[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-

Comments

[eidxiety]

Aha, but you smell so masculine?? In a "I drink too much" way, but still. I like it.

[Wrap him in your scent you testosterone-addled homophobe, he wants it.]

When you gave it to me last night, it was all warm and smelled like you, too. I dunno how to explain why I liked it, I just did.

[The inherent romance of breathing in someone's scent but neither of them are very romantic etc etc.

Anyway, they're headed down the strip while Ain tries to painstakingly explain "I like you" without actually saying those words because, uh, he is love-phobic now thank you very much... and someone catcalls him. It was going to happen eventually because Patriarchy but God.]

[lupusxylem]

[Just wait until Ain actually says "I love you" out loud to Wolfwood with his mouth and Wolfwood doesn't say it back, oops-

Don't look now though! Ain's being catcalled! And Wolfwood...

He will swear up and down later it's because he's keeping up appearances, but his reaction is immediate and reflexive. He snarls like a wolf, baring his teeth in a grimace at the man who did that.]

Fuck off.

[eidxiety]

[Ain isn't really bothered by it on account of... like, he knows he looks good, he knows he was going to solicit commentary from crass people, and usually he also encourages it because it gets him money and attention. He's content to be like "whatever" until Wolfwood snarls at the guy, who skedaddles immediately when he realises there's opposition. Those types always do, but...

What catches Ain off-guard is the fact that Wolfwood is defending him? Even if it's for appearances, they could've just walked on, no big deal, Ain wouldn't have been offended either way.

Why?? It's not like they're really growing closer, probably, maybe? Ain is a loveless thief and Wolfwood is, as far as Ain knows, someone who does weird things for money, and they have no reason to be together other than the fact that they happen to be going the same direction.

It makes his face heat up. Uh?? Uhhhh???]

...it's fine, just ignore those people. That happens to me a lot.

[lupusxylem]

Don't matter. Assholes like that need t'be taught a lesson, otherwise they'll just keep doin' it.

[Since when did Wolfwood care, though? He's never really gone out of his way to help like this before, not just in Ain's case, but for anyone...but it's like they're really a couple, and he's being...

...possessive.]

[eidxiety]

[... He's being possessive. Protective, even. Ain does not want to put words to what he's feeling about that, but it's so...

Safe? It's so safe. He feels so looked after.

His will to steal all of Wolfwood's stuff astronomically shrinks. Ohhhhh no, this is so bad. This is so bad for his health.

...]

Thanks. Uh— let's just keep going, I'm sure people will calm down eventually. You'd think they've never seen someone tall wearing a skirt before.

[Don't say he makes you feel safe don't say he makes you feel things in general don't say anything no speaking—]

[lupusxylem]

[Wolfwood, meanwhile, is still trying to puzzle out why he said what he said. Did what he did. He never felt that strongly about whatever other people were doing before, and it's not like they're...a thing.

So why? He...isn't sure he has an answer. He just knows that guy catcalling Ain pissed him off, so he said something. It seems simple enough, when he thinks about it in that light.]

Tch. Yeah. They prob'ly think you're some kinda whore.

[........implying he isn't-????? Wolfwood you met Ain while he was like, literally singing at a saloon and also implied to be prostituting, hello-]

Just cause you're some pretty thing in a skirt...

[eidxiety]

Um...

[Yes Wolfwood, he does be whore! It's how he makes money aside from the crime!

Ain won't correct him, he'll just keep leading them forward. It looks like there's something of a park up ahead... It's not grassy, but there are trees to spend time under and people watch, and Ain does love to people watch. There's also a real pretty lake, too.]

Am I pretty?? To you? Or just in general?

[lupusxylem]

[Hahaha...fuck. Uh.

Wolfwood looks away as they walk, his words caught in the back of his throat as he finds himself struggling to say what he wants to say. He knows his answer- it's right there, and he'd say it easily if he wore his heart on his sleeves- but he's hesitating because...well. You know.

Homophobic.

...hang on, he's going to fumble in his jacket pocket for a cigarette, which is Ain's dead giveaway he's nervous. He smokes to calm down.]

I mean. Yeah. You're...I mean. Look at you.

[Uh huh keep going sweetie]

[eidxiety]

[How do those rings feel in there baby, they heavy?]

...yeah? I'm glad. I really wanted you to think so.

[He didn't get dressed up for no reason! And he's going to steer them toward a bench by the lake... Maybe it's more of an oasis actually, but either way, they have more of an excuse to sit down since Wolfwood is now smoking and most decent store owners don't want people smoking in their shops.]

You already know I think you're attractive. I don't know if I need to say it again. It'll probably inflate your ego.

