dumbshow | highly new, slightly improved open post

[Lalli should find this fussy, talkative boy to be terribly annoying. He should, and he does. ...Kind of, but he still finds himself accepting any and all invitations to accompany Emil out into the wastes. Why? It depends, really, on what he feels like telling himself. Sometimes it's to escape the city for a bit; sometimes it's the (extremely low) chance they'll find something valuable; sometimes it's the simple fact that Onni, as cautious as ever, doesn't want him doing anything too dangerous. Not here.

There are, however, are other, quieter reasons in the back of his mind, ones centering around Emil being—hmm. Something more than a simple acquaintance? Possibly? It's a strange thing to think about, which is why he tries not to. Emil invites him along on these stupid expeditions simply because he's a) good at what he does and b) hardier than the, um, average person. He knows this. He accepts this. It doesn't particularly bother him.

(Until Emil beams at him, or compliments him, or smooths his hair down in such a familiar way, but—it's fine, really. It's nothing. Weird feedback.)

Anyway, today's supposed reason: Emil seemed confident that there was something big to be found in an area they'd yet to explore. Today's real reason: Emil asked him to come, and so here he is. He doesn't regret it, either, even though he is less than thrilled about this storm that's bearing down on them. His limbs... are supposedly insulated, supposedly suited for this weather, but things still feel off when the temperature drops below a certain point - and the very real skin near said limbs definitely catches the chill from the metal, so when Emil suggests they stop? Sure. When Emil finds a spot for them to hunker down in? Wonderful. When Emil invites him to come so close?

...Mmph. It's logical, but mmph. Lalli hovers there for a moment, caught between the shelter and the storm, before he finally begins edging over to his... partner.]

I've been colder. [He fell into the sea one time, stupid! But as he lowers himself beside Emil, trying not to wince as his legs, like, initially resist his efforts to bend them:] ...You?

[Complain to him, pretty boy, as he stiffly settles in.]

[One of the many good things about Lalli is that he invites Emil to complain like this. What a considerate boy! Emil waits, of course, until Lalli has chosen to join him here on the ground, rubbing his gloved hands together and humming. He's not in a bad mood, somehow, despite the weather and how useless this excursion has been— somehow, like he could be out here with anyone else and still maintain something of a decent mood. He'd take his chances and leave anyone else besides Lalli in the snow...

Anyway, he's freezing to death, surely. Thanks for asking.]

I'd be frozen solid within the hour if we stayed out in that, I can feel it. [He says, like he says every time they have a variant on this same conversation.] Lucky you, I found this great spot to wait it out!

[Praise him and his many talents. He watches Lalli shift around, polite enough to give him these brief few moments before he holds out his arm for Lalli to get over himself and really get in here. Come, freeze him even more with those metal arms, he's committed to this.]

I don't think we're going to find anything good out here, so remind me to give that gangly moron a good hit for saying this was a good spot when we get back.

[You know, in like, a friendly way... Anyway.] Come here, you look so stiff already!

[A great spot? Hmm. It's a spot that will do, Lalli supposes. A spot that is certainly better than no spot at all, which is why he resists cutting a look at this boastful boy while he gingerly tests an elbow. Aha. It isn't the smoothest movement in the world, but at least everything seems to be in working order; he is... satisfied.

Okay, okay—satisfied and slightly amused, once he imagines Emil smacking that idiot upside his head. The chances of this actually happening are so, so low; he's totally aware of this, but he still hums along in agreement, letting his arm fall back to his side as he glances over at the arm Emil is stretching out to him. On the one hand, he is cold, and Emil is the type of person who just, you know, seems to radiate warmth. On the other hand...

...Nothing. Nothing sensible, anyway, and so he slowly scoots closer. It's only Emil; Lalli can sit side-by-side with him, can let that arm settle... wherever it wants to settle. Now, his arm... well, one thing at a time...]

I'm not. It's—

[How does one explain the intricacies of their robo arms? They don't. He huffs out a quick breath instead, awkwardly leaning into Emil—a thing that's easier when he realizes just how much warmth Emil is giving off. Not enough for, like, a normal person to really notice, thanks to all of those layers, but compared to Lalli's permanent chill... mmm.]

It's... a good spot, [he eventually settles on. Good, not great, but.] But you'll be colder if we stay here for too long.

