I turn on the tube and what do I see?

[keepsthefire]

Who: Rin Okumura, Masaru Daimon, and Mommy Zelda Princess Zelda
Where: At the coral
When: May 23rd
Style: Prose cause I'm a cool kid
Status: Closed

"I swear if you touch me again, I'm going to put your head under my foot and keep you there."

Rin hadn't been back in Vatheon more than a couple of hours. And yet there he was, still slightly damp from his arrival, his uniform jacket tied around his waist and sword on his back, standing next to Masaru at the coral. Why? Because he'd been challenged. Who could stand there the longest and not give in to fatigue. The winner apparently got food out of the deal.

But Masaru had also wanted a rematch from their last fight, and the more they bickered over the network the more he swore it should happen right then and there. But Rin was adamant against fighting near the coral. What if it broke? It could be really bad if it did!

That didn't stop Masaru from trying to get what he wanted out of it, though. Hence the threat. Tail whipping around behind him, Rin shot a glare to the other teen.

"Seriously. Quit."

Comments

[howamanlives]

"Fine then!" Masaru said, exasperatedly. "If you can't even figure out how to aim a punch at a guy and not some funny rocks, then I guess that's your problem!"

[keepsthefire]

"I can aim a punch just fine! It's your hard head I'm worried about!" Rin snapped back, crossing arms over his chest as he turned away from Masaru.

[howamanlives]

"Like I'd ever hit coral with my head!" Masaru snapped back. "You're just worried you'll mess up, admit it!"

[keepsthefire]

"No, I'm worried you're gonna mess it up! Unlike you I've actually got self control!"

Most of the time.

Sometimes.

Okay not really but he's going to keep telling himself that.

[howamanlives]

"Says the guy who nearly burned me to death!" Masaru snapped back.

[keepsthefire]

"YOU started that one! Over food! Not my fault you got all butthurt."

[howamanlives]

"That's it!" Masaru said, as he lunged at Rin, swinging his fist at the other young man's head.

[keepsthefire]

"Idiot!" Rin barked, dodging the fist rather than attempting to catch or hit back. He bounced away from the coral as far as he could, a good ten feet away from where Masaru had been standing, grabbing at his sword before stopping.

He couldn't do that. If his flames got out of control and hit the coral...

[zelda_hylia]

It didn't matter that he'd leapt back. At this point, Zelda has noticed the confrontation and she is very displeased. She might not be able to hurt anyone with her magic, but temporarily stop someone? That was a thing she could do. The princess called on Nayru, encasing both boys in a crystalline barrier before marching over and scowling.

"What are you doing? I told you not to fight here!"

[howamanlives]

"H-huh?! What?!" Masaru exclaimed, unable to process what had just happened for the time being. "H-hey!? Did you do this?! Let us out!"

[keepsthefire]

"Whoa--!" Rin yelped as he was trapped. This was oddly familiar to him, and he couldn't place why. It made him oddly uncomfortable, though.

"See? Toldya she'd be pissed..." he grumbled at Masaru, tapping a tentative finger against the transparent blue wall in front of him. Luckily it didn't hurt, but it felt oddly cool, and far more solid than it actually looked. He didn't think his demon powers were going to get him out of that one.

"H-hey... lady... ? Think you can let me out and leave the knucklehead in his?" he asked, trying to sound light toned but letting a bit of nerves slip. Damn, why was this thing making him feel so freaked out all of a sudden? It wasn't like he was claustrophobic or anything.

[zelda_hylia]

Rin seemed to be calm, so she tentatively allowed the barrier to fall. Masaru, on the other hand, was not going to be allowed out of his little cage until he stopped looking so angry.

"Your personal battles are none of my business, but this coral is what is keeping all of us alive here. If you cannot control your temper around it, I will be forced to take action." Her voice was cold, and she didn't look quite so sweet as usual - not that either of them would know that this behavior was off for her. She turned to Masaru and spoke again.

"Will you attack him if I let you out?"

[howamanlives]

"You can't just expect me to just like it go can you?!" he said. "Even if..."

Masaru blinked, and let the events of the last few minutes play back in his mind. Hell, his entire altercation with Rin altogether.

This was looking really petty.

"... No. I won't fight 'em."

[keepsthefire]

Yes, it was, and even Rin could see that. His feet touched the ground again, hand coming away from his sword.

"We're bein' pretty stupid..." he said quietly to Masaru. He turned to Zelda and bowed low, remembering all those times Shirou forced him to do so in apology to teachers and parents whenever he got in to stupid scraps at school.

Hell, he kinda wished the old man was there right then. Just to see him actually being the bigger man for once.

"Sorry... it won't happen again," he said.

[zelda_hylia]

She let out a sigh before releasing the barrier around Masaru as well, just looking... tired. Today had not been good. First thing in the morning she discovered that Zelos and Lloyd had fallen into comas, then immediately received a call from Guy stating that the coral was acting up.

