Moonlight

closed starter for @lorenzcvalentin location: lupercalia note: pre alpha gauntlet qualifier

It smelled awful here, but like, kind of in a good way. Lorenzo had been rolling around in the dirt earlier to try and blend in with everyone else. "I'm going to be honest with you here," Lorenzo couldn't really tell what was going on and everyone seemed so- everyone was just so- aggressive. "I don't know what's going on. Like.... I find a lot of things confusing, breakfast for one; like sometimes it's salty, and sometimes it's sweet. What if I have eggs for dinner, what is it then?" Lorenzo had forgotten his point but then he remembered it and gave his head a shake, "Are you like, a big deal? Everyone keeps looking at you." Some people were spitting at the ground but maybe Nash liked spit.

"Yeah, I figured." Nash didn't think Enzo was the brightest bulb in the batch. Honestly, the kid was far too innocent for him to even really be around. It was why he had told the other to stay away from him. The draegloth was not the kind of person that people should have been around. He actually preferred it when people thought he was off-putting. It helped to not always have to growl and fight people constantly. Not that he minded doing that at all. It would've been pretty exciting. Still, that wasn't the point of this conversation. The point was for him to somewhat say that he knew what Enzo was going through to a degree and that he was the reason the other was even going through it in the first place. "I don't need new clothes or new friends, you rude little goblin." He held his hands up. "I would say you need a fucking filter, but I don't have one so that would be awfully hypocritical of me." Again, not that he cared. "Anyway, I don't know what you want me to tell you about your weird uncle, but I'll play this Tony Hawk and I'm sure you'll just ask a bunch of questions like you normally do."

"That's what Father John said once, and my mom, and my dad, and my tito too but he kind of lost his mind now so he doesn't say a whole lot. I still do stuff for him though, like-" Enzo's eyes went wide as he clapped his hand over his mouth, "oh no, I was supposed to take him to get his nails trimmed today." He fumbled around for his phone before he grimaced at the time. "It's okay, he's diabetic and I don't really know what that has to do with his feet but I'll just tell my mom I took him." Enzo would have to tell Father John he lied about taking his tito to his nail care appointment, but the Priest would probably understand that he had a good reason; it wasn't every day your weird uncle came over to play video games with you.

It's a pop song, it's one of those women from the 90's who wore those metallic pants in a music video he just knows it. It was after the 'Genie in a Bottle' thing and therefore raunchier and there they are, driving into town, listening to the music of a woman wearing assless chaps, he did remember the one. And this is their life and they are looking through the windshield and for what feels like the first time in days, Nate cracks an actual, genuine smile at the absurdity of it all. "No Lorenzo, they aren't like the same people. I'm only half angel. My father is my an angel." It was actually so much more complicated than that but he doesn't want to get into it as he pulls into the lot behind Grazie's and parks the car. They get the usual table when they come to meet Sariel, not the brunch squad table but the one closer to the corner and the usual mimosa is sat before them. It's then and there that he looks to Lorenzo, he looks to the drinks and he promptly scooches the mimosa in front of the wolf to be beside his own. In turn, they wordlessly scooch their glass of water over beside the one already in front of Lorenzo. "So there's this big festival for you to go to and I'm going to be partially supervising you." Because he thinks Lorenzo needs to go and have fun and get into it with the other wolves. "You mentioned a Theus, who are they?" And could they watch Lorenzo the rest of the time at Lupercalia?

"Don't you mean Our Father?" Lorenzo was pretty sure that God was everyone's father, not that he was half angel, or even quarter angel - at least as far as he knew. "Maybe I'll ask my mom if we have any angels in our family tree, you know, my dad said that when people die they watch over us, not like ghosts because that's devil talk I think but in a nice way. But now that I say it out loud like, what's the difference between a ghost and an angel? Is your dad a ghost? Oh my gosh is your dad dead?" Enzo clapped his hand over his mouth as he turned in his seat while Christina Aguilera's Dirrty continued to play over the radio. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that, I keep bringing him up to and it must make you super sad." Man, John was going to be pissed at him for this.

