( 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]

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. ]

[transmit]

[ If she allows: just… a tight grip on her shoulder as he keels over. In lieu of that, he'll reach for the nearest surface he can cling onto.

As well, he'll hold up the remainder of his tteokbokki up to her… he's eaten like, five pieces. The ratio ain't looking so hot. Please assist. ]

[bemist]

[ Oh. There he goes.

He can hold onto her shoulder; Gebura barely manages to suppress a noise that sounds like it could have been a laugh, reaching out with one hand to steady him and the other to take the tteokbokki from him. ]

What were you trying to prove, you idiot?