( 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]

[ Is it better to hope the bomb is a dud or to detonate it in the least harmful location? It's hard to say what the best choice is, but at the very least, he can try to strip away as much of its explosive potential as possible before it goes off. ]

No, but we're all about meeting each other halfway here.

[ He's had a good few hours to prepare himself for this—more so than their time in the virtual dungeon, Callisto will have an even harder time trying to perceive anything beyond Elysium's refined nonchalance.

Like he's merely recounting a stranger's day, ]

They went berserk after learning that their friend was among one of the casualties. I put a stop to it, is all. The wound just above their chest— [ circling a finger around the precise location of it on his own, almost whimsical, the one and only wound that would've looked fatal— ] that's the one I'm responsible for. Anything short of that, [ anything short of bringing them to the brink of death, ] I don't think they would've stopped.

I'll concede that the villagers all might have a degree of culpability in them, but our teammates—don't. You aren't going to say that I should've let them get swept up in their tantrum, are you?

[ why give callisto his location, indeed? ]

[uncourteous]

I did not agree to such a thing. [ he says without any real pause. even in circumstances like these, he is firm on this fact. what was "meeting someone in the middle" when you were perfectly able to stick your ground and remain entirely unaffected by other people's arguments, points, and conditions. his own dogmatic considerations aside, he does listen to elysium's words.

he doesn't immediately spring into action. but, the detachment in elysium's voice is already enough to cause his own emotions to go from a simmer to a boil. siffrin going "berserk" doesn't exactly astound him, all the more because of their conversation in the forest, or the manner in which he texted a spare none hours ago. maybe it had been logical to stop them, considering what could be at risk... ]

Stopping Sir Siffrin and being poisoned seems unrelated, do you not agree? [ there's force and then there's using an assassin's weapon. ] Regardless who gets swept in their tantrum... [ callisto was always the sort who operated on doing what needed to be done, but in the same breadth... had someone in relative closeness to him desired to destroy the empire, wouldn't he have simply offered to join hands? his own thoughts are a mess, all the more since the mission came to a close. in seeing what felt like his own people in varying states... ]

For all your talk, could you not have considered a better method? [ he doesn't draw his sword, but he does end up gripping the material of elysium's hospital gown. ] You're clearly not as clever a man as you'd like to believe in that case. [ he pushes...

almost as if wanting elysium to give him an excuse to kill him. ]

[transmit]

[ why does he have to be so contrarian… he's already here, tf. the alternative's being acknowledged for his concession, take it or leave it. ]

Can you really say regardless of who? It could've easily have been any of the people you'd known at the other end of it. Miss Rover, Kabru. [ … ] I'm not sure who else you knew there, but don't pretend the situation couldn’t have easily gone another way. Then again… you would be the type that wouldn't care about someone so long as they weren't someone you personally knew, wouldn't you? So those scenarios wouldn't matter to you until they do. Then you'd probably make it everyone else's problem.

[ Just like Siffrin, in a way. … He'd had his suspicions, but seeing it in reality was something else.

But similar to how Callisto seems bent on leveling criticism after criticism towards him, so does Elysium in bringing that temper of his to a boiling point, steely even as Callisto's hands make their way to his collar. Sure, the shove is rough. Sure, the killing intent in Callisto's gaze reads as clear as Siffrin's. Sure, that might've just disturbed one of the wounds he'd endured in their altercation, but despite that, he continues on like nothing. ]

… Regardless, let me ask you this. Have you ever seen them fight, Callisto? They hide their strength well. Why do you think that is?

[ because they're ridiculously powerful. because they know they're ridiculously powerful. amidst a plethora of ridiculously powerful people they might be less so, but it didn't change that they knew what their strength was relative to regular people—and they'd chosen to show the full extent of it to anyone who'd stood in their path. ]

Don't talk about things being unrelated and better methods if you couldn't even be there to stop them yourself.

