sticksandbones | 06 ⸸⸸⸸ netbook

[Ain who is trying to dissociate through it, meanwhile: :)? ]

Aww, aren't you so cute? I promise I think of it every day, sunshine~

y'sure?
'cuz i could come remind you a little bit.
if you wanted.

[Clapping his cheeks with his hands like okay Ain you can't be depressed in front of the beautiful sunshine boy you have to brush your hair (it would look no different if he did or didn't, realistically).]

Ooh, yes, why don't you come to the bakery? I'll meet you down in the lobby where the bunnies are~.

i'll be right there!

[And he is! He brings the wool blanket that Livio gave him well over a year ago, and comes clad in the softest pajamas ever. It doesn't matter if Ain is going to be putting on the "i'm okay" front, Vash is ready and prepared for anything.]

Ain? Ainnifer, are you there?

[Ainnifer... you know what he'll take it, it's better than having his full first name used. That's the sort of shit that'll make him never want to talk to someone ever again.

Good news is, Ain decided to get dressed before he came down, but only in shorts and a slouchy shirt. The illusion of being ready to go somewhere.]

I'm here! [Said as he pushes the "STAFF ONLY" door to the back open and emerges out to see the bunnies just. HOPPING on Vash. Hi hi hi sneef sneef do u have food] Haha, did you just wake up?

[Oop, guess Vash has to kneel down and say hello. He holds out his flesh hand to the bunnies, stealing pets where he can. Unfortunately, his pockets are completely empty, no snacks to be found here.]

Sorry lil guys, I'm fresh out of snacks!

[He straightens up, then opens his arms for Ain.]

I wanted to be cozy! It's perfect for hugs, don't you think? Come and see!

[One of the bunnies attempts to wiggle into Vash's pocket shortly before he stands. No bunpocket... but he's definitely still being jumped around as he stands up.

Ain, as always, is quick to fall into Vash's arms and place his head on the man's shoulder, squeezing him hard around the torso. It would be suffocating if he hadn't learnt to control his dragon-blessed strength recently.]

Mmm... you're right~. But hugs are much better upstairs! The bunnies will get jealous~.

[The bunnies do not give a shit they are simply hoppin'. In any case, Ain plants a swift kiss on Vash's cheek, then releases the embrace so that he can walk them both upstairs and to the living area overtop the bakery, where he's quick to flop down on the living room couch and open his arms for one (1) blonde.]

[Ain is going to have to drag him away, because otherwise Vash is going to sit here and coo over all these babies. The kiss, thankfully, is a nice distraction, even if he can't quite manage to get his arms around Ain fast enough.

He'll get you yet, twink.]

We can't have jealous bunnies!

[He trots after, careful to make sure that none of the bunnies wind up under foot. And once Ain is flopped on the couch, Vash flops down right beside him. He hooks his chin over Ain's head, kissing at the top of it once before nuzzling in.]

You doin' okay, sweet bug?

[Haha,

that's a great question!

The way the wag in his tail stills when Vash asks might be signal enough, but Ain is quick to course-correct into fake-chipper again.]

Oh, I'm good~. [He brushed his teeth 2 minutes before Vash showed up, for the first time in the last 24 hours. So uh.] Haha, I've just been indoors lately. Mr. Demon and everyone can handle all the spring gardening without me~.

[mmmmmhmmmm]

Ain... [There's a faintly chiding tone there. Vash can't exactly judge the man for wanting to keep his feelings under wraps, the independent gets it. But he also can't help but worry, either. He knows what happens when you do keep things to yourself for too long.]

What if I wanted to see my favorite sprout out and about, huh?

[He butts their foreheads together.]

[Don't perceive him >:(

...]

Well~ I haven't felt like going out lately~. You'll just have to continue coming to visit, haha...

[...he sighs, leaning harder against Vash as he debates saying anything.]

...I'll be okay soon. I just need some time to recover, I think? That's how it works for humans...

He asks the other non-human in the room. [Vash speaks with a smirk, but his tone is gentle. He even offers a gentle kiss to the nose.]

I think you're right, though. Time and talking about it. [A pause.] Have you seen Mizuki about it?

You've been around them longer than I have, though!

[Sighs... not worth protesting, even to be pedantic and weird about it. Ain's will is wearing down the longer this goes on, so he supposes he'll vent a tiny bit...]

I did go to Mr. Jellyfish. I always go to him. [Ain is signed up for therapy, thank you.] I've just had a run of really bad luck ever since I died... uh, the second death, not the first, haha...

Yeah, yeah, you've got me there. But I still think you're doing good at the "being human" thing yourself. You had me fooled for a long time, y'know.

[He probably still would be, if things hadn't gone so wrong for him.]

Well, I'm glad you're getting some more professional help [Couldn't be him, tbh...] But that doesn't make it any easier. Especially when things keep pilin' on.

What all's happened to you, then?

