i think i'm okay

// welcome to paradise //

Who would have thought that building a town meant a whole fucking lot of work? Like sure, on paper it seems like a lot and you wrap your mind around it and it makes sense that it’ll take days and nights, a lot of hard work and elbow grease. What isn’t often accounted for is the scale if it when you’re standing in front of the bare bones that had already taken a shit ton of work. And now, you’re faced with even more additions to be made, the little fences and garden areas, a lot of thumbs hit with hammers, a lot of muscles hurting that you didn’t even know existed.

That’s precisely where Sunjata stands. And for a demigod? It’s kind of saying a lot.

But, as always, the Flood wears his exhaustion well – tattooed shoulders a touch heavier as he dismisses the few people that had come out to help him today, suggesting that they head back toward camp a ways away or to the House of Midnight if they felt like taking the horses back. Because while the town was up, it still needed a lot of work. And finding exhaustion there but not detrimental, the Flood simply continues the work in spite of it. Like adding the embellishment to the insides of the houses so that they seemed less like a shell. It takes him a little while to get down the path before he takes a break, stopping as the sky shifts to sunset overhead, watching the hues of violet, pinks, and oranges fill the sky.

At least the brunt of the heat is over, though it hasn’t stopped Sunjata from utilizing his rain magic in the middle of the golden streaked street, healing sore bones and soaking him to the skin through his clothes. It’s comfortable, at least, and it prolongs his aches and pains from occurring for at least a few days. And, here in the middle of nowhere with no one around to tattle on him, the Flood finds himself stepping away to the side of the house to grab the bag of holding he’d brought with him, rummaging within it to find the pack of cigarettes he’d gotten the last time he was in Torchline. Sticking one between his lips, still soaked, he procures the matches as well, lighting it and taking a very much needed drag as he leans against the fence post for this particular house.

the flood

// where me and you can always hide //

Hear those bells ring deep in the soul
Chiming away for a moment

Today on Koa's Bad Ideas Tour: confronting a demigod who you suspect to be secretly in the pocket of an intergalactic superpower, on his own home turf.

What could go wrong, right?

In the weeks since the breakup, Koa has thrown himself into self-destruction and work. It's not dissimilar to how he reacted to his mother's death, really, except that now he's older and has better access to making dumber calls. Case in point: his adventure today, ostensibly to offer some amount of aid to the building of King's End's new town. Ever since their last encounter Koa's been uneasy about Sunjata; the Flood's easy defense and dismissal of Dahlia rattled something inside him, creating a sense of unease he simply can't displace. So when the opportunity had presented itself to have his suspicions confirmed, well, Koa'd been the first in line for the skyship down.

Walking now through the empty streets, the Dragoon's ill ease grows. New Haven is a promising place, but it's a ghost town still, and infinite potential cannot replace the charm of a place lived in. The various craftspeople and artisans are quick to point the young man toward the Flood, and while so far the ring on his finger has remained cool, Koa remains on edge.

Stopping by a half-constructed school, the young man peers into a dark hall, wondering what they'll teach. He doesn't catch sight of Sunjata behind him, though the Flood will certainly be able to see him. There's at least forty feet still between them, which means there's still room for dark uncertainty: is he? Is he not?

Koa Carpenter

Feel your breath course frankly below
And see life as a worthy opponent

// welcome to paradise //

He really doesn’t expect the familiar company that comes in the form of the handsome Dragoon. But he can’t say he’s upset by it — even if he looked to be particularly sneaky. Such a thing that Sunjata watches him for a few moments to take a couple more drags off the cigarette before he leaves it to hang from the side of his scarred mouth as he pushes off the fence post.

Of course, the Flood is unaware of any particular rings that would alert the well kept secret, and so with nothing in mind, Sunjata approaches the Dragoon with ease and a smoky smile. “Koa!” He calls out along with the wave offered, 33ft away and approaching.

30ft hits and the Flood intends on closing the distance to greet him more fully. “Looking for something? Not shoes this time, hopefully.” He says with an accented laugh, reaching up with his lightning scarred hand to snag the smoke from his lips as his eyes do drop to double check that the Stormbreaker is wearing his shoes this time.

the flood

// where me and you can always hide //

Hear those bells ring deep in the soul
Chiming away for a moment

Koa's not trying to be sneaky, he's just, y'know. A little on edge. Especially when Jata's voice rings out behind him, as warm and pleasant as anything you could ask for, as if he wasn't hiding a very violet secret just behind that smile. Trying not to look like he's nearly jumped out of his skin, Koa whirls around on his heel, his copper eyes wide in a moment of alarm before he schools a calm mask onto his face. He doesn't answer the greeting, because his mouth has gone dry, and Sunjata is getting closer, and he can feel his pulse against the cool ring on his finger, and now he realizes he doesn't know exactly when he'll know the truth, and---

--And then, heat.

It's subtle, at first, but it's there, warming steadily with the Flood's every step. Thunder roars in his ears, and he doesn't hear the playful question, can't return the easy smile. All he can do is watch in stunned silence as the tall demigod strides toward him, and while it probably isn't the best plan he finds himself blurting out---

"Sunjata. You're infected."