[uncourteous]

[ when elysium quips back, that alone is enough to rile him up. while callisto did tend to approach most matters of the state in a fair, detached manner. this couldn't be applicable to the people who have managed to make it closer within his circle. perhaps, elysium's own conclusions on callisto aren't entirely wrong, and it shows in the furrow of his brow, the intensity in his stare, and even the way his grip tightens over that hospital gown. ]

You'd do best to mind your business and keep their names out of those loose, impertinent lips of yours. [ it's a simple statement. he's not here to play hypotheticals, or the feathered man's version of "house."

is he more irritated with himself for not being there, or is he more annoyed at the set of circumstances, including the fact that elysium speaks of siffrin in a way of presenting him a side to them he's never known, nor considered. still, callisto was the sort who trusted his own gut than anything anyone said. even if his gut seems to think elysium does speak his own truth. ]

Are you claiming the others to be so weak and feeble that they would not be able to hold their own? Or is wielding a bit more power all it takes for you to lose your own grip? Rather than others, were you not simply looking for your own survivability? Quite bold for a man already harboring an ailment. [ like that he threatens to use his other hand to press against it, but stops himself. instead reaching to grab a scalpel on the nearby medical table. just the fingers of his gloved hand touching it. more menacing than it is a likely weapon (in theory)...

even he knows his own words aren't exactly logical. perhaps, there is truth to the other man's words. perhaps, siffrin was that far gone. but even if siffrin
desired to raze these lands, he would have simply agreed. knowing their cruelty, who wouldn't? man, women, children... there were no exceptions to this. the other outsiders, however. well, he's harbored too many severe thoughts these days for his mind for him to consider them now. ]

[transmit]

[ Bingo. Elysium would grin at the incitement of Callisto's anger if he didn't have one last thing to say. Instead, he raises a hand to gently rest it atop Callisto's, tilting his head with an almost innocent curiosity as he pats it once, twice, chidingly. ]

Yeah? So what? You can criticise me later for staying on the sidelines? I already know you're going to find some problem with whatever I do, so I'm just here to give you the context you wanted as thanks for being able to temporarily set aside your grievances.

[ In other words, now that the main point has been iterated, Elysium is ready to be his fully unfettered self. A smile breaks across his face, followed by a derisive snort as his fingertips dig into his palms. At no point will he try to wrest himself free; he might be below Callisto like this, but it isn't going to stop him from gazing at him as if their positions were in reverse, lofty and imposing.

While Callisto's anger is raw and palpable, Elysium's is more a fathomless depth, making it difficult to discern where it begins and where it ends. Because Callisto isn't wrong, either, even if those points could nebulously be applied to them all: if Elysium were stronger, he wouldn't have had to resort to using the dagger; if Elysium were smarter, he would've done more to stop Siffrin well before their rampage.

What hits harder is that he did move out of self-preservation; it didn't matter what justification he had for it, but he did and had proven himself callous enough to take a friend's life when it came down to it. What is it like? Being able to have that much intensity—attachment—to anything? ]

But sure. Tell yourself whatever helps you sleep better at night. As if this will be the only mission where we'll have to make tough decisions where other people are involved, be it our own teammates or this world's natives. Keep it up, and I hope the world—or the LILITH—where only your chosen people survive is as worthwhile to cling to as you believe it is.

[ He's never letting go of that 'regardless who,' even as he sees Callisto reach for that scalpel from his periphery. ]

That's essentially the extreme of what you've been implying. Unless you'd like to argue that what happened in Brașov will be the one and only exception?

[uncourteous]

[ at times, words were powerful precisely because of the truth they held. the way they could dispel one's beliefs and convictions in meager phonetics and sounds. sounds— that's all he hears for a moment in the rise of his own temper. just noises, not fully comprehending what elysium has to say because, frankly, he's entirely correct in that it all matter very little to callisto. the facts were already obtained, no matter how loosely assembled, and even if they were missing the biggest variable of all— elysium's feelings.

but, even then, callisto wouldn't have spared a single care for that. ] You've hardly done anything but flap your mouth open and closed, yet you're here acting as if you're doing onto others a huge favor. [ elysium truly was pompous as far as his own opinion of him went. he was always challenging him without revealing a single sense of what he actually felt or cared for. even now, he doesn't sense actual passion from elysium.

... and that just furthers his own frustrations with the man.

so he attempts to evoke a reaction the only way he knows how.

with the scalpel between his fingers, he presses its edge up against elysium's body, mirroring the spot where he had found the largest wound on siffrin's body. his actions are deliberate and slow. just the sharpest tip cuts through the first layer of skin, the blood rising to the surface. he doesn't progress much further from there, if just because he doesn't want to give him the satisfaction of a quick prick. no, he wants elysium to stop him. to prioritize himself. to prove him right. ]

This level of carnage is hardly anything. You're wrong if you believe I would have any difficulties putting myself to sleep after such a riveting discussion. [ a smile, but there's no actual humor in it. ] I doubt this is the last of it, but you're right in that I could care less what happens to this world. If I had a choice, perhaps I would give up on it entirely. Throw whatever titles we have here to the side and wage war after war until this entire world crumbles.

