comicshavefailedme | LL cont’

LL cont’

[Bad ideas. That’s what Rafael was famous for. Sometimes those bad ideas would pan out into groundbreaking technologies. Other times it would blow up spectacularly in his face - and by extension, all faces adjacent. Not that it ever stopped him from coming up with more.

This one, though. A bridge too far.

Aracha - if that really could be called his name anymore - sat, hunched over, cycling a trinket between his fingers as though in a trance. It felt like the slow, tactile motion was the only thing still keeping him grounded to reality (again, questionable). His mind was… far, far away, in a place that might not even exist anymore, lost. But more than that, alone, in a vast, empty field of deaf, silent rage. And that cold silence seeped into every crack in his brain, filling the folds of his thoughts, the hollow space in his bones, the pockets in his lungs.

He wasn’t real. He wasn’t real. None of this was real. He knew that now.

At some point, his fiance was going to walk through the door and find him sitting at the foot of ~~their~~ his bed. And one way or another, this lie would be shattered.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[announcing that your idea is good isn't actually that reassuring btw

I see it. There's still a chance the boat's just docking t'resupply and won't let anyone off, right?

Though... did it actually need to? It didn't ever seem like anything on the ship was running low, even after being out at sea for so long. Then again, as passengers they were hardly privvy to the goings on of how supplies were brought on. And things like luggage seem to arrive as if by magic.

...There's no point in thinking about it too hard. Not like the answers would come if he did. Kaine cracks his knuckles, anticipating the feeling of ripping steel panels apart with his bare hands.

Then let's break this fuckin' boat. Finally.]

[ I NEVER LIE!!

Yeah. Or it's a trap for them. Let's mess it up.

There's something fuzzy making a bed in his chest; it's nice, planning destruction with this guy. He's glad he got talked out of murder. Glad he might come with him.

It's time to start crawling, perhaps like a spider would, across the side of the boat towards the exit. ]

[They strike hard, and strike fast.

Maybe Miguel had simply underestimated Kaine's ability to make holes in solid surfaces. Punching worked, yes, but the faster option? It was to simply adhere his hands to the ships hull and pull at full strength. With effort, it tore like anything else would with a molecular bond to a superhuman.

That left Miguel to handle the lifeboats. By the time the D.V. Dreamdrift's workers could scramble to the scene of the crime (sorry Nana), they had already slipped away - breathing hard, hearts racing, alight with the taste of both freedom and destruction.

Kaine ran and ran, thoughts empty - not a single idea bout where exactly he was going. The only important thing was that it was away. He didn't need to check to know that Miguel was with him (he knew) (of course). By the time he slowed down, they must've been miles away.

huff... puff...]

[ The boats come alive easier than he thought they would—Kaine got the cooler job for real. Later... later he'll pick on him for it, maybe. Being at the top of the massive boat means he gets to glide off the edge, when the time to bail comes, so maybe that's a win actually.

Like a bird he follows Kaine as he takes off, finally landing behind him and hoofing it similarly.

He only stops when his chest begins to burn and his thoughts catch up with him. ]

Hey. Let's find somewhere to...

[ To eat. To sleep. To figure out what the shock we do next. ]

[If you want the cooler job then maybe try being stronger. Although the gliding... ...that's pretty useful.

Kaine looks around, trying to take stock of where they ended up as he tries to slow his breathing. Some kind of town, but not one he recognized. There were probably inns and restaurants or taverns regardless of where they were, but.]

We don't have any money.

Yeah... but that won't be a problem for now. Give me five minutes and I'll find us something.

[ Giving a quick look over the buildings, he picks an inn that boasts a restaurant and bar. It looks quaint, even cozy, and he's already opening the front door and disappearing inside without waiting for him. ]

What? Hey! What're you doing?

[Instinctively annoyed over nothing, and demanding! Kaine follows him without thinking, the only thought in his brain focused on complaining about whatever Miguel was about to come up with.]

[ Why is it... weirdly cute when he does this... wow.

