You'd better watch out, You'd better watch out, YOU'D BETTER W-

[lupusxylem]

Who: Nicholas D. Wolfwood and YOU
What: Saint Nick is coming to town and he's bringing you a present whether you like it or not-
When: It's CHRISTMAS TIME BAYBEE
Where: Wherever your character is you cannot escape
Warnings: Wolfwood's big mouth otherwise N/A, will mark in individual threads if needed!
[You know...it's been a year since he's done this. A year since he showed up. And, to be honest, Wolfwood didn't think he'd be here long enough to be conscripted to do it again.

...Hell, he didn't think he'd be ASKED to do this again. It's not like he makes a very cheerful Saint Nick.

But! He is here!! Wolfwood has actually been up early (which his partners will have noticed, they will have found him just entirely missing that morning no matter how early they woke), first taking a pitstop at Ydalir's to grab up his sack of presents. There are so many more this year than the last, and it's a good thing he has Moder as his steed to help him carry them on her back. He's dressed the part, with a heavy hat that looks kindof silly since he doesn't usually wear them, and a pair of snowboots to match. Last year he was missing the beard, but this year he's actually grown his facial hair out longer than usual. Not a full-on beard, but just on the edge, to the point where it's definitely noticeable. One thing he has this year that he didn't last year is his trusty companion Angelina, who is running through the snow like :D??!!! EXCITED, so you will get to greet her when you receive your gift (if you do not like dogs she will be omitted from the equation, Wolfwood will have her stay outside, she's a very good girl who can be patient and wait with Moder if needed).

You'd better watch out.]

Comments

[lupusxylem]

[Noo no sniffle...

Wolfwood turns his head just a little bit more, this time so he can actually look at Ain instead of avoiding his gaze. He won't force Ain to look at him, but he will sort of encourage it by trying to look at his eyes.]

I ain't good at talkin' about this shit either. S'why squirt has me in therapy.

[Because! You know!! He isn't a functioning human being. He needs help, even if he has a better understanding of feelings than Ain does, at this point in his adult life.]

You ain't gotta apologize. I just...

I promise I'll talk to you about this stuff more. But you gotta promise to talk to me, too. Even when you feel like it's nothin', or some small thing. Okay?

[It's like how Vash had to tell Wolfwood "hey, when you agree with me when I put myself down, that kindof feels bad so maybe don't", because he didn't know it was hurting his feelings until he was told.]

[eidxiety]

[Ain's eyes are red in that way that says he wants to cry but has been biting back his feelings like NO!! CRYING MAKES YOU LOOK BAD!!! the entire time. So yes, sniffle.]

What if I don't know what I'm feeling? I don't know what's normal. I only realised I was upset for real today. Anything else I sort of stamped down, or assumed that's how it was supposed to be and was acting mad about nothing. Aren't you going to hate being with someone who doesn't know what's going on half the time?

[lupusxylem]

You think I know what's goin' on half the time? Or anybody else?

[Edging a little bit closer, Wolfwood finally finds the courage to reach out and gently cup the side of Ain's face. Again, he's not forcing anything...just holding him like this, brushing a thumb over his cheekbone.]

I need you to understand that it's okay to feel shit. That's kinda what bein' a person is about. Even if it's not good, what you're feelin'...it's normal.

...ugh. Now you got me soundin' like squirt.

[UGH!]

What I'm sayin' is that I ain't gonna hate you for that. And you shouldn't bottle shit up...that's what causes this sorta thing to happen. Misunderstandings...

[...]

I need to practice what I preach. M'gonna try to be better about not doin' that too.

[eidxiety]

[Ain is making the exact face I have as the icon rn when he looks at Wolfwood. Sad, pathetic, wet little bug.]

Yes, because you're the human one, not me. I only got these emotions in the last couple years, and I don't know what I'm supposed to be feeling, or thinking, or doing. This is an instinct thing to humans, isn't it?

I don't want to argue with you about things. Especially dumb misunderstanding things. Even if I feel gross, aren't you going to get tired and leave because you don't want someone who's a little jealous clinging to you?? That's what happens in the books!