Oh, that was good. Yeah, very good. Epimetheus half wondered if the lycan would be saying the same if he knew how old Epi actually was. It felt king of embarrassing to say out loud, but, well, he'd never really took the time to think about it before. "You're not dumb. You're like super cool and smart." Then again, he wasn't really sure if he was the right person to judge people on how smart or not smart they were. His mind was only filled with facts about animals ninety percent of the time. Past that? Well, he didn't even really know until after he said it. Or thought it. "Uh...well...yes?" That had to be a compliment, right? Because, if Enzo didn't really know that the avariel hadn't ever kissed anyone before, then clearly he was doing something right. Right? Oh, he shouldn't have thought about that now. Now that was all that was in his head. Was he really bad at the kissing? It wasn't like Enzo was going to tell him he was bad. The lycan was far too nice for that. But still. He had the thought in his head now and it was swirling around in there until Enzo started talking again.

"Um... Well, no, I kind of am. Like, I find breakfast confusing: sometimes it's salty and sometimes it's sweet, like what if I have pancakes for dinner, what is it then?" His head would start hurting if he kept this up, but Lorenzo was caught by the image of having breakfast in bed together. He'd have to push the Dorito bags out from under his covers and probably shake out his navy blue sheets, but what if they woke up together? What then? Enzo could feel himself sitting there with his breath held tight in his chest; the longer that Theus took to answer the question, the more likely it would be that the striker just passed out in front of him.

Nate can handle that Lorenzo is a lycan. That he needs to chain him up to a very sturdy oak tree. They can even handle the fact that the wolf has to strip down first and then they chain them to the tree. The hard part is that Lorenzo loves to talk and he is not super great in that department unless you were Atlas, Kayce, Zagreus, or Akara. Wolfgang too, talking to the vampire was getting easier and easier. "You can choose the music." Mostly because they're very curious as to what the wolf is gonna play. "Buckle your seatbelt." And he sounds so like his dad when he says it that he stiffens in the driver's seat, both hands on the wheel after he's turned the key in the ignition. "And I like my truck." The beat up old thing was reliable thanks to Kayce, it'd been something handed down from Michael. "God didn't give it to me, my dad did."

"Oh dip, really?!" This was the best day ever, except obviously the whole dog dick thing he'd gotten from his weird uncle last night but Enzo was kind of getting used to it. He was used to it because he seriously considered bringing a hammer with him next time so he could knock himself out. Enzo couldn't really afford to lose any brain cells, though. He put the radio on because he was pretty sure this thing didn't have Bluetooth, and phones that mattered no longer had an aux port. Christina Aguilera's Dirrty played over the radio and Enzo hummed a bar under his breath before he did a quick little swish. "Love this old song, one of the classics. This was probably a big deal when you were in college or something, right? Did you know one of the ladies in the video danced with a snake? That's so brave. I hate snakes, don't tell Theus I said that though I think he likes all animals and I like-" Him. "I just think he's neat." This song was like thirty years old or something Lorenzo probably wasn't even born yet when it was released, one for the old folks like angel!Nate. "Aren't those the same people?" Like, hello, had this angel even read the bible before? Father John said that God created everything, so He was kind of everyone's dad. Woah, ew, did that mean everyone was brother and sister? Enzo thought he was gonna be sick.

Epimetheus really wasn't sure why he had asked that question. It wasn't like he was planning on doing it anytime soon. Didn't people usually have to find the right person and stuff? Not that he thought Enzo wasn't the right person. He'd only ever kissed the lycan so there was a first there already. He was just very nervous about literally anything else. The avariel hadn't ever done anything before and he was ancient. It was a surprise that he hadn't yet, but he spent so much time with animals that he'd never even really bothered. Just completely sexless Epimetheus. That was him. Not that he cared much about that, but...whatever. "Oh. So you have...done it before. Like with a girl." Was he supposed to do the same? That didn't seem right. Enzo was different from him though. His straight friend that he kissed sometimes. His straight friend that he thought about kissing all the time in his head. His straight friend that had had so much sex that he was an expert. Now Epi was even more nervous and he didn't know why. He'd been worried about kissing. Sex was something else entirely. "Um..." He just shook his head before continuing. "Is that...weird?"

