chatime | ✧ — peach iced tea.

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. ]

I don't think it's as interested in me as it is, you.

[ he feels validated? everyone should recognise how great thorns is, random animals included.

which on the note of validation, the guard is especially feeling that when they pull up with their whole crew in tow. he doesn't even keep it to himself when he remarks how they seemingly bring trouble with them… but these bandits aren't even their fault?

anyway. his problem now. ]

[ thorns completely ignores the comment because it was stupid.

he does grab elysium's hand with his non-eaten one and starts to walk. ]

We'll take this guy to the farm and leave a note, and then go back to our post?

[ he doubts anything more will happen today but they are still technically working. maybe they can finally make out but they cannot so that while he is being chewed on. ]

[ the capybara wants to be included so badly. it headbutts thorns in attempt to nearly knock him off balance, like it's trying to catch him on its snout. look how useful he is? he can carry things (thorns) on his back…

elysium considers the logistics of taking him themselves, but without a proper grazing area it's definitely not in the budget. ]

Do you think he'll let you?

[ …]

What do you have on you that makes you so popular with animals…?

[ no, it totally isn't because thorns is pure of heart. thinks about nene. bird. the fish, to a certain extent, and now this capybara. it's the drugs… ]

[ it's the drugs....

thorns thinks animals like him a normal amount and that elysium is just imagining things. but god.

he just stares at this animal... who they need to name... ]

We'll figure something out.

[ it would in fact be useful to have something that can carry things..... ]

[ all these animals want to eat him… this is why uni is expensive.

but they get to the farm. and without breaking and entering into one of the barns, elysium just stares rather skeptically at the fencing before raising a brow at their new friend. ]

If he wanted to, he could just walk over it… [ … ] Should we tie him to a pole?

[ that seems mean ]

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