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Utopique | IC Contact.
[ default message plays. ]
( The plan was to fitfully sleep through the night,but his (horrible and lumpy) bed isn't the most comfortable place to sleep. Emil had started out on his back but eventually rolled over in his sleep, right on his still throbbing nose. That'll wake you right up.
It's dark outside, but Emil can't immediately identify the time. Peering at his bedside clock...wow it's late or early, depending on your perspective. Which also means Lalli is still awake, roaming around somewhere or preparing another nest...or he's in The Bone Zone™ again somewhere. Either way, he's still up and right now that actually makes Emil a little nervous.
If you wanted proof he can use his communication device, here it is...although it takes him a hot minute to figure out how to start your own text instead of just replying to one. )
Lalli. areyou okay?
( If this is strangely mysterious or ominous...oops! )
It's dark outside, but Emil can't immediately identify the time. Peering at his bedside clock...wow it's late or early, depending on your perspective. Which also means Lalli is still awake, roaming around somewhere or preparing another nest...or he's in The Bone Zone™ again somewhere. Either way, he's still up and right now that actually makes Emil a little nervous.
If you wanted proof he can use his communication device, here it is...although it takes him a hot minute to figure out how to start your own text instead of just replying to one. )
Lalli. areyou okay?
( If this is strangely mysterious or ominous...oops! )
[It's really the only time Lalli feels awake. Weaving through the streets with the wind's fingers uselessly trying to tug the hood of his uniform down... It made him feel fast and powerful. Unstoppable.
The unexpected noise from his pocket that makes him trip up and thank the gods for the thick gloves and boots that saved him from scraping up his skin? Not giving that same unstoppable feeling. He feels pretty damn stopped.
He's annoyed at first, shifting to sit while he digs out the phone thing to glare at the number, but when he recognizes it as Emil, his feelings swing wildly into confusion. What was he doing awake? He should be sleeping, because Emil wasn't a night scout, or made for the dark and quiet that came with the hour. He was loud, and...bright. And what's with this text...]
yes
[...asked and answered. Something nags at him, saying he shouldn't just leave it at that.]
?
[nailed it.]
The unexpected noise from his pocket that makes him trip up and thank the gods for the thick gloves and boots that saved him from scraping up his skin? Not giving that same unstoppable feeling. He feels pretty damn stopped.
He's annoyed at first, shifting to sit while he digs out the phone thing to glare at the number, but when he recognizes it as Emil, his feelings swing wildly into confusion. What was he doing awake? He should be sleeping, because Emil wasn't a night scout, or made for the dark and quiet that came with the hour. He was loud, and...bright. And what's with this text...]
yes
[...asked and answered. Something nags at him, saying he shouldn't just leave it at that.]
?
[nailed it.]
( Oops, sorry old pal.
It's relieving to hear back with a confirmation, and Emil sets his communicator back down with a relieved breath before settling back down into bed. When it flashes and beeps again, though, he picks it up quickly and reads...just a question mark. Well, at least it's not bad news. He's not very mentally tired anyway. )
Someone atthe market today said criminals are being reportedaround twn. And its night so they might be out and about.
( Look, he's gotten better at texting and everything. )
Be careful.
It's relieving to hear back with a confirmation, and Emil sets his communicator back down with a relieved breath before settling back down into bed. When it flashes and beeps again, though, he picks it up quickly and reads...just a question mark. Well, at least it's not bad news. He's not very mentally tired anyway. )
Someone atthe market today said criminals are being reportedaround twn. And its night so they might be out and about.
( Look, he's gotten better at texting and everything. )
Be careful.
oh
okay
[Again, he's...not really sure what to do with that. Or how to feel about it. Glad that Emil cares, maybe? Weirdly sink-y in his gut for...some reason?]
i am
always
[Maybe if he tried a full sentence it would be easier to puzzle out... But first he gets to his feet, brushes off his knees, and goes to lean out of sight. Like some shady dude.]
did you not sleep becus you were worried? becus im fast and i have knife its ok
okay
[Again, he's...not really sure what to do with that. Or how to feel about it. Glad that Emil cares, maybe? Weirdly sink-y in his gut for...some reason?]
i am
always
[Maybe if he tried a full sentence it would be easier to puzzle out... But first he gets to his feet, brushes off his knees, and goes to lean out of sight. Like some shady dude.]
did you not sleep becus you were worried? becus im fast and i have knife its ok
( Buddy does he need to remind you about how a couple days ago Lalli was convinced he was going to become a creature because he wasn't careful...BECAUSE HE'S NOT FORGETTING!!
Whatever, though. If Emil goes through the whole [worried concern] vs [combative statement] conversation again he's going to go insane from frustration. Lalli's okay, that's the good part. )
No nothing like that. Keep yourknife close
( On that note, where is his knife...he put it in a drawer somewhere; that's going to be carried around with him everywhere from now on. )
Whatever, though. If Emil goes through the whole [worried concern] vs [combative statement] conversation again he's going to go insane from frustration. Lalli's okay, that's the good part. )
No nothing like that. Keep yourknife close
( On that note, where is his knife...he put it in a drawer somewhere; that's going to be carried around with him everywhere from now on. )
( The scars remind him that the past is real.
Also, speaking of scars...man he has the perfect vehicle for hiding this and not looking incompetent. But if he happens to see Lalli tomorrow or maybe even the next day, his bruised up face that's healed a little will out him as it is. Emil's not just going to hole up in his room for a week...or however long it takes something like this to heal. If this lasts longer than a week, he's brown bagging it. His head, anyway.
It's not like he tripped or did something stupid and this was entirely his fault but dang. Dang. Some soldier he is. )
i
( Emil has that typed out considering what to send and oops...accidentally sends it. NOW HE DOESN'T HAVE TIME ON HIS SIDE, GOD HE HATES THESE STUPID TEXTING THINGS. )
I got hurt i guess. ( He guesses??? Even he knows how stupid that says after he sends it, why is he so awkward at the most inopportune times?? )
Also, speaking of scars...man he has the perfect vehicle for hiding this and not looking incompetent. But if he happens to see Lalli tomorrow or maybe even the next day, his bruised up face that's healed a little will out him as it is. Emil's not just going to hole up in his room for a week...or however long it takes something like this to heal. If this lasts longer than a week, he's brown bagging it. His head, anyway.
It's not like he tripped or did something stupid and this was entirely his fault but dang. Dang. Some soldier he is. )
i
( Emil has that typed out considering what to send and oops...accidentally sends it. NOW HE DOESN'T HAVE TIME ON HIS SIDE, GOD HE HATES THESE STUPID TEXTING THINGS. )
I got hurt i guess. ( He guesses??? Even he knows how stupid that says after he sends it, why is he so awkward at the most inopportune times?? )
( Why can't you just accept the truth as he presents it??
...Though this comes from someone who came barreling into someone's house prepared to become a wet nurse. Fine, he'll explain it for real. )
Someone did it. Idon't know who. it hapened earlier. It hurts but I'm ok.
( If you read that as more direct and clinical that's not the intention, but you know. Texting has a tone deficiency. It kind of takes away the nuance of how defeated Emil feels while he's typing that out. )
...Though this comes from someone who came barreling into someone's house prepared to become a wet nurse. Fine, he'll explain it for real. )
Someone did it. Idon't know who. it hapened earlier. It hurts but I'm ok.
( If you read that as more direct and clinical that's not the intention, but you know. Texting has a tone deficiency. It kind of takes away the nuance of how defeated Emil feels while he's typing that out. )
[Having been just as defeated -- defeated enough that he couldn't actually make himself say the damn words he had to switch to text -- Lalli takes the absent tone like a blow to his heart. He's moving before he really knows it, and he quickly finds himself in front of Cypress dorms. Running is second nature, after all. Maybe even first, for him.]
Emil! Let me in!
[Yeah, remember that time he screamed like he was being torn open with the rusty claws of death? Turns out he can use those lungs while awake, too, when he wants, and he most definitely wants to. He needs to be heard over the loud banging of his fist, after all.]
Let me in, let me in, let me in!
Emil! Let me in!
[Yeah, remember that time he screamed like he was being torn open with the rusty claws of death? Turns out he can use those lungs while awake, too, when he wants, and he most definitely wants to. He needs to be heard over the loud banging of his fist, after all.]
Let me in, let me in, let me in!
( When Lalli doesn't text back...well Emil doesn't really know what to think. Did he just get distracted by scouting again? (He assumes that's what he was doing at ass o'clock in the morning.) Oh snap, did he get accosted by one of those criminals too? Or is this as embarrassing to Lalli as it is to him.
It's...best not to think about it too much, Emil decides. He does lay there with his communicator next to his head though, just in case he hears something else, but sleep is going to definitely be elusive.
...And apparently it's going to be elusive for everyone else tonight too. Lalli suddenly screaming at the top of his lungs and causing the most ridiculous ruckus takes him completely by surprise. Sorry roommates, who are conveniently not here for some reason. Sorry to the rest of the dorm, probably filled with people wondering why someone is being murdered downstairs somewhere.
In an effort to put an end to the cacophony, Emil hurriedly gets out of bed, pulling a sweater over his sleeping shirt quickly before rushing to the door, out into the hall and down the steps to the dormitory entrance. He opens the large doors alarmingly fast -- the picture honestly isn't that bad other than the large bruise adorning his face. It's mostly on his nose but it makes a red and darkening circular pattern that covers a small portion of his cheek and underneath his right eye.
At least the redness helps to hide the dried blood covering his nostril? )
Lalli. ( He whispers with a hiss. ) You can come in but you have to keep it down!
It's...best not to think about it too much, Emil decides. He does lay there with his communicator next to his head though, just in case he hears something else, but sleep is going to definitely be elusive.
...And apparently it's going to be elusive for everyone else tonight too. Lalli suddenly screaming at the top of his lungs and causing the most ridiculous ruckus takes him completely by surprise. Sorry roommates, who are conveniently not here for some reason. Sorry to the rest of the dorm, probably filled with people wondering why someone is being murdered downstairs somewhere.
In an effort to put an end to the cacophony, Emil hurriedly gets out of bed, pulling a sweater over his sleeping shirt quickly before rushing to the door, out into the hall and down the steps to the dormitory entrance. He opens the large doors alarmingly fast -- the picture honestly isn't that bad other than the large bruise adorning his face. It's mostly on his nose but it makes a red and darkening circular pattern that covers a small portion of his cheek and underneath his right eye.
At least the redness helps to hide the dried blood covering his nostril? )
Lalli. ( He whispers with a hiss. ) You can come in but you have to keep it down!
Edited (i never learned how to fucking read) 2016-11-24 11:45 (UTC)
[Of course he can come in. He's already in, ducking through any open space he can get through as soon as possible, and then he's whirling around and leaning in close so he can inspect the damage that's been done. With eyes as critical as his, the dried blood unfortunately doesn't go unnoticed. Lalli growls low in his throat, the noise bubbling up from the pits of fury that had started roiling as soon as Emil's pain -- physical and emotional -- became clear. He knew when shame was deserved. Emil didn't deserve it, not for this. He didn't deserve any of this.
Lalli takes up his friend's hand and turns again, dragging him to a...comfortable spot... Fuck. Cypress dorm. No comfort here, compared to the "luxury" of Birch. Giving up on that, he switches to a hiss, as well.]
This is stupid!
[HE HAS A LOT MORE FEELINGS THAN THAT BUT HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THEM]
Lalli takes up his friend's hand and turns again, dragging him to a...comfortable spot... Fuck. Cypress dorm. No comfort here, compared to the "luxury" of Birch. Giving up on that, he switches to a hiss, as well.]
This is stupid!
[HE HAS A LOT MORE FEELINGS THAN THAT BUT HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THEM]
( What kind of whirling dervish? Throughout the entire process, all Emil can interject are little "Uhm"s and "Uh"s because he's entirely lost on how to handle the hundred pounds of stress suddenly vibrating angrily from one place to another.
Examined, grabbed, hissed at. It makes it kind of hard to cover up his new blemish. This sure is a morning already. )
Keep it down! ( Lalli is hissing too but his energy just sort of feels loud. ) What's stupid? What are you doing here?
( Because honestly he didn't ever expect for Lalli to just show up over this and it's actually kind of even more embarrassing!! Don't look at him!! What if someone comes down to find out what that ruckus was and they cause a scene??!! )
Examined, grabbed, hissed at. It makes it kind of hard to cover up his new blemish. This sure is a morning already. )
Keep it down! ( Lalli is hissing too but his energy just sort of feels loud. ) What's stupid? What are you doing here?
( Because honestly he didn't ever expect for Lalli to just show up over this and it's actually kind of even more embarrassing!! Don't look at him!! What if someone comes down to find out what that ruckus was and they cause a scene??!! )
I am keeping it down!
[DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO WHEN I'M ALREADY DOING IT
He wants to keep moving, because that's what he always does, but there's nowhere to go in this dorm. In this city! They were trapped with nothing to do, being things they weren't supposed to be, getting attacked by batcats and random stupid criminals... The question pulls him out of his internal ranting enough that he faces Emil again, mouth parted a little in incredulity.]
I'm here because I'm mad! Because you're my friend!
[DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO WHEN I'M ALREADY DOING IT
He wants to keep moving, because that's what he always does, but there's nowhere to go in this dorm. In this city! They were trapped with nothing to do, being things they weren't supposed to be, getting attacked by batcats and random stupid criminals... The question pulls him out of his internal ranting enough that he faces Emil again, mouth parted a little in incredulity.]
I'm here because I'm mad! Because you're my friend!
( This kind of fervent emotional overload is still not something Emil's very good at handling. The worst of his own panic is over -- that was more than a few hours ago. But Lalli upset...his job -- what he wants to do -- is to make sure that doesn't happen. )
You have to calm down. ( The hand that was trying to pull him somewhere is now what he uses to pull Lalli towards the (again, horrible and lumpy) Cypress lounge seats. He doesn't get the scout urge to be moving all the time, but it's making him antsy. )
It's okay now; there's nothing we can do.
( This is said with a hint of sourness. Of course Emil is incredibly mad too, and he wishes he could have done something; could still do something now. But he's right: what's done is done, angry or not.
He missed his window of opportunity, he wasn't really on alert or paying attention. Lalli's not supposed to feel bad about this -- he is. )
You have to calm down. ( The hand that was trying to pull him somewhere is now what he uses to pull Lalli towards the (again, horrible and lumpy) Cypress lounge seats. He doesn't get the scout urge to be moving all the time, but it's making him antsy. )
It's okay now; there's nothing we can do.
( This is said with a hint of sourness. Of course Emil is incredibly mad too, and he wishes he could have done something; could still do something now. But he's right: what's done is done, angry or not.
He missed his window of opportunity, he wasn't really on alert or paying attention. Lalli's not supposed to feel bad about this -- he is. )
[He stubbornly stays on his feet a moment, but then he sits with a huff and draws his legs up against his chest..]
It's not okay! Being over doesn't make it okay. You're still hurt, and scared, and... [His shoulders sag, and the lynx ears follow with a droop of their own.] And I don't like it. It's not fair.
It's not okay! Being over doesn't make it okay. You're still hurt, and scared, and... [His shoulders sag, and the lynx ears follow with a droop of their own.] And I don't like it. It's not fair.
( Following suit, Emil sits next to him and sighs softly. )
I'm not scared. ( Examining how he feels...no, he's not scared, really. On edge, maybe. Precautious? It's weird to feel like you need to be on your toes in this world, but maybe it's finally sunk in somewhere that that's how life is going to be from now on, wherever he goes. Maybe that was a lesson best learned after the bat cats, but he was naive. )
And it's...not that bad. ( Though that's said really weakly. It had definitely looked worse a while ago, but the pain is definitely pretty bad. Emil accidentally cements this by dabbing at it again and hissing. He'd take a cheek bruise over this any day, speaking to both pain and aesthetics. )
It looks really horrible. ( Trust and believe, that was another panic point of his. The asshole stole the nice scarf he bought so he can't realistically hide it unless he walks around holding his nose all day. ) But it's not anything you should be feeling bad about.
( Because the fact that Lalli's somehow hurt by this...that's making him feel worse than how much it hurts to touch it. )
I'm not scared. ( Examining how he feels...no, he's not scared, really. On edge, maybe. Precautious? It's weird to feel like you need to be on your toes in this world, but maybe it's finally sunk in somewhere that that's how life is going to be from now on, wherever he goes. Maybe that was a lesson best learned after the bat cats, but he was naive. )
And it's...not that bad. ( Though that's said really weakly. It had definitely looked worse a while ago, but the pain is definitely pretty bad. Emil accidentally cements this by dabbing at it again and hissing. He'd take a cheek bruise over this any day, speaking to both pain and aesthetics. )
It looks really horrible. ( Trust and believe, that was another panic point of his. The asshole stole the nice scarf he bought so he can't realistically hide it unless he walks around holding his nose all day. ) But it's not anything you should be feeling bad about.
( Because the fact that Lalli's somehow hurt by this...that's making him feel worse than how much it hurts to touch it. )
[He curls his toes in his boots, then releases them.]
You're worried but not scared? I don't...understand.
[His voice is quieter now, a little desperate. Emotions were always kind of an elusive thing, for him. He wants to help, but how is he supposed to do that when he can't figure out what it is he's supposed to be helping with? Since he's...pretty sure there's a friend step before the track the asshole down step.
Lalli hesitantly reaches up, but his hand stops before he makes any contact.]
But... But it isn't okay. Emil...
You're worried but not scared? I don't...understand.
[His voice is quieter now, a little desperate. Emotions were always kind of an elusive thing, for him. He wants to help, but how is he supposed to do that when he can't figure out what it is he's supposed to be helping with? Since he's...pretty sure there's a friend step before the track the asshole down step.
Lalli hesitantly reaches up, but his hand stops before he makes any contact.]
But... But it isn't okay. Emil...
( This is a little complicated for him too. When Lalli told him he was hurt, he felt like there was something he could do. Maybe he wasn't super successful since that was all over the top, in retrospect, but even Emil isn't sure what Lalli is supposed to do here. Telling him seemed necessary, but he wasn't aware Lalli would go off like this.
Emotions are weird, as Lalli would say. He becomes very quiet again, despite there being no one around to whisper for. )
...I was scared afterwards. It happened really fast and I wasn't sure what was going on. It's over, though. As long as it doesn't scar, it's okay.
( It honestly isn't okay, but that's kind of on him. He wasn't paying attention, he doesn't have the reflexes or mentality that Lalli has about danger lurking around every corner. Emil lay there dazed and confused while any chance he had to get even ran off and into the night.
After he got up after being clocked in the face, Emil whirled around for a moment trying to see who hit him and where they went, but the drive to stand and fight sort of left him when he felt the blood dripping down to his lips and no one was still there to tussle with. What if the person still was there? He might have gotten a good slug in, maybe. But that's not what happened.
So yeah. It's not like it was his fault he got mugged, but the fact that it wasn't okay inwardly feels more like his fault than anything, especially if Lalli is so up in arms about it. The fact that he cares is of course great, but the feeling of friendship is squashed by a lingering guilt. )
Emotions are weird, as Lalli would say. He becomes very quiet again, despite there being no one around to whisper for. )
...I was scared afterwards. It happened really fast and I wasn't sure what was going on. It's over, though. As long as it doesn't scar, it's okay.
( It honestly isn't okay, but that's kind of on him. He wasn't paying attention, he doesn't have the reflexes or mentality that Lalli has about danger lurking around every corner. Emil lay there dazed and confused while any chance he had to get even ran off and into the night.
After he got up after being clocked in the face, Emil whirled around for a moment trying to see who hit him and where they went, but the drive to stand and fight sort of left him when he felt the blood dripping down to his lips and no one was still there to tussle with. What if the person still was there? He might have gotten a good slug in, maybe. But that's not what happened.
So yeah. It's not like it was his fault he got mugged, but the fact that it wasn't okay inwardly feels more like his fault than anything, especially if Lalli is so up in arms about it. The fact that he cares is of course great, but the feeling of friendship is squashed by a lingering guilt. )
But...they're still out there. And you want me to have my knife.
[He's having a really hard time separating all these facts from the feeling of "scared". It just had a certain nuance that escaped him. But alright... Not scared. Hmn.
Lalli looks down to his hands, which he's settled back into his lap.]
