meadowlarklogs | one night of magic rush

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one night of magic rush

WHO: Cain, Prompto, Hideki Maeda, and you!
WHERE: The popular Asylum club.
WHEN: Night of October 26.
WHAT: Cain and Prompto's joint birthdays!
NOTES OR WARNINGS: Beyond drinking/smoking, general wild party behavior, and fake friendship, there shouldn't be much. Will update as needed.

[Set deep in the downtown of New Amsterdam's entertainment district is Asylum, arguably the most popular club in the city. The exterior is cool steel beams and tasteful futuristic architecture with a long line down the corridor, suited bouncers posed at the entrance all armed with a virtual guest list. Its interior is fashioned with bright, colorful lighting dynamic to the music of the infamous DJ Semicolon, high ceilings and acoustic sounds to lend that feeling of a constant full-body hum. Any partygoers on the guest list for this event will be funneled toward the VIP section. They will have received an invitation a few days prior via their Cooltalk profiles. Jason is specifically blacklisted, sorry buddy.

DANCE YOUR HEART OUT. Nearly impossible to book without deep pockets or wide-reaching connections, Semicolon is at the top of their game mixing popular contemporary hits with Whitney Houston's classics. From song to song, Semicolon provides a unique and talented contrast of the slow to the energetic, so no matter your dancing style, you'll find something to move you on the dance floor.

DROWN YOUR... LIVER. Courtesy of the party's host, Hideki Maeda, the VIP section's private bar will provide an ever-flowing river of your favorite expensive high-proof alcohol. Pick your poison.

CHILL OUT. Tired on your feet from too much dancing, or just need a break from the packed atmosphere? There are plenty of comfortable areas where you can relax and take it easy until you're ready to get back out there. The lights around this area cycle through different colors in reflection of Semicolon's performance set, so a slower song might lend toward romantic shades of red while a faster-paced song is brighter blue.

SMOKE, EAT & MINGLE. Asylum will be serving real, fresh meat at this party, so enjoy that luxury while it lasts. There is also an outdoor area with a beautiful view over the city itself if you want to take your vape pen out there for a smoke, just get some air, or see who's around for a chat.]

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[The first threads of daylight are beginning to stream in the windows, pale and thin, when Cain's boots arrive at the door from a long night out. His exhaustion's mounted clear and high in his mind through the course of events -- wild party and all its encounters new and old, several drinks, endless dancing, the constant company of Hideki Maeda. In the end arriving at the Maeda household for an overdue attempt at proper recon. So much exposure to the young heir of the Maeda name has left Cain's nerves raw and tired, not that maintaining banter is ever difficult. It's the entire routine: lying, pretending he cares about social media attention, the perfect angle in a picture, getting so blitzed the world becomes a slur of unfeeling detail.

Cain's a cold sober by the time he gets back, somewhere in that murky gray area of not-yet-hungover exhaustion. As soon as he steps inside, he begins to shed shoes and clothing, pulling the new jacket from Billy off and draping it over a chair on a path to the shower. A temperature scalding enough to bring color into his cheeks and even darken tanned skin with a flush of warmth. Rinsing all the grime and grit of the day off, Cain finally begins to relax with each meditative inhale of steam.

Naked and still-damp when he stumbles into the bedroom -- after a brief, warring consideration of the couch in favor of not waking Abel up -- Cain feels for the edge of the bed and eases down onto it. He'd missed Abel. Hardly saw him more than a handful of moments at the party, swept out by Hideki too soon after. But it's his birthday now, properly, according to the date. And he wants to spend it right here. Finding the shape of Abel's cocooned body in the bedsheets, he automatically forms himself against it with a low hum.]

Edited 2019-05-22 06:29 (UTC)

[Abel isn't asleep.]

[He hasn't slept at all, as far as he can remember, having spent the last hour of the party asking everyone where Cain had gone and then, after hearing he'd left with Prompto and Hideki, making the long walk home. Alone. He didn't have the credits for a cab, he didn't have the thought to ask someone still there for a ride, and he honestly didn't want to make it easy for himself. Because he's angry, and he's upset that he's angry. So he punishes himself and walks. It's scary and he hates it, but serves him right doesn't it?]

[His own clothes are on the floor, he didn't shower, didn't even brush his teeth before curling up in the fetal position in bed and wishing he could just erase the day from his memory. Every ugly thought, every lick of jealousy that came to taunt him, every whisper that this was Cain's territory and he'd never belong in it, that Cain didn't even care if he was there. 'Look at that spoiled, rich boy giving him everything, that's you if you'd made different choices. And now he's just as chained to him as he was to you. He looks like he's having fun though, doesn't he?']

