sticksandbones | My shadow's the only one that walks beside me [CLOSED]

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trigun: wolfwood

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me [CLOSED]

Who: Wolfwood, Ain, and Ezell
What: Wolfwood moves into the Bunnkery and is Sad and Wet
When: Late August/Early September
Where: The Bunnkery
Warnings: Weed will be consumed during this log

[It's been a rough week. A rough...while.

Some part of him had been bracing for the inevitable possibility that he'd be the last one standing in the Grove. It's almost poetic in that sense, that he'd be the first to show up, and then the last to ever leave. Turns out that sort of happiness was always meant to be fleeting. And perhaps it's telling, in a very concerning way, that Wolfwood sheds no tears for their absence. At least, not yet. He- at the very least- got to share a proper goodbye with Livio. He hadn't been so lucky with Vash, or Meryl. He doesn't think Knives would have humored it.

The cabin is emptier now than it's ever been, and he always knew that if he were to be left holding up its walls, he wouldn't be able to stand doing so alone. Not where he is in his life now. He can hole himself up in the church to be alone for as long as he wants, but that's always been a temporary thing. This...is permanent, and it makes something in the back of his brain itch.

So, he gathered up what meager belongings he does have, himself, and his pets, and he headed for the Bakery.

That was a few days ago, now. Though Wolfwood's presence here isn't exactly unusual, the way he's feeling absolutely resonates through the building, for some more literal than others. He's wearing the bracelet again, and he's waffled greatly about taking it off to spare Ain further grief he knows he can't properly deal with right now, but in the end decides to leave it because he (wrongly) thinks he's very good at bottling up his emotions to the point where they probably....maybe can't really be felt.

It's fine. He'll be fine. He'll get over it.

He's sprawled on a couch now, with Angelina laying at his feet and Bartholomew literally splooted across his chest, smacking his beak every so often and tugging at Wolfwood's lapels to try to get him to do anything that isn't just kindof...sitting melted into the couch cushions. He'll occasionally lift a hand and pet the Dachsologie, but he doesn't seem to have any intention to move.]

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[Realistically taking it off would've freaked Ain out, so maybe it's for the best that Wolfwood left it on so Ain didn't think he fucking died.

Either way, Ain is sad, but... at least this one came with closure, he supposes. He cares less about the other people if he's honest with himself. The well of giving a fuck has run dry, and he's too absorbed in his own mind as a coping mechanism.

This doesn't stop him from sitting down on Wolfwood's legs on the couch in the living room.]

I don't think anyone minds if you wanna sleep in a bed... [He starts.] I got the bunk beds because we were supposed to have three people in my room. And you like Mr. Firebrand... Elsword and I aren't really using the desk in our room if you want to move in there?

[It's funny that Wolfwood and Ain have switched places in that regard. He used to be so good at not giving a fuck, but now he gives far too many fucks. It hurts, he'd like to go back to no longer giving a fuck please :(

Wolfwood opens his eyes halfway when Ain sits down, his head still tilted back on the back of the couch towards the ceiling as he looks at him through his lashes. Angelina's tail sweeps the floor, happy to see Ain, but still just as wet and flat on the floor as her Master is. Mew squeaks when Ain comes over, his tailfeathers wiggling a little.]

That's up to ya'll. I'm fine with whatever, s'long as I ain't in the way.

You're here all the time anyway...

[It would just be easier for Wolfwood to be here full time at this point, Ain thinks.]

You and Ezell and Mr. Firebrand crammed yourselves into my bed before it was large enough to fit three people in it and smoked while I was gone. My sheets smelled like whatever you smoked for a week. [Case in point.] You're allowed here. You've always been allowed here.

[Well good news about that!! Wolfwood's got all of his things here plus his creatures, so he doesn't exactly plan on going back at this point. It's more...he knows he's a sadsack for what is essentially not a super good reason (IE, Livio didn't fucking die, he's still here), especially compared to much more valid reasons to be sad as of late.

He just hates himself and his emotions, he thinks. He hates having to deal with them, period.]

I know...

[Wolfwood closes his eyes for a moment after that, the thinner part of his tail unconsciously curling around Ain's leg.]

Guess it wouldn't be the first time we've crammed several grown men into a bedroom.

My room is really big now. You've been in it... we expanded it because we were expecting so many people to live in it. And Elsword is usually out camping. I can't usually drag him inside these days.

[Ain is too emotionally burnt-out to let himself feel. He just has to focus on the present or he'll crumble. It's not like he's also not living in a dream-world right now either.]

So... you can just move your stuff in. I'll ask Ezell if it's okay when he's up here, but I'm sure it will be. Haha, knowing him, he's probably making snacks.

