🚒🔥Galo Thymos🔥🚒 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
infernosoul) wrote2020-01-28 11:29 pm
infernosoul) wrote2020-01-28 11:29 pm
Continuation for Incensor
[From here!]
[Galo is absolutely the kind of guy that enjoys drinking Mountain Dew, so of course that's what he's going to choose. You'd think with his diet of pizza and soda he'd have trouble staying in shape, but somehow he manages it anyway, much to the delight of everyone that enjoys seeing some shirtless firefighter eye candy. It's a miracle that he even thought to put a shirt on before coming over, but Lio is Important, and Galo figures that he needs to have some manners while he's at his place if he wants to be invited over again.
Of course Lio is a gracious host, and Galo takes the glass of soda with a smile and a thanks. Damn, he should've brought some Baja Blast over so he could compare the shisha flavor with the real thing.]
I dunno. I goof up when I try to pronounce things sometimes though, so good to know I got it right.
[Amusingly enough he's pretty good at Japanese pronunciations. Probably because he's a fucking weeb.
Overall Galo really likes the feel of the place and how bright and warm it is, and he imagines that it's hundreds of times better than living in a cave or whatever abandoned buildings the Burnish would come across while they were on the run. Lio deserves a nice, cozy place to call home, even if it might not always be this neat and tidy.
He eagerly watches Lio's reaction as he takes the box of shisha, and much to Galo's delight he seems pleased with the surprise. He thinks, anyway. Lio is so hard to read sometimes, but Galo is getting better at it, especially now that he makes a point to pay extra attention to his body language and mannerisms to tell what he's feeling. He might be an idiot, but at least he's observant when it comes to people and their emotions, especially the people he cares about. Is there such a thing as being emotionally smart??
Anyway, he's glad that he picked up the pine tree flavor, and he's totally excited to try it with Lio.]
I'm up for it! It sounds so weird that I can't help but wanna try it first.
[He watches curiously as Lio opens the box and takes a whiff, and the scent of pine is so strong that Galo can already smell it from where he's standing. He leans in anyway when Lio holds it out to him though, inhaling deeply and letting his eyes flutter closed for a moment. It really does conjure up memories of the lake and the surrounding forest, and when he opens his eyes again it's with a delighted grin.]
Oh wow, it totally does remind me of it! Man, I haven't been up there in a while. I kinda miss it.
[It's not really the same now that the ice is gone, but it might still be nice to visit again sometime, especially if Lio comes with him.]
It would make a good air freshener, but I can't imagine what it'll be like when we smoke it. I got a few other flavors too just in case that one is awful though. Cherry cola and Baja Blast and a few others.
[He sets the bag down on the counter just in case Lio wants to go digging around in it to see for himself.]
So, do you wanna eat first or smoke first? I'm up for either!
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Now the lake had experienced a kind of reawakening of its own. The waters, no longer frozen, had buried it over once again and attention was just starting to turn back toward the old research facility housed there. Still, that didn't make it feel like it belongs to them any less.
Lio takes a sip of his drink, thoughtful in his own considerations.] We should go back. Make a day of it. The next time we're both free.
[But that's for another day and they already have plans for today, right here, right now. Setting his things on the counter behind him, Lio rummages around in the cupboard for the paper plates, extracting enough for a whole pizza's worth of mess.]
It's best not to separate them.
[There's also drawer that's pulled open, the sort that everyone has at least one of in their kitchen if they have the space for it. A veritable dumping grounds for the odds and ends that don't seem to belong anywhere else.
Turning back to Galo, he presses something small to his chest, though by the time the firefighter realizes what it is he might find it to be overkill. A regular butane lighter that could more properly be called a torch given the size and shape and precise placement of the trigger. He waits for Galo to take it, fingers brushing briefly before letting his own slip away with a faint smirk.]
Annoying that we have to resort to this now but it's good practice for you. Everything else you need is in the living room. I'll grab the food.
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His eyes light up when Lio suggests going there together sometime, because it would be kind of a nostalgia trip for them both, a special place that means something to the both of them that’s certainly worth revisiting, ice or no.]
Yeah! Definitely! I’ll even let you ride on my motorcycle if you want!
[Or maybe, just maybe, he could be convinced to let Lio take it for a spin. It’s no Detroit, but there’s still the rumble of the engine and the feeling of powerful machinery beneath him to look forward too, right? Galo is pretty attached to his bike and doesn’t let just anyone drive it, but he trusts Lio and likes him quite a bit, so he’d gladly let him take it for a spin...though uh. Does Lio even have a license?? Maybe he should find that out first...
But he can ask about that later, because his stomach growls loudly, as if on cue, when Lio fetches a couple of plates for them. But instead of tasty pizza he’s first presented with some kind of object, and he blinks a few times as he takes it from Lio, not missing the way their fingers brush or the strange fluttery feeling he gets in his chest when he sees Lio smirk like that. How strange...]
Huh? What’s this?
[A quick inspection answers his question, and Galo nearly throws the lighter across the room on instinct because he’s a dramatic idiot. But no, he agreed to come over and try out the hookah, knowing damn well that fire was going to be involved, so he should’ve expected this...
But still, he’s a dumbass with plenty of lingering hang-ups about fire, and he just kind of...stares at it as he holds it at arms-length away from himself like it could burst into flames at any moment.]
Lio!! I thought we were gonna use matches or something!! Isn’t this kinda overkill??
[He’s being completely ridiculous and he knows it, but he still has to whine a little, even as he grabs the bag of shisha and makes his way to the living room.]
Man...I still wanna do this, but it might be harder than I thought.
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It's true there was a world of difference between the fire forged bikes of burnish creation and the sort that remained to him now in the normal world restored. But that didn't mean he hadn't cut his teeth on the very same nearly ten years prior. A collection of old kawasaki dirt bikes when they were barely teens, borrowed from the neighbors at their summer house. With a loose clutch here and poor alignment from one too many drops through the labyrinthine, coniferous paths that made it their mission to get the drop on them.
The license was still something to be sorted out, one of the many things he kept putting off for another day, another time, another free minute that he simply different have to spare and when the time finally came for it he'd probably still have to ask to borrow Galo's for the test. And even then, none of it would compare to Detroit. Like so many things, and so many of them, he was left chasing after the phantom vestiges of a feeling that no longer existed. And isn't that exactly what they were doing here now?
Lio allows the brief, fleeting nostalgia to pass without a word and then Galo is replacing it with a scene of his own which he also gives time to run it's course. Until he's stuck holding out the lighter with as little contact as he can manage and it takes everything within Lio not to roll his eyes, shake his head. But he does take it back, also taking Galo by the hand, gently like he's dealing with a child. He places the lighter back within it and curls his fingers around it as if to say see! It's not going to self combust on you.]
Matches aren't strong enough. [He's patient as he explains.] They'll burn out before the coals are heated through. There's another kind that's easier to light. It kind of looks like a sparkler going off but Gueira swears it ruins the taste.
