synflux | ( closed ) life like the unplumbed sea;

[ They're placated, but they scuttle off nonetheless after muttering their thanks. Elysium watches as their back retreats into the crowd, expression blank. Ostensibly, he's muddling over something, despondent even if Gebura tries to catch his attention in the time he tries to follow his thoughts through.

Whether he ends up settling on one thing or another, what does eventually escape his mouth is this: ]

… It's everywhere in this world, isn't it? Crime.

[ with little inflection. ]

[ Gebura doesn't bother to speak up or nudge him out of his thoughts; Elysium has the time to ponder whatever's got him looking so morose, which is not always the case with their line of work, so she doesn't see a need to get him to speak unless he feels like it. He doesn't ever really need the encouragement, anyway.

And sure enough, there it is. She angles a glance at him. ]

Yeah. If it's not everywhere in your own world, I'm a little envious. It sure as hell was everywhere in my own... or at least in the Backstreets. People who lived in the Nests lived a much more secure life.

Most countries are like that. [ To the Infected, prior to Rhodes Island—one could argue the whole world felt like that. Despite existing on the same plane of existence as everyone else, the world saw to it that they'd follow different laws, lead different lives. ] But there are some that are doing good for its citizens or well on their way there.

[ That is the future they're working towards, idealistic as it is. And to some, Rhodes Island is the manifestation of that idealistic vision. ]

Say. How far are you willing to go for a world that isn't your own?

[ apropos of nothing. of course. ]

[ Why is he like this. ]

Depends on the situation. I couldn't just give you a blanket answer on how much I'd be willing to do. I'm not altruistic or anything like that.

Considering we're already putting our lives on the line fighting kaiju, I think it's a fair question to ask by itself without any more context.

[ … ]

You took off after that thief pretty quickly. And like you said, they aren't the only one out there. But is it really fine? To only deal with crime as you see it.

[ ... ]

Could you stop doing this weird lead-up line of questioning and just tell me what you're getting at?

[ Not Elysium calling Wriothesley out on this only to inflict it on Gebura himself… Earlier along in the timeline, but still.

He smiles, picture of innocence. Not because he's any less serious about it. Far from. ]

I've been looking into the crime back in Neo Tokyo for a while, seeing how far up the corruption goes and what it'll mean to try and remove it. But as you know. [ vague hand gesture. ] I'm just a guy.

So you're asking me to see if I'd be interested in trying to get to the root of things and help clean it up. Which you could have just said directly.

[ These roundabout people, she swears--]

It might be as dangerous, or more. We'll be dealing with people instead of monsters.

[ sparkles. not-so-gently. ]

[ A very flat stare. ]

I'm pretty sure you're aware I've dealt with people just as much as I've dealt with monsters.

[ ... Violently. ]

[ Staring back! Unflinching. ]

Right. And you know exactly how people can make your life hell in ways monsters wouldn't be able to.

I don't need you thinking I'd be helping out of some nonexistent goodness in my heart, but at least it'd be something other than being dragged off to socialize.

[ Can't go on dates, Malkuth, rooting out crime-- ]

[ Witness the exact moment a stare becomes a Look. ]

What was that just now, then?

I felt like it.

[ Yeah. Not even batting a lash. ]

[ what a tsundere ]

Sure. [ he laughs. ] Didn't realise we're staking our own lives on things we just feel like.

Edited 2024-08-13 15:10 (UTC)

That's always how I've been.

[ With a shrug. ]

If there's something I feel like doing, there was always the acceptance that I could be risking my life for it.

What a wonder that most of the time, what you feel like doing translates into actions that are objectively considered kind and self-sacrificial. You aren't beating any allegations here, Miss Gebura.

[ not wanting to rattle her too hard-- ]

So, our meal. What're you feeling? A sit down? Going through the stalls? I'll tell you more about what I have planned once we're done with this kaiju mission proper. Until then… I was thinking of snooping around here, too, to see if there might be any connections. This country is rather close in proximity to Japan——I wouldn't be surprised.

What I'm increasingly feeling like doing is breaking your nose if you keep it up.

[ Yeah. Good topic change. ]

But let's just grab something at a stall or two. If you're looking into connections, you'll want to keep moving.

… Hey, hey, hey. You can't solve everything with violence. Even if it might make you feel better in the moment.

[ He withers away dramatically, both hands to his nose like it'd protect him from Gebura, of all people, if she actually had the will to do so. ]

But, sure. Fine by me. It doesn't matter either way; I just need to unwind a bit before I'm out in the field working again. [ callisto,, ] In the grand scheme of things, a half hour's nothing——especially when I'll be starting from zero.

Maybe so, but it depends on how you use the time.

[ With a soft huff. ]

Anyway, get anything with a skewer and that's an effective deterrent if you wield it right against people. [ Don't stab Callisto with a skewer, guys. ] It's a good idea to get some knowledge on this location, too. While we have the downtime.

I could do a lot in a half hour, but I value efficiency just as well. Activities like these are typically more active in the evenings.

[ Typically more dangerous, too, but that's a given. He straightens himself out though to rematch her stride, eyes glinting, perhaps a little dangerously. ]

It doesn't necessarily have to be sharp to be an effective deterrent. So long as it's sturdy, won't it be serviceable enough for our purposes?

[ wrongs don't make a right, guys

anyway. ]

And, naturally. [ to learning more about the location itself. ] Expect an overlay with points of interest sometime tomorrow. Since you're the first subscriber to Elysium's cartography services, [ when?? ] I intend to do extra well by you even when it isn't realistic to draft up entire maps overnight. Have the first two served you well?

[ there's such thing as being too detailed——and, well, if she'd like to call them unreadable as shit, now's the time. ]

Oh, those. [ "Those." ]

They're useful enough, but you've really got to work on making them readable. Took me about a day to just figure out what was going on with them.

[ And mostly because she'd been to these places and could figure out that much once she'd focused properly. ]

[ "Those"… how dare. He huffs. ]

If there's one thing I refuse to do, it's compromise on quality. Besides, you figured it out eventually just fine, didn't you? Moot.

[ Eventually being the key word here, but whatever!! Whatever!! He does not hear it. Anyway, they should hit the food stalls right about now. ]

… Tteokbokki? Looks interesting.

Never had it before? It's pretty spicy, if you can handle that.

[ She obviously can, but you know. Not everyone's tongue is built the same. She's extending a hand for them to scan her wrist. ]

Whether I can tolerate it or not, there's only one way to find out. Where's the fun in presumptions?

[ we'll call it… moderate. maybe there are spice levels they can choose from, here. which one is Gebura going for? ]

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