✧ — passionfruit green tea.

[boba]

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[transmit]

[ what purpose does it defeat, thorns… ]

Uh huh.

[ the kind of 'uh huh' that carries no expectations at all. he leans back and swings his feet, fully expecting to still be called elysium. that's just how it goes. ]

Would you say this is your favourite part about working on a ship?

[ here's where he'd say thorns looks at home commandeering the ship, but one cannot compliment their homie in excess… ]

[oversea]

... One of them. I don't know how to describe it, but being behind this makes you feel like you can go anywhere.

[ when you are away from society and are surrounded by nothing but the sea and the sky, it gives you a sense of peace and purpose that no big city really can. the world has never felt so ready to be seen. ]

It's like a dream, but one that can be obtainable.

[transmit]

I like to think I did a pretty good job of steering when you guys had me handle it way back when.

[ it was a different situation, then, when he had to navigate around geysers and the exoskeletons of long-passed saltfin. he looks a touch wistful from where he perches, which thorns may or may not be able to make out. ]

Would you still trust me to steer now?

[oversea]

Hm. Will you come down?

[ after all, it's not like elysium can do any steering from up there.

but it does seem like he's comfortable where he is. ]

[transmit]

I'm pretty high up. What're you going to do if I don't make the jump?

[ catch him…?

:flushed: ]

[oversea]

Catch you.

[ he says it so confidently.

granted, he is high enough that they would still likely get somewhat injured if that happens, but it would be better than elysium hitting the deck... ]

[transmit]

[ that urge to mess up on purpose just to see what happens. but no, he theatrically winds himself up before leaping instead. he should probably be more careful given that they're at sea and proper medical care is kilometres away, but whatever. ]

Cowabunga—!

[ unsurprisingly

he lands on his feet, using thorns to absorb some of the impact as he throws his arms around him. this is, of course, well within the bounds of typical bestie behavior. ]

[oversea]

[ it is...

thorns instinctively wraps his arms around him to make sure he doesn't tumble over, even though he should let him eat shit if he does stumble on the landing. ]

Showoff.

[transmit]

[ and now they're two lads just hugging it out at the helm



elysium remembers to let go before it starts getting gay. ]

I didn't even say anything. Did Iook that cool to you, hm?

[oversea]

I guess.

[ he stares at him. ]

Ely...?

[ no, that seems too common... ]

[transmit]

[ instinctively— ]

Yes?

[ then belatedly… he dies. (internally) ]

That's an easy one.

[ canon will never give us his name. sorry thorns. ]

[oversea]

I thought so...

[ he goes silent again as he becomes lost in thought.

he is really serious about this nickname thing. ]

[transmit]

Not that many people call me by it…

[ he nudges his shoulder, a gesture that's as teasing as it is encouraging.

people probably don't give him nicknames on the sole basis of how annoying he is. he does not need that much power. ]

But if you're looking for something more exclusive, you are my only hermano.

[oversea]

Is that what you want me to call you?

[ WHY IS ELYSIUM BROZONING HIMSELF ]

[transmit]

[ HE HAS BEEN BROZONING HIMSELF FOR SO LONG WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME

looks at that one elythorns event they called mi hermano. ]

Telling you that defeats the purpose of you settling on one yourself. What sounds right?

[oversea]

[ maybe he has been too focused on making the nickname out of his name... he needs to expand. ]

Pajarito...

[transmit]

I'm taller than you.

[





the longest stretch of silence along with a stare. following that, he offers thorns a pat on the shoulder. ]

You know what? Let's quit while we're ahead. [ … ] Thorns.

[oversea]

[ thorns... feels like he failed something important?

... ]

It doesn't matter if you're taller than me...

[transmit]

[ no… elysium is simply living by the time-old philosophy of expecting nothing, so he can't be disappointed by whatever happens. he gives thorns a wry smile. ]

Does it feel right to you?

[oversea]

[ HE WAS PROUD OF IT!!!!!

but he redirects his attention to the ocean. ]

Elysium.

[transmit]

[ he bumps shoulders again with thorns, laughing. ]

Calling you my compañero de vida will probably get too long-winded after a while. But there's no substitute for that, so I guess we are stuck with just Elysium and Thorns.

[oversea]

... That's fine.

[ it still feels like he failed a test somehow, but there's not much he can do about that now. ]

Come here.

[transmit]

[ it was just one of those dialogue options that locked them into the platonic route for the next year. it's fine. elysium is the master of self-sabotage…

but he takes a step closer. ]

Yeah?

[oversea]

[ he takes a few steps away from the wheel, letting go of it. he gestures at it. ]

Steer.

[ and he waits to see. ]

[transmit]

[ it has been so long since he's been able to do this…… but one of the reasons he knows about the spot is that it isn't the first time he's watched people at the helm like a creep.

but it is different when it's under his hands. different when he's allowed to be here without the high stakes of others' lives and able to fully immerse himself in the moment. the wind presses against his hair, the saline bite of the sea fills his lungs.

this must be what it feels like to be free. ]

A guy could get used to this.