Sometime later, long after Fafnir had returned home in a positive rage, the fire in him had slowly, inexorably, burned itself out to cinders. He still had a lot of questions. Part of him still worried that he'd done something wrong. Part of him was till terribly jealous of what Albite had achieved that he hadn't, but outside the heat of the moment and the shock of surprise, Fafnir was able to look at that truly ugly part of himself that had reared it's head and feel... vaguely uncomfortable about it. Not... bad, per se. Albite was still infuriating. Rude, thoughtless and foolish, but he hadn't really deserved to be the target of Fafnir's wrath.
Trey had sulked, of course, for hours. Drank himself into a stupor out by the pool and stared into the flames of the fire pit until sobriety had returned, feeling terribly sorry for himself. It was actually rather rare for Trey to feel like he had been denied something he truly wanted and had actively tried to get, and he hadn't even really had anything taken away from him, just because Waru had beat him to it.
Being on the same team now, and ostensibly being "friends", he should have felt happy for Waru, or proud, or at least satisfied that the team was stronger with another Eternal. Getting mad about it had been... unfair. He hated that. And to make matters worse, he really had just left Albite bleeding in the park after pulling him free of those... monsters, whatever they were. They'd fled too fast for him to get a good look, and he hadn't bothered to ask Albite about it. All this meant, though, was that he really should... make it up to him. Somehow. Even while it gave him a sour taste in his mouth.
It took nearly a week for Trey to arrange things and then work himself up to it. The message to Waru asking if they could meet up had been simple and short, if not terribly easy to write. There seemed no good place to ask him to come to, so he'd left it up to the other man, figuring it was better if he went to Waru.
Shiningamisgirl
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2022 1:06 am
He wanted to shame Trey for lack of style points, after all? If he was gonna get formally asked out he wanted some creativity with it! A little bit of hustle n shine!
But it was fine, he settled for the tentative outreach - replied in bold with a heft of emojis that he’d heard Trey had a pool! Didn’t say from who — or where — or that it’d been nearly a month ago and he hadn’t asked because he hadn’t quite wanted to swim back then, what with being all holed up n healing from void shenanigans and an impromptu wedding, but now he definitely ******** — he called the guy back because erecting only got him so far — “Pickuppickuppickup, heeey! Trey, tres bon, listen — soo — my actual house is kinda a shack that’s always mid construction, so not there. N my new place down in the underdark is also — umh, not ready for human beings. So it’s either your place or some nice public venue? Unless you wanna hang with the feral youma south of the citadel? Squingy flesh grapes is such a good boy — pinky, it’s names pinky, not that it matters to you but I really believe names are important down there.” ran on about not much at all before holding his breath and allowing for silence — better yet? For answers, ideas, a nice locale.
Waru wasn’t at all sure what Trey’d been expecting, n so fed excitement though the receiving end until he was sure he’d conveyed enough ‘not mad, wassup’ to smooth things over. He could tamp down his urge to push the glowing buttons that he couldn’t see on the other man - knew he’d struck something a week ago, but teasing that info out would take actually ******** seeing his face, n maybe a plan.
He didn't know what he'd expected when he answered the phone... a normal person with a normal response maybe? But no, unsurprisingly it was Waru with a Waru response, which was to say... a flood of enthusiastic half sentences and wandering dialog. Trey almost, almost hung up on him... the urge was strong. Propriety kept him on the line and he tried not to sigh.
"If you want to come here, you may. I didn't mean for this to be a big thing, but if you want to use the pool, I'll indulge. Do you remember when I teleported us into the garage? Do you think you can find your own way there, or do I need to come and get you?" He said, keeping his voice civil. This was supposed to be... making things up to Waru, after all. Snapping at him was not part of that plan, but his self control would only go so far.
He hadn't really wanted to open up his private space to the man, but all things considered he didn't feel like he could say no. He might have to move somethings around in his schedule, since this was likely going take longer than he planned, but at least it'd be done and over with and he could stop thinking about it.
Shiningamisgirl
Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2022 12:22 pm
"Mmhhmn...Ahhhahn...Isee.." Waru was half listening, already in motion, pinging the phone to speaker and rummaging through half emptied drawers with semi-quietude. He lived half lives now, surface dweller n sunken city denizen in one. Found he spent less time at home then he ever had before, had finally managed to get his tilted rental's 'living room' floors from the concrete base into wood paneling. Liked it better now that the bright mosaic tile led into it, rather than the nasty ratty carpeting of god who knew how many renters before him.
