eidxiety | Sticks & Bones // IC Inbox

Up to you. It’s gonna be all dusty and cramped in there though. Your pretty wings will get all squished.

[But judging by the look on his face, it seems like Wolfwood is all for it. Like sure, fuck it, why not? He wants to see him Angel again. Let him see Angel please-]

They're light and wispy, they'll be okay.

[They're not actually used for flight, that's what Ain's magic is for. No sweat. Although, yeah, they're gonna bend a bit.

He's quick to finish that lollipop first though. It's not huge, he gets through it easily in a few minutes and then tosses the stick in the trash before he hauls himself into the confessional. It'll help to not get flashbanged anyway... He knows he's bright. Like the last time, there's a brief flicker of light — hidden mostly by the booth doors — and then Ain steps out in his angel form again.

The ribbony wings get a little caught up in the environment as he steps out, tail swaying, and then leans casually in the doorway.]

You really like this form, huh? Is it 'cause you're religious?

[Wolfwood watches as the inside of the confessional floods with light, and just a moment later, Ain steps out in all of his angelic glory. And it truly is something else, for Ain to speak and seem like he’s coming from everywhere at once. It makes him feel some kind of way, that’s for sure. He is more than a little interested, let’s just say.

But now that the immediate danger of the light show has passed, Wolfwood is able to take a good look, gesturing with a nod of his head.]

Y’could say that, yeah. Now c’mere so I can see.

[Well!! If Wolfwood is gonna be (playfully) demanding, Ain will just have to come over then! He stops right in front of the man, looking down at him...

Ugh why is he pretty.]

Haha, should I do a little twirl for you? Should I start posing?

[... He's gonna do the little twirl actually. Whee!!]

Hah, well, looks like I wasn't gonna be able t'stop you anyway.

[Wolfwood smirks as Ain twirls around, showing off his shimmering wings, long tail (??? TAIL?????) and other little wispies included in the package of being an angel. He stops in front of him, looking down at him, and...

Ough. Wolfwood is very suddenly met with this feeling he hasn't felt before, and that's "oh, god, I am being looked down upon by what is essentially a deity and that is making me feel things I was not expecting".

So. Without thinking, he finds himself reaching up with a gesturing hand, encouraging Ain to come even closer.]

You're somethin' else, like this.

[Yeah, Wolfwood, it's the same tail that was sweeping under your chin the night you were sad. Except now you can actually see it is indeed a tail in all the ribbony, fun glowing bits and not like, a bit of wing or anything. It is full stop just a tail.

Ain steps closer until he is standing between Wolfwood's manspreading legs.]

Haha, really, I'm just "me". I guess you can see the scar over my eye clearly in this form too, though. It's not anything super special.

[Don't say that to the xenophile Ain—]

[Now...normally Wolfwood would just ask before reaching out and touching someone, especially unannounced. But he assumes that Ain's wings, light as they are both physical and literal, will not feel his touch at all. He assumes his fingertips will go right through like reaching through a sunbeam, which is why he reaches up to try to touch the edge of one of them as he replies.]

I dunno if I'd say that. Seems pretty special t'me.

[They are not, in fact, something Ain doesn't feel. They don't look like they have much of a presence other than taking up space and folding along the edges of obstacles that are in the way like thin sheets of paper, but they have sensation to them, both for Wolfwood and for Ain.

For Wolfwood, they feel like touching sunbeams coming in warm through the window during summertime, something a cat would want to lay against. They're comforting, they're smooth and slick like satin, and based on touch alone they're very likely waterproof. Wolfwood could, in fact, take everything from the metal bases of them and up through his fingers and it would feel like running a length of ribbon over his palm. There's a give to them. They can fold over, they can be squeezed.

For Ain, he cannot hide the way his eyes suddenly widen and his cheeks flare a shade of pink that doesn't otherwise exist on this form, green and white as it is. Any lower on that particular wing, or any firmer a grip, and he might've been making noise about it.]

Aha... well, if you say so. You humans tend to like things that are holy.

[Okay, wow. That's surprising. He isn't expecting the way it feels at all, his brows raising as his fingers curl lightly against the soft warmth of them. They are warm, just as he'd imagined, but he didn't think they'd have this sort of give to them. It's a fascinating sensation, and he's not sure if he's really ever felt anything like it before.

...and yeah, he absolutely notices the look on Ain's face as he's touching them. He isn't telling him to stop, and it doesn't seem like it hurts, so...

He traces their length, from where he first started, down their length just a little bit further. It's like running your fingers along a piece of fabric fresh from the dryer.]