[As for Lio, he's indifferent. It's really not his thing most of the time but he's not opposed if it comes down to sharing it with a friend. And Galo fits in that category as clearly as anyone. As he sets out into the living room, Lio sends him off with a reassuring shove from behind.]
Coals are in the brazier. You'll know they're ready when everything is glowing red hot. [Honestly, it's almost like he's trying to make this harder for him. Like he's enjoying it too.]
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Either way the offer still stands, if Lio ever feels up to it. Galo certainly doesn't mind driving and letting Lio ride on the back either, though he imagines it would be much more fun for him to take charge and speed off into the sunset with Galo in tow.
But there's more pressing matters to attend to right now, like how Lio is taking him by the hand, which feels awfully nice and makes his heart flutter again, but then he places the lighter back in his hand, and Galo just...stares at it. He's reluctant to hold it too tightly, but he also trusts Lio, so he'll bite the bullet and take it in hand, even if he still feels a little uneasy about it.]
Ugh...okay. I guess that makes sense. I'll light it with this then.
[At least Lio isn't making fun of him for his aversion to fire, and he's even patient enough to put up with Galo's antics, so it's the least Galo can do to just believe him and light the damn coals with this...contraption.
It doesn't really help when Lio mentions that they're gonna glow red hot, but yeah, that makes sense, Galo supposes. They'd need to be hot, otherwise the hookah might not work properly and they'd both end up disappointed. It's the last little push from Lio that finally gets him in gear, and he nods, now determined to see this through.]
Okay then...here I go.
[Normally he's filled to the brim with cockiness and self-assurance, but this is brand new territory for Galo (the kiss of life thing doesn't count okay), and so he's just a tiny bit nervous here.
But he's not one to give up or back down easily either, so without further ado he heads off to where the hookah is set up, and yup, there's the coals...so now all he has to do is light them...yup...just...gotta pull the trigger...
...after a quick countdown. 3...2...1...on zero Galo finally throws caution to the wind and pulls the trigger, and like magic the end of the lighter produces a flame, bright and hot but burning steadily instead of raging out of control. It's...not as terrible as Galo thought it would be, and the coals don't take long to catch, sparking a little before burning steadily, and while Galo's instinct is to immediately douse them with water he manages to just...sit back and let them burn until they start to glow red hot.]
H-hey! I think I actually did it!
[He calls out to Lio over his shoulder, never taking his eyes off the coals, just in case. He sounds awfully proud of himself for accomplishing such a small task, but hey, baby steps.]
Um...now what?
[He'd failed to do his research on the proper steps to using a hookah. Oops.]
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He really was an idiot. In the same way as a particularly obstinate child. But also like a child, possessing a purity and sincerity that mellowed any irritation it could have caused. What remained could almost be called charming. If Lio was calling it anything, which he wasn't.
He's mostly silent as he gathers up enough food for the both of them to start. A bag of snacks tucked into the crook of his elbow and full of chips and twizzlers and flaming hot cheetos and a variety of hostess cakes peaking out the bottom. There's a second bag that's mostly full but only the marshmallows are visible from the top. In an impressive feat of balance he managed to unload an entire pizza onto just two of the paper plates along with a bowl of ice and he carries the whole lot out into the living room along with his drink just in time for Galo to whoops out his victory.
And then the smile is sprouting again, from right where he left it, only a momentary lapse before it settles again into the folds of his composure.]
Oh? It looks good.
[Lio approaches from behind, and maybe it isn't strictly necessary that he lean over Galo to reach the table, that's what he does, unloading the food onto the free spaces at a safe distance from the fire. His hair falls in a loose cascade around his face that only parts again when he turns to look at Galo's work. The fire is already settling in the down but the light still plays off his face, the warmth of it reflected in cold hue of his eyes. He braces a hand on Galo's shoulder to lean further forward and blow the rest of them out until only the coals remain, light dancing along their ashy surfaces like the facets of jewel.
The hookah itself is a rather elegant contraption, traditional in style with a flared base like some kind of flower vase sprouting strange tubes and hoses. At the very top sits a bowl which Lio removes and begins to pack it loosely with the shisha, the cloying scent of it filling the space surrounding them.]
You fill this up and and then cover it with the tray. Fill the base with water to about here. The water acts as a filter but you can add ice to further help with the burn. When it's set up correctly and you breath through the hose you'll feel it up here.
[Everything he explains, is demonstrated in action as he finishes setting up, replacing the bowl and covering it with his hands to show what me means. The moment he puts his mouth to the hose the water in the base bubbles to life and then he gestures for Galo to try it as well.]
You can use these to put the coals in the tray. [He finally instructs, offering a small pair of tongs to Galo. Seems he really is going to leave all the parts involving fire to him.]
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Facing fires was a different story; if he were paralyzed with fear at the very sight of it he wouldn't make a very good firefighter. He can face down any fire no matter how much of a raging inferno it may be, because he knows he can fight it, and has done so countless times.
Starting a fire though? Totally different. It's a miracle that he actually got over his hangups with it enough to light the coals for the hookah, but now that he has maybe, just maybe he'll realize that it's okay to start little, controlled fires, because as much as he might've denied it in the past fire is a useful tool, and of course meeting Lio had further convinced him that it's not all bad. You can bet he won't take his eyes off of those burning coals even for a second though...until Lio joins him anyway, and Galo feels his presence at his back as he leans over him to load up the table with a variety of snacks that would make any junk-food junkie proud.
It's...nice, having Lio this close. He's come to view Lio as very similar to a cat, because it takes time for a cat to warm up to a person enough to approach them entirely on their own, and he has a feeling that Lio is the same way. As much as Galo likes to throw his arm around Lio's neck and bump shoulders with him and all that he also kind of likes it when Lio approaches him first, because it means that he's someone that Lio has come to trust enough to allow into his personal bubble, and that means quite a lot to Galo.
Or maybe he's reading way too much into it, but hey, at least he's actually thinking about things for once instead of just charging forward thoughtlessly like he usually does. Either way he seems delighted right now, grinning from ear to ear when Lio compliments his work.]
Yeah? Good! It didn't really take much to get them started.
[He watches as the coals burn silently once Lio blows out the flames, glowing red hot with potential. Who knew that watching something so mundane could be so fascinating? That's what happens when you've spent most of your life stamping out fires the second you see them, Galo supposes, but this hardly means he's going to become a pyromaniac anytime soon. Baby steps.
Even more fascinating is watching as Lio goes through the steps of setting up the hookah, and he nods along, trying his best to memorize it all so he can help more next time. Because there's totally going to be a next time, right?]
Man, that stuff really does smell good. No idea how it's gonna taste though.
[Like pine, presumably, which is an odd concept in and of itself, but he's totally up for trying it anyway because he's never one to shy away from a challenge, even a weird one like smoking pine-flavored shisha.
His eyes light up when the water bubbles as Lio puts his mouth to the hose, and he tries it for himself, delighted when he gets the same reaction.]
