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 Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2023 4:44 pm
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It was Eion who peeled off his bandage and tossed the packed cotton balls into the dumpster beside Aelius's apartment building. While the gouges in his arm weren't healed, they had stopped bleeding as of last night, and Eion didn't want the bandages poking out of his long sleeves to give any cause for concern to the other two. The matter of bruising along his jawline was something that couldn't be helped; both of them understood the nature of their shared occupation, though, and the inherent risks of bodily injury.
He didn't much care for the shock of pain he experienced whenever he twisted his left wrist, but he made a fortuitous discovery when he saw the building's entry door was already blocked open by a stray brick. No need to turn the knob, then, nor did he have to intercom up to Aelius's place and get himself let in remotely. He shifted his package under his arm and let himself inside.
The building itself had several units, but the hallways and stairs had a way of looking small and inhospitable. Painted an industrial green halfway up and a white thereafter, the place reminded him more of the Negaverse's hospital than a place to live. He mounted the stairs to Aelius's level regardless, ignoring the twinge in his back for each step taken with his right foot. He passed but one person on the way up — a girl about his age, dressed in what he could only assume were laundry day clothes, who hadn't spared him a single glance.
Then he was down the hall, sneakers thumping softly on the carpeted floor until he found the equally nondescript door that declared Aelius's apartment number. He paused outside, loitering for a moment, tempted thoroughly enough to put his ear to the door, hoping that he might discover some clandestine conversation shared between the two. Something uplifting — something he sorely needed. Something that guaranteed progress in disentangling Heliodor from his messy past and messier mindset. After a minute passed, he straightened up and knocked.
It was strange, then, how aware he became of the silence thereafter. How aware he felt of his own heartbeat, now rising up his throat and into his ears. Chewing his lower lip, he held his package tighter to his chest.
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Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2023 7:56 pm
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Waru flinched so hard while fluffing a pillow that he nearly fled his body through his skin, even if he was expecting the company? It was easy to get lost in doing little things; like fixing up the couch into something that could hold guests properly, or checking the time while he checked that the kitchen was clean.
Making sure, that yes, he had actually bought wine---
Okay, so it was actually Syrus who had played the nicest ******** delivery boy! Had bought the wine, bowed it up pretty, sent him a few bottlefuls with minimal text-sass-mojis to express any sort of questioning or distaste. If Aelius would enjoy it or not? That was something he couldn't peak on, but the little blue dragons on the labels cover that got ever bluer as the item chilled entertained him to no end! It made him think of Fafnir--between bouts of thinking about tidyingup the kitchen---
Which, yeah, it was clean as all ********.
Of course it was, Aelius was obsessive about that, it seemed to one of the other mans coping skills. Stress cleaning in the aftermath of whatever mess Waru would now intentionally. He liked making the mess new and interesting each time, like laying out bigger bait for a bigger fish, it was the easiest way to lure Aelius into conversations that he seemed to want little part ********, but he hoped this would be a conversation Aelius wanted to be a part of without him having to cook twelve whole courses of 'oops all shells no eggs!' --- He felt like they'd found something of a middle ground. A precarious place of understanding, fragile, yet there. He knew that would have to be enough for now, as he threw the throw pillow into place a little too harshly and took the three to five steps it took to make it to the front door.
"Hey Aelius! We've got company!" He didn't have to make everything an order, but damn-well would if it came down to it. For this to succeed? He would do anything. Even swallow his pride as he swallowed down the tremor that wanted to steal his hand off the chain latch and too slick knob, the second it took to clench and unclench nails to palm before he was ready to tell Aelius's ugly door to ******** off it's own hinges and open up. He'd blame caffeine--too much--too little--would fault any bodily function other than his own nerves acting up last minute in the face of his seeing boy in Aelius's home.
It felt like it'd been an eternity--which made his smile ache all the more, high-beams he couldn't begin to hide for seeing Eion: bundled, burdened, human, alive! Always in the most interesting outfits!
