dumbshow | when ya thirst cross dimensions

when ya thirst cross dimensions

[Amidst the latest pointless Empatheias crisis, Reim comes to the abrupt realization that this one might actually cause a problem when people start disappearing. There are hasty plans made and a lot of overconfident reassurances that it's going to be fine, they are going to be fine, but no matter how many times they say it or how tightly he holds onto Zelos' hand, there's nothing they can do except trust in fate. Or dumb luck. With their track record, dumb luck seems like the likelier choice.

Still, when Reim blinks and finds himself pulled from one familiar city street to another, more definitely familiar one, without the chaos of Verens falling around him, the quiet is the most alarming thing. Then his empty hand, with no Zelos in sight, and it's all he can do to politely ignore the looks he's getting from passerby about his clothes and force himself to walk down the street. There was no guarantee, of course. They're from different worlds, so there was always a possibility that one of them could wake up alone one morning and that would be that, but with the entire island apparently crashing to the ground, the likelihood of waking up alone on Monday and together again on Tuesday becomes much, much lower—

He ought to go home. He knows where he is now, and by his guess and stories about when this has happened to other people who came and went from Verens, little to no time has passed at all. Months, and to show for it he has these clothes and an earring and an empty hand. And another crystal in his pocket, which just seems to add insult to injury. He ought to go home. Gilbert will be properly wondering where he's wasted his afternoon, and he'll have to apologize and excuse his appearance and go find something to do before too many people find excuses to talk to him.

So, he will go home. That's the best idea. If this world has been put on hold, then all of the arrangements he put on hold are no longer on hold anymore, and he has things to do besides think about months—

A rustling noise and... some other, stranger noise from a tree above distract him from distracting himself as he passes under it, and he looks up.

Oh. Well never mind all that then, even if he can't keep the relief out of his expression.]

I was wondering where you'd gone. Are you stuck?

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[They can talk about that later, too. Maybe after Zelos falls on his dang head, which is apparently happening— but Reim scrambles desperately to catch him anyway, and while they do both wind up on the ground, at least it doesn't go as badly as it could have. Nobody cracked a skull open!!]

Are you alright?

[It's very nice of Reim to cushion his fall like this, but Zelos immediately sits up to look him over in worry.]

Me? I told you to move! I didn't hurt you, did I...?

[His hands rest on Reim's arms, squeezing a little tighter than he probably should. He's had a stressful past five minutes, okay... He really wants to hug him. But, he probably shouldn't here. At least he's aware of that here.]

I'm just glad to see you.

[It's strange, somehow, to not feel the overwhelming warmth or any other reactions from the way his heart jumps. Not bad, necessarily— but a definite reminder of the situation.]

[There's that Mr. Lunettes, sitting in the street because a homeless man fell on him... Reim shakes his head, reaching up to touch his face for just a second despite himself. They're both here... They should get out of this public space, but at least they're here.

Actually, it's probably fortunate no emotions can call attention to them anymore, considering.]

I was worried that it hadn't worked. [Thinking gay thoughts really loudly, that is. Or whatever. Anyway-] I'm fine! But we really ought to go somewhere else.

[A nice face touch... He feels warm at that, looking stunned for a moment before he blinks out of his daze. They're really here... It's not some messed up dream, right? Not like he went back home on his own and is just really in denial...?

He has to blink a few more times to really snap out of it. Smiling, he shifts to stand up and offers his hand to help Reim after him.]

You think we can just...go somewhere? I mean, is that okay? [He rubs at the back of his neck with his free hand.] We didn't really get to talk enough about if this really happened...

[Finally, getting up off the ground... He squeezes Zelos' hand briefly, then lets go to dust himself off. They're here, they have time to work things out. That's going to require a conversation about Zelos' world sooner rather than later, but for now - just going somewhere is enough.]

I do live here, remember? Don't worry, it's going to be just fine. If we have to pretend you're a distant relative of the Barma household for a few days, I don't think anyone's going to complain.

[See, he already has a stupid plan.]

