sticksandbones | And if I believe you [OPEN]

Entry tags:

trigun: wolfwood

And if I believe you [OPEN]

Who: Nicholas D. Wolfwood and YOU
What: Wolfwood gets a [nondenominational but it's also definitely Catholic] church
When: Throughout January after the event
Where: The Grove
Warnings: N/A will edit if needed

[A new building has appeared in the South part of the Grove.

It's small. It's exterior seems dilapidated and old despite its newness, and- at least for the first day it's around- every window is shattered and decrepit looking. This is the building that Wolfwood had asked Heimr to build for him, and honestly he was not expecting it to look this bad. It's actually kindof impressive. Like, dude, you have...magic, how could you not have made it look less shitty than this-

But, well. If anybody is wondering what it is, the shape of its steeple and the fact its topped with a little cross would clue anyone in who has familiarity with such iconography that this is, in fact, a Church. A Church that has little by way of entertainment to offer guests, but should you wander inside...

It's just as run down as the outside, though mostly because there's plant life growing everywhere. It's structurally sound otherwise, mostly, and it's clear given how some of the vines have been torn away recently that someone is trying to clean it up. It's...depending on when you find it, either empty, or there's Elsword watching you from the rafters because Wolfwood hasn't figured out how to remove him yet. He may just live here now.

Other than that though, there are books that you can pull from behind the pews to read. Bibles- "Bibles"- that don't seem to conform to any religion so much as it talks about a strange sort of religious order surrounding "Plants", so that probably isn't suspicious at all.

At the head of the sanctuary is a pulpit where a pastor might presumably give a sermon, and off to the side of it is a confessional box. The confessional box has a piece of notebook paper taped to it that reads "5 shells for 15 minutes. Confess all of your sins. -W"

The pulpit itself, if this building's owner wasn't clear enough, has a little plaque on it that reads, as if sarcastically: Saint Nicholas]

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[Really, Vash hadn't meant to reach this point. He'd been trying to tease a little, sure, but now that Wolfwood's lips are on his neck? It's hard to keep his lashes from fluttering, or his body from shuddering. He keeps the man's head tucked against his neck, thumbing at the nape where a few stray hairs happen to kiss at his fingers.]

Who says we can't do both? [It tumbles out before he can stop himself. A laugh follows, even as Vash leans back and away. Not far, just enough to free himself from temptation for the time being.]

I missed you, is all I'm saying.

[Fortunately for Vash, Wolfwood doesn't press on the teasing, at least not while they're stuck in a small confessional with people literally in the sanctuary outside of it. So when Vash pulls back to look at him, it means that Wolfwood can more easily look at his face in the semi-gloom, realizing that this is probably the most alive he's seen Vash in a solid week. His eyes, more than anything, reflect that. Before, they were dull and distant, like they belonged to someone else...but now, it's like he's returned after being in a waking coma.

He nods, a sort of limp bob of his head with how close the two of them still are.]

Missed you too. You weren't even gone for that long...I dunno how you manage to do this to me.

Guess that's what being in love does to someone.

[He might not be teasing, but Vash can still be romantic. Which, for Wolfwood, it might just be the same damn thing, seeing as how Vash trails his hands down the span of his chest, then back over the width of his shoulders. He hadn't forgotten how the man felt beneath his hands, but the reminder was appreciated nonetheless.]

I know I can't say I felt the same, considering everything. But also... part of me did. Don't even think I got to enjoy just being in the same bed with you.

[Being in love. ...yeah. Wolfwood still isn't sure he's used to that, yet.

He closes his eyes for a moment, focusing on the feeling of the touch of Vash's hands. Previously during the week, he was lucky if Vash even looked at him directly, much less did anything like this. It was all so...clinical. Like he'd been reset, somehow.

He's going to have to ask...someone about it. If this is just something that happens here, when you die.]

M'surprised you even wanted to be in bed with me, after what I did.

[That part is said a little quieter, rougher. Does Vash even remember the way the steel of his own gun pressed into his stomach?]