The countertops in the kitchen left much to be desired, but ******** it, he was nostalgic for how the destruction had happened, for the finger-clawed burn marks in coffee tables n card tables n --
Ahah! There his s**t was!
What was he thinking, oh - yeah - that the destruction gave him good backdrop to map out what he'd inevitably bring down into the underdark and lay up against granite n stone so gray as to be purple n blackened by hues of ruinous aging in a place with no proper sun.
"Listen, Trey, if you really don't want me there? Like -- if you just need this to be a quickie or whatever? I'm thinking you know I'm not the type for fast anything. Like, I take my time with s**t. Especially if I don't know what the thing in question is -- jesus christ you n Faustite with the lack of specifics n vagary n..." distant there and back before snapping his phone up again and pressing it between shoulder n ear, "twinned ******** stars, the pair of you."
There was no heat, no annoyance, only fond sighs, and a clear smirk because when was poking a very large beautiful bear in the middle of it's woods not fun? Only when people couldn't teleport! And he damned well could at this point. He was great at it even.
"But if you really do need it to be fast? We can make it a speed date," the distortion over the line went from ruffling clothing and dipped into an echo that spoke of a much different space than a home with warm buffers like forest green beds and softly painted walls, "you don't even need to pick me up for it! Nice an offer as it is. I'm already here. Not touching your nice, shiny, sexy car. Definitely not touching it. Only pining at this lovely baby just a little bit."
And if upon dropping the guise of transformed Eternal, he was already dressed to swim and Trey had other ideas? That was fine by him. He could wear board shorts anywhere, there were no laws on whether it was pool attire, or street wear, or fancy courtside mansion s**t.
Trey could hear the banging and shuffling about, and wondered if Waru was at home. He'd never seen it, or even asked about, and now he couldn't help the curiosity about what sort of surroundings Waru would keep. He had no trouble picturing something that looked like a college guy's dorm room in a frat house. He'd mentioned doing work on it, hadn't he? So maybe frat guy room in an extreme fixer-upper...
Trey grimaced at the term 'quickie'.
"Its fine, don't worry about it..." He tried to interject, Waru steam rolling on. His lips pursed in annoyance, but he let the man rattle on, grimacing again at 'speed date'. It seemed he was already here though, so at least he could be counted on to show up on short notice. Trey's voice was sardonic as he rose and headed for the garage, his stride loose and leisurely. "If you put fingerprints on my car, I'll make you wash it by hand and you'll miss out on the pool."
He couldn't decide if he trusted Waru with the full extent of that job, though... his flighty nature suggested he couldn't handle a job more taxing than punching people, but logically he was trusted enough to be promoted, and Trey really thought if there truly was a job that called for dedicated, careful work, Waru would handle it with all the concentration he put into finding ways to annoy him. Trey emerged from the house in his usual slacks and button up, the sleeves rolled up this time and the first few buttons undone. And as usual, the house and grounds were empty, save for Trey, the sound of the city faded with the distance between it and the city proper.
Gravel crunched under his smart, Italian leather shoes and when he reached the garage, he threw open the side door to step inside, taking a moment to let his vision adjust from the sunlit exterior.
"This way." He called when he caught sight of the large form, beckoning with a hand. "I need to change, but I'll show you where the pool is and you can settle while I get ready."
Shiningamisgirl
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2022 7:43 am
Instead of answering he simply hung up, turned to the sound of steps at the door, ready with an answer, "Only if you want to," a shrugged turn as he blew the retreating vehicle a longing kiss, n strode out after the man. Admiring in his own way how Trey's space was such a different kind of quiet than places like his new home in the abandoned city, or his old place at the darkest part of night. Like someone'd carved a part of Nature out., n then told even Nature that it needed an invitation and a proper ID card to gain entry. So pristine that trespassing could've only been seen as a treat.
