h
oozey mess
#extradirty
Noah Kahan
roma★
EXPECTATIONS
art blog(derogatory)
pixel skylines
Love Begins
if i look back, i am lost
Aqua Utopia｜海の底で記憶を紡ぐ
hello vonnie
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Mike Driver
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her
shark vs the universe
d e v o n
Today's Document
ellievsbear
seen from Chile
seen from Türkiye
seen from Chile
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Norway
@m4dm4n-4nd-polluted
and it's like- it feels like as if somebody was gripping my throat--
˚｡ × . . . { LONG LIVE THE BLACK PARADE } . . . × ｡˚
─ Gerard Way. Former? leader of the Black Parade. Pet project of the Dictator's personal 'manual reconditioning' experiment. Deceased several times over and still kicking . . . ×
night, uh, they're not like tremors- they're worse than tremors--
carrd (read for more info / lore!)
[ @m4dm4n-4nd-polluted ]
[ Gerard startled at the sound, recent times having taken his sleep to a level heavier than his usual. Exhaustion had caught up, unfortunately, and didn't plan on letting his aching body go anytime soon. In a blur of half-sleep, he instinctively reached for the revolver tucked in the tent pocket... though thankfully his senses caught up in time. Clearing his throat at the mistake, he quickly dusted his clothes like that might help his appearance to any degree ]
[ with a soft hum, he pulled tattered boots on and hurried to push himself up off the heap of sheets in his wake. The tent flap opened in the next instant, and out ducked an unkempt-as-ever man shaking his hair from his face and stretching. He blinked a few times to adjust to the change in light, arms raised and tummy peeking from the hem of his shirt as his back gave an audible crackle ]
[ his voice was a little rough and uneven with sleep, but slowly and surely the man was coming around to a fully conscious state. He offered a lopsided smile to his friend, reaching out to give him a small tap on the cheek before sauntering past. He stopped short of the campfire circle, rummaging in a pile of various junk he had there and finding a canteen that he drank from with a "ahhh" of refreshment to follow. That seemed to clear up the dry throat issue, at least ]
[ he felt an odd sort of delight hearing Ray in such a... normal tone. Their past meetings so far had been frantic at best, and tragic at worst. While the news was still not the most ideal-- there was that familiar, comforting twang to Ray's voice that had been missing previously. He blinked slowly at him from this distance, taking the time to admire his current stature. The world had taken its toll on him, but any version of Raymond Toro was near impossible to put down. Even hellfire had not broken him this time around ]
[ he scoffed in a playful, stubborn sort of way at the implication his camp was anything but perfection... knowing damn well that it was the exact opposite ]
[ his tone was entirely humorous, backed by dramatic arm motions to emphasize the grand amenities he insisted such a fine establishment as his own held. Never mind the lack of plumbing, or curious smell ]
[ and just like that, his rambling bit came to an end. He melted underneath of Ray's touch, lips twitching into the grin of a pleased cheshire cat and eyes closing for a moment as he savored the scratch of nails against his scalp. Practically purring. So much so, that he nearly forgot he had more to respond to ]
[ a bucket and towels... a bucket and towels.... Now, Gerard had never touted himself as the smartest man in DRAAG, but certainly he'd reached a new level of stupid when his first thought was laundry. He didn't care much to take the time to clean his small wardrobe himself, but that seemed to make enough sense for Ray. Not everyone enjoyed wearing the same sweaty, bloody, and overall filthy outfit every day ]
[ a bubbly giggle left him as he was pulled around by the larger man, pawing at him gently in return before giving an extra squirm and twist to wriggle out of his hold. A slippery, greasy weasel. That might prove challenge enough for Ray's impending plans ]
[ he walked in usual, swaggering, Gerard fashion to retrieve an old and beaten looking plastic bucket from his various trinkets-- dumping out what appeared to be a collection of interesting looking rocks. Next he sought out the requested towels... coming up less successful. Instead, he grabbed two of the biggest, relatively clean looking t-shirts he could find and called it a day ]
[ he pouted a bit, as if to say how dare Ray for pointing out his utterly atrocious hygiene and lack of self care. Even with his whining he followed along as he was tugged closer to the watery, clean fate he was not yet aware of in his future. To him, he supposed it made sense that he could spare his old rags a nice wash since Ray was already on his way to take care of his own ]
[ he giggled rudely at his own little jab, shoving himself against Ray's side as they walked. The thought of nudity in the wilderness didn't bother him in the slightest, but even thinking about Ray looking shy and silly sitting by his wet clothes with his ass out was too good ]
[ they neared the lakeside soon enough; the treeline giving way to a pretty little scene of calm water reflecting gentle light. You could almost forget it was so close to the miserable concrete jungle that was DRAAG. He sighed deeply in content as he enjoyed the sight, more than happy to share such with his friend ]
[ his brows relaxed, lidded eyes and a shit eating smirk overtaking his expression as he stood by the waterside. Quite frankly, everything needed to be washed. Everything-everything. And since Ray was so insistent on fixing the issue, well, he'd simply have to oblige. It's safe to say he did take a moment to absolutely devour his friend with his eyes as his shirt was pulled overhead though. Ray was too handsome for his own good. A strong, muscular form with artfully placed scars and thick fuzz from chest down, disappearing below a waistband that left much to the imagination. He hardly resisted the urge to give a cartoonish wolf howl ]
[ without further ado he began to peel off his clothes. A tattered performance jacket hit the ground audibly, followed closely by sweat stained shirt. His pale skin practically reflected the damn sun, dotted in the occasional freckle and more common scar. While on the more fairly chubby side, he still found himself to have a decently desirable form-- arms showing muscle as he flexed them with a quick stretch. Next went the boots, kicked off to one side. Socks, which you didn't even want to know the state of, added to the pile. And then his smirk really widened when he started on his slacks. He stepped out of the patch covered and frayed pants and added it to the collection, briefly considering opting for mercy as he looked down at his boxers. But hey, they needed a wash too. And since Ray wanted to be smart about it, what's a little bare ass to the world? ]
[ the last of his clothes was abandoned with such an announcement, and he stood proudly with his hands on bare waist and a twitch in his hip. In the back of his mind he could practically hear Lin shrieking at him about decency and decorum. But what's a little ass between friends? ]
[ he'd been successfully taken off guard by Ray's grand scheme, only able to grunt as they went down and writhe in the larger man's grasp. A string of curses in Keposhka and English alike left his lips, too frazzled by it all to bother keeping any consistency. It was too late by the time the pieces had been put together in his mind, and there he sat like a pathetic little cat being held in place and bathed ]
You sssset me up--!
[ reverting back to English still carried the drawling twang of his accent. His griping was cut short by a splash of water overhead that left him dramatically sputtering and hissing like he'd been dunked headfirst instead. Soggy hair clung to his head, covering his eyes as he hunched in a little tantrum on Ray's lap. He looked silly, in truth. Naked and messy and being forced to endure a good cleaning. Opening his mouth to protest yet again, he coughed and shivered first ]
This is the thanks I get, eh? You drown me like a rat. I'll have you know the grease was a staple to my hairdo. Are you listening to me? Raymond! Release me, vile man!
[ his whining meant nothing, truthfully. But he wouldn't go down without letting the man thoroughly understand that he hated every second of it. He felt the gentle tug of fingers working out matted clumps, hissing under his breath and dropping his head back to side-eye Ray with a pouty glare. Terribly old eyeliner drooled down his cheeks as it was wettened, adding to the effect ]
[ all a big lie, and yet another dramatic attempt at getting Ray to decide this was more effort than it was worth. On top of that, the larger was most certainly correct in his assumptions that such commentary would only get the little beast even further resistant to the whole affair. He shivered as cool water poured further down, dripping off the soaked fabric onto his tummy and lower back as the trail slowed down further from its source. He whined, audibly, like a kicked puppy ]
[ it was with this comment that he shook his hair wildly, and any wetness left in it after Ray's squeezing went splattering in all directions-- including on the man bathing him. In the next instant he was writhing again, twisting around in Ray's hold to shove his bare body against him and rub as much water as he could right back onto him. So much for the t-shirt method trying to keep him dry in the process ]
[ he shrieked as the water was unceremoniously dumped on him, voice cracking as the cold took him off guard. He'd hardly had time to react to such before a muscular arm was wrapped around his throat and he was getting squeezed against Ray's body like a stress toy. His hands shot up to slap at the barricade, making a scene of coughing and wheezing despite not being choked out in the slightest. When that didn't work, his next best solution was to simply bite down on the meaty bicep before him ]
[ he grunted and hissed as Ray continued to manhandle him, flailing around for some sense of control before finally managing to gain some room and break free. In the next moment, both hands had snapped down onto the larger man's shoulders and he used his full body weight to topple him backwards. He sat proudly atop the larger like Theseus and the minotaur, water dripping off his pale skin and soaking the man below as he scrabbled to wrestle the fabric from his hands ]
[ some part of him had known he'd lost the fight before he had even started it, though he was more displeased with the fact that he'd been thwarted in record time than anything else. A grunt was forced from him as he was tossed one last time, over Ray's shoulder like nothing more than a sack of potatoes, before he was lifted and uselessly held there with water dripping off him. His face down to his chest flushed a dark shade of pinkish-red in pure embarrassment at the entire situation and he gave Ray a frustrated thunk on the back like that might save him ]
[ he propped himself up on an arm against Ray's back as he was carried around, scoffing quietly and crossing his ankles as the hung on the opposite side. He was already beginning to plot some sort of revenge in his mind, though nothing he could think up would fairly compensate him for this. However being entirely nude and manhandled by a buff, handsome man did soften the blow to his dignity juuuuust a bit ]
[ his voice dripped with a teasing edge, barely masking his humor behind such exaggerated accusations. It was, honestly, his best attempt at causing any sort of embarrassment in return to the larger man. He gave a raspy giggle by the time his little tangent was over, grinning wildly just out of sight ]
[ his struggling ceased momentarily as Ray's words set in, a new sort of shame and vulnerable feeling sweeping over him as the softness of his tone struck yet another chord. Yes, he'd been negligent of himself for quite a long time-- but no one else has cared. That was always a key factor in perpetuating the fact. No one bothered to encourage anything different of him, or try to convince him he mattered enough to do so... so why change it? ]
. . .
[ squirming again, he used Ray's stooped position to his advantage. He managed to get his feet on the ground first, and then writhed free from there. Afterwards, he shuffled back a step and covered himself sheepishly with his arms as he cast his gaze out over the water; a soft pout set on his lips ]
[ the corners of his mouth turned down into a light frown, listening to the water dribble back into the pond from off his clothes still gripped in Ray's hands. It's a wonder they didn't simply fall apart, what with all the crude patchwork he'd done and the abuse they'd been through ]
[ the sweet lull of Ray's voice did wonders in slipping past in barriers his mind had created to deny such affections from anyone who might dare to try. Quite frankly, even if he didn't understand a word of what Ray was saying his tone would be more than enough to do just the same. Soft, and kind-- laced with a sort of unadulterated tenderness that he hadn't heard in ages. He and Lin were a different sort of sweet. One that was complex even at its best, and meaningful- yet riddled with patchwork wounds they'd spent years carving into each other. Ray was just... Ray. They were wonderfully simple. They just were. ]
[ he hummed softly under his breath to let the man know he had acknowledged his words, eyes slipping shut for a moment as he savored the brush of a warm hand against his face. He pushed a bit closer on instinct as a smile twitched at his lips to replace the frown that had set there only moments prior, and Ray's beard tickled at the top of his head as the kiss was placed there ]
[ he realized that, by this point, he was rambling. His nerves had crept up on him even without his realization kicking in just yet. But it was a bit silly, of course. To have such a gentle moment while ass naked in the woods. He snickered at first to cut himself off, making a poor attempt at biting back the sound before it devolved into a full on laugh. A hearty one at that. Eyes opening again, he looked up at the larger with a newly reinvigorated sparkle of mischief and a deep blush to compliment it ]
[ Ray's own dramatics took him by surprise, but he enjoyed them profusely. With an exaggerated roll of his eyes he moved to grab one of the forgotten, soaked t-shirts from nearby and drop it down on the ground for some padding as he took a seat next to Ray. Setting his bare feet in the shallow water, he shivered lightly at the temperature change. The rest of his body was finally starting to dry a bit however... save for his hair, which would catch up in a soft, fluffy mess later on that he'd certainly be complaining about ]
[ something about being called "his beloved" had struck a chord, leaving him to look out at the ripples of the water without the mercy of his blush yet fading. He and his own Ray had never considered themselves anything of a relationship-- at most, they'd had fleeting touches in desperate moments... but this Ray had a known one with the him from here. That made him wonder, just a bit, if the man saw him in that same light at all ]
[ now, introducing Lin and Ray was sure to be a real treat. But as humorous as he knew it would be in some aspects, he also felt a deeper rooted pang of worry in his gut. It had been hard for him to process the idea of knowing another Ray (that was so much like his own)... and he could only imagine the stew of feelings Lin would go through upon meeting this one. Especially considering, you know... the solider had been the one to kill Raymond in the end. He would not be cruel as he had with Admir though-- not this time. He wouldn't tell Ray who was responsible for Mikey and Raymond's deaths... if he were going to find out, that would be on Lin's own terms ]
[ he twisted his upper half around carefully now that Ray was so close to his side, waiting for the man to turn his head back to the laundry before reaching up to gently play with his curls. His fingers carded through a section of them, splitting the strands, and then he idly began to braid them together. For a man who struggled to put a ponytail in Illi's hair a while back, he seemed to have a generally decent idea of what he was doing now. Maybe he'd practiced a bit since then-- in fear he'd have to do it again at some point ]
[ he could tell, decidedly, that this wasn't a topic that Ray wanted to further indulge him on.... so he allowed his curiosity to remain exactly that and moved on with a soft hum. He slid his thumbs over the braid to check its quality halfway through, satisfied with his work and continuing at a slow, focused pace. He didn't even notice his tongue was poking out between his lips in the process ]
[ a subtle glance was thrown in the direction of Ray's expression, trying to weigh if he was still troubled by his earlier thoughts or not. Clicking his tongue afterwards, he tipped his head and toyed with the finished end of the braid. Such a handsome man. Always. ]
[ he shifted his legs to half cross chubby thighs, definitely starting to get cold now that he was mostly dry and sitting in one spot for a while. That and, of course, he did feel just a little bit of shame sitting there with everything on display right next to Ray. It probably wasn't anything the man hadn't seen before given his relationship with this universe's equivelent of himself-- but still! ]
[ he led the way on the walk back to camp, almost hoping that they'd happen across Lin on one of his little patrols so he could try to explain why the hell he was on a naked stroll alongside Ray. But that didn't happen (sadly), and they soon breached the campsite clearing in peace. He motioned over to the firepit with a hum, signaling for Ray to move towards it while he broke off for the moment ]
[ he didn't so much as wait for a response before disappearing inside of his tent, rustling around in his belongings to find just where he'd put his only spare piece of clothing. It'd been some time since he'd gotten thing-- months ago, when he had taken Illi out on a shopping trip. He had just begun to worry that he might've thrown it out after all this time when he finally happened across it. Not exactly the occasion he'd intended on wearing the thing (but really, did he ever expect to have one?), but it would do just fine to cover him up. He shrugged the thin, silky fabric overhead and pulled it down to where it would rest just halfway up his thighs. The thin straps hugged his shoulders nicely, though, he didn't quite have the bust to fill out the chest. Overall, however... he thought he looked quite nice ]
[ the man spoke as he slipped back out of the tarp entrance, standing sheepishly outside of it. Now the dress had worked itself out on him; holding sweet and snug to his soft hips and framing the pudge of his tummy in an artful sort of way. Slowly drying hair hung against his shoulders, already starting to form loose little curls that had been hidden by all of the grease it had carried for so long. He hugged an arm, clearing his throat and choosing to look down at the dirt instead of directly at whatever Ray's reaction might be ]
[ his eyes widened a bit as the fire burst to life unexpectedly, though a glance up at Ray showed him reason enough as to why. Illuminated by the warm glow of flame, he could see the man's face flush darker... though his expression would've said enough even without the blush to accompany it. He hadn't really... expected such a reaction...? But it certainly wasn't unwelcome. Biting the inside of his cheek in a dreadfully failed attempt to quell his smile, he shook his head like he was disagreeing with words the man had not even spoken ]
[ his laugh had come out more like a giggle. Reaching up absentmindedly, he tucked a stray strand of hair behind one ear. He wasn't used to feeling.... what was this, bashful? But there was undeniable vulnerability to him here and now. He felt... pretty. Ray's reaction made him feel pretty. Quite frankly, he hadn't realized he was capable of fitting such a term in anyone's eyes ]
[ he finally walked closer. Slow and careful in every step. Rounding the fire to stand closer to Ray, he turned his head to look up at him and absolutely beam. A meal and the laundry alike were momentarily forgotten in favor of simply soaking up the warmth of the flames and appreciation alike ]
[ oh, that had really done it. Ray had managed to accomplish two rare feats in the span of one day, by some miracle. The feeling of a wonderfully large, warm hand trailing over his skin sent a shiver up the length of his spine. When it rested on his waist in the divot just above hip (where a hand fits oh so nicely as a matter of fact), he was a goner. His eyes widened a little, lips pursed before the corners of his lips twitched like his face wasn't sure what expression to make. A warm glow quickly followed, turning pale face a dreadful shade of red that crept all the way down to freckled shoulders ]
[ .... Flustered. He was terribly, horribly flustered. His brain short circuited in its futile attempts at righting himself as to not come off as a total fool--
[ ah yes, another typical, peaceful evening in the great territory of DRAAG. The last of the evening birds had tucked into the swaying treetops and handed over the night to the owls and alike. A soft, curious coo confirmed this from a particularly tall and bristled spruce pressed snug to the backside of a certain government building. The deep, melancholy glint of the last of the sun's light wasn't strong enough to reach inside its branches-- leaving the bird's appearance to one's imagination. A gentle breeze rustled the tree, as if to test that theory, and then it gave a violent kind of tremor that the wind had decidedly not been responsible for. Another hoot, a bit frustrated now, sounded off in response. Not but a rough 20 seconds later did the tree rustle unnaturally again, further up. The owl took off with an angry belt from its peak, likely throwing bird-ly expletives in the wake of great wings. ]
[ hands shot out from the side of the tree closest to the building to reveal the source of such a commotion, fumbling blindly at the brick before fingertips brushed the frame of a window. Tugging at the bottom proved fruitless initially, which led those hands to prying at the middle for some sort of give. They then resorted to some artful smacking at the panes. Something must've shown some mercy along the way, because another yank on the lower portion of the frame finally got the damned thing open with a grating squeak. ]
[ from that window came a pesky, chubby bastard of a man. He tumbled through the opening with the art and grace of a ballerina. If that ballerina were an elephant. Grunting as he rolled onto the floor, the bristles of green spruce sprinkled across carpeting surrounding his haphazardly splattered body. Quick to sit up, he shook his hair to relieve it of similar prickles stuck in the strands and took in his surroundings with darting eyes. He'd undershot what he believed to be a window directly to the glorious Dictator's office-- appearing to end up in the hall just outside of it. Naturally, a forest green clad guard was standing about two feet from where he'd landed and looking down at him with a mixture of bewilderment and disgust. Gerard cleared his throat, slowly rising to his feet and ignoring the warning click of a gun being readied ]
I thhhhhink I'm lost...? See, I was out for a stroll. Birdwatching, right, are you following? I was watching the birds. And I thought-
[ he didn't actually finish his story, as interesting as the tale surely would've been had he kept going. Instead his hand slapped the barrel of the guard's rifle to throw it to one side, the second quickly following with a solid crack straight between the eyes. The soldier crumpled with hardly a shout, leaving Gerard to catch him just under the arms. He snickered quietly at an easy victory, dragging the unconscious victim off to the side of the hall and leaning him against the far wall to make him as inconspicuous as possible. Now he was free to continue with his plans. ]
[ shuffling forwards, he scanned the plate on the door to make doubly sure that he wasn't entirely delusional (only partially!). The fancy plaque read "THE OFFICE OF HIS GRAND IMMORTAL DICTATOR" and ridiculously gaudy lettering, which he nodded at in silent confirmation, and then pressed both palms to the door to push inside. Now if he'd calculated something right tonight, the man had already left his office for the evening and he was free to snoop around to his heart's content. But given the window situation... maybe luck wasn't on his side after all ]
[ -- @m4dm4n-4nd-polluted ]
[Unfortunately for Gerard, his assumption about luck was correct. The dictator had decided to stay late today, as he usually did at the end of the week to make sure things wrapped up nicely. While Draag is a well-oiled machine, it takes several people to maintain that status, and the secretary's death had done nothing but complicate things.
He was sitting in a mildly embarrassing position; feet on his desk, with his prized cat in his lap. Everything was just about done, he had merely wanted a moment to himself. Perhaps he would write another note, or simply sit there, taking the time to put his feet up, despite his workload being... not the most substantial.
The commotion outside didn’t bother him, he barely registered the sound of grunting and struggling. Perhaps it was the guards fooling around? He would have to give them an earful later.
He quickly adjusted his position as the door began to drift open, regrettably making his cat leave. All office doors must be opened quickly and efficiently, with one hand on the knob and one hand behind the person's bath. The obvious lack of knowledge either constituted a rather thick-skulled newhire, or a tresspasser of some denomination. A sigh escaped his lips. First the secretary's whole... incident, and now this. His hopes of it being an employee he could at least scold were diminished as he saw the familiar greasy head of hair, those filthy gloves, and that wild, savage look in that creature’s eyes. A gloved hand drifted to the dagger at his side as he slowly stood up. He hoped it would at least ignore the cat.]
Pray tell, what, exactly, are you doing here?
[His eyes barely left it, studying its hunched form for any sudden movements. Hadn’t he taught that thing a rather significant lesson last time? Not that he was complaining about another chance to cut it up, exactly, but it was a rather... inconvenient time. Perhaps he could see if it had any scars from their last session, and he would most certainly create more if it dare tried anything.]
Did you plan to attack me again? If I can recall correctly, last time didn't exactly work out the best for you, no?
[The corner of his mouth lifted slightly at what he was about to say next, although it wasn't particularly clever.]
Is the mutt back for more training? That nice lady isn't here right now, but I would be happy to oblige.
[ he might've been startled by his company had he not felt an infinite amount more loathing deep in his soul instead. Visibly giving a dramatic roll of his eyes, he scoffed and slouched further in a childish display of disappointment. The door was swiftly kicked shut behind him nonetheless, insuring that they wouldn't have any quick interruptions during their spontaneous meeting. Might as well follow through with something while he was here, after all. ]
Do you get off to talking to me like that or ssssomething?
[ he made a faux look of disgust like a toddler weirded out by something on their plate, head lolling to one side and arms swaying idle by his sides. When he decided the Dictator had been thoroughly shamed enough, he dropped the look entirely and swayed over towards the corner bookshelf. He wasn't interested in its contents-- in truth, he'd been hoping to get into the desk that was now not so accessible to him... but it would do for general annoyance's sake. He'd rival the fluffy white cat's nature itself with his own, fingering through the spines of several books before plucking one up and flipping it open in one hand. He scanned the page, boredly looked up at the Dictator, and then unceremoniously let it drop to the floor with a thunk before moving on to the next. ]
... I missed you, by the way. Oh, can't a loyal man miss his Grand Immortal Dictator? You know, I was jussssst dying to see your handsome face again. Really! What's the phrase-? Eh, made my balls itch, or something.
[ thunk. Another book finding its unsavory grave on the floor, bent pages and all. He kept his eyes on the taller man all the while, knowing better than to allow himself to be cornered right off the bat. ]
I believe there are two answers to that; the official one, and the true one. Neither I will give you the satisfaction of knowing.
[he huffed in annoyance as each of his beloved books fell to the ground. Why, of all people who could have visited him tonight, was this the one that came? His books were practically priceless, each hard to come by in Draag, some even signed by the long-dead authors. Still, he didn’t dare pick them up just yet, no matter how much it truly pained him. Each sound of pages crashing to the floor sunk his heart slightly more. He wasn't one for attachment to physical objects, but he took quite a bit of pride in his shelf. Oh, well, perhaps he would see if Boris had any extra copies]
I highly doubt you missed me, especially after you left my office crawling. Or, perhaps, you get off on that? I would be more than happy to oblige.
[Although, he didn’t exactly get off scot-free from that, either. The most important part is that he had won against the vile creature that had tried to claim what was rightfully his, albeit a bit weakened. A victory was a victory, though, it would count in his book. Perhaps this time he could even get an earlobe...
He stood up, drumming his fingers on the dark mahogany of his desk, preparing for... whatever the creature would do. He severely doubted it had come merely to knock over a few books. There were his normal three daggers on his person, his pistol, and a... spare pen he decided to keep on him, for some unknown reason. Oh, well, it couldn't hurt to have.
Why was красота not keeping her distance? She wasn't exactly rubbing against that thing's leg, but she was well within distance for.. whatever it would want to do with her. Even merely petting her would get her coat unfathomably greasy. Although it seemed to be ignoring her for right now, hopefully that wouldn't change. It seemed all of a sudden, most of his prized possessions were in that very room. He made a mental note to perhaps store his more valuable books back at his mansion, where they'd be far less likely to be destroyed, and to stop bringing his cat just about everywhere he went. ]
Tell my why you're really in here, and I will spare your life, like last time.
[A bit of a bluff, considering how he struggled against a severely weakened version of the thing before him, but perhaps he could talk his way out of the inevitable violence that would ensue]
What, you don't believe me? I'm confessing my undying love and attraction to you and your.... sexy little caterpillar mustache... and you'd reject me so? Ouch, baby...
[ a shit-eating grin broke out on his lips at that, and with the Dictator's movement he shied away from the bookshelf he'd been busy destroying in favor of bringing himself to more open ground... just in case. His eyes scanned for something else to toy with in his ever present need to constantly be doing something he wasn't supposed to, landing on the white fluffball nearby. It's like he could read the other man's mind in the sense of everything he did not want touched silently inviting Gerard to touch it. ]
... Maybe I came looking for that part of my tongue I'm missing, eh? Or maybe I wanted to burn your office down... I know you're just itching for an answer you want to hear. Good thing I won't be giving it to you. Verbal edging, yeah? Hhhhot~...
[ he spoke as his hands extended like a toddler, chasing after the cat in a crouch until he managed to scoop her up and dramatically cradle her to his chest as one would hold a baby. Clicking his tongue for her attention, he pushed his hand into the wonderfully soft fluff of her tummy and scritched before tapping her on the nose with his pointer finger. Thankfully he was clad in leather gloves and a thick jacket so that any retaliation from her wouldn't be so harsh. ]
[ the games he played with the Dictator's patience were a survival tactic if nothing else. While they did well in slowly eating away at his demeanor, they also kept him engaged enough with the opposite of boredom to make it beneficial to not shoot Gerard in the face and be done with it. It was an educated guess that this Dictator had a similar enough mindset to his own that any form of entertainment or intrigue was excuse enough to allow the greasy man to continue his jester act a while longer. ]
.... Cute cat. Bet you expect me to make a pussy joke, huh? Well now I'm not going to.
What did you just compare my mustache to?
[His voice already had a hint of annoyance in it. Tonight was supposed to be nice, relaxing, perfect, much like most nights. Maybe he would draw a nice, warm bath for himself, or read one of the now destroyed books as he stayed for just a bit longer. Of course, perhaps he could still do such a thing after he taught that creature another lesson. He contemplated attacking it, but decided not to when he saw it pick up his beloved cat. It truly had to ruin everything for him, didn't it? Did it even know how hard it was to bathe a feline?
A gloved hand drifted to the dagger on his waist. He didn’t want to risk shooting it, as his aim wasn't exactly what it used to be. Plus, that would take a bit of the fun away, wouldn't it? He would have to wait until it attacked him, a strategy the dictator loathed entirely, but there was too much at stake.]
I believe you wandered in here to merely irritate me. Between the cat and the books, you would have to do a deal more to truly irk me. She was overdue for a bath, anyways.
[Truthfully, he was almost at wit's end already, but he chose his tone very carefully, intent on not giving the thing any satisfaction. It questioned what he gained pleasure from earlier, but he was certain it got some form of glee from making him angry. He refused to let this unfortunate encounter ruin his night.]
Your tongue, hmm, I forgot what I did with such a vile part. You would have the most luck in the sewage system, but I cannot guarantee you'll find it.
[He distinctly remembered stowing it with his other prizes, soaked in chemicals and suspended in a jar, but why would he ever tell it that he prized a part of such a lowly thing's body?]
I call bull on that one, big boy. You probably keep it in your bedside drawer or something.
[ he hummed down at the kitty swaddled in his arms, catching a pretty paw and gently squeezing it between two fingers. Even for a creature of his irritating, terrible degree, he could still appreciate some beautiful pink little paw pads. His eyes drifted back up afterwards, pointedly making note of the Dictator's palming at his weapon and frowning lightly to himself. If anything, he was more disappointed that it had taken longer than he anticipated for the man to debate slitting his throat right here. ]
... But no, no... If I wanted your attention I'd have come earlier in the day. Honestly, I was hoping you had a life enough outside of work that I'd have the office to myself. But I guess you're lonelier than I thought. Kinda ssssad.
[ placing красота back down on all four paws, he let the poor girl scamper off with notably frizzier fur as he cupped his wrists behind his back in a mockery of authority. Tipping his chin up, he swayed closer and closer to the Dictator... and then swerved, heading for the opposite side of the desk to circle around and reaching over the side to swipe the unoccupied chair by its closest arm. Dragging it closer (and further from the man it belonged to), he flopped down onto the cushion and propped the dirty heels of his boots up atop the clean desk top-- in a similar pose to the one the Dictator himself had been in earlier. Pursing his lips, he folded his hands on his tummy and looked across the surface up at him with an utterly wicked glint in his eyes ]
What are you doing here this late, anyway? Don't you have a Clerk to go home and fuck in sad, sad missionary with the lights off?
You must have an inflated sense of self worth, if you think I would keep any part of you within close proximity of me.
[He tensed up as it drew closer and closer, holding his breath, only truly releasing when it turned the other way. It was rather pathetic of him, to display such emotion with someone clearly as attuned as him, albeit less professional, but it was merely instinct. He could brush it off, anyways]
You smell like the sewage system already. How about a nice, cold bath in a prison cell? You could even drown yourself, if you so desire.
[He halfheartedly sighed at the sight of clumps of dirt falling onto the last paperwork for the night. Did it know how much of a pain it would be to get them processed now? Well, yes, it most likely did, and didn't care. That was the problem with creatures such as that one, no respect for authority goes hand and hand with no class. At least they weren't in the middle of a scuffle, like last time, although he was getting closer and closer to stabbing it, now that his cat was out of the equation and merely grooming herself in the corner.
His comment about the clerk tempted him further. Was their relationship just common knowledge at this point? At least this time, it was somebody who had a reason for its knowledge. He drew his dagger, although didn't do anything with it, merely holding it by his side. There would be the right opportunity soon, although not right now. He supposed he could simply shoot it, but that wouldn't be any fun, would it?]
He had a headache today, for your information. I let him out early. Why does it matter to you? Would you like to assault him again?
I just had a bath! Ehh... like a week ago? Better than last time...
[ he let his eyes linger on the weapon at the Dictator's side now, pulling his lower lip between his teeth and batting his eyelashes in a suggestive sort of way like it wasn't a blade at all. Giggling at his own humor after the fact, his manic gaze flitted back up to the man's face. He had quick enough reflexes that from here, if Ivan were to lunge, he'd more than likely be able to duck out of the way. It was chance enough that he'd take in order to stay comfortable for a little while longer. ]
It wasn't assault, thank you very much. Do you want to know what happened? Did you ever hear the story, really?
[ it was a rhetorical question. He intended on drawling on about his own side of things whether the answer would've been a yes or not. Though he did put enough pause in between that the Dictator would assume an answer was necessary.... and then interrupted to go on ]
It was just after I first arrived. Fresh as a babe. Wanted to stop by and get the introductions good and over with. We chatted a bit- threw some insults back and forth. You know, typical sort of activities between a Clerk and a Gerard, I'd imagine. But he got fussy and went for his gun. So, I stopped him. Then...
