#crossfists

hell of a year, too. if anyone had told him back then he'd go on and make something of a life for himself here in this city, he would have laughed. what purpose was his life without libra? yet here he is. rather than the crushing guilt he had once felt for all the things left undone back home, he now only feels content. it could be the warm glow of the pixie lights, or the warm memories this maze conjures up... the very place where he and klaus finally got their act together, months and months ago.

and the setting of a further development in their relationship, if he's lucky.

"I wonder if there will be another flower waiting for us when we get to the end. It'd be cute to have a matching set."

@pratisodha -- @hollowfaith -- @crossfists

Wow, her team looks real strong. While part of her is excited to have found a team to be a part of, there's a small sense of pressure. She won't let them down.

"I've never been in a group battle before," She admits with a light laugh. It may have sounded funny. OKAY, she's nervous, alright? Speaking of nervous, she can't help but side-glance at the man with blond hair.

HOLY SHIT THAT'S THE ANGEL THAT'S GIVING MISTER ITADORI A HARD TIME.

There are two people here she's familiar with. The angel that gives Mister Itadori a hard time and Mister Klaus. She finds herself hesitant to turn her head to look up at---is he a robot? When hazel eyes meet the Omnic's, she cracks a friendly smile (as NON-AWKWARD as possible) and bows her head.

"U-Uhm! So I'm Hanabi! I don't have much going for me, really. I wanted to try my hands at the different tiers to kind of sharpen my skills! Uh, uh...." And this is why she never did like standing in front of people when doing her presentations at high school OR college, "I'm a shaman, errr, kinda. In a sense. It's complicated BUT I can use any sort of weapon as well as control things with my mind! AH, Like you, sir!" She gestures POLITELY at Aurelius with a big smile,

Welcome to scenic Isola Radiale, Klaus!

You will be housed in CONDO 406.

You will retain the ability to use your Pattern 74 up to five times daily and will receive a pair of leather knucklwraps.

it had been bad. but the after? waking up in the mist filled streets of the abyss, trudging his way back to the city proper, back to an apartment that still technically isn't his, no longer some unholy creature but a living, breathing person, more exhausted than he's ever been in his life. this tension that hangs in the air every time klaus is anywhere near him? this is worse, actually. because he knows what's running through klaus' head, no words needed. the big guy is tormenting himself and steven is sick of it. no more.

"Klaus," he tries to keep his voice softer than his wont, gentler. opening with something like we need to talk is only going to make things worse, he knows. but for once in his life he doesn't know what he's supposed to say, exactly.

it wasn't you? i don't blame you? like that would help. it wouldn't help him were the situations reversed.

klaus is still paying more attention to his little online chess game ( because this world doesn't have prosfair, of course ) than him. steven frowns.

"You going to keep ignoring me or what?" it's not an accusation -- klaus is hardly the inattentive one in their relationship. but it probably falls a little flat as a joke, given the situation.

) :

"Things had been so peaceful, too."

he expected something like this. well... not like this. but something. nothing ever stayed calm for long, even here in an entirely different world. right when klaus may have been starting to settle in to a little tranquility, a little domesticity. maybe it's petty, but that irritates steven more than it should -- at least he, himself, got some quiet for a while.

but he understands griping about their current situation is useless, so he lets it go. there are more important things to focus on. safety, for one. themselves and others. and that incessant tugging he feels in his chest. they've been following that feeling for what seems like ages. he wonders just how large this space station is supposed to be -- and why there seems to be no one around. it doesn't sit well with him.

"She's nearby, I think." he remembers his former companion, from a time before klaus had arrived -- he'd even named her, in an odd fit of sentimentality. it had almost made him long for a pet, after she had gone. "It's getting stronger." stronger, and more uncomfortable. as they continue down the abandoned halls filled with rubble and the corpses of those strange spider-like creatures, the air begins to chill. he realizes he can see his breath.

Missed this, whoops! Klaus will be dropped for you.

Knives' feelings of disgust are, horrifically, belated. When he awoke in a human body, nothing immediately felt out of place. If anything, waking up to completely unrecognizable surroundings incited initial feelings of alarm. He isn't shielded by his coat, either… The sudden vulnerability prompted for the Plant to examine his body, only to shudder then in disgust for being made to wear human clothes. A wordless grumble is cut short the instant it sounds unfamiliar in his throat.

There is a mirror near the front door of the living room, placed there likely to check on one's appearance before leaving, but the idea behind the placement goes over Knives' head. He's much moreso focused on this stranger he's been transformed into, appalled at the sight of himself and shocked still by it. He's scarred. He has dark hair.

He hardly even wants to move.

The front door nearby clicks open, the sound belatedly registering in his mind as Klaus. The knowledge is startling just as much as the feelings of affection and excitement associated with the name; it all serves to make Knives seethe at the other's intrusion, head whipping to glare.