Waru was glad he didn't have to so far as to trespass, he wanted the invite, the tour; what Faustite had been given freely out of respect and admiration he'd peer in on by force. His own curiosity far too driving to be ignored at this point. Trey said he swam, n rode, n did more n lounge watching the world n all it's ant-like inhabitants scurry about through a critical eye. Waru wasn't sure he'd ever seen the man actually relaxed, even the closest taste of it was mired by a line of tension brought on by questions, hints of stiffening that alluded to a lack of being so often touched the way he touched everyone--
"T'bfair? If things were different, I might've tried n hopped this place just for the pool. Faustfires firewhirl beau has a similar setup, only not nearly at all like this. There's just something about swimming in someone else's pool though...." and his gaze left the grounds n re-centered on his reluctant host, marked the shoes, n slacks, n buttons that were always done perfectly up every time.
"You look dressed. Did you actually have other plans aside from seeing me?"
"No." Trey responded as he turned, glancing down at the watch on his wrist to check the time. Decent enough... he wouldn't need to feel rushed about this. "This is normal dress for me. I have work I will need to do here, but I don't have to go into the office today. I have dinner later tonight, but we have time before that. I didn't intend to make this a pool party, but its not necessarily interrupting anything."
It was, but not anything that was going to matter. He always baked more time into his plans for work than he needed, knowing he could use at least part of that time for himself or for unforeseen happenings. Not usually this, but that's what the extra time was for.
He took Waru to the front of the house and the large double doors, opening the right one with its rich wood and sparkling pained glass. Inside, clean, pale marble floors met them, the walls an off-white that reflected sunlight from the skylights and made the antiqued gold fixtures glow. A stair case swept up the right side, but Trey let him straight through, heading down a hallway lined with modern art prints. Rooms let off this hall, but he didn't pause to give Waru more than a glance at a dining room and sitting room before they reached the back entrance and the sunroom there. The pool glittered through the tall windows and he opened the doors here wide to sweep Waru a gesture with am arm.
"Make yourself at home. I'll be out in a bit after I've changed. Do you want anything to drink?" Since he was playing host, might as well do it right. The plush lawn swept back away from a pool ringed in pale gravel, meeting thick bushes and trees that shaded the get away from prying outside eyes. A comfortable set of furniture sat off to one side, complete with fancy central fireplace. "I have juice, soda, sparkling water, wine and beer."
Shiningamisgirl
Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2022 9:17 am
"This place's ******** gorgeous, holy s**t.." It was sheer ******** opulence, and if Waru stared like some wide eyed goggen who'd just peeked a stunning new moon? So be it. He'd never been able to help but marvel at all the ways humanity managed to shape their own little spaces into artwork; weaving straw into gold and sand into the clearest diamonds. It was craftsmanship, grandeur, and even if he couldn't have a piece of it for himself? Getting to see it. Well, that was sometimes enough.
It gave him ideas --- set all his little desires alight for what a space could be when shaped just right. Of course he liked brass better than gold, stained-glass windows like those in ancient churches over crystal double pane, he liked his dining spaces closer together. Never enough so that he felt like he was stepping in another persons food every time he took a seat, but the idea of a sprawling table longer than a shopping aisle was beyond him....
Trey was asking about water, beer -- offering amenities oh so courteously -- Waru was already shaking his head and making through the open doors; called by well manicured outsides, and a pool that begged to be more than still waters and sunny reflections.
"C'mon now Trey, you don't want me so at home as to imagine living here...I'd never leave," and even awestruck, he couldn't help but ******** with him; pushed on the invisible line of boundaries because Trey was being oh so extra accommodating. "Though if you're really serious about me making myself at home? We could totally talk about flying my family out," he thought Ei would've liked that, and thought Trey would finally put his foot down, or have a mini stroke for the sake of self preservation--- either way, he was talking even as he was moving and then gone; to see if those of means preferred saltwater and heat over chlorine and pool-bots.
A rush of flip-flops over well manicured grass, echoed by the crunch of gravel and a splash --
Trey rolled his eyes as he turned away from the double doors, his expression dramatic and put out. As if Waru alone wasn't enough... a whole family of Warus was not to be considered. He probably had a plump, round faced mother who pressed food on him and a gaggle of screaming younger siblings, with a pot bellied father with handy-man skills. Trey couldn't imagine the lot of them in his neat, elegant house. Beautiful as it was, it wasn't exactly homey of the type he figured Waru was used to.
