cyrusabel

[cyrusabel]

alexanderxgabriel​:

***

“Okay.” He had nothing left to say. He was on a mission and he was going to focus on it. It was easier than trying to bond and get to know one another. Gabriel doubted his time with the pirates would last long; he didn’t belong. It was a means to an end. A way to further his own goals. It was simpler that way. It was how he preferred to live his life. He knew he’d join the army. Simple. He knew he’d help save lives. Simple. He didn’t know he’d end up killing innocents in the name of a tyrant. That sent him into a tailspin, and now he was desperate to revert back to a form of simplicity, a form of ignorance. “I think I see one to the right up there.” He pointed up as they walked through the mines.

“That’s a good observation.” His eyes trailed the walls, eyebrows furrowed in concentration. “I think you’re right. There is nothing coincidental in the war. It’s all coordinated. I don’t know what it all means yet, but someone is trying to destroy something.” Blue eyes moved to the ground in a desperate search for human life. “Could be the City of Iron. If they can’t have the mines, no one can.” So quick to blame the people he still saw as the enemy. A fact that had been drilled into his head over and over. One he would never shake. Coming to a sudden holt, he held a hand up, signaling his companion to stop. “Look. Footprints. They could be old, but they are staying towards the right. We should follow them and see where it takes us.”

Cyrus followed Gabriel, mostly looking at his tablet. The last thing he wanted was to get lost in there. Something felt bad about all of it and it was going to annoy him as long as he was in the caverns, he couldn’t way to get the mission over with and move on. Yet, at the same time he feared what was going to be out there, what was waiting for them. He looked up. “Okay, yeah, that’s one,” he agreed, then plugged his tablet in there, waiting for the two to sync. There was a short bleep sound when the upload was complete. “I got it.” 

Cyrus shook his head. “Could be Wheats, too,” he said. “Neither of them are going to do well without the mines, however.” In all honesty, he thought it was Dust. If there were no mines, then there was no reason for the armies to fight over it. “Alright,” he said, following the other further into the cavern. He checked the path, “this is a death end, though.” Cyrus said. And sure enough, the closer they got, soon a huge barricade of iron bars waited for them. “Did they just disappear?” 

[cyrusabel]

alexanderxgabriel​:

***

Unsettled. On edge. He didn’t like being here and wanted to get out as quickly as possible. He swore he could hear echoes of fighting. That wasn’t the worst part. The worst part was he felt compelled to take up arms. Felt compelled to claim this territory in the name of the City of Wheats. He could do it. He spent his whole life doing it. The people were distracted by the collapse. They wouldn’t be expecting an attack. No one would, and he would have the upper hand. It was a thought that gave him confidence. Head held high. Back straight as a stick as he was almost smiling. Gabriel held this feeling close to his chest, using it as a distraction from past desires.

“Okay.” He nodded his head as he listened, engaged in the mission they were embarking on. He didn’t know much about Cyrus. But he didn’t know much of anyone, preferring to keep to himself. As long as he was away from Kennedy, he was happy to be paired with Cyrus for this. “Sure,” he said, his voice indifferent. “It shouldn’t be too hard to find twenty miners.” It was idle chit chat as he led them through the cave, his own flashlight now illuminating a small path. “That’s a lot. If they’re smart, they stayed group together. You can’t miss a group of twenty miners.” The words were used to distract himself, to fill up space so he couldn’t sink too far into his memories. 

Cyrus nodded. “Yeah,” he said, allowing Gabriel to take a small lead on him as he took his tablet out, scrolling through files to find the most recent version of a map of the mines. “Let me know if you see a panel ahead, I can update these schematics,” he offered. He looked up for a bit, between gazes, as he marked intersections, wondering why exactly Kenna seemed to have so much tension with the individual in front of him. He was lean, sure, handsome, yes, but he didn’t seem to give Kenna much of his attention. Perhaps he was playing hard to get? 

Which was something Cyrus didn’t like, because he was rather the opposite. “Do you think there might be false play? Armies out of the field just as the mine collapses? Perhaps a bit too much of a coincidence,” he said, more to himself really. He didn’t know anything about Gabriel, he wasn’t about to make his own opinions known. He had no loyalties to either city, not really hate either, that was too strong an emotion that would cancel out his internal paranoia. 

