✧ — peach iced tea.

[boba]

this post is so clean

Comments

[transmit]

[ i had to think about this for so long. i have absolutely no naming sense so let's just never use them in writing. ]

How about… Helio? As a tribute to my sun.

[oversea]

[ the way i was just thinking of how i just made you suffer with that tag

thorns thinks about it... although he really isn't thinking too hard because he would have accepted any name elysium would have given him unless it was something incredibly stupid. ]

I like it.

[transmit]

[ yeah i should've just taken a page out of ak's book and gone with wheat stalk but unfortunately elysium would put a little more thought into it than that ]

You have to give me one too.

[ makes you suffer right back ]

[oversea]

Rio.

[ funny, that the thing elysium likes to look at the most is the sky and for thorns it's the water. it feels a little symbolic to pass these things off to each other.

but we will never refer to these names in text again unless there is a third person in this thread. ]

[transmit]

[ people who survive in amnesia games with their self-chosen names are the strongest soldiers

and when you're in a competition to match things and your opponent is elythorns it's truly just a lesson in futility. disgusting. he can't help the way his smile widens, letting out a quiet, amused laugh for it. ]

I gotta say. Now it feels like we've put an end to one chapter for real.

[oversea]

It does.

[ ...

he reaches out to cup elysium's cheek with his hand. ]

And you are okay with it?

[ he knows the answer is yes, but he still feels like he needs to ask to be sure. elysium would have never done any of that if it wasn't for thorns. ]

[transmit]

You're not supposed to know where life takes you. And yet, I don't believe anything better could've happened to me—or will. Mi sol. You're everything, my guiding star.

[ he pauses in his steps, leaning his face into thorns' palm. ]

Wherever you go, I'll follow. Of course I am.

[ this level of devotion should truly be alarming but thorns can hear these words whenever he wants, as many times as he wants. his feelings will never fade. ]

[oversea]

[ well.

instead of seeing this as a red flag, he just thinks it is incredibly romantic because his brain is becoming more and more warped every day. while there is a part of thorns that still wants elysium to have his own interests and do his own things, he wants him to be doing those things next to thorns.

parallel play... ]

I keep wondering how I could love you more than I do, and I get surprised every day.

[transmit]

[ it's true. what would've been the point of them doing this if they aren't always together? everything kept getting in their way: work, timing, other people's expectations. they're here now because they want to make each other their lives.

the way if thorns ever decides he wants space he'll spiral wondering if he's tired of him. this is so ill. ]

Instead of wondering, you could just keep loving me more. More, and more, and more. Until there's nothing left to question. I'd be fine with that.

[ says this like he's talking about the weather. genuinely, what's wrong with this if they're both perfectly happy? nothing. ]

[oversea]

[ he opens his mouth to reply, but the sound of another vehicle approaching makes him pause. a potential ride? thorns is going to let elysium handle this because he might piss them off some how, why is he so bad at dealing with people to get them to do stuff.

if he had replied, it would have only been to agree, because as long as elysium remains okay then thorns will find no issues with their current way of living. and everything has been going okay so far. but that's ignoring the fact that all the other times, things were going okay until they very much weren't. ]

[transmit]

[ he's going to violently explode without treatment and highlight the futility of their struggle, clearly. with that, no amount of going back in time will fix anything—unless they, or thorns, decides to be even more unhinged and take things further and nth time.

anyway, seeing people out and about is probably a strange sight, especially with thorns draped across his back. when the passerby slows to check what's wrong, elysium smoothly takes over the talking. it makes thorns look shy, so elysium spins a story: they're elopees from iberia, travelling the world and hoping to settle in yan after hearing about its idyllic countryside life.

he explains with a smile that his husband is exhausted from the long journey, which earns them a laugh, and adds that they're both looking for work. the man isn't sure if they have anything available, but remarks that two able-bodied men shouldn't have trouble finding plenty in their village.

soon enough, they're climbing onto the back of his tractor. elysium grins as he eases thorns down carefully, then leans his weight against him as he plops beside him. he did so well? he did so well! he brims with pleased energy. ]

[oversea]

[ thorns is really being painted as the frail uke here...

well, he cannot argue, so he just nods his head when it's appropriate to and gives one word answers when someone asks him something specifically. he does give the impression of a shy maiden this way... once they're both settled, he groans, pressing his face against elysium's shoulder. ]

Should I call you dear? Honey? Hubby?

