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This place is certainly… vibrant. And yes, the Tenakth thrive on a lively environment too, filled with all sorts of colours and shapes, but none have ever been so bright. Where the Tenakth find their pastel purples and blues and yellows comforting, these Oseram like this; electric blue stripes decorate the land, lining the remnants of what he imagines were once impressive settlements, bright red racing up into the night sky.
Kotallo observes that same Vision (hologram, whatever) of a mighty red and orange beast circle in the air, flickering flames erupting from its maw, before vanishing into the sand with little evidence it was there save for the cheers of the Oseram watching. Erend invited them all out now that he was assisting in popularizing this place in his spare time- and he’s done a good job, Kotallo will admit. Beta, albeit shyly, is bursting with excitement; her eyes big and wide as she stares up at all the lights like some child. He supposes he doesn’t blame her, it’s quite the beautiful sight. Zo and Varl, the saps, are cuddled together at a bench watching the large red hearts evaporate into the air. Some tradition from the Old Ones, he doesn’t know. All lovey dovey and undoubtedly cringeworthy. He can’t ever imagine doing this for someone.
Aloy is… well, she was here before she got distracted. Scuttled off to explore nearby ruins, not too different from her usual behaviour. She’s the reason this place is even lit up at all, after she got POSEIDON. So thank you, Aloy, for being the catalyst for… this.
One of the Oseram – Kotallo can’t remember his name – made a… floating device. It’s honestly a terrifying contraption, and he doesn’t think he wants to set foot in it. But Erend is trying to convince everyone to take a turn floating up to the top of the ancient city. Kotallo doesn’t hate heights, but if he could choose between warm sand under his feet or rickety wood high in the air, he would choose the sand.
Alva has just dropped back down from her visit up into the sky, buzzing and rambling about all the things she saw up there. “Kotallo- you have to go up there! It’s so pretty! You can see all the lights and- and Scalding Spear! I mean, it’s- far away, but you can see it! Only just, but—”
Kotallo shakes his head softly, waving her off. “No thank you, Alva. I’ll stay here on the ground.”
“Aw, c’mon Kotallo, don’t be a wuss,” Erend claps him on the shoulder, “it’s not that bad. I can go up there with you if you’re that scared.”
Kotallo shrugs him off, scoffing, “I am not scared. I am simply not stepping foot on something as unstable as this… contraption.” Even if he was scared, why is that such a problem? It is fair to be. That thing spews fire into a flammable air sac and everyone is fine with it? It seems ridiculous to him.
“It’s perfectly stable, trust me. If it can support my weight then it can support yours too. You need me to hold your hand, princess?” Erend bows, a mockery of someone of a lower rank.
“No. I do not need you to hold my hand. I will be fine.” He snaps quickly. Fine. If they so wish him to go in this thing then he will. Even if he will be irritable the whole ride. He is not a princess, and he is not scared.
Erend keeps a firm hand on his shoulder while they walk to the Orb, much to Kotallo’s chagrin. He doesn’t need an escort. Let alone one with such large hands. And there is nothing sexual about that thought, mind you. Erend’s hands are simply large. A bit sweaty, too, which is also discomforting. Erend’s entire body seems to be flushed; surprising, considering that the desert is cold at night. Not that the cold bothers Kotallo anyway.
The wood is sturdier than he thought it would be as he steps in, finally batting Erend’s hand away. It leaves an area of warmth that he’s not sure he’s comfortable with. “Here. I am in the… Orb. Your floating contraption.” He mutters.
“Morlund showed me how to get it in the air, so I’ll just have to… get it going.” Erend tugs on the chain connected to the fire spitter, sending a bright burst of orange into the Orb.
Slowly, it starts to lift. Would clinging to the side or standing in the middle be better? Does he look down? No, he’ll surely tip over the side. This thing will fall, there’s no way it won’t. They’re already getting high, by the Ten-
A warm hand lands on Kotallo’s shoulder, startling him out of his mind’s anxious rambling. “You gotta calm down, big guy. I can practically feel how nervous y’are.” Erend raises his eyebrows, tone soft. He appreciates the… gentleness.
“I am fine. It is just… high.” He murmurs.
“Don’t look down then. Look up.”
