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 Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:20 pm
The tip of Aludra's tail twitched slightly before wrapping around his wingless ankle, so long by now that it would drag on the floor if he didn't make every effort to keep it off of said floor. Once again, he was going to be spending the day with Vincent. However, this time, it was going to be at his own house, which had only one other person in it at the time. Unfortunately, that one person was Silas.
Unfortunately.
And Aludra's main worry was that, somehow, Silas was going to mess things up. Or make them awkward. Or whine about Aludra being close to someone who wasn't Lironax and blah, blah, blah, his needs. Grumbling softly, he pulled his hair into its usual high ponytail, this one a bit sloppier than usual, though he didn't dwell on it. He'd taken less and less time in front of the mirror recently; he didn't much like staring at his own reflection for so long - it made him so self-conscious that he would usually just end up sitting in his room for the rest of the day.
Sighing gently, he lifted the foundation that his sister had bought him, before pausing and replacing it on the dresser. No real reason to hide the stupid self-caused scars; Vincent already well-knew about them, and it wasn't as though they were going to be going out in public anytime in the day. Not that he had planned, at least. Tail tip flicking and unraveling from his leg, he pulled on a pair of dark blue jeans that he'd only just gotten that had been custom-made to button over the top of his tail, meaning they were much less at risk for falling down than the rest of his pants. Surprisingly enough, the tailor -the same Nouă who'd watched him when he was small- had gotten the measurements perfectly. Smiling a bit, Aludra flicked his tail to either side happily before adding a black sweatshirt to the outfit.
He stepped out of the room to wait downstairs, but before he had a chance to get that far, he heard another of the doors down the hallway open and halted, eyes as wide as a deer in the headlights. Tri-coloured eyes glanced down the hallway to lock with the amber eyes of his ex-friend, Lironax. Lirona. Whatever-the-hell the stupid boy was calling himself now; he'd heard both of them. A hint of the red around his irises grew just slightly as Lironax started backing into his room. However, Aludra managed to turn back and hole himself up in his own room faster than that, listening intently, eyes sharp, waiting for Lironax to leave before he decided it was safe enough to go down the stairs.
Finally, Aludra left his room and went down the stairs, shooing Silas out of the living room and tuning the television away from his ancient-old-people shows and through a few titles that turned his face a bright shade of red. Finally, he settled on some random cartoon station and retreated to the kitchen, where he pulled out a dip that he'd made the night before and served a bowl of chips, returning both as well as a few boardgames he'd found to the table in the livingroom. Unfortunately, given their lack of 'family time', they didn't have a lot of boardgames, and three of them were just the chess sets that Aludra hadn't yet lost pieces to. Sighing thankfully that things were going well enough, Aludra fell back onto the soft couch and waited for Vincent to get there, whenever that time would come.
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Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 2:16 pm
Vincent was eager to visit his friend's house; much more than he had been to have Aludra over. Of course this came with constant teasing from his mother. Thali seemed to think that Aludra wanted more than just friendship. Vincent, of course, being innocent as he was, didn't truly understand what his mother was implying. While it was true that he'd been just starting to look at girls in a whole new light--a light which had gotten him beat up, thank you very much; he wasn't well... His innocence hadn't failed him yet.
And so, being the sweet humility child that he was, he'd picked out the flower he'd promised Aludra the last time he'd seen him. A lilac branch was held ever so carefully in his clawed hands. It wasn't hard for him to push back his greed when it came to flowers. Flowers died; meaning he wouldn't have them forever. He looked forward to the expression on his friend's face when he gave it to him.
There was one thing he wasn't looking forward to when it came to seeing his friend. Telling Aludra where he'd gotten the bruises that now decorated his face. Faintly, it was true. But they were there, all the same. He sighed, not wishing to bring attention to himself. Still, he hadn't had the heart to wear cover-up like his friend had. That was like lying; and being a hypocrite. Vinny had asked Aludra not to wear it anymore.
