✧ — passionfruit green tea.

[boba]

Comments

[oversea]

No one asked them to do that.

[ he says this but he is the one who left nene alone. ]

... But I guess it says something that they immediately went after it.

[transmit]

You just started parenthood. [ the other him did, at least. ] How could you leave your child in an unfamiliar place?

[oversea]

They should be going to Nene for advice on how to get around.

[ nene is so smart and cool.

... ]

Shall we?

[transmit]

[ no…… ]

I guess.

[ he defers to thorns' grip strength on whether they're actually pdaing in front of themselves, like they weren't just kissing. ]

After you.

[oversea]

[ his grip strength is... normal. not as tight as it could be, but not loose enough for it to seem accidental. in the end, he is torn on the idea of how much he wants to influence them.

but they can approach. the other thorns pauses, looking over at them. his gaze drops down to their hands, but that only lasts a second.

...



regular thorns is waiting for elysium to say something first. ]

[transmit]

[ other thorns has been living a great life according to the mods and they have yaoi-ly stared at each other enough times in dreams that elysium wonders if it constitutes as cheating or leading on.

in the end, it is other elysium who says something first and asks why everyone is so awkward. they've all known each other for years? technically? he holds up nene who sticks its tongue out in agreement—then sees their hands and nearly drops them in surprise. instinctively—regular elysium drops thorns' hands to try and catch nene…

okay. ]

[oversea]

[ this is truly so awkward. going by elysium's timeline... the other him should not be aware of any feelings? what is this going to do. ]

Careful. Nene holds grudges.

[transmit]

[ okay, well, hand-holding is apparently nothing to baby thorns so not much should change. he was holding hands from week one. fortunately, elysium being able to put one and one together is not his problem, so he just properly extracts nene to put him back into his proper owner's hands. ]

… I don't think either of us would've gotten this far alone. But we should get going, I think.

[oversea]

[ this is getting harder by the second.

he wants to reach for elysium's hand again, but the doesn't seek it out. the more they cling to each other the more they're going to prolong this, and he knows that will just make it worse later. ]

Good luck on your journeys.

[transmit]

[ there is something about being intensely judged by your other self that makes this deeply uncomfortable. he is being bullied by himself? why. the way his feather is probably just out there on thorns' chest.

… ]

Buen camino. [ at the very least, he can send thorns off with a smile. ] We'll meet each other again.

[ he takes the first step with the other thorns so his thorns won't have to. and just like that, the two of them fade away, leaving just thorns and an elysium who's now staring at him intensely. ]

[oversea]

[ this is so fucking awkward he's going to die.

he stares at the spot the two disappeared from for a moment longer before turning his attention fully on the elysium that's left.

he supposes he needs to start referring to him as his now, instead of the other one. ]

Us, too. You need to get back to Rhodes.

[transmit]

[ okay…

his gaze drops to feather. maybe he hadn't made himself obvious enough. supposes is so mean.

…

but he's less mean than thorns, so he eventually tears his gaze away. ]

Already thinking of sending me back after we just reunited?

[oversea]

I'm not sure what you were doing before all of this...

[ rhodes hasn't exploded yet, but thorns doesn't know if elysium was immediately busy after he left the ship to go back home or not.

the way he can't even tuck the feather under his shirt because IT DIPS SO FUCKIN LOW!!!!!!! ]

[transmit]

[ it probably tickles whenever it brushes his skin, too…

thorns isn't just going to take it off, is he? 🥺 ]

I was in the middle of a book signing. [ … ] It sounded like the other you didn't even know about it.

Did you have fun?

[oversea]

They aren't as caught up.

[ and thorns... isn't sure if fun is the right word to use here. enough horrible things occurred that it, if one were to think about the experience from a neutral point of view, would have been better if it never occurred.

but thorns can't say that either, since he wouldn't agree with it. ]

... It was interesting.

[transmit]

Just 'interesting'? I bet it was.

[ thorns was in his alchemist outfit and hadn't seemed surprised seeing him… it's a little funny, thinking about it. how different his reactions are when he visits him after some time directly juxtaposed to now, even if they're ones that could be easily missed. the smallest of smiles, alongside what he can only guess is relief.

he regards this thorns with curiosity. ]

It looks like I owe you this time.

[ for finding him… ]

[oversea]

Not at all. You would do the same for me.

[ ... quite literally, as it turns out. but alright, actually talking instead of just awkwardly standing in a huddle together does make this a little easier. ]

And it was easier with a friend.

[transmit]

[ A FRIEND

he resists the urge to stare. he has so many questions, but maybe it's better that they never get answered.

… ]

Everything's easier with an amigo. I think I saw Operator Fiammetta and Miss Mostima earlier, too? You had an entire squad with you.

[oversea]

... We roomed with Fiammetta.

[ in case that makes this easier to swallow unless elysium will now be under the impression that they had a throuple going on. ]

Plus all of the others from different places.

[transmit]

[ WHO WOULD IMMEDIATELY GO TO THROUPLE

he doesn't even know if the feather is platonic or romantic? he has so many questions for himself and yet he will never get answers. hand holding could mean anything. ]

… Kind of makes it sound like the early days of Rhodes, when all we had were boxes and single mattresses for five per room. But I'd hope the accommodations were better than that.

If there's nothing else, should we be in our way as well?

[ …

holds out his hand? ]

[oversea]

[ he looks down at the offered hand, a little surprised at the gesture––although it probably shouldn't be that surprising, since the two of them just showed that this was okay.

so thorns reaches out to take his hand. ]

... Yeah. Let's go home.

[transmit]

[ OKAY.

he tightens his grip so there are no takesies-backsies. ]

Mm. Do you do this with just anyone now?

[oversea]

[ this is a perfect time to do a funny callback with reirin except this elysium would not get the reference. alas. ]

Not really. You do, though.

[transmit]

[ WHAT DOES HE MEAN NOT REALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



elysium doesn't know this, though. so he just takes thorns' word for it… ]

… What? No I don't. I'm following your lead.

[oversea]

[ this elysium can never know how much purgatory wanted everyone cuddling as much as possible... ]

I'm following yours.

[ elysium is the one who initiated it? ]