illequipped: (133)
emil västerström ([personal profile] illequipped) wrote2019-04-28 08:30 pm

i make another inbox post


now it's for a gentle night
ilves: (169)

[personal profile] ilves 2019-04-01 01:21 am (UTC)(link)
[Is this Mental Link Experience similar to the first? In a way, but it's also more. Last time, their minds just brushed against one another; this time, it's more like their minds will be... temporarily overlapping. Last time, most of Lalli's walls were up; this time, many of Lalli's walls have to come down. To sum it all up: even though Lalli is generally confident in his own abilities, the idea of someone coming so close is rather nerve-racking, but he knows that it's necessary. Absolutely necessary, and so—a simple nod, then, before Lalli takes hold of that hand. For Emil's benefit! Obviously, although maybe tightly lacing their fingers together helps him, too. A bit.

Or maybe more than a bit, because the warmth of Emil's skin serves as a sort of anchor; it's something to kind-of-sort-of remind him where he is while he, you know, reaches out for Emil's now-familiar mind—easy!—and traces the connection back to his own. There's a metaphorical door there, something that he needs to nudge open in order to let even more things cross this link of theirs, but—hey, it's a difficult thing to figure out on the fly? He's not sure how much pressure to place on this weak point, which is why that nudge is more like a surprisingly strong push that sends that door flying wiiiiiiiiide open.

It's not... bad. It's not even overwhelming, honestly; it's just that all of Lalli's surface-level thoughts are suddenly Emil's surface-level thoughts, too. He's hungry! He would very much like a nap before dinner. He can still feel Emil's hand in his, and he should... oh, wait, this connection can't drain too much magic; everything might take a while. Is Emil paying attention? Emil needs to be paying attention. ...Aha. So he is paying attention, but—mmnh, that weird hair. Why would he wear it up like that? It's so much better when it's down... only sleeves are better when they're up...

Just... brief, stupid, unimportant things that continuously loop back around, but Lalli doesn't seem to register them; he barely registers whatever Emil's emotional response to everything is, because his main focus is clearly... well, methodically creating a mental shield. Drawing magic up and into his mind; directing it all to a single point; stemming the tide; thinking about how he wants to keep everything and everyone out; shaping it into a sort of bubble that he pushes outward to surround his... conscious self, which is something that he just feels. It's no wonder he couldn't find the proper words? This is, without a doubt, a complicated Thing that is best experienced firsthand.

But once that (purposely weak) shield is up—goodbye, surface-level thoughts. Goodbye, emotion-sharing. Goodbye, telepathy. They're separated once more, and it is... strange.
]

Puh.

[A quiet huff, because Lalli is Just Like That, before he reaches up to scrub his face with his free hand. He feels oddly exposed for no real reason at all, but, like, he doesn't even think about pulling his other hand away. He's going to have to do this Thing again and again... he can sense it... Emil's hand, give him strength...]

Like that, but... with more magic. For you.
ilves: (155)

[personal profile] ilves 2019-04-01 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
[Emil, don't... knock against his shield like that? It's somewhat uncomfortable, but above all else, it's rude; the only reason Lalli doesn't, like, immediately fire something back Emil's way is because 1) it's probably a good thing for Emil to feel how a shield should feel and 2) it's not like Emil's attempt to break in is actually effective. Lalli's shield is far, far weaker than it should be, but it's still there, blocking his everything from seeping into Emil's mind.

But he does, of course, shoot Emil a Look right as Emil closes his eyes. This incredibly impatient boy! It's a wonder that Lalli puts up with him, really, especially because just watching Emil's face—while trying very, very hard not to think about his hair—is enough to tell Lalli that Emil isn't... doing this in the proper manner? He's not screwing his face up as he desperately tries to get this thing down; he looks more or less, mmm, normal, which is a sign that he's either grasped this tricky concept far faster than he has any right to, or that he's doing something entirely different and/or entirely wrong.

