[ their ideal day together is playing chess and exploding things so yea
and while it's hard to rewire one's brain to expect much else, he's thinking thorns needs a whole lot more stimulation than what a sterile lab environment and his room can provide. this is his first real test as thorns' bestie, forget chasing after him into a den of pirates and religious zealots. he finally allows his head to knock against thorns'. ]
[ this is everyone's pirate captain… he is four-years-old.
anyway
up comes the bar, far quieter than it was before. familiar faces are scattered out front, presumably to get fresh air. most notable among them is the same guy who's been trying and failing to get elysium's attention all night.
he scrambles to his feet, and with all the liquid courage he's built up over the course of the evening and then some, asks if elysium might have any time to spare while he's here.
in what can only be one of the most brutal rejections possible, elysium's response is nearly instant. ]
[ whoa... that sucks. the guy is, understandably, embarrassed. he glances at thorns, staring at him for a good few seconds, before scrambling off to join some of his drunken pals.
thorns feels like he should know who this is but he still isn't sober enough to fully remember their purg au slideshow. ]
[ he looks over to thorns despite these other roadside pirates and operators staring at them intently. elysium does not appear to realise they exist. ]
… Sorry. That's besides the point. —I'd never get sick of you. You're my amigo and compañero de armas for a reason, Thorns.
[ just announces this in front of a dozen of their acquaintances. it's fine. the people who don't understand iberian wonder if this is some kind of confession? but it's important that elysium establishes this, especially at a time where thorns must feel incredibly lonely and isolated… ]
[ thorns is being so incredibly friendzoned right now... but that's okay. he has spent the majority of his relationship with elysium as friends so it should be easy to readjust to that norm, right? ]
... Okay. [ ... ] Same to you.
[ someone grumbles that thorns' answer didn't feel as emotional. ALRIGHT THEN. ]
[ thorns is now living elysium's life for the first decade of their friendship
but elysium is still so fixated on thorns that he is not remotely processing what these nugus are talking about. continues to make this worse as they finally start walking back to the ship. ]
[ WOW... PLATONIC SLEEPOVERS... thorns is going to jump off this damn boat by the end of this.
but he just nods his head. ]
... It'll probably be more comfortable for you if you do.
[ maybe. actually, if elysium really wanted to be comfortable, he'd just rent a room in the town. a few people on the ship are doing that since it's not every day they get to dock for more than just a day. thorns does not suggest this though. ]
[ they platonically slept over for so much of purgatory, thorns will be fine… and then there was the fiammetta roommate arc… what doesn't kill thorns makes him stronger ]
Yeah! We can catch each other up on all the gossip while we're at it. Should I bring the pillows over from my room?
[ just outwardly declares to his roommates he's moving in with thorns like the optics are non-existent
but he's starting to think that thorns' romance arc must've been what kickstarted everyone's interest… elysium is connecting so many dots. wow ]
[ even though he's happy to get more time with thorns, one must not forget the circumstances that brought this forward… a dead liberi lover…
this is going to keep him up for so many nights. ]
Help me carry everything over?
[ directs thorns to the guest room. ]
Here's the game plan. Tomorrow, we'll spend the day hunting for more things to decorate your room with. Pick up a few books, some movies, and snacks—we can binge one or two together, and when you're lonely, you can put on a new one on and pretend I'm right there with you. By the time you run out, it should be time for our next rendezvous. That's stage one.
[ hello has contingency contract not taught him anything? they need to cover every base. elysium huffs but keeps talking all the same, arms busy as he stacks boxes and bags into thorns' hold while darting around to gather the rest of his things. why does he have so much. ]
It's when stage one isn't enough. Doing everything on your own gets isolating fast.
[ read: he's absolutely planning to ask people to keep a closer eye on thorns. teach… juana… ??? ]
But I don't mind telling you about stage three if you want to hear about it. Stage two's probably more of a stage and a half…
[ the more he thinks about it the less he thinks it's going to work so nvm, ]
okay. he thinks elysium sounds crazy right now actually? he listens to all of this, and wonders if maybe he should have said he would be a little bit busy the next few days. ]
[ let it be known that the sole thing stopping elysium from being pettier is the fact that thorns is a grieving widow. he does not slow, but he does respond… ]
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and while it's hard to rewire one's brain to expect much else, he's thinking thorns needs a whole lot more stimulation than what a sterile lab environment and his room can provide. this is his first real test as thorns' bestie, forget chasing after him into a den of pirates and religious zealots. he finally allows his head to knock against thorns'. ]
Only if you promise me that you won't, first.
