|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:04 pm
Jove let Ren twine their tails together, but at the mention of leaving the tub his good ear flattened down enough to match his bad one. He didn't want to get out. The water still wasn't cold, and it still had bubbles, and he wanted to stay in there longer.
He frowned as his head was patted, and sunk lower into the water until he was up to his little freckled nose. Hot chocolate was just not going to do the trick, even though the bath had been a success his appetite was just as bad as ever. Maybe it was lingering guilt or something, but he just didn't feel like eating or drinking sweet things, or anything at all.
In all honesty, the pup still didn't know what was wrong with himself, all his bumps and bruises were in the process of healing, but his nonexistent heart was taking a bit longer.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:42 pm
Ren frowned down at Jove, the puppy's face low in the water, so low the only thing visible was the tip of his freckled nose. "Is that a no to the hot chocolate, then?" he asked, feeling a bit dejected. He had thought that the bath had maybe made them feel a little better, at the very least, but it seemed as if both of them were still feeling as lost as ever.
He let out a small sigh, stepping over to the tub, a towel in his hands. "Come on," Ren said softly, and stuck his hands in the water, lifting Jove out under his arms. The other boil was light - very light - but Ren still staggered a few steps back, his damp feet slipping on the wet floor. The end result of this was that he found himself on the ground, a slippery, soaked boil lying half across his midsection, the towel tangled around the both of them.
"Good grief," said Ren, blinking water from his eyes and then he sighed, putting a hand over his face as he laid his head down on the tiled floor of the bathroom, not bothering to get up. "We make quite the pair, don't we, Freckles?"
Why can't things just go back to the way they were?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:36 am
As he was plucked out of the water, Jove's ears fell and his tail tucked itself against the back of his legs like a chided pup, his face still saying "but I don't wanna..." It was such a good bath, and the pup had been really enjoying it for the first time since their field trip... He almost felt normal again. Maybe he could get Ren to take a bath with him tomorrow too... Or after his brother had his hot chocolate they could get back in the bath?
It must have been the water soaked into his fur and shorts that took Ren off guard, and as they fell the pup let out a tiny yip and clung to his brother. But the fall didn't hurt little Jove in the slightest. His bad side was not bumped, and he had Ren to fall on... He scrambled to his hands and knees as best he could tangled in that towel, and crawled up to drip water on Ren's face and chest. Well, the parts of his face not covered by his hand.
Jove peered down at him with wide, curious eyes, his good ear perked forward and dripping right into Ren's hair as he wondered what was with the sense of defeat he could feel. It couldn't have been the fall, unless he had been hurt?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 1:36 pm
Ren moved his hand away from his face, blinking up at Jove. The puppy was resting on his stomach, dripping water down Ren's chest and his face, his expression one of mixed disappointment from being pulled out of the bath and curiosity, like he was trying to figure out what Ren was doing. He managed to give the other a small smile, reaching up to rest his hands on the side of Jove's face.
"Don't worry, Freckles," he said. "That may have been our first bath together, but it certainly won't be the last. I can see now how much you like them, if that drooping tail of yours is any indication. Next time I'll spend a lot longer in it with you, okay? Don't worry; I'm not going anywhere."
Another drop of water hit Ren's cheek, sliding down his face, and he moved his hand, brushing it away and rubbing tiredly at his eyes. Jove was right; the bath had been soothing to the both of them, and it had made Ren feel a lot better than he normally felt. He was just over thinking things now.
One hand slipped down to rest lightly on Jove's waist, holding the boil against him as he pushed himself up into a sitting position on the bathroom floor. Then he reached down, attempting to yank the towel away from the both of them, though it was twisted around one of Ren's legs, Jove's ankle, and around his tail. When he finally got it free, Ren disentangled himself from the puppy, standing up and sweeping Jove up into his arms, carrying him out of the bathroom and into the bedroom to find some warm, dry clothes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 9:15 am
Jove's ear perked at the thought of another bath. Maybe the next time Ren would let him play for a bit instead of rushing him out so quickly! He sat still as Ren freed him from the towel and scooped him up, only giving a brief longing glance back towards the bath tub as he was carried away.
The pup might not have been restored to his pre-island self over the course of one bath, but judging by the way he headbutted Ren in the chest while being carried, it had done a world of good for the time being.
He wiggled out of his friend's grasp and trotted over to the bed, leaving a trail of wet droplets on the floor behind him. And then he flopped into the covers. Wet fur and all. With a very determined face and a sloppy tail wag, he tried to snuggle down into the blankets to dry off in the best way he knew how, nearly soaking Ren's bed in the process.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:05 am
"Wait, Jove, I need to dry you - "
Fwoomp.
" - off," Ren finished dryly, as the boil pressed his face into the bed, the rest of him following as he wriggled into the blankets and pillows. Considering that Jove was still soaked, the bed was now drenched, Jove's wet hair creating streaky dark lines on the covers.
"All, right, you," Ren said, and slipped an arm under Jove's waist, hauling him off of the bed. He carried him over to the dresser, plopped him down on the floor, and proceeded to dump a towel on his head. He ruffled Jove's hair, drying it off, then handed him the towel. "Dry yourself off, silly, while I find you some clothes."
