[ CATCH-ALL ] I've never fallen from quite this high

[tryhard]

Who: Waver Velvet & friends
When: throughout February
Where: Aefenglom
What: hanging out, trauma recovery, cuddles, h/c
Warnings: nsfw in some threads



(( ooc: closed prompts below! PM this journal or PP me @ gunsandchocolate if you want to plot something and I'm happy to write you a starter! ))

Comments

for iskandar, full moons.

[tryhard]

[ Iskandar may have noticed in the last few days that the closer the time crept toward the night of the full moons, the worse Waver's already frayed nerves have gotten. His anxiety is through the roof all day that day, and he hadn't slept much. He hasn't been sleeping much, in general. Nightmares wake him and bad memories keep him up. He gets out of bed to sit at his writing desk instead or go into the kitchen for water too many times. He presses himself close and overheats them both under the blankets, and this has been going on since returning from the hospital, with only occasional improvement some nights.

It's worse on the night of the full moon. This time, Waver comes home early instead of working into the night as he's taken to doing (arguing that they're busy, just opening, the shop is still in need of some repairs or he needs to hold business meetings or something or other; the excuses are endless). This time, Waver's home before sundown and already waiting for Iskandar to return as well, pacing the living room restlessly until he hears the familiar cadence of his footsteps.

And then he's at the door just like the hound he's taken on the characteristics of, ears and tail up and alert, hyper-aware of Iskandar's scent and anxious to see him.

Waver practically pounces on him the moment he comes through the door. ]

You're late.

[ Whether or not that's true is up for debate; Waver doesn't even check the time. ]

[towards_okeanos]

[Iskandar got used to this world's calendar. After few months he's already spent here, he started noticing its cycles. He didn't have to look to the sky to know that full moons are approaching. This time of month is never easy but he dreads the current one even more. Waver has been restless since he was released from the hospital. With a long list of medical procedures they both have to follow if he is to return to full health.

Iskandar is not surprised. Events like these leave marks not only on one's body. Mind needs to heal too. It just needs time, care and patience. So Iskandar says not a word when Waver dives head-first into overwork. Funny how similar they are at this. That's what Iskandar did every time the ghosts of the past wouldn't let him sleep. This or wine, but wine is a double-edged sword. It can harm as much as it can help.]

I might be but to my defense, I had to pick a few things on my way. And I come bearing gifts!

[King is never late, nor is he early.. ahem Iskandar raises triumphantly a wicker basket covered with white cloth he holds in his hand. Yet even encumbered he still is able to pick Waver up from where his stands. He grins before kissing him on the cheek.]

Let's put all those in the kitchen. The wine should probably go to the cellar but I will be opening it soon so there's no need. But I must take the cakes out or they will get completely squashed.

[tryhard]

[ Waver immediately wraps an arm around Iskandar's neck to balance himself when he's hoisted up in one powerful arm. Iskandar is the only one allowed to so casually pick him up and manhandle him, and even without his Servant strength, it's easy enough when Waver allows it so readily. He nuzzles back into the kiss, shamelessly needy and whiny. ]

Cakes? What're the cakes for?

[ Waver sniffs in the direction of the basket to ascertain its contents as Iskandar carries all of his gifts and Waver the short distance to the kitchen.

The wine doesn't get a similar question. He knows what the wine's for and is actually quite ready for some, himself. ]

[towards_okeanos]

[Heavy smell of meaty stew and earthy tones of baked vegetables overpower anything else but Waver's nose can detect in the background a faint scent of fruit.]

For you, of course. Who else?

[Iskandar is very fond of carrying Waver around like this. It's the only way he can both keep him close and get the work done. Work this time means preparing, or rather reheating, dinner for both of them. He puts the basket on the table.]

I brought us venison stew and some baked vegetables for dinner tonight. I bought eggs and milk too. I think we're near the end of the last batch.

[Out goes a collection of clay jars covered on top with wax paper; a sure sign Iskandar must have made a detour to his favourite restaurant. A small container with eggs carefully lined with hay. A glass bottle full of milk. The last item is a round tin that Iskandar takes out of the basket with greater care than he showed for the eggs.]

The moment of truth. They were fresh from the oven when I got them.

[He takes of the lid. Sweet aroma of plums and pears and berries fills the kitchen immediately. Inside is an assortment of fruit tarts. Still warm and surprisingly intact. Iskandar's smile widens.]

Ha! Not squashed! We're lucky.

