pyrighteous | [OOC] Folkmore IC Inbox

[Casey sets the shedded flowers aside, once he carefully checks to make sure it wasn't his error. He can press them later, that sounds kind of nice.]

They look way healthier. Growing fresh flowers, too. [he pauses the brush for a moment, gently trailing his fingers over the twisting wood patterns.] You know... I really like them, too.

[As much as muscles? Maybe more than muscles? Hard to say.]

[ They're quite pretty. White with the faintest hint of blue. ]

R. Really?

[ His ears go pink; those horns of his are a bit sensitive to touch. ]

Really! I think they're pretty. And it's cool that they grow with you, that they're changing... they kinda represent you in a sense.

[He keeps his touch delicate, and doesn't linger too long, but he can't help enjoying that smooth, wooden texture. He never had trees before this place. Now he loves them! And his boyfriend is kind of a tree! It's just. Neat.]

... Oh. Huh. I didn't think about that.

[ He tilts his head just a bit, horns moving too. ]

I've thought about maybe putting jewelry on it. Like a ring, or a chain.

[Casey leans back to avoid getting bonked, though he appreciates the better angle.]

Ohh, that sounds cool! You should go for it. How about a ring with dangly chains attached?

[Two for one! -Oh shit he should have saved that for a gift idea. Well now he has to buy it immediately before Hunter can find one. Or maybe they can go shopping together and he'll buy what Hunter picks? (Why are gifts still so hard!?)]

... That sounds nice. Yeah. I'd definitely try wearing it.

[ Hunter isn't even thinking of gifts - he's wondering if he can make it with scrap metal. ]

[Time to do both!

Casey finishes his self-indulgent horn-poking and goes back to the hair.]

See, that's one thing you can do that I can't. Even your ears have more space for jewelry!

... Oh. I - uh, never thought of it that way.

[ He touches his own ear self-consciously. ]

Well, sure. Most people don't think about the size of their own ears, it's normal for them.

[He pokes one from behind. They're not huge but they're so much longer than his own. It's kinda fascinating.]

[ His ear flicks at the touch, similar to how a cat's ear would. ]

W-well - right. My ears are about average for the Boiling Isles.

[Cue Casey internally melting because he did not know they did that.]

Do you like jewelry? I don't think I've seen you wear any. But the one you made was so nice!

[His little light glyph bracelet that he literally is always wearing-]

... I guess I never really thought about it. Belos didn't like it.

[ His ear gives another little flick. ]

My ears are kind of sensitive too.

[Belos really didn't like anything. No wonder he's a miserable old man. That just makes Casey want to encourage it more.]

You could try it out. If you like it, keep it! If you don't, take it off. No big deal.

Really? Aren't earrings permanent?

[ He's thinking of ear piercings. ]

Um. Well, I don't know witch anatomy exactly [or grimwalker for that matter] but for humans the holes are permanent, but you can take the earrings in and out whenever you want.

[He points to one of Hunter's ears.]

Can I?

[He wants to see if they feel like cartilage.]

Oh - uh - go ahead?

[ He tips one ear closer to Casey. Upon closer inspection they do appear to be cartilage? A little fibrous, same as the rest of him (thanks palistrom wood) but pretty earlike on the whole.

That being said… looking up close like this, Hunter’s ears look a bit odd? Witch ears and pointy, yes, but the bottom doesn’t have the smooth border that normal ears ought to have, even pointy ones. It looks more like these were cut into shape a very long time ago. Thanks Belos!! ]

[Casey feels along the edge, then the main surface, then gives it a wiggle to check for flexibility and how it compares to his own. Similar enough. It takes him a moment to notice the oddness of the shape, since these are the first witch ears he's ever examined.

Once it clicks, though, his hand goes still.]

Hunter, um... weird question... have your ears always been like this?

[ Hunter shifts a bit to look back at him. ]

I mean - yeah? Other than the scar I guess.

[ He points to the spot where there’s a lil chip missing. ]

[Casey worries on his lower lip with a fang for a moment, unsure and debating internally what to do. Maybe it's supposed to be like that? Maybe he's reading too much into things...]

How'd you get that one? If, uh. If you- ...You don't have to say if you don't want to.

Oh. I - well -

[ That little wince is an answer all by itself. ]

Belos … lashes out when he’s angry. I figured out that holding still is the best thing to do, but it took a couple tries.

[It's an answer Casey had halfway expected, based on what he knows of both Hunter and Belos, but it still hurts to hear it. Normal injuries from fighting a war or monsters, those are an acceptable trade-off for the kind of lives they've led, not ideal but not surprising, either. He has plenty, even if most of them are hidden under his clothes. But injuries from family, from people who are supposed to take care of you... that's still so unreal for him. But the proof is unfortunately right in front of him.

Very gently he sets aside the brush and wraps his arms around Hunter from behind, drawing him close, resting his head against the other.]

I'm sorry... he never should've hurt you.

[ Hunter gladly leans back into that embrace, taking in a few bracing breaths himself. He’s so far away from his uncle right now - literally in the arms of his boyfriend - and completely safe. The only ghost that can hurt him is currently chilling in the bottom of his psyche waiting for a bird body. ]

… Yeah. I realize that now. You and Rue and everyone have helped me do that.

[ his voice quiets a little. ]

He made a lot of things seem normal.

[Casey nods; no argument here. The fact that Hunter was so loyal for months after arriving in this world and seeing what a good, supportive family can be like is proof of what had been normalized for him, probably for many years. Some scars are older - much older - than others. The fact that he was hurt or threatened enough to learn what behaviours were safer than others...

He feels a wave of protective anger swell in him, and he has to stamp it down to keep his voice level. He's not angry at Hunter, and refuses to risk sounding like he is. Not after the last fight.]

...We'll keep reminding you, any time you need. This is normal. [His arms tighten briefly, a warm squeeze of a hug, and through the bond he sends love, support, sympathy, care. They care about him and want him to be safe.] This is how it should've been.

[ At least when it’s being transmitted directly like this it’s easier for Hunter to feel the distinction? He startles a little at that bit of anger, but then radiates a shy sort of gratitude back once he realizes what it is. He’s never had anyone angry on his behalf before. That’s … nice? It’s nice, actually.

He just ramps up that gratitude in return: he’s so glad, Casey. So very, very glad. ]

Thank you. I - I feel like I keep saying it over and over again but - I’m so lucky to have you.

[Casey chuckles quietly, and responds in kind, sending back a matching gratitude, warm and enveloping as the hug.]

I feel lucky, too. You bring more to the table than you think, y'know.

[After all the support Hunter's given him - even today alone, helping to coax him into taking a break to spare his health both mental and physical after months of pushing himself - how could he think anything less? He's given just as good as he's received, now that he knows how. At least in Casey's book. It's not like he's keeping score, but he feels plenty supported and loved.]

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cw discussion of child abuse

Re: cw discussion of child abuse

cw discussion of child abuse

Re: cw discussion of child abuse

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