sticksandbones | [OPEN+CLOSED] Rest easy. It will be done before you know it.

[With both the lab and the clinic now built, the next order of business is to start moving his supplies out of his old room. The larger items are left behind for now, but Add can be found trailing his Dynamos ("supervising") as they handle the actual heavy lifting: boxes of carefully packed glassware, tissue samples, blood samples, jars of soil and decayed plant matter, stacks of notebooks, dismantled mechanical bits, ominously glowing liquids, pill bottles... doctor stuff.

He has to go back and forth a few times, keeping a running tally of everything on a holoscreen that floats at his side. Occasionally, he'll bring a small box of his own to carry, but—]

[A - this is a trap.]

[Your eyes meet only for a second, but it's already too late. Add's pleasantly neutral expression shifts into a overbearing smile, and before you can argue the box is being forced into your hands.]

Ah, could you hold this for a second? Thank you, truly— if you could bring it over here, I'd really appreciate it. All this heavy lifting isn't suited to someone like me, kuku...

[B - this is a mistake.]

[He stumbles, tripping on seemingly nothing, and with a yelp— all the contents of that box are now flying.

... and considering the kind of stuff Add works with, well, consider yourself lucky if it's just a bunch of empty glass beakers about to crash into your face. Unless you're really good at catching stuff? Feel free to roll a d20 to decide how badly this goes.]

[Elsword has apparently not dialed down the rizz since they last spoke at all, and not only does he rush to catch Add around the waist (and does it rather successfully, I might add), he also somehow manages to snag the breakable objects in the opposite hand without any of them breaking. They're precariously balanced, but they're Fine.]

You okay?

[shoujou anime sparkles, bokeh lights, etc]

[Add generating his own real-life shoujo sparkles so everyone can see how gay he is right now, yeah

Instead of trying to right himself, he slips his arms around Elsword's shoulders. Now it's like they're dancing...]

Absolutely perfect.

[Aww, cute... Elsword steals a kiss while Add is being downright adorable. Get smooched loser.]

If you wanted to fall into my arms, why didn't you just say so sooner?

[Not that he's legitimately accusing Add of faking tripping and nearly breaking this stuff — which Elsword is still balancing by the way — but what if.]

Why say anything when I don't need to? Kukuku...

[This is nice. He could stare into Elsword's eyes all day, if he wanted to. It's a good angle for that.

... but he still has a lot of supplies to move around. Hmm.]

... If I didn't have so much heavy lifting left to do, we could do something fun. What a shame. [do the honorable thing, Elsword. do manual labor in exchange for sexual favors.]

[. . .]

I've got it. You just have to tell me where you want stuff to be set down.

[Thinking with his penis as usual, because his brain doesn't work either way. Elsword will make sure that Add doesn't fall over before he re-balances the things he's carrying so they're not quite as precarious, and then he spins on his heel and trudges off toward the clinic.

Helping.]

[Being that Sesa is both new and currently spending most of his time at the lab, it's inevitable that he and Add would run into each other at some point during his continued exploration of this new land he's found himself in...but he never would have expected it would be this literal.

Add hasn't even made it out of the lab on this trip before he stumbles just as Sesa happens to be passing by, and-

Somehow, despite being someone with a lot of Pointy Bits on his person, Sesa manages to catch one of the beakers out of the air in one hand like a baseball, another somehow lands on one of his horns like someone playing a very dangerous game of ring toss, and...well, it wasn't a 20 like some people, which means at least one of the beakers does end up exploding at his feet. But a 75% success rate could be a lot worse.]

Wh- are you alright?? That fate would deign that our paths cross at such an inopportune time as this...

[The beaker on his horn rattles a little as he talks.]

Edited 2023-11-16 23:31 (UTC)

[ Ah, damn, a glance in the wrong direction and Toge's been noticed. Well that's unfortunate and when a box is being shoved at him, he reflexively takes it. It's not that heavy, at least for him, so he has no problem balancing it out. ]

Tuna?

[ What's happening? ]

[Maybe you've come down to the clinic because you need something. Maybe it's because you heard a loud noise, shouting, the clanging of metal, the scraping of sharp thorns on tile... maybe it's because it's late and no one's seen Add all day.

Whatever it is, the door is open—barely on its hinges, in fact, but it's fine! Ignore the trails of scratches down the hall, flecks of blood here and there. Whatever it was, it's already left (for now).

Someone else remains, the clink of iron chains and soft muttering from within the examination room. Try the door and it's locked—the person on the other side falling silent, if only for a moment, shallow breaths and cold air.]

... Sorry, the clinic is closed for today. Come by later if you need something. [calm, guarded, only the barest hint of a shake to his voice. everything is totally fine, yeah. nothing to worry about in here!]

[ Bold of you to assume Mizuki would try the door. He doesn't immediately squeeze himself under the crack below this time, at least. Not yet, anyway. There's a brief pause as Mizuki considers his options. He didn't really need anything, he just wanted to check on Add. It's not easy for him to understand tone, but the other sounds in there were worrying.