"I don't think it's weird. Lots of people wait for the right person. I think I'm maybe too dumb to know who the right person is though." Lorenzo had really thought his first would be his last, but here he was, definitely not with her right now. "So was I your... first kiss?" Lorenzo could kind of tell that Epimetheus didn't have much practice, but he was getting better at it. Much better. So good that Lorenzo just wanted to do it all the time. He wasn't one of those weirdos who got off on being someone's first with anything sexual, but there was a part of him that liked the idea that maybe it'd be something they could experience together. If they did that. Enzo wasn't sure how he could justify having gay sex with someone as straight, or how he could even think about gay sex with someone as straight. The acrobatics his mind would be doing over the next couple of weeks would have smoke coming out of his ears, but he'd so totally get there because while he was so not gay he so wanted to have sex with Theus. "Would you want to maybe um, like uh. You know, like, maybe sometime we could, like, maybe uh- I just thought like, you have like, soft lips, and I have um... Soft lips, so maybe like we could... Do it. It. Like, not right now! But you know, maybe um, sometime. If that's something you'd want to do, like, with me." Lorenzo had been looking up at absolutely nothing because he wasn't sure if he could look at Theus in the face right now. Especially not when all the blood had already left his head and gone to his other head. He managed to look at him now. "Because I'd like to that. It. You know, with uh, with you."

He immediately leaned away from the lycan, a look that could only be on the face of someone that had been completely disrespected. Damn, maybe Enzo was just the right person to have bitten. The kid had absolutely no filter so that meant something to him. Nash much preferred people that spoke their mind. Well, not as an insult, but he was positive that the little lycan really didn't even mean it as one. He just spoke without thinking. Not a single thought behind those eyes anyway. "I don't fucking smell. What kind of question is that?" There was no way he smelled that horrible. He'd showered today. He lifted his shirt to smell himself. Maybe it had been his clothes. He'd have to remember to steal some new items somewhere. In the midst of thinking that, Enzo was stepping outside and closing the door behind him. Kid really could not make up his mind. "Well...how do I put this?" He paused and put a hand on the other's shoulder. "You could say I'm your weird uncle. And then I also had a weird uncle, but then my weird uncle turned into an even weirder uncle so it's a little different."

"I see...." Enzo nodded. "I don't get it." His metaphor had gotten lost in the sauce, and now the lycan had to be even more confused than he was at the start. Where were all these uncles coming from, and why was everyone so hairy all the time? "Do you need some new clothes? You're wearing the same clothes I saw you in last time." Enzo asked instead as he pointed at the other's grimy little shirt; Bash wasn't really handsome, but that didn't mean he couldn't put some effort in. "And, like, a friend?" Lorenzo thought about the last year and all the fear that surrounded the nights of the full moon, the moments leading up to it, the people he'd hurt, and how that'd made him feel. Maybe he'd hurt people, but he still didn't really know. Nate had helped to make sure, but that didn't make this any easier; four nights every month and Lorenzo was left in agonizing pain as every bone in his body broke, all his muscles shredded so they could heal into something stronger. Reprieve came when the pain was so much that it made him black out, he fought it every time, tried to keep himself together and human but his weirdo uncle always won. "Because I have Tony Hawk upstairs and like... I think um-" Enzo's throat felt dry, his voice shook, "I think uh- I think I need to talk to someone about.... Him."

So he changed his mind and also talked a lot. Actually, it was more like rambling. It would've been endearing if...no, no it really wasn't. Nash was not used to actual socialization still to this day. He'd been out of his cell for over a year now and it still felt like he was in there when he spoke to people. His manners hadn't been a thing for quite some time now. He could understand why Enzo wouldn't really want to bother with him considering that fact. Then there was also the point Nash had made in that he literally told the kid to steer clear of him. Maybe he should've listened to his own words. He'd give that one thing to Enzo though. He sure as hell listened. Otherwise, he was sure the little lycan was not all that bright. A brow rose at the other's last few words. "Your...weird uncle? Your weird uncle is putting you through it? I'm fucking confused. What does your weird..." He stopped himself because, well, he'd just asked about full moons and that was clearly a sign that the other was using code words or something to answer the question. "Right. Well, I can help you with your weird uncle. You could say I have a weird uncle myself. It's why I'm so dangerous."

