#thecosmicace

“Why would I be?” He asks, knowing smile still lingering. “What, you one of those assholes that promote feelin’ shame in your body ‘er something, Princess?” 

Hands raise and arms creak in a rather theatric stretch before he hangs his grips land against the back of his neck; clawed fingers burying themselves in his gray fur. 

A raspy laugh from the lupine fills the already noisy air of Sargasso lounge as it’s occupied with party-goers, and bar regulars alike, all gathered to enjoy the festivities of the evening. The pose the stranger strikes is both entertaining and endearing to the older man: a misfit seemingly proud of what makes him odd -- the masked vulpine appears to be just as jovial as the rest of the crowd. Therefore, Jack, the self-appointed enforcer of fun, feels no real threat with the lad unwilling to share his face... Especially if his father’s around.

Wolf leans forward at the bar, elbows set against the surface of the counter. Head tilted, he keeps Fox at his right, so he can keep track of the vulpine pilot through his good eye. 

Hah, “good eye”. 

SEND

Their first impression of your muse: "FUCK HIM FUCK HIM FUCK H-"

Current impression:   "God dammit he's self-destructing and now I have to save him from himself."

Are they attracted to your muse?:  "What a dreamy thought." He was until he started realizing how vulnerable Fox really was. Somehow Fox is less put-together than he is, and it fucks with him because he's always relied on his opinion on who Fox is supposed to be in order to define himself.

Something they find frightening about your muse: "The noose." No, it's how fast Fox fell for Wolf and even moreso how quickly Fox just bled into him.

Something they find adorable about your muse:  "The noose." It's endearing in a 12-year-old-playing-Call-of-Duty-online kind of way.

Would my muse sacrifice themselves for yours?:  "Depends on the Fox I'm savin'."

Would my muse go on a date with yours?  platonic/romantic:  "If he's payin' fuck yeah."

One word my muse would use to describe yours:  "Concerning."

Would my muse slap yours if they could?: "I have and I hope I get to again."

With Wolf's office located at the top of the Sargasso hideout, it's not surprising that the environment is somewhat chaotic. Papers and files are strewn across the desk, spilling onto the floor, and empty coffee cups and energy drink cans are scattered haphazardly on every available surface. Despite the mess, Wolf knows exactly where everything is, and the organized chaos seems to suit him just fine. The early months of the year are a particularly busy time for Wolf and his team. With contracts up for renewal, there are meetings to attend, negotiations to be made, and paperwork to be signed. At the same time, registrations for the ships must be processed, and the necessary permits and licenses "obtained". Amidst all of this, there are always under-the-table deals being considered, the kind that require discretion and careful handling. The kind that will keep Wolf and his team secure in their place within Lylat's criminal underworld. A hand snakes itself underneath his eyepatch and he rubs at his dead eye as he pours over the paperwork on his desk when a sudden knock on the door causes his concentration to break and his ear to flick involuntarily. Before he can even call out a response, the door opens and in walks Fox, causing Wolf's other ear to swivel in his direction. He watches as Fox approaches his desk with a large box in hand, taking quiet note of the vulpine's jarring apology following the happy birthday wish. Pulling Fox from his previous team had been a decision that caused controversy within Star Wolf, as Fox was originally from a team that was the direct cause of many of Star Wolf's shortcomings, but Wolf would go to bat for Fox, claiming that his reasons for doing this are his own. This is a risk, but it's one worth taking. ...Plus, well, he couldn't resist the opportunity to stick it to his old rivals on Star Fox by stealing away one of their best pilots.

The lupine leans back and his office chair creaks under his weight while his tail thumps excitedly against the seat. "Got me something?" He parrots warmly watching Fox enter the room. Wolf detects the subtle movement of Fox's tail hugging his leg. Despite the nervousness the younger man is clearly feeling, O'Donnell still can't help but feel a sense of amusement at the sight of the vulpine's tail coiled around his leg. It's a small but telling sign of Fox's anxiety. However, he doesn't mention it, choosing instead to focus on the gift that Fox has brought for him.

Wolf's grin spreads across his face, revealing his yellowed teeth, but there is something infectious and genuine about it. It's the kind of grin that seems to light up his eye, making it sparkle with a mischievous glint. The corners of his mouth lift upwards, giving his face an appearance that somehow manages to be both menacing and endearing at the same time. His grin is full of character, and it's clear that despite being busy, Wolf has welcomed the box on his desk.