Miguel, while smiling about his follower, is approaching the pretty lady at the front desk. He introduces himself with all the charm in the world, and without missing a beat, starts spinning a tale about how they have nowhere to go, if she had any leads on what they could do, a promise to make up the lack of money with work—and sooooo many compliments.

It all works, too, because she hands him a keycard with one hand while the other twirls her hair.

Sure, he's a terrible liar. But he's a great bullshitter. Especially when it's not entirely bullshit. They really do have nowhere to go. And... he doesn't want this guy to be stuck in a bad place because he asked him to come with. ]

[God. He's just as much of a smooth talker as Rarael. Also known as a bullshitter who could lie through his teeth with the self assurance and self importance of a CEO. Once upon a time it gave Aracha a small measure of satisfaction to deny him. And then a time after that, a sense of pride and warmth knowing that he could see through him.

Now? Kaine found himself wrestling with the strangest twinge of... jealousy? Why was he jealous? Just because Miguel was charming the pants off of some woman - and she was falling for it. Kaine wasn't, like, owed anything. He didn't have claim to Miguel.

Yet somehow he was much snippier than usual when he crosses his arms, the very picture of impatience.]

Are you done yet?

[ The last thing he gets are some coupons for free breakfasts; it won't be anything amazing, but it's a start. Turning around, he hands half of them to Kaine. Who—wow.

...he can't help it.

He thinks he's cute. It looks like he's pouting. He's seen this face before, on most of the people he's dated in the past—those assholes who injected these memories into him? At least they got something right. A little thing. ]

I'm done. Want to go check it out?

[ Holding up the keycard, indicating that he wants to go to their room. ]

Did you really have to flirt with them?

[Kaine just sounding SO offended instead of just saying yes like a normal person. He means yes, though - anything to get out of here - and heads toward the elevator.

(Miguel wasn't even really flirting, he realizes - he was charming them, but the effect was still the same.)

In his annoyance though, he forgets what the single pair of keys means. After all, they'd spent years(?) sharing a bedroom without issue. Old habits die hard.]

[ ... ]

[ FOLLOWING!!!! ]

I wasn't flirting. Hold the door for me—

That receptionist was twirling her hair.

[DOESN'T HOLD THE DOOR FOR FOR HIM!!!]

Edited 2025-03-10 05:27 (UTC)

I was being charming to—hey!

[ that hey is muffled, as the elevator door is now shut and the punished Miggy is left on the ground floor, banished to taking the stairs............. ]

[ ...]

[Kaine doesn't know what floor their room is on.

After a second of idiot isolation, he is forced to push the open door button.]

[ knowingly: ]

You missed me?

Shut up. What floor's the damn room?

[Just get in the damn elevator]

[ GETS INSIDE FIRST. ]

Fourth.

[Smartass son of a bitch.

Hits the 4 button.

Now we have a lovely 8 seconds of awkward silence.]

[ Jeopardy music... Miguel is mostly wondering, the whole time, if his charming was embarrassing or something... it clearly worked, but this man is especially sensitive...

The sound of the doors opening is a welcome break in the silence. ]

Number eight. Should be... here.

[ He's swiping the keycard. It doesn't work. Again, and it doesn't work. Uh oh.

He swipes once more. This time it does work. ]

...almost thought we were getting pranked there.

[The tension is palpable. You could not only cut it with a knife, you had to hack through it with a mental machete just to put one foot in front of the other. Thank god the door opened because Kaine wasn't sure what he would've done if it didn't.

Tore it off its hinges, maybe.]

Jesus @#$& Christ.

Yeah.

[ Inside... is a room. It's clean and bright, but nothing extraordinary. A small bathroom, a tiny kitchenette, a loveseat... and one queen-sized bed. Without considering the implications of One Bed, Miguel walks in and immediately flops on the loveseat, groaning.

And then he starts laughing. ]

I don't feel waves. We're not on that shocking boat anymore.

[Kaine doesn't move from where he's standing in the doorway.

He sees the bed. He looks at Miguel, wondering if he sees the bed. When will be see the bed.

The bed is a problem.]

Miguel.

No more performances! No more murder! No more weird bonding games! No more meatballs!

[ he's in bliss give him a moment. ]

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