Jesse is dead

[17:55] Reito Shimasu says, "-- "
[17:55] Reito Shimasu says, "Ethan."
[17:55] Ethan Hawke says, "Hey, Reito."
[17:55] Reito Shimasu says, "I... Need to tell you something..."
[17:56] Ethan Hawke asks, "Sure, what's up?"
[17:56] Reito Shimasu says, "... Um..."
[17:57] Mikhaila Elisheva whispers something.
[17:58] Amalee enters into the town square and rest on the bench
(Amalee Jarik)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:59] Shoko nom
(Shoko)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:00] She brought a hand up to her cheek, rubbing at it lightly. She wasn't entirely sure how to word this. She didn't want to tell Tenevan - even though she should, after all he was a soldier. But Ethan? He absolutely needed to know.

"Um..." she repeated that uncertainty, before she eventually blurted it out. Already her eyes were wet but she refused to cry anymore. "Jesse is dead. He went to Dawn and some man named Sors ripped his head off and--…" she paused, bottom lip trembling.
(Reito Shimasu)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:03] Nasu watches Cheska display her magic, a somewhat simple looking fist around her arm is shown, he tilts his head and watches it with awe, he's seen her and experienced her fighting before but getting up close to see it more closely helped him get a few ideas.

All her power was seemingly in her one arm, he used his one arm for spell casting and the other arm for his sword. "I think of myself as a much more fancy person, I'd love to shape my flames into many things while fighting! I'd kick ass and do it in style! A giant maw of a snake? Ohh that'd be cool! Or another sword but of pure fire? I'm getting ideas!" He had just learnt how to shape fire into more basic things like pointed arrows or javelins, simple things.

"I'll get practicing more on my own, when I get better can you help me personally perhaps?"
(Nasu Ixis Kimyona)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:06] Ethan doesn't give a response for quite a while. His eyes are stuck upon Reito's own, watching the tears that wanted to come out but were held back. He watched her unable to do anything but announce the reality that the blue-haired one had taken as nothing but a joke previously. Her lips were trembling while his remained tightly shut. He stood there, thinking for a few moments, silent.

... And a frown appeared. The young man shook his head, disbelief and a tinge of pain could be heard in his voice.

".. So... It wasn't a bad joke..?"

His thoughts were merely vocalized, nothing else was uttered, asked or shared. He had trouble getting over the news as a whole. He felt his face grow hotter - heated. His vision blurred and his heart sank. A breath escaped his nose before he shook his head, eyes falling shut in the process. There was a lot being held back. A single tear made its way down his cheek for now, leapingdown towards the ground from his chin.

"No..."
(Ethan Hawke)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:07] She couldn't help but laugh at the kid's enthusiasm; dismissing the flames around her arm and giving the hand a brief flap to cool it off. If nothing else - at least he seemed excited by the prospect of whatever efforts he'd have to be putting forth. That alone should carry him a while.

"Keeping things more fluid and active, huh?" Shaking her head - she did hope he wasn't trying to get too far ahead of himself already. "Of course I'll be around to help. I said I'd teach you what I knew, so you can kick my ass. Can't just abandon you before you're able to beat me, now can I? You're learnin' quick, Nasu. I'm sure you'll be able to pull this off in no time."
(Cheska Railen)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:08] Reito Shimasu says, ".... I-..."
[18:12] She continued fighting against those emotions. She didn't want to cry - not in front of everyone… She refused to. But oh, how dangerous it was to actually happening. To breaking down. She inhaled loudly before she nodded,

"I-... It is.... Um... R-Roh… Roh came... And told me..." she mumbled. She felt conflicting emotions - both overcome, and also numb. It was like her body couldn't truly process which way to feel. She felt she had cried herself out at this point, but even still she reached up wiping away the tears that had silently began to slide their way down her cheek.
(Reito Shimasu)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:13] NAsu was always getting ahead of himself, overestimating his strength to some extent, it wasn't as bad now but before he would get himself in horrible situations.

"I'll start with small things, build up more and more over time to soon get the shaped... sword! I've got to use a sword, a magic sword and a real sword has to be the fighting style I pick up, imagine that!" He wanted his identity to be a kitsune who was versatile in combat, who used both spell and sword, someone you couldn't trick.

