The Meteor Shower (3) : It wouldn't be a star festival without a meteor shower! Right on time, a beautiful array of shooting stars graces the night sky. This time of year is unnaturally clear and it's incredibly easy to see the stars. Most meteor fragments appear to be little white or yellow lights streaming across the sky, but if you watch closely enough you may find that some of them seem to be a whole rainbow of colors. The scientists have reported that it's just different components burning up as they enter the atmosphere, but there's something undeniably magical about it.
Quote:
Occurs at the same time as the calls coming from inside the house.
Malory was pitiful, soft, sweet. Lamenting those breaks that none may see. He healed fast, Eles knew, so inexplicably fast, and Eles had expected those mottled bruises above his hips would grow and fade inside of a week. He fostered a small wonder, and a growing dread, when they didn't.
That petulant meeting with the dumpster fire man loomed ever closer, and what had begun as malicious fun was soon another basis for him to worry. Hybris wouldn't be at his best when going to meet this man. And what if he needed to be hale? What if it came down to a fight and the deciding factor was Hybris's damaged condition? At the time, Eles could never have guessed that his impulsive need for penance could have punished them both so thoroughly. Even if he didn't regret it, it haunted him.
So Eles decided to do something about it. Show his owner that this pet could still play fetch. If nothing else, these strange ventures into Destiny City's obtuse nightlife allowed him brief glimpses into the power of the magic at play. As Hybris said, magic was real. Magic, it seemed, lived in each of them.
And magic was terribly useful, too. Even if it was a waste.
Eles had avoided SOCIAL since meeting Adam there, and apart from Malory, he'd breathed not a word of it to anyone. There was no one else to tell. Over a month ago, now, he'd been invited into Malory's esoteric life, and as a consequence, joined the curious boy in his ebony tower. They were stranded up there. Fated to only descend however briefly, if only to be reminded of how isolated they were. Perhaps that kept him safe from any consequences Borax may have planned, but it nevertheless restricted him in his options for assistance.
Sars fell in an overdramatic backdrop to the city, but for once, the boy wasn't paying attention. Eles pushed through the doors to the bar dressed in a simple green top littered with holes and paint stains. Beneath was a pair of spotless black shorts with pockets deep enough to smuggle souls. Ideally, his mediocre hobby attire wouldn't invite any onlookers.
A brief look around and Eles found him almost immediately. Sitting in the same spot, in the same bar, looking altogether self-impressed from the back. Eles drew a long sigh. He clenched then unclenched his jaw. Finally he approached, then took up a seat next to a boy whose taste he could still remember.
I need a starseed, he signed after tapping the boy on the shoulder. What will it take for you to get me one?
seiana_zi
Borax, for his part, hadn't planned any consequences specifically.
Rather, he grew curious, almost morbidly so. What was in Eles' chest? Was he an unawakened senshi that Borax had simply found before either a cat or Order? That would have been like Evan, though something didn't quite match with the sensation…
Was he a knight? An already awakened knight or senshi, even? If he was either of those, Borax would have to kill him if he found him again, but something seemed… interesting about that, too. Why was he so curious? Was it a game? Was he trying to get Borax to confess something dark or worse about the Negaverse themselves?
It would've worked, if that were true.
Was he somehow an agent already? If he was, how did he know so little about the Negaverse itself?
It was a baffling set of things that had no answer without trying to drill into the intricacies of Eles' life, and there were only so many of those he could properly find. Had Eles even been living before this point? Which brought other questions, other ponderings, and still no answers, not yet.
Perhaps those answers would present themselves to him.
Adam looked over his shoulder with some modicum of surprise, albeit muted, swirling his drink in his glass. “Eles. A pleasure to see you.” And he did truly mean that, for all it may have seemed untrue, considering their last meeting. His smile and tone were sincere, at least.
His language, though, immediately swapped to something most wouldn't understand. What use would you have in that?
Rather, he grew curious, almost morbidly so. What was in Eles' chest? Was he an unawakened senshi that Borax had simply found before either a cat or Order? That would have been like Evan, though something didn't quite match with the sensation…
Was he a knight? An already awakened knight or senshi, even? If he was either of those, Borax would have to kill him if he found him again, but something seemed… interesting about that, too. Why was he so curious? Was it a game? Was he trying to get Borax to confess something dark or worse about the Negaverse themselves?