Oh hey, that's pretty neat, actually! It's exactly like that scene in Alice in Wonderland with the caterpillar!
[Does Lio even Disney? If not then clearly Galo is going to have to introduce him to a few select films that he simply has to watch. This is the kind of stuff you sign up for when you decide to hang out with Galo. That, and eating pizza for practically every meal. Something tells him that Lio doesn't mind all that much though.
It seems that the the last step is up to him, and of course Lio is going to make him put the coals in the tray. It's good for him to be exposed to this sort of thing, but there's still a split second of apprehension before he takes the tongs from Lio with a little nod.]
Okay. Just gotta move 'em up to the tray. Yup. I can totally do that.
[But it isn't going to happen fast. He reaches for one of the coals with the tongs and grabs it gently but firmly, because like hell he's going to drop one and burn a hole in Lio's carpet. It's probably hilarious to watch him as he handles the coals so carefully, like they're explosives or something, and a full five minutes later the tray is finally filled with burning coals, and they should be able to smoke very soon.]
There. That wasn't so bad! Now we can smoke it, right? Or do we gotta wait a bit?
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And so of course he knew all about the caterpillar Galo is referring to now.]
Because that was a hookah. With opium. Just to make the book even more child friendly.
[Not that he sounds particularly judgmental. Something about how times were different and parental responsibilities and kids these days like he isn't barely out of his teens himself.
While Galo takes his sweet time with the hookah, Lio figures there's no reason to sit there suffering the pizza getting cold so he takes a piece off the top of one of the crooked towers. Some of the cheese pulls away from the slice beneath it which is really just a plus for him but not whoever gets the next piece. He's not exactly careful as he eats but it is somehow deliberate, like he's trying to make a show of it while Galo is deprived, stuck finishing up the task that's been bestowed about him. His mouth curls around the pizza with every bite to hide the smirk, just short of a laugh.
Sometimes he thinks it's a shame about the Promare. This is one of those times where he wishes he could bring the coals back to life and really give Galo something to worry about. Instead the whole ceremony is only mildly eventful at best, a brief moment of excitement occurring when one of the hottest coals disintegrates around the edges and slips out of the tongs.
And then, he's finished just about the same time Lio polishes off the slice of pizza, his mouth still tingling from the medley of hot sauces that earned it its name.]
You took so long, it's probably ready. [He's not upset, but like with most things involving Lio and his emotions, it may be hard to pick up on the subtle amusement. He's methodical even as he loosens the hose that's still wound around the hookah, careful to avoid disturbing anything, and then he offers it back to Galo. Guests first.] The first pull is weak. Just to get the air flowing.
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Galo looks shocked at that revelation though, because what the hell, something like that was in a children’s book??]
What?? Really?? I had no idea.
[It kind of makes sense though, because everything about Alice in Wonderland is strange, and drugs probably played a huge part in that.
Also wow, Lio, are you really eating pizza in front of him?? He can’t really take his eyes off the coals until they’re all safely deposited in the tray, but he can still tell what Lio up to over there, and it’s sooo not fair. He can smell the deliciousness from where he’s sitting, and it makes his stomach rumble loudly, the promise of pizza rousing his hunger tenfold.
But Galo won’t let himself get too distracted until the coals are in a safe place, and eventually he stops worrying so much about them and instead shoots Lio A Look.]
Liooo!! No fair! Sitting over there eating pizza without me!! And look, you even pulled the cheese off the next slice!! You’re such a criminal!!
[Betrayal!! And then Lio goes and says that he took a long time moving the coals and Galo straight-up pouts, crossing his arms over his chest like a pissy toddler. He has a feeling that Lio is intentionally messing with him here, and he’s definitely going to have to pay him back for it later.]
I took so long because I didn’t wanna drop any coals and ruin your carpet or start a fire in your apartment!
[But fiiiine, he’ll let the pizza thing slide for now in favor of taking the hose from Lio (he swears he sees a mischievous glint in his eyes right now) and putting it to his lips, and just like before he inhales nice and deep...
...and immediately starts coughing up a lung, his face scrunched up in distaste. Oh god, it’s like breathing in a goddamn pine forest, even if the pull is relatively weak, and the taste that lingers on his tongue reminds him of cleaning products. Who the hell thought this was a good idea for a shisha flavor??]
...that was awful.
[He offers the hose up to Lio, because if he had to breathe that in then Lio does too. It’s his payback for being teased with pizza.]
Here. You try it.
god sorry for the delays work had an event... and then... well.. dvd dropped
The only thing that betrays him at all is his eyes, brow quirked up in amusement and slightly creased at the corners that give away the fact that he's smiling at least inwardly. Okay maybe he's messing with Galo just a little but who's really to blame when the firefighter makes it so easy.]
I am that. I'm surprised you're only just realizing. Considering who it was that caught me. Well I suppose if I was trying to get caught then it doesn't really count, does it?
[Ah but Galo will have his full attention once the moment of truth arrives. He pauses eating to watch as Galo takes his first drag. There's a lot at stake here besides whether or not pine is an appropriate flavor for anything to be consumed. The reaction also isn't a surprise though it's hard to say whether it comes entirely from the taste or the fact that Galo is a complete novice as well. Maybe they should have started one of the fruits after all.]
Try not to cough, it only makes it worse.
[There's a shade more sympathy to his voice as he continues his instruction, taking the hose and putting it to his mouth casually. He draws in a deep breath and then... nothing. No reaction at all as he holds it's in, all the air and smoke and the vestiges of the fire burning through the coals that sear at his throat just slightly. It doesn't come close to the whole body sensation of burning with the Promare, more like an echo of it.
When he lets it out, the smoke is somehow thinner than when Galo coughed it all up, like it's dissipated somewhere within him. He looks somehow thoughtful.]
Do you know those little trees people put in their cars? If you told me I just swallowed one one with a side of menthol I would believe it.
[What is perhaps interesting to note is that he doesn't say it like it's a bad thing.]
No worries! I saw the extras for the Japanese dvd/bluray and it looks so good
...it still kinda counts.
[More importantly Galo is pretty sure that Lio is getting a kick out of messing with him, and he huffs like an indignant child, though he can’t really be upset when Lio actually makes an effort not to steal the cheese off the next slice of pizza. Perhaps his crimes can be forgiven after all.
...maybe, anyway. That pine flavored shisha was so unpleasant that Galo isn’t sure he’ll be taking any more suggestions for flavors of anything from Lio Fotia.]
I think I’m okay...I’m gonna need some pizza to get the taste out of my mouth though.
[It wasn’t just the taste, no, it was also the fact that Galo has never purposely inhaled smoke in his life, so his lungs aren’t quite used to it. Oh, there have been times when he’s accidentally breathed in smoke from a fire he was fighting, but his tech is pretty good at blowing away the majority of it, so it’s not usually a huge threat.