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he knocks his head against elysium's back. die. ]
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anyway
up comes the bar, far quieter than it was before. familiar faces are scattered out front, presumably to get fresh air. most notable among them is the same guy who's been trying and failing to get elysium's attention all night.
he scrambles to his feet, and with all the liquid courage he's built up over the course of the evening and then some, asks if elysium might have any time to spare while he's here.
in what can only be one of the most brutal rejections possible, elysium's response is nearly instant. ]
My schedule's booked full, sorry.
[ not even a mention of next time? damn. ]
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thorns feels like he should know who this is but he still isn't sober enough to fully remember their purg au slideshow. ]
Whoa.
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Don't forget you promised me.
[ accusatory. no ditching him. ]
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[ thorns has just been once again reminded of the fact that elysium is actually popular and it's not just him making stuff up. ]
You'll see me so much you'll get sick of me.
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he officially thinks thorns is losing it. ]
Why are you saying words I usually do?
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thorns shakes his head. ]
No I'm not. Let's go back to the ship.
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… Sorry. That's besides the point. —I'd never get sick of you. You're my amigo and compañero de armas for a reason, Thorns.
[ just announces this in front of a dozen of their acquaintances. it's fine. the people who don't understand iberian wonder if this is some kind of confession? but it's important that elysium establishes this, especially at a time where thorns must feel incredibly lonely and isolated… ]
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... Okay. [ ... ] Same to you.
[ someone grumbles that thorns' answer didn't feel as emotional. ALRIGHT THEN. ]
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but elysium is still so fixated on thorns that he is not remotely processing what these nugus are talking about. continues to make this worse as they finally start walking back to the ship. ]
Want me to sleep over like old times?
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but he just nods his head. ]
... It'll probably be more comfortable for you if you do.
[ maybe. actually, if elysium really wanted to be comfortable, he'd just rent a room in the town. a few people on the ship are doing that since it's not every day they get to dock for more than just a day. thorns does not suggest this though. ]
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Yeah! We can catch each other up on all the gossip while we're at it. Should I bring the pillows over from my room?
[ just outwardly declares to his roommates he's moving in with thorns like the optics are non-existent
but he's starting to think that thorns' romance arc must've been what kickstarted everyone's interest… elysium is connecting so many dots. wow ]
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but thorns will accept this turn of events either way, since once again he is unaware of the direction elysium's brain is taking him. ]
You might as well, if you want to get properly comfortable.
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this is going to keep him up for so many nights. ]
Help me carry everything over?
[ directs thorns to the guest room. ]
Here's the game plan. Tomorrow, we'll spend the day hunting for more things to decorate your room with. Pick up a few books, some movies, and snacks—we can binge one or two together, and when you're lonely, you can put on a new one on and pretend I'm right there with you. By the time you run out, it should be time for our next rendezvous. That's stage one.
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sadly thorns is so used to elysium doing nonsense that he's more amused than anything. ]
Uh huh. What's stage two?
[ he'll wait for elysium to direct him to what's his stuff to grab... ]
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It's when stage one isn't enough. Doing everything on your own gets isolating fast.
[ read: he's absolutely planning to ask people to keep a closer eye on thorns. teach… juana… ??? ]
But I don't mind telling you about stage three if you want to hear about it. Stage two's probably more of a stage and a half…
[ the more he thinks about it the less he thinks it's going to work so nvm, ]
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okay. he thinks elysium sounds crazy right now actually? he listens to all of this, and wonders if maybe he should have said he would be a little bit busy the next few days. ]
Sure. What's stage three?
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It's access to an Elysium-anytime card! Use it and you can summon me anywhere, anytime.
[ like
this isn't already a thing ]
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Can't I already do that?
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… ]
You can. But you never have…
[ why is he the one feeling dejected now. ]
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he isn't sure how to respond to this. ]
Should I...?
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[
goes ahead to thorns' room. ]
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thorns just trails after him. ]
Elysium...
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Yes?
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