It would've worked, if that were true.
Was he somehow an agent already? If he was, how did he know so little about the Negaverse itself?
It was a baffling set of things that had no answer without trying to drill into the intricacies of Eles' life, and there were only so many of those he could properly find. Had Eles even been living before this point? Which brought other questions, other ponderings, and still no answers, not yet.
Perhaps those answers would present themselves to him.
Adam looked over his shoulder with some modicum of surprise, albeit muted, swirling his drink in his glass. “Eles. A pleasure to see you.” And he did truly mean that, for all it may have seemed untrue, considering their last meeting. His smile and tone were sincere, at least.
His language, though, immediately swapped to something most wouldn't understand. What use would you have in that?
Pleasure wasn't the word Eles would use to describe Adam's company. While curious about the boy, unafraid of his alter ego and hedonistic disinterest in human lives, he didn't find this boy particularly pleasurable at all. Rather, Borax gifted him a torrent of pain in exchange for Eles's generosity. An awful hurt that persisted for days.
In the time since, he tried to avoid thinking about Adam or Borax. Doing so brought him back to Malory's careful warning about spreading his identity as Hybris. A terrible, burdensome secret that could upend someone's entire life if found out in a broader sense. When Eles escaped through a hole in the world, was Adam worried about such a result? Did he scour the city looking for a black-haired, orange-eyed boy who would recognize both sides of him on site? Had Eles escaped through his cleverly stupid use of blonde hair dye?
He let the questions simmer. When the barkeep dropped by for orders, Eles pointed to a deep ultramarine gin-based drink.
While they were still in public, Eles wasn't being dragged into the shitters to get drowned in black water, so consequences weren't as imminent as he expected. That was helpful. Maybe he could reach a productive conclusion with this meeting.
You told me they're sometimes used to heal someone. I need to heal my boy. He's hurt and it's my fault. He's got an important meeting coming up and I need him as hale as he can get.
I'll pay for it. Trade for it. Whatever you want.
seiana_zi
They are.
Eles wasn't wrong and Adam had been telling the truth when he had said that. He also wasn't certain of starseeds’ application to his boy, in specific. Was his boy a hidden knight or senshi, too? Somehow, that seemed less likely considering the question; a knight or a senshi of the White Moon wouldn't be asking for a starseed, and neither would someone close to them.
Adam was studying Eles closely. No malice, simply… curiosity. Was this a game, or was the request sincere? Eles hadn't used many words, and usually the less words, the better. Liars tended to embellish. Eles wasn't embellishing.
It was simple. He needed a starseed to heal his boy, whatever his boy was.
Fascinating.
Don't need you to pay me. And that was true in its entirety. Adam Bal was quite a rich figure in his day to day. (It was more likely than he realized that he and Malory had at least met in passing, considering their backgrounds.)
A trade would be better. And then, thoughtfully, Would anything be off limits?
He needed to keep taps on Eles. Better to keep their relationship cordial.
Eles wasn't wrong and Adam had been telling the truth when he had said that. He also wasn't certain of starseeds’ application to his boy, in specific. Was his boy a hidden knight or senshi, too? Somehow, that seemed less likely considering the question; a knight or a senshi of the White Moon wouldn't be asking for a starseed, and neither would someone close to them.
Adam was studying Eles closely. No malice, simply… curiosity. Was this a game, or was the request sincere? Eles hadn't used many words, and usually the less words, the better. Liars tended to embellish. Eles wasn't embellishing.
It was simple. He needed a starseed to heal his boy, whatever his boy was.
Fascinating.
Don't need you to pay me. And that was true in its entirety. Adam Bal was quite a rich figure in his day to day. (It was more likely than he realized that he and Malory had at least met in passing, considering their backgrounds.)
A trade would be better. And then, thoughtfully, Would anything be off limits?
He needed to keep taps on Eles. Better to keep their relationship cordial.
The question gave him pause. Adam was playing soft with him — letting him recover from his mistakes for rushing so brazenly into such a transaction. Eles slowed himself down, told himself to concentrate on the thought as the bartender swung by and Eles ordered an encore of that white russian they'd both had the night that they met. Within the logistics of pointing at the menu and nodding or shaking his head, it was enough to decide on some terms.