Lorenzo gasped and leaned in, still whispering. "Is that why you smell so bad?" Oh no, he didn't smell like that, did he? Enzo absentmindedly lifted his arm and took a light whiff of his pit, it just smelled like his usual handsome self but what if other people didn't like it. Did Epimetheus think he smelled? No way, they'd gotten so close so many times, plus Enzo showered like, twice a day. This guy, Bash, didn't look like he had showered ever. Maybe never. Like, not at all, like they'd let him out of prison and he'd rolled around in the dirt like he was a... Dog! Right! "Okay, okay," he looked over his shoulder as he changed his mind again, stepped outside, and closed the door behind him. "Does he..." Enzo looked slightly pained as he folded his arms before his chest, "Hurt?"

Nash knew how off-putting he probably was. It wasn't like he intended to ever befriend people in the first place so he really didn't care much. Still, he had come here for a reason. Whether he was going to still go through with that remained up in the air depending on the little lycan's reaction. And, from what he could gather right now, Enzo very much did not like him. Rightfully so. The draegloth had indeed told the other to stay away from him because he was dangerous. Maybe that wasn't the right way to start off conversations. Especially for people that he thought he turned while on a lycan heart eating rampage. "You change your mind a lot, kid." He'd said it as if it was Enzo's fault, but really he'd just put out a cigarette on the lycan's door so...yeah. "Anyway, the point of me being here was to ask you about...full moons." That was one hell of a way to bring it up, but he was really so bad at this.

"Well, the thing about that is my mom always says that when people show you who they really are, you should believe them." Lorenzo recalled thoughtfully as he kind of looked up and scratched his head. "And you said you're kind of dangerous, then you put your cigarette out on my door, and like, man, I rent, our landlord is going to be so pissed. We're already on strike eleven, and he said if we get to twelve, he's going to give us the hose again." Old man Jenkins and his damn hose. "Also, you told me I should listen to my mom so... I don't know, I don't think I want to talk about my weird uncle with you." Lorenzo whispered towards the end because he definitely didn't want to talk about that while his roommates were home. How was he supposed to tell them about it? All of that. Nate had at least made sure that Enzo wasn't hurting anyone; the sedatives didn't do anything to numb the pain. That definitely sucked; every month, it just kind of felt like the same bone-breaking experience again and again. He'd been going through this for over a year, and maybe his guardian angel understood, but Enzo was still suffering. "But um, yeah, he's kind of putting me through it and I can't talk about that right now. So, I think maybe you should just go."

When his uncle came to visit. Nate debates actually just walking away but instead they sigh and offer a light shrug because hey, something like that might work. But he doesn't really get a chance to point that out because Lorenzo keeps going and once his hands are free, he runs a hand through the front of his hair. The poor wolf is both adorable and completely clueless. "Yes to all of those." It's the easiest way to get through all the questions and they offer a nod towards the path once Lorenzo was dressed. The least he could do was get this kid some food. Wolves and those that shifted had it hard, the idea of bones breaking and reforming to just become stronger? Hard pass. "It gets easier. I'll try to find something to maybe make it hurt less." He leads Enzo to the truck, gives another nod to indicate that the overgrown puppy can get shotgun. Grazie's could maybe fit them in, they'd give Andruil the eyes, get a single table in the back.