Which begs the question: did he know?

Koa Carpenter

Feel your breath course frankly below
And see life as a worthy opponent

// welcome to paradise //

Well, this certainly isn’t on his bingo card. And it’s with the horror that crosses Koa’s face that Sunjata’s smile falters slightly, twisting to something masked. His jaw tightens in the smile and he puffs out a soft sigh, looking around to ensure that it’s just them before the steel of his gaze lands on Koa, confused.

As far as he’s aware, everyone he’s told hasn’t told anyone else. So maybe it was Frey or maybe it was someone else, but whatever it is, Sunjata lifts the cigarette to his lips to take a puff before he exhales it slowly, as if taking the information and mulling it over, because it’s not at all what he’s expecting.

“Uh, okay..” He hasn’t thought about just how to explain it to someone like Koa — and now he’s forced to think on his feet, and gods we know how well the Flood does such things (read: not well typically) so he runs off impulse. “I feel fine..? How can you tell?” He asks, gesturing with his hand with the cigarette between his fingers, a trail of smoke following the orange cherry. His scarred brow lifts, feigning innocence of not knowing despite having known for seasons now.

the flood

// where me and you can always hide //

Hear those bells ring deep in the soul
Chiming away for a moment

Koa's first thought is that Sunjata seems surprisingly blasé about the whole thing - but then, so did Ever, in a sense. Hands balled into fists at his side, the younger man watches as the Flood takes a drag, acrid smoke coiling around a scarred, handsome face like some sort of inverse halo. It feels like his heart may explode from his chest; his body is tense, ready to flee, or fight, or maybe break.

But then Sunjata finally responds, and thank fuck he isn't immediately attacking, because Koa, too, had no plan. Exhaling sharply at the question, Koa begins with "I-"

But then he stops, shaking his head, aware of the warm band around his finger. What if Sunjata tells the Family? Tries to take the ring? It's too bright, too beautiful, too precious to put in danger. No- better to keep the how a secret. "I just do," he answers instead, a muscle twitching in his jaw. And sure, call him a little paranoid, but last time he confronted a Family member,  Queen was kidnapped and he spent the next two months lost in a swamp.

"You really didn't know?" He's not sure if that makes it better. At least it tells him that Sunjata didn't choose this willingly. That there's still a chance for the man to be saved, if only Koa can convince him to come back to sanity's side.

Koa Carpenter

Feel your breath course frankly below
And see life as a worthy opponent

// welcome to paradise //

The sharp exhale has Sunjata focusing a touch more — not giving it away, of course, but realizing that the young Dragoon may have been expecting something else, and he has to think back and wonder what kind of impression the Flood has given to where Koa might immediately jump to the worst.

Then again, maybe it isn’t even him at all and it’s his experience with the Family that Sunjata already knows Koa had endured.

Either way.

His brows inch together, a small line forming in his forehead with the force of it as he lets it sink in and exhales a soft sigh, as if confused how it had even happened in the first place. The cigarette is dropped, stamped out by his boot as he rakes a hand through the curls in his hair. “No. Nothing like that. Frey asked if I was feeling strange and I said no. They just told me to come and see them if I started feeling bad, but I feel fine. And they weren’t worried, so..” He admits with a crinkle of his nose, looking away from Koa as if trying to piece together something in his mind, like he’s imagining if it were an infection Frey may have elaborated or reacted more strongly. (In reality, it’s truth mixed with lies, but so far he’s playing it quite well).

the flood

// where me and you can always hide //

Hear those bells ring deep in the soul
Chiming away for a moment

Okay. Okay. This is all tracking in Koa's mind at least. He nods along slowly as Sunjata speaks, feeling more of the tension ease from his shoulders, replaced by a burgeoning hope. Frey'd been similarly unperturbed about Everest, and maybe when the demigod had seen his patron it had been early in the infectious period. And despite his track record of allying in all the wrong directions (see: the Ascended), Koa still has faith in the Flood not being a willing pawn of world-destroying aliens.

So maybe there's a chance.

"Okay." Fidgeting briefly with the warm band on his finger (and then stopping abruptly as he realizes what he's doing and that it might give his secret away, which is not suspicious at all), Koa takes a cautious step toward the Flood. "That's okay. Look- I heard Halo has a hot spring that can cure infection. What if we go there, just to see?" It's a more ginger approach than blunt hammer Koa might have usually taken, but can you blame the boy? He's still a little worried about Sunjata abruptly growing tentacles and snapping his head clean off his neck.

Koa Carpenter

Feel your breath course frankly below
And see life as a worthy opponent

// welcome to paradise //

If there’s relief that Sunjata feels as Koa takes the lie, it doesn’t show. And he’s eternally grateful for him not putting the pieces together of any prior convictions the Flood has made in the past. (Not that he chose to be Infected, of course, he was simply trying to test the Refuge and actually be helpful).

