Entry tags:
Sticks & Bones // IC Inbox
 this is what ain's inbox would look like if it was 2001                          
                      
 •  •  •  •  •  • 
| ||||||||||||||
[ Though Mizuki might seem fine for the most part, he'd be lying if he said he didn't absolutely miss having a warm body next to him. That he didn't find comfort in having something next to him that he can wrap his arms around. The stuffed animals in the lobby of the therapy building only provided so much comfort before he wanted more.
He should probably ask people if it's alright if he can stay with them for the night, or give them some kind of warning, or, like, literally anything that isn't just breaking into someone's room in the middle of the night, but no one's really told Mizuki no, and at this point, he can't learn a lesson if no one is willing to teach him, so... uhh, Ain's going to get a jellyfish! Congrats!
Ain specifically because Mizuki just sort of... knows where he is?? Which is a strange feeling to have for something that isn't Seaborn. It's a different sensation to that, anyway. Like the Seaborn in the river! He knows where they are and what they're doing - he can feel that himself. But this is just... a feeling that Ain's here, and nothing more than that. It's weird! It's strange! He's gonna cuddle about it.
Is Ain a light sleeper? If he is, he'll definitely hear Mizuki blorping under the door in the middle of the night and pulling himself through. It's not particularly loud, but it sounds a bit like someone is sliding a light box across the floor or something like that. And if he isn't a light sleeper, than he'll, instead, wake up to Mizuki just whole ass in his bed and snuggled against him, breathing very lightly like he just belongs here. ]
He should probably ask people if it's alright if he can stay with them for the night, or give them some kind of warning, or, like, literally anything that isn't just breaking into someone's room in the middle of the night, but no one's really told Mizuki no, and at this point, he can't learn a lesson if no one is willing to teach him, so... uhh, Ain's going to get a jellyfish! Congrats!
Ain specifically because Mizuki just sort of... knows where he is?? Which is a strange feeling to have for something that isn't Seaborn. It's a different sensation to that, anyway. Like the Seaborn in the river! He knows where they are and what they're doing - he can feel that himself. But this is just... a feeling that Ain's here, and nothing more than that. It's weird! It's strange! He's gonna cuddle about it.
Is Ain a light sleeper? If he is, he'll definitely hear Mizuki blorping under the door in the middle of the night and pulling himself through. It's not particularly loud, but it sounds a bit like someone is sliding a light box across the floor or something like that. And if he isn't a light sleeper, than he'll, instead, wake up to Mizuki just whole ass in his bed and snuggled against him, breathing very lightly like he just belongs here. ]
[Ain legally, technically, does not need to sleep. He's an angel, and he isn't confined by the same laws of the world as humans tend to be. That does not, however, mean he can't sleep. He will sleep if he wants to, because sometimes drifting off to dream is nice, okay? Sometimes he just wants to nap because it makes him feel closer to the humans he loves so much.
Unfortunately, he is a light sleeper, so he does wake up at the sound of blorp and the sudden bioluminescent glow of Mizuki.
Ain sits up on his elbows, bleary and sleepy.]
...can I help you...?
Unfortunately, he is a light sleeper, so he does wake up at the sound of blorp and the sudden bioluminescent glow of Mizuki.
Ain sits up on his elbows, bleary and sleepy.]
...can I help you...?
clearly i accidentally marked this as read or SOMETHING oops
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eidxiety
- 2024-07-10 22:26 (UTC) - Expand[Wolfwood is uh. Haha. He should probably go to the clinic right about now? He's bleeding from both his shoulder and even worse from his arm, and he really needs to take his prosthetic off for a little bit because the way Flamebringer tripped his ass fucking hurt. But instead of veering towards the clinic...where he knows the healers there are worked ragged to the bone caring for the victims of the aftermath of the Creature's most recent attack, he decides instead to NOT do that and go straight for Ain's little tailor shop. His stupid brain thinks "it's just a couple cuts, I've walked off worse" (you have not, you'd pop a vial and then you'd walk it off), so instead of thinking "I need stitches/healing" he thinks "I need my shit repaired".
So. Ain might hear the little jingle of the bell over the door as Wolfwood hobbles in, his left arm lame and limp at his side with blood running all down his fingers while his other holds the door open with his elbow.]
Oi. You in here?
So. Ain might hear the little jingle of the bell over the door as Wolfwood hobbles in, his left arm lame and limp at his side with blood running all down his fingers while his other holds the door open with his elbow.]
Oi. You in here?
[Ain is in here! Well, he's in the back of the shop trying to finagle with bolts of cloth, and he doesn't realise it's kind of an emergency so Wolfwood will get back a—]
Haha, one second!!
[And then there's the sound of something heavy whumping (which is a bolt of cloth he dropped, doing well) and Ain just happens to have the right vantage point when he chases after it while it rolls away to see the blood.
He is immediately dropping everything to run over to Wolfwood and make him sit down in a chair, and then he locks the door and shutters the windows and flips the sign to Closed. Hi we're closed there's a man dying in here.]
Could you make things sound like more of an emergency next time?!
Haha, one second!!
[And then there's the sound of something heavy whumping (which is a bolt of cloth he dropped, doing well) and Ain just happens to have the right vantage point when he chases after it while it rolls away to see the blood.
He is immediately dropping everything to run over to Wolfwood and make him sit down in a chair, and then he locks the door and shutters the windows and flips the sign to Closed. Hi we're closed there's a man dying in here.]
Could you make things sound like more of an emergency next time?!
[He jinxed it. He fucking jinxed it. Figures that as soon as he makes the decision to finally sort things out with Ain, they all get trapped under the ocean. Exactly where you want to try to approach someone who is definitely super anxious around you right now: when you're sealed in a tin-can. The Creature must have thought it real funny and ironic, too, to bring them in when Wolfwood was just so ~conveniently~ fussing with the clothes he bought Ain on a dare, clothes he wasn't sure were even fitting to give him any longer.
