vatheon | nightmares never last

[Angelo decided after seeing his "brother" appearing in his room from a puddle of a melted fairy that came into room during the night. Yet even escaping the city to the island, his brother still followed. The other spitting the usual nonsense he said to him back home and Angelo ignoring it as he always did, since he did back home. It also was very clear that no one could see his brother nor hear him. Perhaps this was some kind of mind trick or curse as he saw others over the network experiencing the same thing or what looked like it.

Nevertheless, when he arrived on the island there was someone in the distant near his arrival spot. As he approached the figure in the dark, he recognized it right away and felt some relief. Thus he called out to the other.]

Trunks!

[He then starts running towards the other, trying to act as if nothing's wrong despite his "brother" following him.]

Thank the Goddess I found you!

[There's very obviously something wrong with Trunks, even as Angelo approaches--he's lost that control that he's always holding on to, so much so that he can make it seem effortless. His hair is spiked and blonde, his eyes seafoam green, and he looks a combination of furious and terrified. He desperately wants to scream at Angelo to stop, that it was too dangerous to come near him--that's his gut reaction, because 17 and 18 are right there, they'll kill Angelo effortlessly...

But they're nothing but figments of his imagination. He can't attack them--there's nothing of substance to attack. He can't get away from them, they just appear in his peripheral vision, all mocking smiles and sadistic laughter.

He closes his eyes--that much is a battle, with all of his senses screaming at him to stay on his guard--and tries to rein in his transformation. He's not entirely successful. His hair drops and turns purple again, but his eyes are still glowing.]

...Angelo.

[Even the templar could see while feeling there was something amiss with the other when he approached. When he approached him close enough, his eyes could see 17 and 18 right there along with his brother. He felt as though he was seeing something Trunks was hiding in his heart, but that also meant it was very possible Trunks could see his brother. So, he could hide it no longer. The very source of his pain was standing right there for someone other than him to see.

He takes a small deep breath then puts a hand on Trunks' shoulder, trying to calm down while be somewhat comforting at the same time. This was usually not something he did, but...he felt it had to be done. All the while Trunks might his Marcello spitting terrible things about Angelo from his mouth.]

...I can see them as I'm aware you can see my brother, can't you?

[That guy's Angelo's brother? The guy he was having a nightmare about...Trunks would say that he couldn't see a resemblance, but the guy looked enough like his father that it'd be a lie.

'Oh, you actually care about this guy? Maybe he'd be more fun than you are. What, you think you can protect him? You did a great job of that with Gohan.']

...yeah. Yeah, I can see him.

[Angelo lowers his eyes and sighs while Marcello only smirks and speaks up louder so even Trunks can hear his words.

"So I see the pitiful disgrace is clinging to someone of his own self image, how predictable. You are so much like our father, Angelo. He was as self-absorbed as you are on top of being a filthy womanizer and a drunk, the same as you. I hope you die the same way he did, you deserve it for all the misery you've caused in the first place."

He tries to act as if it doesn't bother him, but even Trunks can see him clenching his hands when his brother speaks. It was very clear he didn't want to hear anymore.]

[Trunks lets out a breath.]

Unfortunately, my punching them does nothing.

[Oh how disappointing. Because even though he can knock down buildings by breathing on them, he can't even make these things go away.]

Edited 2012-10-31 05:28 (UTC)

[Angelo tries to block out his brother's belittling of him, saying how worthless he is and how he should have never been born. The more Marcello goes on, he wants to hide so Trunks doesn't hear. What is the other thinking right now? Is he looking down at him? If he was psychic, he'd know by now.]

I never wanted you nor anyone else to ever see this.

I think a lot of people are going to be saying that this week.

[Trunks knows he doesn't want anyone seeing his worst fears. Especially 17, since of course he's there. And really, all he's thinking is 'vindication, yeah, your brother is a dick.']

[He grabs Trunks' hand and pulls him behind a tree, at the same time also looking for a place to sit with him.]

Do you remember our one conversation from before? This is the reason I thought death would be a pleasant relief, so I'd never have to hear those words from my brother ever again and give him the wish he desired so... My death.

[Nope, he still doesn't get it. Your brother's an ass--if he says even half those things in reality he's one in dire need of a fist to the face--but...]

He's not here. And if he shows up, I can promise you--he'll regret saying those things.

['Cause Trunks would give him a set of shiners. 8|]

[Angelo sighs and stares at Trunks with a slight sorrowful expression.]

...Trunks. Why are you willing to go so far for me? All I do is torment you out of fun and yet, instead of despising me... You act as if I'm worth something to this world and will even confront my brother. I...don't understand.

Torment me? What you do isn't torment.

[Not as far as he's concerned. If Angelo is sorrowful? Trunks looks downright haunted.]

My idea of torment...living every day in fear, fighting for my life and knowing if I made just one mistake...hesitated for one second, less than one second, that I'd be dead and so would everyone else...I don't think you've ever really realized, that back home I am the only one standing between them and whatever's left of humanity.