Wow. I didn't think they were...there. Your wings, I mean.

[Ain's logic brain is going "hey girl! you better say something!! better tell him that's an erogenous zone!!" and meanwhile Ain's whore brain is winning and going TOUCH TOUCH TOUCH TOUCH loudly like the horniest digeridoo known to mankind. He opens his mouth to try to warn anyway, and then Wolfwood's fingers glide across the surface of that wing down almost too close to his back and Ain instead lets out the most embarrassing, bitten-back moan a man can muster. Oops—

Shakes it off. Okay. Uh—]

Y-yes, they're quite there. [And because his voice becomes omnidirectional and they're in the church, to say that the noise he just made sort of echoes around the space is an understatement. If you've ever had the son of a deity moan into your ear before, it's that but tenfold.] I can't use them to fly with, but that's what magic is for. An angel's wings are mostly a status symbol. Mine didn't used to be this large, they changed as I grew and learned new things.

[Okay, there comes a point where blissful ignorance can only take you so far, and Wolfwood could not possibly miss that sound Ain just made, bitten back or not.

...he does not STOP touching, because he is an asshole, but his touch does not linger any lower. He's realizing that this is Doing Things to Ain, but he still wants to explore for a second okay-]

So what you're sayin'...

[Traces his fingers back up the way they came.]

Them bein' big means you're real fuckin' smart.

[The way Ain is squirming... Wolfwood do you want an angel in your lap again? This is how you get an angel in your lap again. As it is, he's trying not to just hit the floor and sit on a pigeon or something by accident, and so he suddenly pitches forward and brackets either side of the pew behind Wolfwood's shoulders with his hands. It's mostly to catch himself and keep him upright.

It probably has the unintended effect of making this look a lot worse than it needs to be.]

If that's how you want to interpret it. It could be magical strength, since I'm better than I was five years ago, or... I guess, any form of growth, haha...

[Takes a breath.]

You know what you're doing to me right now, don't you?

[Oh, hello. Just like that, Ain is in his space, crouching over him...and Wolfwood feels that roll in his chest again, which prompts him to drag his fingers back down to where they were. Maybe he'll even try to take one of the thin wisps between his thumb and forefinger, to feel the way it feels very gently pinched between them.]

Uh huh. I'd apologize, but...you ain't stopped me yet. I can't imagine you can reach these all that easy by yourself.

[Well, Wolfwood will find that there's not much bulk to them — they are quite thin — and that it's like squeezing a piece of paper or ribbon or something else flat, but the way Ain has to close his eyes and tip his head down says a lot more than the sensation Wolfwood will feel offers.]

Most humans are shy about this sort of thing, h-haha... are you offering?

[His grip tightens on the back of the pew, the wood just slightly creaking.]

You have... no idea what you're getting into, if so. You probably didn't even catch what I meant earlier before you left... you don't speak Celestial.

Ich will dich. "I want you." That's what I said to you earlier.

[I want you, is a HELL of a fucking thing to say when your voice is all-encompassing, echoing all around you throughout a church of all places. It once more passes through Wolfwood's entire body, like he's able to feel Ain speaking to him, not just hear it. Though it's abundantly clear they've had something brewing between the two of them for a while, Wolfwood still had reason to wonder...or, rather, was oblivious enough to not quite know for sure if what he thought he was seeing was real, or if he was reading into it too much due to his emotions being all dumb and sensitive as of late.

But that's about as explicit as you can get, and fuck him if it doesn't make his heart skip a beat. He exhales on a mildly incredulous breath, tilting his head back as Ain leans over him even further.]

S'that right...?

[Wolfwood lets go of Ain's wing to give him a bit of a break, which is probably entirely unhelpful given the way he reaches up and takes his chin with the very same thumb and forefinger instead.

He feels a weight, deep in his chest. He recalls the conversation Vash had with him and Livio, about their relationship being open, avenues for allowing them to see other people should they desire it. Wolfwood of course had no issue with it, though had stipulated he doubted he'd ever do the same since he only felt like he had feelings for the two of them. But, uh...how quickly that's gone right out the fucking window. At the same time, he knows- at least right now- he shouldn't be fooling around too much until he's gotten all of his affairs in order, relationship wise. He and Vash are still apart as of now, though he intends to talk to him...at some point. The discussion surrounding the future and his death cemented that.

But it's for that reason that Wolfwood finds his expression soften as he reaches forward with his other hand, takes Ain by the back of his neck, and drags him in for a kiss. It's slow and languid, though it never goes any deeper than just a careful press of their lips. The very same as what they'd shared on the beach. And if Ain ends up in his lap because of being pulled forward, that's between him and god.