Fine, no money, Eles conceded. It was easier that way; he wouldn't have to pick up shifts at Starlight to cover any unexpected bills. He didn't want such a transaction on Malory's bank statements.
He's off-limits. Can't ask for anything that invalidates the purpose of the trade. No taking my starseed and giving it back to me — has to be one I can give to him. No coming after me with vengeance on your tongue if I reject your barter.
He supposed that was enough. Lines drawn with enough room to maneuver, to negotiate fairly, for he could afford Adam that for having grace for his misstep. And, with a fresh drink served in front of him, he could ease his nerves while he waited for this curious man to make his offer.
Malory had said it sounded like he tried to corrupt Eles. To pull him into that paramilitary force called the Negaverse. He wondered what, precisely, that entailed.
seiana_zi
Alright, easy enough. Taking Eles' starseed wouldn't be helpful to his own purposes anyway; where he wanted Eles’ starseed was in his chest and infused with the power of Chaos itself. He wasn't going to ask for his boy’s soul for just the purpose of healing him; that would have the complete opposite effect. It would certainly help him replenish his cache, but he wasn't exactly short, either.
Adam made a habit of making sure his stash stayed full. A few in subspace in case he needed them, mostly. They could be good bartering tools if needed, and also a good quick pick up if a White Mooner got uppity.
And no coming after him? Well, perhaps not in that way.
Adam swirled his drink as he pondered the possibilities in front of him. What bargain could he propose for the price of a soul? What would be worth that much? What determined how much a soul weighed?
Perhaps there was an easy one. Perhaps there was a way he could ask for a soul in return, but not in the same way. He certainly wasn't looking to take Eles’ soul. That would ruin the point. But perhaps he was looking to take it in a different way.
He sipped from his drink.
Thoughtfully, as he put his drink down, he signed, Before we finish any agreement, Adam clicked his tongue against his palate, what kind of hurt does your boy have? How bad?
His signing lacked some of the eloquence of his words, but he figured he was communicating the question well enough.
Adam made a habit of making sure his stash stayed full. A few in subspace in case he needed them, mostly. They could be good bartering tools if needed, and also a good quick pick up if a White Mooner got uppity.
And no coming after him? Well, perhaps not in that way.
Adam swirled his drink as he pondered the possibilities in front of him. What bargain could he propose for the price of a soul? What would be worth that much? What determined how much a soul weighed?
Perhaps there was an easy one. Perhaps there was a way he could ask for a soul in return, but not in the same way. He certainly wasn't looking to take Eles’ soul. That would ruin the point. But perhaps he was looking to take it in a different way.
He sipped from his drink.
Thoughtfully, as he put his drink down, he signed, Before we finish any agreement, Adam clicked his tongue against his palate, what kind of hurt does your boy have? How bad?
His signing lacked some of the eloquence of his words, but he figured he was communicating the question well enough.
Eles started on the white russian, used the heat from it to steel himself against his nerves. Numb whatever flutter of fitful anxiety promised him that he was out of his element, that he was bargaining beyond his capabilities. Better, then, that he drowned out that worrisome voice that repeatedly reminded him that a soul's worth couldn't be judged by another human. That bargaining for someone's soul based on its healing merits was such a devilish choice.
He didn't care. Licking some of the salted foam from his upper lip, Eles resolved to place his order with Mephistopheles here. No matter the cost.
While Eles read the signs quicker than Adam could manage them, he wasn't any faster with his response. Rather, he stared into that white foam as if he could divine the best possible answer from it. Was it better to lie and say that Hybris wasn't that hurt? Or would it be more to his advantage to tell the truth? An innate distrust of others informed him that the truth meant more leverage. However, Adam could have screwed him over already but refrained. And Eles had no means of gauging how much a single starseed could do, if anything. He couldn't even prove Borax right.
There was nothing else for it, then. He has a couple broken ribs. Probably runs the risk of puncturing a lung every time he breathes. Or, at least, that was the worry that hadn't come to pass.
He complains about it all the time. Hasn't been able to do anything. We never learned 'moderation' so I'm guessing they keep getting irritated. Or it interferes with healing. Not on expert on s**t like that.
seiana_zi
Eles was taking his time, which in itself was fine. Adam was willing to wait it out. When he saw in front of him a potential person who would have given him some more credit in his organization, perhaps credit that would get him his eventual aim?