"A cool looking sword, I'm going to train now! See ya!"
(Nasu Ixis Kimyona)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:17] Cheska Railen says, "Good luck with the training then, Nasu. Your enthusiasm is almost infectious."
[18:18] It didn't make sense to him. He didn't want it to make sense to him. At all. Ethan moved forward, unable to accept that something like that would happen. His body let out a small... spark of darkness - something he thought he had repressed and kept in check. A wisp of occult energies followed him as he moved past Reito, heading north. His body was stiff and tense. The grass around him looked like it was wilting and on the verge of death as he moved forward, clearly unable to control himself. He shook his head once more, this time speaking a bit more loudly.

"No! It's just some sort of plan Dawn's made to get at me again! There's no way Jesse's dead!"

.. oh boy.
(Ethan Hawke)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:21] Daiyu Bavmor says, "Good evening!~"
[18:21] Cheska Railen asks, "Hey there, Daiyu. New hairstyle?"
[18:22] Daiyu nods.
(Daiyu Bavmor)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:22] Daiyu Bavmor asks, "What do you think?"
[18:24] Cheska Railen says, "It looks good on you."
[18:24] The Kitsune turned, watching the younger brother walk off. The occultic energy he was letting off was obvious, even to her and she stared at his back quietly. What could she say, or do? It was the truth, no matter how much she wanted to deny it herself. She had spent the entire night dealing with the news after Roh had told her. She shook her head,

"... I want... I want to believe that," she admitted. Openly. A plan from Dawn to get at Ethan? It would have been so much easier and simpler to believe that. But life wasn't easy. Life wasn't simple. Life sucked. "... But if it is.... Where's.... Jesse?" she asked. Ethan would be the best person to truly figure that out, wouldn't he be? Most certainly the quickest.
(Reito Shimasu)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:24] Daiyu offers a smile, "Thank you."
(Daiyu Bavmor)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:25] Cheska gives the kid a thumbs-up.
(Cheska Railen)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:25] Daiyu Bavmor asks, "How was your day?"
[18:25] Cheska Railen says, "Just starting, really. I live weird hours."
[18:26] Daiyu Bavmor says, "Awhhh."
[18:26] Daiyu Bavmor says, "Well good morning to you."
[18:26] Cheska Railen says, "Thank you, Daiyu. Most mornings are good, I find. Still alive an' all."
[18:27] Daiyu Bavmor says, "Some probably.. wow that was rather dark of me."
[18:28] Hanafuda Kiku says, "Thanks again for all the hard work."
[18:28] Li says, "Ahah, I should thank you for the mythril"
[18:28] Li says, "If you need anything else in the future, I'll gladly help"
[18:29] Hanafuda Kiku says, "I'll let you know if I find any more-- there's still a few things I'd like to tweak here and there."
[18:29] Li says, "See ya 'round"
[18:29] Hanafuda Kiku exclaims, "Later then. Thanks again!"
[18:29] Kiku cleared his throat with a cough- glancing out toward the two to the side. He'd remain silent on the matter-- right.

Jesse. The one who helped him out with that escaped spy. He was helpful. Seemed nice. The type to offer some encouragement, but that was as about as much as he knew about him.

To think he'd die just a few short weeks later. Kiku sighed.
(Hanafuda Kiku)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:32] "Shut up!"

The answer to her question was to silence her right there and then - to not let her think about it or question it. There had to be a reason. Fear came back much faster than it had been snuffed out of his mind. His body practically flaring with the energies he had worked so hard on suppressing for a few years after the series of betrayals brought upon him.

As the world died off more and more around him Ethan headed towards the only place he thought would bring clarity and comfort: The tavern.

Reito wouldn't be prevented from following. Considering his state it probably was better if she did.
(Ethan Hawke)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:33] Amy whispers something.
[18:33] Daiyu turns her gaze to amy with a small smile, "Are you ever going to say 'hi', or are you just going to-"
(Daiyu Bavmor)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:34] Daiyu Bavmor says, "..."
[18:34] Daiyu Bavmor whispers something.
[18:35] She looked on with concern after Ethan, though her gaze soon fell upon the back of Cheska. She had caught that comment.

Still alive an' all.

A thousand possibilities of what to say, of what to do, flashed in her mind. Her golden gaze narrowed and fire itself visibly flared up around the Kitsune, a true testament to just how angry Cheska's single comment, perhaps made out of not realizing what she was saying, had made her. For a good solid minute it looked like the usually gentle Reito was going to actually attack someone with their back turned.