[ he leans in, right up against elysium's ear. ] And you would be the last one I kill.

[ how else would elysium get front row seats to the world he'd hate to see the most. ]

[transmit]

[ What life could someone live in a place that stifled all forms of it? A dreadful life in court; a life that might as well have been spent living amongst ghosts. Perhaps they are more alike than Elysium would ever wish to admit, despite the divergent paths they'd chosen—or had been forced—to follow.

But Callisto moves, and before Elysium can say anything to that effect, his skin splits around Callisto's narrow blade, sharp and unyielding. Shock would ripple through him if he weren't already anticipating a violent income, but he bites down, hard, bolts of electricity blooming from the wound as his breath hitches and his brows crease, about the only pieces of evidence that Callisto had struck a person and not something entirely unfeeling.

He takes a moment. Two. He doesn't expect Callisto to give him any longer than that. ]

… Because I'll just sit on the sidelines watching you do whatever you want, right? [ His voice rasps, eyes flitting half-shut. The hand that had been atop the one at his collar slides down to the one around the scalpel. ] Make no mistake, my friend. Everything you've done now and everything you've done in the past—they're only because I let you. Someone has to take care of His Highness's tantrum.

[ That is, until the same hand tightens, knuckles blanching as he wedges it deeper without regard for his personal safety. There's no humour in his smile either, breath growing increasingly shallow and erratic. As his heartbeat drums, the edges of his vision begin to darken; the throb of his wound burns brighter, but that just seems to be fuel for his smile itself. ]

If you aren't feeling any better, you can go as far as you want. Go ahead. Aren't you the one always making threats against me anyway? [ If it were just his life, he couldn't care less. A paltry thing always meant to be given up for something else. It's too bad things aren't that simple. ] But, wanting to be at the end of the world with me… [ Laughter, strained against buried metal. ] I didn't take you to be such a romantic, Callisto. Sorry, sorry. It looks like I got you all wrong.

[ Whether his words do turn out to right, he meets what he can of Callisto's gaze. ]

You don't have it either, do you? A real purpose of your own. [ A finger traces a featherlight path along Callisto's arm, before it drops down to his side. Teasing. ] You're just going through the motions with me, reciprocating the intents of people who seemingly do.

[uncourteous]

[ the reaction, contrary to what he expected, does actually stay his hand. he keeps the pressure even, letting the scalpel slip deeper, only from the momentum of the weight of his hands. it's such a raw reaction and the only time he sees an array of emotion from a man who spoke so unfeelingly about someone he should have considered as a friend and companion. callisto almost has to laugh at his own perception of their relationship, if just because it was also unlike him to presume others were even capable of such bonds. at least, now he knows the real limit to that.

knows how far it extends.

it's almost the perfect metaphor in hand with how far the sharp edge of scalpel reaches. all the more when he feels elysium's touch against his own hand. it takes everything within him, not to react violently to the touch. ] Are you truly under the illusion of believing you hold any power over me? Or is that what you need to tell yourself in order to keep that fragile ego of yours in tact.

[ except, it looks like it can deepen. it can always go further than any of his expectations. when he sees the way elysium drives the blade into himself. he's never seen anything quite like it. the fervor, the intensity, the strained way in which he spits out each of his words like venom on his lips. they make him feel incredibly disgusted and he feels it down to the pit of his stomach. ]

The madness in your eyes are no different than the villagers. Do people know this side of you? Or in the end, am I the only person you can show your true face with? Its rather... [ unnerving. they're words he purposely doesn't finish. he pulls his own hands away abruptly, his hands dragging against elysium's chest before reaching for his neck. he presses a light pressure up against elysium's throat, leaving a bloodied mark from the fresh blood on his hands. originally, he wanted to warn him, to show him he could crush his windpipe had he desired it, but even that felt so utterly pointless.

nothing was scarier than a man who no longer feared death. ]

Romantic? I've never heard more incorrect words. Unfortunately for you, my desire for such things had long since expired. [ alongside lust, or any other such positive emotions. at the very least, he wouldn't be sparing them for him. ]

If you wish to revive them, you would need to do better than this pathetic display.

[ but, if elysium's objective was to put a damper on callisto's murderous desires, it does accomplish just that. as elysium said, perhaps he truly was directionless. especially without having to live for the one piece of vengeance he had over the enemies he had in the empire. ]