[Some sliiiiiiight stress on the you'll there, because Lalli is always cold and Lalli can (miserably) deal. The perks of being what he is.]

[Oh, that arm wants to wrap around Lalli's shoulders and keep him snugly pressed against Emil's side, make no mistake. He's helping; this is help, for his very dear friend who might otherwise have all his joints go weird if he's stuck in the storm too long. Sure, they could do something more sensible like build a campfire, but a) who wants to be out here that long? and b) he likes... doing this. It's nice. Comfortable.

Not exactly cozy from his end, as Lalli enjoys his warmth and Emil enjoys the very cold arm seeping its chill right through his many layers, but that's not enough to stop him. He likes... that Lalli will do this with him at all; it's not hard to notice that he doesn't with anyone else. Emil can and will delight in his Lalli Privileges(tm).]

Well, if you've suddenly learned how to control the weather, let me know. [It's Snowing.] We'll have to wait and see how long it takes.

[And in the meantime, they'll just have to huddle close together under this rock. Emil doesn't plan these things - weird - but he will take advantage of the opportunity. This is normal and friendly.]

...It's a great spot. [fight him!!]

[The audacity! The sass! Or: Lalli tilts his head back and to the side, doing his best to give the boy holding him a Look... but it's a surprisingly hard thing to do, given the current state of things. He winds up bumping his head against that arm, Look fading to something milder when he realizes that he's only peering at, like, the side of Emil's face from this angle. It's an... interesting view. Has he ever studied Emil's profile before? Has he ever had the opportunity?

Maybe, maybe not, but it doesn't matter; his eyes are tracing it now, anyway.]

Mmn. [A patented Lalli Noise, one of disagreement in response to... everything that was said, before he corrects Emil with a firm:] Good.

[Are they going to childishly argue about this in the middle of a snowstorm? Possibly. Not that Lalli is taking this all that seriously; if he was, he wouldn't allow himself to slowly relax against this warm body, wouldn't dream of slipping his arm behind Emil and letting his hand rest above that opposite... hip? Is that his hip, or something farther up? It's hard to tell when Emil is essentially one big bundle of clothing, but he can feel traces of the heat below and that's all that really matters.]

[This boy! Emil finds him a wonderful spot to wait out the worst of the snowstorm and what does he do? Judge! Emil scoffs, glancing down at Lalli looking at him, and - hmm. His many layers prevent it from being too unbearably cold when Lalli's hand settles vaguely somewhere around his hip, which is lucky or he'd have to whine, and he's not too pressed about the good/great debate... It's just cozy, for a snowstorm, to have Lalli all but sink into him like this. He will warm this grumpy boy up; that's his true calling.

He hums and rubs Lalli's upper arm with a gloved hand, which mercifully does not squeak against the outer... robo-bits. Robits. It surely has before, and Emil surely has made it awkward by pointing it out, but this time: what luck! No squeak, only affectionate friction.

Still,] It's great, and you're welcome. Next time I'll drag a heater all the way out here, shall I?

[He'll install a sun lamp under this rock specifically. Then they can spend all their time out here, where other people won't interrupt. It's a nice dream underneath all of the illogical, stupid parts. Spend tiiime with hiiim...]

...You know, maybe it would be nice to do something besides hunt for garbage.

[Hmm, indeed. Emil's face is an objectively nice thing to study, but Lalli faces forward once more, watching the snow fall while he tries (and fails) to ignore that hand moving up and down his arm. ...Weird. A gesture he should dislike, given his general aversion to touch, and yet—well, people stare at his limbs? People whisper about them? People go out of their way to avoid them and the person they're attached to, truth be told, but Emil is different; Emil casually does things like this, like everything about Lalli is normal, and that makes being touched feel strangely... okay.

Or maybe it's strange because he's aware that it's better than okay, but that's something he shoves to the side in favor of listening to Emil say stupid Emil things. A heater... pfft. Of course his literal self actually takes a second to consider this, but this... thing they always wind up doing is fine. It works well enough, even if he can't help but to shiver ever so lightly as he puffs out a (visible) breath. No to a heater, then; yes to... the idea, at least, of spending more time with Emil, but—]

Mm. Hunt for better leads.

[85% serious, 15%... joke? Is there a slight trace of humor there, even though his voice is as flat and as quiet as ever? Huh! Something for Emil to puzzle over as Lalli chances a peek back his way.]

