Zenless Catch All

[destinetmalediction]

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Abandoned

[destinetmalediction]

[Hugo stumbles out of the dive bar he'd found himself in, considerably drunker than he had been. He's sure it's fine and even understandable. After all, it's not every day your best friend-maybe-boy-you-loved abandons you because he only saw what he wanted to see and didn't think to stop and ask questions.

Of course he wouldn't have. Jack put him on edge, after all.]

[quicksilverwings]

[Hugo does almost collide with someone on the way out, though--luckily, Ciar has quick reflexes and he's able to stop Hugo from falling.]

Whoa! Careful now... Sorry, wasn't watching where I was going.

[destinetmalediction]

Mm.

[Hugo tries to sway back onto his feet and ends up over-correcting, making a beeline for the concrete behind him.]

[quicksilverwings]

Ack--

[Oh jeez-- Ciar grabs him before he can fall the other way-- good grief, how intoxicated is this guy?!

... Well. Certainly intoxicated enough that Ciar feels a bit nervous taking his eyes off this guy in this part of town.]

Thinly Veiled RPF

[quicksilverwings]

[After everything else that has been floating around lately, it's honestly kind of nice for Ciar's favorite author to have put out a new story recently.

(He thinks he deserves an award for his self-control when he learned things about Vivian's recent preferred reading.)

Even if he figured out the main characters in "A Dragon's Silent Oath" are very thinly veiled versions of him and Hugo a couple chapters in, at least the author made an effort to try and pretend they weren't.

And it helps that she is a talented writer.

He might be a little engrossed in the novel when Hugo walks in.]

[destinetmalediction]

[Hugo walks in, tired but energized, and drops his hat and coat on the chair near the door.]

Ciar~?

[quicksilverwings]

[Ciar jumps a little, startled out of his reading, but he marks his place with a smile and stands to greet Hugo.]

Hey. Welcome back.

[destinetmalediction]

Hello~

[A kiss!]

You weren't bored, were you? The Proxies needed my assistance today.

Taken In

[quicksilverwings]

[Charis Drake was used to waiting for the other shoe to drop. Ciar Halloran is very much the same way.

In fact, he just feels it more now, taken in by this Jack guy. Sure, he seems nice enough, and there's two other teenagers around Ciar's age here, but this feels a little too good to be true. Where's the catch.

Well, the catch may be that Ciar feels like he can't get close to anyone here. Jack seems nice enough, sure, but for how long? And as for the other two teenagers... Lycaon and Hugo are... fine, honestly, but they're so close already, that he can't help but feel a little... iced out. Like he doesn't belong.

(Like he's third-wheeling, he notes with some internal disdain, but he would die before saying as much out loud.)

It's just... better if he keeps his distance. Less chance for him to get hurt that way. Yeah, he probably comes off as aloof and skittish, maybe even a bit paranoid, but it's better than getting too invested. This isn't going to last.

He doesn't know what everyone else is up to at the moment. He's parked himself in his usual sleeping spot near the window with some of the snacks from one of his caches, reading one of the books he's brought with him.

He's probably reread this one a hundred times, but it's still a fun read.]

[destinetmalediction]

[Hugo's not sure to make of Ciar. He can tell the kid's just like he was, abandoned by family and frankly treated like garbage, but that's about it. He wants to get to know him, though.

So when he sees Ciar reading that book, Hugo goes over.]

Have you read the other books by that author?

[quicksilverwings]

[When Hugo comes over, Ciar almost reflexively curls in on himself just a little, peering over the top of his book at the other teen.

Huh. Hugo and Lycaon aren't attached at the hip after all.

He forces himself to try to relax a little, lowering the book.]

I've only read one of their other books. I was planning on reading more, but... I didn't get the chance.

[One of his cousins took one of the books he'd gotten before he'd gotten a chance to read it, and he hasn't exactly been able to afford more--any money he gets his hands on is either carefully stored away or, intended for more necessary things.]

[destinetmalediction]

Would you like to borrow my copies? I have most of their books.