[And then he'd left. Without Abel. So it was either so much fun that he'd forgotten about him, or he was still 'working'. The latter, the more likely option, doesn't make him feel better and it's the most frustrating part. He can't even be angry with Cain, he just has to accept it's out of both of their control. And that's kept him up for two hours, gnawing at the inside of his skull, pressing him about how selfish and silly he is. And the panic just spikes when he feels the mattress dip as Cain settles in.]

['Don't touch me, please, please don't touch me, not when I feel like this--!!']

[Abel shudders when he feels Cain's legs entwine with his, and he has to make a choice-- does he jerk away to prevent the link, or stay still and pretend he's asleep? If he moves, Cain would know something was wrong. But no one falls asleep and feels this kind of emotional upheaval, and even if someone did, not Abel. His nightmares were rare, he slept like the dead usually. There's no good way out here. So he doesn't move.]

[He stays unnaturally stiff as his chest starts to glow and everything unravels. The jealousy, the frustration, the disappointment, the anger, the feeling of inadequacy-- it's the worst emotional cocktail Abel has felt since he learned the truth about Project Thebes, it almost hurts him to share it. He shouldn't have done this, he should have moved. When he opens his mouth to tell Cain to just go to sleep, that he's just tired and raw from the party, that he'll be fine after he rests-- nothing comes out but a sad, pained noise that he immediately chokes off.]

[This was a scrape on his knee hours ago, how did it turn into this massive festering wound?]

[Anticipating the warm, gauzy threads of sleep when he curls up close to Abel's body after days acclimating to the constancy of the empathy bond, he's jolted by a cold wave of emotion instead. It's sudden and severe enough to drag Cain into full wakefulness like a shot of adrenaline. Unable to make sense of the tangle, all he can feel is an unbearable sadness that raises an immediate alarm. Pushing himself fully up -- and withdrawing his touch in a flash as if burned -- he signals the bedside lamp on. The room flushes with warm yellow light.]

Ethan, what...

[He can't think clearly. One hand comes out to touch Abel's shoulder, to get him to turn and face him, engaging the connection again as an attempt to communicate the intensity of his concern and panic.]

What's wrong? [What happened?] Are you okay?

['Did you HAVE to leave me there?!']

['Hideki is vile human, I hate that you have to be around him!']

['I couldn't even buy you a drink, we didn't even dance, I barely said anything to you, can't we just tell everyone everything?']

[Abel rolls over, his eyes pink from crying and dark from exhaustion. He's a wreck. Gently, he pushes Cain's hand away-- better he not feel this, Abel is convinced it's too much and humiliatingly not enough to warrant this at the same time.]

I shouldn't have gone. I didn't think, I didn't realize-- [He hadn't realized what it would be like to watch Cain like he was miles away, and didn't think the opulence and comparisons would bother him. He blames himself for the lack of forethought, of course.]

I couldn't do anything to improve the night. I just watched it happen to you. I wanted to but... [He throws up his hands and rolls back over to hide his face in the pillow. Circumstances had other plans for the night and Abel couldn't affect any of it.]

[It hurts when Abel nudges him away, but he doesn't say anything, sitting straighter in bed and pulling the duvet across his lap. He falls quiet and listens, suppressing the frantic part of his mind that wants to just reach over and fix everything that's wrong. It's not that easy. Never that easy. He needs to give Abel the space to speak and articulate his feelings first, rather than just share them. Shared empathy can prove a distraction, sometimes -- from the problem, from working toward a solution. He can't necessarily understand what Abel's feeling just by experiencing it.

Hands curled into the bedsheets, he still finds himself jumping straight to protest.]

I -- what? What do you mean, improve the night? Did you think I wanted you there so I'd feel better about having to be around Hideki?

[Is that why he encouraged Abel to come? He goes quiet, shoulders a tense line across.]

I wasn't... trying to force you. Have you been feeling like shit this whole time 'cause you didn't wanna be there? You should've messaged me, I would've-- [A sharp stop. Could he have left what he was doing with Prompto? At the very least...] We could have talked about it earlier.

No! [Abel rolls over out of the pillow and sits up with him, hair fluffed from tossing and turning, expression just on the edge of manic.] I thought you wanted me there because-- because that's where I should be on your birthday! Shouldn't I?