She was deadly silent, before eventually, those flames faded away, and she moved to follow the blue haired male to where he was going. He was about to have a melt down; she knew it. Despite her own desire to just cry her eyes out even more, she also felt inclined to make sure he didn't do anything stupid.
(Reito Shimasu)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:04] Ethan made a straight line towards the bar. He took a seat faster than ever, practically crashing into the chair. His hand rose up, waving over the bartender before he ordered a bottle of rum without a glass. All of that would happen before Reito even managed to catch up to him.

The occultic forces roaming about him were rotting down the wood and making the carpet curl up. He didn't speak, rudely taking the bottle as it came and drinking from it.

Drinking way too much.
(Ethan Hawke)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:09] As she came into the bar, she followed him over to the bar properly taking a seat. The rot of the wood and the carpet were noted but... Well, she couldn't really do much about it. Not yet, anyway. She briefly looked at one of her hands, before she would finally reach over and simply... Aim to try to pluck the bottle from Ethan's hand.
(Reito Shimasu)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:19] It was rough, difficult - hard, even. Ethan's free hand didn't even miss a beat as Reito reached out for his drink, striking her cheek with full force, almost as if she was an enemy. That relapse wasn't like any other time before; he was aggressive and every doubt that may come was treated as an enemy. She was in on it, too. Those tears were fake, this sadness was lie— he was sure of it.

"Stop pretending! You're helping them, too! You just want to hurt me— I won't let you do it!"

Occulting flames grew brighter and bigger with his words, his heartbeat rising as fear reached an all-time high. From a calm and controlled spot to one that had completely lost it.

It was either that or accepting that his brother had died merely days after claiming that he wanted to see just how far their potential could go as magi. It made no sense for Jesse to run into Dawn, thus, it was all a lie.
(Ethan Hawke)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:31] As the strike came, her head turns, that portion of her cheek already turning slightly red and she winced, eyes closing. She knew what it was, the signs were desperately obvious, but his words still hurt regardless. She's quiet for a long while before she shook her head,

"I'm not pretending, Ethan! I loved him with all my heart and he's gone now!" she shouted back. Even as his occultic flames grew brighter, and bigger, she didn't fall back and she didn't flinch. There was a reason why she was working on something to help fix occultic magic. So things like Mei Shimasu happening would never happen again. Ever.
(Reito Shimasu)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:39] "No, he's not! He can't be— He said he wanted to see how far he could take his potential, that he wanted to live for much, much longer! You're in on it, you just don't want me to know!"

His harsh words wouldn't cease, the madness, the fear, the paranoia that overwhelmed him before was back at full force, bringing him to drink more and more from that bottle of rum in his grasp. He moved up from his chair, kicking it back and across the tavern in the process, only to turn towards Reito. A crazed, angry and sad look was on his face as he stared her down.

"If you accept that lie it means you never even liked him!"
(Ethan Hawke)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:41] "That isn't true!" she shouted right back. Even as he kicked the chair across the tavern and stood up to stare at her with that look on his face. She'd defend herself; defend the truth.

"I know he wanted to live... So much. I know. You think I don't know? You think I'm not feeling the same thing you're feeling only so much... Worse...?" she asked, sounding exhausted. She slowly rose herself up out of the chair, just in case he tried attacking again before she shook her head,

"I'm not in on it. I loved Jesse with all of my heart, stop acting like this - and... and stop drinking!!"
(Reito Shimasu)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:47] "WORSE?!"

That most definitely wasn't the right thing to say to a young man who had lost his brother, especially not one that doubted everything and everyone - one that was never afraid of being too mean or too blunt with people. Mana was palpable in the area and any non-magi around would have most definitely left at this point. The air was thick with the scent of occult to it.

"You're just some girl he met! Some chick that he ended up liking just because he saw you in your undies! Why else would he pick up that stupid meditation?! You're not the one who grew up with him! You're not the one who barely even survived for years with him! You never went out in the fields of Dawn to steal mushrooms or hit up the markets and sneak any bottle of sake you could find because you needed it to survive! You're nothing!"

At this point she'd be able to feel the influence of occultic arts affecting her - Ethan's words were literally bringing forth spells and tormenting her very mind.

"Stop trying to get in my way and ruin my life!"
(Ethan Hawke)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[19:59] She had definitely said the wrong thing. But she didn't know what else to do. Even as those spells were trying to inflict themselves on her mind, defenses naturally arose. Cosmic energy - no, pure sunlight, exploded outwards from the Kitsune to leave her a shining beacon. It came almost automatically as if the Kitsune hadn't even thought about it.