Being in a life-or-death situation is nothing new for Wolfwood at least, even if he isn't necessarily thrilled or equipped to be under the water like this. He isn't going to venture out like some others are, thanks, he'll be staying his ass right where he is where he won't fucking drown. He has to keep an eye on Angelina anyway, who somehow ALSO got teleported here, since the last thing he wants is for her to get hurt. She's easily left in Vash or Livio's care when he's not in the room, and this is...often, since he tends to need to get up and pace to stretch his legs and feel less like the place is closing in on him.
He doesn't even have his smokes, which is the worst part. He has a few lollipops left...he's chewing on the stick of one now as he drags himself down the halls. It's a little later (he suspects) since the light outside is darker than normal and the indoor lights are keeping the base illuminated. But this isn't just Wolfwood pacing because he has nothing else to do. No, he's carrying that little box under one arm, peering into each room as he passes it.
He's got to be here somewhere...right?]
Being in a life-or-death situation is nothing new for Wolfwood at least, even if he isn't necessarily thrilled or equipped to be under the water like this. He isn't going to venture out like some others are, thanks, he'll be staying his ass right where he is where he won't fucking drown. He has to keep an eye on Angelina anyway, who somehow ALSO got teleported here, since the last thing he wants is for her to get hurt. She's easily left in Vash or Livio's care when he's not in the room, and this is...often, since he tends to need to get up and pace to stretch his legs and feel less like the place is closing in on him.
He doesn't even have his smokes, which is the worst part. He has a few lollipops left...he's chewing on the stick of one now as he drags himself down the halls. It's a little later (he suspects) since the light outside is darker than normal and the indoor lights are keeping the base illuminated. But this isn't just Wolfwood pacing because he has nothing else to do. No, he's carrying that little box under one arm, peering into each room as he passes it.
He's got to be here somewhere...right?]
[Haha.
Ain is doing that thing Ain does when he's nervous: He's avoiding everyone he possibly can except super late at night when he comes back inside to watch everyone sleep like a freak. Guarding over them and all that, you know how it is. "What do you mean come back inside" well you see, to avoid being locked in a tin can with a man who definitely is making him nervous, Ain has simply bubble-shielded himself and been outside the entire time.
(Wolfwood may have seen him dispatch a leviathan that was getting too close while he was doing this at some point.)
So yeah, legally, technically, he's "here somewhere", and somewhere is Outside In A Bubble. Wolfwood might see Ain drift past the fucking windows in his shield like a cryptid that night, letting the ocean waves carry him back to the entrance hatch. You know, since it's getting late, and it's high time for Ain to watch people sleep again!
Here he comes, dry and unbubbled!!]
Ain is doing that thing Ain does when he's nervous: He's avoiding everyone he possibly can except super late at night when he comes back inside to watch everyone sleep like a freak. Guarding over them and all that, you know how it is. "What do you mean come back inside" well you see, to avoid being locked in a tin can with a man who definitely is making him nervous, Ain has simply bubble-shielded himself and been outside the entire time.
(Wolfwood may have seen him dispatch a leviathan that was getting too close while he was doing this at some point.)
So yeah, legally, technically, he's "here somewhere", and somewhere is Outside In A Bubble. Wolfwood might see Ain drift past the fucking windows in his shield like a cryptid that night, letting the ocean waves carry him back to the entrance hatch. You know, since it's getting late, and it's high time for Ain to watch people sleep again!
Here he comes, dry and unbubbled!!]
[Oh. A clothing shop. He did not expect to find such a thing...]
[It is true that his clothing is rather worn, and very ill-fitted for the weather this place has right now. He woke up in several layers of wool, and by now he is down to his blouse and slacks, and even that is a little much.]
[ugh, the sun is miserable.]
[Oh so gently, Mayoi pushes the door open, hoping not to set off any bell or such.]
[It is true that his clothing is rather worn, and very ill-fitted for the weather this place has right now. He woke up in several layers of wool, and by now he is down to his blouse and slacks, and even that is a little much.]
[ugh, the sun is miserable.]
[Oh so gently, Mayoi pushes the door open, hoping not to set off any bell or such.]
[Haha you fool! There is a bell on top of the door that jangles when it's opened!! You have been PERCEIVED!!
Aka the tailor shop's owner pokes his head out from the back when the bell rings and cheerfully walks to the front with a rather comical amount of fabric draped over his neck.]
Haha, hi! A new face!
Aka the tailor shop's owner pokes his head out from the back when the bell rings and cheerfully walks to the front with a rather comical amount of fabric draped over his neck.]
Haha, hi! A new face!
At some point in time after they're back from Sea Base, Ain will receive a letter wherever he may be, carried by the most bedraggled looking crow plantimal in existence. It's missing an eye and it's feather-leaves are all akimbo, but it seems happy enough. Which is obvious by the way it drops the letter on Ain's head, then sits to caw at him. It will avoid any attempt to be caught, but it seems keen on seeing that the letter is read.
It's sort of obvious who the letter is from, Ain's name is on the front of the envelope in Affogato's script, though the letter itself is in a neater more ... readable font. If he doesn't wish to read it, he can toss it aside and the crow will take that as an answer and fly off. If he does, it will wait patiently - and maybe either flirt with the pigeon in a 'get the bitch a stick bitches like sticks' manner while hop dancing, or steal stuff.
"Ain,
I do not ask for forgiveness, nor do I deserve it. But I wish to offer an apology, while still respecting your wishes to stay away from you. I hurt you, in a manner more cutting than mere words, and there is not enough, or frankly anything, I can do to make amends for that. I pushed my issues onto you, I made you feel vile and evil, and" - some shit is crossed out, since he was tired of crumpling up papers and wasting them, and this is hard because he's never apologized before in his life for something like this - "you are not. You were kind even after, caring, and you said words I needed to hear.
I hope you are happy again, that I did not leave too much of a mark on you. I hope, someday, I can be a friend you deserve, but I would understand if your desire to never see me again is quite literally never. I have hurt you, I have hurt the Grove. And all I can offer is my sincerest apology. And promise this will be the last time I reach out, if it is what you desire.
