Zelos Wilder (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
luxuriant) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
confectionaries2013-05-03 09:31 pm
luxuriant) wrote in confectionaries2013-05-03 09:31 pm
gently posts
[The meeting with the Project Head had turned so quickly wrong. Zelos only wishes he could say he was surprised. He wasn't. All of his bad decisions thrown out and broadcast across the entire ship via the network. Meetings he never knew had been recorded, but hadn't exactly ruled out the possibility... Information shared that he had been so reluctant to give away but still came across quite blunt in text form.
Everything. And yet... not everything. No signs of his motives, no recorded meetings of the Project Head showing him pictures of his sister supposedly safe and sound in some place without him. There was just him as the villain.
Not only did he have that to deal with, but the physical fight between himself and the Head had gone over equally well. That is to say not well at all. No amount of angel skills (which he noticed were a lot more tiring here than normal) or magic or melee could take care of the guy. Made out of water... He was tricky too. Smart.
And Zelos had been forced to visit the clinic afterwards to deal with his own wounds as best as he could. With the message out for all to see, he hardly felt it was necessary to message Jack. ...Maybe Jack was upset after all. Or didn't realize the extent... He knows he got an earful of Sheena earlier, and that was enough to twist his hope into something a little more bitter.
He was just going to finish cleaning off the blood and go find somewhere to sit and think, maybe. Somewhere away from people so he doesn't have to sit through another speech of how could you where he can't defend himself. Where he doesn't want to.]
I really messed up, huh... [Quietly, he mumbles this to himself, pausing from what he's doing to rest his hands on the counter and stare down at it. He's such a mess, really.]
Everything. And yet... not everything. No signs of his motives, no recorded meetings of the Project Head showing him pictures of his sister supposedly safe and sound in some place without him. There was just him as the villain.
Not only did he have that to deal with, but the physical fight between himself and the Head had gone over equally well. That is to say not well at all. No amount of angel skills (which he noticed were a lot more tiring here than normal) or magic or melee could take care of the guy. Made out of water... He was tricky too. Smart.
And Zelos had been forced to visit the clinic afterwards to deal with his own wounds as best as he could. With the message out for all to see, he hardly felt it was necessary to message Jack. ...Maybe Jack was upset after all. Or didn't realize the extent... He knows he got an earful of Sheena earlier, and that was enough to twist his hope into something a little more bitter.
He was just going to finish cleaning off the blood and go find somewhere to sit and think, maybe. Somewhere away from people so he doesn't have to sit through another speech of how could you where he can't defend himself. Where he doesn't want to.]
I really messed up, huh... [Quietly, he mumbles this to himself, pausing from what he's doing to rest his hands on the counter and stare down at it. He's such a mess, really.]
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[The words aren't angry, or even particularly unhappy. Just something between calm and resigned, and when Jack pauses again at the other side of the bed, looking up at that apology, there's finally a slight smile back in place.]
[One that seems more tired (and sad) than particularly happy.]
It's... That was a really long time ago. But she was alright, in the end. She made it out okay, after I fell, and--I was never around, after that. Because I forgot. ...But she was alright. With any luck she grew up and lived a full life and died happy, so--it's nothing to apologize about.
['With any luck', because he really doesn't know, and--probably won't ever know, really. What might have become of her. Too much, too late, and it's been a long while of wrestling between thinking about it and trying not to think about it, ever since he started remembering again.]
[In the end it's neither here nor there, now.]
...Still, I think I could--maybe kind of see why you'd have done that. Taking a deal like that from the Project Head. Because you thought it'd help her the best, at that time, huh?
--These guys do know everything about us, seems like. He was probably expecting you to make a deal like that.
[And now he's watching Zelos steadily again, as he speaks, staff shouldered and free hand pocketed in that familiar sort of posture.]
[Still not really angry, or disappointed, or even particularly surprised. Just...sort of searching.]
But you changed your mind.
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[There's a quiet pause after that as he thinks on it. How horrible. He can't even imagine... And he doesn't want to pry of course, but he's surprised he's even being granted this information at all.
