chatime | ✧ — peach iced tea.

And I want to do what I can for you. [ ... ] And you know that's not true. You do get them.

[ but yes, not really in the same way, considering the majority of thorns' is tied to what he is. but that's not really something that he and elysium talk about, especially when the answer really is to just go back to the sea.

... ]

I'll be fine. I want to make this path with you. Hand in hand.

Not to the extent you do.

[ but he exhales, already aware he's fighting a losing battle. to punctuate his exasperation, he leans in and gives a small, irritated nip at thorns' ear, more petulant than anything. ]

Fine. I get it. If you behave, so will I.

[ they're mostly only unhinged toward everyone else, but once trust cracks, that chaos turns inward. still, for now, it's fine. they're getting along better than they ever have. ]

[ why wouldn't they get along fine? after all, everything that made them fight in the past has been left behind.

... of course, that is ignoring that things can still pop up in the future. as in sync as they are over many things, there are still great differences in how they tend to operate. they can try to change themselves to fit more neatly against the other all they want, but neatly does not mean the same thing as perfectly. ]

I wouldn't think of doing anything otherwise.

I'm counting on it.

[ is what he says, while casually escalating things further with his hands. but they still at a respectable section of thorns' skin as his attention shifts, every muscle going quiet along with his voice. ]

… I think there are people coming to our west.

Mm.

[ he glances in that direction, making no move to get up since that might bring attention towards them if noticed. ]

Do you recognize any of them?

[ the idea of some people returning early isn't odd, even if this is very early... ]

No. Four people, a caravan, and a burdenbeast. It's a small party. Potentially to stay unnoticed? They're armed, but it's too early to say whether or not they're friendly.

[ he glances down. ]

Do you want to just keep watching?

... We will probably have to go down there at some point.

[ even if they aren't hostile, having a bunch of strangers wander around a mostly empty town isn't ideal.

but for now, he will at least send some constructs down to spy. ]

Should we tell the old man?

Yeah. If they approach the village we'll ask what their business is.

[ he takes out the communicator and makes a series of tapping noises. code, in case they have anyone capable of intercepting signals. the technology one can get in the boonies is not the best, so rudimentary encryption is about all they can do. ]

Mm. For now, I told him there are people on the horizon. Unless we need backup, he's better off staying put and keeping watch on the other end.

[ hmm.

at least they're far away enough that they don't have to move immediately. it could just be a case of bad timing, or maybe they came for the festival and just got lost. it is easy to make the wrong turn and end up here instead.

but those are all positive suggestions. ]

We never get a break, do we.

[ it's kind of funny, actually. thorns was just with the kind of people who'd lead these exact charges. maybe not under his command, but still. they had, and they would've kept doing it, if not for the change in command. ]

Our lakefront retreat can't happen fast enough, can it? They seem like they're trying to be careful. That's pretty suspicious behaviour by itself.

Mm...

[ ugghhh.

he continues to watch them for a few more minutes until they can't really deny that they're headed for the village. okay. couldn't their date have lasted longer first? ]

Let's climb down before they get close enough to potentially spot us. We can meet them at the entrance.

It's good to get exercise every now and then. C'mon. Don't get lazy. Working hard means we'll get to play hard.

[ they've been exercising their bodies a little too much lately, actually. but thorns doesn't have to tell him to move twice; elysium hops down with light steps, holding a hand out to him despite it being wholly unnecessary.

it's kind of funny. the entourage looks more confused by their presence than they, them, stepping back to whisper among themselves. it doesn't sound like they're up to anything good… okay. elysium shoots thorns a sidelong glance, like: are you seeing this shit? ]

[ well. at least this is a purer type of exercise (potential murder depending on if it gets bad). thorns looks back at elysium before sighing. might as well get this over with. ]

Do you need anything? All of the shops are currently closed for a holiday.

[ he has no idea if there's a holiday or not he did not look into what this festival is for. ]

[ look at thorns, talking before acting!!!! mid-autumn just passed so conveniently it is that… the men take another few seconds to discuss among themselves before they're like

how strong can they be. they approach up close saying there is something they can help them with—and, well.

either thorns is parrying that sad excuse for a surprise attack or elysium is, before the rest of the crew join the fray. now this would've been a good starter mission for the rookies. ]

[ god. rest in peace sniperguard you would have loved this.

but they can go to battle... which is actually nice, because even though they have been getting the absolute worst kind of exercise, that is still not the same as a fight? he and elysium probably spar just to keep themselves in shape and active, but you can only go so far that way.

so. this is fun. unfortunate for the intruders. ]

[ this is very fun. thorns is having a great time, and so is elysium by extension. by the end of it, they end up with a small pile of bodies all strewn up together to make sure they behave while their burdenbeast remains surprisingly docile.

it takes pets… ]

You looked like you missed this kind of work.

[ is the village life not for them? hmm. ]

[ oh. hmmm.

he pats the burdenbeast absentmindedly, wondering if the couple on the farm might want to keep it. ]

... I don't know about miss. It is good to have a change of pace though.

[ the two of them can dream about retiring somewhere secluded all they want but unfortunately they do enjoy enrichment. ]

[ it's one of those cute capybara burdenbeasts. it has decided it likes thorns and elysium better and if thorns has any loose pieces of clothing or accessories, sorry to say, but it's chewing on it now. feed it to complete the imprinting…

elysium just watches as thorns gets vored. ]

Mercenary work pays well. Maybe the occasional low-risk job…?

[ well. they'd have to establish themselves anyway.

elysium realises these people are still conscious so he reaches for a drool-covered vial on thorns' belt and wafts it in their general direction while pinching his nose. goodbye. ]

[ thorns has no respect for his clothes because in this timeline he does not dress like a slut, so he allows himself to be vored.

he does eventually reach over to start digging through their belongings. they need to figure out who these people are... ]

We'd have to be careful about the jobs we pick...

[ well, more specifically, pick ones that would not cross over with anyone they know. ]

That should be easy enough…

[ their enrichment

also, they still have to buy replacement clothing, hello!!!! clothes with holes is one thing, clothes that look like you just barely made it out of a fight with a bear is another.

he peers over to the bag on thorns' back. ]

Do we have any snacks left? It's going to move onto your arm if we don't find it something to eat soon. What if it gains a taste for flesh?

[ he does not sound particularly worried. ]

It won't if it tries to eat my other arm.

[ that is also not helpful.

but there should still be a few snacks, although some may not be the first choice to give an animal for a healthy diet, but the creature likely does not care about that. ]

... They have a lot of very clearly stolen junk in here.

[ it would eat the entire bag if it had the option…… ]

We can leave most of the stuff to the chief to sort out. Those are——explosives, right?

[ thinks ]

Let's keep those.

Yeah.

[ VERY CLEARLY PLEASED AT KEEPING THE EXPLOSIVES. this is normal. ]

We should bring these guys to the guard. He has cells we can stick them in until the authorities pick them up.

[ which the guard can arrange. thorns is not stealing the man's full job, he can do the boring stuff. ]

[ thorns hasn't been able to explode things in so long they have to make sure his comeback doesn't take out an entire society. ]

Sounds like a plan. [ elysium hums and turns to the burdenbeast. ] Would you be okay if we put them on your back?

[ well. it just keeps chewing on thorns. one way to find out? they can strap them on nice and secure. ]

Can you feed it your sleeve?

[ he could ask elysium to try to find something normal for it to eat, but instead it's this.

the other thing he grabs from their belongings is a notebook that seems to be some sort of diary of one of theirs. could be useful, could be nothing, but it won't hurt to look through it later. ]

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