"Hey, Ei. C'mon in..." soft, soft, softly spoken. Like he had a baby deer on his front lawn and didn't want to spook it in the slightest. Amazed, even at himself, for managing quiet when all he wanted to do was grab, go, crow--haul he pair together and lock them in a closet like they were sixteen and at a party together---instead of just inside Aelius's tiny, thread-bare, militant excuse for an apartment. He was getting the man into godamned unicorns or ceramic wall hangers or -- something that expressed A's own individual personality -- by the end of all this!
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Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2023 1:47 pm
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They'd fallen into a tentative ease with each other. While, at times, it still rankled Aelius that Waru had forced himself into his life, they'd managed to come up with some sort of system that worked well enough. Well, enough that Aelius wasn't itching to strangle the walking epitome of chaos that Waru could be. Aelius swore the man was capable to creating problems and messes like it was part of his job title. At times, the purple-haired man wondered if Waru did it on purpose, but to keep the peace, Aelius had to assume that wasn't the case.
He'd be flat out lying through his teeth though if he told anyone he hadn't lost his temper at the man. Gods, Aelius lost track on how often he'd snapped waspishly. All of it deserved in Aelius's mind. But, well...it was getting better he supposed.
Laundry day though was upon him. It served as a distraction. A way to keep himself busy and not hyper focused on what the day was to bring. In fact, he had been busy in his bedroom putting away laundry that he'd just recently hauled upstairs from the complex's shared laundry room. At the call about company, Aelius stiffened mid folding of a pair of sweats. Was it that time already? His eyes flicked to the alarm clock that sat on the night stand that was used for nothing else except it's keeping of time as it's original job had been overtaken by Aelius's cell. He inhaled a deep breath as he finished up the sweats and the last two shirt that needed to be hung before padding out of the bedroom barefoot, dressed in dark wash jeans and a basic white under shirt. He'd had no plans to go anywhere beyond the laundry room so had opted to be more casual for the day. Unfortunately, the less put together look seemed to emphasis the over-all exhaustion that still clung to Aelius like an unwelcomed spector. Sleep still eluded him. Only grabbed in small snippet's.
Who he saw standing with Waru was expected but he froze in the small living room, golden eyes fixated with... Uncertainty? He wasn't even sure as his own breath hitched in his throat at the sight of Eion standing there.
Like a switch was flipped, Aelius's brows furrowed, a hand moving to brace himself against the corner of the wall leading back into the alcove that functioned as a hallway between his room, the bathroom and small hall closet. His eyes barley shifted from Eion, to Waru and back, hanging up on the slim boy. A storm of emotions roiled around inside of him at the sight of Eion.
He didn't know what to say, to be honest. The tension that had been creeping over him all day drawing taught at the sight of Eion. Try as he might to come to terms with this meeting, a small part of him dreaded it. A fear sat like a heavy pit in his stomach. Emotional needs to both appease his husband but cling to that still simmering anger fought within him. The hurt of feeling as if he'd been cast aside still remained like a festering wound.
Not moving closer, keeping the space between them Aelius didn't offer any smiles of welcome like he once had upon seeing his husband. Instead, he kept a safe distance, the mantel of grateful host left to Waru to pick up, and the man seemed plenty appreciative to do so as he doted upon Eion.
"You seem well." He remarked even as his eyes found the bruising along the delicate lines of Eion's jaw. A muscled ticked in his own, but he didn't remark on it. Likely Eion had been out doing what they all did and had found himself in some sort of scuffle. Interesting that someone managed to land a good enough blow on the General King to leave such a mark though.
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Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2023 7:11 pm
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A smile bloomed on Eion's face for seeing his boy, though it was dampened at the end by a twinge of pain. He tried to quash it, hide it away, for his trepidation warned him that he wouldn't have cause to keep wearing it. Or that, if he did, it would be used as a weapon against him and Waru.
"Thanks," he said as he stepped inside. He reached for Waru's hand, gave it a squeeze, as if to say good to see you before he was headed for the kitchen. He had to set the box down before he wound up dropping it; his wrists had been acting up even more from all their abuse, and Eion was at the end of his wits with trying to come up with a way to stabilize them without obnoxious wrist braces. Those called attention to the problem more often than not, and they felt stiff and uncomfortable. Better if his wrists would just ******** work the first time.