Mm... do you want me to start with the lack of self-worth, or feeling ostracized, orrrr how Mr. Ancient... [shakes his head,] Add showed up and has been acting like himself? Haha...

[...]

Or the scars from deaths one and two. Those are pretty bad, too.

[Oh, Vash's face falls. He'd known that Ain had been struggling, but certainly not this badly. He presses a few kisses to the crown of his head, pulling the other man that much closer to him. There already wasn't much room between the two of them, but listen.]

Let's start with the stuff I know. You're always welcome with me. And I'm pretty confident in saying that's true for Livio and Wolfwood too. Who's got you feelin' like that, though? Or, I guess, what, if you don't want to be specific.

[He isn't ignoring any of the other things, just focusing on the easily dispelled first.]

I appreciate it. You're always so sunshiney, so it's hard not to cheer up around you, at least a little bit. [But...] It's all pretty connected. My Add is different from the ones you guys had as a doctor. Mine's more of a jock, I guess? He punches lightning, and he's stupid and has to argue with everyone. The good news is, he told me he cares about me! The bad news is, it was in the middle of a screaming match, so...

...I don't know, I should have screamed back. [NO???] But I spent time trying to comfort him instead. Haha, his issues aren't for me to explain, he'll just get mad at me again.

[Shaking his head...]

I guess I was hoping our reunion would be a little more touching. But to him, it was like I wasn't gone at all, since I guess time passes differently back home, so I shouldn't expect that of him. I feel like everything I say is starting to be offensive to him now, too. It's like I can't explain one thing without something else happening... and that's not even the most upsetting thing to me right now.

Well, I'm glad to help lift your spirits, even just a little!

[Ain gets a little forehead kiss for that.]

Gotta admit, that definitely doesn't sound like the guy I knew, but maybe that's better? He was kind of a weirdo, did some questionable stuff to Nick, too. It's good that you didn't scream back! You were trying to be kind to him, so you definitely shouldn't be punished for that.

[Vash hums a little, deep in thought.]

What I can say is... I guess I know where he's coming from, at least a little. And where you're coming from too. When I was first corrupted, it felt like every little thing led to a fight between Nick and I. I even got mad at him for calling me nicknames, when that was one of the things I loved about him.

Sometimes things just... feel like too much. And it can be hard to react rationally or whatever. I guess... the best you can do is be persistent. Give him space, sure, but also remind him that you're still around.

Add is always a weirdo, and he's not Corrupted, he's just got a bad attitude.

[Thank you Ain.]

...haha, but I guess so. We usually argue, that's our thing. I think it would feel weirder if we weren't, but that was a real argument, and not one of our usual ones where we just razz each other, you know? It was mean. I probably really hurt his feelings... he got mad at my nickname thing, 'cause I call you and Nikolaus and Livio and Ezell by name, but not him. So I'm calling him by name now~. We'll see if it makes him happy. I always thought it would freak him out.

Obviously he's not corrupted! That isn't what I was trying to say.

[He gives Ain another kiss, this time on the nose.]

But he might have a lot on his mind anyway. Just... somethin' to keep in mind, I guess.

[Anyway.]

I mean, I guess there's something to be said about the fact that he communicated with you. Doesn't mean he did it well. And that he didn't hurt your feelings. He also doesn't seem like he's meeting you halfway with anything, either. It's not fair to expect you to bend all the time, you know.

[Ain realising that at any moment Add could go off and get Corrupted: ANXIETY

Wheeze

He leans heavily on Vash like oh GOD my IDIOT—]

How come you're good at this? You have all the good advice... haha, that's supposed to be my job. [The difference is, Ain, that you give completely unsolicited VAGUE advice out of NOWHERE. Vash at least knows what he's talking about!] ...what do I do, then? He's not really someone who talks about his emotions... I tried to get him to. By the El, you're going to lose your mind when I tell you that part of the story. We're only scratching the surface.

[He isn't sure what he said that was so unsettling, but Vash gives Ain a squeeze anyway. And also maybe smooths his hair some? Not the antenna though, he doesn't want to give Ain brain damage.]

Something tells me I'm not gonna like what happened... [But anyway.] You gotta... give it time, I guess. I took forever to be up for talking about how I was feeling. Nick was the same way. Just... be there, talk about your own feelings and occasionally ask for his. But don't press. He'll only try running away.

[The antenna has to remain unsmoothed or it'll interfere with the wi-fi signal from the mothership, nods.]

Men are complicated. [SIGHS!] I'll try that, though. Thanks, Vash.

[Kisses Vash's cheek... BIG smek. Mwah!]

You're always so helpful~.

Aren't they!! Ugh!

[Vash stays still for the cheek kiss, then bonks their foreheads together. Maybe just a little forcefully,. There might be a hollow thunk from these braincell-less bastards.]

I'm glad I could help. [He hums.] So, what's next.

[Thank god their heads are empty and full of only love and food thoughts.]

...

Do you think I'm a whore?

06 ⸸⸸⸸ netbook

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