✧ — passionfruit green tea.

[boba]

Comments

[oversea]

[ thorns watches this, his gaze shifting from the other him then to elysium. it's a weird situation to be in, and he isn't entirely sure where to go from here, but they'll have to figure that out shortly. ]

Did you talk to him?

[transmit]

[ the way the other elysium is also just here for some reason and was probably yanked out in the middle of doing something stupid. what's he doing, francy. he's your labubu. ]

What is there to say? His sights are set on Iberia. I don't think he's looking back.

[ he nudges thorns. it can't have been that long ago for him, right? ]

There's only following after him or not.

[oversea]

[ he is looking around... as he would in a new place... new sights to see, always moving.

but thorns nods his head. ]

What are you going to do?

[transmit]

[ here's where he's conflicted. ]

At the end of the day, he isn't who I pledged my heart to.

[ a pinky loosely curls around thorns', tugging it until it's held behind his back. like he's keeping it a secret from their other selves, even if it would be blatantly clear if they just so looked at how their arms fall. ]

But I can't exactly leave him on his own, can I? His journey's just started. He's going to fall off his ship, get scurvy before realises there's no easy access to cabbage at sea. He'll get into all sorts of trouble he'll need his good friend to get him out of.

[oversea]

He's not going to get scurvy...

[ it's muttered... he is offended on his other self's behalf.

but it's not like he's surprised by the response. this is, after all, what the point of all this was. ]

I wonder if he knows that he's lucky.

[transmit]

The vitamins I gave you came in handy. Don't lie to me.

[ he stares…… but also huffs. ]

… Wouldn't you know the answer to that one?

[oversea]

Hm, do I?

[ he shifts the hold until he's holding elysium's hand properly. ]

What do you think?

[transmit]

I think so.

[ his gaze flits to their hands and then thorns himself. he tilts his head. ]

If he knew I was in trouble somewhere, he'd put everything down, no matter how precarious his position. Probably without even thinking about why or what. Stupid.

[oversea]

As if you wouldn't do the same.

[ as if he hasn't already done the same.

thorns goes quiet. there's the faraway sounds of the other purgatory residents interacting with each other and the people they've been searching for. thorns' gaze wanders until he finds where the other elysium is. ]

Are you excited to go?

[transmit]

[ there are some going home, some choosing to go with others. some even deciding to stay back—or maybe that isn't the decision they've made at all, it's hard to tell. elysium watches them with a careful gaze before he tightens his hold on thorns.

well, he more than just tightens his hold. he clamps down on him in threat. ]

Talking about me going when we haven't even discussed us, yet?

[oversea]

Mm.

[ there's another moment that passes, before he turns so that he can look at elysium–this elysium–properly. ]

Can we go inside?

[ it feels odd to talk about this where they can see them. ]

[transmit]

[ his gaze darts again, almost as if checking if they're still there. can either of them be expected to behave…?

he hums. probably not! but that's okay. ]

Sure.

[ tugs thorns off. ]

[oversea]

[ they are free to wander if they'd like... it is in their blood, after all.

but once they're tucked away somewhere a little more private. ]

Us?

[transmit]

Us.

[ he uses his free hand to flick thorns' forehead. ]

Didn't you say you wouldn't let go of me? Unless just anyone's fine for you now.

[ LIKE IT ISN'T HIM OUT THERE. ]

[oversea]

Me? You're the one talking about other men.

[ other men when it's just him.... ]

[transmit]

That's how easily you get discouraged…?

[ 'easily' when that's literally him. okay. ]

[oversea]

You were complimenting him so much, too.

[ IT'S HIM. ]

Should I have been more jealous?

[transmit]

You want me to lie about other people now? Everything I said was true. He's my best friend who has always gone out of his way for me, even if it's something as mundane as standing in line for an autograph.

[ IT'S HIM!!! ]

I don't know about you being jealous exactly, but I did expect you to hold on a little tighter.

[ he drags their hands up. look who's holding on more tightly? it's elysium. angy. ]

[oversea]

[ he huffs, looking away. ]

I'm the one who even started holding your hand... you just grabbed onto my pinky.

[ the least secure way to hold onto someone. ]

[transmit]

[ he was testing you… ]

You were so ready to give me up…… "Are you excited to go?" Wow.

[oversea]

I wanted to see how you'd answer.

[ is elysium the only one allowed to ask leading questions... where is #equality? ]

[transmit]

[ nowhere, just like how he's the only one allowed to die first always ]

Then I'll answer you now. I'm ready to go back with Thorns.

[oversea]

[ annoying... this is what their two months here has brought them to? bullying? ]

You should kiss the Thorns.

[transmit]

You were just saying how you wouldn't give me advice on how to woo him. Is this a change of heart? Woah—! Thanks.

[ starts

heading back to thorns, while holding onto thorns, ]

[oversea]

[ HE JUST

YANKS HIM BACK ]