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[ thought long and hard about what insane thing to pull out of my ass next and here we are
morning arrives, as does their scheduled half-hour of stupid flirting, a ritual neither of them seems capable of skipping. it's inevitably cut short; if they don't get moving, they'll court more trouble than they'll want to bother with. somewhere between the next half hour of perfunctorily getting ready, elysium eventually manages shares what he'd uncovered the night before. it's nothing reassuring, and if anything, a confirmation of their worst suspicions. the mission is on the precipice of turning dangerous, and while it's a little too early to say which direction it's about to turn, with their charges' nerves hanging by a thread, elysium had already sent a discreet transmission back to rhodes before they'd reconvened: request for covert backup. there are too many parallels with zeruertza to ignore.
this really would be so much simpler if they were forthcoming with their knowledge.
but elysium has no intention of letting thorns make the call to pursue leads unilaterally, not without explicit orders. why should they get themselves into danger if they don't have to? so, while they wait on rhodes' directives, today becomes just another day of… shepherding their kids!
or at least, that was the plan.
they gather with their rookies. or rather, some of them. one face is conspicuously absent. ]
… He's where?
[ elysium's voice is chilly enough that it causes the defender to startle. he notices this and quickly smiles. but the defender is already wringing his hands, looking mildly ill. he doesn't know where the sniperguard went. they'd gotten a little carried away enjoying the local hospitality and, before he realised it, he was blackout wasted in an alleyway, nursing a pounding headache. when he came to, he was alone. the sniperguard probably ended up in a similar predicament somewhere…? probably fine! these things happen. but for it to happen here, now, in the middle of their first official assignment is utterly humiliating, and both the medic and caster are about ready to smack him dead.
while this gong show goes on, elysium cuts his eyes sideways toward thorns, carefully gauging his reaction. ]
morning arrives, as does their scheduled half-hour of stupid flirting, a ritual neither of them seems capable of skipping. it's inevitably cut short; if they don't get moving, they'll court more trouble than they'll want to bother with. somewhere between the next half hour of perfunctorily getting ready, elysium eventually manages shares what he'd uncovered the night before. it's nothing reassuring, and if anything, a confirmation of their worst suspicions. the mission is on the precipice of turning dangerous, and while it's a little too early to say which direction it's about to turn, with their charges' nerves hanging by a thread, elysium had already sent a discreet transmission back to rhodes before they'd reconvened: request for covert backup. there are too many parallels with zeruertza to ignore.
this really would be so much simpler if they were forthcoming with their knowledge.
but elysium has no intention of letting thorns make the call to pursue leads unilaterally, not without explicit orders. why should they get themselves into danger if they don't have to? so, while they wait on rhodes' directives, today becomes just another day of… shepherding their kids!
or at least, that was the plan.
they gather with their rookies. or rather, some of them. one face is conspicuously absent. ]
… He's where?
[ elysium's voice is chilly enough that it causes the defender to startle. he notices this and quickly smiles. but the defender is already wringing his hands, looking mildly ill. he doesn't know where the sniperguard went. they'd gotten a little carried away enjoying the local hospitality and, before he realised it, he was blackout wasted in an alleyway, nursing a pounding headache. when he came to, he was alone. the sniperguard probably ended up in a similar predicament somewhere…? probably fine! these things happen. but for it to happen here, now, in the middle of their first official assignment is utterly humiliating, and both the medic and caster are about ready to smack him dead.
while this gong show goes on, elysium cuts his eyes sideways toward thorns, carefully gauging his reaction. ]
[ okay.
the news about what elysium found out isn't surprising, even if it's bad. it really would be easier if they were just honest because then they could openly discuss everything they have run into over the various timelines. in fact, maybe they could actually solve what's going on if they did that? especially since so many of their deaths have been related to it? things to think about.
his first instinct is, in fact, to immediately go out there to investigate. he manages not to. but then they learn about the missing operator.
... ]
I need to remind you all that we are on a mission. It's fine to relax and enjoy the festivities, but you should never lose yourself in it. This isn't a vacation. We still don't know where the people who were following us went. If you ever get that drunk while on duty again, there will be repercussions.
[ he can not say drunk in general because elysium is standing next to him who is the poster child of getting drunk on the job. ]
We need to locate him. Give us a list of everywhere he went yesterday and who you all spoke to. I need you all to stay in the immediate area of the hotel in case he returns on his own. Look around here, but periodically check your rooms. If you split up, only do so for short intervals before regrouping here. Elysium and I will look further out.
the news about what elysium found out isn't surprising, even if it's bad. it really would be easier if they were just honest because then they could openly discuss everything they have run into over the various timelines. in fact, maybe they could actually solve what's going on if they did that? especially since so many of their deaths have been related to it? things to think about.
his first instinct is, in fact, to immediately go out there to investigate. he manages not to. but then they learn about the missing operator.