[ he steepled his fingers, taking his feet off the desk in favor of leaning forwards and placing his elbows atop it instead. A smirk rested idle on his lips, dangerous and taunting. ]
Then I caught your cologne. On his collar. So I called him out on it and boooyyyy did he get flustered! You should've seen him, actually. It was a cute look on him. But anyway, anyway.... I had to give him a tease about it. Play with him a bit. Oh- and I told him to kiss me. And he did. Oh, he let me taste every inch of his tongue. The one you suck on all the time? And he moaned so pretty when I took to his neck afterwards. That mark I left on him was for you, by the way. Glad you noticed.
[ he seemed rather proud of his work, as well as reminiscing on the affair. The Clerk had pushed his plump little body into it, regardless. He could fondly recall the other man's nip at his lip as well- leaving it tender with bruising for hours afterwards. And of course, the depth of the groan that'd left him when Gerard's tongue and teeth laved over that sweet spot on his throat and left his claim.... Unfortunate that the little bastard had opted to shoot him instead of go any further. ]
You expect me to believe that was anything more than a ploy for him to eventually shoot you? He's mine, and mine alone.
[Although... what if it was telling the truth? It wasn't like the dictator was the most exclusive man in Draag, why should he expect that of Boris? Still, he couldn’t suppress the nagging in his stomach. The clerk was his, and his alone. He had done so much for him, and yet he kissed that, and enjoyed it?
No, he was thinking exactly what the thing in front of him wanted him to. His mind would not be swayed so easily, especially by something that couldn't even properly groom itself. It would take significantly more than an even more unrefined version of death to cause any serious doubts. His pet was his alone, end of discussion. ]
You're simply giving me more reason to impale your throat with my wonderfully made, brand new dagger, to assure it doesn't happen again.
Can you please at least get off my paperwork?
[It didn't matter too much to him, missing paperwork wouldn't mean much from the dictator, he just wanted to change the subject of their conversation to something a bit less... close to home.
He walked to the bookcase that gerard previously terrorised, looking down at the poor, destroyed volumes with pity. What a shame, although he didn’t dare to pick them up, that would leave him far too vulnerable. Instead, he nudged a rather thick, leather bound volume with the toe of his boot, assessing the damage]
I have executed people for far less than defacing my book shelf, you do realise that, correct?
[ he'd neared making some lewd comment typical of the man over the phrasing of "impaling his throat", but the Dictator's further commentary saved him from having to hear such a thing. Saved, however, is subjective-- because really it just left room for Gerard to come up with another nasty remark. He was quite good at that, which was incredibly unfortunate for everyone else in his life. Lin was a frequent victim of such obnoxious flirtations, and by now the soldier had grown used to everything being met with a phallic joke or something equally dirty ]
Oh, well, since you said please.
[ pushing up and away from the desk in a motion best described as a slither, he took only a moment to flick a singular, rumpled paper off its top just to assure he hadn't followed directions too well. Then, he was slinking closer to the man mourning his poor books. It was probably for the best that he'd thought twice about reaching for them. Gerard would have without a doubt gone right for a devastating smack across his backside in such a position ]
Is that supposed to remind me what a "great" leader you are? Or, are you just trying to make a point. I mean either way I don't really care.
[ inching closer, he began truly testing the limits of this song and dance. He'd waited for eyes to flick in his direction before lazily bringing a hand to his hip and hooking a thumb in a belt loop. Pulling down a bit, it was just enough to flash the sharp glint of his own dagger tucked comfortably at his side. A silent way of telling the Dictator that he had his own defense this time, if need be ]
.... So possessive over your things, aren't you? Your books, your toys, your man... It really just makes me want to fuck with them even more. But I think you know that. And- I might say- you like that. It's why you don't follow through on your little threats. You could kill me. But that would ruin your fun...
[ Gerard had wasted no time in scrambling out of danger's way once his 'meeting' with the Secretary had come to an end, only pausing briefly to shuck his coat off one arm and assess the damage the bullet had left at the top of his bicep. He grimaced as it gave a throb in return to the attention, biting his tongue to avoid giving an audible response to the pain. Fresh blood dribbled past sticky clumps of darker liquid that had collected around the wound. It was doing a sorry job of clotting itself, but it slowed the flow well enough for now. Deeming it an issue for later, he shrugged the coat back on and continued on his way forwards ]
[ he knew what he was looking for now-- winding this way and that, dodging the public eye. His heartbeat pounded away in his ears, and the closer he got, the strain on his arm became less and less important. Halls got dimmer, and colder. Wood and carpet turned to concrete. Strangely (at least to him), there wasn't as much supervision in the area as he'd assumed there might be. The crisp echo of boots on the floor nearby did however indicate that there was at least one man on duty. That was fine. He would've needed to find one, anyway. He sucked in a breath as he drew closer to the sound, pressing his body into the wall before turning the corner ]
[ the confrontation was taken in a similar approach to the one before, though there was something about Gerard's approach that screamed so much more venom and desperation. The guard hadn't had much of a chance, only getting one pathetic attempt at an elbow in before he was smashed into the wall. An extra kick was delivered to the back of his head once he slid to the floor, just to be safe. Trembling hands fumbled with his uniform, and the jingle of keys brought Gerard back to his feet as he palmed them with a huff of victory ]
[ the cells weren't all that well labeled, and it took him a few tries of haphazardly sliding viewing slots open on the doors before one made him stop in his tracks. There wasn't any visual indicator that this was the right one, but there was an undeniable draw. Yes, this was it. They were here ]
[ he didn't check the slot, lurching forwards to test a key in the lock. He tugged his lip between his teeth in focus as he went to the next, then the next-- ]
[ click ]
[ the heavy metal door creaked open, cutting through the silence like a dagger. He steadied his breath, peering inside of the cell. In one corner, he could see it- a fragile, thin body curled up on itself. Wispy brown hair hung in greased strands over their shoulders. He felt his heart crumple in his chest, and his eyes began to sting at the corners. Legs moved forwards on their own in an uneven stagger, though stopped just short of his friend. Finally, he spoke in a hoarse whisper ]
. . . Hey there, Olliepop . . .
[ -- @m4dm4n-4nd-polluted ]
[Oleander looked up from their balled up postion. If it wasnt for the heavy breathing and loud steps, they still would have recognized the fact someone was coming. Someone like... them. Him.]
....gee..?
[They cocked their head, moving a little closer to him. Their faces were inches away, like an animal trying to investigate a new face for the first time. After awhile, they smiled weakly. The smile was genuine but they lacked the strength to empathize that. Their smile faltered after a moment or two, looking over him. Hes... injured.]
You... you're hurt
[They reached towards his bicep, before giggling and pointing to their shoulder]
Look we match now!
[They looked around rapidly, patting their uniform pockets, and then pulling out a bullet shell]
I even kept it! See! Bragging rights!
[They grinned holding it up incredibly close to his face. It seems they may have forgotten how personal space works.]
[They furrowed their brows, suddenly realizing, if only slightly, the situation at hand]
....why are you here?
[ he shouldn't have been surprised to find them broken in this way. Isolation does wicked things to the mind and body, and if they truly had been locked up like this since they'd been dragged from his camp... well, he understood intimately what Ollie had been through up until now ]
... Came to find you. I had to. I promised I would.
[ he slipped down to his knees before them, unflinching and almost welcoming in the warmth of their closeness even if it wielded a bullet betwixt. His hand met theirs, fingers curling around the back of their knuckles and thumb carefully tracing a fragile wrist. His eyes relayed a pain that he wouldn't speak-- for Ollie's sake, in either way ]
Why are.... Why are they keeping you put away? You aren't some simple prisoner. Surely the Clerk would have some say...
You did..?
[They thought a moment, tapping their chin with their other hand. They had in the heat of everything forgotten the event that took place. It was too distressing to think of their friend left behind and-... no. They wouldnt think of that. They refused to think any more on it]
[They continued trying to remember though, the part that refused had been overrun by the part that didnt. They wanted to know why their friend was .. here. Why they... came for him]
[Then... recognition]
You- you-
[Their eyes flashed with emotions, sadness, confusion, anger, fear. Then a deep... melancholy]
You came for me... your hurt because.. of me.
Why would you try to... a promise for a.... arent I your enemy..? I thought you hated people like us....
[They shook their head, registering his question]
Why they keep me here...?
[They look back up at Gerard, then their hand, squeezing them together, pausing, and jerking back. Overcome with some sort of realization.]
...im unstable
Unstable...? No... Hey... That's bullshit, Ollie. You're hurt. These-- these people... They throw people in little fucking cages for any reason they feel like. You can't believe everything they say about you.... it's... it's to fuck with your brain.
[ he'd tensed with the sudden movement, but knew better than to make any sort of grabs for his friend again. They were a cornered, broken animal. If he squinted, he could see himself sitting there before him, distantly. Just as terrified, and just as hurt ]
[ another throbbing reminder of the bullet lodged in his arm made him hiss softly, and he shifted back to sit on his heels and cast his eyes away briefly. He didn't want Oleander to feel responsible for it. He'd gone and done it on his own, plain and simple. What happened between himself and the Secretary was by his own accord ]
... Don't worry about me. I'm okay. I've been through worse, hah. This is... honestly nothing. I'm just happy to see you again.
but I am- i- im-
[They gestured trying to explain their thoughts, but then gave up, scratching at their arm with now overgrown nails, hoping it would offer some sort of clarity]
Every single thing I do. It hurts someone. Someone. Will always get hurt as long as im around. I thought I could stop it by leaving- but now im just back here again and now your hurt and-
[They reached towards their bed, patting it aggressively before eventually finding what they were looking for: the blanket their dad had given them. They snatched it off the bed and wrapped themselves in it, looking anywhere but his face]
I dont know how anyone could be happy to see me.
Eh, you think I care about a scratch? I told you, it's okay....
[ it was certainly more than a scratch, but he didn't want this to be the only topic of his visit. He'd been through too much work to get to where he was now ]
[ pausing in the quiet between them briefly, he slowly moved until his legs were out from under him. Sitting back on his ass, he drew his knees closer to his chest and leaned on one while finally turning his attention back to Oleander. He chose not to address their state- personally, he'd found it easier on himself in such a situation when he was treated... normally, to a degree ]
Hey... What kinda slop are they feeding you here, huh? Can't be better than a cheeseburger.
Stop down playing it!
[They yelled, a relatively expected, yet somehow suddenly outburst on their end. A mildly sensitive subject it seems. They buried their fingers just a little bit deeper into their arm.]
You're. Hurt.
Please... take that seriously.. its not a...
[They sighed, looking at the patterns in the floor. Trying to organize their thoughts. They were so concerned for him yet- he didnt seem to give a flying fuck about himself. Something about the situation grounded them slightly. Some sort of instinct kicking in for then. They looked up at him and took a deep breath. Just... answer the question. Slow. Down just- dont break. Please dont. You're not unstable you're not- you're..]
They uh- its just some.. like... mashed slop and.. yeah.
Sometimes.. my da-.... mr kozlov comes by and... gives me like.. real food. Nothing fancy but... better than what ive been given...
[ reflexively, he bristled ever so slightly at the shout aimed in his direction. For a man who'd clawed his way so far past taking commands, he doubted there would ever come a day he didn't at least react to them. He returned to a relative calm in the next moment, exhaling deeply. It wasn't Ollie's fault that they so desperately needed to be heard-- and he would give them all the patience in the world for it ]
[ next of note, he heard a name he was not quite familiar with. It didn't take much to assume it belonged to the Clerk, and tucked such knowledge away in the pockets of his mind for a rainy day. Then again, hearing Oleander refer to the man as something so formal... was he wrong to take that as an implication the Clerk was somewhat responsible for their current position? ]
... We could go get something once you're out of here. Milkshakes and fries. You ever dip your fries in the ice cream? That's good stuff there....
[ his eyes trailed down to their self inflicted wounds. Patterns of crosses and other equally unholy things ripped through tender flesh and dotted in dried lamb's blood. Was this what their people desired of them now? Was this all they deserved in their minds? He couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt at his own involvement- even if it was a mere butterfly effect that truly wouldn't have done much else otherwise... except maybe getting Oleander more hurt than if he hadn't brought them into his shelter... ]
[ but nonetheless, he'd been there. He had helped secure wax wings to their fragile shoulders and let them take flight. Maybe he should have warned them, but would it have mattered in the end? Icarus was always doomed to fall ]
[They searched his eyes when he said that. Searching for a sign he was lying or concealing some sort of truth. Maybe he was plotting something. How could gerard honestly believe thay they would be making it out of here?]
I-... I dont think-.. im getting ou-
[they stopped that thought.]
[He came all this way and you already yelled at him. Dont burden him with your self loathing. He cares for you, you fucking dunce]
I... yeah. I would. Like that.. maybe one of those thick ones with the whipped cream and the cherry on top, but I give you the cherry instead because I dont like the texture.
[They rambled. Getting lost in the daydream. Thats all it was. A daydream of leaving this place. It was a nice dream though. But just as realistic as cotton candy clouds and dancing with unicorns.]
I dont... think I have. The uh. Frie thing. Is... that normal? Seems kinda gross gerard.
[They gave a weak chuckle. A small attempt to tease him as friends do.]
[But their heart wasn't in it. Pierced by little daggers representing their sins and all they've done to others. How could they laugh while they bleed for their crimes?]
Im sorry for yelling
... Hey, it's okay. You're going through a lot right now... And- and you're... right. But it's because I don't... wanna focus on it. I just want to be here. With you. I can fix this shit later. So don't worry so much about me, okay? I'm not doing anything I don't wanna do. I'm making my choices here.
[ he shifted a bit closer, but didn't dare to invade their personal bubble. He knew the safety such an invisible barrier provided, and wouldn't pass it without permission. Control was a valuable luxury in a place like this. He intended to remind Oleander that they had it at all ]
You uh... you shouldn't knock it till you try it, by the way. The french fries and ice cream thing? It's like salty and sweet together. Great combo. You'll see what I mean soon.
[ because you're getting out, Ollie. I'm not going to let you rot here. I won't let you end up like me. ]
That.. doesnt excuse my actions. Or any of my actions
[They said somberly, picking at a hang nail now. They saw him move closer out of the corner of their eye. Unsure if they should also move closer or stay put. Wanting to be comforted but scared to recieve it.]
..I dont know why you would make that-... choice but-.. I guess in the time ive known you neither of us have made very... smart choices. Heh..
[They pulled at a hangnail that was on the stubborn side. Flinching slightly as it tore up more skin than expected, leaving their pointer finger bleeding.]
...yeah.. okay. I wont. Uh- knock it til I try it, I mean. Sounds... good enough.
What i wouldnt give for something sweet right now..
[They laughed pathetically, pressing their thumb to the now bleeding finger. Trying to stop it.]
[ he sighed in a melancholy sort of way, biting back the urge to say he wished he could help them with that issue. Getting them out of here wouldn't be as simple as simply getting up and walking away-- and furthermore, if he chose the "prison break" option Ollie would end up with even more problems than before. No. He'd have to do some more... diplomatic lifting. Even if diplomatic meant holding an official at knifepoint in some cases ]
We'll get there. Promise.
[ carefully, he shucked his gloves off one by one and laid them by his side. Then a hand was slowly extended, not too far into Ollie's space just yet, but as an offering for him to choose on ]
You and me, Olliepop.
[They watched silently as he sighed. Sort of blaming themselves for killing the vibe, even though it was never exactly positive in the first place.]
...
...yeah.
[They took his hand, squeezing it tightly. Their eyes shifted to the wood panels they had pretended were faces. People with names and personalities. He would talk to them and imagine their stories to keep himself company. And now that he had company, they struggled to figure out what to do with it.]
you and me.
Someday
[ he simply sat in silence for a too-long minute that felt like hours, not yet breaking it, but shifting to scoot a little closer without daring to lose his hold on them. But that wasn't enough. There was truthfully nothing he could do to provide any significant comfort to them. His words (that he spoke with love), his promises (that he intended to keep), his actions (that screamed louder), and his bleeding heart (that wept) were not enough. He felt a dry sting at his eyes and wasn't sure if he hadn't blinked or if they were simply about to burst ]
I . . .
[ his voice cracked, and he stopped before the rest of what he was thinking could be uttered. He was sorry, but that would change nothing. Swallowing the lump in his throat, his grip on Ollie's hand tightened abruptly and he tugged them forwards. His arms were there to catch them, wrapping around their starving bones and cradling them tightly to his chest. Over their shoulder, his pinprick eyes stared wide and terrified at the empty wall where they couldn't see. He sat there, silent as a mourner, and simply held them like they'd fade away if he relented for even a second ]
[Oleander didnt know how to react when their body got ragdolled into Gerard's chest. At first they flinched when they were violently jerked forwards. Their first instinct was that they were in danger. That they needed to fight- or flight- or-...]
[Then they grimaced, overcome with pain from their not fully healed shoulder. But they would get through it because- three: their friend was holding them. And not just holding them, holding them like this would be the last time they ever see eachother.]
[Their body relaxed, slowly wrapping their arms back around gerard. Shaking slightly as the fear changed to.. something else. They couldnt place the name of the emotion. It was a sort of deep bond that would slowly chisel away at your defenses, until suddenly it fell down. It felt like returning to a warm bed after learning you didnt have to go to school due to a snow day. Thats it- it wasnt a feeling. It was an event. Sitting there. Burning quietly in eachothers presence like two stars in the sky.]
[And then the tears began to flow. Silent and steady]
[ feeling them melt into his embrace was the final straw and all at once his own eyes watered and spilled over. He brought a hand up to the back of their head, fingers lacing in messy hair as he ducked down to press a chaste kiss to their scalp. Sighing deeply to center himself again, he nuzzled his nose into the mop of hair and let heavy lids shut for a few beats ]
.... Hey, it's gonna be okay... I got this far, didn't I?
[ he hummed quietly, shifting a little to drag a hand up and down Ollie's back in a slow, soothing pattern. He could feel them trembling lightly under his fingertips and knew they were crying just the same. They both needed this, it would seem ]
It won't be long before you're out free, and we'll go celebrate. Get drunk and cause some problems... No walls are gonna keep me from you. I'll shred 'em all.
[They shook a little, before closing their eyes. Squeezing him tightly, fingers digging into his back. They began to sniffle. Their nose running slightly because of the tears.]
Go... eat stupid food combos.. and.. dance like idiots...
[They began to list, a smile coming to their voice despite the sorrow that overwhelmed them]
Then.. we.. go to your tent and tell stupid stories around the fire and... roast marshmallows.
[They paused a moment, before laughing sofrly]
The-then they catch fire because we arent paying attention. Or because we knock one of them into the campfire.
Exactly... Now you're thinking....
[ he rocked them gently, perhaps more to soothe himself even than for Oleander at the time. Taking a deep breath to stave off another wave of tears, he made sure he'd pulled himself together decently enough before gently prying them back enough to leave some space between them ]
... No more tears, Olliepop... Save 'em for when you really need them. We've got plans now, yeah? So that means it has to happen. We've already put it in motion.
[ he cupped their face in either hand, carefully wiping away heavy teardrops. Next his sleeve was brushed under their nose to clean that up, too. He didn't mind. Far worse had been on his coat in all these years. Their poor, sad little face was reddened to the tip of their nose from their upset. Watery eyes and trembling lip. He felt another tug at his heart, sighing softly and giving one cheek a light pinch ]
I say, first thing, we go get drunk as balls and toilet paper Lin's bunker.
[They let out a hoarse giggle at his reply. Closing their weary eyes and lowering their defenses further. Yeah. This wouldnt be so bad.]
[They couldn't help but feel a little disappointed when they were pulled away from their friend, but considering they were still close enough, they wouldnt say anything. They thought about his words while he wiped their tears]
For...when i need them?
What do you mean we've put them in motion..? We're just sitting here and-... its not like some grand break out movie or something-
[They paused, the name drop momentarily confused them out of their state of... various emotions]
...Lin? Who is that? A friend of yours?
[They paused, then dawned a shit-eating grin. Looking just a little like their old self]
A boyfriend~?
[ he startled a bit at the suggestion, smirking with vague embarrassment as his eyes darted to the side for a moment. Definitely wasn't the shift in topic he was expecting, but sure, he'd humor it... that is, if he even knew the answer to such a question. Was Lin his boyfriend? No, no way. They'd never used such a title between each other. Sure, they were deeply intimate pretty frequently and all but... well, that didn't staple a label on them. Sometimes he wondered if they were even friends ]
He's a something. We both came from the same err... universe. And we also touch dicks sometimes, but no that doesn't make him my "boyfriend"....
[ he squished their cheeks and scrunched up his nose as if to say 'you pesky thing', returning their giggle finally and bumping their foreheads together once more. It was nice. To have simple, silly conversations like this again-- even if it were only temporary and they were still sitting on the floor of a cold cell. He knew that they'd have them again though. Outside, where Ollie belonged ]
He is handsome, though. Short and a little pudgy, but handsome. Got a god awful attitude though. That's why we gotta toilet paper him.
Wait.. universe?
[They furrowed their brows, as if doing some sort of mental calculations. Maybe connecting the dots with red string in their head]
I suppose I never thought very deeply about the fact you look alot like death...
[No matter anyay- they were now being "violently" attacked by their best friend. They laughed as he squeezed their cheeks, relatilating playfully with a shove, trying to knock him over.]
Well if hes so handsome, clearly thats getting to his head. He has it coming if hes being an asshole to my friend.
Cant wait to TP that bastard
[That sounds alot like something Eresus would say]
[They shook their head, hoping the physical action would tear them out of their thoughts.]
Maybe would could egg it too. Like those kids on Halloween maybe? I dont know. I never got to do Halloween. Is that a thing people do or is it just in movies?
[They were talking faster now. Maybe they could speak faster than the thoughts. Maybe if they fill the silence they dont have think about what's in it ]
[ he broke out into a grin at the push, throwing himself back to the floor with a huff- belly up like a dog in play. Rocking side to side for a moment like Ollie had really got him good, he rolled onto one and gently swiped an arm out to pull them down with him. He knew how easy it was to let the nasty bits devour any joy as it appeared... but he also knew that some laughter was the best medicine in most circumstances ]
Wuff. Yeah, Halloween's a thing. You've never done it? Shit, Olliepop. We're doing Halloween this year 'round, then! We can dress up and shit. All that good stuff.
[ he nuzzled the side of their face where they laid, snickering quietly as the sweetness ended as quickly as it'd begun and a hand snaked to their side to test how ticklish they might be ]
Ever heard of cheesing someone's house? It's where you throw slices of cheese at it just like egging. But even more infuriating because it melts and sticks there. Heh.
[Oleander laughed as they were dragged down with him, proceeding to rock back and forth to try to loosen his hold on them.]
Gerarddddddddd-
[They continued to laugh, playfully kicking and squirming in his grasp]
No I havent. If I was lucky my.. father would give us a treat or something. Or an employee would just give em to my.. sister.. Normally though we just were sent on another mission and it was treated like.. another day.
[They thought a moment, looking at the cracks in the walls. They were lucky enough to get a "room", but it was still equally a cell.]
I havent, no. Sounds Horrible. Lets do it.
Glad to have you on board, then. Cheese and eggs and toilet paper. It's almost a full breakfast. If anything, we're doing him a favor.
[ their laughter was like a godsend to him, and perhaps one of the best sounds he'd heard in a long time. He hummed his delight between his own fit of giggles, finally showing mercy after another minute or so of prodding and poking ]
Seems like we've made ourselves a to-do list already, huh? We're gonna have to get on that.
[ as silly as it all was to say out loud and plot such childish things... It gave him a gap of hope through all of the bullshit right about now. He'd hold on to those ideas when he left here, and furthermore when he went on to confront whoever it might be that he needed to to see that Ollie would be able to accomplish it all by his side. Promises and plans. He'd keep them, just like always ]
Well then what if we get him like. Bacon or something. Full circle. And we can like. Throw it places that will be crazy annoying to get the grease out.
[They rambled, giggling and then finally relaxing back in Gerard's arms.]
Yep! Whenever... that happens.
[Their tone shifted towards the end. Noticeably tensing... just a little bit. Could they really know they would be able to do these things? Or was it all just a nice little day dream?]
Gerard.. can i.. ask something?
[ he picked up on the tone shift immediately, though didn't let it overtake the mood he'd worked to bring them to. Melting into Ollie's body to fit like two perfect little puzzle pieces, his arms loosened a bit to hold them in a lax hug. He nuzzled at their shoulder carefully, simply enjoying the chaste intimacy he was allowed to share with his friend ]
Mmm... Yeah, anything....
[ his mind was still on what they might get up to once he managed to free Oleander from their prison. They'd gotten to know each other under less than ideal circumstances to begin with, and now there was this whole mess... but after it, they'd be free to do so much more. It was a good feeling-- to have a friend. Though an unexpected one... but that was just fine print ]
[ @m4dm4n-4nd-polluted ]
[ Gerard startled at the sound, recent times having taken his sleep to a level heavier than his usual. Exhaustion had caught up, unfortunately, and didn't plan on letting his aching body go anytime soon. In a blur of half-sleep, he instinctively reached for the revolver tucked in the tent pocket... though thankfully his senses caught up in time. Clearing his throat at the mistake, he quickly dusted his clothes like that might help his appearance to any degree ]
[ with a soft hum, he pulled tattered boots on and hurried to push himself up off the heap of sheets in his wake. The tent flap opened in the next instant, and out ducked an unkempt-as-ever man shaking his hair from his face and stretching. He blinked a few times to adjust to the change in light, arms raised and tummy peeking from the hem of his shirt as his back gave an audible crackle ]
[ his voice was a little rough and uneven with sleep, but slowly and surely the man was coming around to a fully conscious state. He offered a lopsided smile to his friend, reaching out to give him a small tap on the cheek before sauntering past. He stopped short of the campfire circle, rummaging in a pile of various junk he had there and finding a canteen that he drank from with a "ahhh" of refreshment to follow. That seemed to clear up the dry throat issue, at least ]
[ he felt an odd sort of delight hearing Ray in such a... normal tone. Their past meetings so far had been frantic at best, and tragic at worst. While the news was still not the most ideal-- there was that familiar, comforting twang to Ray's voice that had been missing previously. He blinked slowly at him from this distance, taking the time to admire his current stature. The world had taken its toll on him, but any version of Raymond Toro was near impossible to put down. Even hellfire had not broken him this time around ]
[ he scoffed in a playful, stubborn sort of way at the implication his camp was anything but perfection... knowing damn well that it was the exact opposite ]
[ his tone was entirely humorous, backed by dramatic arm motions to emphasize the grand amenities he insisted such a fine establishment as his own held. Never mind the lack of plumbing, or curious smell ]
[ and just like that, his rambling bit came to an end. He melted underneath of Ray's touch, lips twitching into the grin of a pleased cheshire cat and eyes closing for a moment as he savored the scratch of nails against his scalp. Practically purring. So much so, that he nearly forgot he had more to respond to ]
[ a bucket and towels... a bucket and towels.... Now, Gerard had never touted himself as the smartest man in DRAAG, but certainly he'd reached a new level of stupid when his first thought was laundry. He didn't care much to take the time to clean his small wardrobe himself, but that seemed to make enough sense for Ray. Not everyone enjoyed wearing the same sweaty, bloody, and overall filthy outfit every day ]
[ a bubbly giggle left him as he was pulled around by the larger man, pawing at him gently in return before giving an extra squirm and twist to wriggle out of his hold. A slippery, greasy weasel. That might prove challenge enough for Ray's impending plans ]
[ he walked in usual, swaggering, Gerard fashion to retrieve an old and beaten looking plastic bucket from his various trinkets-- dumping out what appeared to be a collection of interesting looking rocks. Next he sought out the requested towels... coming up less successful. Instead, he grabbed two of the biggest, relatively clean looking t-shirts he could find and called it a day ]
[ he pouted a bit, as if to say how dare Ray for pointing out his utterly atrocious hygiene and lack of self care. Even with his whining he followed along as he was tugged closer to the watery, clean fate he was not yet aware of in his future. To him, he supposed it made sense that he could spare his old rags a nice wash since Ray was already on his way to take care of his own ]
[ he giggled rudely at his own little jab, shoving himself against Ray's side as they walked. The thought of nudity in the wilderness didn't bother him in the slightest, but even thinking about Ray looking shy and silly sitting by his wet clothes with his ass out was too good ]
[ they neared the lakeside soon enough; the treeline giving way to a pretty little scene of calm water reflecting gentle light. You could almost forget it was so close to the miserable concrete jungle that was DRAAG. He sighed deeply in content as he enjoyed the sight, more than happy to share such with his friend ]
[ his brows relaxed, lidded eyes and a shit eating smirk overtaking his expression as he stood by the waterside. Quite frankly, everything needed to be washed. Everything-everything. And since Ray was so insistent on fixing the issue, well, he'd simply have to oblige. It's safe to say he did take a moment to absolutely devour his friend with his eyes as his shirt was pulled overhead though. Ray was too handsome for his own good. A strong, muscular form with artfully placed scars and thick fuzz from chest down, disappearing below a waistband that left much to the imagination. He hardly resisted the urge to give a cartoonish wolf howl ]
[ without further ado he began to peel off his clothes. A tattered performance jacket hit the ground audibly, followed closely by sweat stained shirt. His pale skin practically reflected the damn sun, dotted in the occasional freckle and more common scar. While on the more fairly chubby side, he still found himself to have a decently desirable form-- arms showing muscle as he flexed them with a quick stretch. Next went the boots, kicked off to one side. Socks, which you didn't even want to know the state of, added to the pile. And then his smirk really widened when he started on his slacks. He stepped out of the patch covered and frayed pants and added it to the collection, briefly considering opting for mercy as he looked down at his boxers. But hey, they needed a wash too. And since Ray wanted to be smart about it, what's a little bare ass to the world? ]
[ the last of his clothes was abandoned with such an announcement, and he stood proudly with his hands on bare waist and a twitch in his hip. In the back of his mind he could practically hear Lin shrieking at him about decency and decorum. But what's a little ass between friends? ]
[ he'd been successfully taken off guard by Ray's grand scheme, only able to grunt as they went down and writhe in the larger man's grasp. A string of curses in Keposhka and English alike left his lips, too frazzled by it all to bother keeping any consistency. It was too late by the time the pieces had been put together in his mind, and there he sat like a pathetic little cat being held in place and bathed ]
You sssset me up--!
[ reverting back to English still carried the drawling twang of his accent. His griping was cut short by a splash of water overhead that left him dramatically sputtering and hissing like he'd been dunked headfirst instead. Soggy hair clung to his head, covering his eyes as he hunched in a little tantrum on Ray's lap. He looked silly, in truth. Naked and messy and being forced to endure a good cleaning. Opening his mouth to protest yet again, he coughed and shivered first ]
This is the thanks I get, eh? You drown me like a rat. I'll have you know the grease was a staple to my hairdo. Are you listening to me? Raymond! Release me, vile man!
