#cold callback

[astrumocs]

A late birthday gift to @quiescent-trolls of Lad and Oda's selfie together in front of the fountain that we talked about ages ago by now but that I always thought about, I hope you like it enough that it was worth the wait, <:)

(Special mention to @dirgelwch for color blocking in my fountain lineart/design and doing the water too, <3)

[astrumocs]

Odarem, is there a simple moment you look back on and think fondly of? Nothing grand or spectacular, just a mundane thing- like an old routine or something.

"I'd have to say... hm- maybe the night I met Lad? It wasn't planned, Jules thought I was gonna be out of the hive the first night he brought Lad over to his place, but I wasn't, and for a bit there it was a very awkward surprise introduction."

"I don't know when we would've met, if ever, had I not canceled my plans and forgot to mention it. Jules tended not to go out of his way to introduce the people in his life to one another, shy guy that he was."

"I don't know if it's mundane enough to count, but it feels like it was such a simple moment at the time that ended up being special later, looking back."

[astrumocs]

Any plans for quadrants day, Oda?

"Funny timing, TV show buddy, I was actually just asked about that."

"But, I will say that I got a lovely gift from Kil, so if I have some spare time later tonight, I might run something nice over to him in return."

"I'm sure he's plenty busy tonight, but I don't think stopping by for a moment will hurt."

"And I already sent something out for Lad too, but I always plan a little gift for him in advance."

[astrumocs]

The Shows Go On

This is a companion piece to the wonderful Ladnah writing that @quiescent-trolls wrote <3

----- Google Docs Link -----

Characters: Julian Mercur (Also known as Julius Monter), Ladnah Micalz, and Odarem Mortis Setting: Juli’s old Hive in the past; Around the time of his college days

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Julian finds himself wandering exhaustedly toward the front door of his hive. He looks drained, the lines under his eyes set deeper than ever before. No matter what he attempts to do about it, though, the rest solemnly finds him. Trying to sleep left too much open room to think, Julian found, so sleep was best avoided until he could no longer fight the droop of his eyelids.

Shaking off that weight of tiredness, he musters up the strength to open the door. Although, whatever Julian seems to have expected at his front door that evening certainly isn't what he finds. Instead, a single bouquet rests solemnly on his front step. His heart skips a beat, then tightens painfully in his chest once he realizes what it really was that he had before him. A look of tension quickly accompanies his aching heart.

It turns out that he's been so consumed by his own studies that he actually missed one of Ladnah's shows.

Letting his gaze flicker around the yard, he looks for the violet blood as if he’d still be there, which was foolish, considering his show must have ended many hours ago. Julian knew this, of course, because any of Ladnah’s upcoming shows were marked on a calendar he kept in his room.

Picking them up by their cooled stems with a gentle hand, Julian brings them inside to set them on his coffee table for later admiration, only to then find himself pausing to stare at the beautiful blooms. He found himself reminiscing then, suddenly, on the first bouquet that his lover had received for his incredibly passionate performance... he had seemed really happy when that happened, didn't he?

Ah, but wait, Julian doesn't have time for this now- the memories would have to wait, as would the guilt. He would just send an apology and congratulations text later when he finishes up for the night. That morning Julian finds himself asleep on his desk, phone in hand, open to his text messages with Ladnah.

The typing indicator blinks lonesomely in the empty message bar for the rest of the day, undisturbed.

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Time continued to move along and Julian crossed off the days on his calendar as they passed him by. Three of Ladnah’s shows were written onto different dates, now crossed over in red X’s that show they’d already occurred. One such performance is the third Julian had missed up to this point, which has only been crossed over that very day. The show must have ended a while ago by now, but Julian doesn't really have it on his mind, so that information goes largely unnoticed.

His matesprit was an unfortunately distant thought in his head these last few weeks, and one that he continues to have to shove back down lest his wants and the emotional turmoil distract him from his desperate work.

Julian was going to continue the night on like that as he focused on the currently pressing matter of applying an eye bandage when he heard a knock at the door, the sound startling him so much that he drops the bandage to the ground. A tense expression overtakes his face at that, knowing he’ll need to get a new one now to keep things sanitary. 

There’s no time for him to acquire it, however, because before that thought is even done passing through his mind, another light knock hits the door. Nothing was expected to arrive at his door that night, so he couldn’t help his thoughts from warily wondering who it could be. Still, he allows himself to list his way over and chance a glance through the peephole with his good eye.

Immediately Julian jolts back at seeing his kismesis on the other side, the wooden floor of his hive creaking beneath him with his steps.

Unseen to Julian, Odarem's ears perk up at the sound, “Juli, you in there? We should talk- it’s important.”