'Kay...thanks, Ain.

[It's a far cry from what Wolfwood would normally be doing. IE, just brooding off by himself somewhere alone. The fact he's here at all is probably a good thing, insomuch that he's with people and not isolating. This place has always functioned as a second home, so it feels right being here.

With a heavy sigh, he shifts sideways a little and lets his temple rest against Ain's shoulder, careful to not let his broken horn bump into him too much.]

I...appreciate you. Don't really say that enough.

[ Trips into the scene with cartoonish sound effects-

Ezell is back upstairs, holding a bunny along with a whole tray of kouign-amann balanced in his other hand. ]

Oh, hello Wolfwood. I thought I heard Ain talking to someone... Do you want a snack?

Nikolaus is here because he's sad, [Ain says, as if Ezell can't sense that on his own.] We were thinking he should live here since his house is empty and we technically have the space, what with Add being gone... and plus he's here all the time anyway.

[Ain is just. Sitting ON Wolfwood right now. Helping.]

Did you make those thingies again? [He doesn't know what they're called.]

["I'm not sad," he almost blurts, but ultimately decides better of it and just sighs deeply instead.]

I, uh...yeah. Ain was gonna ask you first, obviously.

[Because as often as he is here, and even IF he's also dating Ain (and has a situationship with Flamebringer), he isn't just going to barge in and assume he can stay.]

And thanks, but I'm good...I ain't that hungry.

I could tell, but I wasn't going to air it out for him. Sometimes someone's sadness has to be internalized before they go talking about it, Ain...

[ Setting the bunny down... he can and will go and investigate Angelina. ]

I mean, I still have some edibles around if you'd like to have something that might ease your emotions for a bit, if you'd like. And even if not, you know I'm more than happy to allow you staying here. I doubt Flamebringer would mind, but I can go and ask him when he's back from the greenhouse...

But he's sad. I thought it was kind of obvious? [Ain,] And don't he and Mr. Firebrand have sex? Why would he say no?

[Ain.]

Are these edible? [He's still a little confused about drugs, honestly.] They are, right? They're the bread things you make. Unless these are for display only?

[He is so confused by goddamn everything man. First we got "Flamebringer might not let you move in even though you guys fuck" and "you can't just Tell People that others are sad", and now we're on "edibles". Next thing you know they're gonna start asking him how to solve for X.]

[Oh my god Ain, babe-

Despite how he feels, Ain being...well, himself IS at least enough to make Wolfwood crack a little smile.]

That...that still ain't enough for me to just decide I live here now.

[Yes, they fuck, but that doesn't mean it means anything!! (it means a lot of things actually).

Angelina, meanwhile, is sneefsnorfing the little bunny gently as Wolfwood continues, his eyes closing again.]

He's talkin' about weed...did you ever have any of those weed brownies, Ain?

S-sure, Ain, but sometimes living with someone is a whole commitment and he should have a say in it. Even if I don't see him saying "no", that doesn't mean we should be assuming he's okay with it.

[ Ezell will set the tray on the table and spin around to go into his room for a moment so he can bring out said edibles while Wolfwood has to explain what a weed is. ]

[Human customs are so strange...]

Mr. Enthusiastic told me to try weed when we were talking about magic to heal brains. [Which Shadow Milk did show him a bit of, a spell to soothe nightmares and emotions both. Ain might practice using it on Wolfwood tonight, he thinks.] But human drugs have weird reactions on me, so I wasn't sure if I should.

[He picks up one of the snacks just in time for Dachie to barrel into the room like I HEARD WE WERE HAVING FOOD??? Hi bunny hi Angelina hi Mew hi—]

[Wolfwood is, admittedly, a LITTLE hesitant still when it comes to weed...but thankfully he hasn't had any bad trips since the first one, so he should? Theoretically be okay with edibles this time so long as he's sure not to eat too much. He's smoked it just fine, after all...and God if he doesn't need this right now.

So, he'll take one of the brownies and break it in half down the middle, offering Ain the other half.]

Weird how, exactly?

[Dachie comes exploding onto the scene and the animals are so excited. Mew jumps off Wolfwood's chest to go see him like hi :)]

How many "human drugs" have you tried, furthermore...

[ Ain always says such concerning things.

Dachie runs into the room and the bunny is immediately startled back over to Ezell, who scoops it up so he can get scritches. Poor baby. ]

[Ain is eating his normal pastries so far, and isn't entirely sure why he has to explain this. Like, Wolfwood, you were there the last time he got drunk... that was when he got called the town whore and then got sad about it...]