...Or another job.

[If this one isn't, uh, working out, because obviously this is where Lalli's mind goes. Emil could find something else; Lalli's sure of it, just like he's sure that his own options... are limited.]

[No heater, even though this boy is clearly freezing, he sees how it is. Emil blinks at the side of Lalli's head for a moment, not entirely sure that's a joke in any capacity— but, ah. Maybe so? He manages a chuckle, just in case that wasn't supposed to be funny at all.

That's the great thing about spending time with Lalli: he never has any idea what the hell is going on, but that's okay! Emil would be satisfied, he thinks, with huddling together in the frozen wasteland and not-quite-telling jokes, if that's all Lalli is willing to give him. Which, hmm...]

O...kaaay, but maybe I was thinking that we could just get some coffee or something. [A beat, while he considers what he Knows About Lalli.] Or cocoa.

[Like, point, this job is definitely a dead end because he's not super rich already, so obviously— but working a dead end job that lets him hug pretty boys is marginally better than some other, equally dead end job with less, uh, excuses. To hug pretty boys.

That would all be weird to say, though, so have coffee-or-cocoa with him sometime instead.]

[He's cold and he's awkward and he's, like, a split-second away from telling Emil that coffee is nasty, so the Cocoa Addendum? Good call, Emil. Good call. As stupid as it sounds, that's what stops Lalli from simply pulling a face and instead makes him seriously consider what, exactly, it would be like to spend time with Emil outside of... work. No garbage hunting! No performance-related expectations! Just someone spending time with him because they ostensibly want to, which isn't a thing that's... happened before...

So of course there's an extended pause as he processes this brand new possibility, which—well, it doesn't seem uncomfortable to him, so Emil will just have to suffer until Lalli finally breaks the silence with... a quiet, thoughtful sort of hum. Spending time with Emil could be... good. Very good. Hmm.]

Cocoa, [he eventually confirms, and then, because he's Lalli:] Coffee is gross.

[Unless he dumps a ton of sugar and cream into it. Maybe. Anyway, he watches his breath puff out once, twice, before his eyes slide back over to Emil. He can't help it.]

...Why?

[Is it because he wants to just... spend time with Lalli? Like, is this really an actual friend thing instead of another work-related thing?? Again: this has never happened to him before, so forgive him for sounding... curious. Wary. What the fuck is a date.]

[Ah yes, coffee is gross, he knew it. Thank goodness he can roll his eyes over here before Lalli looks at him again, because god... god. This guy. Leave it to Emil to get attached to the one boy who hears "let's get coffee" and says that coffee, actually, is gross, and then asks why. He can make it work!!]

What do you mean, why? Because I want to hang out with you!

[Duh! Be his friend friend and not just his work friend.]

As great as it is to freeze out here, don't you want to do something fun someplace warm? I do.

[Doing something fun is, in this case, drinking hot drinks and looking at each other. Hours of entertainment.]

[Would Emil even like a less Lalli-like, uh, Lalli? Hmm! Anyway, hearing that Emil really does want to spend time with him for the hell of it is... interesting; like, Lalli almost asks the same question again, just because he's honestly not sure why anyone would want to spend time with him when no one ever has, but—hey. Hey. Not every question needs an answer! Emil wants to and that's...

...It's okay. Maybe, which is why Lalli settles for leaning in a bit closer as he just barely tightens his grip around Emil. If going off nothing but what they want here is totally normal and perfectly acceptable, then he wants... warmth. More of it.]

It's not... bad. Like this.

[He's just saying, because being outside of the loud, annoying city? Nice. Being held by this boy he doesn't mind at all? ...Also nice, but. Shh.]

...Are there other— [Hmm. The briefest of pauses, just in case it isn't obvious that the concept of "fun" is throwing him for a loop.] —fun things?

[To do. In the city. Together, if they're really going to do this wild and crazy thing. Has Lalli ever had a grand ol' time doing anything with Onni... debatable...]

It's— well, there are, um, perks.

[You know, to huddling under a rock out here together. There's really only the one perk and it's holding onto Lalli, but details. Considering what they're doing right this second, Emil thinks that this, at least, is not something he has to spell out. This is the good part. Right here.