He picks up the large box that Fox has left on his desk, running his claws over the tape that holds it shut. With a quick flick of his wrist, he cuts through the tape and begins to pull back the flaps of the box.

A beat.

Wolf's eye widens in genuine shock as he gazes upon the Sega Genesis nestled within the box that Fox had just gifted him. He sits back in his chair once again, and for a moment he's lost in thought, trying to recall any time he might have mentioned his desire for the classic gaming console. His mind begins to wander to the past. Recalling a time when he was a child and had begged his grandmother for the console, only to be told that they couldn't afford it. The memory brings a bittersweet slant to his face, as he remembers the excitement he had felt at the thought of owning the console and the disappointment when he didn't receive it.

But now, as he looks at the Genesis in front of him, he feels a surge of gratitude towards Fox for the unexpected gift. Wolf reaches into the box to pick up the Sega, he notices the console is in pristine condition, as if it were never used before. He examines it carefully, running his fingers over the smooth plastic surface and admiring the glossy sheen before placing it down on the desk.

"How did ya know I wanted this?" Wolf finally asks, his famous grin replaced with a look of bewilderment. "I must have been pretty drunk to let that slip," he jokes, still trying to make sense of how Fox had managed to uncover this obscure detail about him.

He takes a hold of the box in order to begin to break it down, but the unusual weight of the container stops him from doing so. No, something else is inside. He ducks back into the box to see what else is inside. A surprised scoff emits from the older pilot as he spots two more games, both in their original cases. He pulls them out, studying the cover art with growing disbelief. Not only had Fox given him a brand new Sega Genesis, but he had also included Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Castlevania. Games Wolf was familiar with only through their titles alone, he never had the chance to experience them before.

"Shit, Fox, is this some kind of offering? Do ya think I'm gonna sacrifice ya to a group of space pirates to collect on some underworld bounty?" Humor is the perfect shield to hide from his vulnerability. A low, raspy chuckle emits from the wolf before he brings his attention back up to the pilot standing before him.

As Wolf enters the room, he takes in the sight of the colorful and cluttered space. Wolf's eye scans the walls covered with posters, taking in the vibrant colors and various characters. It's a complete contrast to the cold, metallic walls of the rest of the base, for sure. As he studies the posters, he notices that they're mostly related to games, anime, and other geek culture. A small smile tugs at the corners of his lips as he remembers how his own bedroom when he was younger had looked much the same way, except with posters of his favorite bands and musicians. 

"I used to have a room like this too," he admits, gesturing to the posters. "Except instead of anime and video games, it was all about music for me." Wolf chuckles softly, reminiscing about his teenage years. "I guess we both had our obsessions, huh?"  As he directs his question towards Kit, Wolf's gaze falls upon the vulpine's jagged mullet haircut, which is a clear expression of his independent streak. Wolf, who himself was more of a fan of punk rock hairstyles like the mohawk, can't help but grin broadly now.

"It’s a nice place ya got here," Wolf quips, gesturing to the deliberate decorations that are covering the walls of Kit's room. "I think this is the first time I’ve seen it. Fits right in with your whole, uh, aesthetic." His words spoken through a small laugh.

Smile drops and Wolf hesitates for a moment, single eye narrowing as he notices the remaining twinges of guilt etched on Kit's face. Instead, Wolf decides to change his approach from his initial plan of doing what he usually does during the following weeks of Saint Patrick’s day: apologizing for Jack’s behavior. 

But that bullshit? It can wait. 

Without permission, Wolf takes a seat on the edge of Kit’s bed, giving him his full attention. Trying not to fix his eye on Kit's face, Wolf glances around the younger man, purposefully trying to lose himself in the new additions to the living space quarters.

OBJECTIVE: POCKY DAY

      Slippy had been so focused on the game in front of him that he’d hardly noticed the vulpine approach. He barely had time to look up and greet his leader before the other dipped down to gently bite into the biscuit nonchalantly hanging out of the frog’s mouth. Slip knew there was a game that was played with these sticks, but... they were so close--close enough even to feel the whiskers protruding from that ivory muzzle to tickle his own nose! There they seemed to linger for a moment or two, and the frog stared wide-eyed and cheeks a brilliant red. Once Fox pulled away, he broke the silence at last.

Different Ways to Say ‘I Love You’ ✔

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Well, this was interesting....

      Slippy felt his cheeks warm up a bit as he looked over to his leader and gently set down the wrench he held in his hand.