When he saw Aelius, he still smiled. It may not have been as bright, but it was just as much diminished by pain as their strained encounters.
They were still married. Aelius still wore his ring, just as Eion wore all of his. He set the box of tea paraphernalia on the counter and lifted the lid off, though it pained him to do so. Easier to focus on removing the bag of loose leaf from its box and arranging it in a visually pleasing fashion, using the upside-down lid as a corral. Easier to think about how he wanted to arrange the strainers that would sit across the lip of a cup, or where he was going to stack all the little creamers and sugar packets and tea cookies, in case Aelius had none in his home at the moment. About the only thing he had assumed Aelius had, when putting together this box, was cups.
Aelius did not smile at him, but he knew to expect that. And even though he knew to brace himself, it still hurt. Much like when he blocked a punch from a Super — even though it hurt less than if she'd clocked him in the face, it still hurt. He still had that bruise on the side of his arm.
He let the comment hang in the air for a moment. While he tried to decide what answer would be least offensive to his boy, Eion rifled cupboards for a kettle. Upon finding one, he spent more time rooting out filtered water. It belatedly occurred to him that he could get Aelius those water filters that screw into the sink faucet. They were helpful, necessary things when one ran bilgewater out of the sink in a ruined city that sunk far below the surface. But those were distant thoughts, white noise in midday.
"Must've learned to put on a good front, then." Once the kettle was full, he set it on the stove and started the burner. "Lost a day's sleep thinking about this. Haven't heard anything from either of you." But that was as far as that should go, he decided. Better to keep this lighter.
"Got Justice to fork over the goods. Pistachio cookies, stroopwafels, madelines — chocolate dipped, vanilla, and plain; lacys, half moons, more flavors of shortbread than Waru can count… Try some. They're good."
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Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2023 2:28 pm
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"Holy ********, Justice--Did he empty out his whole damn pantry to make alluvthis? Or nah, his wallet? I'mma have to pay the man more'n just compliments the next time I see him----" talking mostly to himself, all his excitable words unseeking of any thoughtful response as he shifted around Eion with what felt like practiced ease in the space of Aelius's 'big-for-a-mouse' kitchen. It wasn't any harder here than it was at home, dodging the heat that could've otherwise been his husband-on-fire in order to grab the daintier plates that Aelius kept on a higher shelf, laying them out, save his own which he generously heaped with carefully chosen ********, but did he love stroopwafels--madeleines--especially the ones dipped in chocolate!! All the bits of baked confectionary that would taste best over a hot drink; the hardest part would be waiting till he could have them syrupy and soft and between his teeth. Waiting for the tea--which Eion went about making with the sort of quickness Waru had never been more grateful for than he was right now. If asked? He would've declined---if made? He would've served them all cups full of scalding, thick, unfiltered leaf water, just to make sure he wouldn't be asked again anytime soon.
He missed having someone else to do this for him---much in the same way he missed seeing everyone as frequently as he had before Faustites crowning. He felt like he'd lapsed in his rounds; itched to see Aqua, Hess, Axinite, Kama! He respected their time, wholly, but he longed to make his usual rounds. To *knock* on some of their doors, because he could remember to do that for the people who asked it of him. He was about ready to bust into Axintes office and ask what he did for a living--though looking at the sweet spread? He wasn't sure he wanted to know what the other General Sovereign did outside of 'negaverse' activities in order to not only support his own office-made bakery habits, but also the snacking fervor of beings that consumed ten thousand calories and more. Not to mention himself!
Asking personal questions under the guise of thanking the man for the gift was as good an excuse as any to go calling. One he'd readily use and abuse with ease when the need to get out and give Aelius some much needed space finally overwhelmed him again. Axinties office was as good a place to hide out as any, certainly it worked well enough for Kama that he needed to try it sometime~
Speaking of space? No sooner did he have his plate-full, than he was brushing back by Eion, close enough to graze with a shoulder, a brief touch of acknowledgement, and then he was out and seeking the freshly fluffed couch to sit on; removing himself from the kitchen zone entirely.
