pyrighteous | [OOC] Folkmore IC Inbox

[Casey's just gonna finish his dinner in the meantime, deeply curious. If Hunter takes long enough he'll get things cleaned up and wait on the couch.]

[ Hunter had already finished his food, so Casey can indeed tidy up and wait on the couch. It takes a BIT longer than Hunter had expected... but perhaps the effect is worth it.

He comes back out wearing one of the t-shirts that he tore with his horns, so it was already kind of messed up! And now he has hastily cut off the sleeves, making the edges ragged. And also showing off those ARM MUSCLES. He does in fact have them! He really does have some pretty great upper body strength, and between that and his dimly tree trunklike physique helping to outline the shape of his muscles, he actually does strike quite a figure.

Also, those tattoos go ALL the way up to the tops of his shoulders. They actually improve in complexity and overall skill the further up they are, until his entire left shoulder is one dizzyingly intricate and complicated array. Someone got better as he worked his way up.

He attempts to strike a pose. It's only HALF corny instead of completely corny for once. ]

How do I look?

[Casey's relaxing on the couch waiting, fiddling with his relic. As soon as he hears footsteps he sits up, watching as Hunter approaches. And stares, eyes widening, as he strikes a pose and shows off those guns.

....

Okay. Okay give him a few seconds. His brain is rebooting. He is staring with zero subtlety.]

[omg.

omg.

omg.

He looks GREAT-]

[Oh wait he should say something. What are words again?]

...A-amazing! I mean- I knew already- I said it before- ["Nice muscles." It feels so insufficient, now.] You look really, really good in that! And your tattoos... um... wow.

[Nailed it.]

[ Please Casey do say something. Hunter is downright nervous by the time Casey finally DOES say something.

(But that LOOK is nice too isn't it? He just needed the confirmation that yes, this is indeed a Boyfriend Look.) ]

-- oh right! I guess you haven't really seen these before. Since last time I was kind of covered in bark at the time.

[ Not exactly a good time to admire the scenery. ]

These are the - uh - experimental ones.

R-right... plus I was trying not to look back then. Didn't want to make you uncomfortable.

[Can he look now? Is that a boyfriend privilege? He climbs off the couch and approaches, his cheeks very red as he gives the tattoos (and muscles, the muscles that are right there on display) a closer look.]

It's so big... [....uh-] The glyph! The glyph is. So big. [ N A I L E D I T ] What does it do?

[ It SURE IS a boyfriend privilege alright. Plus Hunter gladly gets close and shifts a bit to give Casey a better angle here. ]

It's - uh - well, it's supposed to be a failsafe. A "get out of here" spell.

[ He traces the pattern without actually touching his skin. ]

It'll send me somewhere random in an emergency if I can activate it. Risky, though.

Oh, wow. A good thing to have in a pinch, but it's no wonder you keep it covered. Wouldn't want to touch that by accident.

[Casey's fingers clench a bit at his sides, a reminder to keep his hands to himself. Suddenly regrets a little that glyphs work for him now...]

It must've been so much work to do all of this... did you do it yourself?

Oh yeah. I - uh - learned quickly not to do that!!

[ Ask him how close he was to launching himself into the Boiling Sea sometime!! It's great!

Anyway, he looks down at the designs with no small amount of pride. ]

Yeah. I mean - a lot of it came from Belos's research, but some of them I tested and made myself. And I made all the markings myself.

That's incredible... all these, by yourself...?

[He's had to treat his own injuries in hard-to-reach places before, even sewn up wounds, and the required flexibility and steady hand for it was kind of exhausting. He can only imagine what sort of effort would be required to do such intricate tattoos. And they had to be accurate enough to be functional glyphs, too... Casey can't help seeing Hunter in a new light, one of admiration, more than he'd had before. He really is impressive.

Gingerly (though the act itself is quite bold) he reaches out, assuming Hunter doesn't back away, and traces with a finger a portion of skin around the glyph, very cautious to not connect with any line. (Very nice muscles.) He smiles broadly, even more impressed seeing it up close.]

You're amazing!

[ Hunter does indeed hold still for his boyfriend to touch. Nice firm muscles there, yep. As long as Casey is careful to avoid the lines, there's no risk of accidentally activating a spell.

The lines are ... well, very simple really. As Casey gets a closer look, it's increasingly clear that they weren't made with ink. They, um. Well. Those are scars. It looks like scored wood more than anything. It's still very carefully done, even beautiful with the way they work through the jagged edges of his actual scars, and clearly not any sort of mere injury infliction. Hunter did this with purpose and artistry, but it probably still hurt. ]

I can draw glyphs if I have time, but it's easier having permanent ones. You saw how long they can take in fights if I'm not prepared.

[ Given that encounter with the fae and all. ]

I remember...