That shisha though, that might just be hazardous to his health. Maybe he shouldn’t let Lio try it after all, because what if he’s even more sensitive to it than Galo is? Except by the time the thought occurs to him Lio is already putting the hose to his mouth, and Galo watches intently, surprised when he doesn’t immediately start coughing. Well, Lio has probably done this a few times before, so maybe he shouldn’t really be surprised, but that flavor was just so goddamn awful that Galo has even more respect for Lio when he ends up calmly exhaling the smoke instead of sputtering and coughing like a complete noob.]
Yeah, actually, that’s pretty accurate. Don’t tell me you actually liked it??
[He’s beginning to wonder about Lio’s taste, honestly, but at least one of them doesn’t mind it, so it won’t go to waste. Galo will just grab a slice of pizza for himself and take a couple of bites, chewing thoughtfully before speaking up again.]
Maybe I should give it another try? It looked so easy when you did it...do you think it’s cause your lungs are super powerful against smoke because you controlled fire for so long?
[That’s the dumbest question he’s asked today, but he’s kind of curious about whether Lio or any of the other ex-Burnish have any lingering effects from being bonded to the Promare for so long.]
right everything is so shiny I'm in love... all over again
Anything fresher, healthier that came in was reserved for the children first, then divvied up between the rest of the Burnish in his charge. There was never enough to make it all the way up to him though he'd never had any complaints about that. Everything he did had been for their sake.
The question, however, actually earns Galo a little huff that just borders on a laugh. Dumb as it may be, the way his mind works is an endless source of amusement to Lio, maybe not unlike a child in that way either, springing for the first option that comes to mind without ever considering the logic of it all. But if that's his way of figuring it all out, Lio is happy to oblige. In his own way.]
I wonder. Meis started before he turned. And anything one of those two does, the other goes right along with it. [Which says precisely nothing about Lio himself. If Galo wants an answer he'll have to make it out from the way Lio fits his mouth to the hookah once again, another breath, another pause and then, without waiting as long as the first time he blows it out deliberately in Galo's direction. A cloud of white smoke thick as a fog in a dense forest. As a scent it's almost pleasant, fresh and dewy and a little sweet from the remnants of molasses clinging to the particles of gas and water vapor. But still not anything that was really meant to be consumed.]
If it's too much for you, we can change the bowl. Won't take more than five minutes to heat it back up. [But he's also passing the hose back toward Galo, even as he says so. Letting him make the choice for himself in the end.]
It looks so good I’m waiting for the English release but I’m sooo tempted by the Japanese one
Still, it’s good to see Lio enjoying himself, and if he wants to eat gummys with his pizza then who is Galo to stop him?]
Oh yeah? I guess pretty much anybody can get used to it after a while then, Burnish lungs or no.
[Lio seems to have no problems at all regardless, and Galo just watches in fascination as he takes another pull off the hose and inhales the smoke deep into his lungs as gracefully as he does just about everything else. Maybe if Galo breathes it in slower, deeper, and held it there for a bit like Lio is doing he wouldn’t cough up a lung. He has to admit that it really does smell nice, and when Lio exhales towards him it kind of feels like they’ve been transported to a forest in the early morning, while the fog still lingers before the sun comes up.
It makes for a good candle scent, but breathing it in is a different matter entirely. Still, he’s stubborn as hell, and when Lio offers up the hose to him again he looks determined as ever.]
I’ll try it one more time. Galo Thymos doesn’t give up easily!
[Gotta show Lio what’s what! Or try to, anyway. He puts the hose to his mouth once more and inhales, slower this time, taking the smoke in nice and deep and holding it for a moment...and then manages to exhale almost all of it without coughing until the very end. He wheezes a little, but it’s not terrible, and he ends up looking rather proud of himself as he passes the hose off to Lio again.]
See? It wasn’t too much for me! It still tastes kinda gross though. Maybe we could try a fruity flavor next, or the pizza one, just to compare it to the real thing!
[As if pizza flavor isn’t going to be just as godawful as the pine one, if not even more so. He’s still having fun no matter what though, and he ends up stealing one of Lio’s gummys and munching on it to get the pine taste out of his mouth.]
at least there's plenty of rips now to hold us over... ahh I wanna know the english release date tho
He leans back, legs crossed neatly, content to watch Galo for the time being and give up on his monopolizing of the pizza. It's still a strange sight to consolidate with what he knows about Galo. The fire fighters. Someone who prides himself on keeping to the straight and narrow, even if it's only his idea of what's straight and narrow. Anything that doesn't align with his moral code. Really that was for the best as well but it's hard to see how smoking fits into that picture except that he's also the type to throw himself at any new endeavor wholeheartedly. The current juxtaposition to these two sides of Galo Thymos is decidedly fascinating.]
We'll make a delinquent of you yet. [Lio determines with a vague grin as Galo's coughing up his second hit.
Sitting up again, he reached up to flick the coals off the top of the bowl and into the safety tray below with his bare fingers. A force of habit that burns the calluses there but he doesn't really mind. Nor the heat radiating off the ceramic bowl as he pulls it down and starts emptying it out.]
Lets go with something safe for now. I don't feel like waiting a third time. [His eyes slide over Galo again, a slow up and down, like he's taking stock. He had a bold personality. He could take the heat whether it came to fires or food. So Lio suspects something with a strong flavor would be his preference. That meant apple and most melons were out. But there was also that conventional streak to him, someone with a respect for tradition.
Rummaging around through the assortment of shisha available, Lio holds up one of the boxes.] How does strawberries and cream sound?
BIG SAME I have a mighty need to know cause you bet I preordered it the second it went up
Galo scoffs at Lio’s comment about him becoming a delinquent, and it conjures up images of him running around in spikes and leather, causing trouble wherever he goes. Maybe he should dye his hair blond and get some piercings while he’s at it. You know, when hell freezes over.]
Hey! I might be smoking a little but I’m still an upstanding citizen, okay?
[Lio sure does love messing with him and teasing him, but Galo doesn’t actually mind it. It’s kind of fun to be kept on his toes, and it’s certainly nice to see Lio relaxed enough to be playful. It’s the perfect reward for both of them giving it their all to save the world.
...but uh. How can Lio just nonchalantly flick the coals off with his bare hands like that?? And surely the bowl is hot?? He doesn’t have the Promare anymore, so that means he can get burned, right? Cue Galo sitting up straight and zeroing in on what Lio is doing, because there’s no way he’s going to let Lio get burned on his watch.]
Lio! Be careful! If you get burned I’m gonna have to stop everything and whip out my first aid kit!
[As if a few coals would do much damage anyway, but still, he worries, okay? But then Lio is looking at him again, as if he’s sizing him up or something, and Galo is honestly baffled. Should he be worried? Maybe, but the mention of a more delectable sounding shisha has his eyes lighting up with excitement again, and all worry goes flying right out the window just as fast as it came.]
Strawberries and cream sounds great! A lot better than pine! Let’s do it!