"You're a ******** angel for bringing this Ei'! Right, Aelius?" He'd let them talk around him, let them have more space while sorting their own muddy waters, until all the silty emotions had settled back at the bottom of their less turbulent than usual riverways in something like equilibrium. The unease in the room would clear, the strange tension would pass if he just waited long enough!
He was sure of it----
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Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2023 1:08 pm
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It felt like the tension in the room could be cut with a knife, even with Waru doing his damn best to sift through the near choking air with assured positivity. Aelius didn’t know what to do. What to say. He hated what they had become but also was too damn stubborn to bend backwards and just let it all go. Again. He couldn’t go on like that again. Not being heard. Rejected for his need to express himself. Never quite what was wanted, but there anyway.
The dark thoughts brewed like a pot of day old coffee. Sludge that kept him stuck in his chosen position as Eion manuver around a kitchen he wasn’t familiar with while Waru slipped around the smaller boy with ease, grabbing all the necessities. Necessities for what was appearing to be a small tea party.
This hadn’t been what Aelius expected. Not what had kept him up half the night with a sickening worry that nearly had him paying tribute to porcelline gods. The fact Eion had been as worried about the meeting…well, he wasn’t sure what to think about that either. It was only a check-in. Nothing more, right? That’s what he had tried to tell himself over and over in the darkness of his bedroom.
But what had he meant that he’d not heard anything from either of them? “I assumed Waru was keeping you informed of every minute detail.” His tone flat and matter-of-fact.
As they talked about Justice, whoever that was, Aelius was smacked upside the head again with the realization of hos little he knew of anyone. Teammates or otherwise. How much of a recluse he had been. Old habits were hard to kill though. Once a social butterfly his wings had been carelessly ripped off and continuously stomped upon by those he’d been surrounded by. Never good enough. Never doing anything right.
A sudden sharp intake of air, and Aelius moved himself. The platter of goodies laid out were not necessarily tempting, but the sheer amount of them was what pressed the young man to finally step forward. He kept the counter between them whether consciously or not, but it acted like a safe barrier. A crutch to lean upon to keep himself safe in the presence of someone he shouldn’t feel this hesitant around. He nabbed something. Not really paying attention to what he grabbed before slipping onto one of the stools that lined the kitchen counter. The plate that Waru had pulled out for him ignored as he bit into the pastry.
Pistachio. Not his favorite but he’d munch on it if only for something to occupy the nervous energy while he continued to watch Eion situate himself in the kitchen and begin the ritual, for it was a ritual, of brewing tea.
“There’s tea.” He remarked absently. “In the cupboard to the left of the stove. Top shelf. Nothing fancy, but I bought it a few months ago to have here.” To have here for you when you visited. Aelius honestly wasn’t sure if Waru had dipped into the stash or if anything had been added to it. He had taken notice that, periodically, his ‘roommate’ had taken to brewing himself a cup of tea. Aelius wasn’t sure if it was out of his own preferred tastes or a need to do something that reminded the man of their husband. Perhaps both?
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Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2023 6:35 pm
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"Think I asked?" Eion shot Waru a glance. He didn't think about things like money or goods on hand. They were seldom a part of his ife after he got into the Negaverse. If Justice bankrupted himself, he didn't say anything about it. And Eion doubted that the man could ever run out of flour or whatever the hell else he needed. He could just teleport inside of a grocery store and take what he was missing, if it came to that.
Waru was settling in, though. Taking up some of the cookies for himself. It was going to be a joint effort to eat them, he hoped, for he didn't want the better part of his caloric intake to be cookies that day. That Aelius even joined was something of a relief.
"Oh —" He began, then dropped into a squat to look through the cupboard Aelius indicated. Sure enough, he found a tea tin. As he shook it, he found it to be fairly full. Looked like a regular English Breakfast, which wasn't heavy on flavor, but that would go well enough with the tea cookies. Shifted them to being the star of the occasion, even, which all of Justice's baking efforts deserved.
