synflux | ( closed ) life like the unplumbed sea;

So your head is on right. But it looks cooler, doesn't it?

[ … Maybe the conversation won't be so bad? There's a sudden shift in the air as if the quip's knocked some sort of reminder back into Elysium's head. At least, his body language's no longer brooding, smile relaxing into something that could be called genuine, if not tired. ]

You passed a while back. That was—… something else. You know, in case something was wrong with me and the paranoia was all my imagination. If the wound sealed right up, I would've told you to kill me.

[ casually. ]

… I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you. [ Even if events still hang over his head, ] I meant that it's your turn to ask questions. Whatever's going on, we can figure it out together.

[ This was how you took things one step at a time, right. ]

[...]

[He steps over to him to touch his shoulder. As much as he is the smiling laughing merchant everyone loves, he knows when there is a time to get serious. Paranoia? Wounds sealing up? It makes no sense.]

[When has life ever made sense...?]

[In the distance, he almost feels like he can hear laughter.]

It's quite alright. Though really, I have to ask. [He spares a glance to the window.] What....are you worried that you and I will become?

[ His gaze flits from Sampo to the hand on his shoulder, before it resettles on Sampo himself. Here, he offers the same hand several pats on the back of it. ]

I think we'll have to go a little earlier than that.

[ For the final pat, his hand lingers atop Sampo's for a brief second before dropping back to his side. Might as well assume he's working with a blank slate here, for whatever reason, and intuit the rest on his own. ]

The monsters you saw out there? They're called Seaborn. The ones we encountered specifically are pretty nasty guys, but for the most part, you really only have to worry about them trying to eat you. [ … ] The real trouble starts after they do or if you've run into another kind that's had a particularly nice buffet since they adapt and evolve rather quickly.

[ worse, when they assimilate trained operators. there's another tug at his smile with the reminder of their former squad mates. ]

… I think I'm still myself. [ there's his answer. ] And I think you are, too, even if something else seems to be going on.

The Seaborn. Weird stuff to find out in the...

[He starts, stops. Something feels a little fuzzy. A word that slips out of his fingers like oil. The patting is nice, but it doesn't take away from the spike of disorientation.]

Anyways, like I was saying. Weird stuff. And...adapt and evolve? That's totally not scary at all.

[Totally not! He heaves a dramatic little sigh, the tip of his tail tapping against the floor as he puts his hands on his hips.]

All I know is that we're not supposed to be here. And I-! Am not supposed to have a tail. Like you don't think that's weird?

Hm? It was kind of nice having it in my arms, though.

[ Intentionally, his eyes will drop down to it. And just as intentionally, he won't pursue what Sampo finds so strange when Elysium's thinking the very same of him. ]

The captain would've never let me do something like that. If you don't want it, I wouldn't mind taking it off you more often.

[ It was somewhat like a body pillow. A little cold, but nothing body heat wouldn't fix. Solid. Tangible. Proof that he wasn't alone… for the time being. A laugh, because as nice as the conversational detour was—there were other matters to attend to, too. ]

… Anyway, we shouldn't spend too much time here. I can't tell you too much about them because that's one of the reasons why we were sent out to begin with. How do you fight something that's infinitely capable of evolving itself? I'm sure the guys back at Rhodes Island will figure it out. Until then… we do what we can.

[ A pause, as if uncertain. ]

I can try and find a way back to one of the defense lines for you. [ 'you.' ] We'll have to take a longer way around, but it should be doable. How does that sound?

...Hey, now. Don't say things like that. You'll make me want to let you touch it or something.

[Said casually as anything, veering into familiar flirtatious territory - but he sees that look, and in this context, it really just makes everything all the stranger.]

[The tail swishes now, almost thoughtfully.]

The guys back at Rhodes Island? Where is that? Elysium, my dear, its LIL...LILITH. We work for that one now.