...Don't be stupid. Even if it doesn't scar, it still happened. They shouldn't have done that. Not to you.
[He's having a really hard time separating all these facts from the feeling of "scared". It just had a certain nuance that escaped him. But alright... Not scared. Hmn.
Lalli looks down to his hands, which he's settled back into his lap.]
...Don't be stupid. Even if it doesn't scar, it still happened. They shouldn't have done that. Not to you.
Well I don't want you to get hurt! ( Which there's an obvious reason why, but also...he's not ready to go through that again. Lalli being hurt is just Not Okay in any sense of the word. )
You're running around outside all night, and if crime is bad then you have to be careful!
( Honestly the only way he could feel any worse would be if he hadn't said something and while he was sleeping and fully aware of danger, Lalli got stabbed 50 times and oops, his bad!! Which is probably why Emil's more impassioned about this. He's over being scared for himself; that ship sailed. He's more so scared for Lalli.
But he sighs and quiets himself, following his own advice of remaining as quiet as possible despite being frustrated. ) I'm not stupid; I know it happened. But it shouldn't happen to anyone...like you.
( Which his own specificity is in regards to Lalli of course being a night scout, roaming around who the hell knows where in the early AM, but Lalli's specific mention of "Not to you" is kind of...odd to him. )
You're running around outside all night, and if crime is bad then you have to be careful!
( Honestly the only way he could feel any worse would be if he hadn't said something and while he was sleeping and fully aware of danger, Lalli got stabbed 50 times and oops, his bad!! Which is probably why Emil's more impassioned about this. He's over being scared for himself; that ship sailed. He's more so scared for Lalli.
But he sighs and quiets himself, following his own advice of remaining as quiet as possible despite being frustrated. ) I'm not stupid; I know it happened. But it shouldn't happen to anyone...like you.
( Which his own specificity is in regards to Lalli of course being a night scout, roaming around who the hell knows where in the early AM, but Lalli's specific mention of "Not to you" is kind of...odd to him. )
[He jumps a little, looking up with surprise plain in his eyes. That was...silly. But Emil was being so earnest it couldn't be a joke -- even one of the really weird ones that Tuuri would do. Then again, it also seemed like one of those things Onni tried to drill into his head when he was little that he wound up giving up on. Maybe it was something to consider again.
For now, though, he had a situation aside from "you deserved it less than anyone because you're too good a person".]
Okay. So we'll stop it. We'll be ready, and we'll catch them, and we'll make them stop.
For now, though, he had a situation aside from "you deserved it less than anyone because you're too good a person".]
Okay. So we'll stop it. We'll be ready, and we'll catch them, and we'll make them stop.
I...don't know if that's possible.
( Someone had asked him if he was going to report it to the police but Emil still wasn't sure unless they had their own little communicator number. Even if there was a way to cover up 1/4 of his face, he'd still look ridiculous -- even though the police are incompetent; maybe he'll yell at them when he doesn't look like roadkill. In a week...
But if he didn't know who it was and they disappeared .01 seconds after it happened, how was he supposed to find who it was in a whole city ages after the whole thing happened? Lalli probably has the skill set to help a lot, but he's not sure if that's something he even wants.
Not that Lalli isn't useful, but it just seems dangerous. Putting him in danger...nah.
Speaking of which, he's not sure exactly what he wants (other than to not have his face wrecked and stuff gone), but something about what Lalli says is more ominous than what he hoped for. )
What do you mean "make them stop"?
( Someone had asked him if he was going to report it to the police but Emil still wasn't sure unless they had their own little communicator number. Even if there was a way to cover up 1/4 of his face, he'd still look ridiculous -- even though the police are incompetent; maybe he'll yell at them when he doesn't look like roadkill. In a week...
But if he didn't know who it was and they disappeared .01 seconds after it happened, how was he supposed to find who it was in a whole city ages after the whole thing happened? Lalli probably has the skill set to help a lot, but he's not sure if that's something he even wants.
Not that Lalli isn't useful, but it just seems dangerous. Putting him in danger...nah.
Speaking of which, he's not sure exactly what he wants (other than to not have his face wrecked and stuff gone), but something about what Lalli says is more ominous than what he hoped for. )
What do you mean "make them stop"?
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