He straightened, then began portioning out the tea into the strainers while he listened to Waru eat and Aelius speak. Then he left them to sit on the counter, next to their respective cups, while he waited for the water to boil.
"Waru hasn't told me anything," he said at last. "Micromanaged your life once before. Thought giving you space might help. That if Waru wasn't reporting everything back, it'd give you a chance to trust him." He rubbed his eyes, then shrugged. "Don't know. This is all new to me. Beyond my wheelhouse."
But that didn't stop him from hoisting himself up on the counter, seating himself there while he reached to the side for one of the cookies. He liked the plain madeleines when he had tea in which to dunk them. Otherwise, lacy cookies had a much stronger flavor. He reached for one of those, finding that he wished for their crunch and their comfort. He winced when he plucked it up, however; seems his knuckles didn't appreciate that.
"No one's dead, so you must be getting along."
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2023 9:04 pm
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"Haven't tried to kill each other even a little bit, which's honestly surprising considering the state I've left this poor guys kitchen in on more n' one occasion." Waru hummed as he licked crumbs from his lips, if the tension climbed, lessened, or took turns in directions by frog in the pot degrees towards fracturing. Waru didn't notice it, blew through it entirely by sounding bemused and wistful for the past all at once, for he almost missed the 'near death' times he'd had with his first husband to some great degree. In all sorts of ways Aelius differed from the norm he was used to with everyone else. The bluenette never made anything quite clear save his distaste, self loathing, and shame. No matter how Waru tried? He hadn't yet figured out how to sing song his way over, under, or through it. He wasn't sure he would anytime soon either, the way his own issues got in the way of resolving Aelius's so often, the way dealing with this man made him realize how much of his own damn self he had to get over in order to get through to him.
"Asides, even if Ei' had asked? Which'Ei hadn't--have you seen my reports? I can barely 'manage' let alone 'micro'. I'd need a secretary for my secretaries secretary to get anything noted down n passed over---n'this is supposed to be more organic, yanno? M'not gonna writer down every time I s**t in your toilet. It'd get annoying---" a shrug as he sunk back furhter into the comfort of his couch, a nicely perched angle of the tri that they formed. Watching both Aelius and Eion - nearly snickering as the slim man perched catlike on the countertop as was his norm. Waru didn't entierly want to admit aloud that he would've lost his mind, lost track, and could barely report on their actual enemies which he was supposed to be keeping note of, let alone a friend! He thought it was cute though, maybe Aelius had a little ego in him afterall? Thought he was all sorts of attention worthy -- thought Waru had the attention span to keep track.
Which he didn't--but should he have for this? It was something to think of between chewing on chocolate coated suggary bits of divinity produced by none other than Justice himself--So ********, now that you two mention it? Might be a real good occasion for you to use your postit notes Ei!! I love that magical charcoal-pen thing, betchu can use it to check in with Aelius on a more personal level so it feels like there's less middle-manning in-between. Like highschool lovemate s**t, that'd be cute as hell--actually? It might even make it easier for you two to communicate f'its in writing n such, n with Ei initiating it so no one feels all--idunno--overstepping or ********..." and he was very busy suddenly licking the chocolate that melted between his fingers off, far too busy to trying to sort out what one of Eion's usual check ins consisted of typically. He was just waiting for that sweet, sweet, soothing tea to finish brewing before getting into the meat of anything. He needed that hot homey reminder to sit between him and the rest of the atmosphere before divulging anything else without Aelius express permission.
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Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2023 9:20 pm
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The cookie he'd chosen became a convenient excuse for him to not speak. He contemplated the bits of shared information as he nibbled on the mildly sweet bakery item. After all, hearing that Waru hadn't been reporting back to Faustite about anything was....surprising. Enough so that, as Waru bounced off of what Faustite said, Aelius began to wonder if he was being played. Eyes narrowed on the dread-haired man.
"Nothing?" He finally said after finishing off the last bit of his cookie. It seemed incredibly....impossible. Micro managing, sure, he wasn't expecting that sort of reporting, but nothing? Really? His lips pressed together to avoidd the snarky intrusive thoughts from escaping.
