eidxiety | Sticks & Bones // IC Inbox

[Add goes quiet for a moment, still looking over the scattered collection of plush. He's nodding absently at the storage space plans, but his thoughts linger elsewhere.]

... doesn't really feel like it's been two months. [and yet]

I'm not going anywhere without you, so... even if it takes another year, I'll be here. We'll figure the rest of the shit out later.

[He was pretty hard on Ain before about "moving on"... but it's a heavy topic. And, well, how much progress has Add made since he got here? He realizes now he was kind of being a huge ass back then.

But apologizing directly is hard. His dynamos start to fidget next to him, radiating anxious energy.]

... if I was here by myself for that long, I don't know how I'd deal. Not like I'm any good at talking to people. [It's a miracle he didn't start a fistfight at the family meeting, honestly.]

[At that last comment, Ain manages a soft laugh, flitting about again to move some plants off the loft desk. He did say this was Add's now. It's just a matter of figuring out where things will go... he thinks he's going to set some in the living room, actually. It's not like anyone will mind, and there's a big window there anyway.

Decisions, decisions.]

You're really bad at talking to people, yeah. But look at you now~! You've made friends and everything! [All on his own! Definitely without Ain interfering! Totally did not have to push for this to happen nope!] I'm pretty sure your inability to talk to people makes you more charming anyway. You would've made it just fine without me being here to keep you out of trouble.

[Would he, though...]

Tch. That's not something I typically try to do. Even with the El Search Party, "friendship" had nothing to do with that decision.

[Attachments go against his goals. Even now... it's somehow fine, if it's someone Ain was already hopelessly attached to, but Add is still reluctant to call anyone here a "friend". If he were here by himself, with that other-universe Elsword or no one familiar at all... it's hard to say if he'd ever open up to others.

It'd be lonely, though. Maybe lonely enough to get some cringe-ass plushies of his friends.]

Anyway, where's yours? You have one for everyone else in the party. [and also whoever the fuck Lithia is]

[Yeah he has no idea who this random woman is but she's ?? green he supposes. She came with the set, he doesn't know, she'll be in the windowsill for now.]

Oh, uh... Well, I didn't ask Ms. Trader for plushies of myself, but they all came as a set... So when I wound up with some of me, I just gave them to Ezell and Nikolaus. [He shrugs, not realising the can of worms he just opened.] I don't know if she threw those in as a bonus or what, but hugging a little tiny— [gesturing with his hands like he might be squishing something] —me wasn't exactly mending my loneliness issues.

[Add was ready to be very normal about this, actually, because it did seem likely that Ain just wouldn't have asked for a plush of himself. And yet, somehow]

You gave both of them away?! [Wolfwood and Ezell got one?? And there's none for him???? What the fuck] If it comes as a set you're supposed to keep them together, isn't that just common sense? Don't split off just one!

[YOU WEREN'T FUCKING HERE!!!!!]

I didn't want to cuddle myself! Why are you getting mad? If you want one, I can go ask Ms. Trader for another one, she won't say no.

[Why are you like this, Add.]

I didn't say I wanted one, I just said you shouldn't have given it away! [but he does absolutely want one, yeah.]

Ugh, whatever! It's not that important, they're just a bunch of dolls.

[and if he migrates Eve over to his desk later... maybe she was always there, and Ain just forgot he did that. Yeah.]

Mmhm.

[He does not believe you...... but either way. Room: Cleaned. Add: moved in. Bed: there's one of them, hope Add lives.]

Haha, I think the bed's big enough for the two of us. I just put clean sheets on, and got extra pillows... you're not going to have trouble hitting your head when you climb up here, right?

[Somehow, the bed situation did not occur to him until just now... the plushies were too much of a distraction. He stares up at it in blank confusion, like he is still trying to grasp where both of them will sleep.

... one bed... for the two of them...]

Th... that's fine! You can take one side and I'll take the other. [that's how beds work, yes.]

...uh-huh, that's normally how that goes? It's a tight fit, but you won't have to sleep on top of me unless you want to.