[A little hiccup - as if tripping over the name. He sighs - defense lines, secrets. Sampo would like some understanding, but...fine. Sure. Something nags him about what was just said.]

And what about you? You just gonna stick around, shake hands with the monsters? Sampo Koski can't have that...

Haven't you already?

[ Said just as casually, as if the answer to whether Sampo would or wouldn't allow is a foregone conclusion. He allows the arrogance to flicker across his expression, because if they were to part, too? Then he'd prefer it to be at his best. Even with their currently tenuous understanding of each other, at least some things were still the same. ]

… Look. Maybe the me in your memory works for LILITH. I can accept that. [ What else could he do? Incite an argument? ] But the me right now's under Rhodes Island, and for the foreseeable future, at that. Rather than losing ourselves in what does or doesn't make sense, shouldn't we focus on what's in front of us? If your heart's changed, I'm not holding it against you, buddy. The situation's changed.

[ things are always in flux when one's life is on the line, he understands that much. more so when his read on Sampo is that he himself is unpredictable. ]

There's still something only I can do. [ … ] Besides, [ with an air of finality: ] this is my home country, Koski. I'm not abandoning it again. Either way you have it, you'll have time to think about it on the way.

Ah, I want to try to play hard to get. You have to let me do that sometimes, huh?

[A little joke. His eyes crinkle, but it doesn't eliminate the worry, the focus, the increasing discomfort that now he knows he can't do anything with. How does he convince a man of a reality he has no memory of? It would be one thing if he found him back there, but this is a new place.]

[Stranger lost in a strange land.]

...I get it. I really do get it. It's about the here and now. But! That makes you even more my responsibility. [For the first time here, he frowns.] Your home country, huh....but yeah. I'll think about it. But you think about it, too. Promise me that. Maybe we'll skip hand in hand outta this place.

No can do. I like knowing that I'm receiving preferential treatment too much for that.

[ A joke for a joke. Somewhat ironic, given what they're talking about and what Elysium thinks next: had Sampo ever been the type to be sentimental? Something in his head protests against the image, as if they're veering off script. But, what script?

Never mind that, ]

… I'll believe that when you can show you can run, much less walk, without tripping over yourself. [ To taking responsibility, anyway. ] C'mon, man.

[ Sorry, Sampo. He's not about to make promises he has no intention of fulfilling. But it's true: they do have to figure this out before they get a move on anywhere…?? ]

Greedy, greedy. Then again, when it comes to you, I could be greedy, too.

[No, he's always greedy. There's some kind of desire that has made him so perfect for being a Masked Fool. He may not be as extreme as some of the others, but he wants elation. He wants to laugh. He wants to smile, to see others smiling and laughing.]

[Circumstances likes these are the furthest from it, but Sampo will always be glad to play comic relief for that reason.]

Ooh, ye of little faith! Wow! That's bold! Lookie here, I've gotten used to it already. Just a twirl and-

[He's tripping over his own tail backwards, falling onto his ass. Owie...]

I can do it. This was a fluke, my friend!

Edited 2024-06-03 04:29 (UTC)

[ Sampo performs his circus act, and yet, Elysium doesn't laugh.

Greed, huh? He squats to level with Sampo. For Elysium, whose foreseeable future he doesn't see extending past the month at most, he imagines that his definition of 'greed' has taken quite the different turn. Though unreadable for the most part, Elysium's gaze is assessing—when finally, he does laugh, soft and quiet.

Not at his fall, that much is obvious. ]

I'm sure you can. [ do it, that is, but that could apply to several things here. he clears his throat, then. ] But, I wouldn't mind if you relied on me a little more. … try being more forward leaning. Take a wider stance, and sway your tail like you would your arms when you move. Or, you could just hold it yourself.

[What is behind those eyes?]

[Elysium bends down just so. There's a brief urge to whip out his hand as fast as a snakebite, take him by the collar to pull him closer, even make him topple. The man was already an amusing conundrum, now there's another layer here that Sampo can't decide is more exciting or frustrating.]

