Welcome to Gaia! ::

Efflo didn’t have to breathe, but he could. For as dead as he was, the rising and falling of his chest made him feel alive, it brought back fleeting memories of something once known but now long forgotten. Standing in Gabby’s embrace made the boil feel much the same way; it was a heady feeling that tugged mercilessly on his heartstrings. Intangible yet addictive, Efflo never wanted lose such a sensation and he tightened his hold around Gabby, unwilling to let him slip away as he had let his own life.

The hand on his head comforted him, he wasn’t being pushed away or rebuked. But Gabby’s words troubled him, even as the soft stroke of lips on his skin sent shivers down his spine. Efflo raised his head to look at Gabby, vivid green eyes somber as he searched the dragon’s face.

“It… It doesn’t make sense,” he admitted ruefully. “But I couldn’t stop thinking about you either! I don’t know what it means but I like you! Even if you’re stubborn and mean and kind of a jerk…” He paused, leaning in to press a soft kiss at the corner of Gabby’s mouth. When he continued, his voice was barely audible and his gaze was sad. “I don’t understand it at all, Gabriel, but I don’t regret it. I don’t… I don’t wish things differently.”

Efflo wasn’t any more prepared when it came to things like this; his experience with relationships being limited to whatever could be found in a book, and it wasn’t much. But Efflo wasn’t nearly as cold as Gabby, and what he lacked in experience he’d stubbornly more than make up for with heart. And if Gabby was so determined to play it cool, Efflo would just have to be warm enough for the both of them.

He listened as the dragon conceded, burying his face against the boil’s shoulder to stifle his sudden burst of laughter. Gabby, a sweetheart? Admittedly, he didn’t know much about the ghost, but Efflo knew enough to guess what would never be a part of Gabby’s repertoire. Still, it was pretty funny to think about the dragon taking him on a date or baking him spookies. That's what sweethearts did right?

The horse tilted his face at what came next and it was his turn to let out a sigh. Three years with no friends, let alone a ghoul or boilfriend, spoke very much to the contrary of Gabby’s words. Even if Efflo could have managed better, he decidedly did not want to. Creeple were exhausted, and annoying, and the boil had no use for them. There was no way he was going to throw away the first boil to make him feel differently.

“I didn’t kiss you because I wanted to change you,” he spoke softly. “I did it because I like you. You. It doesn’t matter what you are, I don’t want anyone else.”

“I don’t,” he admitted, “But I’d like to.”

His face held in Gabby’s hands, the boil stared up at the dragon, wondering just what he was thinking. Efflo was definitely an open book. Even if he had wanted to, there was no way he could hide his emotions. His countenance would always belie his words, his body’s reactions his own worst enemy. He had often longed to be like Gabby, frigid and unwavering, not giving a care about anyone or anything. It certainly would have made enduring being alone a lot easier. Life was confusing when you wanted both nothing and everything to do with others, and Efflo had a feeling that things had just gotten even more confusing. But it wasn’t necessarily a bad feeling, he thought as he listened to Gabby, held in the dragon’s arms. If this is what confusing meant, it wasn’t bad at all.

He smiled as Gabby brushed the hair from his face, and couldn’t help but lean up and steal another kiss. He was addicted.

Reluctantly, he found himself pushing back, from the other boil, nodding at Gabby’s suggestion. “I think… That’s a good idea.” Despite himself, he smiled again, a happy little thing that pulled at the corners of his mouth just so. He didn’t think any talk was going to change his mind; he knew what he wanted and even if what he wanted was a jerk, and kind of an idiot, it was still… What he wanted. There was no use trying to convince his silly heart otherwise.

Then he was reaching for the boil’s hand, and calling to the scareons.

“I know just the spot, c’mon!”