[ his whining meant nothing, truthfully. But he wouldn't go down without letting the man thoroughly understand that he hated every second of it. He felt the gentle tug of fingers working out matted clumps, hissing under his breath and dropping his head back to side-eye Ray with a pouty glare. Terribly old eyeliner drooled down his cheeks as it was wettened, adding to the effect ]
[ all a big lie, and yet another dramatic attempt at getting Ray to decide this was more effort than it was worth. On top of that, the larger was most certainly correct in his assumptions that such commentary would only get the little beast even further resistant to the whole affair. He shivered as cool water poured further down, dripping off the soaked fabric onto his tummy and lower back as the trail slowed down further from its source. He whined, audibly, like a kicked puppy ]
[ it was with this comment that he shook his hair wildly, and any wetness left in it after Ray's squeezing went splattering in all directions-- including on the man bathing him. In the next instant he was writhing again, twisting around in Ray's hold to shove his bare body against him and rub as much water as he could right back onto him. So much for the t-shirt method trying to keep him dry in the process ]
[ he shrieked as the water was unceremoniously dumped on him, voice cracking as the cold took him off guard. He'd hardly had time to react to such before a muscular arm was wrapped around his throat and he was getting squeezed against Ray's body like a stress toy. His hands shot up to slap at the barricade, making a scene of coughing and wheezing despite not being choked out in the slightest. When that didn't work, his next best solution was to simply bite down on the meaty bicep before him ]
[ he grunted and hissed as Ray continued to manhandle him, flailing around for some sense of control before finally managing to gain some room and break free. In the next moment, both hands had snapped down onto the larger man's shoulders and he used his full body weight to topple him backwards. He sat proudly atop the larger like Theseus and the minotaur, water dripping off his pale skin and soaking the man below as he scrabbled to wrestle the fabric from his hands ]
[ some part of him had known he'd lost the fight before he had even started it, though he was more displeased with the fact that he'd been thwarted in record time than anything else. A grunt was forced from him as he was tossed one last time, over Ray's shoulder like nothing more than a sack of potatoes, before he was lifted and uselessly held there with water dripping off him. His face down to his chest flushed a dark shade of pinkish-red in pure embarrassment at the entire situation and he gave Ray a frustrated thunk on the back like that might save him ]
[ he propped himself up on an arm against Ray's back as he was carried around, scoffing quietly and crossing his ankles as the hung on the opposite side. He was already beginning to plot some sort of revenge in his mind, though nothing he could think up would fairly compensate him for this. However being entirely nude and manhandled by a buff, handsome man did soften the blow to his dignity juuuuust a bit ]
[ his voice dripped with a teasing edge, barely masking his humor behind such exaggerated accusations. It was, honestly, his best attempt at causing any sort of embarrassment in return to the larger man. He gave a raspy giggle by the time his little tangent was over, grinning wildly just out of sight ]
[ his struggling ceased momentarily as Ray's words set in, a new sort of shame and vulnerable feeling sweeping over him as the softness of his tone struck yet another chord. Yes, he'd been negligent of himself for quite a long time-- but no one else has cared. That was always a key factor in perpetuating the fact. No one bothered to encourage anything different of him, or try to convince him he mattered enough to do so... so why change it? ]
. . .
[ squirming again, he used Ray's stooped position to his advantage. He managed to get his feet on the ground first, and then writhed free from there. Afterwards, he shuffled back a step and covered himself sheepishly with his arms as he cast his gaze out over the water; a soft pout set on his lips ]
[ the corners of his mouth turned down into a light frown, listening to the water dribble back into the pond from off his clothes still gripped in Ray's hands. It's a wonder they didn't simply fall apart, what with all the crude patchwork he'd done and the abuse they'd been through ]
[ the sweet lull of Ray's voice did wonders in slipping past in barriers his mind had created to deny such affections from anyone who might dare to try. Quite frankly, even if he didn't understand a word of what Ray was saying his tone would be more than enough to do just the same. Soft, and kind-- laced with a sort of unadulterated tenderness that he hadn't heard in ages. He and Lin were a different sort of sweet. One that was complex even at its best, and meaningful- yet riddled with patchwork wounds they'd spent years carving into each other. Ray was just... Ray. They were wonderfully simple. They just were. ]
[ he hummed softly under his breath to let the man know he had acknowledged his words, eyes slipping shut for a moment as he savored the brush of a warm hand against his face. He pushed a bit closer on instinct as a smile twitched at his lips to replace the frown that had set there only moments prior, and Ray's beard tickled at the top of his head as the kiss was placed there ]
[ he realized that, by this point, he was rambling. His nerves had crept up on him even without his realization kicking in just yet. But it was a bit silly, of course. To have such a gentle moment while ass naked in the woods. He snickered at first to cut himself off, making a poor attempt at biting back the sound before it devolved into a full on laugh. A hearty one at that. Eyes opening again, he looked up at the larger with a newly reinvigorated sparkle of mischief and a deep blush to compliment it ]
[ Ray's own dramatics took him by surprise, but he enjoyed them profusely. With an exaggerated roll of his eyes he moved to grab one of the forgotten, soaked t-shirts from nearby and drop it down on the ground for some padding as he took a seat next to Ray. Setting his bare feet in the shallow water, he shivered lightly at the temperature change. The rest of his body was finally starting to dry a bit however... save for his hair, which would catch up in a soft, fluffy mess later on that he'd certainly be complaining about ]
[ something about being called "his beloved" had struck a chord, leaving him to look out at the ripples of the water without the mercy of his blush yet fading. He and his own Ray had never considered themselves anything of a relationship-- at most, they'd had fleeting touches in desperate moments... but this Ray had a known one with the him from here. That made him wonder, just a bit, if the man saw him in that same light at all ]
[ now, introducing Lin and Ray was sure to be a real treat. But as humorous as he knew it would be in some aspects, he also felt a deeper rooted pang of worry in his gut. It had been hard for him to process the idea of knowing another Ray (that was so much like his own)... and he could only imagine the stew of feelings Lin would go through upon meeting this one. Especially considering, you know... the solider had been the one to kill Raymond in the end. He would not be cruel as he had with Admir though-- not this time. He wouldn't tell Ray who was responsible for Mikey and Raymond's deaths... if he were going to find out, that would be on Lin's own terms ]
[ he twisted his upper half around carefully now that Ray was so close to his side, waiting for the man to turn his head back to the laundry before reaching up to gently play with his curls. His fingers carded through a section of them, splitting the strands, and then he idly began to braid them together. For a man who struggled to put a ponytail in Illi's hair a while back, he seemed to have a generally decent idea of what he was doing now. Maybe he'd practiced a bit since then-- in fear he'd have to do it again at some point ]
[ he could tell, decidedly, that this wasn't a topic that Ray wanted to further indulge him on.... so he allowed his curiosity to remain exactly that and moved on with a soft hum. He slid his thumbs over the braid to check its quality halfway through, satisfied with his work and continuing at a slow, focused pace. He didn't even notice his tongue was poking out between his lips in the process ]
[ a subtle glance was thrown in the direction of Ray's expression, trying to weigh if he was still troubled by his earlier thoughts or not. Clicking his tongue afterwards, he tipped his head and toyed with the finished end of the braid. Such a handsome man. Always. ]
[ he shifted his legs to half cross chubby thighs, definitely starting to get cold now that he was mostly dry and sitting in one spot for a while. That and, of course, he did feel just a little bit of shame sitting there with everything on display right next to Ray. It probably wasn't anything the man hadn't seen before given his relationship with this universe's equivelent of himself-- but still! ]
[ he led the way on the walk back to camp, almost hoping that they'd happen across Lin on one of his little patrols so he could try to explain why the hell he was on a naked stroll alongside Ray. But that didn't happen (sadly), and they soon breached the campsite clearing in peace. He motioned over to the firepit with a hum, signaling for Ray to move towards it while he broke off for the moment ]
[ he didn't so much as wait for a response before disappearing inside of his tent, rustling around in his belongings to find just where he'd put his only spare piece of clothing. It'd been some time since he'd gotten thing-- months ago, when he had taken Illi out on a shopping trip. He had just begun to worry that he might've thrown it out after all this time when he finally happened across it. Not exactly the occasion he'd intended on wearing the thing (but really, did he ever expect to have one?), but it would do just fine to cover him up. He shrugged the thin, silky fabric overhead and pulled it down to where it would rest just halfway up his thighs. The thin straps hugged his shoulders nicely, though, he didn't quite have the bust to fill out the chest. Overall, however... he thought he looked quite nice ]
[ the man spoke as he slipped back out of the tarp entrance, standing sheepishly outside of it. Now the dress had worked itself out on him; holding sweet and snug to his soft hips and framing the pudge of his tummy in an artful sort of way. Slowly drying hair hung against his shoulders, already starting to form loose little curls that had been hidden by all of the grease it had carried for so long. He hugged an arm, clearing his throat and choosing to look down at the dirt instead of directly at whatever Ray's reaction might be ]
[ his eyes widened a bit as the fire burst to life unexpectedly, though a glance up at Ray showed him reason enough as to why. Illuminated by the warm glow of flame, he could see the man's face flush darker... though his expression would've said enough even without the blush to accompany it. He hadn't really... expected such a reaction...? But it certainly wasn't unwelcome. Biting the inside of his cheek in a dreadfully failed attempt to quell his smile, he shook his head like he was disagreeing with words the man had not even spoken ]
[ his laugh had come out more like a giggle. Reaching up absentmindedly, he tucked a stray strand of hair behind one ear. He wasn't used to feeling.... what was this, bashful? But there was undeniable vulnerability to him here and now. He felt... pretty. Ray's reaction made him feel pretty. Quite frankly, he hadn't realized he was capable of fitting such a term in anyone's eyes ]
[ he finally walked closer. Slow and careful in every step. Rounding the fire to stand closer to Ray, he turned his head to look up at him and absolutely beam. A meal and the laundry alike were momentarily forgotten in favor of simply soaking up the warmth of the flames and appreciation alike ]
[ oh, that had really done it. Ray had managed to accomplish two rare feats in the span of one day, by some miracle. The feeling of a wonderfully large, warm hand trailing over his skin sent a shiver up the length of his spine. When it rested on his waist in the divot just above hip (where a hand fits oh so nicely as a matter of fact), he was a goner. His eyes widened a little, lips pursed before the corners of his lips twitched like his face wasn't sure what expression to make. A warm glow quickly followed, turning pale face a dreadful shade of red that crept all the way down to freckled shoulders ]
[ .... Flustered. He was terribly, horribly flustered. His brain short circuited in its futile attempts at righting himself as to not come off as a total fool--
[ @m4dm4n-4nd-polluted ]
[ Gerard startled at the sound, recent times having taken his sleep to a level heavier than his usual. Exhaustion had caught up, unfortunately, and didn't plan on letting his aching body go anytime soon. In a blur of half-sleep, he instinctively reached for the revolver tucked in the tent pocket... though thankfully his senses caught up in time. Clearing his throat at the mistake, he quickly dusted his clothes like that might help his appearance to any degree ]
[ with a soft hum, he pulled tattered boots on and hurried to push himself up off the heap of sheets in his wake. The tent flap opened in the next instant, and out ducked an unkempt-as-ever man shaking his hair from his face and stretching. He blinked a few times to adjust to the change in light, arms raised and tummy peeking from the hem of his shirt as his back gave an audible crackle ]
[ his voice was a little rough and uneven with sleep, but slowly and surely the man was coming around to a fully conscious state. He offered a lopsided smile to his friend, reaching out to give him a small tap on the cheek before sauntering past. He stopped short of the campfire circle, rummaging in a pile of various junk he had there and finding a canteen that he drank from with a "ahhh" of refreshment to follow. That seemed to clear up the dry throat issue, at least ]
[ he felt an odd sort of delight hearing Ray in such a... normal tone. Their past meetings so far had been frantic at best, and tragic at worst. While the news was still not the most ideal-- there was that familiar, comforting twang to Ray's voice that had been missing previously. He blinked slowly at him from this distance, taking the time to admire his current stature. The world had taken its toll on him, but any version of Raymond Toro was near impossible to put down. Even hellfire had not broken him this time around ]
[ he scoffed in a playful, stubborn sort of way at the implication his camp was anything but perfection... knowing damn well that it was the exact opposite ]
[ his tone was entirely humorous, backed by dramatic arm motions to emphasize the grand amenities he insisted such a fine establishment as his own held. Never mind the lack of plumbing, or curious smell ]
[ and just like that, his rambling bit came to an end. He melted underneath of Ray's touch, lips twitching into the grin of a pleased cheshire cat and eyes closing for a moment as he savored the scratch of nails against his scalp. Practically purring. So much so, that he nearly forgot he had more to respond to ]
[ a bucket and towels... a bucket and towels.... Now, Gerard had never touted himself as the smartest man in DRAAG, but certainly he'd reached a new level of stupid when his first thought was laundry. He didn't care much to take the time to clean his small wardrobe himself, but that seemed to make enough sense for Ray. Not everyone enjoyed wearing the same sweaty, bloody, and overall filthy outfit every day ]
[ a bubbly giggle left him as he was pulled around by the larger man, pawing at him gently in return before giving an extra squirm and twist to wriggle out of his hold. A slippery, greasy weasel. That might prove challenge enough for Ray's impending plans ]
[ he walked in usual, swaggering, Gerard fashion to retrieve an old and beaten looking plastic bucket from his various trinkets-- dumping out what appeared to be a collection of interesting looking rocks. Next he sought out the requested towels... coming up less successful. Instead, he grabbed two of the biggest, relatively clean looking t-shirts he could find and called it a day ]
[ he pouted a bit, as if to say how dare Ray for pointing out his utterly atrocious hygiene and lack of self care. Even with his whining he followed along as he was tugged closer to the watery, clean fate he was not yet aware of in his future. To him, he supposed it made sense that he could spare his old rags a nice wash since Ray was already on his way to take care of his own ]
[ he giggled rudely at his own little jab, shoving himself against Ray's side as they walked. The thought of nudity in the wilderness didn't bother him in the slightest, but even thinking about Ray looking shy and silly sitting by his wet clothes with his ass out was too good ]
[ they neared the lakeside soon enough; the treeline giving way to a pretty little scene of calm water reflecting gentle light. You could almost forget it was so close to the miserable concrete jungle that was DRAAG. He sighed deeply in content as he enjoyed the sight, more than happy to share such with his friend ]
[ his brows relaxed, lidded eyes and a shit eating smirk overtaking his expression as he stood by the waterside. Quite frankly, everything needed to be washed. Everything-everything. And since Ray was so insistent on fixing the issue, well, he'd simply have to oblige. It's safe to say he did take a moment to absolutely devour his friend with his eyes as his shirt was pulled overhead though. Ray was too handsome for his own good. A strong, muscular form with artfully placed scars and thick fuzz from chest down, disappearing below a waistband that left much to the imagination. He hardly resisted the urge to give a cartoonish wolf howl ]
[ without further ado he began to peel off his clothes. A tattered performance jacket hit the ground audibly, followed closely by sweat stained shirt. His pale skin practically reflected the damn sun, dotted in the occasional freckle and more common scar. While on the more fairly chubby side, he still found himself to have a decently desirable form-- arms showing muscle as he flexed them with a quick stretch. Next went the boots, kicked off to one side. Socks, which you didn't even want to know the state of, added to the pile. And then his smirk really widened when he started on his slacks. He stepped out of the patch covered and frayed pants and added it to the collection, briefly considering opting for mercy as he looked down at his boxers. But hey, they needed a wash too. And since Ray wanted to be smart about it, what's a little bare ass to the world? ]
[ the last of his clothes was abandoned with such an announcement, and he stood proudly with his hands on bare waist and a twitch in his hip. In the back of his mind he could practically hear Lin shrieking at him about decency and decorum. But what's a little ass between friends? ]
[ he'd been successfully taken off guard by Ray's grand scheme, only able to grunt as they went down and writhe in the larger man's grasp. A string of curses in Keposhka and English alike left his lips, too frazzled by it all to bother keeping any consistency. It was too late by the time the pieces had been put together in his mind, and there he sat like a pathetic little cat being held in place and bathed ]
You sssset me up--!
[ reverting back to English still carried the drawling twang of his accent. His griping was cut short by a splash of water overhead that left him dramatically sputtering and hissing like he'd been dunked headfirst instead. Soggy hair clung to his head, covering his eyes as he hunched in a little tantrum on Ray's lap. He looked silly, in truth. Naked and messy and being forced to endure a good cleaning. Opening his mouth to protest yet again, he coughed and shivered first ]
This is the thanks I get, eh? You drown me like a rat. I'll have you know the grease was a staple to my hairdo. Are you listening to me? Raymond! Release me, vile man!
[ his whining meant nothing, truthfully. But he wouldn't go down without letting the man thoroughly understand that he hated every second of it. He felt the gentle tug of fingers working out matted clumps, hissing under his breath and dropping his head back to side-eye Ray with a pouty glare. Terribly old eyeliner drooled down his cheeks as it was wettened, adding to the effect ]
[ all a big lie, and yet another dramatic attempt at getting Ray to decide this was more effort than it was worth. On top of that, the larger was most certainly correct in his assumptions that such commentary would only get the little beast even further resistant to the whole affair. He shivered as cool water poured further down, dripping off the soaked fabric onto his tummy and lower back as the trail slowed down further from its source. He whined, audibly, like a kicked puppy ]
[ it was with this comment that he shook his hair wildly, and any wetness left in it after Ray's squeezing went splattering in all directions-- including on the man bathing him. In the next instant he was writhing again, twisting around in Ray's hold to shove his bare body against him and rub as much water as he could right back onto him. So much for the t-shirt method trying to keep him dry in the process ]
[ he shrieked as the water was unceremoniously dumped on him, voice cracking as the cold took him off guard. He'd hardly had time to react to such before a muscular arm was wrapped around his throat and he was getting squeezed against Ray's body like a stress toy. His hands shot up to slap at the barricade, making a scene of coughing and wheezing despite not being choked out in the slightest. When that didn't work, his next best solution was to simply bite down on the meaty bicep before him ]
[ he grunted and hissed as Ray continued to manhandle him, flailing around for some sense of control before finally managing to gain some room and break free. In the next moment, both hands had snapped down onto the larger man's shoulders and he used his full body weight to topple him backwards. He sat proudly atop the larger like Theseus and the minotaur, water dripping off his pale skin and soaking the man below as he scrabbled to wrestle the fabric from his hands ]
[ some part of him had known he'd lost the fight before he had even started it, though he was more displeased with the fact that he'd been thwarted in record time than anything else. A grunt was forced from him as he was tossed one last time, over Ray's shoulder like nothing more than a sack of potatoes, before he was lifted and uselessly held there with water dripping off him. His face down to his chest flushed a dark shade of pinkish-red in pure embarrassment at the entire situation and he gave Ray a frustrated thunk on the back like that might save him ]
[ he propped himself up on an arm against Ray's back as he was carried around, scoffing quietly and crossing his ankles as the hung on the opposite side. He was already beginning to plot some sort of revenge in his mind, though nothing he could think up would fairly compensate him for this. However being entirely nude and manhandled by a buff, handsome man did soften the blow to his dignity juuuuust a bit ]
[ his voice dripped with a teasing edge, barely masking his humor behind such exaggerated accusations. It was, honestly, his best attempt at causing any sort of embarrassment in return to the larger man. He gave a raspy giggle by the time his little tangent was over, grinning wildly just out of sight ]
[ his struggling ceased momentarily as Ray's words set in, a new sort of shame and vulnerable feeling sweeping over him as the softness of his tone struck yet another chord. Yes, he'd been negligent of himself for quite a long time-- but no one else has cared. That was always a key factor in perpetuating the fact. No one bothered to encourage anything different of him, or try to convince him he mattered enough to do so... so why change it? ]
. . .
[ squirming again, he used Ray's stooped position to his advantage. He managed to get his feet on the ground first, and then writhed free from there. Afterwards, he shuffled back a step and covered himself sheepishly with his arms as he cast his gaze out over the water; a soft pout set on his lips ]
[ the corners of his mouth turned down into a light frown, listening to the water dribble back into the pond from off his clothes still gripped in Ray's hands. It's a wonder they didn't simply fall apart, what with all the crude patchwork he'd done and the abuse they'd been through ]
[ the sweet lull of Ray's voice did wonders in slipping past in barriers his mind had created to deny such affections from anyone who might dare to try. Quite frankly, even if he didn't understand a word of what Ray was saying his tone would be more than enough to do just the same. Soft, and kind-- laced with a sort of unadulterated tenderness that he hadn't heard in ages. He and Lin were a different sort of sweet. One that was complex even at its best, and meaningful- yet riddled with patchwork wounds they'd spent years carving into each other. Ray was just... Ray. They were wonderfully simple. They just were. ]
[ he hummed softly under his breath to let the man know he had acknowledged his words, eyes slipping shut for a moment as he savored the brush of a warm hand against his face. He pushed a bit closer on instinct as a smile twitched at his lips to replace the frown that had set there only moments prior, and Ray's beard tickled at the top of his head as the kiss was placed there ]
[ he realized that, by this point, he was rambling. His nerves had crept up on him even without his realization kicking in just yet. But it was a bit silly, of course. To have such a gentle moment while ass naked in the woods. He snickered at first to cut himself off, making a poor attempt at biting back the sound before it devolved into a full on laugh. A hearty one at that. Eyes opening again, he looked up at the larger with a newly reinvigorated sparkle of mischief and a deep blush to compliment it ]
[ Ray's own dramatics took him by surprise, but he enjoyed them profusely. With an exaggerated roll of his eyes he moved to grab one of the forgotten, soaked t-shirts from nearby and drop it down on the ground for some padding as he took a seat next to Ray. Setting his bare feet in the shallow water, he shivered lightly at the temperature change. The rest of his body was finally starting to dry a bit however... save for his hair, which would catch up in a soft, fluffy mess later on that he'd certainly be complaining about ]
[ something about being called "his beloved" had struck a chord, leaving him to look out at the ripples of the water without the mercy of his blush yet fading. He and his own Ray had never considered themselves anything of a relationship-- at most, they'd had fleeting touches in desperate moments... but this Ray had a known one with the him from here. That made him wonder, just a bit, if the man saw him in that same light at all ]
[ now, introducing Lin and Ray was sure to be a real treat. But as humorous as he knew it would be in some aspects, he also felt a deeper rooted pang of worry in his gut. It had been hard for him to process the idea of knowing another Ray (that was so much like his own)... and he could only imagine the stew of feelings Lin would go through upon meeting this one. Especially considering, you know... the solider had been the one to kill Raymond in the end. He would not be cruel as he had with Admir though-- not this time. He wouldn't tell Ray who was responsible for Mikey and Raymond's deaths... if he were going to find out, that would be on Lin's own terms ]
[ he twisted his upper half around carefully now that Ray was so close to his side, waiting for the man to turn his head back to the laundry before reaching up to gently play with his curls. His fingers carded through a section of them, splitting the strands, and then he idly began to braid them together. For a man who struggled to put a ponytail in Illi's hair a while back, he seemed to have a generally decent idea of what he was doing now. Maybe he'd practiced a bit since then-- in fear he'd have to do it again at some point ]
[ he could tell, decidedly, that this wasn't a topic that Ray wanted to further indulge him on.... so he allowed his curiosity to remain exactly that and moved on with a soft hum. He slid his thumbs over the braid to check its quality halfway through, satisfied with his work and continuing at a slow, focused pace. He didn't even notice his tongue was poking out between his lips in the process ]
[ a subtle glance was thrown in the direction of Ray's expression, trying to weigh if he was still troubled by his earlier thoughts or not. Clicking his tongue afterwards, he tipped his head and toyed with the finished end of the braid. Such a handsome man. Always. ]
[ he shifted his legs to half cross chubby thighs, definitely starting to get cold now that he was mostly dry and sitting in one spot for a while. That and, of course, he did feel just a little bit of shame sitting there with everything on display right next to Ray. It probably wasn't anything the man hadn't seen before given his relationship with this universe's equivelent of himself-- but still! ]
[ he led the way on the walk back to camp, almost hoping that they'd happen across Lin on one of his little patrols so he could try to explain why the hell he was on a naked stroll alongside Ray. But that didn't happen (sadly), and they soon breached the campsite clearing in peace. He motioned over to the firepit with a hum, signaling for Ray to move towards it while he broke off for the moment ]
[ he didn't so much as wait for a response before disappearing inside of his tent, rustling around in his belongings to find just where he'd put his only spare piece of clothing. It'd been some time since he'd gotten thing-- months ago, when he had taken Illi out on a shopping trip. He had just begun to worry that he might've thrown it out after all this time when he finally happened across it. Not exactly the occasion he'd intended on wearing the thing (but really, did he ever expect to have one?), but it would do just fine to cover him up. He shrugged the thin, silky fabric overhead and pulled it down to where it would rest just halfway up his thighs. The thin straps hugged his shoulders nicely, though, he didn't quite have the bust to fill out the chest. Overall, however... he thought he looked quite nice ]
[ the man spoke as he slipped back out of the tarp entrance, standing sheepishly outside of it. Now the dress had worked itself out on him; holding sweet and snug to his soft hips and framing the pudge of his tummy in an artful sort of way. Slowly drying hair hung against his shoulders, already starting to form loose little curls that had been hidden by all of the grease it had carried for so long. He hugged an arm, clearing his throat and choosing to look down at the dirt instead of directly at whatever Ray's reaction might be ]
[ his eyes widened a bit as the fire burst to life unexpectedly, though a glance up at Ray showed him reason enough as to why. Illuminated by the warm glow of flame, he could see the man's face flush darker... though his expression would've said enough even without the blush to accompany it. He hadn't really... expected such a reaction...? But it certainly wasn't unwelcome. Biting the inside of his cheek in a dreadfully failed attempt to quell his smile, he shook his head like he was disagreeing with words the man had not even spoken ]
[ his laugh had come out more like a giggle. Reaching up absentmindedly, he tucked a stray strand of hair behind one ear. He wasn't used to feeling.... what was this, bashful? But there was undeniable vulnerability to him here and now. He felt... pretty. Ray's reaction made him feel pretty. Quite frankly, he hadn't realized he was capable of fitting such a term in anyone's eyes ]
[ he finally walked closer. Slow and careful in every step. Rounding the fire to stand closer to Ray, he turned his head to look up at him and absolutely beam. A meal and the laundry alike were momentarily forgotten in favor of simply soaking up the warmth of the flames and appreciation alike ]
[ oh, that had really done it. Ray had managed to accomplish two rare feats in the span of one day, by some miracle. The feeling of a wonderfully large, warm hand trailing over his skin sent a shiver up the length of his spine. When it rested on his waist in the divot just above hip (where a hand fits oh so nicely as a matter of fact), he was a goner. His eyes widened a little, lips pursed before the corners of his lips twitched like his face wasn't sure what expression to make. A warm glow quickly followed, turning pale face a dreadful shade of red that crept all the way down to freckled shoulders ]
[ .... Flustered. He was terribly, horribly flustered. His brain short circuited in its futile attempts at righting himself as to not come off as a total fool--
[ Gerard had wasted no time in scrambling out of danger's way once his 'meeting' with the Secretary had come to an end, only pausing briefly to shuck his coat off one arm and assess the damage the bullet had left at the top of his bicep. He grimaced as it gave a throb in return to the attention, biting his tongue to avoid giving an audible response to the pain. Fresh blood dribbled past sticky clumps of darker liquid that had collected around the wound. It was doing a sorry job of clotting itself, but it slowed the flow well enough for now. Deeming it an issue for later, he shrugged the coat back on and continued on his way forwards ]
[ he knew what he was looking for now-- winding this way and that, dodging the public eye. His heartbeat pounded away in his ears, and the closer he got, the strain on his arm became less and less important. Halls got dimmer, and colder. Wood and carpet turned to concrete. Strangely (at least to him), there wasn't as much supervision in the area as he'd assumed there might be. The crisp echo of boots on the floor nearby did however indicate that there was at least one man on duty. That was fine. He would've needed to find one, anyway. He sucked in a breath as he drew closer to the sound, pressing his body into the wall before turning the corner ]
[ the confrontation was taken in a similar approach to the one before, though there was something about Gerard's approach that screamed so much more venom and desperation. The guard hadn't had much of a chance, only getting one pathetic attempt at an elbow in before he was smashed into the wall. An extra kick was delivered to the back of his head once he slid to the floor, just to be safe. Trembling hands fumbled with his uniform, and the jingle of keys brought Gerard back to his feet as he palmed them with a huff of victory ]
[ the cells weren't all that well labeled, and it took him a few tries of haphazardly sliding viewing slots open on the doors before one made him stop in his tracks. There wasn't any visual indicator that this was the right one, but there was an undeniable draw. Yes, this was it. They were here ]
[ he didn't check the slot, lurching forwards to test a key in the lock. He tugged his lip between his teeth in focus as he went to the next, then the next-- ]
[ click ]
[ the heavy metal door creaked open, cutting through the silence like a dagger. He steadied his breath, peering inside of the cell. In one corner, he could see it- a fragile, thin body curled up on itself. Wispy brown hair hung in greased strands over their shoulders. He felt his heart crumple in his chest, and his eyes began to sting at the corners. Legs moved forwards on their own in an uneven stagger, though stopped just short of his friend. Finally, he spoke in a hoarse whisper ]
. . . Hey there, Olliepop . . .
[ -- @m4dm4n-4nd-polluted ]
[Oleander looked up from their balled up postion. If it wasnt for the heavy breathing and loud steps, they still would have recognized the fact someone was coming. Someone like... them. Him.]
....gee..?
[They cocked their head, moving a little closer to him. Their faces were inches away, like an animal trying to investigate a new face for the first time. After awhile, they smiled weakly. The smile was genuine but they lacked the strength to empathize that. Their smile faltered after a moment or two, looking over him. Hes... injured.]
You... you're hurt
[They reached towards his bicep, before giggling and pointing to their shoulder]
Look we match now!
[They looked around rapidly, patting their uniform pockets, and then pulling out a bullet shell]
I even kept it! See! Bragging rights!
[They grinned holding it up incredibly close to his face. It seems they may have forgotten how personal space works.]
[They furrowed their brows, suddenly realizing, if only slightly, the situation at hand]
....why are you here?
[ he shouldn't have been surprised to find them broken in this way. Isolation does wicked things to the mind and body, and if they truly had been locked up like this since they'd been dragged from his camp... well, he understood intimately what Ollie had been through up until now ]
... Came to find you. I had to. I promised I would.
[ he slipped down to his knees before them, unflinching and almost welcoming in the warmth of their closeness even if it wielded a bullet betwixt. His hand met theirs, fingers curling around the back of their knuckles and thumb carefully tracing a fragile wrist. His eyes relayed a pain that he wouldn't speak-- for Ollie's sake, in either way ]
Why are.... Why are they keeping you put away? You aren't some simple prisoner. Surely the Clerk would have some say...
You did..?
[They thought a moment, tapping their chin with their other hand. They had in the heat of everything forgotten the event that took place. It was too distressing to think of their friend left behind and-... no. They wouldnt think of that. They refused to think any more on it]
[They continued trying to remember though, the part that refused had been overrun by the part that didnt. They wanted to know why their friend was .. here. Why they... came for him]
[Then... recognition]
You- you-
[Their eyes flashed with emotions, sadness, confusion, anger, fear. Then a deep... melancholy]
You came for me... your hurt because.. of me.
Why would you try to... a promise for a.... arent I your enemy..? I thought you hated people like us....
[They shook their head, registering his question]
Why they keep me here...?
[They look back up at Gerard, then their hand, squeezing them together, pausing, and jerking back. Overcome with some sort of realization.]
...im unstable
Unstable...? No... Hey... That's bullshit, Ollie. You're hurt. These-- these people... They throw people in little fucking cages for any reason they feel like. You can't believe everything they say about you.... it's... it's to fuck with your brain.
[ he'd tensed with the sudden movement, but knew better than to make any sort of grabs for his friend again. They were a cornered, broken animal. If he squinted, he could see himself sitting there before him, distantly. Just as terrified, and just as hurt ]
[ another throbbing reminder of the bullet lodged in his arm made him hiss softly, and he shifted back to sit on his heels and cast his eyes away briefly. He didn't want Oleander to feel responsible for it. He'd gone and done it on his own, plain and simple. What happened between himself and the Secretary was by his own accord ]
... Don't worry about me. I'm okay. I've been through worse, hah. This is... honestly nothing. I'm just happy to see you again.
but I am- i- im-
[They gestured trying to explain their thoughts, but then gave up, scratching at their arm with now overgrown nails, hoping it would offer some sort of clarity]
Every single thing I do. It hurts someone. Someone. Will always get hurt as long as im around. I thought I could stop it by leaving- but now im just back here again and now your hurt and-
[They reached towards their bed, patting it aggressively before eventually finding what they were looking for: the blanket their dad had given them. They snatched it off the bed and wrapped themselves in it, looking anywhere but his face]
I dont know how anyone could be happy to see me.
Eh, you think I care about a scratch? I told you, it's okay....