"You think? I thought so too, but every time I tell Father John about my week it sounds like he gets really frustrated." Lorenzo usually went off on his little tangents, but at least the priest was usually pretty patient. "Do you know John- or er, Father John, I don't think I'm supposed to just say his name on its own. What's up with that anyway? Like if I was also a priest would that make me his brother? Or would I be his wife? Husband? No, it'd be husband because Father John is definitely a dude." Lorenzo chuckled a bit as he hopped into the passenger side of Angel!Nate's truck. "Did God give you this truck? I thought angels would be able to afford something nicer, I can give you a loan if you want, I have like... So many sponsors. Anyways, I couldn't imagine being John's wife- Father John- he's nice and everything but he smells like peanuts." Were you supposed to comment on a priest's smell? Gosh, he was always stepping in it; now he'd have to apologize to Father John for this, too. "Hey, can I pick the radio station?"

"I think so, too." Epimetheus couldn't help the smile on his face at Enzo's words. It was true that he really liked hanging out with the lycan. He liked when they talked or when Enzo did some really cool flip to try and impress him. Epi felt like he needed to do more to impress the other, too. Usually, the animals worked, but the lycan was always doing something cool and he was just doing nothing but standing there and smiling all the time. He had to think 'What would Nettelia do?' Oh man, what would Nettelia do? Why was he so nervous? Were his palms sweating? That was so weird. What if they felt clammy? His fingers laced together just as Enzo's lips met his own. And then there was tongue and Epi also stuck his tongue out slightly. He was totally good at this now because Enzo was good at it. Maybe they should practice so much more and they had all night and everything. His hand landed on the lycan's shoulder to try to pull him in closer. With the small breathing room he had, he decided to speak for a moment. "Have you ever...you know? Not that I want to right now, but you know."

Kissing Epimetheus had quickly become his favourite thing to do, so much so that one of his pillows had a permanent slobber mark from the nights he'd been spending imagining putting his tongue in the other's mouth. Obviously Lorenzo was good at this because he'd spent so long making out with girls in an effort to getting out of having sex with them... Not that he didn't... Or even that he didn't want to! They were just not as interesting to him- not that they weren't interesting though! The idea of kissing them wasn't as appealing to him as kissing Epimetheus was. "No- at least, not with a guy, but I mean, like, we have the same plumbing, and I've looked at many videos, so I'm like, kind of an expert by now." Did having gay sex, watching videos of gay sex, or thinking about having gay sex make you gay? No, maybe... Probably. Lorenzo swallowed because this was a lot of information to compute at once because not only was Theus talking about having sex but Enzo's wiener was getting hard. "Have you... Ever... you know?

"Calm down, I'm coming." It's playfully annoyed as they make their way through the woods quickly because they're worried. It's not really something he ever saw himself doing, actively helping a lycan in such a way. And yet it's nice, Nate tries to think that he's not entirely the usual hunter anymore. Wolfgang could kind of be blamed for that, he was a vampire but he wasn't....Malicious? A bloodthirsty killer? They didn't know, but they'd tried to take every supernatural with a bit of a grain of salt now, after.....Everything. "I brought pants." And they are sort of averting their eyes the entire time they're undoing the chains that keep Lorenzo stuck to the sturdy oak tree. Once the chains are off and on the ground, he's pulling a pair of sweats from the backpack on his back and averting his eyes as he holds them out to the lycan. "How was it, buddy?"

"Hey, do you think if I buy sweats a few sizes larger they won't rip off when my uncle comes to visit?" Lorenzo asked as he pulled the pants on so his big ol'thang wasn't just flopping around in front of a literal angel. Like that was so not good, Enzo would have to bring this up to his priest - oh wait, no, he couldn't do that. "Hey, um, do you think I need to apologize to my priest for showing you my penis? Also, am I allowed to say the word penis to you? Do you have a penis?" Enzo blushed, "Not that I wanna see it or anything-" he put his hands up, "I was just wondering because there are all those paintings of angels with their junk out, so like, does God really sit up in heaven getting upset at people for having their stuff out or is he kind of into it?" Oh flip, now he'd just kind of said God was a weirdo into nudity or something. Confession would be awful on Sunday; how was he supposed to say any of this without sounding like he was into guys - which he wasn't - or that he had a particular hairy time with the moon every month. "Oh hey, are you hungry? I'm starving, but next time can you bring me smaller sweats, these ones are too big and they don't show off the print enough."