Sweaters were best for the boil; he knew that Jove liked sweaters (and still had several of his own), but Ren was running out of them. He dug around in his dresser drawer (disrupting a very sleepy and grumpy lepus in the process; Rhys' favorite place to nap was the lowest drawer), but after a moment he finally produced one last sweater. This one was a pale goldish color, shot through with tiny brown and white threads, and was made of the same soft cashmere that his others had been.
"Looks like they came in handy after all," Ren murmured to himself, giving a shrug. His mother had sent him the sweaters in an attempt to get him to dress better, but he had just stuffed them in the back of his closet most of the time, studiously ignoring them. However, they worked well for one such boil, and he turned around.
"Here," he said, and promptly stuck the sweater over Jove's head.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:34 am
The pup gave Ren a confused look. He was drying off, and it had been a good deal more pleasant than sitting on the floor with a towel. Jove frowned at it with mild disdain, and then began rubbing it against his hair to get the moisture out.
He slowed his efforts to watch Ren go through his dresser.
Was he short on sweaters? The pup's good ear fell, he had better return one or two of them before he borrowed any more... But the thought abruptly vanished at the sight of the newest soft, baggy treasure that Ren pulled out. Even the colour looked warm, and the little pup must have been wearing the most intense "I can wear that one?" expression as he peered around his friend.
Jove only managed to towel off his hair before the sweater was pulled over his head, and he took that as a sign it was time to get up. And so he did, abandoning the towel, shoving his arms through the sleeves of the sweater to the best of his ability, and making another dash to the bed. Where he decisively sat down in his wet shorts and wagged his wet tail again.
Ren had said hot chocolate after the bath, had he not?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:47 am
Once he was ensconced within the sweater, Jove had made a mad dash for the bed, making a squelching noise as he climbed back up, his shorts and tail still drenched. The covers were soaked through now, and Ren gave a small sigh, though he wasn't really irritated.
"Shorts off, mister," he said, wagging a finger in the puppy's direction. "I'm pretty sure I have a pair of your clean pants here somewhere..." All of the times that Jove had stayed over, and Ren must have had something...aha. He found a pair of neatly folded shorts (they must have been from the time Jove had worn different pajamas than his usual nightshirt), and Ren handed them to the puppy, pushing a towel onto his tail in a halfhearted attempt to get it dry. He glanced down.
"What's that look...oh right, hot chocolate." Ren lifted a brow. "Are you actually in the mood now?"
He crossed the room again, this time towards his closet where he searched for something to wear. Dragging out a fluffy black bathrobe, Ren discarded his wet shorts, tossed them in the hamper, and tied the robe around himself, pushing damp hair away from his face. He then busied himself in making the hot chocolate, and once it was done, instead of going to the bed, he set the mugs down, pulled down a blanket from the top of the closet, and flopped down in the massive pillow pile instead. He waved the mug enticingly at Jove. "Coming?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 9:34 am
It was only when Ren gave him the dry shorts that the pup made an effort to finish drying himself off. Dry clothes were better than wet clothes, after all. He waited until his friend was busy with their drinks to change, and then scampered back into the bathroom.
Jove gave the full tub a long look, it was so enticing with the bubbles still dotting the water's surface, and the soap just sitting there waiting to be used... He sighed and dumped his wet shorts on the floor. Then he trotted back out to Ren's main room and was back at Ren's side by the time the hot chocolate was finished. Following Ren's lead, he settled down and wiggled himself into the pillows next to his brother.
Then he held out his hands for the mug of hot chocolate that smelled so good.
This was how things should be, warm and cosy, his inclination to do nothing satisfied by sitting with his brother instead of staring at the walls. Maybe Ren would even play Scario Kart or something while Jove relaxed next to him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 11:58 am
Ren handed the mug to Jove, leaning over to peck a kiss on his forehead as he did so, reclining back into the pillows. Since meeting LW, his pillow collection had expanded significantly - he was pretty certain that the shewolf brought one with her every time she came over. it had gone from a sort of half a pile to an overflowing, enormous pile, covering at least a third of the floor.
Not that he minded this at all. The pillows were a lovely alternative to a now soaked bed, not to mention they had the added bonuses of the foxfires that trundled around making soft whines every now and then. Ren slipped his free arm (his bad arm) around Jove's shoulders, taking a swallow of his hot chocolate.
"Long morning," he said, and put his head atop his brother's, inhaling the scent of chocolate and cinnamon. "You know, I think you were right - taking that bath was a good idea. I feel better."
And he did - not entirely better, not perfect by any means, but better. It had warmed him, made him feel comfortable and relaxed for the first time in days. Part of it was getting to spend time with Jove, but the other part was being able to simply...do nothing. It was a nice feeling.
One of Ren's fingers absently tapped the side of his mug. "We should take a picture together," he said, realizing that what he was saying was totally abrupt and not exactly going along with anything that they had been talking about whatsoever. "You know; so we can have it in case..."
