#ordershound

Eliphas had NEVER known a desire for silence like today, it honestly made him grateful for his artificial nature granting him the ability to DO half the things he'd been requested that day. But alas even those not made of flesh and bone have their limits, and frankly- Eliphas had reached a level of ceasing to care that was a new high for him. Not helped by his illness in the least..

Regardless of passerby or conversation, the moment he spotted Alkanah he was quick to disregard the prior engagement, hanging himself over the other as he nuzzled into his golden locks as if he were keen to sleep there.

" I shall only be a moment.. " He sighed, Don's natural Chaos Aura already feeling like the sweetest ambrosia to his tired form. " Please tell me it's noon... "

| From @ordershound aka sometimes eliphas is allowed to be a Mood |

The day had been quite the storm from waking and onward. Naturally, the Guardian of Chaos had been attempting his best to help with the work flow, but with little personal duties to attend, he had stolen away to tend his garden.

The swarms of denizens trailing like lost helpless dogs (oh, the irony), coupled with that look he knew all to well on Eliphas' face. . .

Well, if when his golden rose wasn't looking, Alkanah sent the crowd a type of stare for which had been infamous to cause thunder booms back on Barian World, then it was entirely within justice.

With a soft 'tut', Alkanah responded. "It is middle morning."

He leaned his head back as well as he was able, bringing his hand towards Eliphas' to intertwine them. Holding them to his chest, where the warmth of his heart lied.

| From @ordershound to Shine (flashback) because he deserves to hear it. |

@forhope​  //  umprompted (always open)

    “I am far from perfect.”

Shine’s eyes lowered to his hands, which flexed and squeezed.

   “In terms of construction that is an undeniable fact. But I’m glad you can still see my value. Your mind is one I cannot read, and I can only gauge my use and performance based on your feedback. You needn’t be concerned on how it is saidー you needn’t be particullarly verbose nor particularly eloquent with me either. If the feeling is there, I will come to understand it if you let me.”

He placed a hand on Eliphas’ shoulder.

Alas, he had been made to do this- childish means of 'affection' to the fallen god, the Idea making him none-too-pleased but... commands were commands...

' Think nothing of this ' he had said.. and he'd meant it at the time! Aiming to simply get it over with and break away right after.

and yet... he didn't..

He should have.. gods he should have, yet there was f̴̛͎ä̶́m̴i̸̕l̶̆i̵ȁ̶ri̶t̷͆y in the act. A warmth that wormed its way into every muscle and unwove the tension that had been building there for.. stars be dammed if he could remember how long.

Why was he allowing this? Why was this so familiar?? .. ... .. . .. ... .. . . . . . ..... . . . . . .. ... . . . .

Why was he crying?

| From @ordershound because u sent the thing! |

To say he had been expecting this would have been a bold face lie. He and Eliphas' relationship had been moot at best, since his return, or nonexistent at worst. Nevermind his slow, background attempts at feeding new life into his garden for the benefit of his oldest closest relationship. In truth he could begrudgingly admit he had recently put more stock into dallying off with a myriad of Astral World's younglings.

Not that he regretted that, a sudden voice in his mind was firm, and it was truthful. He didn't regret the fleeting connections he made to those ruckusing baby flowers.

But here. This.

It was one moment of closeness to Eliphas, and suddenly they were young again. It was years ago. A lifetime ago.

And Don could not even enjoy it the way he wished to, savor it like a sacred root from old vines, because then Eliphas was crying. And that sight was terrible and terrifying enough.

Eliphas had not known cold for much of his existence. It was a harsh, numbing sensation that never seemed to leave his bones no matter how much he tried or how many 'Treatments' the elders gave him. At this point he could have sworn he had started to feel WORSE after each 'mending' ... What was wrong with him?

He had intended to come to his darkest star's companion's side to mope, to vent frustrations to the one person who would listen with genuine care. That thought died the moment he rested upon the others lap, and the frozen chill gradually Thawed for the first time. Radiating, soothing, and comforting he nuzzled into the other's torso to get as close to that warmth as reasonable with a gentle and content sigh.

" Warm~ Heh,,, You really are a star, "

Such a gentle and sleepy utterance brought a rare smile high to Don's lips.

He could tell that Eliphas was worn, his energy held remnants of alterations. No doubts more 'lessons' and 'improving' sessions. Protectiveness seeped the warmth of Don's body, making it more of an incubator for his companion to rest upon.

| From @ordershound |

Would you- Not pay attention and smack right into him like aN IDIOT?!

" AL! "

Eliphas snapped to reality, stumbling over his feet as he took a step back, his glow brightening as his voice broke from the shock, quickly fixed as he cleared his throat and stooped down to pick up anything that had fallen.

" I- Don- don I mean, ah, heh, Sorry- sorry sorry I was uh, thinking! Just- not about.. what I was doing, but- you- I mean I wasn't- I mean I was I was just- uh- um.... , ,,,, Hi . "

| From @ordershound from Young El because today has been Angsty, time for Dumb, |

In all the fairness Don should have known better by this point than to lose himself in stationary thought when his partner could be heard from miles, rushing at him in all speed and galavant.

A firm, steadying grip attached to Eliphas' wrist under an eye's blink. Don's normally lazy stare zeroed in on the other, somehow blunt as always - yet holding visible concern.

Or maybe it was something else, but exasperation overtook features to quick to tell.

| @ordershound (I know shine probably cant catch a cold but- that doesnt matter! Wrap him in Eliphas's dumb cloak ) u- u |

It was interesting how Eliphas emulated human care. His concerns echoed that which he heard on the television in Yuuma's attic bedroom, and existed in the same vein as Yuuma's grandmother who ensured that the boy never skipped the first meal of the day.

Shine merely nodded as he accepted the cloak. They'd allow for Eliphas to administer the care himself.

| @ordershound |

"...Is that so?"

It surprised him, though he debated that perhaps it shouldn't. Eliphas was their world's guiding light, raised from the fire of a star and harbored to be the Will of all astral world's intentions. But that did not mean he did not feel lost, or that such priority was without its overwhelms.

And if Don made that easier, somehow. . .