audience - axelea

[cyclists]

Comments

[cyclists]

[It's hard to see since the hood is still up, but Sol's listening even as their attention follows the crab skittering across the rock. The stick doesn't move.]

What did you think would happen? [There's something like amusement in their tone, along with slight exasperation.] And why a stick anyway?

[leaberator]

[ well he sure feels ignored for a crab :T ]

Honestly? Not a clue. I just wanted to see if anything would. [ he shrugs, a bit sheepish: ] First thing I found on the ground. I can't believe the boat didn't sink.

[cyclists]

[You sent them a stick :T Send a better present and maybe you won't get ignored!! In all seriousness, they seem to be hyperfocused on this crab before it jumps back into the water, leaving Sol to sit back a little and turn to face Axel again.]

We did say we wouldn't be that far away if you wanted to talk to us. [Not that Sol fully understood what that would mean, but shh.] The boats probably have some magic on them that they can hold anything.

[They turn a little further, this time actually facing Axel. There's a moment that they study him.]

What am I supposed to call you?

[leaberator]

"Probably". Did you even know it'd happen yourself?

[ but he's not going to just stand there and make fun of sol. maybe. he hums a bit at the question ]

Everyone's always asking me that... Most of my friends call me Axel, but technically it's Lea. Whichever's fine so long as you get it memorized.

[ he finishes that one with a smirk, because i hate him ]

[cyclists]

I knew something would happen. [Jerk. But there's another pause of consideration.]

But okay. Axel. [Okay. That's easy enough and there's a nod.

...and then nothing else? Yes. Sol is simply looking at Axel from under their hood and waiting to see what he has to say. Did Axel have any kind of plan here?]

[leaberator]

[ ... no, not even a little bit. it's fine. he can improvise??? ]

So, whaddya like to do for fun? When you're not stuck here watching crabs, anyway.

[cyclists]

[What is fun? That seems to snap them out of their stupor though, and there's a brief moment to think about that.]

I used to hang out with my friends. [And there's something soft in that tone, too.] But they aren't here, so I'm finding new things to do. The library's been nice.

[So. Spending time with people and reading, apparently.]

[leaberator]

[ he's weak and smiles a bit at the friend line ]

Yeah, me too. At least one of 'em is here with me, though. Dunno what I'd do if I was without both of them again. [ ah, he hadn't meant to say that, and it's embarrassing?? so he just. moves on immediately ] New, huh? So you weren't a big book guy before?

[cyclists]

[One of them? Sol debates asking but decides to leave it alone for the time being. They can always ask a little later, but there's a soft "oh" sort of noise of acknowledgement.

They've noticed there are people from the same place here. Still doesn't know why, but easy enough to notice after some time.]

We didn't really have time or resources. [Which sounds depressing now that they think about it, a hand coming up to rub the back of their head.] There's a lot there that I've never even heard of.

[leaberator]

[ that is extremely depressing, but axel will let it go. ... kinda. ]

That bad, huh? Did you guys not get out much even before you were dragged here, or something?

[cyclists]

I don't know. [Wait, clarify.] Lune and I are from different places.

[leaberator]

Oh. [ ... ] So, alright. Did you specifically not get out much?

[cyclists]

Not really. [They sound embarrassed now.] There wasn't a lot of time or anywhere to really go before I came here.

[leaberator]

Besides hanging out with your friends. [ but he sounds amused ] Must've led a pretty busy life.

[cyclists]

Mm. [What if Sol just stops talking about that and changes the subject?] What about you? You said you had a friend here...what kind of stuff did you guys do for fun?

[leaberator]

For fun? Usually we just... hang out, eat ice cream and watch the sun set. [ which ok when he says it out loud sounds BORING, but: ] We kinda didn't have a whole lotta days off for a long while.

[cyclists]

I get it. [There's some degree of sympathy to that.] Sounds like you could have used a vacation then.

[They turn to look out toward the water as though anticipating a sunset already. There's nothing happening, of course, but it's a thought.]

Sorry there isn't much to do here either.

[leaberator]

I can always use a vacation, but I guess the lesson here is I can only relax when I've kicked the bucket.

[ it's a joke Sol won't get about how he has died before, that's it, that's the joke ]

You say that, but personally, mystery solving kinda counts as a "stuff to do". I can handle that much.

[cyclists]

[There's a little flinch at that. But moving right along...]

We've been trying to solve mysteries for a while now and we're still missing a bunch of clues. It's like we have to go back to the same places looking for new information. [Which is frustrating. The stick is dipped into the water of the tide pool and swirled around in a circle.]

[leaberator]

[ axel decides to go stand closer to sol, peering into the water while he makes stick circles ]

Yeah, been there. It gets real repetitive real quick. [ still. ] You think your lack of progress is why the rest of us got brought in?

[cyclists]

[Not looking at Axel, focusing on the stick. That sounds like a better plan because haha.]

Probably. [Which is unfortunate.] There are some things Lune and I aren't allowed to do. We don't have the same powers you guys have.

[leaberator]

[ hm. ]

Yeah, speaking of-- [ he has learned to read, so: ] What's up with those weird ones? The elemental stuff I get, but the rest of it is kinda...

[ ..........dumb ]

[cyclists]

Think of it like a special skill. They're unique to you guys, even if some of you might overlap. [A shrug.] Sometimes abilities don't make sense until you need to use them.

[leaberator]

And exactly who are we meant to use it on? Each other?

[ blunt, because. that's what they imply. ]

[cyclists]

Why would you say that? [Just because the thought is there doesn't mean everyone would jump to it.]