synflux | ( closed ) life like the unplumbed sea;

[ Sampo performs his circus act, and yet, Elysium doesn't laugh.

Greed, huh? He squats to level with Sampo. For Elysium, whose foreseeable future he doesn't see extending past the month at most, he imagines that his definition of 'greed' has taken quite the different turn. Though unreadable for the most part, Elysium's gaze is assessing—when finally, he does laugh, soft and quiet.

Not at his fall, that much is obvious. ]

I'm sure you can. [ do it, that is, but that could apply to several things here. he clears his throat, then. ] But, I wouldn't mind if you relied on me a little more. … try being more forward leaning. Take a wider stance, and sway your tail like you would your arms when you move. Or, you could just hold it yourself.

[What is behind those eyes?]

[Elysium bends down just so. There's a brief urge to whip out his hand as fast as a snakebite, take him by the collar to pull him closer, even make him topple. The man was already an amusing conundrum, now there's another layer here that Sampo can't decide is more exciting or frustrating.]

[Instead, his hand stutters over to his shoulder.]

Maybe you just want to see me fall over you. Would...you catch me? [An almost quiet question, hidden with his beaming grin. Time to use the man to help pull himself up back to his feet, using his shoulder as leverage.] Heh. Me holding my own tail...how funny. Things I never had to think about.

[ He might or might not be hung up over Sampo's words of responsibility and running away, just the two of them. Throwaway lines that they were, no one's ever said them to him before. Even if he hadn't necessarily started this mission alone, he'd intended to finish alone like how 'Elysium' himself came from solitary origins, running away and flitting from one place to another until he'd finally found a place he could call 'home.'

Taking someone else down with him… that's a different story.

A distant conversation comes to mind, one that would unfurl the dream if he had the mind to ask himself where or how; Elysium can't be the sun, either, destined to eventually burn out on itself. To go out in a supernova, to make a difference, to do something when he's done very little in the grand scheme of things—that's what Elysium tells himself he has to do.

The only thing, then, is to ensure Sampo's well and away in the event that the same supernova results in a black hole. But it is tempting, nevertheless, to think of what that future would look like. ]

Until you learn to walk on your own two feet, of course. No need to sound so suspicious, bro.

[ As always, there's the 'and then what?' But he smiles from down below, only coming to his feet once Sampo's managed to straighten himself out. And since they've managed to more or less disperse the tension: ]

Is it really that strange to you? I can't say we're all that familiar with each other since we'd only met a month ago, but you've never not had it. [ thoughtfully, ] And at that size, either. You were moving as if you've never had it.

Suspicious? Me? You're so mean...

[He pouts at that like a child, but its obvious in good fun. The next few statements make him stare at Elysium like he's grown two heads - honestly, he wishes he did, because that would be more understandable.]

[He's.......always had this?]

[It feels wrong. No, it feels....right. Weird. He was running back thee with no problem, right? He rubs at his forehead a little, flummoxed, but then gives the other a cheeky little smirk. (He feels worried. He feels...scared, almost. Bells are chiming somewhere, as if there's an end coming. But Elysium is here, they can get through it, sun and sea, right? Right? Right...?)]

You want to talk about my size, huh. [Sorry, sorry, low hanging fruit.] But...hm. Weird. Maybe I did hit my head! You should check it for injuries, hehe...

[ If things weren't already tough enough for Sampo, here's Elysium trying to be helpful: ]

You're Operator ███████, but we've taken to calling you Koski while we're not on official business since that's what you seem to prefer. Your file states you're from ██████, and that you joined to ██████ █████ █████████, and ██████ ███ █████. No indicators of having Oripathy, but your blood Originium-crystal density is almost impossibly low given the exposure you've had to have to it. [ For the first time, Sampo may notice a bracelet around his right wrist when Elysium's eyes fall down to it. ] Even if everything put together with your behaviour would make you sketchy to most others, trust is the basis between all Rhodes Islands operators. So long as you do your work, what does it matter?

[ What might the ████ sound like? Mind-splitting static noise, perhaps. Elysium doesn't seem to think anything of it when it escapes his mouth, as if they're perfectly normal "words" to say. ]

… If you did get hit by something, it might've been a psychic-related Art. But I didn't see anything around you that could've done anything like that, at least at the time of.

[Oh this is so. So helpful.]

[Really astounding, honestly, how a nice explanation can make someone feel like they need to take an Advil and lay in a dark room for five days. Amazing, honestly.]