Sure. He had all the time in the world. And on top of that, he was very curious about what would drive anyone to ask him for a soul, of all things. Eles hadn't understood the depths of the Negaverse when Adam revealed himself, but nothing of their prior interactions scared him. Nothing of this was scaring him either, a simple trade and barter type interaction.
It was curious, really. Who was Eles, really, and who was his boy?
Adam's brows knit in some show of concern when Eles said his boy risked puncturing along every time he breathed. That sounded like a fairly serious injury, one that he would have suggested going to the hospital for if it wasn't a situation that it seemed like Eles was avoiding (who was his boy?). If he keeps irritating it, it won't heal easily, yes. Adam wasn't exactly a medical expert either, but that sounded accurate to any injury he had gotten.
Neither had learned moderation. Interesting. What were they up to? Was his boy a good candidate, too?
If he won't stop making it angry, injury is probably worse. Not that Adam knew how much worse. Might need more.
To some degree, this was a game. Adam was curious about how Eles would react to a bargain for more than one soul. Would he go for it? Would that scare him off?
Sure. He had all the time in the world. And on top of that, he was very curious about what would drive anyone to ask him for a soul, of all things. Eles hadn't understood the depths of the Negaverse when Adam revealed himself, but nothing of their prior interactions scared him. Nothing of this was scaring him either, a simple trade and barter type interaction.
It was curious, really. Who was Eles, really, and who was his boy?
Adam's brows knit in some show of concern when Eles said his boy risked puncturing along every time he breathed. That sounded like a fairly serious injury, one that he would have suggested going to the hospital for if it wasn't a situation that it seemed like Eles was avoiding (who was his boy?). If he keeps irritating it, it won't heal easily, yes. Adam wasn't exactly a medical expert either, but that sounded accurate to any injury he had gotten.
Neither had learned moderation. Interesting. What were they up to? Was his boy a good candidate, too?
If he won't stop making it angry, injury is probably worse. Not that Adam knew how much worse. Might need more.
To some degree, this was a game. Adam was curious about how Eles would react to a bargain for more than one soul. Would he go for it? Would that scare him off?
What, like two starseeds? Then the worth of a soul wasn't very much at all. But if that was what it took to heal a couple of broken ribs, then it couldn't be helped. He would need to obtain two.
It raised the question of what determined the quality of a starseed's healing properties. Did it have anything to do with the person from whom it was taken? Were people like Rowan, who chose to do good every day, liable to heal more than people like Malory or himself? Did it even matter? He supposed if one was a dud, they could try the other. It's not like the starseed would be coming from anyone he was close with currently. And if the starseed came from someone who happened to be looking for whoever he was before, then Eles decided it was their fault, because they hadn't been looking very hard if they hadn't found him yet.
Fine, he decided at last. I'll bargain for two. In case the first one doesn't work. And if the second one was a dud, then he was better off trying to find other avenues.
Eles watched the bartender walk by, completely oblivious to their conversation. His attention lingered on the man for a moment, then two, then he looked back at Adam. Tried to recall what Borax looked like and how they differed, but the presentation seemed one in the same to him now. Only the outfits changed.
So what do you want for them?
seiana_zi
Two. Unafraid to bargain for two souls just for the potential of them to heal his boy’s broken ribs. It was fascinating to be working with a civilian who had no qualms about trading souls, but he knew that all agents had started as civilians with no magic behind them. All of the thoughts that agents had started somewhere.
All of the thoughts Adam had while working on loan contracts and credit card agreements while he had been working his way up at the bank had started from somewhere.
Two, he signed back, mostly to establish the agreement.
Adam should ask for something bigger, then. Perhaps what he had been considering had been the right idea; perhaps it was even moreso the right idea, now. If someone was ******** with him, maybe swinging for the bigger goal would make that obvious. If Eles was as unafraid as he seemed, this would cement it.
Who was Eles? His familiarity and yet lack thereof had been striking. That hadn't gone away.
If you are determined for souls, offered Adam, thoughtfully, then maybe two dead ones for the service of a living one to the cause may be a good trade.
Adam looked Eles up and down.
Join the Negaverse, and I'll give you what you need.