[A nice fleeting hand squeeze is enough to keep his heart skipping. He's... excited, in a way, even if he's afraid in about ten others. While Reim dusts himself off, Zelos takes to plucking at his hair, trying to set it back in place to look presentable.]

Okay. I'll follow your lead, so... let's see what this is all about!

[He's always daydreamed about something like this, but it's very surreal actually happening. Not wanting to ruin anything for Reim in what feels like a more "solid" or "real" world or life, Zelos sticks close to him but doesn't actually reach out for his hand in public. Restraint, see...]

Which way?

[Restraint is the worst... but he'll have to actually pay attention to the hows and whys of public behavior again now. It was a good couple months' vacation from all that, but now he's back... and Zelos has to learn public etiquette too? This will take forever.

But he turns, gesturing for Zelos to come with him. The sooner they're home, the sooner Reim can lock the door and hold Zelos the way he desperately would like to, here in the street. Soon...]

If it's truly the same time now as it was when I left, then we should be undisturbed at home. Master Rufus is bedridden, and someone should be watching over him, so he won't be turning up uninvited...

[Because he would, because he's like that. Welcome to Barma.]

[He shoves his hands into his pockets so not to fall into temptation, glancing around as they walk. He's so clearly foreign that it's fine if he looks around, right? Especially if he's going to be some distant relative who probably came from who-knows-where.

After a few minutes, he rethinks it and pulls his hands out of his pockets to button up his shirt over his cruxis crystal.]

That's good, at least... I mean, not that he's bedridden, but you know. [He feels way too lost for his own good.] Just don't make me go by any weird names and we're good.

Yes, yes, I know. [...] You'll be fine as 'Zelos.'

[All things considered, it's not such a weird name to have, among people named Rufus and Reim. He's "foreign" in more ways than one, so it'll have to do. The people will buy it.

Anyway, it's a brisk walk back because Reim has better things to do than take in the same old scenery, and Zelos can have a tour some other time. Like the other distantly visible great noble homes, the Barma estate is offset somewhat from the main part of the city, and it would be faster to take a carriage— but not until they've ironed out the details of Zelos being here. So they'll have to walk! Reim points things out here and there, just to break up the silence.

At the manor itself they're let in at the door without a second look from the man standing guard, since Reim is more or less in charge here with the proper master of the house stuck in bed. Reim nods to him and gestures again for Zelos to follow him; on the way he'll rattle off something vaguely introductory for the sake of anyone who's listening, a few things about the city but most of them about the layout of the estate, and soon he'll bring Zelos to a neat little study that's clearly his, from how organized it is.

And also because he locks the door behind them. Then, finally, he can relax somewhat with a sigh.]

Well, here we are. [Somehow..... miraculously... He can't find the words anymore, so with a smile that's more than a little nervous about how they'll make this work smoothly he just helplessly holds out his arms. Come here!!]

[It's so organized... And for however long Reim has been gone from this room, there doesn't seem to be a bit of dust. After the long, silent walk here that had been so different from their usual walks, it all feels heavy. He's relieved to be with Reim, of course, but he can already tell that his mind must be racing. Is he stressing out about this? Maybe it's more of a bother than anything else—

But Reim stretches out his arms and Zelos remembers that he shouldn't be focusing on trains of thought like that. He closes the distance between them, wrapping Reim in a tight hug and squeezing.]

For a second, I thought I wouldn't get to see you again. [It's mumbled quietly against him before his squeezing lessens, but he doesn't back up from this hug at all.]

We'll work things out just like we said. It'll just take some creative thinking, right? We can figure this out.

[Ah— that's better. With Zelos in his arms, he can almost forget that this isn't the life they'd started to make together anymore. It will be different, but they'll be able to do it - he's already decided this. He hugs Zelos back just as tight, head bowed to press his cheek against his hair and just feel him close again.

It was a really stressful five minutes, alright. And they'll have to show some discretion, now... but locked in his very neat study, he'll indulge like this.]

Yes, of course. I'll think of something. For now, we'll stick to "foreigner." It isn't entirely untrue...

[He's going to hurt his neck standing here like this...... oh well.]

Imagine how worried I was, and then to find you up a tree... [ridiculous.]

