touch fire, just to taste the truth

[implying]

Date & Time: today!!!!! evening.
Location: room 410
Characters: vanadi and poor, unsuspecting marduk
Summary: vanadi is feeling needy and clingy and pathetic, and must inflict it on friends.
Warnings: uhhhhhh vanadi wishing things could get sexy?? will update if needed!

[ He's not wearing his mask tonight. As a result, he's not terribly recognizable as he wanders the halls of the Housing, hands pocketed, huddled into his hoodie. Not very fashionable, a hoodie, but tonight finds him decidedly apathetic about it.

His steps take him to the fourth floor, and from there to the last room. His glance at the number on the door turns to a stare — and shortly after into a knock.

Marduk, he thinks. He's not sure who his roommates are, he hasn't looked into it, but some little cranny in his electricity-driven mind reassures him that his good, dead friend lives here now, since the reorganization. So he steps back to wait, wondering if he has it in him to be properly cheerful when the door is answered. ]

Comments

[implying]

[ hey man, don't question it. just go with the flow. Which Vanadi does when he takes the book with a small half of a smile. He takes it carefully, like handling it wrong would snap the spine off, or something, and flips back the cover.

He doesn't quite start in on it, though-- first comes a questioning glance shot up at him. Just to make sure it's all still fine. ]

[applethief]

[ marduk holds up his hands; he's given all responsibility of this up to you, man.

that doesn't mean he's comfortable with the situation, mind-- it's not long before he stands up, tugging at his gloves. marduk isn't sure what you're supposed to do when someone else is reading through your journal, really.

he settles for leaning against the wall opposite vanadi, staring at him as he continues to fidget. go on, then. ]

[implying]

[ Well, no arguing with that. He scoots himself to the head of the bed and makes himself comfortable there, both legs drawing up under him. And he glances down, getting to the business of reading.

And man, can this guy read. Cybernetic implants bring speedreading to a whole new level. ]

[applethief]

[ he honestly can't tell if vanadi is actually reading anything. it wouldn't make sense to turn the pages that fast just for show, but...

it's hard to stay silent for long, anyway. ] Well?

[implying]

[ It's not quite what he'd hoped for — it starts too late, it doesn't tell him much about his home or life before Exsilium. But at least there's some information from home, and it's that that gets special attention.

He can't entirely ignore the rest, though. It's difficult to pass up frank opinions of other people, and he especially enjoys the bits about himself. But eventually he glances up, one ear cocked for amusement. ]

Rather comprehensive of you, my dear.

[applethief]

That's not funny. [ he snaps automatically, folding his arms. his gaze drops to the ground as he shifts from side to side, muttering. ]

It has to be comprehensive. [ then, louder: ] What were you looking for?

[implying]

Mm, nothing really in particular, just... looking.

[ He glances down again, flipping a few more pages. He goes for a few more seconds, then sets the book aside. ]

This all feels rather one sided, now. [ not that he's volunteering to even it out. ]

[applethief]

[ it's hard not to just dive for the thing; marduk drags himself over to the bed in a passable attempt at self control, gingerly lifting up the book and sitting down in its place. ]

There has to be something you wanted. [ he taps his fingers on the cover, looking over at vanadi. ] No one goes looking for nothing.

[implying]

[ He shrugs, still and watching. Those aren't the habits of only a meticulous note taker. ]

I wanted to better know the man who never talks about himself. [ a beat, and he adds: ] What makes your memory so poor?

[applethief]

[ marduk flashes him a toothy grin. ] That's funny, coming from you. How am I the one that never talks about myself?

[ but... he pauses as he looks down at his hands, forcing them flat on the cover. well. ] Whatever it is also keeps me alive. Hell if I know how it works. [ when he glances back at vanadi this time, his smile falters a bit. ] It's the kind of thing you just learn to live with.

[implying]

[ Sympathy weighs his glance down, until he's watching the sheets of the bed instead. Until you learn to live with it, that seems like the long and short of just about everything. He sighs lightly. ]

My memory is usually... ah, what's the word. Eidetic? Until the wiring begins to go faulty, that is. The glitches that produces obscure quite a few things.

[applethief]

What's your excuse, then? Shit, the only thing I really know about you is your, uh-- [ he freezes up for a second, but soon forces himself to relax. forgetting is still embarrassing, but it's a little better when everyone knows about it.

... kind of. ] Your eye.