In fact, they're both here opening up quite a lot aren't they? At the realization, he raises an arm to rub at the back of his neck, glancing to the bed as Jack continues.]
...Yeah. It's really not like me. [There's a small tug at the corner of his lips as he turns to face Jack now, dropping his arm away from his neck.] But I got tired of running all the time. It's harder this way, but... watching a few hot-headed friends of mine... [There's a grin there actually, as he says that, and a very pointed look across at Jack.]
I can find a way to fix things without giving up. Without taking the easy route. ...But, well, I don't know how much that's gonna work now that I've already made the mistake, but we'll see.
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They say the Man in the Moon works in strange ways. Apparently you don't usually forget, if you get chosen...but I did. So yeah.
[Maybe it's a rather belittling way to put it, like that--especially when his own opinion hadn't been nearly as calm and lenient so much as a year ago--but it's been a very long time since that year, and a lot of things have changed.]
[No use getting so worked up over it when you've finally got the answers you were wanting all that time, more or less.]
[That said, they both are opening up quite a bit here, and it's an odd feeling. Odd, but...not entirely unpleasant.]
[Zelos says, that, though, and it's finally enough to earn something of an almost-grin in return, despite everything.]
Us hot-headed friends have gotta be good for something, I guess. [And, with a slight laugh, Jack starts idly retracing his steps back to Zelos's side of the bed again.] But that's right. You can. And you figured that for yourself. Which is why I still trust you, and--why I think everyone else will, too. Eventually. Some people find it harder to let go of mistakes than others, but in the end...well, we all mess up every now and then.
S'what we do about it, after the fact, that matters the most.
[Is he speaking from experience? Maybe a little bit. But in the end that's how Jack would figure it even without the experience.]
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[And he had said he could only make things cold... But the thick teasing Zelos lays on there clearly isn't enough for all of this opening up, and as he takes a few steps of his own to meet up with Jack, he places his hands on his hips and leans in real close.
Almost like a past two similar events... But this time nothing follows, and he just watches.]
I guess I'll give this not running away thing a shot.
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[Well, in retrospect, that probably had come off pretty cheesy somehow...]
[And so that prod at temperatures--or Jack's lack thereof--certainly doesn't go unnoticed in that first remark (three hundred years and one's bound to be on the brunt end of cold or heat puns somehow or another); in fact, it ends up earning a glance up and a short laugh that's tinged with something almost appreciative. The mood in the room had definitely gotten pretty heavy up to this point, and maybe Zelos isn't entirely the only one that can't really pull off being too serious for too long...]
[Not to mention there's other things going on now, other things involving Zelos stepping up to meet him again, with that same particular closeness that's indeed pretty reminiscent of the last two times.]
[And maybe Jack's thoughts are getting better at picking up on this sort of thing and warning in advance, now. Or at least, that's the first perfectly logical reason that'd he'd have tried to go with, if he were pressed to explain why he suddenly finds himself straightening with the latter's closing vicinity, tilting his head up almost curiously as Zelos puts his hands on his hips and leans in like that again--and at this sort of closeness the warmth of the other guy's almost palpable, and Jack's leaning in too despite himself, closing in the distance even more, until it's almost nonexistent between them, and it'd be so easy to just lift his head and--the warmth of it'd be--]
[With a slight exhale that might have almost been another tiny laugh of its own, albeit one to himself, Jack draws back after a second or two--though he doesn't take any steps and holds his ground, at least, settling his weight on his heels--and the smile tugging at his lips now is a fairly amused one.]
[Maybe very slightly tinged with just the slightest bit of something teasing--]
Well, that's good. First times for everything. Might be better for you if you did, anyway--with the way you define 'running away', I wouldn't be surprised if one of your friends resorted to punching you out the next time you tried.
[Jack himself included. Maybe. The tone is quite amiably innocent in that regard.]
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Zelos may be used to many things in terms of relationships. He knows people. He can get how they work and see what they want, most of the time. And he knows physical attraction. He's wanted people before and enjoyed that sort of thing before and had fling upon fling, but this was so completely different. Emotions attaching themselves to each action, hope seeming to rest on the way Jack's leaning close like that...
