wsdalt

[wsdalt]

More Battleships fic for @wsdalt !!! OPC spoilers, relatively mild.

This Time Next Year

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Ordem Paranormal (Web Series) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Rubens Naluti/Johnny Tabasco Characters: Rubens Naluti, Johnny Tabasco Additional Tags: Post-Canon, medical setting, Spoilers, Slice of Life, Injury Recovery, best friends? boyfriends? secret third thing?, idk they're partners in something, Caretaking, Referenced Trauma, Allusions to canon events, Campaign 04: Ordem Paranormal: Calamidade Summary: Ten minutes in the life of Johnny and Rubens, as they leave a perfectly normal outpatients appointment.

(text below!)

One would think that the outpatients neurology clinic would have decent wheelchair access, but clearly not. With time Johnny's appointments in this place have become less frequent - only for the physio to slowly pick up in frequency. Still he does not quite have the strength to wheel himself further than between rooms at home, but he does get to go home, and he can finally go to and from the bathroom without needing assistance.

It's strange how small his victories are. That was one that took months nonetheless.

Technically speaking the lift fits his wheelchair. Technically. It is a little cramped and his knees get squashed, but it happens.

The thing is, he is still not quite coordinated enough to reverse the wheelchair through the narrow doorway - too narrow, really, once you consider his arms.

Which means Rubens has to squish in too.

Squish being an operative word; Johnny cannot imagine how the likes of Antônio would fit in here with him, given how Rubens has to contort himself. In the morning Rubens will have bruises from the handles - he always does - but for now he is just pressed up close, and unable to press the buttons.

At first they had to use a stick for Rubens to reach around and whichever was needed, Johnny too weak to do it himself. Now, however, with a few months of more therapies than he knew existed before, Johnny can again press the button.

"Entrance, right?" He asks. He knows it is the right one, but then the longer he is awake the more he doubts his memory.

Rubens nods.

Johnny presses the correct button. Rubens nods, and relaxes a little. It's fine, it is all fine.

Except...

There's a lot of other buttons...

It will go to the entrance level first, right? And as there's a second lift if it is badly needed he could just...

"Johnny."

Rubens looks at where his hand is, and narrows his eyes slightly. Johnny pulls it back... then, quick as he can, presses every other button. With the angle it's impossible for Rubens to do anything to stop him. All ten floor buttons light up - he does avoid the emergency ones at least - and he turns to grin at Rubens.

It is still really, really weird to not look down at Rubens; Johnny doesn't like it, being stuck down here, but he would rather be in the stupid wheelchair than for one of the two to be dead.

Rubens' exaggerated sigh is just as funny as it always is. Behind it, though… Johnny remembers the first few times, remembers how Rubens clung to his hand and struggled to breathe. Something about a coffin, and blood, and O Anfitrião. Rubens remembers details, he remembers them extremely well, but he doesn’t tell them often. Not even to Johnny. Johnny, who knows what that name means, and it’s all he can do to hold him and promise to be there next time.

Rubens is more used to it now, able to stay in his place and make his own jokes too; it doesn’t mean Johnny can’t sense the tension.

"What!" Johnny pretends to defend himself, joking about being his first and last line of defense against a suffocating atmosphere. "Buttons are created to be pressed! Are you denying them their purpose, Rubens? How rude of you."

"Hm," the noise Rubens makes is doubtful. The elevator dings for arrival at the lowest floor; Rubens pushes him out, and only once it has gone again does he shrug with the simple word "button."

It feels like exasperation, acceptance, and judgement all rolled into one, though from this angle Johnny cannot exactly see Rubens' expression.

As if judgement has ever stopped him before; if it had, he would be in only half the messes he is in, and at least twice as many again.

Regardless of his crimes or otherwise, Rubens still pushes Johnny over to the reception desk. He leans against it, phone out ready to check the calendar while Johnny presses the bell to summon someone.

"Did you understand any of what the doctor said?" Johnny whispers as they wait. "I got maybe... half?"

Three appointments ago, he would not even have remembered a third.

"Took notes," Rubens' doesn't quite answer the question, but Johnny knows he means yes.

"Thanks. Print them for me? When we get home?"

Rubens nods sharply, giving him a thumbs up even as he continues to be distracted by the phone.

Johnny doesn't ask where he'd be without Rubens; the answer is both obvious, and dead.

"Sorry for the delay," the receptionist bumbles into view, swinging into her chair with a pint mug of very strong coffee in hand. "How can I help?"

"Need to make another follow up in...?" Johnny glances at Rubens.

"Month."

"In a month," he turns back to her, offering a smile.

The neurologist's office is at least one place where facial scarring does not turn eyes; the receptionist just hums and taps about on her computer. "Name?"

"Johnny Tabasco."

She only hesitates a moment, before typing it in. Her frown widens slightly in surprise, but she carries on, "which doctor are you seeing?"

"Doctor Barreto," he can remember that one.

While she clicks her tongue, Johnny glances back to Rubens. He pulls a face, and receives one in return.

They just have to get through this and then they can get home, and he can take the weight off his aching spine.

"I have... 3pm on the twelfth?"

"Rubens?" Johnny looks up to his friend - it would be easier if he held the phone, but he would also like to get home without a migraine.

"Hm," Rubens' head tilts. "No."

With no idea what they're conflicting with, Johnny just asks, "another day, maybe?"

"I've... 8:15, 10:45, or 11:30 on the fifteenth?"

Johnny glances up, and gets a shrug. Not wanting to have to be dressed and functional before 10, he offers "11:30 would be great, thanks."

He's gotten better at this; when they first had to make appointments, Johnny had no idea what he was doing and barely a memory while Rubens was too stressed to speak at all. They're getting better, now, both health wise and working out how to pool their talents in this specific regard.

"Would you like that writing down for you?"

"Please."

It goes on a little slip, which Johnny immediately files in the pouch hung from the arm of his wheelchair; his wallet, his appointment slips, his keys, and his meds stay close, along with the phone he can no longer use.

"Have a good day," she tells them, almost absently. "We'll see you then."

"And you. Rubens?"

A double thumbs up, and Rubens puts the phone away. It gets shoved in his jeans, before he takes a place back behind the wheelchair.

Johnny likes Rubens being behind him. He doesn't like not being able to check on him, though. If push comes to shove... he's not strong enough, yet, to wheel himself further than the bathroom, but he could get between Rubens and a monster, he's pretty sure. Might even be able to give a couple of good hits - more, if he has time to grab the knife hidden under the seat.

If there are monsters here, though, they probably are not in the entryway; Johnny hits the button for the doors before Rubens can reach it, and waits for it to open.

Nobody is here for them yet - Carina had dropped them off, but it was on her way to some classes. The weather is nice enough, however, and there's a bench for Rubens. He parks Johnny next to it, and flops himself down.

Finally, finally, the world is righted and Johnny is taller again.

"Who's picking us up?" Johnny asks him.

"Ivete," Rubens replies. "Just paying. She'll be here soon."

Johnny groans; Ivete means one of the Order’s vans, and sure they can take the wheelchair but Veríssimo needed to get the suspension redone months ago. It won’t injure his back, he doesn’t think, but neither will it help the ache already growing there.

Rubens leans over, quickly kissing a scars on the side of his face - the one from the tree, and then the one from the blood zombie - before gently dropping his head onto Johnny's arm. Johnny frees said arm, only to loop it around his friend's shoulders. He gets it. He understands; Rubens is his best friend, his only family.

And, fuck, what would he have done if he had awoken, only to discover Rubens dead? Not just scarred, not like Johnny is - not like they both are, if you know where to look - but dead.

Johnny can’t reach Rubens’ scars like this - neither to trace nor to kiss - but he can hold him a little tighter, a little safer, just in case.

He can also be an insufferable tease.

"She bringing Arthur?" he asks, then upon seeing the dirty look that Rubens throws at him continues. "What? It's good for you to hang out with people your own age."

Whatever Rubens says next is muffled into Johnny's hip. He holds him a little tighter, glances around for danger, finds nothing but a familiar van - the Order never changes, even when it does - just crossing into the car park.

"What did you say?" He asks, despite knowing exactly what Rubens said.

He gets a head raised, and a scowl, a bapping on the arm and Rubens getting to his feet.

"You're my favourite," Rubens rushes out to answer, before stepping away to flag Ivete down.

[wsdalt]

[wsdalt]

mah babies

[wsdalt]

And the second fic in the zoo pieces, once again battleships, once again for @wsdalt !!!

After The War

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Ordem Paranormal (Web Series) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Rubens Naluti & Johnny Tabasco Characters: Johnny Tabasco, Rubens Naluti Additional Tags: Campaign 04: Ordem Paranormal: Calamidade, Fluff, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Comfort from Canonical Pain, Post-Canon, what are they to each other idfk, work it out yourselves, relationship dynamic left as an exercise for the reader, Zoo, they visit the flamingos!, it's fine, Symbolism Series: Part 2 of OPC Zoo Snippets Summary: Once upon a time, Johnny made a promise.

It is a Thursday afternoon, and a good few months over a year late, when Johnny and Rubens make it to the zoo. They wanted to be sure that Johnny had the stamina before they committed to it, Johnny willing to try but Rubens unwilling to face a situation where his best friend might be exhausted, hurt, and stranded. He is not well, though, and it still stings enough when the woman on the gate takes one look at Johnny, and doesn't even ask to see any paperwork before handing him a free ticket.

Rubens accepts it, of course, the order only paying so much and his freelance work is, at its best, patchy. Johnny isn't earning, either, still too weak to be reliable - not that Rubens would give him up for the world.

Just through the gates is the busiest part of the park, people milling around as they work out what to do. Rubens joins them, stopping and hopping up on his toes to see one of the maps.

"Where first?" he turns to ask Johnny, only to find his best friend has already gone on ahead.

That takes a second to process, and it is with no small delight that Rubens has to run to catch up with him - not far, and perhaps Johnny is using a wheelchair for sake of his still exhausted stamina, but having to catch up is a delight in its normality.

"Johnny! Wait!"

His bag is not that heavy, but it still weighs as Rubens runs after him.

Johnny stops, and turns, leaning on the back of his own wheelchair with one elbow as he laughs.

Catching up to him, Rubens lightly cuffs the back of his head, "we didn't choose where to go."

That earns him a distinctly puzzled look, "I promised to take you to see the flamingos, didn't I? It's a bit late, but you know. We did finish the mission, and all that."

And Rubens... Knows that that is why they are here, but in the moment cannot quite comprehend it. Something about the idea sticks in his mind, a giant warning sign that makes him glance around, checking every corner for something wrong.

Given what happened when he came with the team...

Rubens doesn't want Johnny to see him cry.

Not again.

"The end?" he says instead, pushing off the inevitable - maybe where-else they go will take too long and he doesn't need to embarrass himself. "We can go where you want."

And Johnny knows something is wrong - he must to make that expression - but he shrugs anyway. Turns back around, stretching a little and cracking his neck.

"Rhinos, then?" he suggests. "We can take Maria to go see her family."

"... Maria?"

Johnny fishes around in his bag, and pulls out a small rhino plush - one Rubens knows intimately well, if only because he was the one to buy it for him. What seems like an eternity ago, the last time Rubens was here, wanting a little something to leave in Johnny's hospital room, and to last longer than flowers.

"Maria," he confirms.

Johnny named it.

More than that, he brought it - her? - with him.

There, in the middle of the most crowded part of the zoo, Rubens thinks he might already be the embarrassed he was trying to avoid. It's a different sort, though, a happier sort.

And anyway, Johnny is the man in his mid forties with a rhino plushie now on his lap, not Rubens.

"Okay," Rubens manages to swallow it. "Rhinos."

He knows where the rhinos are - right in the middle. And with two different flamingo ponds, one on each side of the zoo, Rubens knows he is not going to manage to keep avoiding them for long.

Still, Rhinos first. Up to the end of the central hub, and there they are in all their grey glory. One of the zookeepers is standing between the railing and the fence, giving a talk to a group of animated schoolchildren. Johnny and Rubens take a right instead, avoiding the rabble and finding a better vantage point.

"Here we go," Johnny finds a spot where they both can see over the plants at the edge of the enclosure. "Rubens, Maria, say hello to the rhinos."

Rubens pointedly ignores his best friend as he puppets the plush about, the constant glances Johnny makes in his direction only serving to convince him that this is some sort of game or trick. Instead he wraps his fingers into his pockets, and focuses on the rhinos themselves.

Listening closely, he can just make out the zookeeper telling the children about one of the rhinos, with scars on it's face. Apparently said rhino was brought into the country illegally, and ended up at the zoo for a safe place to live; that's the simple version for the children, anyway. Rubens keeps half an ear on that as she takes questions from the children, and peers around. if the children are asking about it, it should be visible...

Upon spotting it, the first thing he does is pull out his phone, zoom in, and take a photo.

The second is to lean across to Johnny and tell him, "hey Johnny, it's you."

Johnny looks at him, confused for a moment, before following his finger. It takes him a few moments to spot what Rubens is talking about; Rubens knows when Johnny spots it, because he erupts into laughter.

---

"Hey, Rubens, it's okay. Look, it's just a mission, see? Same as always."

"No. Something's wrong."

"What? I can't see anything up with it, but you're the expert."

"I don't know, I don't know, maybe... I don't know; it feels bad."

"You're just nervous, it'll be fine! CRIS spat it out, the guys at the base checked it, I've checked it, you've checked it - the info's good enough. Just a quick in and out, see what's up, yeah?"

"..."

"Rubens, it'll be fine - you don't even need to sew grenades into me this time!"

"Johnny."

"Sorry, sorry, but hey, we'll be done in an afternoon, yeah? We can go out for pizza after, I know you were eyeing up the place across the road."

"..."

"Look-"

"Johnny, I'm scared."

"... It's okay. We'll be fine, Rubens. You'll see; twenty years in the job and I'm not dead yet... How's this! After the mission? We can go find some of those pink birds you like. The zoo's got to have them, right? One zoo or another round here; never been to one, but animals are their thing. And then... And that way, everything has to be fine on the mission, because we've got shit to do after, yeah?"

"..."

"It's a promise. We'll get the work done, then we can go see some of those silly flamingos the next day."

"Chickens."

"Sure, sure, pink chickens, you're right as always. We can take photos and everything."

"... Okay."

"No need to look like that, Rubens; everything'll be fine. I promise. You'll see."

---

They spend the afternoon walking a nonsense route around the zoo, only guided by the location of cafes, and an avoidance of both flamingo lakes. It does cut off large chunks of the zoo, however, and beyond a certain point there is nowhere else to go. They come to one of the flamingo lakes, and the low stone wall. Rubens... stands near it, looks down at the beloved and noisy birds. They're cute, and social, and pink, and very, very loud.

He stands, and watches them, and...

"Well, it's over now, Johnny," Rubens tells his dearest friend in all the world, reaching for his hand. "We made it."

Johnny catches that hand, and holds it tight, "I suppose we did."

Neither of them sound especially happy; neither does one of the flamingos, a fish splashing them as it swims away. It's a silly fish; flamingos don't even eat them.

With one hand, Rubens traces the wires under his shirt. With the other, he gives Johnny's hand a squeeze.

"I'm sorry," Johnny says. "For not listening - always been a bit crap at that. For scaring you too."

"I'm sorry," Rubens replied. "I couldn't-"

Blood, and blades, and maniacal laughter from every side, mustard yellow stained to red.

"Rubens," Johnny tells him, half a sigh in his voice. "It's not your fault; this shit just happens, yeah? Missions go bad sometimes. It's not anyone's fault - pretty sure if I'd been with my old team I'd have just bled out on the floor, you-"

"No!" Rubens cuts him off. "No, don't say that."

"Okay," Johnny takes a breath, watching a moment before he reaches over - and still a little down, even as Rubens stands and he sits - clasping his hand hard onto his far shoulder. "We don't have to. We made it. And you won! We got out, and we're here at the zoo, watching the chickens do whatever it is they do."

Rubens shudders a little, and cautiously leans his weight on to Johnny's side. It only lasts a moment before the other arm comes up, and pulls Rubens properly into a hug. He is squashed into his chest, the arms around him finally nearly almost as strong as they were always supposed to be. He shudders, and clings to his heartbeat, and tucks his head beneath Johnny's chin.

The shudders turn to tears, and it's all Rubens can do to breathe.

Arms wrap tighter around him, enough that he can feel Johnny's muscles strain. One hand cups his head, not combing his hair just pressing gently against it.

"Rubens," Johnny says, clearly starting to panic. "Rubens, this isn't... What's wrong? I thought you liked the flamingos?"

Rubens shakes his head; silly, silly Johnny, not saying what's wrong. He uncurls his fingers only to tighten them again, clinging to the flannel of Johnny's shirt. A whole afternoon out - self-mobile, even if with the wheelchair - with strong arms and... And things aren't right, they're not going to ever be right again, but they're getting there. They're getting there, and it's finally over - that hell is finally over. The mission... That mission, the one from over a year ago now... They've made it. There's Rubens and there's Johnny and there's a lake full of flamingos, just like Johnny promised there would be, and they've finally, finally made it.

"We made it," he manages to eke out, in between the sobs, scarcely daring speak the worlds into reality. "Johnny, Johnny, we made it."

There's a kiss to the top of his head, before Johnny's chin takes the place of his lips, "yeah... So we did, Rubens, so we did..."

[wsdalt]

hyelloooo factoryial if you're still in a writing mood a little rubens for me?? ^_^ it's cold outside today so id say. cold/freezing as a prompt perhapsssss??

hello cal!!!!! Here is some Rubens, and a little cold-themed nonsense a set one January or another post-OPC. Just a tiny thing.

Sometimes, it snows in Italy.

Theoretically Rubens knew this - he had even looked up the weather and asked about appropriate clothing before they traveled to see Carina this January - but seeing it is quite different. Not only does it snow but here, in the Alps, at the second or third home of the Leone family… there is a lot of snow.

Rubens definitely prefers being curled up inside with his laptop and a warm drink and functional heating, so that is where he is. Yesterday he did join the group as they trecked outside, but today he is hiding in the warmth. Dante is also in the sitting room with him, though possibly more to do with waking up late than not wanting to go outside.

He certainly hears the others come in, a sudden cacophony of chatting and laughter. Shopping bags hit the floor, coats are unzipped, and conversations continue from outside. Rubens listens for a moment - just long enough to make sure he hears everyone - and returns to his game.

