synflux | ( closed ) life like the unplumbed sea;

[ Back in his day (his day being a little over four years ago), he'd been something of a village darling. Ever so reliable for running errands, the guy you could count on for pretty much everything.

This village's a bit of a throwback, even if he doesn't go about it with entirely innocent intent. The vibes are off. Possibly rancid. Anyone hearing this from him would probably look at him strangely, even those with healthy amounts of skepticism. Despite the idyllic lives the villagers seem to live and open them to, Elysium and religion go as well together as oil and water, any sense of belonging immediately jostled out of him with any mention of the Lord of the Forest. There are times (often enough) that he has to suppress a flinch, a look.

Anyway. Anyway!! At some point during his series of side questing, it's taken him to one of the barns. Caring for, you know it—chickens. He's working the field spreading around some feed when from the periphery of his eye, he spots a familiar flash of purple. ]

Brooooooo!! [ loudly enough for his voice to travel across the entire distance and then some. ] Over here!

[ A distress call that they can't trace on the one hand, these too-peaceful days on the other... As uplifting as it might be to consider Brașov proof of the resilience of humanity, too much here suggests that the village is anything but a true sanctuary untouched by the hardships of this world. The "Lord of the Forest" may seem benevolent, the people here safe and content, but among the data that the Information Team processed, there were numerous employee logs and personal journal entries recording instances of behavior that preceded harming themselves or others. Believing in a blessing or protection, even salvation, granted by certain Abnormalities, for example.

For now, however, Yesod's efforts to observe the villagers have him involved in side quests of his own, an empty basket hanging from one arm. The chickens appear to sense his approach from a distance, clustering near Elysium even as the other man calls out, as if they view him as a potential ally, unwilling to part with their eggs.

Yesod cocks his head, questioning. His steps take him closer; the distance remaining between them shrinks. The assembled hens cluck noisily. ]

Yes?

[ is he an ally when he's just been looking at them as sources of protein… his stew…

they do say what you don't know can't hurt you. ]

Were you on your way out or way in?

[ Lulled into a false sense of security, the chickens don't flee, nor do they arrange themselves into an attack formation to fend off the latest invader here to rob them. Little do they know that the enemy is already among them and this narration is getting more and more ridiculous before everything is suffering and the community stew is a distant dream.

Yesod motions at the barn. ]

I am here to fill this basket with eggs. Is something the matter?

[ The community stew will have to live on, if not to honour what they've lost but provide a thin veneer of how everything is Fine…

But Elysium's just going to empty out the last bit of feed before he steps around the chickens that have collected around his feet. They're safe again for another day, even if the eggs in the coop might not be. So long as they're fed and housed, do they really care about what happens to them?? Perhaps, this is all just an allegory for something greater, like the village. Or them. Wow. ]

Not really. Just found myself with some time now that I'm done here. The person in charge said I should consider settling down here [ with one of her daughters… ] and that she'd be happy to help me out, but I told her I wasn't so sure. Still, she said she had something for me after this regardless.

[ a beat. ] Want a hand?

[ The chickens have received the generous blessing of their feathered god (?) who only wants to make sure that they won't starve, and pecking at their meal occupies their entire attention now. Like the villagers, they have nothing to fear. They know that egg thieves will be punished for their misdeeds someday.

Undeterred, Yesod accepts Elysium's offer with a nod, though a raised brow accompanies it. He leads the way into the barn. ]

...Thank you. You seem to have some experience with these tasks. No wonder the villagers are eager to win you over.

[ Not-so feathered of god now with regards to their cloaking device, but maybe there is something to be said about their instincts being able to see past it, some kind of mistaken camaraderie with someone who shares similarity in epidermal growth…

Alas, the similarities end there, and Elysium will follow along nonetheless to shamelessly pilfer eggs for Yesod's basket. ]

It's not so much of a problem here, but travelling with loads of money isn't the most practical thing. For one, a universal currency doesn't exist where I'm from, and two, even if there was, on the road and removed from civilisation, it doesn't really do anything for you.

[ As it goes when he speaks of travels, his face lights up in a way most other topics don't cause it to, not that they're any less genuine for it. ]

There's nothing more ubiquitous than labour. So long as he isn't too picky, a healthy guy can work all sorts of jobs.

[ It's interesting to see this expression whenever it crosses Elysium's features, and not for the first time, Yesod wonders whether Elysium feels confined, restrained by the boundaries imposed on him while he cooperates with LILITH. Brief hiking trips within permitted areas are no substitute for the freedom to travel from place to place.

For the moment, studying Elysium, Yesod has yet to touch the eggs himself in order to form a neat arrangement inside the basket and keep their shells intact.

A healthy guy... Inevitably, that phrasing raises additional questions. ]

Then I'm curious as to your complete repertoire.

[ he is very healthy and yesod's suspicion of him is very rude. kindly requesting that yesod stops judging both him and his future emoji usage. ]

Heheh. Not to brag, [ he is totally bragging, ] but I'm a pretty quick study. If I were to start, you'd never hear the end of it! What kind of stuff would you wanna see me do, hm?

[ as he continues piling eggs in the basket. they're like a assembly line… ]

[ Yesod can't unsee the incurable rock disease and he can't unfeel breathing problems... But for the time being, he can watch Elysium handle each egg like a (bird)man who knows his way around freshly-laid eggs. Achieving efficiency without cracking their fragile shells is commendable. ]

Does your extensive list include fastening a tie correctly?

