synflux | closed.

[ he can be an honorary lesbian as i struggle to think of stupider and stupider ways to write wriothesley's name ]

[ anyway. hunter continues staring at him, quiet, no more rambling. he used to know who he was, as the golden guard. head of the emperor's coven, a powerless witch, who still managed to claw his way to the top. scourge to criminals and protector of the people.... but that was all a lie. of course ]

I don't know who I'm supposed to be. Even here.... are we really helping people?

[ by fighting the kaiju. they'd unwittingly left behind thousands of people, and lilith's methods right now--- it's a lot to be desired. it's more and more like what he was used to at home. which, he is realizing now, might be bad? ]

[ more importantly, WEEE!!!!! thesley said something very incredibly kind just now. even knowing the truth about hunter. and, so: ]

So.... if they try to send me back, you'll.... fight it. Fight to keep me away... to.... keep me...

[ oh he's crying now. awkward. ]

[ March cried in his arms like a week ago, it's probably fine.

Not that the sight of tears isn't any less alarming. Just because he's used to waterworks doesn't mean he's gotten that much better at dealing with it. March was easy to comfort but the prickly nature of teenage boyhood makes this situation more difficult to navigate.

A hug is probably the right move but he's never been good at those, even with all the forced tutelage March has put him through. He settles instead for a hand in Hunter's hair, ruffling it a bit awkwardly but affectionately. ]

Sure. I'd do that for any of the people I care about. [ That's always how it's been for him, even since he's been a kid. He doesn't see that changing any time soon. ] And you don't have to figure out who you are right away. It takes time. But I'll be there to help for as long as they can.

[ Assuming LILITH doesn't send him home for one reason or another. ]

[ he flinches initially, just out of habit, but ouithesley just pats his head softly and ruffles it. hunter is still at first, not quite sure what to do in this situation..... but after the ruffle is complete (and if it's not a quick one, maybe like a minute into it), he defers to what he would normally do to show gratitude and love ]

[ drops to one knee with his head bowed ]

[ it's no surprise. he's seen wry sleepy eepy's past, he knows the lengths he'd go to protect people he cared for. hunter just... never expected himself to be one of those people. that someone would fight for. ]

I'll do it. I'll... try to figure it out.

[ no idea how ]

[ (hug him you coward) ]

[ NOT THE KNEE DROP

This is closer to some vow of fealty than a normal display of acceptance between two guys. But maybe that's not surprising either given Hunter's own past, created as nothing more than a loyal tool for a corrupt man. Maybe Belos would have appreciated the gesture but Wriothesley certainly doesn't and he's dropping into a crouch of his own shortly after to put them back at equal eye level. ]

You do whatever it is you want to do. No one has the right to decide how you live your life except for you.

[ Though of course, he can certainly take inspiration and/or advice from other people.

Anyway, now that they're both down here and within close proximity of each other, Wriothesley gives Hunter a good pat on the shoulder before keeping his hand there and impulsively pulling him in for a quick hug.

there's your hug, it's terrible but it's there. ]

[ is this not a normal way to express affection, thanks, and loyalty? no? ]

[ this thread started as wario lee treating hunter to dinner and has now reached this point. honestly, even the idea to fully committing to the idea of a life and a persona outside of the emperor and the emperor's coven -- it's overwhelming. their situation right now is still tenuous at best, with lilith resembling the coven more and more every day, but.... this man cares for hunter. he thinks. ]

[ as he finally pulls hunter into a hug. his third ever one! he stiffens, at first, then.... grips part of wee-ow's shoulder in return, in kind of an awkward "not sure how to reciprocate but wanting to reciprocate" fashion ]

[ flapjack nestles on wrio's shoulder, joining the hug. hehe. hunter is quiet, because he doesn't know how to respond, but he is at least absorbing what's being told to him ]

[ They can still get dinner. They WILL still get dinner, just maybe in a couple minutes from now.

Are either of them good at this hugging business, not really, but surely it's the sentiment behind the hug that matters and not the execution itself. Besides, there will be time for Hunter to learn how to hug properly. From other people whose names don't start with a W and end with -riothesley.

Anyway, he gets one more pat on the back before Wriothesley is pulling away, though careful not to disturb Flapjack too much. ]

We shouldn't stay out here too long though. [ Are they still in public?? ] You still hungry, or should we head back and do something else to wind down?

[ no they are not. this is stunted guy to guy communication. flapjack sings a little birdsong for whysleep, perhaps to congratulate him on successfully hugging. perhaps just to say thanks. hunter wipes a few remaining tears from his face, a little embarrassed about getting emotional, now ]

[ and yes, they are in public... thankfully no one has paid attention to this ]

Food sounds good.

[ he will always take food ] And then you'll have one less mission objective to worry about.

[ too busy paying attention to the (throws dart) 50% off synthethic milk and eggs sale happening down the street to care about a couple of bros hugging it out. nice.

Anyway, it's nice and all that Hunter's worried about all the tasks LILITH HQ has decided to pile on them, but maybe he should learn to worry about himself first. ]

If you think that absolves me from still worrying about you, I'm afraid you're wrong on that count. And also [ this time with a rap on Hunter's head ] I'm eating with you because I enjoy your company first and because it's one of my tasks second.

[ Is it a convenient excuse, yes, but that's all it is at the end of the day, an excuse and not the whole reason to eat with Hunter. ]

[ yeah, this is boring, who care. clearly the fake milk and eggs are more interesting. just bros being bros.... ]

[ also, worrying about himself? what is this strange concept? fake? ]

Yeah, I got it.

[ grumbled a bit, but he obviously looks happy about REEElele saying he enjoys hunter's company, even when he raps hunter's head with his knuckles. being worried about? still a strange and new experience for hunter ]

I... do too.

[ his ears are a bit red because he's embarrassed to admit it, but he does. loser ]

[ i can barely recognize the nicknames you've moved onto at this point, i'm in tears.

But good!!! Accept being appreciated and worried about, idiot. Wriothesley smiles, clearly satisfied. ]

Good. Now, let's get some food, shall we?

[ Flapjack will get an extra big helping for his contributions today.

[ you can tell i'm running out of ideas ]

[ ugh fine!!! he is blushing a little bit, but he follows after wry tea like before, still behind him but... just by like a step. dad.... 😭 ]

Right.... food.

[ flapjack sings a lil birdsong in anticipation of food! yay! ]

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