[cyrusabel]

🦷 - lick, suck, bite: ford, remi, kenna

Lick Remi Suck Kenna Bite Ford

[cyrusabel]

PETER GADIOT on Instagram

[cyrusabel]

Location: the caves of the mines @alexanderxgabriel​

Cyrus had never actually been inside one of the mines. He had heard of it, he had read about it, he had even pretended to be a veteran - only to those who would think he was something else - yet he had never set a foot inside of it. 

“There’s supposed to be twenty,” Cyrus said, holding out a large flashlight into the first cave. Sometimes the lights flickered on and off, right now they were off. He turned to meet Gabriel’s eyes. Over the past two weeks, Cyrus had slowly fallen in love with Kenna, and he was very much misreading the gazes shared between her and Gabriel. Something was going on between them, and he was pining. “Want to take the lead, amigo?” 

[cyrusabel]

Is your character more likely to remove a problem/threat, or remove themselves from a problem/threat?

Remove himself, drive away very very fast, quickly, never look back. 

Like a boss.

[cyrusabel]

18. The easiest way of scaring them

Cyrus is way too easily scared. All he needs to do is hear some strange noises, think someone is following him, or just be looked at wrongly and he will make an attempt at running or getting out as quickly as possible.

[cyrusabel]

cmmanding​:

⊹   ⊹   ⊹

There’s no tension in Ford’s shoulders as the two speak, steps slowly carrying him closer to Cyrus as he speaks. “Smoked out building,” He offers, not wanting to tell too much before discussions with Cian about it all. About the Wheats involvement, “A family was in it when it went off.” Words carrying from his mouth like nothing more than facts, listing a checklist of what exactly they’d found. Hoping he didn’t add anymore worry to the other’s demeanour.

Cyrus’ words hit the dense air, words that bring a simple nod to Ford’s head. He can’t help but stiffen a little where he stands, but he’s still much to casual about the situation as he asks. “How long ago was this?” His voice carrying that false ease, but there’s something sharp about his eyes as they carefully watch Cyrus for his next answer. “Do you know what kind of following this was? Tell me it was just some too drunk soldiers on the hunt for something pretty.”

Cyrus nodded, taking a small moment at the thought of another family lost. But it was only small, that was the way of the desert, you couldn’t stand still and grief for everyone, there simply wasn’t time. He grieved the ones he could, the ones closest to him, and even those got no more than a few moments. “Any clue as to who did it?” he asked, though he knew he might perhaps not receive an answer.

Cyrus studied the other with an observant look, as if prey looking at a predator. When he had been younger, he had thought little about either of the two other cities, coming to Dust he had learned they lived very differently, and he was reminded of the story of Dina and the Goliath, some strange grand story from the old world, about a young woman who in order to free her family, had to take down a huge guardian ten times her size. But she managed, because she used his strength against him. Those were the Dusters to him. “About an hour ago,” Cyrus said. “Wish I could, but it wasn’t that. Clearly they were interested in learning more from her, they were... targeting her,” he added. 

[cyrusabel]

neelatakachi​:

Slowly curling each of the metal fingers in towards her palm she shrugged, “they’ve been feeling … stiff lately. Slow.” There were words left unsaid, most unlike her but this was because she didn’t her mechanics, the one thing she was good at, to be the reason someone got hurt later. What if she assembled something wrong and it caused problems. She felt like there was constantly a need to prove that she was a good fit here, not out of pride but because she truly wanted to be here, she liked being part of this crew and liked the crew itself, well most of it. Not that she’d ever admit that of course.

Wrapping up her soldering she flexed her fingers a little more comfortably before spinning to face him. It had been chaos since they’d had to leave their last camp, madness was an understatement. Neela didn’t mind that she’d been shot, she was more pissed that the trucks and all the new tech she’d acquired for repairs had been shot to hell. “No, I’m on R&R until this hole is less … open.” Gesturing to the bandage wrapped around her thigh she stood up, clearly favouring her other leg, “looks like you got out unharmed.” There was nothing accusatory in her tone, in fact she was glad more of them hadn’t been injured.

Cyrus nodded, unfamiliar with what was troubling her, yet not unfamiliar with the mechanics themselves. Even if he was a Duster now, he still found his mind and hand reach for familiar things, for metallics, for gear and programs. He knew being that interested and familial with those things could be read two ways: someone desperate enough to know it could count as their way out, or someone desperate enough to think it would make them valuable in the Desert. “Anything I can help with?” he asked.

