#* v03 : ericson's au .

[medicinelost-a]

continued from here! // @chmydarling

arvo's brow furrows lightly in concern, he was never the poetic type after all, math problems and scientific methods--that was more his thing, but he hoped his words came as a comfort nonetheless. he fidgets with his hands, looking away for a moment in thought, until--he perks, a notebook page slid his way. 💊

he plucks it from the table, his heart can't help but break a little, see -ing the remnants of emotion so obvious on the page. but, he doesn't mention it, as louis was obviously trying to keep spirits high--as usual. 💊

instead, arvo smiles lightly, and hums in thought, " oh gosh, i dunno. i have so many favorites, you know? " he thinks on it a moment longer. " maybe lilacs? they're just so pretty, plus their meaning in flower language is rather sweet. " a nod, nod, nod. 💊

" what about you, louie? what kind of flower would you be? " he slides the page back over, so the other could, of course, write out his answer. 💊

[medicinelost]

glancing over the note once again slid arvo's way, the boy can't help but smile, glad to see the other had gone along with his little joke. he had always enjoyed louis' more jovial nature, as, after all--he tended to lean too solemn, too anxious at times, it felt as if the other helped balance him out, and vice versa. he's glad the other hadn't lost such. 💊‏‏‎ ‎ " oh, i don't mind. whatever is best for the 'little one', right? " a beat, he's suddenly sat up perfectly straight, expression unreadably serious. 💊‏‏‎ ‎ " --but, ice cream for dinner does sound pretty great, i admit. " then, he breaks character and basically giggles, totally unable to help himself, as silly as it was. reading on, he pauses for a moment, thoughtful, trying to think of a possible name for their soon-to-be plant friend. he drums his fingers, absentminded. 💊‏‏‎ ‎ " what about... um, " eyes begin to wander, then snap back once an idea is formed, a slight curve of a smile appearing, dimpling cheeks. 💊‏‏‎ ‎ " ...something like 'kristofern'? " 💊‏‏‎ ‎ he then slides the page back, the two having already fallen into a silent rhythm, a system: louis writes down his thoughts, offering the page, arvo reads it, and then passes it back. anyway, he replies to the next message. 💊‏‏‎ ‎ " ah, well. i'm glad to hear it, then. that you find my ramblings enjoy -able, at least. mitch says i talk too much, so... " he mentions with a light-hearted roll of the eyes, no shots fired at mitch, of course: they just enjoyed teasing each other, their own odd sort of companionship. 💊‏‏‎ ‎ " but yes, just. tell me next time you're free, yes? and, we can go. maybe before dinner tomorrow? " a hum, and then a nod. 💊‏‏‎ ‎

deal. but you've got to be bad cop, because i'm an ice cream for dinner kinda parent... and we've gotta have the absolute best for our little one. got any ideas for names by the way? after bud and vera i'm all out :(

dude, you're like a walking encyclopead encyclopedia? encyclopaedia! a super cool and fun one (i give up trying to spell that freaking word)... how could you ever bore me?

he slides the paper to arvo with a look of mock disapproval, shaking his head with an eyebrow raised, in the hope of dispelling the notion.

the idea of them getting to spend time together in the quiet of the greenhouse, with just one another and the plants for company, listening to arvo's facts and seemingly endless knowledge about each of them, brings a smile to his lips. and it brings him comfort, too.

h e brings him comfort.

[medicinelost-a]

old computer parts and colorful wires, useless phones in pieces, arvo sits by himself, fiddling with his newest contraption quietly. tongue stuck out to the side, he's so focused he doesn't even notice his ally coming up behind him. 💊

[medicinelost-a]

continued from here! // @chmydarling

arvo can't help but smile, at least somewhat reassured by the other's comforting words, he lightly nods, but still replies, " alright, if you're sure... if you need me to pick up the pace, though, just tell me. " 💊‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎

his hand is taken gently, boney fingers interwinding with louis' rather casually, and he hums, obviously content. it takes a moment longer for the other's words to truly settle in, the wink: the teen almost literally makes a squeaky-toy-esque noise, freckled cheeks quickly warming. he hadn't even realized that it could be taken that way, honest to god. 💊‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎

so, he jumps to try and explain, " uh, sm-smooth, me? " he can't help but laugh a little, both at louis antic's and his own silliness, bashful, he looks away, " i don't know about that... " 💊‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎

" i just, um. thought, that... " a beat, " wait, not that holding your hand isn't nice, of course! " he fumbles, not realizing he was only digging a deeper and deeper hole. " because it is nice, and--and, i'm gonna shut up now. " he sort of whines in embarrassment, grimacing a bit at his nervous self. 💊‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎

[medicinelost-a]

❛ well, i do feel better now that you're here. ❜

/ these two.. 🥺

@chmydarling // 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐬 .

arvo can't help but worry about louis sometimes, a lot of the time, even--it must be hard, a lone sunflower in a field: trying to keep everyone's spirits up, not letting them see your own struggles... he wants the other boy to know he's there for him, too. friendship, it wasn't a one-way-street, after all! 💊‏‏‎

so, he gently takes louis' hand in his, the gesture a little awkward, as most things he did, but. he hoped it came as some sort of comfort anyway. 💊‏‏‎

" well, i'm glad, but... " a pause, a thoughtful one, he lightly adjusts his glasses with his free hand, " if you need anything, like... at all, you can tell me, right? " 💊‏‏‎

" ev-even if it's just. a joke, to cheer you up! i'm not as good at them as you, obviously, but i can certainly try! " he seems a bit embarrassed about being so forward, but he was quite determined, nonetheless. 💊‏‏‎

[medicinelost-a]

i thought it'd be fun to give ericson au arvo a sliiightly diff design, so uh, here! :]

[medicinelost]

continued from here! // @survdied .

arvo pauses mid-action, alcohol pad stinging stationery fingers, brows lightly furrowing with his own confusion upon hearing the other's confe -ssion. he blinks, once, then twice, glancing up, meeting mitch's intense gaze as he absent-mindedly pushes up his sliding glasses with a finger. 💊‏‏‎ ‎ mouth and tongue twist, crisscross: uselessly fumbling over words for a moment, before finally settling on a quiet, " you, you don't...? " 💊‏‏‎ ‎ they stare at each other for a bit, before gazes finally awkwardly break, looking elsewhere, though the other still continued to explain himself. 'would i hang around ya so much if i didn't, i dunno, not dislike you?', arvo seems to fluster, the more the idea is pressed upon, confirmed.💊‏‏‎ ‎ " i--i don't know! it's not like you seem to enjoy it much, being around me, i just thought... you were bored? that you had nothing better to do. " a sigh, he lightly shakes his head as he attempts returning to what he was doing, working on mitch's wounds. there's a long pause between the two, then-- 💊‏‏‎ ‎ " i mean, i don't... i don't hate you either, obviously. i like having you around, even. to have someone that challenges me? i just. " 💊‏‏‎ ‎ he takes the bandages and begins wrapping up the other's arm, " well, you get it, i suppose. and, anyway. i thank you for 'defend -ing my honor', or whatever, but. " pursed lips, " maybe, hold off next time? i don't want you getting hurt, just for my sake, and all. " 💊‏‏‎ ‎

[medicinelost]

from marlon!! // resting his chin on his hand a moment, marlon looks up from the piece of paper he has been scribbling on. counting resources is exhausting, he thinks.

gaze falling to arvo, a soft smile curves his lips, a warm light touching pale blue eyes. watching arvo play with rosie... well, it brings a certain amount of happiness to him, settling itself in his chest. it feels almost... domestic, he thinks: a thing marlon believed he could never have.

" y'having fun? " he asks, a teasing lilt to his words. " don't spoil rosie too much, now. "

@survdied // random asks, always accepting!

arvo had snuck upstairs while the other ex-students gathered in the courtyard on this quiet day at ericson's, everyone kind of up to their own thing, something fun. well, except marlon, who was holed up in his office as usual, working on this and that: counting resources, planning out the hunting party's new routes... that just won't do. 💊‏‏‎ ‎ well, really, he couldn't stop him. after all, it needed to get done, but still, he could at least keep him company, right? so, that's what he's doing. plus, it's a little quiet -er up here, then it is in the yard, him being easily overwhelmed sometimes. 💊‏‏‎ ‎ the sun beams through the windows, peeking through the curtains, a subtle heat against skin, carding through hair--he can't help but smile. sitting on the mattress in the office, he squeaks a dog toy for rosie, gently tossing it across the room: then, giving lots of praise once she returns it. 💊‏‏‎ ‎ arvo perks when marlon speaks up, he simply laughs a little, before leaning over and gently squishing his own freckled cheek against a very-happy rosie's. glasses now slightly crooked, and he says... 💊‏‏‎ ‎ " come now! look how cute she is, is it really 'spoiling'? and if it is, can you blame me? " 💊‏‏‎ ‎

[medicinelost]

from marlon!! // " so, uh, hey, i found there. " marlon holds up a bag of seeds, a lopsided smile crossing his features. " for your herb garden, y'know? figured you might like 'em. "

@survdied // random asks, always accepting!

arvo had been sitting on the steps of the school building, hefty book in hand, when the hunting party finally returned. he glances up, curious, and happens to catch marlon's gaze from across the courtyard briefly. so, he smiles, and gives a little wave, something that's returned, be -fore the group shuffles off to take stock of everything they'd got. 💊‏‏‎ ‎ he goes back to reading, managing to read a few more pages, flipping through them casually before noticing--ah, marlon was standing there. arvo perks, a little surprised by the sudden visit, but it wasn't unwelcomed, of course. he absentmindedly snaps his book shut, and sets it to the side. 💊‏‏‎ ‎ " yes...? " 'so, uh. hey, i found these,' the other explains, before holding out a few bags of seeds, for the greenhouse, his domain. the bespectacled boy can't help but light up, clapping his hands together gently in excitement, before taking the bags offered. 💊‏‏‎ ‎ " for me? thank you, really!-- " a hum, thoughtful, glancing over the text labeling the items, " these are feverfew flowers. oh, or 'tanac -etum parthenium', if you're feeling fancy, i suppose! " he lightly laughs, absentmindedly pushing up his glasses with a finger. 💊‏‏‎ ‎ " they're good for breaking fevers, of course, hence the name. but, they're also good for headaches, and can be used as a general antiseptic! interesting, isn't it? they're pretty, too... " a pause. 💊‏‏‎ ‎ " you'll come see them, once they're grown, won't you? " and he smiles, and he looks up at the other expectingly. 💊‏‏‎ ‎

[medicinelost]

from mitch!! // " god, you don't have to be so fuckin' mean, arvo, " mitch says -- which, yes, he is aware is quite rich coming from him.

@survdied // random asks, always accepting!

arvo huffs a little, arms crossed, obviously annoyed with whatever mitch had been up to. then the comment about his apparent 'mean -ness' is enough to make the boy roll his eyes. i mean, really...? 💊‏‏‎ ‎ " --yeah, well! maybe if you weren't an idiot, i would not have to be. ever thought of that? change starts with you. " reaching over, he then taps mitch on the forehead, to further punctuate his point. 💊‏‏‎ ‎

[medicinelost]

old computer parts and colorful wires, useless phones in pieces, arvo sits by himself, fiddling with his newest contraption quietly. tongue stuck out to the side, he's so focused he doesn't even notice his ally coming up behind him. 💊

[medicinelost]

* tags !

[medicinelost-a]

* TAGS .

[medicinelost-a]

arvo perks up a bit when the other raises a silent finger, he gives a light nod--a silent, 'i'll wait!', as he does, of course. humming to himself quietly, he picks at the table's splinters, occasionally taking a peek up at louis, and smiling to himself. before looking away again, ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎ almost bashful. he just was happy to be able to share something like this, to have someone take such interest in something he loves so. 💊‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

once the other is done, he gently takes the page, and... 💊‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

well, he can't help but melt a bit, " aw, you're giving these to me? really? " he says, all sparkly-eyed and now holding page lightly to his chest, " well... i'll be sure to cherish them, yes? i'll hang them up in my room, or something like that. " a nod, nod, nod. 💊‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

he thinks for a moment, eyes wandering, " i'll have to get you some flowers from the greenhouse, as a thank you. it's only fair, right? " softly, he laughs. 💊‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎ " lavender, primrose, tulips--i grow all kinds, so, you'll have your pickings! " a beat, " pun intended, of course. " a smile. 💊‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

louis, pleased, nods and provides a big grin so as to underscore this estimation of his, clutching onto the lapels of his jacket. comforted. comfortable. at ease. with him.

