( 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

[transmit]

[ i've made the executive decision to endeavour not to menace izou too much in his memories, so here, elysium shall commit the brunt of his crimes in his own… or so i say now, because we'll have to see how it pans out exactly.

In any case, when Izou first comes to, it'll be to a downpour. The slums of Lungmen aren't kind to anyone, populated by Infected exiled from the main city. Means of finding coverage will prove difficult, and Izou might choose to wander around lethargically, he might not. Wherever he goes, especially if it's towards the city proper—he'll face looks of scorn, of fear, of disgust. Their military power doesn't take kindly to Infected within the city, so he might not want to try his luck when he's unarmed. Even from fellow Infected, who fear their condition would worsen just by being in proximity of another will shy away from speaking with him. The general feeling they seem to exude is that

Regardless, wherever he does end up, his sight will eventually go dim. Not a part of the memory, but rather, the underlaying conditions of the body he's found himself in. His chest will feel tight and he'll find it difficult to breathe. In the midst of one of the many alleys, perhaps, pelted by unceasing rain—oxygen will only come in shallow pants until he loses consciousness.

The next time he awakens, it's not as if he's faring any better, exactly. But where no one had dared to come close to him before, there are hands reaching around his shoulders to cover him with an oversized coat of certain fashion, its hood pulled up to the top of his head. Before him is Elysium, smiling bright with no recognition in his eyes—and of note, is personnel with similar branding of clothing all around him. ]

Oh! 'Morning. [ … ] I won't ask how you are because it's obviously not well, but will you walk or do I need to carry you on my back?

[ the body is weak, yes, but he could theoretically hobble along…??? ]

[hitokiller]

( the looks of scorn aren't anything new. he's used to the whispers, used to being looked at like a dirty stray animal that no one wants to keep. even then, their stares stir within him in the perpetual darkness, the ritual of their loathing for themselves and each other piercing memories so deep and familiar for izou. so deep that he ought to know by now that maybe he deserves whatever is happening to his body in this relentless downpour.

rinse him away. drown him beneath the obscured sky. it was bound to happen eventually, much like it was bound to happen back then.

... that is, until he snaps awake, and is greeted by a familiar face. )

M-Morn—

( ... wait. where the hell is this, exactly, and why the hell is he... there's a brief crackle of static, an itch between his ribs telling him that something is off here, but izou is slow on the uptake as ever. his immediate instinct is to swat a hand away, ever the wild animal that needs no help. he tries to stand on his own, ears (?!) folding back on his head beneath the hood, but it's obvious from his wobbling that it's going to prove a challenge. )

Why're you... Why're you doin' this for me, anyhow?

[transmit]

[ Elysium's expression will briefly contort, look regretful, perhaps. It's also possible that it's all a trick of the eye from how he's back to smiling as usual, even if it's thinner than what it was previously. Watching blankly as Izou comes to a stand, he'll extend his hands outwards in the event he does need to brace himself. ]

Rhodes Island has been allowed to extend help to Lungmen's Infected, as per an agreement made this morning.

[ Clearly, from how he'd reacted earlier to the question of 'why,' it's a bit more complicated than that. Still: ]

No need to look so suspicious. From one guy to another? I get it. No strings. Promise.

[hitokiller]

Rhodes... Rhodes Island? Never hear—

( heard of it, but that gives him more clarity, the gravity of the situation he's been thrown into coming to light.

this must be somewhere in that pretty boy's memory, his demeanor a little too cheerful for izou's liking in all this gloom. nothing responds when he tries to rev up the implant—no soft, mechanical whir, no uncomfortably bright blue lining his eyes. )

... What's this treatment gonna entail, though?

( izou does a little more than take his hand—he uses elysium's upper arm for balance, looking apprehensive about the whole ordeal. )

[transmit]

We're a pharmaceutical company that provides care and treatment for the Infected. [ is what he says… but, it's possible that it might trigger a flag considering he's never spoken about anything related to medicine before. ] … But a quick checkup and a prescription of medicine. Some new clothes and a warm meal. Treatment for both the body and mind——so anything you'd like to opt out of, the choice is all yours. I wouldn't suggest any of that, though!

[ As cheerful as he looks, he isn't exactly making a big deal of Izou grabbing onto his arm, or anything else, really. He's a whole lot less reactive, as if he's actively trying to contain himself for whatever reason. A touch more quietly: ]

If the situation weren't so complicated, we would've liked to do more. I won't sugarcoat it that things are gonna get better immediately… but they will, eventually.

[ are they going to just deposit them back on the streets after? yeah… yeah…… ]

[hitokiller]

( damn... gacha pfizer

this elysium... is a great deal more serious than he's been to izou so far, spitting jargon and insisting this is for his own good. and maybe it is, because it's not as if he understands what works here or what it really means to be "infected". )

Eventually, huh.

( a resigned statement. he shoots elysium another look, trying to pinpoint anything about him that might seem off... but, nothing too dire. )

... Long as it ain't too invasive, I'll do whatever. It's what's good for me, yeah?

[transmit]

… Eventually.

[ It might seem like he's trying to convince himself of it, but Elysium genuinely does believe it to be true. He just sounds a tad wistful, as if he wishes it were sooner.

Anyway, that's the nature of a dream, isn't it? That there's little to no context to give Izou when it isn't an actual memory. He'll have to put together the bits and pieces he sees for himself. No one looks particularly happy, no one wants to go back to the streets—Izou will see other Infected asking why they can't be taken along to Rhodes Island, a place where they would be housed and accepted, but the only answer that they can give them is that their hands are very well tied. A lot of red tape. A lot of politics. As it goes.

But at the end of the day, they all want to live. So they cling onto what they can.

me crying bc this scenario doesn't actually let me romance nyazou and i'll have to get him another day… but there's izou's food for thought, the memory perhaps ending with a bit of indulgence in elysium placing a hand on his hooded head and ruffling it around a little. ]