Maybe he should try again? Does he ignore orders and come in anyway?? Should he go get Elsword??? He doesn't know. He hates having to make decisions like this, he never knows what the right thing to do is. ]

…I'm not here for the clinic, Doctor Add. It's Mizuki. Are you sure I can't come in?

[There's a long, long silence on the other side... and for a moment it seems like he won't answer at all, but—whirring, faint beeping. Dynamo is also in there, just on the other side of the door. From here, he can make enough confirmations. If it is Mizuki...

Affirmative beeps earn a shaky sigh from the other side. It's not absolute certainty, but it's something, and as much as he doesn't want to open that door, if he allowed Mizuki to become the next target...

Add manages to swallow down the paranoia, shuffling footsteps framed by more clinking metal. The soft click of the lock sounds next, creaking as the door opens just barely enough to peer through.

There's visible relief in his eyes, now opening the door just enough for Mizuki to slip inside. Yeah, he probably could've gone under the door, but this is a lot better for Add's mental state right now. The door is getting shut and locked tight again the moment Mizuki is safe inside.]

Sorry about that. It's— it can imitate voices. Whatever it is...

[Anyway, how is Add doing? He looks like he's been dragged through the woods, but there aren't any major injuries. Just scratches all over, a few scrapes, and... scattered handprints, black and soot-like. It looks like a dozen or so people had been grabbing at his clothes, his limbs, some of it staining his hair. But the most obvious problem is the large black collar around his neck, with that obnoxious broken chain dangling off it. He has it gripped tightly in one hand, trying to stop it from making too much noise.

He's fine, yeah. Putting on his winning smile and trying not to make his anxiety too obvious. Any attempts at physical contact will be gently deflected by Dynamo, though.]

It might still be around... did you see anything out there?

[ Mizuki waits incredibly patiently for the entirety of the silence, trying his best not to move around too much, but the little trickster has taken to pulling on his hair and yanking him lately. It's tried to get him to tumble and fall onto the harpooned point of his umbrella far too many times, but his balance is rather remarkable. He probably should leave the umbrella at home, but it's a comfort for him.

Which is exactly why while he's trying to quickly squeeze himself through the door, the trickster yanks it out of his hands and causes it to clatter uselessly outside as he walks inside. He just gives a little sigh. Whatever, that's fine. He's far more concerned about Add, anyway. "Concerned," of course, he is, but maybe it's hard to tell, considering he's looking at Add with a very examining, interested expression rather than one of worry. The posture, the collar, the chain, the forced smile… Mizuki is so fascinated by one's fear response. Fear is so, so interesting, isn't it? Mizuki has experienced far too much of it these past few months to know that picking Add's brain right now is not a good idea, but that doesn't mean he isn't still filing away questions he really, really wants to ask.

Ehem. He's alright, it's fine. ] No need to apologize. I wanted to come check on you because of the happenings around here. Creatures that seem to convey whatever causes intense responses in our amygdala... I've dealt with things like that back home, too. [ Perhaps that's not surprising, given the effects of his neurotoxins that Add had been made aware of. ] Only difference being they keep coming back, no matter how many times I eat them.

...

Ah, I didn't see anything out there just now, though, no.

[He should feel more at ease, having Mizuki here with him and safe... but that feeling in his gut is no better. He instinctively looks away, pretending to be distracted by something—anything but Mizuki's eyes, his reaction, hands firm on the links of the taut chain.]

You shouldn't eat something like that. El knows what substances it might contain. [but it's Mizuki, so Add probably won't argue if he ends up eating it anyway.] If the coast is clear, then...

[Logically, now would be a good time to leave. The monster is gone, and even if it's waiting to attack again, he has Mizuki with him now. The two of them would have better chances fighting it off together than waiting for more help to arrive. He could go back home to Elsword. Get some well-deserved rest. Let's get out of here. Just say the magic words, and they can leave together.

...

He trails off awkwardly. The metal on his neck feels ice-cold, and the words refuse to budge. An awkward silence lingers over the room.

he... can't leave. he can't leave like this. he has to be more presentable.]

Mizuki... are you any good with locks? [Add manages to keep his tone even, somehow. an innocent question, which surely requires no further explanation! the problem is obvious, isn't it? he can't go out like this, right? not where people might see. he has to be presentable, normal...]

Thanks for your concern, but I'll be okay. I'm pretty good at expelling things from myself that are evil or corruptive in nature.

[ Mizuki might call himself an idiot most times, but he's genuinely a pretty perceptive person. Social cues tend to fly by him, but even he can tell what Add means here. The request making him only slightly nervous, if just because he wouldn't want to do anything to hurt Add. He might be fascinated by his psyche, but he's not a monster. ]

Mmh… I do, somewhat. But… Doctor Add, do you want to talk…? You seem a little stressed, and… um, I wouldn't want to do anything to freak you out or anything like that.

[He tenses at the mere suggestion that he might be "a little stressed"—a forced smile, an awkward laugh. The chain only makes a little noise when he looks back towards Mizuki.]