And so, he continued his way towards Aludra's apartment. He wondered what they would do; and briefly thought of what Josh did when he was invited to a friend's house. Play games, make cookies, and something Josh called 'Just hanging out'. It was clear that Vinny wasn't used to going to friends' houses. He'd been to Marcy's, but that hadn't gone too well.
He'd been to 'Zuba's, but that'd been when he'd been little.
This was awkward. He had nothing to compare this to. He knocked on Aludra's door finally, breathing a sigh of relief.
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Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 1:27 pm
By the time the knock sounded on the door, Aludra had fallen asleep on the couch, and was dozing away rather cutely with the remote half-grasped in one of his hands. The knock roused him only slightly and he blinked his tri-coloured eyes open, thinking the sound was just Silas doing something weird upstairs - as though the man ever did anything that wasn't weird. He blinked a few times and moved his tongue around his mouth to try to rid it of the dryness. However, completely contradicting his belief, Silas snapped in disappointment at his sudden rousing, retreating up the stairs and causing Aludra to finally realize that he had been waiting for Vincent to show up.
With 'Baby, it's Cold Outside' being sung acapella by two characters in some Christmas movie he didn't care to recognize playing on behind him, the little greed demon practically dove for the door. That whole scene, his tail waving behind him as a smile dusted his features, hair all askew and clothing ruffled, was likely one of the most adorable situations ever placed on Aludra By'arre. The faint smile turned to a sheepish grin and the boy straightened himself, tail still flicking back and forth happily, proving how happy Aludra was to see Vincent once again.
"Vinny! Ah, is good to see," the preteen said nervously, running a hand through his messy hair to try to seem some kind of composed, only for it to get stuck at the base of his ponytail. Growing at his own idiocy, he pulled the band out and tossed it to the floor, too preoccupied with trying to not look so stupid to notice the bruises at this point in time. He ran his fingers through his pink tresses to pull out the tangles, letting it fall about his shoulders for what was the first time around Vincent, or really anyone else since he was still small.
"Come in, please," he offered, stepping back and extending an arm to allow Vincent to come into the house, where on the television a man in an elf costume was being screamed at by a woman in the shower. Once his friend / boyfriend / crush was in the apartment, he closed the door and quickly followed after, gesturing to the food and couch after taking his seat back. "Make yourself at home. Me casa es su casa," he said, chuckling a bit before pausing mid-laugh and leaning toward Vincent, gently brushing one of the bruises with the back of his fingertips.
"Ny...? What... happened?"
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Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 1:58 pm
Vinny smiled when he was invited inside. "Thank you for inviting me," he said politely, like his mother had always taught him. "It's nice to see you too. You look nice," he assumed Aludra was probably meeting someone after this; why else would the other boy seem so nervous? Vincent really was oblivious to the fact that his friend was so pleased to see him. "Watching Christmas movies already?" This was said with vague interest, as Vinny glanced towards the television.
He didn't recognize the movie, which might have been a good sign. He'd actually never taken the time to watch Christmas specials. He liked the presents and stuff, sure. But the movies, he could do without. He sat on the couch next to his friend. "Use the tu form," Vinny said with a grin and and a shake of the head. "Su's formal, and we're friends. I think that's how it goes, anyway. Mom doesn't use Spanish around the house very much."
He frowned slightly when his friend seemed to notice his bruises. "Nothing, really," he said, blushing. He was obviously lying, and felt guilty for doing so. "Sorry... 'Zuba and I had a fight. Well, 'Zuba had a fight... With me. I didn't fight or anything. I just called your older sister bossy." He said, and then his expression was replaced with a concerned look. "Please don't hit me... I promise, I won't say anything like that again."
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Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 5:06 pm
Aludra chuckled weakly at the compliment to his appearance. "Th-thanks," he stated awkwardly, still not too used to remaining calm in such situations; he looked nice? Really? That didn't make any sense- he looked like he just woke up, and he was absolutely sure of that fact! His tail flicked back and forth both nervously and happily as he watched Vinny step into his house, suddenly feeling as though the apartment was all different kinds of terrible-looking, despite the fact that he'd just cleaned it. About three times. In the same day...