[Instead, his hand stutters over to his shoulder.]

Maybe you just want to see me fall over you. Would...you catch me? [An almost quiet question, hidden with his beaming grin. Time to use the man to help pull himself up back to his feet, using his shoulder as leverage.] Heh. Me holding my own tail...how funny. Things I never had to think about.

[ He might or might not be hung up over Sampo's words of responsibility and running away, just the two of them. Throwaway lines that they were, no one's ever said them to him before. Even if he hadn't necessarily started this mission alone, he'd intended to finish alone like how 'Elysium' himself came from solitary origins, running away and flitting from one place to another until he'd finally found a place he could call 'home.'

Taking someone else down with him… that's a different story.

A distant conversation comes to mind, one that would unfurl the dream if he had the mind to ask himself where or how; Elysium can't be the sun, either, destined to eventually burn out on itself. To go out in a supernova, to make a difference, to do something when he's done very little in the grand scheme of things—that's what Elysium tells himself he has to do.

The only thing, then, is to ensure Sampo's well and away in the event that the same supernova results in a black hole. But it is tempting, nevertheless, to think of what that future would look like. ]

Until you learn to walk on your own two feet, of course. No need to sound so suspicious, bro.

[ As always, there's the 'and then what?' But he smiles from down below, only coming to his feet once Sampo's managed to straighten himself out. And since they've managed to more or less disperse the tension: ]

Is it really that strange to you? I can't say we're all that familiar with each other since we'd only met a month ago, but you've never not had it. [ thoughtfully, ] And at that size, either. You were moving as if you've never had it.

Suspicious? Me? You're so mean...

[He pouts at that like a child, but its obvious in good fun. The next few statements make him stare at Elysium like he's grown two heads - honestly, he wishes he did, because that would be more understandable.]

[He's.......always had this?]

[It feels wrong. No, it feels....right. Weird. He was running back thee with no problem, right? He rubs at his forehead a little, flummoxed, but then gives the other a cheeky little smirk. (He feels worried. He feels...scared, almost. Bells are chiming somewhere, as if there's an end coming. But Elysium is here, they can get through it, sun and sea, right? Right? Right...?)]

You want to talk about my size, huh. [Sorry, sorry, low hanging fruit.] But...hm. Weird. Maybe I did hit my head! You should check it for injuries, hehe...

[ If things weren't already tough enough for Sampo, here's Elysium trying to be helpful: ]

You're Operator ███████, but we've taken to calling you Koski while we're not on official business since that's what you seem to prefer. Your file states you're from ██████, and that you joined to ██████ █████ █████████, and ██████ ███ █████. No indicators of having Oripathy, but your blood Originium-crystal density is almost impossibly low given the exposure you've had to have to it. [ For the first time, Sampo may notice a bracelet around his right wrist when Elysium's eyes fall down to it. ] Even if everything put together with your behaviour would make you sketchy to most others, trust is the basis between all Rhodes Islands operators. So long as you do your work, what does it matter?

[ What might the ████ sound like? Mind-splitting static noise, perhaps. Elysium doesn't seem to think anything of it when it escapes his mouth, as if they're perfectly normal "words" to say. ]

… If you did get hit by something, it might've been a psychic-related Art. But I didn't see anything around you that could've done anything like that, at least at the time of.

[Oh this is so. So helpful.]

[Really astounding, honestly, how a nice explanation can make someone feel like they need to take an Advil and lay in a dark room for five days. Amazing, honestly.]

[He lifts up his hand with the bracelet, before he stares right back at Elysium. Really, this would be nice if this was a joke. If this was a dream. If this was just.......nonsense.]

[But Elysium is so serious that there's a part of him wondering, quietly: Is it really true?]

I...see.

[Should one pretend? Play along? What does one do, here? Where does he even belong?]

