eidxiety | Sticks & Bones // IC Inbox

[Wolfwood gives a sort of noncommittal grunt as Ain fusses over him, watching as he rushes off to grab things. Wolfwood is, uh...well his pain tolerance is high, and he's never known patience in most things, so his blazer and undershirt will be off by the time Ain returns. It was not an easy or pleasant process, and it looks like he really had to pull to get it off in some places, judging by how angry and raw the burnt skin appears. And of course he's still bleeding, though the bleeding has begun to slow somewhat with the adrenaline leaving him, replaced with pain.

So, so much pain.

Hopefully Ain is as good at repairing clothing as he says he is, otherwise Wolfwood is going to have to ask Heimr for a new signature outfit. It's kindof ruined currently, laying half balled up on the floor nearby.]

Nnghh...

[He's going to have to tolerate the pain for a little longer. Ain's healing will soothe it, but he shouldn't heal wounds that are, y'know, dirty and yucky unless it's an absolute emergency, like they're out in the woods and a limb will be lost type of emergency. These are just wounds. Deep ones, but as much as Ain said Wolfwood could make things sound more urgent, he's not in danger of losing anything other than a lot of blood.

He tends to the worst one first, the gash across Wolfwood's arm that's preventing it from being used. There's black skin around the wound from where the flames burned it away, but most of Ain's focus is the actual gash itself. He's careful when he dabs at it to get the outside gunk out, but it's gonna hurt.

He looks a little sombre.]

What was this fight about? Did the Creature send something after us and I missed it?

[It hurts. Fuck, it hurts. Wolfwood manages to bite back a cry of pain the moment Ain starts to clean out the wound where the burns begin, but it really does suck.]

N-nah...we had another new asshole show up. He was messin' around with your flowers.

[He was WATERING them stop LYING BY OMISSION]

I told 'im to fuck off, and he decided he wanted to fight about it.

Oh, the demon bastard. [Ain.] I saw him out front, but he didn't seem to be doing anything, so after watching for a bit I let him be.

[But only because the space-time continuum would explode you know how it is.]

... [Wait a second—] You were fighting a guy over my flowers?

[wwwwwwwwwait a second.]

[...Wolfwood pauses for a moment, then glances away with his jaw sort of jutting out a little.

Huff.]

Wasn't a big deal. He didn't even ask. I didn't want 'im to trample all over your plants.

[...]

He said before he left t'tell you not to water 'im cause he did it already.

[Men. They're menning.]

[Oh my god the men are menning.

Ain's methodical wound-cleaning sort of... stops, and then he looks briefly lost in thought before it picks up again. His cheeks are red, oh no, he's having a thought. A feeling, even.]

W-well... good to know, haha, I won't. [wheeze.] ...thanks for doing that. You didn't have to, but... I really do appreciate it.

[...cleaning wounds we're cleaning wounds we're— we're healing this one wound that's what's happening haha hooooooboy don't think about it that heavily Ain, he doesn't like you that much he's just being nice Ain!!!

wheeze.

Anyway, he's going to do his little golden healy magic thing to Wolfwood's arm. One wound down.]

[What, have you never had a guy fist fight another guy over the honor of your flower patch? That's a totally normal and heterosexual thing to do. Also Wolfwood getting particularly pissed off at Flamebringer assuming he was straight was also very normal.

Wolfwood exhales slowly as he feels the strange-as-usual sensation of the wounds being stitched back together by magic. He'll need to wash off to get rid of the blood, but that can happen later when he's no longer at risk of bleeding out in Ain's brand new tailor shop. Sorry about that, by the way-]

Was nothin'. Think the guy was cruisin' for a fight anyway.

[As if Wolfwood wasn't the one who instigated it, even if Flamebringer started it technically.]

[No, in fact, Ain has not had this happen!! What are you being chivalrous for aren't you supposed to be an asshole? (As if Wolfwood being an asshole worked to stop Ain being attracted to him before??) Please do something evil so he can say "oh thank god" and not think anything of this aaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAA—]

Still.

[Ain has to stand now to hover over Wolfwood's shoulder/chest/collar area where the blade dug in. Again, that same process of cleaning occurs. He's being as gentle as possible, but some flecks of dirt and muck are really, really embedded in there. He's so sorry Wolfwood.

He unfortunately doesn't have another chair either, that's the chair he uses when he's at the sewing table, so he's going to stand there and hover awkwardly while he dabs at the gash.]

