A Moment Lost Is Not So Easily Found.

     pace can’t really laugh; he has to get his kicks with dry humor and under-the-breath snickering. he does grin wide though at the apology he’s given, listening as tex’s claws click on the linoleum and then leave the kitchen. she must be fine with the guy, which means pace is too. once fingers close around the ice pack, he makes a little humming sound of success.

     The dog stops sniffing him and leaves the two to head somewhere else. Gus is silently thankful. He’s fine with dogs, but getting sniffed up by one for the entire time he’s here just does not sound appealing in the least -- even if he’s here for only a few minutes.

     Gus takes the ice pack from Pace gently and puts it to his shoulder. He hisses a little at the feeling, but keeps it there anyway. He really hopes he doesn’t have to go see a doctor about this.

Kris watches Gus slide down to the floor, the empathic feedback of confusion and distress making his hands feel unsteady; Kris tucks them into his pockets again. It’s uncharitable, so he doesn’t ask out loud, but moments like this make him wonder once again why people ask questions when they don’t really want the answers.

“I’m just exploring the city. I haven’t been to Portland before. It’s nice.” This, too, is honest, though hopefully less upsetting. Offering a small shrug, Kris admits, “I don’t know. Aside from being caught in it once, I don’t know anything about your ability, whether it has a pattern or reason. You don’t seem to be in control of it, at least.”

     Gus has always believed in things that wouldn’t be considered normal. Ghosts, ghouls, and goblins. Okay, maybe not so much the latter two, but he definitely has believed in ghosts and aliens and stuff. They haven’t exactly been a focus of his -- try not to blame him, he has other things on his mind -- but it doesn’t change the fact that he believes in them.

     That doesn’t make finding out that there are, in fact, other kinds of beings out there any less hard to take in though. It’d be like finding out your dog is some kind of spy for another planet to see if the Earth is worth taking over. Okay that’s a bad example, but it’d freak you out right?

Colliding with the wall so hard one of them is gonna have bruises

Moans of pleasure mixing with a single moan of pain as one of them bites the other’s lip

Teeth being dragged along necks, mouths being dragged along jawlines

Hands fumbling at hems, zippers, buttons

One raking their fingers through the others hair before gripping at the root, hard enough to be painful

ryker’s already located the bathroom in the house though, so now all he has to do is remember where it actually is. it’s his own fault for taking a few pre-party shots before coming here, and then volunteering to down what was left in the keg, all with only an instant ramen noodle lunch supporting his body nutrients-wise. he’s never been the good decision type. he’s also never been the stop trying to kill yourself type. 

so he swallows one last time, straightens, and then lets out an over enthusiastic whoop, lifting his arms in the air and letting his head tip back. only part of him hears the resounding cheer from the tiny crowd – mostly he feels it. the loose, empty-headed joy, the togetherness, the drunken relaxation. god bless alcohol. god bless substance. 

it’s more of a sway than a walk, and then ryker’s slipping into a chair, his arm bumping against a bystander that seems a little less interested in involving himself with the bulk of the cheerleaders. 

         ❛  whoooo-yeah, sorry, man.  ❜  he says enthusiastically, wiping at the stranger’s arm where he’d bumped him, like he’d left dust there or something.

     After the guy who chugged down the keg starts walking away -- in Gus’ direction -- someone else steps up to the plate to see how much alcohol they can down in as little time as possible. He’s distracted by them when the first guy ends up bumping into him, but laughs a little when the guy is brushing off his arm.

“Not at the moment. I’ll let you know.” Though maybe he should have dug for another one, if this was what it came back to. Licking over the outrageous curve of teeth in his mouth, Kris fidgets, trying to think of an answer. 

     Kris says it -- he tells Gus that he isn’t human, and that’s a lot to take in. Gus sinks down against the counter until he’s sitting, back pressed against the hard wood. He runs a hand down his face and lets out a heavy sigh.

     pace pulls a face, but it’s not an offended one; he actually seems fairly amused for a second before he coughs lightly and straightens his expression out, shrugging nonchalantly as the door shuts behind him. 

     ❛ nope, i have this 24-hour caretaker, you know? her name’s bethany. her mac ‘n cheese really sucks, but she’s great at navigating the living room without tripping over anything. ❜   tex’s claws tap-tap-tap out of his room and pace listens as she nears the stranger with a quiet snff. he sets the cane against a wall and gestures, vague but not unkind.   ❛ um, no, i don’t actually live with a caretaker — just my brother. ❜

     There’s a dog sniffing him too. He doesn’t reach out to pet her, but he lets her continue smelling him as he follows Pace into the kitchen.