I think I'm just going to sit down for a minute. [Here, there's a chair. He's taking....it, well, sweeping his TAIL OUT FIRST there we go. Sitting down.] Stuff like this makes a guy's head hurt. Either way...I do appreciate it.

[ no problemo friendo

Earlier missteps aside, Elysium won't make the same mistake of expressing an emotional response. The lack of recognition isn't any less concerning than it was an hour or however long ago, but panicking wouldn't benefit them, would it? Or maybe if he did have less confidence he'd be less persuasive. Either way, he's fully convinced the problem lines in Sampo… ]

… It's why I suggested retreating to one of the defense lines. You'll get the chance to be checked up by a medic. Get whatever else you think you might need. Whole lot more options back there.

[ Evidently, Elysium's made the decision that Sampo isn't in any shape to be out where they are. So he hovers around close, bracing himself by placing a hand on the top rail of his chair. ]

Sorry, Koski. Can't say I fully understand what you're going through at the moment, or help you through too much of it. But I'll do what I can for you, too. It's the least I can do.

[ He moves the same hand to the top of Sampo's head. No ruffling this time, just a single pat that lingers even after that's done. Would he feel the same sense of comfort from a tangible weight? Who knows with Sampo Koski. Elysium will try nonetheless. ]

...

[The least he can do.]

[The hand moves through his dark blue hair - and pulls back. Maybe its his serpentine nature now, or those past fireworks of intensity that make him feel reckless, wanting to grab that hand back to nuzzle into its heat. It's soothing, though, he can't lie to himself on that, and he heaves a sigh.]

[Sampo Koski, whatever will we do with this mess?]

Sampo Koski never lets friends who've helped him come to harm. [...Okay, no, he can't fully relinquish the urge, reaching out to grab his wrist. He paints on a smile, as he always does.] So stick with me as long as you can, yeah?

Edited (MY HTML) 2024-06-04 03:39 (UTC)

[ His attention moves to the hand around his wrist, and he shakes it around as if to give a show of trying to break free. The bare minimum amount of effort; he isn't trying terribly hard, or at all. ]

Or else what? [ A tight little smile. He bends forward and cants his head to get a better perspective of the man. Teasingly: ] You'll catch me as you have now?

[ The fact that Elysium can't fully judge the accuracy of such a scenario, both on his part and Sampo's, has him discarding the notion the moment he starts thinking about it. Best not to. ]

I'm usually the guy people try ro catch.

[He's the slippery one, the con artist and criminal who evades justice day by day. To think of anyone capturing him is laughable.]

[But what happens when the pursued becomes the pursuer?]

[....Ah, he really doesn't know.]

[His hand detaches to press a finger playfully against the other's nose. Boop.]

You may tease, but I'll put my all into it. Just for you. No extra cost. So you'd better not.

[ His pulse quickens. His eyes narrow. Is it from an instinctive desire to rise to a challenge, or is it something else? ]

Despite what I say, I don't think it's all that fun when only a single person is putting in legwork.

[ Firmly but gently, Elysium is the one to catch Sampo's finger in his hands this time, fingers grazing along the side of it as they move to prod Sampo's own hand to unfurl. And if he's successful, the intent will be to match their hands from palm to finger tip; his hand shifts the slightest bit, and if he were to press forward, their fingers would be all but intertwined.

But he doesn't. He won't. Regardless of success or fail, he'll drop his hand as if it's been scathed. ]

… Haha. Let's save the jokes. This isn't exactly the time to be making them.

[ Were either of them joking, though? There's a distant memory where he had said the same words in a situation where he hadn't meant it, and whether history stands to repeat itself, they'll have to see. ]

But if you are feeling well enough to start cracking them as you are, that means we can be on our way soon, right?

[ starting to think that mmmmmmaybe it's not such a good thing that they're alone together now. ]

[Hand to hand. Finger to finger. The way they tense against each other is like a net, a set of jaws to snap forward to capture one another. Like that vice in the bus seat, teeth against ear, teeth against throat. But even he isn't surprised when Elysium drops it.]