So About the Vampire and Wolfman

[eyesofaproxy]

[Wise disconnects from Eous and stretches out on the sofa. He expects someone from the crew he guided to stop by, but he knows that unless it's Wing or Lycaon Belle is going to handle them.]

[quicksilverwings]

[And Wing ... is going to take a bit to get to Random Play.

He is planning on running a few errands and potentially picking up dinner, he told Hugo the truth, but he does want to hit up Random Play first.

He makes some small talk with Belle when he gets there, but he's probably going to be staring listlessly at the movies on this shelf otherwise.]

[eyesofaproxy]

[Wise comes out shortly, mostly to get a movie he wants to watch, and sees Wing.]

Ah. Hey, Wing. Did Belle get what you needed?

[quicksilverwings]

Hey. Mm, haven't really decided what I want.

[Wing isn't here to rent a movie and he's pretty sure he, Wise, and Belle all know that.

(He might, anyway, because that'd be the courteous thing, but that's not why he's here).]

Insecure

[quicksilverwings]

[It's the evening after a tiring job for the Proxies, made all the more tiring by a certain wolf Thiren's presence.

No, Ciar doesn't hate Lycaon anymore, not really, but he almost thinks it'd be easier if he did.

Existing in Lycaon's vicinity is... difficult, sometimes. He's objectively hot, he's good at basically everything, and Ciar's just so... none of that. There's no way he can measure up to that. And the way Hugo has seemed hung up on the wolf Thiren, especially considering their shared history...

He tries to keep it in check, but he has been really testy and moody lately, even having broken a glass in his hand at the very mention of Lycaon and Hugo talking. (Vivian was the only one present for it, but he wouldn't be surprised if she mentioned it to Hugo.)

And right now, Ciar is... sulking, really.

He avoids drinking, usually--he hates how alcohol dulls his senses, and he prefers to avoid alcohol since it's especially bad for Hugo and he'd feel weird drinking in front of him. Typically, he only really drinks socially. But here he is, with bottles of dark rum and ginger beer on the table in front of him, nursing the resultant cocktail.]

[destinetmalediction]

[Hugo lets himself into Ciar's house and goes to try and find him. Vivian told him about the broken glass and now he's worried.]

Ciar?

[quicksilverwings]

[Well, he's not far into his drink at least.

He calls out to Hugo from the dining room--]

Hey. In here.

[... Ah, he sounds a lot more tired saying that than he intended.]

Jealousy

[quicksilverwings]

[Ciar hasn't heard from Hugo for a day or two.

Normally this wouldn't be a concern, they're both adults with their own lives outside of each other, but it is a little unusual. And Vivian's complaining about Hugo sulking, besides.

Ciar's a little perplexed as to what could've brought this on and a bit concerned since Vivian mentioned a truly alarming amount of junk food.

So. This leads to Ciar letting himself in at Hugo's, a large bag of food from the barbecue place by his home in hand.]

Hugo?

[destinetmalediction]

[Hugo is...well. He'd say he's fine and just having a bad week but he's not. He's sulking and hiding away from everyone and eating way too much junk food for someone with his health. This is not stopping him, of course, but still.

He's laying on his sofa when he hears someone come in. He thinks it's Vivian until Ciar speaks, and then he sits up.]

Ciar?

[quicksilverwings]

Hi.

[He goes over to the sofa, lifting the bag.]

I brought dinner?

Nightmares

[quicksilverwings]

[Ciar's noticed something as long as he's let Hugo stay at his place. Nightmares are a... frequent occurrence for the blond. He can't determine the exact frequency but every time he's gotten up in the middle of the night, Hugo's had them.

Tonight is no different.

He lets himself into Hugo's room, glass of water in hand. He sets that down before he gently shakes Hugo's shoulder.]

Hugo...

[destinetmalediction]

[Hugo wakes with a start, taking a moment to calm down before rolling over to see--oh. Ciar.]

Hm...?

[quicksilverwings]

Sorry, saw that you were having a nightmare again.

[He squeezes Hugo's shoulder.]

... Do you want company for a while?