“More interesting?” Shiloh asked, tilting his head. The rain was cool, sure, but he was curious about Ian’s reasoning. It wasn’t often that people preferred the rain. Ian tugged on his hair, and though it wasn’t hard, Shiloh still yelped, reaching back with his hand to still Ian’s.
“What, are you trying to braid it, or pull it out? I won’t be beautiful if I’m bald.”
His grin was wide and silly, but he dropped his hand, settling back into position and wondering just how many braids Ian planned on giving him. The fact that Ian had chose to braid his hair made him smile, and put him at ease, he’d definitely done this before. Though it had always been girls doing it, the familiarity made him happy and made him miss the good parts of home just a little less.
If Ian’s fingers lingered, however, Shiloh was oblivious, jumping right into the next topic. He certainly didn’t shrink away from the touch. Conversation came easily to him, and he thrived in the company of others. While making small talk might have unnerved Ian, it set Shiloh completely at ease.
“See, awful. The way it should be. The new ones are mostly just terrible, but they are good for a laugh. Older movies are too, but some of them are quite good when you think of when they were made. Like the Thing, that movie is positively terrifying.”
He tapped his lip for a moment with his finger, thinking over Ian’s next question. “I don’t know, I guess it depends on what your definition of weird food is. I’m mostly a meat and potatoes kind of guy anyway. You?”
kurotomato
/follows
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2013 11:47 pm
"Yeah," said Ian, curling a strand of hair with another and then twisting them both around a third piece. "You know...all the lightning and the thunder and the different types of clouds that you see. I've always loved watching storms, and rain makes everything more...clear sometimes. Sometimes it washes away all the crap and you can see what's really underneath it all."
He trailed off, realizing that he'd just shared way more than he had intended, and for the first time in a very long time, a faint pink dusted across Ian's face. Grateful that Shiloh was facing the other direction, Ian cleared his throat and said, "Well, anyway, rainy weather suits me more, at any rate."
Feeling marginally stupid for getting carried away, Ian continued on with his work. He only had the one hair tie, so the braids were left unbound at the ends, a few trailing off in long, pale pink and blond strands.
"Talk about a flashback," Ian said with a laugh. "Movies like that are stuck in the past for a reason - because they're totally awful, but apparently that's a good thing?"
He jabbed playfully at Shiloh's back, but his expression softened a little. "Meat, definitely," he said lightly. "And I could go for some potatoes too, but I like meat better. I know it's an Indian dish mostly, but I'm a big fan of curry. Hummus as well, spicy foods, though I suppose that's the Arabic half of me."
He was almost finished now. Ian started on the last braid.
"I tend to like things that are hot."
sammpai
hey look we made it to four pages /killed /tosses ian over a cliff too
Shiloh listened thoughtfully, and he was quiet while Ian explained, considering Ian’s reasoning in his head.
“That makes sense,” he said after a moment. “They’re definitely cool to watch, and the world always feels a bit refreshed after it rains. Me too, if I think about it. I dunno if I would say it suits me, because I am not, in fact, a duck, but it can be fun.”
He was plucking at the grass again, pulling it out in little tufts while he talked. Fidgeting a little, he was about to ask if the Mist hunter was done yet but Ian’s laughter and subsequent comments on his movie tastes sidetracked him entirely.
“Hey!” he protested as Ian jabbed him lightly. “It is so a good thing. They are hilarious. Hi-lar-i-ous. Always a good thing.”
But he was laughing too, and he leaned back to knock Ian with his head in retaliation, totally disregarding that the poor man was trying to finish the last of the braids. Shiloh rocked a little, fidgeting again. Lounging around was all well and good, but even with his shirt off, he was definitely starting to feel too warm, and being tucked against another person’s body heat wasn’t helping matters and he blew out a big breath, fanning his face a little.
“It’s hot here, that’s for sure. Do you like that?” He grinned.
kurotomato
4 pages of wrestling and hair braids *proud tear*
Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 9:40 pm
He moved a few more strands this way and that in an experimental fashion, as though debating which would look better. Ian was by no means an expert on hair and it looking good, other than what he knew looked good to him, so this was mostly just an attempt at making Shiloh laugh. Sitting closer to him was just a bonus.
"If I had to say anything, you're more like a puppy," Ian said with a small laugh. He pushed back at Shiloh, but the gesture was halfhearted, considering he didn't really mind that he was entirely disrupting the whole braid process. "You're so...cheerful. And eager and friendly. I'm not sure how you manage to do it, really, I'm not really that gregarious."