[ he means in front of other people... ]

[transmit]

[ sometimes you are shorter and are instantly classified as uke and no one bats an eye. it's a rough world out there.

elysium reaches over to ruffle thorns' hair. ]

What feels the most natural? Being convincing's the most important part.

[oversea]

[ this is decrimination.

the nicknames in iberian are, but they are not understandable to people who don't speak the language, and they are trying to pass off as people who are normal and married. ]

Love.

[ sorry. he just likes to say that word. ]

[transmit]

Love. I like that one, too. How about I just keep changing yours, see if I can keep you on your toes?

[ not that it means much when he likes anything thorns gives him simply because it's from thorns. but it's still endearing that of all choices, that's the one he's settled on. elysium tips his head back onto thorns' shoulder in overblown dramatics, kicking his feet out and almost cooing in contentment.

the driver remarks on what lovebirds they are, and to that, elysium only laughs. ]

It sounds like it's time to pick up Yanese while we're at it. [ over his shoulder: ] Hey! What do the people in Yan call their spouses?

[ please put elysium down he is sooo en route to becoming the local wifeguy ]

[oversea]

[ he elbows elysium, kind of chastising but not really since he truly lets him get away with anything.

but it really is amazing how they can seem just like any other regular couple if they ignore literally everything they brought them to this moment. ]

Stop bothering them.

[ the farmer just thinks it's funny... what a cute pair... ]

[transmit]

[ thinks about how thorns will also have to come up with a convincing excuse for why his arm is fucked up tears up there is so much that can go wrong. ]

What? Conversation keeps things lively.

[ the farmer agrees, remarking that the village could use more young people to brighten the atmosphere. life in the city is simply more glamourous and offers more job opportunities, but when you've come from iberia, nearly anything feels elevated by comparison. elysium doesn't say that aloud; instead, he notes that the countryside has its own charm—and very quickly he's winning this guy over.

the farmer mentions having books for elysium if he's serious about learning, to which elysium says—of course he is, nudging thorns for emphasis. ]

It'll be fun to learn something together. Who do you think will master it first? Me or you?

[oversea]

Me.

[ he answers so quickly and confidently that it makes the farmer laugh. it sounds like a joke but thorns is so serious about it...

but he then adds on, ]

You'll be a very close second place.

[ there is only two of them. ]

[transmit]

You're so confident.

[ the farmer's just like woah… this guy's more lively than he seems? now a whole village gets to be witness to their antics. ]

Shall we bet on it?

[oversea]

Yeah, sure. What are we betting?

[ it cannot be money or possessions because they share everything...

he reaches over to grab elysium's hand... shyly... ]

[transmit]

[ either they share everything or they're willing to do anything* for each other anyway so coming up with dares might be one of the hardest things to do in their existence.

he very confidently and gently laces their fingers together. ]

We have to do anything the other says for a week.

[ *i'd say anything within reason and outside of reason, but the things they refuse to do are genuinely so stupid they exist outside the scope of reason itself. thorns already knows this is bound to end in regret. ]

[oversea]

[ it's so funny because they are now willing to let so many things slide that they would have been against in earlier timelines, however every now and then something still pops up where they have to put their foot down and would only give in after a lot of whining, like the hair dye situation. ]

... okay. Deal.

[ a terrible bet has been made. ]

[transmit]

[ if not slide, there are so many questionable things they just wholeheartedly accept now. who knew it'd be so easy for them to abandon everything they knew and retire into the countryside? ]

How should we define 'master'? Being able to hold a conversation with a local?

[ thorns is going to have to be social… ]

[oversea]

How do we judge a conversation...?

[ it's a difference between just exchanging a few words or having a lengthy talk with someone. one is much easier than the other...

this is stupid. ]

[transmit]

[ …

never mind. he realises the inherent flaw in this and decides it's one of those things better abandoned than pursued. the irony is that if he were even a little more normal, he'd want to encourage thorns to talk to others and make a genuine effort at defining the scope of a conversation with another person…

he does want thorns to get along with the locals, but only so they can seamlessly adapt into the community, not because he thinks thorns needs friends. he has elysium, and that's enough. it's fine if he happens makes friends, but does he need them…? no…… he has a moment of self-awareness where he's like 'ah this is pretty fucked up' but he cannot bring himself to do anything about these feelings, so? whatever. ]

Scrap that. How about we pick a day where we speak exclusively in the language? First one to slip up loses.