I had liquor! [That's it :) He had liquor a couple times.] Nikolaus was there, and so were lots of people. I had two glasses of it and then started crying, and by the third Nikolaus had to take me home because I kept trying to undress. Isn't that weird?

[No that's like. A standard college frat boy reaction to liquor. Adults in their 40s have that reaction to it.]

[No, he was there, he does remember this...well, if Ain isn't going to take the brownie, he'll put that half on the plate for now and just focus on eating the first half. He'll see how this much fares before he eats more.]

That's how liquor makes people act. That's not really that weird. I guess you did have a little too much, but...

[If you're crying two glasses in, you should maybe just drink one.]

Wolfwood's right, darling. That's kinda just how liquor makes people. I mean, it's different for other people, but... this is different. It's not like alcohol. I try not to drink that stuff, personally...

[ Weed's fine, though. :) ]

You can have some if you'd like, Ain. It's in the brownie, so just make sure not to eat more than that.

...okay. I'll try it. Maybe it really will heal brains.

[girl it's weed

But Ain picks up the brownie and takes a nibble anyway, expecting it to taste funny... but it really doesn't taste much different than a normal one. He eats the whole thing with a shrug, not at all offended by the taste. It certainly doesn't taste like it smells. Weed is fucking rank dude.]

I just eat one?

[you just eat one.]

[.......Wolfwood really thinks he should have just eaten HALF of one, but Ain's already devoured the whole brownie so there's really no going back now.]

Just one. For the love of God.

[If Ain couldn't handle liquor, he doesn't want to think about what a bad weed high would do to him, so it's best to start slow and easy with it.]

It'll hit you slower than if you were smokin' it, so just give it a bit.

Only one, love. At least, for your first time.

And not wholly true. It's just... hm, for me, edibles tend to take a while, but when it hits, it hits all at once. While smoking tends to be a gradual up, y'know?

Not that I've smoked it in a while. I always hated that feeling.

...

Oh, speaking of, while you're here, you cannot smoke in the bakery. Out on the balconies and stuff is fine, but not inside.

[Don't look now, but Dachie is slowly inching toward the brownies on the coffee table with his little nostrils flaring... since he can't play with the bunny, he will eat his sorrows.

Anyway, Ain is sitting rigidly with that archetypical Ain anxiety, waiting patiently for this to kick in with his shoulders locked and his spine straight.]

Right! Okay. I'll wait.

[He folds his dragon tail over his lap and just. Sits there.

...

So remember how this was supposed to be about relaxing and sort of taking the edge off after people left and/or died? Ain has apparently missed the memo about relaxing.]

[...Ain...

Given that he's sitting in Wolfwood's lap- presumably he didn't get up to sit ramrod straight like this- Wolfwood will reach out to grab Ain and force him to sortof lay against him, sitting across the couch lengthwise resting against the armrest.]

You don't gotta sit like that. Don't think about it, it'll kick in whenever it kicks in.

[Wolfwood, meanwhile, is still slowly working his way through the half he portioned for himself, wanting to let that hit before he tries to finish the rest of it.

Then, to Ezell:]

I wasn't plannin' on it. I know better than to smoke inside where the animals are.

[ Nope, Dachie is getting Scooped now. Little gremlins get Room Time. Which is to say Ezell is putting him in Ain's room and closing the door for now. He can come out again when there aren't treats. He'll let Mew in there as well if that one goes to follow. Maybe they can play together in there???

He'll set the bunny back down again and stride back over to the couch and settle himself on the armrest. ]

I appreciate it. I didn't think you would, I just wanted to set that rule upfront is all...

[Dachie goes limp in Ezell's arms. He likes Ezell. He does still want treats, though, make no mistake, but Ezell is always so nice to him and

wait

where is Dachie going? Where taking Dachie?

The owldog shrieking begins as soon as the door is shut. He howls and cries and BWOWEOEEOWWWEWOWOWOSSSS for three and a half minutes before giving up and flattening himself down on the floor. Ezell is mean to Dachie... not giving Dachie weed...

Anyway, Ain is laying on Wolfwood, and when Ezell comes around Ain drags Ezell into the pile with his tail. Now we are all flat. :)]

Nikolaus is well-behaved~. Unlike Dachie, who is a criminal~. [and whose fault is that ain] What's it supposed to feel like when it kicks in?

[We are now all Flat. Wolfwood for once isn't going to grouse about everyone laying on him in a pile and instead puts up with it as he lays his head back, letting his eyes close once more.]

S'hard to explain. It feels different for everybody, I think. But for me, as long as I ain't had too much, it helps me relax. Makes it easier to not think 'bout shit.