I wish you nothing but the best, and hope someday I can make things right.
- Affogato
- Ah if you have reached this far, please give Molasses a seed or two, he is a very good bird."
It's sort of obvious who the letter is from, Ain's name is on the front of the envelope in Affogato's script, though the letter itself is in a neater more ... readable font. If he doesn't wish to read it, he can toss it aside and the crow will take that as an answer and fly off. If he does, it will wait patiently - and maybe either flirt with the pigeon in a 'get the bitch a stick bitches like sticks' manner while hop dancing, or steal stuff.
"Ain,
I do not ask for forgiveness, nor do I deserve it. But I wish to offer an apology, while still respecting your wishes to stay away from you. I hurt you, in a manner more cutting than mere words, and there is not enough, or frankly anything, I can do to make amends for that. I pushed my issues onto you, I made you feel vile and evil, and" - some shit is crossed out, since he was tired of crumpling up papers and wasting them, and this is hard because he's never apologized before in his life for something like this - "you are not. You were kind even after, caring, and you said words I needed to hear.
I hope you are happy again, that I did not leave too much of a mark on you. I hope, someday, I can be a friend you deserve, but I would understand if your desire to never see me again is quite literally never. I have hurt you, I have hurt the Grove. And all I can offer is my sincerest apology. And promise this will be the last time I reach out, if it is what you desire.
I wish you nothing but the best, and hope someday I can make things right.
- Affogato
- Ah if you have reached this far, please give Molasses a seed or two, he is a very good bird."
[Wolfwood has been awake for...a while. Not a full day- and certainly not long enough to eclipse the amount of time he spent back home- but he's here. Awake, back in the Grove, and trying to make sense of what all he's missed in his absence. Since speaking with Razlo (because Livio simply Was Not There), it's been made abundantly clear that he's the next to fall victim to the same thing that his Vash when they were stuck underwater, except for him he just passed out for a solid fucking month, he guesses. That alone is unnerving, because he doesn't like the idea of his autonomy just being wrest away from him like that. But it is what it is, he can't take it back, and...
Well. He's definitely missed a lot. Vash is still missing, that much hasn't changed, but there's one person Wolfwood's mind immediately snaps to, given that he's been asleep for as long as he has. The notes left behind by one Flamebringer have helped to give him enough context to connect the dots, but also enough to leave him supremely fucking concerned. He'll deal with that guy later, though.
Wolfwood sets out for the Inn as the sun begins to set, his limp far more pronounced given that he'd been used to walking around with his leg restored, but going as fast as he can regardless. If anyone is outside to see him (and probably they aren't, realistically) he ignores them as he makes his way, heading inside and navigating his way to Ain's room on autopilot. He's almost afraid of what he might find, or the lack thereof, but...
Well. Here goes.
The door is shut, and while he nearly raps on it first, he suddenly decides "fuck it" and just opens the door. Assuming it isn't locked, of course. That will affect his reaction here, but altogether won't stop him from calling out, his voice still a bit husky with disuse:]
Ain...?
Well. He's definitely missed a lot. Vash is still missing, that much hasn't changed, but there's one person Wolfwood's mind immediately snaps to, given that he's been asleep for as long as he has. The notes left behind by one Flamebringer have helped to give him enough context to connect the dots, but also enough to leave him supremely fucking concerned. He'll deal with that guy later, though.
Wolfwood sets out for the Inn as the sun begins to set, his limp far more pronounced given that he'd been used to walking around with his leg restored, but going as fast as he can regardless. If anyone is outside to see him (and probably they aren't, realistically) he ignores them as he makes his way, heading inside and navigating his way to Ain's room on autopilot. He's almost afraid of what he might find, or the lack thereof, but...
Well. Here goes.
The door is shut, and while he nearly raps on it first, he suddenly decides "fuck it" and just opens the door. Assuming it isn't locked, of course. That will affect his reaction here, but altogether won't stop him from calling out, his voice still a bit husky with disuse:]
Ain...?
[Ain has simply Not gone outside since he died. He has not. The only inklings as to what's been going on outside have all been given by Ezell, and even after the hide and seek game officially ended, Ain still hasn't felt good about going outside. He's been rotting in his room, but at least his inn room includes the living room and bedroom now. The first thing that Wolfwood will notice when he walks in — which, yes, he can easily come in, because the door is unlocked so Ezell can come in and out — is the fact that there are books literally fucking everywhere. Books on the couch, books stacked in neat piles on the floor (but out of the way, where they can't be stepped on), books on the coffee table and all over the bay window. Most of them, Ain has finished reading. Some of them still have ribbon bookmarks clearly sticking out.
The second thing is that Ain has a new pet, some kind of... chicken-hydra that's looped around what looks like a cat tree, playing with Zinnia and Dachie. The third...
The third thing is that Dachie whips around, spots Wolfwood, assumes the Wide Stance™, and starts howling. Fucking full-on husky-owl shrieking here, and Ain's newest pet is alarmed because who is this man? Literally who is this fucking man. All three heads start hissing while Zinnia just coos, it's a ruckus.
In the bedroom is Ain, who is barely sure what's going on because he's been in bed sewing and suddenly there was a voice and the animals are losing it, but Wolfwood will be able to pass harmlessly into the bedroom if he doesn't mind that Dachie is going to owldog scream at him for not picking him up immediately, as if Dachie is a lapdog and not a full Greyhound-sized creature with wings.
...
Ain is not sure what to think. At first, his gaze lights up bright and cheery, because Wolfwood is here and really, isn't that all he's wanted for almost a month now? But then it dawns on him that Wolfwood isn't dead, hadn't been dead, because if he had, Nene would've said something... and suddenly his gaze darkens. He gets out of bed, grabs one of his pillows, and full-stop hurls that thing as hard as he can directly at Wolfwood.
Sorry, this is not the warm, touching reunion you wanted.]
The second thing is that Ain has a new pet, some kind of... chicken-hydra that's looped around what looks like a cat tree, playing with Zinnia and Dachie. The third...
