this old house

Lynx raised a brow, feeling like he had missed part of a conversation somewhere along the lines but not being able to work out where. Must be the pounding in his head, messing with his cognitive functions. "Why would you be in a depressive stupor when you've got me around?" Flirting with Cass was always so easy, and Lynx was in part surprised they had ever had a serious conversation with each other. The pause hadn't been expected, mostly because the words left on the very edge of that silence hadn't been words Lynx had planned to say, and now the gentle sounds of the towel rubbing across his body were the only thing to fill that silence. Cass asked a question, and Lynx stopped, body freezing for a moment, wetting his bottom lip in thought. "Yeah," he'd said it for a reason, surely, "of course I'm sure." He shrugged as if it were nothing, stepping back towards Cass once more, letting his arms rest atop their shoulders, hands hanging back to brush between his shoulder blades. "Shit doesn't make sense in my head sometimes, but this does. I know we weren't supposed to be a serious thing, but what if we were?" And then Cass said it back, and Lynx's heart beat just that little bit faster, smile widening. At points, he thought he'd never get past the loss of Jae-Sung, and yet, here he was.

Again, Cass hesitated. He knew Lynx had had a rough day so far, and he wasn't entirely sure adding to it was a good idea. Still, they were mid-conversation now, and maybe ripping off the bandaid was the best option now. He smirked at Lynx's joke, placing a hand on each of his fiance's shoulders as he looked at him. "Admittedly, you soothe me. More than most people do, especially considering neither of us are necessarily soothing people. But I'm bipolar, so there's still always a chance for that depressive stupor," he said, shrugging and removing his hands' from the other's shoulders now, placing them instead at Lynx's waist. "I'm not backing off until you say the word," he replied, laughing. "Which I guess means I'm taking it seriously. That's crazy, isn't it? And crazy is very, very on-brand for me."

You're just so pretty. Lennon signed it, grinning as he did so. He'd always thought Liam was beautiful, inside and out. How could he ever have resisted falling for the other? His best friend. His partner in crime. His partner. Realizing he was probably staring too long, he took the opportunity to roll his eyes at mention of one of the absurd fanfictions they'd read. "I wonder where fairy-me even planned to take you. Was I just going to keep you in some fairy cellar? Do you think fairies eat humans in that world?"

Liam started laughing at Lennon's questions, opting to sign because he couldn't stop laughing to speak. You thought you were going to keep me in a cellar and eat me? I'm not allowed to be the fairy prince's new consort? I'm just an appetiser?

Lennon smirked as he thought about it, but then he started laughing too. Liam's laugh was contagious, and the concept was so ridiculous anyway. You look good enough to eat, he signed, trying to stifle his own giggles. I just assume everything takes a dark turn because that's our content, isn't it? Dark, haunting, macabre. So why not a dark version of elves who eat humans?

"He has a marker, yeah." She motioned out to the lines of graves. "It's near Morgan." She added softly. "I don't think I've ever visited my fathers grave. Not since his funeral anyway. He didn't deserve the effort."

Emrys glanced over towards where she gestured, frowning. "That was nice of whoever put 'em there," he said quietly, sighing softly. He didn't know much about cemeteries or whatever, but he was willing to bet people weren't often buried outside of their nuclear families and stuff. At least, that's what he saw most of the time. His own father had been buried next to the other Emrys Rosser, Emrys' grandfather, where his parents had gotten his own name from. "So who are you visitin' today?" He asked, looking at Bri again.

Cass was an expert with his hands, there was no denying that, and Lynx could feel himself practically melt the more Cass pressed into his aching muscles. “You mean if your hip starts playing up?” The cold tended to seize up injured joints and bring out old pains in previously healed places. But Lynx wasn’t expecting Cass to be this attentive 24/7, but he’d make the most of it while he could. He gave another content sigh, pushing his naked frame out of the tub and reached for the nearest towel. “I got other ways to get you wet,” he smirked, leaning in to kiss Cass on the lips. “I love you.”