At least the splash of water assured him there would be no more inane words from the man who was his reluctant guest. It left Trey free to retreat into the cool interior and up to his bedroom where he could drop his neat outfit and slip into one of his close fitting swim briefs. It left a lot of skin on display, but if he was going to be outdoor swimming, he preferred to keep the tan lines easy to disguise. Along the way back, he picked up a set of towels for the both of them and a couple of beers. Waru might not have specified, but Trey knew he'd want a drink for himself after a while.
Outside, the sun and weather was quite agreeable, sunshine sparkling off the water disturbed in Waru's wake. The fluffy white towels and a small box went on the low table between the chairs and Trey set the beers in the shade of it before he drifted to the edge of the pool and dropped himself down on it. Legs dangling in the water, he was content to watch Waru splashing around for a while, drinking in the late summer sun.
Shiningamisgirl
Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2022 7:15 pm
Waru was content as could be, to succor off the finery of others, the open hospitality he'd so loudly flung his way into; was it really taking advantage if Tery was happy to oblige? Probably, but the man had left him out to hang with little more than a '******** you' written in cursive and spoken in such a way that it sounded like someone offering to hold the door open outta chivalry--
Waru woulda rather had it be sincere, one way or the other, than some ingrained reaction to -- to what? A superior? Some silver spoon manners n rank honoring thing? He didn't know, wouldn't hazard to guess on what turned Treys cogs. So he'd let him go back then, waived off the hand up after he'd gotten his own a** saved, n this? Crystal clear water and sun shining overhead hot enough to almost make him think of home? The moment was Retribution of it's own sort, and Waru couldn't help but shamelessly enjoy every moment of it.
However short-lived he allowed the silence to be, he did allow it for a time; grazed the bottom of the pool with hands n feet, admiring how well poured it all was, the flawless foundation. Holding enough air to enjoy the lazy weightlessness of moments before floating freely to the surface. He coulda laid there forever even, on his back, letting the bright rays overhead filter past thick lashes while he blinked the water free.
But the touch of ripples from the edge caught his attention like a baited line for a fish -- he titled his head enough to catch ankle, calf, long lines of well toned muscles; skin that hadn't seen too much sun. He nudged himself in Treys general direction, unhurried as a splayed starfish.
"Yanno, I've been thinking -- amazing right? N humor me on this, because for me that's an admirable feat," and he was very proud of himself for managing it, turnign his eyes back skyward and squinting against the glare before realizing it was better to just close his eyes all together and enjoy the sounds, water, his own voice striking back off the edges, only all subdued-like with the water in his ears, "the part where I'm thinking that you don't usually call me, n you don't like to be disturbed for no reason at all. So---did someone die? Does someone need killing?" asked seriously, even if it was being asked mostly to the sky at that point.
Why did you let me come here? Why did you call?
Something so small that Trey hadn't wanted it to be a big thing, to take up time, but something big enough that he'd wanted it asked in person? Quickly, quietly. Waru scratched his brain and found himself stumped for an obvious answer to the unspoken ask. Knew he could only prey on the man's generosity for so long before he was being shown a door n left answerless and his curiosity couldn't abide that!
As Waru paddled around lazily on his back, Trey narrowed eyes down at him and considered what he wanted to say.
It would have been so much easier and more palatable to just... brush it off. Play it like it was nothing and move on. Waru didn't seem particularly disturbed and perhaps just letting him come here and swim in the pool was enough of an apology that Trey didn't actually need to make one... if empty-headed Waru was even aware he was due an apology. Trey wasn't entirely sure if he realized it or if he forgot and forgave as easily as breathing. But, there was a part of him that said he needed to hold himself accountable. A small, hated part, but one he couldn't quite ignore. It was annoying Waru had just... come out with asking about it right off the bat, rather than give him some time to just enjoy the sun.
Pursing his lips, Trey finally gathered himself for it, firmly taking his reticence in hand.
"When you summoned me, I was... upset." He said, keeping his voice smooth. "That was unfair. I wanted to apologize."
That was probably enough, right? Straight to the point, no need to natter on. He twisted in his seat and stretched back over the cement to snag the little box with his finger tips and pulled it back to him. His fingers caged the base of it loosely as he displayed it for Waru.