[He lifts up his hand with the bracelet, before he stares right back at Elysium. Really, this would be nice if this was a joke. If this was a dream. If this was just.......nonsense.]

[But Elysium is so serious that there's a part of him wondering, quietly: Is it really true?]

I...see.

[Should one pretend? Play along? What does one do, here? Where does he even belong?]

I think I'm just going to sit down for a minute. [Here, there's a chair. He's taking....it, well, sweeping his TAIL OUT FIRST there we go. Sitting down.] Stuff like this makes a guy's head hurt. Either way...I do appreciate it.

[ no problemo friendo

Earlier missteps aside, Elysium won't make the same mistake of expressing an emotional response. The lack of recognition isn't any less concerning than it was an hour or however long ago, but panicking wouldn't benefit them, would it? Or maybe if he did have less confidence he'd be less persuasive. Either way, he's fully convinced the problem lines in Sampo… ]

… It's why I suggested retreating to one of the defense lines. You'll get the chance to be checked up by a medic. Get whatever else you think you might need. Whole lot more options back there.

[ Evidently, Elysium's made the decision that Sampo isn't in any shape to be out where they are. So he hovers around close, bracing himself by placing a hand on the top rail of his chair. ]

Sorry, Koski. Can't say I fully understand what you're going through at the moment, or help you through too much of it. But I'll do what I can for you, too. It's the least I can do.

[ He moves the same hand to the top of Sampo's head. No ruffling this time, just a single pat that lingers even after that's done. Would he feel the same sense of comfort from a tangible weight? Who knows with Sampo Koski. Elysium will try nonetheless. ]

...

[The least he can do.]

[The hand moves through his dark blue hair - and pulls back. Maybe its his serpentine nature now, or those past fireworks of intensity that make him feel reckless, wanting to grab that hand back to nuzzle into its heat. It's soothing, though, he can't lie to himself on that, and he heaves a sigh.]

[Sampo Koski, whatever will we do with this mess?]

Sampo Koski never lets friends who've helped him come to harm. [...Okay, no, he can't fully relinquish the urge, reaching out to grab his wrist. He paints on a smile, as he always does.] So stick with me as long as you can, yeah?

Edited (MY HTML) 2024-06-04 03:39 (UTC)

[ His attention moves to the hand around his wrist, and he shakes it around as if to give a show of trying to break free. The bare minimum amount of effort; he isn't trying terribly hard, or at all. ]

Or else what? [ A tight little smile. He bends forward and cants his head to get a better perspective of the man. Teasingly: ] You'll catch me as you have now?

[ The fact that Elysium can't fully judge the accuracy of such a scenario, both on his part and Sampo's, has him discarding the notion the moment he starts thinking about it. Best not to. ]

I'm usually the guy people try ro catch.

[He's the slippery one, the con artist and criminal who evades justice day by day. To think of anyone capturing him is laughable.]

[But what happens when the pursued becomes the pursuer?]

[....Ah, he really doesn't know.]

[His hand detaches to press a finger playfully against the other's nose. Boop.]

You may tease, but I'll put my all into it. Just for you. No extra cost. So you'd better not.

[ His pulse quickens. His eyes narrow. Is it from an instinctive desire to rise to a challenge, or is it something else? ]

Despite what I say, I don't think it's all that fun when only a single person is putting in legwork.

[ Firmly but gently, Elysium is the one to catch Sampo's finger in his hands this time, fingers grazing along the side of it as they move to prod Sampo's own hand to unfurl. And if he's successful, the intent will be to match their hands from palm to finger tip; his hand shifts the slightest bit, and if he were to press forward, their fingers would be all but intertwined.

But he doesn't. He won't. Regardless of success or fail, he'll drop his hand as if it's been scathed. ]

… Haha. Let's save the jokes. This isn't exactly the time to be making them.

[ Were either of them joking, though? There's a distant memory where he had said the same words in a situation where he hadn't meant it, and whether history stands to repeat itself, they'll have to see. ]

But if you are feeling well enough to start cracking them as you are, that means we can be on our way soon, right?

[ starting to think that mmmmmmaybe it's not such a good thing that they're alone together now. ]

[Hand to hand. Finger to finger. The way they tense against each other is like a net, a set of jaws to snap forward to capture one another. Like that vice in the bus seat, teeth against ear, teeth against throat. But even he isn't surprised when Elysium drops it.]