[It'd been a difficult moment, trying to fend off the fae while Hunter drew glyphs in the dirt. Much faster to just tap the skin and watch the magic happen. Casey doesn't let his touch linger for long, though perhaps he does for longer than he'd originally intended. He's distracted by the recognition that yes, these are indeed scars. Hunter had to carve them into himself to make them permanent. And with how extensive the scarring is, it really must have hurt. Even so, he'd persisted and finished each and every one...

He can't kiss or touch these the way he might be allowed to on a normal scar, now that he has permission to. He wishes he could, though. Those wounds, even healed, paint a very cruel picture. It's... sobering. Yet Hunter's so proud of his work, understandably so.

Casey feels conflicted, suddenly, and before he draws his hand back he sends through their bond a longing for... healing? Comfort? Something he can't give through direct touch, lest he accidentally spirit Hunter away. He admires the work, but regrets it had to be done.]

They're beautiful... but I wish you didn't have to. It must have been so painful for you.

[ Hunter is from an apocalypse of his own, after all. Not nearly so advanced as Casey's, and perhaps reversible, but ... still. Hunter's come so far since his arrivla here that sometimes he can forget the horrors he came from. But these marks? Will likely never leave him. Not without some pretty specific intervention, and he's not keen to want or ask for it.

He leans into that little surge of longing, sending back gratitude and a hint of that pride. They're horrible. And they're a point of pride, too. Hunter persisted and now he can never be powerless again. ]

It - did hurt a lot. [ He won't lie, not to Casey. ] But it hurt more not being able to cast fast enough. Seeing someone get captured because I couldn't...

[ He stares down at his forearm, where there are more of the smaller designs clustered up. ]

You know how it is.

[Casey lowers his gaze at that, and instead of Hunter's arm, he reaches out to grasp his hand instead. He does know, and Hunter's seen it, now. Felt it. The desperation of his world, the kind that even magic glyphs can't fend off.]

I understand, [he says quietly.] I know how it feels to be powerless. I'd have done it, too.

[It if meant saving his family, stopping the Krang, even winning one more battle- he'd have carved marks all over his whole body. he's felt that desperate need for more, more. More power, more strength, more anything to give him an advantage. Anything to not be helpless against an unbeatable storm. But he's only ever been human, only had his fighting skills and determination to fight back with. It's only in this world that he's gotten a taste of what real power feels like, and now that he has some, it would be so difficult to give up.]

[ Hunter nods, then, and grips Casey's hand back. Relief flows across their link - not that he expected Casey to disagree, but he's glad Casey understands. A chance to have power - a chance to protect - is worth temporary pain and permanent alterations.

But this is maybe getting off topic, so he leans forward to bump Casey's forehead with his own. ]

Do you still think my muscles are nice?

[Casey's lost in thought at first, considering... some things... but Hunter leaning in and bumping their foreheads together snaps him out of it and makes him chuckle softly, free hand lifting to touch the opposite arm, his fingers once again dodging the marks and squeezing gently, feeling the stiff strength beneath the skin.]

I like them more than ever, now, [is his answer, easily spoken, soft-voiced. His cheeks are still pink, no sign of it fading.]

[ Gosh. Hunter goes rather red again at that. He's DEFINITELY going to wear more shirts with short sleeves now. ]

Good. I - uh - I mean, if you didn't that'd be okay too but -

I do, I do!

[Casey laughs, obviously pleased with all of this, and lifts both hands to hold his face and pull him into a kiss. C'mere, boyfriend, he appreciates the heck out of you and your efforts.]

Okay! Good -

[ And kissing!! Even better. Hunter leans in gladly, cheeks warm as Casey puts his hands there. He shifts so that Casey can put his hand on that scar even. ]

[That's where his hand had been aiming, very gently still, but taking Hunter at his word that it's okay. The touch of his fingers is light on that side, but as they kiss, his thumb does that soft stroking motion again, allowing their bond to send through feelings of love and care, everything the opposite of that original harm done.]

[ Good. Good. IT's all good ...

Hunter relaxes into it gratefully as Casey kisses him. Bright and warm in return. ]

I - I love you, Casey.

Edited 2024-03-11 23:27 (UTC)

[The words fill Casey with an echo of that warmth and bubbly energy. He smiles brightly and rests against Hunter, still softly grazing his cheek as if every touch might wipe away so many years of anxiety, bit by bit.]

I love you... I... I'm really happy we met.

[He never could have imagined pulling Hunter out of the water all those months ago could have led them to this, but he's so glad.]

[ Hunter nods at that, leaning just a little. ]

Me too. I might be the luckiest guy in the world.

I wanna say that about me! I'm lucky.

[It's such a silly competition, and it makes Casey laugh a bit.]

I guess we both can be.

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cw description of scars/previous self harm

Re: cw description of scars/previous self harm

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