But then he's back. Not too terribly far-- not far enough for rejection. But far enough to pull away and make his heart drop a bit, and Zelos can only respond with a sly smirk.]
Oh yeah? [Is that a threat he picks up? Or a promise maybe. Either way...
It has him rethinking more than a few things. Can he really do this? He's not so sure.
But right now, in this moment? Maybe for once he has the strength to take a leap.]
If that's how it's going to be, I guess I better run full on after everything I want, huh? [Now that's a different tone. And he doesn't pull back at all from his leaning or peering position, eyes focused fixedly on Jack's.]
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[And really, this is all extremely new ground that still feels bizarre just to look at and consider, let alone tread on...but Jack's already started walking on it for a little while now, hasn't he? Practically since yesterday. So there's really no point in turning back around now, and he doesn't particularly want to anyway, because there's simply something far too interesting about this...]
[Zelos doesn't pull back from the closeness he's already established, and Jack doesn't pull back from the ground he's been holding, either. Holding the gaze that the latter's fixing on him with an intensity rather fascinating in its own right, Jack's own eyebrows arch slightly, head tilting sideways a bit.]
...Yeah, I'd think so. Might as well do that if you're gonna run at all, right? S'long as it isn't in the opposite direction...
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And believe it or not, those words are being listened to and absorbed. Not only that, but believed in. If he's going to do this... why not go all out?]
Heh... You said it.
[A cross between sporty agreement and a pass of blame, Zelos lifts one hand from his hip and moves it to Jack's chin just as his head tilts like that, leaning in slowly to take Jack's lips in a third stolen kiss.
He's not playing this one short this time. Shoved away or not... This is what he's risking, and as gentle as it is, he has a way of getting his emotions across even with something like this.
He wants this. Maybe admitting it is the first step.]
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[And so, when the kiss does come, with that now-familiar light grasp at his chin to accompany it, Jack's actually more prepared for it this time than he had been the last two. ...More or less. Enough that now he doesn't freeze up in place, at least, without that edge of astonishment to lock him down so much. And somehow that particular brand of heat is a good deal more pleasant now than it had been before, no longer diluted by the shock of the idea, with the gentle press of lips and soft breath, warm breath that isn't his and never will be again, that'd been nothing more than a very vague memory until now.]
[Jack doesn't freeze, this time, but instead leans up into the kiss as well as he can with a soft hum that's out before he realizes it. The movement's tentative, uncertain and intrigued all at once as the contact stretches on longer than the last two had ever been, and there's certainly a part of his head throwing its arms up in the air and despairing of the fact that he really knows nothing about this whatsoever, and is probably doing something wrong--]
[But there isn't any room to think about that, right now. Because this is rather nice, really, almost enjoyable in all its novelty (and warmness...)]
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It's fresh feeling. New. And while that's the case, Zelos can still pick up on the hesitance and uncertainty from Jack. Is this right to do? Honestly he'd normally spend forever debating this. Pushing himself away from people and avoiding them as he tried to think it out and reason why he wasn't right for someone, or why they deserved someone better.
But he'd just been told he has a right to chase things he wants. To live... That people want him around for these things.
And he wants to believe it.
There's a slow step closer still as that hand at Jack's chin shifts to slide along his cheek and curl just slightly into his hair behind his ear. An added press into that kiss and a slow but smooth intake of breath from Zelos as he takes the moment for what it is, trying to calm himself all the while. He can be so composed, but some things can test his limits. Things that hit too close...
He doesn't want to worry about anything other than this, right now.]
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[It's almost funny, really. Warmth had always been a point of avoidance for him, mildly uncomfortable at least and painful at worst, in a way it simply wasn't for other people--but now, here, it's quite tolerable, more than tolerable, so tolerable that he's already wanting more, as if this isn't quite enough already...]
[There's a heated hand passing over his cheek and curling into his hair, in that sensitive spot behind an ear (more sensitive than normal, really, as any physical contact at all still feels pretty acute on a base level), and Jack shivers, with another slight sound that he almost doesn't notice--can't seem to tamp down on any of them anymore, for some reason...]