You're lucky these aren't too deep. They're, mmm, cooked enough as it is.

[Like that heat is gonna cauterize the wounds but still.]

Don't make me worry about you when I'm not there.

[Ain is hovering over him...more like practically in his lap, honestly, because of where these wounds rest. Especially that one on his shoulder, there's really no other way he could get to it and uhhhhh-

Well for what it's worth, Wolfwood is a good(?) patient. He only hisses in pain and grouses every once in a while. He knows better than to try to move around too much while Ain is working, after all.]

Ain't my fault the dick had a flamin' sword.

[Like what the fuck, unfair. It's not like Wolfwood wasn't swinging around a machine gun or anything.]

...sorry. But I can't promise I won't do it again.

[He is just Like This.]

[Yeah, you're right Wolfwood, he is almost in your lap and this is becoming difficult to just... lean like this. So.

Ain plops down in Wolfwood's lap in a full straddle, do not worry about this, and continue cleaning. The wound stretches down his chest a bit, and like, any other time Ain would be honking titty. He is Focused this time.

...

You know, kind of.]

I know. But you have to accept I'm gonna worry about you if that's the case.

[Oh boy. Yeah, Ain is just in his lap now, and Wolfwood...is being still, for what it's worth, but the tension in his jaw is just a little more than it was previously, and he clearly has no idea where to put his hands right now since both of his arms are still a little fucked. So, he'll just let them hang for the time being, tilting his head back slightly while Ain leans over him and works.

Now, suddenly, Wolfwood is very aware of how gross he probably is. He's covered in sweat from the fight and the pain, he's dirty and burned, he's bloody since he hasn't washed that off yet either...ugh. Whatever, Ain's the one volunteering to help (as if he didn't come staggering in here basically asking for it without words).]

Yeah. I tend to...invite that.

[Wolfwood's a little gross, but it's not like Ain hasn't gone a week without a bath before. When you're on the road between towns, sometimes it's hard to stop to take care of things like that. He gets it. Adventuring party and all.

It does not stop him from sitting there and cleaning that wound still. The dabs slow gradually, and then when Ain is pretty sure all the dirt is gone, he places his hand flat over the wound and lets his magic flow into the cut to stitch it closed.]

You know, if you're not really careful... you might get hurt in a way I can't fix. And I'll be...

[He takes a breath, exhales. Swallows... looks into Wolfwood's eyes.]

...I'll be really sad if you're gone.

[Haha, ha...what a sobering reminder of what Wolfwood has been grappling with silently for the past couple of days. The idea that, should they ever escape the Grove and go home, he's not really long for the world anyway. He has...maybe a year at most he reckons, if more than a few months. The world is slated to go on without him, and he's going to die young just like he always imagined he would.

So when Ain says he'd be sad if he were gone, Wolfwood's expression softens in a way that's possibly a touch uncharacteristic, for him. He looks back at him as Ain presses his palms gently to his chest and heals the gash over, giving them some time to just sit in the suddenly somber silence.]

Yeah...?

[...]

I guess...me bein' an ass really didn't stick after all, huh.

Hm?

[He should not be doing this. He's done healing Wolfwood, the man needs to go wash the blood off so Ain can focus on scrubbing his blazer and shirt out and stitching the tears. He also needs to, y'know, move his hand off of Wolfwood's chest. Clean the floors...

Instead of doing any of that, he's tracing little patterns over the skin he just repaired with his index finger.]

You really don't clean your ears out or listen, haha. I told you after we kissed on the pier... I like boys like you. You being a catty asshole really doesn't turn me off.

Edited 2024-07-07 00:26 (UTC)

[He shouldn't, and yet...Wolfwood ain't movin'. He's still got his head tilted back a little, and he feels...a weird melancholy feeling deep in his chest, because he keeps thinking about how fragile his time really is. He could be in the Grove for another hundred years, or just one more day. He has no way of knowing, and that's honestly more terrifying than he'd ever like to admit. He never feared death before when he constantly faced it every day, but...it's never felt more real than it does now.

Ain...is helping, believe it or not. And Wolfwood's expression only softens further, turning a bit wry as he tilts his head forward until theirs are almost touching.]

I'd almost think you like catty assholes, then.

Isn't that what I said? [Ain's voice is lower now, soft and husky, and he mirrors that head tilt.] In more words, I suppose.