[At 'them', Trunks jerks his head woodenly in the direction of the phantasms of 17 and 18, both of which are smiling mockingly.]

They killed my father, my teacher and only friend, nearly everyone I care about and millions of other people besides...I can't remember a time when we weren't living in fear.

[He closes his eyes, breathing deeply. Oddly...this is making him feel better.]

The consequences of my failure so far...I can't even begin to think about it. Because I haven't won yet. Until then...anything I can do to make things better, I will.

[Trunks might feel Angelo gripping onto his shoulders now and having a look of anger across his face instead of one that's sorrowful.]

...Instead of focusing on the what ifs or possible failures, try focusing on a way to take back your home and win this battle since you are humanity's last hope. Why continue living in fear and letting them do what they want when you have to strength to win? I know you do, I've been inside of your body. You're stronger than them Trunks, so stop holding back already. Do you want to avenge those people they killed or not? Do you want to save humanity that badly? Then do it, you have the ability to and even I'm able to see that.

[He might also be glaring at the other too.]

Also your desire to make things better is an illusion, so face reality and realize it can't be done already. Not everyone wants to be helped nor do they want to be saved by someone else, some are perfectly fine with saving themselves from their problems or hardships.

Until recently? I didn't. I still might not. That's right--as strong as I am, they're stronger. You think I'd just continue to fight hopelessly if I could end it? Or that we'd risk changing the past, erasing our existence entirely if I could fight them off? You have no idea how strong they really are.

['That's right, you have no chance. I don't even know why you're thinking you do. How many times have we nearly killed you again? I've lost count, haven't you 18? He just keeps running away like a coward.' Trunks is studiously ignoring, but it's obvious those words are hitting him hard. He rubs at his arm, where some of his more noticeable scars are hidden under his jacket sleeve.]

Are you speaking for yourself, or do you think you know what everyone wants?

[He lets go of Trunks and looks at the two.]

Your thoughts are the reason they believe you're a coward, Trunks. You doubt your own strengths and abilities, this is what makes the both of us different. [He's walking towards 17 and 18.] I've fought many things in my life, including evil itself. I was chosen by destiny when I never asked and yet here I am. I'm even aware someone else will be chosen by destiny to take care of the evil in the world whenever I truly die, so it's not as if I'll be remembered. But doesn't mean I won't stop fighting to run away like a coward.

["That's right brother, who would ever want to remember you of all people? You may have defeated Rhapthorne and 'saved' the world, but you're no hero." Angelo only turns to look at Marcello with a small grin.]

You're right brother, I am no hero nor do I wish to be. I only like the heroic status so I can be adored by everyone at home. Otherwise, I could care less about being a hero. [He turns back to Trunks again for a moment.] I've also seen enough people in my world and life to know that I'm speaking for quite a few, but yes primarily myself. I can fight my own battles and no matter the outcome, at least I didn't run away.

Edited 2012-11-01 03:25 (UTC)

Seventeen years of being weaker, yeah, I doubt my strength. Because I know theirs. For now, I'm better. But stuck here, it feels like every day I'm losing what I've worked and bled for.

[He's bristling again, he wants nothing more in this moment than to get back home and end it, get that closure he's been so desperate for, but he's stuck here at the whims of this place and this is only serving to remind him of the fact in a very unpleasant manner. Normally he's able to put these feelings on a low boil at the back of his mind, but now...]

I never asked to be a hero either. And I certainly can't die for it, because if I do, there's no coming back and there's no one else who can fight. Not against this.

[That anger is boiling over--only a couple days into this curse and it's like his emotions are in a pressure cooker. His energy spikes, instead of going Super he redirects his fury and shatters the rock he's sitting on with a single punch.]

You're talking about your world, your life. Not mine. Don't you dare compare the two, not when you have no idea what the hell you're talking about.

[He stops walking towards the illusions which cause Trunks suffering and instead confronts him directly by putting his sword's tip near his friend's neck.]

You honestly think I don't understand? No, I do. I know what it's like being too weak to fight something that took away people precious to you and terrorized the world with its evil powers. [He continues his standing position.] If you want to prove that you're not a coward and don't doubt your strength, then fight me.

[Trunks growls and swipes his hand at Angelo's sword to knock it away with no fear he'll be cut--he's not interested. He might be pissed at you, but he'd rather not risk killing you.]

Not a good idea right now. My strength's connected to my anger, remember?

[He puts his sword away and moves a few inches away from Trunks while smirking and staring at the other in front of him.]

You think this is a bad idea and hold back because I'm your "friend" or so you want to believe not only because of your emotions. If I was your enemy, you wouldn't hesitate for a second to attack and I know that based on the times we've been together. I'll make this very plain and simple for you to understand, if you were a steppingstone in my path to my goals... I'd gladly remove you from my sight. I see people for their value and what they can do for me, I could care less about becoming close with them.