Clearing his throat slightly, Ian's eyes flickered across the back of Shiloh's neck with a thoughtful expression, and his fingers brushed over the bare skin of his back as he wound together the last few strands of the braid.
Shiloh. Shiloh please.
Ian coughed. His hands slipped unintentionally, grazing over Shiloh's neck again as he fumbled to finish with the braids.
"Nope, yup, it's definitely what I like," he said, hiding a smile because he was under the distinct impression that Shiloh had no idea what he was saying. He twisted a braid upwards into a messy knot and secured it with the hair tie.
"There," said Ian, his hands resting lightly on the small of Shiloh's back as he surveyed his work. "All finished."
sammpai
4 pages of ian attempting to flirt and getting nowhere fast a+ ian gold star 4 u
“A puppy, really?” Shiloh groaned a little. He was not sure how he felt being called a puppy, but if he was okay with being called adorable, he supposed a puppy wasn’t too far of a stretch. A ferocious and strong man-puppy… No, that sounded even worse. “But thanks anyway, I think. And you know, it’s really not all that hard. You just think happy, then you do.”
He felt Ian’s fingers against this time, and the second time, but he thought nothing of it, too thankful for the fact that those fingers were pulling the damp hair off of his neck and into some sort of hairdo. At this point, he didn’t really care what sort of style it was, just so long as it was off of his skin.
“Ugh, and you have short hair too so you probably are totally loving this. You had better check your short hair privilege Ian, I swear.”
But then his hair was finally up, and Ian announced that he was finished. Shiloh reached up with his hands, running his fingers carefully over the braids with a smile. He shifted in position, sliding out of the hands placed on his back so he could turn around to face Ian.
“Well, it feels like I don’t look like a hot mess. What do you think? Did you make me beautiful?”
kurotomato
shiloh is like an oblivious rock
Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 10:53 pm
"Okay, okay," Ian conceded. "Maybe not a puppy, puppy's not quite the right animal. I'll figure out a different animal for you, one less cliche. And you're not a duck, really, you'd have to be a bit of a quack to be considered a duck."
Bypassing the truly awful pun with a lofty smile, Ian tugged on a strand of his own hair as he gave the braids a quick once over to make sure they were properly in place. It wasn't an entirely girlish hairdo, not really, and for the most part - at least from what he could see from the back - it actually looked pretty good, all things considered.
He snorted with amusement. "Me and my short hair privilege are helping you to look prettier than you are, so check yourself, Shyduck."
It was a great tribute to himself, Ian decided, that he had not stopped Shiloh from turning around and just held him where he was. As it was, he let him go, fingers sliding away from Shiloh's back as the other turned to face him.
"Oh, trust me," said Ian, his lips curving into a smirk. A part of him was amazed that someone could not know the implications of what they were saying, but another part of him was finding that innocence extremely endearing and refreshing. "You're still a hot mess. But," he added, and though his words were teasing, there was a small bit of gentleness to them as well. "With this new hairdo of yours..."
He leaned forward into Shiloh's space, grinning. "You're a beautiful hot mess."
Shiloh might have argued against being a puppy but the truth was the description wasn’t entirely off. Ian might have, and mostly like had, leaned into his space for different motives but Shiloh took it as a playful challenge, and it was a wonder he didn’t suddenly sprout a wagging tail. Despite the nickname Ian had given him, Shiloh wasn't particularly shy at all, and he engaged Ian's space right back.
“Great, I’m a beautiful hot mess of a puppy, and sheesh, you even threw pretty in there too,” he said laughing, reaching over to give Ian’s shoulder a good-natured push. “That’s for your terrible joke.”
He pushed him again, grinning this time.
“And that’s for not checking your short-hair privilege, and getting lippy instead.”
kurotomato
WHY ARENT YOU ON AIM SO I CAN LAMENT ABOUT THE DIRECTION THIS POST IS GOING XDD
i removed 'he might as well have been on all fours, tail wagging part', you're welcome SORRY NOT SORRY
Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 3:48 pm
Terrible. That's what this was, it was terrible.
Terrible, and at the same time, delightful.
Ian's eyes flashed slightly, looking up at Shiloh from beneath his lashes, eyebrows raised. He said, with a voice heavy with amusement, "Yes, it's quite a cornucopia of things, isn't it? But really," he added airily. "You should feel complimented, I called you beautiful and hot all at once."