[Ain is going up the ladder now to lay against the spot by the wall, sitting with his head propped on his hand and gazing down at Add from over the bedrail.]

I could get a bigger one, if you think this is too small, I guess? Haha~. Why don't you come up here and tell me?

[This is it. This is how he dies. He somehow survived the kiss, but sleeping right next to Ain, Known Cuddler, without any means to escape...

He swallows thickly, then... lifts himself up to bed-level with Dynamo, looking way too visibly nervous for a guy climbing into a bed he shares with his boyfriend. Because Ain is still his boyfriend. This is a thing he already decided on and accepted, so this shouldn't be weird at all, right? This is normal??

He looks around like he's scrutinizing the bed space even though it's really obvious he's just stalling. He's nervous don't make fun of him]

... bigger... wouldn't be worse. Isn't more space objectively a good thing? [please don't say you prefer tight spaces he might cry]

Haha, this whole thing with the desk is one set, so you're going to help me build a bigger loft bed if you want one. I guess a bigger desk for you won't go amiss either. We don't exactly have infinite space in here, though.

[Tragically, Add is going to have to deal with Ain getting his hands on string lights after this and absolutely covering every single wall and object with them. "We don't have infinite space" he'll say before occupying 50% of it with lights and trinkets. RIP.

He opens his arms to Add, head falling down onto the pillows.]

Why don't you test how comfy it is by falling into my arms~?

I can build a desk. [can he????] I'll put it at the top of my priorities. We'll expand the size by at least 1.5x, that should give us plenty to work with...

[But for now... they just have this bed. And he's being asked to lay down and try it.

No, he's being asked to fall into Ain's arms like a lovey-dovey couple. Add can't help but make a face. This should be a simple task to complete, and yet...]

S... sure. Yeah.

[He... crawls onto the opposite end of the bed. Not much space here for a second person without making physical contact, but he is trying. Maybe it's like stepping into a pool? If he acclimates first the rest won't be as bad?]

[Add...

Too bad Ain's a big ol' cuddly dumbass and will not give him time to acclimate, the second Add even gets onto the bed he's being snapped up by this hungry piranha he calls a partner and hugged.]

Haha, tight fit, huh?

[Add's whole body jolts on contact, instantly ruining Ain's hair. He doesn't try to run, at least, but he goes completely still like a wild animal trying to play dead while Ain engulfs him in a powerful, inescapable hug. Dynamo jitters in the air next to the bed, unable to do anything to save their master.]

Yeah. [squeaking like air out of a balloon... girl help,]

[Ow—

Somehow, this does not convince him to let go. He's pulling Add down and laying his tail over the man's legs, leaving him minimal avenue to escape as Ain squashes his face right into Add's shoulder.

The tip of his tail is wagging. Thump thump thump.]

Finally, I get to do this when you're sober!

[Well! He did say he'd have to get used to the shocks! So this is good! That he's not just pushing Add away!

He's still in shock, so he focuses most of his attention on... the thumping tail. Ain is going to bruise his legs with that. Does this mean dragons are kind of like dogs, or is that just Ain's dog-like behaviour...?]

... Not a lot of room to move around. Fifty... no, sixty percent more space would be ideal... [mumble mumble]

You want to double the size of the bed? Our room isn't that massive, you know.

[Ain is definitely golden retriever coded, yeah. His tail is always wagging, he's sorry about the future bruising. He'll heal it, he's just so happy right now he's not thinking about the repercussions of that fat-ass tail of his.

Anyway, he plants a kiss to Add's shoulder. Good luck.]

I'll go easy on you, don't worry~. It's not like I sleep shirtless or anything.

It's not doubled. That'd be one hundred percent more, not sixty.

[He sighs at Ain's shitty math, but now that he's been laying like this for awhile... it is pretty comfortable, even with the fat tail beating up his legs. It really is like acclimating to a pool?

The shoulder kiss makes him second guess that analysis, but in the end, he is still laying here without bursting into flames. Maybe... it won't be that bad? Yeah. He can totally handle this and not be weird about it. He tries to relax, staring awkwardly at the ceiling.]