The third thing is that Dachie whips around, spots Wolfwood, assumes the Wide Stance™, and starts howling. Fucking full-on husky-owl shrieking here, and Ain's newest pet is alarmed because who is this man? Literally who is this fucking man. All three heads start hissing while Zinnia just coos, it's a ruckus.
In the bedroom is Ain, who is barely sure what's going on because he's been in bed sewing and suddenly there was a voice and the animals are losing it, but Wolfwood will be able to pass harmlessly into the bedroom if he doesn't mind that Dachie is going to owldog scream at him for not picking him up immediately, as if Dachie is a lapdog and not a full Greyhound-sized creature with wings.
...
Ain is not sure what to think. At first, his gaze lights up bright and cheery, because Wolfwood is here and really, isn't that all he's wanted for almost a month now? But then it dawns on him that Wolfwood isn't dead, hadn't been dead, because if he had, Nene would've said something... and suddenly his gaze darkens. He gets out of bed, grabs one of his pillows, and full-stop hurls that thing as hard as he can directly at Wolfwood.
Sorry, this is not the warm, touching reunion you wanted.]
[ Ezell hasn't really been able to sleep since his Other. He's not around anymore, and things have not calmed down, but... it's not like he's going to stay awake until everything settles. He physically cannot. There's not enough coffee in the world. Yet he still finds it hard to actually sleep.
Mostly, he finds himself running his fingers over his stomach in front of a mirror, where he had formerly been shot. It hurts. It hurts so much. Yet there's nothing there. Ain healed him, after all. So then why is he still in pain? Why does it feel like he's still bleeding out? Maybe it's internal. (It's not.) Maybe he is still bleeding. (He isn't.) Maybe the pain is real. (Ezell, please realize this is a phantom pain.)
Very softly, and totally unsure if Ain is even in the bakery tonight, he calls out: ]
Ain...?
Mostly, he finds himself running his fingers over his stomach in front of a mirror, where he had formerly been shot. It hurts. It hurts so much. Yet there's nothing there. Ain healed him, after all. So then why is he still in pain? Why does it feel like he's still bleeding out? Maybe it's internal. (It's not.) Maybe he is still bleeding. (He isn't.) Maybe the pain is real. (Ezell, please realize this is a phantom pain.)
Very softly, and totally unsure if Ain is even in the bakery tonight, he calls out: ]
Ain...?
[Ain is here! He's, um. ...don't look at him, he's trying to teach Ginger tricks and she is Not having it. She wants the fish he has in his hand, why are you not giving it? Her chicken heads are clucking. She is in her cat tree being Angry.
From his room, he pokes his head out into the hallway when he hears Ezell.]
Haha, did you call for me?
From his room, he pokes his head out into the hallway when he hears Ezell.]
Haha, did you call for me?
hey are u todays date
cause ur 10/10
[Do you want to know how long he spent waffling over whether to write this or not because he wasn't sure if Ain would be cheered up by it or think it's stupid because-]
cause ur 10/10
[Do you want to know how long he spent waffling over whether to write this or not because he wasn't sure if Ain would be cheered up by it or think it's stupid because-]
[Ain is just. Staring at this sticky note on his door... boy?? Boy.
It does get a chuckle out of him, so when Wolfwood is out next, Ain's going to creep over to his house and sticky note his door and are those staples stuck to the wood wtf flamebringer—]
Do you ever get tired from running through my thoughts all night?
It does get a chuckle out of him, so when Wolfwood is out next, Ain's going to creep over to his house and sticky note his door and are those staples stuck to the wood wtf flamebringer—]
Do you ever get tired from running through my thoughts all night?
Sometime before AU shenanigans sorry for the heart attack Ain
lupusxylem
2024-11-05 12:19 am (UTC)(link)
[There is no cutesy note taped to Ain's door, this time. There is just Wolfwood fucking
Exploding through the door to Ain's room at the bakery, holding something between his palms and breathing heavily.]
Ain- fuck- are you home!?
Exploding through the door to Ain's room at the bakery, holding something between his palms and breathing heavily.]
Ain- fuck- are you home!?
[Ain is in his room trying on some sort of fit when Wolfwood just. Barges in. Hi?]
Um. Yeah? Did something happen?
Um. Yeah? Did something happen?
[ Ezell will personally hand Ain a gift with a little kiss against his nose. It's a neatly wrapped gift, and on opening it, it's a small collection of books for Ain. The first is a cookbook - admittedly with mostly baked goods - but there's a lot of traditional Lateran recipes inside, with lots of highlights and even bookmarks for him to keep.
The second is a love poetry book. A couple of the cuter, sweeter poems were clearly once dog-eared at some point.
The last is a planner, and it's empty, sans "August 2" which has doodled hearts around it, along with "Anniversary!" written in it.
All the books (sans planner) seemed to be well loved - things Ezell must have had with him when he arrived here. ]
The second is a love poetry book. A couple of the cuter, sweeter poems were clearly once dog-eared at some point.
The last is a planner, and it's empty, sans "August 2" which has doodled hearts around it, along with "Anniversary!" written in it.
All the books (sans planner) seemed to be well loved - things Ezell must have had with him when he arrived here. ]
( as snow begins to melt, white lily cookie comes to a decision- she needs a change, and she needs to keep those wretched scars hidden while still embracing the weather, and what's to come. green tea cream bunny on her shoulder, she heads to the tailor shop. )
Ain...? Are you in today?
Ain...? Are you in today?
[It's about midday when the door to the tailor shop is first knocked on (because he's polite) and then opened. He doesn't enter quite yet, however, instead leaning an elbow against the doorframe as he peers inside.]
Mister Ain? Apologies if I'm interrupting, friend. I'll happily come back at a later time, if so.
Mister Ain? Apologies if I'm interrupting, friend. I'll happily come back at a later time, if so.
[He is polite! Good thing Aventurine grabbed the door himself, though, because when he enters, Ain has his hands full, sewing pins held between pursed lips while he painstakingly folds orange fabric over a dressform. Please god stay in place he's begging he's on his KNEES (he's standing up)—]
Hhmm! Mmm-mm c'mm mm!!!