The grin on his face stretched into a smirk. Shiloh was right up in his space now and he was being cheeky, which was a combination that Ian found immensely entertaining. He allowed the pushing, but as Shiloh drew back his hand the second time, Ian reached out and grabbed his wrist, curling his fingers around him to hold him in place.
Innocent, Ian reminded himself, looking at Shiloh's pale pink hair, and his grip loosened a little. He's too innocent.
"Shyduck," he said lightly. "I'm pretty sure you don't know just how lippy I can get."
sammpai
SORRY I HAD FAMILY STUFF AND ALKDFMSFNF /LAUGHS FOREVER
The compliment threw Shiloh off-guard again and when Ian’s hand caught his wrist, blinked stupidly at it. It was hard to miss the intent when being called hot. He was treading in uncharted waters now, and things were slowly starting to fall into place. Surely the other hunter couldn’t be… Was he flirting with him? His warm brown eyes met Ian’s, and one could almost see the cogs turning in his head until the inevitable light bulb moment hit him.
He stared for a moment, then laughed dismissively, tugging his arm and testing Ian’s grip. Couldn’t be…
“Ha, ha, ha, you’re already pretty lippy, you know, saying all those things, half of which I don’t think are necessarily true, I mean I appreciate the sentiment all the same, of course, but I think I have a pretty good idea of your ‘lippiness’.”
He smiled broadly, chuckling lightly, as if he might convince himself that there was absolutely nothing going on with laughter and inane chatter.
“Again with the Shyduck, I thought we’d decided I wasn’t a duck, and besides your name is way to hard to make a nickname for, so it’s really not fair you know…”
He prattled on.
kurotomato
NO REGRETS EVER
Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 6:23 pm
Shiloh had frozen and Ian instantly wondered if he had pushed too far already, his eyes watching the other carefully for any sign of discomfort or disgust. It wasn't that he cared what other people thought, whether they agreed with his life choices or not, but if Shiloh was disgusted, he would stop.
Except he didn't seem disgusted. Surprised, perhaps, and when Shiloh lifted his gaze, Ian met his full on, something almost calculating in his own green eyes, almost inquisitive.
And then he was laughing again, and the sound was adorable and Ian was relatively sure he was doing it to fill the abrupt and odd silence that had passed between them. He slid his fingers a little tighter around Shiloh's wrist to hold him steady, not letting the other man's arm out of his grasp just yet.
"No," he said slowly, his voice still light, almost teasing. "No, I'm pretty sure you don't know just quite yet, not really."
He tugged on Shiloh's wrist, leaning closer, a grin on his face. "But I can show you, if you'd like...puppy."
Shiloh wasn’t disgusted. Far be it from him to judge anyone’s preferences when his own, albeit kept private, was considered anything but normal from where he came. But he was surprised, and he froze again, averting his gaze downward. He was entirely inexperienced in these sorts of matters, male or female. He was sure there had been a couple girls back home that might have liked him, but by the time he’d realized it, it had always been too late. Even if he had noticed, he would have had to somehow figure out a way to turn them down, but as he hadn’t, he’d been saved the trouble but as a result he was twenty-one and had never once shared more than an innocent kiss. It was embarrassing, and his face went pink again as Ian leaned closer.
It was getting harder and harder to pretend that this wasn’t happening, and Shiloh leaned back, scratching his neck with his free hand. He really didn’t know what to think.
“Geeze, what did I say about calling me a puppy?” he said, laughing nervously.
kurotomato
no regrets no shame no nothin >D
Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 7:10 pm
He was blushing. He was blushing and those lightly tanned cheeks of his were dusted a light pink and it was ridiculously adorable. Ian hadn't met someone like this in a very long time, and even then there was something slightly different about how Shiloh was reacting.
"You didn't say I couldn't," said Ian mildly, and his fingers slid around Shiloh's wrist in an almost experimental gesture, feeling for the pulse at the base. "You just said you weren't one."
He had leaned back a little. Ian didn't try to lean forward again, but he still didn't let go of Shiloh's wrist. Perhaps he should have, but the connection was still there and he wasn't quite ready to let go, not yet, not until he learned just a little more about the one called Shiloh Parish.
Ian rested his elbow on his knee and leaned his head against his hand, his eyes flickering up to meet the other's.
"Do I make you nervous?" he asked lightly, pressing two fingers to the pulse that beat in Shiloh's wrist.
Ian hadn’t made him nervous, until this point. Shiloh had apparently missed the signals, he had a penchant for taking people at face value and not seeking to delve into more than they were willing to divulge. Or, of course, it could have been the fact that he was just clueless, and wouldn’t notice a person hitting on him until they practically had to, and possibly literally had to, throw their selves at him.
