[Closed] @eidxiety🐎🌹

[winterbolt]

Angelina is a black horse with white markings on her face in this sorry I can't picture her as being any other color-

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[lupusxylem]

[Ain would be well within his rights to do this, please just throw him headfirst into the trash honestly. But no, he's actually a couple doors down on the bottom floor, thank god, because getting him up stairs right now would probably be a war of attrition that Ain does not want to try tackling. On in his room, it reeks of cigarettes and has a few of his personal belongings strewn across the room, like an old rucksack beside the bed with miscellaneous things inside. So, you know, if Ain's pickpocketing urges take over Wolfwood is simply too dead to stop him, given the way he falls face-first into his bed.

He grumbles something barely audible into the pillows, until he happens to turn his head just enough to be heard.]

S'a'good...good time...

[eidxiety]

[Ah... he's really cute, actually. Ugh. Please sober up so Ain can rapidly change his opinion on you thanks.]

Come by that saloon tomorrow. I'll be there all day... provided you don't steal me away early.

[The barkeep will live without Ain, there are other people who can play music for him, and Ain can't say he cares too much whether the old man makes money or not. He's just here to lift stuff and bail.

...

Well. He said he'd let Wolfwood keep his things for now. So... no robbery tonight. Next time though, he'd better hide his stuff.]

And try not to die in your sleep, okay, sweet thing?

[lupusxylem]

[Why is he being so nice to me? he thinks in his drunken haze as he lays there, too blitzed out to say anything more. Though he's too tired to think or speak, his mind still races with thoughts he's too uncertain to put out into the open. Is Ain calling him these nice things just because he says them to every man he fucks, or is it him genuinely being nice and flirty? Does he actually care? And why is he telling him to come back, after the way he treated him?

It's all stuff Wolfwood lacks the cognition to even consider right now, and before long, he's fallen asleep and it doesn't matter anyway.

Now the question is how early/late Ain is planning to work that saloon, because Wolfwood is not waking up early with the kind of hangover he has. Like, he'll get up eventually, but boy does he regret how much alcohol he imbibed the night before, good god.]

[eidxiety]

[Ain goes home (an abandoned shack he's turned into a temporary shelter), and he spends the morning dodging the sheriff, lifting coinpurses, and getting ready for the day. He's still dressed all pretty, but he's wearing actual pants today. It still doesn't make him look all that masculine, to be honest. Any time there's a wanted poster, he tears it down and feeds it to Elria. Munch munch.

So, no, he's not immediately there... he's canvassing for a cross charm to affix to that collar later. You know... for fun. For profit. For to fluster the hell out of the straight boy. He does wind up finding one from a jewellery seller who seems a little sleazy, but that's alright, Ain is also a bit of a rat. He'll be good and pay for it, then pocket it for later, and if his straight boy doesn't show up at the saloon... oh well, he'll live.

Anyway, he winds up there around lunchtime, hops up onto the stage, and gets to singing. He obviously can't do this all day, it's a bit untenable, but he'll be here for the foreseeable future.]

[lupusxylem]

[While Ain is out doing his little tasks and actually singing at the saloon, Wolfwood is recovering from his hangover, first and foremost. He ends up wallowing in pain for a good few hours before making it out of bed, looking washed up and haggard as he puts his clothes on. He unfortunately remembers the key bits from the night before, such as how he completely lost it and fucked a guy despite being straight. That’s not something he’ll be living down, even if it was explicitly to get a job done.

And he still has work to do. He can’t just write it off as a mistake, so maybe the little voice in the back of his head saying “maybe” will shut up once he gets there and stays sober for his next interaction with the guy. Things will be different, he’s certain of it.

So. Ain will find his straight man walking in a couple hours into his set, sinking into a booth at the bar without buying himself any drinks this time. He’ll just smoke thanks.]

[eidxiety]

[Oh, look, it's his straight man... aww, he's so pretty and clearly not inebriated today! Which means this is going to go homophobically. Yaaaay!

Still, when he catches Wolfwood's eye, he flashes his biggest, brightest smile. He's still singing for a few more songs, but the afternoon crowd isn't as rowdy as the evening ones tend to be. When there's a lull in the crowd, Ain chooses to take something of a lunch break.

...

Which means he's setting aside his guitar and sliding into the chair across from Wolfwood.]

Hello, pet. [Does Wolfwood still have the collar on?] You look like you're not about to die this afternoon!

[lupusxylem]

[Wolfwood feels like he’s been hit by a truck, and it’s not just from the drinking. His lower back aches, because despite kindof-bottoming for the first time, it still ended up being a hell of a workout. And that morning…that morning he had a bit of a crisis for an hour in bed, realizing that what he did wasn’t a dream, he had sex with another man, and that’s not something you can come back from. He could take it to his grave, sure, but how is he meant to feel about it when the experience was better than any he ever had with a woman?

And so he laid there, trying to rationalize. Trying to convince himself it was just for the job, and he was drunk and lonely, so that didn’t really help. It wasn’t because he wanted it. He just did it because Ain was there. He’s only back at the saloon because he still needs to bring Ain into custody. He can’t let him go yet.

He has a job to do.

I flipped a coin 5 times to see if he’d be wearing the collar, and I flipped 4 tails in a row (isn’t wearing it), so obviously he’s wearing the collar—

At least it matches his clothes. It’s easy to mistake as a decorative choker.]

I think maybe you need your eyes checked.

[Takes another slow drag of his cigarette.]

I look like ass.

[eidxiety]

[Of course! It's black leather and hey, no one's going to criticise a straight man for being an edgy twat. If a cross hangs off the charm in the future, all the better. That is now a Catholic Man.

Meanwhile, Ain is trailing the toetip of his boot up Wolfwood's shin, stopping at the knee, and going back down. What are we doing, Ain, why are we doing this.]

Maybe so, but you aren't seconds from collapse, haha. That has to count for something!

[He flags the barkeep down and shouts for water and "a little snack", which inevitably means they're going to get a bowl of trail mix because bar food is Not fancy here, but that's fine.]

You're here early, dear. Are you planning to whisk me away, or are you back to being grouchy?

[lupusxylem]

Why? S’that what you want me to do?

[He asks in a gruff undertone, his skin blooming with goosebumps as he feels the way Ain traces his shin teasingly with his shoe. He doesn’t stop him, continuing to puff away at his cigarette.]

M’just here killin’ time. I’d just be wallowin’ in the inn room otherwise.

[And he can’t come back empty handed so-]

[eidxiety]

That's up to you, grouchy boy~.

[Their glasses of water and a bowl of mixed nuts are brought to the table, and Ain deftly unshells a peanut with his demon claws (manicured nails) and pops it into his mouth.]

You're from out of town, you said... there's really nothing in town you'd rather do? There's a big pasture west of here where you could take your horse to play, you know.

[It's full of desert grasses, because yeah, it's basically all sand and brush out here — but still, it's something for horseys to munch.]

[lupusxylem]

[Yes, he is a grouchy boy, it is his God Given Right to be grouchy.

...hm. A big open field would be nice for Angelina though. She always gets antsy during prolonged stays in towns like this, since there's never much room to move around, and she's more often than not going to be put in a stable while Wolfwood is doing something else.]

Sounds kinda like a good way to get myself jumped. Goin' out west to a deserted pasture, all by myself?

[He'll reach over for his water, he is still very dehydrated.]

[eidxiety]

A big boy like you getting jumped? I doubt that.

[It's not going to be the prettiest place. There's something to be said about the pale greens of buffelgrass, obviously, and they'll be able to see the mountains far on the horizon — but it's not near any water, not off in some sort of pretty forest next to a waterfall, not physically in the mountains which are thousands of miles out. It's just a pasture filled with desert grasses and bushes and saguaros, surrounded by a metal fence so the horses don't wander off.

It's also a great place to ride. It's massive. Several acres, which is why it's so far out. It's probably the nicest thing in this dinky little town, and it's not even physically in it. Like, they're going to have to make something of a journey. Not a long one, but a journey.]

Do you think a skinny little thing like me is going to be able to defend you? [Winks.] If you want me to go with you, just ask, sweetie.

[lupusxylem]

Tch. Please. If anythin', It'd be the other way 'round, wouldn't it?

[He drinks some of his water, eyeing Ain over the rim. Hm...though he wonders why Ain is suggesting it to him at all, it does present a sort of opportunity. An opportunity to be around him without it seeming like he wants to go out of his way to spend time with him. Again, it's all part of getting his guard down.]

...guess I could take Angelina out, though. She's probably gettin' stir crazy right 'bout now.

[eidxiety]

[Really, Ain has no reason to be doing the things he's doing. The thing is, he wants to mess with Wolfwood a little before he definitely totally robs him blind, like he did with Wolfwood's boss. None of it is because he wants to go on a "cute date" or woo the straight boy. Ain is a creature incapable of feeling love anymore; it would be overdramatic to say that he's been burned one too many times considering the people he held affection for never loved him back in the first place, but he's certainly sort of over the whole scene. It's complicated.

He's not even trying to be edgy with this, he just doesn't think it's possible, since he cares more about freedom and money and following his own beat than settling down and doing what society wants. It could be the parental trauma speaking. It could also just be the fact that Ain's an asshole— either way, you don't get in bed with people by being a dick (even though Wolfwood has, but he's the one with the money, he's the one who paid last night). You do get in bed with them by being sweet and cute and interesting, and Ain plans on skipping town tonight before his wanted posters get re-printed again with Wolfwood's coinpurse in his back pocket. So!