[That is, for the curious: Hi! Nuh-uh, come in!
Give him one minute to hold the fabric in place and pull the pins out of his mouth and start pinning shit down... okay, whew.]
Haha, sorry. I'm not busy. What's up?
Hhmm! Mmm-mm c'mm mm!!!
[That is, for the curious: Hi! Nuh-uh, come in!
Give him one minute to hold the fabric in place and pull the pins out of his mouth and start pinning shit down... okay, whew.]
Haha, sorry. I'm not busy. What's up?
Oi, oi! Stop walking away, you, [ He looks over at this random person he has decided to torment and subject to Egg times. ] sit.
I need you to eat something, and decide which is the best.
I need you to eat something, and decide which is the best.
[Sometime during the day when Ain checks the door, he'll find a little box that's been wrapped up with brown parchment paper. It's kindof messily done, like the person who did it doesn't really know what they're doing, and the paper all done up with some fraying twine. Affixed to where the knot is closed is a little wooden carving of a deer, and when removed it's apparent that there's more twine attached so it can be worn. Underneath that is a note tied to the box. If Ain digs into the box before the card, he'll find a bunch of homemade cookies sugar inside...over half of them are kindof burnt, and ALL of them are extremely ugly. It's the basic sort of "I've never made cookies in my life ever" effort, but despite this the cookies have been dusted with extra sugar on top (maybe to mask the burned parts).
The note itself reads:]
Hey Ain,
I know you've been having a hard time lately. Not just...LATELY lately, but for a couple months shit just kindof keeps happening. You've been through a lot, and I feel like I ain't really been there for you when you needed me, or I couldn't prevent you from hurting in some way, or...just haven't done right. I'm sorry. I know I fuck up a lot, and I ain't really the best guy to be seeing, but that don't mean I don't care about you. I'm sorry you've been having to shoulder so much. Know it's gotta be even more now, with how insane this month has been.
I love you, okay? I just want you to know that. And you can talk to me about anything, any time, even if I ain't the best person to give advice a lot of the time.
...I don't know if these are edible, so if they suck you can throw them out. I'm sorry I wrote this shitty letter instead of talking to you in person, I just wanted to make sure I said it right and didn't fuck up my words and all that.
Maybe sometime we can do something, when shit is less crazy and there ain't snakes everywhere. We could go to the beach, maybe...or just watch movies in the therapy building. I dunno, whatever you wanna do. Just like to spend time with you.
Try not to let shit get you down. I'm here for you, warts and all.
-Nicholas
The note itself reads:]
Hey Ain,
I know you've been having a hard time lately. Not just...LATELY lately, but for a couple months shit just kindof keeps happening. You've been through a lot, and I feel like I ain't really been there for you when you needed me, or I couldn't prevent you from hurting in some way, or...just haven't done right. I'm sorry. I know I fuck up a lot, and I ain't really the best guy to be seeing, but that don't mean I don't care about you. I'm sorry you've been having to shoulder so much. Know it's gotta be even more now, with how insane this month has been.
I love you, okay? I just want you to know that. And you can talk to me about anything, any time, even if I ain't the best person to give advice a lot of the time.
...I don't know if these are edible, so if they suck you can throw them out. I'm sorry I wrote this shitty letter instead of talking to you in person, I just wanted to make sure I said it right and didn't fuck up my words and all that.
Maybe sometime we can do something, when shit is less crazy and there ain't snakes everywhere. We could go to the beach, maybe...or just watch movies in the therapy building. I dunno, whatever you wanna do. Just like to spend time with you.
Try not to let shit get you down. I'm here for you, warts and all.
-Nicholas
[Ain is quite literally wibbling as he reads this like... man. It's so nice of Wolfwood to reach out after the hellmonth he's gone through. ...hell3months. Maybe more. It's fine.
He's just super down on himself lately. For reasons. He's going to stare at this deer and then stare at the owl carving necklace he already has, and... put them on the same cord because he can't decide which one he wants to wear more. Yeah. This is good for now. They'll clack together, but he'll separate them with a bead or something later.
...
He's mid shoving a cookie in his mouth and wibbling when he reads "warts and all" and pauses to touch his face like. Do I have warts. I'd better not have warts those take forever to go away. Oh god my skincare routine. etc.
...
Ain will eat another 5 burnt cookies before he feels good enough to go find Wolfwood and cry on him instead. Hi hope you wanted more BAC bitch—]
He's just super down on himself lately. For reasons. He's going to stare at this deer and then stare at the owl carving necklace he already has, and... put them on the same cord because he can't decide which one he wants to wear more. Yeah. This is good for now. They'll clack together, but he'll separate them with a bead or something later.
...
He's mid shoving a cookie in his mouth and wibbling when he reads "warts and all" and pauses to touch his face like. Do I have warts. I'd better not have warts those take forever to go away. Oh god my skincare routine. etc.
...
Ain will eat another 5 burnt cookies before he feels good enough to go find Wolfwood and cry on him instead. Hi hope you wanted more BAC bitch—]
sticks: hey check out this angel // me: you gave a perfectly good angel depression. look at him.
eidxiety
- 2025-03-21 04:25 (UTC) - Expand[ They're probably in like. A futuristic mall or whatever the fuck when Ezell will stop Ain. He's probably gotten him an ice cream cone or a pretzel or some shit, but now he's sheepishly pointing over to an adult shop that's tucked away in the back. ]
Hey, love...? Do you maybe want to go check that out with me?
Hey, love...? Do you maybe want to go check that out with me?
[Ain has devoured that ice cream cone thank you. This mall is obnoxiously chrome by the way.
Ezell points to what Ain just registers as The Dick Store and he laughs, a little giddy.]
Sure! What is it?
[i'm not sure if there are elrian sex shops and even if there are, there's no way this group of dorks ever went to it, so.]
Ezell points to what Ain just registers as The Dick Store and he laughs, a little giddy.]