Anyway— is he surprised that Lalli doesn't really get fun, conceptually? No, not really. He's a bit thrown for how to, like, explain basic Fun Things in a way that actually sounds fun for someone like Lalli, though... Hmm!]

...There are... things. To do. Do you like... [ehhHH] food?

[Do You Like Food --Emil Västerström, social genius]

[That perk is, like, the one thing Lalli understands here, which is why he remains blessedly silent as Emil spins that imaginary wheel and lands on... food. Aha. Lalli can't help but study him for a moment, brow furrowing ever so slightly as he wonders if the cold is, um, hitting this boy a bit harder than he'd thought possible. Food... huh...]

Yes? [Duh.] But not everything. Some things.

[Like what? Don't even worry about it, because of course he has to skip over that just to ask the obvious question here.]

...How is eating fun?

[You know what's easy to carry around the frozen, barren wasteland? Gross, MRE-type things. Soylent Green. Tasty meals are rarities for this stick of a cyborg.]

[Don't judge him, at least he had an idea... Going out to eat is the most basic of things to do with another person, or at least, he assumes it is because he has only one friend, who is judging him presently. He's trying!!]

Uhhh, because... we spend time together?

[Lalli. Lalli, he's going to die out here, trying to make eating a meal together sound thrilling. Just come.]

Just let me buy you lunch without asking questions!

[He's not judging! Not really. It's just, you know, hard for him to wrap him mind around this apparently "fun" thing that's never been fun for him, because he generally eats to live; living to eat can get rather, um... expensive. But this boy wants to treat him? Apparently? And that makes this all even stranger. No one has ever bought something for him—even something as simple as a meal—just because... it's almost suspicious...

But he can see the appeal, he supposes, and the appeal is mainly... the thought of staring at Emil from across a table. Hmm. He shifts ever so slightly, wondering what Onni would say. No, probably. Don't be stupid. Buy it yourself.]

Hrmh.

[Give him a second here, just to compare what he "should" do with what he wants to do. It's complicated.]

You don't have to buy mine. [He has some money, and yet making a big deal about this when they're freezing in the wilderness seems? Stupid?] But... okay. Lunch.

[Okay! It is... a (tentative) date! Something pleasantly warm to think about at this point in time.]

[—Oh! A date!! A whole... maybe-a-date, because who knows if Lalli "how is eating fun" Hotakainen considers anything date-worthy, let alone having lunch. Still, that makes Emil perk up, pleased; lesson learned: demanding no questions definitely works every time.

Regardless: hell... yes. He DID it.]

Okay, okay! I'll take you to lunch, how does that sound? You'll like it!

[Probably. They won't be freezing, and Emil will chatter about whatever, so it won't be too different from these excursions, actually.]

What do you like to do, anyway? When you're not working.

[Lalli has a lot to learn about the concept of fun, it's true, but there are a handful of things that he likes—and Emil just so happens to be one of them. It's why lunch with Emil sounds... nice, regardless of who foots the bill, or where they wind up eating, or how many people stare at him. He can deal with all of it.

But talking about the things he likes to do? Hmm. That's hard, because when it comes down to it, he doesn't particularly like to do anything. He works; he follows Onni around; he finds somewhere quiet to sit and watch people come and go. His life is exciting, which is why he cants his head, humming thoughtfully. This is a question he's rarely been asked, Emil. This is a question he's never really considered, so—]

...I don't know. [Not that he sounds particularly bothered by that, because he just... isn't. Hmm. He's thinkin'.] Sleep?

[He has no social life.]

[Will Emil punch someone in the local canteen for staring? Maybe! Or maybe he'll just casually insist they go eat in some secret spot that is really just a spot that's, uh, not so public. Emil is a professional at avoiding people he assumes are all out to judge him, so he has spots to spare.

That said- ah, so Lalli also doesn't have any hobbies or passions... relatable. Now the impasse is not so much "will Emil like the thing Lalli wants to do?" but rather "two idiots with no ideas." He'll make it work.]

Oh. Well, we're probably not going to take a nap after lunch... I'll think of something. [...] You can think of something, too, if you want.

[Help him out, lazy boy.]

[What's wrong with a post-lunch nap? Emil is the one who wants to take him out to lunch; therefore, thinking of something to do after lunch should be, in Lalli's humble opinion, Emil's responsibility, but—mmph. He could be grumpy. It's in his nature to be, really, and yet something about the fact that Emil wants to spend time with him outside of work forces him to, like, take a step back and reconsider. If thinking of something extra to do means that he'll get to spend even more time with Emil, then is making an effort... a terrible thing...]