[lupusxylem]

[Fortunately for this conversation not getting swerved to "wait HOW much did you steal", Wolfwood's cigarettes are in his inner pocket, not the outer ones that are holding the stolen rings. He'll get to those later tonight though, rest assured, and upend his coat like Ain what the fuck. For now, though...maybe he notices it's a little heavier than usual, but the gay thoughts are too strong for his deductive reasoning to actually be working properly.

Anyway, here they are at this oasis of sorts, and after they've been on the road for so long, it's...a sight to behold. It's plenty hot out...it makes you want to go take a dip. Instead of doing that, Wolfwood sinks into a (manspreading) sit on the bench, pulling out his cigarette lighter so he can get himself lit up, taking a few deep drags before he responds because Ain just called him attractive and he didn't hate it.

Ffffffffuuuuuck.]

Hah...yeah, well. That much was already obvious...

[Is how he decides to cover himself, leaning back now that he's got his cigarette lit.

Leaning back, and putting his arm across the back of the bench.]

[eidxiety]

That you have an ego, or that I think you're good-looking? Haha...

[He sits down on the bench, right in the spot Wolfwood leaves open with his arm over the back like that, and cuddles up close. You know, as he's been doing, despite telling himself he needs to not do that. Even if Ain were to sit far away, he thinks he'd naturally gravitate over to Wolfwood anyway, like a moon to earth's gravity.]

Oases are so pretty... do you think there's frogs in there? Or snakes? Or... what lives in an oasis, a fish?

[just a singular fish.]

[lupusxylem]

[That metaphor is sooo fucking gay why are you so gaaay

Wolfwood leans back, tilting his head up to exhale smoke towards the sky with his cigarette still clenched between his teeth. He'd offer Ain a drag, but he mentioned before he didn't usually smoke...so he'll refrain, unless he actually asks for a hit.]

Both.

[Both, he says, and chooses to not elaborate.

Anyway, oasis. He tilts his head, looking back down towards the water.]

Prob'ly not fish this far out. But definitely snakes. Maybe frogs, but I dunno, I ain't a frog expert.

[They just gotta be Moist.]

[eidxiety]

Ooh...

[Creatures... Ain wants to go look for creatures, but he's going to sit here first with Wolfwood and lay his head on his chest. It requires him to sort of... slant himself across the bench, but that's fine, no one else is here.]

Do you think the snakes are venomous? I want to go find one.

[AIN THERE ARE COPPERHEADS OUT HERE]

[lupusxylem]

…Ain. Pretty much every snake you’ll find out there will kill you so much as look at ya.

[Reflexively

Shifts a little closer? To Ain? Don’t die???]

Do not go pickin’ up snakes.

[eidxiety]

Yeah, but rattlesnakes don't swim, do they?

[No but they fucking drink water! Do not go spelunking in the oasis!!!]

You can hear them! They start shaking their rattles at you before they strike. I've seen them before, and I haven't had any issues.

[How are you alive.]

Buuuut, if you're going to get closer to me every time I say that I'm going to go pick up a snake with my bare hands... [winks] Then I'm toooootally going to pick up a rattlesnake and shake it around a little.

[lupusxylem]

Y- Tch.

[Wolfwood clicks his tongue audibly as his face flares hot with embarrassment when Ain calls him out, his head turned away so he won’t see how red his face is, or the way his face has twisted all up into an expression that’s difficult to properly place.]

You’re such a lil shit, yaknow that?

[eidxiety]

I'm gonna do it!! I'm gonna stick my fingers right in front of its little face until it bites me!!

[Giggles stupidly... squishes his face into the titties a little, you know, for fun and profit. They're cuddling and it looks so heterosexual right now, anyone who came by this oasis to chill out on the other benches and enjoy the sights are going to be so not-offended. It makes Ain feel so sneaky. Like a spy. But gay.

He wraps his arms around Wolfwood's waist and clings to him.]

...I know, haha. Doesn't it make me more fun? Do you want a boring— [partner? boyfriend? no no, those are bad words, uh,] —travelling companion, or do you want a fun one that keeps you on your toes?

[lupusxylem]

C’mon now. If you start doin’ that, I might just kill you myself.

[In spite of his best efforts to stay grumpy, in spite of everything…Wolfwood cracks a smile at Ain’s antics. It’s not hard to see why though. Something about him, and the way he acts, is just as infuriating sometimes as it is contagious. Maybe Ain knows that, and he acts up on purpose to see if he can get a rise out of people. It sure does work for Wolfwood 99% of the time.

And yeah, their asses sure are just out here cuddling on this bench. Ain has his arms around Wolfwood’s waist and he isn’t trying to stop him…which probably says a lot on its own. He just smirks and shakes his head a little, bringing his free hand around to ruffle his hair.