[ it was certainly more than a scratch, but he didn't want this to be the only topic of his visit. He'd been through too much work to get to where he was now ]
[ pausing in the quiet between them briefly, he slowly moved until his legs were out from under him. Sitting back on his ass, he drew his knees closer to his chest and leaned on one while finally turning his attention back to Oleander. He chose not to address their state- personally, he'd found it easier on himself in such a situation when he was treated... normally, to a degree ]
Hey... What kinda slop are they feeding you here, huh? Can't be better than a cheeseburger.
Stop down playing it!
[They yelled, a relatively expected, yet somehow suddenly outburst on their end. A mildly sensitive subject it seems. They buried their fingers just a little bit deeper into their arm.]
You're. Hurt.
Please... take that seriously.. its not a...
[They sighed, looking at the patterns in the floor. Trying to organize their thoughts. They were so concerned for him yet- he didnt seem to give a flying fuck about himself. Something about the situation grounded them slightly. Some sort of instinct kicking in for then. They looked up at him and took a deep breath. Just... answer the question. Slow. Down just- dont break. Please dont. You're not unstable you're not- you're..]
They uh- its just some.. like... mashed slop and.. yeah.
Sometimes.. my da-.... mr kozlov comes by and... gives me like.. real food. Nothing fancy but... better than what ive been given...
[ reflexively, he bristled ever so slightly at the shout aimed in his direction. For a man who'd clawed his way so far past taking commands, he doubted there would ever come a day he didn't at least react to them. He returned to a relative calm in the next moment, exhaling deeply. It wasn't Ollie's fault that they so desperately needed to be heard-- and he would give them all the patience in the world for it ]
[ next of note, he heard a name he was not quite familiar with. It didn't take much to assume it belonged to the Clerk, and tucked such knowledge away in the pockets of his mind for a rainy day. Then again, hearing Oleander refer to the man as something so formal... was he wrong to take that as an implication the Clerk was somewhat responsible for their current position? ]
... We could go get something once you're out of here. Milkshakes and fries. You ever dip your fries in the ice cream? That's good stuff there....
[ his eyes trailed down to their self inflicted wounds. Patterns of crosses and other equally unholy things ripped through tender flesh and dotted in dried lamb's blood. Was this what their people desired of them now? Was this all they deserved in their minds? He couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt at his own involvement- even if it was a mere butterfly effect that truly wouldn't have done much else otherwise... except maybe getting Oleander more hurt than if he hadn't brought them into his shelter... ]
[ but nonetheless, he'd been there. He had helped secure wax wings to their fragile shoulders and let them take flight. Maybe he should have warned them, but would it have mattered in the end? Icarus was always doomed to fall ]
[They searched his eyes when he said that. Searching for a sign he was lying or concealing some sort of truth. Maybe he was plotting something. How could gerard honestly believe thay they would be making it out of here?]
I-... I dont think-.. im getting ou-
[they stopped that thought.]
[He came all this way and you already yelled at him. Dont burden him with your self loathing. He cares for you, you fucking dunce]
I... yeah. I would. Like that.. maybe one of those thick ones with the whipped cream and the cherry on top, but I give you the cherry instead because I dont like the texture.
[They rambled. Getting lost in the daydream. Thats all it was. A daydream of leaving this place. It was a nice dream though. But just as realistic as cotton candy clouds and dancing with unicorns.]
I dont... think I have. The uh. Frie thing. Is... that normal? Seems kinda gross gerard.
[They gave a weak chuckle. A small attempt to tease him as friends do.]
[But their heart wasn't in it. Pierced by little daggers representing their sins and all they've done to others. How could they laugh while they bleed for their crimes?]
Im sorry for yelling
... Hey, it's okay. You're going through a lot right now... And- and you're... right. But it's because I don't... wanna focus on it. I just want to be here. With you. I can fix this shit later. So don't worry so much about me, okay? I'm not doing anything I don't wanna do. I'm making my choices here.
[ he shifted a bit closer, but didn't dare to invade their personal bubble. He knew the safety such an invisible barrier provided, and wouldn't pass it without permission. Control was a valuable luxury in a place like this. He intended to remind Oleander that they had it at all ]
You uh... you shouldn't knock it till you try it, by the way. The french fries and ice cream thing? It's like salty and sweet together. Great combo. You'll see what I mean soon.
[ because you're getting out, Ollie. I'm not going to let you rot here. I won't let you end up like me. ]
That.. doesnt excuse my actions. Or any of my actions
[They said somberly, picking at a hang nail now. They saw him move closer out of the corner of their eye. Unsure if they should also move closer or stay put. Wanting to be comforted but scared to recieve it.]
..I dont know why you would make that-... choice but-.. I guess in the time ive known you neither of us have made very... smart choices. Heh..
[They pulled at a hangnail that was on the stubborn side. Flinching slightly as it tore up more skin than expected, leaving their pointer finger bleeding.]
...yeah.. okay. I wont. Uh- knock it til I try it, I mean. Sounds... good enough.
What i wouldnt give for something sweet right now..
[They laughed pathetically, pressing their thumb to the now bleeding finger. Trying to stop it.]
[ he sighed in a melancholy sort of way, biting back the urge to say he wished he could help them with that issue. Getting them out of here wouldn't be as simple as simply getting up and walking away-- and furthermore, if he chose the "prison break" option Ollie would end up with even more problems than before. No. He'd have to do some more... diplomatic lifting. Even if diplomatic meant holding an official at knifepoint in some cases ]
We'll get there. Promise.
[ carefully, he shucked his gloves off one by one and laid them by his side. Then a hand was slowly extended, not too far into Ollie's space just yet, but as an offering for him to choose on ]
You and me, Olliepop.
[They watched silently as he sighed. Sort of blaming themselves for killing the vibe, even though it was never exactly positive in the first place.]
...
...yeah.
[They took his hand, squeezing it tightly. Their eyes shifted to the wood panels they had pretended were faces. People with names and personalities. He would talk to them and imagine their stories to keep himself company. And now that he had company, they struggled to figure out what to do with it.]
you and me.
Someday
[ he simply sat in silence for a too-long minute that felt like hours, not yet breaking it, but shifting to scoot a little closer without daring to lose his hold on them. But that wasn't enough. There was truthfully nothing he could do to provide any significant comfort to them. His words (that he spoke with love), his promises (that he intended to keep), his actions (that screamed louder), and his bleeding heart (that wept) were not enough. He felt a dry sting at his eyes and wasn't sure if he hadn't blinked or if they were simply about to burst ]
I . . .
[ his voice cracked, and he stopped before the rest of what he was thinking could be uttered. He was sorry, but that would change nothing. Swallowing the lump in his throat, his grip on Ollie's hand tightened abruptly and he tugged them forwards. His arms were there to catch them, wrapping around their starving bones and cradling them tightly to his chest. Over their shoulder, his pinprick eyes stared wide and terrified at the empty wall where they couldn't see. He sat there, silent as a mourner, and simply held them like they'd fade away if he relented for even a second ]
[Oleander didnt know how to react when their body got ragdolled into Gerard's chest. At first they flinched when they were violently jerked forwards. Their first instinct was that they were in danger. That they needed to fight- or flight- or-...]
[Then they grimaced, overcome with pain from their not fully healed shoulder. But they would get through it because- three: their friend was holding them. And not just holding them, holding them like this would be the last time they ever see eachother.]
[Their body relaxed, slowly wrapping their arms back around gerard. Shaking slightly as the fear changed to.. something else. They couldnt place the name of the emotion. It was a sort of deep bond that would slowly chisel away at your defenses, until suddenly it fell down. It felt like returning to a warm bed after learning you didnt have to go to school due to a snow day. Thats it- it wasnt a feeling. It was an event. Sitting there. Burning quietly in eachothers presence like two stars in the sky.]
[And then the tears began to flow. Silent and steady]
[ feeling them melt into his embrace was the final straw and all at once his own eyes watered and spilled over. He brought a hand up to the back of their head, fingers lacing in messy hair as he ducked down to press a chaste kiss to their scalp. Sighing deeply to center himself again, he nuzzled his nose into the mop of hair and let heavy lids shut for a few beats ]
.... Hey, it's gonna be okay... I got this far, didn't I?
[ he hummed quietly, shifting a little to drag a hand up and down Ollie's back in a slow, soothing pattern. He could feel them trembling lightly under his fingertips and knew they were crying just the same. They both needed this, it would seem ]
It won't be long before you're out free, and we'll go celebrate. Get drunk and cause some problems... No walls are gonna keep me from you. I'll shred 'em all.
[They shook a little, before closing their eyes. Squeezing him tightly, fingers digging into his back. They began to sniffle. Their nose running slightly because of the tears.]
Go... eat stupid food combos.. and.. dance like idiots...
[They began to list, a smile coming to their voice despite the sorrow that overwhelmed them]
Then.. we.. go to your tent and tell stupid stories around the fire and... roast marshmallows.
[They paused a moment, before laughing sofrly]
The-then they catch fire because we arent paying attention. Or because we knock one of them into the campfire.
Exactly... Now you're thinking....
[ he rocked them gently, perhaps more to soothe himself even than for Oleander at the time. Taking a deep breath to stave off another wave of tears, he made sure he'd pulled himself together decently enough before gently prying them back enough to leave some space between them ]
... No more tears, Olliepop... Save 'em for when you really need them. We've got plans now, yeah? So that means it has to happen. We've already put it in motion.
[ he cupped their face in either hand, carefully wiping away heavy teardrops. Next his sleeve was brushed under their nose to clean that up, too. He didn't mind. Far worse had been on his coat in all these years. Their poor, sad little face was reddened to the tip of their nose from their upset. Watery eyes and trembling lip. He felt another tug at his heart, sighing softly and giving one cheek a light pinch ]
I say, first thing, we go get drunk as balls and toilet paper Lin's bunker.
[They let out a hoarse giggle at his reply. Closing their weary eyes and lowering their defenses further. Yeah. This wouldnt be so bad.]
[They couldn't help but feel a little disappointed when they were pulled away from their friend, but considering they were still close enough, they wouldnt say anything. They thought about his words while he wiped their tears]
For...when i need them?
What do you mean we've put them in motion..? We're just sitting here and-... its not like some grand break out movie or something-
[They paused, the name drop momentarily confused them out of their state of... various emotions]
...Lin? Who is that? A friend of yours?
[They paused, then dawned a shit-eating grin. Looking just a little like their old self]
A boyfriend~?
[ he startled a bit at the suggestion, smirking with vague embarrassment as his eyes darted to the side for a moment. Definitely wasn't the shift in topic he was expecting, but sure, he'd humor it... that is, if he even knew the answer to such a question. Was Lin his boyfriend? No, no way. They'd never used such a title between each other. Sure, they were deeply intimate pretty frequently and all but... well, that didn't staple a label on them. Sometimes he wondered if they were even friends ]
He's a something. We both came from the same err... universe. And we also touch dicks sometimes, but no that doesn't make him my "boyfriend"....
[ he squished their cheeks and scrunched up his nose as if to say 'you pesky thing', returning their giggle finally and bumping their foreheads together once more. It was nice. To have simple, silly conversations like this again-- even if it were only temporary and they were still sitting on the floor of a cold cell. He knew that they'd have them again though. Outside, where Ollie belonged ]
He is handsome, though. Short and a little pudgy, but handsome. Got a god awful attitude though. That's why we gotta toilet paper him.
Wait.. universe?
[They furrowed their brows, as if doing some sort of mental calculations. Maybe connecting the dots with red string in their head]
I suppose I never thought very deeply about the fact you look alot like death...
[No matter anyay- they were now being "violently" attacked by their best friend. They laughed as he squeezed their cheeks, relatilating playfully with a shove, trying to knock him over.]
Well if hes so handsome, clearly thats getting to his head. He has it coming if hes being an asshole to my friend.
Cant wait to TP that bastard
[That sounds alot like something Eresus would say]
[They shook their head, hoping the physical action would tear them out of their thoughts.]
Maybe would could egg it too. Like those kids on Halloween maybe? I dont know. I never got to do Halloween. Is that a thing people do or is it just in movies?
[They were talking faster now. Maybe they could speak faster than the thoughts. Maybe if they fill the silence they dont have think about what's in it ]
[ he broke out into a grin at the push, throwing himself back to the floor with a huff- belly up like a dog in play. Rocking side to side for a moment like Ollie had really got him good, he rolled onto one and gently swiped an arm out to pull them down with him. He knew how easy it was to let the nasty bits devour any joy as it appeared... but he also knew that some laughter was the best medicine in most circumstances ]
Wuff. Yeah, Halloween's a thing. You've never done it? Shit, Olliepop. We're doing Halloween this year 'round, then! We can dress up and shit. All that good stuff.
[ he nuzzled the side of their face where they laid, snickering quietly as the sweetness ended as quickly as it'd begun and a hand snaked to their side to test how ticklish they might be ]
Ever heard of cheesing someone's house? It's where you throw slices of cheese at it just like egging. But even more infuriating because it melts and sticks there. Heh.
[Oleander laughed as they were dragged down with him, proceeding to rock back and forth to try to loosen his hold on them.]
Gerarddddddddd-
[They continued to laugh, playfully kicking and squirming in his grasp]
No I havent. If I was lucky my.. father would give us a treat or something. Or an employee would just give em to my.. sister.. Normally though we just were sent on another mission and it was treated like.. another day.
[They thought a moment, looking at the cracks in the walls. They were lucky enough to get a "room", but it was still equally a cell.]
I havent, no. Sounds Horrible. Lets do it.
Glad to have you on board, then. Cheese and eggs and toilet paper. It's almost a full breakfast. If anything, we're doing him a favor.
[ their laughter was like a godsend to him, and perhaps one of the best sounds he'd heard in a long time. He hummed his delight between his own fit of giggles, finally showing mercy after another minute or so of prodding and poking ]
Seems like we've made ourselves a to-do list already, huh? We're gonna have to get on that.
[ as silly as it all was to say out loud and plot such childish things... It gave him a gap of hope through all of the bullshit right about now. He'd hold on to those ideas when he left here, and furthermore when he went on to confront whoever it might be that he needed to to see that Ollie would be able to accomplish it all by his side. Promises and plans. He'd keep them, just like always ]
[ ah yes, another typical, peaceful evening in the great territory of DRAAG. The last of the evening birds had tucked into the swaying treetops and handed over the night to the owls and alike. A soft, curious coo confirmed this from a particularly tall and bristled spruce pressed snug to the backside of a certain government building. The deep, melancholy glint of the last of the sun's light wasn't strong enough to reach inside its branches-- leaving the bird's appearance to one's imagination. A gentle breeze rustled the tree, as if to test that theory, and then it gave a violent kind of tremor that the wind had decidedly not been responsible for. Another hoot, a bit frustrated now, sounded off in response. Not but a rough 20 seconds later did the tree rustle unnaturally again, further up. The owl took off with an angry belt from its peak, likely throwing bird-ly expletives in the wake of great wings. ]
[ hands shot out from the side of the tree closest to the building to reveal the source of such a commotion, fumbling blindly at the brick before fingertips brushed the frame of a window. Tugging at the bottom proved fruitless initially, which led those hands to prying at the middle for some sort of give. They then resorted to some artful smacking at the panes. Something must've shown some mercy along the way, because another yank on the lower portion of the frame finally got the damned thing open with a grating squeak. ]
[ from that window came a pesky, chubby bastard of a man. He tumbled through the opening with the art and grace of a ballerina. If that ballerina were an elephant. Grunting as he rolled onto the floor, the bristles of green spruce sprinkled across carpeting surrounding his haphazardly splattered body. Quick to sit up, he shook his hair to relieve it of similar prickles stuck in the strands and took in his surroundings with darting eyes. He'd undershot what he believed to be a window directly to the glorious Dictator's office-- appearing to end up in the hall just outside of it. Naturally, a forest green clad guard was standing about two feet from where he'd landed and looking down at him with a mixture of bewilderment and disgust. Gerard cleared his throat, slowly rising to his feet and ignoring the warning click of a gun being readied ]
I thhhhhink I'm lost...? See, I was out for a stroll. Birdwatching, right, are you following? I was watching the birds. And I thought-
[ he didn't actually finish his story, as interesting as the tale surely would've been had he kept going. Instead his hand slapped the barrel of the guard's rifle to throw it to one side, the second quickly following with a solid crack straight between the eyes. The soldier crumpled with hardly a shout, leaving Gerard to catch him just under the arms. He snickered quietly at an easy victory, dragging the unconscious victim off to the side of the hall and leaning him against the far wall to make him as inconspicuous as possible. Now he was free to continue with his plans. ]
[ shuffling forwards, he scanned the plate on the door to make doubly sure that he wasn't entirely delusional (only partially!). The fancy plaque read "THE OFFICE OF HIS GRAND IMMORTAL DICTATOR" and ridiculously gaudy lettering, which he nodded at in silent confirmation, and then pressed both palms to the door to push inside. Now if he'd calculated something right tonight, the man had already left his office for the evening and he was free to snoop around to his heart's content. But given the window situation... maybe luck wasn't on his side after all ]
[ -- @m4dm4n-4nd-polluted ]
[Unfortunately for Gerard, his assumption about luck was correct. The dictator had decided to stay late today, as he usually did at the end of the week to make sure things wrapped up nicely. While Draag is a well-oiled machine, it takes several people to maintain that status, and the secretary's death had done nothing but complicate things.
He was sitting in a mildly embarrassing position; feet on his desk, with his prized cat in his lap. Everything was just about done, he had merely wanted a moment to himself. Perhaps he would write another note, or simply sit there, taking the time to put his feet up, despite his workload being... not the most substantial.
The commotion outside didn’t bother him, he barely registered the sound of grunting and struggling. Perhaps it was the guards fooling around? He would have to give them an earful later.
He quickly adjusted his position as the door began to drift open, regrettably making his cat leave. All office doors must be opened quickly and efficiently, with one hand on the knob and one hand behind the person's bath. The obvious lack of knowledge either constituted a rather thick-skulled newhire, or a tresspasser of some denomination. A sigh escaped his lips. First the secretary's whole... incident, and now this. His hopes of it being an employee he could at least scold were diminished as he saw the familiar greasy head of hair, those filthy gloves, and that wild, savage look in that creature’s eyes. A gloved hand drifted to the dagger at his side as he slowly stood up. He hoped it would at least ignore the cat.]
Pray tell, what, exactly, are you doing here?
[His eyes barely left it, studying its hunched form for any sudden movements. Hadn’t he taught that thing a rather significant lesson last time? Not that he was complaining about another chance to cut it up, exactly, but it was a rather... inconvenient time. Perhaps he could see if it had any scars from their last session, and he would most certainly create more if it dare tried anything.]
Did you plan to attack me again? If I can recall correctly, last time didn't exactly work out the best for you, no?
[The corner of his mouth lifted slightly at what he was about to say next, although it wasn't particularly clever.]
Is the mutt back for more training? That nice lady isn't here right now, but I would be happy to oblige.
[ he might've been startled by his company had he not felt an infinite amount more loathing deep in his soul instead. Visibly giving a dramatic roll of his eyes, he scoffed and slouched further in a childish display of disappointment. The door was swiftly kicked shut behind him nonetheless, insuring that they wouldn't have any quick interruptions during their spontaneous meeting. Might as well follow through with something while he was here, after all. ]
Do you get off to talking to me like that or ssssomething?
[ he made a faux look of disgust like a toddler weirded out by something on their plate, head lolling to one side and arms swaying idle by his sides. When he decided the Dictator had been thoroughly shamed enough, he dropped the look entirely and swayed over towards the corner bookshelf. He wasn't interested in its contents-- in truth, he'd been hoping to get into the desk that was now not so accessible to him... but it would do for general annoyance's sake. He'd rival the fluffy white cat's nature itself with his own, fingering through the spines of several books before plucking one up and flipping it open in one hand. He scanned the page, boredly looked up at the Dictator, and then unceremoniously let it drop to the floor with a thunk before moving on to the next. ]
... I missed you, by the way. Oh, can't a loyal man miss his Grand Immortal Dictator? You know, I was jussssst dying to see your handsome face again. Really! What's the phrase-? Eh, made my balls itch, or something.
[ thunk. Another book finding its unsavory grave on the floor, bent pages and all. He kept his eyes on the taller man all the while, knowing better than to allow himself to be cornered right off the bat. ]
I believe there are two answers to that; the official one, and the true one. Neither I will give you the satisfaction of knowing.
[he huffed in annoyance as each of his beloved books fell to the ground. Why, of all people who could have visited him tonight, was this the one that came? His books were practically priceless, each hard to come by in Draag, some even signed by the long-dead authors. Still, he didn’t dare pick them up just yet, no matter how much it truly pained him. Each sound of pages crashing to the floor sunk his heart slightly more. He wasn't one for attachment to physical objects, but he took quite a bit of pride in his shelf. Oh, well, perhaps he would see if Boris had any extra copies]
I highly doubt you missed me, especially after you left my office crawling. Or, perhaps, you get off on that? I would be more than happy to oblige.
[Although, he didn’t exactly get off scot-free from that, either. The most important part is that he had won against the vile creature that had tried to claim what was rightfully his, albeit a bit weakened. A victory was a victory, though, it would count in his book. Perhaps this time he could even get an earlobe...
He stood up, drumming his fingers on the dark mahogany of his desk, preparing for... whatever the creature would do. He severely doubted it had come merely to knock over a few books. There were his normal three daggers on his person, his pistol, and a... spare pen he decided to keep on him, for some unknown reason. Oh, well, it couldn't hurt to have.
Why was красота not keeping her distance? She wasn't exactly rubbing against that thing's leg, but she was well within distance for.. whatever it would want to do with her. Even merely petting her would get her coat unfathomably greasy. Although it seemed to be ignoring her for right now, hopefully that wouldn't change. It seemed all of a sudden, most of his prized possessions were in that very room. He made a mental note to perhaps store his more valuable books back at his mansion, where they'd be far less likely to be destroyed, and to stop bringing his cat just about everywhere he went. ]
Tell my why you're really in here, and I will spare your life, like last time.
[A bit of a bluff, considering how he struggled against a severely weakened version of the thing before him, but perhaps he could talk his way out of the inevitable violence that would ensue]
What, you don't believe me? I'm confessing my undying love and attraction to you and your.... sexy little caterpillar mustache... and you'd reject me so? Ouch, baby...
[ a shit-eating grin broke out on his lips at that, and with the Dictator's movement he shied away from the bookshelf he'd been busy destroying in favor of bringing himself to more open ground... just in case. His eyes scanned for something else to toy with in his ever present need to constantly be doing something he wasn't supposed to, landing on the white fluffball nearby. It's like he could read the other man's mind in the sense of everything he did not want touched silently inviting Gerard to touch it. ]
... Maybe I came looking for that part of my tongue I'm missing, eh? Or maybe I wanted to burn your office down... I know you're just itching for an answer you want to hear. Good thing I won't be giving it to you. Verbal edging, yeah? Hhhhot~...
[ he spoke as his hands extended like a toddler, chasing after the cat in a crouch until he managed to scoop her up and dramatically cradle her to his chest as one would hold a baby. Clicking his tongue for her attention, he pushed his hand into the wonderfully soft fluff of her tummy and scritched before tapping her on the nose with his pointer finger. Thankfully he was clad in leather gloves and a thick jacket so that any retaliation from her wouldn't be so harsh. ]
[ the games he played with the Dictator's patience were a survival tactic if nothing else. While they did well in slowly eating away at his demeanor, they also kept him engaged enough with the opposite of boredom to make it beneficial to not shoot Gerard in the face and be done with it. It was an educated guess that this Dictator had a similar enough mindset to his own that any form of entertainment or intrigue was excuse enough to allow the greasy man to continue his jester act a while longer. ]
.... Cute cat. Bet you expect me to make a pussy joke, huh? Well now I'm not going to.
What did you just compare my mustache to?
[His voice already had a hint of annoyance in it. Tonight was supposed to be nice, relaxing, perfect, much like most nights. Maybe he would draw a nice, warm bath for himself, or read one of the now destroyed books as he stayed for just a bit longer. Of course, perhaps he could still do such a thing after he taught that creature another lesson. He contemplated attacking it, but decided not to when he saw it pick up his beloved cat. It truly had to ruin everything for him, didn't it? Did it even know how hard it was to bathe a feline?
A gloved hand drifted to the dagger on his waist. He didn’t want to risk shooting it, as his aim wasn't exactly what it used to be. Plus, that would take a bit of the fun away, wouldn't it? He would have to wait until it attacked him, a strategy the dictator loathed entirely, but there was too much at stake.]
I believe you wandered in here to merely irritate me. Between the cat and the books, you would have to do a deal more to truly irk me. She was overdue for a bath, anyways.
[Truthfully, he was almost at wit's end already, but he chose his tone very carefully, intent on not giving the thing any satisfaction. It questioned what he gained pleasure from earlier, but he was certain it got some form of glee from making him angry. He refused to let this unfortunate encounter ruin his night.]
Your tongue, hmm, I forgot what I did with such a vile part. You would have the most luck in the sewage system, but I cannot guarantee you'll find it.
[He distinctly remembered stowing it with his other prizes, soaked in chemicals and suspended in a jar, but why would he ever tell it that he prized a part of such a lowly thing's body?]
I call bull on that one, big boy. You probably keep it in your bedside drawer or something.
[ he hummed down at the kitty swaddled in his arms, catching a pretty paw and gently squeezing it between two fingers. Even for a creature of his irritating, terrible degree, he could still appreciate some beautiful pink little paw pads. His eyes drifted back up afterwards, pointedly making note of the Dictator's palming at his weapon and frowning lightly to himself. If anything, he was more disappointed that it had taken longer than he anticipated for the man to debate slitting his throat right here. ]
... But no, no... If I wanted your attention I'd have come earlier in the day. Honestly, I was hoping you had a life enough outside of work that I'd have the office to myself. But I guess you're lonelier than I thought. Kinda ssssad.
[ placing красота back down on all four paws, he let the poor girl scamper off with notably frizzier fur as he cupped his wrists behind his back in a mockery of authority. Tipping his chin up, he swayed closer and closer to the Dictator... and then swerved, heading for the opposite side of the desk to circle around and reaching over the side to swipe the unoccupied chair by its closest arm. Dragging it closer (and further from the man it belonged to), he flopped down onto the cushion and propped the dirty heels of his boots up atop the clean desk top-- in a similar pose to the one the Dictator himself had been in earlier. Pursing his lips, he folded his hands on his tummy and looked across the surface up at him with an utterly wicked glint in his eyes ]
What are you doing here this late, anyway? Don't you have a Clerk to go home and fuck in sad, sad missionary with the lights off?
You must have an inflated sense of self worth, if you think I would keep any part of you within close proximity of me.
[He tensed up as it drew closer and closer, holding his breath, only truly releasing when it turned the other way. It was rather pathetic of him, to display such emotion with someone clearly as attuned as him, albeit less professional, but it was merely instinct. He could brush it off, anyways]
You smell like the sewage system already. How about a nice, cold bath in a prison cell? You could even drown yourself, if you so desire.
[He halfheartedly sighed at the sight of clumps of dirt falling onto the last paperwork for the night. Did it know how much of a pain it would be to get them processed now? Well, yes, it most likely did, and didn't care. That was the problem with creatures such as that one, no respect for authority goes hand and hand with no class. At least they weren't in the middle of a scuffle, like last time, although he was getting closer and closer to stabbing it, now that his cat was out of the equation and merely grooming herself in the corner.
His comment about the clerk tempted him further. Was their relationship just common knowledge at this point? At least this time, it was somebody who had a reason for its knowledge. He drew his dagger, although didn't do anything with it, merely holding it by his side. There would be the right opportunity soon, although not right now. He supposed he could simply shoot it, but that wouldn't be any fun, would it?]
He had a headache today, for your information. I let him out early. Why does it matter to you? Would you like to assault him again?
I just had a bath! Ehh... like a week ago? Better than last time...
[ he let his eyes linger on the weapon at the Dictator's side now, pulling his lower lip between his teeth and batting his eyelashes in a suggestive sort of way like it wasn't a blade at all. Giggling at his own humor after the fact, his manic gaze flitted back up to the man's face. He had quick enough reflexes that from here, if Ivan were to lunge, he'd more than likely be able to duck out of the way. It was chance enough that he'd take in order to stay comfortable for a little while longer. ]
It wasn't assault, thank you very much. Do you want to know what happened? Did you ever hear the story, really?
[ it was a rhetorical question. He intended on drawling on about his own side of things whether the answer would've been a yes or not. Though he did put enough pause in between that the Dictator would assume an answer was necessary.... and then interrupted to go on ]
It was just after I first arrived. Fresh as a babe. Wanted to stop by and get the introductions good and over with. We chatted a bit- threw some insults back and forth. You know, typical sort of activities between a Clerk and a Gerard, I'd imagine. But he got fussy and went for his gun. So, I stopped him. Then...
[ he steepled his fingers, taking his feet off the desk in favor of leaning forwards and placing his elbows atop it instead. A smirk rested idle on his lips, dangerous and taunting. ]
Then I caught your cologne. On his collar. So I called him out on it and boooyyyy did he get flustered! You should've seen him, actually. It was a cute look on him. But anyway, anyway.... I had to give him a tease about it. Play with him a bit. Oh- and I told him to kiss me. And he did. Oh, he let me taste every inch of his tongue. The one you suck on all the time? And he moaned so pretty when I took to his neck afterwards. That mark I left on him was for you, by the way. Glad you noticed.