[It is stupid dangerous to be fucking around like this, if only because Ain knows better than to think he can keep someone whose heart is tied elsewhere — to other people, to a world Ain doesn't see himself going to ever unless it's with the rest of the El Search Party via portal and they're helping fix things. He doesn't know about Wolfwood's real ending. He can't say he'd pay a visit if he knew.

Yet... the way he sort of leans their heads together, not quite closing the gap between their lips, says risk. It's a willingness. It's the need to be cared for and close to someone, the desire to be wanted, and no one ever said Ain wasn't a slave to his own emotions. Despite how hard he wants to run from them...

Part of his brain is telling him he can't have this. Anything like this. Not someone from another world. And part of it... wants to keep flirting and being gross and getting closer. But God, his brain says, you know better. You're only gonna hurt yourself.]

But you've got this... this kindness about you that I really, really like too. You're not all rough around the edges. You're...

[Takes a breath.]

Ich will dich. I don't think it's good for me.

[The moment they're sharing is definitely charged with something alright; that isn't just something Ain is experiencing. Wolfwood, granted, is still in a lot of pain, but it's less than it was when he first got here by a huge amount thanks to Ain's healing. It means it's reduced to a dull, distant throb in the background now as they look back at one another. He's almost forgotten that Ain's hands are still on his chest, because the feeling...

It's nice. Really nice.]

Yeah? I mean...I coulda' told you that. I ain't good for most people.

[He says that with a sort of humorous lilt, sarcasm tinging his words because he has no idea what it is Ain just said to him, exactly. He's safe, for now.]

...but I appreciate the vote of confidence. I do.

Mm...

[Is it a vote of confidence or is Ain just really really into Wolfwood, one wonders... the answer is both actually, but still. He... should probably do something else. He should not close that gap between them, he should go get Wolfwood like a tylenol or something. His magic only does so much God why is he useless and bad aaaaaaAAAAAA—

Ain swallows thickly and ekes out the most awkward, quiet laugh he can manage. It's not his usual loud ones, even though most of the time that is something of a verbal tic. It's muted, it's not really there, and he slides off of Wolfwood's lap with his cheeks red and his eyes on the floor.]

...well, you don't need me mucking everything up for you. [He does not explain, he just chews on his feelings and swallows them and then ducks down to grab the destroyed clothing off of the floor.] I'm— I'll— you should wash up while I take care of these for you. It'll be a few hours, so take your time.

[Oh bye...Wolfwood watches with his head still cocked to one side as Ain suddenly gets up, and just like that the tension between them breaks and melts away a bit. No, he doesn't quite get what he means by "mucking everything up" other than maybe messing with his wounds a little too much, or something? But...hm. Hm hm...

He sits up a little further, rubbing at the side of his face with the heel of his hand.]

A'ight...I'll go to the bath house, then.

[Sorry to everyone who has to see Wolfwood just walk there tits out because Flamebringer decided to flamebroil his clothing.]

You can drop by the church t'give it back. I'll...prolly hang out there afterwards until evening.

[Which is what he's been doing, lately.]

Haha, I'll try to have it done before evening. I sew pretty fast.

[Kinda have to, y'know. But...

Ain does not meet Wolfwood's eyes as the man ducks out. He is very, very nervous. The vibe is very much "high schooler with a crush" or something stupid like that. He will probably faceplant into Wolfwood's blazer and cry about it when the man's gone.

For now, though, once Wolfwood is out, Ain runs to the inn to get fresh water again and start scrubbing both the clothes, and while those dry, the floors need to be mopped and he needs to pick up the stuff he dropped and he needs to scream just a liiiiiiittle bit. Why do you have to be so pretty and so attractive you're bullying him by being hot he cannot have you (according to him anyway).

Wheeze.

Anyway, Dachie will follow Wolfwood around for the next several hours because when you are moderately emotion-tied with your owner, turns out when your owner really wants to be with a guy, you get the impulse to be with the guy as well! Hi he loves u! Did you know his dad also loves you—

Ain will be along to the church this evening, though, with sewn-up clothes.]

[Well, if the owldog wants to come along, Wolfwood isn't going to stop him. Though, he's not sure how much he'll enjoy the bath house. Do Dachies like water? He has no idea.

Anyway, he is- as of right now- oblivious to Ain's struggles. He does feel kindof bad for foisting this on him in specific, but...he felt like Ain could help him with both his clothes and the wounds, and then he wouldn't have to bother the clinic about it. It's a win-win.

