synflux | ( closed ) life like the unplumbed sea;

Well, as an old soul myself, its not that its all chalked up to be. Keep hold onto that bright spirit there, Mister Elysium.

[He speaks a little like someone who has been through a possible scenario like this many a time, even though something like this man and his words are admittedly new. That's the joy of life, though. The twists and turns of fate.]

...Hm. [He picks up the absinthe bottle, rolling the liquid in it thoughtfully - the color draws his eyes, who loyally flit back to the other man after a brief pause.] You know...I'd like that a lot, actually. I wonder what I look like from your eyes.

[In drink form, of course.]

[ Oh... definitely bad.

He talks so easily and lightly enough that it's only a few seconds for Something to Click. Like the sparring hadn't been his main intention, but rather a means to an end, in a way that wasn't entirely dishonest, but all the same, her eyes slowly narrow. ]

Then go get some food.

[ Why are you so close, sir. ]

[ Can't believe Elysium is going to both take the bottom bunk and parade him around in a throng of people after the sun rises tomorrow.....truly there is no end to this man's well-intentioned cruelty.

Unfortunately hindsight is 20/20 only after the fact, and so Wriothesley remains none the wiser to all the lightbulbs that have pinged to life inside that multicolored head. ]

First the sweets and now a grand tour of our new destination funded entirely out of your own pocket? [ He crosses his arms loosely over his chest, eyebrows raised. ] If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to buy me off to look the other way while you rob the nearest bank.

[ He's (once again) joking. Maybe if they were both back in Fontaine this would look a lot more like unsubtle bribery, but here he's just a guy who can, what, make ice cubes on command? Then again, maybe that'll prove to be useful in this desert heat real soon. ]

… My friend, isn't it a tad too soon for you to be speaking like a withered old man? They say looks can be deceiving, but come on. If you didn't have your spryness to you, you wouldn't be keeping up with me.

[ Ages are a mercurial thing, coming from a world with as many different lifespans as there are species of creatures. It does beg the question of, though, of what experiences this man might be contemplating in calling himself an old soul—an innocent thing, when Elysium is an adventurer at heart and cares to hear tales from lands of all kinds. ]

Consider it done and something to look forward to. [ He meets Sampo's gaze, a spark to it that hadn't been there before. Implicitly, this one might prove to be better than the first that had been put together haphazardly and without thought. Maybe he will finally take a look at the recipe cards. Not much of an excuse not to when you have an eidetic memory, owned entirely to a lack of motivation that per chance has flipped on its head. ]

Incidentally? I'll be looking forward to the belated birthday gift, too.

[ he hasn't forgotten and assumes it will be a thing, yeah. annoying. ]

I'm really not kidding, though! I've seen youngsters out there run miles around me. Ah, the young generation...I've never understand them....

[says a guy who looks no older than like]

[twenty-five]

Oh, I'm already looking forward to it! And....hardy har har. [He pokes the man's shoulder, as if offended, when he's anything but. A gift from this man, in exchange for a celebration of life...well delayed. Makes sense. Maybe.] You keep calling me greedy! But sure. If it was your birthday, then Sampo Koski will come up with something.

[ he got slashed in the spar and BLED what more does she want from him!! ]

I will! [ No more playing coy: ] And I'm saying you should come with, since I can vouch that I've found some pretty good spots over the last few days. You haven't been sticking with the cafeteria food, are you?

[ look, what if she tries to escape? not that he would physically hold her back, but… you know… the presence of proximity?? is that a thing? ]

[ theatre kid dramatics be like that

but sure, sure. Sampo can have an exasperated snort that can only be read as fond. It's not like he'd meme'd up on the network all day the other day, or anything, and was running miles around them—Sampo has his word that he's forgotten all about it. ]

Is there anything wrong with that? Being a little greedy? [ Sampo pokes his shoulder and he deigns to lean in until they're close and at eye level. A little over two inches taller, but that's all one needs to bring attention to it, hand on table to balance his weight as he does. ] It means I want to spend more time with you, doesn't it?

[ Is that what he'd said when it'd first come up…? Interesting how minutes (and possibly alcohol) can change a dynamic up so abruptly, a gamut of a push and pull, a song and dance, but also Elysium being his entirely honest self. An intentional use of "I," and not "we." Isn't it nice to feel wanted?

And then he pulls back. ]

I'm technically still on shift, you know.

