chatime | ✧ — peach iced tea.

[ but if you're an extrovert, your tragic backstory doesn't matter i see……

elysium fits himself against thorns' back, arms crossing securely over his front. ]

What do you think about getting a bike? Something that could handle both our weights. It'd make getting around easier, especially if we're planning more of what we're doing today. We could even attach a cart so we don't have to carry things around all the time.

Am I a genius or am I a genius? It could be the first investment we make for our future. Orrrrrr we could start with a rental. Heh.

[ they could be so cute. those anime montages where people are biking along the countryside with reeds and the sunset as their backdrop… ]

[ it would be useful for travel, at least... as long as they're sticking to roads, anyway, it would get tricky once they start traveling through unexplored forests or anything without a path. but thorns supposes there's not as much reason to do that if they aren't actively in hiding. ]

.... That would be nice.

[ it's a domestic enough image that it makes him animal crossing flowers. ]

[ will their mentals be able to take it if they have to abandon their first inanimate child

but they can be an entire field of animal crossing flowers with how this is going. ]

We can start asking around tomorrow, then. There's bound to be something.

[ their hopes and dreams are about to be crushed when they find out generic and mass-produced bicycles are not built to carry two grown men. this is a hard crime against them specifically, but for now, they are naïve and innocent to the cruelties of the world. ]

[ they have abandoned so many children that if they ever get their hands on an actual child they are going to have the ultimate test of how insane they are.

but for now, everything is pure and good. they make it back without much hassle and they can get ready for bed without incident. while the inn rooms aren't gigantic, they are spacious enough to give a cute homey feel... ]

How early do you want to head out tomorrow?

[ elysium will note that thorns has disregarded their chess date entirely. this is too early to be sleeping… tch.

but if it means canoodling, he supposed he can't complain all that much. ]

We're only expected at the workshop atter noon, so any time early in the morning's probably fine. How about whenever you feel like getting up? If you end up sleeping in, we can put it off for another day. Then another day. However many it takes.

[ the last part is half a tease. ]

[ thorns just thinks elysium is a princess who needs to get his beauty rest in... he is so aware of his h*le and needs it to heal properly. this is a cursed sentence but here we are.

he kisses elysium's nose. ]

Maybe you'll sleep in.

[ tears up they both love each other's h*les so much they need to recover for untenable reasons.

elysium kisses thorns' nose back. ]

Maybe I will. How long will you let me sleep in for? What if I feel like keeping you to myself for the next week?

[ but they need money. ]

You can have me all you want. No one else will look at me.

[ ...

but then he mutters, ]

We may have to skip a few meals in that case though.

No. You aren't allowed to starve.

[ is this how he becomes that nightmare au version of himself…?

why is living so expensive. ]

We can get up at sunrise…

[ he does not sound happy about this ]

[ elysium becomes a host real

but thorns just pats him. he decides to be nice and let them sleep past sunrise, but it will mean the interaction with the farm will be a short one to just express interest without getting a proper tour or anything. but that may be better for the h*le.... ]

[ it is definitely better for the hole. while elysium is not desperately trying to keep himself upright without hobbling away, it is rather achey…

still, that puts them in a bit of a rush to get to the workshop. the guy explains away at processes they both already know the entirety of the time, but it is very cute… more importantly, they have enough time at the end of the day they're referred to a place where they can put an order for a bike. or bikes.

he laughs at them when elysium asks about a bicycle that can support them both—nice try. he visibly droops.

but the days are rather fulfilling, no matter how many hopes are risen and dashed in the process. it helps that thorns is by his side. ]

[ they should save up and get a tandem bike in exchange of looking really stupid.

but it's fine. it really does not take long to get into the groove here, considering the townspeople are all desperate for some helping hands. both their shared skill set and their different ones cover so much ground that they could probably be set for life if they had wanted to live here permanently.

a couple of weeks can pass... his h*le is healed. apparently the nearest town is holding a small festival and the townspeople are planning to all travel to attend. thorns is... uncertain. ]

[ do the h*les ever truly heal. much to think about. sometimes (a lot of the times) peaceful days feel a little too peaceful and so they take matters into their own hands.

but to the actual pressing problem: ]

We don't have to go. We can just say we want to stay behind to look after the village—this would be the time it's most vulnerable.

[ elysium turning down a festival? whomst!!! but it says a lot that in this span of time, elysium still has not bothered to get to know the peers their age.

their "friends" consist of the elderly… ]

Are you sure? This seems like something you'd be into.

[ he does like to make thorns go outside and touch grass... although that seems to be happening less and less as they becoming more and more codependent. but this is not something thorns is actively thinking about so he is not making the connection. ]

[ they go outside and touch grass everyday. wdym. ]

Hm? Not really. Festivals happen all the time.

[ he realises this is not entirely characteristic of him, so he adds, almost defensively: ]

Besides, did you see the comp? It's absurdly generous for how little work it'll probably take.

[ hmmm.

well, even if thorns thinks it's weird this isn't really something he'll fight for. the only real reason to go would be to see if they can buy anything that might be sold only during a festival, but he is still in penny pinching mode so it's not as large of temptation. ]

It may be nice to just have us here.

Kinda makes it feel haunted…

[ it's like he's envisioning it at this exact moment. ]

You can deal with a couple of ghosts easy, right?

[ 'we' until it's convenient for elysium to leave himself out ]

Are we not a team now?

[ hello!!!

but then he adds, a little too seriously, ]

Nothing is impossible... Destreza...

See? You've got everything under control. I'll handle backline support just like always.

[ but he pauses, the lightness in his tone dimming as he considers it more seriously. ]

Is there something on your mind? Ghosts aside, I mean. It seemed that way when you asked me about the festival.

[ don't make the ghosts sound like a guarantee ]

Nothing really. Just... been a while since our last one.

[ to be more specific, what happened at the last festival they went to. separating from the rookies really ended in their lives changing so drastically in a short amount of time.

but reminiscing about the past won't do anything useful. ]

With our paycheck from this job, how about we finally put it toward that first date we keep talking about? There are festivals all across the heartland of Yan right now. It'll be just the two of us: no work, no distractions. And I won't have to compete with old people for your attention.

[ the apothecary is such a fan. it's sweet. they probably have concocted several toxins together already…

he hooks their pinkies together, a loud grin forming with his mouth. see? they can still have their cake and eat it too. ]

[ ... elysium is so cute. thorns lifts their hands up so he can press a kiss to where their fingers connect. ]

Okay.

[ they always keep their promises! ]

Is there anything that they want us to do in particular tonight?

[ or just a vague make sure the village doesn't burn down. ]

The old man's supposed to be the only other one still hanging around… we just have to keep an eye on the opposite end.

[ the villagers have since learned that they are inseparable… it's almost a little weird… there are rumours going around if they are ever seen alone, that's probably a catastrophic-level disaster waiting to happen.

he rummages through his pack, pulling out a compact transceiver and turning it over in his hand. ]

I was planning to give him one of these. Makes it easier to keep in touch if anything happens.

[ honestly the guy should have one of these in general, but it shows what the people here are able to afford... there are so many things that would make their lives easier but they choose to spend their money on other things because they've been managing fine without it. ]

That works. I can pack us snacks.

[ on one hand, the chances of the town getting attacked are low, but the risk does increase a lot when most of it is empty. the only other people who are staying are people who physically cannot make the trip, which means they can't really do much if things go poorly. ]

Should I wait for you to finish?

[ so they can go together…

he rolls on his feet. this is insane if you think about it for more than two seconds, but it is so normal to ask if they can go anywhere alone it's practically second nature by now. ]

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