Sure! What is it?
[i'm not sure if there are elrian sex shops and even if there are, there's no way this group of dorks ever went to it, so.]
After the movie post which Till did not see bc he’s being antisocial-
foreversembrace
2025-04-15 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
[For the past while, Till has really just existed in his apartment, playing music. Writing music. Brooding…kindof just generally acting like a teenager at 21. Though, as much as he hates to admit it, it’s been…weirdly nice, to have this space here to himself. Maybe Mephisto was onto something when he was talking about getting a house…
Mm.
But for as much as he’d love to just stay with Jibang and never leave, he has to eat eventually, and all that cheap ramen he blew his last modeling credit-check on is now gone. He needs to find something even cheaper…
So: Free.
Ain is one of his neighbors, and he knows he works at that bunny bakery. It’s not here, obviously, but maybe…well, he’s hungry. Might as well shoot your shot, and all that.
So Ain will hear the rapping of Till’s knuckles at the door as he leans on his crutches, able to use them now that Mephisto adjusted them for him.]
Hey. You home? Was…wondering if you had any of those sweet pastries. I can pay you in a couple days.
Mm.
But for as much as he’d love to just stay with Jibang and never leave, he has to eat eventually, and all that cheap ramen he blew his last modeling credit-check on is now gone. He needs to find something even cheaper…
So: Free.
Ain is one of his neighbors, and he knows he works at that bunny bakery. It’s not here, obviously, but maybe…well, he’s hungry. Might as well shoot your shot, and all that.
So Ain will hear the rapping of Till’s knuckles at the door as he leans on his crutches, able to use them now that Mephisto adjusted them for him.]
Hey. You home? Was…wondering if you had any of those sweet pastries. I can pay you in a couple days.
[Meanwhile: Ain is going through heartbreak because he got rejected :( This is a normal response of course, but he's out here trying to shut it all down... then getting really sad because he totally screwed up the nature of his relationship with Add and Add definitely hates him now and probably won't talk to him ever again. That's what gets him the most, he thinks.
God, he's so stupid.
Anyway, he answers the door and it's very clear that Ain's been crying, but he's trying to look presentable right now. His Neo Eden apartment is clearly stacked with all manner of plants in window boxes, hanging planters, and a bunch of fabric bolts and some instruments against one wall. The auto-decorator did its job. It's hard to see any of this through Ain's giant wings, but he steps aside to let Till in short order.]
From the bakery? Not really. I do have some cinnamon buns though, sitting on the kitchenette. You're welcome to have some. Don't worry about paying me back, haha.
God, he's so stupid.
Anyway, he answers the door and it's very clear that Ain's been crying, but he's trying to look presentable right now. His Neo Eden apartment is clearly stacked with all manner of plants in window boxes, hanging planters, and a bunch of fabric bolts and some instruments against one wall. The auto-decorator did its job. It's hard to see any of this through Ain's giant wings, but he steps aside to let Till in short order.]
From the bakery? Not really. I do have some cinnamon buns though, sitting on the kitchenette. You're welcome to have some. Don't worry about paying me back, haha.
[So... thanks to his talk with Ezell, Add does spend some time reflecting on this whole... thing, with Ain. Maybe not in the way he intended, but hey, at least Add is thinking about it instead of just trying to put it off for the rest of the month.
Eventually, he has to talk to Ain. He knows that much for certain. And he definitely does not want to bring this onto the network again, so that means talking in person is the only option. And he's not sure how well Ain will react to him after what happened... so...
He makes his way to Ain's apartment and knocks. He's not going to say a damn thing until the door opens, and if he has to, he's prepared to jam it open with Dynamo. He has to clear this shit up no matter what.
Anyway, assuming he can get his foot in the door... he plays it cool. Arms folded, gaze off to the side, trying to look nonchalant as fuck.]
Hey.
Eventually, he has to talk to Ain. He knows that much for certain. And he definitely does not want to bring this onto the network again, so that means talking in person is the only option. And he's not sure how well Ain will react to him after what happened... so...
He makes his way to Ain's apartment and knocks. He's not going to say a damn thing until the door opens, and if he has to, he's prepared to jam it open with Dynamo. He has to clear this shit up no matter what.
Anyway, assuming he can get his foot in the door... he plays it cool. Arms folded, gaze off to the side, trying to look nonchalant as fuck.]
Hey.
[Thankfully Ain happened to be home when he knocked or else this would end in an unceremonious whimper.
For the past few days, he's mostly kept to himself. He goes to see his movies (Ryan sneaks him into a few at the non-fancy theatre). He returns to the Grove sometimes to go touch grass since there apparently isn't any here. The whole "moving around a lot" thing has been good for him, and added mental clarity comes from his talk with Till about the whole thing. Ain has no idea that Ezell said anything, naturally, and has simply been operating on the mere thought of "I kind of get why I did a Bad Thing"... and also the more pressing thought of "I love screwing up friendships, that's great :)". All around acceptance mixed with grief at himself.
He's going to continue pretending he's fine like he's been doing with the rest of his newfound depression. Anyway, knock at the door, and he's up on his feet to answer it. He can't say he expects Add, but.]
Hi. [At least he can act normal.] Haha, what is it?
For the past few days, he's mostly kept to himself. He goes to see his movies (Ryan sneaks him into a few at the non-fancy theatre). He returns to the Grove sometimes to go touch grass since there apparently isn't any here. The whole "moving around a lot" thing has been good for him, and added mental clarity comes from his talk with Till about the whole thing. Ain has no idea that Ezell said anything, naturally, and has simply been operating on the mere thought of "I kind of get why I did a Bad Thing"... and also the more pressing thought of "I love screwing up friendships, that's great :)". All around acceptance mixed with grief at himself.
He's going to continue pretending he's fine like he's been doing with the rest of his newfound depression. Anyway, knock at the door, and he's up on his feet to answer it. He can't say he expects Add, but.]
Hi. [At least he can act normal.] Haha, what is it?
[ oh no. Everything happens so much.