[He’s not a huge dessert guy, but that really does sound tasty, and he looks on eagerly, waiting for Lio to pack the bowl. He doesn’t know if that’s considered a beginner flavor or what, but it doesn’t really matter. He’ll try it and hopefully endure it, and Lio won’t have to hear him whine anymore. He won’t even complain about moving the coals again if Lio sees fit to task him with it.]
I just had to have both nbd it's only money... also god the things I have googled for this thread
[Lio says it like he wasn't the one directly responsible for that. Like there hadn't been a very good reason for it. Like the cause of Galo even being there in the first place hadn't been an injustice all it's own but it says a lot they he can make light of it now, just this small part of it. People were quick to place the blame of that day squarely on the former governor's shoulders. All the death and destruction. It was where it belonged but that didn't mean that Lio would ever forget the events leading up to it that had been wrought from his own fury and by his own hands.
It's another moment before Lio waves off Galo's concerns with a low hum, halfway between something actually melodic and just an indifferent huff. He taps out the remains of the pine shisha into a paper plate, barely singed, still thick and viscous and clinging to the sides of the bowl. Despite Galo's protests of only seconds passed, Lio scrapes the last remnants of it out with his finger and then wipes it down with a little water that's already pooled at the bottom of the bowl of ice. Any trace of the cloying pine that remains would be a disaster.
It's refilled quickly enough, the new scent that cuts through the old is obviously and distinctly of strawberries and something not entirely unlike vanilla. It's replaced on the hookah, the tray settled over the top of it and then he levels Galo with a long, purposeful stare as he drops the discarded coals back into place, unceremoniously quick and his fingers warmed no more than if he had pressed them to a mug of fresh brewed coffee.
He nudges everything into place and then leans back.]
We can do this while we wait.
[Pulling the package of marshmallows out, he pitches them right at Galo's chest. If he bothers to look at what's left, he'll find a box of graham crackers and a few bars of chocolate remaining at the bottom of the bag. Which might also explain the forks that had been brought in with everything else.]
I’ve smoked a hookah like three times in my life and still couldn’t describe all the steps ahaha
[Kray having him locked up was injustice at its finest, but of course things had somehow worked out in the end. He’ll never forget seeing Lio as that big flaming dragon though, so overcome with rage and anguish after the Burnish had been captured to be used for fuel for Kray’s diabolical Parnassus project. Lio had every right to go on a rampage, but Galo still felt the need to save him from his own fury, to stop him from destroying the city and killing Kray despite his heinous crimes, and he’s glad that he did, because who knows what would’ve happened if he hadn’t intervened?
It’s not something he really enjoys thinking about, not like his fond memories of piloting a mech with Lio. Maybe one day they’ll get to do that again, though it won’t be quite the same without the Promare.
Of course Lio still acts like fire doesn’t hurt him, or that being burned doesn’t phase him, and Galo has half a mind to grab his wrists and stop him from digging around in the still-hot bowl because wow Lio he just said to be careful?? But in the end he gives in, because Lio does what he wants, and Galo kind of likes that about him. That doesn’t mean he’s happy about it though, but at least the scent of the strawberries and cream shisha is enough to distract him.]
That does smell really good!
[Almost to the point where Galo is tempted to dip his finger into it and try a bit, but he’s not that much of an idiot, so he’ll just wait patiently for it to heat up once the coals are put back on. He’s half-expecting Lio to task him with moving them again, but then he pulls a power move and grabs the coals with his bare hands and moves them back into place while staring Galo right in the eye, and Galo has to respect that.]
...okay, maybe I was worrying a little too much. Point taken.
[No more fussing over Lio getting burned, got it. He’s about to return to his pizza when Lio tosses a bag of marshmallows at him, and he looks a little confused for a second, but then he spots the chocolate and graham crackers at the bottom of the bag he’d pulled them from, and Galo’s face lights up like a kid on Christmas on morning.]
I didn’t know we were gonna make s’mores! It’s been years since I’ve had one!
[But wait, how are they gonna get the marshmallows all melty? Are the coals hot enough to do the trick? Or should he use the lighter to torch them?
...wait a minute. Is Lio trying to get him to light another fire?? By tempting him with tasty treats?? Sneaky! He’s so torn because s’mores are delicious, but usually an open flame is needed to get the full campfire experience, so...]
Lio...are you trying to get me to use fire again? Or are we just gonna eat them like this?
[A s’more is not a s’more unless it’s all melty, okay?]
I've done it a fair bit... And owned two... It the s'mores are new
Maybe Lio will give him another shot if they make it through this bowl. Or he could devise some other flame-focused torment to demand of his friend. After all, they have all day.
With nothing left to do for the time being except wait, Lio finally starts to unwind a little. He loosens his shoulders, lets his legs fall to the side from where they had been draw up to him in his seat. Carelessly, they brush against Galo's at this proximity but he doesn't seem at all bothered by it. That's just the kind of affect he has when spending enough time around him. All the problems and worries that had been on his shoulders start to melt away. And sometimes, if it's a particularly lucky day, he has a way of making them disappear completely.
That doesn't mean Lio is about to let him off easy for any dumb comment he makes however. Teasing him, is just one more of the pleasures of his company. But this time Lio does awkward it with a faint smile, one that's devoid of his usual guile.]
Think about what you just said. Galo. I know I'm not friends with the sort of criminal who consumes raw marshmallows.
[Picking up the fork Lio stabs it at the bag in Galo's hands indicating he should probably open it, then points toward the top of the hookah where the coals a burning happily away.]
They're hot enough. I'll show you how to make them the right way. [Which presumes that Galo doesn't already know how to toast a proper marshmallow. Of that, Lio is certain.]
i haven't had them in years, clearly i need to remedy that
Lio relaxing enough to loosen up a little brings a smile to Galo's face, and he playfully bumps his knee against Lio's, more comfortable and at ease in Lio's home than he probably should be as a temporary guest. He can't help it though, being around Lio makes him happy, and when he's happy he's able to relax and let loose and just forget about the headache that rebuilding Promepolis is proving to be. Galo has it easier than Lio does in that regard though, so he's taken it upon himself to do whatever he can to help him unwind and enjoy himself whenever they're together.
Judging by how much he's been teasing Galo since he got here he's already at the unwinding and enjoying himself part, and Galo answers Lio's snark by opening the bag of marshmallows and popping one into his mouth without bothering to heat it up fist. He really is a criminal.]
Aww c'mon Lio, haven't you ever had Lucky Charms? Those marshmallows are the best!
[Said around a mouthful of soft, sweet fluff. Galo quickly chews up the tasty treat and swallows before mirroring Lio's little smile with a cocky grin.]
Yeah? Well then go ahead, Boss, show me how it's done.
[The nickname is spoken with an underlying snicker, and Galo opens the bag of marshmallows back up so that Lio can stab one on his fork if he likes. Galo knows how making s'mores usually goes, though he's always left the actual marshmallow toasting to somebody else for obvious reasons, so this ought to be a learning experience for him.
A thought occurs to him then, and because there's not much of a filter between Galo's brain and his mouth he just blurts it out like an inquisitive child.]
