burned-skyline

[burned-skyline]

Doing alright, Gallow? You look a bit pale.

I'm fine.

Need me to get you anything?

Fuck off, Belmont. I can take care of myself.

[burned-skyline]

"I'd die for you, you know."

the half remembered words float through his mind and hang in the air like lynched men. he hasn't thought about Anteros or his brother in years. he shouldn't be thinking about them.

"No, no I'd die for you. Each and every one of you."

his response, and the feelings of the memory assert themselves. he wants to stop thinking, but the scene unfolds itself before his eyes and sends him staggering back into the chair.

"Atlas, I'm serious, I'd die for you. I'd die for this cause, this future, really, I would die for you. I'm with you man, to the end of the line."

he knows he's not there. none of them are staring back at him with that love, that misguided loyalty. they left him. they left him behind. this isn't real. none of this is real. it's just a memory. a memory he shouldn't be inhabiting.

"I'm not going to let you die for me-"

"Should have thought about that before gathering all of us then."

his heart is beating faster than it should. he's given up on trying to differentiate memory from reality, his senses refuse to right themselves even as he grips the arms of the chair. something tilts, changes with the scene.

"Because I died for you."

Anteros turns his head, and the skin peels back from his head, smoking and bloody. his mouth hangs limp and eyes are glassy. the skin of his lips is rotting and black.

"I died for you, Atlas."

he's frozen on the spot, unable to think, unable to scream, unable to blink or look away.

"I died."

it's the warehouse. Asteria's shouting. something's been blown up. Anteros lies dead on the ground. Themis is still trying to get him up. Eros mouths something to him. he grabs their hands, promising that everything's going to be ok.

"I died for them."

Anteros' hand is on his shoulder.

"I died for you."

all Atlas can manage is shuddering breath and a whispered, "I'm sorry."

[burned-skyline]

Record of Death for ██████ "Eros" Comb

Cause of Death: Asphyxiation

Date of Death: April 29, 2025 (Age 25)

Additional Details: ██████ had long been a traitor to the Imperium. Corrections Officer Cain located and attempted to apprehend Comb, but he engaged violently with the Officer and there was no choice but to put the poor man down.

Report made by Corrections Officer Jesse Cain

(he stares at the report almost in disbelief and then sighs, digitizing it and then crumbling the page before straightening it back out again and shredding it.)

[burned-skyline]

(he types in his number and hands her phone back.)

I've been taking a look into it. The Rayonnant period's been speaking to me lately.

[A figure goes to rush past and trips over his feet and their own, sturdier than they look. Dark hair, glasses, books flying. If his reflexes are fast enough, he might be able to catch them. Or he could at least soften the blow on their way down]

Whoa- oof

@mensa-catuaba

(he catches them)

Careful there. What's got you going so fast?

[burned-skyline]

I might not do art anymore, but that doesn't mean I've forgotten the skills I learned from it.

whats your hex code?

Strange question to ask.

#361b12

[burned-skyline]

whats your hex code?

Strange question to ask.

#361b12

[burned-skyline]

Greek mythology's kind of neat if you know anything about that.

Do you have any friends? Like, outside of work?

-🦋🌌

...

You know, that's really none of your business.

[burned-skyline]

Oh god.

My top surgery got done by a demon.

Anyways, you need to be careful about who you tell this kind of stuff! That's- Ryn, you could get hurt!

Do you have any friends? Like, outside of work?

-🦋🌌

...

You know, that's really none of your business.

[burned-skyline]

I've given my number to a girl who likes the same kind of books as I do and kind of started a mini book club with her.

Do you have any friends? Like, outside of work?

-🦋🌌

...

You know, that's really none of your business.

[burned-skyline]

No.

I'm working on it.

Do you have any friends? Like, outside of work?

-🦋🌌

...

You know, that's really none of your business.

[burned-skyline]

Do you have any friends? Like, outside of work?

-🦋🌌

...

You know, that's really none of your business.

[burned-skyline]

Smooth.

(he laughs)

Yeah, you can get my number. I'll have to bug you for some book recommendations. Seems like you've got good taste.

[A figure goes to rush past and trips over his feet and their own, sturdier than they look. Dark hair, glasses, books flying. If his reflexes are fast enough, he might be able to catch them. Or he could at least soften the blow on their way down]

Whoa- oof

@mensa-catuaba

(he catches them)

Careful there. What's got you going so fast?

[burned-skyline]

Hey, not a problem. Two 't's, two 'l's should be easy enough to remember now.

This just in: Elliott, a labyrinth specialist dreamwalker working for the Imperium, may be harbouring rebel sympathies.

THIS JUST IN: A valuable asset losing his way. What a nightmare!

Thank you for reporting this in. I'll be sure to pass this onto my higher ups. We'll try and get Elliott (@nightstalker-elliott) the help he needs.

[burned-skyline]

Dammit, I'm used to the one 't'.

Elliott. I'm not going to mess that one up again.

This just in: Elliott, a labyrinth specialist dreamwalker working for the Imperium, may be harbouring rebel sympathies.

THIS JUST IN: A valuable asset losing his way. What a nightmare!

Thank you for reporting this in. I'll be sure to pass this onto my higher ups. We'll try and get Elliott (@nightstalker-elliott) the help he needs.

[burned-skyline]

At least I know where I stand now, Elliot.

This just in: Elliott, a labyrinth specialist dreamwalker working for the Imperium, may be harbouring rebel sympathies.

THIS JUST IN: A valuable asset losing his way. What a nightmare!

Thank you for reporting this in. I'll be sure to pass this onto my higher ups. We'll try and get Elliott (@nightstalker-elliott) the help he needs.

[burned-skyline]

Are y'all really that horny? Oh my god.

This just in: Elliott, a labyrinth specialist dreamwalker working for the Imperium, may be harbouring rebel sympathies.

THIS JUST IN: A valuable asset losing his way. What a nightmare!

Thank you for reporting this in. I'll be sure to pass this onto my higher ups. We'll try and get Elliott (@nightstalker-elliott) the help he needs.

[burned-skyline]

I can bring you in too if that's what you're trying to achieve.

This just in: Elliott, a labyrinth specialist dreamwalker working for the Imperium, may be harbouring rebel sympathies.

THIS JUST IN: A valuable asset losing his way. What a nightmare!

Thank you for reporting this in. I'll be sure to pass this onto my higher ups. We'll try and get Elliott (@nightstalker-elliott) the help he needs.