Julian is, to himself, achingly silent, and he can feel his heart racing from the unexpected visit. It feels like he hasn't seen either of his partners in weeks... or has it been months? He wasn’t entirely sure in the moment since it was hard to think clearly, what with the sudden wave of emotions crashing over him and all.

After not hearing a reply, Odarem sighs, the sound soft and somber, barely audible, before speaking up again, “You missed another of Lad’s shows, you know. This is the third.” Oda brings a hand up from his jacket pocket to push loose strands of red from his face, expression pensive, “You’re breaking his heart Juli, I see him looking for you at every performance.”

Julian bites his lip at that, wincing, but again says nothing and waits to see if his Kismet has more to say.

As if filling the void in the conversation, Odarem does indeed continue, feeling hopeful that Julian was listening to his words. “We’re here if you need us, but we can only be here waiting for so long. I’m going off planet soon… and It’d be nice to see you again, at least one more time.”

Julian doesn’t know what to feel at that, caught up on the words ‘we’re here for you’. They stung a lot more than he’d expected them to when he heard them aloud. 

How could Odarem say that when he didn’t even know what was happening behind the door? And just as importantly, how could Julian explain what he’d been up to? He knew his quads wouldn’t understand-- they wouldn’t help him with his work or his obsession, so he just couldn’t let them in, could he?

Outside, Odarem lets his lips rest into a frown. “Well, anyway, take care of yourself Jules… you know how to get in touch with us. Try not to miss Lad’s next show, alright? It’d make his night.” With those last words, Odarem begins to turn away, making his leave.

Sensing the end of the conversation in his quads words, Julian’s hand suddenly twitches to reach for the door handle- to tell his kismesis not to go- but then it stops short, hovering just over the dark metal.

Julian leaves the door unopened then, as his boyfriend's muffled footsteps fade into the distance, knowing that if he opened it, he’d want his friends back more than anything.

And that, he just couldn’t allow.

[astrumocs]

ladnah + odarem

Oda's one-sided Pale (and a hint of Red) crush on his best friend, <:]

[astrumocs]

cold callback as well, :3c for funsies,

VISUAL ATTRACTIVENESS: (purely aesthetic appreciation of looks)

💗💗💗💗 - He's super charmed by the look of Ladnah's markings/vitiligo, he finds it striking. Plus, he's a big sucker for smiles and he thinks that Ladnah's genuine, joyful smile is so pretty. He does find Lad's current appearance more his speed than he did when they were younger though.

FRIENDSHIP LEVEL: (how close a friend they consider them)

💗💗💗💗💗 - That's his mfing bestie!! There's nothing he wouldn't do for this guy; he's ride or die for this dude. They've been friends for so long and been there beside each other through their biggest hardships, y'know? Oda doesn't show his deeper emotions to anyone, but if they ever truly became too much, Ladnah is the one he would go to.

SEXUAL DESIRE: (wanting to have sex with them)

💗💗 - This could be higher, but he values things with Lad as they are too much to muddy things with that kind of dynamic when he can seek this desire out elsewhere without worry.

ROMANTIC INTENT: (hoping for a romantic relationship)

💗💗 - Okay this one is... complicated lol. Odarem didn't much entertain the idea of any quads with Lad when they were younger- I mean, they were both going through a heavy break-up, and then getting into time-consuming careers- it really wasn't an option tbh.

But... over the many sweeps that they've known each other, there's been a quiet, gentle thing in Oda's chest, and he could feel it growing. He was content enough to just feel it, no need to bring it up with Lad, just leave it be and let it be a bolster for the platonic love that he feels.

When he learned about Lad's pale crush/pale relationship with Masumi, there was a quiet, private moment where he told himself that was time to let the proverbial bloom start wilting, so to speak. It's emotional, but he is content to let it go as quietly as he felt it.

[astrumocs]

seems like u'll get your chance to soon!! that guy likes being w u soooo much,

"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to embarrass me or something, hah. It was a valiant attempt, if so."

"I'm happy to hear that, though. Not that I don't know he cares, of course, but I also know I'm a bit of a weird one."

"Did you know I thought he wasn't going to want to be around me after how our first meeting went? And now look how far we've come, that guy's the best friend I've had."

"Don't tell him that-- wouldn't want it going to his head."

> It's clearly a jest since he doesn't seem like he's trying to hide that fact at all, actually.

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i mean, sure, maybe not U for the crushes part, but i think he's been pretty down bad lately !! not that u heard that from me,

"Oh? And I'm sure that has nothing to do with how obviously close he and Masumi are, right?"

"I've been meaning to ask him about their whole thing, actually. Seeing them at the ball reminded me that I meant to ask."

"Truthfully, I'm happy for him, no matter who it's with or what quadrant it's in. He deserves that kind of happiness again as much as anyone."