[ Not that this is a vital skill on the road. ]

[ the briefest of pauses in the supply line - ]

Isn't it the presence of one that matters?

[ Hm. Maybe Elysium has an aversion to neat ties for some reason, refusing to tie them properly because of that. Though it seems a stretch to conclude that they symbolize fetters that also impede his freedom... ]

In other words, your answer is "no"...

[ - aaaand the supply line resumes. ]

I just never bothered learning. [ the things you get away with when you're [ REDACTED ]. ] Never really saw a reason to. Are you offering to teach?

[ now, whether he applies the learning will be a different story, but at that point he really won't have any excuses anymore… if yesod wants to continue giving him the benefit of doubt. or whatever. like there aren't already a million different tutorials on metube and the style upgrade with pre-tied ties. just another elysium-shaped sleep paralysis demon to add to his already hefty pile of them. ]

[ It's true... Without a doubt, there are countless guides, as well as the convenience of the style upgrade. Brows knit, Yesod adjusts the positioning of a few eggs inside the basket. ]

If you're willing to follow my instructions, yes. You would be prepared for the possibility of finding yourself in some situation that requires you to wear a tie correctly so as not to appear slovenly.

[ …

hm… ]

Am I even capable of looking slovenly, though?

[ help me ]

[ Yesod realizes that he did this to himself. He should have seen it coming... ]

"Tasteful disarray" is not appropriate in every situation.

[ they've picked enough eggs, so it's break time! not so much a pause as it is an entire disengagement from the process. taking the opportunity to lean towards yesod, hands on his hips, he's grinning. ]

Name a relevant situation we'd get into where it wouldn't be.

[ thanks lilith for nepotism'ing(??) them into their civilian jobs. ]

[ The basket is a shield full of eggs now, cradled in Yesod's arms, but it doesn't save him from yet another invasion of his personal space. Abruptly, it's tempting to resort to Elysium's methods. He gives it serious consideration.

In fact, he reaches up after a moment, left index finger outstretched until its tip prods the center of Elysium's forehead. ]

Certain undercover missions may be one example.

[ it's a first, isn't it? for yesod to reach out like this. it's telegraphed enough for elysium to see it coming, yet not at all, considering yesod's personality.

he blinks. delayed by a half beat - ]

Ow. [ still, however belatedly, his brow creases, hand reaching up to rub at the spot. ] That's just as vague as saying there may be situations in general that require me to. C'mon.

[ Ah... Perhaps he applied excessive force, too much for skin and nerve endings and bone. Lowering his hand, he studies Elysium's expression. ]

...Are you afraid that changing your appearance to that extent would be to your detriment?

[ maybe so. it'd been an incredibly flat 'ow,' though… so is yesod really buying it?? especially when the next sound that escapes his mouth is a laugh. ]

Afraid? Not exactly. Just like how looking all reliable and put-together probably comes with your job, I prefer looking approachable. It's one of my secrets to getting along. If I dressed up too formally — everyone be intimidated by me.

[ Admittedly puzzled by that utterance combined with Elysium rubbing his forehead — was it out of pain after all or some other discomfort? — Yesod dismisses it in the end nonetheless. Approachable through intentional disarray... He does recall Elysium recommending something to that effect, months ago. ]

Despite your build and stature, that is difficult to believe, considering your behavior.

[ That said, Elysium may have a point. People generally found Gabriel as unapproachable as they found Yesod in his mechanical body, though he was hardly a physically imposing person at any point in his life, unlike Gebura. ]

But we are both free to act according to our preferences.

You don't think I'd look even a little more unapproachable dressed up? It's all about the full package, man. I'll show you sometime.

[ … what exactly he intends to show Yesod remains to be seen, but it is another nebulous plan to write in their quickly growing list of them. ]

But that's true enough. Even if we were to put you in something other than a suit and tie, with your expression how it is you aren't getting any more approachable. It's a shame! This many months in, and you've yet to really prove your moniker of being a viper, you know.

Show it to me, then. I'll tell you whether this full package of yours makes you seem as intimidating as I supposedly am.

[ Although in his case, it's more that he was disliked, rightly so, rather than feared — also because of his behavior. His expression... Once more, Yesod arches a brow. ]

Had you met me in the past, you might agree with the employees who gave me my nicknames. I am well aware that I have never been an approachable person, and for a long time, I chose it myself.

… Just out of curiosity, but you wouldn't happen to have a nebulous requirement of needing to know someone for at least three months before you can consider them a friend too, would you?

[ A faint thought crosses his mind—considering what he'd seen of Yesod in the past, the idea seems just as doubtful to him. Even if he were significantly more severe in temperament, he knows a vicious boss when he sees one, and has worked under several for the past four years without fear.

Yesod doesn't threaten his life every other interaction? What a life. But he doesn't voice it, letting the thought linger for a moment before deciding to move on. ]

Well, you don't have to answer that. Since it looks like we're just about done here, let me go flag the señorita and let her know. Did you want to go ahead and drop the basket off on the porch in the meantime?

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penaltypoints - 2024-10-28 01:32 (UTC) - Expand

( closed ) life like the unplumbed sea;

→ yesod.

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