All of the thoughts Adam had while working on loan contracts and credit card agreements while he had been working his way up at the bank had started from somewhere.
Two, he signed back, mostly to establish the agreement.
Adam should ask for something bigger, then. Perhaps what he had been considering had been the right idea; perhaps it was even moreso the right idea, now. If someone was ******** with him, maybe swinging for the bigger goal would make that obvious. If Eles was as unafraid as he seemed, this would cement it.
Who was Eles? His familiarity and yet lack thereof had been striking. That hadn't gone away.
If you are determined for souls, offered Adam, thoughtfully, then maybe two dead ones for the service of a living one to the cause may be a good trade.
Adam looked Eles up and down.
Join the Negaverse, and I'll give you what you need.
Eles knew enough about the Negaverse to recognize a deal that seemed too good to be true. Not only would he be granted a couple of lives to spend on Malory's ribs, but he would also be joining an organization that granted him the ability to pull lives of his own, to teleport, to collaborate with youma. Those were each strong boons, so Eles guessed they would ask much of him in return. For the moment, though, all Eles knew of their duties was that they had to gather energy. Same as Hybris.
Hopefully a little less of a pyramid scheme, though. Sure, Hybris was stronger than Malory. Was faster, more agile. He could pass through mirrors as if they were doorways and usher in shadows from another world to reap all the energy in a decadent party. But it seemed like… less by comparison. Half-measures at most.
Eles drank down more of his white russian, then licked the foam from his upper lip. The heat in his core spurred him to call his choice now.
Logically, Eles knew that Adam was a creep. He had all the trappings of a creep. He even spoke like one, even stared like one. Their encounter was equal parts this is a terrible idea and everything will work out, though Eles couldn't figure why he felt so certain of the latter.
Fine, he signed at last. I'll join. But not until after my boy's ribs are healed. So tell me — how does one use a starseed to heal?
seiana_zi
Perhaps Adam was channeling exactly what he shouldn't be. The deeper study felt necessary, though, in trying to figure out who he was trying to decipher. If Eles agreed to join, Adam would have more time to do so.
Why did it feel like he wouldn't need more time to figure this one out?
He swirled his drink again as Eles downed his, taking a small sip in comparison. As Eles finalized the agreement in his mind, Adam took a cursory glance around the room. Did anyone else in here know ASL? Was anyone else privy to this conversation?
Adam's gaze snapped back to Eles the moment he saw his hands move.
There were so many questions under the surface. Who was his boy? Was there any way to track this? Would this even work? Who was Eles? Adam glanced down to his pocket, remembered he didn't carry starseeds as a civilian, and looked back to Eles. Did Adam honestly care either way? These souls had already been cursed to whichever existence followed them. Would it be energy into someone else's veins? Would it be Metallia's maw? Would it be powering that laser once more?
You eat them, Adam's smile was a bit wry. Take the starseed and eat it.
Why did it feel like he wouldn't need more time to figure this one out?
He swirled his drink again as Eles downed his, taking a small sip in comparison. As Eles finalized the agreement in his mind, Adam took a cursory glance around the room. Did anyone else in here know ASL? Was anyone else privy to this conversation?
Adam's gaze snapped back to Eles the moment he saw his hands move.
There were so many questions under the surface. Who was his boy? Was there any way to track this? Would this even work? Who was Eles? Adam glanced down to his pocket, remembered he didn't carry starseeds as a civilian, and looked back to Eles. Did Adam honestly care either way? These souls had already been cursed to whichever existence followed them. Would it be energy into someone else's veins? Would it be Metallia's maw? Would it be powering that laser once more?
You eat them, Adam's smile was a bit wry. Take the starseed and eat it.
Poetic cannibalism, Eles signed in return. He studied Adam for it, as if some hidden microexpression could call the boy's bluff. Like they were a pair of antagonists in each other's stories and enough scrutinizing would tip the other one's hand. But no matter how he watched Adam, Eles couldn't point to anything that indicated he was ying.
Worse yet, the strange and unearned instinct that assured him he would be fine in all situations produced no twisting feeling that he should be suspicious. As if this entire deal — one minted in a private conversation for the price of a couple lives — was exactly what it seemed.
Eles hadn't considered the morality of his actions in much detail before. Didn't consider the ethics behind them, either. But here, he had to wonder if his unfounded suspicions were a byproduct of an ethically-challenged deal. As if there needed to be something else afoot to make up for the fact that Eles had no compunctions about it. Magic was real, but as far as he knew, there was still no heaven or hell. Still no karmic backlash.
Do you have them right now? Or do you need time to fetch some? If he'd kept that boy's starseed from last time, then that accounted for half the deal already.
And, if he thought about it, that starseed should have been his by rights. It was because of him that Borax was in such a position to take it.
seiana_zi
While cannibalism took him an extra moment to decipher, when motioned to himself and put the pieces together, he snorted quietly. Poetic like some pieces of art.
There had been a part of him that occasionally thought of the piece of art that showed that titan consuming his own children. Something about that felt true to what the Negaverse did, even if not as visceral.
I do.
Adam more than had them. He kept a regular amount of them flowing into the coffers, sure, but he kept a regular amount of them for himself, too. While he didn't go for them terribly much, knowing that the absolute power they kept could corrupt in a way more absolute than he was comfortable with, they were handy. Some of those senshi and knights were more trouble than others, after all.
Needing time to gather them was a completely different question of its own. Time, no. Adam glanced around the bar once more. If anyone did understand anything of what they were saying, transforming in this room would be unadvisable. If no one understood what they were staying, that would still be unadvisable, but- I do have them. They are in a pocket I cannot get to like this.
Adam gestured up and down to himself in case what he meant wasn't entirely clear.
To make the deal, he would have to be Borax once more. Perhaps that would drive Eles away.
Or perhaps closer.
There had been a part of him that occasionally thought of the piece of art that showed that titan consuming his own children. Something about that felt true to what the Negaverse did, even if not as visceral.
I do.
Adam more than had them. He kept a regular amount of them flowing into the coffers, sure, but he kept a regular amount of them for himself, too. While he didn't go for them terribly much, knowing that the absolute power they kept could corrupt in a way more absolute than he was comfortable with, they were handy. Some of those senshi and knights were more trouble than others, after all.
Needing time to gather them was a completely different question of its own. Time, no. Adam glanced around the bar once more. If anyone did understand anything of what they were saying, transforming in this room would be unadvisable. If no one understood what they were staying, that would still be unadvisable, but- I do have them. They are in a pocket I cannot get to like this.
Adam gestured up and down to himself in case what he meant wasn't entirely clear.
To make the deal, he would have to be Borax once more. Perhaps that would drive Eles away.
Or perhaps closer.
Squinting, Eles stared at Adam with a burgeoning consternation. What was he trying to say? Was this some choppy ASL he was using? Or was Adam implying that he kept starseeds in his ******** prison wallet?
You better not mean your prison wallet, he signed back quickly. But if he had to practice his duck-to-fist conversion and manually disimpact that man of starseeds, he would do so for Mallory. Once. If that boy needed any others later on, he was on his own.
Oh, does this have to do with your alter ego? Does he have performance anxiety? We can go back to the bathrooms.
seiana_zi
Prison wallet was a fascinating way to describe what subspace was. It took him a few more seconds to click together that Eles had no idea what he was talking about other than it did have to do with his alter ego.
Adam snorted.
If that implies a part two, he wouldn't complain, no, but that wasn't what he was getting after. He supposed that Eles' limited knowledge of the Negaverse wouldn't give him knowledge of subspace; he would just have to figure out how to explain it.
In ASL. Hopefully, this wouldn't be too clunky. He didn't exactly know the signs that would produce invisible subdimension.
He shifted in his chair. Yes, alter ego, no, not prison wallet. As Borax, I can, he could…, reach into nothing and pull out something. I put my starseeds there.
That felt accurate enough, honestly.
Adam snorted.
If that implies a part two, he wouldn't complain, no, but that wasn't what he was getting after. He supposed that Eles' limited knowledge of the Negaverse wouldn't give him knowledge of subspace; he would just have to figure out how to explain it.
In ASL. Hopefully, this wouldn't be too clunky. He didn't exactly know the signs that would produce invisible subdimension.
He shifted in his chair. Yes, alter ego, no, not prison wallet. As Borax, I can, he could…, reach into nothing and pull out something. I put my starseeds there.
That felt accurate enough, honestly.
You could have bargained for that. However, he bargained for naught but Eles's servitude. That opportunity for an encore would have to wait until after their deal was transacted.