...Hmph. It's not a thing that Lalli appreciates, which is why it should be no surprise that he stares back at Emil for a moment before (mentally) coming for him far harder than he needs to. He wants... to pop whatever Emil has constructed as quickly as possible, you know? Just to prove a point, but—well. Charging in like that means that he's wholly unprepared for that psychic punch; it lands squarely on his metaphorical face, and that, plus Lalli's sense of shock, breaks Lalli's already weak shield into a million imaginary pieces.
]

Hn

[...Ow? Ow, ow, ow. Lalli immediately pulls away, hand instinctively going to his face even though it was, um, entirely in his head. But the most important thing here... is that all of Lalli's emotions, Lalli's thoughts, once again slam into Emil's stupid brain. Surprise! A dull pain? Mild annoyance that is quickly turning into something... more intense, but it's somewhat tempered by the barely there feeling of approval. Emil got him? Emil got him...

But hey! Still! Fuck you, buddy!
]
ilves: (158)

[personal profile] ilves 2019-04-01 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[He did have to do it like that! It's what Emil deserved!! Or: Lalli stubbornly—childishly—refuses to consider that he did something wrong, because his shield wasn't the only intangible thing that took a hit there. Being caught off guard by a cheap trick...

Well, Emil should be ashamed of himself, in Lalli's opinion, and yet he still feels feels a twinge of... embarrassment? When he finally lowers his hand just enough to sharply look over Emil's way? Which is a strange thing indeed, considering that he's the one who's going to have a mild headache for the rest of the day, but—mmph. Expression: annoyed. Mood: (mostly) annoyed. Thoughts: currently oscillating between vague, "But I want Emil to think that I'm the Best"-type things and "This stupid, stupid Swede!"
]

Mrr...

[He's fine, of course, but he still takes his sweet time pulling that hand away from the bottom half of his face. Just to show that he didn't appreciate that, you see! Just to prove a point that isn't really a point at all, because as long as they're like this, his quietest thoughts are going to keep on betraying him.]

That won't work! [Another flash of embarrassment, because, well—] Not... all of the time. You didn't even try.

[To... make a shield, you stupid, dumb boy! With your... stupid, dumb hair, which Lalli's eyes briefly flick over to when looking at Emil's face is Too Much. He's rarely self-conscious; the result of this tiiiiiny slip-up is really throwing him for a loop, so why not direct that bit of frustration to a thing that CLEARLY deserves it!!!]
ilves: (132)

[personal profile] ilves 2019-04-02 12:28 am (UTC)(link)
[Listen, it's hard to process both strong (and somewhat surprising?) emotions and every tiny, insignificant thought that just so happens to float to the surface. Something's gotta give, which means that Lalli obviously decides to go with... being a petty child. It's practically second nature for him!

So does he lean away when Emil leans in? Yes. Does he put more space between them when Emil finally settles back? No, but he considers it, because this lesson isn't—wasn't?—about improvisation; this lesson is—was?—all about Emil learning to create a simple mental shield, all so that he can, you know, protect himself when Lalli isn't around... when a better-prepared mental shield won't just shatter after one hit...

...But explaining that is, like, nigh impossible at this point in time, especially after Emil brings up his ridiculous hair. No, Lalli isn't about to look back over at it, but there's a clear do-not-like vibe that flickers across this mental link of theirs. Like Lalli just took a bite of something and did not enjoy it.
]

It was stupid? It won't work all of the time, [he sullenly repeats, really trying to drive that point him, before he pauses for all of a second.] ...And I don't care about your weird hair.

[Obviously he does, since he felt the need to say that, but! Hmph!]
ilves: (63)

[personal profile] ilves 2019-04-02 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
[It was stupid because it caught him totally off guard! Just like the ponytail holder pinging off his shoulder catches him off guard, actually, because of course he's spent the last minute or so pointedly not letting his eyes wander over in Emil's direction. He starts in surprise, automatically looking down at the makeshift missile before reaching right out to snatch it up. Rude! So rude! He's going to throw it right back at—

—the boy who is apparently leaving? Ah. Well, annoyed he may be, but that doesn't mean that Lalli is glad to see Emil (and his messy hair) walk out of the room. What is he supposed to do now... like, a contrary part of him says that he should take a break of his own, maybe go find something to gnaw on while Emil does whatever he's doing, but—fine. Fine. He will indeed just stay slumped against the wall like this, absentmindedly stretching this elastic thing between his fingers as his injured pride slowly recovers.