When they do part again, he speaks low against his lips, just a centimeter of space separating them.]

I need a little time. To...figure my shit out, yaknow? But...if you're willin' to wait for me, then...

[He shrugs one shoulder, reaching around to gently tweak the tips of Ain's wings again.]

Ich will dich.

[There is too much happening all at once suddenly, hi hello. Ain knows this is, frankly, his entire fault — he's the one who also slipped that flower into Wolfwood's pocket so that the guy can wrack his entire brain about it later, but god. Goddamn.

The way Wolfwood drags him in does wind up causing Ain's knees to buckle and their legs to slot together, so yeah, lap sit earned, even if it's only halfway. Sitting like this in a pew is not the most comfortable, these things are not soft at fucking all, but Ain is plopping down after some readjusting anyway. He's being kissed... he didn't think they'd get that far after he shyly ran off about it earlier. It's all too bad, really, that they can't do anything else. He wants the kiss to be deeper, he does. He wants to tangle his fingers in Wolfwood's hair and drag him in until they're both breathless, but legally, Ain doesn't even have to breathe. He could just kiss him until his lungs scream and it would be beautiful and glorious and agh.

He's about to nod and then Wolfwood tweaks one of his wings and there go the hips sorry they're bucking. It is at this moment that they reveal they can, in fact, move independently despite their appearance; Ain folds them back a little so they're sticking out straight behind him, gives it a second, and lets them fall back to their natural position.]

Okay. Then I need you to stop edging me if you don't want this to go further, because that's what you're doing. [Like when he asked and Wolfwood said "yeah"...] This is the equivalent of fingering someone and stopping, you know.

[Erogenous zones!!! Be nice to him!]

...just don't make me wait too long? I don't... I've never felt like this for someone before. I know you don't want a rebound, and I don't want to be a rebound... but if you're gonna tease me and tell me no in the end, I'll be upset.

[Breathes. The Affogato Trauma is Showing.]

[He needs to stop- .....oh. Oh.]

Jesus, sorry-

[He sounds genuinely apologetic as he says that, pulling his hand free and actually leaving Ain alone now in that regard. He will instead let his hand settle on his hip to keep him supported in his lap, his arm sort of loosely looped around his waist in that way.]

Hah...geeze. Didn't mean'ta get you all hot and bothered for nothin'. [He's sowwy :(] ...I can promise you I won't, though. I just...you got the right of it.

[He sighs, his fingers pressing slightly against him. He doesn't want Ain to be just a rebound. That would be unfair to both of them, and Ain already has enough relationship trauma he's juggling at the moment. He's not going to become Ain's second bad time in that regard, which is why he's trying to handle it carefully.

Even if that means edging the poor man beforehand-]

I just wanna make sure I do things right by everybody. You deserve that especially.

[Gently nudges his head against Ain's, their noses brushing because of his big fuckin' schnoz.]

...you coulda' told me sooner you felt that way though, yaknow.

[...his nose is cute...

but Ain is still feeling some type of grossly insecure way now and so he drops the angel form and slides off of Wolfwood's lap again, sitting on the pew nearby but a whole body away. He draws a knee to his chest and wills himself to be calm, face red and eyes looking off into the distance.

Why is he like this why is he like this why is—]

...no? You're taken. I like you, I'm not about to ruin it for you. [Like he nearly did just now haha! That was close.] And I'm...

I'm not used to human emotions. I don't like them, they're uncomfortable, and I don't ever know what to do with them. You're lucky I realised, because otherwise I would've just sat here wondering why all of this... [flips his wrist,] is.

[Takes a breath and oh no the anxiety it's back and it's stepping on his brain—]

And also! Maybe don't kiss someone and say "not right now" immediately afterwards!

[Ah. Wolfwood sits back as Ain quickly and carefully moves away from him, sitting at a deliberate distance that indicates he's not interested in being close any longer, which is fine. Wolfwood will let his arms fall into his lap, looking over at Ain with concern as he draws up into himself, curling in a sort of half ball in the pew there.

Shit. He might have...fucked this one up a little. Shit.]

I...I'm sorry. Really. I shouldn't'a done that. That wasn't fair.

[Be proud of him wherever you are, Mizuki. He doesn't think he's volunteered this many apologies in a single month in...literally his entire life, come to think of it.

...and wait, what was that first part?]

And I mean. I am taken, yeah, but...me n'Liv n'Vash talked about it one day, and we decided we're all cool with...yaknow. Seein' other people too.

