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Who ⬤ Artemy Burakh and you!
What ⬤ All around the place.
When ⬤ Throughout the month.
Where ⬤ Lots of places.
Content Warnings ⬤ Drug use. Will add as needed.

i. dumpster diving;

[ Despite not having to struggle so much for coin and food, Artemy still can be found buried halfway in garbage cans throughout the city. He digs around to see if there is anything particularly useful in the trash or even if there's half-eaten or thrown away scraps to eat.

Pulling himself free, he does not seem at all embarrassed or troubled to have been caught. Instead, he hesitantly holds out what he's found. The hesitation is that he isn't sure he wants to give it up, but he also finds no worth in being too greedy. ]

Would you like some?

ii. high definition;

[ He has tested out his own medication on himself so it doesn't seem strange to him that others request help in the same manner.

If it will benefit the population in some way, he is willing. Of course, he wonders how effective the drugs can be to someone who is relatively healthy. Relatively being the key term.

He is still recovering from twelve-days of exhaustion, starvation, dehydration, and a wide variety of issues. So, actually, maybe these drugs are good to try on him.

'Course he ends up feeling more like he has downed multiple bottles of twyrine. His senses both feel deadened and awakened; he feels like he can actually hear the city around him. It leaves him speechless that to come with the awareness that the city is just as alive as his town once was. ]

It's calling.

[ It's what he says as he staggers around the streets. ]

The city is calling.

iii. kappa kappa;

All right!

[ It is what is heard before his hand snaps out to grab the back of the shirt of someone sneaking around the tunnels. ]

What are you doing here?

[ Artemy draws himself up to his full height; his arms cross as he stares at the person with a look of absolute disappointment. Didn't the Sutoku Alliance say that this area is closed off? ]

A group asks to be left alone and you have to come bother them? Where are your senses?

iv. wildcard;

[ Throw whatever. I don't mind. If you want to check with anything, you can PM me. No worries. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That's a good one.

[ He nods along with what was said; his steps abruptly stumbling as he crashes into them. But they are surprisingly solid so the two don't go falling over. ]

Mm... [ Artemy muses over the question. ] I tried to speak with the heart of a god. It was too injured to be able to converse with me. [ His head shakes; his shoulders drop. ] There is one I met that would have been as a mother to me, but she is gone. I ended up tripping her steps too much and --

[ A longer pause. ] -- we could not walk together anymore.

[Artemy trips and while Ydris does sway to catch him, they're righted soon enough. They're rather like a buoy at sea in that way, their magnetic core nearly always able to catch itself. Artemy may notice that Ydris doesn't seem to actually walk, floating just a bit over the ground and simply gliding along over top it.]

That is a shame. Should you like, you can walk with me. I shall not stumble nor stagger.

[it sounds to Ydris like this man could use someone to have confidence in. Most people do...]

What is your name, human? I am Ydris.

You are too kind.

[ Rather than sound like a rebuff, his words are filled with too much emotion. Like he does not believe he is worthy of the offering that they are giving him. ]

Artemy. [ His grip tightens on their arm. ] I will... I will come to know you. [ He struggles to explain what he hopes and tries yet again. ] Not just what you hope for us, but you, as well.

Your views, your life... I will try to come to know it.

[After their left, they've made it to... (2) whole stairs. Ydris supposed that counts as going up? It's actually, probably, a very good thing given the state Artemy is in. Any more would be impossible, this might already be a challenge to get him up. Ydris will be patient, as it was said they must be, while the man makes the steps up required of him]

Then I must question of you; is it true kindness if I am compelled to it?

Is it that you cannot not do as you are compelled?

[ His lips press into a thin line as he starts up the stairs. His eyebrows furrow as he wonders if this is right. The city told him to go "up" but the map inside his mind doesn't look like the path they are going. Still, perhaps, the map is old and so he will keep going forward. ]

I can only answer that question until you answer me, Ydis.

I suppose I can fight against some urges, to varying success. Much like humans can fight off their own instincts and repress themselves.

[the culture that created and raised Ydris looooved itself some repressing their natural instincts in favor of manners]

Then, it is kind.

[ He pauses for a second, nearly slipping off one of the steps as he keeps climbing upward. ]

Even if you are compelled, you still heed the call. Also, you ensure that the kindness you show us is something that we can understand.

[ Because he knows sometimes what is kind to beings like Ydis will not be seen as kind by humans. ]

[If Artemy was to slip, Ydris would catch him. They won't lift him up, but they can stop a fall... a sufficient example of what their purpose is.

They shouldn't take this conversation so seriously. This guy is high as fuck. Ydris jokes, but their tone isn't much different, they don't have the best grasp on such presentation]

Tch, it's easier to not fight it. Perhaps I'm just being lazy.

[ He gives an appreciative nod as he rights himself. It is a few seconds later that he returns to climbing the steps upward to another landing. ]

No, I don't believe that you are lazy.

[ Artemy dismisses the idea before stopping at the top of the stairs. His head turns slightly, listening to the city's call. He sways slightly but doesn't fall over this time around. ]

Like this city... it calls. It can't do more than ask, but that does not make it lazy.

Is that call you're hearing getting any louder? We're nearing the end of your directions. [they've conquered the extremely difficult set of like... three stairs! Ydris gives Artemy's arm that they're holding onto a little pat, good job and keep staying upright...]

Down, then against a wall, you said. What do you think it's calling you towards?

[Ydris is sure it's nothing, but they consider that a waste of time. They're just happy to socialize, genuinely. They're also not going to admit that, they'd rather blame their instincts to protect this human from harming himself on accident in such a state]

Louder?

[ Artemy can't help but repeat the word back to them. His brows furrow as he mulls over the question. ]

It never gets louder. It always just is. When it speaks, it speaks in the same feeling, the same tone. It is patient and only says that this is a place to seek.

[ He pauses to rest his hand against the wall of the building. His head bows as he offers his appreciation to the way that the city speaks. ] I'm not sure. Something it wants me to see? Something it wants me to do? I can never tell. It only tells me to go and so, I go.

[ His hand drops as he looks back toward Ydis. ] I also could fight my compulsions yet don't.

That is.... interesting. [it also sounds overwhelming, a constant and unyielding call? Would one simply tune it out, after a while? Doesn't seem like that, for Artemy. Or is he only hearing it because he's fucked up?]

We'll see through to whatever it may be. Hopefully, the city does not call you towards silly sentimental guff. I am reminded of silly children's stories where the end of the journey is simply a pool of water to reflect the friends made along the way. How trite and infuriating! I loathed such tales, how entirely unsatisfying...

I don't know the make of the city.

[ He shifts his addled stare to them; his smile is tight, but only because exhaustion still hangs on him. The tone of voice he uses is a light, pleasant one. ]

I don't know yet its shape or feelings. [ Standing at the top of the stairs, he looks out across the vast shape of it. ] It seems so much... does it have such sentimentality in it? [ Artemy wonders aloud before they continue on the last bit of their journey.

He stops. ]

It's here.

[ And they stand outside a very reflective store front.

A long bout of silence follows that is broken with him saying, warmly. ]

... so you are a sentimental one.

[How dare this city call Ydris out-!

How DARE it!]

Stand. Aside.

[smoke billows out of their mouth with each word, they set Artemy at a light post to keep him held upright... He will not be hurt, but Ydris cannot help lashing out. When one is Orderly in nature, the chaos will eventually boil over, or in Ydris' case... explode.

They grab a nearby city trash can, hoist it up, and ready to throw it straight through said window if Artemy doesn't react to stop them]

[ His reaction is a little slow.

He leans against the light post; he wonders if Ydis sees something that the city is trying to tell them that he can't. However, his interpretation of what they are doing changes as soon as they pick up the trash can.

Artemy is pushing himself off the light post to stumble forward so that he can grab onto their arms. ]

What are you doing?!

[Ydris is just holding this heavy metal bin aloft, hesitating because obviously they don't want to hit Artemy with it]

I'm going to smash that window! This city is full of shit!

The city allowed me to meet you!

[ Even if this is Hell, it has granted him more mercies than he thought possible. He has been able to meet with miracles yet again; he has found those that would call him kin. It is Hell in that it is giving him what he wants but not in a way that he can understand and interact with -- yet.

But still, even so, he is grateful for it. ]

[Ydris may love to be the one yelling and enraged, but the moment they get yelled at, basically all melts away from them. They mostly look shaken by the tone, but then the comment itself seems to sink in and they...

Goddamnit, feel that pesky nagging sentimentality. How dare Artemy-!

They slowly put the trashcan down neatly where it belongs, scooting it perfectly right again.

Tantrum diffused, at least...]

[ Without knowing, he is breathing heavy; he feels like his adrenaline is spiking and wonder why. It is because he feared they would break the glass? Would it have mattered that much? Yes, it would hurt the city; the city that talks to him so kindly.

He rationalizes his jumbled thoughts. ]

Thank you, Ydris. [ It is what he can say at first as he takes a few shaky steps towards them. ] Thank you. [ He fills his voice with reverence and gratitude. ]

[Don't- Don't thank them! Ydris scolds at themselves internally for acting rashly and, worse of all!, getting talked down from it. At least, if it was an outburst, they could try to hold to it with confidence!

But that would also be a mistake. A fiery temper is something they're supposed to contain at all times, letting it slip makes them just like their predecessor. Look where it got him-]

No. Thank you. I should... be composed. It doesn't help you or anyone if I blow up. Let me have another look at you,

[With a sigh of some smoke, they reach out and put a hand firmly to his shoulder. The other hand reaches and touches his face, trying to get a look into his eyes to try and judge how bloodshot they might still be- but Artemy won't get held onto if he jolts away immediately]

What is it that troubled you? The city's voice?

[ Were they finally able to hear it, too?

But he does let them touch his face; his eyes are unreasonably bloodshot and seem to be incapable of focusing on them. It is best to say this is the result of constantly drinking a lot of medication to stay alive that lets him seem somewhat coherent. He can sound somewhat lucid even if everything else about what he's doing and thinking isn't.

Life hack -- no one do this. ]

You are a miracle. I am sorry.

[Ydris can assess that, yeah, Artemy seriously needs to get some sleep. Walking off whatever is in his system isn't going to do him any good if he passes out in the street.]

Worry about yourself, you're in no state for concern over me... I'm doing my duty.

[They pet that hand along his face with some fleeting affection, before pushing themselves beneath on of his arms. Just looping an arm around his isn't going to be enough, this man is going to need something to lean on to get him... wherever home might be.

Later, they'll think about those words more. You are a miracle. I am sorry. If only their creators had thought to apologize half as sincerely for making Ydris the way they did...]

Lean on me all you need, where are you staying for sleep? It is about time the city called you home to rest.

But who will look after you?

[ He does cling onto them as offered; he holds onto them not so much to keep himself upright but because he does want to keep looking over Ydris. Artemy is just a human; he cut off his ability to experience miracles anymore.

It is why he clings to the voice of the city that he hears. It is why he clings to Ydris and by extension the youkai. Miracles that he did not think to see, again, and he's sorry that their lives are so tied to people who are so selfish with them. ]

I sleep in the Sutoku ... Sukotu... Alliance. [ He stumbles over the name of his own faction. There is some shame in it, but he does gesture where they can go. ] It showed me sympathy and compassion... I'll sleep now but I'll repay it.

[ He holds Ydris's arm. ] I'll give back what I've taken.

I don't- I don't need to be looked after. [a lie, one that Ydris is trying to convince themselves is true. Maybe if they say it, that will eventually make it so. Fake it 'til you make it, plenty have great success with just that! Why not them..?]

We're in the same faction. [they both already know this, but it could bare repeating.]

Do you have your own apartment? My own is relatively close by, if that bed will do. I don't use it.

[they don't really lay down to sleep, given their whole... set up. Sleep isn't something for them where comfort matters, they just sort of shut off their consciousness for a time to recover their mental and emotional stamina]

Then I'll just be a pest at your side.

[ It isn't the way that Ydris speaks that gets him, but he doesn't want to repeat the mistakes of old. A miracle came to watch over him, and all he did was betray her. ]

We are? We are. [ He knew that and then forgot. ]

I do, but going somewhere closer would be... appreciated. [ He also has to admit that he's hitting his limits. The sound of the city is constant -- it is not louder or softer than before. In some ways, that is just as bad as assumed. His head aches, but he went to where it wanted. He should be allowed to rest? ]

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