( 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]

[ 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. ]

[penaltypoints]

[ 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.

[transmit]

[ 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.

[penaltypoints]

[ 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?

[transmit]

[ 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.

[penaltypoints]

[ 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.

[transmit]

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.

[penaltypoints]

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.

[transmit]

… 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?

[penaltypoints]

[ Yesod doesn't answer the first question, if only because it seems oddly specific, and his own requirements have nothing to do with the amount of time that has passed. He thinks it again: what is Elysium's definition of friendship, of closeness?

But the eggs need to be delivered to the porch (and the egg incubation and future hatched chicks will become canon), and Yesod moves the basket to support it against his chest to minimize the risk that walking will jostle its contents. ]

...Thank you again for your assistance.