ic inbox

[handfast]

ok

nicknames

rafayel - scaredy cat
fiammetta - old lady
tokinaga - mr know it all

Comments

[transmit]

[ hak, employed…… he's doing so well in purgatory ]

Is that what it was?

[ the noncommittal affirmation…

And normally he'd go straight for the exposure-therapy approach, but after everything they've just been through he's feeling a little more charitable than usual… so he keeps plucking these cats away one by one, pretending there's an end to their madness. ]

Still means they aren't all that comfortable to be around. This place has been weird enough as is—having at least one spot to unwind makes a difference.

[handfast]

[ hak, who is used to being a bully to pretty much everyone he meets: why is this guy being so nice to the other guy

but now that he's been surrounded by cats, it's time to bend down and pet the nearest one. slacking on the job already.....this is why he's unemployed. ]

Is he a good friend of yours?

[transmit]

[ this is why in his retelling to soo-won, he was defeated by the evil. ]

You could say that. We've been through a lot together…

[ They literally just met. ]

But I'm mostly trying to take it easy. This place is weird, [ hm! he goes somewhat pale, hand extending to brace himself against a wall, ] but it's not that weird, you know? Comparatively.

[ imagine hak having to deal with multiple people throwing up ]

[handfast]

[ mentally assigns them as friends even though that is very likely wrong

also while i would love for hak to get puked on a second time, he is a smidge more considerate than his rough exterior might let on. the cats go forgotten as he watches elysium sway and his focus sharpens to a needle point, worry threading through his voice. ]

Are you also sick?

[ 'also'? ]

[transmit]

[ IS IT WRONG? He would genuinely be distraught if Rafayel didn't consider him one back?? It's different when a Wriothesley denies friendship as that's to be expected, but he'd thought they got it on pretty well…

Not that he's currently worrying about that when his plate's already full as is. You play such kindly characters, sniff.

'Also'…?

[ just says his brackets. he will not be talking about himself at this time. ]

[handfast]

[ is it kind or is it just having a conscience and believing everyone has rights.....

anyway ely doesn't want to talk about himself and hak doesn't want to talk about (soo-)won which leaves them at an impasse. just kidding, it leaves them back at their original topic of rafayel. ]

Yeah, a guy puked on me earlier. [ ... ] The same guy we were talking about actually.

[ just casually throws raf under the bus, nbd ]

[transmit]

[ the bar is so low. you know this.

But that gets him started so fast he almost hurls. Oops! He settles back down. Surely there is no connection between the equally awful states of these two guys who seem to know each other. ]

Wait, really? No way. We split because we both agreed we'd be fine. Where's he now?

[ do not point out how he is also a filthy liar because how is both when it's neither ]

[handfast]

[ instead of answering, hak simply gets up and.....leaves? okay.



and then comes back some two minutes later with a glass of water that he holds out to elysium. there are little bat motifs all over the cup. how charming. ]

Beats me. [ he is finally answering the question but unfortunately he only babysits children he likes and rafayel is not one of those children. ] He's probably fine though. It was because I was running too fast while I was carrying him.

[ continues to throw rafayel under the bus ]

[transmit]

[ OKAY

Well. In the time between when Hak had left and now, Elysium has become a literal puddle on the floor, both surrounded by cats and buried under them. He might be suffocating. The cats… they have finally revolted against his unfair regime.

They were here first…… ]

[handfast]

[ okay

hak looks down, the glass of water still in his hands. then he slowly reaches out one foot to nudge at elysium's side underneath the ocean of furry bodies. you still alive down there, bud.....? ]

[transmit]

[ There's a pathetic cry, muffled beneath the chorus of meows. It sounds suspiciously like a 'help,' but what else could someone say when they're immersed in the fluff of dozens of cats? Isn't this the best life?

Must be mishearing. ]

[handfast]

[ ....?

nudges elysium a little harder, enough to dislodge one of the cats. only 98 remain. ]

Hey, you okay down there?

[transmit]

[ me immediately like i wonder if the weight of 98 cats is enough to crush him. probably.

anyway

Elysium couldn't produce a remotely intelligible noise before, and that certainly isn't changing now that Hak has dislodged a single (1) cat. Still! That is another sound in response. More importantly, he's starting to wriggle, like he's actually trying to break free?

Together, they were so strong. All it took was Hak leaving for the cats to grow this emboldened… Has he thought about that… Even if it was with good intent. ]

[handfast]

[ there is not a songle thought in hak's head other than it'll be kind of annoying if he has to move a dead body out of the way.

just kidding, he wouldn't leave ely to that fate. the warbled noises and shifting cats are a good sign, and he crouches down to help dislodge more cats. together with the power of teamwork, they can free elysium from his kitty shackles...! ]

[transmit]

[ Truly, no one wants to deal with a decomposing body in their choice of stay… At least, spreading rock disease in purgatory isn't as much of a concern? So worse comes to worst, there are plenty of abysses here Hak could easily throw him in. Fun!

After what feels like years: ]

You saved me…

[ he sounds so touched ]

[handfast]

[ what is wrong with this guy

actually, better question: ]

Why'd you let them win so easily?

[ meanwhile, one of the cats has gotten to the water glass and is peacefully drinking from it. ]

[transmit]

Just look at their numbers! Are you kidding me? You try fighting a battle 1:100!

[ the implication that he defeated only a single cat ]

[handfast]

[ looks at the cats. thinks about it. ]

Do I get a weapon?

[transmit]

Are you inhumane?!




No.

[handfast]

[ GO TO SLEEP

that's fine though. he shrugs. ]

I could still do it with just my hands.

[ bold words ]

[transmit]

[ He squints and makes a gesture with his hands. ]

Go ahead. The arena's all yours.

[ The meowrmy. They stare straight through his soul with their beady eyes… ]

[handfast]

[ ......

those beady eyes stare into his soul. he decides to pet one of them instead. ]

I just said that I could, not that I would.

[ okay ]

[transmit]

Defeated before he could even try…

[ Shakes his head solemnly and narrates this. ]

[handfast]

It means it doesn't count towards my losses.

[ not the point, but that's also not why he's back. ]

Feeling better?

[transmit]

Too late.

[ brooks no argument.

But, anyway. ]

I just felt like I needed to lie down, and that's when they decided to attack. [ He's sitting upright now, but there's still visible discomfort marring his features. One knee is drawn up to his chest, his weight braced against it. ]

… A little. Word of advice? Don't chase rabbits.