[There are parts of Vash's memories that are more disconnected than others. The immediate aftermath of waking up was especially fuzzy. He knows that something happened, felt the sharp bruising sensation of something against his gut, but he couldn't say what.

And it wasn't like there were scars to tell the tale.

Or maybe, just maybe, he's forced himself to forget. It's not the kind of conversation they would relish having. It would, perchance, be easier if it was shoved into the recesses of Vash's memory and entirely forgotten.]

There's nothing you could do to keep me from you.

[This is something he knows he means. It will be true, no matter what.]

[Honestly, it's probably a thing best kept in the dark. The less Vash remembers about it, the better for not just him, but Wolfwood too. He's used to keeping secrets, especially about his own dirty laundry, but this? This is...it's been eating at him. Maybe he'd brought it up now just to probe a little, to see if Vash remembered anything at all.

It's hard to say for sure, but it doesn't seem like he does. Or, if he does, he's making it a point to avoid getting into it further than the affirmation that he doesn't think Wolfwood did anything wrong. At least...nothing wrong enough to warrant Vash not wanting to be with him anymore.

Wolfwood exhales on a frustrated sound, but it's more at himself than Vash.]

That's dangerous thinking, needle-noggin.

What makes you say that?

[He can't tell if it's lighthearted, or a genuine warning. With Wolfwood, either one wouldn't surprise him. With their respective backgrounds, there's likely a lot they both could do to at least damage their relationship in a significant way. They were lucky Vash's own actions hadn't done just that.

He squints down at the other man, trying to read his face, before ultimately shaking his head.]

I know you're a good person at the heart of it all, Nick. That you wouldn't hurt me. Maybe even that you don't want to hurt other people, but you feel you have to.

[He holds the man's face once more, thumb tracing over his lip this time.]

I couldn't ever turn my back on a man like that.

[Little bit of column a, little bit of b. Wolfwood is completely unconvinced that he isn't going to hurt Vash again someday. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow...but it's a sure thing that it will happen. He's not good with people, and even worse with emotions, and Vash is as sensitive and big-hearted as they come. It would be naive to think he'd be able to navigate their relationship at all flawlessly from this point on.

So, to have Vash say that's okay is...a lot. Especially when he knows that this is something Vash is going to have to deal with. It's what he signed up for, getting into this with Wolfwood.

He leans a little into Vash's palm, still looking elsewhere with what little bit of his eyes Vash will be able to see through the lenses of his glasses.]

No. Not on purpose.

[To err is human. Not that Wolfwood feels entirely human, most days.]

[Ultimately, it's a risk they both take, both with themselves and with others. It isn't as if Vash is immune to such thoughts. Rather, he's just as convinced that he will be the cause of some sort of suffering to Wolfwood. If one wanted to get technical, he already had been, given the last week or so.

But the risk also ran deeper than that, the chance of Vash actually leading him into physical harm was always looming, after all.

For right now, though, they are both okay. And for now, they could take comfort in each other. A new month would bring more trouble, but they would find their way through. They'd already gotten this far, after all.]

We'll be okay, Nick. I promise.

[Yet more promises Vash is making that he can't keep...yet, maybe this one could be different. There's a difference between "nothing is going to happen/we won't get hurt again" and "we'll be okay". There is always a chance that, after everything- in spite of everything- they manage to make it out okay on the other side. Isn't that all that Vash hopes for?

It's what he lives for, surely. To see a world more peaceful than the one they're currently in.

With his face still pressed into Vash's hand, Wolfwood takes advantage of the moment and their closeness to kiss Vash. It's nothing deep, but it does linger, their lips brushing to give Vash a taste of nicotine before he pulls away.]

I trust you. Don't let me regret it.

[Maybe, just maybe, Vash is being more and more careful about those promises he offers up. Actionable things, rather than miracles he knows may not come to fruition. Getting through whatever this world throws at him was at least something he could do. The ball was in his court, so to speak.

