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[ tag yourself i'm the guy in shotgun. but, okay.
elysium proceeds to not listen to thorns in this au as well and orders thorns a blend that is widely known to be decaf. would he have the knowledge for this, though? time to see!!!!! as he hands it over to thorns with the brightest smile on his face!!! ]
elysium proceeds to not listen to thorns in this au as well and orders thorns a blend that is widely known to be decaf. would he have the knowledge for this, though? time to see!!!!! as he hands it over to thorns with the brightest smile on his face!!! ]
[ cool! he is going to kill you!!
well, thorns is aware that this person has absolutely no reason to believe that thorns can get rid of whoever it is they're so terrified of, so he won't bother to make any promises that might seem too optimistic. he sighs and just turns around to go back where he came from and
uh
where the fuck is his stupid future husband. ]
well, thorns is aware that this person has absolutely no reason to believe that thorns can get rid of whoever it is they're so terrified of, so he won't bother to make any promises that might seem too optimistic. he sighs and just turns around to go back where he came from and
uh
where the fuck is his stupid future husband. ]
[ his poor baby needs his beauty sleep in all timelines shhhhh
the fact that he doesn't even put on rock music should be sign one that something is wrong.
sign two is him just complaining about his classes and talking about interesting things he's learned instead of going full tilt into engaging thorns. truly riveting content to ride shotgun to unless thorns is somehow ill enough to stay awake despite elysium's best efforts to be as boring as possible. ]
the fact that he doesn't even put on rock music should be sign one that something is wrong.
sign two is him just complaining about his classes and talking about interesting things he's learned instead of going full tilt into engaging thorns. truly riveting content to ride shotgun to unless thorns is somehow ill enough to stay awake despite elysium's best efforts to be as boring as possible. ]
[ well
the last time they got separated while investigating something, elysium had a rather horrific death, so thorns isn't too thrilled right now. in fact, he can feel his brain switch to panic mode as every worst case scenario plays in his head.
he will try to track him down. it hasn't been that long since thorns walked away, so it's not like elysium could have gotten too far. still, a lot can happen in just a matter of seconds, so he hurries. ]
the last time they got separated while investigating something, elysium had a rather horrific death, so thorns isn't too thrilled right now. in fact, he can feel his brain switch to panic mode as every worst case scenario plays in his head.
he will try to track him down. it hasn't been that long since thorns walked away, so it's not like elysium could have gotten too far. still, a lot can happen in just a matter of seconds, so he hurries. ]
[ imagine if i just killed him off again
but, no. that intense stress blooms into a mess of various other emotions—denial, frustration, and then pure and unadulterated anger before it flatlines into calm, almost unnaturally so. it'll stay like that up until thorns finds him.
thorns will find him in an another alley, back facing the main road with his sword drawn, pierced directly through the chest of the person they're looking for. there is one gash on his arm that he's bleeding from, but he's in one piece. and isn't that what matters? ]
but, no. that intense stress blooms into a mess of various other emotions—denial, frustration, and then pure and unadulterated anger before it flatlines into calm, almost unnaturally so. it'll stay like that up until thorns finds him.
thorns will find him in an another alley, back facing the main road with his sword drawn, pierced directly through the chest of the person they're looking for. there is one gash on his arm that he's bleeding from, but he's in one piece. and isn't that what matters? ]
[ he thinks, not for the first time, that he should have never brought elysium with him. nothing ever goes well by bringing him along. he recalls their joking of keeping elysium locked up, and there's a moment where he is genuinely considering that option.
thorns walks over. ]
What happened.
thorns walks over. ]
What happened.
[ thorns is always mad. what's new.
…
he turns down the volume a little lower. you know what does actually help keep him up? being able to openly glance over to thorns every so often, being able to appreciate the warmth that spreads across his chest, and just overall being able to appreciate thorns being in his life again. he doesn't need anything more. ]
…
he turns down the volume a little lower. you know what does actually help keep him up? being able to openly glance over to thorns every so often, being able to appreciate the warmth that spreads across his chest, and just overall being able to appreciate thorns being in his life again. he doesn't need anything more. ]
Oh. You're already back?
[ he doesn't turn, but his voice is kept light. he did the right thing, then, because if it wasn't him it'd be thorns. nevermind that this was a rather drastic solution to come to within the short amount of time they'd been apart, all he thought about was the guilt thorns would feel (was this the only option…?) and his body had moved instinctively.
there's a croak of 'why…?' and this time
elysium slices his throat clean. ]
I don't know if here's the place to be having this conversation. Now that we've solved our mystery, why don't you head back first and tell the others? I'll have to clean up.
[ he doesn't turn, but his voice is kept light. he did the right thing, then, because if it wasn't him it'd be thorns. nevermind that this was a rather drastic solution to come to within the short amount of time they'd been apart, all he thought about was the guilt thorns would feel (was this the only option…?) and his body had moved instinctively.
there's a croak of 'why…?' and this time
elysium slices his throat clean. ]
I don't know if here's the place to be having this conversation. Now that we've solved our mystery, why don't you head back first and tell the others? I'll have to clean up.