I've never really... shared a bed, before. So. I-if there's anything I should know, like preferences, or... if we go to sleep at different times, I'll try not to be too disruptive. Electrical buildup shouldn't happen while I'm sleeping, but I've never tested it under these conditions before... [he's babbling nervously again, why does his brain always do this]

[God Add I hope you're morosexual because—]

If it's fifty percent, that means you're halving the bed and adding that half onto it. Which is doubling it. [NO, IT'S NOT. IT'S REALLY NOT.]

...anyway, there's nothing weird you have to do. It's a bed. You sleep when you're tired, and if I'm here, you don't have to worry about waking me up. I don't have to sleep anyway, I just do it sometimes when I have nothing better to do. [Angels, man.] I'm more interested in getting to cuddle with you. If you shock me, I'll get over it. Stop worrying so much~.

Urghh— no, you're halving it and adding half. So it's three halves. That's not even close to doubled. [he still hasn't figured it out yet but yeah, thank fuck.

Ain doesn't even need to sleep, he just wants to cuddle... somehow, that only makes him worry more. What if... he's a bad cuddler? Is there still a chance he might get dumped because Ain didn't realize just how bad of a boyfriend Add would be? These are the stressful thoughts that plague Add's mind.]

... it's really warm up here. Maybe I should set up air conditioning...

It's 'cause there's two of us... and you're flustered. Haha, you don't have to worry about anything, but we could see about installing something like that if it makes you feel better.

[Let go of your stressful thoughts. Put them in the trash where they belong. Ain is going to kiss Add's cheek now, slow and soft and sweet. Please take a deep breath.]

I run cold, so maybe you should hold my hand? It might cool you off~. [he is Going to keep trying to rizz add sorry not sorry]

[He sighs, reluctantly losing himself in Ain's affections. It's in his nature to overthink everything, but when Ain is this close and wrapped all around him... maybe the answer all along is to just focus on that, and not whatever the hell he might be doing wrong. He can intuit his errors based on Ain's reactions...

With that reasoning in mind, he shifts around to free his arm, seeking out Ain's hand. The gloves lessen the impact of it, but he entwines their fingers nonetheless.

...

This isn't cooling him off at all, but the difference in hand-temperature is something new to focus on. He breathes in and out slowly, running the numbers through his head.]

... thermal exchange like that only works in the short term. Once the heat balances out, the difference won't be that noticeable.

Mmhmm, but maybe you'll calm down a little if you get used to it? Then you won't run so hot.

[Realistically, Ain could throw off the entire balance right now by giving Add a massive kiss, but he knows he should at least offer the poor flustered man some reprieve. He's just overjoyed that Add actually agreed to hold his hand... sorry about the tail wags again, but this time he manages to kick his tail off to the opposite side of the bed before it really starts to hurt.]

You're cute, you know, but you're going to give yourself upper back pain if you hold your shoulders that stiffly. I'm not going to bite you, y'know.

[well he might but—]

What are you, a chiropractor? My shoulders are fine.

[He sighs loudly, giving Ain's hand a threatening(?) squeeze. You want him to relax? Fine! Maybe he WILL!

...

...

Huh. This is actually pretty comfortable. Even with Ain clinging so close their faces are almost touching...

Feeling bold, he turns his head a little. From here, barely a hair's breadth away, he can see all the patterns and bands in Ain's eyes, the delicate curve of his lashes, wisps of silver hair that frame his face in sweeping waves... objectively speaking he always knew Ain was pretty, but he never really felt it appropriate to take an in depth look. Since he wasn't into guys.

Thought he wasn't into guys. Actually may have been into guys and had no idea how to check. Well. He sure is checking now.

He lets his gaze linger for a little too long, studying Ain's complexion very seriously.]

You... have a very symmetrical face.

[???????????????

he's trying]

Sticks & Bones // IC Inbox

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cw: handholding and kissing before marriage

ooh the cops are gonna getchu now...

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