[Perhaps there is a thread of similarity after all. He can't help but lament a little, though. To tease so blatantly feels like a page from his book.]

Haha. [A laugh as always. Sure, sure. A joke. He can think that. Sampo places his hands against his own knees to stand.] You got a point. Let's head out, friend. Time waits for no one.

[ Time waits for no one, it's true. What awaits them outside continues to paint a bleaker picture of their circumstances: Iberia, the country they've found themselves in, has simultaneously died and come alive in the time his squad had initially been ambushed to now, Seaborn bursting at its seams from every possible corner. If one had to guess, they've decided to start their onslaught in earnest. Every route Elysium tries to take, there's either a cluster of creatures laying in wait or that damned brand pulsating tauntingly from the floor—as if they know, somewhere within their confines (…and they probably do), there are people who they've yet to claim.

Still, Elysium's never not known which direction to take, that much is obvious. He reroutes as if that's specifically what he's been programmed to do without even a map on his person. But approaching on several days of being on the run and stowing in various shelters, some abandoned, some newer with supplies to replenish themselves with (how he knows about them, Sampo might ask, and Elysium would simply smile knowingly), even Elysium is starting to wonder about the probability of being to cross this side of the border.

Some more trivia Sampo will undoubtedly enjoy learning at one point: that they'll have to be careful about hunting and especially fishing just anything, as Seaborn are liable to assimilate by means of being eaten themselves, too. If what they eat has eaten any amount of Seaborn? Yeah. Things likely included in their daily routine: attempting to shamelessly grab hold of more tail every evening, and short exchanges with the defense line until one day——it goes silent.

That very same day takes them slightly inwards instead of outwards. One imagines, at this point, they've also picked and chosen their fair share of battles along the way. ]

… We'll have to backtrack where we came from if we want to try another direction. [ … ] Unless you want to try breaking through where their line might be weakest.

[ in another one of the shelters. on another one of those days. earlier, this time, to really collect their bearings. ]

[Monotony in its own way is a poison. Not that the Seaborn and its assault on this land is monotonous, but rather, day by day, its becoming expected. The initial fright and distress of the situation has eased into a sort of manageable tension that's smoothed out the edges of it all. It's easy to rely on Elysium, with his compass-like skills, and fall into line. But that's wrong. The memories of the past, of LILITH, a time where the other man wasn't playfully sliding a hand up a tail that he never had before, feel distant and vague in a sort of fog.]

[Perhaps that was a dream. Perhaps he had just been addled by the situation. Anyone would go a little mad in such circumstances, and the destruction he sees and the paranoia that rings in the back of one's mind at any little shadow or movement or weird scale on a fish could've easily made him off course.]

[(But something is wrong. He sometimes falls asleep with his tail curled around himself, and has fretful dreams where cash purses smile with teeth and flowers stare with eyes. Something is hanging over him like a shadow. He laughs and laughs until his teeth fall out, and he wakes up, and he's relieved to find Elysium there, like an anchor of white.)]

[Elysium is a nice distraction. A welcome one. But a distraction nonetheless. He has to keep that in mind. It's harder to keep in mind.]

[The sudden silence of the defense line is enough to set him on edge, though. He's cleaning some muck off of his dagger, raising his eyes to glance at the man's face.]

Mm. Choices, choices. [He lets out a slow whistle.] Doesn't sound good either way. But what do ya think? How weak is "weak"?

If you're completely back to form, it might not be so bad.

[ Is Sampo their DPS… has he become Elysium's super special fandom OC that compensates for his lack of pretty much everything? Because for the most part, Elysium's just a guy with a sword and there sure are Seaborn patrolling in the skies now. ]

… But give me a few days, and I'll be ready to contact HQ.

[ He's looking out the window as he says this; his choice of wording might come off as a bit strange. ]

I imagine there's an infrastructure problem going on more than anything. They're getting smarter.

[He is NOT a DPS get him OUT OF THIS he is a DEBUFFER THANK U VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!! Unless Elysium wants hm to go all out....anything to show off maybe.....]

And "you'll" be ready? You don't need to sit down and talk your feelings so you can get emotionally prepared, right?

[He's joking, of course. But he does notice it, also glancing to the window.]

That's.....not a reassuring thing to hear, buddy. Any way to dumb them down?