He still wasn’t even sure if Ian was hitting on him, maybe the guy just had a thing for dudes’ wrists. But then again, maybe he had pegged Ian entirely wrong.
“You’re right, I did say that,” Shiloh conceded with another grin, "But you probably shouldn't make it a habit."
He was joking, at least, he thought he was just joking around, but his smile faded as he watched Ian's fingers trail around his wrist. His heart beat a little fast in his chest, and he tugged his arm in Ian’s grasp again, foolishly worried that the other hunter would be able to feel the frantic thumping all the way down his arm. He was nervous, but he wasn’t about to say as much.
“No… Should I be?”
Maybe this was just his way of being friendly.
kurotomato
DENIAL DENIAL DENIAL
Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:38 pm
Shiloh was simultaneously easy to read and hard to read. On the one hand, the flush to his cheeks and the way he had shifted backwards all indicated that he anxious or nervous (or disgust, but Ian was really hoping that wasn't the case at all). But on the other hand, it was somewhat surprising that there was someone that was innocent enough to not get what Ian was attempting to do.
Not that he even knew what he was attempting to do himself, really. He was mostly going with the flow, and so far it had led him right here. Whether or not that was a good thing still remained to be seen.
"Fine, I'll come up with another nickname," said Ian with amusement. His fingers were still loosely around Shiloh's wrist. "A better one that actually suits you, Shyduck who isn't really that shy, I don't think."
He could feel Shiloh tugging again, like he wanted to get away, and a flash of annoyance passed across Ian's face because maybe he'd been wrong, maybe Shiloh was trying to get away from him because he was grossed out or weirded out instead of being playful like they had been for the better part of an hour.
"You said we didn't have to be mutually exclusive. You said you were okay with dating other people while we were together because we weren't ever really together, we're casually dating around to figure out what we want."
"Other people. Like girls. Not - "
"What? Angie, if this is about Patrick, it's nothing serious."
"You sleep with another man and it's 'nothing serious?' Really?"
He tried to ignore the deluge of memories that had suddenly swept through him, pushing them forcefully against the back recesses of his mind. Naomi was silent at his attempt, but he could still feel the vague sense of disapproval even as he tried to focus on much more interesting things - like the person in front of him.
Ian gave what he hoped was a casual shrug. "Maybe," he said, and lifted Shiloh's wrist to his lips again, kissing the inside of it where he could feel the heartbeat beneath the skin. He lifted his eyes to meet Shiloh's, watching him carefully as he lingered there, and then lowered his arm, his fingers drifting away from Shiloh's.
Shiloh tugged but his wrist wasn’t freed. Instead, Ian lifted the limb to his lips, and pressed another kiss there. There was no doubt that Ian meant something, as his eyes pointedly met Shiloh’s, but what that something was, Shiloh could only fathom an inkling. He was starting to think that somehow on his life on the many acres back home, had somehow been more sheltered than on the small island he now found himself on.
Whether or not Haruka noticed anything, she remained silent. This wasn’t a game, or at least, it wasn’t her sort of game and she was still angry with him for giving in earlier. In her opinion, Ian should have quickly been put in his place and the matter done with – but Shiloh was too kind for that. Too naïve. He wanted to believe the best in everyone.
He met Ian’s gaze, his own eyes apprehensive but curious. Part of it was his inexperience, but there was another part of him that held back. He didn’t know if he was reading the signs right, and even if he was? It was a part of himself he’d only been able to live in his head, it was something he’d always had to hold back. He hadn’t even dared to dream that someday it would be different and even now here he was, starting a whole new life on island far from home, a man and an adult in his own right, yet he was still afraid to take any steps to live it the way he chose, stuck stubbornly in his sheltered world.
It wasn’t playful anymore, Ian was flirting with him and Shiloh knew it. He didn’t know how to be playful when faced with that, but he forced a smile just the same. As Ian released his arm, he slid backward, reclaiming his own bubble of space for the moment. He reached for his shirt, and thought for a second about pulling it back on, but clueless though he was, Shiloh wasn’t mean. He didn’t want Ian to think he’d made Shiloh uncomfortable, even though the man had, just for entirely different reasons than the ones Ian worried about.
“Why would you say that?” he asked, deciding to wipe his brow with his shirt instead and settle it in his lap. He wasn’t disgusted, just hesitant.
