black silence.

hey there, this is ri'ah with a new blog for a limbus company multimuse, LIMBVSCOMPANY! including canon characters like meursault and heathcliff, as well as ocs for a separate bus using characters from musicals.

@angelsflatline wrote. ❝ we’re supposed to be a team here, you know. ❞

she's half ignoring roland as she reassesses her weapons, trying to see if maybe she simply needed a change of pace to make up for their somewhat... lackluster performance in the last battle.

"team?" she scoffs, examining her usual knife, making sure it hasn't gone dull, "whatever that was, it wasn't a team. so, why don't you just waste time with that doctor you've been so fond of recently, because i work better by myself."

was i this stubborn when i was her age?

the thought is brief, before that pit in his stomach swells with an ache, the knowledge of loss rising anew in that mere moment. however, roland does what is best for the long term: ignores it. pretends that he isn't on the doorstep of his answer, instead focusing back in the moment, ignoring everything else.

"we might not want to be a team, but as long as we're supposed to fight alongside each other, we are." his tone is calm, but he does allow a bit of his irritation to shine through. of course, it's not just irritation with ayano's refusal to cooperate, but he couldn't fault her for presuming that it is. "angela's already said that the more we progress on 'the one book', the more difficult it'll be to continue. if we don't want to get ourselves mopped across the floor by higher-ranking fixers or even any of the fingers, we'll have to cooperate."

the thought about the fingers does make roland think a bit more. while he was able to take out a good chunk of the middle by himself, it was certainly no small feat. meanwhile, ayano had always simply just been in her corner of the backstreets; if she hadn't joined him for the ride, it was likely that she wouldn't even conceive the possibility of fighting the fingers.

he sighs, before speaking again. "...look, i don't like the concept of fighting everybody who receives these invitations, either, but i'd rather be human and fighting rather than subject to whatever angela thinks is funny for the day."

julian knew that they were most likely not there to stay... && even if not... well, he wasn't ignorant of his growing feelings toward roland, && completely aware of how it would be completely inappropriate to pursue anything with roland, with... you know, grieving his dead wife.

with a quick blink, he tries to put those thoughts to bed again, before wrapping up roland's arm.

"well, that's that. just, ah, don't mess with it too much." he slips his gloves back on, in a somewhat dramatic fashion. it helped try to banish most of those thoughts better left unsaid, "&& since we've escaped another battle... relax for a bit. call it doctor's orders."

while the combat is something roland was more than used to, this relaxation afterwards makes him feel nostalgic. he can almost pretend he was back in charles' office, speaking casually with the other fixers before they received another mission. although most of the people here weren't as skilled as such high-ranking fixers, the atmosphere is similar.

the way julian smiles doesn't help. roland thinks back to astolfo, to olivier, to naimon, to all of the people he'd met along the way...the people he has surely betrayed the expectations of after angelica's death.

after that, he thinks of angelica again, and manages to return that easygoing smile.

we can’t stay here.

i’m not here to be spoiled.

how should we go about this?

that’s a spatula.

you should get behind me.

is that a serious question?

that’s what i’m trying to do.

cover me.

have i ever let you down?

i can’t think straight.

i guess i’m out of practice.

what kind of music do you like?

how many people have you been intimate with that you actually loved?

you’re just telling me something i already know.

if anyone needs their rest, it’s you.

i can only assume your life has been rather lackluster without me.

i appreciate that more than you know.

i really enjoy the person you are today.

i’m not accustomed to the cold.

did you just drop my phone? is it cracked?

give me a second. i need to sit down.

where have you been hiding?

you look incredible.

that’s a lie and you know it.

you are a work of art.

we should go on vacation.

how did they find us?

you’re mocking me.

the world isn’t very kind.

i have pictures i could send you.

oh, good, you caught onto my bitterness.

you could have just led with that.

fools will be fools.

i’ve seen you on the news before.

is there a reason you asked?

and now we’re being followed.

it’s pretty nice up here, isn’t it.

if you need any help, just let me know.

perhaps we’re imagining things.

you’ve got better aim than i thought.

i thought you knew everything.

i’m not used to it.

you broke my door!

mind if i join you?

i yearn for quiet holidays.

fancy seeing you here.

i hardly think that’s necessary.

do you have a gun on you right now?

give me your phone.

i’ll try not to be too offended.

you could have called.

i like when you smile.

you’ve got a deal.

are you blushing?

that was the dumbest thing i’ve ever heard.

i thought you were supposed to be hard to find.

trouble always seems to find me.

i need your help, old friend.

i miss the cold weather.

you don’t need to thank me.

it’s just me.

that was cruel.

i deserved that.

i suppose it’s too late to say no.

we’ve all got a past. some are better hidden than others.

are you trying to tell me how to live my life?

what you did took guts.

no, that’s not what i meant at all.

i wanted to be closer to you.

it used to be cheaper.

you have powers, don’t you.

you’re a bad kisser.

that wasn’t supposed to happen.

sorry for startling you.

make sure you keep me in the loop.

did you hear anything else?

should we get moving?

do you want it? free of charge?

you’re just trying to hide the fact that you missed me.

was this always your goal?

i don’t want to put words in your mouth.

did i find you at a bad time?

did you have a good relationship with your father?

please keep your pants on.

we’re closing in on our suspect.

could you get it working again?

if you would take a second to actually listen to what i just said.

are you asking me to pick a favorite?

i wish i could unsee things.

you go that way, and i’ll go this way.

what accent is that?

can i kiss you?

i’m just happy they sent someone nice.

i think you would make an excellent dance partner.

keep telling yourself that.

the picture’s crooked.

hang on, i’m taking a picture.

you never let yourself relax.

we mock what we love.

i trust you. i always do.