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 Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 4:28 pm
The pup's tail gave a little wag between his legs as Ren started into that act, the one where he played indignant anger and was only just teasing. Maybe a year ago he would have been genuinely cowed by the display, but he had learned a lot about friends since then, and that not everyone was malicious or frightening. At that moment Ren could have threatened to skin the pup and wear his fluffy tail for a scarf and Jove wouldn't have so much as batted an eyelash.
His own expression lightened up a little, an admission that he was only playing too. He hadn't gotten the earring too long after he passed his exam. Perhaps it had been a little hasty... Jove didn't even tell Ren he was planning to get it, and was a little too out of sorts to show it off immediately afterwards, so he could expect his brother to be surprised.
Jove rubbed his stomach to encourage it to settle. At least it looked like Ren approved, and wasn't really angry. That was good-
The pup paused as Ren showed off his own earring. How could the boil wear an earring like that, didn't the dangly bit feel weird? Jove made a slightly concerned face. "Hurt?" he asked, unable to even imagine wearing an earring like that himself just yet.
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Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 12:33 am
The only reason Ren knew he could get away with acting like he did around Jove was the simple fact that he knew how his little brother would react. When he had first met the boil, it was different, yes, but by now they had spent so much time together and knew each other so well that the level of trust was both high and solid. Ren had known from the start of his teasing that Jove would just roll his eyes in exasperation of his older brother's antics.
"You've had it a while, then, have you?" said Ren, giving Jove a mildly reproachful look that was more due to the fact that the boil had not told him in the first place. "Well...I like it," he added, as if deciding determinedly. "Makes you look...older, ya know what I mean? Ahhh, my little brother is growing up..."
Ren blinked, one ear flattening back against his hair. Then he smiled down at Jove, flicking his ear experimentally.
"Nah," he said gently, after a moment. "It doesn't hurt. Felt a little weird when I first got it, but it doesn't hurt. And see, I have two others too - "
He flicked his ear back to show Jove the tiny silver studs, but his eyes were on his little brother's hand, where it was rubbing his stomach.
"What's wrong?" he asked, frowning slightly. "Feeling sick?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 3:18 pm
Jove blushed brightly, the glow softening the shadows on his face. Ren really thought he looked older? More grown up? The pup didn't think he had grown at all over the summer, so it made him feel pleased and a little proud to be told he did look older. He couldn't wait until he could wear it as casually as his brother wore his earrings, without feeling weirded out by the sensation.
Ren even had a couple more! He reached over to hesitantly touch one of them, trusting that his brother would pull away if he didn't want the earrings poked or pulled at.
At that moment Jove didn't even want to think of having that many earrings himself, it made his stomach feel queasy all over again. Still, he shook his head when Ren asked about it. He couldn't help but play the tough guy, even though his brother knew him better than that.
Unfortunately the nuisance of a puffball took that moment to jump on his stomach as it bounded around the bed, and the face he made was unmistakable. He was definitely feeling sick now.
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Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 3:55 pm
Ren reached out and poked a finger at Jove's cheek, prodding his glowing face. "Hey, don't let it go to your head now," he said, then leaned over and clapped both of his hands on either side of Jove's face, pinching his little brother's cheeks. "Bawwww, my widdle brudder is growing up all big - !"
Laughing, he rolled away before Jove could swat him, ducking his head and playfully ruffling his long, golden brown hair in the puppy's face. Scrunching down he rested his chin atop Jove's chest and let the boil poke at the earrings, his ear flicking automatically at the touch, though it didn't hurt. He had gotten them over the summer, so it had been a few months. Every once in a while he would hear the little tinkling noise of the dangling cross one, and it would be an odd sensation in his ear, but other than that he hardly noticed them - with the exception of when he removed them for sleep and put them back in in the morning.
"Well," said Ren, reaching out to pluck said poofball from Jove's stomach, rolling onto his back to hold the wriggling thing in his arms. "I think you look pretty darn good. Even if you do look sorta nauseous. And if you're going to throw up - " Ren pointed to the side away from him. " - the trash can's that way."
Although the words were said with gentle teasing, Ren reached out a hand, pushing Jove's hair away from his forehead, as if to check for a fever. He wasn't sure whether or not ghosts could get sick, but he didn't want to take any chances.
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Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 4:26 pm
A snort of displeasure followed Ren's silly behaviour, but that was all. Jove wasn't even willing to turn his ears back while he was lying down, it would only irritate the stud in his ear. And Ren surely knew a good ear flopping was implied.
Still, he was rather proud of himself. The little pup might not have known where or how to have his ear pierced, but he had told Seiji- well, he had pointed at the other boil's earring and indicated he wanted to have a piercing too. And then he went through with it! There was no chickening out, even if there were some rather embarrassing reactions he certainly wasn't going to mention to his brother.
The ghostling puffed up, and at the same time scowled like "I don't care what you are saying now, I'm not going to throw up." Really, it wasn't that bad. And rubbing his stomach really did help. Maybe it settled the ectoplasmic essences, he thought, lying still for Ren's forehead-touching. Jove wasn't sure why the gryphon did that on occasion, particularly when he wasn't feeling up to par for one reason or another, but he had come to see it as a brotherly sentiment. It was kind of reassuring to feel Ren's warm hand against his head, it made him relax and yawn once again.
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Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 4:58 pm
Ren knew quite well how Jove would react if he could have, but wisely chose not to press his luck any further. Instead he smiled down at the boil, laughing at the stubborn scowl on his pale, freckled face.
"I just don't want you to make a mess of my bed," Ren said, as seriously as he could, but he was clearly fighting back a smile. The poof in his hand squirmed and yipped, trying to wriggle itself free, but Ren, not wanting it to leap on Jove again, held it firm. After a few moments it quieted down, licking his arm.
"Strange thing," Ren said, and sighed, before turning back to Jove. His fingers absently pushed through the light teal strands of hair, the faintest hint of a frown on his face. Thoughts of his parents had flashed through his head, the phone call he had received earlier telling him that his little sister had been born...he really needed to tell Jove, but now was not the time.
Later. He could do it later.
Ducking his head, Ren pecked a quick kiss to Jove's forehead, then snuggled down beside him, tucking his head against the boil's shoulder as if he were the younger brother and Jove were the older.
"You're a good brother, you know," Ren said, closing his eyes and yawning.
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Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 5:25 pm
The pup blinked. What was that about, all of a sudden? He didn't know much about brothers, but he was pretty sure Ren was a good one too. Spending time with the gryphon made him feel warm inside, and not just because his brother was a good heat source during naps. It was how he thought family was supposed to feel.
He yawned as well, and scratched the settling fluffball's scruff. See, you silly thing. Ren is warm and comfortable, and good for relaxing with. All the other foxfires know that. Look at them just fluffing around, they know you don't have to make a fuss.
It was a good thing he brought the wisp with him, it was already more calm than it had been back in his own room. And Jove was more calm too. He still sighed and rolled his eyes at Ren's cuddling, but his sleepy fingers reached over to rub at the gryphon's ear anyway.
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