chatime | ✧ — peach iced tea.

[ he can't say there isn't a sense of unease at the thought of losing the flag. even with thorns' experimentation, he always used the flag for it, so there is a worry of things going horribly wrong with no way to fix things after.

...

well, no time to think on it. they really luck out that the people here aren't extraordinary in their arts or skills. they're well trained and strong operators, yes, but not to the level where thorns would actually be worried about their chances against them. and they're definitely not expecting thorns and elysium to just immediately leap into a fight!

going by procedure, once these guys fail to check in after a certain period of time, more will arrive to investigate. they need to get on a boat immediately and hide. ]

[ hello is the end of the world not dying together? a new problem does rear its head in making rhodes their enemy: the loss of access to treatment for his oripathy. but that's a worry for the distant future if he's careful.

does he believe that, even after this, rhodes would still take them back, resume his treatment as if nothing had happened? yes. but that would mean reconciling with what they're doing now, actively betraying their comrades and abandoning projects that would improve so many lives, and they can't just start a cycle of running away only to return when it's convenient.

… sorry!! before they figure out how to board he's just going to swipe a sword off one of the operators. it looks standard-issue, so he doubts it'll be missed. if they complain, they can always take the one he had to abandon?

also, me pulling a map of higashi and seeing it's landlocked like oh. well. whatever. blasts a hole through the map there is water there now. they can slip away with the cargo, stow away, and ride it out to open waters. when they finally find a corner to sit and catch their breath at last— ]

We'll have to be careful around Yan, but if we stick to the countryside we should be able to avoid all of Rhodes' outposts.

[ … ]

I don't remember the last time my heart beat this fast. Haha… our lives really have turned into some kind of romantic drama. Should I make it my writing debut?

[ it is easy to promise that now but if elysium dies horrifically then thorns' very first urge will be to want to fix it. this is more than just a problem and turning into an addiction, but he will simply have to die first in that case. or simply learn how to let go. ]

Really? That's your first idea?

[ the way i just assumed because higashi is the other country with a high aegir population. what are they doing there. whatever it can be a large river higashi has those until it eventually turns into a sea somewhere. ]

I guess writing is a job.

[ they are going to be broke...

thorns just inches closer to elysium so he can lean against him, resting his head on his shoulder. ]

We can go to a farm?

Edited 2025-09-03 10:21 (UTC)

[ the moment anything happens to thorns, you can bet elysium will regress. the thing about running on the adrenaline of freedom and being with the love of your life—is that it blinds you to your darkest moments and your sharpest fears. ]

You guess? Here I am, thinking about how I'm going to afford your lifestyle. I'll have you know, I happen to be quite the talent with a pen. So much so, I might've even been a best seller in a past life.

[ it's a funny thing to say considering they've both lived and could still live entirely minimalistic lives. thorns technically had to on his pilgrimage and the first few years on the cuna de nene. but just because they can doesn't mean he wants them to. ]

But, mm. Is that a no to seeing the world with me? Or are you just saying you'd rather settle down for now?

[ he leans against thorns, resting his head on his shoulder. their assets are probably flagged so their asses are grass. but given the severity of their so-called crimes (withholding information at minimum, neglectful death of a comrade at maximum) and their low risk towards rhodes itself, it's hard to imagine rhodes allocating any resources if they allocate them at all to tracking them down.

in truth, a part of it is banking on mantra's goodwill. the power to forewarn yourself of events is highly abusable, yes, but prophecies are things that exist outside of him—and she has seen it firsthand, albeit vaguely, that none of his loops thus far have been perfect. ]

… It has been a pretty long journey. I don't remember the last time I got to rest…

[ not counting the like. week where they just banged and did nothing else. help ]

I'll always want to see the world with you.

[ but if they want to lay low for a bit and restock funds, that might be the simplest way to do it. people won't say no to two guys who just want a temporary job and can lend their muscles in the meantime.

because even though thorns had no issues with traveling on his own, he also realizes that elysium's oripathy will become an issue. even if they can manage to go without treatment for a short while, they will reach a point where he will need it or else his condition will start to worsen. there are other places to get it besides rhodes, but the major downside is that they will need money for that.

if they're really desperate then yeah, amiya and the doctor will likely welcome them back with open arms. how much goodwill the other operators may grant them is highly debatable at the moment, but at least that's there for an emergency. but thorns would prefer that to be the absolute last case scenario. ]

We just need to start saving. You're too spoiled to always sleep on the floor.

Who said anything about a floor? I have the next best thing to a bed right beside me. Don't tell me you've already forgot your promise about staying with me for the rest of your life? You can't.

[ he stretches his limbs like he's the picture of comfort. he is. ]

Besides, we have to get you your lab equipment, chemicals, and supplies. [ he ticks each item off on his fingers. ] If we don't keep you busy, you'll start experimenting on yourself again. Then me.

I thought you liked when I experiment on you.

[ like is a strong word.

thorns kisses him on the cheek before settling again, thinking of a to do list. a full change of clothes, hair dye, maybe thorns should go bald??? even if rhodes leaves them alone, thorns is more paranoid about the less friendly group that they keep running into.

and now they lost their backup. {

I like it when you pay attention to me. [ he twirls thorns' hair around his finger. thorns isn't the only one thinking of extremes. beyond dyeing his hair, he's also thought about plucking all his feathers—where and how they grow can be an identifier in their own right. ] … and I like it more when you're enjoying yourself. Did you say that just to hear me say this?