As the Orb floats higher into the sky, Kotallo observes the wavering serpentine beast crawling up its designated building, curling at the top. It’s a magnificent thing. Weaving through the ruins of the Old World city and lit up with shining metallic yellows are a Behemoth and its Ravager protectors, digging through the sand for their next finds of machine scrap. Alva was right; there’s the proud spire of Scalding Spear in the distance. Perhaps if he had better eyesight, he’d be able to see the Grove, too. The snow-capped mountains where the Sky Clan resides, or perhaps he still wouldn’t be able to through the clouds. He imagines a group of young hunters, scaling that mountain for a fragile little flower. He’d been that hunter once, freshly seventeen and the strongest in his troupe. Manhandled the mountain with ease. He’d love to climb up there again just for the sights.
But for now, he gazes at the fading red hearts in the air. They’re not… awful, he supposes. He still wouldn’t light up the sky for someone, though. If he did have a partner and brought them up here, then it may not be as teeth-grinding. For now, it’s just him and Erend.
Not that they’d ever be- partners. Of course not. What a strange thing for his mind to conjure up.
“Pretty, isn’t it?” Erend murmurs.
Kotallo’s eyes flicker towards him for a moment. Blues and reds illuminate Erend’s face, turning his bright eyes into kaleidoscopes. His hair is slightly mussed, and Kotallo moves to fix it for a moment- no, why would he do that? That’s ridiculous. Now his hand is simply floating in the air and he looks like a fool in front of Erend. Not that he cares, it’s Erend. Erend looks a fool in most scenarios anyway.
Well. Not this one. He’s just… different here. Somehow. By the Ten, he needs to stop staring like a creep and get on with looking at all the pretty lights. The lights on Erend’s face.
“You okay there, big guy? You’re just, uh… Lookin’ at me. Like your brain’s left your head or something.” Erend cocks an eyebrow. Pats his shoulder again.
“I’m fine.” Kotallo bristles, moves to the other side of the meter-long space. It’s still not far enough from the tension that’s started festering in the Orb. Flowering in the Orb? No. No, it’s festering. There’s nothing good about this.
The Orb has reached its highest peak, tethered to the ground as it is. Kotallo still won’t call it safe, but it’s something along the lines of that. He hopes. The calmest of breezes caresses his face, the wooden beads in his braids gently clacking together. The air up here is cold. Reminds him of home, or what was once home.
He supposes he doesn’t really has one now. He’s always moving from place to place, protecting and defending and killing. The Base is where he’s residing at the moment, sure, but- it’s not home. Not yet. He still needs to settle in some more. Get to know everyone else. He could get to know Erend some more, but… No, that’s- weird. He feels weird now. About Erend? No, not about Erend. It’s probably the atmosphere up here. He’s never thought of Erend as anything other than an acquaintance, maybe as a friend. But never as anything more. A close friend, perhaps on a blue moon. And a partner, certainly not. Unfortunately, a part of his brain sings. He promptly squashes that thought like the gnat it is. Gross. If the Ten could see Kotallo right now, they’d hurl. If Hekarro could see him right now, he’d be dead with a single glare.
“We’re goin’ back down, so if you wanna stop stargazing you can.” Erend jests, a rumble that wiggles into Kotallo’s ears in the worst way possible. But also the best way possible, and that’s why it’s the worst. This is the worst.
“Alright.” He grumbles, afraid to even look at the other man in fear of his stomach roiling. Fluttering is the right word, but he doesn’t dare to think about that. No large-winged insects in his stomach tonight, thank you.
Neither of them speak to each other on the descent, neither of them wants to. Maybe Kotallo just doesn’t want to and Erend can sense that. Kotallo won’t even open his mouth; he might hurl his guts (and his feelings) out. The Orb drifts down, slow and careful, until it finally touches its platform with a small thud. He is grateful to be back on solid ground – away from the treacherous heights. And Erend.
Does he really want to be away from him? Right now, of course he does. He needs to go back to the Base and have a long sleep, forget this ever happened. For now.
Later, he can probably just… continue things as normal. Probably spend some more time with Erend as an apology for his behaviour on the Orb. Erend probably didn’t even notice anything off, he thinks with a silent curse. Then it would be seen as strange if they spent time together for no reason at all and he’d be embarrassing himself again.
“Hey. C’mon, party’s leavin’.” The man tosses Kotallo one of those crooked, disgusting-adorable-precious grins, sends his foolish, foolish heart racing. Ten help him.
And if Erend puts his hand on Kotallo’s shoulder one more time he might pass out.