... ]
I need to remind you all that we are on a mission. It's fine to relax and enjoy the festivities, but you should never lose yourself in it. This isn't a vacation. We still don't know where the people who were following us went. If you ever get that drunk while on duty again, there will be repercussions.
[ he can not say drunk in general because elysium is standing next to him who is the poster child of getting drunk on the job. ]
We need to locate him. Give us a list of everywhere he went yesterday and who you all spoke to. I need you all to stay in the immediate area of the hotel in case he returns on his own. Look around here, but periodically check your rooms. If you split up, only do so for short intervals before regrouping here. Elysium and I will look further out.
[ a guy drinks a couple of times to cozy up to locals or new colleagues and suddenly he's branded an alcoholic. okay. but that is the difference in seniority speaking, and when the medic glances at elysium for his take, he only answers with a loose, dismissive shrug.
there's nothing to contest when everything thorns said is correct. instead, after he says his piece, elysium produces a map, holding it out for the defender to mark where he'd woken up and where, approximately, he remembers being. he offers an easy smile, and for once—he earns a point as opposed to losing one. if they both were truly as drunk as claimed, the sniperguard couldn't have strayed far. there are only so many establishments serving alcohol within the perimetre; if it comes to combing through people, it won't be difficult.
still, it's clear the rookies need to work out their issues among each other before anything else. they bow, apologise profusely for the trouble, and vow to do better before dragging the defender off to hammer out their plan of attack.
only once they're out of earshot does elysium turn fully to thorns. ]
Everything feels a little too coincidental, don't you think? You weren't wrong about anything you said, so I didn't interject… but from what I know of them, they don't seem the type to be this reckless.
[ his mind circles back to zeruertza. they'd drunk, yes, and they were the rowdier of the four, but the only time they'd truly let loose was when the mission was declared finished and when it came time to the unveiling and celebration of the greater aquapit. but he can't say any of that, can he? so, he just sounds like someone giving his unsolicited opinion on two people he hardly knows.
in theory. a hand finds its way on thorns' shoulder. ]
… Let's be careful.
there's nothing to contest when everything thorns said is correct. instead, after he says his piece, elysium produces a map, holding it out for the defender to mark where he'd woken up and where, approximately, he remembers being. he offers an easy smile, and for once—he earns a point as opposed to losing one. if they both were truly as drunk as claimed, the sniperguard couldn't have strayed far. there are only so many establishments serving alcohol within the perimetre; if it comes to combing through people, it won't be difficult.
still, it's clear the rookies need to work out their issues among each other before anything else. they bow, apologise profusely for the trouble, and vow to do better before dragging the defender off to hammer out their plan of attack.
only once they're out of earshot does elysium turn fully to thorns. ]
Everything feels a little too coincidental, don't you think? You weren't wrong about anything you said, so I didn't interject… but from what I know of them, they don't seem the type to be this reckless.
[ his mind circles back to zeruertza. they'd drunk, yes, and they were the rowdier of the four, but the only time they'd truly let loose was when the mission was declared finished and when it came time to the unveiling and celebration of the greater aquapit. but he can't say any of that, can he? so, he just sounds like someone giving his unsolicited opinion on two people he hardly knows.
in theory. a hand finds its way on thorns' shoulder. ]
… Let's be careful.
It's why I don't want them splitting up, but I know they're going to end up doing it.
[ everyone always thinks splitting up is the correct thing to do while searching, so it's easier to just put rules on it versus outright restricting it.
he wonders, briefly, if he should just come clean, except now really is not the time for it. the follow-up discussion about it all would likely be a long one, and what they don't have at the moment is a lot of time to waste. he puts the thought aside to examine later. ]
Let's go. If anything, since they're all foreigners, people who were working may have took more notice of them.
[ even more, they were all wearing rhodes island branded items, so there's that as well. which may have bitten them in the ass here, but they could probably use it to try to locate him. ]
[ everyone always thinks splitting up is the correct thing to do while searching, so it's easier to just put rules on it versus outright restricting it.
he wonders, briefly, if he should just come clean, except now really is not the time for it. the follow-up discussion about it all would likely be a long one, and what they don't have at the moment is a lot of time to waste. he puts the thought aside to examine later. ]
Let's go. If anything, since they're all foreigners, people who were working may have took more notice of them.
[ even more, they were all wearing rhodes island branded items, so there's that as well. which may have bitten them in the ass here, but they could probably use it to try to locate him. ]
[ their rhodes identifiers are what's concerning.
the defender's still unesteady on his feet, so there's that… elysium's gaze flits toward the caster and medic taking turns getting their hits in and feels a flicker of relief. better, for now, that they don't realise how serious this could be. ]
You can leave the talking to me. Just keep an eye out for anything unusual, and if you need me to make a bigger distraction, give the signal. [ his brow furrows as he pockets the map, pulling out an earpiece to fit into his ear and cover with his hair. ] The area's troubling enough on its own.
[ …
he folds his jacket neatly into his bag. if they're being watched, the precaution is probably already too late. but for anyone they might have to speak to, it could still make a difference.
but they can head toward the alley where the defender had woken. compared to the festival's main streets and the heart of where their hotel is, the space is unnervingly quiet. a handful of people drift by, absorbed in their own business, but none acknowledge him or thorns. no greetings, no eye contact. just an odd, deliberate sort of indifference like bringing attention to themselves would be trouble. strange. ]
the defender's still unesteady on his feet, so there's that… elysium's gaze flits toward the caster and medic taking turns getting their hits in and feels a flicker of relief. better, for now, that they don't realise how serious this could be. ]
You can leave the talking to me. Just keep an eye out for anything unusual, and if you need me to make a bigger distraction, give the signal. [ his brow furrows as he pockets the map, pulling out an earpiece to fit into his ear and cover with his hair. ] The area's troubling enough on its own.
[ …
he folds his jacket neatly into his bag. if they're being watched, the precaution is probably already too late. but for anyone they might have to speak to, it could still make a difference.
but they can head toward the alley where the defender had woken. compared to the festival's main streets and the heart of where their hotel is, the space is unnervingly quiet. a handful of people drift by, absorbed in their own business, but none acknowledge him or thorns. no greetings, no eye contact. just an odd, deliberate sort of indifference like bringing attention to themselves would be trouble. strange. ]
[ well, considering there is absolutely no reason for any of them to have ended up here, there are so many alarm bells going off in his head. it didn't sound like the defender remembered making his way towards here, so that gives them two options: he was dumped here or he really did pass out in this specific alley. the problem is that if it's the former, then that may make tracing their steps more difficult.
someone makes the terrible mistake of glancing at them for longer than five seconds. thorns will take that as an in. ]
Hey.
[ that's as much as he will say because he will be nice and let elysium actually do the talking. ]
someone makes the terrible mistake of glancing at them for longer than five seconds. thorns will take that as an in. ]
Hey.
[ that's as much as he will say because he will be nice and let elysium actually do the talking. ]
[ they try to scurry the moment thorns establishes eye contact, but elysium is faster. he cuts their exit with a casual spread of his arms, eyes down turned in worry. he doesn't want to take up too much of their time; they're here on vacation meeting with their friends, but they seem to have lost them at some point. if they've seen a bolívarian perro it would be much appreciated if they could share anything they know.
they look so genuinely uncomfortable by this, just stuttering that they don't know anything. they don't seem to process any of what elysium says, and the moment they say their piece, they quickly excuse themselves in the direction they came from looking like they want to get as far as possible from them, rather than to any specific destination. okay. ]
You caught someone checking you out. Congrats.
[ elysium's taking this seriously ]
they look so genuinely uncomfortable by this, just stuttering that they don't know anything. they don't seem to process any of what elysium says, and the moment they say their piece, they quickly excuse themselves in the direction they came from looking like they want to get as far as possible from them, rather than to any specific destination. okay. ]
You caught someone checking you out. Congrats.
[ elysium's taking this seriously ]
[ he reaches over and pinches him. perhaps if they appear stupid then other people will be less scared of them. ]
No one is checking me out. Shut up.
[ while this does not make people appear less on guard, it does make a few of them seem to decide they're not worth paying attention to. perhaps they really are lost tourists...? ]
No one is checking me out. Shut up.
[ while this does not make people appear less on guard, it does make a few of them seem to decide they're not worth paying attention to. perhaps they really are lost tourists...? ]
Aw, embarrassed? They totally were. They were trying to undress you with their eyes. Like——this.
[ it may or may not be true. it may or no may not be even more true of elysium, who is most definitely is putting on the most lascivious performance of a lifetime with his eyes.
where is their sense of urgency and why is he openly flirting like this. at least, the stupidity does seem to work in convincing people they're harmless… ]
[ it may or may not be true. it may or no may not be even more true of elysium, who is most definitely is putting on the most lascivious performance of a lifetime with his eyes.
where is their sense of urgency and why is he openly flirting like this. at least, the stupidity does seem to work in convincing people they're harmless… ]
You mean, the chance I took but was cut short out of my will?
[ he huffs against thorns' hand, looking fully chagrined when he places a hand on his hip. sighing, he turns and visors his vision… and woah! his eyes light up. ]
Hey! You! [ POINTS. ] You look like you know something!
[ runs up to them while they look like a paralysed wild creature. there is someone in the background currently trying to escape their notice who elysium discreetly signals to. ]
[ he huffs against thorns' hand, looking fully chagrined when he places a hand on his hip. sighing, he turns and visors his vision… and woah! his eyes light up. ]
Hey! You! [ POINTS. ] You look like you know something!
[ runs up to them while they look like a paralysed wild creature. there is someone in the background currently trying to escape their notice who elysium discreetly signals to. ]
Edited 2025-08-23 23:14 (UTC)
[ before thorns even asks his questions they say they don't know anything while trying to sidestep to make their escape. they very clearly look nervous… what's thorns going to do?
in the meantime, elysium is menacing this poor person who actually knows nothing. but he sure is being flashy enough to keep everyone's attention off of any questionable activities thorns might default to. he's welcome!!! ]
in the meantime, elysium is menacing this poor person who actually knows nothing. but he sure is being flashy enough to keep everyone's attention off of any questionable activities thorns might default to. he's welcome!!! ]
[ thorns is just going to wrap an arm around their shoulders and just steers them around a corner without anyone noticing.
there's a well hidden doorway, and thorns stops there with his new buddy. ]
I have some questions. There was a pretty young group here last night, and one was a perro–he got really drunk? Did you see him?
there's a well hidden doorway, and thorns stops there with his new buddy. ]
I have some questions. There was a pretty young group here last night, and one was a perro–he got really drunk? Did you see him?
[ wahoo
the rest of the week passes normally. thorns ends up taking the discount, eve though he has his suspicions about it. but he has no idea why it seems off to him... but the gym confirmed it... perhaps he is overreacting?
well. either way, the weekend arrives. the wedding is saturday in the evening, but they'll drive over early in the morning so that they can have most of the day to do whatever before they're forced to get ready. thorns gets them breakfast to eat on the road... breakfast burritos... ]
the rest of the week passes normally. thorns ends up taking the discount, eve though he has his suspicions about it. but he has no idea why it seems off to him... but the gym confirmed it... perhaps he is overreacting?
well. either way, the weekend arrives. the wedding is saturday in the evening, but they'll drive over early in the morning so that they can have most of the day to do whatever before they're forced to get ready. thorns gets them breakfast to eat on the road... breakfast burritos... ]
[ there's a flicker of recognition in their eyes, but they keeps quiet, still trying to slip free with as little fuss as possible. under their breath, they mutter it like a mantra—they don't know anything, they see know anything, they have to not know anything—which, if anything, only makes them seem more suspicious. they're almost manic.
the one with elysium is luckier; they scuttle off without interference. elysium is left staring. voice then pitched in mock surprise: ]
… Huh? Where'd he go?
[ they are so stupid. one might think this is how they lost the other guy. ]
the one with elysium is luckier; they scuttle off without interference. elysium is left staring. voice then pitched in mock surprise: ]
… Huh? Where'd he go?
[ they are so stupid. one might think this is how they lost the other guy. ]
[ thanks esteemed customer your patronage is much obliged. they thank him for his yearlong membership with exaggerated sincerity and swear they won't disappoint. the vibe is so weird.
but thorns grabbing breakfast works out because it takes elysium nearly two hours to make sure everything is packed properly, on top of the hour he's already awake before thorns. he does not trust that man to transport his suit wrinkle-free. even then, he tucks in an iron as a failsafe amongst other ridiculous things like painkillers. what if thorns is hungover the next morning? they can't have him waiting for a cvs to open.
as they're waiting through their first stop of the morning, a drive-thru for coffee— ]
… It's been a while since we've done something like this, huh?
[ he's talking about the road trip specifically… he'd probably invited himself thorns' back in the day, now here they are, doing it just the two of them. it's faintly nostalgic. ]
but thorns grabbing breakfast works out because it takes elysium nearly two hours to make sure everything is packed properly, on top of the hour he's already awake before thorns. he does not trust that man to transport his suit wrinkle-free. even then, he tucks in an iron as a failsafe amongst other ridiculous things like painkillers. what if thorns is hungover the next morning? they can't have him waiting for a cvs to open.
as they're waiting through their first stop of the morning, a drive-thru for coffee— ]
… It's been a while since we've done something like this, huh?
[ he's talking about the road trip specifically… he'd probably invited himself thorns' back in the day, now here they are, doing it just the two of them. it's faintly nostalgic. ]
[ okay, well, this confirms that they fuckin knows something. ]
I am going to ask you yes or no questions. If it's a yes, I need you to blink twice. If it's a no, blink once. Okay?
[ he will see if this works. ]
Did you see our friend? If you saw your friend, was he alive or dead?
I am going to ask you yes or no questions. If it's a yes, I need you to blink twice. If it's a no, blink once. Okay?
[ he will see if this works. ]
Did you see our friend? If you saw your friend, was he alive or dead?
... Yeah.
[ he almost adds that they were planning on doing one together after they graduated high school, which obviously was shelved. thorns doesn't know if elysium just did it with someone else after instead; it was pretty planned out at that point already. he decides that he doesn't want to know, actually. ]
You had a much crappier car back then.
[ he almost adds that they were planning on doing one together after they graduated high school, which obviously was shelved. thorns doesn't know if elysium just did it with someone else after instead; it was pretty planned out at that point already. he decides that he doesn't want to know, actually. ]
You had a much crappier car back then.
[ not me making back-to-back typos in my tags to you… bursts into tears
but that, of course, only makes them lock up entirely, eyes and mouth snapping shut all at once.
on the other side, elysium isn't faring much differently, trying his hand (and mouth) with nearby shopkeepers and locals. either he's flat-out ignored, or they make it abundantly clear he's not welcome. tough crowd. he does purposefully keep people from wandering in the direction thorns had, though—the only thing worse than having to take a detour is talking to an annoying guy you really don't want to. so! there is that. ]
but that, of course, only makes them lock up entirely, eyes and mouth snapping shut all at once.
on the other side, elysium isn't faring much differently, trying his hand (and mouth) with nearby shopkeepers and locals. either he's flat-out ignored, or they make it abundantly clear he's not welcome. tough crowd. he does purposefully keep people from wandering in the direction thorns had, though—the only thing worse than having to take a detour is talking to an annoying guy you really don't want to. so! there is that. ]
Don't remind me. What matters is that it got the job done.
[ sure, they'd had to troubleshoot it more often than not nearing the end of what felt like its seventh life, but they'd learned plenty—and more importantly, experienced plenty because of it.
it's funny that thorns thinks he's so replaceable. that one road trip they'd never done and someone later invited him on had been turned down out of sheer sentimentality. he wonders if it would be too telling to ask thorns to go on it now, finger tapping on his wheel in thought. probably. ]
Did you want anything, or were you planning to fall back asleep?
[ sure, they'd had to troubleshoot it more often than not nearing the end of what felt like its seventh life, but they'd learned plenty—and more importantly, experienced plenty because of it.
it's funny that thorns thinks he's so replaceable. that one road trip they'd never done and someone later invited him on had been turned down out of sheer sentimentality. he wonders if it would be too telling to ask thorns to go on it now, finger tapping on his wheel in thought. probably. ]
Did you want anything, or were you planning to fall back asleep?
[ okay.
well, this is where the corazonix cam be useful. he is just going to try to get a better idea of what this guy's vibe is. is he sick? ]
If you don't tell me, when I run into whoever did this, I'll just tell them that you told me everything anyway.
[ will he? no. ]
well, this is where the corazonix cam be useful. he is just going to try to get a better idea of what this guy's vibe is. is he sick? ]
If you don't tell me, when I run into whoever did this, I'll just tell them that you told me everything anyway.
[ will he? no. ]
[ it's fear! they stammer out that death would be preferable to what they would put him through for blabbing. if he is going to die anyway, he would like to die on his own terms. which is at thorns' hand, apparently.
can't believe thorns would genuinely leave elysium on his own during another mission because this is where things stop being a one man circus. he notices something very wrong from his periphery—and with one glance towards thorns, he
makes the executive decision to pursue. bye!! ]
can't believe thorns would genuinely leave elysium on his own during another mission because this is where things stop being a one man circus. he notices something very wrong from his periphery—and with one glance towards thorns, he
makes the executive decision to pursue. bye!! ]
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