synflux | catch-all

( He catches Aodh in the corridor of their new residence, Vash dragging his semi-aching feet down the halls when he comes across his dragon friend. Immediately some of the weariness dissipates in favour of the plant lifting a cheerful little hand in a tired wave. Seeing a friend makes things better. )

Aodh! ( At the sound of his voice the taller man turns towards him, footsteps even as he comes closer. Vash's grin widens further. ) Hey buddy, you going somewhere? Is that a towel? Wait, shoot. You were going for a bath, I just wanted to say hey anyway, wh-.

( He should expect it. This is not the first time Aodh just decided to lift him straight off his feet. )

Hey, hey. ( Scooped up all Vash can do is wriggle. ) Aodh! I can walk. Wait, where are we going? Hey!

[ a dragon does what a dragon wants to do.

at the sight of his little plant, aodh, who was in fact headed to the bathhouse, decided right then that he would like some companionship tonight. so without warning, he has now committed a plantnapping, hefting the blond easily onto his shoulder as he continues en route to the baths. ]

You said it yourself, plant. [ his tone is impassive as ever. ] We are going to bathe together. [ yes, it is now a fact. ]

You seem weary yourself and I am in need of entertainment. [ it won't be long at all before he is carrying vash into the communal bathhouse with him. unsurprisingly, no one is in there at this hour, most either having already gone to bed or cleansed themselves for the day. ]

( It's a little bit amusing being hefted over the shoulder of someone so rarely taller than him. Vash would probably let it happen without protest if he weren't so heavy. That Aodh manages with his arm is funny, but he's squirming a little anyway. )

I wasn't going to the baths! I don't need to bathe.

( Actually, does he? There's a lot of dirt in his hair, skin smudged. But he doesn't shower if there's anyone else around, so why would a bathhouse be different? )

What if I stay at the door? Then we can talk and I can entertain you?

No. [ succinct as ever. ] You will not be able to entertain me properly that way.

[ at least aodh sets vash down, once they're in the dressing area. ]

Strip yourself of your filthy attire and join me. You can tell me of your day, while you nutriate yourself.

[ he has already begun to remove his own clothing, easily storing them into a locker with a mild wave of his hand. ]

( He wobbles on his feet when Aodh puts him down, almost makes to start removing his own coat, gets briefly distracted when the other man starts disrobing. That's a lot of skin - he's just going to stare at the ceiling. )

Actually, I uh - don't think you'd be very entertained?

( The scars, for one. Vash knows how people get when they see them. And then there's his other strangeness. ) I can hang out by the bath though? And we can talk?

( He doesn't mind keeping his friend company, that's fine. )

[ don't think he didn't catch vash's sudden hesitation because he did.

does it perhaps have something to do with him being a plant? ]

You will still have to remove your clothing to enter the bathing area, plant. What are you so worried about?

Oh.

( He glances towards the door to the bathhouse, shifting from foot to foot. When he glances back he keeps his gaze firmly above Aodh's head, giving him space. )

No, it's - Uh. Well. I don't want to mess up my arm. So I'd have to take it off. ( Logically it would be fine, but Brad's not here to fix it if it isn't. Vash hasn't been risking it. He doesn't want LILITH touching it either way. But he's also been showering when there's no one else around, just in case. ) And the rest of me is not great, so I don't want to risk your peaceful relaxation?

[ he is staring at him so blankly right now.

but the blond's hesitation doesn't come as much of a surprise to him. he has known about his insecurities regarding others' perception of him since their very first meeting. ]

Then, take it off. I can assure you that whatever form your body takes, it shan't affect my peaceful relaxation. The only thing hindering it right now is your dilly dallying. [ he has long stripped bare and stored away his attire during the midst of this exchange. ]

( Does it really matter if he's ugly? Aodh doesn't seem to care. He's unabashed in his own nakedness in a way that Vash rarely sees ( though he keeps his gaze as respectable as possible right now ). There's a moment, and then he sighs, shrugging off his coat and finding a locker next to Aodh's to shove it inside. It turns a drab grey after he's removed it, the style chip the only thing making his coat red. )

Okay, okay. Don't laugh. ( Off goes his boots next, his socks, things that don't unveil his scars. ) All of it? Can I keep my underwear on?

No, it is not proper etiquette to enter with clothes on, plant.

[ arms crossed, he is leant back against the locker now, observing him with evident impatience. ]

Do you require assistance? I am more than happy to strip you bare myself, if it means speeding this along.

( That has Vash whipping his head around towards his friend, which unfortunately means he looks at him. All of him. )

Ack!

( Is that his - Nevermind! Vash makes a squeaky noise and yanks his tshirt up over his head, stuffs it in the locker. Then goes the rest of his clothes, half turned away from the dragon so he can shove them in too. He considers his arm. Shrugs it. )

It should be fine. O-okay. You go in and I'll follow you?

( Maybe he can crabwalk in. )

[ is that the faintest quirk of his lips?

aodh gives the blond a nonchalant once over — as far as what he can see, the plant doesn't look any different from any other human, so he isn't entirely grasping why he's getting so uppity over showing some skin — and then, as requested, enters the rinsing area first. ]

Have you not bathed with others before? [ with a casual flick of his finger, a hose flies up into the air above him, while the lever of the faucet turns on the water. albeit his egotistical and unyielding personality, aodh can be surprisingly respectful of societal and cultural norms, even if he does find it all rather tedious at times. ] It is a rather popular pastime here. [ he lets the water rinse over him and, to his credit, he purposefully trains his gaze elsewhere, providing the plant with a bit of privacy. ]

Oh. No?

( He follows quietly after, less noisy now he doesn't have his boots on. He's glad for the fact that Aodh looks away, it means he can follow his lead on the bathhouse without looking too stupid. )

We don't have things like this back home? ( He thinks he understands the importance of cleanliness, drags his metal arm under the water with barely concealed worry. But nothing goes wrong. And his hand has been rained on before, so -. ) Also I have a lot of scars.

( Quiet, but nonchalant. )

It's frightened people before. I don't really want to do that here.

There are plenty here who possess scars as well. They are nothing to be ashamed of.

[ he is amongst combatants or those who've been brought solely for that purpose, who have lost organs and limbs and even their lives to serve LILITH's cause. any who reacts negatively to such injuries are the ones who should be embarrassed and ashamed. ]

If that is your only concern, then you need not hide yourself away, plant. Stand upright and be proud of them.

[ he shuts off the valve and returns the hose once he has finished his rinse. raking clawed fingers through long wet hair, aodh starts to make his way towards the entrance to the baths. ] Come along if you're done. [ don't make him wait on you. ]

Yeah, I guess. I just come from a world where otherness isn't really a thing people accept. I forget it's not the case here.

( Aodh has claws. There's a lizard man. Several lizard men. His weirdness isn't all that strange or alarming. It's just he's spent more than a century hiding himself under as much fabric as he can get away with. It feels strange to shed it here. He keeps wanting to cover up.

Still, he skitters after Aodh, following him into the baths. The heat is almost immediate, Vash makes a soft noise in the back of his throat and forgets - momentarily - to be shy. )

Oh.

I recall.

[ while vash is admiring(?) the interior of the bathhouse, aodh is suddenly wondering if the plant can even get into hot water.

would he be better suited for the cold plunge pool? ] Do you prefer cold water, plant? [ it makes no difference to him. ]

No, I want it hot.

( Too quick, maybe. ) Everywhere I went back home, finding hot water was a luxury. And I'm fine in the showers, so what's a bit of melting?

( He forgets to be abashed about his body, no longer half hunched on himself as he pads barefoot to the edge of the water into the gently steaming depths. )

I bet it's nice.

[ a bit of melting—

well, if the plant thinks he can handle the heat, then who is aodh to stop him? brushing past him, he steps into the bath first, acclimating quickly to the hot temperature. ] If you do begin to wither, [ he flashes a noncommittal grin his way. ] then I shall fish you out.

[ given his stature, he takes up a considerable amount of space as he settles into the bath. he isn't able to submerge fully, but he seems comfortable enough. ]

Hm. [ he tilts his head slightly, as his gaze drifts down the plant's body and a thoughtful smile soon emerges. ] You look no different from a typical human right now, except for... [ a very precise gesture towards the petals on his lower half. ] Are you hiding your true form as I do or are independent plants indicative only through their gardens?

( For a moment Vash doesn't really compute the statement. He's too busy looking at how much space Aodh takes up - how kingly he looks - and he stands there naked for a second, head tipped to one side. But then he makes a strangled little noise, one hand instinctively covering himself as he stumbles the rest of the way into the bath, sinking beneath the water. )

Oh, oh. Hot. H-ha.

( Beneath the water he's safe though, Vash sinking down to his shoulders to peer at Aodh. )

I don't know if hiding is the right word. It is a plant thing though. Well. There's only two independents, so maybe. ( Nai was the same, so Vash never thought about it. ) You're not weirded out, right? I can go if you are. I don't want to make you uncomfortable.

Why would I be uncomfortable? [ so amused. ] You aren't the only one who possesses inhuman parts.

[ a sleeve of pitch black scales materialize on his left forearm, spreading down the length of it to quickly coat a clawed hand. ] I'm just able to hide mine well. [ with that said, he retracts those same scales, allowing his flesh to become human once more. ]

Of course what I possess is not nearly as pretty as yours. [ he leans forward, his interest clear. ] May you allow me to take a closer look? In exchange, I shall show you mine.

( Without his glasses he's too wide eyed, big and blue and fixated on the scales as he makes a soft, considering noise, scooting a little closer to Aodh in the bath. )

Well. I'm just used to people being weirded out by what I am, I guess. Not that I let them see me naked. But if I did ...

( Still, he wasn't alarmed by the scars, nor the strangeness of his genitals. Vash relaxes by increments, though he does let out a bashful little laugh as Aodh others to show him something in exchange. ) Well, it's different for you! You've been blessed. I-I wasn't looking!

( He was. It was sizeable. )

[ blessed is certainly one way of describing it.

since the blond has willingly drawn closer to him, aodh will take that as a sign that he isn't opposed to his suggestion. ] You may look as much as you like. [ a casual response, as he beckons him to move even closer with his finger. ] Come here, plant. No need for you to be shy.

[ sizeable he may be, but what he currently presents is still human in nature — intentionally so, lest he scares the ones who're less accustomed to the monstrous. ]

Would you like to see what mine really looks like?

( A bubble of helpless laughter. )

Is this a dragon thing? You're so confident. Humanity definitely doesn't go around showing each other their parts. Well, not most of them. Some. A few perverts too. But usually it takes, I don't know. Booze.

( He's not looking, not really. Occasionally his gaze flickers, but it's very much curiously fixed on Aodh's face. The heat and proximity can absolutely be blamed for how pink he's going. )

I don't know if I'm allowed to say yes. ( Still amused, water up to his shoulders, tickled. ) Do you want to show me?

I know not if my confidence stems from what I am. However, I have lived long enough to be assured that others' perception of mine body is usually one of admiration and desire. [ he extends his hand to gently graze his knuckles over the plant's flushed cheek, his voice lowered to a sultry tone. ] I don't show my parts to just anyone though, but I want to with you.

[ at leisure, he rises up from the depths of the water, revealing himself more clearly through the steam that curls softly around them. ]

Look closely. [ rather then make a similar shift as before, aodh's cock remains perfectly human. it is the one that soon emerges forth from somewhere under it that warrants attention — albeit similar in girth to its counterpart, it is pitch black with a noticeable wavelike curve and ridges along its length. ]

( Of all the weird situations Vash tends to find himself in, this is - well. Not quite the weirdest , but it's one he's not wholly prepared for. If he's honest he's a little envious over the comfort Aodh finds in his own skin, the way he lets it wash over him like the water currently dripping down his skin. Vash makes a small noise, audible swallow that catches in his throat, tries not to burn warmer at the feeling of knuckles too.

Look closely, he's not going to not. )

Oh. ( It's pretty. Different. Vash blinks a little, tips his head up to look at Aodh's face again, then back down again, flustered but clearly trying to be absolutely normal about it. The nervous giggle is helpless, but not unkind. ) Ah, okay. I see what you mean. Yours is um - ( Help! ) - it's really nice? I can see why people would, aha, I mean. You're good looking?

( Vash isn't blind. He can see that. )

The whole package is - ( Another swallow, the brief flash of his teeth as he chews on his bottom lip. ) - really hot?

( He's just going to sink deeper into the water, nbd. Right up to his eyes so he can't embarrass himself further. )

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cw: nsfw / xenophilia

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