[Claw meets flesh as Vakama starts to grapple for Raven's neck with nothing but anger--
-- Only to be knocked aside as a mirror image of the creature charges, knocking Raven's captor off and to the side.
There is not much difference at first glance. Only the color of the eyes. But Vakama, the ACTUAL Vakama, stands overtop him - the Matoran newly missing, now clearly crouched overtop Raven with his teeth bared towards the double. It sinks back, a dissolving as it stalks back into the shadow, but Vakama doesn't move his position.
A beat passes, of breath and tension. His defensive posture doesn't change. But there's a softening, as his head tilts just so. Apologetic.]
...Even like this. Blinded as I was. All I ever wanted was to find a way to save them. [His eyes don't meet Raven's.]
Even if I made the wrong choice... even if I was a failure.... even if I was never understood, and only knew this angered heart for the rest of my days. If it was still for them... if it would earn them their freedom... I felt it was all that mattered.
It... frightens me. Angers me. That this could repeat, with nothing else I could do but watch what it does to those around me.
[His eyes flick back out towards the dark as it slowly evens out - a contrast to their beginning, a voided field. And as Vakama slowly removes himself from Raven, his form shifts back - not to the Matoran, but to himself. Fully, unchanging, knelt to offer him a hand up.
Raven will find his form slowly shift to himself. Normal, unfettered.
The voices protest. They always do.
What kind of Toa ARE you?]
...
My friend. I will not ask you to suffer any more of my own battles. This is not a fight to be won.
2/2
-- Only to be knocked aside as a mirror image of the creature charges, knocking Raven's captor off and to the side.
There is not much difference at first glance. Only the color of the eyes. But Vakama, the ACTUAL Vakama, stands overtop him - the Matoran newly missing, now clearly crouched overtop Raven with his teeth bared towards the double. It sinks back, a dissolving as it stalks back into the shadow, but Vakama doesn't move his position.
A beat passes, of breath and tension. His defensive posture doesn't change. But there's a softening, as his head tilts just so. Apologetic.]
...Even like this. Blinded as I was. All I ever wanted was to find a way to save them. [His eyes don't meet Raven's.]
Even if I made the wrong choice... even if I was a failure.... even if I was never understood, and only knew this angered heart for the rest of my days. If it was still for them... if it would earn them their freedom... I felt it was all that mattered.
It... frightens me. Angers me. That this could repeat, with nothing else I could do but watch what it does to those around me.
[His eyes flick back out towards the dark as it slowly evens out - a contrast to their beginning, a voided field. And as Vakama slowly removes himself from Raven, his form shifts back - not to the Matoran, but to himself. Fully, unchanging, knelt to offer him a hand up.
Raven will find his form slowly shift to himself. Normal, unfettered.
The voices protest. They always do.
What kind of Toa ARE you?]
...
My friend. I will not ask you to suffer any more of my own battles. This is not a fight to be won.