#⭒ ˙ ˖ ✧ — ˗ˏˋ ❝ ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴇɴꜱᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ᴘʀᴏʙᴀʙʟʏ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ; ᴄᴜᴛᴛɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴜᴘ ��ɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ꜱᴏ ʀᴇ���ʀᴇꜱʜɪɴɢ ❞ ¦ 「 Rio IC 」

[not-bcring]

Starter For  -  ✩   「   @magic-clown​​​   」   ✩

「 ☆ 」 Red flows into the river... Slow streaks of scarlet, slipping away to join the gentle rapids. Dainty, diligent, dexterous hands submerged in the cool water; they raise to rub pale arms. Blood both old and new— dried and dark or vibrantly fresh —scrubbed away to trickle into nonexistence. Dripping off the small figure kneeling by, speckling the river like the pinpricks of starlight reflecting above. Gazing into the calm water, Rio mourns the loss of their... extra embellishment.

But blood is hardly something for one to wear in public; lest they wish to draw unwanted attention. Adept as the former-assassin current lost-soul ( or as close as they can get, their chest lacking breath let alone a beating heart ) is at taking care of those who wish to cause them trouble, it's still a burdensome task. It's no fun to look into a lifeless gaze unless they were able to witness the MOMENT the light truly left it. Hasty acts of ❛ necessity ❜ lack the care they prefer to put into their work.

Tonight had been enjoyable... but not enough to ease the newfound ache in their chest as much as they had hoped. It really is a bother, feeling these new emotions. Regret, disgust, shame— yet none of it strong enough to overpower the ever-present anger. The jealously HATRED, now aimed inwardly just as much as at those around them. Lost and confused, all Rio can do is try to distract. Maybe later, they'll know what to do now that they've been proven to be nothing.

But for now? They slowly stand up, still looking down into the water. Expression deceptively blank, yet eyes holding a sharp studiousness— reflecting the night sky with uncanny clarity, as if polished glass —they suddenly pipe up into the crisp air to the strange figure in the distance, the river playing no favorites when it comes to what it reflects, ❝ I know you're back there. ❞ 「 ☆ 」

[not-bcring]

(( Tag Dump - Rio Ranger ))