[ he seemed rather proud of his work, as well as reminiscing on the affair. The Clerk had pushed his plump little body into it, regardless. He could fondly recall the other man's nip at his lip as well- leaving it tender with bruising for hours afterwards. And of course, the depth of the groan that'd left him when Gerard's tongue and teeth laved over that sweet spot on his throat and left his claim.... Unfortunate that the little bastard had opted to shoot him instead of go any further. ]
[ @m4dm4n-4nd-polluted ]
[ Gerard startled at the sound, recent times having taken his sleep to a level heavier than his usual. Exhaustion had caught up, unfortunately, and didn't plan on letting his aching body go anytime soon. In a blur of half-sleep, he instinctively reached for the revolver tucked in the tent pocket... though thankfully his senses caught up in time. Clearing his throat at the mistake, he quickly dusted his clothes like that might help his appearance to any degree ]
[ with a soft hum, he pulled tattered boots on and hurried to push himself up off the heap of sheets in his wake. The tent flap opened in the next instant, and out ducked an unkempt-as-ever man shaking his hair from his face and stretching. He blinked a few times to adjust to the change in light, arms raised and tummy peeking from the hem of his shirt as his back gave an audible crackle ]
[ his voice was a little rough and uneven with sleep, but slowly and surely the man was coming around to a fully conscious state. He offered a lopsided smile to his friend, reaching out to give him a small tap on the cheek before sauntering past. He stopped short of the campfire circle, rummaging in a pile of various junk he had there and finding a canteen that he drank from with a "ahhh" of refreshment to follow. That seemed to clear up the dry throat issue, at least ]
[ he felt an odd sort of delight hearing Ray in such a... normal tone. Their past meetings so far had been frantic at best, and tragic at worst. While the news was still not the most ideal-- there was that familiar, comforting twang to Ray's voice that had been missing previously. He blinked slowly at him from this distance, taking the time to admire his current stature. The world had taken its toll on him, but any version of Raymond Toro was near impossible to put down. Even hellfire had not broken him this time around ]
[ he scoffed in a playful, stubborn sort of way at the implication his camp was anything but perfection... knowing damn well that it was the exact opposite ]
[ his tone was entirely humorous, backed by dramatic arm motions to emphasize the grand amenities he insisted such a fine establishment as his own held. Never mind the lack of plumbing, or curious smell ]
[ and just like that, his rambling bit came to an end. He melted underneath of Ray's touch, lips twitching into the grin of a pleased cheshire cat and eyes closing for a moment as he savored the scratch of nails against his scalp. Practically purring. So much so, that he nearly forgot he had more to respond to ]
[ a bucket and towels... a bucket and towels.... Now, Gerard had never touted himself as the smartest man in DRAAG, but certainly he'd reached a new level of stupid when his first thought was laundry. He didn't care much to take the time to clean his small wardrobe himself, but that seemed to make enough sense for Ray. Not everyone enjoyed wearing the same sweaty, bloody, and overall filthy outfit every day ]
[ a bubbly giggle left him as he was pulled around by the larger man, pawing at him gently in return before giving an extra squirm and twist to wriggle out of his hold. A slippery, greasy weasel. That might prove challenge enough for Ray's impending plans ]
[ he walked in usual, swaggering, Gerard fashion to retrieve an old and beaten looking plastic bucket from his various trinkets-- dumping out what appeared to be a collection of interesting looking rocks. Next he sought out the requested towels... coming up less successful. Instead, he grabbed two of the biggest, relatively clean looking t-shirts he could find and called it a day ]
[ he pouted a bit, as if to say how dare Ray for pointing out his utterly atrocious hygiene and lack of self care. Even with his whining he followed along as he was tugged closer to the watery, clean fate he was not yet aware of in his future. To him, he supposed it made sense that he could spare his old rags a nice wash since Ray was already on his way to take care of his own ]
[ he giggled rudely at his own little jab, shoving himself against Ray's side as they walked. The thought of nudity in the wilderness didn't bother him in the slightest, but even thinking about Ray looking shy and silly sitting by his wet clothes with his ass out was too good ]
[ they neared the lakeside soon enough; the treeline giving way to a pretty little scene of calm water reflecting gentle light. You could almost forget it was so close to the miserable concrete jungle that was DRAAG. He sighed deeply in content as he enjoyed the sight, more than happy to share such with his friend ]
[ his brows relaxed, lidded eyes and a shit eating smirk overtaking his expression as he stood by the waterside. Quite frankly, everything needed to be washed. Everything-everything. And since Ray was so insistent on fixing the issue, well, he'd simply have to oblige. It's safe to say he did take a moment to absolutely devour his friend with his eyes as his shirt was pulled overhead though. Ray was too handsome for his own good. A strong, muscular form with artfully placed scars and thick fuzz from chest down, disappearing below a waistband that left much to the imagination. He hardly resisted the urge to give a cartoonish wolf howl ]
[ without further ado he began to peel off his clothes. A tattered performance jacket hit the ground audibly, followed closely by sweat stained shirt. His pale skin practically reflected the damn sun, dotted in the occasional freckle and more common scar. While on the more fairly chubby side, he still found himself to have a decently desirable form-- arms showing muscle as he flexed them with a quick stretch. Next went the boots, kicked off to one side. Socks, which you didn't even want to know the state of, added to the pile. And then his smirk really widened when he started on his slacks. He stepped out of the patch covered and frayed pants and added it to the collection, briefly considering opting for mercy as he looked down at his boxers. But hey, they needed a wash too. And since Ray wanted to be smart about it, what's a little bare ass to the world? ]
[ the last of his clothes was abandoned with such an announcement, and he stood proudly with his hands on bare waist and a twitch in his hip. In the back of his mind he could practically hear Lin shrieking at him about decency and decorum. But what's a little ass between friends? ]
[ he'd been successfully taken off guard by Ray's grand scheme, only able to grunt as they went down and writhe in the larger man's grasp. A string of curses in Keposhka and English alike left his lips, too frazzled by it all to bother keeping any consistency. It was too late by the time the pieces had been put together in his mind, and there he sat like a pathetic little cat being held in place and bathed ]
You sssset me up--!
[ reverting back to English still carried the drawling twang of his accent. His griping was cut short by a splash of water overhead that left him dramatically sputtering and hissing like he'd been dunked headfirst instead. Soggy hair clung to his head, covering his eyes as he hunched in a little tantrum on Ray's lap. He looked silly, in truth. Naked and messy and being forced to endure a good cleaning. Opening his mouth to protest yet again, he coughed and shivered first ]
This is the thanks I get, eh? You drown me like a rat. I'll have you know the grease was a staple to my hairdo. Are you listening to me? Raymond! Release me, vile man!
[ his whining meant nothing, truthfully. But he wouldn't go down without letting the man thoroughly understand that he hated every second of it. He felt the gentle tug of fingers working out matted clumps, hissing under his breath and dropping his head back to side-eye Ray with a pouty glare. Terribly old eyeliner drooled down his cheeks as it was wettened, adding to the effect ]
[ all a big lie, and yet another dramatic attempt at getting Ray to decide this was more effort than it was worth. On top of that, the larger was most certainly correct in his assumptions that such commentary would only get the little beast even further resistant to the whole affair. He shivered as cool water poured further down, dripping off the soaked fabric onto his tummy and lower back as the trail slowed down further from its source. He whined, audibly, like a kicked puppy ]
[ it was with this comment that he shook his hair wildly, and any wetness left in it after Ray's squeezing went splattering in all directions-- including on the man bathing him. In the next instant he was writhing again, twisting around in Ray's hold to shove his bare body against him and rub as much water as he could right back onto him. So much for the t-shirt method trying to keep him dry in the process ]
[ he shrieked as the water was unceremoniously dumped on him, voice cracking as the cold took him off guard. He'd hardly had time to react to such before a muscular arm was wrapped around his throat and he was getting squeezed against Ray's body like a stress toy. His hands shot up to slap at the barricade, making a scene of coughing and wheezing despite not being choked out in the slightest. When that didn't work, his next best solution was to simply bite down on the meaty bicep before him ]
[ he grunted and hissed as Ray continued to manhandle him, flailing around for some sense of control before finally managing to gain some room and break free. In the next moment, both hands had snapped down onto the larger man's shoulders and he used his full body weight to topple him backwards. He sat proudly atop the larger like Theseus and the minotaur, water dripping off his pale skin and soaking the man below as he scrabbled to wrestle the fabric from his hands ]
[ some part of him had known he'd lost the fight before he had even started it, though he was more displeased with the fact that he'd been thwarted in record time than anything else. A grunt was forced from him as he was tossed one last time, over Ray's shoulder like nothing more than a sack of potatoes, before he was lifted and uselessly held there with water dripping off him. His face down to his chest flushed a dark shade of pinkish-red in pure embarrassment at the entire situation and he gave Ray a frustrated thunk on the back like that might save him ]
[ he propped himself up on an arm against Ray's back as he was carried around, scoffing quietly and crossing his ankles as the hung on the opposite side. He was already beginning to plot some sort of revenge in his mind, though nothing he could think up would fairly compensate him for this. However being entirely nude and manhandled by a buff, handsome man did soften the blow to his dignity juuuuust a bit ]
[ his voice dripped with a teasing edge, barely masking his humor behind such exaggerated accusations. It was, honestly, his best attempt at causing any sort of embarrassment in return to the larger man. He gave a raspy giggle by the time his little tangent was over, grinning wildly just out of sight ]
[ his struggling ceased momentarily as Ray's words set in, a new sort of shame and vulnerable feeling sweeping over him as the softness of his tone struck yet another chord. Yes, he'd been negligent of himself for quite a long time-- but no one else has cared. That was always a key factor in perpetuating the fact. No one bothered to encourage anything different of him, or try to convince him he mattered enough to do so... so why change it? ]
. . .
[ squirming again, he used Ray's stooped position to his advantage. He managed to get his feet on the ground first, and then writhed free from there. Afterwards, he shuffled back a step and covered himself sheepishly with his arms as he cast his gaze out over the water; a soft pout set on his lips ]
[ the corners of his mouth turned down into a light frown, listening to the water dribble back into the pond from off his clothes still gripped in Ray's hands. It's a wonder they didn't simply fall apart, what with all the crude patchwork he'd done and the abuse they'd been through ]
[ the sweet lull of Ray's voice did wonders in slipping past in barriers his mind had created to deny such affections from anyone who might dare to try. Quite frankly, even if he didn't understand a word of what Ray was saying his tone would be more than enough to do just the same. Soft, and kind-- laced with a sort of unadulterated tenderness that he hadn't heard in ages. He and Lin were a different sort of sweet. One that was complex even at its best, and meaningful- yet riddled with patchwork wounds they'd spent years carving into each other. Ray was just... Ray. They were wonderfully simple. They just were. ]
[ he hummed softly under his breath to let the man know he had acknowledged his words, eyes slipping shut for a moment as he savored the brush of a warm hand against his face. He pushed a bit closer on instinct as a smile twitched at his lips to replace the frown that had set there only moments prior, and Ray's beard tickled at the top of his head as the kiss was placed there ]
[ he realized that, by this point, he was rambling. His nerves had crept up on him even without his realization kicking in just yet. But it was a bit silly, of course. To have such a gentle moment while ass naked in the woods. He snickered at first to cut himself off, making a poor attempt at biting back the sound before it devolved into a full on laugh. A hearty one at that. Eyes opening again, he looked up at the larger with a newly reinvigorated sparkle of mischief and a deep blush to compliment it ]
[ Ray's own dramatics took him by surprise, but he enjoyed them profusely. With an exaggerated roll of his eyes he moved to grab one of the forgotten, soaked t-shirts from nearby and drop it down on the ground for some padding as he took a seat next to Ray. Setting his bare feet in the shallow water, he shivered lightly at the temperature change. The rest of his body was finally starting to dry a bit however... save for his hair, which would catch up in a soft, fluffy mess later on that he'd certainly be complaining about ]
[ something about being called "his beloved" had struck a chord, leaving him to look out at the ripples of the water without the mercy of his blush yet fading. He and his own Ray had never considered themselves anything of a relationship-- at most, they'd had fleeting touches in desperate moments... but this Ray had a known one with the him from here. That made him wonder, just a bit, if the man saw him in that same light at all ]
[ now, introducing Lin and Ray was sure to be a real treat. But as humorous as he knew it would be in some aspects, he also felt a deeper rooted pang of worry in his gut. It had been hard for him to process the idea of knowing another Ray (that was so much like his own)... and he could only imagine the stew of feelings Lin would go through upon meeting this one. Especially considering, you know... the solider had been the one to kill Raymond in the end. He would not be cruel as he had with Admir though-- not this time. He wouldn't tell Ray who was responsible for Mikey and Raymond's deaths... if he were going to find out, that would be on Lin's own terms ]
[ he twisted his upper half around carefully now that Ray was so close to his side, waiting for the man to turn his head back to the laundry before reaching up to gently play with his curls. His fingers carded through a section of them, splitting the strands, and then he idly began to braid them together. For a man who struggled to put a ponytail in Illi's hair a while back, he seemed to have a generally decent idea of what he was doing now. Maybe he'd practiced a bit since then-- in fear he'd have to do it again at some point ]
[ he could tell, decidedly, that this wasn't a topic that Ray wanted to further indulge him on.... so he allowed his curiosity to remain exactly that and moved on with a soft hum. He slid his thumbs over the braid to check its quality halfway through, satisfied with his work and continuing at a slow, focused pace. He didn't even notice his tongue was poking out between his lips in the process ]
[ a subtle glance was thrown in the direction of Ray's expression, trying to weigh if he was still troubled by his earlier thoughts or not. Clicking his tongue afterwards, he tipped his head and toyed with the finished end of the braid. Such a handsome man. Always. ]
[ he shifted his legs to half cross chubby thighs, definitely starting to get cold now that he was mostly dry and sitting in one spot for a while. That and, of course, he did feel just a little bit of shame sitting there with everything on display right next to Ray. It probably wasn't anything the man hadn't seen before given his relationship with this universe's equivelent of himself-- but still! ]
[ he led the way on the walk back to camp, almost hoping that they'd happen across Lin on one of his little patrols so he could try to explain why the hell he was on a naked stroll alongside Ray. But that didn't happen (sadly), and they soon breached the campsite clearing in peace. He motioned over to the firepit with a hum, signaling for Ray to move towards it while he broke off for the moment ]
[ he didn't so much as wait for a response before disappearing inside of his tent, rustling around in his belongings to find just where he'd put his only spare piece of clothing. It'd been some time since he'd gotten thing-- months ago, when he had taken Illi out on a shopping trip. He had just begun to worry that he might've thrown it out after all this time when he finally happened across it. Not exactly the occasion he'd intended on wearing the thing (but really, did he ever expect to have one?), but it would do just fine to cover him up. He shrugged the thin, silky fabric overhead and pulled it down to where it would rest just halfway up his thighs. The thin straps hugged his shoulders nicely, though, he didn't quite have the bust to fill out the chest. Overall, however... he thought he looked quite nice ]
[ the man spoke as he slipped back out of the tarp entrance, standing sheepishly outside of it. Now the dress had worked itself out on him; holding sweet and snug to his soft hips and framing the pudge of his tummy in an artful sort of way. Slowly drying hair hung against his shoulders, already starting to form loose little curls that had been hidden by all of the grease it had carried for so long. He hugged an arm, clearing his throat and choosing to look down at the dirt instead of directly at whatever Ray's reaction might be ]
[ his eyes widened a bit as the fire burst to life unexpectedly, though a glance up at Ray showed him reason enough as to why. Illuminated by the warm glow of flame, he could see the man's face flush darker... though his expression would've said enough even without the blush to accompany it. He hadn't really... expected such a reaction...? But it certainly wasn't unwelcome. Biting the inside of his cheek in a dreadfully failed attempt to quell his smile, he shook his head like he was disagreeing with words the man had not even spoken ]
[ his laugh had come out more like a giggle. Reaching up absentmindedly, he tucked a stray strand of hair behind one ear. He wasn't used to feeling.... what was this, bashful? But there was undeniable vulnerability to him here and now. He felt... pretty. Ray's reaction made him feel pretty. Quite frankly, he hadn't realized he was capable of fitting such a term in anyone's eyes ]
[ he finally walked closer. Slow and careful in every step. Rounding the fire to stand closer to Ray, he turned his head to look up at him and absolutely beam. A meal and the laundry alike were momentarily forgotten in favor of simply soaking up the warmth of the flames and appreciation alike ]
[ oh, that had really done it. Ray had managed to accomplish two rare feats in the span of one day, by some miracle. The feeling of a wonderfully large, warm hand trailing over his skin sent a shiver up the length of his spine. When it rested on his waist in the divot just above hip (where a hand fits oh so nicely as a matter of fact), he was a goner. His eyes widened a little, lips pursed before the corners of his lips twitched like his face wasn't sure what expression to make. A warm glow quickly followed, turning pale face a dreadful shade of red that crept all the way down to freckled shoulders ]
[ .... Flustered. He was terribly, horribly flustered. His brain short circuited in its futile attempts at righting himself as to not come off as a total fool--
[ ah yes, another typical, peaceful evening in the great territory of DRAAG. The last of the evening birds had tucked into the swaying treetops and handed over the night to the owls and alike. A soft, curious coo confirmed this from a particularly tall and bristled spruce pressed snug to the backside of a certain government building. The deep, melancholy glint of the last of the sun's light wasn't strong enough to reach inside its branches-- leaving the bird's appearance to one's imagination. A gentle breeze rustled the tree, as if to test that theory, and then it gave a violent kind of tremor that the wind had decidedly not been responsible for. Another hoot, a bit frustrated now, sounded off in response. Not but a rough 20 seconds later did the tree rustle unnaturally again, further up. The owl took off with an angry belt from its peak, likely throwing bird-ly expletives in the wake of great wings. ]
[ hands shot out from the side of the tree closest to the building to reveal the source of such a commotion, fumbling blindly at the brick before fingertips brushed the frame of a window. Tugging at the bottom proved fruitless initially, which led those hands to prying at the middle for some sort of give. They then resorted to some artful smacking at the panes. Something must've shown some mercy along the way, because another yank on the lower portion of the frame finally got the damned thing open with a grating squeak. ]
[ from that window came a pesky, chubby bastard of a man. He tumbled through the opening with the art and grace of a ballerina. If that ballerina were an elephant. Grunting as he rolled onto the floor, the bristles of green spruce sprinkled across carpeting surrounding his haphazardly splattered body. Quick to sit up, he shook his hair to relieve it of similar prickles stuck in the strands and took in his surroundings with darting eyes. He'd undershot what he believed to be a window directly to the glorious Dictator's office-- appearing to end up in the hall just outside of it. Naturally, a forest green clad guard was standing about two feet from where he'd landed and looking down at him with a mixture of bewilderment and disgust. Gerard cleared his throat, slowly rising to his feet and ignoring the warning click of a gun being readied ]
I thhhhhink I'm lost...? See, I was out for a stroll. Birdwatching, right, are you following? I was watching the birds. And I thought-
[ he didn't actually finish his story, as interesting as the tale surely would've been had he kept going. Instead his hand slapped the barrel of the guard's rifle to throw it to one side, the second quickly following with a solid crack straight between the eyes. The soldier crumpled with hardly a shout, leaving Gerard to catch him just under the arms. He snickered quietly at an easy victory, dragging the unconscious victim off to the side of the hall and leaning him against the far wall to make him as inconspicuous as possible. Now he was free to continue with his plans. ]
[ shuffling forwards, he scanned the plate on the door to make doubly sure that he wasn't entirely delusional (only partially!). The fancy plaque read "THE OFFICE OF HIS GRAND IMMORTAL DICTATOR" and ridiculously gaudy lettering, which he nodded at in silent confirmation, and then pressed both palms to the door to push inside. Now if he'd calculated something right tonight, the man had already left his office for the evening and he was free to snoop around to his heart's content. But given the window situation... maybe luck wasn't on his side after all ]
[ -- @m4dm4n-4nd-polluted ]
[Unfortunately for Gerard, his assumption about luck was correct. The dictator had decided to stay late today, as he usually did at the end of the week to make sure things wrapped up nicely. While Draag is a well-oiled machine, it takes several people to maintain that status, and the secretary's death had done nothing but complicate things.
He was sitting in a mildly embarrassing position; feet on his desk, with his prized cat in his lap. Everything was just about done, he had merely wanted a moment to himself. Perhaps he would write another note, or simply sit there, taking the time to put his feet up, despite his workload being... not the most substantial.
The commotion outside didn’t bother him, he barely registered the sound of grunting and struggling. Perhaps it was the guards fooling around? He would have to give them an earful later.
He quickly adjusted his position as the door began to drift open, regrettably making his cat leave. All office doors must be opened quickly and efficiently, with one hand on the knob and one hand behind the person's bath. The obvious lack of knowledge either constituted a rather thick-skulled newhire, or a tresspasser of some denomination. A sigh escaped his lips. First the secretary's whole... incident, and now this. His hopes of it being an employee he could at least scold were diminished as he saw the familiar greasy head of hair, those filthy gloves, and that wild, savage look in that creature’s eyes. A gloved hand drifted to the dagger at his side as he slowly stood up. He hoped it would at least ignore the cat.]
Pray tell, what, exactly, are you doing here?
[His eyes barely left it, studying its hunched form for any sudden movements. Hadn’t he taught that thing a rather significant lesson last time? Not that he was complaining about another chance to cut it up, exactly, but it was a rather... inconvenient time. Perhaps he could see if it had any scars from their last session, and he would most certainly create more if it dare tried anything.]
Did you plan to attack me again? If I can recall correctly, last time didn't exactly work out the best for you, no?
[The corner of his mouth lifted slightly at what he was about to say next, although it wasn't particularly clever.]
Is the mutt back for more training? That nice lady isn't here right now, but I would be happy to oblige.
[ he might've been startled by his company had he not felt an infinite amount more loathing deep in his soul instead. Visibly giving a dramatic roll of his eyes, he scoffed and slouched further in a childish display of disappointment. The door was swiftly kicked shut behind him nonetheless, insuring that they wouldn't have any quick interruptions during their spontaneous meeting. Might as well follow through with something while he was here, after all. ]
Do you get off to talking to me like that or ssssomething?
[ he made a faux look of disgust like a toddler weirded out by something on their plate, head lolling to one side and arms swaying idle by his sides. When he decided the Dictator had been thoroughly shamed enough, he dropped the look entirely and swayed over towards the corner bookshelf. He wasn't interested in its contents-- in truth, he'd been hoping to get into the desk that was now not so accessible to him... but it would do for general annoyance's sake. He'd rival the fluffy white cat's nature itself with his own, fingering through the spines of several books before plucking one up and flipping it open in one hand. He scanned the page, boredly looked up at the Dictator, and then unceremoniously let it drop to the floor with a thunk before moving on to the next. ]
... I missed you, by the way. Oh, can't a loyal man miss his Grand Immortal Dictator? You know, I was jussssst dying to see your handsome face again. Really! What's the phrase-? Eh, made my balls itch, or something.
[ thunk. Another book finding its unsavory grave on the floor, bent pages and all. He kept his eyes on the taller man all the while, knowing better than to allow himself to be cornered right off the bat. ]
I believe there are two answers to that; the official one, and the true one. Neither I will give you the satisfaction of knowing.
[he huffed in annoyance as each of his beloved books fell to the ground. Why, of all people who could have visited him tonight, was this the one that came? His books were practically priceless, each hard to come by in Draag, some even signed by the long-dead authors. Still, he didn’t dare pick them up just yet, no matter how much it truly pained him. Each sound of pages crashing to the floor sunk his heart slightly more. He wasn't one for attachment to physical objects, but he took quite a bit of pride in his shelf. Oh, well, perhaps he would see if Boris had any extra copies]
I highly doubt you missed me, especially after you left my office crawling. Or, perhaps, you get off on that? I would be more than happy to oblige.
[Although, he didn’t exactly get off scot-free from that, either. The most important part is that he had won against the vile creature that had tried to claim what was rightfully his, albeit a bit weakened. A victory was a victory, though, it would count in his book. Perhaps this time he could even get an earlobe...
He stood up, drumming his fingers on the dark mahogany of his desk, preparing for... whatever the creature would do. He severely doubted it had come merely to knock over a few books. There were his normal three daggers on his person, his pistol, and a... spare pen he decided to keep on him, for some unknown reason. Oh, well, it couldn't hurt to have.
Why was красота not keeping her distance? She wasn't exactly rubbing against that thing's leg, but she was well within distance for.. whatever it would want to do with her. Even merely petting her would get her coat unfathomably greasy. Although it seemed to be ignoring her for right now, hopefully that wouldn't change. It seemed all of a sudden, most of his prized possessions were in that very room. He made a mental note to perhaps store his more valuable books back at his mansion, where they'd be far less likely to be destroyed, and to stop bringing his cat just about everywhere he went. ]
Tell my why you're really in here, and I will spare your life, like last time.
[A bit of a bluff, considering how he struggled against a severely weakened version of the thing before him, but perhaps he could talk his way out of the inevitable violence that would ensue]
What, you don't believe me? I'm confessing my undying love and attraction to you and your.... sexy little caterpillar mustache... and you'd reject me so? Ouch, baby...
[ a shit-eating grin broke out on his lips at that, and with the Dictator's movement he shied away from the bookshelf he'd been busy destroying in favor of bringing himself to more open ground... just in case. His eyes scanned for something else to toy with in his ever present need to constantly be doing something he wasn't supposed to, landing on the white fluffball nearby. It's like he could read the other man's mind in the sense of everything he did not want touched silently inviting Gerard to touch it. ]
... Maybe I came looking for that part of my tongue I'm missing, eh? Or maybe I wanted to burn your office down... I know you're just itching for an answer you want to hear. Good thing I won't be giving it to you. Verbal edging, yeah? Hhhhot~...
[ he spoke as his hands extended like a toddler, chasing after the cat in a crouch until he managed to scoop her up and dramatically cradle her to his chest as one would hold a baby. Clicking his tongue for her attention, he pushed his hand into the wonderfully soft fluff of her tummy and scritched before tapping her on the nose with his pointer finger. Thankfully he was clad in leather gloves and a thick jacket so that any retaliation from her wouldn't be so harsh. ]
[ the games he played with the Dictator's patience were a survival tactic if nothing else. While they did well in slowly eating away at his demeanor, they also kept him engaged enough with the opposite of boredom to make it beneficial to not shoot Gerard in the face and be done with it. It was an educated guess that this Dictator had a similar enough mindset to his own that any form of entertainment or intrigue was excuse enough to allow the greasy man to continue his jester act a while longer. ]
.... Cute cat. Bet you expect me to make a pussy joke, huh? Well now I'm not going to.
What did you just compare my mustache to?
[His voice already had a hint of annoyance in it. Tonight was supposed to be nice, relaxing, perfect, much like most nights. Maybe he would draw a nice, warm bath for himself, or read one of the now destroyed books as he stayed for just a bit longer. Of course, perhaps he could still do such a thing after he taught that creature another lesson. He contemplated attacking it, but decided not to when he saw it pick up his beloved cat. It truly had to ruin everything for him, didn't it? Did it even know how hard it was to bathe a feline?
A gloved hand drifted to the dagger on his waist. He didn’t want to risk shooting it, as his aim wasn't exactly what it used to be. Plus, that would take a bit of the fun away, wouldn't it? He would have to wait until it attacked him, a strategy the dictator loathed entirely, but there was too much at stake.]
I believe you wandered in here to merely irritate me. Between the cat and the books, you would have to do a deal more to truly irk me. She was overdue for a bath, anyways.
[Truthfully, he was almost at wit's end already, but he chose his tone very carefully, intent on not giving the thing any satisfaction. It questioned what he gained pleasure from earlier, but he was certain it got some form of glee from making him angry. He refused to let this unfortunate encounter ruin his night.]
Your tongue, hmm, I forgot what I did with such a vile part. You would have the most luck in the sewage system, but I cannot guarantee you'll find it.
[He distinctly remembered stowing it with his other prizes, soaked in chemicals and suspended in a jar, but why would he ever tell it that he prized a part of such a lowly thing's body?]
I call bull on that one, big boy. You probably keep it in your bedside drawer or something.
[ he hummed down at the kitty swaddled in his arms, catching a pretty paw and gently squeezing it between two fingers. Even for a creature of his irritating, terrible degree, he could still appreciate some beautiful pink little paw pads. His eyes drifted back up afterwards, pointedly making note of the Dictator's palming at his weapon and frowning lightly to himself. If anything, he was more disappointed that it had taken longer than he anticipated for the man to debate slitting his throat right here. ]
... But no, no... If I wanted your attention I'd have come earlier in the day. Honestly, I was hoping you had a life enough outside of work that I'd have the office to myself. But I guess you're lonelier than I thought. Kinda ssssad.
[ placing красота back down on all four paws, he let the poor girl scamper off with notably frizzier fur as he cupped his wrists behind his back in a mockery of authority. Tipping his chin up, he swayed closer and closer to the Dictator... and then swerved, heading for the opposite side of the desk to circle around and reaching over the side to swipe the unoccupied chair by its closest arm. Dragging it closer (and further from the man it belonged to), he flopped down onto the cushion and propped the dirty heels of his boots up atop the clean desk top-- in a similar pose to the one the Dictator himself had been in earlier. Pursing his lips, he folded his hands on his tummy and looked across the surface up at him with an utterly wicked glint in his eyes ]
What are you doing here this late, anyway? Don't you have a Clerk to go home and fuck in sad, sad missionary with the lights off?
[ ah yes, another typical, peaceful evening in the great territory of DRAAG. The last of the evening birds had tucked into the swaying treetops and handed over the night to the owls and alike. A soft, curious coo confirmed this from a particularly tall and bristled spruce pressed snug to the backside of a certain government building. The deep, melancholy glint of the last of the sun's light wasn't strong enough to reach inside its branches-- leaving the bird's appearance to one's imagination. A gentle breeze rustled the tree, as if to test that theory, and then it gave a violent kind of tremor that the wind had decidedly not been responsible for. Another hoot, a bit frustrated now, sounded off in response. Not but a rough 20 seconds later did the tree rustle unnaturally again, further up. The owl took off with an angry belt from its peak, likely throwing bird-ly expletives in the wake of great wings. ]
[ hands shot out from the side of the tree closest to the building to reveal the source of such a commotion, fumbling blindly at the brick before fingertips brushed the frame of a window. Tugging at the bottom proved fruitless initially, which led those hands to prying at the middle for some sort of give. They then resorted to some artful smacking at the panes. Something must've shown some mercy along the way, because another yank on the lower portion of the frame finally got the damned thing open with a grating squeak. ]
[ from that window came a pesky, chubby bastard of a man. He tumbled through the opening with the art and grace of a ballerina. If that ballerina were an elephant. Grunting as he rolled onto the floor, the bristles of green spruce sprinkled across carpeting surrounding his haphazardly splattered body. Quick to sit up, he shook his hair to relieve it of similar prickles stuck in the strands and took in his surroundings with darting eyes. He'd undershot what he believed to be a window directly to the glorious Dictator's office-- appearing to end up in the hall just outside of it. Naturally, a forest green clad guard was standing about two feet from where he'd landed and looking down at him with a mixture of bewilderment and disgust. Gerard cleared his throat, slowly rising to his feet and ignoring the warning click of a gun being readied ]
I thhhhhink I'm lost...? See, I was out for a stroll. Birdwatching, right, are you following? I was watching the birds. And I thought-
[ he didn't actually finish his story, as interesting as the tale surely would've been had he kept going. Instead his hand slapped the barrel of the guard's rifle to throw it to one side, the second quickly following with a solid crack straight between the eyes. The soldier crumpled with hardly a shout, leaving Gerard to catch him just under the arms. He snickered quietly at an easy victory, dragging the unconscious victim off to the side of the hall and leaning him against the far wall to make him as inconspicuous as possible. Now he was free to continue with his plans. ]
[ shuffling forwards, he scanned the plate on the door to make doubly sure that he wasn't entirely delusional (only partially!). The fancy plaque read "THE OFFICE OF HIS GRAND IMMORTAL DICTATOR" and ridiculously gaudy lettering, which he nodded at in silent confirmation, and then pressed both palms to the door to push inside. Now if he'd calculated something right tonight, the man had already left his office for the evening and he was free to snoop around to his heart's content. But given the window situation... maybe luck wasn't on his side after all ]
[ -- @m4dm4n-4nd-polluted ]
[Unfortunately for Gerard, his assumption about luck was correct. The dictator had decided to stay late today, as he usually did at the end of the week to make sure things wrapped up nicely. While Draag is a well-oiled machine, it takes several people to maintain that status, and the secretary's death had done nothing but complicate things.
He was sitting in a mildly embarrassing position; feet on his desk, with his prized cat in his lap. Everything was just about done, he had merely wanted a moment to himself. Perhaps he would write another note, or simply sit there, taking the time to put his feet up, despite his workload being... not the most substantial.
The commotion outside didn’t bother him, he barely registered the sound of grunting and struggling. Perhaps it was the guards fooling around? He would have to give them an earful later.
He quickly adjusted his position as the door began to drift open, regrettably making his cat leave. All office doors must be opened quickly and efficiently, with one hand on the knob and one hand behind the person's bath. The obvious lack of knowledge either constituted a rather thick-skulled newhire, or a tresspasser of some denomination. A sigh escaped his lips. First the secretary's whole... incident, and now this. His hopes of it being an employee he could at least scold were diminished as he saw the familiar greasy head of hair, those filthy gloves, and that wild, savage look in that creature’s eyes. A gloved hand drifted to the dagger at his side as he slowly stood up. He hoped it would at least ignore the cat.]
Pray tell, what, exactly, are you doing here?
[His eyes barely left it, studying its hunched form for any sudden movements. Hadn’t he taught that thing a rather significant lesson last time? Not that he was complaining about another chance to cut it up, exactly, but it was a rather... inconvenient time. Perhaps he could see if it had any scars from their last session, and he would most certainly create more if it dare tried anything.]
Did you plan to attack me again? If I can recall correctly, last time didn't exactly work out the best for you, no?
[The corner of his mouth lifted slightly at what he was about to say next, although it wasn't particularly clever.]
Is the mutt back for more training? That nice lady isn't here right now, but I would be happy to oblige.
[ he might've been startled by his company had he not felt an infinite amount more loathing deep in his soul instead. Visibly giving a dramatic roll of his eyes, he scoffed and slouched further in a childish display of disappointment. The door was swiftly kicked shut behind him nonetheless, insuring that they wouldn't have any quick interruptions during their spontaneous meeting. Might as well follow through with something while he was here, after all. ]
Do you get off to talking to me like that or ssssomething?