his eyes brighten when arvo indulges him and begins discussing flowers and this language of theirs. before, he had generally understood flowers on account of their beauty, taking them merely at surface level. or as a way of indicating the changing of the seasons. or as an apology; a dozen red roses, a dozen wordless apologies, sent by his father's secretary to his mother.

he never knew they could say so much. so much more.

he nods thoughtfully from time to time and smiles encouragingly, wishing to demonstrate to arvo his genuine interest and curiosity in the topic. when he has finished speaking, he holds up another finger, asking h o p i n g for his continued patience while he returns to the notepad and puts his hand and mind to a fresh page. this one takes a little longer, as he takes his time with it, drawing from memory. hoping to represent the item accurately. most of all, to indicate its symbolism.

he gifts the page to him with a certain uncertainty. it's not anywhere near tenn's level of artistry. or aj's. it's a sketch. a bunch, a bouquet of flowers, decorate the page. it's sunflowers.

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

[medicinelost-a]

" sunflowers, huh? " arvo says, having glanced over the note slipped his way once more, " i can definitely see it--your sunny disposition, and all. " he says with a light nod, eyes wandering off in thought. 💊‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

but, the boy's expression seems to lighten up further at the topic breached, the language of flowers: it was one of his favorite things, in fact! happy to share it, he gently drums his hands on his lap, unable to keep his excitement under wraps. 💊

" ah, well! it's not a language in a traditional sense, but you can say many things with a simple bouquet! like, for example... " " lilacs, they're meant to represent those first feelings of love, youthfulness and innocence, that sort of thing, you know? " 💊‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎ " and, sunflowers! they mean adoration, and loyalty, in reference to whatever lucky person you may gift them to, very fitting for you, no? " arvo clasps his hands together, smiling bright and tipping his head a bit, hoping this will help cheer louis up, at least a little, anyway. 💊‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

louis smiles in appreciation of arvo's patience, his gentleness. his kindness. he feels s a f e in his company somehow. always has done. others, they were quick to anger, to grow weary or dismiss. and that was fine. valid. that was how they were. that was who they were. but not arvo. and that was so appreciated by louis. now more so than ever.

a smile still plays upon his lips, brightening his face, as he scrawls his response across the paper before presenting it to him once more.

totally agree. lilacs are pretty darn cool. just like you ☺ i'm more of a sunflower kind of guy myself i think. always loved em

tall. sunny. the happy flower. a h o p e f u l flower.

he remembers growing one with mom. she had jokingly used it to keep track of his ever-increasing height. he had always hoped it would catch up to him. but it didn't get to. because it got knocked over. and then it got ran over by some guy who was doing work at their house. renovating or expanding some other part of it or something or other. like it had a shortage of rooms. of presence. when he was younger, louis would get spooked by how much it echoed when you spoke inside. upon reflection, he was pretty sure his dad just added to or expanded the house whenever he got bored.

his brow creases slightly as he thinks back on the other's words. he holds up a finger before quickly scribbling another message, another thought, onto the page.

wait... are you telling me that flowers have a whole language? please do go on. talk flower to me man!

[medicinelost-a]

arvo jumps a little when louis speaks, clearly having not noticed louis until he said something, too engrossed in his work. once the shock wears away though, he does smile, albeit awkwardly as usual--but he is happy to see the other, really. he shifts in his bench seat, excited to show off a little, too. 💊

" oh, uh. hey, louie! " he shifts a few items around, before picking up the half-finished project itself, " this? well, it's a drone!--supposed to be, anyway. i thought it'd, uh. help us, when scouting places out, right? " a nod, nod, nod, as if confirming something, mostly to himself, though. 💊

" ...cool, huh? " he then jokingly puffs out his chest out with pride, the gesture quickly punctuated with quiet laughter, " right now i'm just installing the controller mechanism. " 💊

❛ hey, buddy... whatcha working on? ❜

a smile crosses his lips as he watches arvo, absorbed intently in his current task.

and he is genuinely curious. in the hope of some of arvo's staggering knowledge and intelligence rubbing off on him, he enjoys hanging out with him. he enjoys hanging out with the kid, period. arvo is one interesting individual and louis is simply, unavoidably, drawn to i n t e r e s t i n g people.

just like a moth to a flame.