[The term is "their polyship is open", but he doesn't have the words for it.]

Like even if we're together. If that makes sense. I just never thought...I'd have those feelin's until. ...

Now.

[Ain's emotions are set to "horny" and "sad" like what the fuck does he call that. Sorny?? He's sorny. Fucker.

Ain isn't going to push someone else's boundaries, of course, but he has to wonder why "we're in an open relationship" also means "but not Right Now". But he doesn't ask for fear of the consequences and the blowback, and he's too anxious to get the words out anyway. He just curls into a little ball and remains curled. The problem with his angel wings not having feathers is that he can't hide behind them, even if he was in that other form.

God, he wants to go become one with the dirt until the anxiety stops. He knows it'll all be fine, logically. They're talking like adults and boundaries are set, neither of them are crossing them... but the nerves and aftershocks don't want to leave him alone. Ain thinks to himself, "see, told you you were gonna fuck it up somehow", if only because it wouldn't have been fucked up if he didn't transform or get closer or let himself be kissed or come back or exist or AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.

Xanax. He needs Xanax. Someone regain some fucking Xanax.]

It... it makes sense. I just feel like I'm intruding, is all.

[Even though he openly flirts, that's like... ignorable, you know? Or like, Affogato flirts and that's fine and good! But having it returned? Scary, that means there's something there and maybe Ain is evil and bad. He does not know how human relationships work, he has not yet read enough books about it.]

Mm... sorry. I'm new to all of this, and my one experience I told you about was really bad. [Runs a hand back through his hair...] I didn't realise you felt the same anyway. I probably never would have. I'm too... mm, Ms. Harnier used the word "anxious".

[Yes Ain you do have an anxiety disorder it is in fact really bad.]

[WELL YOU SEE...it is like that, and normally Wolfwood wouldn't have stopped, but...he feels like it's in poor taste to start this while he's still working through issues with another partner. It's as Ain pointed out, he doesn't want to be a rebound...and it's very possible that could end up being what it is if Wolfwood lets himself fall too deep. He will own up to the fact that he handled this super fucking poorly, though. He really shouldn't have teased Ain like he had, but...well, he's not a perfect man either. He's struggling, he wants the closeness and the contact and affection Ain is offering, but just not in this way. The last thing he wants to do is hurt somebody else.

Regardless, Wolfwood shakes his head a little, and though he knows he only has his word to convince Ain with, he can at least try.]

You ain't gotta apologize, and you ain't intrudin'. You've really been good to me these last couple weeks. I've...really taken a likin' to ya, in spite of myself.

[He chuckles faintly, rubbing the side of his face.]

...m'sorry. I should really know better than to just assume shit, 'specially with how things have been. I didn't mean t'upset you.

[And btw he is going to fucking throttle Affogato for hurting Ain this badly he is so fr]

...no, it's okay, I'm okay. [He is not okay he's anxious, but he like... he gets it. Kind of. It's hard to "get" things when your exposure to humans so far is just Elsword and the crew, and then you come to a new world and it's just a mess of feelings being everywhere and boys not making sense and people dying, but he's trying to "get" them.] I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make things awkward. I just...

[He has so many feelings and they're all right here (points to center of his chest) and then one day he'll die.]

...I dunno. Feelings. How do humans live like this? [Ain has asked himself this Every Day For Five Years.] I guess I'm a little sad, but I understand. I'm not going to push you.

That's our secret, I think. We don't. Or at least...we pretend we're fine a lotta the time when we ain't, actually.

[Thaaaat's trauma for you!!!]

But...really, it's okay. What matters is we're on the same page now.

[He tilts his head a bit to one side, watching as the pigeons- as if sensing Ain's distress- have congregated near him.]

And...thank you, again. For everythin' you've been doin' for me. I haven't really said that enough.

...you don't need to thank me. I keep telling you that, and you don't listen.

[Like bro stop thanking him all he wants is to be Loved and Appreciated.]

I still really like you. Thank you for kissing me. I'm going to give you some space, and... if you decide you still want to pursue something later, come and find me. I'm not going to go looking for you first.

[And unless Wolfwood says anything else, Ain is fucking booking it out of there.]

[He doesn't. He can recognize when he needs to give somebody space, so he will let Ain go. He definitely feels more than a little bad about how this whole thing went down, but...it will be fine, he tells himself.

He's going to fix this. All of it. And Ain will know once Wolfwood does come looking for him.

He will also find that flower later and feel Real Bad about it js]

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