…which, inevitably, turns into his hand lingering, fingers stroking through silver locks.]

I guess not. Most of the people I know are about as interestin’ as dirt, so you make a good point.

[eidxiety]

["It's not a date" says local man who now has Wolfwood's hand in his hair and the hat he was given sitting on his knee, who asked for his old jacket and wasn't immediately told "no you're weird". "It's not a date" except in all ways save for a verbal agreement, this is date behaviour.

Ain clings tighter, turning his face into Wolfwood's chest a little more. His face is burning, but maybe Wolfwood can't see him like this.

Calm down. It's not like he's got feelings for this man, he's just touch-starved. Sex with strangers can only do so much. All he wants is a hug, that's probably what it is...]

I can promise you that you've never met a man like me, [he says, quietly enough so that if anyone overheard, they might think they missed the "wo" in "woman" and not ask questions.] And I guess... I've met men like you, but not ones who'll let me cuddle with them and give me their hats.

[lupusxylem]

[“This ain’t cuddlin’”, he thinks, but…no, yes, it is. Ain has his arms wrapped wholesale around his waist. They’re in public. His head is on his chest. This is a cuddle. It’s PDA of a level that only a couple would be engaging in in public, normally, unless it’s late at night and the cowboy who hired the prostitute is really drunk or something and just doesn’t care about appearances.

To everyone looking from the outside in, Ain is Wolfwood’s lady friend. But Wolfwood knows that isn’t the case at all. He knows, and every time he blinks with the weight of Ain’s head against his chest, he’s reminded of where he was just 12 hours ago: split in half, bent at the waist, and pounded by his cock within an inch of his life.

…best not to let his mind run away with that one for too long.]

Guess that makes me a more decent guy than I thought.

[He mutters, brushing Ain’s hair back off his forehead.

He does not act on the intrusive thought to kiss it.]

[eidxiety]

[Not cuddling, not a date, they're not gravitating toward each other and they're definitely just travelling companions who are going to split at the next town. Nothing gay happening here.]

Aww, I think you're decent. You haven't murdered anyone in the streets or anything!

[haha lol]

You're a good boy. I'm fond of you, you know? And I like your hand in my hair like that.

[lupusxylem]

Is that all it takes to be decent, these days? Not murdering people?

[If that were true, then most people would fit that description, even people who are categorically terrible.

But then…Ain calls him a good boy. Says he’s fond of him. And Wolfwood…is left at a brief loss for words, his expression softening a touch. Having the hand in his hair called out makes Wolfwood still for just a moment, as if contemplating jerking his hand away and making some excuse for why he was doing it. But…well…

Wouldn’t that be weird, acting standoffish with his “lady friend”?]

Is that my lady friend sayin’ that? Or Ain?

[eidxiety]

I'm not putting on a performance out here, when we're practically alone and no one's close enough to hear us. Your "lady friend" doesn't really exist right now.

[Ain is just a man who likes to wear skirts... Ain is the one saying all this softly romantic stuff. He can't cope with the thought that it might come from a place of attachment. He's never had repeat one-night stands that have led to... feelings, and he blames the proximity.

He'll definitely get over it if they're apart. Definitely. Wolfwood will depart at the next town and Ain will breathe a sigh of relief and head to the mountains and go see if they're cold or not. That's it. That's where life is headed. He's going to die alone and he's fine with that.

(He's not fine with that.)]

All of these things come from Ain. I like snuggling with you like this. I like the way you're all warm and protective. And I like... I dunno, I just like sitting here with you. And messing with you about snakes that I'm totally gonna touch.

[You know, throwing in that last note so that he can't be accused of being romantic.]

[lupusxylem]

[......

Wolfwood is silent for a long moment or two, just looking down at Ain now basically wrapped up in his arms, even though he just has his arm around the bench still, and not Ain himself. It manages to keep him at arm's length while also allowing for much more than he really should be...

He works his cigarette over to the other side of his mouth, exhaling another small cloud of smoke.]

Well. I dunno if I'd say you got good taste or not, in that case. [...] But I guess you ain't as annoyin' as I thought you'd be.

[eidxiety]

Aww, you haven't seen me at my most annoying!!

[He's so chipper, raising his head up and thinking about kissing Wolfwood's cheek and then

his head sinks back down because oh no, they're not to the random kisses stage are they? They're not to any stages. There's no stages.

...

Ain slinks away, getting up to go to the edge of the oasis and look for frogs.]

I'm not going to touch any snakes, so don't worry about me, okay? I'm just poking around.

[He is overturning a lilypad with a stick... it looks like this oasis might've had some stuff added to it by man rather than just been like this, but that's the beauty of starting a town around one, after all.]