#beetho

It’s not nearly as drastic as Etho acts like it is, just a bit more padding in his tummy and thighs, but he still gets embarrassed when it starts to happen. It even more obvious in his fox form, with people like Tango lovingly calling him a living marshmallow.

Beef loves it though, loves kissing his tummy and thighs and making sure he’s eating well through the winter. He loves his boyfriend when he’s nothing but lean muscle, but a secret part of him thinks he might love this even more, when the changing seasons add a subtle layer of softness.

Part of it - and look, Beef knows it's silly - is that he likes the space Etho takes up. He blends into the background so easily during the warmer seasons. He always tries to, but it's harder during the winter when he actually has a presence.

It's also important for Etho's health, as much as he hates it. He's able to sleep for much longer periods, preferring to use the same 'dens' each time. That extra weight is important to sustain him, as well as keep him warm.

Etho hates moving. It's tedious and repetitive in all of the worst ways, often without any reward. Certainly not this time - he enjoyed his tech job and the distant politeness of the city. Nobody tried talking to him, he could get anything he'd want delivered and the wi-fi was brilliant.

Unfortunately, the city isn't the best place for a newly bitten werewolf. So packing up his entire life and moving to the countryside it is. At least his job agreed to keep him on part time remotely.

He doesn't leave his house for several days after arriving (and isn't that something, a house, not a two room apartment.) It's not intentional he just has a lot of unpacking to do and his allergies are really playing him up out here and he really doesn't know his way around and really doesn't want to meet people... It's a little intentional.

He needs to venture out eventually, though. That moon is getting bigger and according to his research, one of the best ways to keep the wolf happy is meat. Lots of it. He'd been getting by with dry dog food before and lost a good cupboard because of it. This village has a butcher, so he might as well give it a try.

He keeps his head down and walks fast, deterring people from trying to talk to him. Eventually. Eventually he'll do that, but right now the bell ringing above the door to the butcher's is a lifesaver.

And. Oh.

The man behind the counter looks up, blue eyes quickly catching Etho's with a big smile. He's wearing an apron that's seen better days, but his demeanor matches the cosy atmosphere of the shop. And he has enough muscle for both of them.

"Hey there, name's Beef, I've already heard all the jokes. You must be the new guy, right?"

Etho is more than happy to take the title of 'washed up' right now. He feels it, lying untidily in bed in the aftermath of the latest life series.

They're always rough. He's given some protective measures - potions at the start, armour, extra breaks scheduled in - plus the standard protection everybody gets. Grian knows Etho won't abuse the extra stuff if only because they have to force him to use the damn things most of the time.

He never gets out unscathed, though. He might actually have more bruises than skin right now, he feels like he could sleep for months and has a headache so bad he at least can't feel the rest of his body aching.

But, he still thinks this is one of the best parts of the life series. Because, in the aftermath, Beef is there. Etho doesn't have to worry about anything until he's ready to, he knows Beef's got it all covered. And Beef's cooking is the best, so Etho knows he's got it good.

What neither of them expected (though they probably should have) is the way Etho changes. There's the emotional changes, of course; the way his whole personality seems to shift into childhood wonder at the sight of snow.

But then there's the physical change. Etho has always been adapted to hide in warmer climates. Places people wouldn't expect an arctic fox to live. So, with the time spent out in the cold, his hair and fur shifts from muddier browns into gleaming white.