Faustite had been pretty damn good at micro-managing before, after all. Why the sudden change?
Eyes shifted from Waru to Faustite at the mention of paper and...charcoal? From what Waru revealed it sounded like some sort of way to communicate? "I think it's been made clear that he prefers the middle man." So much for staving off the snarky thoughts.
He paused and rubbed a hand over his eyes and down his face. "Sorry." He muttered. This whole damn check in was putting him on edge. He didn't know how to act or behave. Naturally, his defenses were up. If either of them thought it would be otherwise then they had been fooling themselves. All of them. Hell, he'd even been trying his best to remain calm about the planned meeting in an attempt to trick himself into being alright with it. Toss in the fact he just had no idea how to approach this whole thing as husband to husband or subordinate and superiors. A mix of it all?
It was confusing. And Waru wasn't helping in any way with him being his cool as a cucumber self. Eion was....well, Aelius wasn't sure. It seemed there was some tiptoeing happening but at the same time, a fairly strong push to push through and control the situation.
A deep breath.
"What's this paper and charcoal thing?"
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2023 4:07 pm
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Maybe Waru was trying to make a joke, but Eion wasn't seeing it. It wasn't the kitchen that would get under Aelius's skin. With the years that passed unspoken between them, Eion wasn't sure that he could be as razor precise about his first subordinate anymore, but he suspected that Waru's way of getting to the core of an issue would be sufficiently painful to earn Waru the verbal lash. No, Aelius wouldn't break rank so brazenly as to outright murder Waru in cold blood — those days were long behind him, beaten out of him with Schörl's help — but he was certain that Aelius had a few choice words for the boy. It wasn't a comfortable situation, after all. Wasn't anywhere close to ideal — for any of them.
That humbling jab at himself did earn a small snort from Eion. It was true, Waru's entries were a special level of garbage. "They've given Axinite some grey hairs. Think that, if he was any less upstanding, he'd have revoked Albite's database access."
Eion was certain that, if he hadn't known Albite as he did, he would have revoked the boy's access. And probably exploded him across the office and sent him to the infirmary for his criminal excuse at information collecting.
He fell silent for a time while Waru rambled on in his well-missed, careless manner. The kettle had gone off, just starting to shriek, and Eion was quick to dismount the counter and snatch it up by the rubberized handle from the stove. It was then that the strainers went into each of the cups, then he poured over the waiting tea with a tremor in his hand. His lips pressed into a line; bereft of all that strength he had as a General-Sovereign, even holding a ******** tea kettle was a struggle. Some of the boiling water splashed over the side of one of the drinks, but if he left it to cool, he assumed it wasn't harming anything.
The jab from Aelius was noticed, felt under a bristle, but he kept his mouth shut. He looked at his pocket watch instead, noting the time.
It slipped back into the pocket of his coat as he turned to lean against the other countertop. "It's a charcoal pen. Found it one day while we were cleaning this place out. If I write on something, it sends the writing to the person I'm thinking about." He considered talking about how he liked the personal sentiment of handwritten notes, how they felt vintage and altogether romantic to him, but even the thought of it sounded like a weakness that would easily come under fire. That, too, was left behind.
"But you'd need something like it to respond that way. Might be better to use the tablets."
His attention lit on Aelius, then on Waru. "Really, though — how are you both?"
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2023 5:17 pm
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He laughed, because it was all too true! The warm thoughts had him making low, amused, and agreeable sounds while snatching crumbs off his fingertips for how right every little drag at him was. Axinite was a good man, a good leader, the kind that encouraged he try-try-try again (when he insisted and begged and pleaded to not!) Axes aplenty spent valuable time teaching him how to shift his focus to the most important bits he could gather!! Waru had tried for Axinites sake and that alone, and maybe also so he could spend more time enjoying those perfect baked goods and the rare assortment of fruit! He hadn't missed the stress lines that lived beneath every praise lobbed his way for making a half-decent attempt, the way it always looked like a smile that would never fade, or the way grey had peeked into all that red looking like a handsome early winter sprawling into fall. Though that was probably just a trick of the office gem-lights and the way they scattered fractals of beams from the ceiling.