[ who else is here to judge him. no one. he will go back to being badly het when thorns is awake and presumably at this wedding. ]
'Morning. [ his eyes are fixed!! on the road!!! they are no longer on highway and are in the city again. they're almost there. ] Did you sleep well?
[ maybe just slightly teasing even though he caused this. die. ]
'Morning. [ his eyes are fixed!! on the road!!! they are no longer on highway and are in the city again. they're almost there. ] Did you sleep well?
[ maybe just slightly teasing even though he caused this. die. ]
[ it's in this moment that thorns realizes this timeline is not going to work out.
he had been fully aware that their priorities have been skewed, but it's been fine as long as the two of them can be together. but looking at this makes thorns realize that kind of thinking from him isn't going to do anything.
if elysium is this obsessed with him, then he is going to die. there is absolutely no way that this kind of behavior, elysium just killing off one of their allies as casually as he might say hi, is not going to end with him dead. and thorns cannot let that happen. ]
I am not letting you out of my sight.
he had been fully aware that their priorities have been skewed, but it's been fine as long as the two of them can be together. but looking at this makes thorns realize that kind of thinking from him isn't going to do anything.
if elysium is this obsessed with him, then he is going to die. there is absolutely no way that this kind of behavior, elysium just killing off one of their allies as casually as he might say hi, is not going to end with him dead. and thorns cannot let that happen. ]
I am not letting you out of my sight.
[ a guy kills one npc and suddenly the timeline is deemed unsalvageable
the body slumps back, hitting the floor with a solid thud. it suddenly occurs to elysium how strange this must look to thorns. the thought drives the air from his lungs and leaves him struggling to breathe. he doesn't want to look at him, doesn't want to see the judgement there, but forces himself to anyway, shoulders stiff as he casts a glance over his shoulder. ]
… Are you upset with me?
[ sharper than anything else that's surfaced so far is fear. to his credit, his voice is kept level. ]
the body slumps back, hitting the floor with a solid thud. it suddenly occurs to elysium how strange this must look to thorns. the thought drives the air from his lungs and leaves him struggling to breathe. he doesn't want to look at him, doesn't want to see the judgement there, but forces himself to anyway, shoulders stiff as he casts a glance over his shoulder. ]
… Are you upset with me?
[ sharper than anything else that's surfaced so far is fear. to his credit, his voice is kept level. ]
[ he's very upset with him, but it admittedly isn't because he just killed an operator and more because he wandered off and something terrible happened. if anything, this simply reinforced the idea that thorns cannot let elysium do anything.
but thorns is aware that answer is kind of crazy. so. ]
No. Come on, we need to clean this and then go somewhere safe.
[ a pause, and then he adds. ]
Remember, I'm in charge of the mission. You're the one who did it, but they're going to be going harder on me.
[ potentially not being able to control his squad, separating from the rookies in the first place the night before... so, thorns does not want to leave. ]
but thorns is aware that answer is kind of crazy. so. ]
No. Come on, we need to clean this and then go somewhere safe.
[ a pause, and then he adds. ]
Remember, I'm in charge of the mission. You're the one who did it, but they're going to be going harder on me.
[ potentially not being able to control his squad, separating from the rookies in the first place the night before... so, thorns does not want to leave. ]
Ah. I…
[ he what?
it dawns on him that he doesn't know how to act here, realising with sudden clarity how much he's leaned on his one ability as a crutch. the problems he'd faced until now were clean, clinical, cut-and-dry. there's no negotiating with death, only rewinding and retracing and trying another path. having to deal with something more ambiguous that will potentially put a strain on his relationship with thorns is another thing entirely. if he isn't upset, does he think something's wrong with him? objectively, this isn't him, is it?
so what does he do? play it casual again? show remorse? instinct takes over, and he steps back, foot hitting the corpse behind him. his heart thrums like a trapped animal, breath too shallow to fill his lungs. restart. why is he even thinking about this when he could just restart? go off on his own so thorns wouldn't have had to come across this? no, that's wrong. he should go further back so that this would've never happened in the first place—a death so close to him isn't something thorns can just write off.
… but then, he realises again, how he doesn't want to be the only one carrying memories of their time together. even if it's nothing more than a single night sky, fleeting exchanges they could share any time, he wants them remembered. his breathing steadies, slowing as his eyes fall shut for a brief second. the zero to one hundred when there really wasn't any need to escalate it that far! whoops. ]
That's bullshit and you know it. That excuse only works when you're a trainee. Even then, what responsibility is there to take? The mission was flagged low-risk. They would've thrown another rookie squad at it if you didn't step up.