[Perhaps there is a thread of similarity after all. He can't help but lament a little, though. To tease so blatantly feels like a page from his book.]

Haha. [A laugh as always. Sure, sure. A joke. He can think that. Sampo places his hands against his own knees to stand.] You got a point. Let's head out, friend. Time waits for no one.

[ Time waits for no one, it's true. What awaits them outside continues to paint a bleaker picture of their circumstances: Iberia, the country they've found themselves in, has simultaneously died and come alive in the time his squad had initially been ambushed to now, Seaborn bursting at its seams from every possible corner. If one had to guess, they've decided to start their onslaught in earnest. Every route Elysium tries to take, there's either a cluster of creatures laying in wait or that damned brand pulsating tauntingly from the floor—as if they know, somewhere within their confines (…and they probably do), there are people who they've yet to claim.

Still, Elysium's never not known which direction to take, that much is obvious. He reroutes as if that's specifically what he's been programmed to do without even a map on his person. But approaching on several days of being on the run and stowing in various shelters, some abandoned, some newer with supplies to replenish themselves with (how he knows about them, Sampo might ask, and Elysium would simply smile knowingly), even Elysium is starting to wonder about the probability of being to cross this side of the border.

Some more trivia Sampo will undoubtedly enjoy learning at one point: that they'll have to be careful about hunting and especially fishing just anything, as Seaborn are liable to assimilate by means of being eaten themselves, too. If what they eat has eaten any amount of Seaborn? Yeah. Things likely included in their daily routine: attempting to shamelessly grab hold of more tail every evening, and short exchanges with the defense line until one day——it goes silent.

That very same day takes them slightly inwards instead of outwards. One imagines, at this point, they've also picked and chosen their fair share of battles along the way. ]

… We'll have to backtrack where we came from if we want to try another direction. [ … ] Unless you want to try breaking through where their line might be weakest.

[ in another one of the shelters. on another one of those days. earlier, this time, to really collect their bearings. ]

[Monotony in its own way is a poison. Not that the Seaborn and its assault on this land is monotonous, but rather, day by day, its becoming expected. The initial fright and distress of the situation has eased into a sort of manageable tension that's smoothed out the edges of it all. It's easy to rely on Elysium, with his compass-like skills, and fall into line. But that's wrong. The memories of the past, of LILITH, a time where the other man wasn't playfully sliding a hand up a tail that he never had before, feel distant and vague in a sort of fog.]

[Perhaps that was a dream. Perhaps he had just been addled by the situation. Anyone would go a little mad in such circumstances, and the destruction he sees and the paranoia that rings in the back of one's mind at any little shadow or movement or weird scale on a fish could've easily made him off course.]

[(But something is wrong. He sometimes falls asleep with his tail curled around himself, and has fretful dreams where cash purses smile with teeth and flowers stare with eyes. Something is hanging over him like a shadow. He laughs and laughs until his teeth fall out, and he wakes up, and he's relieved to find Elysium there, like an anchor of white.)]

[Elysium is a nice distraction. A welcome one. But a distraction nonetheless. He has to keep that in mind. It's harder to keep in mind.]

[The sudden silence of the defense line is enough to set him on edge, though. He's cleaning some muck off of his dagger, raising his eyes to glance at the man's face.]

Mm. Choices, choices. [He lets out a slow whistle.] Doesn't sound good either way. But what do ya think? How weak is "weak"?

If you're completely back to form, it might not be so bad.

[ Is Sampo their DPS… has he become Elysium's super special fandom OC that compensates for his lack of pretty much everything? Because for the most part, Elysium's just a guy with a sword and there sure are Seaborn patrolling in the skies now. ]

… But give me a few days, and I'll be ready to contact HQ.

[ He's looking out the window as he says this; his choice of wording might come off as a bit strange. ]

I imagine there's an infrastructure problem going on more than anything. They're getting smarter.

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

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject