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[laserhawk]

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[laserhawk]

[ dolph nods, understanding this easily.]

For us, it wasn't a lack of resources but a matter of wealth. Eden didn't let you have anything you couldn't afford.

[livlaughlove]

There were definitely folks back home who hoarded certain Plants 'n what they produced... but I don't think they could hold a candle to yer Eden.

[If that's a whole lot of shit that needs explaining, well... oops.]

[laserhawk]

Plants?

[ like... Processing plants?]

[livlaughlove]

Oh. That's a whole thing, huh...

[How to be succinct...]

Back home, capital P Plants are livin' beings that act as generators for... pretty much everything. Oxygen, water, food, energy. You name a thing, there's prob'ly a Plant for it. But they're... a finite resource, so... y'can imagine how stingy folks are with the ones they "own."

[laserhawk]

[ dolph scoffs. ]

Yeah. I know all too well.

We had water, but I never saw things like rivers or lakes. Not until I got here. Everything was metal. Gleaming city.

I mean, we didn't call it "No Man's Land" but Eden is a bit of is misnomer.

[livlaughlove]

Sounds kinda like one o' the Seven Cities. Metal everythin', at least.

[And in turn, Livio sighs. He isn't a stranger to that, either.]

Guess bad people everywhere like to trick ya 'n draw ya in with the biblical stuff.

[laserhawk]

They do seem a little obsessed.

[ dolph sits next to him, casually knocking their knees together. ]

But we're out. Wild as it is.

[livlaughlove]

[Being close to Dolph as opposed to thinking about the bad shit? Sign him up! He might even scoot his chair to the point of touching, and lay his head sideways on Dolph's shoulder.]

We sure are. Fuck 'em both.

[laserhawk]

Fuck them all.

[ his hands threads itself in livio's hair, combing through. another familiar motion he's not thinking too hard about. he had missed this. he had missed having someone to care for. ]

That was my dream. To leave Eden behind. Find a nice place to live quietly.

[livlaughlove]

[It's... almost entirely new to Livio, honestly. But he finds it comforting. Is this how cats feel getting pet?]

Oh...

Well... At least ya got part o' that. I know this place ain't exactly Heaven, [though it is terribly pleasant for what Livio imagines is Hell,] but it's sure better than elsewhere.

[laserhawk]

[ he's good at it too. firm, but he doesn't pull hard. with a hint of nail against the scalp. practiced and nostalgic. dolph hums. ]

Yeah. There's a beach here too. I checked it out a while back.

[ vash told him about it. and dolph went there, let the waves lap at his feet. listened to the silence of it all. and mourned alex all over again. ]

Ever been to a beach?

[livlaughlove]

[If he keeps it up he may get an inadvertent low hum out of Livio.]

Can't say I have. That the sort of place you like?

[laserhawk]

[ his fingers pause for a moment before resuming the long strokes. ]

Yeah. The idea of it seemed nice. Drinks, people who just wanted to relax. Warm and sunny.

[ he hesitates again. ]

It was Alex's idea.

[livlaughlove]

It does sound nice...

[After a moment, Livio blinks up at Dolph. He can only imagine what goes through Dolph's mind.]

I think it'd be okay if you still liked the idea, too. If you think o' somethin' else, that's alright, too.

[laserhawk]

[ he snorts lightly. ]

I wish I could. It's not like he even believed in it. No happy endings for us.

[ and it stings that in a way, alex was right about them. neither of them ended happily. that was the price alex was willing to pay, but dolph had not. maybe that makes him naive. ]

Guess I'm struggling to come up with new ones.

[livlaughlove]

[Maybe not for them, but Livio doesn't want Dolph to give up on himself.]

Well... After bein' here, I can't say I recommend the desert. Least not without water 'n shade. I'm not sure what else there is... Forest? Mountains? [Yeah, he's at a loss otherwise. But he shifts to put his arm around Dolph once more, hold him close.]

[laserhawk]

[ he sighs, leaning into his touch. ]

Yeah. Maybe it'll come to me. Time, right?

[ at least that's what everyone keeps saying. ]

[livlaughlove]

Maybe...

[Forget all that, though. At least while it's less than positive. Instead, Livio finally lifts his head so he can kiss at Dolph's jaw.]

[laserhawk]

[ oh, that feels lovely. his eye flutters as he lets out a soft groan. ]

Maybe if I find something . . . you'll come with me?

[livlaughlove]

[That gives him pause. Livio doesn't know how to answer at first, admittedly. There's a short silence as he frowns.

Assuming he does what Vaeros wants of him, his wish will come true, which... fulfills a promise he made. And really, everyone would be better off without him being around to put them in danger. But does he even have that choice?]

... If it's here, absolutely.

If not...

I don't know if I can. I -- I think I died.

[laserhawk]

[ ah. well then. ]

So did I.

[livlaughlove]

[Guess they're stuck on this capricious island forever.

Livio sighs, lays his head against Dolph again. What does he even say to all this.]

... Sorry.

[laserhawk]

It's fine. It's the end I chose, at least.

[ well. sort of. dolph was dying anyway. he remembers sarah's voice dimly at the time. you got what you wanted. his death wish, fulfilled. and now he's here. what does that mean for him?

he runs his fingers down livio's back quietly. ]

[livlaughlove]

[Livio might not be able to relate to that quite so much -- he had at least wanted to see things through before just letting himself die. To help make sure Vash succeeded, that Legato and Knives couldn't hurt people anymore. But once the threads were tightened, nothing on the planet could have saved him short of divine intervention, and after all he's been through under the weight of a cross, Livio doesn't think he actually believes in God.

The fact that Dolph had that choice is... oddly comforting, in a fucked up way. And it won't help him for Livio to dwell on a past he can't change.]

We're here now. And as long as I am, I support your dream, wherever it'll take you.

[laserhawk]

[ that sounds nice. almost too good to be true if dolph hadn't grasped the measure of livio. all those broken pieces that they share. ]

What about your dream?

Will you let yourself have one of your own?