And also maaaaaaaaybe he wanted to see Ain again. Just a little, but you can't prove anything.

Anyway, he showers and scrubs the blood off himself, then takes some time to soak because he's learned this is a thing he can do and greatly enjoys, actually. It helps work some of the tension out of his muscles, to the point where he nearly just fucking falls asleep in there...but Dachie probably barks and wakes him up, at which point he'll dry off, put his pants back on because they're the only thing that survived, and then head to the church.

When Ain comes in, he'll notice that all of the church pigeons are congregated around where Wolfwood is sitting in the pews, either pecking at the floor or loafed on the pews and other objects nearby, some of them up in the rafters. Quite a few are circled around Dachie preening him, and Wolfwood...

Well, have you ever seen a shirtless Priest hunched over a pew as if in prayer, when in reality he's just kindof? Sitting??? Cause that's where he's at.]

[Ain briefly wonders if Wolfwood doesn't own any other shirts... why is he here shirtless.

(Dachie loves water, to answer the question, and he will bark if Wolfwood falls asleep and he will let the pigeons preen him.)

The signal to Ain entering the church before Ain himself has even said anything, other than the door creaking, is Zinnia flying in and circling and cooing before she lands right on Dachie's back. Then, there's a breath, and he calls out:]

Mr. Fa— [—ther Daddy Priest, but it doesn't finish leaving his lips even as a joke, because he still has bees in his brain and they're still horribly, terribly loud.] ...Haha, you must only own this shirt. You know Mr. Shopkeeper sells other shirts, don't you?

[Comes around the pews and sits down next to Wolfwood to plop clothes in his lap. Here you go! They're repaired, with only a very thin stitch line to indicate they were ever torn and burnt in the first place. There's a single pink hydrangea tucked into the pocket of the blazer, a little hidden and lumpy. Wolfwood might find it now, he might find it later, and maybe he recalls their conversation about flower meanings the other day when they went on their not-date.]

Ah, well. Don't got many others I like as much, really.

[It's both that he probably only owns this pair (mostly) and because...while he DOES have a couple other articles of clothing because he's not insane, they're all back at the house and he doesn't really want to go there right now. So: shirtless Wolfwood is here. He is stupid.

He is, however, impressed by Ain's stitch-work. He had prepared himself for a bunch of ugly scarring (not much unlike his body, these days), but instead it's almost as if it was never damaged to begin with. He lets out a soft, impressed huff as he lets his fingertips brush over the stitching.]

You did a damn good job. I wouldn't'a even known it was ripped if I didn't know where the holes were.

[As for the flower...he'll find it later, when he's rummaging around for his cigarettes or lighter or something. He'll pull it out and know it's from Ain, and then be too dumb to remember exactly what that one means. He'll ask Ain about it one of these days though, don't you worry. Wolfwood will remember this etc etc.

Anyway, he's pulling both undershirt and blazer back on now, buttoning the undershirt up halfway before tossing the blazer on overtop. There. Now he looks like a professional slob instead of a complete one.]

...thanks, Ain. Sorry I, uh. Kinda...just came and bled all over your shop like that. I can come back and clean your floor later, if ya want.

Oh, I already cleaned it. It's fine. I'm... glad you came to see me anyway. This is gonna sound bad, but I...

[Bite back your feelings bite them back eat them swallow them kill them—]

...I like being the one you come to first when you need something. [Whew, that was almost extremely gay for a second. Could've said something like "the other healers don't need to see you shirtless". What would Harque think!! (Probably "oh god this man is hurt" honestly.)] I guess you really only needed me for my ability to sew, though, so... haha, nevermind.

[Kill him kill him kill him.]

...did you really wait in here all day for me to finish all that?

[MMMM I dunno Ain that was still pretty gay...

But Wolfwood seems to take it in stride as he sits back against the pew, letting his arms rest along the back of it.]

I mean, y'kinda also patched me up. That counts too, I think.

[Otherwise he'd probably have bled out long before now, so!!!

He tilts his head back a little, looking forward at the front of the church ahead of them. The confessional is there and growing dust because nobody uses it (Wolfwood is NOT the person you want to come confess to right now, his brain is too full of shit for it so he gets it), and his Punisher sits at the pulpit like a proper cross, even though it's anything but.]

Hah? Mm...I guesso, yeah. Wasn't tryna' rush you or nothin'.

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