[implying]

[ He smiles a little, when it's remembered. Aw, his creepy eye is memorable. ]

My excuse is mechanics. [ He shrugs mildly. He's too tired to be his usual overly concerned and shifty about any of this. He's sick of that part. ] I'm a prototype, and far from perfect.

aw bb no ur perfect just the way u are <3

[applethief]

A prototype. Of what? [ he leans a little closer. there's really no point in feigning disinterest, now. ] I mean-- call me crazy, but I don't think you've forgotten as much as I have.

[implying]

No, no— you're definitely in the lead there, my dear.

[ Vanadi doesn't have to keep a journal, after all. Or at least, not yet. He shifts a little, left gloved hand rubbing his right upper arm uncomfortably. ]

Ah, does your world have the... concept of "cyborg", at all? You never quite know, with the Transporter being the eclectic thing that it is.

[applethief]

[ marduk frowns. he's heard plenty of strange words in exsilium, but apparently he hasn't memorized enough of them. well-- he tilts his head, thinking it over, and only comes up with a shrug. ]

It isn't a word I recognize. [ not that that means much... he looks at vanadi expectantly, waiting for him to continue anyway. ]

[implying]

Well, it means something that had started out organic— [ Does Marduk know that word. He frowns. ] —Something that starts out living, and has gained elements of technology.

[ Yeah, good enough. And to illustrate his point, he drops the awkward rubbing of his arm, and pull off the glove instead. He flexes his left hand a couple times — it's entirely metal by now. Last time he'd seen Exsilium he'd still had three fingers of flesh, but now it's all stainless steel, made of intricate joints, shining panels, and mesh. ]

I have the good fortune of being the first of my kind, on my world. Experimental.

[applethief]

[ automatically, he reaches out to touch the exposed hand. no, just metal. he spares vanadi an incredulous look, biting back a grin and completely failing to contain it. ]

What, that's it? [ his attention drifts back to vanadi's hand; he tugs on the edge of his sleeve, trying to pull it upwards. ] How far does it go?

[implying]

[ He gets an ear-dropped flat look for that, but he obligingly gestures to himself with the arm not being interrogated. His motion indicates up to his shoulder, then down slightly off from the center of his body, and to both legs. ]

And that's it, yes. Plus a good portion of my brain.

[applethief]

Er-- [ he abruptly drops vanadi's sleeve after catching that look from him. ] Sorry. [ and he means it! just...

marduk moves his hand to the center of his own chest. he stares off into the distance as he thinks. ] It's not that common where I come from, but-- you're really the only one? [ another glance back at vanadi. he doesn't think he's lying, but it's hard to believe. ]

[implying]

No, not anymore. I went home, and in my absence, she'd created a few more. That is— the human woman that...

[ What's the word for someone that ruined your life? He considers it for a few seconds. ]

...Graced me with practical application of her intelligence. [ The smile is sharp and bitter. ] I'm ever her favorite, though. It's touching how she hadn't forgotten me at all.

[applethief]

[ marduk touches vanadi's hand again, claws clicking against the metal. it's solid; he's impressed, but he doubts the compliment would be appreciated.

it's a familiar story, though, and one he can empathize with. still, there's not much to say. ] Well, you're pretty memorable. [ it's the best thing he can think of. ]

[implying]

[ He watches that touch for a few seconds, before moving his gaze up to his face. That gets a thoughtful few seconds of scrutiny as well. Then he shifts, twisting his hand around and down to secure a loose, if secure, hold at Marduk's wrist, and from there presses it to the bed and leans his weight on both their hands. It brings him in close enough to go for a kiss, which is, of course, exactly what he does. ]

i have no icons for this :C

[applethief]

[ while he wasn't necessarily expecting the kiss, it doesn't exactly catch him off guard, either. i mean-- it is vanadi, right? marduk easily falls into the kiss, his free hand sliding up vanadi's side, trying to find a way under his shirt.

and then he pauses, turning his head away and breaking off the kiss. ] Why? [ he hopes he doesn't need to elaborate; he probably couldn't. ]

well fuck using my imagination D:<

[implying]

[ He doesn't insist on the kiss after Marduk breaks it, but he does take the opportunity to move nearer. Nearly right into his lap, actually, with one leg curling comfortably around his waist. ]

Because we're both lonely sons of bitches, my dear. [ It's low, more sardonic than his usual cheerful, refined tones ever get. ] Why ever not?