jump.

independent multi-fandom oc ✘ borderlands ✘ dragon age ✘ mass effect ✘ ✘ mirror's edge ✘ red vs blue ✘ saints row ✘

[backwatervigilante-deactivated2]

"HEY DUDE WHAT THE FUCK WHERE YOU BEEN AT."

“ARK!! Holy fuck I am so happy to see you, sorry, funny story, uh, the new communicator broke. Again. Like, twice. I think I banged it around too much. I missed you, man.”

[backwatervigilante-deactivated2]

[prev]

“Uh, I’unno, around? Somewhere? Usually just stickin’ around near the cliffside shack like usual ‘cause the view is a little better than ‘fuckin’ bullshit’ like everywhere else. Anyway, I guess Lucky ain’t so Lucky if he’s dead, so maybe we oughta take our business to the people callin’ the shots ‘round here. Meet you in Sanctuary?”

[traceurvolage-blog]

“HA, good one. And yeah, I was gonna suggest headin’ to Moxxi’s next, unless you just want me to grab a few cases of beer and meet you at the shack? What’re you in the mood for, bro?”

[backwatervigilante-deactivated2]

"HEY DUDE WHAT THE FUCK WHERE YOU BEEN AT."

“ARK!! Holy fuck I am so happy to see you, sorry, funny story, uh, the new communicator broke. Again. Like, twice. I think I banged it around too much. I missed you, man.”

[backwatervigilante-deactivated2]

“I know! I even had one of them protectors on it and it still got fucked up. Whatever, I guess, don’t matter now though. Hey, this is probably gonna sound kinda gay too, but do you wanna come chill in the headlands for a while? I wanna get drunk and pass out for about a month.”

[traceurvolage-blog]

“That sounds like a goddamn plan. Where you at in the Headlands? I’d say let’s get a drink at Lucky’s but last I heard Moxxi’s kid killed that fucker.”

[traceurvolage-blog]

[ gotta head to work but ive been working on a new verse/about page for Ark and i’ve decided to make a small change to his character - he’s now half russian half french and his name has been changed to Arkadiy Lavoie as opposed to Arkadiy Sokolov

so he’s still Ark just w/ a different surname lmao ]

[backwatervigilante-deactivated2]

"HEY DUDE WHAT THE FUCK WHERE YOU BEEN AT."

“ARK!! Holy fuck I am so happy to see you, sorry, funny story, uh, the new communicator broke. Again. Like, twice. I think I banged it around too much. I missed you, man.”

[traceurvolage-blog]

“Damn, you fuckin’ suck at keeping your shit working. And awww that’s so adorable and kinda gay. I missed you too.”

[ryanthetachyon-deactivated20181]

Source

[aurelie-curie]

[backwatervigilante-deactivated2]

For a while, Raum keeps walking without saying anything, making sure he’s a few steps ahead so he isn’t tempted to stare at Ark. He has no idea how to react or what to say to try and comfort him, worried that Ark will lash out if he tries any sort of touch, harmless as it would be.

They’ve passed by a few empty blocks and finally they’re in a corner of the town that looks like it’s still inhabited. Raum leads his friend under a dimly lit awning, gesturing for him to sit down. A red “vacancy” sign flashes in a window on the opposite side of the building. He clears his throat with audible awkwardness, pressing a fist to his lips.

“I’ll be here a while,” he finally says, breaking his own silence. “Got some money to last a few months before I have to go back out. Might be able to find work or something to keep the flow steady. I mean, I’ll look. While he paces back and forth in front of Ark, he gives his friend the occasional glance. “I’m really not mad, man, I mean… I know how it is. How good it feels. How when you stop it nags you every damn day. Just a little bit… y’know?”

Raum offers his hands to Ark. “We got this. It’ll be tough, but… it’ll be okay, huh? M’sorry for being out of touch. I’ll try harder to find a way to reach you next time. But I’m here now and I’m real glad to see you and I hope you’re glad too.”

[traceurvolage-blog]

They finally stop somewhere that isn’t so loud and grating, and Ark is more than grateful to slide down onto a bench beneath the awning. He tilts his head back against the wall behind him and closes his eyes for a moment, the red glow of the Vacancy sign across the way permeating his eyelids.

His eyes open when Raum starts speaking again, and he makes sure to watch him closely to make it painfully aware that he’s able to understand what he’s saying. He wants to show Raum that he’s not entirely gone, no matter how hard it is.

He feels that hopeful sort of grasping somewhere at the center of his chest when Raum tells him that he’s not about to skip town again - he feels stupid, utterly helpless at the realization that finding out he wasn’t gonna leave again is enough to make him happy. He’s used to people skipping town - hell, he was usually the one skipping town if given the chance. But he’d formed this damnable attachment to the other man and fuck if he was gonna ignore it or pretend it didn’t even exist.

And then his words sink in and he realizes that he’s not mad, that he understands, and Ark feels a lot less like a piece of garbage teetering on the edge of a trashcan. He knows he’s put Raum in an awkward position, but the relief is tangible when the other man empathizes with his stupidity.

And then Raum offers his hands to Ark, and he doesn’t hesitate before he takes them.

“Shit, man, you sound so fuckin’ gay right now,” he jokes with a hoarse laugh, before his expression fades into a more genuine smile. “Sorry, had to... had to get that out. I’m happy to see you... honest. Most honest I ever been.”

He’s quiet for a moment, before he adds in a quiet undertone, eyes darting downwards. “Thanks. For... uh... for bein’ here. For... you know. All of this.”

[zivilynbane-deactivated20161009]

something to believe in | a raum/ark playlist. (listen) cover art by yallneedandraste​.

i was a lover // tv on the radio | living zoo // built to spill | sugar boats // modest mouse | inertia creeps // massive attack | something to believe in // the offspring | atmos // the vines | things i don’t remember // ugly casanova | st. elsewhere // gnarls barkley | home // egypt central | keep the streets empty for me // fever ray | risingson // massive attack | deathlessness // andrew jackson jihad | smooth sailing // queens of the stone age | all i have left is you // the offspring | gangsters and thugs // transplants

[traceurvolage-blog]

Arkadiy climbs up onto the highest point he can find and shouts “COCKS”

[traceurvolage-blog]

commanderofthegreyskies replied to your photo:iunno

howe do u even detail work

[if ur talkin about the tattoos i took them all off of google lmfao]

[traceurvolage-blog]

iunno

[traceurvolage-blog]

character: *literally kills someone*

me: ah yes, there he is, my son

character: *is an asshole*

me: my small child

character: *fights everyone*

me: my tiny, tiny, fragile son

[backwatervigilante-deactivated2]

It’s obvious that Ark’s in a completely different universe than Raum is, but he tries not to seem to put out by Ark’s lack of attention. Guy’s been through some shit after all. When his reply isn’t more than a few words, Raum goes back to focusing on the path in front of them, keeping an eye out for a place they can stay that isn’t quite so noisy. Don’t take it personally, he reminds himself, but it’s hard not to.

So many months gone and it’s like he’s speaking to a stranger.

“Hey,” he says sternly, reaching for Ark’s hand but not touching it. “Don’t do that. Gonna end up rattling your brains around ‘til they’re liquid… Come on, we’ll find something soon. And then I’ll go run out and see if there’s anything else open, ‘cause man, I am starving.”

He keeps looking over at Ark every few seconds, studying the lines in his face and his overall disheveled appearance. Still a recognizable face, but God, something’s changed in a way he doesn’t like. Curiosity nags at the back of his mind more than anything else.

“You sure you’re okay, man?” he asks. “Like, I mean… We can–we can talk about it, you know? Or, uh. Or not. I mean… I’m just real happy to see you. Kinda tryin’ to keep it together so I don’t get all sappy. Just wonderin’ how you been and what all has happened and stuff. Am I talking too much? Should I shut up?”