[ yuwon… your pick-up lines…

In all fairness to Elysium (no), he does have a near eidetic memory. With a thoughtful look, there's a fraction of a second as he tries to parse the validity of Yuwon's recognition, and when he comes up short, what's left is a knowing grin. ]

Must've caught your eye sometime. [ … ] It's too bad I'm not on the menu.

[ also in fairness, who orders like that tf ]

[ She should have stabbed him harder-- ]

I don't exactly have a lot of money to be spending it on something we can get for free.

[ She's just going to point that out, because until she's comfortably making a lot more, she doesn't really want to splurge. Backstreets habits. ]

[ And he's going to point out: ]

Considering all our basic necessities are covered, is there something in particular you're trying to save for?

Edited (i should go to bed) 2024-05-21 13:19 (UTC)

Maybe there is.

[ And if there is, that's not an answer he's going to get from her anytime soon. ]

So I don't really see a need in paying for a meal right now. [ Not until she's built up enough to be comfortable about it, anyway. ]

[It's not often he comes across as someone actually taller than him - so something like this, where the man leans in, and he feels small against him, is a relatively new sensation. He feels his breath catch in his throat, like he's tripped up against a wire, and his eyes naturally flit down, flit up, take into account the loss of personal space.]

[He grins.]

[The man has pulled back, but he's hardly missing him, just feeling like the alcohol might have been something like caffeine instead with the way the rush of blood warms his head and chest. No, he doesn't mind it. It's a taste of his own medicine. It's a sweet taste.]

Ah, that damnable shift. See, this is why I'm self-employed. I get to dictate my own rules.

[His hand slides over the table where Elysium just had his, as if to capture the warmth of what's left.]

But no. There's nothing wrong with being greedy at all! I'd be the last guy on the planet to ever complain. Y'know...if you can have it, you might as well go and get it.

Edited 2024-05-21 14:48 (UTC)

[ There's an echo in the back of his mind somewhere that maybe he should've tried to push it further. Or for longer. Or——both. Considering their proximity, it should be easy to see how Elysium's eyes flash with interest; but his restraint has only begun getting tested, and similarly, seeing another cave too soon too fast wasn't all that fun, either. ]

I'd like that, too. Unfortunate that the higherups didn't seem too pleased with me when I did, so here I am. [ Understatement of the century… ] But it isn't so bad, is it? I get to meet all manners of people. They get to visit me. This encounter might've not been what it was otherwise.

[ It's not like he'd moved that far away. At most, he'd slid his hand a span's worth back just to straighten himself out. So his gaze settles on the distance between their hands thoughtfully before it snaps back to Sampo. ]

We can't just let life pass us by, can we. [ An observation. ] It was nice meeting you tonight.

[ It's intended as a yes or no question, and so the answer Gebura gives him is serviceable enough. It's a good thing, then, that he can also read the room… when he wants to.

Picking and choosing one's battles! Any recruit worth their salt knows how to do that. Whether it's in the right way or not is a different story. ]

Then, you'd have no qualms if the meal was paid for?

[ This seems like a very Leading question and it's hard for her to... well, it feels a bit silly to mistrust it immediately, but she's also not from a place that offers things without a price.

If this is what it sounds like (a meal with him in exchange for having it paid for), she has to wonder why the hell. ]

... What do you want from me, exactly?

[ So apparently she'll just come right out and ask! It's not the pleasure of her company, she's not that nice?? ]

[ Immediately: ]

You! [ A grin and meaningful pause later: ] Want me to expand on that?

[ The fact that he hadn't followed-up on it just as quickly might suggest a few things here. ]

[ Ah. This feeling, creeping closer, almost foreign to her...

... This must be...

... A headache. ]

You have five seconds or I'm leaving.

When you say it like that....maybe you are blessed. Someone's smiling down on ya.

[And he got to meet Sampo Koski. And Sampo Koski got to meet him.]

[He sees that gaze, his own following it, but - well, there's no need to step over the line so quick. Eager is one thing. To fall like this into someone is another. No, he'll take out the stage hook to tug himself off, now.]

[But not without a tease. He steps back. And then he plucks the man's hand off the table to press a gentlemanly kiss against the back of it.]

You're right. Anyways...it was a lovely time. Thank you, Elysium. To the next encounter.

[And he lets go, now fully extracting himself from behind the counter to the front. Only a smile and a grin and a wave, and he's waltzing off.]

[Something to remember him by.]

[For the next time.]

Oh no, I didn't mean that manner of coverage! [ Hands on his hips, he laughs. ] It's unfortunate, but there might just be something else that my pocket might see more use for at the moment.

