#also ven and ruse both have chronic health problems? but have differing reactions to that

[beastenraged]

i want to say that tempests!terra would be confused but not surprised that ruse seems to dislike him for whatever reason. mostly he's just trying to make sure ven doesn't make more unversed than is advisable from ven's dislike of ruse's dislike of terra alone. (on a different note, imagining how the tempests characters would interact with tell me characters is very fun. i wonder how alt!xehanort meeting guide of departure would go, since they are very technically kind of the same person, made drastically different by life circumstances?)

Ooooh, all very good thoughts. Here, have a ficlet under the cut! (Pardon me if my tempests!ven's characterization is whack, I'll do my best!)

I lean back against the wall, trying not to expose my limp. It'll heal up soon enough, even after this Ven hamstringed me earlier.

Man, I really hate Keyblades. They suck.

"Look, I just have one question, if you can answer it as simple as you can. Why do you like Terra so much? Why him?" I spread my arms in efforts to show no offense.

Thankfully, the scrappy Unversed doesn't try to go for my kneecaps. Probably more for Terra's pleading sake (after our fight) than for me. Which is fine. I can watch the blood pumping through their veins, through his kind of translucent skin, as they tilt their head in thought.

Hm, wonder if Unversed humanoids are the same where I come from? Reminds me of the weird deep sea beasts in the ocean.

I guess... they start, He makes me feel safe.

Safe? Hmm. I rub one finger along my cheek. Tracing the scars. "And never...trapped? I mean, he's around a lot. All the time. Isn't that too much?"

Ven's face screws up in confusion. Why would he do that? He's my dad.

Dad. I do not flinch at that, because whoa, that's a really strong word to use. Weren't Ven and Terra just bros in my timeline? Wonder what changed here.

(Moron. I know what changed. Look at how pale Ven is, how cold his skin is to touch. Even with a Keyblade...weak. Sick.)

My chest aches.

Something about those eyes, looking at me. Older than the rest of him. Insightful. I don't like those eyes.

Don't you have someone that makes you safe?

"Safe?" I laugh. "I'm fine, I can take care of myself. I don't need someone else to do it for me."

Sure.

I shift backwards. Grit my teeth as my leg almost goes out from underneath me. Ven notices. Of course he does.

You're hurt. Do you want help?

I snort. "Nah. It'll be healed up soon. Us Replicas have to bounce back, you know?" I pat at my facial scars for emphasis.

How ugly they are, how terrible. Look, we may be monsters, the two of us, but I'm worse.

(Someone tried to put me down but I still got up. I walked away.)

Still like how he's looking at me. And whoa, there's Terra looking at me in the background. I fight the urge to stick my tongue out (don't want another fight yet) and simply...walk away.

I don't need to be around these people who think they can fix this.

(Not when Ven doesn't know how his protector will fail him.)