[traceurvolage-blog]

Fuck. He’s gone and done something wrong again, and it’s all he can do not to start smacking himself again - Raum’s got enough of his attention that he doesn’t, but it’s hard to restrain himself. Ark might not be entirely there, but he’s got enough of his higher brain functions intact to realize that he’s got Raum on edge because of his behavior. As much as he wants to sober up, to stop twitching and reacting and doing mental backflips into the proverbial abyss, it’s hard to focus on anything that isn’t walking and talking.

He stares at Raum for a moment, searching his face, hand not moving away when he reaches for it. He doesn’t hit himself again, at least, and he’s glad he has that under control.

“O-okay, yeah,” he manages, licking chapped lips and wincing in the process. “Food sounds great. Y-yeah.”

They continue on for a bit longer, and the more he moves, the less disconnected Ark feels. It’s not a huge improvement, but he’s not stumbling and his thoughts are starting to attach to one another a little more solidly. Maybe he’ll be okay again by tomorrow - or, at least, within the week. He could only hope Raum wouldn’t disappear before he came back to himself.

“I’m okay. I’m...” he pauses, eyes darting up and across the rooftops for a moment, before his attention pulls back to Raum. “I’m not okay, man. I’m--I fucked up, I wasn’t gonna--”

He swallows hard, tries to regain his bearings. “I didn’t--I thought you were gone, man, I...” His hand goes up to tangle fingers in dreads. “I thought--I got used to people dyin’ on me, you know? Happened--it happened all the time back home. Guy offered me morphine, I figured--I thought it’d take the edge off, but then I... I bought more, and then more, and then...”

He looks away, and he has to clench his dreads a little harder to stop his fingers from trembling. “I’m sorry.”

[backwatervigilante-deactivated2]

Raum twists his lips, uncertain of whether or not he should move closer. Anxiety cements itself behind every thought from then on, and much as he’d like to just grab Ark and give him a good shake… Jesus, that’d be one of the worst things for him to do. God dammit, now what?

He’s not particularly relieved when Ark speaks again but is quick to be at his side, hesitantly extending his hands for the other man to grab. “Yeah, man, yeah. Come on. We’ll figure something out…”

Once Ark is on his feet, Raum gives him the best smile he can produce, trying to appear sincere. He’s not even sure if he’s doing the right thing by having Ark come along before finding a place to stay. Staying at the Purple Skag is out of the question with how noisy it is in there, but at least there’s minimal danger in Hollow Point compared to other towns. He guides Ark to a well lit street, keeping a careful eye on whatever nooks and crannies they pass in the wall. No wildlife, thankfully, but it doesn’t put them completely out of danger.

He attempts to break the silence. “So… I got paid pretty nice recently. Took out some nasty gal who ended up having this philanthropist organization as a front for her own personal trafficking ring. Ain’t that just sick? Dupin’ people into thinkin’ they’re getting help and then you just…”

The subject is wildly inappropriate, he realizes, and trails off. Not to mention depressing. “Uh… Oh, yeah. Met this pirate dude, he was pretty neat. He helped me out when I got ambushed by some other pirates. Unrelated to him. Least that’s what he said… Told him to show up down here and I’d buy him a beer, heh. What all you been up to?”

[traceurvolage-blog]

Arkadiy hesitates only for a moment, still clenching dreads between his fingers, before he finally lets go and reaches for Raum’s extended hands, allowing him to help him to his feet. He sways a bit, the haze around the corners of his vision taking him out of his body for a moment, leaving him feeling surreal, out of control. It’s gone as quickly as it comes, though, and he focuses a little too intently on Raum’s hands as he clutches to them.

He lets him guide him, at least, realizing that he can’t quite resolve his motor skills with the state of his brain to the point that he can walk a path without losing his mind and falling off course. Without Raum there to keep him on the rails, he risks meandering into the nearest spot he can find that will fit his body and give him a moment of peace without having to worry about the pins and needles stabbing his legs and his heels and his hands. That was how he’d ended up collapsed in an alley near the Purple Skag, too focused on the stillness of his mind and his body to care that he was laying in trash.

His attention is caught and held by Raum’s words, and he’s thankful that he’s trying to speak, because the sound of their footsteps is starting to grate on him like an irritating metronome. No amount of common sense can convince him that the sound is normal and that it shouldn’t make him so goddamn twitchy.

He’s a little too far gone to keep up with Raum’s stories, though, and it takes him several seconds to listen, and to process, and to process again until the words readjust to a point where his mind will understand them and formulate a response. It’s slow work, but he manages.

“Shit, that... that’s crazy, man,” he says, completely unsure as to what sort of word choice he can create that might encapsulate how genuinely interested he is in Raum’s adventures. He winces to himself, reaching up a hand and smacking himself in the temple a few times as though he might be able to reboot his brain to the point that he can hold a conversation without his thoughts buzzing around and refusing to connect to one another.

“Sorry, I’m--my brain’s not workin’,” he tries to explain, hoping he can at least give Raum a decent explanation as to why he’s incapable of holding basic conversation. He slams his palm into the side of his head again but all it does is makes his vision reel for a moment. “Shit. Fuck.”

[traceurvolage-blog]

[ gonna start tagging my thread w/ raum as [ptsd] just to be safe, i dont wanna accidentally trigger any followers ]

[backwatervigilante-deactivated2]

Raum sets his jaw in a frown at the snipe that is Arkadiy’s remark. He reminds himself not to take it personally, bringing one knee up to his chest while he listens. “Yeah, well… Can’t blame you for thinking that, huh?” he replies, mirroring the comment that nearly set him off. “I’m real sorry ‘bout that. …Still gotta get this damn thing fixed though I s’pose it’s time to just cave in and buy a brand new one.” Shrugging, he unclips the belt holding his ECHO in place before unceremoniously tossing the weathernworn device into an open dumpster a few feet away.

It’s awkward, seeing Ark again for the first time in so long, and he almost feels like a stranger–especially in this state. “So… what were you scared of, anyway?” he asks, a bit hesitant about treading on such dangerous ground after being absent for so long. “I-I mean if you wanna talk about it, y’know. Don’t gotta answer right now.”

He tries not to stare at Ark too much, not wanting to make him nervous and run off. It’s a familiar face Raum has missed terribly and one he trusts above all others (even though he probably shouldn’t) despite their limited knowing of one another. The man looks… lost? His demeanor is vaguely recognizable to Raum but he tries not to let his thoughts get the better of him.

“Well, uh, y’wanna go find a place to stay? Unless you got a place already. Figure it can’t be too comfortable right now. Get something to eat maybe?”

[traceurvolage-blog]

Arkadiy can’t help but jump at the loud clang the ECHO makes when Raum tosses it into the nearby dumpster. He feels so stupid for being startled so easily, but his fingers are shaking again and he presses them into his hair, nails scraping his scalp as though the motion might calm him. 

He needs noise, he needs a persistent background hum to keep his brain moving, because he can’t handle loudness but he can’t handle silence either. Both make him too nervous, too quick to flinch and cover his head as though the sound of a communicator hitting the bottom of a trash bin is a bomb exploding overhead. He doesn’t like feeling like this, and he hates the fact that Raum can see it.

His eyes dart back to Raum’s face as he looks up, fingers still buried in his dreads, holding his head between his palms.

“I... I... uh...” He wets cracked lips and stutters for a moment, before trying again. “I thought you might’ve died, man. I dunno. I know you’re a tough bastard but I--”

He breathes out, exhalation shaking. “Can we go somewhere else?” he mumbles, carefully untangling a clump in his dreadlocks and compulsively twisting the bits of hair between his fingers. “Ain’t got anywhere to stay and I--I just wanna lay down for a bit. Please.”

[iraffiruse]