Ezell isn't going to just let Ain, y'know, leave after that without someone to make sure he's okay?? Why are these gatherings so hectic, why can't people just settle... Ain, Ezell has no room to speak about the taste in men you have considering his own taste, but also...
Still, he follows after just before Ain's able to make it to the fancy elevators at the end of the hall and just... walks with him. He's holding his hand if he doesn't immediately shy away from touch. ]
My love, hey... I'm not going to make you go back, but I really don't want you to be alone after all that. Can I stay with you?
Ezell isn't going to just let Ain, y'know, leave after that without someone to make sure he's okay?? Why are these gatherings so hectic, why can't people just settle... Ain, Ezell has no room to speak about the taste in men you have considering his own taste, but also...
Still, he follows after just before Ain's able to make it to the fancy elevators at the end of the hall and just... walks with him. He's holding his hand if he doesn't immediately shy away from touch. ]
My love, hey... I'm not going to make you go back, but I really don't want you to be alone after all that. Can I stay with you?
Edited 2025-04-25 03:57 (UTC)
[Ain is quite literally in full-on mental breakdown tears when Ezell meets up with him, so there's not really a hand to hold unless he really wants to grab one of the wet ones. He's not paying attention to where he's going and may or may not physically walk into the wall before remembering to hit the elevator button. It doesn't help that he didn't exactly memorize the path here, and office buildings are confusing and weird and Too Large to his currently-anxious brain. He doesn't know which way is out right now, and maybe he could recall it if he'd stop crying, but.
Alas.
He sniffs.]
I'm fine.
[Nope.]
...I just want to go back to my room and lay down. I'm tired.
Alas.
He sniffs.]
I'm fine.
[Nope.]
...I just want to go back to my room and lay down. I'm tired.
(reply not needed) (you didnt see me forget to switch journals)
lilyberation
2025-04-27 12:43 am (UTC)(link)
( ... at some point after the meeting, a familiar green blob of a bunny is following him. hi. hello. whenever ain sits down, it will hop up and lean against his thigh.
life's hard, isn't it? a good green tea (bunny) can help. )
life's hard, isn't it? a good green tea (bunny) can help. )
Edited 2025-04-27 00:44 (UTC)
[It's been at least a couple days since the meeting, and less than 24 hours since Add and Wolfwood hatched their scheme. If this could be called a scheme, when it is literally just them going back to the Grove and joint-apologizing to Ain. Despite his best efforts not to overthink everything, Wolfwood still has to shoot down Add's scouting proposals as soon as they meet up outside the inn...
Luckily, it does not take long to find out where Ain is. There's a new sign on the tailor shop door, written in cute bubbly letters and decorated with little flowers.]
❀OPEN❀
UNLESS YOU ARE MR. ANCIENT AND MR. PRIEST
❀THEN CLOSED❀
⋆｡‧˚ʚ ❀ ɞ˚‧｡⋆
[Add just stands there, staring at this like he's facing an impenetrable lock.]
... damn, those lines are clean. He spent a long time on that. [Ain is pissed.]
Luckily, it does not take long to find out where Ain is. There's a new sign on the tailor shop door, written in cute bubbly letters and decorated with little flowers.]
UNLESS YOU ARE MR. ANCIENT AND MR. PRIEST
❀THEN CLOSED❀
⋆｡‧˚ʚ ❀ ɞ˚‧｡⋆
[Add just stands there, staring at this like he's facing an impenetrable lock.]
... damn, those lines are clean. He spent a long time on that. [Ain is pissed.]
[Wolfwood has been trying so hard to keep his own anxiety about doing this in check, so having to keep ADD’S in check at the same time is really putting his coping methods to work here. It is truly a miracle they’ve made it to the Grove and haven’t already screwed this up by breaking and entering or something.
Probably for the best they just came to the door first, because that sign speaks volumes. Wolfwood feels his shoulders sag, but the one silver lining is that the sign tells them without doubt that Ain is inside. They don’t have to waste time trying to find him.
But the downside…is that he’s inside. So.]
Yeah, I know.
[Seeing their nicknames again is salt in the wound. It makes Wolfwood’s confidence flag, if only briefly, wondering if this is salvageable at ALL…
But then he takes a breath, steels himself, and walks forward to knock on the door before moving back to stand beside Add again.]
Probably for the best they just came to the door first, because that sign speaks volumes. Wolfwood feels his shoulders sag, but the one silver lining is that the sign tells them without doubt that Ain is inside. They don’t have to waste time trying to find him.
But the downside…is that he’s inside. So.]
Yeah, I know.
[Seeing their nicknames again is salt in the wound. It makes Wolfwood’s confidence flag, if only briefly, wondering if this is salvageable at ALL…
But then he takes a breath, steels himself, and walks forward to knock on the door before moving back to stand beside Add again.]
[hello, it's Add Moving In Day. Add has like no possessions so this will not take long to accomplish, it's literally just the clothes Ain gave him when he arrived and the shit he arrived with. The minotaur can live(?) in the lab he ain't carrying that thing past the bunnies and up the stairs.
More importantly... he is walking in and immediately clocking the cute plushies on the bed. Squinting, staring, putting down his heavy heavy clothes pile...]
Is that supposed to be Rena? Ciel, Aisha... [in 2 seconds he will notice the Add(s)]
More importantly... he is walking in and immediately clocking the cute plushies on the bed. Squinting, staring, putting down his heavy heavy clothes pile...]
Is that supposed to be Rena? Ciel, Aisha... [in 2 seconds he will notice the Add(s)]
[Add has to move in and that means Ain has to clean his room :( This will take longer on Ain's end than anything. Granted he already started rearranging the dresser and closet beforehand, but it doesn't mean that he's thought about important things like maybe rearranging his plants and grabbing all the animals and also yeah the plushie pile sitting on the loft bed—
Shit. The plushies.
Ain, who's walking behind Add at this moment and cannot possibly hide this anymore, goes fucking red and scrambles up onto the bed to start pulling the friend plushies down, stuffing them into his arms and then having no earthly clue what to do with them help—]
Ugh. I was having an emotional crisis and got these from Ms. Trader... don't look at them too long, I forgot to hide them.