[It kindof puts him on a planet separated from his anxiety and depression, and that's exactly where he wants his brain to be right now.]

[ Don't worry, Ezell would feel bad for Dachie enough that he'll open the door to give him a Dachie-safe treat before closing the door again. He loves that little owldog, truly, but he does not want him to die from chocolate or weed-

Anyway, back over to the boys where he's being pulled onto their couch that is not meant for three people to be laying on- ]

H-hey now, Ain, I'll sit on the floor or something, this is uncomfortable. [ Especially when the other two have dragon-y bits... ] And... all things in moderation, dear.

But. I'm one me, and I have two hands...

[How is he supposed to cuddle both of you if one of you is on the FLOOR.]

Is it because I'm too bony to snuggle with? [no it's because you're trying to stack people on the couch, what the fuck]

S'cause there ain't enough room for all of us.

[Wolfwood suggests, but it's not like he's actually making any moves to dump them off his lap or anything. He doesn't care man, he just wants the weed to kick in and make him stop feeling like this.

He will put one hand on Ain and one hand on Ezell though, to keep them from sliding off him.]

Right, that. It's not a small couch, but laying down like this isn't what it was meant for... That's more a bed thing, you know?

[ But he won't try to climb off until Wolfwood complains. Instead, he'll give Ain a one armed hug and... eventually put the other around Wolfwood, too. They both need a damn hug, after all. More than that, really, but this is all Ezell has to offer. That and, y'know, weed. Apparently. ]

Okay. Well... we can get a bigger couch, then. One of those big ones that are shaped like an L, or maybe like the one in Mr. Jellyfish's office.

[Y'all don't need a bouch. There's no room for the bouch, you'd lose a coffee table to the bouch.]

Or maybe a really wide one... like... [give him five more minutes and the weed will Hit him hit him] not as big as this room, but big enough for us all to lay on like this, with Elsword as well. And Mr. Firebrand can come too, I guess.

[So like. A bed.]

Nikolaus can pick the pattern on the fabric because we're buying it in his honour~.

[Wolfwood meanwhile is just assuming the weed's already kicked in for Ain. Like damn it sure hit you fast didn't it buddy-]

Huh? We're buyin' a couch now...?

[Not that he has much horse in this race, ultimately it's probably more Ezell's decision than anything.]

Why would- what??? No. Ain, you're just describing beds. Which we have! In our rooms!!!

[ They're not getting another couch! This one is fine!!!!! It's not even that small it's just??? Not a bed. ]

No, I'm describing couches, [yeah the edible is kicking in... well, they did say they go from 0 to 100, and Ain is very sensitive to these things, so.] Beds don't come in an L-shape, they come in a rectangle and they're like couches. But big.

[He gestures, emphatically, off to the side where there is literally Nothing other than a few plants that he and Flamebringer spent four hours arguing over the placement of once.]

What if we have people over and the couch isn't big enough? [why is this the hill the weed has chosen to put you on]

Edited 2025-09-01 23:55 (UTC)

[The weed is kicking in for Ain, and for Wolfwood...he's starting to feel it on the fringes of his senses, but he ate far less to start so it's not packing as much of an initial punch. He's grateful for this, given how awful his first edible experience was.

Just let him ooze into the couch cushions here, that's all he wants.]

Don't yall have like...other chairs in here besides the couch, though?

Well, we haven't really needed any more beyond the couch. Any visitors we'd have would be down in the bakery, where we have the barstools and such, or would be few enough that just the couch is fine...

...

It's not a small couch! [ Stop insulting his furniture- ] It's a big couch it's just not meant to be a bed!

Yes, but...! But when Add first showed up we slept on this couch together and maybe he'll want to sleep on the couch again when the real him comes back and not the one in my brain...! And he'd probably like a bigger couch...

[Whoops, apparently High Ain is just Sad. This is not fixing him.]

We don't own any chairs. [High Ain is also just stupid and flattening his face into Wolfwood. They absolutely own chairs. Ezell just said they own fucking chairs, they're just downstairs.] No one sits because we only own a single couch.

[Ain...babe...

Wolfwood sighs and brings a hand up to pet the top of Ain's head, like. There there.]

Okay, look. Maybe you can just agree that gettin' a bigger couch in the future, if and when it's needed, ain't off the table? So when he does come back- [When, not if, for Ain's sake.] -you'll have it then, but won't be tryin' to walk around a couch that's too big for the livin' room in the meantime. Right?

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My shadow's the only one that walks beside me [CLOSED]

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i spun a wheel for this and this is what you get.

AIN...