"That isn't true, Ethan!" she shouted. "He never saw anything! We told each other everything! We trusted each other! You don't know what I'm going through!" she cried out, "I was going to spend the rest of my life with him. Forever! But now he's gone!"

She hadn't made a move to outright attack the grieving brother quite yet, but if this kept up? She'd definitely be forced to defend herself.
(Reito Shimasu)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:03] "Shut up! Stop lying!"

His words echoed across the building as flames were conjured around his form, swirling and sparkling with a dark, infernal light. His right hand suddenly reared itself - rum being splashed just about everywhere before the bottle was launched directly towards Reito's face.

Whether or not it'd hit wasn't the point; alcohol was going to be spread all around the building. The floor, the furniture, the walls— they were all bound to be lit ablaze by Ethan's fire at this point. This was only getting worse and the words being used weren't helping.

"Jesse can't be gone!"

The sun's might paled before the emotional outburst Ethan was having right now.
(Ethan Hawke)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:09] "... You...." she paused. The gentle and docile Reito shattered into several pieces all at once, crashing down onto the floor, "IDIOT!" she shouted, "Jesse wouldn't want you acting like this right now!" she added. As the alcohol splashed everywhere, threatening to take the entire bar down with them she shook her head, "You're going to destroy the tavern! You're going to burn it down! Calm DOWN Ethan!"

Beyond that she didn't know what to say to get him to calm down. To stop drinking. She hated this. She didn't want this at all. Tears streamed down her face now - the Kitsune absolutely hated to fight. She abhorred it. But here and now, she'd find herself forced to.

This wasn't so much the same as defending Huangzhou from the hordes of Undead, but it was quite the same as defending... Something. She was defending the truth, the tavern and quite possibly Ethan's own sanity.
(Reito Shimasu)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:16] The fires were spreading further and further with his actions, the world felt like it was spinning, like nothing even made sense anymore. He was losing it. Losing his mind after losing people that mattered to him one after the other. This.. Hurt. A lot.

Not before long the pair would find themselves sent flying right outside the tavern and into the streets, a fiery explosion being left in their wake. Ethan's right hand reached out and...

... The battle was on.
(Ethan Hawke)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:27] Flames, roaring bright and mighty as their influence spread further and further. The establishment just north of them would have taken the most damage out of it all, Reito being left with minor burns and quite a lot of darker marks from the young man's rather uncontrollable magic.

He had lost his mind, completely. These conspiracies, the paranoia, the fear, and the anger that overwhelmed him were all clear signs of his occult madness hitting him right back when he thought he had snuffed it out. His teeth came to a grit as a burst of dark flame brought down the young Kitsune, reminding her of just how merciless one under that influence could be.

Ethan didn't go any further - instead using words as a weapon at this point.

"Why did you join them?! Why did you think it was a good idea?! I just wanted to live a quiet life, Reito! I never asked for all of this— Just leave me and my brother out of you and Dawn's affairs!"

A kick was sent towards her midsection out of anger, perhaps losing out to his earlier decision.

"What do you want from me?!"
(Ethan Hawke)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:37] It hurt - both physically and emotionally. She didn't want to deal with this right now. Fighting Ethan had been the last thing on her mind, and most definitely the last thing she wanted to do. It was clear that Ethan was definitely in a dangerous place, but with Shen gone... No one would try kindness, no one would try to help him. They'd probably aim to kill him before anything else.

No.

She couldn't let that happen - not possibly! It wouldn't be fair, truly. So she had to try. As she was taken down, she huffed; it was never enough, was it? Maybe one day it would be, but today was not the day. However, regardless of the burns she had received, or the feeling of heartbreak she was feeling, she pushed herself up standing.

"I'm not helping Dawn form some stupid conspiracy against you to get back at you you.... You stupid IDIOT!" she shouted, highly out of character for herself. "I want you to stop being stupid and letting this magic rot your brain and literally - look! Literally look at the grass you're trying to stand on!" she said, pointing downwards, towards the blades of grass that were honestly wilting because of him, "You're actually killing the grass Ethan! Stop letting it control you. Stop letting it seep into your mind and ruin you and any hope you stand of.... Actually.... Getting revenge against Dawn for what they did to Jesse." She paused.

There were no tears; she was out of tears.

"Who else is going to help me pay them back...?" She asked quietly.
(Reito Shimasu)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:43] Nakiri padded along the cobblestone from her daily dose of beating people u-- sparring with people. But then she came to a stop when Ethan and Reito came into sight. Instinvtively, she'd of been about to greet them until she saw what seemed to be an enraged Ethan kicking a Kitsune.