Steel eyes focus on the Dragoon as his scarred brow lifts. The other man’s moves are cautious, like closing in on a wild animal, and Sunjata can’t quite fathom what he thinks he can accomplish by it. Call it arrogance, call it pride, but Sunjata wasn’t really in the mood for getting ferried away right now.

That and he knows of the hot springs. Yet discomfort grows in his gut in regards to the idea of visiting. He notices the fidgeting and if he were less of an anxious person himself he might figure out that it’s the source, but alas, he’s oblivious to it — figuring it’s some kind of tic the Stormbreaker had.

“I’m kind of in the middle of something.” He says a touch hesitantly, his lightning scarred hand lifting to gesture to the town around them. “And seeing as I feel fine I think it could prolly wait until I’m finished here, don’t you think?” His accented voice drags out the words as he crosses his arms across his chest, waiting to see what hand the Dragoon chooses to play.

the flood

// where me and you can always hide //

Hear those bells ring deep in the soul
Chiming away for a moment

"Oh, yeah. Of course." Koa's trying to keep things easy breezy, and honestly? It's kind of working. He lets a lopsided smile fall into place as he shrugs away Sunjata's hesitation, raising his hand as if in apology for what's clearly been misunderstood. Underneath the cool demeanor of course, his brain has become a hornet's nest. But better not to show as much when dealing with a void-crusted demigod, eh?

"I'll wait." Still trying his best to appear at ease, the Dragoon glances around. "Anything I can help with?" This, too, reads more as Normal Helpful Koa and less Keeping An Eye On You - or so he hopes, at least. He has no intention of letting the Flood escape until he's either gotten him carted off to Halo, or verified that there's no way he can accomplish said task and bigger guns will be needed.

Koa Carpenter

Feel your breath course frankly below
And see life as a worthy opponent

// welcome to paradise //

Gods, he’s backed himself into a corner. And while he knows he can get away with winning any fight that could crop up between them, the Flood doesn’t want to fight him. Koa’s a friend, but Frey help him if the Dragoon tries to force him into doing something.

So it’s with an almost too sweet smile, Sunjata decides on maybe tiring out the Stormbreaker enough that he can slip away before anything else happens might be the plan. “You know anything about interior design or courtyards?” He asks, a touch playfully.

Maybe if he’s normal as can be, Koa might not find it strange. Might let him get away with it.

the flood

// where me and you can always hide //

Hear those bells ring deep in the soul
Chiming away for a moment

Oh, good, we're going to get into an age old battle of who can out stubborn the other. Based on stats and experience alone, Sunjata will certainly win, but that doesn't mean Koa isn't willing to give it an ol' college try.

"Actually, yeah." Shoving his hands into his pockets as though Sunjata might otherwise feel the heat of the ring, Koa takes another genial step toward the Flood. "My dad's side of the family are all craftsmen - hence the last name." Carpenter, it turns out, wasn't a coincidence. Shrugging as though he isn't internally vibrating from stress, the young Dragoon casts his copper gaze around the in-progress homes. "Not that I'm much good at it, but I have approximate knowledge, at least."

Maybe, in an attempt to hide his anxiety, he's leaning too hard into the blasé nonchalance. But the hair on Koa's neck hasn't settled down since he arrived in King's End, and the only thing holding him together right now is his ability to ignore the blaring alarms currently blasting behind his eyes.

Koa Carpenter

Feel your breath course frankly below
And see life as a worthy opponent

// welcome to paradise //

Surprise is writ across Sunjata’s face to hear that Koa does know a thing or two about courtyards and interior design – and given the explanation, a soft rumble of a laugh escapes him to concede the point. “Okay, yeah, fair enough.” He says, waving the Dragoon off briefly before he’s stepping away to guide Koa over to what he’s been working on – taking the time to formulate what the fuck he’s gonna do and to also suck down the cigarette until it’s gone.

And fuck, it’s an awkward affair. And it goes on for so long, Sunjata thinks he might have lost this little battle of wits to try and keep Koa from dragging him to Halo. At least they’ve made some good progress on the insides of the shell buildings (only a few have been taken and decorated without his help), and the main courtyard through the town seems to be thriving with plants.

In fact, they’re standing in the middle of it as Sunjata uses his water magic to water them, make sure they’re all settled in before he turns to Koa. “Hungry? I can go get us something to eat?” He asks on a whim, brow raised and smile easy.

the flood

// where me and you can always hide //

Hear those bells ring deep in the soul
Chiming away for a moment

It is awkward, and long, and weirdly quiet, both men preoccupied with how they'll convince the other. It makes for a long and exhausting afternoon, and by the time they've done the brunt of the work Koa's thoroughly worn out.

But he hasn't forgotten the reason he came.

The suggestion of food garners an audible rumble from the Dragoon's belly, which in turn is quickly followed by a sheepish grin. "I think I could eat a whole ramphire," Koa agrees, also keeping his voice easy. "Food sounds good - where were you thinking we'd go? Or maybe we could find something in Halo?"

That's right, Jata: Koa's got that dog in him. And right now that dog is a German shepherd, stubbornly herding you toward his goal.

Koa Carpenter

Feel your breath course frankly below
And see life as a worthy opponent