No, no, it's fine! I'm fine. It's just uncomfortable to move in, so I was trying to remove this first... ah, there could also be lingering side-effects, so it's better to remove it now rather than later! That creature might show up again. Leaving it like this, it might try to attack again while I'm still partially restrained. You wouldn't want your commander to be open to attacks, right?

[Yeah... it's just logical! So don't ask anymore questions and just do as he asks. He totally won't freak out or anything. It's fine. Nothing bad could possibly happen in here.

... he's keeping his hands steady, but Dynamo is "fidgeting" near the floor, tiny sparks flickering around them. It's fine. Don't worry about it. That's normal, totally unrelated to Add's mental state.]

[ You can't tense up immediately and then say "I'm fine" like that. You're going to confuse the jellyfish. Of course, he's incredibly trusting, so he's going to take an "I'm fine" from Add in a heartbeat… but maybe not now. What if the collar causes him to lie? What if he's still not sure Mizuki's here? What if there's some magic fuckery afoot??? He knows something is wrong, but he can't really put his finger on what. ]

Of course not. [ Beat. He's still certain Add is afraid. Of the monster? He should have calmed when Mizuki said it was safe? Does he not trust Mizuki, or is it something else?? Ugh, this is so confusing. ] But I also want my friend to be okay, that's all. If you're sure, I can get started. Is it okay if I get started now?

[Why is he asking so many questions? Does Mizuki think he's lying? Does he not trust Add? His smile doesn't waver but the pressure behind it grows, something ugly straining against the pleasant mask.

... but Mizuki is still doing as he asks. That's the only reason Add doesn't crack, not yet, if he still has his loyalty then he can't break now.]

We can't very well stay here all day, can we? [he can't he can't he can't he can't he wants to go home thanks] Proceed with the operation. I'll be fine.

[get the stupid fucking collar OFF!!!!]

[ Well, the assurance does help a lot, at least. Even if the collar is doing something weird, that just means getting it off is all the more pressing, right? Besides, hopefully Add would just be happy he's listening??

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Mizuki doesn't know how to pick locks in the traditional sense. Digital locks, sure, but ones like this? He's the sort of be sneaky and slide into places unnoticed, but being able to fit into tight spaces was always made that easy. Fortunately, that ability too can help here. Mizuki pulls off his glove and settles a finger against the lock of Add's collar and just… shoves it inside. He feels the tumblers and starts to carefully push against them to tick them upward.

His other hand just goes for Add's. Sorry, you're allowing him to be close? He's going to Hold. ]

[He tries to jerk his hand away on instinct, but Mizuki's grip is firm, and the chain on his neck rattles from the tiny movement. It's easier to stay still, rather than listen to that grating, awful noise...

The position of his hands makes it impossible to return the hold, but it's fine. They can both hold down that chain together, or something. Maybe Add won't have to grip it so tightly his knuckles turn white. Helping.

Rather than think about the cold metal pushing against his skin at every lockpicking wiggle, Add tries to focus on his breathing. Stay calm, don't make this weird... if he freaks out now, he's going to make Mizuki lose faith in him. A good Doctor would stay calm. He wants to be a good Doctor.]

... That's a useful trick. You're always full of surprises, aren't you? [yeah, this works too. they should talk more about Mizuki, not Add. he manages a light chuckle, trying to relax.] It's a good thing we're on the same side. I'd hate to have you as an enemy.

[ Please, if Add started freaking out now, Mizuki would just blame himself and apologize profusely. As if there's absolutely anything at this point that would make Mizuki lose faith in Add? Well, certainly Add's statement makes even Mizuki ask this to himself. Rather, he frames in a way that the Doctor back home had asked him, too. "What would you do if I were evil?"

Like back on the landship, Mizuki freezes for a moment, stopping what he was doing to stare at Add's face for a moment, as if somehow he'd give him the answer to this riddle he still hasn't been able to solve. How funny, that even Add had a similar way of thinking. Even if he didn't ask the question explicitly. ]

Edited 2023-12-10 22:49 (UTC)

[ But this time he's at least a little more prepared. After all, now he's had time to think about it. And surely, he can give a normal answer- ]

Don't worry, Doctor Add. Even if you become evil or anything like that, I'd just eat you. That way, not only would you not be evil anymore, but you'd be with me for forever.

[ Or whatever the fuck this is.

The fact that he can go practically boneless is particularly nice in moments like these. Less nice when it happens because he gets too flustered, but he doesn't have to worry about that (for now). He knows generally how locks work, too, so it's easy for him to tick everything upward in the correct pattern after a few trial and errors. It isn't long before the lock clicks open. ]

There we go. [ He pulls his finger out. ] Um, does it just come off like a normal collar, or…?

[OPEN+CLOSED] Rest easy. It will be done before you know it.

[OPEN] Moving in

B - he rolled a goddamn 20 hope you're ready

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B I rolled a 16-

A

[OPEN] Breaking out

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1/2

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