we_meet_again | Overflow

...I'm ready.

[He's quick, and efficient; it's like his hands remember doing this before, on himself, even if he doesn't]

[It stings for a moment - short, sharp, and fast, and then it's done, and he's affixing the cuff]

[It hurts, but he doesn't flinch; even these days he has a high threshold for pain. And even though he doesn't enjoy pain, the fact that it's due to something Thorn is doing to him —for him— kind of makes it ...enjoyable, in some strange way. It feels like the physical proof of... something. Trust? Ownership?? Attention?

The unfamiliar weight of metal feels like a continuing reminder that Thorn was there, and he likes it, to the point where even the pain is not unwelcome. He feels gratitude, and comfort, and a lot of other emotions he can't name and wasn't expecting to get out of this particular experience.]

...Thank you.

[Something in Thorn aches, warm and compromised, at the sense of trust, of ownership, of acceptance for this change]

[There's a swell of affection, of pride, of ~~love~~ something stronger]

...it looks good on you.

[//////]

Thank you. ❤

[He very nearly leans over to kiss him before he catches himself and sits up straight, instead. All of this -- the emotions, the crowd, the new experiences and the new pain in his ear -- is overwhelming, and the desire to kiss him or even just to hold his hand is sitting in his chest like an ache that's threatening to suffocate him.]

Would it... be okay if we went somewhere else?

[There's a flush of anticipation at the almost-kiss; he ducks his head, a little]

Yeah. Let's get out of here.

[Thank goodness. Let's GTFO.

Cobalt leads him to the exit. Once they're outside and no longer surrounded by a big crowd of people, he starts feeling like he can breathe again.]

Do you want to keep playing?

[eager hopefulness drifts though the bond, but also care about Thorn's comfort.]

[A surge of what is very decidedly stronger anticipation, and excitement on top of that, and a hint of embarrassment that Cobalt can feel both]

...yeah.

[ excitement intensifies ]

Not the dorm, then...

What about the love hotel? We can at least have a little privacy, there.

[...arousal begins to perk up the more he thinks about it, and now Cobalt has something to feel a little embarrassed about.]

[Well, it's echoing back at him, so there's probably not much to be embarrassed about? (though he is embarrassed, too)]

...yeah. Okay.

[wow we are bad at this!!

anyway TO THE LOVE HOTEL!!

It's a short walk and then a short train ride. Cobalt's doing his best to contain himself (at least externally) but inside he's composed almost entirely of Want. Wants to hold Thorn's hand, wants to hold him, wants to kiss him, wants to play the game, wants to forget about the game entirely, want want want want.

His new earring still aches a little, and probably will for a while - not enough to cause discomfort, but enough to catch his attention now and then. And every time he notices it again, it comes with a bright surge of happiness and love.

This short trip feels very long, somehow!]

[The trip is very long, somehow]

[He's mostly composed on the outside, but internally, his emotions are some sort of ebb and flow between interest, and affection, and want, and something stronger, and the impulse to tamp that down and hide that away]

[But eventually, they probably get there]

[And here they are!]

I don't have a preference about which room we get. Do you?

Not especially.

[Hesitates. There is some mixture of want and anticipation and also self-consciousness, at being here where the audience can see]

...I don't want to. Go too far here, though. Okay?

[There isn't anyone else around, so he's going out on a limb, here -- Gentle, he reaches out and takes Thorn's hand, all love and reassurance and understanding.]

Of course.

I don't want to do anything you don't want to do.

Edited 2020-05-10 19:23 (UTC)

[Gratitude, and affection, and about a hundred other things all wound up together - embarrassment on top of them, that he's feeling them at all]

...thanks.

I'm enjoying just spending time with you. There's no pressure to do anything.

[He gives Thorn's hand a little reassuring squeeze, and orders a room off the board at random.]

Also, I think this place has room service, so we could just order up some snacks and chill out for a bit, if we wanted.

I wouldn't mind doing some stuff here.

Just... let's move, before too long. Okay?

Edited 2020-05-10 19:49 (UTC)

No problem. We can do anything you want.

All I want to do is make you happy.

[he leads him through the hotel to whatever room he claimed, ushers Thorn inside, and shuts the door.]

You could make yourself happy, too, you know.

[But he is genuinely touched - a little taken off-balance]

Oh? In that case, here I go.

[He pulls Thorn in and wraps him in a hug, overflowing with love and adoration]

...Thank you. So much.

[The love he gets back the other way is more stilted - like he's trying very hard to slam on the brakes and can't, quite - but it's there all the same]

For what?

For everything.

For being so patient and gentle. For being here with me. For being who you are.

...I know this may come as a shock after everything that's happened today, but I care about you more than anything. And I want to stay by your side as long as you'll have me.

[He tips his head down, again, so that his hair falls into his face - doesn't say anything at all, the words stuck somewhere in his chest]

[But he wants that, and he wants this, and how badly he wants it feels a little like panic, spiraling out of control]

[He just... holds him for a minute, gently petting his hair, warm and calm.]

...Are there any game tasks you want to try?

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