[ he made a faux look of disgust like a toddler weirded out by something on their plate, head lolling to one side and arms swaying idle by his sides. When he decided the Dictator had been thoroughly shamed enough, he dropped the look entirely and swayed over towards the corner bookshelf. He wasn't interested in its contents-- in truth, he'd been hoping to get into the desk that was now not so accessible to him... but it would do for general annoyance's sake. He'd rival the fluffy white cat's nature itself with his own, fingering through the spines of several books before plucking one up and flipping it open in one hand. He scanned the page, boredly looked up at the Dictator, and then unceremoniously let it drop to the floor with a thunk before moving on to the next. ]
... I missed you, by the way. Oh, can't a loyal man miss his Grand Immortal Dictator? You know, I was jussssst dying to see your handsome face again. Really! What's the phrase-? Eh, made my balls itch, or something.
[ thunk. Another book finding its unsavory grave on the floor, bent pages and all. He kept his eyes on the taller man all the while, knowing better than to allow himself to be cornered right off the bat. ]
I believe there are two answers to that; the official one, and the true one. Neither I will give you the satisfaction of knowing.
[he huffed in annoyance as each of his beloved books fell to the ground. Why, of all people who could have visited him tonight, was this the one that came? His books were practically priceless, each hard to come by in Draag, some even signed by the long-dead authors. Still, he didn’t dare pick them up just yet, no matter how much it truly pained him. Each sound of pages crashing to the floor sunk his heart slightly more. He wasn't one for attachment to physical objects, but he took quite a bit of pride in his shelf. Oh, well, perhaps he would see if Boris had any extra copies]
I highly doubt you missed me, especially after you left my office crawling. Or, perhaps, you get off on that? I would be more than happy to oblige.
[Although, he didn’t exactly get off scot-free from that, either. The most important part is that he had won against the vile creature that had tried to claim what was rightfully his, albeit a bit weakened. A victory was a victory, though, it would count in his book. Perhaps this time he could even get an earlobe...
He stood up, drumming his fingers on the dark mahogany of his desk, preparing for... whatever the creature would do. He severely doubted it had come merely to knock over a few books. There were his normal three daggers on his person, his pistol, and a... spare pen he decided to keep on him, for some unknown reason. Oh, well, it couldn't hurt to have.
Why was красота not keeping her distance? She wasn't exactly rubbing against that thing's leg, but she was well within distance for.. whatever it would want to do with her. Even merely petting her would get her coat unfathomably greasy. Although it seemed to be ignoring her for right now, hopefully that wouldn't change. It seemed all of a sudden, most of his prized possessions were in that very room. He made a mental note to perhaps store his more valuable books back at his mansion, where they'd be far less likely to be destroyed, and to stop bringing his cat just about everywhere he went. ]
Tell my why you're really in here, and I will spare your life, like last time.
[A bit of a bluff, considering how he struggled against a severely weakened version of the thing before him, but perhaps he could talk his way out of the inevitable violence that would ensue]
What, you don't believe me? I'm confessing my undying love and attraction to you and your.... sexy little caterpillar mustache... and you'd reject me so? Ouch, baby...
[ a shit-eating grin broke out on his lips at that, and with the Dictator's movement he shied away from the bookshelf he'd been busy destroying in favor of bringing himself to more open ground... just in case. His eyes scanned for something else to toy with in his ever present need to constantly be doing something he wasn't supposed to, landing on the white fluffball nearby. It's like he could read the other man's mind in the sense of everything he did not want touched silently inviting Gerard to touch it. ]
... Maybe I came looking for that part of my tongue I'm missing, eh? Or maybe I wanted to burn your office down... I know you're just itching for an answer you want to hear. Good thing I won't be giving it to you. Verbal edging, yeah? Hhhhot~...
[ he spoke as his hands extended like a toddler, chasing after the cat in a crouch until he managed to scoop her up and dramatically cradle her to his chest as one would hold a baby. Clicking his tongue for her attention, he pushed his hand into the wonderfully soft fluff of her tummy and scritched before tapping her on the nose with his pointer finger. Thankfully he was clad in leather gloves and a thick jacket so that any retaliation from her wouldn't be so harsh. ]
[ the games he played with the Dictator's patience were a survival tactic if nothing else. While they did well in slowly eating away at his demeanor, they also kept him engaged enough with the opposite of boredom to make it beneficial to not shoot Gerard in the face and be done with it. It was an educated guess that this Dictator had a similar enough mindset to his own that any form of entertainment or intrigue was excuse enough to allow the greasy man to continue his jester act a while longer. ]
.... Cute cat. Bet you expect me to make a pussy joke, huh? Well now I'm not going to.
[ @m4dm4n-4nd-polluted ]
[ Gerard startled at the sound, recent times having taken his sleep to a level heavier than his usual. Exhaustion had caught up, unfortunately, and didn't plan on letting his aching body go anytime soon. In a blur of half-sleep, he instinctively reached for the revolver tucked in the tent pocket... though thankfully his senses caught up in time. Clearing his throat at the mistake, he quickly dusted his clothes like that might help his appearance to any degree ]
[ with a soft hum, he pulled tattered boots on and hurried to push himself up off the heap of sheets in his wake. The tent flap opened in the next instant, and out ducked an unkempt-as-ever man shaking his hair from his face and stretching. He blinked a few times to adjust to the change in light, arms raised and tummy peeking from the hem of his shirt as his back gave an audible crackle ]
[ his voice was a little rough and uneven with sleep, but slowly and surely the man was coming around to a fully conscious state. He offered a lopsided smile to his friend, reaching out to give him a small tap on the cheek before sauntering past. He stopped short of the campfire circle, rummaging in a pile of various junk he had there and finding a canteen that he drank from with a "ahhh" of refreshment to follow. That seemed to clear up the dry throat issue, at least ]
[ he felt an odd sort of delight hearing Ray in such a... normal tone. Their past meetings so far had been frantic at best, and tragic at worst. While the news was still not the most ideal-- there was that familiar, comforting twang to Ray's voice that had been missing previously. He blinked slowly at him from this distance, taking the time to admire his current stature. The world had taken its toll on him, but any version of Raymond Toro was near impossible to put down. Even hellfire had not broken him this time around ]
[ he scoffed in a playful, stubborn sort of way at the implication his camp was anything but perfection... knowing damn well that it was the exact opposite ]
[ his tone was entirely humorous, backed by dramatic arm motions to emphasize the grand amenities he insisted such a fine establishment as his own held. Never mind the lack of plumbing, or curious smell ]
[ and just like that, his rambling bit came to an end. He melted underneath of Ray's touch, lips twitching into the grin of a pleased cheshire cat and eyes closing for a moment as he savored the scratch of nails against his scalp. Practically purring. So much so, that he nearly forgot he had more to respond to ]
[ a bucket and towels... a bucket and towels.... Now, Gerard had never touted himself as the smartest man in DRAAG, but certainly he'd reached a new level of stupid when his first thought was laundry. He didn't care much to take the time to clean his small wardrobe himself, but that seemed to make enough sense for Ray. Not everyone enjoyed wearing the same sweaty, bloody, and overall filthy outfit every day ]
[ a bubbly giggle left him as he was pulled around by the larger man, pawing at him gently in return before giving an extra squirm and twist to wriggle out of his hold. A slippery, greasy weasel. That might prove challenge enough for Ray's impending plans ]
[ he walked in usual, swaggering, Gerard fashion to retrieve an old and beaten looking plastic bucket from his various trinkets-- dumping out what appeared to be a collection of interesting looking rocks. Next he sought out the requested towels... coming up less successful. Instead, he grabbed two of the biggest, relatively clean looking t-shirts he could find and called it a day ]
[ he pouted a bit, as if to say how dare Ray for pointing out his utterly atrocious hygiene and lack of self care. Even with his whining he followed along as he was tugged closer to the watery, clean fate he was not yet aware of in his future. To him, he supposed it made sense that he could spare his old rags a nice wash since Ray was already on his way to take care of his own ]
[ he giggled rudely at his own little jab, shoving himself against Ray's side as they walked. The thought of nudity in the wilderness didn't bother him in the slightest, but even thinking about Ray looking shy and silly sitting by his wet clothes with his ass out was too good ]
[ they neared the lakeside soon enough; the treeline giving way to a pretty little scene of calm water reflecting gentle light. You could almost forget it was so close to the miserable concrete jungle that was DRAAG. He sighed deeply in content as he enjoyed the sight, more than happy to share such with his friend ]
[ his brows relaxed, lidded eyes and a shit eating smirk overtaking his expression as he stood by the waterside. Quite frankly, everything needed to be washed. Everything-everything. And since Ray was so insistent on fixing the issue, well, he'd simply have to oblige. It's safe to say he did take a moment to absolutely devour his friend with his eyes as his shirt was pulled overhead though. Ray was too handsome for his own good. A strong, muscular form with artfully placed scars and thick fuzz from chest down, disappearing below a waistband that left much to the imagination. He hardly resisted the urge to give a cartoonish wolf howl ]
[ without further ado he began to peel off his clothes. A tattered performance jacket hit the ground audibly, followed closely by sweat stained shirt. His pale skin practically reflected the damn sun, dotted in the occasional freckle and more common scar. While on the more fairly chubby side, he still found himself to have a decently desirable form-- arms showing muscle as he flexed them with a quick stretch. Next went the boots, kicked off to one side. Socks, which you didn't even want to know the state of, added to the pile. And then his smirk really widened when he started on his slacks. He stepped out of the patch covered and frayed pants and added it to the collection, briefly considering opting for mercy as he looked down at his boxers. But hey, they needed a wash too. And since Ray wanted to be smart about it, what's a little bare ass to the world? ]
[ the last of his clothes was abandoned with such an announcement, and he stood proudly with his hands on bare waist and a twitch in his hip. In the back of his mind he could practically hear Lin shrieking at him about decency and decorum. But what's a little ass between friends? ]
[ he'd been successfully taken off guard by Ray's grand scheme, only able to grunt as they went down and writhe in the larger man's grasp. A string of curses in Keposhka and English alike left his lips, too frazzled by it all to bother keeping any consistency. It was too late by the time the pieces had been put together in his mind, and there he sat like a pathetic little cat being held in place and bathed ]
You sssset me up--!
[ reverting back to English still carried the drawling twang of his accent. His griping was cut short by a splash of water overhead that left him dramatically sputtering and hissing like he'd been dunked headfirst instead. Soggy hair clung to his head, covering his eyes as he hunched in a little tantrum on Ray's lap. He looked silly, in truth. Naked and messy and being forced to endure a good cleaning. Opening his mouth to protest yet again, he coughed and shivered first ]
This is the thanks I get, eh? You drown me like a rat. I'll have you know the grease was a staple to my hairdo. Are you listening to me? Raymond! Release me, vile man!
[ his whining meant nothing, truthfully. But he wouldn't go down without letting the man thoroughly understand that he hated every second of it. He felt the gentle tug of fingers working out matted clumps, hissing under his breath and dropping his head back to side-eye Ray with a pouty glare. Terribly old eyeliner drooled down his cheeks as it was wettened, adding to the effect ]
[ all a big lie, and yet another dramatic attempt at getting Ray to decide this was more effort than it was worth. On top of that, the larger was most certainly correct in his assumptions that such commentary would only get the little beast even further resistant to the whole affair. He shivered as cool water poured further down, dripping off the soaked fabric onto his tummy and lower back as the trail slowed down further from its source. He whined, audibly, like a kicked puppy ]
[ it was with this comment that he shook his hair wildly, and any wetness left in it after Ray's squeezing went splattering in all directions-- including on the man bathing him. In the next instant he was writhing again, twisting around in Ray's hold to shove his bare body against him and rub as much water as he could right back onto him. So much for the t-shirt method trying to keep him dry in the process ]
[ he shrieked as the water was unceremoniously dumped on him, voice cracking as the cold took him off guard. He'd hardly had time to react to such before a muscular arm was wrapped around his throat and he was getting squeezed against Ray's body like a stress toy. His hands shot up to slap at the barricade, making a scene of coughing and wheezing despite not being choked out in the slightest. When that didn't work, his next best solution was to simply bite down on the meaty bicep before him ]
[ he grunted and hissed as Ray continued to manhandle him, flailing around for some sense of control before finally managing to gain some room and break free. In the next moment, both hands had snapped down onto the larger man's shoulders and he used his full body weight to topple him backwards. He sat proudly atop the larger like Theseus and the minotaur, water dripping off his pale skin and soaking the man below as he scrabbled to wrestle the fabric from his hands ]
[ some part of him had known he'd lost the fight before he had even started it, though he was more displeased with the fact that he'd been thwarted in record time than anything else. A grunt was forced from him as he was tossed one last time, over Ray's shoulder like nothing more than a sack of potatoes, before he was lifted and uselessly held there with water dripping off him. His face down to his chest flushed a dark shade of pinkish-red in pure embarrassment at the entire situation and he gave Ray a frustrated thunk on the back like that might save him ]
[ he propped himself up on an arm against Ray's back as he was carried around, scoffing quietly and crossing his ankles as the hung on the opposite side. He was already beginning to plot some sort of revenge in his mind, though nothing he could think up would fairly compensate him for this. However being entirely nude and manhandled by a buff, handsome man did soften the blow to his dignity juuuuust a bit ]
[ his voice dripped with a teasing edge, barely masking his humor behind such exaggerated accusations. It was, honestly, his best attempt at causing any sort of embarrassment in return to the larger man. He gave a raspy giggle by the time his little tangent was over, grinning wildly just out of sight ]
[ his struggling ceased momentarily as Ray's words set in, a new sort of shame and vulnerable feeling sweeping over him as the softness of his tone struck yet another chord. Yes, he'd been negligent of himself for quite a long time-- but no one else has cared. That was always a key factor in perpetuating the fact. No one bothered to encourage anything different of him, or try to convince him he mattered enough to do so... so why change it? ]
. . .
[ squirming again, he used Ray's stooped position to his advantage. He managed to get his feet on the ground first, and then writhed free from there. Afterwards, he shuffled back a step and covered himself sheepishly with his arms as he cast his gaze out over the water; a soft pout set on his lips ]
[ the corners of his mouth turned down into a light frown, listening to the water dribble back into the pond from off his clothes still gripped in Ray's hands. It's a wonder they didn't simply fall apart, what with all the crude patchwork he'd done and the abuse they'd been through ]
[ the sweet lull of Ray's voice did wonders in slipping past in barriers his mind had created to deny such affections from anyone who might dare to try. Quite frankly, even if he didn't understand a word of what Ray was saying his tone would be more than enough to do just the same. Soft, and kind-- laced with a sort of unadulterated tenderness that he hadn't heard in ages. He and Lin were a different sort of sweet. One that was complex even at its best, and meaningful- yet riddled with patchwork wounds they'd spent years carving into each other. Ray was just... Ray. They were wonderfully simple. They just were. ]
[ he hummed softly under his breath to let the man know he had acknowledged his words, eyes slipping shut for a moment as he savored the brush of a warm hand against his face. He pushed a bit closer on instinct as a smile twitched at his lips to replace the frown that had set there only moments prior, and Ray's beard tickled at the top of his head as the kiss was placed there ]
[ he realized that, by this point, he was rambling. His nerves had crept up on him even without his realization kicking in just yet. But it was a bit silly, of course. To have such a gentle moment while ass naked in the woods. He snickered at first to cut himself off, making a poor attempt at biting back the sound before it devolved into a full on laugh. A hearty one at that. Eyes opening again, he looked up at the larger with a newly reinvigorated sparkle of mischief and a deep blush to compliment it ]
[ Ray's own dramatics took him by surprise, but he enjoyed them profusely. With an exaggerated roll of his eyes he moved to grab one of the forgotten, soaked t-shirts from nearby and drop it down on the ground for some padding as he took a seat next to Ray. Setting his bare feet in the shallow water, he shivered lightly at the temperature change. The rest of his body was finally starting to dry a bit however... save for his hair, which would catch up in a soft, fluffy mess later on that he'd certainly be complaining about ]
[ something about being called "his beloved" had struck a chord, leaving him to look out at the ripples of the water without the mercy of his blush yet fading. He and his own Ray had never considered themselves anything of a relationship-- at most, they'd had fleeting touches in desperate moments... but this Ray had a known one with the him from here. That made him wonder, just a bit, if the man saw him in that same light at all ]
[ now, introducing Lin and Ray was sure to be a real treat. But as humorous as he knew it would be in some aspects, he also felt a deeper rooted pang of worry in his gut. It had been hard for him to process the idea of knowing another Ray (that was so much like his own)... and he could only imagine the stew of feelings Lin would go through upon meeting this one. Especially considering, you know... the solider had been the one to kill Raymond in the end. He would not be cruel as he had with Admir though-- not this time. He wouldn't tell Ray who was responsible for Mikey and Raymond's deaths... if he were going to find out, that would be on Lin's own terms ]
[ he twisted his upper half around carefully now that Ray was so close to his side, waiting for the man to turn his head back to the laundry before reaching up to gently play with his curls. His fingers carded through a section of them, splitting the strands, and then he idly began to braid them together. For a man who struggled to put a ponytail in Illi's hair a while back, he seemed to have a generally decent idea of what he was doing now. Maybe he'd practiced a bit since then-- in fear he'd have to do it again at some point ]
[ he could tell, decidedly, that this wasn't a topic that Ray wanted to further indulge him on.... so he allowed his curiosity to remain exactly that and moved on with a soft hum. He slid his thumbs over the braid to check its quality halfway through, satisfied with his work and continuing at a slow, focused pace. He didn't even notice his tongue was poking out between his lips in the process ]
[ a subtle glance was thrown in the direction of Ray's expression, trying to weigh if he was still troubled by his earlier thoughts or not. Clicking his tongue afterwards, he tipped his head and toyed with the finished end of the braid. Such a handsome man. Always. ]
[ he shifted his legs to half cross chubby thighs, definitely starting to get cold now that he was mostly dry and sitting in one spot for a while. That and, of course, he did feel just a little bit of shame sitting there with everything on display right next to Ray. It probably wasn't anything the man hadn't seen before given his relationship with this universe's equivelent of himself-- but still! ]
[ he led the way on the walk back to camp, almost hoping that they'd happen across Lin on one of his little patrols so he could try to explain why the hell he was on a naked stroll alongside Ray. But that didn't happen (sadly), and they soon breached the campsite clearing in peace. He motioned over to the firepit with a hum, signaling for Ray to move towards it while he broke off for the moment ]
[ he didn't so much as wait for a response before disappearing inside of his tent, rustling around in his belongings to find just where he'd put his only spare piece of clothing. It'd been some time since he'd gotten thing-- months ago, when he had taken Illi out on a shopping trip. He had just begun to worry that he might've thrown it out after all this time when he finally happened across it. Not exactly the occasion he'd intended on wearing the thing (but really, did he ever expect to have one?), but it would do just fine to cover him up. He shrugged the thin, silky fabric overhead and pulled it down to where it would rest just halfway up his thighs. The thin straps hugged his shoulders nicely, though, he didn't quite have the bust to fill out the chest. Overall, however... he thought he looked quite nice ]
[ the man spoke as he slipped back out of the tarp entrance, standing sheepishly outside of it. Now the dress had worked itself out on him; holding sweet and snug to his soft hips and framing the pudge of his tummy in an artful sort of way. Slowly drying hair hung against his shoulders, already starting to form loose little curls that had been hidden by all of the grease it had carried for so long. He hugged an arm, clearing his throat and choosing to look down at the dirt instead of directly at whatever Ray's reaction might be ]
[ his eyes widened a bit as the fire burst to life unexpectedly, though a glance up at Ray showed him reason enough as to why. Illuminated by the warm glow of flame, he could see the man's face flush darker... though his expression would've said enough even without the blush to accompany it. He hadn't really... expected such a reaction...? But it certainly wasn't unwelcome. Biting the inside of his cheek in a dreadfully failed attempt to quell his smile, he shook his head like he was disagreeing with words the man had not even spoken ]
[ his laugh had come out more like a giggle. Reaching up absentmindedly, he tucked a stray strand of hair behind one ear. He wasn't used to feeling.... what was this, bashful? But there was undeniable vulnerability to him here and now. He felt... pretty. Ray's reaction made him feel pretty. Quite frankly, he hadn't realized he was capable of fitting such a term in anyone's eyes ]
[ he finally walked closer. Slow and careful in every step. Rounding the fire to stand closer to Ray, he turned his head to look up at him and absolutely beam. A meal and the laundry alike were momentarily forgotten in favor of simply soaking up the warmth of the flames and appreciation alike ]
[ oh, that had really done it. Ray had managed to accomplish two rare feats in the span of one day, by some miracle. The feeling of a wonderfully large, warm hand trailing over his skin sent a shiver up the length of his spine. When it rested on his waist in the divot just above hip (where a hand fits oh so nicely as a matter of fact), he was a goner. His eyes widened a little, lips pursed before the corners of his lips twitched like his face wasn't sure what expression to make. A warm glow quickly followed, turning pale face a dreadful shade of red that crept all the way down to freckled shoulders ]
[ .... Flustered. He was terribly, horribly flustered. His brain short circuited in its futile attempts at righting himself as to not come off as a total fool--
[ Gerard had wasted no time in scrambling out of danger's way once his 'meeting' with the Secretary had come to an end, only pausing briefly to shuck his coat off one arm and assess the damage the bullet had left at the top of his bicep. He grimaced as it gave a throb in return to the attention, biting his tongue to avoid giving an audible response to the pain. Fresh blood dribbled past sticky clumps of darker liquid that had collected around the wound. It was doing a sorry job of clotting itself, but it slowed the flow well enough for now. Deeming it an issue for later, he shrugged the coat back on and continued on his way forwards ]
[ he knew what he was looking for now-- winding this way and that, dodging the public eye. His heartbeat pounded away in his ears, and the closer he got, the strain on his arm became less and less important. Halls got dimmer, and colder. Wood and carpet turned to concrete. Strangely (at least to him), there wasn't as much supervision in the area as he'd assumed there might be. The crisp echo of boots on the floor nearby did however indicate that there was at least one man on duty. That was fine. He would've needed to find one, anyway. He sucked in a breath as he drew closer to the sound, pressing his body into the wall before turning the corner ]
[ the confrontation was taken in a similar approach to the one before, though there was something about Gerard's approach that screamed so much more venom and desperation. The guard hadn't had much of a chance, only getting one pathetic attempt at an elbow in before he was smashed into the wall. An extra kick was delivered to the back of his head once he slid to the floor, just to be safe. Trembling hands fumbled with his uniform, and the jingle of keys brought Gerard back to his feet as he palmed them with a huff of victory ]
[ the cells weren't all that well labeled, and it took him a few tries of haphazardly sliding viewing slots open on the doors before one made him stop in his tracks. There wasn't any visual indicator that this was the right one, but there was an undeniable draw. Yes, this was it. They were here ]
[ he didn't check the slot, lurching forwards to test a key in the lock. He tugged his lip between his teeth in focus as he went to the next, then the next-- ]
[ click ]
[ the heavy metal door creaked open, cutting through the silence like a dagger. He steadied his breath, peering inside of the cell. In one corner, he could see it- a fragile, thin body curled up on itself. Wispy brown hair hung in greased strands over their shoulders. He felt his heart crumple in his chest, and his eyes began to sting at the corners. Legs moved forwards on their own in an uneven stagger, though stopped just short of his friend. Finally, he spoke in a hoarse whisper ]
. . . Hey there, Olliepop . . .
[ -- @m4dm4n-4nd-polluted ]
[Oleander looked up from their balled up postion. If it wasnt for the heavy breathing and loud steps, they still would have recognized the fact someone was coming. Someone like... them. Him.]
....gee..?
[They cocked their head, moving a little closer to him. Their faces were inches away, like an animal trying to investigate a new face for the first time. After awhile, they smiled weakly. The smile was genuine but they lacked the strength to empathize that. Their smile faltered after a moment or two, looking over him. Hes... injured.]
You... you're hurt
[They reached towards his bicep, before giggling and pointing to their shoulder]
Look we match now!
[They looked around rapidly, patting their uniform pockets, and then pulling out a bullet shell]
I even kept it! See! Bragging rights!
[They grinned holding it up incredibly close to his face. It seems they may have forgotten how personal space works.]
[They furrowed their brows, suddenly realizing, if only slightly, the situation at hand]
....why are you here?
[ he shouldn't have been surprised to find them broken in this way. Isolation does wicked things to the mind and body, and if they truly had been locked up like this since they'd been dragged from his camp... well, he understood intimately what Ollie had been through up until now ]
... Came to find you. I had to. I promised I would.
[ he slipped down to his knees before them, unflinching and almost welcoming in the warmth of their closeness even if it wielded a bullet betwixt. His hand met theirs, fingers curling around the back of their knuckles and thumb carefully tracing a fragile wrist. His eyes relayed a pain that he wouldn't speak-- for Ollie's sake, in either way ]
Why are.... Why are they keeping you put away? You aren't some simple prisoner. Surely the Clerk would have some say...
You did..?
[They thought a moment, tapping their chin with their other hand. They had in the heat of everything forgotten the event that took place. It was too distressing to think of their friend left behind and-... no. They wouldnt think of that. They refused to think any more on it]
[They continued trying to remember though, the part that refused had been overrun by the part that didnt. They wanted to know why their friend was .. here. Why they... came for him]
[Then... recognition]
You- you-
[Their eyes flashed with emotions, sadness, confusion, anger, fear. Then a deep... melancholy]
You came for me... your hurt because.. of me.
Why would you try to... a promise for a.... arent I your enemy..? I thought you hated people like us....
[They shook their head, registering his question]
Why they keep me here...?
[They look back up at Gerard, then their hand, squeezing them together, pausing, and jerking back. Overcome with some sort of realization.]
...im unstable
Unstable...? No... Hey... That's bullshit, Ollie. You're hurt. These-- these people... They throw people in little fucking cages for any reason they feel like. You can't believe everything they say about you.... it's... it's to fuck with your brain.
[ he'd tensed with the sudden movement, but knew better than to make any sort of grabs for his friend again. They were a cornered, broken animal. If he squinted, he could see himself sitting there before him, distantly. Just as terrified, and just as hurt ]
[ another throbbing reminder of the bullet lodged in his arm made him hiss softly, and he shifted back to sit on his heels and cast his eyes away briefly. He didn't want Oleander to feel responsible for it. He'd gone and done it on his own, plain and simple. What happened between himself and the Secretary was by his own accord ]
... Don't worry about me. I'm okay. I've been through worse, hah. This is... honestly nothing. I'm just happy to see you again.
but I am- i- im-
[They gestured trying to explain their thoughts, but then gave up, scratching at their arm with now overgrown nails, hoping it would offer some sort of clarity]
Every single thing I do. It hurts someone. Someone. Will always get hurt as long as im around. I thought I could stop it by leaving- but now im just back here again and now your hurt and-
[They reached towards their bed, patting it aggressively before eventually finding what they were looking for: the blanket their dad had given them. They snatched it off the bed and wrapped themselves in it, looking anywhere but his face]
I dont know how anyone could be happy to see me.
Eh, you think I care about a scratch? I told you, it's okay....
[ it was certainly more than a scratch, but he didn't want this to be the only topic of his visit. He'd been through too much work to get to where he was now ]
[ pausing in the quiet between them briefly, he slowly moved until his legs were out from under him. Sitting back on his ass, he drew his knees closer to his chest and leaned on one while finally turning his attention back to Oleander. He chose not to address their state- personally, he'd found it easier on himself in such a situation when he was treated... normally, to a degree ]
Hey... What kinda slop are they feeding you here, huh? Can't be better than a cheeseburger.
Stop down playing it!
[They yelled, a relatively expected, yet somehow suddenly outburst on their end. A mildly sensitive subject it seems. They buried their fingers just a little bit deeper into their arm.]
You're. Hurt.
Please... take that seriously.. its not a...
[They sighed, looking at the patterns in the floor. Trying to organize their thoughts. They were so concerned for him yet- he didnt seem to give a flying fuck about himself. Something about the situation grounded them slightly. Some sort of instinct kicking in for then. They looked up at him and took a deep breath. Just... answer the question. Slow. Down just- dont break. Please dont. You're not unstable you're not- you're..]
They uh- its just some.. like... mashed slop and.. yeah.
Sometimes.. my da-.... mr kozlov comes by and... gives me like.. real food. Nothing fancy but... better than what ive been given...
[ reflexively, he bristled ever so slightly at the shout aimed in his direction. For a man who'd clawed his way so far past taking commands, he doubted there would ever come a day he didn't at least react to them. He returned to a relative calm in the next moment, exhaling deeply. It wasn't Ollie's fault that they so desperately needed to be heard-- and he would give them all the patience in the world for it ]
[ next of note, he heard a name he was not quite familiar with. It didn't take much to assume it belonged to the Clerk, and tucked such knowledge away in the pockets of his mind for a rainy day. Then again, hearing Oleander refer to the man as something so formal... was he wrong to take that as an implication the Clerk was somewhat responsible for their current position? ]
... We could go get something once you're out of here. Milkshakes and fries. You ever dip your fries in the ice cream? That's good stuff there....
[ his eyes trailed down to their self inflicted wounds. Patterns of crosses and other equally unholy things ripped through tender flesh and dotted in dried lamb's blood. Was this what their people desired of them now? Was this all they deserved in their minds? He couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt at his own involvement- even if it was a mere butterfly effect that truly wouldn't have done much else otherwise... except maybe getting Oleander more hurt than if he hadn't brought them into his shelter... ]
[ but nonetheless, he'd been there. He had helped secure wax wings to their fragile shoulders and let them take flight. Maybe he should have warned them, but would it have mattered in the end? Icarus was always doomed to fall ]
[They searched his eyes when he said that. Searching for a sign he was lying or concealing some sort of truth. Maybe he was plotting something. How could gerard honestly believe thay they would be making it out of here?]
I-... I dont think-.. im getting ou-
[they stopped that thought.]
[He came all this way and you already yelled at him. Dont burden him with your self loathing. He cares for you, you fucking dunce]
I... yeah. I would. Like that.. maybe one of those thick ones with the whipped cream and the cherry on top, but I give you the cherry instead because I dont like the texture.
[They rambled. Getting lost in the daydream. Thats all it was. A daydream of leaving this place. It was a nice dream though. But just as realistic as cotton candy clouds and dancing with unicorns.]
I dont... think I have. The uh. Frie thing. Is... that normal? Seems kinda gross gerard.
[They gave a weak chuckle. A small attempt to tease him as friends do.]
[But their heart wasn't in it. Pierced by little daggers representing their sins and all they've done to others. How could they laugh while they bleed for their crimes?]
Im sorry for yelling
... Hey, it's okay. You're going through a lot right now... And- and you're... right. But it's because I don't... wanna focus on it. I just want to be here. With you. I can fix this shit later. So don't worry so much about me, okay? I'm not doing anything I don't wanna do. I'm making my choices here.
[ he shifted a bit closer, but didn't dare to invade their personal bubble. He knew the safety such an invisible barrier provided, and wouldn't pass it without permission. Control was a valuable luxury in a place like this. He intended to remind Oleander that they had it at all ]
You uh... you shouldn't knock it till you try it, by the way. The french fries and ice cream thing? It's like salty and sweet together. Great combo. You'll see what I mean soon.
[ because you're getting out, Ollie. I'm not going to let you rot here. I won't let you end up like me. ]
That.. doesnt excuse my actions. Or any of my actions
[They said somberly, picking at a hang nail now. They saw him move closer out of the corner of their eye. Unsure if they should also move closer or stay put. Wanting to be comforted but scared to recieve it.]
..I dont know why you would make that-... choice but-.. I guess in the time ive known you neither of us have made very... smart choices. Heh..
[They pulled at a hangnail that was on the stubborn side. Flinching slightly as it tore up more skin than expected, leaving their pointer finger bleeding.]
...yeah.. okay. I wont. Uh- knock it til I try it, I mean. Sounds... good enough.
What i wouldnt give for something sweet right now..
[They laughed pathetically, pressing their thumb to the now bleeding finger. Trying to stop it.]
[ he sighed in a melancholy sort of way, biting back the urge to say he wished he could help them with that issue. Getting them out of here wouldn't be as simple as simply getting up and walking away-- and furthermore, if he chose the "prison break" option Ollie would end up with even more problems than before. No. He'd have to do some more... diplomatic lifting. Even if diplomatic meant holding an official at knifepoint in some cases ]
We'll get there. Promise.