Did you ever toast marshmallows with your Burnish flames? Like...just blast
'em and eat 'em just like that?
Re: i haven't had them in years, clearly i need to remedy that
Lio still figures he's earned the right to look less than amused and he certainly doesn't agree. But it doesn't stop him from knocking his legs back against Galo's in retaliation.
And then he goes and says that]
Alright. [Lio acquiesces smoothly, his grinning turning a touch more devious, and then he's on the move. On his knees and pressing uninvited into Galo's personal space bubble. Spearing a marshmallow is a casual process, followed the deliberate act of fixing it so it won't just fall in the coals and ruin the hookah once it really heats up.
Leaning over Galo, with one arm draped over his shoulder, Lio deposits the fork into Galo's hand and then takes his wrist in his own. Guiding it to rest over the coals, at just the right distance where it would maximize the amount of heat it absorbs over the full surfaces of the confection.]
Patience is key. [He graciously doesn't point out how that might be difficult for Galo.] You pull it away and turn it at the exact moment it starts smoking.
[Funny how Galo comes across like such a child right now. Sometimes it could be a nuisance but at moments like this, Lio doesn't mind indulging him one bit. It shows how he cares. And maybe that just makes it all the more fitting how they're doing this, here and now.]
It was actually a good exercise for burnish children. It's a lot harder than just blasting them. They had to learn how to control their flames to get it just right. But no one ever complained about getting to eat the results, successes or failures.
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He just laughs at Lio knocking his legs into his again, but then Lio grins at him like he's plotting something, and suddenly he's all up in Galo's space, and Galo can't really say that he minds. He has a bad habit of doing the same, after all, and he likes Lio, so the closer he gets the better.
He blinks a few times as he watches Lio spear the marshmallow and prepare it for roasting, and then suddenly it's time for Galo to prove himself again, the fork placed in his hand and the responsibility of not burning the shit out of the marshmallow resting squarely on his shoulders. Well, sort of. Lio is helping guide him on the first try, and while he'd normally insist that he could do it himself because he's GALO THYMOS he'll let it slide this time. Partially because he kind of likes Lio holding his wrist like this and also because he actually does need some guidance here, and Lio would see right through him if he said that he didn't.
He's careful to keep it positioned in the exact spot Lio guides him to, Lio's hand serving to keep his arm steady when he may just be a little jittery otherwise. Of course he's not scared of such a tiny flame, he just doesn't want the marshmallow to catch on fire is all.
He nods in understanding, and yeah, he's usually pretty lacking in the patience department, but he has to prove that he can do this to Lio and that he's not some weenie who can't handle roasting a marshmallow over a flame. Not that he thinks Lio would seriously make fun of him or belittle him for it, though he might laugh just a little, and nobody could fault him for that.
The marshmallow starts to grow hot, but it's not quite smoking yet, and Galo tries his best to listen to Lio and watch the marshmallow at the same time.]
Oh, I get it. So it kinda helped them practice in a way that meant food no matter what, huh? Sounds like a good idea to me!
[He is very food motivated, though obviously Lio already knew that. It's also kind of comforting to know that some of the Burnish children were able to find small moments of joy even while on the run, like biting into a tasty, gooey marshmallow that they roasted themselves.
When the marshmallow starts to smoke Galo automatically tries to pull it back, with or without Lio's help. Smoke=fire=it's gonna burst into flames if he isn't careful, and that would be quite a tragedy.]
So you just turn it to cook on the other side, right? This isn't so hard!
[Of course him saying that obviously means that Lio should task him with roasting the rest of the marshmallows since he thinks he can handle it now.]
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Though he doesn't share Galo's concerns, he keeps his eyes fixed on the coals, on the tip of the marshmallow which will heat up faster than the body. He tilts his head slightly to get a better view and the long hairs that fram his face brush up again the firefighter's. Little by little, Lio watches as it starts to puff up like a balloon, browning to once side. This was the part that had less to do with controlling the fire and more with controlling the stomachs of young, impulsive children. Lio smiling to think of them now.]
Children had a lot less fear of the flames when they became Burnish. What they lacked in ability they more than made up for with their enthusiasm to try. With the right guidance they could have grown up to be more capable than anyone.
[Of course none of that would be possible now. The Promare was gone. There were no Burnish left in the world. Speaking of it now he sounds perhaps a little wistful. But before the moment stretches too thin, Galo is pulling back and Lio is releasing his hand.]
Do the same thing on all four sides. When it looks like it's about to fall off, you're ready for that last step.
[That is if Galo could make it that far. Hopefully he possesses a bit more restraint that literal five year olds but then this is the same person that would have been just has happy making them out of untoasted marshmallows. Disgusting.]
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It's nice to hear stories about the Burnish, even if Lio sounds a little wistful when he talks about them sometimes, and when he talks about the Promare. It's a shame that they had to return to their own dimension, but at least the Burnish are free now, no longer needing to live in fear of being persecuted. Sure, there's still places where anti-Burnish sentiment exists, but at least now it's illegal to arrest them just because of what they are, or what they were.]
Yeah. I guess if you get them while you're young you have more chances to practice and get better at controlling them.
[Well, that's how it used to be, anyway.
Galo listens to Lio's instructions, and while he's already licking his lips at the idea of eating more marshmallows he manages to hold out long enough to properly roast the marshmallow on all sides. It starts to char a bit before he pulls it away from the fire completely, and he quickly grabs a graham cracker to place it on, settling the fork aside so he can finish building the first s'more.
The marshmallow is perfectly melty, and it ends up sharing it's heat with the chocolate and softening that up as well, and oh, it looks delicious. He looks up at Lio again once it's finished and grins, feeling rather pleased with himself that he got it right the first time.]
Alright! My very first s'more! That I made myself, anyway. Here, wanna try some?
[Of course he has to share, and he snaps the sandwich in half, not caring that his fingers are getting covered in sweet, sticky goo. He hands one half to Lio, and should Lio bite into it he'll find that while the marshmallow tastes a bit charred and overdone the s'more itself is still sweet and delicious.]
Tell me what you think! Honest opinion, no holding back!
[As if Lio would hesitate to tell him it was awful if it was. He'll wait to take a bite until Lio does though, because he wants Lio to tell him what he thinks before he starts stuffing his face.]
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But absolutely none of that had to do with marshmallows. Marshmallows were exactly what they were now consumed with to get away from such an omnipresent burden. Once Galo takes over, Lio finally moves away, though not to where he started, only a centimeter or so away where he draws his knees back up to his chest, languid as he hangs his arms over the tops of them and play the part of patient observer.
Galo finishes and then there's a s'more being shoved in his face and threatening to drop molten hot sugar sweet gelatin all over his pants. There's something elegant even about the way he manages to take it, perfectly sandwiched between the tips of his fingers so he doesn't get any of the sticky mess over his hands.