[One hand's still holding onto his staff, though at least it's set upright on the ground now...but the space taken up that way's still more than a little inconvenient, and there's some odd new part of him that wants to drop the thing and free both his hands (ah, but if he just drops it, it'd be just there, and there's still a certain stability to be gained from it even despite); instead, for now, he settles with using his free hand as he can, raises it from its lax position at his side to pass idly over the clasps of Zelos's shirt between them, before settling for wrapping around one of his arms instead, near the shoulder, fingertips probably more than a little chilly against the bare skin there.]
[And the kiss is still going, and he finds he doesn't really mind that it's still going, but--perhaps it's something about the slow intake of breath on Zelos's part, or perhaps it's his own thoughts simply musing for ways to reciprocate that don't come off awkward or hesitant in the wrong way. But either way--because everything about this is new anyway, and he might as well start experimenting to some degree--Zelos might find an icy, playful nip at his bottom lip, after a moment, alongside eyes flicking upwards to meet his and that hand grasping a bit tighter at his arm, as Jack presses even closer.]
[Something of a reassurance. Because he does want this, even if the thought's somewhat spur-of-the-moment, and might have normally been something for Jack to deliberate over for a long while too--but that would mean thinking about all the issues of this, and he doesn't really want to think about those issues just yet, when it still feels so pleasant, new, different.]
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There's a noise of his own. A quiet hum on the border of something like a moan, but he's not really focusing on it as his fingers curl more into Jack's hair and his free hand moves to settle at his waist, holding him close against him. ...Those eyes are too much.
He's completely attached. Normally that's a rule enough to not get involved, but here he is-- and would it really be the worst decision he's made in his life? He'd already decided on this. To take this leap of sorts. And so the strange new pangs of worry like what if someone comes in and sees them, or what will people think of this if word gets out, or how will this work and what does Jack think about this-- They're all so present in his mind that he's not sure his face has ever heated so much. Or maybe it's the cold comparison against Jack?
Whatever it is, it feels nice, and none of his worries are enough to break him from this just yet. There's just another drawn in breath to make up for lost air and then a daring swipe of his tongue across Jack's lips, asking and pressing forward with all he has.
Shit, he's so completely into this, so completely caught up by all of this. Where's his usual composition? The cool demeanor and the mindset to know exactly what to do next and the confidence that it would work just right-- it was left with nervousness in its place. But the reassurance Jack had offered, at least, was enough to keep him going. And maybe that was all that mattered right now.]
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[Really, the quantity of warmth on Zelos' part is almost intoxicating by now, pressed close as they are chest to chest; it's the oddest sensation of contrast between sharpened sensitivity of every touch and breath between them, and a certain content lethargy brought on by the proximity of the temperature. It makes proper logical thoughts somewhat difficult to parse through, with so many other stimuli consuming attention at the moment--but at the very least Zelos seems to be relaxing somewhat, which had been the main concern earlier. Whether or not this is a good idea, or the right occasion, are certainly questions drifting about in the corners of his mind, but the worry simply isn't as acute as it ought to be...and besides, the odds of someone walking in and being able to see the both of them were moderately slim at best, with the ratio of believers to nonbelievers on board the ship as it is.]
[The hand on Zelos's arm loosens, drifts downwards, fingertips plucking and skimming along the edges of a wrap of bandages nearer the guy's elbow; a reminder of the injuries he'd just sustained so recently, and the thought that the Project Head had been so close to killing him--but no, now's not the time for thoughts like that. The cool of his hand shifts from the bare skin of Zelos's arm and the bandages there after a moment, drifting back to his shirt, fisting into the fabric at his torso in a needy sort of clutch. And Jack isn't quite sure just what he's doing, anyway--some press of instinct guiding his movements by now, more than anything--but well, it wouldn't be the first time he's had to improvise for something...]
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He's completely taken in. The more things go on, the more he heats up, and the more the cold contrasts and he's left with uneven breaths not just from the exhaustion of kissing. The hand at his bandages is worrying at first-- somehow he's wondering if Jack will stop because of it-- but then it grips at his shirt like that. Needy...
His hand resting at Jack's hip moves lightly to thumb at the bottom of his hoodie. Tempted but not quite willing to risk any sort of jump in that direction just yet. Instead, he pulls Jack closer still even as he presses forward, taking a step and pushing him with him, another soft noise escaping between breaths.
It's been this long. This long and great and he could keep going for as long as he had breath, but is it awkward at all, he wonders? How long before someone walks in? He's not one to usually worry, but here they come up when his emotions are attached to the person he's getting involved with. He doesn't want to do too much.
And so as his tongue curls and he takes that kiss for what it's worth, he pulls back just barely an inch to allow for a shaky breath and separation, eyes flicking up immediately to Jack's before moving back down to his lips. His hand only slides partially out from his hair, still cupping at his face and taking in the difference of temperature.
For once he does not feel like the smoothest man alive. But at the very least he can pull off a sentence, uncharacteristically quiet and sincere.]
...Is this still okay?
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[--But then the kissing stops, and Zelos pulls back just as inch, and even though the're still close together the feeling's still markedly different, without that warmest press at his mouth to accompany. It has Jack blinking as if he'd just been prodded awake from a deep sleep, his own breath very light but gasping and enough to his have chest heaving slightly, and there's a stricken moment of fear that he might be forgetting the feeling of the kiss already, that maybe that'd be the only time it'd happen and...]
[The hand in his hair loosens, slides out only halfway, still pressed against the side of his face, and the heat from the latter's palm has something of a calming effect, allows the mild illogical panic to drain away. There's a properly visible flush on Jack's pale features by now, of course, splashes of light violet painting cheeks, even his lips tinged slightly blue.]
[Ah, but there'd been a question, and though it takes a few seconds to sink in, the words are enough of an anchor to draw his suspended thoughts back into some semblance of motion. And the earlier astonished look tapers into a slight smile that turns of the corners of his lips--maybe a bit of an uncharacteristically shy one, by his own right.]
...Yeah it's--yeah. Definitely still okay. [He's still got fingers wound into Zelos's shirt, and he finds he's loath to let go yet even despite the halt in the kiss; with the grip he can keep himself drawn close, and it tightens a bit more with the words. Eyes settling into a more inquisitive peer, after a moment:] Are you...I mean. You're not getting too cold yet, or anything, right? You should let me know, if you do--
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The question pulls him out of his contemplating thoughts, and his smile curves the slightest bit more as he presses forward for a soft kiss at the corner of his lips. The thing about letting Zelos know what you enjoy and don't is that he's shameless enough to expose it like this.]
Nope. Are you too hot? [The response comes so easily and upbeat, and he chuckles lightly under his breath as he shifts over just enough to kiss at just the bottom lip now. And just that's enough to make him want to keep going, press him against a wall and make him feel good in every way he's able--
But right. They're speaking... And this might not be the best scenery or time for it. He'll continue to argue with himself over that but shove it to the back of his mind as he pulls back just enough to get another look at Jack's expression.]
I think it feels pretty damn good.
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Why do I feel like there's a pun in there somewhere? I should be insulted. [He doesn't sound particularly insulted.] Now that you mention it, though, I don't think I've ever--felt this warm before...
[Wow that came out incredibly cheesy in verbal form--ah well. The slight smile is still in place, and has probably grown a bit, as Zelos pulls back a bit...and it's all still very strange and feels kind of abrupt somehow and he's still not sure he entirely understands why this guy would feel--but well.]
[But does that really matter so much? The why's?]
[He still doesn't let go of Zelos's shirt even as the latter moves, and his eyes drift down absently to that errant hand, as if only actually noticing what it's doing for the first time, before his gaze flicks back up to the guy actually wearing said shirt with a questioning, almost sheepish look.]
I was kind of serious about that, though. About you being cold. You're sure? I mean, it's not--you don't think it's too weird?
[And that also doesn't come out quite the way he wants it to...really, words just shouldn't be this difficult, oughtta be illegal--]
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[Spoken oh-so-innocently as he grins at the way that blush on Jack deepens. The smile growing, too... All of it. It's hard to keep to his decision not to run away even now. All of these nice things-- he couldn't stand the thought of having them while there's a risk of losing them. It's too terrifying. And he feels like the only thing really holding himself on this promise of giving it a shot is Jack here in front of him, looking at him like that and reciprocating and holding onto his shirt.
He considers that last question quietly, and for once he doesn't busy himself with other actions and motions. He just looks at him and lets the smile fade away to a more neutral, thoughtful expression. He's already spoken too much, but if it's to make this point...
He wants to make this point. Let him know what he does appreciate.]
I wasn't born with those wings, you know. [It might seem out of nowhere, the way he starts it, but he only pauses for comprehension and it's clear he's getting on to explaining just what he's talking about.] It's because of my crystal, along with a few other things, but... There was a while when I had to undergo a transformation.
I couldn't feel anything. No hot, no cold, no wind or water or someone's hand... I couldn't taste anything, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't talk. It was just a week, but it drove me nuts.
[Leaning closer, he pulls Jack into something almost like a hug. More like just an embrace of them being close, his face near his neck and his hands at his waist now. Enjoying the cold. Making a point of it...?
He's pretty cheesy himself.
But he got those senses back. At least most of the way. He was lucky enough to. He didn't suffer nearly as much as Colette. Not at all... He never had to be soulless. He never had to go through a journey never knowing what would happen next, experiencing this slowly or reacting with an illness. His was simple, mechanical, plotted.]
I like this cold. It's not... weird, it's just you. [Not the same as someone dead, exactly-- to Zelos it feels more living. Not in the same way as warmth, but very much moving, and crisp and there rather than an absence of heat.] A lot of the time I get tired of everything. I feel like it'd be better to just disappear. ...But things like this remind me I'm still human. I guess I haven't lost everything just yet.
[Now there's a bit of a pause and a breathy laugh as Zelos shifts his arms to flop lazily around Jack's shoulders, more draping himself on him than any real hug or embrace of the moment now. Back to usual, perhaps...]
Oh, man, what am I even saying? That was really corny... [HE NEVER ADMITS THESE THINGS but it just spills out like that. Hm.] Anyway, just don't worry about me, mmkay? I like to think I make it pretty clear what I am or am not okay with.
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[But even those feelings still fall in a sort of backdrop, in comparison to the attention he has focused on Zelos's words. Words painting a truly mortifying picture indeed...Jack finds that he can't imagine what that might be like at all. Being intangible to the majority of the world's population is one thing, but to be unable to feel anything--]
[It's a slight, stricken sigh, icy breath probably tickling at the latter's own neck, though that bit's unintentional; and by the time Zelos shifts, pulling back enough to allow his arms to resume a much more familiar and normal position draped over his shoulders, Jack's expression's shifted to something a bit more sympathetic and a bit more sad, in equal measures.]
...No, not corny. That's really--'course you're still human. And you couldn't do any good at all if you were gone, so--don't think like that. Stop getting tired. You're barely even thirty yet, save that for the old geezers.
[There, a small fleck of humor, interjected into a tone that's otherwise kind of somber. Jack lets his eyes drop to stare at some point around Zelos's chest after a moment; and the hand that had stubbornly remained fisted in his shirt up to now finally relaxes, shifts to drift under and out of the loose caging of Zelos's right arm to settle lightly on one of the guy's wrists, near his own shoulder. The grip's light--somewhat tentative in itself--bit still definitely there.]
You keep telling me all this stuff. And it's all so--close, and important, and--really wish I could return it better. Guess I'm just not sure how to do it. [A very slight laugh, almost a sigh in itself.] ...I still don't really remember much of it. When I was human. It's all--pieces. Barely remember what being warm is like. But--this is a nice reminder. So...thank you, for that. For all this.
[He leans a bit into Zelos's draping, then, the crown of his hair almost bumping at the latter's shoulder.]
I'm glad you don't mind it. That's...kind of a first.
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He never was sure how to react to those sort of things. Usually ended up being a jerk to make it go away...
The thank you he receives is just surprising. As is the way Jack leans forward, even if he'd been accepting of this all along somehow. Curious enough maybe. He glances away simply out of some kind of nervous fear, one that's not usually factored into his moments like this. But here he is letting this happen and... man he feels crazy.]
A first, huh? I never meant to spring all of these surprising things on you. [First seeing him, and now his particular way of thinking and memories that makes him a little more fond of cold than he normally ought to be.]
...Anyway, I'm just saying all of this stuff because I feel like it. You're here, listening to me after I screwed up big time. The truth is... [Trusting him-- that's what it is. And he likes him, admires him, wants to be closer. There are these feelings--
...He curls his fingers at Jack's neck as he lowers his head just enough to position his mouth by Jack's ear.
The truth is, he's just not good at this kind of thing. And so rather than continue and risk the coloring of his own cheeks in an uncharacteristically uncool fashion, his mouth twitches into a smirk as he opens and exhales warmly over Jack's ear. Normally just blowing is fine enough, but now he gets to have fun with temperature and who's going to stop him from that, hm?
...Talking about himself is hard, sure, but he hasn't reached the point of being able to talk about feelings so much. Not enough. And he does feel a bit guilty for that.]
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[The words are almost more of a quiet hum than anything else, but quite honest enough. First realizing Zelos could see him certainly hadn't been bad in the least, and this--well. This isn't so bad either.]
[He almost thinks he could get used to this, if all the thought involved in the 'before this' and 'after this' bits didn't feel so daunting still.]
[But 'before' and 'after' are still things that remain at a distance in this particular moment, this 'now'. And it just feels--natural, somehow, to lean into Zelos the way he is now. Even a gesture as simple as this is a dabbling in the strange and experimental--contact in all its myriad different forms, and he's had none of it in such a long while, but the vague notion of a memory of this sort of thing is still there, and so--]
[He'd been expecting Zelos to say more, when he lets his last sentence trail off like that. Even as Jack had found warm fingertips curling at his neck, and a mouth drifting to his ear, both things simultaneous and happening in the startling sort of way that's too unexpected to try leaning away again if he'd even wanted to--even then, he'd been expecting words, about a truth of some kind, or whatever it might have been that Zelos had been angling with that...]
[No further words come. But despite the lack of words, there's most definitely breath, hot breath, in that same sensitive spot--]
[The reaction's pretty immediate, and entirely automatic: a sharp inhale, alongside a shiver strong enough to almost pass as a flinch, as that sensation seems to go straight down his spine. A slight sound escapes before he even realizes it, something of a stifled whimper that sounds pretty compromising even to his own ears. Jack's hand tightens reflexively at Zelos's wrist as the brief freezing up comes and passes, over the course of his body still trying to figure what to actually do with all this almost painfully pleasant input.]
[Exhaling properly with a slightly shaky sigh, Jack turns his head just enough to be able to shoot Zelos a glance, the slight frown on his lips almost indignant more than anything else.]
Hey, that's--gotta be cheating somehow, geez...
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[He can't resist the beaming grin that comes from that reaction, the all too clearly genuine grin that falls across his features as he presses his nose in close to Jack's face. Tauntingly so-- teasingly peering as his fingers at Jack's neck relax the slightest.
He couldn't help himself.]
Cheating, seriously? What, you didn't like it?
[But he knows perfectly well that's not the case. He's not one with a lot of self confidence in most areas, but this? This is one he knows. He can read people, and he can tell, and it's great fun.
And so in timed movements with that breath of his just then, he slips away more completely from Jack, letting his hands trail against whatever they may the entire way until he finally spins and shrugs and takes a step forward with his back to his friend.]
And here I was thinking now was the time I invite you back to my place! I guess things like that don't work so well on a rusty old cargo ship, but still...
[Hitting on him through joke is the best plan.]
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[Zelos draws back, and every point of contact where his hands seemingly incidentally trail is pretty acute in its own right, by a sensation standpoint; by the end of it Jack finds himself straightening and feeling distinctly flustered in a way that's new, simultaneously frustrating and embarrassing.]
[So he goes for a hearty scowl anyway, even if the flush still on his features probably betrays him at every turn, and he finds himself leaning a bit on his staff on a volition that's only half habit.]
No, not really. Kinda lacks a bit of mystery when we're all stuck in the same place. And if your room's like all the other rooms on here I wouldn't say it's exactly appealing, hate to break it to you...
[Another bit of honesty in itself, actually--but then, he's never liked the rooms in this ship; any objective space in them stifled by general number of inhabitants and beds between. Just generally being indoors is already difficult enough as it is, sometimes...]
[But that's beside the point, and he knows it, and--just look at the guy, spinning off like that--]
[He frowns irritably at Zelos's back. Finds his eyes shifting over to his staff, still in hand.]
[And, a moment later, Zelos would find the chilly, angled crook of a length of wood hooking firmly over one of his shoulders--tugging--]
Where d'you think you're going, anyway?
[Better think fast, Zelos; otherwise, you might just find yourself being mildly forcibly turned around, while Jack uses his end of the tugging leverage to simultaneously pull the guy a bit forward and pace up to him himself until the distance between them is reduced to a couple of inches, eyebrows arched, chin angled upwards and overall expression possibly somewhat dangerous, in a way that's somehow amused and severe at the exact same time.]
I mean seriously, if it wasn't cheating the first time then that's gotta be cheating for sure, don't you think?
[Zelos that was a terrible plan.]
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So maybe I'm a cheater. [His tone is light, playful, and still a little deeper than that, but he leans lower and closer so their eye-levels are matching.]
Can't get enough, huh? [He's having so much fun being this horrible too. Pushing every button, seeing how much Jack wants more, how far he can go himself... It's too great. And even now he's moving just one hand to the side of Jack's face, his faint touch trailing over his cheek. It's still all so different... These feelings.]
If you keep making faces like that, I'll just be even more tempted to 'cheat'!
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[But he's always been one for taking the more impromptu route. Spur of the moment things. Because keeping yourself from stopping to think about things too much is a habit that's pretty hard to break anyway, after three centuries of stubborn practice...and Zelos's faint touch at his cheek does the rest anyway.]
Well, just couldn't have that, could we?
[Almost a murmur in itself, tinged with amusement, smirk curling up into more of a smile as the words drift out.]
[And he raises a hand, and curls fingertips firmly into the fabric at the collar of Zelos's shirt, and tugs--not necessarily gently but not necessarily forcibly either, just enough in between to leave some room for a delay or objection if it turns out there's one to be had.]
[But if it's something that's alright, and he manages to tug the guy down just so that they're rightly and properly at eye-level, and even closer, close enough--Jack would plant a kiss of his own, then, light and cold an maybe not nearly as well-versed or lazily confident as Zelos's own kisses might have been, but. Might as well start these things somewhere.]
[(It's the decision that he wants to start at all that surprises him most of all, really....)]
JACK YOU UNLEASHED FEELINGS now look what happens
SCREAMS YES WELL Zelos you've unleashed an awful wave of tl;dr SO THAT EVENS THINGS I SUPPOSE.....
OH BOY
oh god and now we're in full-out hideous territory I suppose ENDLESS SILENT SHRIEKING......
SO HIDEOUS BUT SO PERFECT oh my god and just thinking a nonbeliever I CAN'T FDJLSGDFLSGdfsg
"uh zelos pls stop making out with the wall....." also THAT ICON FFFF
"GIVE ME AND THE WALL SOME PRIVACY INSTEAD" and ikr I have no icons for these things so you get that
hahaha and i have none...either...IMPROVISATION ERRWHERE
huehuehuehuehuehuehue yes yes good
/flails words around wildly idk FACE IN HANDS.....
they're coming out beautifully don't you worry /GRABS FACE WHILE READING THIS
WELL IF YOU SAY SO we can both mutually clutch our faces forever...!
this sounds like the best plan to me!! screams at zelos forever
WOW ZELOS......
h e h
/SLIDES IN HERE MOST BELATEDLY and also breaks this post's hideously-timed 69 comments AH WELL......
GOODBYE 69 COMMENTS YOU WERE AMUSING WHILE YOU LASTED
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1/2
2/2 shakes head
creys into drink tbh
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