[ carefully, he shucked his gloves off one by one and laid them by his side. Then a hand was slowly extended, not too far into Ollie's space just yet, but as an offering for him to choose on ]
You and me, Olliepop.
[They watched silently as he sighed. Sort of blaming themselves for killing the vibe, even though it was never exactly positive in the first place.]
...
...yeah.
[They took his hand, squeezing it tightly. Their eyes shifted to the wood panels they had pretended were faces. People with names and personalities. He would talk to them and imagine their stories to keep himself company. And now that he had company, they struggled to figure out what to do with it.]
you and me.
Someday
[ he simply sat in silence for a too-long minute that felt like hours, not yet breaking it, but shifting to scoot a little closer without daring to lose his hold on them. But that wasn't enough. There was truthfully nothing he could do to provide any significant comfort to them. His words (that he spoke with love), his promises (that he intended to keep), his actions (that screamed louder), and his bleeding heart (that wept) were not enough. He felt a dry sting at his eyes and wasn't sure if he hadn't blinked or if they were simply about to burst ]
I . . .
[ his voice cracked, and he stopped before the rest of what he was thinking could be uttered. He was sorry, but that would change nothing. Swallowing the lump in his throat, his grip on Ollie's hand tightened abruptly and he tugged them forwards. His arms were there to catch them, wrapping around their starving bones and cradling them tightly to his chest. Over their shoulder, his pinprick eyes stared wide and terrified at the empty wall where they couldn't see. He sat there, silent as a mourner, and simply held them like they'd fade away if he relented for even a second ]
[Oleander didnt know how to react when their body got ragdolled into Gerard's chest. At first they flinched when they were violently jerked forwards. Their first instinct was that they were in danger. That they needed to fight- or flight- or-...]
[Then they grimaced, overcome with pain from their not fully healed shoulder. But they would get through it because- three: their friend was holding them. And not just holding them, holding them like this would be the last time they ever see eachother.]
[Their body relaxed, slowly wrapping their arms back around gerard. Shaking slightly as the fear changed to.. something else. They couldnt place the name of the emotion. It was a sort of deep bond that would slowly chisel away at your defenses, until suddenly it fell down. It felt like returning to a warm bed after learning you didnt have to go to school due to a snow day. Thats it- it wasnt a feeling. It was an event. Sitting there. Burning quietly in eachothers presence like two stars in the sky.]
[And then the tears began to flow. Silent and steady]
[ feeling them melt into his embrace was the final straw and all at once his own eyes watered and spilled over. He brought a hand up to the back of their head, fingers lacing in messy hair as he ducked down to press a chaste kiss to their scalp. Sighing deeply to center himself again, he nuzzled his nose into the mop of hair and let heavy lids shut for a few beats ]
.... Hey, it's gonna be okay... I got this far, didn't I?
[ he hummed quietly, shifting a little to drag a hand up and down Ollie's back in a slow, soothing pattern. He could feel them trembling lightly under his fingertips and knew they were crying just the same. They both needed this, it would seem ]
It won't be long before you're out free, and we'll go celebrate. Get drunk and cause some problems... No walls are gonna keep me from you. I'll shred 'em all.
[They shook a little, before closing their eyes. Squeezing him tightly, fingers digging into his back. They began to sniffle. Their nose running slightly because of the tears.]
Go... eat stupid food combos.. and.. dance like idiots...
[They began to list, a smile coming to their voice despite the sorrow that overwhelmed them]
Then.. we.. go to your tent and tell stupid stories around the fire and... roast marshmallows.
[They paused a moment, before laughing sofrly]
The-then they catch fire because we arent paying attention. Or because we knock one of them into the campfire.
Exactly... Now you're thinking....
[ he rocked them gently, perhaps more to soothe himself even than for Oleander at the time. Taking a deep breath to stave off another wave of tears, he made sure he'd pulled himself together decently enough before gently prying them back enough to leave some space between them ]
... No more tears, Olliepop... Save 'em for when you really need them. We've got plans now, yeah? So that means it has to happen. We've already put it in motion.
[ he cupped their face in either hand, carefully wiping away heavy teardrops. Next his sleeve was brushed under their nose to clean that up, too. He didn't mind. Far worse had been on his coat in all these years. Their poor, sad little face was reddened to the tip of their nose from their upset. Watery eyes and trembling lip. He felt another tug at his heart, sighing softly and giving one cheek a light pinch ]
I say, first thing, we go get drunk as balls and toilet paper Lin's bunker.
[They let out a hoarse giggle at his reply. Closing their weary eyes and lowering their defenses further. Yeah. This wouldnt be so bad.]
[They couldn't help but feel a little disappointed when they were pulled away from their friend, but considering they were still close enough, they wouldnt say anything. They thought about his words while he wiped their tears]
For...when i need them?
What do you mean we've put them in motion..? We're just sitting here and-... its not like some grand break out movie or something-
[They paused, the name drop momentarily confused them out of their state of... various emotions]
...Lin? Who is that? A friend of yours?
[They paused, then dawned a shit-eating grin. Looking just a little like their old self]
A boyfriend~?
[ he startled a bit at the suggestion, smirking with vague embarrassment as his eyes darted to the side for a moment. Definitely wasn't the shift in topic he was expecting, but sure, he'd humor it... that is, if he even knew the answer to such a question. Was Lin his boyfriend? No, no way. They'd never used such a title between each other. Sure, they were deeply intimate pretty frequently and all but... well, that didn't staple a label on them. Sometimes he wondered if they were even friends ]
He's a something. We both came from the same err... universe. And we also touch dicks sometimes, but no that doesn't make him my "boyfriend"....
[ he squished their cheeks and scrunched up his nose as if to say 'you pesky thing', returning their giggle finally and bumping their foreheads together once more. It was nice. To have simple, silly conversations like this again-- even if it were only temporary and they were still sitting on the floor of a cold cell. He knew that they'd have them again though. Outside, where Ollie belonged ]
He is handsome, though. Short and a little pudgy, but handsome. Got a god awful attitude though. That's why we gotta toilet paper him.
Wait.. universe?
[They furrowed their brows, as if doing some sort of mental calculations. Maybe connecting the dots with red string in their head]
I suppose I never thought very deeply about the fact you look alot like death...
[No matter anyay- they were now being "violently" attacked by their best friend. They laughed as he squeezed their cheeks, relatilating playfully with a shove, trying to knock him over.]
Well if hes so handsome, clearly thats getting to his head. He has it coming if hes being an asshole to my friend.
Cant wait to TP that bastard
[That sounds alot like something Eresus would say]
[They shook their head, hoping the physical action would tear them out of their thoughts.]
Maybe would could egg it too. Like those kids on Halloween maybe? I dont know. I never got to do Halloween. Is that a thing people do or is it just in movies?
[They were talking faster now. Maybe they could speak faster than the thoughts. Maybe if they fill the silence they dont have think about what's in it ]
[ he broke out into a grin at the push, throwing himself back to the floor with a huff- belly up like a dog in play. Rocking side to side for a moment like Ollie had really got him good, he rolled onto one and gently swiped an arm out to pull them down with him. He knew how easy it was to let the nasty bits devour any joy as it appeared... but he also knew that some laughter was the best medicine in most circumstances ]
Wuff. Yeah, Halloween's a thing. You've never done it? Shit, Olliepop. We're doing Halloween this year 'round, then! We can dress up and shit. All that good stuff.
[ he nuzzled the side of their face where they laid, snickering quietly as the sweetness ended as quickly as it'd begun and a hand snaked to their side to test how ticklish they might be ]
Ever heard of cheesing someone's house? It's where you throw slices of cheese at it just like egging. But even more infuriating because it melts and sticks there. Heh.
[ ah yes, another typical, peaceful evening in the great territory of DRAAG. The last of the evening birds had tucked into the swaying treetops and handed over the night to the owls and alike. A soft, curious coo confirmed this from a particularly tall and bristled spruce pressed snug to the backside of a certain government building. The deep, melancholy glint of the last of the sun's light wasn't strong enough to reach inside its branches-- leaving the bird's appearance to one's imagination. A gentle breeze rustled the tree, as if to test that theory, and then it gave a violent kind of tremor that the wind had decidedly not been responsible for. Another hoot, a bit frustrated now, sounded off in response. Not but a rough 20 seconds later did the tree rustle unnaturally again, further up. The owl took off with an angry belt from its peak, likely throwing bird-ly expletives in the wake of great wings. ]
[ hands shot out from the side of the tree closest to the building to reveal the source of such a commotion, fumbling blindly at the brick before fingertips brushed the frame of a window. Tugging at the bottom proved fruitless initially, which led those hands to prying at the middle for some sort of give. They then resorted to some artful smacking at the panes. Something must've shown some mercy along the way, because another yank on the lower portion of the frame finally got the damned thing open with a grating squeak. ]
[ from that window came a pesky, chubby bastard of a man. He tumbled through the opening with the art and grace of a ballerina. If that ballerina were an elephant. Grunting as he rolled onto the floor, the bristles of green spruce sprinkled across carpeting surrounding his haphazardly splattered body. Quick to sit up, he shook his hair to relieve it of similar prickles stuck in the strands and took in his surroundings with darting eyes. He'd undershot what he believed to be a window directly to the glorious Dictator's office-- appearing to end up in the hall just outside of it. Naturally, a forest green clad guard was standing about two feet from where he'd landed and looking down at him with a mixture of bewilderment and disgust. Gerard cleared his throat, slowly rising to his feet and ignoring the warning click of a gun being readied ]
I thhhhhink I'm lost...? See, I was out for a stroll. Birdwatching, right, are you following? I was watching the birds. And I thought-
[ he didn't actually finish his story, as interesting as the tale surely would've been had he kept going. Instead his hand slapped the barrel of the guard's rifle to throw it to one side, the second quickly following with a solid crack straight between the eyes. The soldier crumpled with hardly a shout, leaving Gerard to catch him just under the arms. He snickered quietly at an easy victory, dragging the unconscious victim off to the side of the hall and leaning him against the far wall to make him as inconspicuous as possible. Now he was free to continue with his plans. ]
[ shuffling forwards, he scanned the plate on the door to make doubly sure that he wasn't entirely delusional (only partially!). The fancy plaque read "THE OFFICE OF HIS GRAND IMMORTAL DICTATOR" and ridiculously gaudy lettering, which he nodded at in silent confirmation, and then pressed both palms to the door to push inside. Now if he'd calculated something right tonight, the man had already left his office for the evening and he was free to snoop around to his heart's content. But given the window situation... maybe luck wasn't on his side after all ]
[ -- @m4dm4n-4nd-polluted ]
[Unfortunately for Gerard, his assumption about luck was correct. The dictator had decided to stay late today, as he usually did at the end of the week to make sure things wrapped up nicely. While Draag is a well-oiled machine, it takes several people to maintain that status, and the secretary's death had done nothing but complicate things.
He was sitting in a mildly embarrassing position; feet on his desk, with his prized cat in his lap. Everything was just about done, he had merely wanted a moment to himself. Perhaps he would write another note, or simply sit there, taking the time to put his feet up, despite his workload being... not the most substantial.
The commotion outside didn’t bother him, he barely registered the sound of grunting and struggling. Perhaps it was the guards fooling around? He would have to give them an earful later.
He quickly adjusted his position as the door began to drift open, regrettably making his cat leave. All office doors must be opened quickly and efficiently, with one hand on the knob and one hand behind the person's bath. The obvious lack of knowledge either constituted a rather thick-skulled newhire, or a tresspasser of some denomination. A sigh escaped his lips. First the secretary's whole... incident, and now this. His hopes of it being an employee he could at least scold were diminished as he saw the familiar greasy head of hair, those filthy gloves, and that wild, savage look in that creature’s eyes. A gloved hand drifted to the dagger at his side as he slowly stood up. He hoped it would at least ignore the cat.]
Pray tell, what, exactly, are you doing here?
[His eyes barely left it, studying its hunched form for any sudden movements. Hadn’t he taught that thing a rather significant lesson last time? Not that he was complaining about another chance to cut it up, exactly, but it was a rather... inconvenient time. Perhaps he could see if it had any scars from their last session, and he would most certainly create more if it dare tried anything.]
Did you plan to attack me again? If I can recall correctly, last time didn't exactly work out the best for you, no?
[The corner of his mouth lifted slightly at what he was about to say next, although it wasn't particularly clever.]
Is the mutt back for more training? That nice lady isn't here right now, but I would be happy to oblige.
[ he might've been startled by his company had he not felt an infinite amount more loathing deep in his soul instead. Visibly giving a dramatic roll of his eyes, he scoffed and slouched further in a childish display of disappointment. The door was swiftly kicked shut behind him nonetheless, insuring that they wouldn't have any quick interruptions during their spontaneous meeting. Might as well follow through with something while he was here, after all. ]
Do you get off to talking to me like that or ssssomething?
[ he made a faux look of disgust like a toddler weirded out by something on their plate, head lolling to one side and arms swaying idle by his sides. When he decided the Dictator had been thoroughly shamed enough, he dropped the look entirely and swayed over towards the corner bookshelf. He wasn't interested in its contents-- in truth, he'd been hoping to get into the desk that was now not so accessible to him... but it would do for general annoyance's sake. He'd rival the fluffy white cat's nature itself with his own, fingering through the spines of several books before plucking one up and flipping it open in one hand. He scanned the page, boredly looked up at the Dictator, and then unceremoniously let it drop to the floor with a thunk before moving on to the next. ]
... I missed you, by the way. Oh, can't a loyal man miss his Grand Immortal Dictator? You know, I was jussssst dying to see your handsome face again. Really! What's the phrase-? Eh, made my balls itch, or something.
[ thunk. Another book finding its unsavory grave on the floor, bent pages and all. He kept his eyes on the taller man all the while, knowing better than to allow himself to be cornered right off the bat. ]
[ @m4dm4n-4nd-polluted ]
[ Gerard startled at the sound, recent times having taken his sleep to a level heavier than his usual. Exhaustion had caught up, unfortunately, and didn't plan on letting his aching body go anytime soon. In a blur of half-sleep, he instinctively reached for the revolver tucked in the tent pocket... though thankfully his senses caught up in time. Clearing his throat at the mistake, he quickly dusted his clothes like that might help his appearance to any degree ]
[ with a soft hum, he pulled tattered boots on and hurried to push himself up off the heap of sheets in his wake. The tent flap opened in the next instant, and out ducked an unkempt-as-ever man shaking his hair from his face and stretching. He blinked a few times to adjust to the change in light, arms raised and tummy peeking from the hem of his shirt as his back gave an audible crackle ]
[ his voice was a little rough and uneven with sleep, but slowly and surely the man was coming around to a fully conscious state. He offered a lopsided smile to his friend, reaching out to give him a small tap on the cheek before sauntering past. He stopped short of the campfire circle, rummaging in a pile of various junk he had there and finding a canteen that he drank from with a "ahhh" of refreshment to follow. That seemed to clear up the dry throat issue, at least ]
[ he felt an odd sort of delight hearing Ray in such a... normal tone. Their past meetings so far had been frantic at best, and tragic at worst. While the news was still not the most ideal-- there was that familiar, comforting twang to Ray's voice that had been missing previously. He blinked slowly at him from this distance, taking the time to admire his current stature. The world had taken its toll on him, but any version of Raymond Toro was near impossible to put down. Even hellfire had not broken him this time around ]
[ he scoffed in a playful, stubborn sort of way at the implication his camp was anything but perfection... knowing damn well that it was the exact opposite ]
[ his tone was entirely humorous, backed by dramatic arm motions to emphasize the grand amenities he insisted such a fine establishment as his own held. Never mind the lack of plumbing, or curious smell ]
[ and just like that, his rambling bit came to an end. He melted underneath of Ray's touch, lips twitching into the grin of a pleased cheshire cat and eyes closing for a moment as he savored the scratch of nails against his scalp. Practically purring. So much so, that he nearly forgot he had more to respond to ]
[ a bucket and towels... a bucket and towels.... Now, Gerard had never touted himself as the smartest man in DRAAG, but certainly he'd reached a new level of stupid when his first thought was laundry. He didn't care much to take the time to clean his small wardrobe himself, but that seemed to make enough sense for Ray. Not everyone enjoyed wearing the same sweaty, bloody, and overall filthy outfit every day ]
[ a bubbly giggle left him as he was pulled around by the larger man, pawing at him gently in return before giving an extra squirm and twist to wriggle out of his hold. A slippery, greasy weasel. That might prove challenge enough for Ray's impending plans ]
[ he walked in usual, swaggering, Gerard fashion to retrieve an old and beaten looking plastic bucket from his various trinkets-- dumping out what appeared to be a collection of interesting looking rocks. Next he sought out the requested towels... coming up less successful. Instead, he grabbed two of the biggest, relatively clean looking t-shirts he could find and called it a day ]
[ he pouted a bit, as if to say how dare Ray for pointing out his utterly atrocious hygiene and lack of self care. Even with his whining he followed along as he was tugged closer to the watery, clean fate he was not yet aware of in his future. To him, he supposed it made sense that he could spare his old rags a nice wash since Ray was already on his way to take care of his own ]
[ he giggled rudely at his own little jab, shoving himself against Ray's side as they walked. The thought of nudity in the wilderness didn't bother him in the slightest, but even thinking about Ray looking shy and silly sitting by his wet clothes with his ass out was too good ]
[ they neared the lakeside soon enough; the treeline giving way to a pretty little scene of calm water reflecting gentle light. You could almost forget it was so close to the miserable concrete jungle that was DRAAG. He sighed deeply in content as he enjoyed the sight, more than happy to share such with his friend ]
[ his brows relaxed, lidded eyes and a shit eating smirk overtaking his expression as he stood by the waterside. Quite frankly, everything needed to be washed. Everything-everything. And since Ray was so insistent on fixing the issue, well, he'd simply have to oblige. It's safe to say he did take a moment to absolutely devour his friend with his eyes as his shirt was pulled overhead though. Ray was too handsome for his own good. A strong, muscular form with artfully placed scars and thick fuzz from chest down, disappearing below a waistband that left much to the imagination. He hardly resisted the urge to give a cartoonish wolf howl ]
[ without further ado he began to peel off his clothes. A tattered performance jacket hit the ground audibly, followed closely by sweat stained shirt. His pale skin practically reflected the damn sun, dotted in the occasional freckle and more common scar. While on the more fairly chubby side, he still found himself to have a decently desirable form-- arms showing muscle as he flexed them with a quick stretch. Next went the boots, kicked off to one side. Socks, which you didn't even want to know the state of, added to the pile. And then his smirk really widened when he started on his slacks. He stepped out of the patch covered and frayed pants and added it to the collection, briefly considering opting for mercy as he looked down at his boxers. But hey, they needed a wash too. And since Ray wanted to be smart about it, what's a little bare ass to the world? ]
[ the last of his clothes was abandoned with such an announcement, and he stood proudly with his hands on bare waist and a twitch in his hip. In the back of his mind he could practically hear Lin shrieking at him about decency and decorum. But what's a little ass between friends? ]
[ he'd been successfully taken off guard by Ray's grand scheme, only able to grunt as they went down and writhe in the larger man's grasp. A string of curses in Keposhka and English alike left his lips, too frazzled by it all to bother keeping any consistency. It was too late by the time the pieces had been put together in his mind, and there he sat like a pathetic little cat being held in place and bathed ]
You sssset me up--!
[ reverting back to English still carried the drawling twang of his accent. His griping was cut short by a splash of water overhead that left him dramatically sputtering and hissing like he'd been dunked headfirst instead. Soggy hair clung to his head, covering his eyes as he hunched in a little tantrum on Ray's lap. He looked silly, in truth. Naked and messy and being forced to endure a good cleaning. Opening his mouth to protest yet again, he coughed and shivered first ]
This is the thanks I get, eh? You drown me like a rat. I'll have you know the grease was a staple to my hairdo. Are you listening to me? Raymond! Release me, vile man!
[ his whining meant nothing, truthfully. But he wouldn't go down without letting the man thoroughly understand that he hated every second of it. He felt the gentle tug of fingers working out matted clumps, hissing under his breath and dropping his head back to side-eye Ray with a pouty glare. Terribly old eyeliner drooled down his cheeks as it was wettened, adding to the effect ]
[ all a big lie, and yet another dramatic attempt at getting Ray to decide this was more effort than it was worth. On top of that, the larger was most certainly correct in his assumptions that such commentary would only get the little beast even further resistant to the whole affair. He shivered as cool water poured further down, dripping off the soaked fabric onto his tummy and lower back as the trail slowed down further from its source. He whined, audibly, like a kicked puppy ]
[ it was with this comment that he shook his hair wildly, and any wetness left in it after Ray's squeezing went splattering in all directions-- including on the man bathing him. In the next instant he was writhing again, twisting around in Ray's hold to shove his bare body against him and rub as much water as he could right back onto him. So much for the t-shirt method trying to keep him dry in the process ]
[ he shrieked as the water was unceremoniously dumped on him, voice cracking as the cold took him off guard. He'd hardly had time to react to such before a muscular arm was wrapped around his throat and he was getting squeezed against Ray's body like a stress toy. His hands shot up to slap at the barricade, making a scene of coughing and wheezing despite not being choked out in the slightest. When that didn't work, his next best solution was to simply bite down on the meaty bicep before him ]
[ he grunted and hissed as Ray continued to manhandle him, flailing around for some sense of control before finally managing to gain some room and break free. In the next moment, both hands had snapped down onto the larger man's shoulders and he used his full body weight to topple him backwards. He sat proudly atop the larger like Theseus and the minotaur, water dripping off his pale skin and soaking the man below as he scrabbled to wrestle the fabric from his hands ]
[ some part of him had known he'd lost the fight before he had even started it, though he was more displeased with the fact that he'd been thwarted in record time than anything else. A grunt was forced from him as he was tossed one last time, over Ray's shoulder like nothing more than a sack of potatoes, before he was lifted and uselessly held there with water dripping off him. His face down to his chest flushed a dark shade of pinkish-red in pure embarrassment at the entire situation and he gave Ray a frustrated thunk on the back like that might save him ]
[ he propped himself up on an arm against Ray's back as he was carried around, scoffing quietly and crossing his ankles as the hung on the opposite side. He was already beginning to plot some sort of revenge in his mind, though nothing he could think up would fairly compensate him for this. However being entirely nude and manhandled by a buff, handsome man did soften the blow to his dignity juuuuust a bit ]
[ his voice dripped with a teasing edge, barely masking his humor behind such exaggerated accusations. It was, honestly, his best attempt at causing any sort of embarrassment in return to the larger man. He gave a raspy giggle by the time his little tangent was over, grinning wildly just out of sight ]
[ his struggling ceased momentarily as Ray's words set in, a new sort of shame and vulnerable feeling sweeping over him as the softness of his tone struck yet another chord. Yes, he'd been negligent of himself for quite a long time-- but no one else has cared. That was always a key factor in perpetuating the fact. No one bothered to encourage anything different of him, or try to convince him he mattered enough to do so... so why change it? ]
. . .
[ squirming again, he used Ray's stooped position to his advantage. He managed to get his feet on the ground first, and then writhed free from there. Afterwards, he shuffled back a step and covered himself sheepishly with his arms as he cast his gaze out over the water; a soft pout set on his lips ]
[ the corners of his mouth turned down into a light frown, listening to the water dribble back into the pond from off his clothes still gripped in Ray's hands. It's a wonder they didn't simply fall apart, what with all the crude patchwork he'd done and the abuse they'd been through ]
[ the sweet lull of Ray's voice did wonders in slipping past in barriers his mind had created to deny such affections from anyone who might dare to try. Quite frankly, even if he didn't understand a word of what Ray was saying his tone would be more than enough to do just the same. Soft, and kind-- laced with a sort of unadulterated tenderness that he hadn't heard in ages. He and Lin were a different sort of sweet. One that was complex even at its best, and meaningful- yet riddled with patchwork wounds they'd spent years carving into each other. Ray was just... Ray. They were wonderfully simple. They just were. ]
[ he hummed softly under his breath to let the man know he had acknowledged his words, eyes slipping shut for a moment as he savored the brush of a warm hand against his face. He pushed a bit closer on instinct as a smile twitched at his lips to replace the frown that had set there only moments prior, and Ray's beard tickled at the top of his head as the kiss was placed there ]
[ he realized that, by this point, he was rambling. His nerves had crept up on him even without his realization kicking in just yet. But it was a bit silly, of course. To have such a gentle moment while ass naked in the woods. He snickered at first to cut himself off, making a poor attempt at biting back the sound before it devolved into a full on laugh. A hearty one at that. Eyes opening again, he looked up at the larger with a newly reinvigorated sparkle of mischief and a deep blush to compliment it ]
[ Ray's own dramatics took him by surprise, but he enjoyed them profusely. With an exaggerated roll of his eyes he moved to grab one of the forgotten, soaked t-shirts from nearby and drop it down on the ground for some padding as he took a seat next to Ray. Setting his bare feet in the shallow water, he shivered lightly at the temperature change. The rest of his body was finally starting to dry a bit however... save for his hair, which would catch up in a soft, fluffy mess later on that he'd certainly be complaining about ]
[ something about being called "his beloved" had struck a chord, leaving him to look out at the ripples of the water without the mercy of his blush yet fading. He and his own Ray had never considered themselves anything of a relationship-- at most, they'd had fleeting touches in desperate moments... but this Ray had a known one with the him from here. That made him wonder, just a bit, if the man saw him in that same light at all ]
[ now, introducing Lin and Ray was sure to be a real treat. But as humorous as he knew it would be in some aspects, he also felt a deeper rooted pang of worry in his gut. It had been hard for him to process the idea of knowing another Ray (that was so much like his own)... and he could only imagine the stew of feelings Lin would go through upon meeting this one. Especially considering, you know... the solider had been the one to kill Raymond in the end. He would not be cruel as he had with Admir though-- not this time. He wouldn't tell Ray who was responsible for Mikey and Raymond's deaths... if he were going to find out, that would be on Lin's own terms ]
[ he twisted his upper half around carefully now that Ray was so close to his side, waiting for the man to turn his head back to the laundry before reaching up to gently play with his curls. His fingers carded through a section of them, splitting the strands, and then he idly began to braid them together. For a man who struggled to put a ponytail in Illi's hair a while back, he seemed to have a generally decent idea of what he was doing now. Maybe he'd practiced a bit since then-- in fear he'd have to do it again at some point ]
[ he could tell, decidedly, that this wasn't a topic that Ray wanted to further indulge him on.... so he allowed his curiosity to remain exactly that and moved on with a soft hum. He slid his thumbs over the braid to check its quality halfway through, satisfied with his work and continuing at a slow, focused pace. He didn't even notice his tongue was poking out between his lips in the process ]
[ a subtle glance was thrown in the direction of Ray's expression, trying to weigh if he was still troubled by his earlier thoughts or not. Clicking his tongue afterwards, he tipped his head and toyed with the finished end of the braid. Such a handsome man. Always. ]
[ he shifted his legs to half cross chubby thighs, definitely starting to get cold now that he was mostly dry and sitting in one spot for a while. That and, of course, he did feel just a little bit of shame sitting there with everything on display right next to Ray. It probably wasn't anything the man hadn't seen before given his relationship with this universe's equivelent of himself-- but still! ]
[ he led the way on the walk back to camp, almost hoping that they'd happen across Lin on one of his little patrols so he could try to explain why the hell he was on a naked stroll alongside Ray. But that didn't happen (sadly), and they soon breached the campsite clearing in peace. He motioned over to the firepit with a hum, signaling for Ray to move towards it while he broke off for the moment ]
[ he didn't so much as wait for a response before disappearing inside of his tent, rustling around in his belongings to find just where he'd put his only spare piece of clothing. It'd been some time since he'd gotten thing-- months ago, when he had taken Illi out on a shopping trip. He had just begun to worry that he might've thrown it out after all this time when he finally happened across it. Not exactly the occasion he'd intended on wearing the thing (but really, did he ever expect to have one?), but it would do just fine to cover him up. He shrugged the thin, silky fabric overhead and pulled it down to where it would rest just halfway up his thighs. The thin straps hugged his shoulders nicely, though, he didn't quite have the bust to fill out the chest. Overall, however... he thought he looked quite nice ]
[ the man spoke as he slipped back out of the tarp entrance, standing sheepishly outside of it. Now the dress had worked itself out on him; holding sweet and snug to his soft hips and framing the pudge of his tummy in an artful sort of way. Slowly drying hair hung against his shoulders, already starting to form loose little curls that had been hidden by all of the grease it had carried for so long. He hugged an arm, clearing his throat and choosing to look down at the dirt instead of directly at whatever Ray's reaction might be ]
[ his eyes widened a bit as the fire burst to life unexpectedly, though a glance up at Ray showed him reason enough as to why. Illuminated by the warm glow of flame, he could see the man's face flush darker... though his expression would've said enough even without the blush to accompany it. He hadn't really... expected such a reaction...? But it certainly wasn't unwelcome. Biting the inside of his cheek in a dreadfully failed attempt to quell his smile, he shook his head like he was disagreeing with words the man had not even spoken ]
[ his laugh had come out more like a giggle. Reaching up absentmindedly, he tucked a stray strand of hair behind one ear. He wasn't used to feeling.... what was this, bashful? But there was undeniable vulnerability to him here and now. He felt... pretty. Ray's reaction made him feel pretty. Quite frankly, he hadn't realized he was capable of fitting such a term in anyone's eyes ]
[ he finally walked closer. Slow and careful in every step. Rounding the fire to stand closer to Ray, he turned his head to look up at him and absolutely beam. A meal and the laundry alike were momentarily forgotten in favor of simply soaking up the warmth of the flames and appreciation alike ]
[ oh, that had really done it. Ray had managed to accomplish two rare feats in the span of one day, by some miracle. The feeling of a wonderfully large, warm hand trailing over his skin sent a shiver up the length of his spine. When it rested on his waist in the divot just above hip (where a hand fits oh so nicely as a matter of fact), he was a goner. His eyes widened a little, lips pursed before the corners of his lips twitched like his face wasn't sure what expression to make. A warm glow quickly followed, turning pale face a dreadful shade of red that crept all the way down to freckled shoulders ]
[ .... Flustered. He was terribly, horribly flustered. His brain short circuited in its futile attempts at righting himself as to not come off as a total fool--
[ Gerard had wasted no time in scrambling out of danger's way once his 'meeting' with the Secretary had come to an end, only pausing briefly to shuck his coat off one arm and assess the damage the bullet had left at the top of his bicep. He grimaced as it gave a throb in return to the attention, biting his tongue to avoid giving an audible response to the pain. Fresh blood dribbled past sticky clumps of darker liquid that had collected around the wound. It was doing a sorry job of clotting itself, but it slowed the flow well enough for now. Deeming it an issue for later, he shrugged the coat back on and continued on his way forwards ]
[ he knew what he was looking for now-- winding this way and that, dodging the public eye. His heartbeat pounded away in his ears, and the closer he got, the strain on his arm became less and less important. Halls got dimmer, and colder. Wood and carpet turned to concrete. Strangely (at least to him), there wasn't as much supervision in the area as he'd assumed there might be. The crisp echo of boots on the floor nearby did however indicate that there was at least one man on duty. That was fine. He would've needed to find one, anyway. He sucked in a breath as he drew closer to the sound, pressing his body into the wall before turning the corner ]
[ the confrontation was taken in a similar approach to the one before, though there was something about Gerard's approach that screamed so much more venom and desperation. The guard hadn't had much of a chance, only getting one pathetic attempt at an elbow in before he was smashed into the wall. An extra kick was delivered to the back of his head once he slid to the floor, just to be safe. Trembling hands fumbled with his uniform, and the jingle of keys brought Gerard back to his feet as he palmed them with a huff of victory ]
[ the cells weren't all that well labeled, and it took him a few tries of haphazardly sliding viewing slots open on the doors before one made him stop in his tracks. There wasn't any visual indicator that this was the right one, but there was an undeniable draw. Yes, this was it. They were here ]
[ he didn't check the slot, lurching forwards to test a key in the lock. He tugged his lip between his teeth in focus as he went to the next, then the next-- ]
[ click ]
[ the heavy metal door creaked open, cutting through the silence like a dagger. He steadied his breath, peering inside of the cell. In one corner, he could see it- a fragile, thin body curled up on itself. Wispy brown hair hung in greased strands over their shoulders. He felt his heart crumple in his chest, and his eyes began to sting at the corners. Legs moved forwards on their own in an uneven stagger, though stopped just short of his friend. Finally, he spoke in a hoarse whisper ]
. . . Hey there, Olliepop . . .