It'd gotten to such a point that even though Waru abhorred reading the notes as much as writing them, he did so. At least sometimes, and he hadn't missed the editing that occurred long after he'd posted something or other. Hell, even when he'd had Fulgurite straight up doing them for him! Or, at least, adding notes between the margins in them so as to make them understandable, before he'd accidentally hit enter a bit too quickly for anyone's ********, Fulgs---That man had become his own personal nightmare, but was undeniably an amazing editor! He couldn't fault his skills where they lay. Stealing hearts and correcting poorly placed commas like a hot grammar wizard in a steamy tele-novella.
"Right now?" muffled under palm, before he slid them from his face to his knees -- eyes cast between the pair, one still as statue, the other catlike and moving. His two boys. His one husband. He knew there was a difference between how he was doing right this instant versus how he'd been doing straight up until it occurred. Knew he could go on, ad nauseum, explaining every little thing. How he really was. How he thought they both were.
Instead he thought of that charcoal pen, how he would've rather the pair wrote each other notes that he wouldn't be aware of one way or another, some small slice of peace on parchment that belonged to not at all his own ******** eyes. Course then he thought of how fun it'd been fighting off wreathes and baubles to find it beneath a dust pile of Youma from Christmas past in their haunted half-closet of old. How he missed his home, his other home, his husband---missed being comfortable while sitting between these two. The ways where Aelius's little apology should've cut the tension but instead it simply skimmed the top layer off and revealed more settled thickly beneath. Which simply wouldn't do--he liked his frosted layers fluffy, whipped cream light, and none of whatever this was right here n now!
"Iunnoh---Oh, Is there a word for being confused about something that should be sexy? Cause Aelius's got a point---or he would have a point if he got that you preferred someone else being in the middle. I always got the feeling that kinda attention just straight up rubbed you wrong Firebrand, like--like--petting a cat backwards with a wet towel wrong? I don't mind it personally-- being in the middle. Heh -- with men. Being the middleman. I'd figure our former performer wouldn't either, but? I don't actually know!! Might be that s'just me who likes it that way..
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2023 5:43 pm
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Eion moved from his perch upon the counter to begin tending to the tea. Aelius watched, as his husband moved with practiced familiarity in prepping the tea, strainers and pouring the water over carefully to avoid spillage. Unfortunately, it was in vain as some slipped over the side of a mug and onto the counter. It was mesmerizing, just sitting there and watching his boy do something that was very much a pleasant hobby. A small, half smile crept onto his lips for a moment.
Then a rush of sadness washed over him at self-depreciating thoughts and the memories that were reminders of the not-so-happy situation he was in with his Husband. "Ah. That sounds interesting." He remarked, stumbling a bit on his words. "I am sure it's still a useful tool even if people can't actively respond to you through it."
Leave it to Waru to completely miss a point as it flew right over his head. Or perhaps he hadn't and was doing his best to deflect the comment. At his point, Aelius wasn't even sure. There were times Waru surprised him for his insight and other times he was dumbfounded by the man's complete lack of it.
Instead of commenting on wherever it was Waru was going with his thoughts on middlemen and his preferences in the bedroom, Aelius gave the man a look that said 'please stop'. "We're still kicking." He responded finally to Eion's question. "Can't say I've been amused with sharing my apartment, though." It wasn't a lie, even if he and Waru had begun to find a rhythm with each other. At one point he would have elaborated. Indulged his boy with more information about how obnoxious Waru could be, how messy and just plain aggravating, but it all felt off. Forced. Like actors fumbling their way through a scene together for the first time, feeling each other out.
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2023 6:18 pm
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He had thought that at least Waru would answer him. The boy was usually respectful like that, but the question was tossed aside with a verbal shrug and he was going on about middlemen. Eion couldn't help the feeling that Waru was getting on about something he hadn't quite understood, but Eion wasn't certain how else he should interpret it. Brows furrowed deeper as Waru went on talking about liking middlemen?