The Captain didn’t send her on too many missions, which made Cyrus figure she was more needed around the camp, or perhaps the Captain cared too much about her, which in the desert was dangerous. “Yeah, not unharmed, but in a much better state than you,” he said, pointing at his foot. “I’m so full of pain meds I barely notice it,” he added, because having a clear disadvantage was something he couldn’t live with. “I can get you some, if you want.” 

[cyrusabel]

cmmanding​:

⊹   ⊹   ⊹

Sweat clung the man’s shirt to his back, and left a lingering sheen across his forehead as he made his way back to the shipyard. Soot somehow seemed to wipe its way across his face which he hadn’t seemed to notice yet, or simply didn’t care much for the black smudge. “Not since the explosion. Told us to go get a good squiz before the others got their noses in it.” 

Two heavy thuds radiate through the shipyard as Ford jumps down from a truck, dense boots landing and shaking the dust from them to the ground. There’s something gentle in his expression when he sees the stress frowing the other’s brows, “Did ya need a hand with something?”

“Did you find anything?” Cyrus asked, half curious, mostly worried. Though he figured the worrying part was most present, on account of it slipping past his lips first. He rolled his shoulders, pushed the tension away, but despite it his fingers were still twitching around. He can’t much keep it hidden from others, although that seemed to be the one thing on his mind. Whenever he was back in the Shipyard, it seemed almost natural that he fell back into his paranoia, less inclined to hide. 

With eyebrows knitted together, Cyrus stared up at Ford. Words that were meant for the Captain, found their way out of his mouth now. “I need to talk with Cian. We - Althea and I - had an almost run-in with some soldiers from Iron. They were chasing her, she was trying to get out of Crash,” he shared. 

[cyrusabel]

kissxf-dvst​:

— — — — —

a shrug rolls along her shoulders next at the query, not exactly certain it was him specifically she was actually looking for, despite her claims otherwise. anyone would have worked, probably. .. most likely. “it’s a little dull around here. figured you’d be among the better options to brighten up my day, tiger.”

he earns a swift and rather shameless, “like a mutt in heat,” response at the not so needed question of his overt tendencies, the rhetorical nature not at all lost on her but begging to be responded regardless. and remi was an indulgent sort if little else at all.

a tilting head and a quirking brow trails his words, with dark tresses swaying easily with even the slightest motion. passing thought is given to the moniker dropped, until sudden familiarity clicks in the back of her mind. “.. new girl?” that certainly took no time at all. “… well, that tracks.” a huff of a laugh breaks from grinning lips. he truly never ceased to amuse. “alright, cy. lay it out for me.” remi positions herself beside him with crossed legs, though at the elevated height of the table itself rather than seat level. she liked to feel taller every now and again, perhaps. in less obvious ways. “what’s ol’ girl got going for her exactly?” 

it was something to pass the time with, anyway.

Cyrus laughed, nodding. “It is a very dull little town, tiny, with a small market,” he explained. Always quick to share observations, because those were what could save his life. He knew the layout of the town by heart, understood the land a little, knew some of the more prominent shops and which route to take to the town that would ensure the least foot traffic. “Have you explored it yet, pisîk?” he asked, he did not mind being called tiger, preferred it even, speaking once name in the desert was not always the right choice.

Cyrus shook his head dreamingly, wondering if he could explain without sounding extremely shallow. But that thought crossed his mind only a little, because in a sense his recount of the meeting and subsequent falling head over heels for Kennedy Maddox was in many ways a sense of passing the time for the both of them.

“New girl, yeah. She saved my ass, for one. I was trying to get her attention, get her to go all Wheats on me and come to my rescue by demanding the benefit of the doubt, instead she created her own ploy, pretending we were husband and wife,” he paused, looked up at Remi, a blush settling on his cheeks. “Got me out of there, which was a pleasant surprise, I didn’t expect her to be… so versatile. That and she’s extremely beautiful,” he added, grinning. “I think you would like her, she has spunk. Perhaps she’s more than Cian hopes she’ll be.”