[ bro we got a sniper support and a debuffer no wonder we're DEAD and look if Sampo wants to be cool the one (1) time and never again, the stage is all his ]

… Wow. You really don't know anything anymore, do you?

[ Not quite meant to be condescending, but there's something of a snort of disbelief. ]

I lost my flag back when we got ambushed. [ for all they yapped, damn, Sampo is one of the few he never really traded skillsets with, huh. ] Here I thought you were being compassionate by not bringing it up. But I'll need to stop taking my suppressants. Oripathy. No bells?

[ on the note of bells—there's a bell ringing in his head, which causes him to frown. but yes let's not talk about the latter which there's nothing we can do about, ]

Don't say that! It makes me sound like my brain's empty! Sampo Koski's still got it...

[HEEM HEEM WHIMPER]

[But.....hrm. Something about it nags at a part of his brain, both unfamiliar and familiar at once. Oripathy.]

[(There's the brief glimmer of a memory of trailing a hand over dark rocks embedded into the flesh along the other's waist. He thinks on it, and it disappears like mist, leaving a coil in his stomach.)]

Oh....right. Because you got that....skill? Right?

[ not like it won't become abundantly clear when he starts hacking up his lungs but they'll cross that bridge when they get there ]

A transmission doesn't just carry itself halfway across a continent.

[ anywhooooo, crossing his arms and tapping a finger on his arm, ignoring the migraine that's probably because of the situation and not something thoroughly unrelated. ]

… If we're taking a risk, I agree that breaking through's probably our best option. A few days to get to the spot I'm thinking of, and by then we'll be able to see if HQ has anything new for us.

[ Monotony's a prison, is it? But the past few days haven't been too bad, in Elysium's opinion—more than once, he might've considered what travelling with just the two of them under different conditions would look like. ]

This'll probably be the last real rest stop of our journey.

You're a regular antenna, aren't you, birdie.

[It's kind of cute, in a way. He doesn't know the details, but the image of Elysium on high, shouting his words for miles and miles...like some grand hero, heard by all.]

[But the cost. But...the cost.]

[It unnerves him more than he could care to admit. By the... (He pauses. Aye....A....something), what is going on? Attachment. It must be that. And boy, is that a dangerous thing.]

[Better put it aside. They have to get through this.]

You sure you don't want to take a breather? I mean...this next part sounds like its going to be a doozy. But regardless...I got your back for this one.

[ He's trying a little too hard to be a hero, probably. It's not something he can hide to himself when it's a topic he's been ruminating over for years. Extend just enough to be lauded as one, be smart and pull back when you know the odds are completely against you. It's a different story when you're left with no choices, but was he really left with none, here?

Could he make that much of a difference? ]

Well, you won't find much better than me to be stuck in a situation like this with. And, I suppose I could say the same about you. [ … ] That you haven't been all that bad to be around.

[ Short of someone who would have the firepower to blow through their enemies, maybe. ]

Just kidding. It's not hard to imagine someone going mad from how quiet it's been. A single guy can only fill so much silence in by himself. [ Which, is what Sampo has always been: a guy to kill time, to poke and prod, to perhaps see what lies underneath. He was never that committed to it, and he's imagined it would end in something along the ends of an "oh well." It doesn't make much sense in the context of them working alongside each other—why?—but his head once again protests that line of thought. ] I thought about it on the first day, but—…

[ For the first time since their conversation had begun, Elysium tears his gaze away from the window to look at Sampo. It's a little easier to let it naturally fall on his idle work, the blade he may or may not still be cleaning. ]

…—you never really came across as someone who'd get all sentimental on me. [ translation: he would actually much prefer it if Sampo wasn't getting sentimental on him. then maybe, he could convince himself that their interactions were less genuine for it. ] Whatever the case, we'll get you out. I'll get you out. Even I don't know what my full potential is, you know? I could end up surprising the both of us.

["Haven't been all that bad" he says. Yeah, he'd expect that. He's not some popular, beloved figure of the world. He's the shadowy comic relief. He's the side character. He is not to be admired and put on a pedestal.]

[He is not the one to be saved in any scenario. And he's been fine with that. He has his role.]

[This feels different. Unsettling but not in some overly negative way, just...unfamiliar. He's used to being chased. He doesn't know how to take this, a sincerity that almost feels like it isn't deserved.]

[But at the same time, in these times, Elysium is all he's had. He's all he's relied on. Is it that abnormal, to want to grab on, keep him close? His idea of elation falls upon the dignity of all mankind. He doesn't want to be the last one laughing.]