[Foreigner... It's not untrue at all, is it. He feels bad making Reim hunch down like this, but he wants to hold him close for as long as he can. He's thinking about a lot— all of the little things and all of the big things, too. How they're going to talk to people, what he can't do in public, whether or not they'll be able to sleep in the same room... He's having a crisis inside.

He can't even joke about the tree thing right now. Pulling back just enough to take Reim's face in his hands, he kisses him deeply, to make up for their five minutes of hell.]

Sorry. Still, if either of us was going to end up in a tree, I'm glad it was me.

[He wanted to joke about the tree to get rid of some of this heavy mood, but kissing works just as well. It's different - they're in his home, his actual home for years, and there aren't any emotions flowing back and forth between them, but that just means he'll have to return the kiss with enough intensity to get his point across anyway. It's going to be rocky at first, and they'll have to walk more social tightropes than he really wants to, but there isn't a single part of him that would rather be alone than get through the awkward parts with Zelos here.

The doors lock, too. It's fine. It will work out. It could be worse - he could actually be someone socially important.]

Next time, land in a tree that's a bit closer to me. Consider it a favor.

[He's still leaning down like this, so he can kiss Zelos again before he actually looks up and takes a cursory look around the study. It's still neat and clean, so the same time theory is looking more likely.]

Well, this isn't exactly how I imagined I'd be able to show you the Barma household, but here we are.

Haha... Okay, okay, next time I'll go for the closer trees.

[Ugh. Maybe it's the lack of emotion effects that make his heart in his chest seem that much more out of control, or maybe he really is just freaking out a little. Either way... He gives another long look around this spotless study.]

This is just like you. You've probably got some neat stuff hidden around here somewhere, huh? [He says it a little daydreamily, like he might dig through some drawers, but he won't, really. He's too afraid of finding old marriage plans...]

So, if you're introducing me as some relative to this guy, what are you going to tell the guy himself? Barma or whatever. And what do I get to call him? A guy's gotta know these things!

[His perfectly arranged drawers... no, don't.]

Well, maybe... [But, god, okay, there is apparently no time to be quietly relieved that they made it here together because they really have to work this out as soon as possible!! His shoulders slump some, but then he straightens back up and puts his hands on Zelos' shoulders. Plan time.]

Well... "sir," for now. I'm sure he'll be able to see the merit in it, if I explain it to him properly.

[Which might actually require him telling Duke Barma literally everything, but he's an eccentric, sick old man who no one likes and Reim trusts to the ends of the earth, so if anyone's told it might as well be him. He'll probably even see the romance in it, after he's a jerk with dad jokes about it.]

Master Rufus has no wife, and as such, has no heir... You must have noticed this manor is very sparsely staffed, as he is the entire family all on his own. That said, circumstances dictate that having a distant relative from his own country wouldn't be... impossible.

[.....okay, but entirely honestly,] It's a scheme, and he's very fond of that kind of thing.

The more you tell me about this guy, the sketchier he sounds.

[Zelos just wants Reim to be aware of this. He gives him a flat look for just a few seconds longer before reaching up to rest his hands over Reim's. His expression relaxes a bit.]

But I'll trust your judgement. If you trust the guy, then it's gotta be for a good reason, so I'll trust him, too. Still, isn't this just going to draw attention to this place even more...?

[Just wait and see if he appears as a meatball illusion.]

He isn't a very popular man, all things considered. It shouldn't be a problem.

[Is that encouraging? He says it like it's encouraging, he's smiling and everything, squeezing Zelos' arms before he lets go. He needs to make a circuit of his study now, let him do this...]

If you say so...

[That doesn't sound reassuring at all. Zelos lets his own hands drop away as he watches Reim head off, his own eyes glancing around the study. Eventually, he reaches up and touches at the heart in his hair, pulling it out to stare at it. This probably won't do anything for them now... but he doesn't have the heart (hah) to try it, either.

They're really here. He wonders what that means for time in his own world. Is it frozen, or is he just written out of things? Maybe Seles can be Chosen like she's always wanted. Maybe things would be better off, somehow...