"Sure, if my hip acts up," he agreed, nodding. "Or if I'm in some sort of a, say, depressive stupor?" He added quickly, shrugging and looking around for a towel. Really it was an excuse to not look at Lynx for a brief moment. "Here," Cass said, grabbing the towel for the other and holding it out to him. Following the kiss, he finally looked at Lynx's face again, unsure if he should leave the comment where it was or if he should explain further. But then he realized what had just been said. The word 'love' hung there between them, and Cass' eyes widened a bit. Well. He hadn't expected that. Which was probably odd, considering they were engaged, but still. "Are you sure?" He asked after a few seconds, though he was almost positive that wasn't the correct response. "I love you, too," and he didn't say it out of obligation or because it seemed right, he said it because he was certain that he really, actually meant it. And that was almost crazier to him than the idea that Lynx would say it first.

Cass couldn't help but snicker a bit, nodding. "Oh, sure. I may be a liability, but I put on a great show everywhere I am. And what's life without a bit of entertainment?" Maybe someone would argue that he was a bit of a clown in that way, but Cass liked to think he was just more of a diva. "I don't think a priest would make me feel uncomfortable. If they agree to officiate my gay wedding then they're sort of in my territory, right? Hard to feel uncomfortable on your own turf. And just think of the glamorous dresses they wear, it could definitely fit the dramatic aesthetic I'm going for," he reasoned, though his concept of priests and their garb was limited to what he'd seen in old religious films.

Man he hadn't realised his much he'd needed a massage like this until now. Full body massages were one thing, but there was a difference when it came to a simple one moulding into his temples, releasing the stress that had obviously built up over the last few weeks...months? "Okay..." he whispered, eyes closing a little in bliss, the warmth of the water and Cass' hand helping to keep him relaxed, taking his mind from the pain. "Do I get this special treatment every night or is it saved specifically for after a fight?" he chuckled, opening his eyes to look up at Cass, and smiled. A hand arose from the water, coming up to grace Cass' sharp cheek, guiding him in closer for a slow, gentle, but deep kiss. "You...really have been a godsend to me, you know that right?"

Eventually, Cass' hands moved from Lynx's scalp down to his neck. He worked slowly down to the other's shoulders, and then his hands stilled, and he nodded at the question, smiling even though he knew Lynx couldn't see it. "You'll get this treatment whenever you need it. Every day, if that's what you want," he added, hesitating for a moment. "Unless I'm otherwise incapacitated." Cass didn't elaborate on that, unsure if now was the right time for a conversation he really, really didn't want to have. He kissed his fiance, shrugging at the statement following. "Obviously I get that a lot, but it's nice to hear anyway," he said, raising his eyebrows. "Now come on, let's get you out of the tub before you get me any wetter."

"Wow and here I was thinking I'm just that irresistible." Liam teased as he sat on the bed. "Oh do you remember the one were you were secretly some fairy that had come to whisk me away but my human charm proved too much for you to handle."

You're just so pretty. Lennon signed it, grinning as he did so. He'd always thought Liam was beautiful, inside and out. How could he ever have resisted falling for the other? His best friend. His partner in crime. His partner. Realizing he was probably staring too long, he took the opportunity to roll his eyes at mention of one of the absurd fanfictions they'd read. "I wonder where fairy-me even planned to take you. Was I just going to keep you in some fairy cellar? Do you think fairies eat humans in that world?"

Izan took in what the other said, absorbing the information slowly and wondering what kind of a living that was. He didn't know how to make anyone fall in love with him, so it seemed like a pretty impressive skill, even if it was a bit manipulative. "Wow. I would've fallen for that really easily, I think. Good thing I never had any money!" He replied, smiling at Chet again. "You just have to find new ways to use those skills. There are probably lots of things you'd need to be able to charm people for, right? Salespeople have to charm others, or make them fall in love with whatever they're selling. I think politicians are like that, too, but I wouldn't suggest going into politics here. You're probably really good at reading people, since you used to have to figure out what they would fall in love with...maybe you could work at the town hall, helping newcomers find placements with housing and work?"

continued from here

Izan smiled, happy to take her hand and be led inside. When she let go, he continued to follow into the kitchen, contemplating his options before shaking his head. "I think I'm okay. What is mulled cider, though?" He'd heard the term before, but he'd never inquired about it. Typically he just went the tea route. "Have you done any baking with pumpkin yet?"

