✧ — passionfruit green tea.

[boba]

Comments

[transmit]

Where did all your confidence go?

[ a hand finds itself in thorns' hair. it might seem like it's to pat him at first—but then he just starts ruffling at it vigorously. scruffs. ]

If you keep paving the way forward like you always have, you're right on track for it. If you overthink it, you'll end up paralysed and frozen right in place.

As incredible as Amiya is, she hasn't been alone. She's had plenty of support around her, hasn't she? And you do, too. Knowing your mistakes won't be yours alone is a heavy pressure, but that doesn't have to be the only perspective. For better and for worse, it means the burden can be shared as well.

[oversea]

Maybe you should write a book.

[ he goes quiet for a moment, before breathing out a laugh. ]

It just seems a little soon to be saying things like that. There's still a lot of work for me to do.

[transmit]

Should I? A wandering swordsman who goes on to conquering the sea. Now that'd be a story for the big screens.

[ who could play thorns but thorns, though? hmm. he stares at thorns like he's assessing this…

then just laughs. ]

It is a long road ahead. Steps forward, steps back. Every journey is full of them. But what kind of amigo would I be if I let you get discouraged so easily? I won't let you be.

[oversea]

[ ... he wonders, briefly, how did he ever once think that he could manage living life on his own.

but he moves on quickly from the thought. ]

And what will you be doing for yourself during all of this?

[transmit]

Didn't we just talk about how I have a book to write?

[ he

doesn't actually have an answer to that, but it is the truth of it. if he were any over version of himself, chances are he would've left it there. instead, there's a vulnerable, almost sheepish laugh, his gaze drifting, settling on whatever it finds. isn't it enough to join thorns on his journey? a part of him thinks yes. another part yearns to be even half of what the people around him have managed to become, even if he's just reflecting a portion of their lights. ]

Maybe I'll figure that out along the way.

[oversea]

... well, if you need help figuring it out, you know where to find me.

[ and then there's a knock at the door.

thorns sighs before getting up to open it, just enough so the person on the other side can only see him and not whoever else might be inside. they speak quiet for a moment and then thorns shuts the door. ]

I have to go.

[transmit]

[ he gives a small wave from where he's sitting. just in case, he mouths 'take care' back.

… it's undeniably lonely, watching him go. at the same time, it feels like the most freedom he can give himself while still aboard the ship. when thorns disappears from view, he rests his head in his arms. one foot in, one foot out.

is this really what he wants? it's hard to say ]

[oversea]

[ thorns wanders off to mediate a dispute between some crew members; one has accused the other of theft, and they of course are denying doing anything. it was about to come to blows when someone ran off to get thorns to intervene.

he can't help but think that elysium would be useful in situations like this; he was the best at easing tension back at rhodes... ]

[transmit]

[ instead, he is here, doing the most social distancing he's ever done in his life.



at some point, as night begins to fall, he slips out. it's not to do anything in particular, more to listen and get a pulse on what's going on. since thorns had asked about gossip, maybe that's what he’ll focus on tonight… ]

[oversea]

[ the chatter is normal... mostly.

as it turns out, thorns ending up finding the item that was reportedly stolen in the accuser's belongings, simply hidden by other items. it appears as if everything was settled, but the person who was accused is holding a grudge... hm. lots of angry shit talking. ]

[transmit]

[ does the ghost need to stage an intervention…

they are a pirate crew that believes in friendship. the funny thing about his arts is that he can totally use them as some kind of pseudo sleep paralysis demon just by gently channeling them with his flag. everyone involved will not be able to sleep that night, and if they continue to misbehave, they will not be able to forevermore… he contemplates setting up some kind of device for it instead of having to physically haunt them. but first things first is his nightly rendezvous with thorns.

he will not tell him what he's thinking because he thinks thorns will smack him for it (justified). ]

[oversea]

[ he would...

thorns shows up and immediately sits down on the floor. he is... agitated? ]

[transmit]

[ these are just nightly therapy sessions now i see

he peers over, fingers laced behind his back. ]

Long day?

[ like he has zero idea and wasn't just plotting something totally nefarious. ]

[oversea]

Mm. I'm not the best at deescalating.

[ his version of deescalating is to just fight everyone... but he needs to learn to do it with words instead? what is this. ]

[transmit]

What'd you end up doing?

[ his hand finds its way to thorns' upper back and offers it a pack before settling against it. oh, thorns… ]

[oversea]

Just ended up searching rooms. Someone was accusing the other of stealing, and––

[ he explains the situation... ]

I've broken up fights before, but it was the first time I had to deal with one that was more than just a drunken brawl.

[transmit]

It's a lot easier when you can just beat someone up and call it a day, isn't it?

[ he gives thorns another few pats. ]

I'm pretty sure if you asked yourself a few months go if you could imagine yourself doing this, you'd say no. Give yourself more leniency. [ a laugh… ] Did you end up hanging the other guy upside down?

[oversea]

No, since it's not like he was trying to frame the other one. But I did say if anyone makes any false accusations like that in the future then they'd definitely be trouble.

[ the patting feels nice... ]

Anyway, what have you done?

[transmit]

Yeah, you do have to put your foot down at some point…

[ rubs circles… ]

I spent most of the time trying to understand the system you're using to keep track of everything. There were a few things I wanted to talk to you about, actually, before going any further with it—so I figured I'd walk it off until you seemed free.

Word spreads fast. I heard a good amount about your situation just from doing that.

[oversea]

Don't they have better things to do?

[ well, it's not a surprise. the atmosphere has been mostly positive lately, so this being the first real dispute since everyone mutinied against juana means people would get excited... ]

Do you want to talk work now?

[transmit]

I'd say it's both a good and bad thing it's getting around. They know what it means to get the captain involved. Did you know you're more diplomatic than the Señora?

[ he finally takes his hand off after worrying about being excessive… ]

It'll be easier if the books are in front of us when we talk. Let's give it… a few more minutes?

[ the night sky isn't as beautiful as it was yesterday, but he wants to cherish this moment between them regardless. ]

[oversea]

That's fine.

[ once again he's amazed at how much work elysium is putting into this, and how he'll need to figure out some way to repay him for it later.

getting elysium to accept that is another story, however. ]

... Hopefully being more diplomatic won't mean they think they can walk over me.

[transmit]

They'll just have to see what happens when they cross that thredhold, won't they?

[ he looks down over at thorns… smiles…

hehehehehehe ]

We should cook up something extra special for the first guy that does.

[oversea]

Oh?

[ thorns should not be humoring this... and yet, he is. ]

Do you have anything in mind?

[transmit]

Have you made anything fun in your lab recently? I'm talking a true Thorns-exclusive. It should be concoction no one else besides you would ever be able to make. The ones you use on people when they're being annoying!

[ he is

perhaps getting a little too excited ]