They'll find him if they want him.

He does keep half an ear on them as he continues, even recognising that Balu is both coming close and not saying anything. Still, the game must be a little more absorbing than he means it to be - one moment he is warm and cozy in the armchair, and the next there is something cold on his back.

Whatever the it is, it is careful not to touch his neck - even as Rubens shrieks, slams his laptop shut, and twists in place.

No thoughts, only cold attack.

He lashes out one arm, grabbing whatever was there. He does not bother trying to bring it closer, instead twisting further, and biting.

There is plenty of laughter around the room as he does. After taking a second to process Balu's arm, he looks up.

"Sorry, Rubinho," Balu is also laughing, and does not get his name right.

… Rubens had been cozy until Balu interrupted him.

He is not willing to get cold enough to return like for like, but…

This time it is Balu's turn to shriek as Rubens lets go with his admittedly weak bite, but runs his tongue along his arm as he pulls away.

"Fuck!" Balu recovers his voice into. "Rubens?!"

Rubens smiles at him, and returns to what he was doing.

Nearby, he just about picks up on Dante calling "don't you dare", most likely intended for Arthur.

Carina only laughs harder at their antics, even as she tries to brush the snow from the coats.

[wsdalt]

sapphicsm

[wsdalt]

when your bf is a nerd,,,,

(another version bellowbecause i forgot felps halo qnd when I tried to add the quality got ?????pixelated????)

[wsdalt]

Xande from Ordem Paranormal

I recently hit 2k followers on twitter and to celebrate we're making a special one whole week event with the 6 fanarts challenge!! Do you have a suggestion? Go follow me on twitter, tweet your favourite character and vote for the blorbo I should draw today!

[wsdalt]

Guaxi: I get close to Rubens and tap him on the shoulder and say:

Arthur: what’s up bro? How are you? Rubens: hey. good? Arthur: chill? Rubens: chill. ru—rubens Arthur: oh I’ve seen you in the Order a few times. Arthur Rubens: I think I’ve seen you there too

Guaxi: I'm looking at him like I—I'm clearly noticing that he's smaller than me. and I'm like puffing my chest out like this

Felps (to cellbit): I notice this?

Cellbit: you notice

Guaxi: yeah, no when— bro, like I was—I was kind of crooked, when I got close to you I was puffing out my chest like this

Felps: I just kind of accept it

Arthur: Okay, let's go then, you can stay behind me

Guaxi: Then I go in front

Felps: I just don’t care. I just go—go to the side

Cellbit: you all leave together—

Guaxi: (laughing) you go to the side

[wsdalt]

Maybe. Probably. Hopefully.

For day one of @felpacweek , festa junina \o/ enjoy!! ao3 link

To be honest, where does one go after this? Felps is not sure.

It's Festa Junina, which means partying and festivals and a time for enjoying the food. Everyone is busy all around the football field, each in their own groups playing in the stalls or just talking. Felps, in a slight moment of confidence and maybe a bit of curiosity, had dragged Pac towards the kissing booth. He wasn't expecting much, probably Pac just giggling before kissing his cheek.

Pac, with his rosy cheeks and bright, dark eyes and hair as soft as silk. Pac, with his kind personality and strong self and love pouring out of everywhere. Pac, who stared into Felps's own eyes, holding his face so gentle he could've been holding glass, while he slowly moved their heads closer.

And they kissed, much to his surprise.

He still remembers the soft, wet lips. He still remembers the soft, smooth hands gently cradling his head. He still remembers the soft, muscled arms he held. He still remembers the warmth of the man who kissed him. And, in all honesty, it's something that would never leave him. It's a moment he'll cherish.

Pac, as soon as they pulled away, smiled and giggled and it made Felps' heart leap. The man is beautiful. It made Felps realize just how attracted to Pac he was, how much he loved the man. He always knew it, but this kiss had just confirmed it.

And then Pac had run off, giggling to himself, a slight skip in his step. And Felps was left there, watching the man disappear into the distance, and then he's alone, a bit dazed. He stares, wondering what even happens now. What did this mean for him? For them?

Well, he supposes he'll find out eventually.

Probably.

Hopefully.

[wsdalt]

Day 7: Date

I could do something punny, I did that for something like this as a kid. Instead just something very short for @felpacweek day 6

A new restaurant opens on the island. Nobody is quite sure who owns it - it's not Roier, and it's not part of the Favela, but it is also too far from spawn to conceivably be a Federation business. If he had to make a guess, Pac would say it's a front for some illegal activity or another.

None of that is the most relevant part, however - the relevant thing is that it is a pasta-focused Italian restaurant, to reduce competition with Roier's pizzeria.

That is not an extrapolation - the advertisements literally say they do not sell pizza so as not to compete.

And why is pasta relevant?

Pasta is relevant because Pac knows Felps, and he knows him well enough to be well aware of the fact his obsession with it is overemphasised for jokes, but rooted in genuine fondness.

The question, then, is not if Felps would like it; the question is how Pac can convince him to come.

Well, no, convincing Felps to come for pasta is as easy as walking up to him and asking "hey, Felps, do you want to go to the new pasta place with me?"; the problem is asking for a date.

In the end, however, Pac cannot work it out. So he asks his question, and hope Felps works it out for himself.

He doesn't.

"Oh! There's a pasta restaurant?" Felps' eyes light up at the question.

Pac nods twice. "Just, um, past Maximus' house. I thought... maybe you would like to come?"

"Yes!!!"

And Felps... Felps doesn't seem to have caught on, because he doesn't say anything else. He does, however, take Pac's hand, and begin marching north.

"Oh!" The tug has Pac stumble a little, but he quickly catches up. "Right now? Warping would be faster."

"It's pretty, though!" Felps' voice bubbles cheerfully, but there is something like momentary distaste for the purple stone. Pac puts that aside, and keeps following.

He nearly questions is the insistence on hand holding and the walk mean that Felps has cottonned on. But, no, that very much is just a Felps thing to be doing. A little unpredictable, a little chaotic, and very, very cute.

Friendly. Pac meant to think friendly, he promises!

There is nobody listening to defend himself to as they walk, Felps constantly glancing back over his shoulder as he keeps talking. Usually Pac would try to join in - he can feel the worry brewing - but right now he is just trying to keep a handle on himself. Slightly dizzy, definitely blushing, at risk of spewing out words that may ruin their friendship...

In time, they make it to the restaurant. There are no staff here, but there is a touchscreen to order and some sort of hatch. They both place orders - Pac chooses almost as random, too distracted for this - then head to a table to sit.

"You good?" Felps asks, as soon as they sit down.

"Yes?" Way to reassure him, Pac. "I mean yes! I'm just distracted."

He tries to laugh the comment away, though Felps looks at him with a puzzled expression.

"Oh!" Something seems to click for him, and Pac hopes it is that this is a date. "Did you mean to ask if I wanted to go later, not right now? We can make it tonight if you're busy."

Mike would argue that Pac is too busy for this nonsense, but everyone knows Mike is more capable if producing these things alone than with Pac.

"I'm okay," Pac says. "Not busy, just..."

Felps tilts his head.

"Is this a date?"

Pac did not mean to say that - he meant to talk about schematics, or colour palettes, or perhaps even the latest game that he and Mike are trying to build. Instead what comes out are actually the words on his mind, ones he slams his hands over his mouth slightly too late to catch.

"It's not a date?" Felps seems more confused now.

"I meant to ask it as a date but then I didn't and you just ran off so I didn't know and maybe you don't want it to be a date because we're friends but maybe you do because we did kiss but we don't talk about the kiss and-"

Pac is cut off by the hatch opening, and a robotic voice announcing that their order is complete. Felps bursts out laughing, and stands. For one horrible moment Pac thinks he is about to leave, only to be told "of course it's a date! There's pasta. I'll go get it."

Which does answer that question but, as Felps walks open to the unattended counter, does present an entirely new set of questions to consider.

[wsdalt]

i died like 5 years ago my body just kept going

[wsdalt]

little thing that is basically just Dara and Guizo having more time to chat before the end of the season. style is kind of messy, so I’m not sure if I want it on ao3 right now? but I finally finished it so… here we go \o/

obviously major spoilers for ordem sdol. also it’s not explicitly mentioned so I will just say here that i headcanon Guizo as aroace

reblogs appreciated \o/

Guizo tears his eyes away from the door to meet Dara’s gaze.

“How long do you think it’ll stay open?” 

“I don’t know… maybe it just will be until we choose.” 

“Hm… here.” Guizo lies down and gazes up at those strange code-like lines streaking across everything here. “It’s not really stargazing, but…”

Dara laughs and lays down next to him.

“You don’t know how long I stared at these walls for.”

“Ah, so you never took the chance to stare at the ceiling then?” 

She shoves him a little. 

“You don’t know how long I stared at these ceilings, and walls, and floors. Better?” 

“Better.”

They’re silent for a moment. And those… “people” are silent as well now. It’s easy enough to pretend that it’s just him and Dara here; in some strange, cool place by themselves. 

“You always liked stargazing, huh?” Dara says. “Just like those people at the camp.”

“Just like them, yeah.” Guizo laughs softly. “Me and Xande… we always wanted to see… well, aliens, you know?”

Dara takes his hand. Out of the corner of his eyes he can see her looking over at him.

“I’m sorry.” She says.

And he thinks maybe they’re both trying not to cry. 

“I’m sorry, too. You have to go out there without him and…”

“Guizo…” A tug on his hand. “Don’t tell me that’s why you’re doing this.”

“No, no, it’s… I mean—of course it’s for him. It’s for us, you know? Everything we were doing was to get somewhere like this place and… if he’s not here, I’ll continue it.” He turns his head to meet her gaze. She’s frowning a little, her brow crinkling from it. “I want to go. I really want to go. I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“Okay.”

She turns to stare back up at the ceiling, and he does the same. 

He doesn’t tell her that if Xande was still here he’d have second thoughts. That he doesn’t think he’d be even close to as excited as he is now if it meant leaving Xande behind. 

But he already left Xande behind by coming here. And Xande left him behind by dying. So, they’re even. All that’s left to do is carry Xande with him as he continues on to fulfil their dream. 

“Can I tell you a secret?” Dara asks, her voice so quiet he almost didn’t hear it. 

“Always.”

“It’s silly.” She laughs self-consciously. “I just… I always wanted to tell you, but I wasn’t sure how. For a long time I didn’t even know how to tell myself, honestly.”

When he looks over at her, she’s already looking away. Her head turned to the side so he’d have to sit up to see her face properly. 

“Yeah…?” 

It sounds like a big deal. And he’s maybe a little nervous because of that.

“Well, since I won’t get another chance… I’m a… lesbian.” 

He sits up. 

“Seriously?”

Dara stays lying down, except she turns her face back towards him. 

“Yeah.” 

“Wow… No, okay, yeah.” He nods along as he speaks. “Yeah, I can see it.”

“You can see it?” She lets go of his hand to bat at him, a small smile on her face. “What does that mean?” 

“Well, in all our time knowing each other you’ve never spoken about boys.” 

“And you’ve never spoken about girls, so what does that make you?” 

His heart stutters in his chest. 

“I—I met a girl.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. While you were… here. Calisto didn’t want to talk to us over the phone while we couldn’t remember you so we went back to see him in person.” He shrugs. “I recorded some of it, I think. She had an Ahlevo shirt and seemed pretty cool.”

“Was she cute?” 

“I… I don’t know—I guess so? I was kind of more focused on the fact we had the same favourite song.” 

“Guizo.” Dara sits up so they’re facing each other, and takes his hands in hers. She has her this should be easy, but I‘ll walk you through it tone of voice. “Did you want to date her?”

He remembers a similar talk with Xande. 

“I wanted to hang out with her.” He corrects. His eyes flicker over to the door. “I, uh… I told her we’d see each other again, but… that probably won’t happen now, will it?”

“Well, maybe I should introduce myself to her.” Dara suggests, faux-innocently. 

“Dara!”

Guizo takes a brief moment to play up the idea of being offended by Dara trying to swoop in and steal a date from him. It makes her laugh. After everything, it’s nice to hear her laugh. 

“Her name’s Hito.” He tells her. “And if you know my favourite song, you know hers.”

“Hm… You Are You?”

“That’s it!”

“I can’t believe I was so nervous to tell you.” Dara says. “We could’ve been wingmanning each other ages ago.” 

“We could’ve.” 

He gets why she didn’t, though. Even with all they tell each other, being a lesbian can be a dangerous secret to spill. 

“Although…” She trails off, raising her eyebrows like she’s trying to get him to pick up on something. 

“Although?” 

“Well, I just always thought… you and Xande… and you never really talked about girls, you know?”

It’s a little too close to home. 

Especially now. Especially with what just happened. 

He squeezes her hands, and sighs, and tries not to think about it. 

“I never really saw the point of dating.” There’s no point in lying now. Not when it’s Dara, and not when he’s about to go through that door. “I was happy with The Five!, and looking for aliens, and filming for my blog, but… if Xande asked…”

“Guizo…” He knows she’s thinking about the elephant in the room. Or elephants, really, since there’s now two things getting in the way of Xande asking. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He shrugs and waves her off. “It’s not your fault, and… it’s fine, anyway. Like I said, I never really saw the appeal. As long as we were best friends I was happy.”

But now he’s gone. 

“I feel like there’s so much we missed out on.” Dara says, her smile full of regret. “I mean—I always trusted you more than anyone else to tell me the truth. I should’ve… said something earlier, maybe.”

They had fallen into a quiet kind of rhythm with each other. He was maybe the only member of their group that wasn’t really trying to impress Dara one way or another. 

I love the others, of course, she had told him one night, but it’s just easier to breathe around you sometimes.

“I should’ve told you earlier, too.”

He always tried to reciprocate that. Confide in her like she would confide in him. Trust her with things he might not even have trusted Xande with. 

The mindlink ritual was for mission purposes, of course, but it was always more comfortable with Dara and Xande. He was always less afraid of what he might accidentally let slip past. 

“Ah… oh well, I guess.” She looks up at the ceiling. “Do you want to stare at the stars a bit more?”

“I do.”

They lie down again. It’s a pretty place, if you think about it enough. Although maybe that’s just the alien influence seeping into his mind. 

“Chico’s going to be a mess.” Guizo says. 

“He is.” Dara sighs. “I’m probably scaring him half to death by staying here so long.”

“Probably.” 

He wishes he had his camera. But it felt important to leave it with Xande. To keep the mindlink up, and leave Xande with that precious little piece of himself. 

Maybe if he knew it was just this on the other side he would’ve stayed with Xande himself. But then neither him nor Xande would’ve made it to this tantalising offer the door is presenting. 

“Just…” Guizo starts, trailing off for a moment as he tries to gather his thoughts. “Just tell Chico it isn’t his fault—what I’m doing.”

“He won’t believe me.”

“He’ll try. If it’s you, he’ll try.”

“Okay.” Dara sighs. “Okay. I’ll try.”

“And tell Lírio I forgive him for beating me up.” 

“What?” Now it’s Dara’s turn to sit up in shock. “He did what?”

“Oh, man… Dara, you don’t even know, huh?” Guizo sits up, too. “Or maybe you went to the other floors, too, I don’t know. But on the fifth floor there was this massive, massive, like, maze, I guess? Except it was all hallways and a few rooms.”

“I went there, yeah.”

“And did you see the blue beetle? Like the car?”

“Yeah…?”

“Well, it—it got into our heads, right? Just made us start—” He mimes aggressive punching. “You know? I hit Xande, but Lirio went after me. We all snapped out of it, but you know how he is with mind stuff, yeah?”

“Ah, true.” Dara smiles. “I’m sorry—it’s a little funny.”

“It hurt. A lot.” He grabs Dara’s shoulders and stares into her eyes, trying to convey it. She tries—and fails—to tamp her smile down. “A lot. But it’s okay, I forgive him.”

“I’ll tell him.”

“Thank you.”

He lets go of her, and lies down again. She follows suit. 

“I’ll miss you guys.” He tells her. “I mean, it’ll be exciting, but…”

“We’ll miss you, too.” She lets out a breath. “Who knows—maybe we’ll see you again.”

“Maybe. I hope so.”

They fall into silence. Then Dara takes a shaky breath in.

“Guizo… I’m scared.”

“Me too.”

“I feel… different. Like there’s something wrong with me.” Her voice falters and he takes her hand. “Ever since I listened to the radio in the van it was there, but… it’s just—it’s gotten worse. I think.”

“It’s just this place.” Guizo waves a hand around his head. “It’s just the signal messing with you.”

“What if it isn’t?” She squeezes his hand. “What if I’m like this forever? I feel…”

He gives her a moment to continue, but she doesn’t. 

“Everyone’s different because of what happened here, I think.” He says. “It’ll be okay. And, well, there’s always my films. So you can, like, remind yourself, I guess.”

“That’s true…”

They lie in silence. 

Guizo turns his head towards the door. Swirling green beckons him.

“I think I’m procrastinating.” He says.

“Maybe. Are you… sure you want to go?”

He turns to look at her to find she’s already looking at him.

“More than anything else.”

“Okay.” She smiles—bittersweet. “You should go then.”

“Okay.” Guizo stands up, helping Dara up as he goes. “I guess… goodbye.”

“Goodbye…”

He pulls her into a hug. She wraps her arms around him tightly, burying her face into his neck. 

It’s hard to convince himself to pull away. But more than anything else, he wants to see what’s through that door. 

So, he does let go. And with one last bittersweet smile exchanged between them, he turns to the door. 

He’s scared, of course. But the curiousity works well at drowning it out. This is everything he’s wanted since he was a child. This is everything him and Xande were working towards—what they were searching for.

And if Xande can’t be here? Well… he holds the memories of their life together close to mind, and he steps through the door.   

——

I just really liked the scene at the end and I really like Dara and Guizo so… here. it’s kind of intentionally messy and focused more on dialogue? for vibes

but I don’t know, i might rehaul it entirely later. I’ve just been sitting on it for a while and wanted to post \o/

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do you guys ever think about how the two times we see guizo set up a mindlink with someone it is severed unnaturally?

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sdol freefall animatic is so beautiful

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“{…} eu falo que— eu tô ali caso ele queria de ajudar pra colocar junto”

(im watching osnf for the first time; no spoilers! but i love joui and cesar <3)

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More funny lil dudes!

Now only 4 but they are small and cute and I wanna eat them