A-ridin' they will go.]

Aww, is she a bit of a wild one? Haha, well, have fun, darling! [but also he told Wolfwood to ask if he wants Ain to come with so uh.]

[lupusxylem]

[...man Ain why do you have to put the onus on him, a straight man. This makes remaining obviously straight and not-into-dudes-at-all more difficult than it needs to be.

He sighs, heavily, pulling his cig from inbetween his teeth so he can ash it on a provided ash tray nearby before grabbing a handful of nuts, but instead of shelling them with his fingers, he does the worst thing for your teeth and just breaks them open with his incisors like an animal.]

She can be feisty, yeah. But she was a lot calmer around your horse last night, weirdly enough. Guess she just likes the company.

[eidxiety]

[...ah. Yes, that's straight man behaviour. Eugh, your teeth...]

Elria is very specifically trained to deal with ornery people and animals. I work in a dangerous field, you know!

[Yes, of your own volition. You're not a good sex worker, you like to ride men and rob them because it gives you the power you never had growing up—]

If others don't yield to her, she tends to make them. [She's also obnoxiously huge, as Clydesdales tend to get, so that helps.] She's still friendly, though, but I have a feeling it's more because her presence tends to get others to sit down and shut up.

[That or she and Angelina had horsey conversations and are now friends.]

[lupusxylem]

[Honestly, weirdly enough, Elria probably makes Angelina feel safer. She's always been a bit of a smaller horse, more easily aggressed no matter how feisty she might personally be. So with a big Clydesdale around she can just stand there and be like :) horse noises

That, and Wolfwood's ~energy~ keeps her keyed up almost all the time. He's always got something going on, and relaxing is pretty much still a completely new concept that he only just learned last night, so.]

Maybe she could help me keep Angelina from runnin' off on me, then. Unless you're busy with your side gig.

[eidxiety]

[Wow, he's real bad at just saying "come with me" isn't he? Ain pretends not to have heard for a minute while he's unshelling nuts with his nails. We love vitamins and minerals. We love healthy snacks. We love ignoring Wolfwood.

...]

Ooh~. She sure could! But are you asking me to borrow her... Or are you wanting me to come with you? Mister isn't too direct...

[Eats his snack like :) ]

[lupusxylem]

[Ugh.]

I'd rather not try to watch both of 'em by myself, especially if one of 'em is taller than me.

[Elria could just simply decide "I don't like this man" and trample him to death.]

You comin' or not?

[eidxiety]

Haha, good boy. Was that so hard?

[Ain stands up, but he's gotta pack his guitar up first. It doesn't take too long until he's back at the table, standing with the case in his hand and gunning the rest of his water. They'll need to stay hydrated while they're out there, but there's a well not too far from it.]

I'll lead us there, then. Since you asked so nicely and all.

[lupusxylem]

[Do not think about how him calling you a good boy made you feel, do not think about it-

With a grunt, Wolfwood reaches into their peanut bowl and grabs another handful, this time to stuff into his jacket pocket. You know, for later.]

Right. And how far is it again?

[eidxiety]

Half an hour's ride west of here. Not too long.

[Underneath the desert sun? That's quite a lot. That's why they have sleeves baby. That's also why Ain has like seven canteens in the saddlebag—

Let's go get the horses ready to be horse. Neigh.]

[lupusxylem]

[It sure is quite a lot, actually...especially for an asshole like Wolfwood who wears BLACK. But it's fine, he rode like an hour or something just to get here, so he'll survive. He's more worried about Angelina, whose hair is black and tends to absorb a lot of heat too.

Speaking of horse, she lifts her head with her ears perking when she sees Ain again, snorting in his direction. Hello? Wolfwood why did you bring this twink back-]

Easy, Ange. We're goin' for a ride.

[eidxiety]

[Elria, meanwhile, just tossing her head about like yes I am a beautiful horse, love me I am glorious, et cetera. She will nibble on Angelina's ears if she gets the opportunity. Haha ur short.

It's quick for Ain to mount a horse this big, somehow. Like, he has to stick both of his feet in the stirrups and then pull himself up that way, but hey, he makes it. He makes it, and then they're free to set off.]

You'll like it, Ms. Angelina, I promise. There's lots of grass for you to gorge yourself on!

[lupusxylem]

[Angelina whinnies softly and flicks her ears around as Elria nibbles them, but miraculously doesn't actually try to get away from it, which is baffling to Wolfwood. Any other horse- or animal for that matter- tries that and she would have kicked them in the face.

He'll climb onto her back after Ain gets on Elria, adjusting her reigns in his hands.]

Don't encourage her, else we'll never actually be able to leave.

[She snorts again, pawing the ground.]