And you know, maybe all of this boring waiting is worth it when Emil reappears? Not that Lalli is going to say that, of course; the plan is to just glance over Emil's way before returning to this hairband-stretching exercise, but a glance turns into a lingering sort of look when he takes in the new state of Emil's hair. ...Much better! Much, much better, Emil, so catch that absurdly soft approval that Lalli is unknowingly throwing out into the mental world. That, plus... a vague sense of disappointment? Not because the hair is exactly like it should be; that's obviously a good thing, but he didn't get to exercise his Best Friend Privilege and... help fix it...

...Hmm. Well. Now he shifts his attention back down to Emil's dumb ponytail holder, trying to think solely about this tangible thing.
]

I was okay. Before.

[There's still some pettiness to be found there, but there isn't nearly as much as there was, like, a few short minutes ago. Hair magic.]
Edited 2019-04-02 06:57 (UTC)
ilves: (61)

me? late? what?

[personal profile] ilves 2019-04-06 04:54 am (UTC)(link)
[Lalli will admit that he's petty when he matures, so, uh. Hopefully Emil minds waiting just as much as Lalli minds Emil, like, dropping right down beside him, which is to say—not much. Not much at all, really, even when Emil goes for the classic side-hug. Is this a whole lot of unexpected contact? Yes. Does Lalli automatically tense up and unknowingly send forth a brief buzz of confusion? Yes. Does he try to pull away? No. It's... Emil; what would earn anyone else a shove only earns him a puzzled sort of look, because ah, this must mean that things are... fine again. Maybe. Hopefully.

...Hmm. That hairband is still stretched between two of his fingers, but he swiftly rolls it over his hand and up onto his wrist without even giving it so much as a glance. Don't notice it! Don't ask for it back! It was lost the second he rudely shot it Lalli's way!
]

Good.

[It STUNG in more ways than one, but—okay, okay. Some effort is clearly being put forth here, and the hair is back to normal, so almost all is right with the world; therefore, Lalli knows that he, too, should... do something. Try? Actually try to do a good best friend thing? Goodness.]

...It wasn't bad. It... worked, [he reluctantly says, shifting slightly before he makes sure to add:] But a shield is always better.

[Look, he met Emil... halfway here; now he's allowed to drop his hands into his lap and watch him in what is clearly an expectant manner, because any day now, best friend. Impress him with a solid mental shield any day now.]
ilves: (14)

[personal profile] ilves 2019-04-07 11:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ten minutes spent studying Emil isn't the worst thing in the world; it's not something Lalli is going to complain about, partly because he can feel that Emil is actually putting some effort forth here... and partly because staring is just, you know. His brand. He thinks nothing of allowing his eyes to idly wander over that familiar face as he tunes in to Emil's thought process. A wall? Good. A door slamming shut?

Well, almost. Not quite, but all that matters is that Emil's thoughts are now... muffled; like, there's clearly something there this time, and that's progress! Yeah! But that doesn't stop Lalli from pulling a slight face as he mentally prods that barrier.
]

...Hrmh.

[It's not an ideal shield, that noise suggests, but he reaches up to gingerly pat the arm that's still around him. Weird? Kind of? Not entirely, anyway, which is why he decides against pushing it away at this point in time. If it somehow helps Emil focus on the task at hand...]

Like that, but... better. [Because it's easily poppable in this current state, a thing Lalli demonstrates by... gently popping it like a soap bubble. Ah, hello, Emil's much louder thoughts...] See?
ilves: (35)

[personal profile] ilves 2019-04-08 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
[This whiny boy... like, Lalli only knows the bare minimum about Jewels and How They Operate, but still! This whiny boy. It's not like he casts every spell perfectly the first time, especially not in this place...

...But that isn't something he thinks to share, of course, so he settles for just... turning his head to watch Emil do what he's best at.
]

Only if your shield is bad. Like that one was, [he says in a very matter-of-fact way, because boosting someone up? What?] If your shield is strong, it takes more time to break. More magic. Then other people will think they've won, and you can do... the other thing.

[Sock them—note: not him, because he would never do this—RIGHT in the mental nose when they bust down that door. Maybe it wasn't the worst tactic, Emil... maybe it wasn't, which is why Lalli looks to the side and reluctantly admits:]

...You broke my shield.

[Which was weak as fuck, but it's still the truth! Never say Lalli doesn't try to support his friend...]
ilves: (161)

[personal profile] ilves 2019-04-08 01:58 am (UTC)(link)
[He didn't win anything, thank you! It was a fluke, but while Lalli could explain why it's better to start with a shield than a punch... mmph. Emil left once; does Lalli want Emil to leave again? For the rest of the day, perhaps? Not that Emil typically pulls moves like that, but Lalli does, so...

So it doesn't seem out of the question, which is why Lalli only gives him a mild Look as he makes himself comfortable. That was, like, one serious attempt...
]

...Five. You're not tired.

[Buddy, he knows it wasn't that bad? He is JUST saying, even as he continues making no attempt to pull free from the surprisingly heavy arm that's still on his shoulders. What is he supposed to do for five whole minutes, huh? Continue watching Emil's annoying face?

Well, he could. Really. In fact, it's what he does until he remembers the hairband sitting snugly on his wrist. It's his now; he doesn't seriously want to give it up, for some stupid reason, and yet—hmm. Hmm. He's bored, he's oddly restless, and payback is... a bitch.

Except not really, because the hairband Lalli sends flying toward Emil's forehead hits him just as softly as it hit Lalli's shoulder earlier.
]
ilves: (23)

[personal profile] ilves 2019-04-08 02:20 am (UTC)(link)
[Why didn't that work? That totally should have worked, but... alas. It's not like Lalli has any other great ideas up his sleeve, aside from, like, giving Emil a good shake, or slipping out from under this arm and wandering about the room.

...He's restless, but he's not that restless. Not yet, anyway. Still, he continues watching Emil for another few seconds before he expresses his frustration the best way he knows how:
]

Psh.

[There! Take that as he crosses his arms and also settles back against the wall, because what else is he supposed to do! Dumb boy... Lalli will just be Here, trying to count down the remaining seconds because he's seriously that petty.]
ilves: (109)

[personal profile] ilves 2019-04-08 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
[Sitting and staring at the opposite wall... is not Lalli's idea of a good time, which is why he slowly slides lower and lower, chin sinking into his chest as he acts like a petulant child who's been told to just sit there and wait patiently. He doesn't want to? He wants to... continue the lesson, or listen to Emil talk, or something. This is torturous...

But Emil seems comfortable? Weirdly so. Lalli shifts around a bit when he believes the correct amount of seconds have passed, trying to see if Emil really has fallen asleep before he gently nudges Emil's side. Hello? You're awake, right? Maybe Lalli is terrible at math, and maybe he let a few more seconds pass by than he really should have, but don't leave him alone like this???
]
ilves: (110)

[personal profile] ilves 2019-04-08 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
[Too bad Emil couldn't ignore Lalli for another minute! Too bad! But this is fine... in that it's, you know, not fine at all, because of all the ways Lalli expected Emil to react? This is definitely a surprise, which is the only reason he doesn't even try to fight back when he's yanked so close. Goodbye, admittedly tiny space between them; hello, sudden jolt of confusion. Um?

...Um????

Well, give him a second here! He has to kind of twist a bit to blink up at Emil with wide eyes, but that's hard enough as it is; pulling away is clearly going to take some effort, so until he can, like, free an arm and push Emil away, he... is stuck. Right against Emil's side. Which is warm. Soft? ...Hmm.
]

Ah— [The question! Yes! Why was it such a big deal, aside from his own weird restlessness.] You... would have fallen asleep?

[Not entirely true, but good enough when his brain is currently rebooting.]
ilves: (239)

[personal profile] ilves 2019-04-08 04:04 am (UTC)(link)
[It's a hard expression to parse, given that Lalli is feeling so many things at one time? He's just a jumble of... something. Many somethings, really, but it's not a terribly uncomfortable existence until Emil up and looks away from him.

...Ah. Well. Now a clear sense of discomfort creeps across that mental link, because maybe he... should have pulled away well before this. Maybe that's what was expected, even though Emil's grip on him is as tight as ever.
]

...Nnnno. [Obviously NOT, but—mmph. He gingerly shifts his weight to the side, trying to judge how much space he can put back between them at this point in time. Answer: not much.] You can sleep. If you want to.

[He just thought that Emil wanted to give it a few more tries, at least, but he'll... leave? That seems like an okay idea.]

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[personal profile] ilves - 2019-04-08 20:42 (UTC) - Expand