synflux | ( closed ) life like the unplumbed sea;

[ The mood shifts, and with it, Elysium's hand stills. If this were outside of a dream, he might wonder where this reaction had come from, given that operators were given the rundown well before any examinations occurred with an emphasis on explicit consent. As is, it only strikes him as somewhat odd, brushing it off in favour of refocusing his attention on what's before him. ]

… Unpleasant, isn't it? Having to fast for an entire day. It might not be much of a consolation, but any food and/or drink you can think of is all yours. [ Déjà vu, much? ] On top of whatever else you think you might want to have or do, I'll personally try to grant your wish.

[ An encouraging smile. A soft tone. One might presume that he offers this sort of reassurance on a regular basis. ]

It's just an imaging test and a blood draw. Shouldn't take any more than a few minutes, and we'll be able to get you started on your suppressants while we're at it. [ … ] Want me to come with you? I can give you my hand. Though, I suppose you already have it, don't you?

[ Pats this time, for the road. I'll leave it up to you to determine if Yesod has any crystal growth on his body and where. Elysium's are covered for the most part from uniform, but it is possible to notice them on his forearm when his sleeve slides down. ]

[ Absurdly, some part of Yesod's awareness protests when Elysium's fingers stop their movements, but it allows him to clear his mind, little by little. He takes several breaths, forcing them past the obstruction of his own chest, and wills his body's new appendages to stop their twitching. Seeking external things to occupy his attention is easier; he thinks back to what Elysium has mentioned of his previous role. Perhaps this is what he meant, interacting with the clinic's patients?

The offers sound similar to Elysium's efforts to get to know people, a so-called new friend, at any rate. Throughout, there is no recognition on the other man's part, however.

An imaging test, blood drawn, suppressants... The entire procedure should shed some light on the situation, and Yesod acknowledges the explanation with a nod. His gaze lands on Elysium's arm, a section of it temporarily exposed, noting the odd appearance of the skin there. It matches his own wrists, he realizes — that said, these crystals aren't necessarily restricted to one area. Touching his neck confirms it. ]

...I'll accept your offer, as well as consider my request to make later.

[ He might have declined both, but there may be more to discover through them. ]

[ With every twitch of his ears, there's the urge to flatten them down with his palm… It's something about the contrast in expressiveness. On Elysium's side, it's a little disappointing that they eventually settle; on the flip side, it's probably for the best that it amounts to one less potential infraction on his record. Still, it isn't as if they have much time left to themselves, anyway. Operator █████ is called to the front desk, and with it, Elysium nudges him forward.

… What awaits them past the receptionist desk is a crocodile. Her face immediately contorts upon seeing Elysium, while his expression remains ever so beatific. Where Elysium immediately greets her with a 'Yo, Gavial!' she's quick to ignore his presence altogether. In contrast, she's 'friendlier' to Yesod in that she actually acknowledges his existence and crooks a finger for him to come closer towards her.

Perhaps this is where Elysium might choose to lean down and whisper, 'She looks like she'll eat you alive, but she'll take good care of you, promise.'

It's a pretty standard procedure by modern day standards; angiography is performed under a machine that emits specific electromagnetic radiation and she'll state plainly that his results will be available in less than three hours. There'll be nothing particularly intrusive about it aside from being asked to remove any worn metals, a temporary gown made available if he so desires. The blood test, meanwhile, is for health reasons unrelated to Oripathy… and throughout all of this, Elysium's hand is indeed there for Yesod to squeeze or look at questioningly. Whichever turns out to be the case, he never stops offering it, nor does he look offended if Yesod ever opts opts for the latter.

The final step: suppressants. How they work might be fascinating, they might not be. They do what's stated on the tin, but they also disperse and evenly distribute the granules that exist in his body, and in theory, the localised pain becomes a dull, ignorable ache. The last thing the doctor has to say is that if he relies on the Originium particles in his body for his Arts—which apparently he did—he'd better stop. Then she shoos them out, militant. ]

Real doozy, wasn't it? Let's get you something to eat to take that with. It'll go down better.

[ Briefly, it crosses Yesod's mind that Gavial's color scheme resembles Netzach's and that of the Safety Team department, a funny coincidence — of course, aside from her long green hair, the doctor is nothing like Netzach. Yesod files away the reaction that greets Elysium, wondering whether Gavial's opinion of the man is not unlike Gebura's, possibly. From there, the examination is reassuringly straightforward, as promised. It dispels his earlier discomfort to a sufficient degree, leaving him able to concentrate on the information revealed, rather than keeping any instinctive panic at bay.