There's no protest as Wolfwood leans in. He laments that it doesn't last longer, that the burn of nicotine in his throat doesn't linger. He chases after the man, stealing a second kiss, then a third. Likewise, each one is light and careful, not daring the push the envelope considering their current location, but they're insistent in their own right.]

I'll try not to. [He knows he can't promise more, and so he doesn't. Look at him, learning.]

[Well. If Vash is going to keep kissing him, who is he to complain? He'll return those kisses in kind, lazy but no less meaningful for it. Yes, a confessional isn't exactly the ideal place to be making out but hey, they're here. He appreciates Vash's concession, if nothing else.]

Good. Now...maybe we oughta get out of here before we get stuck, yeah?

If you don't feel like making a sinner out of yourself, probably.

[Even as he says this, he leans forward, burying his face against Wolfwood's shoulder to muffle a laugh. He doesn't linger long, carefully wiggling back out of the man's lap and toward the door.]

I appreciate your time though, Father.

Oh please. I'm pretty sure we've already committed half a dozen sins in here already, it's fine.

[Like both of them being in the same side of the confessional, for starters.

He'll wait for Vash to climb off his lap and leave the box though before he follows after, stretching with an exaggerated grunt and the sound of his spine popping in a few places.]

Any time. Next time though, you get the discounted rate. Just gotta pay me in one of these.

[Said as he taps his cheek with his index finger pointedly.]

[Vash winces audibly at the noise. He hadn't realized the position had been quite so uncomfortable for Wolfwood. He makes a mental note to take it easy on him once they're settled for the evening.

For now, though.]

Don't tell me you're getting old on me, Nick.

[He chuckles to himself as he steps out of the box. For all his griping, Vash stretches out himself, a few of his muscles aching for the trouble.]

If that's your currency of choice, we might have a problem. Pretty sure you're in debt to me at this point.

Haaah? You mean to tell me I haven't kissed you enough?

[Wow! Greedy!

Wolfwood shakes his head with mock shame as he pushes the door to the confessional shut with his foot, sliding his hands into his pockets.]

How much of a deficit am I at?

Nope, not nearly enough!

[His voice is a chirp as he makes his way to the doors of the chapel, pushing just one open for Wolfwood to pass through. He isn't gonna make a big show of it, thank you.

(And yes, as he waits, he does offer a pleasant little wave up to Elsword and Zahliya. What's up, buds!)]

Gotta be at least 100 kisses behind at this point.

[No one point out that he hasn't been kissing back at all in the last week or so. Or that the amount of worry he's inspired has probably cleared that debt out.]

100? You're nuts, Vash...

[Wolfwood shakes his head, and...you know what, he's in a good enough mood that he isn't going to try to shoo the squatters away again. They're safe...for now.

Even as Wolfwood steps through the door past Vash, kissing him on the cheek on his way outside.]

Guess I'd better get started.

Waiiit. [He shoves at Wolfwood's face, giggling away.] What if I'm not in the moood?

[Carefully, he backs up, then tries to sprint away through the snow. It's very obvious by the path that he cuts that he's heading home. Equally as obvious is the looks he shoots over his shoulder, hoping that Wolfwood might be chasing after.]

Vash the Stampede? Not in the mood for affection? I didn't think that was possible...

[He leans back on his heels, watching as Vash starts to back away...and as if predicting what he's going to do, like a predator waiting for a deer to startle and start running, Wolfwood immediately takes off after him too.

Of course, this also means he's going to very nearly bust his ass on the way because, oh yeah, the snow is slippery and has packed into ice in some places, watch out!]

[Likewise, Vash nearly eats it in the snow a few steps later. Between his lack of balance and the laughter throwing him off all the more, it makes him extremely wobbly and ridiculous looking. And naturally, it only makes him laugh all the more.

He has to outright stop and steady himself as he reaches the edge of the river. The last thing he needs is to be giggling as he tries to step across.]

Y'comin' Nick?

...gross.

[But also waving back.]

[Guess what. Just for that, Zahliya is getting a kiss blown at him. Oops.

Now he's running away for real.]

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1/2 sorry

2/2 still sorry

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