Top-to-bottom.
Well, except Lironax's room. And Noah and Silas'. He didn't... he didn't need to know what sorts of things were in there. He trembled a bit at the thought and fidgeted with the prayer beads wrapped around his right wrist awkwardly. Looking toward the television he laughed weakly and smiled a bit. "Ah, yeah, apparently," he replied, pulling a bit of a fave at the teevee. "'Ludra actually kind of, ah, fell asleep. Wasn't watching this when he first fell 'sleep..." he muttered this last part, wondering just how long he'd been out for.
Aludra blinked at Vincent's correction and blushed in embarrassment before laughing gently. "He doesn't really know Spanish. Just... a few choice phrases." He nodded in interest, however, at hearing that Vincent's mother knew Spanish. Aludra had been taking French, not Spanish, but he tried to be a show off around Vincent, and he didn't even know what compelled him to do that...
A frown crossed Aludra's face at the nothing and he let his hand brush across Vinny's cheek before letting it fall, waiting for the rest of the explanation. His expression transformed from horror to anger to amusement within the explanation itself and Aludra rolled his eyes. "More than bossy..." he grumbled. But the horrified expression returned when Vincent honestly asked him not to hit him. Immediately, Aludra's arms were around the other greed boy, hugging him tightly and shaking his head.
"Would never, never, never hit you, 'Ny. Lord... is such a stupid thing for someone to get so angry about it. Stupid 'Zuba... 'Dhara is bossy. Bossy and pissy and not happy with chicken soup when she wants clam chowder even if we had none in the house." He chuckled softly, still holding Vincent close and seething over what Azubahiel had done. "One time, when 'Dhara was still pregnant, 'Ludra brought her food, he did it wrong, apparently, because she then proceeded to throw half the stuff in her room at him. Is more than just bossy, surely."
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Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 6:55 pm
Vincent shook his head, smiling slightly. "You should get more rest then, you must be staying up late," he said, in a mock stern voice. Who was he to correct his friend, when he stayed up late at night himself? Of course, he had important things to do at night. Like count his many belongings. Maybe Aludra did the same thing? Maybe he'd ask him sometime.
"I could teach you some," Vinny said with a nod and a smile. "I know some, and I bet my mom wouldn't mind giving you lessons if you'd like... She actually speaks more elvish around the house than she does English. But dad says we're not allowed to learn it. I think it's because mom likes using bad words in secret. I've never heard her say one in English, though..." Adults were confusing. Wasn't it just as bad to say a swear word in another language as it was to say one in english?
He paused and frowned. "Don't say that, Ludra. 'Zuba might get mad and..." He shuddered. Obviously the fear of his friend was still there. "I don't want her hurting you..." Not like she had Vinny. "I had to go to the doctor and stuff..." A blush crossed his cheeks for an unknown reason. He'd never been hugged by another guy his age before. He hesitated before hugging Aludra back.
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Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:13 pm
Aludra laughed in a 'not in a million years' sort-of way when learning Spanish was suggested. "Doesn't need to know any more languages. French and English are definitely enough for the time-being," he said, smiling at the gesture regardless. Hell, he was fine just knowing how to speak in broken English; it didn't exactly make him feel good to know that he could only speak broken French, too. Seemed that every part of him was broken in some way or another.
He chuckled a bit at the idea of only knowing a language to be able to curse in it; people had an odd way of working sometimes.
Aludra growled at the mention of 'Zuba once more, hurting either him or, more importantly, hurting Vincent again. "No one is going to get hurt," he said, resting his chin on Vinny's shoulder and just holding him there, part of him wanting to just curl up in Vincent's lap and fall asleep all nuzzled against him, but he knew that, given the way the other boy acted, he was as opposed to physical contact as Aludra was. Or even moreso.
Aludra nuzzled gently against the other boy, unable to help enjoying even just hugging him like this, not wanting to let go if only for the physical contact more than who it was. "Then 'Ludra will get strong, too," he stated assuredly, a promise to himself and to Vincent. "'Ludra will get strong enough to protect his things. And his friends. And his Ny," he stated firmly, wanting even less so to let go of his friend now.