[tryhard]

[ He'd meant for what occasion, but of course that's a silly question too. Any occasion deemed worthy by the King is a time for a feast. The matter-of-fact answer makes Waver smile.

He's already, immediately relaxed as soon as he's in Iskandar's arms and focused on the food and treats.

He settles himself in the crook of Iskandar's arm and watches with great interest and perked-up ears every new thing that is unpacked from the basket, taking in the aromas of the fresh food, hearty meat and sweet fruits. Embarrassingly, his tail starts wagging all on its own. ]

Oh, wow-- Rider! This looks so good! And it smells divine. You really outdid yourself.

Thank you. I'm starving.

[ Well, he hadn't really been starving a few minutes ago, maybe just vaguely hungry. But now, seeing all this, he's suddenly ready to eat all of it. ]

[towards_okeanos]

Then I hope it tastes as good as it looks.

[Iskandar moves about the kitchen humming some silly tune he picked up on the streets of the Harbour. He puts the stew on the stove and vegetables in the oven. He doesn't, not even for a second, entertain a thought he could let go of Waver. He could. It would make the preparations go faster. Every task would be easier. But he doesn't care about easy.

Only after he takes out the plates and sets the table, only then he lets Waver transfer to a chair. This, unfortunately, is a necessity. He needs both hands if he's about to retrieve anything from the oven.

Once that is done and all the food is on the table in its steaming glory he finally sits. It's tempting to just pull Waver back into his arms but this would make eating difficult for both of them. So for now, he has to limit himself to reaching across the table to ruffle Waver's hair.]

[tryhard]

[ Another time, Waver might have gotten annoyed at some point during the food preparation and milling about the kitchen, or at least decided it doesn't make sense to slow Iskandar down unnecessarily now that they've said their hellos. But right now, the steady closeness and contact is exactly what Waver needs and it does wonders to ease his anxieties and fears of the setting sun outside. He can feel the tug of the moons-- but the secure anchor of his Bond is stronger.

The instinct to shed his more human skin and go outside is a distraction in the back of his mind, a discomfort that squirms more and more insistently under his skin, the familiar feeling tainted and twisted into something just as frightening or worse than it had been the first time. It reminds him of being held down and poked with needles and forced to swallow unpleasant-smelling contents of unknown vials. It reminds him of the singe and crackle of electric implements in his back trying to force him into shifting and attacking like a fight dog on command.

He'd just been starting, grudgingly, to accept the changes as part of his life now. He'd been trying to get the hang of the need to shift as a natural cycle. Now, it reminds him of being dehumanized and weaponized against innocent people, including his friends.

--but none of that is something he wants to think about right now.

So while Iskandar warms up their meal, Waver single-mindedly focuses on other things, on telling him about his day and talking at length about certain types of stone or metal and their magic-conducting properties and how Archer has designed some of the jewelry and what kind of display cases he wants to put it in and all sorts of menial, boring things he probably wouldn't have bothered getting that into otherwise. But the silence leaves room for doubt, and not being next to Iskandar opens the chance that he might lose himself again.

He wouldn't even want to sit across the table if it wasn't for the fact he can still reach Iskandar with his feet. He stretches them out underneath the tabletop, subtly pressing his toes against Iskandar's ankles, but makes no comment aloud. Even though he does lean into the hair-ruffle, nuzzling against Iskandar's palm. ]

Thank you for picking up dinner.

[ He knew Waver wouldn't want to go outside after sundown tonight. Having his needs anticipated is a pleasant feeling. ]

It's like you read my mind.

[ No, it's better that Iskandar can't quite manage that. But Waver smiles, and lifts his wine glass for a toast. ]

You've made such an occasion of it, though. Any other surprises I should be ready for?

[towards_okeanos]

[Another time they would go through those same preparations together. Or Iskandar would let Waver sit and watch him. There is something he finds eerily calming in performing such simple tasks.]

You're welcome, dearest.

[Of course, he anticipated. He can feel the moons too. It's different for him. One might say there are no adverse effects from the moons for the Witches. Apart maybe from magic being horribly unstable. From suddenly having too much of it. He can feel it swirling around him, almost see it in the air. Crackling. Like static. Like air before the storm heavy with warning. Witches can't go feral. They have other unpleasantries on the menu.
So no, he doesn't read Waver's mind. He doesn't have to. Still, he laughs.]

Oh, I would never. That would be terribly rude.

[He holds his own glass but doesn't drink yet. Good thing the table is not big enough to prevent him from reaching across. He takes Waver's hand, turns it palm up.]

You should.