"I thought you got better...?" She made her way over, looking towards Reito as she spoke.

"See, she cares enough to tell you you're being stupid aswell. And how- or why- would Reito even help Dawn conspire against you?" She casually reached out to try pat his head to calm him down.

"No one here is your enemy."
(Nakiri Reiha)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[20:52] Shortly behind Nakiri came the tired old Kitsune occupying the seat of Chancellor only until it could be legally transferred. A good walk from time to time was an excellent way to stave off atrophy, and besides - she heard some particularly unsettling news. She had to see her daughter.

Ideally, not getting kicked by an outraged occultist. Even as she laid eyes on the scene, she proceeded up the road calmly, petals of white light swirling around her at a quickened pace as she drew ever nearer. In her prime, Satsuki was perhaps known for one thing - always making a situation worse.

It wasn't something she ever grew out of.

"On the contrary," the old Kitsune muttered. "Someone her is your enemy, most likely." As tired as she was, her glowing eyes seemed morealert than typical, like a predator deciding how best to strike. "I have heard much about you, Ethan Hawke - to what do I owe the pleasure of you ruining yet another day of my wonderful retirement?" she asked simply, voice as calm as always as she came up beside Reito, offering a hand to her dearest adopted daughter, if necessary.

"...Situation report, and what shall I do?"

The second half of that question seemed more directed to herself than anything.
(Satsuki Shimasu)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[21:01] If he had been sane he would've stopped. If he could've, he would've stopped. But this was much, much more different than mere anger. This was a madness that had been almost completely snuffed out, an insanity driven by fear that had fallen into the depths of his heart, thought to be extinct. It's with an opportunity like this one that it came back striking harder than ever before.

Jesse's death wasn't something Ethan found himself able to accept. The news may have been true, but he didn't want them to be. He prefered having this... flawed representation of the world if it meant that his brother was still alive, only kept captive to lure him in.

Jesse couldn't be dead. He couldn't.

Nakiri's hand was met with nothing but occult forces growing to an even greater degree - subconsciously fusing themselves with his hellish flames and creating a burning barrier that struck right back at the blue-haired girl's hand.

Even Ethan's student wasn't out of reach when it came to this level of insanity.

"Don't touch me! You're in on it, too! You're all in on it— I'm not going back to Dawn! I'm not going to trust you, either! Or you!" He said, pointing towards Satsuki. "And you even less!" He followed, now shifting his attention to Reito slowly getting back up.

This was definitely worse than every single other occurance. Maybe even all of them combined.
(Ethan Hawke)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[21:06] Ashera Ixis whispers something.
[21:06] Ashera Ixis whispers something.
[21:09] Reito took Satsuki's hand, fulling standing back up,

"... I told him the news about Jesse," she said, hand waving briefly towards Ethan, "Now he's like this," she finished her explanation. Satsuki would know. She probably already knew what was going on, without Reito telling her anything. However, now her gaze settled on Ethan.

"Ethan," she said before pausing. She struggled briefly to figure out how to word this before a sigh escaped, "You told me Jesse... Taught you how to meditate. Maybe you should try to actually do that." She didn't know what else to try at this point. She couldn't even beat him, and if she constantly failed at finding the proper words this was just going to get even worse for them.
(Reito Shimasu)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[21:12] Mikhaila Elisheva whispers something.
[21:12] Shain Oshura whispers something.
[21:12] Shain Oshura whispers something.
[21:12] Mikhaila Elisheva whispers something.
[21:12] Mikhaila Elisheva whispers something.
[21:12] Shain Oshura says, "..."
[21:13] Nakiri reeled her hand back, gritting her teeth at the burning sensation but didn't seem upset by his reaction.

"I'm not in on anything."

It was taking alot to remain calm but even Nakiri was out of the loop for the explanation of what was really going on. Dawn did something to Jesse? She literally saw him yesterday, her attention turns to Reito.

"Did something happen to Jesse?" She'd question.
(Nakiri Reiha)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[21:14] "...Being distrustful of me is a foolish thing," she responded quietly, glancing down as she rolled up her sleeves. She was long past the point of bandaging her blackened left hand; age had done a wonderful job of reducing her capacity to care. "Because I am always clear about my intentions. Were I still able to use Sunyata, my next move would be to subdue you and forcibly cleanse you of your affliction," she told him, her voice still mechanical. Regardless of just how livid she was, nothing was given away in her tone alone.

