Inbox for sticksandbones

[sesa]

I will make this pretty later

(Spoilers I won't, I always say I will but I won't-)

===

INVENTORY:

-Grenade Launcher with 3 ammo stacks (refreshes monthly)

-Nondescript gaming console (it's an offbrand Nintendo Switch)

-Some glowing star rocks from an investigation with Elsword in the Deep Woods

-A little knitted dragon from Elsword that I forgot to link and am too lazy to find now

-1 Kotatsu that he keeps in his room at the lab. It's red with light beige birds on it

-His toolbox from Rhodes

-A workshop that connects to Gnosis' lab via a breezeway. He lives there with Passenger now

-3 erythrites, used to make Passenger a pair of earrings

Comments

[kingincognito]

[ Roughly two weeks after Sesa has completed Dion's commission, he gets another visitor! This time, it's someone he knows. Vaguely, anyway, but still!

He's been meaning to pay the man a visit, to check on him after everything that happened inside of the arbor. This just gives him another reason to go.

When Joshua arrives, he's standing with a long cord of beads in his hand. Once, this strand was tied to his belt, looping down over his hip and behind his scabbard. Now, he has other plans for... at least part of it.

But he will knock! Politely! Because he isn't about to be rude and enter uninvited. ]

[sesa]

[Thankfully, Sesa is doing quite a bit better now than he was then. He's not...completely okay? But it's mostly old traumas being dredged up, not new ones, so they're reburied easily enough. At least until this place decides to bring them back to the surface, of course.

In the meantime, he has much to occupy himself with. More projects than he's used to, lately, that's for certain. Nevertheless, when he hears a light knock at the garage door, he'll call out from the other side while he works on repairing the dents on a panel that came off of the side of Wolfwood's Punisher.]

Come in!

[kingincognito]

[ The call is all he needs - it's clear that Sesa is both home and wanting of visitors. With a nod to himself, he opens the door, slipping in quickly and being sure to close it tightly behind him. With the snakes about, he isn't about to inadvertently let one into someone's home. ]

Hello, Sesa. I hope you have been doing well.

[ The words come along with a smile, and he politely folds his arms behind his back. ]

I hope I'm not interrupting?

[sesa]

[YEAH, unfortunately Sesa usually would keep the workshop open to the outside, but he can't do that right now...it means it's probably a little warm in here, but given Joshua's fire aspect, maybe it won't be too much of a bother?

Regardless, Sesa pushes up his goggles as Joshua enters, and his expression shifts ever so slightly. It's briefly tense, then quickly shifts to a little embarrassed...apologetic? Ah...he certainly made a bit of a fool of himself, last they met. But he'll quickly mask it with a smile of his own as he lowers his hands to the table.]

Not at all. Just doing some repairs. What can I do for you?

[kingincognito]

[ Indeed, the warmth doesn't bother him! He is far more used to warmth than he is the cold, particularly as it was the month before last. Sesa's workshop is downright comfortable in comparison.

If Joshua notices that flicker of embarrassment, he certainly doesn't address it. He pauses at a respectful distance, shifting the string of ornaments behind his back. ]

My reason for visiting is twofold. For one, I have been wanting to check in on you, to see how you fare after... all that we went through.

[ He was linked into your mind, sir. He knows that some trauma was pulled to the surface. ]

And, secondly... [ He pulls the ornaments from behind him, holding them up for inspection. ] I have heard that you are able to make custom jewelry. I thought I might see if it would be possible for you to turn one of these ornaments into an earring...?

[ The ear cuff that Sesa made for Dion sits glimmering on Joshua's ear even now. ]

[sesa]

[It's impossible not to notice the ear cuff from here, and Sesa...he's a bleeding heart. He can't help but smile softly, pleased to see that it had gone over well. Dion had insisted this was just a symbol of his protection for Joshua, but he knew it was more than that.

Otherwise, Joshua wouldn't be here asking him for the same, would he?]

Ah...I am doing alright. Having some time to process my thoughts and be far outside of my own head has helped, as you can imagine.

[But! Enough about him!! He'll reach up a hand from where he's sitting to take the ornaments from Joshua.]

But I believe I certainly can make something out of these for you. Do you have any specific shape or design in mind?

[kingincognito]

[ It's a relief to hear, and Joshua fully understands it. Distance can help, as he knows. ]

I am glad to hear it. Should you ever need someone to talk to, I would be glad to offer an ear. Though, I would also understand if you do not wish to speak of it.

[ The offer is on the table, at least, and that's the most he can do. The ornaments are gladly handed over, and Joshua's arms return to being politely folded behind his back. ]

Not particularly. Though, it might be best to avoid anything that hangs too long...? I would not want it to impede any potential combat. The one it is intended for has armor that sticks up a bit near the neck.

[sesa]

[Sesa nods, turning the ornament over carefully in his claws. He may not be a front-lines fighter, but he can understand such a need.]

I understand. If it hangs at all, it will be a short distance. Unless you'd prefer a stud, you think? Are your ears pierced?

[He asks as he pushes some of his work aside, picking up a notebook so he can write down some notes while they're talking.

Though...he does find his thoughts wandering as he turns the pages, skimming past an old gun concept he'd drawn up a couple months ago during some of his off time. This was for...

...

Should you ever need someone to talk to...]

I...do apologize, for the way I behaved there. I know you were able to feel what I was feeling, but even so. I suppose it's just something I still haven't been able to really get past. Losing my brother.

[kingincognito]

[ Good. Sesa seems very professional about all of this. Not that he doubted it! But it's nice to see all the same. ]

Mine are not, no. A stud would be all right, I think, though I do not know Dion's preference... His current pair of earrings hang just slightly beneath his earlobes. Do you think a shorter stud would be too mismatched?

[ He really doesn't know much about this. His own outfit is... asymmetrical in most places, so he knows that it isn't too strange, but all the same. What if it would look weird? Best to get a second opinion.

Sesa's apology makes him pause, though, expression softening. ]

There is no need to apologize. I understand - for a long while, I thought my own brother lost, and the grief I felt was immeasurable. It is not something so easily gotten past. Time heals all wounds, as they say, but it is not a quick or painless process.

[ He hums softly, thoughtfully, frowning first down at the floor, then up at Sesa. ]

Would you like to talk about it...?

[sesa]

[It is hilarious that Joshua is asking SESA for fashion advice. Like oh no, honey no.

Granted, Sesa also does not have his ears pierced...though he would like them done someday. Looking in Flamebringer's direction.]

Honestly, I don't think it would look that bad. Having a bit of asymmetry in one's look is more interesting than if everything matched perfectly, in my opinion. Though he also may opt to wear just the one earring...I'm not sure.

[He's already doodling some sketch concepts as well as they talk, both a version that's just the aforementioned stud, as well as one that hangs a little bit.

Though...his pencil slows when the subject circles back to his brother.]

There is not much to be said, admittedly. You saw most of what it was. There was...an accident. A fire, at his place of employment that took his life.

[The way Sesa says that is...more bitter than resigned. There's something off about it.]

[kingincognito]

[ Look he don't know, he's grasping for straws-- ]

Hmm... The stud may be fine, then. Though, if you wanted to use more than one ornament and make an asymmetrical pair, I would not be opposed. I would, of course, pay extra for a second.

[ That way, Dion could have a choice. One, or both. Ah, though if he means to enchant them, he might need to wear both...? He will make a decision on that once he receives the final product. He can't do anything until then anyway.

Though, Sesa's answer makes him hesitate. It isn't the words so much as it is the tone. Joshua doesn't want to press the issue, so he remains silent for a brief moment, drawing in a soft breath. ]

... of course. My apologies. I do not mean to pry.

[sesa]

I'm not particularly bothered by the payment. It is as I told Dion: I get more enjoyment from seeing the finished product received than I do the shells.

[He pauses, his brows furrowing just slightly.]

Mm...no need to apologize. It isn't your fault.

[His tail curls around the leg of his chair idly as he sketches, glancing up at Joshua to eye the cuff he's already made. Perhaps he can make them similar, in some way. Matching...]

It's just frustrating, in that it was preventable.

[kingincognito]

Ah. Well. If you're sure... Then, please know that your finished product was very well received, with Dion's commission.

[ Even if Sesa doesn't accept payment from him, he will find a way to repay the debt one way or another. This is too important a task to go unpaid.

But he nods, even if Sesa doesn't immediately see it, busy sketching as he is. When he does look up, Joshua offers him a small smile. ]

I am truly sorry to hear it, all the same.

[ Especially if it was a preventable accident. How much of his own tragedy could have been prevented, he wonders? If his mother's scheming had been caught before all had gone wrong, where would his life be now?

Best not to think about it, probably. Not right now, at any rate. ]

I will not press the issue, particularly if it is detrimental to your creative process. But my offer still stands, whenever you like.

[sesa]

Thank you, Joshua. You're a good man. I certainly wouldn't mind getting to know you more sometime, perhaps under more favorable circumstances.

[Too good. Sesa still very much wishes they had not been the two linked, so that he didn't have to put the man through so much...but even so.

He'll turn his sketchbook around as he says this, to show him the asymmetrical design he's come up with so far. It evokes a similar design to Joshua's ear cuff, though slightly different and made with differing materials.]

Now. How does this look?

[kingincognito]

[ That makes Joshua smile. He would reach out to place a hand on Sesa's shoulder, but he doesn't want to disturb his sketching. ]

I would like that. Perhaps when these snakes have tired of us.

[ Because Founder knows he's been incredibly busy helping at the clinic.

But oh, that design. Joshua's eyes light up when he sees it. He can tell the similarity to the cuff on his ear, that they are meant to be a matching pair. And the design is perfect. He can only hope that Dion will think so, too. ]

I love it. It looks perfect. You have my seal of approval.

[sesa]

Alright then. I'll get to work right away.

[He closes the notebook and sets it aside for now, making sure to place it with the materials Joshua gave him so he doesn't misplace them or get them mixed up with something else.]

And if there's anything else I can do for you, don't hesitate to ask. I won't be going anywhere much for a while...considering the circumstances.