[ -- @m4dm4n-4nd-polluted ]
[Oleander looked up from their balled up postion. If it wasnt for the heavy breathing and loud steps, they still would have recognized the fact someone was coming. Someone like... them. Him.]
....gee..?
[They cocked their head, moving a little closer to him. Their faces were inches away, like an animal trying to investigate a new face for the first time. After awhile, they smiled weakly. The smile was genuine but they lacked the strength to empathize that. Their smile faltered after a moment or two, looking over him. Hes... injured.]
You... you're hurt
[They reached towards his bicep, before giggling and pointing to their shoulder]
Look we match now!
[They looked around rapidly, patting their uniform pockets, and then pulling out a bullet shell]
I even kept it! See! Bragging rights!
[They grinned holding it up incredibly close to his face. It seems they may have forgotten how personal space works.]
[They furrowed their brows, suddenly realizing, if only slightly, the situation at hand]
....why are you here?
[ he shouldn't have been surprised to find them broken in this way. Isolation does wicked things to the mind and body, and if they truly had been locked up like this since they'd been dragged from his camp... well, he understood intimately what Ollie had been through up until now ]
... Came to find you. I had to. I promised I would.
[ he slipped down to his knees before them, unflinching and almost welcoming in the warmth of their closeness even if it wielded a bullet betwixt. His hand met theirs, fingers curling around the back of their knuckles and thumb carefully tracing a fragile wrist. His eyes relayed a pain that he wouldn't speak-- for Ollie's sake, in either way ]
Why are.... Why are they keeping you put away? You aren't some simple prisoner. Surely the Clerk would have some say...
You did..?
[They thought a moment, tapping their chin with their other hand. They had in the heat of everything forgotten the event that took place. It was too distressing to think of their friend left behind and-... no. They wouldnt think of that. They refused to think any more on it]
[They continued trying to remember though, the part that refused had been overrun by the part that didnt. They wanted to know why their friend was .. here. Why they... came for him]
[Then... recognition]
You- you-
[Their eyes flashed with emotions, sadness, confusion, anger, fear. Then a deep... melancholy]
You came for me... your hurt because.. of me.
Why would you try to... a promise for a.... arent I your enemy..? I thought you hated people like us....
[They shook their head, registering his question]
Why they keep me here...?
[They look back up at Gerard, then their hand, squeezing them together, pausing, and jerking back. Overcome with some sort of realization.]
...im unstable
Unstable...? No... Hey... That's bullshit, Ollie. You're hurt. These-- these people... They throw people in little fucking cages for any reason they feel like. You can't believe everything they say about you.... it's... it's to fuck with your brain.
[ he'd tensed with the sudden movement, but knew better than to make any sort of grabs for his friend again. They were a cornered, broken animal. If he squinted, he could see himself sitting there before him, distantly. Just as terrified, and just as hurt ]
[ another throbbing reminder of the bullet lodged in his arm made him hiss softly, and he shifted back to sit on his heels and cast his eyes away briefly. He didn't want Oleander to feel responsible for it. He'd gone and done it on his own, plain and simple. What happened between himself and the Secretary was by his own accord ]
... Don't worry about me. I'm okay. I've been through worse, hah. This is... honestly nothing. I'm just happy to see you again.
but I am- i- im-
[They gestured trying to explain their thoughts, but then gave up, scratching at their arm with now overgrown nails, hoping it would offer some sort of clarity]
Every single thing I do. It hurts someone. Someone. Will always get hurt as long as im around. I thought I could stop it by leaving- but now im just back here again and now your hurt and-
[They reached towards their bed, patting it aggressively before eventually finding what they were looking for: the blanket their dad had given them. They snatched it off the bed and wrapped themselves in it, looking anywhere but his face]
I dont know how anyone could be happy to see me.
Eh, you think I care about a scratch? I told you, it's okay....
[ it was certainly more than a scratch, but he didn't want this to be the only topic of his visit. He'd been through too much work to get to where he was now ]
[ pausing in the quiet between them briefly, he slowly moved until his legs were out from under him. Sitting back on his ass, he drew his knees closer to his chest and leaned on one while finally turning his attention back to Oleander. He chose not to address their state- personally, he'd found it easier on himself in such a situation when he was treated... normally, to a degree ]
Hey... What kinda slop are they feeding you here, huh? Can't be better than a cheeseburger.
Stop down playing it!
[They yelled, a relatively expected, yet somehow suddenly outburst on their end. A mildly sensitive subject it seems. They buried their fingers just a little bit deeper into their arm.]
You're. Hurt.
Please... take that seriously.. its not a...
[They sighed, looking at the patterns in the floor. Trying to organize their thoughts. They were so concerned for him yet- he didnt seem to give a flying fuck about himself. Something about the situation grounded them slightly. Some sort of instinct kicking in for then. They looked up at him and took a deep breath. Just... answer the question. Slow. Down just- dont break. Please dont. You're not unstable you're not- you're..]
They uh- its just some.. like... mashed slop and.. yeah.
Sometimes.. my da-.... mr kozlov comes by and... gives me like.. real food. Nothing fancy but... better than what ive been given...
[ reflexively, he bristled ever so slightly at the shout aimed in his direction. For a man who'd clawed his way so far past taking commands, he doubted there would ever come a day he didn't at least react to them. He returned to a relative calm in the next moment, exhaling deeply. It wasn't Ollie's fault that they so desperately needed to be heard-- and he would give them all the patience in the world for it ]
[ next of note, he heard a name he was not quite familiar with. It didn't take much to assume it belonged to the Clerk, and tucked such knowledge away in the pockets of his mind for a rainy day. Then again, hearing Oleander refer to the man as something so formal... was he wrong to take that as an implication the Clerk was somewhat responsible for their current position? ]
... We could go get something once you're out of here. Milkshakes and fries. You ever dip your fries in the ice cream? That's good stuff there....
[ his eyes trailed down to their self inflicted wounds. Patterns of crosses and other equally unholy things ripped through tender flesh and dotted in dried lamb's blood. Was this what their people desired of them now? Was this all they deserved in their minds? He couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt at his own involvement- even if it was a mere butterfly effect that truly wouldn't have done much else otherwise... except maybe getting Oleander more hurt than if he hadn't brought them into his shelter... ]
[ but nonetheless, he'd been there. He had helped secure wax wings to their fragile shoulders and let them take flight. Maybe he should have warned them, but would it have mattered in the end? Icarus was always doomed to fall ]
[They searched his eyes when he said that. Searching for a sign he was lying or concealing some sort of truth. Maybe he was plotting something. How could gerard honestly believe thay they would be making it out of here?]
I-... I dont think-.. im getting ou-
[they stopped that thought.]
[He came all this way and you already yelled at him. Dont burden him with your self loathing. He cares for you, you fucking dunce]
I... yeah. I would. Like that.. maybe one of those thick ones with the whipped cream and the cherry on top, but I give you the cherry instead because I dont like the texture.
[They rambled. Getting lost in the daydream. Thats all it was. A daydream of leaving this place. It was a nice dream though. But just as realistic as cotton candy clouds and dancing with unicorns.]
I dont... think I have. The uh. Frie thing. Is... that normal? Seems kinda gross gerard.
[They gave a weak chuckle. A small attempt to tease him as friends do.]
[But their heart wasn't in it. Pierced by little daggers representing their sins and all they've done to others. How could they laugh while they bleed for their crimes?]
Im sorry for yelling
... Hey, it's okay. You're going through a lot right now... And- and you're... right. But it's because I don't... wanna focus on it. I just want to be here. With you. I can fix this shit later. So don't worry so much about me, okay? I'm not doing anything I don't wanna do. I'm making my choices here.
[ he shifted a bit closer, but didn't dare to invade their personal bubble. He knew the safety such an invisible barrier provided, and wouldn't pass it without permission. Control was a valuable luxury in a place like this. He intended to remind Oleander that they had it at all ]
You uh... you shouldn't knock it till you try it, by the way. The french fries and ice cream thing? It's like salty and sweet together. Great combo. You'll see what I mean soon.
[ because you're getting out, Ollie. I'm not going to let you rot here. I won't let you end up like me. ]
That.. doesnt excuse my actions. Or any of my actions
[They said somberly, picking at a hang nail now. They saw him move closer out of the corner of their eye. Unsure if they should also move closer or stay put. Wanting to be comforted but scared to recieve it.]
..I dont know why you would make that-... choice but-.. I guess in the time ive known you neither of us have made very... smart choices. Heh..
[They pulled at a hangnail that was on the stubborn side. Flinching slightly as it tore up more skin than expected, leaving their pointer finger bleeding.]
...yeah.. okay. I wont. Uh- knock it til I try it, I mean. Sounds... good enough.
What i wouldnt give for something sweet right now..
[They laughed pathetically, pressing their thumb to the now bleeding finger. Trying to stop it.]
[ he sighed in a melancholy sort of way, biting back the urge to say he wished he could help them with that issue. Getting them out of here wouldn't be as simple as simply getting up and walking away-- and furthermore, if he chose the "prison break" option Ollie would end up with even more problems than before. No. He'd have to do some more... diplomatic lifting. Even if diplomatic meant holding an official at knifepoint in some cases ]
We'll get there. Promise.
[ carefully, he shucked his gloves off one by one and laid them by his side. Then a hand was slowly extended, not too far into Ollie's space just yet, but as an offering for him to choose on ]
You and me, Olliepop.
[They watched silently as he sighed. Sort of blaming themselves for killing the vibe, even though it was never exactly positive in the first place.]
...
...yeah.
[They took his hand, squeezing it tightly. Their eyes shifted to the wood panels they had pretended were faces. People with names and personalities. He would talk to them and imagine their stories to keep himself company. And now that he had company, they struggled to figure out what to do with it.]
you and me.
Someday
[ he simply sat in silence for a too-long minute that felt like hours, not yet breaking it, but shifting to scoot a little closer without daring to lose his hold on them. But that wasn't enough. There was truthfully nothing he could do to provide any significant comfort to them. His words (that he spoke with love), his promises (that he intended to keep), his actions (that screamed louder), and his bleeding heart (that wept) were not enough. He felt a dry sting at his eyes and wasn't sure if he hadn't blinked or if they were simply about to burst ]
I . . .
[ his voice cracked, and he stopped before the rest of what he was thinking could be uttered. He was sorry, but that would change nothing. Swallowing the lump in his throat, his grip on Ollie's hand tightened abruptly and he tugged them forwards. His arms were there to catch them, wrapping around their starving bones and cradling them tightly to his chest. Over their shoulder, his pinprick eyes stared wide and terrified at the empty wall where they couldn't see. He sat there, silent as a mourner, and simply held them like they'd fade away if he relented for even a second ]
[Oleander didnt know how to react when their body got ragdolled into Gerard's chest. At first they flinched when they were violently jerked forwards. Their first instinct was that they were in danger. That they needed to fight- or flight- or-...]
[Then they grimaced, overcome with pain from their not fully healed shoulder. But they would get through it because- three: their friend was holding them. And not just holding them, holding them like this would be the last time they ever see eachother.]
[Their body relaxed, slowly wrapping their arms back around gerard. Shaking slightly as the fear changed to.. something else. They couldnt place the name of the emotion. It was a sort of deep bond that would slowly chisel away at your defenses, until suddenly it fell down. It felt like returning to a warm bed after learning you didnt have to go to school due to a snow day. Thats it- it wasnt a feeling. It was an event. Sitting there. Burning quietly in eachothers presence like two stars in the sky.]
[And then the tears began to flow. Silent and steady]
[ feeling them melt into his embrace was the final straw and all at once his own eyes watered and spilled over. He brought a hand up to the back of their head, fingers lacing in messy hair as he ducked down to press a chaste kiss to their scalp. Sighing deeply to center himself again, he nuzzled his nose into the mop of hair and let heavy lids shut for a few beats ]
.... Hey, it's gonna be okay... I got this far, didn't I?
[ he hummed quietly, shifting a little to drag a hand up and down Ollie's back in a slow, soothing pattern. He could feel them trembling lightly under his fingertips and knew they were crying just the same. They both needed this, it would seem ]
It won't be long before you're out free, and we'll go celebrate. Get drunk and cause some problems... No walls are gonna keep me from you. I'll shred 'em all.
[They shook a little, before closing their eyes. Squeezing him tightly, fingers digging into his back. They began to sniffle. Their nose running slightly because of the tears.]
Go... eat stupid food combos.. and.. dance like idiots...
[They began to list, a smile coming to their voice despite the sorrow that overwhelmed them]
Then.. we.. go to your tent and tell stupid stories around the fire and... roast marshmallows.
[They paused a moment, before laughing sofrly]
The-then they catch fire because we arent paying attention. Or because we knock one of them into the campfire.
Exactly... Now you're thinking....
[ he rocked them gently, perhaps more to soothe himself even than for Oleander at the time. Taking a deep breath to stave off another wave of tears, he made sure he'd pulled himself together decently enough before gently prying them back enough to leave some space between them ]
... No more tears, Olliepop... Save 'em for when you really need them. We've got plans now, yeah? So that means it has to happen. We've already put it in motion.
[ he cupped their face in either hand, carefully wiping away heavy teardrops. Next his sleeve was brushed under their nose to clean that up, too. He didn't mind. Far worse had been on his coat in all these years. Their poor, sad little face was reddened to the tip of their nose from their upset. Watery eyes and trembling lip. He felt another tug at his heart, sighing softly and giving one cheek a light pinch ]
I say, first thing, we go get drunk as balls and toilet paper Lin's bunker.
[They let out a hoarse giggle at his reply. Closing their weary eyes and lowering their defenses further. Yeah. This wouldnt be so bad.]
[They couldn't help but feel a little disappointed when they were pulled away from their friend, but considering they were still close enough, they wouldnt say anything. They thought about his words while he wiped their tears]
For...when i need them?
What do you mean we've put them in motion..? We're just sitting here and-... its not like some grand break out movie or something-
[They paused, the name drop momentarily confused them out of their state of... various emotions]
...Lin? Who is that? A friend of yours?
[They paused, then dawned a shit-eating grin. Looking just a little like their old self]
A boyfriend~?
[ he startled a bit at the suggestion, smirking with vague embarrassment as his eyes darted to the side for a moment. Definitely wasn't the shift in topic he was expecting, but sure, he'd humor it... that is, if he even knew the answer to such a question. Was Lin his boyfriend? No, no way. They'd never used such a title between each other. Sure, they were deeply intimate pretty frequently and all but... well, that didn't staple a label on them. Sometimes he wondered if they were even friends ]
He's a something. We both came from the same err... universe. And we also touch dicks sometimes, but no that doesn't make him my "boyfriend"....
[ he squished their cheeks and scrunched up his nose as if to say 'you pesky thing', returning their giggle finally and bumping their foreheads together once more. It was nice. To have simple, silly conversations like this again-- even if it were only temporary and they were still sitting on the floor of a cold cell. He knew that they'd have them again though. Outside, where Ollie belonged ]
He is handsome, though. Short and a little pudgy, but handsome. Got a god awful attitude though. That's why we gotta toilet paper him.
[ @m4dm4n-4nd-polluted ]
[ Gerard startled at the sound, recent times having taken his sleep to a level heavier than his usual. Exhaustion had caught up, unfortunately, and didn't plan on letting his aching body go anytime soon. In a blur of half-sleep, he instinctively reached for the revolver tucked in the tent pocket... though thankfully his senses caught up in time. Clearing his throat at the mistake, he quickly dusted his clothes like that might help his appearance to any degree ]
[ with a soft hum, he pulled tattered boots on and hurried to push himself up off the heap of sheets in his wake. The tent flap opened in the next instant, and out ducked an unkempt-as-ever man shaking his hair from his face and stretching. He blinked a few times to adjust to the change in light, arms raised and tummy peeking from the hem of his shirt as his back gave an audible crackle ]
[ his voice was a little rough and uneven with sleep, but slowly and surely the man was coming around to a fully conscious state. He offered a lopsided smile to his friend, reaching out to give him a small tap on the cheek before sauntering past. He stopped short of the campfire circle, rummaging in a pile of various junk he had there and finding a canteen that he drank from with a "ahhh" of refreshment to follow. That seemed to clear up the dry throat issue, at least ]
[ he felt an odd sort of delight hearing Ray in such a... normal tone. Their past meetings so far had been frantic at best, and tragic at worst. While the news was still not the most ideal-- there was that familiar, comforting twang to Ray's voice that had been missing previously. He blinked slowly at him from this distance, taking the time to admire his current stature. The world had taken its toll on him, but any version of Raymond Toro was near impossible to put down. Even hellfire had not broken him this time around ]
[ he scoffed in a playful, stubborn sort of way at the implication his camp was anything but perfection... knowing damn well that it was the exact opposite ]
[ his tone was entirely humorous, backed by dramatic arm motions to emphasize the grand amenities he insisted such a fine establishment as his own held. Never mind the lack of plumbing, or curious smell ]
[ and just like that, his rambling bit came to an end. He melted underneath of Ray's touch, lips twitching into the grin of a pleased cheshire cat and eyes closing for a moment as he savored the scratch of nails against his scalp. Practically purring. So much so, that he nearly forgot he had more to respond to ]
[ a bucket and towels... a bucket and towels.... Now, Gerard had never touted himself as the smartest man in DRAAG, but certainly he'd reached a new level of stupid when his first thought was laundry. He didn't care much to take the time to clean his small wardrobe himself, but that seemed to make enough sense for Ray. Not everyone enjoyed wearing the same sweaty, bloody, and overall filthy outfit every day ]
[ a bubbly giggle left him as he was pulled around by the larger man, pawing at him gently in return before giving an extra squirm and twist to wriggle out of his hold. A slippery, greasy weasel. That might prove challenge enough for Ray's impending plans ]
[ he walked in usual, swaggering, Gerard fashion to retrieve an old and beaten looking plastic bucket from his various trinkets-- dumping out what appeared to be a collection of interesting looking rocks. Next he sought out the requested towels... coming up less successful. Instead, he grabbed two of the biggest, relatively clean looking t-shirts he could find and called it a day ]
[ he pouted a bit, as if to say how dare Ray for pointing out his utterly atrocious hygiene and lack of self care. Even with his whining he followed along as he was tugged closer to the watery, clean fate he was not yet aware of in his future. To him, he supposed it made sense that he could spare his old rags a nice wash since Ray was already on his way to take care of his own ]
[ he giggled rudely at his own little jab, shoving himself against Ray's side as they walked. The thought of nudity in the wilderness didn't bother him in the slightest, but even thinking about Ray looking shy and silly sitting by his wet clothes with his ass out was too good ]
[ they neared the lakeside soon enough; the treeline giving way to a pretty little scene of calm water reflecting gentle light. You could almost forget it was so close to the miserable concrete jungle that was DRAAG. He sighed deeply in content as he enjoyed the sight, more than happy to share such with his friend ]
[ his brows relaxed, lidded eyes and a shit eating smirk overtaking his expression as he stood by the waterside. Quite frankly, everything needed to be washed. Everything-everything. And since Ray was so insistent on fixing the issue, well, he'd simply have to oblige. It's safe to say he did take a moment to absolutely devour his friend with his eyes as his shirt was pulled overhead though. Ray was too handsome for his own good. A strong, muscular form with artfully placed scars and thick fuzz from chest down, disappearing below a waistband that left much to the imagination. He hardly resisted the urge to give a cartoonish wolf howl ]
[ without further ado he began to peel off his clothes. A tattered performance jacket hit the ground audibly, followed closely by sweat stained shirt. His pale skin practically reflected the damn sun, dotted in the occasional freckle and more common scar. While on the more fairly chubby side, he still found himself to have a decently desirable form-- arms showing muscle as he flexed them with a quick stretch. Next went the boots, kicked off to one side. Socks, which you didn't even want to know the state of, added to the pile. And then his smirk really widened when he started on his slacks. He stepped out of the patch covered and frayed pants and added it to the collection, briefly considering opting for mercy as he looked down at his boxers. But hey, they needed a wash too. And since Ray wanted to be smart about it, what's a little bare ass to the world? ]
[ the last of his clothes was abandoned with such an announcement, and he stood proudly with his hands on bare waist and a twitch in his hip. In the back of his mind he could practically hear Lin shrieking at him about decency and decorum. But what's a little ass between friends? ]
[ he'd been successfully taken off guard by Ray's grand scheme, only able to grunt as they went down and writhe in the larger man's grasp. A string of curses in Keposhka and English alike left his lips, too frazzled by it all to bother keeping any consistency. It was too late by the time the pieces had been put together in his mind, and there he sat like a pathetic little cat being held in place and bathed ]
You sssset me up--!
[ reverting back to English still carried the drawling twang of his accent. His griping was cut short by a splash of water overhead that left him dramatically sputtering and hissing like he'd been dunked headfirst instead. Soggy hair clung to his head, covering his eyes as he hunched in a little tantrum on Ray's lap. He looked silly, in truth. Naked and messy and being forced to endure a good cleaning. Opening his mouth to protest yet again, he coughed and shivered first ]
This is the thanks I get, eh? You drown me like a rat. I'll have you know the grease was a staple to my hairdo. Are you listening to me? Raymond! Release me, vile man!
[ his whining meant nothing, truthfully. But he wouldn't go down without letting the man thoroughly understand that he hated every second of it. He felt the gentle tug of fingers working out matted clumps, hissing under his breath and dropping his head back to side-eye Ray with a pouty glare. Terribly old eyeliner drooled down his cheeks as it was wettened, adding to the effect ]
[ all a big lie, and yet another dramatic attempt at getting Ray to decide this was more effort than it was worth. On top of that, the larger was most certainly correct in his assumptions that such commentary would only get the little beast even further resistant to the whole affair. He shivered as cool water poured further down, dripping off the soaked fabric onto his tummy and lower back as the trail slowed down further from its source. He whined, audibly, like a kicked puppy ]
[ it was with this comment that he shook his hair wildly, and any wetness left in it after Ray's squeezing went splattering in all directions-- including on the man bathing him. In the next instant he was writhing again, twisting around in Ray's hold to shove his bare body against him and rub as much water as he could right back onto him. So much for the t-shirt method trying to keep him dry in the process ]
[ he shrieked as the water was unceremoniously dumped on him, voice cracking as the cold took him off guard. He'd hardly had time to react to such before a muscular arm was wrapped around his throat and he was getting squeezed against Ray's body like a stress toy. His hands shot up to slap at the barricade, making a scene of coughing and wheezing despite not being choked out in the slightest. When that didn't work, his next best solution was to simply bite down on the meaty bicep before him ]
[ he grunted and hissed as Ray continued to manhandle him, flailing around for some sense of control before finally managing to gain some room and break free. In the next moment, both hands had snapped down onto the larger man's shoulders and he used his full body weight to topple him backwards. He sat proudly atop the larger like Theseus and the minotaur, water dripping off his pale skin and soaking the man below as he scrabbled to wrestle the fabric from his hands ]
[ some part of him had known he'd lost the fight before he had even started it, though he was more displeased with the fact that he'd been thwarted in record time than anything else. A grunt was forced from him as he was tossed one last time, over Ray's shoulder like nothing more than a sack of potatoes, before he was lifted and uselessly held there with water dripping off him. His face down to his chest flushed a dark shade of pinkish-red in pure embarrassment at the entire situation and he gave Ray a frustrated thunk on the back like that might save him ]
[ he propped himself up on an arm against Ray's back as he was carried around, scoffing quietly and crossing his ankles as the hung on the opposite side. He was already beginning to plot some sort of revenge in his mind, though nothing he could think up would fairly compensate him for this. However being entirely nude and manhandled by a buff, handsome man did soften the blow to his dignity juuuuust a bit ]
[ his voice dripped with a teasing edge, barely masking his humor behind such exaggerated accusations. It was, honestly, his best attempt at causing any sort of embarrassment in return to the larger man. He gave a raspy giggle by the time his little tangent was over, grinning wildly just out of sight ]
[ his struggling ceased momentarily as Ray's words set in, a new sort of shame and vulnerable feeling sweeping over him as the softness of his tone struck yet another chord. Yes, he'd been negligent of himself for quite a long time-- but no one else has cared. That was always a key factor in perpetuating the fact. No one bothered to encourage anything different of him, or try to convince him he mattered enough to do so... so why change it? ]
. . .
[ squirming again, he used Ray's stooped position to his advantage. He managed to get his feet on the ground first, and then writhed free from there. Afterwards, he shuffled back a step and covered himself sheepishly with his arms as he cast his gaze out over the water; a soft pout set on his lips ]
[ the corners of his mouth turned down into a light frown, listening to the water dribble back into the pond from off his clothes still gripped in Ray's hands. It's a wonder they didn't simply fall apart, what with all the crude patchwork he'd done and the abuse they'd been through ]
[ the sweet lull of Ray's voice did wonders in slipping past in barriers his mind had created to deny such affections from anyone who might dare to try. Quite frankly, even if he didn't understand a word of what Ray was saying his tone would be more than enough to do just the same. Soft, and kind-- laced with a sort of unadulterated tenderness that he hadn't heard in ages. He and Lin were a different sort of sweet. One that was complex even at its best, and meaningful- yet riddled with patchwork wounds they'd spent years carving into each other. Ray was just... Ray. They were wonderfully simple. They just were. ]
[ he hummed softly under his breath to let the man know he had acknowledged his words, eyes slipping shut for a moment as he savored the brush of a warm hand against his face. He pushed a bit closer on instinct as a smile twitched at his lips to replace the frown that had set there only moments prior, and Ray's beard tickled at the top of his head as the kiss was placed there ]
[ he realized that, by this point, he was rambling. His nerves had crept up on him even without his realization kicking in just yet. But it was a bit silly, of course. To have such a gentle moment while ass naked in the woods. He snickered at first to cut himself off, making a poor attempt at biting back the sound before it devolved into a full on laugh. A hearty one at that. Eyes opening again, he looked up at the larger with a newly reinvigorated sparkle of mischief and a deep blush to compliment it ]
[ Ray's own dramatics took him by surprise, but he enjoyed them profusely. With an exaggerated roll of his eyes he moved to grab one of the forgotten, soaked t-shirts from nearby and drop it down on the ground for some padding as he took a seat next to Ray. Setting his bare feet in the shallow water, he shivered lightly at the temperature change. The rest of his body was finally starting to dry a bit however... save for his hair, which would catch up in a soft, fluffy mess later on that he'd certainly be complaining about ]
[ something about being called "his beloved" had struck a chord, leaving him to look out at the ripples of the water without the mercy of his blush yet fading. He and his own Ray had never considered themselves anything of a relationship-- at most, they'd had fleeting touches in desperate moments... but this Ray had a known one with the him from here. That made him wonder, just a bit, if the man saw him in that same light at all ]
[ now, introducing Lin and Ray was sure to be a real treat. But as humorous as he knew it would be in some aspects, he also felt a deeper rooted pang of worry in his gut. It had been hard for him to process the idea of knowing another Ray (that was so much like his own)... and he could only imagine the stew of feelings Lin would go through upon meeting this one. Especially considering, you know... the solider had been the one to kill Raymond in the end. He would not be cruel as he had with Admir though-- not this time. He wouldn't tell Ray who was responsible for Mikey and Raymond's deaths... if he were going to find out, that would be on Lin's own terms ]
[ he twisted his upper half around carefully now that Ray was so close to his side, waiting for the man to turn his head back to the laundry before reaching up to gently play with his curls. His fingers carded through a section of them, splitting the strands, and then he idly began to braid them together. For a man who struggled to put a ponytail in Illi's hair a while back, he seemed to have a generally decent idea of what he was doing now. Maybe he'd practiced a bit since then-- in fear he'd have to do it again at some point ]
[ he could tell, decidedly, that this wasn't a topic that Ray wanted to further indulge him on.... so he allowed his curiosity to remain exactly that and moved on with a soft hum. He slid his thumbs over the braid to check its quality halfway through, satisfied with his work and continuing at a slow, focused pace. He didn't even notice his tongue was poking out between his lips in the process ]
[ a subtle glance was thrown in the direction of Ray's expression, trying to weigh if he was still troubled by his earlier thoughts or not. Clicking his tongue afterwards, he tipped his head and toyed with the finished end of the braid. Such a handsome man. Always. ]
[ he shifted his legs to half cross chubby thighs, definitely starting to get cold now that he was mostly dry and sitting in one spot for a while. That and, of course, he did feel just a little bit of shame sitting there with everything on display right next to Ray. It probably wasn't anything the man hadn't seen before given his relationship with this universe's equivelent of himself-- but still! ]
[ he led the way on the walk back to camp, almost hoping that they'd happen across Lin on one of his little patrols so he could try to explain why the hell he was on a naked stroll alongside Ray. But that didn't happen (sadly), and they soon breached the campsite clearing in peace. He motioned over to the firepit with a hum, signaling for Ray to move towards it while he broke off for the moment ]
[ he didn't so much as wait for a response before disappearing inside of his tent, rustling around in his belongings to find just where he'd put his only spare piece of clothing. It'd been some time since he'd gotten thing-- months ago, when he had taken Illi out on a shopping trip. He had just begun to worry that he might've thrown it out after all this time when he finally happened across it. Not exactly the occasion he'd intended on wearing the thing (but really, did he ever expect to have one?), but it would do just fine to cover him up. He shrugged the thin, silky fabric overhead and pulled it down to where it would rest just halfway up his thighs. The thin straps hugged his shoulders nicely, though, he didn't quite have the bust to fill out the chest. Overall, however... he thought he looked quite nice ]
[ the man spoke as he slipped back out of the tarp entrance, standing sheepishly outside of it. Now the dress had worked itself out on him; holding sweet and snug to his soft hips and framing the pudge of his tummy in an artful sort of way. Slowly drying hair hung against his shoulders, already starting to form loose little curls that had been hidden by all of the grease it had carried for so long. He hugged an arm, clearing his throat and choosing to look down at the dirt instead of directly at whatever Ray's reaction might be ]
[ his eyes widened a bit as the fire burst to life unexpectedly, though a glance up at Ray showed him reason enough as to why. Illuminated by the warm glow of flame, he could see the man's face flush darker... though his expression would've said enough even without the blush to accompany it. He hadn't really... expected such a reaction...? But it certainly wasn't unwelcome. Biting the inside of his cheek in a dreadfully failed attempt to quell his smile, he shook his head like he was disagreeing with words the man had not even spoken ]
[ his laugh had come out more like a giggle. Reaching up absentmindedly, he tucked a stray strand of hair behind one ear. He wasn't used to feeling.... what was this, bashful? But there was undeniable vulnerability to him here and now. He felt... pretty. Ray's reaction made him feel pretty. Quite frankly, he hadn't realized he was capable of fitting such a term in anyone's eyes ]
[ he finally walked closer. Slow and careful in every step. Rounding the fire to stand closer to Ray, he turned his head to look up at him and absolutely beam. A meal and the laundry alike were momentarily forgotten in favor of simply soaking up the warmth of the flames and appreciation alike ]
[ oh, that had really done it. Ray had managed to accomplish two rare feats in the span of one day, by some miracle. The feeling of a wonderfully large, warm hand trailing over his skin sent a shiver up the length of his spine. When it rested on his waist in the divot just above hip (where a hand fits oh so nicely as a matter of fact), he was a goner. His eyes widened a little, lips pursed before the corners of his lips twitched like his face wasn't sure what expression to make. A warm glow quickly followed, turning pale face a dreadful shade of red that crept all the way down to freckled shoulders ]
[ .... Flustered. He was terribly, horribly flustered. His brain short circuited in its futile attempts at righting himself as to not come off as a total fool--