It was kind of her to be willing to be there with him, when he divulged to Lynx the side of himself that he typically preferred not to share. Anyone that knew him well enough to know his diagnosis had either been around at the time he was diagnosed, or on the unfortunate receiving end of his manic antics. Sometimes he had to come clean after the dust settled, and sometimes the people he hurt didn't come back even when he explained to them why he was this way. Cass didn't blame them, though; he was a lot to handle, he knew that. "No, no...I can do it myself. Probably better that way. More intimate. And his crazy matches mine, anyway. He can probably take it. Right?" He frowned, trying to convince himself moreso than Luxanna. "Should I start asking the religious fellas if they'll officiate? I'm not religious, but I've been to church before. And once I had a neighbor try to exercise me. So maybe one of the priests? Or is that too formal and catholic, do you think?"

Ruby smiled fondly when he let go. “That’s on me, I probably wasn’t observant enough,” she laughed. “You’re not any more fucked up than anyone else. We’re all at least a bit of a mess.” She’d spent so much time worrying about him growing up that doing it all the time felt like second nature, even if it wasn’t needed. “I’m always going to be here for you, whether you like it or not,” she teased, nudging him.

"Yeah, I know," Emrys shrugged, looking down for a moment. Then he seemed to remember something, and he leaned away from her so he could dig in the pocket of his hoodie, pulling out a small package sloppily wrapped in old newspapers. "It's those coasters I told you about? They're not great, but they're flat and they work as coasters," he reasoned, shrugging again. He handed her the package and then stood, taking a few steps away from the porch swing. "I should get goin', but I'll see you soon." Emrys offered her a smile and a wave before hopping down the porch steps and walking down the road, hands shoved into his pockets.

Haunted houses and video games were two things Izan didn't have much experience with, but he nodded anyway. It seemed like it still worked. "Well, what were those things you enjoyed online? Maybe we can find a way to make them work without being online. Everyone has useful skills, we just have to think of where to best apply yours."

Bri narrowed her eyes a little as he contested being deep. Sure. Whatever the kid wanted to think. Sometimes the most profound thoughts appeared when there wasn't a whole lot of thinking going on. "You don't do it to recent graves do you?" She asked with some graves. "For people with someone they left behind?"

Emrys frowned, looking at her incredulously. "Are you jokin'? I'm not that big a piece of shit," he snorted, shaking his head. "I was gonna come and talk to Hank, actually. Not throw shit at his grave. Does he have a grave? Someone should'a put up a stone for him at least, right?" He looked out at the sea of graves for a moment, and then back at Bri. "I throw stuff at my dad's grave a lot, but that's different. That's personal."

Venting about stupid problems. If only the problems he had these days were stupid. Still, Liam chuckled and pulled Lennon backwards with him towards the bed. "Or spend hours scrolling through fanfiction about ourselves and laughing at how crazy some of it was?"

Lennon laughed, nodding. "Say what you want about it, but if it weren't for that fanfiction I may never have realized how much I actually wanted to sleep with you," he teased, raising an eyebrow. He didn't really mean it, though. Lennon was pretty sure even without the fanfiction, he would've eventually realized he didn't just have friendly feelings for Liam. "Some of it was crazy, but some of it was crazy hot. And I guess some of it was crazy weird, too. Think of all the updates we're missing, though."

The pain in his body still radiated, but the warmth of the water surrounding him did a lot to distract him, to cuddle those pains and relax and soothe the rest of him. He let out a long sigh, eyes closing as he embraced it, listening to Cass as he padded about the bathroom, hearing the gentle slosh of the water next to him as Cass' hand entered it. "I do have to thank you," he insisted, keeping his eyes closed as he felt Cass move closer. He didn't move, and despite how gentle his fiancé was, it did still sting. Teeth gritted, and he grunted just a little. "Look, over 60% of my body has been Kentucky Fried at some point, so some cuts and bruises from a stomp on the dick and a busted nose are barely an issue. I'll be fine, I promise."

Cass didn't respond to that, wanting to reassure Lynx that he'd be there with or without any shows of gratitude. Instead, he just kept cleaning, eventually placing the washcloth aside and wetting his hands before massaging Lynx's scalp. "I know you'll be fine. But I can still try and help you feel better. Just because you could get through it in pain, doesn't mean you should have to. Just let me take care of you," he said, rolling his eyes. It had been a while since he'd taken care of anyone. He'd almost forgotten that he liked it. "Aloe, more ice packs, a cozy set up on the couch, and something to eat. You're going to have it made tonight," he said, smirking.