If it's Galo's first, that merits a thorough inspection. Lio turns it this way and that, appraising the way the surface has turned golden brown all over and just starting to turn black in some place where it squishes out around the melted chocolate and graham crackers. The way the center had practically turned to liquid. He can't wait for too long however as the first corner starts dripping, dripping and he catches it swiftly with one finger and licks it off. Then he goes in for the first bite, finishes it in two and sits there, considering the whole thing thoughtfully.]
It's impressive. [He decides after waiting just long enough that it borders on concerning. But Galo has suffered enough of his teasing by now and Galo deserves to have his accomplishments acknowledged.]
You've managed to char the outside perfectly with the least amount of fire possible. It's like you're trying to defy me.
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But it's nice to have little moments like these where he and Lio can relax and just be without worrying about others, and Galo seems all too pleased with himself for actually getting the marshmallow melting right the first time. At least he's pretty sure that he did, but he'll wait for Lio's verdict before he celebrates too much, eagerly watching as he takes the s'more oh so delicately and examines it. Lio does everything with elegance and grace, even appraising a s'more made oh so lovingly for the both of them by Galo and licking up the inevitable mess it makes, and it's honestly kind of impressive.
He's practically vibrating with anticipation by the time Lio takes a proper bite, and then another, finishing it off and leaving Galo hanging for what seems like forever before finally giving his opinion on it.
Impressive? Oh wow, Lio just called the s'more he made impressive, and Galo beams at him, looking like he's just had his greatest lifetime achievement finally acknowledged, even if it's just a damn s'more.]
Really? Awesome!
[Of course he managed to get away with making something tasty without needing to use all that much fire, because he's Galo, and he always manages to do whatever he sets out to do in the end, in his own Galo way. He laughs at Lio assuming that he's trying to be defiant here, and maybe he is a little bit, but hey, he made progress in his efforts to get more comfortable using fire, so Lio's teaching and pushing wasn't in vain.]
Do you want another one? Or should we smoke some more? Or maybe we can try roasting something else over the fire! Maybe one of those gummy snacks!
[That sounds absolutely disgusting, but Galo would try it, because of course he would.]
Y'know, this is really fun! We should hang out more, Lio! With or without fire involved!
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He brushes his hands together once he's finished though there really isn't anything to wipe off of them, then points to the other half still oozing out into Galo's hand.]
You going to try that first?
[He can't let Galo get away with missing out on his impressive work. The mention of roasting gummies earns him an even longer look. Lio doesn't respond to it but he also clearly isn't dismissing it as a possibility. More like he's filing it away among the terrible ideas that sounds like good cuisine in his mind. Wasn't there a bag of pretzels around here they could probably spear them with?
By now the bowl is adequately heated though, so the hookah should finally, finally be ready and not with some noxious, fumes that replicated an evergreen forest but only in the most chemical ways. For answer, Lio simply lifts the tongs and pokes at the coals ones more to knock off the thin layer of ash that's accumulated there. Exposed to the air, they flare just a little brighter, burning a little hotter. Lio no longer has a physical sense for such things but he still has enough instinct to know they're at just the right temperature.
Finally, he unravels the hose against and settles back into the worn couch cushions and finds a place that's comfortable leaning against Galo.]
We could. Have you really never made s'mores before? You know. Boy scouts? Summer camp? Playing in the backyard until your parents realize you stole the grill lighter and ground you for two days. Things like that. [There's a flash of a grin not directed at anything in particular and he's definitely not speaking from experience.]
We'll have to do this again only with a proper fire next time.
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Oh, right, he'd been so excited about Lio trying the s'more that he'd almost forgotten about his own share, and he quickly pops it into his mouth, his eyes lighting up at how very delicious it is. The perfect ratio of marshmallow and chocolate and graham cracker! Granted, he's not all that picky, but it's still pretty damn good in his opinion, and he gives Lio a thumb's up before licking his fingers clean of any excess goo.]
Delicious! I totally nailed it!
[Clearly he's a gourmet chef of epic proportions now. Watch out, Gordon Ramsay, here comes Galo Thymos! Of course a gourmet chef wouldn't suggest the idea of roasting gummies, but hey, Lio didn't say no, so clearly they need to try it eventually, with pretzels as the sticks used to hold them over the fire.
The room smells pretty good now, better than that fake pine forest crap, and he watches curiously as Lio tends to the coals. He really does have an affinity for fire, doesn't he? Even without the Promare Lio seems attuned to it, and Galo is honestly impressed. He's also very happy to have Lio leaning against him, and he kind of wishes they could be this close all the time. He also kind of wants to try the new flavor of shisha, but he'll let Lio take the first pull this time.
He shakes his head at the question, and the last part gets a chuckle out of him. He imagines a tiny Lio getting into trouble for stealing lighters and trying to set fires, and he can only assume that Lio had a somewhat normal childhood. That's good to hear, because his adult life sounds like it was full of nothing but chaos and unease, and Galo is glad that he finally has a warm, cozy place to call home.]
I really haven't! I helped assemble them before one time when everybody at Burning Rescue stayed overnight in a cabin in the mountains, but I didn't do any of the roasting. I wasn't in boy scouts or anything either, and I've never been to summer camp. Guess I've been missing out, huh?
[He grew up in Promepolis without any real family, so he can't say he's had many experiences like that, but he's not about to get all sad about it. He can always make up for it now, after all, and maybe he can even do all of that fun summer camp stuff with Lio.
Lio mentioning doing this again has him beaming, though the idea of setting a fire any bigger than this is still kind of...intimidating.]
What exactly counts as a proper fire? Like...a little campfire? Not a huge bonfire or anything?
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Galo was perhaps the first person that's managed to peel them away. And he doesn't find it uncomfortable to shed them bit by bit, when the situation calls for it. Like now. Passing acknowledgement that he is a person, was a child once. He had had family at one point. Came from somewhere. There's a whole history to be exhumed.
Galo himself is easier. He bares his heart as plainly as his chest, his whole story on public display for all the world to see. Lio has been aware of it on some level, for a long time now. He doesn't forget it now. Galo doesn't draw attention to it but it's presence lurks in depths of their conversation. Lio doesn't like to assume. Galo confirms it anyway.
Relaxing into the couch and fitting into the warm pocket just benath Galo's arm--in the absence of the Promare, he gives off the heat of a furnace--Lip puts the hookah between his lips ans breathes deep. It saves him from having to answer right away but the way he stares out at the sparse decor on the opposite wall, he's clearly in deep thought.
The breath he holds is a shallow one and released with great plumes of sweet, strawberry scented smoke. After the s'mores, with their chocolate notes and caramel undertones the fruit is a pleasant complement. When he smiles, it could be easy to mistake for his appreciation of the taste]
Yeah. A bonfire sounds about right. As big as you are tall and twice as wide. [Selfishly lost in the moment, he takes another drag, a smaller one before Galo can cut in too quickly with a protest.] Where we grew up. There were all these lakes. In the summer we'd have these bonfires. One week everyone would have them so the whole beach was lit up bright as day. We called it the ring of fire.