[Iskandar raises the hand he is holding to his lips, kisses the inside of it, each finger, Waver's wrist just below the bandages, his forearm just above. Then he looks up, smiles, and leans in over the table, over the plates and all the food, to claim his Bonded's lips.

I love you. I want you. I need you. You are mine and I am yours. Forever. No one will take you from me ever again. I will burn this place to the ground if they try.

He smiles more when they part, sits back and releases Wavers hand.]

Does that answer your question?

[tryhard]

[ The soft touch of Iskandar's lips on his hand, the gentle scratch of his beard on soft skin, sparks shivers down Waver's back and through their Bond. He leans closer, watching with rapt intensity as Iskandar's mouth moves over his skin. ]

You're encouraging me to let this food go cold again...

[ He murmurs against Iskandar's lips, kissing him again after the first kiss is over before they sit back again, reluctant to let him go. He squeezes Iskandar's hand before finally allowing him to have it back so they can eat. His foot under the table nudges Iskandar's playfully. ]

for caster cu, later in the month.

[tryhard]

[ Ever since he'd gotten back on his feet after his stay in the hospital, Waver has been working more than usual. After all, they've just opened, they needed to do repairs, a bunch of new Mirrorbound have arrived, and there's so much to do. That's his story, anyway.

In reality, while all those things are true, it's also a great way to avoid being at home and having to face all the changes going on there right now, as well as a great distraction from insomnia and leftover mental effects of the trauma he's still trying to process.

All in all, it means Waver has been spending way too much time at the little harbor shop he and Caster are renting for Inkchanted. And while they pay their rent and the owner of the building likes them quite well, he's been getting fed up lately.

One night, when he catches the two of them still in the building working on one of the tattoo and spell catalogs well into the night, the old man practically chases them out with a broom. Something about them being young people and wasting their youth and how it's a shame and an outright crime they're poring over books on a perfectly nice night like this.

Long story short, Caster and Waver find themselves locked out.

It was somebody's idea to go to some of the portside bars nearby to drown their annoyance, between the old man yelling something about it and Waver not wanting to go home right away either, maybe Caster's suggestion or Waver's or both. He forgets. It's a long night, the waning moons both high in the sky, no clouds in sight this time so the stars glitter overhead and reflect off the dark, calm waves of the ocean below.

Below... far below, where they both perch now in the lighthouse. It's late, nearing midnight. The noise from one of the nearest taverns drifts over on occasion, but it's much quieter out here. After several rounds in there, some peace and quiet is welcome.

Waver just didn't expect it to be... so high up. ]

Casterrr... [ he whines, gripping the Witch's arm tightly. ] Are you sure this is a good idea?

[futhark]

[ Turns out the bottles they bought were... kind of stronger in content than advertised. Not that it's a bad thing, Cú figured after two rounds. Definitely not a bad thing after third or fourth. Who's counting, eh— ]

Yeah, I guess it's better in summer... [ He leans on a side, allowing himself being tugged by the grip like a rag doll for a moment. ] The wind ain't that cold then.

[ Quite on the opposite, it's refreshing after hot, steamy days that sometimes fell upon Aefenglom. A tiny bit of realization that not too long in the future there will be another summer for him. A clock will turn for someone who should have not the clock turned.

Weird. Time to take another draught. Immediately followed by throwing his arm around shorter turnskin and dragging him closer to his body. A slight slur starts to manifest with his words ]

C'mooon, I can keep the cold at bay. [ Fire witch, being a space-heater is apparently a perk of that. ]

[tryhard]

[ Even after living with Iskandar for some time and considering the people he hangs out with, half of them former Servants, one would think that Waver would have gotten better at holding his liquor. That's only somewhat true; he has gotten better at drinking. It's just that 'better' doesn't mean 'much better' and the bar was already very low to start.

Luckily, Caster can probably take care of most of the booze on his own. Waver was sloshed after round two. He's just sober enough to climb up the lighthouse stairs, and just drunk enough to accept another swig from Caster's bottle when it's offered once they've made it up. ]

Then what're we doing up here? [ he shouts over the wind that picks up off the ocean breeze and whips his hair and scarf. ]

You tryin' to get handsy, or what?

[ Despite his teasing and/or complaining (difficult to tell which, exactly), Waver definitely doesn't try to pull away when he's hugged close. His body temperature is higher as well, but that doesn't mean he can't get cold. The shared heat is appreciated-- and so is the additional feeling of security, since being this high up is a little nerve-wracking. What is it with Servants and liking high places?