"But, of course, I am... incapable of that, these days, so it complicates things," she admitted. "So, instead, let me talk through what is... running through my mind at the moment. The first: I do not think any of us here would wish for you to go back to Dawn. The second: I sympathize. I truly do."

She paused, taking a moment to inhale. A particularly long exhale followed. Right. She was the Chancellor. She was Wisdom - and she was better than she was years ago. Nothing good could be accomplished with her usual "approach." A brief moment of meditation, then. Words. Not Insatiable - not yet, at least.

"I have lost both my son and son-in-law in one year. I..." She trailed off. "...I cannot take another heartbreak. I never should have outlived either of them. For... Reito's sake, at least, I ask you to heed her words. But first-"

"You must... right yourself, Ethan Hawke."
(Satsuki Shimasu)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[21:14] Shain Oshura whispers something.
[21:15] Shain steps away from Mikhaila.
(Shain Oshura)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[21:21] Forcibly cleanse his affliction.

After having a bit of a conversation with Milhaila, the teen makes an aproach towards the whole ordeal. So Ethan was finally being dealt with? After years of him walking free, regardless of his crimes, it was honestly nice to know he was finally being /fixed/.

Or would have been. Why couldn't she use that power any more?

Shain stands by Nakiri's side, his gaze persisting onto Ethan.
(Shain Oshura)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[21:24] Kitani Tatasuki whispers something.
[21:30] Once the madness train starts it doesn't stop. Like an engine with gears that could only go up Ethan only grew less trusting of people. The more they tried to say they weren't part of something, the more it made it seem like they were trying to cover up for their acts. Reito's words were probably the worst, reminding him of what may or may not have happened to Jesse.

The young spatial mage's right hand was extended forth, dark flames burning hotter than ever as they threatened to strike at the Kitsune once more for what she had said. Nakiri's lack of visible emotion and confusion earned her the second place in this imaginary slaughter that was moments away from happening.

... And then Satsuki spoke. She didn't claim to be with or without a group. She didn't even talk about Jesse. She merely gave statements, truth, honesty. She, much like Ethan normally was, allowed him to see into this open book of thoughts, memories, past, pain and intent. She readied herself for a fight, yet didn't strike first. She made it clear that she thought of his influence as an affliction, and nothing more. She wanted to cure him, like he had cured Cordelia and Aspen.

In a way, it seemed like she could understand him. Like he could understand her, too. He had lost two people in the span of a year as well, even if he was a denier of the latter.

"Sh... Shut up."

Hesitation. His heart finally rose to fight against what was in his mind. His hand shifted from Reito towards Satsuki; the occult madness responding to its fight or flight instincts, threatening the biggest danger to itself in the area.

"I..."

His teeth came to a grit. His heart hurt. His body was feeling the heat from his own flames and the pain that struck deep within. He couldn't keep on going like that. His voice cracked with the next words, arm trembling.

"He.. can't be dead."

Jesse had taught him that meditation was about going with the flow of your thoughts. Eiphraem taught him that occult madness feeds off the things he feared on a primal level - the things he couldn't accept and acknowledge. A part of Ethan knew exactly why this was happening. Why that paranoia that had afflicted him in the first place returned.

".. He can't." The Wayfinder whispered as his arm slowly lowered itself.
(Ethan Hawke)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[21:31] Mizuki Tatasuki whispers something.
[21:34] Shain Oshura says, "Thanks..."
[21:36] The white-feathered youth comes to stand quietly to one side. Bright eyes look from Reito and Satsuki, to the currently emotionally turbulent Ethan. Completely quiet and obviously concerned - maybe even a little upset by proxy.

Stuck in place and not sure what to do, she can't exactly intrude on a situation that she has no idea about. So, instead, her faint presence remains nearby, quiet and thoughtful.

Sunyata is mentioned, as well that Satsuki can no longer use it. A cure out of reach, currently, but the glowing-eyed one's sentiments are correct. He needs to right himself.
(Magdalen Elisheva)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[21:37] She was patient, at the very least, as Satsuki seemed to know precisely what to say and do. She didn't know how she did it; but she did. Reito stared at Ethan patiently, as he seemed to slowly realize what was happening, and why it was happening to him. As his desire to hurt first was directed at her, she didn't flinch or back down. She showed no fear at all - how could she? She was home.