[He searches Cain's face for an answer, desperately. When it's not immediately apparent, he looks down at his hands loosely clutching the covers.] I didn't think you'd want me to go home by myself if I told you I was leaving. I didn't want to put any pressure on you or become a distraction. I just thought I would stick it out and then we would go home...

[But that wasn't how it played out, and Abel shouldn't have counted on that to make him feel better.]

[Cain's expression is fighting for calmness, hit with a sick sense of guilt as those last few words process. And then we would go home. His gaze lowers into his lap.]

Fuck, I'm sorry, I should've... said something. I just let you think I ditched you, didn't I?

[How could he have been so stupid? At the time, he was swept up in the tedious revelry of too many drinks and too much attention. Still sharp enough to know what he was doing as he coaxed Hideki back toward the Maeda household, to try and accomplish what he and Prompto had set out to do, to uncover kernels of insight or information to inform their position here in this world. And then move on. Take it where it's needed, apply himself to doing what is... supposed to be the right thing. He hopes.]

It wasn't my birthday. It was just a party, a stupid one, he was spending so much money it almost made me angry. Nobody in the colonies could ever afford that kind of shit, you know? And he was throwing it out on drugs, alcohol, fancy fuckin' ice cubes... [In memory of the globe-like ice he'd had in some of his whiskey drinks.] Not how I really wanted to spend it. Guess having you nearby felt good. Like I knew you'd be there just in case even if we didn't get to talk.

[But that's selfish, he knows Abel doesn't like Hideki. Cain drags a hand through his hair.]

You think you're a distraction? That it'd bug me if you wanted to leave?

Edited 2019-05-23 05:45 (UTC)

['Yes! That's exactly what you should have done! I DID think you ditched me!']

I asked around when I couldn't find you, people let me know you'd left. [And they'd looked at him like he was some kind of obsessed fan. Or someone so far out of Cain, Prompto, and Hideki's league that it was hardly worth answering him. It felt too familiar, only this time he actually needed someone to answer him.] I'm not an idiot, I know this was important, it was an opportunity for you and Prompto, if you took time to make sure I was alright, his... goldfish brain would have flitted off to something else and you would have lost his focus. [That's right, he's being too sensitive here, he has to realize that this is going to help Cain uncover whatever the Maedas are doing. It could be huge, and he's sitting in bed whining about how Cain didn't pay enough attention to him. Maybe Angel hadn't been too far off about that air lock thing...]

[Abel sniffs and looks at Cain with wet, miserable eyes as he continues to beat himself up internally.] You... wouldn't care if I left? [It's a very delicate, fragile question. It's true that Cain looked like he was having fun despite his apparent extreme dislike for the party-- maybe he wouldn't have noticed at all.]

That's-- not what I meant.

[It comes out a quick rush. Shameless spending and partying behavior aside, Hideki isn't a bad person, and Cain can't hate him for being a product of his upbringing. A product of his parents, the true enablers and masterminds behind the Maeda name. But that doesn't mean he didn't fuck up tonight. He should have gone to Abel and spent time with him, he'd seen others in passing, and Abel is important to him. He needs to show it. The guilt is heavy on his shoulders.

Looking at Abel, all he wants to do is reach out and touch. That physical path is so much easier for him than words, yet he attempts to cobble them together all the same.]

I'd care. I told you that I like having you there, feels like I've got... backup if I need it. Someone I can trust looking out for me. But I wouldn't make you stay if you didn't wanna be there. It's not just about me and my shit, you matter to me too.

[Both Cain and Prompto think Hideki isn't a bad person, but Abel-- Abel sees too much of his own privilege in Hideki to feel entirely comfortable. He clawed his way out of that, never gave into the temptation to take the easy way out, never used his position to get dozens of people to bend the knee when it was convenient. He doesn't like it, he doesn't like him. The fact that their backgrounds are too close for comfort probably means that won't change.]

[But Hideki, ultimately, doesn't matter as jealous as Abel is of his ability to throw an extravagant party for the most important person in Abel's life like he's hucking a ping pong ball. This is about his connection with Cain, and Abel's own perceived shortcomings. Cain could have messaged him, but Abel could have messaged him too. He could have come over, kept it platonic, no touching or significant looks or prolonged close proximity, they can manage that. It would have been hard, but Abel wants to believe that when Cain's cover is on the table, he can put down his libido. He failed at communicating too. He's realizing that as Cain points out that he wouldn't have made Abel stay.]