A pause. Ren cleared his throat awkwardly, shoving aside any negative emotions to cast a faint smile at Jove. "I mean," he said, correcting himself. "We should have one as a memento, to remember things by."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 12:22 pm
Jove held the hot chocolate under his nose, inhaling the warmth and chocolatey smell he loved so much. This, along with cookies, had to be one of his favourite things. He took a long sip, just to taste it.
It was good as ever, but it made him feel a little... ill? Was that churning feeling in his stomach what living things knew as feeling sick? He tucked his knees up closer to where he held his mug, and went back to sniffing it rather than drinking it. That was pleasant enough, just sitting there with the warm scent of chocolate and Ren's chin resting on his head.
Then he snorted, it hadn't been his idea at all, Ren was the one who dragged him out of his room and coerced him into the tub. But he wouldn't mind taking credit for it. Baths were always nice, and that one just made the pup wonder why he hadn't taken one sooner. Maybe it was because of all those unpleasant thoughts that got to him when he was alone, they just seemed to sap away all his energy and turn him into a moody little vegetable...
He frowned until he realized Ren was talking about something. A picture? A memento? The pup's good ear perked. A picture like the one in his photo album! The big book was mostly empty, but it had been a gift from his caretaker, the first page holding a photo of the two of them. "To hold all your good memories all in one place," his caretaker had said.
Jove's tail wagged ever so slightly. That's probably what Ren meant before correcting himself, they would have a photo in case they forgot again. Before the island, the pup wouldn't have imagined it was so easy to forget how good things could be.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 2:27 pm
Jove wasn't drinking the hot chocolate, but he wasn't making a disgusted face either. It was somewhere between curiosity and pleasure, so Ren did not comment on it, instead, taking another sip from his own mug, his bandaged hand absently ruffling through Jove's fluffy damp hair. It didn't really matter that he wasn't drinking it; the puppy was looking content, and that was what Ren had been hoping for. That, and the warmth it brought to be with him.
The picture idea had been good - Jove's tail gave a tiny wag, and Ren glanced down at it, then at Jove. "You like?" he asked, feeling a swell of pleasure spreading through him. Setting the mug aside, Ren pushed up from the pile of pillows, heading towards the dresser. He rummaged around in the drawers briefly first, and when he couldn't find what he was looking for, he moved to the desk. But he found what he was looking for in the bedside table, and when he came back to Jove he was holding a small digital camera.
"All right," Ren said, and slid his arm around Jove's shoulders, putting their heads together, the camera in his other hand. "Ready?" he asked, moving in close. "One...two...three..."
A flash. Then a click.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 3:35 pm
Jove nodded, a picture would be a good thing for both of them. Maybe then Ren wouldn't get so lonely without him! His old self was starting to peek out even in his most private thoughts, there was no way he was going to admit that it would make himself less lonely too.
With wide eyes he watched as Ren rummaged around, and then his good ear perked up when the camera was retrieved. The one his caretaker had used was much bigger, set up on a tripod and-
That was when he realized he was suddenly feeling rather self-conscious. Ren wanted a good photo, right?
Little ears flopped bashfully as Ren held up the camera, and the corners of his mouth tilted up in a tiny, barely there smile. Would it come out okay? After the flash he buried his blushing face against Ren's shoulder, so the gryphon wouldn't see him so embarrassed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:52 pm
Ren pulled the camera back towards him, the arm that was around Jove tightening just a little as the boil pushed his face into his shoulder. Apparently he was embarrassed; either that or just shy, and it made Ren smile faintly, rubbing the top of the puppy's head as he turned the camera to view mode. There was a pause as he stared at the photo. Then -
"Jove! Are you actually smiling?"
He wasn't going to believe the boil if he said no; there was a tiny, faint upwards turn to Jove's lips in the picture; a faint smile, ears flopped down, both of their hair bedraggled and damp, but the picture was...perfect. Ren felt a smile - a real smile this time - cross his cheeks, a faint tinge of red dusting his cheeks.
"You look lovely," he told the boil, though his eyes were still on the photo. Captured there forever, big brother and little brother - not related by blood, (though they did look surprisingly similar with their matching freckles), but as close as it could be, brothers in every sense of the word but one.
Ren's thumb smoothed out across the tiny screen of the camera. "Just lovely," he said again softly, and hugged Jove tighter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 5:16 pm
Jove blushed worse, his cheeks casting a soft glow against his brother's arm. Why did Ren have to make such a big deal if it? He only wanted the picture to turn out nice, and that needed a smile.
At Ren's next comment he peeked out, grabbed the camera, and scrutinized the picture. How embarrassing. He almost looked like a pretty little girl, with his hair lying flat and a sweet little smile on his face...
The pup scowled. Of course Ren would like it.
He was tempted to throw the camera into the bath tub and get rid of that photo forever, but he couldn't bring himself to do it when Ren's hug spoke of such happiness. Instead he just made a little murmuring noise, half way between a whine and a growl. He supposed it wasn't too bad, as long as the gryphon showed it to nobody.
With a petulant look he settled into the hug, and went back to soothing himself with the scent of hot chocolate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