(It surprises him that Elysium meant his offer quite seriously, not only accompanying him, but holding one hand within his reach from beginning to end. Self-conscious, he can't help but eye it with a questioning stare, finally choosing to take the tip of his tail to place it in Elysium's palm as a compromise.)

Oripathy, Originium, Arts... The terms are as unfamiliar as his current title, but by the end, he has gained some understanding of this disease. How severe does that make Elysium's condition? Pensive, he turns to Elysium, who seems no less lively than he did while showing him that striking, unforgettable glimpse of Siesta. ]

And you? Have you taken yours?

[ But it seems that the suppressants merely reduce the pain to something bearable. Nothing thus far suggests that any medication is prescribed to cure Oripathy — that recovery is possible. ]

[ How bold of him to place the tail in his hand…!! The urge to tug it is real, but for a change of pace, Elysium exercises restraint. Although, the trade-off does end up being that he brings his hand up to Yesod's forehead to flick it gently instead. So, maybe he hadn't showed restraint at all…? ]

You look like you're thinking too much.

[ A mere observation, followed by a curious cant of his head. The scenario had seemed off for a while, his theories falling through like fine sand before he could so much discern them properly. It's concerning in of itself. Regardless, his expression lightens as he mulls on it more carefully. ]

I didn't want to mention it earlier, but you stiffened up earlier. [ … ] Bad memories of medical offices? If capsules aren't your speed, there are alternatives we can ask for.

[ In hindsight, the placement of his tail may have been a mistake — like his ears, it's sensitive. But then, this body is made of flesh and blood, sharply aware of every touch.

That includes the fingers giving his forehead a flick, however light. Yesod's brows draw together even as he colors, nudged out of his thoughts. This sort of teasing is vaguely familiar, and he half-expects to be told not to frown and risk getting wrinkles. ]

...I have no objections. Earlier, I overreacted.

[ And none of this keeps him from thinking that Elysium has deliberately changed the subject, sidestepping his question. ]

I've also given my reward further thought, but I'd like to ask what others have requested.

[ Yesod's predictions couldn't be more accurate. Elysium might usually tell someone not to ruin their nice face by frowning, but since he is partly responsible for it, he does spare him from the remark for the time being. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that he's without objections completely. ]

No such thing. [ A huff. ] If you say something like that again, it'll be another flick. The last thing you should do is hold back on expressing yourself.

[ … well, that's the thing with Oripathy's guaranteed mortality rate being common knowledge; there's the unspoken words of 'you'll never know how much longer you'll be able to' hanging off of the sentence. But that's all terribly depressing when they could be talking about something more productive, like how they're going to live up life itself. ]

I know I said that the sky was the limit earlier, but it does need to be within the realm of something I can reasonably achieve. Something tangible or something you've always wanted to do. To give you a popular one? A date with Rhodes Islands' hottest hottie.

[ The last thing you should do is hold back on expressing yourself. It's as if Elysium knows the tale of mistakes repeated across lives, reading him with ease, but the advice hits so close to home purely by chance. All the same, it meets with a thoughtful pause, a matching look, clearing Yesod's frown away — despite the threat of another flick to the forehead.

Despite being unable to ascertain whether or not Elysium's answer is meant in jest. ]

I see. That seems rather exhausting for "Rhodes Island's hottest hottie"...

[ Unless it's enjoyable for all parties, simply serving as a way to become better acquainted with each other and think of things unrelated to Oripathy for a while. ]

Yet the request is granted each time?

No? A fun time's hardly ever an exhausting one. They're about as close to mutually exclusive as you can get, so don't you worry about me.

[ The exhaustion from partying too hard or whatever else… that's different! He offers Yesod an encouraging smile, rescinding his hand to rest it on his hip. Even the day after Wriothesley's party, he seemed to be able to pull himself together where it mattered well enough. ]

That said, I don't always get the chance to help with orientation. So when I do, I believe in going all out. Since you're taking this so seriously, you must be planning to really put me through my paces, huh?

[ Yesod considers that it's unlikely that they have the time for him to continue pondering the possible reasons behind Elysium's willingness to fulfill newcomers' wishes — and ultimately, it's none of his business. Rarely having the opportunity to assist during orientation could be reason enough, motivated by the desire to make a difference. And if so many patients specifically ask for his company, his reputation isn't groundless... ]

Indeed. I can't say that I was aware of your popularity, but you've made me curious.

[ Maybe going all out comes with coffee or tea... ]

( closed ) life like the unplumbed sea;

I'M SO SORRY YESOD...

ALL IS WELL

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me belatedly noticing the redundancy in my last tag and holding my head in my hands

NO WORRIES I SAW NOTHING

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