He looks back up and takes a few steps further inside.]

This might be the first time I've ever felt out of place like this. I'm not the type of guy who gets shy or anything, but... [He doesn't want to mess up anything by being in a world he's not from... That sort of thing.]

[He needs to touch everything and make sure it's in the right place still. By all accounts, no one's been surprised enough to see him to suggest he's been "missing" for more than a day, if that, so more than likely everything in here has been left alone - but he still wants to check.

He's rifling through a stack of papers when Zelos speaks again, and he looks up with an inscrutable expression. He's— happy, he's delighted that Zelos is here, but that Zelos is here hasn't left the back of his mind since he found him in that tree. This is what they wanted, to be together no matter what, but it must be difficult...]

Oh— Zelos... [He pauses, then hastily puts the papers down and crosses the study again to take Zelos' hand and tug him further into the room. Come here, sit in his nice chair, be comfortable.] I know it's absurd of me to tell you not to worry, but- I think everything will be fine.

[Whether or not Zelos actually sits in the nice chair, Reim stoops some height to cup his face in both his hands.] We're both here, aren't we? You and I can do anything. [....] Within reason.

[But they can definitely tiptoe around politics! That's easy!]

[They're both here. Zelos has paranoid thoughts about it being some sort of temporary thing, or things messing up, but as Reim pulls him further in, he feels comforted by his very presence. He lets the heart slip into his pocket as he sits in this chair, and while one of his hands rest gently over Reim's, the other touches to the scar at his cheek.]

As long as it's you and me, everything will work out. ...I think so, too, even if I'm worried. [He can be here... He can keep Reim safe, too, so that's a reassuring thought as he swipes a thumb over his cheek here. He puts on a smile that much easier when Reim's looking at him like this.]

Gimme a few days and I'll be completely used to it. [Well, no, but he can try.]

[He won't be used to it... That's fine. They have time now, probably. Time enough for everyone to get used to this. Reim smiles right back at him, tilting his head up to kiss him briefly, as reassurance. They're good, they'll do this.

Or maybe they'll elope to the countryside and live like hermits, who knows? It's open!]

I love you. Don't worry so much about Master Rufus. The other servants won't pay you any mind, either. [As their King, he will make sure this is clear. Who else needs to be told... something-] Ah- I wonder if Gilbert returned, as well...

When you're saying sweet things like that, how am I supposed to stay worried? I love you, too.

[Ah, his heart still melts at both hearing and speaking those words. It's like a burst of energy, and his smile relaxes a little.] Gilbert... That's the guy who was back on the island, right? You don't think he'll remember, do you...?

[Being mushy saves the day yet again. He can only give Zelos one more sappy smile before he has to stand up straight again, though, ow.]

Yes... I'm not sure he wouldn't take his chances elsewhere, however. [Like, Reim didn't speak to him, but he noticed Oz floating around the city again, and how many times can Gilbert lose that boy before he starts doing whatever it takes to keep him? There's no place for Oz here, anymore.

But he'll skip that heavy stuff for now, before it opens up more things for Zelos to be sad about.]

Well, that's another thing we'll figure out... What do you think Mr. Kunikida's done to Dazai, for disappearing so suddenly?

Haha... he probably roughed him up real good.

[Yes, it's best not to make him too sad. He's already sad about not being able to see them again, and Kunikida not being able to see Lailah again, and so on. He leans to the side of the chair, resting his elbow there and his cheek on his hand.]

Somehow, that Dazai always gets out of the rough stuff.

[Reim knows how to manage this sad man... He leans back against his desk, chuckling. That Dazai.]

Mr. Kunikida must have found him, and he surely said something like, "Oh, didn't you know that would happen?" But of course... [He shrugs one shoulder meaningfully; of course Dazai is full of shit, basically.]

[Zelos laughs, and it fades off slowly as his eyes scan across Reim's desk.]

Man, I can't believe I'm actually going to miss those idiots. [He says idiots with the most affection possible, of course.] They'll keep each other outta trouble. At least there's that. None of us have to end up alone.

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when ya thirst cross dimensions

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