I'll... try?

[He blinks down at his knees, almost surprised that he agreed to do this thing, but... ah, well. He did it! He's stuck with it, even though he has no idea what to actually suggest. Emil letting Lalli stare at him for as long as he likes—no, no.]

What do you like to do?

[Well, Emil is... normal? That, and making sure that Emil has a pleasant time with him is... something Lalli suddenly cares about. Wild.]

[Trying is enough for Emil, he decides. They could just do this, but somewhere else - sit around and talk about nothing in particular. And, hmm, maybe sit like this, all cozied up together... But that's still not a hobby, so--]

Uhhhh, go shopping, maybe? Not that there's much of that to do around here.

[They can buy... medical capsules... that's fun. Some new orange striped gear.]

[In what world is shopping a fun thing to do? Even if Emil is involved, it still seems... dumb. A waste of both time and money, which is why Lalli puffs out a breath. Boy! He was being serious, because he maybe-kind-of cares about Emil's dumb opinion.]

Shopping, [Lalli repeats, voice flat as he looks back over at Emil.] Hmm. For a heater.

[A... joke? Even though he definitely does not look like he's joking.]

[Wow, Emil is very serious about shopping and the tragic lack of good shopping around here, thanks. He shrugs, making a face like, look, he can't help it— he has only so many brilliant ideas and he spent all of them on lunch.]

A— hmm. [A heater... please. Okay, he cracks a smile, for sure? But please.] A heater, yes. One I can carry.

[Thanks for appreciating his hilarious sense of humor, Emil. That's how Lalli knows this friendship is real, because ah, even the tiniest smile is... well, it's nice! It's good! Lalli is pleased that he caused that, which is why he straightens up the slightest bit as he soaks it in. This boy...]

Mm. And a hat, too.

[Because it's cold, and don't normal people lose most of their heat via their heads? Or something like that? Lalli doesn't know, really—like, what is an education—but that's what he's going with as he reaches out to idly smooth down a few flyaway strands of hair. If his hand is extraordinarily cold when it just barely grazes Emil's forehead, uh... sorry. But not really.]

I look terrible in hats.

[He doesn't, of course, he always looks great, but his hair suffers for it. Hat hair? The dumb way his hair sticks out from under a winter cap, if he has to wear one? Terrible. Maybe he'll consider earmuffs.

Still, ah— jesus, that hand is cold. Emil likes Lalli, and spending time with Lalli, and if anything thinks Lalli's, uh, metal bits are pretty cool and interesting - but that doesn't mean he enjoys incredibly cold hands. Damn!!

He makes a face, is the point. For a few seconds, then takes hold of Lalli's very cold wrist with his very warm gloved hand and squishes it against his coat. Hmm. It's so his head doesn't get poked with icicle fingers again, honest.]

...You're cold, [is his lame explanation for this weird thing he's doing. Shh.]

[The face Emil makes is one thing, but Emil up and grabbing his wrist like this is—well, did he do something wrong? Was reaching for Emil's hair going a step too far? Lalli normally doesn't care what people think, doesn't care if he makes any sort of social faux pas, and yet the idea of making Emil smile only to, like, immediately ruin it is... mmph. Unpleasant, to say the least. Awkward, even when Emil winds up... bringing his hand closer to him instead of shoving it away entirely. Because he's cold, apparently.

Well, what is there to say about that, other than a very eloquent:]

...Aha.

[Of course he's cold? He's always cold. Being cold is his lot in life, which is why the only thing he can think to do at this point in time is, like, twist slightly closer, just to make his hand's new position a bit easier on himself as he a) adjusts to touching Emil with both hands and b) tries to think of what to say. It's obvious why his hands are cold; he doesn't feel the need to, um, apologize for it, so. Time to go for the obvious choice.]

I am. You're... warm. [Compared to him, anyway, which is why he feels the need to amend that with a quick:] Warmer.

[They are doing so great.]

Edited 2019-05-16 06:05 (UTC)

(no subject)

illequipped - 2019-05-17 01:21 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

ilves - 2019-05-18 02:21 (UTC) - Expand