[cyrusabel]

kissxf-dvst​:

the curl in her lips is unmistakable when cyrus finally realizes she exists, something she might easily take offense to if it were anyone else, any other circumstance, as such a delay in attention was rarely excused. but given just how lost the man seemed right then, that odd little bit of dreaminess in his eye, it occurred to her that he was very much in one of those moods. 

utterly twitterpated.

a roll of dark hues is the first thing to properly greet him, a huff of a laugh. “hey there, heart eyes. i was looking for you.” it was mostly due to a small fit of boredom, of course, but what did that matter so much? the fact was, he hadn’t been around and she was hoping he would’ve been back a little sooner. “gonna tell me who’s got you so worked up this time?” if remi could recall properly, which was asking a lot honestly just because of who she was and how often this sort thing seemed to actually happen, the last girl was actually cute enough. had a set of dimples, a sweet laugh. made her gag a little from mere thought. cyrus didn’t seem to have much of a type in the usual way, as far as remi could tell. they were all just .. vaguely pretty enough. 

nevertheless, the question was still an honest one, a hint of genuine curiosity in her words. possibly because it never failed to amuse. the day it actually stopped being at least a little funny would be a wonder, certainly. 

Cyrus stretched a little as he regarded Remi, for a mere moment pulled from his own daydream by the promise of her company. “Why were you looking for me?” Alas his question very much gave away his own lack of... being quite there. The pin was cold against his skin, he wondered if it might be warm if he put it out in the sun. Wondered if she might be warm. Ah, really good moment there to get out of his head. He looked up with less of a star struck smile, shaking his head and sighing. 

“Am I this obvious.” Not really a question, because he knew he was. He smiled back at Remi, with whom he loved to flirt on occasion, sometimes wondering if anything more could’ve been between them, if not for the age difference. Though it wasn’t that big after all, just something he liked to tell himself in order to not end up falling in love. Which was rather easy to do. 

“A problematic crush, I worry,” he said, leaning heavier into the table. “Really shouldn’t be getting worked up over this one.” He paused. “Kennedy Maddox. She’s much more… radiant in real life.”

[cyrusabel]

neelatakachi​:

Looking up from her mechanical hand, slightly bloodshot eyes slowly taking in the current company. She had an awful habit of losing herself in her work and thus losing track of time, she didn’t know how long she’d been sitting here, but it was long enough to make her body ache from being doubled over machines. Things hadn’t gone well for them lately and she knew that now of all times was when they needed to keep their heads down, to not draw attention to themselves.

Her fingers dug into the wires inside her forearm as a hiss of curses fell from her mouth, a few sparks flying as fingers curled tightly into her fists, she must have accidentally knocked the wrong wires. “Just trying to make some improvements. What brings you back here?” There was a small nod of her head as she kicked out a nearby chair for him to sit down.

“What improvements?” Cyrus asked, actually interested as much as he wished to talk about something that he could control. Mechanics had always been that type of thing to him, because he was aware of their workings without needing too much to fix things. It went automatic, even if he knew he still missed a lot of knowledge and insight in machines to make them work for him properly. But it worked to settle his thoughts, and he knew it might one day save his life. “Althea tried to run away, I think. But instead she got followed by a couple of soldiers from Iron,” he explained. “I can’t shake the feeling that it isn’t the last we’ve seen of them, either.” He took a deep breath. He hadn’t told Neela about his past, but he was certain that here and there he made it seen that he wasn’t from Dust. Anyone with the skills to read it could pick it up, and he felt like she was good enough at it. He sat down on the chair she had placed there. “The Cap didn’t send you out on any mission?” he asked.

[cyrusabel]

isaiahwinston​:

justmeg​:

Meg nodded and took a sip of her own coffee. Unlike the way interesting people drank it, it wasn’t black but sweetened with an almost terrifying amount of milk and sugar. Life itself was too bitter already. “Any specific plans as to how we scare them off? Cian gave us lot of space for creativity here that I’d prefer to make use of. Who knows when we’ll be presented with another opportunity like this.” While her expressions had been well trained to not give away any clues towards her emotions or intentions, people who’d been around her for long enough would notice the subtle excitement and hint of mischief in her voice.

@justmeg​ @cyrusabel​

Zay was more interested in his company than the coffee that was too hot and bland for his taste, but it would be the same case with the best one he could get – fortunately, Cian put him in the group of people he actually enjoyed working with. Their main goal bothered him, he didn’t like the idea of recruiting another religious idiot to the crew, however, the job they got today was a clear order from Cian, not just an opinion Zay could question or fight against… but something he could fail if he really wanted to. “I’d also give them a show they won’t forget in their hopingly short lifetimes.” His face did not mirror any of the hostile emotions his words contained. “Who’s an expert at thinking like sheep?”

