𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗟𝗘 𝗝𝗢𝗞𝗘𝗥.

4.4 Adventure Mission - The Interstellar Departing Now!

This is a very short and sweet mission, just a little activity basically but I think it speaks to a few things that have been a little more recently established that I would like to touch on. I somehow had much to say.

Just a small note, that if you select the "Looking for me? What, did you stumble onto some get-rich-quick scheme?" option you get this dialogue:

Which I think speaks to how Sampo has conducted himself around the Trailblazer for the entire time we've known him. He has earnestly offered a spot in his schemes and requested assistance (or in the case of the very first museum event, offered us some money in exchange for his out). But even with the Mr. Cold Feet's Pop Up Shop event, he was honest saying that the test run of that shop was not going to make money but was with the intention of learning the market. Still, he really appreciated our participation.

If you select "wait, this isn't anything illegal, is it?" you get:

The Trailblazer has fallen victim to Sampo's antics and schemes, usually because he just so happens to forget to include some details until we're already in the thick of things or has attempted to make a quick buck off of us. But! He does honest business from time to time!

The premise of this quest is that for a sum, Sampo has carried the dreams of children who wish to build a ship. Basically, a ship that is comparable to the Express in the Fluffy Across the Blue. The Interstellar. The ideas of children, whose wishpower in a drawing created a Wispae Swooshy.

Sampo doesn't want to take shortcuts, not even taking the Trailblazer's offer of buying a ship outright. Sampo wants the children's' dreams to be realized, whatever they created on paper ought to be turned into the real deal.

Of course... Sampo is a businessman and he knows money, so knowing that he would likely garner some amount of sympathy from us or get us to agree, books for a sort of fundraiser of the funds necessary were already created. No matter the dialogue option you choose in response to this, Sampo says the following:

And while he could be easily read as being insincere, hell even if he said it aloud it might come off insincere but the thing is... We know Sampo has a soft spot for kids, learning that as early as the 1.0 days that he played with the Moles and Hook and as recently as 4.X content, Ashveil implied that he was good with kids. And of course, I love pulling out old quotes that I think are incredibly important to his character, so here's something he said in the Fate collab.

And taken from my review of the information in the Fate Collab, I mentioned the following:

This might be surprising given that he scams, thieves, and swindles. But to reduce him to merely those overlooks other altruistic intentions he harbors behind the scenes. Even if there is some greater motive tied to the Elation or potentially him being an Emanator and having a hand in spreading Elation, there is no doubt that he has done kind things for others.

The examples pertaining more specifically to his work in the Underworld on Jarilo-VI and he does help Hook get to spend time on Penacony. But Sampo feels like a Chaotic Neutral sort of alignment that wants to dip into Good? Because with Fools there's always this weird push and pull where they want to do something where there is an arguable positive (such as laughter or joy in the audience) but it is typically at the cost of something else (humiliation, pain, etc - but that's what the Golden Confessional is for). I think it's intended to be set up this way for Sampo for sure.

Okay this is just here for my own self indulgence. Sampo truly feels like he knows the Trailblazer.

Sampo says some pretty interesting stuff in the text messages the next day informing us that the book is selling well. The Trailblazer even makes a comment about how they know Sampo likes children but they're surprised he would push himself like this to achieve this considering the ship is imaginary.

He talks a little bit about understanding Swooshy and the dream and the "wishes". And to me, it oddly reads like he is understanding this need to reach this predestined future. This path or trail that must be blazed no matter how out of reach it is for Swooshy. Why would it even bother? Why does it go along with Sampo's antics anyways knowing that it's nigh improbably?

And typical for Sampo in a lot of the more recent side quests and events he is in from time to time, he has something oddly profound to say:

Sampo is a Masked Fool, so his relationship with both the Elation and as well as Wishpower is going to look different from those not as familiar with it. Though he goes on about how "wishes" are the greatest energy source humanity can create and it can be pretty powerful. He could just be talking out of his ass but if we recall that Asat Pramad manipulated Wishpower in order to abuse fear, then we know just how powerful and how real it can make such energy and power seem and how much more untouchable and strong he was because of it. Seeing as Sampo previously mentioned that if he had the Holy Grail, he would wish for everyone to be happy, joyful, free, and have their ever desire fulfilled. And with the weight of his knowledge regarding Wishpower... It almost sounds as if he understands just how strong humanity would be if this could all come to pass. I think he better than someone like Asat Pramad then understands the good that Elation can bring. And he is more of a neutral agent when compared to other Masked Fools.

Part of me really is starting to believe that he isn't so much as disillusioned with the Elation as much as he has seen quite a bit himself and does not want to fall into perhaps something similar to what Asat Pramad was talking about in regards to the Elation being turned into nothingness. This push and pull of having his mask and not having his mask but then still partaking in his very clearly Elation and Masked Fool tendencies and being altruistic on the side. It's fascinating, really. And I think it's because of the smaller missions and one off events that we see that Sampo is truly an odd man out in comparison to other Masked Fools and I would argue operates as an antithesis to Asat Pramad specifically.

And of course, there's some very interesting parallels with the Trailblaze weaved not only through Sampo's words and request but also the mission description. Seeing as in the text message where Sampo says a streak of light could be the Astral Express departing, it implies that the Astral Express will carry that wish forward into the dreams never before explored or reached. Wishpower can be found throughout the universe but it tends to be weaker or stronger in certain spaces and is an energy of the Elation. Sampo being a Masked Fool, an agent of Elation, wanting to help make the children's wish come true... It just further seems to prove that the Elation and Trailblaze are heavily intertwined

❝     then     leave.     ❞     the     words     are     nearly     spat     out.     bordering     on     venomous,     aggravated,     exhausted.     chasing     ghosts.     chasing     stories.     chasing     coat     tails     that     have     long     since     been     worn     &&     withered     in     brittle     winds     &&     devouring     snow.     ice     that     went     from     the     confines     of     a     city     to     locking     itself     around     her     heart     like     a     cage     she’s     not     wont     to     be     beyond.     perhaps     it’s     safer     in     the     cage.     perhaps     the     cage     protects     others     from     the     harshness     she’s     become     capable     of.     there’s     a     warmth     within     her     that     is     reserved     solely     for     those     who     have     won     her     trust     —     &&     he     is     not     one     of     them.     not     for     lack     of     trying.     not     for     some     displaced     sense     of     seeing     him     as     only     useful     rather     than     the     living,     breathing     being     he     is.     there’s     more     to     him     than     the     mischief     swathing     of     frame     or     the     intent.     more     than     guise     -     corralled     greens     &&     this     facade     that     makes     her     stomach     turn     some     days.     

there’s     more     to     her     than     her     bite     —     she’s     no     violent     dog,     but     some     days     she     wonders.     

a     scoff     ruptures     from     full     lips.     it     cycles     through     her     lungs     like     a     curse     akin     scorched     earth.     down     to     the     sinew.     she’s     gentle,     she     is,     but     she’s     also     desperate.     

❝     i’m     not     going     in     circles     with     you     today.     i’m     just     not.     ❞     her     tone     is     telling     of     frustration.     evident     in     the     way     her     hands     rise,     soothe     -     circle     against     temples     sore     with     aggravation     turned     palpable.     a     quarter     clockwise     turn,     a     step     to     follow     as     though     she     would     will     away,     until     she     stops     &&     reverses     that     turn     to     look     upon     him     in     humane     irritation.     ❝     why     are     you     like     this?     if     you     don’t     want     to     help,     say     it.     if     you     can’t     help,     just     say     that     too.     but     this?     this     bullshit     where     you     dance     around     what     you     know     or     don’t     know—     instead     of     just     cutting     it     to     me     straight     —     is     getting     really     fucking     old.     ❞     

she’s     never     this     worn     down.     never     so     cross.     never     so     sharp     with     her     tongue     or     vulgar     with     her     phrasing.     always     the     picture     perfect     image     of     a     knight     doing     her     best     by     the     people     of     belebog.     yet     here,     standing     in     blistering     snow     &&     raging,     impending     blizzard,     she’s     just     a     woman     who     has     been     wronged     by     the     universe.     &&     the     clock     is     ticking     on     her     patience.     ❝     you     could     be     so     much     more.     you     really     could.     part     of     me     wishes     you     could     see     that.     but     i’m     just…     fucking     disappointed     usually.     ❞

A RECORD SCRATCH in some far off distance place grates against his mind, sampo's features beginning to wilt at what even he can pick up as genuine vitriol.  hardly a first, he has been chased out all his life, sticky hands magnetizing to what is not his  &  his steps treading into places he would never belong.  of course he would be forced out where his own making over fun would not be welcomed.  he deals with it quite frequently.  but in what he had assumed would be a gesture of play, handed over to her so willingly  &  the fool rebuked just as quickly, a harsh hand might as well have cast his face alight in reddened pain.

he says nothing to defend himself nor does he appear to want to attempt to play the part of contrarian, his palms flying up into the air, flat,  &  placating like it is the most common reaction for someone as pathetic as he.  nothing truly scares him but the natural apprehension as a result of an unexpected reaction could not have been mitigated.

not once had he made any mention of refusal, not wanting to aid her in this investigation.  his lips screw at the assumptions, a new outward reaction even for him, so collected  &  composed, an actor incredibly steeped in his career, seasoned beyond what his years may suggest, letting a young captain be the reason he wants to break character.  sampo had wanted to help, would not have even moved closer had he felt differently  &  what did that get him if his mouth was the issue ?  evidently, nothing.  

the inside of his cheek burns from the sliver of tissue that had been separated by teeth digging in, the fool that had chosen to extend his stay on jarilo-vi time  &  time again uncertain of how to proceed when he feels the repercussions of his behavior settle beneath his skin, deep into marrow.  it was not her responsibility to understand him  &  he makes it plenty difficult to let anyone take a peak inside those imperfect emeralds that always seem to have their gaze on a prize only he is aware of.  but why would he ever want to be understood when the act of garnering joy was enough to earn snarls  &  barks.

why was he like this ?  even if he wanted to give an answer he doubts she would care.  or maybe it would not be enough of one.  no one ever bothers to ask after him as it is.  it hardly matters.

he feels his chest ache, a feeling similar to when he settles upon a lone rock, frozen over from the elements, watching the horizon that only continues to promise snowfall.  alone.  utterly alone no matter where in the cosmos he finds himself.  the chase for elation a meaningless endeavor if the very audience he attempts to play things up for shuts him out without much of a second thought.   &  what is elation when it is swallowed up whole ?  an emanator might disappear altogether.          ❝  then i guess you'll stay disappointed,  ❞          weak, voice wavering, straying from the usual sampo koski bravado he sells with every fiber of his being.

this blizzard is hardly the worst he has ever made it out of.  he hangs his head for a moment, curtain of blue hiding the new dull hue, only glistening under the correct light.  he does not follow, instead remaining to look over the spot once more.

There's a part of the question that draws a pause to the Navigator, coral lashes shutting for but a moment.

Was she scared of him? The answer that comes to mind is immediate. In the grand scheme of the cosmic at large there was few that could cause that very change reaction. The unknown is not something to be feared, such a poultry thing were it a cause of fear would have prevented the woman from standing where she stood now.

Fore was that not what the sea of stars was home to? So many unknowns, both great and small that laid untouched. It cannot be anything but a resounding no. There was hardly anything that the man before her could present that would trigger that sort of reaction. A singular man, nay emanator, was not the cause of such a biological function. SAMPO KOSKI, just she did not know him the vice was the very same.

"I can concede agreement of the matter. Indeed, I do not know you for myself good sir." So the smile that curls her lips once more is nothing short of cold amusement. "Just as you know nothing of me." The first trace of laughter spun purely of her own mind rather, scientific rather than influence. Where the fools hand runs through his hair, ruby tinted nails press against the tender flesh of her chest.