"I also wanted to congratulate you on your promotion." Trey said as he offered the box out, waiting for Waru to come closer and take it. Probably should have grabbed a towel, but ******** it... if the box got wet it hardly mattered, as it wasn't the important part. He'd spent longer than he'd wanted or meant to staring over the options at the store, at a loss for what was appropriate and what Waru would like. He had, he realized, no idea what Waru liked. He'd been happy enough with the outfits for the photoshot, but did not as a rule wear anything even close to similar that Trey was aware of. It was a shot in the dark, but hopefully one with a good chance of hitting.
The box is black with a smooth finish, and the top flips open like an overly large ring box. The inside is black satin with a built in holder, displaying an elegant, expensive wristwatch in dark monotone gun-metal. The metal strap is jointed and the face is smooth and blank, the time marked in little ticks of raised metal and long, narrow hands.
Shiningamisgirl
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2022 2:12 am
There was no one to kill, nobody'd died, a relief. However Waru'd thought for sure it was something else! Couldn't begin to wrap his head around the 'why' of Tery apologizing for being upset of all things; the niggling bit of wants for more and desire for messy details wormed about in the back of his head. He could think of a lot of reasons Trey woulda been upset--
Hell, if he'd done that to Syrus? He woulda heard about it every day for a week, the team tended to talk; to him, to each other, let him know when he'd stepped all over toes n done *wrong* -- Even if there was some sorta dire purpose in his doing of it.
He pulled Trey outta the ether and into a full on brawl -- a little bit of anger was part n parcel for the shock of it----n'less?
"Course you were upset--that's ********' reasonable-- what with the whole, dragging you into that mess bit? M'not tilted cause you had a feeling n expressed it Trey, seriously? If anything m'enjoying the hell outta it cause it was nice to see y--" his squint into the glare of the sun above tilted back, any gracefulness lost in a flounder of limbs as he caught sight of the glint in Trey's hands -- Waru choked on pool water, spat it back out before doggy paddling over to the side.
It was a present, the present was for him, the present was for his promotion!? All of Waru's 'The ********' morphed with 'Ooh shiny' and coalesced into some soft awe for how expensive he was sure the thing was.
"Holy ********, you didn't have to -- you don't -- you're sure?!" gratitude, because gift horse n mouths, even if he didn't think he deserved something so nice as -- as anything Trey could've offered -- Waru himself up with elbows to sit at Trey's side so he could take the box carefully. Lest he drop it in and ruin the bit of treasure inside while admiring it.
"It's beautiful," and he didn't just like it -- he loved it -- the color, the feel, the sheen -- something about cold steel that had a weight to it, about how it matched a pair of earrings he had back home. He wanted to wear it immediately, he wanted to ask -- thing had to be waterproof, right? Though his questions on the watch stilled while he pulled it free; careless of it's holding, careful with getting it clasped over over slightly damp skin, "it's...s'not fair, yanno? That I was promoted before you."
Trey tried to keep from doing more than frown softly at Waru's response to his apology. If he saw nothing to apologize for, then that left him free and clear on that front, but he knew better, or at least had different morals than Waru seemed to.
"Expressing feelings is fine, taking them out on someone is not." He said, and let it go at that. Going into it just took him into areas of explanation he didn't want to go into anyway. He was supposed to be happy just to let it pass and move on. The present was a good distraction and segue. When Waru pulled the watch out of the box, he reached out to take it and toss it back onto one of the chairs, out of the way of the water.
"Yes, I'm sure, and no, I didn't have to." Trey said, unable to keep that little warmth that started up from growing in his chest. That pleasure at doing something that made someone who grateful, in giving a gift that stood out and of course was expensive, but allowed him to play it off like it was nothing. Childish and selfish, perhaps, but he could indulge a little childishness. That enjoyment, of course, faded the moment Waru mentioned the promotion, though.
It struck far too close to home. Trey turned to look out over the pool and leaned forward on his hands, his feet dangling into the water. He agreed, of course, but he knew that was an unfair feeling. It was the whole reason he'd gone out, gotten an expensive present, and given it to Waru. To prove that he wasn't jealous and Waru really did deserve his promotion. But of course the man couldn't leave it well enough alone.