Waver snuggles in close against Caster's side and reaches for the bottle again. Liquid courage. ]

[futhark]

I don't have to try, you're the one cuddling— [ He's been always tactile, prone to not keeping his hands to himself in many situations. If anything, he stopped himself here because of respect, and the business partnership. Things could get weird if you poke at your coworker. Now with inhibitions lowered by the amounts of alcohol— ]

And what we are— eh, I just had an idea. [ He furrows his brows and wrinkles his nose trying to remember what it was. Nope, can't. Maybe there wasn't any big idea, just simple fact ] It's a good spot to unwind and relax. And got a good view!

[ Maybe not in the middle of the night... Though there are few lights of ships visible on the sea. And the city itself is well-lit, not to mention the arcane glow coming from the enchantments on the walls. Outside of them though? Mostly darkness. Mostly, because there are still rare points of light even in the Wildes. Caster suddenly points at one of them ]

Look! That must be an outpost, imagine the size of that bonfire

[ Pointing at something means they both will look, turn their heads and so on, which gives him a chance to— run his finger from the juncture of Waver's jaw, down his neck— like a teasing tickle. Testing, testing. ]

[tryhard]

Well, I'll give you that... the view is pretty good.

[ He concedes, since even in the darkness, all the city lights glitter down below. There are flickers of lanterns on boats docked along the shore, and a few further out at sea. Even if it's not a modern city by Waver's standards, Aefenglom has enough magitech that, from up here, it looks brilliantly lit up, the soft glow of the Wall around it a tacit reminder of what lies outside, as always.

At Caster's shout, Waver predictably turns his head to follow the gesture of his pointing.

The slide of cool fingertips along his jaw is unexpected. Waver squirms ticklishly, though Caster's touch is impeded quickly by the scarf wound around his throat. He doesn't think much of it though, still focused on trying to find the outpost. ]

Huh? Where...?

[ Scanning the distance, until-- ] Aah, I think I see it. Wow, it looks so far away.

[futhark]

[ Got a squirm, that's a win! ]

Riiight...? A few hours away from the gates on foot— and there's more. [ Tiny specks of light in the darkness of the forest. ] There's more than it used to be before.

[ The Wilders are hard at work in whatever they're doing. Is the effort progressing normally, or had Mirrorbounds helped push it forward? The question they don't have an answer for but still— it's uplifting to notice. Progress, step by step ]

Though there is one more reason I dragged you here. Wanted to ask you something. [ Caster relaxes and leans back against the wall, taking another sip. ] What's going on? Should we go and kick someone's ass?

[ Your mood dropped Waver. Obviously, everyone's mood dropped after what happened. But he doesn't mean that. He just noticed what he interpreted as another, like if something happened. Something recent. ]

Or do you need a break?

[tryhard]

[ Waver presses up against his side as they both lean back on the wall, reaching up to drag Caster's straying hand away from his neck and down around his shoulders instead. Then, he reaches again for the bottle. ]

I like doing this work. I don't need a break.

[ Despite how they've been kicked out of their own office...

Waver takes another swig, shudders and hiccups at the strength of the alcohol (what the hell is this, anyway??) and presses the bottle back into Caster's hand. ]

I'm fine. It's fine. [ waving his newly freed hand as if shooing away a bug. ]

Everything's... peaches? [ hiccup. ] Peachy.

[futhark]

Are they these good..? Never had one, I think.[ Not really a thing in Ireland back in his life, and in Chaldea. Supplies have been weird, if peaches happened there have been enough people who really wanted a bite of them, so he never went for them. ]

Peaches. [ He catches that waving hand by the wrist. It's a light hold, and easily escaped from but hey— he ain't a bug. Just a nosy friend ] Recently you seem to be eating lemons, though.

[ Okay, maybe not that sour but— peaches are supposed to be sweet no? So his alcohol-addled brain continued the fruity connections as metaphor ]

for judar, after full moons & before he moves in.

[tryhard]

[ There's a soft knock at the door announcing Waver's presence before the handle turns, and it creaks open quietly. Waver peeks inside the hospital room, canine ears perked forward with interest as he steps through the threshold, making sure Judar isn't asleep. ]

Judar? Hi. How are you feeling?

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ Waver's probably had plenty of times when his ears catch things that aren't even in the immediate vicinity, especially the room, that catches his attention. When he peeks in, Judar's still while balanced on the crutches, with the deer-like ears raise and tilted just a little downwards. Which makes sense, with their height differences. Still, it certainly has the 'deer caught' look.

He... Wasn't really expecting anyone. Partially because he hasn't exactly been able to focus, as he's rarely able to do with the entire week surrounding the full moons, and he was expecting people to be busy. So someone catching him as he tried to walk with these things was... Embarrassing? It was a vulnerability he wasn't ready to show until he was more familiar with using them. ]

Fine... What brings you around? I know they're having some of us come back for follow-ups.

[tryhard]

I came to see how you're healing up.

[ Waver closes the door behind him, not commenting on the crutches. He can offer a hand if it's needed, but he won't insult Judar by making assumptions. It's a vulnerable enough position to be in without Waver pointing it out.

Instead, he leans back against the door for now, offering a shrug. ]

But you're not wrong... I still needed to see the healers for some things, so I was in the area.

I wanted to talk to you about logistics when you're ready to move in.

Is now a bad time?

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ It's definitely the right choice to have made. Judar could be stubborn, and he has gotten doubly so in times when people offer to help out with obvious struggles that he's working on his own. It was more than enough that there was a moment of silence as he watched the way the turnskin was leaning against the door.

There's some paranoia and concern he hasn't been able to shake since their captivity. It's made him hyper-aware, regardless of whether there was any danger or not. ]

Now's as good a time as any. Go ahead and sit.

[ He'll... Slowly make his way back to the bed, one crutch and hoof at a time. It's all too obvious how much strength is going to have to be worked back into the legs, even though some progress had to be made for him to stand and make any steps at all. ]

The big guy just went off suggesting I move in, but I've got no idea where it is. One of the cottages or something? I know he's gotta put that horse somewhere.

[tryhard]

[ Waver takes the invitation, pulling out the small chair. He waits until Judar is also seated on the bed before settling down onto it. ]

It's a flat, part of a bloc in the Haven. Two bedrooms, nice view. You'd have your own room, don't worry. And Bucephalus is stabled elsewhere.

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ A... Oh, Iskander. You really jumped ahead with the ideas instead of thinking things through for the long run. Part of Judar's brain immediately tries to imagine the space with him in there as well and.... Geeze, the guy just had him ready to agree, but this is a lot to set up.

For one thing, Judar's imagining that the turnskin is going to want a lot of private space with his Bonded. Especially after what happened that previous month. ]

Right... Well, I guess it's just a different place to put my stuff at this point, anyway. So if you were using that room for something else, it should be fine. Though this whole crippled thing is ruining how I usually spend my nights. I'll figure something out... So I won't be in the whole 'Bonded' way.

[ In a way, all of this was happening because it's hard to tell Iskander 'no.' ]

[tryhard]

[ Technically, Waver has been storing a mess of books in that room, a makeshift library and some questionable alchemical experiments-- but the apartment had come furnished, and the room has a bed alongside the desk and shelves he actually uses it for. Waver shrugs. ]

I might need to store some books in there, but other than that, I'm not using it for much.

[ That's not entirely truthful. He was using it as an office and/or lab of sorts, but all that stuff can be moved or taken to Inkchanted. Waver spends a lot of his time there anyway, so it's fine if all his work is in one spot. ]

You don't have to only store your stuff. You're supposed to be living there, remember? Or what's the point?

[ The mention of 'the whole Bonded' thing makes his ears tense, tipping back slightly. His lips purse, but after a few moments, Waver only offers another shrug and folds his hands in his lap. ]

Aren't you and Iskandar talking about Bonding too?

[ He asks, coolly. ]

[kuroi_taiyo]

How am I supposed to know? I told you both how often I was just spending the night at random places.

[ Not that it was a preferred thing, but he used to be able to rely on that for both a bed and some meals easily, ultimately saving himself some coin on the expensive and monthly wardrobe changes. More than that... He has no idea how to be around people in close quarters for very long.

And with that question, there's an odd way that Judar's ears flop, just barely, accompanied by a huffed out breath through the nose. It says a lot for someone that was doing their best to keep their face rather neutral. ]

Everyone's harassing at me to get a Bond. But no, we're not talking about Bonding. No one is thinking of talking about Bonding with me. Don't worry, I've got no intention on going into anyone's territory like that.

[ Everyone he ended up knowing was Bonded, and very attached to one another. They idea of showing up to watch things sour, or having to deal with whatever people with multiple Bonds do, as the outsider? He doesn't want it. At this point, with how stubborn in his tracks he was getting (and a sign of how long he's gone like this,) he'd rather go feral than do than be pity-Bonded. ]