She was in her home, protected. Why would she be frightened in her own home?

But then he turned his sights onto Nakiri, and then Satsuki herself and at this point Reito visibly bristled, the Kitsune's frown growing deeper. But then... His arm dropped, and his words echoed Reito's own just last night when she had initially found out and heard the news. He can't be dead. She shook her head,

"... No more..." she mumbled. "Please Ethan. Just think." Such a simple phrase, there was no telling if it'd get through to him or not.
(Reito Shimasu)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[21:47] Nakiri's eyebrows furrowed together at the slow realization of what was actually going on, the puzzle pieces fit together rapidly. That's when an unbearably familiar wave of dread passed through her. She could feel the visceral chill starting from her feet and washing all the way up to her neck.

"Jesse? He's..." She'd gone unfazed by the firey palm pointed towards her moments before. Her gaze awkwardly shifts to the side and down towards the ground. A vast part of her thought Jesse was invincible from the time she was young up until she'd finally bested him years later. But, he was still among the strongest she knew. For him to have just died after seeing him the day before... She cleared her throat.

"Who did it? Specifically?" She'd ask as calm and collected as ever - even if tears had begun to trickle down one by one. She'd acted as though the droplets weren't noticed. Her arms crossed over the other, moreso holding onto herself to keep herself from reacting in a volatile manor.
(Nakiri Reiha)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[21:49] Even as Ethan threatened her, Satsuki didn't move beyond a small twitch of her fingers, a minute flexing of sharpened nails. She was certain that her claws could strike faster than a deranged occultist could, and even as she got older Satsuki prided herself in remaining in-touch with the predatorial side of her race. If it came to a direct challenge, her hubris simply wouldn't allow her to lose.

Unblinking eyes continued to assess the situation right up to the point that Ethan's arm lowered, and with it at least a fraction of Satsuki's guard. The glow in her eyes seemed to dim slightly as she muttered, fairly cryptically: "Ah. It is... not today, then." A small shrug followed as she took a step back. Regardless of her making headway in Ethan "righting" herself, as she said, this... was not her battle, if it wasn't to kill a man over hurting Reito.

"...I want you to listen to Reito. I want you to trust her - her words... are my own," Satsuki told him. "She... knows you both better than I do. I think..."

Her gaze shifted to Nakiri for a moment, then to Reito, then back to Ethan.

"...It is best if it comes from her."

Without even permitting the opportunity for disagreement, she simply turned on her heel and prepared to leave for the remainder of her walk. Perhaps she was opening herself up for attack, but it seemed as though she was confident enough that no such attack would come.
(Satsuki Shimasu)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[21:59] It wasn't pleasant to hear those words. All of them only hurt more than the previous one. He didn't want to listen to Reito or trust her in the slightest, she was the one who brought the news that devastated him, after all.

As Satsuki stepped away she'd feel as if a flicker of flames was about to reach the back of her head. The heat was moments away from striking her and sweat may just run down her back. Or at least, it's what it would feel like. Reality had it a different way; if the elder ever turned she'd notice absolutely nothing coming towards her. A last act of uncontrolled defiance by the man's rotted mind had cast a simple illusion upon the older woman - as if it didn't want to lose.

On the exterior, Ethan himself seemed to calm down a bit. His features were going from crazed and angry to upset and sad. The intensity of the darkened flames that surrounded him gently died down as did his heartbeat. Soft breaths escaped his lips, head shaking.

".. I don't..."

Part of him was slowly accepting the fact that Jesse had died, and with it, his mind was slowly returning to a state of control - madness being quelled in the process.

The young man found himself descending down towards the ground, falling on his rear in what looked to be an uncomfortable position. Tears trailed down his cheeks, only to evaporate with the heat.

Threats seemed to be over, for now.
(Ethan Hawke)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:03] Shain shifts uncomfortably from the entire display. For as little fondness as he felt for Ethan in general, he felt sorry for him now. It was never easy to lose someone. Glancing around to see who is present she would wordlessly walk off. Someone who was grieving didn't need staring eyes upon them.
(Shain Oshura)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:04] Satsuki reached for Insatiable a split second before Ethan's illusion - but once it actually happened and she realized what it was, her hand lowered. Her job here was done - even if she didn't do anything.
(Satsuki Shimasu)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:07] As Ethan finally fell onto his rear, and seemed to accept that Jesse was dead. As Ethan seemed to no longer be bent upon attacking others, Reito eventually... Sighed. She'd turn slightly to glance at Satsuki though no smile headed towards the old fox's way. She had no smiles to give, not really. She just... Rose her hand up, offering a small wave before finally her golden eyes fell back upon Ethan. She was appreciative of Satsuki's presence, and her words. Some would think they were rude, and aggressive... But Reito knew better.