[ain put the books down]

[lupusxylem]

I know you ain't human.

[Okay he's actively cupping Ain's face with both hands now, gently squishing his cheeks together. If Ain didn't look like a sad wet bug BEFORE...]

But that don't change the fact you have these emotions now. And just like everyone else, you gotta give yourself time to learn how they work, and understand how t'deal with 'em. I don't expect you to know how to act when you feel one way or the other. That'd be like you yellin' at me if I got wings tomorrow and didn't immediately know how to fly with 'em.

[He brings one hand up, carefully brushing Ain's bangs off his forehead.]

You're forgettin' that I've spent most of my life in a world where very little shit makes sense, anymore. I'm human, sure...but a lot of my upbringin' hasn't really felt "normal". And you're far from the only non-human in my life, at this point. And I'd love to think we just sprung into bein', havin' shit figured out, but that ain't how it works for the human race. Animals got us beat when it comes to "instinct".

[eidxiety]

[Sad and wet and PATHETIC!!!]

But humans are animals... [Ain, no,] Mm... okay. I guess, if you say so. M'sorry... I really am trying. I really do love you a lot, and I don't want to feel sad anymore.

[He's going to briefly tear himself out of Wolfwood's grip, only because he needs to rub at his eyes in some bid to stop feeling so... he doesn't know, over-dramatic? Emotional??? Way too emotional.]

[lupusxylem]

[Wolfwood allows it, letting Ain pull away as he scrubs at his eyes. But...the sight makes his chest tighten again, and although he won't reach out to try to pull him back...]

S'okay if you need to cry. Yaknow.

[eidxiety]

Noooo...

[Rubbing his eyes harder, maybe if he buries his tears in the fur on his sleeves he'll be less teary.]

I don't need to... I don't do that. [Babe you are literally doing that right now.] I just want a hug, that's all. I'll be fine.

[lupusxylem]

[“I don’t do that,” he says, when he’s trying to scrub the tears away as he protests…

And while this is happening, Wolfwood will relent and shift forward, pulling Ain back into his arms. He gathers him close to his chest so he can lay his head against his shoulder, his hand wandering up to cradle the back of his head]

C’mon, now. You’ll just feel worse if you don’t. Trust me.

SOMEHOW THIS GOT MARKED AS READ BUT NOT TAGGED BACK AAAAAAA

[eidxiety]

Noooo...

[He whimpers, and whines, and then tucks his head against Wolfwood's chest and yeah

just starts sobbing then and there, feeling partly like it was because he was goaded into it, but he's also just sad man. He's sad he feels the way he does, he's sad he doesn't know how to fix things like that, he's sad that emotions suck... many reasons to overuse the word Sad in this tag.

It'll be a few minutes until he stops hiccup-sobbing right into his boyfriend. Sorry about the wet shirt (which he will also feel bad about as he pulls away, he has too many feelings today).]

NOOOO

[lupusxylem]

[If it helps, Wolfwood's goal today was definitely not to make Ain cry, but...here he is, letting him sob into his chest. It's not the first time he's made someone dear to him cry, and he doubts it will be the last. But...it's better to get the feelings out than bottle them up, said as someone who knows that feeling first hand. As Ain cries, Wolfwood will hold him close, gently rubbing the space between his shoulders until he's reduced to a hiccuping mess.

Wolfwood doesn't care about being damp, moreso than he cares about reaching up and carefully smudging the tears off Ain's face with his thumb. He'll also lean in and kiss them away too, lips brushing over his cheeks.]

...m'sorry. Feel any better?

[eidxiety]

Nooo... [Whines, whines,] I didn't want to cry...

[So you feel sad because (checks notes) you feel sad. Got it. Listen, Ain has already stated that he Sucks at this.]

I feel better but I feel sad for feeling sad! Does that make sense? I don't know if that makes sense.

[lupusxylem]

Nah, it does. It does.

[Wolfwood brushes Ain's hair back again, very gently resting their foreheads together.]

It's good that you feel better. N'it's okay if you still don't feel great. M'pretty sure that's normal.