( 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]

[ The memory veers slightly off course, but the dreamer himself doesn't notice… not yet. ]

An idiot that's managed to save a bunch of lives, so I'd say I'm doing pretty well for one, no?

[ … At this point, Gebura may notice that they aren't alone. The same townsfolk that had rebuked Elysium for his recklessness—for getting them into the situation he did—looks apologetic. Regretful. Whether Elysium holds a grudge or not, it doesn't show. ]

… Oh, don't give me that look. It's not so bad. I'm going to keep getting treated, and things don't get any better than that.

[ If anything, the words just send the man deeper into despair. ]

[bemist]

[ Well, she shouldn't expect it to be the same thing, she thinks. These people could regret their actions and their words...

What a strange thought. ]

... This treatment of yours... rather, the Oripathy. Can it be cured?

[ There's not enough information on this, not for her. ]

[transmit]

[ …

'Can it be cured.'

An innocent enough question. An innocent enough assumption, given they're talking treatment. It's not something that tips him off either, because that, too, is a part of the script. ]

Well… I don't know. But I feel as fine as I ever have, so no harm done.

[ Or so he says, while the same townsman insists on his staying. His answer remains the same unfathomable smile. ]

People will get scared if I stay, c'mon. That's just how it goes when you're Infected. I can still drop by when I get some free time, you know. There's no need to write me off completely.

[bemist]

[ "As fine as I ever have," he says, when she had felt it firsthand. That wasn't the kind of pain one could simply grin and bear forever, even someone like him. And it's a bit aggravating, for him to be so blithe about it. Maybe he does feel fine now, but no one had realized how much agony that wound had caused him while they'd been trapped, either.

If there's one thing Gebura isn't fond of (there's many), it's people who hide their feelings behind a smile. ]

You don't seem much like the staying type, anyway.

[ And of course, role or not, she's as blunt as ever. ]

[transmit]

You get it. I always did want to see more of the world! Real convenient how things tend to work out.

[ Another interjection——this time, in the form of a 'But you said…' It seems to merit a longer pause, several seconds before Elysium's shrugging his shoulders. ]

Ahaha, the Messenger thing? [ … ] Well, er, sorry about that. Turns out you can't really put a bird in a cage. This bird, anyway. You guys had a Messenger in the past, right? You're lovely folk. Another one will swing by in no time.

[ His gaze seems to suggest he isn't entirely convinced… given, it was a dream Elysium spoken about quite fervently in the past. But, at least he seems to understand that he might have the least of rights to say anything about it. ]

[bemist]

[ Another term she... well, no, she's aware of what a Messenger is, but the context of it from the City is bound to be different from what his context is. Ideally. Otherwise she'd probably hate him a hell of a lot more.

It's fine!

And finally, Gebura frowns, nudging Elysium's shoulder. ]

You know I'm not supposed to be here, right? You should probably kick me out before I see more than you wanted me to.

[transmit]

[ The dream ripples. Elysium's brows furrow. He's a normally quick on the uptake guy, but even this has him pausing for beats longer than usual before all the little minor details click.

… ]

Yeah? I don't suppose you can give me the instruction manual for that?

[ With a concentrated effort, the 'lights' to the dream flicker. The scene fades from a field, to a forest, to an ocean before they ultimately end up in an empty hall. With the dispersal of the memory, so returns Gebura's original form.

He smiles. ]

Was a real nail biter, wasn't it.

[bemist]

[ The hall is more familiar to her, not in what it is, but because Gebura has spent so much time inside a facility at this point that it feels almost bizarre to have been in any of those other places for even more than a second.

Gebura leans back against one the walls, arms folded over her chest, once she's sure she's herself and he recognizes that. ]

Kinder than I expected it to be. You really went back, just to...

[ Well, no. Unlike her past self, he'd been able to save all those people. So she lets that sentence die. Instead, she goes digging in her pockets for a cigarette. Surely, his dream will let her smoke-- ]

... So, you still have it? [ Oripathy. ]

[transmit]

I told you before, didn't I? That my motto's to do what I can, when I can. Put in the same situation, I'd do the same thing again. And again.

[ … As uncomfortable as it is having his memory exposed, there's reprieve in knowing it's Gebura, of all people. It's a common enough ailment that it really isn't a big deal—but he's sure, out of context, it would be. ]

Mm. [ A simple hum as an answer. ] No found cure yet, but it's stable. Even here.

[ They could replicate his medication, thankfully. But beyond that…? He hasn't thought that far or requested for them to look into it any deeper when all things considered, it'd be a waste of resources when so many of the brightest minds in his world had yet to come up with one themselves. But, the smile relaxes at the show of concern, if only because there's an innate trust she wouldn't pity him. ]

There are fire alarms, Miss Gebura. Don't go tripping them now.

[ Like he couldn't just change the scene… They both get to be a little uncomfortable here! ]

[bemist]

[ If looks could kill.

She'd shove a cigarette in defiantly, but-- ]

... Don't even have my lighter on me. [ To add insult to injury. She can't even enjoy a little comfort. Worst dream ever, notwithstanding her own. ]

Anyway, if there's no known cure yet, might as well get the people here to put some extra work in for you. Unless you've resigned yourself to it. [ Which is his own choice and this comes from someone who'd been looking forward to dying (again), only to have to form a compromise to exist longer. For the barest chance of fulfilling a long-held goal by a woman who had died before all of them.

Nothing worth dwelling on right now. As ever. ]

[transmit]

[ If looks could kill——

Elysium would be dead more than hundreds of times over, before Gebura could so much even get a glimpse of him. ]

Right. Might as well make use of our employment benefits.

[ Spoken like a guy who has full intention of making use of said benefits. But, anyway, at least she won't have to rue her lack of cigarettes for long… because something else will click, and he'll give her a small smile. ]

… Well, I appreciate the tip-off. I don't think what you saw was particularly interesting, so I suppose I'll be seeing you around. I'm glad it was you.

[ ta ta ]