[ Premonition #1… he brings a hand up to wave that thought away irreverently. It has nothing to do with him. For now.. ]

I told you before, didn't I? That one of my specialties was navigating. I'd say I have this entire place on lock—no need to be an aimless tourist with me around.

[ He pulls out a stack of brochures from a pocket, waves it around. When did he have time to look and parse through all of those, when they've barely just gotten here? Don't worry about it. He tosses those haphazardly onto his bed, too. His. ]

Besides, there are easier and less overt ways of getting to know someone than bribing them. And just having a fun ol' time with them is one.

[ He has no thoughts in particular when Sampo decides to take his hand. He only blinks, then——palpably freezes when he clues in on what Sampo's meant to do with this particular action. It's not the alcohol talking, but pure instinct telling him to yank it back.

For one. It puts his mouth awfully close to a cluster of black crystals present on the surface of his skin, just above his forearm. For two… it is the sort of out-of-pocket gesture he'd never experienced it before. Would he do it to someone else? Yeah. Has he probably done it to someone else? Yeah, too. But even he's self-aware enough to know that his personality is the exact deterrent from receiving such gestures. And that's fine. He really doesn't mind. He prefers to be the one rattling others.

…

He's wearing fingerless gloves, and yet, the kiss blazes through fabric. ]

… Well played. [ In releasing the breath he'd been holding in, the laughter it transitions into will be what accompanies Sampo out the door. One can imagine the future hair ruffle was his revenge… ] 'Til the next time, Koski. You're on.

[ Where did he even find the time to grab all those pamphlets....?

But that's a good point. The mention of navigating rings a bell, unlodging the memory of their brief tea-and-pastry meeting all those weeks ago. For all that the spam mail (sorry, it was definitely spam mail) had left him with a less than stellar impression of the guy, there's no denying he's a little intrigued by how Elysium already seems to have a good read on this place.

It wouldn't hurt to get a better lay of the land too while he has the chance. ]

Well, if you're offering a genuine chance for me to see your skills in action, it would be foolish of me to turn it down.

[ So Wriothesley, in all his good-natured willingness to give the people around him a chance, walks directly into the trap Elysium has set for him. ]

Did you already have a route in mind?

[ Would she be the type to feel pity for him if he were to use the birthday card? No, he doesn't want to use it, nor would he ever use it in that context regardless of his certainty of her answer, but he does contemplate it for the brief second.

Instead: ]

I just wanted company today, Miss Gebura. [ A smaller smile. ] You remind me of someone, so you were the first person that came to mind. I know I've been overfamiliar, but I won't apologise. I do want to get to know you better.

[ He takes a step away to give her personal space, and tucks his free hand behind his back. ]

Will you come if I promise to behave?

[ Listen, his spam mail got one (1) person leveling with him and at least it wasn't a scam mail. He wasn't ever going to charge anyone…! ]

Hey now, I'm not the type of guy to make considerations without the input of everyone involved. [ The degree in which he weighs them might be something else entirely. ] I did ask you about your interests, didn't I?

[ He's also yapped a whole lot about other things in the past few minutes, so Wriothesley is forgiven and even justified for getting lost in the sauce. ]

You like tea, [ this feels a bit like an understatement, ] and you didn't seem to mind the doughnuts. There are several tea lounges of the like I'd never seen in Neo Tokyo, so those can be on the itinerary for sure. What else should we do? Should I throw in a bit of what I like so you can get to know me, too?

[ nabbing a date with synflux's #1 bachelor before he's off the market… woooo. ]

[ Does she look like the type to feel pity? Elysium, please.

If she reminds him of someone, she might feel something like a sense of tired empathy for this mysterious individual, though. Because it's not like this guy with his overly familiar manner and refusal to know shame doesn't similarly remind her of someone.

Still. ]

I don't recommend you putting your thoughts and expectations of someone else on me.

[ ... Really, she needs to keep that in mind, too. But, with a sigh, since he can't really change from that if he doesn't at least get to know her enough to note the differences-- ]

Fine. But I'm leaving after that.

[ She doesn't, which covers 1% of the argument behind why he wouldn't ok ]

Not wanting to see someone else in you is exactly why I want to get to know you more. Why do you think I wanted to spar you, too?

[ He could've just as easily held that card to his chest and continued to project, but he'd like to think saying it aloud sends its own message—which is why, his words echo her own thoughts. ]

Alright, I hear you. [ Muted. He's keeping his promise. ] So do you have any allergies, or foods that you don't like?

( closed ) life like the unplumbed sea;

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

💞💞💞

no subject

no subject

please go to bed

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject