the big breath; action

[mongoosegrin]

[ stalking and shadowing is busywork, and it keeps Alex busy. Splendor is a big place, and it keeps being big and not completely explored

Comments

[immamartillo]

[Firo had been loitering by the water when Alex made his rather dramatic entrance. Firo makes his way over, hand raised in greeting.]

Hey, pal, you alright?

[mongoosegrin]

[the rushed movement bristles him, freezes him in place, and shoots a harsh, almost accusatory stare in Firo's direction. he's like a cornered cat - even his lip is twitching for want to curl into a snarl.

spat:] 'Pal'. [a panted laugh with no smile.] What?

[immamartillo]

[Firo lowers his hand and takes another look at Alexander. He seems to be more worked up than Firo initially thought. Still, he shrug and smiles.]

You don't look so good. I was wonerin' if you were okay.

[mongoosegrin]

[he stares and stares...his forehead creases faintly with the effort being made internally to comprehend the things happening, direct and indirect.

there's a very slight tilt of his head to go with it.]

[immamartillo]

[Firo raises an eyebrow and stares back. He really can't tell what's going on with this guy; if he's being ignored, or if the other is thinking.]

...Hello? Anybody home?

[mongoosegrin]

[the staring prolongs some more, but then--]

Ah-! Ah, ahaha! Haha! [LAUGHTER. loud bwa-hahas and boyish giggles all together, shaking him out of his bristled posture, throwing his head back up and laughing upward.]

[immamartillo]

[Firo unabashedly gapes at him, open-mouthed. Whatever sort of reaction he expected- even he wasn't sure what he thought would happen- it was most definitely not maniacal laughter.]

What- It wasn't that funny...

[mongoosegrin]

[the laughing fit goes on, ignoring spectators. it drains his body - seems to melt his bones and send him to sit hard in the sand. he sags forward, laughing into his knees, breath sucked in wetly, completely unabashed.]

[immamartillo]

[Stuck watching in confused amazement, Firo kneels down by Alexander. He reaches out with one hand as if to tap his shoulder, but then draws it back.]

Really, what're you doin'?

[mongoosegrin]

[working out some serious issues, seems like. of course, any anguish is smothered into his knees or never on the surface. it all tapers into muffled giggles until he's spent, limp and unresponsive.

boy, Firo. how fun is this one-sided conversation?]

[immamartillo]

[For a moment, as Alexander calms down, Firo wonders if maybe he died or passed out. Is this what eventually happens to junkies? But even if this guy is dead, that's not enough to earn him a reprieve from Firo's bugging.]

Hey.

[Then he prods him on the shoulder to try and get a response.]

Hey, pal!

[mongoosegrin]

[there is no such response right away, but Alex does slowly stir, his eye and mouth getting that weird look of skin being stretched as he turns against his knee and stares dimly at the source of the prod.

a beat.]

...Who are you?

[immamartillo]

[When the other guy finally speaks, Firo smiles.]

I'm Firo Prochainezo. Who're you?

[mongoosegrin]

[he blinks very slow at that.

articulated:] Fiiiro.

[beat.

a smirk with very little effort behind it.] The rest is strange.

[immamartillo]

[He can't count how many times he's heard that comment, and he laughs]

Pro-chain-ay-zo. Ain't that hard. I've run inta' people with plenty worse names. What's yours?

[mongoosegrin]

Pro-chain-ayyyzo. [musing sound.

welp. he's over the novelty.]

Not strange, is what.