They were both definitely drunk on something. For Efflo it was the incredible taste of Gabby, delightfully frosty and exhilarating on his lips. It was made all the sweeter every time he dared to think that this was really happening, that this handsome boil who didn’t seem to like anyone, actually liked him. He was giddy with the thought, eagerly yielding to the dragon’s desire and hungrily demanding more.

At this rate, any serious conversation was never going to happen but it didn’t bother Efflo; if Gabby wanted to use his mouth for other things, who was he to blame him?

He had planned to melt Gabby’s heart but somehow it was the dragon that was melting him, making Efflo’s knees go weak as they fumbled in each other’s mouths. Their technique was sloppy, the curse of high school romance, but it didn’t matter; the thought of kissing Gabby alone was enough to send Efflo reeling, actually doing so was sweet, sweet madness.

Efflo couldn't help but gasp as they broke apart, face flushed and breathing heavy. But he was smiling, a deliriously delighted grin that lit up his entire face.

He graciously accepted the other boil’s offer, giving the hand in his a gentle squeeze as he led the dragon towards the forest. Efflo usually preferred his meadow to the wooded trail; the forest was often filled with students going for walks or hunting for things like mushrooms and it was too easy to be disturbed. The horse had nearly explored every nook and cranny of the woods before he’d been able to find somewhere suitable. It was a secluded thicket, far off the beaten path on and perfect for days when he needed sanctuary from the world or the weather was particularly gloomy. He hadn’t shared it with anyone, and tried his best to keep other students away from it, eager to keep his seclusion. But the instant Gabby had said let’s go somewhere, he knew he wanted to share it with him.

He pulled the other boil through the brush and bramble, careful to avoid any other creatures they might encounter. Then they were there, and Efflo was pulling him through the tangle of branches and vines, letting go of his hand to flop with a soft thump onto the soft, mossy grass within the small, sealed grove. It was obviously the boil’s haunt, glowing trails littering the space.

A glowworm popped its head out from the grass, inching its way over to where its master laid sprawled out. Efflo lifted the little grub carefully to his shoulder, giving it an affectionate look. The same look was given to Gabby as he turned to smile at the dragon again, patting the space beside him.

He hoped Gabby would fit, he was so big.

Efflo laughed softly as the boil settled beside him, slender fingers reaching to gently pluck a twig from Gabby’s hair. He hadn’t really considered the dragon’s size until now but if he was honest with himself, he actually kind of liked it. The undead horse entertained no lofty ideas about becoming a great stallion himself, he knew his lot in life and he’d accepted it, that he’d always be scrawny. It was nice to think his boilfriend... The ponyboil paused in his thoughts and smiled to himself, he had a boilfriend! And one that was so big and strong and handsome and, and... Of course, he’d never admit any of that but he not so subtly scooted closer to Gabby anyway, nuzzling against him.

As much as he enjoyed his solitude, for once the undead horse decided it was really nice to not be alone.

“Thank-you,” he answered, resting his head against the boil’s chest. “It took forever to find but… I like it a lot. No one bothers you here.”

Gabby liked him, and so long as he liked him, Efflo would find it hard to care about anything other than wanting to be close to the boil. He just… Let everything go, it was far easier than trying to fight the barrage of feelings he knew he’d never make sense of. He happily settled into Gabby’s embrace with a sigh; it was nicer to snuggle than argue anyway.

“Idiot,” he chided softly, the word meant to be endearing this time, not insulting. “That’s the whole point.”

Efflo stiffened at Gabby’s words. Somehow it hadn’t really occurred to him that the subject of their conversation would turn to him. He’d been so busy thinking about other things, none word related and in any case, he had figured that it would be an exercise in listening to Gabby. Not that he would have minded of course, he wanted to learn all there was about the other boil, every little detail. But when it came to himself, Efflo couldn’t help but feel like the dragon was going to be disappointed. There wasn’t a whole lot there.

He bit his lip in concentration, searching for something he could say.

“I, uh, well, um… I have worms!” he blurted out finally, and then immediately regretted his choice of words.