He hadn't been wrong, and it wasn't just about the glow. Not only had two of the arrivals into the city been completely nude, one of them was injured - and the coral did little to heal him. It was unmistakeably losing power.

"It is all right. No damage was done," she murmured, turning back to the Lamufao. This was the only thing keeping Link and Sola alive, they didn't have a place to return to. She couldn't allow it to be harmed.

[howamanlives]

"... I'm sorry," Masaru said. "I guess... I've just been frustrated, and that's why I've been spoiling for a fight."

He turned towards Rin, hands in his pockets.

"I'm sorry, dude."

[keepsthefire]

"Meh," Rin sighed, waving a hand at Masaru. He couldn't blame him. Sometimes a guy just had to find something to hit. That's all there was to it. It was done and over with, and they were hopefully going to be able to get through the rest of the day without any more trouble like that.

He looked back to Zelda curiously. The woman was a stranger to him, but he recognized the tired look. Yukio wore it more than he probably cared to admit, and he had a feeling Zelda might just be the same way about it.

"... hey. You really think that thing's losin' power?" he asked instead, gesturing with a thumb to the coral.

[zelda_hylia]

Zelda looked up, pursing her lips. Would she have made a post like that if she didn't think there was trouble? Of course, this boy doesn't know her at all, so he has no way of understanding that.

"Losing power... I am not sure that's what is happening here, exactly. It may just be using a large amount of power right now. What that bodes for us, I cannot say. I think it's worthy of attention, though."

She tried to smile at both of them, holding her hand out.

"My name is Zelda. Apologies for the way we had to meet."

[howamanlives]

"Masaru," Masaru said, bowing his head a bit as he took her hand. "Daimon Masaru."

[keepsthefire]

Whatever it was, it still sounded like a problem. Not that Rin had any other ideas on how to help besides what Masaru had suggested.

He took Zelda's hand after he did, bowing in the same manner.

"Okumura Rin."

[zelda_hylia]

The princess noted that they both had Japanese-sounding names. Shizuo had an uncontrollable temper as well, she was starting to wonder if it was a cultural thing...

"Masaru, Rin. A pleasure." Her smile became a bit more genuine now that they were both behaving themselves. Thinking of Shizuo didn't hurt, either!

[howamanlives]

"... look, um, I was serious about wanting to help the coral," Masaru said, rubbing the back of his head. "I don't really got anything going on, so I'm good to keep hanging out here...!"

[keepsthefire]

"I just got back..." Rin added, putting his hands behind his head as his tail moved about lazily. "So I ain't got anything goin' on either. I mean we don't know if anything's really helping but it's worth a try, right?"

[zelda_hylia]

"I don't want either of you to tire yourselves out. Touching it briefly should be enough, there is no need to stay with it at all times."

She realized as she said it that it appeared that was exactly what she was doing and pursed her lips. Perhaps neither of them would notice.

[howamanlives]

Luckily for Zelda, Masaru was a bit oblivious.

"... if you say so," Masaru said. "But I totally have energy to spare!"

[keepsthefire]

Rin was usually pretty oblivious, too, but he'd already noticed a lot of similarities between her and his little brother. That made it all the easier to catch on, and an eyebrow went up.

"I'm not gonna get worn out any time soon, but uh... aren't you kinda doin' that too, hanging around here?"

[zelda_hylia]

"Me? I'm a member of the Welcoming Committee. Around this time of month people arrive here at the coral." Zelda's tone was casual and light, as if it were the most natural thing in the world for her to be here around this time.

That's not to say that it wasn't, but she was admittedly taking a bit more seriously than usual due to the state of the coral.

[howamanlives]

"Oh... well, do you need to rest or anything? If not, Rin and I can take over for you!"

[keepsthefire]

He's kind of not buying all of that, Zelda. But... he also doesn't know her very well so he doesn't even try to argue with it, picking up on Masaru's cue instead.

"Yeah, we could do that. We've been here long enough to give people the rundown!"

Come on, Zelda. Look at those sincere faces. They totally mean well.

[zelda_hylia]

How cute. But no. No, definitely not. Greeting new arrivals required a sort of patience that Zelda was quite certain these two did NOT possess.

"It is a job I quite enjoy, so please do not worry about me. I appreciate your intentions, but there is no cause for concern. I will head indoors at night properly."

Straight to Guy's apartment for more work, that is.

[howamanlives]

"... If you say so," Masaru replied. "But if you have any trouble, give us a ring, alright? A real man helps people who need it, after all!"

[keepsthefire]

"Yeah, what he said!"

Zelda, you're doomed.

[zelda_hylia]

Zelda resisted the urge to reach out and ruffle their hair up, smiling genuinely. "I'll be sure to tell you if there is something I need. Take care, both of you."