@yokaisblade - Tumblr Blog

𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃 ˃˃ 𝚃𝚁𝙰𝙽𝚂𝙼𝙸𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙾𝙽 _ 𝙺𝙰𝙶𝙰𝙼𝙸 & 𝙾𝙽𝙸 ˂˂ akeno enjoyed being a silent observer⸻ it had always been his nature, and perhaps it was just intrinsic that his mutation manifested allowed him to be even more so. gifted with the ability to flawlessly copy any action or movement, to keep it all in memory after an observation, maybe that was why he had been quiet the entire time : gaze focused on tracking the rhythm of oni's movements, the precise scrape of whetstone against steel, patiently watching so he could perfectly mimic the technique once it was time to sharpen his own katanas. and every time the other spoke, akeno simply said nothing, only tilting his head slightly, acknowledging the words without needing to fill the space. it wasn't until oni glanced at him that akeno's gaze lifted from the blade, dark and steady, meeting oni's gaze. " no. " simple, unhurried. akeno's voice was low, smooth, but then, after a breath, he added with quiet certainty : " i'm just watching. " the words were measured, but there was something almost contemplative in the way akeno's eyes drifted back on the blade. then, with the kind of physical grace that came from years of kagura, akeno stepped closer, just enough for his presence to settle without disrupting the moment. " but, " he murmured, softer now, almost thoughtful, " if you wish to make the edge finer, cleaner . . . " his fingers brushed the air in an almost imperceptible gesture, as though tracing an invisible blade, " the blacksmiths in suzuka use a combination of fine - grit stones and soaked ash water. it polishes the steel as it sharpens, refining the grain without compromising the temper. " his gaze flickered, the faintest curve of something almost resembling a smile at the corner of his mouth, but it was gone before it fully took shape. " though, " he added, stepping back with the same quiet grace, " i suppose you are already doing well. "

yu-jun is fairly snobbish when it came to particular kinds of weapons, having seen plenty of them through his mothers' trade. she was a purveyor of east asian relics, building her own collection while generously donating to the preservation of history. suffice to say, he knew a thing or two.

exhaling sharply through his nose, he smiles, setting the blade down. "a reminder to do such things in the privacy of my own room, i suppose." he muses politely, facing down the other male.

"your knowledge surprises me, where did you learn of blacksmithing?"

psivn

🎃 - Huber was caught; and thus, the dumbstruck smile that grew on his features read nothing but awkward. Socially odd, even. His body language even became stiff and misappropriated for the encounter. For him, he did question if this was the suitable response for situations like this. He should've dodged the bullet when he became aware of the agent actually perceiving him- that moment before eye contact is made. He will admit; to himself, that it was his own interest in the other's activity that made him watch. He was better at avoidance. He felt the pressure swell in his cheeks that he abruptly dropped the facade. His features became flat as he maintained eye contact with the man's zygomatic arch. "No. No." He insisted. "But I can help, you, instead." Huber interjects, immediately inserting himself in the other man's affairs. Unsolicited but felt obliged now that they were exchanging dialogue. "It would prove to give a better edge angle if you loosen the pressure between your thumb and the hilt of the blade. Will take less time and you won't get fatigue." He cleared his throat, shifting slightly. "Unless you're turning it into a nonlethal display blade." Points at it like the other didn't know the blade was on Oni's own persons.

a brow raises at the sudden intruder, his expression cold, difficult to decipher. he barely pays them any mind, shifting the angle of the blade to peer down its' length. it glimmered even in the low light, a testament to the care he put into it.

"a display blade, right." he sets it down, sliding it into its sheath. on the outside, he seemed cool and collected, regardless of whatever feelings were stirring within him.

"can i assist you with anything?"

#psivn

𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃 ˃˃ 𝚃𝚁𝙰𝙽𝚂𝙼𝙸𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙾𝙽 _ 𝙿𝚄𝙻𝚂𝙴 & 𝙾𝙽𝙸 ˂˂ aleki let out a low chuckle, rough and breathless, the sound vibrating through his chest as he watched yu-jun tease his thumb with that sinful mouth. tongue swirling, lips wrapping around it like they had all the time in the world. as if other operatives finishing up with their training couldn't just walk in on them. but he didn't really care about getting caught⸻ especially when yu-jun knew aleki would never back down from a challenge. " tapping out ? " aleki shook his head, voice deep, amused and almost assertive. " c'mon, you know me better than that. one orgasm isn't gonna put me down. not when i still got shit to prove to you. " he pulled his thumb free, watching that slick stretch of spit between them for just a second before replacing it with something thicker, heavier. the swollen head of his cock pressed against yu-jun's lips, smearing precome over them again, and aleki exhaled sharp through his nose as he felt the heat of yu-jun's breath against him. " open up, forest. " a quiet command, not forceful, just gently coaxing. and it almost sounded like promise, and aleki always fucking delivered. and when yu-jun did, lips parting just enough, aleki pushed forward, slow at first, savoring the warmth that wrapped around his cock, the tight, wet heat that made his breath stutter. his hand came up, fingers threading through yu-jun's damp hair, gripping but not forceful, simply guiding. " fuck— yeah, fuck, that's it. " he kept the first few thrusts shallow, letting yu-jun's throat adjust to his thick cock, letting him feel every inch as he moved in and out. but it didn't take long before aleki's restrain began breaking down, before his hips rolled deeper, before the slick heat of yu-jun's throat made him groan low. " shit— yeah, so fucking good. " his grip in yu-jun’s hair tightened, and his pace picked up, hips snapping forward, fucking into that perfect mouth in slow, deliberate strokes. not too rough, not yet, but enough to feel it. to hear the wet sound of it, to see the way yu-jun's throat flexed around him. and aleki's dark brown eyes locked onto the other man, not looking away for a second. he wanted to see him, wanted to watch every reaction, every shift in expression, the way he took it, the way he enjoyed it. and fuck, he wanted him to know how good he was making him feel. " so fucking pretty like this. taking me so well. fuck, your mouth is perfect. "

the ever prim and well-groomed forest looked rather unbecoming with his mouth stretched around a dick, but it wasn't something he minded coming from aleki. it was pretty nice, actually, getting to let loose in the privacy of these four walls.

it was rather quaint, how gentle aleki could be, even if forest didn't necessarily need it. it was far from their first song and dance, and oni didn't need much prep, relaxing his throat as his companion takes advantage of it, letting him in deep.

his hands snake up the back of aleki's thighs, squeezing his round, plump ass. he grips each cheek tight, using his hold to keep aleki in place, sinking his cock deep down the warmth of his throat, holding for a few seconds. eyes are alight as he glances up, making direct eye contact as saliva drips down aleki's base, winking as he keeps it rooted just a bit longer.

"it's a very delicate process." forest didn't need to look over his shoulder to know he was being watched, but then again, he did look like he was in rather deep concentration. he was rather grateful for the company, his hands sore from his work.

"sharpening a blade like this can take hours, a couple days even." he lifts the blade in his hand, spotting 'company' in the reflection. "my apologies, i shouldn't be talking your ear off about menial things."

he glances over his shoulder.

"can i assist you with something?"

open

#pandora.start

𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃 ˃˃ 𝚃𝚁𝙰𝙽𝚂𝙼𝙸𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙾𝙽 _ 𝙿𝚄𝙻𝚂𝙴 & 𝙾𝙽𝙸 ˂˂ this had to be aleki's favorite thing about training with yu-jun, how easy it was to fall into these physical intimacies, how good it felt to have this after working to the bone. and fucking hell⸻ yu-jun's tongue dragged across his entrance, slick and hot, and aleki braced a hand against the tile, fingers splayed wide, muscles tensing under every slow, deliberate flick of that tongue. his breath caught in his throat before a moan escaped him, hips pressing back before he even thought about it, chasing the feeling, needing more. and yu-jun always gave it to him. the rhythm of his tongue— lapping, pressing, teasing— was enough to make aleki's thighs tremble, enough to have his cock throbbed in the other man's grip, hard and aching. and fuck, the way yu-jun's hand stayed tight around him, stroking slow, keeping him right on the edge without letting him tip over, had aleki biting down hard on the inside of his cheek just to stay grounded. his head dropped forward, forehead pressing against the cool tile, breath coming ragged, but every time yu-jun's tongue pushed deeper, every time his grip tightened, aleki swore he saw fucking static behind his eyes. " shit. yeah, that's good— " he word rasped from his throat, half a groan, half a plea. the way yu-jun worked him over, tongue and hand in sync, had aleki's legs damn near giving out, and fuck that. he wasn't gonna let himself fold yet. with a growl, aleki turned the shower off for now and pushed back, just enough to break away, just enough to turn around, chest heaving, cock flushed thick and heavy, dripping. yu-jun was still kneeling, still looking up at him, and fuck, aleki gripped the base of his cock, tapping the tip against yu-jun's lips, smearing precome over them, watching how they glistened. " i wanna come down your throat first. " his voice was low, heat underlining every syllable like an intoxicated plea. " then you can use me however you want. " his free hand found yu-jun's jaw, thumb tracing the line of it, then pressing against his bottom lip, coaxing it open further. his own breath was heavy, pulse hammering under his skin, but his gaze stayed locked onto the other, steady, dark, pupils blown wide. " promise i'll make you feel real good. "

it was a familiar rhythm, one that felt comfortable and the most like home he'd experienced when they were here. their relationship was dynamic, ever-changing like the threats they'd faced; one day, they were rivals, ribbing each other. the next, they were, well, fucking in the shower.

he's all too keen on aleki's body language, perhaps a by-product of his espionage training, or just being observant. he knows when the dude is close, and poor kiki could barely keep himself upright. it's a badge of honor, really, but he knew damn well they wouldn't be done anything soon.

when he's faced with aleki's cock, he grins, giving it a few smooth, even strokes. "as long as you don't tap out on me after you blow your load." he hums, popping the other male's thumb into his mouth, swirling his tongue around it teasingly.

"deal?"

𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃 ˃˃ 𝚃𝚁𝙰𝙽𝚂𝙼𝙸𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙾𝙽 _ 𝙿𝚄𝙻𝚂𝙴 & 𝙾𝙽𝙸 ˂˂ the shower's steam curled thick in the stall, water & heat pressing close, but none of it burned hotter than the slick pull of yu-jun's hand around his cock. his breath stuttered, a sharp gasp catching in his throat as pleasure licked up his spine, thighs tensing, hips jerking into the touch before he even meant to. fuck. aleki's head dropped, lips catching against the curve of the other man's throat, open - mouthed and hungry, sucking a mark in slow, deliberate pulls. and his teeth grazed just enough to make him feel it— make him remember it. " ' m fine, " aleki murmured, rough, voice still edged with the sharp inhale he couldn't bite back as yu-jun stroked his hardening cock. his tongue flicked out, lapping over the fresh bloom of color on the skin before trailing lower, marking again just above his collarbone, licking the heat from his skin. " just wanna make you feel good, yu-jun. " and his hands never stopped moving, tracing the familiar map of muscle and tension, smoothing down over the ridges of yu-jun's ribs, his waist, the cut of his hips. slow. intentional. then he was sinking lower, mouth dragging over the wet planes of yu-jun's chest, tongue tracing the shape of his nipple before he sucked it between his lips, letting it stiffen against his tongue. a sharper pull, a brief scrape of teeth, then a warm kiss to soothe, shifting to the other side to give it the same attention. a slow, steady descent⸻ licking down his abs, nipping just above his navel, before his breath ghosted lower, heavy, right at the base of yu-jun's cock. fingers flexed against his thighs, gripping firm, pulling him just a little closer as aleki pressed a slow, wet kiss to the length of him, right along the side, dragging his lips until he reached the base. then his mouth latched onto his balls, warm and wet, sucking one between his lips, tongue rolling deliberate and slow. heat on heat, pressure just right, and fuck, he could feel him twitch, feel the weight of his cock resting against his cheek. aleki hummed low, satisfied, then licked slow, looking up to hold yu-jun's stare, deep brown and pupils blown just enough. and aleki gave the other one just as much attention before finally dragging his lips away, tongue flicking up to trace the length of yu-jun's cock in one slow, deliberate stroke.

aleki was nothing if not thorough, ensuring forest saw stars behind his eyes, regardless of what end he was on. naturally, oni did his best to reciprocate, but he'd wager pulse edged him out just a bit when it came to pleasing a partner; a battle he was constantly happy to lose.

he seeks purchase in the other man's locks, fingers threading through, forming a tight grip. he doesn't tug, however, letting aleki work his magic, cock pulsing as he feels all the blood rush to that single appendage.

he was blissed out, vulnerable.

each calculated movement only spurs yu-jun closer to completion, nearly spilling over the edge before he's forced to tug the other male free from his cock.

panting, he kneels to eye level, meeting aleki's lips in a passionate, heated kiss. "not yet." he grumbles between slightly parted lips, pushing aleki toward a stand. settling behind him, he parts firm, round cheeks, before unceremoniously diving between them, tongue dragging across his entrance; all the while, his hand doesn't leave aleki's dick unattended, stroking him in time with each flick of his tongue.

they'd been roommates for a while now, agent oni wasn't a hard person to get along with, especially for someone like wren. he was basically a friend to most, it was hard to get on the man's bad side when he had such a sunny disposition. sure, some called it naive, but they only ever saw how it hindered instead of enhanced.

" consent is important when we have the time for it. we could be in a fight in a matter of seconds and i'd love to find one of our combat-focused agents. it'd give us a higher rate of success. " when he discussed strategy, it's as though something clicked in the man's mind and others would see a flash of his brilliance as a strategist despite how naive he could come across.

when oni returned back, agent boon's brows furrowed slightly at his friend. " intel, duh. " wren couldn't help but laugh. “ we gotta get out of here successfully, don't we? ”

"you don't think i could protect you?" yu-jun hums softly, nudging the other male gently. he'd do his best, as always, but he was a trained assassin, he was best when he had the element of surprise, or their opponents were fewer in number. still, empowered by agent boon, he could certainly do a bit more.

creating a small curved from his astral energy, he picks under his fingernails with the vaguely knife-shaped object. "i saw a couple clearings we could settle in, a body of water, a cache. an enemy, or an agent, hard to tell from up there."

he glances over with a raised brow. "so tell me, agent boon, where do we go first?"

𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃 ˃˃ 𝚃𝚁𝙰𝙽𝚂𝙼𝙸𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙾𝙽 _ 𝙿𝚄𝙻𝚂𝙴 & 𝙾𝙽𝙸 ˂˂ another day, another back - breaking training regimen. hell week might be over, but the weight of it hadn't at all left aleki's muscles, the trace of every hit still echoing in his bones⸻ the kind of ache that made rest feel like a punishment. but he pushed on, wasn't wired for stillness anyway. especially not now. not when enemies were sharpening their knives in the dark, waiting for the next opportunity to carve them open. steam rolled heavy through the shower, thickening the air, pressing close. water pounded against aleki's back in steady percussion, sliding down the ridges of his shoulders, and every drop burning hot, though not hotter than the pulse under his skin. not not hotter than the impulse in his gut as he looked at the man in front of him. he might be tired, he might be aching, but still human at the end of the day. and aleki let his hands wander before his mind could think too hard about it ; touch first, words later. calloused fingers traced the curve of forest's back, wet skin under his palms. he felt the tension here and there— the tightness in his shoulders, in his traps, pressing down harder to undo the knots. he kept going, smoothing down his spine, slow and deliberate, mapping the bruises that hadn't healed yet. then aleki's lips found forest's neck, open - mouthed, dragging teeth just enough to make him feel it. something solid. something real. not a hit, not a wound, just pressure, closeness. his breath ghosted against wet skin, and when he reached lower⸻ fingertips tracing the curve of his ass before gripping firm and pulling him in, their cocks against each other, heat against heat. a sharp inhale, a half - swallowed sound between them. aleki grinned against forest's skin, his own breath coming heavier now. fuck. it was instinct, the way his hips pressed forward, how easily their bodies slotted together, sweat and water and muscle flush in a way that made his pulse hammer. and still, his mind wasn't on himself. not fully. never was. " tell me how to help. " his voice came rough, low, the kind that carried even over the rushing water. his hands didn't stop moving, kneading into forest's ass, thumbs pressing slow circles into his lower back. " you’re stiff. could stretch you out. " another squeeze. " or we could do something better. " his lips brushed just beneath forest's jaw, waiting, always waiting— for permission, for direction, for whatever forest wanted. just wanted to be useful. even now.

@yokaisblade sent 18 / forest & aleki !

a bird could enjoy a cage should the door remain open, but the moment the illusion of choice was removed, the yearning would set in. in some ways, yu-jun was like a bird, content to perch where it was comfortable, but antsy the moment his choice was taken from him. much like the calm before hell week, this mandatory r&r time felt sinister, like he had no say in the matter.

thankfully, there were... distractions.

he couldn't keep his hands off of aleki, greedily groping every inch of his exposed form. lips are slightly swollen from pressing wholeheartedly against kiki's, coming back up only to gloat. "i think you're the one who could use the stretching." he punctuates with a firm spank to aleki's ass, the sound echoing through the bathroom.

"but you know me, i'm flexible." a soft hum escapes his lips, offering a few consolidatory strokes to aleki's cock, head tilting upward to expose more of his neck.

" dog, for sure. " he was quick to offer a smirk, oni was as devilish as the rest of the agents here and took a mile when offered an inch. he'd take it over being alone considering he was basically useless alone. sure, wren had basic combat skill but he was made more for as support or missions involving strategy or pretending for the sake of intel.

at the swat wren quickly looked back at the other in absolute protest. " don't do that again or else, oni. " rolling his eyes, all these agents were perverted and all wren wanted was for them to have some freaking decorum!

instead, he grabbed hard onto the other agent's arm and quickly tapped into his power to help augment the man's power. " maybe you can do an astral survey of the surrounding area? that might help us out out, don't you think? "

yu-jun had grown closer to some than others during his time within atlantis, and wren just happened to be someone he'd found common ground with. undercover operations could go on for weeks at a time, having friends to come back to kept him grounded. it certainly didn't hurt when said friend was an asset to your power.

he opens his mouth for a quippy retort, but is quickly silenced by the surge of power that rushed through him. it was a feeling he never quite got used to, like a surge of adrenaline that coursed through him.

"you wanna talk about consent..." he shudders, shaking his head as he glances over. "you owe me one." with a teasing wink, oni steps back, disappearing from plain sight. where he goes, what he does, or how he does it has always been something kept close to his chest, but it's proven effective so far.

a few moments later, he emerges.

"well, what are you looking for?"

𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃 * ﹕ niko scoffed, rolling his eyes before giving forest a shove, rough enough to jostle him, but not enough to send him toppling. " you can't seriously be horny right now, " he said, exasperation laced with amusement. " we're out here in the middle of nowhere, with killer robots and fucked - up bears and wolves, and that's where your head's at ? " but the thing was— he understood it. the restless energy, the way his muscles itched to move, the way stillness felt like something gnawing at the edges of his skin. adrenaline could only settle in two ways : a fight or something just as physical. and niko flexed his fingers again, testing the way the bruises stretched over his knuckles. his body was sore, but he could still move, still fight, still do— something. niko met forest's gaze, a flicker of something unreadable in his own before he glanced toward the fire. " haven't found any game yet, " he admitted. " not much out here that wouldn’t put up a fight. " he sat back on his heels, smirk curling lazy at the edges. " but we’ve got a few hours to kill before total nightfall, before we start getting hungry. " he said, voice dipping just enough to make the space between words feel deliberate. niko let the words hang for a moment, rolling his shoulders like he was working out some lingering tension. then, with a slow smirk, he let his gaze flick back to forest, steady and knowing. " few hours to do whatever we want. " he didn't elaborate, just let the fire crackle between them, the implication settling in the air like the heat curling off the flames.

"my apologies, sister. should i get you your modesty covering while we wait?" yu-jun snickers quietly, nudging niko in jest. he wasn't normally so unprofessional, but truthfully, he'd spent a lot of time out on the field and, well, he didn't take this too seriously. sure, it was dangerous, and the threat of injury was real. but he was confident, sure that their combined power could mow down whatever dare cross their path.

"don't worry about dinner, i've got it covered." while oni hadn't faced any combatants one on one, his day wasn't entirely uneventful. the envy agent certainly wouldn't be so calm and collected if he didn't have some kind of backup plan in place.

a devious smirk crosses his lips, crawling between nikos' legs. "you'll only need five minutes, won't you?" a challenge, perhaps a tease. either way, he doesn't give the other male much time to answer before their lips are meeting in a passionate kiss.

he knew some of the other agents wouldn't be suspicious about his methods but agent boon knew what he was doing. " i knew saying something radical would bring out either a prude or some dog agent looking for a peak. " the man taped his temple, he was making some big, brilliant plays here. he hadn't to worry about the AI in this round because they wouldn't say something so unhinged. it was brilliant and only the type of strategy he could use in this kind of scenario.

" you behave, agent yokai. that was a tactic, now that i have a partner. give me your hand, we're going to supercharge you. "

"and which one would i be?" a brow raises, fingers twitching in anticipation. it wouldn't be entirely out of the realm of possibility for him to just get one good hit off before they called a truce.

he'll refrain, though, since the company was a bit better than sitting in wait for the duration of the event.

"a tactic, right. me showing my admiration for your form is the same thing. just improving morale." a firm swat to the agents' ass as he passes by, nodding in response.

"supercharge me? what for?"

justprometheus

It had been hours since the Hell Week began. Maybe days? It was hard to keep track when the passage of time felt frozen. Nothing but the dark waters of the marsh on one side and muddy ground with trees as tall as the eye could see on another. The water felt cold - dark and menacing - but that shouldn't really be a reason to refuse the need to wash. Yes, his wounds and injuries healed rapidly. Perhaps too rapidly even... but the dry blood remained. And after a while, it would become a nuisance, mostly because some of the things that lurked in the darkness were drawn to its scent. What purpose would it serve to be a walking, breathing target for everything that ate flesh amidst those waters? What purpose would it serve to beat everything that came his way if all he did was fight on a near-constant basis? Even he needed sleep. A moment of respite. Hands drown the half-ripped shirt onto the dark waters – scrubbing the dried-up blood as hard as he could. His pants were close by – laying on a rock to be collected after. What a way to go if something were to surprise him now: just a half-naked man in nothing but his dark underwear doing some washing and cleaning. It would be quite humiliating if something were to fatally wound him… even if Prometheus had no idea what would be deemed fatal for him. There were some powers that were deadly even to himself… but those were rare. Someone even mentioned decapitation could be deadly for him – but that was not a theory he was willing to try out simply for the sake of curiosity. His movements halted. There was some noise in the background – steps perhaps? Could it be a predator lingering nearby, waiting for the best moment to attack or one of those murderous robots that had inflicted most of the wounds he had healed from so far? “Who’s there?” Muscles tensed as Prometheus stood and turned, the cold, rancid water moving around his calves as he turned toward the origin of the sound. He didn’t have any weapon right away – but he would bash whatever came his way with fists if needed. And there were plenty of rocks submerged in the mud. Everything around him could – and would – be used as a weapon. “Show your face!” Was it wishful thinking to hope for another agent, despite his current state of undress? Not that he was shy when it came to his body but – it would be so good to see another face – any face – that didn’t belong to the animals lingering beneath the marsh’s water. “Last chance, darlin’.”

Sink Marshes Biome

Open to: everyone

"you know, announcing your location to a potential attacker isn't how i'd handle a situation like this." from the shadows emerges the visage of another agent, oni. his shirt compressed to his chest, everything tight and kept close to the body, he looks as if he'd just stepped foot in the arena. an advantage of being a stealth agent, he supposed.

"but i suppose it's better for preventing friendly fire, everyone's been on edge." approaching with confidence, he scans the other agent, raising a brow.

"no weapons yet?" he asks curiously, tilting his head in confusion. "i should at least get a fire going for you, don't want you to freeze your... bits off."

#justprometheus

𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃 * ﹕ niko glanced up from where crouched as soon as he heard that familiar voice, feeding dry twigs into a shallow pit he had dug out with his hands. he had the rhythm down now⸻ trying to coax a stubborn ember to life with every strike, spark, breath, and more twigs to feed it. but he couldn't help but huff a quiet laugh with agent oni's choice of greeting, shaking his head as the fire finally started to catch. " you stalking me now ? " a chuckle, though there was no real bite to it. mostly just relief. he took a moment to look forest over, gaze sharp and search, like he needed to make sure his friend was really still in one piece. " but figured you'd show up eventually. i'm glad you didn't get yourself gutted by one of those androids or froze to death out there. " the fire flared, heat licking at the cold air as niko added a handful of dried grass, then sitting back and flexing his fingers as if testing the ache in them. " ran into a derek earlier. almost boxed boxed me in, but didn't get a chance. sent a shockwave through its pretty face before it could finish the job. " he smiled, glad to be alive, but the strain was there if you knew where to look. his hands weren't built for repeated high-impact bursts without his vibration - dampening gloves ; bruised with all the popped blood vessels blooming across his knuckles and wrists. the pain sat under his skin like something waiting to settle, but niko didn't mention it. there was no point. didn't want to be seen as a burden, and he supposed he could also use this week to better attune to the vibrations and use them without damaging his body. " what ' bout you ? ran into anyone while you were looking for me ? "

"you're easy to track." yu-jun hums, a low vibration in the back of his throat. "your energy is pretty distinct. pulsates." he doesn't elaborate on it, why would he? the astral space wasn't one he fully understood just yet, tapping on concepts science had yet to deep dive into.

"i spent a year in siberia under deep cover, it'd take a little more than a chill to take me out." it was freezing a lot of the time, below freezing even. he needed to go under cover somewhere warm, where he'd work on his tan.

oni approaches, kneeling beside his longtime friend, peering at his wounds. didn't seem too bad, nothing niko couldn't handle.

"i don't kiss n' tell. got lots of pent up energy." tone dripping with implication. maybe it wasn't the time nor the place, but these things always left him feeling a bit bored.

"gonna make me dinner on that fire?"

[ location: the stone canyons, ] boon had known that he was absolutely a support agent and focused more on the espionage and infiltration missions then all out force. with a quick scan of their hell week, the agent had spotted what seemed to be jagged cliffs that were more of a maze than a danger. with his own strategy, he knew it would be the safest to use that as a place for protection while he sought out other agents.

with his own daggers secure as protection, a cannister of water, and a few rations, boon placed it in a pack that he was given and made his way to the canyons, which weren't far off.

he decided he would yell something outlandish to throw off the enemies and hopefully act as a beacon to some of the other agents.

" niko has the best ass in all of atlantis! " well, let's see if that did him any good.

"chasing tail in the simulation? that's a new low, even for you." oni had been watching from afar, curious and amused all at once. he was accustomed to these kinds of things, deep cover and all that, a little bit of a harsh environment didn't phase him as much. still, it would be fun to see some of the others squirm a bit.

still, it was nice to keep his own skills sharp, lest he get soft around the edges.

"what about 'wren has a big, juicy ass'. that sounds like a banger to me." grinning as he drops to the floor below, donned in black.

"all roads lead to niko." forest emerges from the dark, a amethyst-shaded blade glowing in his hand. it illuminates his grin, flicking his wrist to return it to the aether, leaving the the two of them in a dimmer light. it hadn't taken too long for him to track his best buddy down.

"looks like you made out well enough so far, eh? they aren't making it easy this time." training had prepared him for this, he was sure niko would be just as good as surviving as he could. he already brought some fixings to make the first night a bit comfortable. piece of cake.

"you come across anyone else yet?"

@uncanines

𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃 * ﹕ niko exhaled a short laugh as he felt into step beside forest, lifting a hand up to give the other man's shoulder a rough but lighthearted shove in return for the elbow. " i guess we'll see ... " he responded with a smile, because if pandora's box had limits, they'd find them. and if it didn't ? then even better. the ride up to level 05 was quick and easy, and niko didn't waste time leading the way toward pandora's box⸻ stepping inside first, looking around walls lined with holographic projectors, floor seamless and smooth, everything waiting to be rewritten. niko began playing around with the hologram interface, scrolling past combat simulations and hostile environments. a few more tweaks and, " alright, let's see if this thing can do beauty for once, " he muttered before pressing a final command. and with that, the room shifted : pixels crawling across the walls, light bleeding into color, into form. the air changed, thick with warmth and the scent of sunbaked stone and briny sea breeze. then, it was as if they were transported into amalfi, standing at the edge of a terrace high above the cerulean sea. white linen curtains billowed from open archways, tables set for absent tourists, and the mediterranean rolled far below, waves breaking in lazy endless sighs. niko didn't know close it was to reality, but it was enough for him. " almost feels real. " he said, shoving his hands into his pockets before turning to forest, one brow lifted. " good 'nough for you, or should i throw in some music for the ambience ? "

admittedly, forest wasn't entirely sure if this plan would work, in practice. these simulations felt very real at times, having to remind himself during the heat of battle. if it could be stretched around hose parameters, he didn't see why they couldn't make it happen. still, it seemed a little too fun to be true.

"let's see if those geniuses down in the tech department are worth their salt." he stands there, his compression shirt straining as his arms cross over his chest. it was a bit unbecoming, how he unraveled a bit under the stress of the situation, but he held it in remarkably well. only someone very astute, who knew him well, could look past his demeanor and uncover his true feelings.

as the view before him changes, he gives himself a moment to take it all in. it was superficial, sure, like something out of an idyllic dream, but it was far better than the cold, sanitized feeling of where they were prior.

"almost." he muses in response, taking confident steps forward, inhaling the artificial scent of a fresh, ocean breeze. "are you offering a dance? you've got way too much clothing on, if that's the case." oni snickers, relaxing his arms, jaw unclenching. "i wonder how much we can do here... we should test it."