"Of course it was. And regardless, you would not have been promoted if you hadn't been deserving of it. I'm still working on earning mine, obviously. It'll come soon enough. My lack of promotion has nothing at all to do with yours." He said, keeping his voice light. "Don't worry about the water, it's a diving watch. If you need instruction on how to care for it, I can put you in touch with the retailer and they can teach you how to keep it in good condition. I would suggest having it looked at periodically by a professional, the cost of that is in the coverage that comes with it. I have a certificate of authenticity that comes with it for you to take when you leave."
Shiningamisgirl
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2022 1:22 am
Waru had to take a moment to look at Trey, earnestly, like he was trying to see between some invisible line — searching for a stray strand of light he just couldn’t catch in view, not even when he squinted.
*Then…do you wanna talk about it?* - The thought lingered, curled on his tongue like something sharply sour, and then died. Because no, that wasn’t the point of all this, and the conversation train was already moving on so Waru simply smiled lopsidedly for it. Letting it go. A hard thing to do when all the bells n whistles warned him to keep *chewing* the juicy bone he’d nabbed.
He wanted blood - marrow - to be more than a passing distraction placated with something shiny.
But — ********, he loved the watch — the more Trey went into detail on it, the more Waru coveted it with wide eyes; watching the sun catch off the band briefly, only for those same rays to be swallowed by just how *dark* the coloring was….
The slow, slow, realization of the fact that just because he didn’t need a distraction, didn’t mean Trey didn’t want one right then. Must’ve, the thick layers of bullshit he was piling on. Waru thought he would’ve needed several shovels, a team of men —
*Like Fafnir hasn’t earned my same promotion ten times over — what ******** lies they must be telln him….*
But Fafnir wasn’t anyone’s fool — and all the compliments were really, really nice — and godamn — he was keeping his gift, and he’d earned it, and that Trey’s thought of him enough to get him the gift at all?!
Waru was letting it go!
“I love it Trey, I really do— s’more perfect then you can imagine,” kicked his feet idly, enough to make the water a right mess, because even sitting he couldn’t manage ‘stillness’ of any kind, “and lissn, the apologies accepted, I forgive you. Whatever you think you did wrong by me? M’not harmed for it. ********, if ever you do manage that I swear I’m the type that’d say something about it, loudly even,” there, he was dropping it, the subject, his ideas of how promotions should’ve been happening and to whom and for what kinds of whys — Trey was right about that, their promotions were separate un-entwined things — one had no impact on the other.
“The only thing I wanna take with me when I leave — is you — and this watch — n’ I guess it’s watchy pedigree papers so that people don’t think I stole the damn thing — and maybe go free diving somewhere teleportable immediately after all that? It’s sooo ******** fun! Like, have you ever tried it before? I know swimming s’your thing n all — right up there with fast horses n faster cars, but like….” a one-sided shrug, as he oh so carefully (like a child who feared spilling their juice) slid his watched wrist into the water, just to see if it came out still ticking afterwards.
"You're welcome. I'm glad you like it." It was something of a nice feeling, a warmth inside of him, to hear Waru being so pleased with his gift. He hadn't, strictly, intended to seek that reaction or put much thought into the form of the present itself beyond watches being what you got for promotions and that they could be acquired in a luxury form. Perhaps it was because he didn't often give gifts that weren't empty social rituals. Champagne for a client, things like that.
He snorted a little at the idea of Waru taking him anywhere, but he let it pass as he gripped the edge of the pool and slid off of it into the water.
"I've been swimming in the ocean as a kid on vacation in Europe, but I've never done free diving. Its an interesting thought." He said as he rolled onto his back and drifted away from the wall, kicking his feet to propel him along. "I've never considered trying to teleport far enough to do something like that... it seems like an irresponsible use of our abilities. I'd be more likely to book a flight somewhere interesting, if it were me. But that would involve making enough room in my schedule for it. Not impossible, but not easy either."
A break from all of this though... it was a tempting thought. Just leave it all behind for a while and have nothing at all demanding his attention for a few days. Highly irresponsible, considering everything on his plate right now, but that was probably why it was so tempting. Floating lazily on his back, his arms drifting out to his sides, he considered how different and kind of strange it was to have Waru here, rather than Eion. Some similarities, but vast differences too. He would not be mentioning the things they'd done on the furniture beside the pool.
"I assume you have, since you suggest it? You do seem like the type to go harrying off to do something like that."