Adam's rudimentary explanation had Eles imagining Borax as a stage magician, pulling a rabbit out of his top hat while wearing a s**t-eating grin for the crowd. Only it wasn't a rabbit, it was a dead person. Only it wasn't a dead person, it was a starseed. And there was no audience but himself.
With a perfunctory sigh, Eles shifted off the stool. He caught the bartender's brief glance his way, the upwards incline of his chin and raised brow as if to ask if everything was alright. Eles smiled, both thankful for the concern and certain that nothing had gone amiss just yet. He wondered if the bar's patronage dropped as a result of the young man who passed away in the bathroom stalls, but there would be time to chat about that afterward.
For now, he clapped his hand against Adam's bicep as he started for the bathrooms. Resigned though he may be, he was inwardly curiously for this magical, disembodied prison wallet where Borax kept his shiny, shiny starseeds.
seiana_zi
Adam followed, easily, catching the way that Eles had looked over to the bartender, and the way the bartender responded. To some degree, Adam wondered if his appearance was a known one at this bar. They hadn't turned him away from SOCIAL when he arrived, so clearly it hadn't been enough of one.
Or perhaps they simply couldn't make a connection.
Not usually one to bargain for sex, came the response when he thought no one was looking. That much was true; Adam was used to getting those intimate moments, and he didn't need the colourful meteors outside or the lubricant of money to assist the moods people were in, either.
… Of course, perhaps souls were different.
It didn't matter. When they entered the bathroom and Adam did the perfunctory check that all the stalls were clear, Adam was Borax, and the other identity melted away. In here, he could also speak in a more familiar way. “Didn’t mean prison wallet,” he noted, as he indeed reached into what seemed to be the air and retrieved two starseeds.
“Subdimensional, I think. Agents get access to something other than just the Earth we're familiar with.”
A loaded statement, honestly, though Borax was curious for the reaction as he built the story of his newest recruit in his mind.
Or perhaps they simply couldn't make a connection.
Not usually one to bargain for sex, came the response when he thought no one was looking. That much was true; Adam was used to getting those intimate moments, and he didn't need the colourful meteors outside or the lubricant of money to assist the moods people were in, either.
… Of course, perhaps souls were different.
It didn't matter. When they entered the bathroom and Adam did the perfunctory check that all the stalls were clear, Adam was Borax, and the other identity melted away. In here, he could also speak in a more familiar way. “Didn’t mean prison wallet,” he noted, as he indeed reached into what seemed to be the air and retrieved two starseeds.
“Subdimensional, I think. Agents get access to something other than just the Earth we're familiar with.”
A loaded statement, honestly, though Borax was curious for the reaction as he built the story of his newest recruit in his mind.
Must not have been that good, Eles supposed. Or, maybe Adam was the type to play hard-to-get in hopes that some allure about him would cause the other person to cave. Maybe anything close to desperation was too unbecoming for him. Eles didn't put the thought entirely from his mind; there was still a chance that he could win a prize worth having from Malory if he brought home a sufficiently entertaining story of this matter. At that point, the starseeds were just a bonus.
When they reached the bathroom, when Adam assured himself that his secret was safe, Eles watched that shift from Adam to Borax occur once again. And it was strange to him that, this time, it proved far less perplexing. No lurch occupied his thoughts, just like when he watched Malory transform now.
Eles took up residence against a sink, his back to its mirror, his hands thrust in pockets for lack of something to do with them. He thought it cute, the way Adam — Borax — got hung up on the term 'prison wallet'. It must have galled him, hearing something so unflattering in reference to himself. The way he took himself so seriously was cute, too, even if Eles didn't find him particularly intimidating.
The bleached blonde boy knew very little about dimensions, even less about physics, and nothing at all about how they interacted with each other. The whole mention seemed beside the point to him when this boy held up the very starseeds for which Eles had bargained. Those were his key to a good time; all this talk of joining the Negaverse was noise to him.
Is one of those from that boy? He asked first. Then, Will I get some kind of space locker for joining you?
It seemed useful enough. Eles liked receiving good things, helpful things, and building out his life with them. And while he didn't think much of the Negaverse on a whole, he liked the idea that he might learn to teleport. That he could pull his own starseeds, too.