How were middlemen sexy? Eion wasn't in the habit of sending someone else to do his tasks for him, relay messages, or anything of the like. As much as Aelius wanted to think this was a middleman situation, it was because he didn't want to recognize that Eion couldn't help him in the manner that Waru actually could. But since Waru wanted to go on about the positives of being a middleman and dig a hole for them both that poked out the other side of the ******** world with Aelius, Eion suspected he should've gone to Trey with this favor instead. What a way for Waru to have ******** it all up, made a whole damn mess of it in the middle of the kitchen.
Even if Aelius wasn't taking it as dourly as it sounded. Eion shot him a look like he didn't know what the ******** Waru was on about, and it was half-apologetic, too, for how this wasn't part of anything he expected out of the boy.
"Waru, I don't prefer anyone in the middle. Rather fix s**t myself." He flashed Waru a bristled sort of grimace. "Save for the times when Im not good enough for it," he muttered afterward. "Don't try to make this worse."
Sighing through his nose, he checked his watch. Two minutes left before he could turn his back to them and set his jitters on finishing the tea. The tension was starting to unnerve him; he felt helpless here, like no amount of power in the world could clean up a situation like this. A situation that Waru just tried to ******** sabotage. But there was little for it aside from smoothing it over like that could make a difference.
"It won't be forever," he promised to Aelius wearily.
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2023 8:34 pm
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He wanted to tell Eion he was more than enough--that they both were! Swallowed those bitter little barbs while wondering, ever so distantly, if it would help more if the pair joined forces against him? If he played up being public enemy number one, would it speed the healing process along? Would it drag it all even quicker into ruin? Hate made strong mates sometimes!! There were any number of ways to find out, surely, but all the red flags and side-eyed looks blaring 'cease and desist orders' in his general direction bade him to pause his off-rail ramblings; hands up and sat back deeper into the couch. Biting his tongue just long enough to catch those hidden looks jerked back on a hard leash, those almost smiles -- and the way Ei' kept checking that watch while also looking to throw Aelius some kind of life preserver. It was probably the same watch Aelius had insisted he keep, the one that bore those two softer framed boys from years before.
He'd never wanted to drink something so badly as he did that tea right now, for the sake of silencing his mouth and his mind with a new sensation. Anything to keep him from sighing in one more delicious smelling yet clogged with feelings layer of air.
Because it might be forever--not in Aelius's home, no. Waru wasn't sure how much longer he could wear out that welcome without trying to be less of a monster about things. If either of them thought that him bein out of the home meant he would suddenly go back to being an out of sight out of mind back-stage watcher in Aelius life? If Aelius thought that the resolution would mean everything else outside of him n Faustite returned to same as it ever was. He let the wrongness of that slip into an easy concession, swallowed all that sour with a less bright smile. He wasn't about to make things any worse by picking that argument right now, not with Faustite around.
"Alright, alright, s'not what I meant, but m'done--Though....for what it's worth? I don't hate it here. It's familiar territory. S'like the way we were living before each other, n the team, n the house? Or like the way Syrus lives as though he doesn't want people to dare think he's got any kinda personality underneath it all--that he's no one worth knowing in depth, at least." the words offered with the shrug, the barest frown, because he missed seeing Syrus as frequently, because he felt the wedge that existed spikily between them where one hadn't before; he could name it, and taste it, and tear it to shreds but hadn't quite had the time yet to bother---
He trusted Sy'. He wondered if he shouldn't, and having that thought even exist as a thought hurt to acknowledge at all. But! That didn't belong in Aelius home anymore than he did, and as Waru watched the steam rise and considered a different kind of cookie entirely to pair with what Eion'd made them to drink---
He couldn't help but open his mouth again. He wished it would be to apologize, but offering one more useless apology felt tried and tired. He did owe Aelius a compliment though, for tolerating him as long as he had without taking his head off. "N'Aelius has been a good host---especially with me being entirely myself and then some. I think we're making it work!" he smiled through the words that were true as they were easy to say aloud.
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