[He shrugs and keeps looking at his hands, fussing with the duvet.] It was your party, I didn't want to do anything to bring the mood down. ...And I was looking at you all night. It looked like you were having fun. [A little less forlorn and a little more sulky now-- that's progress...]

[It isn't easy to see Abel like this, upset and glum, eyes wet and exhausted from however long he's been crying. Cain keeps his gaze level on him nonetheless.]

It wasn't something I asked for. I don't want... big gestures like that, you know? Felt like it was more for Hideki to show off how much money he's got. And that's just what he thinks me and Prompto want. It's not gonna be forever.

[He doesn't know how else to reassure Abel, or if he even can in the face of the hurt that's been caused. It makes him wish to redo the entire night.]

Some of it was okay. It was cool seeing a few people, the ones who weren't just nameless Cooltalk-obsessed freaks. [A try for brief levity.] I got a couple gifts. Didn't really expect that. [He shrugs, playing that down. Having these connections to others is still a new and tenuous for him.] But... I was just waiting that whole time to come home and crawl into bed with you. I mean that. You're not a distraction, you don't bring my mood down. Even if you do I wanna hear it. If it's gonna be the two of us, you can tell me when I do something stupid like ditch you and you're unhappy.

Some people think their money and influence is the only thing they have going for them. [Ugh, any more thoughts like that and Abel is going to tilt dangerously into pitying Hideki rather than extremely disliking him. He's proud of himself for hanging onto this grudge this long, but he knows himself-- it's going to take serious work to maintain it.] Not that I'd accredit that much deep thinking to him, but it's possible.

[Abel sighs heavily and wipes his face on his undershirt. It does feel better to know Cain at least clocked his presence, he wasn't just some loose ornament rolling around without purpose. And that Cain had apparently just pretended to have a good time for Hideki's sake, aside from those few fellow Displaced who came to see him. Abel's glad they came, at least. Cain deserves to know people like him. If this mess resulted in anything positive, it's that. He reaches over to take Cain's hand, squeezing it firmly. He's calmer, at least.]

If you want me to be your backup, I'm here to be your backup. I never thought about it that way, but I like it. [He pulls of a small if not wet smile at Cain.] And as your backup, I'm... ha, filing a formal complaint over you going AWOL on me. [Even if he technically was the one to fall asleep first and miss Cain's exit. But it's somehow easier to word his hurt this way instead of telling it to him straight.]

...I could have messaged you. I didn't exactly perform well tonight either, I assumed too much.

[As soon as their hands join he tugs on the link, trying to pull Abel closer to him across the bed. Bridge some of the distance. He wants to wrap himself up in the tangle of their bodies and forget about the events of the evening, drift off into the comfort of sleep and face tomorrow later. The stir of his own emotions over the bond reveals the extent of that deep affection, guilt, and exhaustion.]

Not really your fault. This is new to me too.

[A relationship, a real one. He threads their fingers together and enjoys the warmth of skin contact.]

I won't ditch you again like that. Promise. If I do then you've got every right to be mad. It's my real birthday now, right? [A glance at the clock shows it's dawn of the correct date, October 27th.] Once we've slept, let's spend the day just here with each other. Don't even have to get out of a bed.

[Abel works his legs awkwardly to come closer when Cain pulls on him, holding their laced hands close to his collarbone.] Not yours either, though.

[Someday they would sync up. Right now, they're learning and trying and that's all Abel can ask of both of them right now. As much as he wanted to solve for X and get the solution right away, it's just not going to happen that way. There would be more nights where he felt lonely and hurt, but they could be fewer if he figures out how to tell Cain what he's feeling without bringing forty five unrelated variables into the mix. He can do this.]

[Abel brings both of Cain's hands to his lips and kisses his knuckles, first the left then the right, then puts them back against the blue glow on his chest. He looks at the clock when Cain does, internally wincing at how early it is. No wonder they're both exhausted. He hasn't even asked what happened at Hideki's but that can wait if Cain is this tired. It's not important right now.]

Well then... Happy 'real' Birthday, Alexei. [He smiles, a real one this time full of warmth.] If you want me in bed with you all day, I'll stay right here and keep you cozy. Whatever you want.

I um. Made you something too. [He looks awkwardly off at the headboard.] It's not an open bar or a nice jacket, but... we can look at it tomorrow. When you've had some sleep. Whenever you want to.