Shit. The plushies.
Ain, who's walking behind Add at this moment and cannot possibly hide this anymore, goes fucking red and scrambles up onto the bed to start pulling the friend plushies down, stuffing them into his arms and then having no earthly clue what to do with them help—]
Ugh. I was having an emotional crisis and got these from Ms. Trader... don't look at them too long, I forgot to hide them.
[Well, if she's going to go to a wedding and work, she at least needs to look halfway decent. Which is why she head to the tailor and... knocks on the door? Is she supposed to go in? So many businesses here also seem to be personal residences, what is she supposed to do.]
Uh... Hello? Anyone in there?
Uh... Hello? Anyone in there?
[The good news is Ain doesn't live at the tailor shop! Or so he'd claim anyway. The bad news is Ain is actually outside of it, on account of he is in deer-taur form and therefore cannot get his fat ass through the door :(
Luckily he hears Meryl, floppy ears flicking, and trots over to her all happy like he doesn't know he's going to scare the daylights out of her probably—]
Hi, Miss! Haha, sorry, I don't fit in there very easily these days~.
[But this is definitely the tailor, if the bolts of fabric over his back and strewn throughout his antlers is anything to go by.
Unfortunately he is 8ft tall right now and has to lean down a fair bit to talk to her. Sorry girl—]
Luckily he hears Meryl, floppy ears flicking, and trots over to her all happy like he doesn't know he's going to scare the daylights out of her probably—]
Hi, Miss! Haha, sorry, I don't fit in there very easily these days~.
[But this is definitely the tailor, if the bolts of fabric over his back and strewn throughout his antlers is anything to go by.
Unfortunately he is 8ft tall right now and has to lean down a fair bit to talk to her. Sorry girl—]
[ There's a knock at Ain's door, but when he answers there isn't anyone there... but there's faint giggling if he manages to catch it. The culprit didn't go far.
Left there for Ain are a letter and the same plate Pavlova had been working on, now finished. Ain will be able to recognize the heart pattern around the edge of the plate have all of the associated colors of his current partners (whether in this world or not) and the center is some kind of depiction of Ain's own, albeit with any less flattering or terribly detailed parts excluded. ]
Left there for Ain are a letter and the same plate Pavlova had been working on, now finished. Ain will be able to recognize the heart pattern around the edge of the plate have all of the associated colors of his current partners (whether in this world or not) and the center is some kind of depiction of Ain's own, albeit with any less flattering or terribly detailed parts excluded. ]
[Ain poking his head out of the bakery like "I'm gonna Getcha"...
Pavlova will hear him laugh very warmly before he tucks the letter away, runs the plate inside, and goes Pav-huntin'... which is a funny way of saying "tracking the giggling". It doesn't turn out to be that difficult.
The plate is extremely cute, by the way. He thinks he'll keep it in his room rather than using it to eat off of, since it seems more like a cherished trinket and not something he wants getting scratched up by utensils.]
Haha, where are you? You should come out so I can thank you properly, you know.
Pavlova will hear him laugh very warmly before he tucks the letter away, runs the plate inside, and goes Pav-huntin'... which is a funny way of saying "tracking the giggling". It doesn't turn out to be that difficult.
The plate is extremely cute, by the way. He thinks he'll keep it in his room rather than using it to eat off of, since it seems more like a cherished trinket and not something he wants getting scratched up by utensils.]
Haha, where are you? You should come out so I can thank you properly, you know.
[ Saying things have been “hectic” lately is putting things lightly. Elsword’s had quite a few things on the forefront of his mind, but how… when can he bring it up? He doesn’t know?? Elsword spends a lot of time in Ain’s room, even if he prefers to camp outside. But Ain is feeling all sorts of upset and it’s hard to just leave him on his own. Or, rather, with his fiancé(?????), but still!!!
He fidgets with some of the plushies of Add Ain has, wondering if he should put these up with the others so it’s hurt him less. Ugh… it just makes him not wanna talk about his own issues even more. ]
Ain…? [ Finally speaking up, but his eyes are closed because he isn’t sure where to look. ] Do you remember anything about that… dream-like place we were in?
He fidgets with some of the plushies of Add Ain has, wondering if he should put these up with the others so it’s hurt him less. Ugh… it just makes him not wanna talk about his own issues even more. ]
Ain…? [ Finally speaking up, but his eyes are closed because he isn’t sure where to look. ] Do you remember anything about that… dream-like place we were in?
[Meanwhile, Ain is actively hallucinating,
Zahran "fixed" him, "healed" his brain. He's still partly entrenched in that shared dream that Elsword brings up, but now it's been fixed so that it's a guiding light to keep Ain sane through the darkness. The dreams will lessen as his psyche heals, he's told. He won't have those delusions if he doesn't "need" them, as the magic goes. In terms of relative sadness, Ain has been a lot better even if deep-down he knows most of this isn't real; if he simply lets his mind wander, everything feels real enough, and this is what he's banking on right now. It's a messed-up way to live. He knows it is. But still...
Anyway, the plushies stay out. And yes, he carries the Elsword plushies around with him, in full view of the other man, literally all the time.
He's normal.]
I remember all of it, yeah. Why...?
Zahran "fixed" him, "healed" his brain. He's still partly entrenched in that shared dream that Elsword brings up, but now it's been fixed so that it's a guiding light to keep Ain sane through the darkness. The dreams will lessen as his psyche heals, he's told. He won't have those delusions if he doesn't "need" them, as the magic goes. In terms of relative sadness, Ain has been a lot better even if deep-down he knows most of this isn't real; if he simply lets his mind wander, everything feels real enough, and this is what he's banking on right now. It's a messed-up way to live. He knows it is. But still...
Anyway, the plushies stay out. And yes, he carries the Elsword plushies around with him, in full view of the other man, literally all the time.
He's normal.]
I remember all of it, yeah. Why...?
Page 1 of 2