It's all purposeful action, where the fool frowns, where the nameless smiles. "However, there is one irrefutable fact stands that between the two of us, where one Aeon remains alive..."

ANOTHER REMAINS DEAD. She allows herself to naturally trail off. Because Himeko does not need to speak the obvious juxtaposition. One that despite Sampo's words she embodies more that he will ever know. To allow him to fill in the silence is to hold on her own secrets that whilst holding him at length for his own. That the trailblaze as it stood was built upon death. That with death of a god paved way for THEIR will to pull another away from her death on a distant shore.

HIS PRESENCE HERE IS NOT WITH THE INTENTION of making a mockery of the dead.  never had he felt that his draw to those of the astral express crew had anything to do with reaping benefits of a dead aeon nor did he feel that as one that pulls against the strings of elation's own hand meant that chaos would follow in tow to wreak havoc while the trailblaze was down.  none of that had ever been his intention, nor was it some sort of mission bestowed upon him by the laughter themself.  he does not believe that aha would willingly take the very tears that they have cried countless rivers to then swallow them up whole  &  spit back out in the faces of those that remain on the remnants of the silver rail.  it sounds silly when posed this way  &  sampo, as much as he does call himself a fool, had never felt that an extreme was necessary in order to perform on the elation's stage.

naturally, his brows knit together without him thinking about it, confusion  &  offense intermingled to a point where he cannot separate the two.  even if he were to say yes, where would she wish to begin ?  at the time that aha had grasped the young man's shoulders  &  shook them so violently that bile spilled from his frightened maw ?  sampo, fragments of a whole suddenly one without an ability that had been innate.  that blessing to gift to the masses everything that they could ask for something that he himself must go looking for.  would himeko even take his words at face value or would this too be perceived as a lie ?  well, his whole existence was practically built upon a mountain of tall tales, cleverly weaved stories that prop up this illusion of a man known by name  &  perhaps blue hair  &  smiling emeralds but never anything more.

no, he ought to say no.  he wants to say no.  that is the natural gut reaction, the one that would keep him safe.  a struggling boy that had learned to lie  &  swipe what he could knows that by revealing any bit of his truth would result in punishment.  a new shiny object to hold over his head as if it had been stripped off his person with the intention of never giving it back, tossing it to the wolves so that he would eventually fall.  expunging every bit of who he was before donning the mask, before aha had whispered into his ear, would be far more merciful than performing a tightrope act for the navigator.

❝  i'll humor you,  ❞          sampo says through the grit of teeth, begrudging.  he sits up, hands folding in his lap as he leans forward.                    ❝  i'll answer whatever questions you have but i have the right to refuse to answer.  okay ?   ❞          half expecting for her to turn this down on principal alone, he still continues.          ❝  i won't tell a lie.  if i don't want to answer, then i'll keep my mouth shut.  ah, i guess there's no reason to believe me but ...  i won't.  ❞

It's hard to believe a Fool could have much fun in a place like that. And yet, he'd offered.

"Would you... want there to be a next time?"

AN EASY ANSWER is already at collecting at the tip of his tongue; such a smooth talker is well-equipped for conversing  &  finding a flow that not only benefits him but also finds a pleasant sweet spot for his partner to engage in.  he is well aware of their preferences, hence the reason for using it against them even in this suggestion but would he be totally against such a location ?  

tilt of his head, he attempts to observe adrian from a different angle, as if it would help change his perspective on them.  he can only glean so much from how they speak to him, how they willingly interact  &  when they pull away.  but the skepticism ...  it is enough to give him pause.          ❝  without the whole ...  business side ?   yeah.  i think that could be nice.  ❞          he purposely makes no mention of the venue, wanting to leave that sentiment in their hands.  the consideration was genuine  &  he was not ready to pick apart what that might mean.

so, he looks away, hiding the windows to his soul.  as if the exchange had not happened, he continues on in a hushed voice.          ❝  if someone comes up to you either while i've stepped away or if we're here or i dunno, weaving through the dancefloor, just direct them to me.  i'll help you out where i can, you know that sampo isn't in the habit of keeping his mouth shut ~   ❞

Oh, he had been so, so very tempted. Aventurine lets out a sorry chuckle. Oh, what is he even trying to lie to Sampo for. It wasn't his need for control that had halted his hand and stopped him from putting the mask on. It had been the terror of what he'd have had to face at the bottom, before he would have been able to climb back up. Yep - there it is. The big reveal. The plot twist the whole audience could have seen coming in this bad movie from a mile away: Aventurine of Stratagems had turned down the invitation out of pure, unadulterated cowardice.

... and he is not about to tell Sampo that. He would hate to ruin a good first impression.

Although - hah, looks like he's not the only one worried about impressions, huh. With a curious hum, Aventurine props his elbow onto the counter and turns to face his interlocutor, his glass, still coated in cold beads of water, pressed against his temple, attentive eyes surveying old Sampo's expression as he speaks. "Ah - worried, are we? Think I'm conflating you with those people whose lives I'm keen on making a living nightmare?" A smile, vulpine and velvety and coloured with a touch of something between bitterness and muted sorrow, settled on the gambler's lips. He can forgive Sampo for the assumption, he supposes. He is pretty confident Sampo reached his position by means and history similar to his, rather than similar to them, but if he were to look honestly in the mirror for a minute: looking at them now, what really is the difference between he and Sampo, and them... besides the difference that he decided existed?

EYES FLITTER DOWN towards the mark of ownership, etched in skin despite partial liberation.  whatever the details of aventurine's situation now, he has little insight into unless he were to ask outright.   &  perhaps one day curiosity will let slip a genuine wonder.   but one truth confirmed between them  &  drink is that aventurine has not placed himself upon a different playing field, knowingly remaining in his place till need forces a move across the board.  for a while, sampo feels as if he has been playing rather defensively, anticipating moves several steps ahead or assuming a playstyle before any motive has been established.  to take the stoneheart at face value would hardly be any different from a masked fool attempting to convince a knowing audience that they are not out to deceive for the sake of their own enjoyment; consistency is to be expected but tricks up sleeves have that chance to be an endearing surprise rather than something infuriating.

words are empty promises in the making, even sampo knows this.  many fools, many con artists,  &  even those legitimately in the business have little issue in spinning the fanciful just to close a deal.  avoiding a bad one altogether is generally the way to go but even sampo can typically make something out of seemingly nothing, willing to brave what seems like the worst kind of setup a greedy man like him could take.  but this is not about greed, not really, not from his end.  at least not until they find themselves gambling with wares  &  trinkets rather than coin.

he sits up straighter, readying his arm to reach out, fingers splayed ready to take something into their hold but the masked fool pauses before allowing joint to pop, his body older than it seems.          ❝  listen, kid.  i know a game of stakes falls within your wheelhouse  &  as a masked fool, i can certainly find ways to raise them if it means you'll get a kick out of it but what i'm offering here isn't a potential game of sabotage.  ❞          maybe he was at fault for allowing assumptions to simmer at the surface, not because of the rumor mill or public profiles out on this particular stoneheart, but conduct.  like a shark waiting at the table till it is their time to strike, hand falling across the wool.

❝  elation is the goal.  there's no reason to go complicating things.  ❞          it would be far too sappy to make any sort of mention that seeing the other man joyful would technically satisfy his own requirement but therein lies the issue     ⸻     sampo is the outlier in his own den yet still finds himself removed from the rest of society because of how similar he still manages to be to his ilk.  where would aventurine fall on the scale if he has received an invitation once before ?  they both know there is a possibility it could go one way or another, hence the older man's insistence.

a mask metaphorically settlrd over his visage as he goes in for a tried  &  true mark of agreement, brandishing teeth in a delighted grin.  hand meets hand  &  sampo gives a firm shake.          ❝   &  we should start now with this stuff !  c'mon, let's get a few more drinks  &  either talk it up all night or indulge in some of your favorite haunts, eh ?   ❞          his hand retracts  &  goes for the diluted amber, a taste too dull even for his senses.  still, he gives the stoneheart the impression that there is still something to be enjoyed, the drink hitting the back of his throat all that he could have ever asked for while it still lasted.

❝  ahhh ...  i've never been one to really gamble with my own money but if you want me to play ...  welllll, if you could maybe spot a pal here  &  there, i'd enjoy participating ~   ❞

No doubt he had other places he wanted to be rather than lingering around here in her clinic. After all, he seemed a rather busy man most of the time. Even in these wee hours, she swore that he was forever active. Perhaps that was just because he was rather skilled at keeping up the illusion that he was. ❝I’ll compare our numbers and then close up for the evening, so please don’t worry about me continuing to stay longer.❞ She smiled, amused by her own words as she turned her gaze towards the window. Oh, if only she had energy like the night crowd did. She could already see them off to their usual haunts for the evening, her thoughts temporarily drifting towards Luka. ❝Ah, and before you go…please let me know when you’re ready for our trip. I should have matters well in hand by then.❞ She hadn’t been this excited in a while. Natasha almost felt silly for the giddiness in her heart.

FINDING REASONS TO REMAIN BUSY, finding reasons to remain here, had been the long game he was unaware he had subconsciously started playing even prior to the arrival of the astral express.  although he initially meandered the snow plains with one goal in mind, plotting to cause trouble within belobog to keep his busy mind preoccupied, certain stops  &  certain visits became less about how he could fleece somebody, how far he could entangle himself with belobogian nobility,  &  what resources he had in a world below the earth  &  more about what joy he could bring both himself  &  others.  far too honest of work for a fool, yet he prided himself on fixing up a happy ending where his hands could adjust those that had waltzed into his script.

natasha was no different.  at least in the beginning.  but sampo had long since proved himself useful, merely going through the motions  &  hoping that one day she would not pull the rug out from under him, rendering him useless  &  ripping away a genuine wealth of happiness.

shoulders jumped, as if he had stepped somewhere he should not have been, unsure if that was his cue to exit stage left because she had needed the space.  how could a lonely soul even begin to explain that he had sought out the work only to existence in silence if no conversation was to be had with an off  &  on criminal.  sheepishly, he chuckled, teeth remaining nervously on display.          ❝  oh !  let me finish this section  &  i'll be out of your hair, hehe ...   ❞            &  he stayed true to just that, setting the supplies on the edge of a shelf  &  suggesting an amount of time that she should allot for the trip.  the fool said his goodbyes before returning to one of his shabby locations nearby.  not the most comfortable but enough for him to sleep in the lull of boulder town.

...

as a well-traveled businessman, repeat visits were not uncommon.  he would check up on a business left behind, perhaps see if there were any new investments to be made or ...  in this case, arrangements had been in order, with him a new traveler ripped away from her work in her small antiquated belobogian clinic  &  arriving on a world of sorts, a large ship sailing through the cosmos.

there had been plenty of times where he offered his services to tourists, visitors from other worlds.  for just a small fee one could have a pretty reliable tour guide, even though he was not personally from the world himself !  that did not matter so long as he spurted nonsense  &  hand waved as if he had lived here all his life.  but with natasha, he merely pointed a finger, leaning in to whisper about what he had learned in earnest.  for once he was sharing knowledge because he wanted natasha to be informed, maybe part of him even wanted to impress her, giving her a playful little nudge  &  a cheeky wink between a few small tidbits  &  facts.

❝  here, let's catch our breath here, i know it's a lot to take in, nat.  ❞

they were passing through a tiered square, sampo taking the opportunity to lean against a railing that overlooked a few floors of life down below.  heaving out a sigh, it was mostly for show, wanting it to appear that in his age, even a walk could render the con artist breathless.          ❝  this is a pretty spot for a photo op ...  you want one ?  of yourself.  unless you want me in it too ~  i won't charge you.  ❞

Into the Cold (twitter)

but if y'all can bear with me throwing stuff into queue for a bit and only running it when large portions of writing are completed, especially as august comes up which is always my busiest month, i can definitely catch up on my stuff that's about 2 months old in the next few weeks across the board. as far as i'm tracking, the oldest drafts and oldest asks that i have on both blogs are from the month of may. so if i forgot to reply to something that's older than may it's because i forgot to draft it. i'm still super spotty with ooc talk, sorry. i'm just really bad at splitting my attention and if exhaustion is plaguing me it affects my sociability

Yes, he supposed that willingly coming into the Tavern, no matter how well it worked out for covert purposes, meant that he should've expected every degree of intrusiveness and then some from its typical patrons. For once, Ren wasn't feeling halfway as annoyed by their antics as he usually was, and the Fools inside were unusually sane that evening. Of course, perhaps it was because this was only one part of the Tavern; considering how far back it went meant that there could be rabblerousing in some other segment he wouldn't be remotely aware. For all intents and purposes, in coming into the Fools' domain, he should've expected as much. It was because of Silver Wolf that they'd chosen this place to lie low in, what with her being an Emanator.

"So, if you're speaking for 'Sampo Koski', then who are you supposed to be?" What an odd tendency. Did becoming a Masked Fool sever one's connection to their identity to such a degree? Well... he was one to talk, but he never referred to himself in the third person. There was an enormous gulf between depersonalization with a past self and the adoption of a new one, not creating such an extreme gulf. Unless he was simply overthinking it, and the Elation merely scrambled this man's head to an egregious degree.

BRIEFLY KNITTING TOGETHER, his brows scrunched for a second before a confused chuckle escaped the fool's amused maw.          ❝  well, i'm sampo, duh !   ❞           &  it had been some time in this role, playing it perfectly  &  with grace that would never be understood by another attempting to settle into it once his own time had run out.  regardless of whether or not it had been a named plucked from an object talked up to bring fortune  &  grant wishes or if he had been intending to blend in while rounding out the rest of his name in a more practical manner, he was sampo koski.          ❝  wouldn't want you to forget me, eh ?  does wonders in the world of business.  you get a face like mine  &  a catchy name to go with it.  get it ?  there's the idea of sampo koski  &  i bring it to life.  ❞

metaphorically speaking, maybe.  the stellaron hunter had little reason to be privy to his identity crisis, cropping up from time to time when he wondered where his place was on the path of elation, why it would ever matter if he was able to reach his idealized pinnacle.  what would it cost to forfeit himself, was there a self ?  this sampo koski that only wished for joy  &  happiness for all while wanting to make a mark on the cosmos by assisting in making dreams come true ?  it clashed far too much with his sticky fingers  &  a silver tongue that was far more apt to convince someone to sell them their home rather help with some spring cleaning.

delicately, sampo pressed a hand to his chest, gave a slight bow at the waist.           ❝  no charade here, friend.  but i can say that you're encouraging my behavior ~   ❞          blue lashes kissed the top of his cheek as he turned to flag down a bartender.  he looked over his shoulder, a small bit of concern in the clench of his teeth.          ❝  i'd like to fulfill your request but i don't wanna have to witness a scene.  at least not personally.  i'm sure the others would get a kick out of it.  i wanted to get you maybe like ...  i dunno sampo's love bomb or something ?  but on second thought ...  i really gotta think hard to satisfy your taste buds, huh.  ❞

a poor man's thalian toxi-flame, for he was unsure if a fool behind the bar would even go that far in the first place.  the drinks slid out before them, sampo's hand magnetizing to his dainty glass, tilting to taste his own blue concoction.  he was not asking for any sort of trouble, not beyond ren's appearance, anyways.

one single index finger raised, attempting to silence the hunter before any protest.          ❝  it's on my tab.  sampo's paying.  capiche ?  so no complaints.  ❞

*. ⊹ ✧ — Receptive enough so that Caelus parts his mouth further. A completely inane action which serves nothing and nobody in particular except themselves. Well, and an excursion to the dentist beforehand. Caelus was overdue for a session and vanity is a difficult trait to abandon.

🙶 Ah~ 🙷

in goes the finger, pushing into the cavernous space as if it were meant for him to explore !  but he does not press all the way !  he has a bit of consideration for his dear friend here !