Cyrus looked at both of them with an eyebrow slightly raised, he had thought this should be easy enough, just show up with guns blazing, make sure you get out, and that was about it. Creativity wasn’t part of his plan. “Yeah, as much as I enjoy the enthusiasm, I was thinking about just… you know, stage a robbery or something, make them feel like this sort of thing happens all the time?” As much as he wanted to do exactly what Cian asked, he also didn’t want to put himself in any danger. He took a sip from his coffee as he hoped the others would agree with the less than original plan.

@justmeg​

[cyrusabel]

Location: Crew’s Shipyard @kissxf-dvst​

Cyrus had multiple reasons why he wanted desperately for Cian’s plan to include Kennedy Maddox in the crew to work. For one, it was good to have some intel, secondly having a member like her around might help with getting the crew together more, and also she was incredibly beautiful and he just wanted to look at her. Which... which was something Cyrus knew didn’t mean he should openly flirt with her, perhaps it would be dangerous, and most importantly, not good for the crew. But he couldn’t help wanting to turn back time and talk with her again, differently this time. 

Instead, he walked into the shipyard and sat down on one of the benches, sighing as he laid his elbows on the table, for a moment lost in thought. He had the pin in his hand, made into a fist, careful with it, but also wanting to catch a few glimpses now and then. When he looked at it he was reminded of Kennedy taking the pin out, her long brown hair flowing down. Abel would probably be laughing at him, star struck over a girl he had only just met. But it was also the only emotion that was stronger than his paranoia. 

After a moment Cyrus looked up, straight at Remi. “Oh, hey,” he said, apologetic smile, moving his arm over the table to hold the pin to his heart.

[cyrusabel]

Location: Crew’s shipyard @neelatakachi​

Cyrus knew Althea had a difficult position in the crew, different from his own, but he had not expected her to get them all in trouble. Although he couldn’t be completely sure of what he had seen, he feared as much. Did that mean she would try again? Whatever she had tried that got her tracked? Cyrus couldn’t know for sure, all he could hope for was Cian taking the situation to his hands and ensuring it wouldn’t happen again. And meanwhile Cyrus was jittery, nervous, afraid. Fear that wasn’t simple anymore as it had been the night he booked passage out of Iron and into the desert, it had grown complex over the years, as if a nervous system all of its own. 

He walked to the back of the truck spotting Neela working or tinkering on something. It was in his moment of weakness that he sought some kind of connection to his past. “Geiá, what are you working on?” 

[cyrusabel]

kennedy-maddox​:

.

“Here, it doesn’t matter what the truth is,” she murmured, watching as he took the pin. “Only what the other person believes.” Kenna gave a wry smile, gazing up at him for a moment before quickly looking away again. The way he looked at her almost made her wish that things could be different. That she was exactly who she seemed to be, innocent and lively. Simple. A sheltered priestess from Wheats, untouched by death and politics, without machinations behind every practiced smile. Almost.

“But I believe you.” The smile on her lips blossomed into a full-on grin as her expression brightened, and this time when Kenna snuck a look up at him, her eyes glittered with mischief. “Which I suppose means you don’t need the hairpin anymore…” Her voice trailed off teasingly and she faked a grab for the accessory, though her fingers landed his hand instead. The lightest graze of skin, not unlike the fluttering of butterfly wings outside the flower fields of her temple. 

Kenna merely stared at the point of contact for a moment, her hand small and delicate compared to his, before she withdrew and gave a small, almost breathless laugh. “Perhaps I’ll lend it to you instead. It’s supposed to bring about good luck and safety.” A pause in which she chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully. “And you can return it to me later. If the fates allow us to meet again.”

Cyrus clutched the pin, it was a precious piece, it would earn him a lot of he sold it, but he wasn’t going to. Cyrus believed in material possessions, even more since he had brought nothing when escaping Iron. Not a single thing aside from some bits and the clothes on his back, got himself a new untraceable tablet that would hold no information, aside from his birth certificate and a picture of him and his twin brother. If Abel was alive he would laugh at him. Of the two he was the romantic one. His brother laughing at him every time he stood swooning over someone, calling him weak of heart, distracted. He was material in that as well, to have and to hold.

But the Captain would most likely kick him out of if got Kennedy along for the wrong reasons. He offered her a grin, not moving away from her hand as she reached for the pin again. Instead she touched his hand, and he almost felt himself be rendered unmoving by the shock that shot through his body. His mind knew it was intentional. But couldn’t say whether because she was flirting or for more sinister reasons. His heart knew what he wanted to believe. “I hope it will bring me that,” he said with a smile. “Let me at least buy you coffee for being my saviour.”