[ … it's probably too optimistic to think that just by staying out of their business now, they'll stay out of theirs. he sighs, tugging on that same strand. ]

Whatever comes our way, we'll figure it out.

[ the way elysium is playing with his hair when thorns is considering being bald. it's like he can tell.

at least, the boat is moving. they will probably have to wait til it's dark to attempt to roam the boat for anything like food if they're unable to find anything in the cargo room they're in, but they have a decent chance at finding some things they can probably take. ]

This was supposed to be an easy mission.

[ if he grows out his hair he can match with his fellow band member homoblade

compared to watching thorns die horrific deaths, elysium would argue that anything feels easy. maybe it's wrong to feel hopeful more than ever, considering how uncertain their future is and how much more precarious their lives have become as a result of it, but— ]

We're alive and together. … That's already more than I can say for the alternatives.

[ why is keeping thorns alive hard mode

and while they haven't explicitly addressed the elephant in the room, they're more aligned than ever, even if aligned in this case means unhealthily attached. who's to define what that means other than themselves? ]

[ HOMOBLADE IS NOT HERE

can they have sex in the cargo area of a ship they are hiding in? hopefully they won't find out. for now, thorns just kisses him. ]

Your ex-boss is going to kill you the next time she sees you though.

[ homoblade is in hyv's new auto chess game for some reason? you don't know that.

but this makes their conversation about the corazonix being economical so much worse now. they can be broke and saving and still have a colourful s*x life wahoo. ]

She can't kill me—just like how you can't. But she might actually try to lock me up, and if that happens, you'll have to duel her for real.

[ why does he sound so excited about this. which like

considering they are the two closest people to him probably says a lot. he kisses thorns back. ]

I think you want that duel more than I do.

[ well.

thorns just thinks it's cute, actually, because his idea of what is endearing or not is very warped. ]

I'll just beat her. And in the small chance I can't, I'll get locked up with you.

[ "small"

but also mantra would 100% keep them separated but thorns ignores that because it is not a possibility to him. ]

If a duel has to happen, it should be the one that I want to see the most.

[ … sometimes a guy wants to be fought over!!!

but just so his allegiance is clear: ]

You're the coolest, mi luz. Whether you win or lose.

Thank you. But I shall win.

[ he really won't.

there's a pause, and he reaches over to where elysium set his sword down. ]

Let me see.

[ he won't and the reality is elysium will spiral just by being separated from him by a wall. ]

You're going to be pretty disappointed…

[ he slides it the rest of the way over. it is so bare bones, even his treatment of it is awful. ]

[ he almost wants to go back so he can criticize the operator who had this. the hell are you doing??

he stares at the sword for a good two minutes. ]

... I can see what I can do.

It's sharp. It's good enough for its intended purpose…

[ in the end, elysium's no sword maniac like thorns. aside from it's decorative hilt, it wasn't like it had half as many bells and whistles as thorns'.

so, he wrenches the sword back out of thorns' hand and puts it back where it was before. if anything, it's angled even more away from thorns. out of sight out of mind…? ]

Don't waste money.

It's not a waste if it's for our protection.

[ at least let him upgrade it? once thorns gets his hands on some chemicals he can make it better.

they should probably go over their stock actually. while they did drop by their room first to grab items, it's not like they had time to take everything with them. depending on what they have, they need to figure out how to make it all last until they're able to go shopping. ]

[ the mention of protection has him thinking. hmm. ]

… That's an option. Doing contract work in Siracusa. If we really need the money, that'd be it. I just won't let you take any of the jobs on alone.

[ on the safer end, thorns' skillset outside of combat is rather marketable while elysium's skews more niche. he'd stick out like hell. ]

Did you want to try bunkering down in Yan…?

I think we should pick a spot and stay there for just a few weeks and save up, and then from there we can figure out what our actual next move is.

[ the other option is to keep traveling from place to place, but at the moment that will likely just burn up their savings much faster. and thorns does want a cushion for when they may need to get treatment for elysium eventually... ]

[ thorns is so funny. well, it's not like elysium wouldn't be infinitely more pressed if the situation were the other way around. his sense of urgency for himself is so low. ]

… And the first thing you thought of was a farm, huh. You don't actually make a lot from those since most of your pay tends to come in the form of board and food. We'll probably end up having to see what's available in the city.

I still think you're underestimating my capabilities as a writer.

[ … captain valourchin may not sell as well without the actual folk hero existing to back it up. much to think about. ]

[ admittedly the farm is simply nostalgia but he isn't going to admit to that.

he pokes elysium annoyingly though. ]

Write about someone not me.

[ the tales of........ lumen. ]

I can't.

[ solemnly. ]

How can I write about anyone other than my muse? Maybe the plot should be about your tumultuous life into your dream retirement in the countryside.

[ this is so embarrassing. thorns should throw him overboard. ]

No one is going to read that.

[ his life is so boring... this is objectively untrue but it's what he is going to believe.

thorns stands up, stretching. he may as well try to get an idea of what time it is. ]

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