Like the old song, you know? [Tilting his head back so his hair spills onto Galo's shoulder, he looks up at him with a fiendish grin. Maybe he won't know it. It was practically a hundred years old after all.]
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There's still so much about Lio that remains a mystery, after all, and the more one on one time he gets to spend with Lio the more he learns about him. He knew that Lio had a childhood, a past, but he's never once pried about it, because that's something he figured Lio would open up to him about on his own if he really wanted to. Now Galo knows that he used to do fun stuff during the summer, and he can't help but grin as he imagines a little Lio excitedly participating in all kinds of camping activities.
He happily allows Lio to nestle under his arm, and though the temptation is there to hug Lio to his side he keeps his arm loosely draped over Lio's shoulders, a comfortable warmth built up between them now. Granted Galo gives off more heat than Lio does these days, but Lio is still warm next to him, and Galo very much enjoys his presence.
Soon Galo is treated to a cloud of strawberry-scented smoke, and he can't help but be curious about how it would taste on his tongue. Lio seems to be enjoying it, though Galo has a feeling that the little smile on his face has more to do with reminiscing that it does the taste of the shisha.
Seriously? Bonfires? Galo is about to protest, to say that he'd never be able to start a fire that big, but then Lio goes on to tell him about some fond memories he has of lakes and bonfires and beaches, and he can't quite bring himself to totally rain on Lio's parade by saying that that doesn't sound fun at all. Several bonfires burning bright and hot enough to light up the night sky? No thank you!
When Lio looks up at him with that grin (Lio please) he'll see a confused look on Galo's face. He wracks his brain, trying to push thoughts of fire bad out of his head long enough to search his memories for any recollection of such a song.
In the end he comes up with nothing. Alas.]
Old song? Not sure I've heard of that one. Or maybe I have and I just don't remember it? I'm not sure, but man, a ring of fire...
[Sounds dangerous. Galo frowns at the very thought, though it quickly turns into a little pout, because he can't actually tell if Lio is being serious here or not.
Surely not.]
Anyway, you can't just expect me to jump from lighting tiny coals to lighting a bonfire! There's just no way!
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Last time--that was weeks ago--they'd ended up back at Galo's place after some media event sprawled out on Galo's bed browsing the worst of r/showerthoughts and staying up till two am arguing about whether things could actually be on fire or fire was on things. Another particularly inane post had driven them to the convenience store where they proceeded to buy out the entire stock of oranges and take them to a near by park. Swinging side by as the sky bled from deep dark blue to pink as the sunrise crested over the high rise buildings all around him. Months out, it was somehow nostalgic. They'd promise that they should do this again. Probably say something just like it today. Something always comes up, another meeting, another late night. Another cat stuck in a tree though Lio can't really complain about those when he gets like a dozen pictures as an apology.
Little by little the daily monotonies don't just wear Lio down, the fill him up. Always pushing harder, always striving for better. It's a wonder where he keeps finding room for any of it. Until, serendipitously, days like this happen and Galo pulls out the stopper, letting it all spill out again. Bleeding him empty, until he's completely free.
Galo says he doesn't know the song and that's all Lio cares about in that moment, eyes a little wider, a little brighter, the smile spreading like an infection.] No? Johnny Cash? [Galo, please.] It's a classic.
[Maybe it's the hookah possessing him now. It doesn't take long for it to go to the head. Lio gives the stiff end of the hose a little swing and starts to hum the opening refrain of a song he knows all too well.] I fell in to a burning ring of fire. I fell down down down and the flames they went higher. No?
[He gives Galo maybe a second to respond before it's clear the recognition isn't there. Lio, with his family and his childhood and this lake in the summer and now. Music. He's just overflowing today. And it's nice. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he makes the promise, if only to himself that it wouldn't be weeks upon weeks again. That he'd make more time for this. For himself. For both of them.
Finally, the hose is a passed over for Galo to appreciate. Or choke on again. Either option is still a genuine possibility.] It's settled then. I'll torture you with a bonfire and a proper music education.
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It really is unfortunate that they don't get to spend more time together one on one. Between rescue work, reconstruction efforts and media appearances it's difficult to find the time, and even when they are free sometimes they're just too exhausted to do much more than veg out on the couch until they pass out asleep. But Galo is stubborn, and sometimes he wants to see Lio anyway, and so they meet up wherever sounds good at the time, often late at night or in the wee hours of the morning when most of the others are fast asleep, and just spend what time they can together before one or both of them eventually succumbs to exhaustion. It's never a bad time, but Galo really wishes they could just have an entire weekend to themselves sometime. Maybe someday. Now that their lives are more stable the possibility of getting together again is high, it just might not be as soon as Galo wants it to be.
Lio looks up at him, eyes wide and smiling, and it's clear that he's amused that Galo is unfamiliar with the song. Or maybe he's just happy to get a chance to tell someone about it, either way Galo is all ears, and he shakes his head at the name Lio gives him. It sounds vaguely familiar, but that probably doesn't count.]
Nope. Not ringing any bells.
[Galo is into music, of course he is, but mostly modern stuff, or like, classics from the 80's. He doesn't know many country stars of old, so Lio has him pretty much stumped here.
He's caught completely off-guard when Lio actually starts humming the song, and he doesn't think he's actually ever heard him do that before. Maybe a couple of notes, but never this much, and then Lio sings a little bit of the lyrics for him, and Galo is completely charmed. He doesn't recognize the song, no, but he still grins like a fool, and he can't help but give Lio a little side hug, just because.]
Nah, dunno the song, but I kinda liked hearing you sing it anyway.
[Lio must be in an exceptionally good mood for him to share this much with Galo, and though Lio is usually pretty relaxed around him these days this is on a whole other level. Galo likes it, and he'd love a repeat sometime, preferably sooner rather than later. They can figure something out, set aside a day or something to hang out again soon, he's sure of it. They've both been wearing themselves so thin lately that Galo is pretty sure that he could talk Ignis into giving him at least a single day off, and maybe Lio could manage to find the time to take a day off from his duties as the honorary leader of sorts for the former Burnish too. Surely just a single day of freedom from all their responsibilities couldn't hurt, right?
He takes the hose from Lio as he mulls it over, and then Lio says that, and Galo can't help but laugh, even if...Lio is probably being totally serious right now...]
You're on! I might not like it, but the great Galo Thymos will light a bonfire and learn all about music, just you watch!! Well, I won't like the fire part anyway, but the music could be interesting.
[He wonders to himself what Lio might have to teach him about music. A lot, probably. Galo is kind of looking forward to it now, especially if it involves Lio humming or singing to him.
This time he's a little smarter about taking a pull from the hookah, at least. He puts the end of the hose in his mouth and breaths in slow, steady and deep, letting the smoke fill his lungs before exhaling it in a big, poofy cloud of strawberry goodness. He smacks his lips a few times and hums, and in the end gives the flavor a literal thumb's up.]
Waaaay better than that pine flavor. Good choice, Lio.