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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[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.

[It's true that Abel asked himself several times if he was doing them both a favor by making the environment so close to the real thing, and so idyllic in nature. He'd read things about people beginning to prefer VR to the real world, troubling studies, but Abel told himself that it was just a gift. Just something to tide them over until they were home. It wasn't going to get out of hand, it was a toy.]

[A really, really great toy, he thinks as Cain's leather-clad thighs squeeze him. He bites his lip and presses his hips back just a little.] Programmer's privilege. [So he snuck in a few treats for himself into this gift, he's only human. He's about to tell Cain he can change it if he likes, but that feeling of lips against his ear kills that practical sentence immediately. He can definitely still drive a motorcycle, he can do this, Cain in tight leather won't kill all of his faculties.]

[Hopefully.]

[He kicks the stand back and they take off. Abel focuses on the road though the motions are almost automatic now. The simulation matches the road inch-for-inch, and he's driven it enough that it's a meditation. He's not speeding, letting Cain take in all of the scenery he seemed so fascinated by, occasionally whipping them tightly around a corner or leaning hard into a turn. They won't slide out of course, in addition to Abel being a capable driver the program parameters simply don't allow it. Abel could drive with both eyes closed and they would be fine.]

Look right! [Abel shouts at one point as they fly by a space in between homes that frames a beautiful vista, just beginning to be touched by the sun.]

[It isn't his first time on a bike, but the experience feels brand new, and maybe that's another part of the illusion. All of the color and light and nature settles in around him, an enhancement to the simulated reality. He still finds it difficult to imagine this is where Abel has lived for most of his life prior to joining the Alliance. The comparison to Mars is stark: here is life, and vast beauty, and wealth. When the vista is pointed out to him, Cain turns his head, silently awestruck to take in that sun-streaked view.

He knew the people on Earth lived well, but it's another thing to truly see it with his own eyes rather than a video screen. He trusts that Abel's recreated memory true to form.]

People actually live in those houses?

[Cain's voice carries disbelief over the wind, head craning to watch as they pass by a pair of sleek mansions with driveways paved up through a tangle of well-maintained greenery.]

For at least six months out of the year, I'd imagine! Some people have summer or winter homes and a main residence. [The houses up on the hill are a little more posh, it's true, and for a moment Abel feels a little bad for dragging Cain through all of this opulence. But the further they ride up, the fewer houses there are and the more open land peeks through to highlight the sunrise on foliage and empty vistas. That's what he comes up here for, not to admire huge houses with more space than any one family could need that go empty half of the year.]

Hang on! [The road's incline grows a little steeper, and Abel revs the engine to get some decent momentum going so they don't lose any speed. If anything, they zip faster up the next curve.]

[He doesn't linger on it, not with the distraction of their fast pace up the winding road. His arms remain securely fastened around Abel's waist as they bend around each corner with expert handling -- Abel's piloting talents are well-known to him by now, so maybe it shouldn't be a shock he's so good at driving, too. Wind whips at them, Cain's hair blown off his forehead. With his mouth near an ear, Abel will hear a peel of laughter.]

C'mon, you can go faster than this, I know you!

[Voice raised to be heard, he gives Abel's hips a squeeze.]

['I know you'... isn't that the truth?]

[Pure joy arcs through Abel at the realization, and he needs no further encouragement. Cain wants to go faster, Cain knows Abel can do it without losing control, Cain knows Abel wants to. Cain isn't the only one who gets high on adrenaline, Abel just doesn't chase it as recklessly.]

[He revs the engine twice in rapid succession as a response and the bike is only too happy to oblige. The wind tears over Abel's face and across his arms and legs, but he stays at his slight curl to shield Cain from most of it. They're rocketing towards the peak of the hill but Abel doesn't seem to be slowing down and the incline increasing.]

[There's no real danger here, he knows that in some logical part of his brain, but it's hard to fasten onto that when the reality is noisy wind in his ears and the close cuts of every turn, road a blur underneath them, trees in snatches of green that whip past. He's laughing now. Bright and loud. Unfiltered, the bond between them a glow of thrill and pleasure, arms and thighs squeezing around Abel and giddy in the adrenaline.

The rest of the world melts away. No New Amsterdam, no UNA, no Hideki, no Alliance -- nothing but the two of them racing up this incline at breakneck speed, on Earth, in this precious tucked-away fragment of memory. However long it lasts, he's more in the moment than he can remember being in ages.]

Brace your feet, hang on with your legs--

[This is faster than he's ever taken this bit, but he knows what he's doing and Cain laughing in his ear as they flew over the concrete tells him not to slow down for anything. Give him every happy laugh, let him have fun, he deserves it all.]

[The road drops off as they hit the peak of the incline--] Put your hands out!

[The bike zooms up off the road and Abel's hands hover about six inches off the handlebars. They're airborne. Higher than Abel's ever gone thanks to the speed, but not an insane or worrying amount. The height isn't the point, though. For a moment, just a brief moment, they're weightless as they hit the peak of the parabola. The horizon is stretched out in front of them, more houses down below, it's almost like they're flying above the neighborhood.]

[It's exhilarating. It feels like he's flying, far different from how he ever felt in space. There's still the tether of gravity beneath that threatens to pull them back down -- and succeeds after several dizzying seconds of flight. He's breathless with laughter. At the peak of that jump, Cain gives a whooping cry and punches one fist up into the air, keeping the other arm still securely locked around Abel's middle.

As soon as the wheels touch back down, he's back to laughing, whistling a loud holy shit into the wind. Best birthday gift ever.]

Knew you were a good pilot, but fuck. [Still, somehow, it shocks him. Abel's ability to maneuver with expert skill is second to none.] That was kickass!

[The second before they touch down, Abel's hands snap back to the grips and rev the engine until they slide right back down onto the pavement. It's so much more exhilarating than any other time he's done it, probably because Cain is whistling and yelling and holding on tight to him, and the whole thing shifts. It used to be about escape and longing, and with Cain behind him it's like the last piece of the puzzle has clicked in. Who thought that what was missing would be at his back of all places.]

[Abel steers them into a playground at the edge of a vista, puts the bike in park and the kickstand down.] I loved this. It was the only thing that was all mine, the thing that made me feel like I was in control of everything. [Whether that's good or just extremely naive, he doesn't know. Abel turns around and smiles at Cain before patting his arm twice and climbing off the bike.] Come on, one more thing I want to show you.

one night of magic rush

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