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 Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 8:46 pm
He heard the soft whimper before Jove moved, small arms around Ren's neck. He hugged him back tightly, not caring whether or not it was too late and just focusing on his little brother and making sure that he was all right. He had not been on the field trip, he had not seen what everyone else had. All of his knowledge had come from secondhand accounts, mostly from LW, but it was not the same as actually being there.
He hated that he had not been there.
Ren lifted his hand, rubbing at one of Jove's watery eyes. "Weird, huh?" he said softly, a gentle smile on his face, his heart aching at that despondent look. "I know it's much shorter than it was the last time you saw me, but it's okay. It was time for a change - a good one. It'll take some getting used to, but I'm still me, okay?"
He leaned forward, and pressed his nose against his little brother's cheek. "I'm still the same person I was before you left."
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Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 8:55 pm
Jove let out a keening whine. It looked like it hurt... Had he done it himself, or had someone cut it off for him? The pup whimpered and pet Ren's hair as though his brother was the one in need of comfort. The little ghost couldn't do anything about what had happened to the Clan islands, but he could pet Ren's ears and hug him and fuss over the relatively minor loss all that hair.
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Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 9:10 pm
He did not like that whining noise; it hurt Ren's ears, and involuntarily he squished Jove tighter against his chest, burying his face in the boil's pale hair. He could feel his little brother's fingers against the shorter golden strands and sighed, his ears flattening back against his head.
"You'll be all right. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere, and neither are you."
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Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 9:27 pm
"Urf..." Jove woofed softly as he was squished, and he tugged one of his brother's ears in return. Gently. Like a little scareling clinging to the corner of a well-loved security blanket.
Maybe for now it would be okay if he just stayed here like this for a bit. The air under the covers was growing stale, warmed by Ren's breath and made all the more humid by Jove's wet shirt and Ren's wet hair. The damp foxfires had crawled out at some point, and were probably leaving a wet trail all over the gryphon's room, but the little ghost couldn't care less. Maybe this was okay. He was so tired of fighting, maybe it would be okay to just lie here.
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 10:15 am
The blankets were slightly wet, dampened by the fact that Jove had dragged two sodden foxfires straight from the bath with him, but right now Ren wasn't very concerned over it. He supposed he should have been, but he had more pressing matters - like his little brother himself.
One of Ren's wings lifted, lowering over the both of them and creating a small cocoon of sorts, as though to try and shelter them from the rest of the world. His ear flicked under Jove's fingers, then flattened back against his hair again as Ren poked his freckle strewn nose against Jove's cheek.
"I think we should just have a lazy day today,' he said. "What do you think? Just a day to relax and calm down and not think about anything important at all."
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 10:22 am
For once that sounded like a good idea. All the foxfires were there, Jove could just curl up and pretend he was a living ball of warm, comfortable, fluff. He slowly nodded his assent, and then timidly, hesitantly snuggled a bit closer.
But that's when he felt the rough stubble against his cheek.
Cooties.
"Ren!" He yelped, pulling himself away and glaring at the gryphon who had still not gotten rid of that face hair! He rubbed his cheek with his hand, only to begin rubbing his hand against the covers, and then flopped over trying to rub his face and get all the traces of cooties off him. This was no good!
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 10:29 am
And then suddenly snuggle pile was gone.
Sad Ren was sad - for a moment, at least. He sighed, and pushed himself up to lean over Jove as the boil pushed his face into the sheets, clearly distraught.
"You know, you're just going to have to get used to it," he said stubbornly, and poked at Jove's cheek with one long finger. "I know it's different, but I kinda like it."
He looked at Jove for a moment longer. Then he promptly flopped on top of him and deliberately rubbed his face against his little brother's, a smirk growing on his lips.
"Come onnn, you know you like it," he teased, and grinned, headbutting his cheek. "Makes me look kinda rakish, dontcha think?"
If he couldn't make Jove feel better, at least he could distract him, if only for a short time.
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 10:45 am
"Nooo!" Jove squealed, trying to pull away from the scratchy nuzzling. Hair wasn't supposed to grow on faces like that, it was just not right! Twisting around again, Jove got a handful of pillow and pushed it at his brother in an attempt to get him off. He would never get used to it!
Above the covers, curious foxfires were gathering, the occasional fluff wandering onto the writhing mass of blankets and tumbled off the bed, or into the wall.
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 10:54 am
Ren could not really help the happy smile that was on his face, despite the fact that Jove was shoving a pillow into his face to try and pry him away. But despite the fact that he had long since grown used to Jove's unspoken form of communication, every time he did speak was just that much more precious.
Even if he was growling out a "NOOO" in irritation at his older brother.
"Come onnn, Jove," said Ren gleefully, and then proceeded to bury his face against his little brother's face, blowing a raspberry against his cheek obnoxiously. "Just admit it, it makes me look good."
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 10:59 am
The pup flinched away, but it might have been with the tiniest trace of a ticklish smile. It would be hard to tell because it was accompanied by a small, bony knee to Ren's gut. An accidental knee, maybe, but the little pup had some serious running muscles!
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 11:04 am
He saw that, Jove. He saw that teeny smile.
Which was promptly followed by a knee to his stomach.
"Ow."
Rubbing at his midsection, Ren scowled playfully at Jove. "Oh, you play dirty like that, do you?" he said, in mock irritation, and then proceeded to tackle his little brother, blowing another raspberry on the other side of his face this time.
"Come onnnnnnn~~~"
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 11:12 am
Jove made a little squeaky noise and shoved at Ren's forehead, trying to keep that cootie-covered face at a safe distance. Except this time he didn't use his hands, he used himself, the invisible ghostly essence that seemed easier and easier to control, freeing up his hands for other things. Like rubbing his face.
Just like he had earlier, the face rub was followed by flopping around, rubbing his face again on the sheets. Ren would have seen his foxfires do it a hundred times, and despite spending so much time in humanoid form, it still seemed like the best route for the little ghost.
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 11:19 am
Something pushed at his face, but it wasn't Jove's actual, physical hands. Surprise registered in Ren's expression as he leaned back, eyes wide, and he marveled at the wispy substance touching his forehead.
"Hey, that's pretty cool," he said appreciatively, even as Jove was flopping back over in a very foxfire gesture, rubbing his face into the sheets again. Ren's wings curled neatly and tightly against his back as he reached out, tugging on one of Jove's ears.
"You're gonna get my sheets even more messy, silly little brother."
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 11:25 am
Jove blinked, looking back over his shoulder. What was cool? Bright eyes darted around as he searched for the source of Ren's interest. Maybe a foxfire had stepped on him or something, He didn't know of much that would distract the gryphon when he was on one of his cuddling sprees, but he was thankful. The ear tugging was a less... hazardous expression of affection.
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 11:30 am
Ren stared just as blankly at Jove as Jove was staring blankly at him.
"Er," he said, and waved a hand, wiggling his fingers as though trying (pathetically) to demonstrate what the boil had just done. "That whole...ghostly thingy that you just did a second ago."
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