and hopefully, that was okay.
Perhaps it would prevent him from falling victim to Captain Smokestack again.
"Mm. News doesn't seem to be getting any better, eh?" To some level, that thought was disappointing. The news had been bad so long as he could remember, ever since ... he shook his head out of that train of thought, not willing to let his brain spiral after it had spiraled far too many times that day. He was worn out from the panic. He wanted to focus on what hope he could cling to.
He understood the am fine as a signal of not quite but almost forgiveness for Encke's actions, and in turn, Encke offered a smile. The confidence this form imbued him with was still there, but there was definitely something sad about it. "I'm glad you'll be okay," murmured Encke, not quite willing to take the am for what it was. He wasn't sure he believed Richard was truly fine, yet. Perhaps later. But not yet. "I hoped this would be long over by now, but there's a part of me that isn't sure it ever will be. Evil continues to exist so long as good persists, right?"
That sounded so dramatic. He was fairly certain that was a line from one of the action movies he had recently co-starred in--
"But I think we'll win." He paused, for a moment, before continuing with a, "Now that you know about ... monsters and Chaos and whatever the hell I am," a laugh, at this, "if you'd like, I could tell you everything I know?"
A half-quirk of a smile.
"Arming you with knowledge may be the best I've got."
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Codebreaking Conversationalist
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Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2018 10:38 pm
Richard was silent, looking down at Encke's hand as he listened to him. It didn't send his heart racing quite as badly now that he was having time to process it all, but his mind was still all too ready to give him pictures of Encke crumpled, somewhere. Covered in blood. His phone next to him just... ringing.
And ringing.
And ringing...
Richard shivered, looking back up to meet Encke's eyes in time to see the smile. Reflexively, a corner of his mouth quirked up. Encke was right in front of him and capable of defending himself. Encke had said so. The dramatic line--because, yes, it was dramatic--made him shake his head a bit with a small chuckle. Oh, but he was a curious sort, and the offer of information obviously piqued his interest. His eyes scanned over Encke's face, from the comet symbol on his forehead to his eye marks. He took a deep breath.
"Alright. Can't hurt to know more of what you're getting into."
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Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2018 10:38 pm
At that, Encke's half-quirk turned into a full quirk.
Alright.
He could do this.
If he couldn't actually protect Arra, perhaps he could ... protect him in another way. He closed his eyes, letting the guise of Encke melt away, becoming just Ignacio again. Just Ignacio, and his Arra.
"Then I hope you're ready for a long a** story, my love."
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Codebreaking Conversationalist
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