[ … ]
I'm taking his body to a lab. He was exhibiting similar behaviours as the Terrans used against us in Zeruertza.
[ he what?
it dawns on him that he doesn't know how to act here, realising with sudden clarity how much he's leaned on his one ability as a crutch. the problems he'd faced until now were clean, clinical, cut-and-dry. there's no negotiating with death, only rewinding and retracing and trying another path. having to deal with something more ambiguous that will potentially put a strain on his relationship with thorns is another thing entirely. if he isn't upset, does he think something's wrong with him? objectively, this isn't him, is it?
so what does he do? play it casual again? show remorse? instinct takes over, and he steps back, foot hitting the corpse behind him. his heart thrums like a trapped animal, breath too shallow to fill his lungs. restart. why is he even thinking about this when he could just restart? go off on his own so thorns wouldn't have had to come across this? no, that's wrong. he should go further back so that this would've never happened in the first place—a death so close to him isn't something thorns can just write off.
… but then, he realises again, how he doesn't want to be the only one carrying memories of their time together. even if it's nothing more than a single night sky, fleeting exchanges they could share any time, he wants them remembered. his breathing steadies, slowing as his eyes fall shut for a brief second. the zero to one hundred when there really wasn't any need to escalate it that far! whoops. ]
That's bullshit and you know it. That excuse only works when you're a trainee. Even then, what responsibility is there to take? The mission was flagged low-risk. They would've thrown another rookie squad at it if you didn't step up.
[ … ]
I'm taking his body to a lab. He was exhibiting similar behaviours as the Terrans used against us in Zeruertza.
[ he reaches over to pat his head like he would a child's. pat pat. ]
There, there. You can try again on the way back. Still, if you end up tired again? No big. Your sleep talk was great. Better not try me anytime soon, heheh. I've got soooooo much blackmail on you now you don't even know.
There, there. You can try again on the way back. Still, if you end up tired again? No big. Your sleep talk was great. Better not try me anytime soon, heheh. I've got soooooo much blackmail on you now you don't even know.
[ he could continue to argue, but decides to drop it. or at least, drop it here, since this really is not the place for it; they have no idea who might be listening in right now. ]
... mm. You need to give me a full report once we're inside.
[ he won't bother to ask if elysium could have not killed him and instead subdued. thorns has been on the field long enough to know that sometimes you just have to make split second decisions, and then you have to live with that choice afterward. it's not like he was around, so thorns can't actually decide if it was necessary or not. ]
Be mindful of him.
[ he thinks about how this might actually break apart the friend group, depending on how others take the news and who they blame. they were already annoyed with the defender when they didn't think it was as serious as it could be. ]
... mm. You need to give me a full report once we're inside.
[ he won't bother to ask if elysium could have not killed him and instead subdued. thorns has been on the field long enough to know that sometimes you just have to make split second decisions, and then you have to live with that choice afterward. it's not like he was around, so thorns can't actually decide if it was necessary or not. ]
Be mindful of him.
[ he thinks about how this might actually break apart the friend group, depending on how others take the news and who they blame. they were already annoyed with the defender when they didn't think it was as serious as it could be. ]
You've been self-conscious of me since the shoot. Was I that impressive?
[ this could be interpreted in so many different ways. really, this is a continuation of their conversation at the gym, because. well. elysium still hasn't gotten over how thorns had felt him up?? it would probably help for him to expand on that, but
nah. ]
[ this could be interpreted in so many different ways. really, this is a continuation of their conversation at the gym, because. well. elysium still hasn't gotten over how thorns had felt him up?? it would probably help for him to expand on that, but
nah. ]
Yeah.
[ he finds himself on autopilot cleaning off his sword and unfolding the jacket from his bag. carefully, he drapes it over the body before hoisting it onto his back. warmth seeps through, bleeding into his clothes and onto the floor. the literal weight of what he's done presses down on him, and yet all he can think about is the person standing in front.
it's wrong for him to fixate to this degree. he knows it. anyone else could've been standing on the opposing end, no matter how close, no matter how distant, and he would've done the same. he can admit that to himself, but if he lets his mind wander further down that path, he'll come apart at his seams.
once he feels the body is secured, he clicks his tongue, gaze skirting deliberately away from thorns. ]
… Let's go.
[ he finds himself on autopilot cleaning off his sword and unfolding the jacket from his bag. carefully, he drapes it over the body before hoisting it onto his back. warmth seeps through, bleeding into his clothes and onto the floor. the literal weight of what he's done presses down on him, and yet all he can think about is the person standing in front.
it's wrong for him to fixate to this degree. he knows it. anyone else could've been standing on the opposing end, no matter how close, no matter how distant, and he would've done the same. he can admit that to himself, but if he lets his mind wander further down that path, he'll come apart at his seams.
once he feels the body is secured, he clicks his tongue, gaze skirting deliberately away from thorns. ]
… Let's go.
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