She knelt slightly, in front of him, to stare at him quietly. She was silent for a long while, just taking in the moment. She allowed him to grieve, to have a moment of semi-clarity to actually mourn the loss of his brother. Finally, she reached out - a hand upon his shoulder. She didn't say anything at all. She didn't really need to, did she?
(Reito Shimasu)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:09] The white-feathered opts to gently take Nakiri's hand, leading her just away from this small moment! Just to let the two have a little moment of shared grief. It might be best to watch from the sidelines.

An apologetic little look is given the way of Nakiri as she would bring her to the far side of the road, unless resisted.
(Magdalen Elisheva)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:16] Nakiri didn't take too kindly to the fact Reito had just ignored her question. The grip on her own sleeves tightened ever so slightly as the air took on an uncomfortably dense sensation - like a growing heaviness radiating from her without actually noticing that either. It'd be pushing on a decade since she had been unable to keep her emotions in check. Her lips pursed together, her mind searching for the words.

"I said--" She cut herself off when the angel sought to move her off to the sidelines. She'd inhale slowly, with each step away, the atmosphere lightened up to normality. Though, she stood beside Magdalen in silence, still ignoring whichever tears continued to flow from her own eyes.

"What is it?" She'd ask the winged girl after a moment of silence.
(Nakiri Reiha)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:20] Instead of an immediate response to her question, the sisterly Magdalen, upon noticing such tears, would opt to gently rub at the teary eyes of Nakiri, before pulling her into a tight hug. Unless evaded, of course.

That hug persists for a little while, and involves some gentle patting on the back. There's very little in the way of words exchanged for a time.

Something soft and gentle is whispered towards her, during that hug.
(Magdalen Elisheva)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:21] Magdalen Elisheva whispers something.
[22:22] Ethan remained seated on the ground, his eyes shifting down towards the cobblestone as he remained quiet. There was nothing to say. Nothing he could do. His brother was really.. dead, wasn't he? A light frown came to his features as he shook his head like so many times before that night. He didn't want it to be real, but it was.

The hand that came upon his shoulder brought him to look up slightly, staring at Reito directly - letting her golden eyes dip into his emerald own. What had she deserved for him to do something like that? Why was he plagued by something he couldn't control?

"I..."

He begun, thinking for about a moment.

"I need to..." He only got quieter as it went on.
(Ethan Hawke)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:22] Ethan Hawke whispers: .. Meditate.
[22:23] Reito Shimasu whispers: Do you need help?
[22:24] Ethan Hawke whispers: ... I don't know.
[22:26] Reito Shimasu whispers: I can... Help you.
[22:26] Nakiri Reiha whispers something.
[22:27] The Kitsune eventually removed her hand from Ethan's shoulder, inclining her head ever so slightly in regards to her statement. Would he accept her help? Or would he brush it off as he had done so many times in the past?
(Reito Shimasu)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:30] Ethan remained on the ground for a few moments, his thoughts going back and forth a bit before his lips parted, words being uttered soon after - eyes fleeing her gaze.

"Fine."
(Ethan Hawke)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:31] Reito Shimasu says, "Alright."
[22:31] Reito Shimasu asks, "Where is... Best for you...?"
[22:31] Nakiri squinted at the hand which came to her face - though she didn't slap it away or anything like that. She just mentally questions her actions. Nevertheless, she doesn't reject the embrace either. The second hug, yet just as meaningful.

She didn't actually know what to say to the girl, so she'd just stand there - somewhat returning the hug. Even if she didn't feel like doing so.
(Nakiri Reiha)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:32] Magdalen Elisheva whispers something.
[22:32] Ethan Hawke says, "..."
[22:32] Ethan Hawke says, "I don't know."
[22:33] Nakiri Reiha whispers something.
[22:34] Reito Shimasu says, "... Follow me. I think I know of a place."
[22:34] She'd stand up now, motion for Ethan to follow her.
(Reito Shimasu)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:36] Ethan gave a small nod, with a few seconds spared to actually stand up on his feet before he finally follows the Kitsune, wherever they may go. It was difficult to trust, still. He hadn't just magically recovered from it.
(Ethan Hawke)