( closed ) life like the unplumbed sea;

[transmit]

WHO: Elysium & friends(?)
WHAT: This is now just a catch-all for everything
WHERE: Everywhere
WHEN: 2024
WARNINGS: Blanket warning for possible explorations of dark themes in general, please tread at your own risk. I will, however, endeavour to include specifics in headers if applicable.

Comments

[bemist]

[ 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. ]

[transmit]

[ Staring back! Unflinching. ]

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

[bemist]

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-- ]

[transmit]

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

What was that just now, then?

[bemist]

I felt like it.

[ Yeah. Not even batting a lash. ]

[transmit]

[ what a tsundere ]

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

[bemist]

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.

[transmit]

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.

[bemist]

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.

[transmit]

… 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.

[bemist]

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.

[transmit]

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. ]

[bemist]

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. ]

[transmit]

[ "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.

[bemist]

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. ]

[transmit]

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? ]

[bemist]

[ There are! Ranging from mild to "Inferno". Gebura is going for the level below that, glancing over at Elysium. Go ahead. Take your pick. ]

[transmit]

[ …

choosing the same level. incredibly ready to regret it. but it is what it is!! ordering a side of milkis just to help him regret it less… maybe. ]

[bemist]

...

And you haven't had this before?

[ Elysium, buddy. ]

[transmit]

You seem like you know what you're doing. If I perish from my hubris, [ a vague hand gesture with his free hand! ] that's just how it goes.

Wouldn't that be a preferable result for you, anyway?

[bemist]

If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead.

[ Eat your spicy hubris, you little shit. ]

[transmit]

If you don't watch your wording, a guy might get the wrong idea.

[ like, she wants him alive? damn.

Anyway, he gets his order… he plops a rice cake into his mouth. There's no chewing motion, but there is a swallow after several beats. Following that, his Milkis is downed in an entire gulp. Hm. He sure is buying another can, all this achieved wordlessly and expressionlessly.

He's fine. ]

…

[bemist]

How weirdly quiet of you.

[ Calmly chewing her portion. ]

[transmit]

What's wrong with… enjoying my meal in companionable silence…?

[ he's on his fourth can of milkis, that's what ]

[bemist]

You wanna think it over before you continue with the false bravado or should I just buy the rest of their stock of cans?

[ She would. She absolutely would. ]