chimericalclaw | open post

[There's a brief tension to his jaw as a thought comes to mind. Ugh—keeping it to himself for even that brief moment sends a flicker of something unpleasant down his spine.]

I'm rarely not busy, but go ahead. [He can handle a simple request as that, if only the boy makes it quick...]

[Tsuna nods, and if he's noticed anything is amiss, he hasn't shown it yet. Except for maybe lingering just a moment longer in thought.]

Uh, well, it's a question about some of the routes. I was just noticing that it might be easier to connect some of them. I think they can sort of loop.

If that makes sense.

[Hum. Had he missed something, or had he simply not cared enough to look into it? The dull look to his face turns somewhat inquisitive as he pulls out his tablet and opens up the map of the city, where he's been able to save said routes in a list. He steps towards Tsuna then, expectantly:]

Show me.

[Tsuna squints at the table, searching for the routes he had in mind. Or at least to match them up to the heavily marked paper copy he carries in his pocket. Just in case.]

Uh, this one, I think. See? It might be easier if I go this way...

[He examines the route for a few seconds, trying to recall that part of the city. But there's only so much he can keep in his head, and his own notes about these routes he's left at the office, so all he gets for the effort are vague impressions.]

Have you tried to take that path already?

Once or twice, just to see. I'd have to time it properly but it felt right,

I see.

[Said without judgment, even if his expression and tone remain otherwise as dull as they have been. It would be a benefit for the boy to have given it a proper test run, but that would have been above and beyond for a task he hadn't been assigned. Besides, Altius is enough of a control freak that he'd want to check with his own eyes either way.

He marks the route on his tablet, then pulls out a small notebook from inside his jacket to take another note or two.]

I'll take a look myself. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

Edited (hello don't forget your icon ryoko) 2025-08-08 02:51 (UTC)

Okay.

[Tsuna seems to accept this but, there's a silence as if he's making a decision.]

But are you sure you don't want help with it? You seem tired.

[There is a sense that Tsuna is not going to take no for an answer.]

Edited 2025-08-10 21:31 (UTC)

[Altius stops from where he was starting to turn away, onward towards the next task.

Perhaps it was foolish to think he could get out of it so easily. This may be his last chance to escape the interaction without any real damage done. His grip tightens around his pen, and it's clear enough he's having to force his words through something.]

I would prefer... to do it alone. If you don't mind.

[There's the sound of a crackling something, its origins unclear.]

[Under normal circumstances, Tsuna would probably accept that and go. But he can hear the crackling, and his Hyper Intuition is going off that something is amiss. So he stays where he is, his expression maybe a little more set.]

I think I kind of do.

Are you sure everything's okay?

I'm f—

[fine, he started to say out of mere instinct, but it's a mistake all the same. A flicker of black energy sparks off of his shoulders with a CRACK and and wrenches a pained sound out of him, and he drops his pen.]

—sentencing!

[The single panicked word seems to have staved whatever effects off for this brief moment, but his breaths have turned shallow.]

Edited 2025-08-13 04:04 (UTC)

[Well. That's enough for Tsuna to know that he was right and he reaches out to steady Zekarion. His expression has darkened because of the word.]

You're not fine. What kind of sentencing is this?

[Altius stops short of pushing the young man away, though his now-free hand moves halfway towards doing so.]

I'm not allowed to lie. Don't ask me anything else. [There's an edge of desperation to the demand he couldn't hide even if he were to attempt it. But at despite that and the anxious way he doesn't look at Tsuna, he's managing to straighten up, notebook pressed against his chest.]

I...I'll try.

[Even without asking, Tsuna can probably guess how Altius is feeling. Though, he's not really sure what he can do.]

Uh, tell me what I can do to help. I don't think whatever you're doing's working.

[There's a hesitation in the way he glances at Tsuna, like he can hardly believe the request worked. At least for now.]

I wish I knew, [he remarks, no attempt to mask his bitterness as he stoops down to pick up his pen.] Trying to seclude myself is almost as dangerous. The best I can do seems to be keeping things short.

[He can't afford to—

Stop thinking. Stop thinking. Stop thinking.

He stands, letting out a slow breath and attempting to empty his mind. For someone who overthinks everything, this is immensely difficult.]

I just have to keep it together until it's satisfied...

Is that what you've been doing the whole time?

[Oh whoops. He didn't mean to ask a question. But of course, now that the door's open...]

Wouldn't it also be easier to just. Go along with it? Instead of fighting, I mean.

[His jaw clenches and he snaps his notebook shut; so much for that. The truth claws at his insides but he tries to resist. To find a way to satisfy the conditions while still—]

That's easy to say... for someone who never has to lie.

[The thought of using his commanding magic to cut the interaction short only sends another spike of static through the base of his skull; he takes in a sharp breath through his nose.]

Don't.

[Tsune shrugs, a slightly odd expression appearing on his face as his brow furrows.]

But...I have to lie all the time.

[Maybe not here. Here he can be a little more relaxed with the truth. But back home? There's a lot he'd rather not get out. Even if he's learned the dangers of holding back information.]

[Altius's own expression twists unpleasantly. For as quickly as the boy had offered the idea—perhaps he'd simply been fooled by the man's pleasant exterior.

Unfortunately, he has to change that perception now. At least somewhat.]

Then you should understand.

I mean, yeah. I get it.

But also, I know that's not good to try to hold back information. That can end up hurting to.

You don't... [He stiffens as the consequences of holding back and going along both come to mind. If he continues that line of thought it's inevitable. Damn it.] Ugh—

[Another crackle, a flinch. Keep it contained. You're stronger than this, Altius, this place won't break you after everything you've done and been through—]

They've made it literal, [he grits through his teeth.]

Y-yeah. I can kinda see that.

[He sighs.]

But maybe that means you have to say something. You. You shouldn't have to keep hurting yourself like this.

The danger... is too much.

[Even saying that is dangerous by itself, for the possible questions that might arise, spoken or not—but the certainty that it's the only way to keep his power under control, to stave off the invisible hand that's tearing away his willpower, has settled in him like dread.

He takes a step back, but only one. He can't retreat; his legs are like lead, anchored by the need to confess.]

You have to leave...

[But that's not going to happen, is it.]

Edited (just a single slash.) 2025-08-19 02:45 (UTC)

[Not until Tsuna knows that Altius is okay. That's just how it works, being the Sky.]

You keep saying that.

I mean, I've faced a lot of danger.

[Damn it. There's only so long he can be vague. Counters to the young man's responses immediately rise in his mind and he's forced to—]

It's not a danger to you if I speak openly.

[A weak, shaky breath of a laugh leaves him, bitter. It's safer for all of them, isn't it? That he finally has to be honest.]

I'm the only one who suffers from fulfilling their task.

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