...No, I'm not really the sentimental sort.

[But...? But. He also glances at the window, the tip of his tail swishing from side to side on the floor in lazy, thoughtful, but tense little circles.]

But regardless of that, I'd like to see you surprise me. [He smiles.] Besides, I can't let you hog all the glory. Tit for tat, my feathered friend. I'll get you out, too. It's only fair, right?

[ Get out him out, too… and then what? Elysium wants to ask. Elysium releases the full extent of his Arts, they breach the Seaborn's barricade. From there, it won't be a playful game of hide-and-go-seek; they'll actively chase them down and Elysium himself becomes a liability when the likelihood of finding and receiving treatment would be closer to zero. A little harrowing, is that there's no guarantee even if he himself holds the line.

Unless.

…

The answer to his earlier musing is that no: he was never meant to be a big hero, or make that big of a difference. But, he has made differences and if he could save one more life, then, perhaps, he could make peace with that. A hero for one.

For a man he's known for a month. For a man who, in the past month, he's somehow exchanged parts of himself that he never has under the pretense of…something. When did they have the time and luxury to? Nevertheless, Elysium isn't the type to assign value to lives. Evidently, there's something Sampo wants to return to whereas in contrast, from acceptance of the mission, Elysium had always planned to be buried in Iberia. Even outside of their specific circumstances, Elysium would do the same for the next person.

Still. It'd be nice to be remembered. For who he is, or was. ahem. ]

No way. Are you actually taking my comment about preferential treatment to heart? A guy's going to misunderstand, at this rate.

[ Eyes curve in obvious mischief. As it goes when there's something to hide. ]

… But what you said about a breather—that does sound nice. We've covered a lot of ground these past few days; it's almost impressive that you've managed to keep up. I really wasn't expecting you to!

[ Another non-answer. One could say, at some point, he'd pilfered vials of questionable origin… he'd never planned on using them himself so much as sending it back for research purposes, but he knows what they do. He's seen what they do. He thumbs them in the pocket of his coat. ]

Is misunderstanding really that bad?

[Is it that bad at this point? After all this time? He's never been one for relationships, he's the first to go when anything gets remotely serious. It's always been easy with Elysium, precisely because it's been easy, but something...feels like it isn't enough.]

[He's decided it. Right here, right now, looking at that amused look that he can tell is hiding something more vulnerable, a scab to a wound he doesn't want to address, that he'll have the best joke in the world when all is said and done. Elysium will expect that one will come out of this mess. The punchline will both of them making it. Sampo will have the time of his life laughing at a man who never expected for these underdogs to succeed.]

[He wants to laugh. Unwinnable odds, twisted by fate. He wants Elysium to laugh. Joy is one step closer to divinity.]

[He shakes his head, reaching for the man's wrist to place his hand on his shoulder. Here, give it a squeeze. He's no spring chicken.]

It's like you haven't even looked at me, pal. I mean, I may not be as sprite and agile as the youngsters, but I do have some meat on my bones, here. You should really get those eyes checked!

[A little chuckle, his eyes also creasing in mischief. Also hiding. If he notices the move of the other's hand in his pocket, he doesn't address it]

....What do you wanna do? For our little breather? Do a little date out on town before we go to war?

[ It's okay to misunderstand, was it? Elysium hasn't been looking at him, he says? Sampo approaches and his gaze moves to meet his directly. ]

Haven't we been going on them all this time? [ A laugh, ] Aren't you bored by now?

[ An emphasis on a new beginning, and an emphasis on an end. It's not as if he knows what Sampo's thinking exactly, but for him to say it how he does: he's wagering on the both of them, here. Their last game, isn't it? Sure. Elysium will impress precisely what the stakes are. ]

Say. I have a better idea. If misunderstanding isn't as bad as you claim it is——

[ Sampo places Elysium's hand on his shoulder to squeeze, but when, if ever, did Elysium enjoy being predictable in their games? The same hand slides down to his arm. It lingers there for a beat, for two beats, before it goes further still to loosely circle Sampo's wrist. ]

——then it should be fine, shouldn't it be? For you to indulge me.

[ That's about all the warning he gets before he's roughly tugged into Elysium himself, his other hand looping around to guide Sampo into an open-mouthed kiss.

revising the four bases and potentially hitting home run but at what cost ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject