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[He doesn't have to. Up to this point in their interactions with each other, Cy has proven that he'll listen to what he asks for, what he wants. So it would be easy to say no and get him to leave—he just has to communicate the words.
But then he'd wonder what Cy is going to ask, and... there's still a part of him, even craving security and familiar loneliness, that doesn't want Cy to go just yet. Maybe he'll always be at war with himself like this.]
I will.
But then he'd wonder what Cy is going to ask, and... there's still a part of him, even craving security and familiar loneliness, that doesn't want Cy to go just yet. Maybe he'll always be at war with himself like this.]
I will.
Do you want a better blanket?
（ it's said as he grabs his shirt, getting briefly tangled in it in that universal experience of 'where's the fucking hole for the head actually'. might be a god, still strangely human at the best and worst of times.
it's probably inside out by the time he manages it, tbh. ）
Because this one's a scratchy, asinine piece of shit and I will absolutely get you a better one from one of the other suites.
（ it's said as he grabs his shirt, getting briefly tangled in it in that universal experience of 'where's the fucking hole for the head actually'. might be a god, still strangely human at the best and worst of times.
it's probably inside out by the time he manages it, tbh. ）
Because this one's a scratchy, asinine piece of shit and I will absolutely get you a better one from one of the other suites.
[How is Cyram real.]
It's fine. It doesn't bother me.
[He slept outside 90 percent of the time in that last dimension. As if to make a point, he pulls the (extremely shitty, threadbare) blanket up legs and over his lap.]
Don't steal from someone else because of me.
It's fine. It doesn't bother me.
[He slept outside 90 percent of the time in that last dimension. As if to make a point, he pulls the (extremely shitty, threadbare) blanket up legs and over his lap.]
Don't steal from someone else because of me.
You were [still are?] stealing food. Tell me you weren't thinking about teleporting into a nicer suite and taking a blanket.
[Don't be charming, he's trying to kick you out so he can angst in private.]
If you find one that doesn't belong to anyone, then fine. But I don't need it.
[Don't be charming, he's trying to kick you out so he can angst in private.]
If you find one that doesn't belong to anyone, then fine. But I don't need it.
Sure, sure.
（ he holds out a hand, inviting a reciprocal touch. but there's no expectation of it, and if sasuke doesn't take his hand he'll let it drop without protest. if sasuke does complete the gesture, however, he'll bend over their hands in a gallant, theatrical bow and kiss the back of his. ）
Let's do dinner. After you've had a chance to really, deeply contemplate the foolishness of kicking somebody that looks this good naked out of your bed.
（ a broad, playful wink. ）
Don't be a stranger, Brightside.
（ and then he's gone, leaving only the impression of that eldritch magic behind. ）
（ he holds out a hand, inviting a reciprocal touch. but there's no expectation of it, and if sasuke doesn't take his hand he'll let it drop without protest. if sasuke does complete the gesture, however, he'll bend over their hands in a gallant, theatrical bow and kiss the back of his. ）
Let's do dinner. After you've had a chance to really, deeply contemplate the foolishness of kicking somebody that looks this good naked out of your bed.
（ a broad, playful wink. ）
Don't be a stranger, Brightside.
（ and then he's gone, leaving only the impression of that eldritch magic behind. ）
Edited 2024-01-18 03:34 (UTC)
u, me, some nice (PAID!!! FOR!!!) food and a nice chill (private) night.
wear smth sexy 😉😉
im kidding just be comfy
this is NOT A DATE we are exploring the amenities together bc otherwise i'd never leave my room out of terminal hermit depression agoraphobia u are helping me to broaden my horizons.
late dinner to avoid the crowds.
xoxo
—cy.
[It's a message he stares at for some time. Alongside it comes a pin to a location Sasuke has not yet investigated: somewhere on the upper floors of the resort, entirely opposite of where he has spent most of his time roaming, those grim, cold tunnels underground. The Vale. He doesn't know what this means, but there are only hours to decide whether he is going to go. He recalls Cy's request for dinner last time they spoke, even if he hadn't made a verbal acknowledgment of it—let alone acceptance.
Private. Comfortable. Explicitly not a date. As if Cy is going down a list, checking off all necessary boxes that might earn any ill favor. In such a short time, has he really come to predict Sasuke so well? (Also, what is "xoxo"? "Agoraphobia"? Questions carded into the back of his mind, unimportant.)
Close to the hour, Sasuke arrives. The upper floor of the resort opens into a sprawling rooftop garden, crowned by an expansive, paneled sky he can tell at once is fake, projected with the impression of clouds. At this time of day, an artificial sunset bleeds warm streamers of light across the dome, painting the array of flora in fantastic golds and burgundies. To reach the Vale, it seems, Sasuke is meant to venture down. There are stairways, rope ladders, and bridges all winding into the darker world below—and somewhere amidst it he can sense Cyram's presence, that energy signature wild and otherworldly, looming at a distance. Sasuke observers his surroundings. Rather than navigate the complicated pathways into the Vale, he approaches a ledge, steps over a roped barricade, and drops.
His feet land on the branch of a tree further below, movements agile and deft, an effortless stream of chakra keeping him steady as he leaps from one branch to another. Like this Sasuke travels, at home in the greenery.
Around him, as the illusion of night descends, he is encompassed by the dark. Little lights of blue and green begin to glow in vibrant bioluminescence; the air grows humid, thick, scent of damp moss strong in his nose. The trees are tall and towering.
Though a biome not perfectly accurate, it feels... closer to his village than he has been in a long time.
He goes to where he can feel Cyram. Dressed in simple clothes, obtained from a gracious and charitable source, he blends well into the shadow, utterly soundless, moving with intent.]
wear smth sexy 😉😉
im kidding just be comfy
this is NOT A DATE we are exploring the amenities together bc otherwise i'd never leave my room out of terminal hermit depression agoraphobia u are helping me to broaden my horizons.
late dinner to avoid the crowds.
xoxo
—cy.
[It's a message he stares at for some time. Alongside it comes a pin to a location Sasuke has not yet investigated: somewhere on the upper floors of the resort, entirely opposite of where he has spent most of his time roaming, those grim, cold tunnels underground. The Vale. He doesn't know what this means, but there are only hours to decide whether he is going to go. He recalls Cy's request for dinner last time they spoke, even if he hadn't made a verbal acknowledgment of it—let alone acceptance.
Private. Comfortable. Explicitly not a date. As if Cy is going down a list, checking off all necessary boxes that might earn any ill favor. In such a short time, has he really come to predict Sasuke so well? (Also, what is "xoxo"? "Agoraphobia"? Questions carded into the back of his mind, unimportant.)
Close to the hour, Sasuke arrives. The upper floor of the resort opens into a sprawling rooftop garden, crowned by an expansive, paneled sky he can tell at once is fake, projected with the impression of clouds. At this time of day, an artificial sunset bleeds warm streamers of light across the dome, painting the array of flora in fantastic golds and burgundies. To reach the Vale, it seems, Sasuke is meant to venture down. There are stairways, rope ladders, and bridges all winding into the darker world below—and somewhere amidst it he can sense Cyram's presence, that energy signature wild and otherworldly, looming at a distance. Sasuke observers his surroundings. Rather than navigate the complicated pathways into the Vale, he approaches a ledge, steps over a roped barricade, and drops.
His feet land on the branch of a tree further below, movements agile and deft, an effortless stream of chakra keeping him steady as he leaps from one branch to another. Like this Sasuke travels, at home in the greenery.
Around him, as the illusion of night descends, he is encompassed by the dark. Little lights of blue and green begin to glow in vibrant bioluminescence; the air grows humid, thick, scent of damp moss strong in his nose. The trees are tall and towering.
Though a biome not perfectly accurate, it feels... closer to his village than he has been in a long time.
He goes to where he can feel Cyram. Dressed in simple clothes, obtained from a gracious and charitable source, he blends well into the shadow, utterly soundless, moving with intent.]
（ the spot he'd chosen is sequestered away. backed up against a tree that feels artificially ancient (and he'd know, wouldn't he?) near a small, winding creek, it favours a defender should an attack occur — higher than the surrounding area, clear sightlines, and only one truly easy path in and out.
he's spread out a blanket and there's a platter of assorted food, the portions more towards sampling than a full or robust meal in and of themselves. he doesn't truly know what sasuke likes but he's made a few guesses, things with a broad flavour and a strong umami bent. there's a myoga salad and little sealed cups of miso broth, mushroom caps stuffed with cheese and assorted other bits of finger food, including some little strawberry cakes that look mostly to be made of air. there's a few meat dishes, but those are set on the other side of the platter, clearly not intended for his own consumption.
meanwhile, he's sprawled out beside the blanket, one arm behind his head. a long stalk of grass is held idly between his teeth, occasionally shifted from one side of his mouth to the other. he doesn't seem bored, or particularly aware of time's passage at all, — one hand idly draped across his abdomen — legs crossed, the foot dangling aloft tapping in the air to some unknown rhythm.
sasuke, whenever he makes himself known, absolutely startles the hell out of him. he jumps, half-inhales that grass, and is then promptly doubled with a cough that's just this side of dramatic. ）
Holy fuck, （ he croaks. ） Wear a bell, goddamn.
he's spread out a blanket and there's a platter of assorted food, the portions more towards sampling than a full or robust meal in and of themselves. he doesn't truly know what sasuke likes but he's made a few guesses, things with a broad flavour and a strong umami bent. there's a myoga salad and little sealed cups of miso broth, mushroom caps stuffed with cheese and assorted other bits of finger food, including some little strawberry cakes that look mostly to be made of air. there's a few meat dishes, but those are set on the other side of the platter, clearly not intended for his own consumption.
meanwhile, he's sprawled out beside the blanket, one arm behind his head. a long stalk of grass is held idly between his teeth, occasionally shifted from one side of his mouth to the other. he doesn't seem bored, or particularly aware of time's passage at all, — one hand idly draped across his abdomen — legs crossed, the foot dangling aloft tapping in the air to some unknown rhythm.
sasuke, whenever he makes himself known, absolutely startles the hell out of him. he jumps, half-inhales that grass, and is then promptly doubled with a cough that's just this side of dramatic. ）
Holy fuck, （ he croaks. ） Wear a bell, goddamn.
Edited 2024-01-18 05:05 (UTC)
[The presentation of food—artfully arranged—draws his eye first, but not long. A step forward calls Cy's attention to him, and... he waits calmly until the episode is finished. If there's a quirk of lips in humor at the overdramatic reaction, it's soon quelled in favor of a finely arched brow, mouth pursed into almost-a-frown.]
Not a date? [Because this looks like a date.
Another step forward, then Sasuke sheds his shoes at the edge of the blanket before stepping onto it, approach slow and wary as a cat.]
It must have been expensive. [He surveys the dishes again, then looks—and finds himself looking—at Cy. At the open V collar of his shirt, warm skin on broad display. It's played off in a drop of eyes, Sasuke sinking to a crouch on the blanket as he neatly folds his legs beneath him to settle.] Why here?
Not a date? [Because this looks like a date.
Another step forward, then Sasuke sheds his shoes at the edge of the blanket before stepping onto it, approach slow and wary as a cat.]
It must have been expensive. [He surveys the dishes again, then looks—and finds himself looking—at Cy. At the open V collar of his shirt, warm skin on broad display. It's played off in a drop of eyes, Sasuke sinking to a crouch on the blanket as he neatly folds his legs beneath him to settle.] Why here?
Not a date. I would've worn my fuckin' shoes if it was a date.
（ he hefts one foot up, waggles it about. normal sneaker. no fucking here, no sir. ）
And nah, wasn't that bad. I play a fuckin' mean game of poker. You think they'll throw me out if they know I'm counting cards? （ a cheeky grin, and then he just rolls — literally — over on the grass in a one-man barrel roll that deposits him neatly at the other side of the blanket.
smooth. ）
I like nature. And peace and quiet. And the mushrooms glow, did you see that? Cool shit.
（ he hefts one foot up, waggles it about. normal sneaker. no fucking here, no sir. ）
And nah, wasn't that bad. I play a fuckin' mean game of poker. You think they'll throw me out if they know I'm counting cards? （ a cheeky grin, and then he just rolls — literally — over on the grass in a one-man barrel roll that deposits him neatly at the other side of the blanket.
smooth. ）
I like nature. And peace and quiet. And the mushrooms glow, did you see that? Cool shit.
[He stares, dubiously, at those shoes.]
Just keep them away from the food. [Will one positive word come out of his mouth? Stay tuned.] I've never played poker, so I don't know what you do by counting cards, but I'll assume it means you're cheating. [hm.] I'll keep your secret.
[Truthfully, Sasuke's mostly avoided the games area of the casino—where the resort's revelry takes on an extremely loud, clanging, drunken tilt.
Also, who is the kid here... he watches Cy barrel roll even more dubiously.]
I did see the mushrooms. I came through the trees from above. Some of the animals are real too—the birds. [Leaning, he picks up one of the cups of salad, looking for utensils.] It's... nice here.
[That was almost a "not bad." There, though. The positivity.]
Just keep them away from the food. [Will one positive word come out of his mouth? Stay tuned.] I've never played poker, so I don't know what you do by counting cards, but I'll assume it means you're cheating. [hm.] I'll keep your secret.
[Truthfully, Sasuke's mostly avoided the games area of the casino—where the resort's revelry takes on an extremely loud, clanging, drunken tilt.
Also, who is the kid here... he watches Cy barrel roll even more dubiously.]
I did see the mushrooms. I came through the trees from above. Some of the animals are real too—the birds. [Leaning, he picks up one of the cups of salad, looking for utensils.] It's... nice here.
[That was almost a "not bad." There, though. The positivity.]
It is not cheating, though just about every casino will beg to differ. It's just being good at math. Takes away the house advantage because the goal is screwing you over.
( his brain may be a bonfire but at least he has the fundamental tenets of mathematical constancy, woop woop.
obligingly, he toes said shoes off and kind of kicks them halfhearteldy a distance away.
one lands disappointingly in the creek.
anyways,,,,, )
Am I allowed to give you compliments if it's not a date? Because that colour is lit on you and I wanna say so.
( utensils are, obligingly, unearthed from beneath an artfully folded napkin. tada!
he notices, too — the shift from what he assumes was intended to be not bad, and smiles. just slightly. )
( his brain may be a bonfire but at least he has the fundamental tenets of mathematical constancy, woop woop.
obligingly, he toes said shoes off and kind of kicks them halfhearteldy a distance away.
one lands disappointingly in the creek.
anyways,,,,, )
Am I allowed to give you compliments if it's not a date? Because that colour is lit on you and I wanna say so.
( utensils are, obligingly, unearthed from beneath an artfully folded napkin. tada!
he notices, too — the shift from what he assumes was intended to be not bad, and smiles. just slightly. )
[A pair of mismatched eyes watch that shoe go sailing into the creek with a sad splash of water. Then they flick back to Cy.]
If it isn't a date, you can't compliment me. [You made this bed for yourself. (Or: Sasuke's avoiding compliments.)] Do you mean the color is bright on me? [hello, "lit"?] I wouldn't agree.
[If anything it looks darker in contrast to his skin. Sasuke busies himself with finding a pair of chopsticks among the utensils provided, snapping them apart with his teeth before he tries a bite of the salad.]
... Tomato.
If it isn't a date, you can't compliment me. [You made this bed for yourself. (Or: Sasuke's avoiding compliments.)] Do you mean the color is bright on me? [hello, "lit"?] I wouldn't agree.
[If anything it looks darker in contrast to his skin. Sasuke busies himself with finding a pair of chopsticks among the utensils provided, snapping them apart with his teeth before he tries a bite of the salad.]
... Tomato.
（ oh yeah, he should probably get that shoe back before it floats away, huh? give him a second to call it through the void, and then it drops soddenly down beside the other one with a sad, wet thwock. is he even going to wear it back? who knows. maybe he will just go barefoot for fun and profit. ）
Okay, so I am hereby declaring it a date for the next ten seconds （ he absolutely squints down at his right wrist like he expects to find a watch there, which he absolutely is not wearing, so — ） so I can say that colour looks really gorgeous on you, which is basically what 'lit' means.
（ yes, he managed to time that out perfectly, why do you ask? ）
Now that we're back to just two dudes havin' dinner together, yes tomato. I noticed your weird little beeline towards those biscuits. Shitty memory doesn't mean I'm not observant, you know.
（ says the guy who still clearly has not noticed that half-finished guitar sitting out clearly and plainly visible in his room, but i digress. ）
Okay, so I am hereby declaring it a date for the next ten seconds （ he absolutely squints down at his right wrist like he expects to find a watch there, which he absolutely is not wearing, so — ） so I can say that colour looks really gorgeous on you, which is basically what 'lit' means.
（ yes, he managed to time that out perfectly, why do you ask? ）
Now that we're back to just two dudes havin' dinner together, yes tomato. I noticed your weird little beeline towards those biscuits. Shitty memory doesn't mean I'm not observant, you know.
（ says the guy who still clearly has not noticed that half-finished guitar sitting out clearly and plainly visible in his room, but i digress. ）
[The combination of both of these—compliment and observation—is disarming, upending, and for a moment he simply stares down at the cup of salad stabilized carefully on his thigh. He's heard it before. His appearance has earned plenty of attention in the past, but never so sincerely stated, never from a man he's kissed. Has kissed him. And then the fact that Cy has noticed something as subtle as a preference when his own mind struggles to hold onto so much.
Sasuke's chopsticks hover, head tilted down. Some pink color rises at the back of his neck and tips of ears. He's... touched, by both, and the sentiment is like a dull ache after how they'd last ended things apart by his request.]
You can't change the rules only to suit yourself. [Yes, apparently there are rules.] ... I do like tomatoes. So you weren't wrong.
[will he ever stop being perceived]
Have you finished your guitar?
Sasuke's chopsticks hover, head tilted down. Some pink color rises at the back of his neck and tips of ears. He's... touched, by both, and the sentiment is like a dull ache after how they'd last ended things apart by his request.]
You can't change the rules only to suit yourself. [Yes, apparently there are rules.] ... I do like tomatoes. So you weren't wrong.
[will he ever stop being perceived]
Have you finished your guitar?
Are you gonna stop me?
（ from changing the rules, he means. it's said with a cheeky grin, as he picks up one of those capped mushrooms and pops it in his mouth, chewing obnoxiously. Because That's What Heroes Do, or something. ）
The guitar? No, I thought you threw it out?
（ ... he really just did not look. ）
（ from changing the rules, he means. it's said with a cheeky grin, as he picks up one of those capped mushrooms and pops it in his mouth, chewing obnoxiously. Because That's What Heroes Do, or something. ）
The guitar? No, I thought you threw it out?
（ ... he really just did not look. ）
[...]
I didn't. [He knows he has flaws, but that would just be? so mean? Especially after all the work Cy was putting in to carve it.] I left it by your bed, on the shelf.
[In plain and visible sight.]
Did you make another mess of your room that quickly?
I didn't. [He knows he has flaws, but that would just be? so mean? Especially after all the work Cy was putting in to carve it.] I left it by your bed, on the shelf.
[In plain and visible sight.]
Did you make another mess of your room that quickly?
（ you know that look dogs get when they've just eaten half your sofa and you've come home to find a mess?
yeah.
similarities. he squints a bit, and then raises his gaze skyward as if trying to mentally tabulate where that might have been. then he just props a finger up aloft in a sort of universal, hold please, gesture and transmats out back to his room. he makes a slow circuit, turning on his heel. locates the guitar with the newly processed information as to its whereabouts, goes 'ah, i see' in a speculative murmur, and then pops back in in that oppressive haze of roiling energy. ）
For legal purposes, you'll have to ask my lawyer about the mess my room may or may not be at the moment.
（ which is telling enough. yes, it's a mess again. perhaps a little less of one in an attempt to be respectful of the work sasuke went to the first time around, but also: he sucks at maintaining his space just... more broadly. ）
Anyway. Moving right along — how've you been?
yeah.
similarities. he squints a bit, and then raises his gaze skyward as if trying to mentally tabulate where that might have been. then he just props a finger up aloft in a sort of universal, hold please, gesture and transmats out back to his room. he makes a slow circuit, turning on his heel. locates the guitar with the newly processed information as to its whereabouts, goes 'ah, i see' in a speculative murmur, and then pops back in in that oppressive haze of roiling energy. ）
For legal purposes, you'll have to ask my lawyer about the mess my room may or may not be at the moment.
（ which is telling enough. yes, it's a mess again. perhaps a little less of one in an attempt to be respectful of the work sasuke went to the first time around, but also: he sucks at maintaining his space just... more broadly. ）
Anyway. Moving right along — how've you been?
[Cy vanishes in front of him, a flicker of potent dark energy, and—he frowns, but he continues to eat his tomato salad in careful bites while waiting for the return. Then Cy is back in moments as if never gone; Sasuke barely contains an urge to roll his eyes at the words that follow, whatever 'lawyer' is notwithstanding.
Considering the state of the man's room when he last visited, it isn't shocking, as that sort of mess requires a particular kind of concentrated (lack of) effort. A reflection of the mind it belongs to, perhaps. He'll have to see if he can get in there when Cy isn't around, because he doesn't like the idea of him living like that.
The question nearly earns a knee-jerk, "Fine." But Sasuke stops himself, because it's been weighing on him since last time.]
... Uncertain. [More truthful.] What is it that you do when you move things around? Including yourself, when you teleport. Is it related to your immortality?
Considering the state of the man's room when he last visited, it isn't shocking, as that sort of mess requires a particular kind of concentrated (lack of) effort. A reflection of the mind it belongs to, perhaps. He'll have to see if he can get in there when Cy isn't around, because he doesn't like the idea of him living like that.
The question nearly earns a knee-jerk, "Fine." But Sasuke stops himself, because it's been weighing on him since last time.]
... Uncertain. [More truthful.] What is it that you do when you move things around? Including yourself, when you teleport. Is it related to your immortality?
Edited 2024-01-18 21:38 (UTC)
（ he lapses into a thoughtful silence, reaching for a carrot stick as he does. one unhealthy dollop of dressing later, and he says: ）
I've never really tried to explain it to anyone that I remember offhand, so this is probably gonna come out clumsy as shit for the record. But — it's... imagine a 4D space folded flat — and I say 4D in the sense of the 4th dimension being time — and then plotting a chart from me to the thing, or vice versa. I have to do a shitload of calculations on the fly to make it work, otherwise I will embed myself in a wall somewhere or, I don't know, drop a wet shoe in your salad.
（ promise, threat? it is hard to say with him. the carrot gets crunched, firmly and deliberately. ）
It's not tied to my immortality directly in the sense that one requires the other. It was kinda just the full meal deal when I got godified.
I've never really tried to explain it to anyone that I remember offhand, so this is probably gonna come out clumsy as shit for the record. But — it's... imagine a 4D space folded flat — and I say 4D in the sense of the 4th dimension being time — and then plotting a chart from me to the thing, or vice versa. I have to do a shitload of calculations on the fly to make it work, otherwise I will embed myself in a wall somewhere or, I don't know, drop a wet shoe in your salad.
（ promise, threat? it is hard to say with him. the carrot gets crunched, firmly and deliberately. ）
It's not tied to my immortality directly in the sense that one requires the other. It was kinda just the full meal deal when I got godified.
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