#{but uh have liquid knox rn he cant get the wrench}

[eeriestatic]

Knox didn’t need to open his eyes to see that Syo had become one with the flood also, judging by how he rattled his poor brain - motor-functions were either falling apart or vice versa, they knocked one another down with some weird negative to negative energy, magnet - maybe it was positive to positive? There wasn’t a suspecting clue, all Knox did was lay there with partial breathing, searching around the darkness behind his eye lids. The only thing he could comprehend is that Syo appeared to be following his advice, thank god. His brows furrowed into a brief glare, indirectly with closed lids. His expression only bare so for only so long until he heard him speak. Knox didn’t reply - not yet that was, his vessel was jammed by this point and even his poor serpent mind behind it wasn’t following this blue screen very good.

It was a bit strange Syo wasn’t as loud as he was prior, at least Knox wasn’t cringing like he had just scratched a chalkboard. But the whisper wasn’t hard for him to hear anyways. Of course what he was to come to see as soon as he opened his eyes, it would’ve made him jump if he was an ordinary person. Instead he shut his eyes tightly for a solid second before peeking his useful one open a little bit - in a way of; ‘if I close my eyes and open them, maybe he’s just an ocular hallucination and he looked like a total idiot.’ That wasn’t the case. No matter how close Syo leaned in though, the serpentine didn’t bother fighting against it. Easily though he could feel the chill, even by the grab of his hand prior. Glacial. “I don’t think you need to be so close when you ask someone that... Whoever you are.” Knox’s features flinched a bit against stray strands that fell, making his face ticklishly twitch but no cracked smile. “I don’t know how to answer your question. Your lack of heat signature is mildly concerning though. I’m cold blooded, but not that cold.”

Knox added, though his tone sounded less like anything actually. Quite monotone, he was tolerating the closeness for now at least - it’s not like he doesn’t invade people’s space. A certain head of white hair and skittle eyes to be exact. Nevertheless, Knox snorted a gust of hot air from his nose like a provoked bull - but only to blow a few strands away. If he didn’t think so clearly, his stupidly curious mind would’ve already chewed on a strand for the sake of wonder. He didn’t of course. For now it was just too close.

eeriestatic

However it did hurt Knox as well even if it’s agitation numbed most the pain, the more things seemed to relax, the more the pain started buzzing throughout his skull - wincing a bit by the twitch of his eyes. His vessel was sturdy and he wasn’t bothered by too much pain, but that was generally uncomfortable. Only for now did he decide to brace all Syo’s blade even while he relaxed, his weight was nothing to Knox. Of course, he was going to keep him hoisted if he liked to beat someone - he preferred the awfully, too close for comfort. For the moment after he started to come through, all he could see were crack streams in his glasses that hardly could make out cyan ones that finally managed to open. He squinted though while he spoke, anticipating more mockery or something out of line - but naught.

Knox didn’t turn to condescending as Syo was a sputtering fool to him, he was kinda hoping that he knocked him out and simply sit him in the hallway. Given the look on the serpent’s face, it was actually a bit strained and almost tired now - first glance. The speech was a little difficult to filter, though he figured as much he hurt not only his forehead, but also his tongue. Nothing less expected but it was almost pathetic really. “Figures. I’ll just get new ones.” Knox muttered, but not in the former disgust as he felt earlier. Strange anyhow, watching him simply cozy up where he was now. The guessing latter, attentive care. Seemed more reasonable than some psycho even if that’s what he came off more as. Truly he lost all reason to really continue bashing on the poor man, Knox had some reason and rationality even if he had a fit there for a moment - unfortunately, it made his vessel tired after that. All he could really do is watch his mannerisms to try and understand what and why.

His attention was caught further though, the word - not really coming together in his head really as the serpentine furrowed his brows. He wasn’t too set off by it nor his follow up words, making him grunt in response in a way to try and brush it off. “Sound much too giddy for someone that doesn’t have their bearings.” While eyes seemed to be too busy prying into dazed ones, they shifted towards the glisten of drool that trickled, making him pause briefly. Truly was a pathetic sight to see, so much to prod a reaction out of the serpent - just to be a drooling fool that seemed to be able to fall asleep in his hold if he felt like it. Knox released Syo’s hand just so it could come to the corner of his lip to thumb away the straying drool, cleaning him of it before pinching the edge of his jaw - just so he could open his mouth a little bit. No traces of blood, but to assess damage, Knox let out a strained exhale before closing his eyes. There’s no joy in this, strangely enough coming from someone like him that sunk into the recess of his mind. Let alone feeling that way, Knox pushed his chin up to keep his mouth closed, making sure his tongue wasn’t in the way but he held it closed there now before opening his eyes again. “Chin up, still tongue, it’ll feel better and take the numbness away.” Spoken sternly, he lowered the grip he had on Syo’s collar - settling him rather carefully on the floor before all else— Knox stepped back once before letting all his weight fall, falling backwards and landing on his back with a heavy thud that made even the disposable cup jump a little bit, messing up the ruined glasses of his that sat on his face to crooked. Simply laying like a starfish on the floor now with his eyes closing for now while he shook his head to throw his glasses off to the side. The serpentine needed a moment. There was a lot of inner thinking now.

      His mushy brain soup was still swirling around in his skull following the thud and his dizziness was visible in the way his limp head swayed from side to side, like a boat nudged by the crashing waves.

      When the calloused hand approached him, his eyes flinched shut, expecting something terrible to follow the grip at his jaw. With no will to struggle against the prodding, he let it happen - and to his surprise, instead of mauling, it was the sweet attentive care he so desired to receive. Here he thought he was going to get his jaw ripped clean off. The advice, however tuned out it might have been by a slight ringing in his ears, was heeded with a heavy gulp and a shuddering hum of approval.

      As soon as his feet met the ground, his knees gave in right away like wobbling jello. Needless to say, he would join Knox on the floor moments after with a thud of his own, although audibly lightweight in comparison.

      For once in his life, the buffoon was speechless. His stupid awestruck expression gawked at the fallen subject, as if he were David who had just defeated Goliath with a pebble. In reality, Syo had done absolutely nothing but be a punching bag. But for a few minutes, he dared not move nor utter a single word (mostly because he couldn’t without sounding like a hillbilly) and allowed the Keter to rest. A strange, hideous feeling was tugging at his heartstrings - they were both spitefully sipping guilt from the remorse goblet.

      ❝…Hey, man. You okay down there?❞, he murmured a whispered question as soon as his tongue was back in one solid piece. When Knox were to open his eyes, he’d be greeted by two shining cyan jewels staring back at him from a proximity some would call “too close for comfort”. His face slowly came nearer, the unnatural cold bouncing off of Knox’s own cheek like a winter breeze. A few strands of magenta hair would drape over his features in Syo’s silly attempt at checking for breath - he damn right thought he killed a man by the sheer toughness of his skull.