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 3:05 pm
Vinny smiled. "You're not so greedy about languages then," he said with another smile. "Neither am I, really. Just about... Friends. And stuff." Stuff included Aludra, 'Zuba, and family, as well as belongings. The real reason he'd been upset when 'Zuba had said she liked Adhara was because he'd been jealous. He wasn't about to admit that to anyone, especially not to a friend like Aludra.
Vinny blinked, looking to his friend as Aludra put his chin on his shoulder. "I hope you're right," he said. He really felt awkward, he'd honestly never been held like this. It wasn't that he objected to it, he just wasn't used to it.
"You don't have to protect me," Vincent said with a shake of his head. "We can protect each other. That's what friends do, isn't it?"
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 4:16 pm
"Not so much," he agreed, and only nodded when Vincent said what he much so desired. Aludra was a little too self-conscious about his likes and dislikes as far as his greed was concerned. Chess sets, holy 'artifacts', notebooks, journals, feathers [which he snuck into Lironax's room] - he was such a total closet nerd that it was kind of hilarious.
"Swear it on my life." That way if he lost the bet, he wouldn't lose anything important. He nodded firmly, not paying much attention as he let his arms remain around Vincent's shoulders, turning his head to the side to lean against his genetic twin gently, heartbeat slipping into his throat in a way that made his face heat up a bit. But he didn't move away; hopefully this contact wasn't too... overly-friendly. He could never tell.
If he had more common sense, he would realize he now empathized with Lironax.
Aludra laughed softly, a smile returning to his face finally. "Of course. Can promise to do whatever he can to make sure you're protected. Will do the same?" Not that he expected such a firm dedication from Vincent; it wasn't as though Vinny liked him as well as the unrequited love was felt in the other direction.
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:01 am
Vincent was surprised, and looked down at Aludra. There was a small frown tugging at his lips, but it wasn't an angry frown. It was mre of a 'I don't know what to do next' frown. He hesitated, before awkwardly patting his friend on the head. He felt his face burning as a blush made it's way to his cheeks. He didn't have to wonder why he was blushing now, though. Awkward position was awkward. Oh well. It seemed Vincent still didn't understand Aludra's intentions. If he had, he probably would have pulled away in embarassment.
"I promise too," Vinny said finally. "I always do whatever I can to keep my friends safe." As long as it didn't include fighting. Vincent was too gentle, so gentle, it was almost a flaw. He'd protect, sure. But not if the person he was protecting his friends from challenged him to a fight. He'd lost the first one he'd ever been in, and that'd been enough for him. Even if it'd been only a onesided fight.
"Um, why don't we play a game, or something?" Anything to get out of this awkward position. "We can play chess. Didn't you say you played it?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 4:12 am
That was a comforting thought, though much of Aludra's consciousness wanted to argue the fact that he didn't need protection, let alone deserve it. His tail thumped on the couch behind him as he resisted the desire to start spouting out nonsense about how he didn't deserve things like people protecting him [or so much as caring about him] and the mere challenge of doing so brought a metallic taste to his mouth, making him make an odd face and sit back up, swallowing the foul-tasting liquid. He dipped one of the chips and ate that to at least attempt to rid himself of the flavour, before taking another and another until Vincent spoke up again.
The tip of his tail flicked a bit and he smiled sheepishly at the mention of chess. "Y-yeah. Has played chess for long... long time," he noted, nodding a bit. "Willing to play chess, though, if 'Ny really wants," he said, getting up to retrieve a chess set and set it out on the table, this one based on the Lord of the Rings movies. He didn't really get it, not much of a movie watcher. If he remembered correctly, Silas had gotten it for him on his 'birthday', or, essentially, the day that he woke up two times his size; always a very sudden and uncomfortable thing to wake up to.
"'Ny plays white or black?" he asked, despite the pieces being red and black. It really didn't matter; white moved first which, in this case, meant that not-black moved first. Which would be red.
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