[Shifting to wrap his free arm around Abel's shoulders and draw them side-by-side, he watches the sweet kisses laid over his knuckles. Something snags and squeezes in his chest. He can't lose this, he can't ruin it, he'd fight for this until his dying breath. Already has once and he'd do it all over again exactly the same. He wishes he were better at vocalizing that, but maybe there's a way he can do it in the future. Some way of showing how much he cares. For now, Abel will have to take the warmth threaded through the empathy bond to clarify what he feels.

A small smile fades into a look of owlish curiosity at the words. He shouldn't be surprised -- it's just in Abel's nature to do something for him like that.]

Doesn't matter, it's from you. [That already ranks it above an open bar or nice jacket, but truly, Cain's appreciated all of the unexpected gifts he received tonight. It touched real gratitude in him.] You can't tell me that and expect me to sleep. Cough it up, Ethan.

[Meant to be teasing.]

Oh... [Abel's already pale from the exhaustion, but his face is still more pink than it usually goes. 'Doesn't matter, it's from you.' It's incredible how special Cain makes him feel, and at the same time Abel feels like he's finally doing something right for Cain's birthday. Sure they didn't have a drink or a dinner or a dance, and the subject of birthday sex hasn't come up either, but he has something to give and Cain is excited to see it.]

Ah, alright, you make the rules today, I guess! [Of course now he's staring down the barrel of the thing and there's no turning back. Abel puts his hands on Cain's shoulders and urges him to relax.] Here, get comfortable first. [Abel opts to lay down in bed on his side and waits for Cain to get similarly ensconced before his eyes focus on his own HUD and drag the file into the startup. Another moment passes and Cain gets an invitation:]

[PAIR?]

[Curiosity edges out some of the fatigue, and he slides down beneath the duvet so he's stretched alongside Abel. Hard not to study his face so close -- tucked into bed like this, he's tempted to reach out and touch more, but he has to focus. The invitation blinks across his vision and he automatically accepts it.]

What is it?

[A bit of an impatient puppy, sometimes.]

[Abel does chuckle a little, it's like Cain is shaking his gift and asking what's inside without realizing he can open it, it's cute. In the next moment, the bedroom is rebuilt in a series of shifting tiles all slotting together. The boundaries are hazy at first, but as the last one fits into its place the entire image becomes sharper and grows depth.]

[He and Abel are laying in the middle of a road on a hill. It's a steep drop down the other side, guarded by a sleek rail, and on the other side-- miles and miles of trees and presumably homes stretch out towards a pink horizon. The air around them is damp and quiet, and overall it feels a little like being draped in a heavy gray blanket. But they're at least dressed for the occasion, Abel in a jacket with a red front and goldenrod sleeves, Cain in his black leather-- maybe just a little more form-fitting than it is in reality.]

[Abel stands up and offers a hand to Cain. The road stretches up the hill, a lazy wind that's lined with trees full of foliage and delicately scented flowers. It's not clear where it goes, but the purpose of the program is pretty clear given Abel's sleek red motorcycle is waiting right in the middle of the road.]

I thought I was overdoing it programming the different weather patterns and varying times of day, but I guess it paid off this time. [He smiles at Cain and looks back out at the horizon.] Welcome to Earth. The sun should be rising soon, if you wanted to take a ride.

[The tilt and change of scenery takes all of his attention, young daylight flooding across his peripheral where once there were only walls and buildings caging them in. Even the air is crisp and damp when he inhales a breath. For the space of one moment, Cain wonders if he's been returned back to that dream-world, plunged into the disorienting nature of wilderness and left to fend for himself.

But he's not alone, Abel's body is warm and close by, and the movement of him shifting to stand manages to root Cain back into the reality of this moment. Or the simulated reality. He hasn't experienced much of VR up to this point, but now he recalls their conversation about it when they were still stranded in New Tokyo.

He rises dizzily to his feet, gaze spanning the panoramic view over the guardrail.]

What... [Welcome to Earth. Cain whips around, excitement palpable and clear in his expression. It's not the Earth of New Amsterdam, not even the Earth of one of the dreams, but their Earth. The bright blue marble he's seen only in images and grainy vids. Somewhere out there, a vast reach, where Abel lived.] Holy shit, this is amazing.

[His gaze drops to the motorcycle.]

Wait, is that yours? And all this is where you're from?

Edited 2019-05-25 17:12 (UTC)

[Abel's heart soars at Cain's expression. Watching him marvel at the view is incredible, and makes every hour of sleep he lost worth it and then some. He could honestly cry. And they haven't even started riding yet, this is just the view.]