[You are not helping his temper right now sir.]

I'm holding back because if I did attack you while I was still this pissed off, you'd regret antagonizing me.

[He shakes his head and turns away from him with a sigh.]

I doubt that seeing I can wield magic and I very much presume you've never faced anyone able to do that. Regardless, you may continue to let your fears rule your life and allow yourself to be controlled like a puppet by others. This is why you'll never move forward, because you're stuck in the past.

Edited 2012-11-02 00:59 (UTC)

[He hasn't faced anyone that can use magic before, no. But he's had enough needling--you want a fight, Angelo? Trunks isn't sure you know what you're asking for. You might have sparred with Vegeta, but Trunks is immensely stronger, and faster. He takes barely an eyeblink to get up and simply appear in front of Angelo like he teleported there, fist already in flight. His full, ki-enhanced strength isn't in it, but his purely physical strength is nothing to scoff at either.]

[Angelo was expecting Trunks to be stronger than Vegeta since it's in their blood, he's even aware that with every physical hit he does to him will cause him to become strong. So instead of dodging, he lets the punch hit and allows himself to be knocked backwards onto the ground a few feet away. He's still laying on the ground while looking up towards where Trunks is.]

...So you're not a complete coward after all. [He only chuckles, but it sounds breathless.] Perhaps it's me who is the coward, I always talk as though nothing has any importance to me... When in reality, especially being here, my mind has begun to see things very differently than how I was before.

Edited 2012-11-02 02:11 (UTC)

[He's not a coward, dammit, he's a combat pragmatist that suffers from extreme long-term PTSD.]

I could have knocked your idiot head clean off your shoulders! What the hell are you even trying to prove?! You ask me why I care, and you go and do shit like this?

[His temper's on a razor-thin wire, every nerve in his body is tingling. He's definitely ready to roll.

Time to abscond before he hurts someone. Clouds of dust begin to billow out from around his feet, and are then whipped upward in a tornado as his aura bursts around him, going Super Saiyan in a blink.]

Don't come near me again.

[He then takes off, intending to put as much distance between him and Angelo as quickly as he can.]

[When he was about to answer Trunks until he takes off without letting him say a word. He wasn't the type to let this go or to give up, but instead of going after him right away he'll wait a few hours to let him cool down then perhaps gain the courage to send him a voice mail to his SFC.]

[So a ki flare is to a saiyan, half or otherwise, like a flame is to any moth.

And Trunks', in particular, were a concern to Gohan simply because.

He's got an orb of ki he's using as flashlight high above his head, as he flies in that direction. What's got you so worked up?]

[If he wasn't in the habit of tracking Gohan's energy so closely, it might take him more off-guard. As it is...well, you'll see what's got him worked up in short order, once you get close enough to see what he's seeing.

Personally Trunks is hoping you're not seeing the same thing, because four of these guys? Four too many.]

[Gohan doesn't hesitate; he gets in as close as he can. Out of concern.

He does, vaguely, throw a look over his shoulder, to see if the winged pest has returned, but no. It didn't come back until morning before...

He's just about hit the critical raidus -- just under fifteen yards -- when he gasps at the sight Trunks is seeing and fires his ki blast purely on a knee-jerk.]

That... can't be real, can it?

[The blast sails straight through the phantom 18, exploding against the sand. She laughs.]

It's not.

[It's still horrible, though. He hates it. Hate.]

Doesn't sound like that's helped you at all.

[He hovers over, directly above the illusion, distaste very clear on his face.]

Is it following you?

Would it help you?

[He can put two and two together, he noticed when he got close to other people he could see other things. Presumably their things.]

Yes. That's why I left the house.

[He can't stop himself from turning to look at it every few seconds or so. It's... slightly enthralling. Angering, too.]

You've already... you have nothing to be afraid of anymore. You've proved that.

[They'll just be chillin' in your periph, smiling disconcertingly. Perhaps waving if they catch you looking.]

...sixteen years doesn't go away so easily, I guess.

[Plus he hasn't definitively won yet. These are just the faces of his feelings of inadequacy.]

[It isn't exactly difficult to catch, because he's unnerved and he can't stop his neck from craning that way.

Can't.

Stop.]

Taking care of the one here wouldn't help, would it? I wouldn't be disappointed if you did.

Now that killing people brings consequences, and the fact he'll be back...not worth it.

[Definitely unnerving.]

And...it's hard to believe, but the actual 17 here hasn't done much of anything. He's capable, I'm sure, I won't say that he's not and I still can't stand to look at him. So much in that other timeline is different...

I don't like hearing that. It makes me wonder, you know? Things would have happened differently if my father lived, and that makes me wonder if he would have handled things by destroying the androids like he did Frieza.

[Because that's how Gohan still remembers it going!]

Or if he would have tried to give them chances like he did-- well, nearly everyone else he knows. You say things like that, and I wonder if I haven't taken the wrong approach all these years.

nightmares never last

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