[Only a little overwhelmed, he smiles and gestures down the hill.] My parents house was just down there. [Conspicuously absent from Abel's point of view, but Cain wouldn't know. He'd race up this hill away from the house and that would satisfy him some days-- just the physical act of putting distance between himself and the expectations. And then when he came back down, it loomed like the house was shaming him for running. He hated it. So it's just not there anymore.]

[Abel runs his hand fondly over the shiny red motorcycle, his best friend, carrying him everywhere and away.] I'd drive up this hill all the time, almost every day the last few weeks before I deployed. Whenever I felt like I needed to run, or remind myself of what I wanted to protect.

[Surreal to be here, rooted in Abel's memory as it's been pieced together around them, a personal fragment of his life on Earth. Purely Ethan. His eyes follow the road as it swoops down the slope ahead and bend around corners into unseen territory. That he would take this route so frequently, and right before he came to space, joined the Alliance, and then found his way into Cain's arms through calculated fate.

Walking over to the bike, he lays a hand on the shiny red paint. It's cool underneath his palm. A gentle nudge of their shoulders, he smiles.]

You gonna take us for a ride, then? Let's go.

I thought we might, if it struck your fancy. [He smiles, swaying a little from the soft nudge. This is a gift for Cain of course, but Abel finds that every time he sees Cain taking in part of the environment-- running his fingers across the bike-- he feels a thrill go up to his cheeks. This is a gift for Cain, how is Abel finding this much joy in it too? If this is what it was like to give someone you cared deeply about a gift, Abel would give Cain anything and everything.]

[He tips his head towards the bike, indicating Cain should get on the back as Abel climbs up into the front. No helmets necessary, apparently-- why program them when the physics engine prevented the bike from tipping?] There's a rest for your feet back there, do you see it?

[Marveling, gaze turned out once more over their surroundings. The nature snares most of his fascination, because it's nothing like he's seen in New Amsterdam, not even the same as it was in the dreams. He watches a cool breeze flutter through the leaves of a nearby snatch of trees. There are so many, and they must go on for miles. He's never seen so many at once this close.

With one leg thrown over the bike, he settles in behind, arms immediately cinching around Abel's waist to tuck himself up against the warm line of his back. And that feels good too. A stray thought has him wondering if they can fuck in VR, but... first thing's first. Cain's feet find the indicated rest.]

Everything feels so real. How'd you make something like this?

[Abel is pulling on his gloves as Cain settles in behind him. It does feel good, almost like Abel tooled around with what he felt like whenever they touched. Safe, electric, warm, right-- the fact that they're holding hands in Cain's bed probably only adds to the experience, and Abel has to take a moment to lean gently backwards into Cain's arms and enjoy his work. This program isn't built for extracurricular activity so to speak... but Abel has always wanted to fuck on a beach.]

The answer is both fascinating and a little terrifying, truth be told. [Abel finishes putting on his gloves.] How we interact with our environments outside of VR is based entirely on signals that our brain receives and processes-- sight, touch, smell.

But brains aren't perfect. They can be tricked by things like anesthetics for example. Anesthetics don't prevent pain, they prevent the signal from reaching the brain, and so in essence we don't feel it. All of this is piggybacking on the implant, which sends signals to our brains that we're reading text or viewing an image. I've only made that more complex so you can not only see the images, but I can tell your brain what it's like to feel the breeze here, or smell the morning air. It's all signals and chemistry.

But what you feel, how you're reacting to all of this-- that's entirely in your control. [Abel kickstarts the motor and it immediately starts with a crack and growl, settling into an eager rumble under them. When he'd driven them in New Tokyo, Abel had still been emotionally struggling and unable to find true joy in anything. But here, something certainly shifts. He drums his fingers around the handles and leans in, ready to tear up the hill.]

Say when.

[He's listening, he swears he is, but it's easy to get caught up in the spell of illusion. The scientific explanation is simple enough to understand. There are signals sent by the brain in one's perception of the world, and the simulation is tricking those signals to interpret something else. The leather of his clothes isn't real, neither are Abel's gloves, or the warm growl of the engine between their legs, but his brain doesn't know that. It feels real.

Now he can see why Fitz said there was some danger to simulations like this. It almost reminds him of the dream world, in an abstract way. He steers his thoughts from that bleaker avenue and focuses on the present with a firm squeeze around Abel's hips. His cheek tucks in behind Abel's head, mouth close to his ear.]

So, this extra-tight leather outfit you put on me... [Abel won't be able to see the shape of his smirk, but maybe he'll feel it pressed to his skin. In a lower growl,] Ready.

closed to abel

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