[Closed] Just Ydris learning how much food people eat

[enterthe]

Who ⬤ Ydris & Junpei, Ydris & Artemy, +Yuuji Also
What ⬤ Moving in and Making Lunches
When ⬤ Very Start of May
Where ⬤ Sutoku Alliance Territory
Content Warnings ⬤ It's Ydris, so NSFW talk will probably happen fair warning.

We* won't have to be alone again. For moondregs

[After balancing their combined, very modest rookie budgets, Ydris came up with a suitable place to share with Junpei. It was about what they expected to get for their money- a slightly better part of the city than they had each on their own, a smaller space to share, but better amenities. The studio apartment was high up in the building- the elevator not always working, sorry Junpei, get fit- but with an all told attractive view. At least at night, with lights on. During the day it was mostly just overlooking dingy rooftops.

The main draw was it had a modest sized kitchen to work with. It wasn't too far from Junpei's theatre... if you didn't count the stairs. At least moving what they owned was easy, because they scarcely had anything between them. Ydris' tentacles easily float their few bags up the long climb to their door, the dragon unlocking it and standing aside for Junpei to go in first and take a look.]

The bed by the window is for you. I have that couch to settle on.

[just a few furnishings, but it was cozy enough. No kitchen table, but there was a counter with barstools to sit at. The main space has the bed shoved up beneath the window on the far end, fold up divider tucked against the wall. There's a clearly second hand couch and coffee table, nothing that would be comfortable for a person to sleep at long term, but this is Ydris. They won't mind it one bit.]

Just stopping by, no burdened emotions here For pathofsacrifice

[With the new spot settled in to, Ydris stocked the kitchen as best they could plan and afford. It had become their goal to be as efficient as possible at preparing meals for those they cared about. It was absolutely necessary that anybody they looked after was well fed.

What kind of a miracle are they, if they can't do that much?

... They miss Artemy.

Had it been long since they'd seen him last? Not really-? Didn't matter. They gave him a call and gave clear directions on how to find their new apartment. The door would be left open for him. Ydris would be cooking, trying to perfect a few filling meals which easily fit into the boxes they had found for easily portable lunches. That can keep them busy. That can keep them from focusing on how eagerly they wait for him to appear. Just staying busy, absolutely not thinking about their own, ridiculous, fluttering anticipation whenever he said he was on the way.]

Comments

[enterthe]

[Ydris' awkward grin softens at the joking along, before Artemy makes his claim. A dangerous claim, indeed. That's certainly more the confession Ydris had been anticipating, or fearing, or both. Anything- oh, they can think of so many things-

They can think of all the more things when Artemy mirrors their gestures and leans in, kissing them. Ydris smiles into that kiss, glad it wasn't something the man hesitated over or withheld. He probably should do the latter, Ydris should probably not want this so much, but their lips meet and Ydris breathes him in.

This is probably an objectively better kiss than Ydris' first jumping onto the man. Ydris won't choose favorites. They'll let their arms slide over the man's chest and then down, to ribs on either side...

Until one presses directly into the still healing bullet wound.]

[pathofsacrifice]

[ Their body against his own is a comfort. He wants to wrap himself up against them, but is not able to do so.

Not for any theological reason that he could come up with, but instead it is a physical one. Their hand presses against a healing bullet wound and he has to pull back involuntarily.

He hisses through his teeth as his body shudders in pain; he realizes what he's doing and has to pause to look at them with an apology painting itself obvious on his face. ]

It's all right. It's just a bullet wound.

[enterthe]

[Artemy crumples away from them and Ydris is quick to let him go, not wanting to hold onto him if he regretted-

Oh. Wait. What!?]

When did you get shot!? [not even a full beat] Who must I burn the life out of-!?

[pathofsacrifice]

When I went to chase those that killed our leader--

[ His eyes widen a little at their declaration. ]

-- you need not kill anyone for me. [ A beat passes. ] In fact, I would not want you to stain your hands for a person like myself.

[enterthe]

Luckily my hands don't stain- No! That's beside the point.

[pointless pointless- they focus up on the spot before back up to Artemy's face]

Are you okay-? Did you see a healer about that or patch it yourself? Are they supposed to hurt that long-? [they say mostly to themself, quietly]

How bad are bullets for people...? They seem quite bad...

1/2

[pathofsacrifice]

I feel it is part of the point --

[ His dry joke probably is not appropriate for right not, but he tries it all the same. ]

I am all right. It's not the first time I have been shot. [ There is a weary resignation to the way that he admits this to them. ] A healer mended the wound with magic. I did not ever meet someone truly touched by God and able to do such healing.

[ Though, there was a strange girl that said she had such power. He muses over what Clara did, and while she claimed to have healed so many, he never saw it once himself. Does he need to see it for it to be true? He closes his eyes and shakes his head; he believed her in the end so why should he suddenly talk as though she never had that gift. ]

No, I only met one person touched like that, and she never did explain how it was that way.

[ And so he corrects himself, before pausing-- ]

[pathofsacrifice]

They can hurt for awhile.

[ How comforting. ]

But being with you, I always forget the hurt that is there.

[enterthe]

[Ydris has to really fight to not interject and fuss and bark at the man- how about you STOP getting shot!! -that's a silly thing to say. He probably tries his hardest not to. Well. Ydris can hope he does.

They give a few very deliberate blinks when the man's tone turns so tender towards them. How quickly that can shrink down Ydris' overreactions, like a flick of the wrist to turn a stove burner to low. Frustration suddenly simmering as Ydris flusters]

U, until I go grabbing at you. Tell me when and where you are hurt, Artemy! I won't paw at you so... ingraciously- [they paw at you more graciously-! Wait. No. Yes? Probably, even if they shouldn't.]

[pathofsacrifice]

When and where...

[ Artemy thinks honestly on this request. His expression shifts to a quiet resignation. He reaches out to take the wrist of one of their hands so that he could place it over his chest. ]

I do not know when but my heart has always been a rotten thing. It's diseased and ruined through actions not entirely my own, but still my own doing. [ He offers a slight smile -- the same sad one that he always gives. ] A metaphor, yes, but this is where the real hurt lies.

All other things can be bandaged and healed. You can paw as you like at me... I've always been a bit of a bear and can take all those things.

[enterthe]

Your... heart- Your heart is not rotten! [trust in Ydris to defend Artemy even when he says otherwise. They press their hand to the center of his chest, before moving it away. Ydris leaning in, turns their head, and places an ear to the spot instead. They listen to the man's heartbeat, wishing their hearing wasn't their dullest sense... but it's Artemy's heart.

Artemy's heart is not rotten. They reach both their arms up and embrace beneath his arms, tucking in so to avoid that wounded spot beneath his ribs.]

Your heart is strong, Artemy. Resilient and kind. You have a good heart, I know that for absolute certain. [is this assuring? Can they assure the man with brute force will alone? They believe it, themself, Ydris sure it's true, but they don't know how to convince the man, so... They just say more quietly to his chest.]

A good heart cannot rot. Trust me.

[pathofsacrifice]

[ It's a surprise to hear such denial of what he knows to be the truth.

He lifts a hand to rest on top of their head, gently stroking their hair as they listen to his heart. He smiles, despite himself, as they defend his honor and person. It makes his chest hurt to hear, but the pain he feels isn't completely unpleasant. ]

I trust you.

[ It is what he manages to say. ]

You have so much faith in me. How can I not trust it?

[enterthe]

[Ydris' hair remains strange as the rest of them, something like a sculpture at first touch, only to become more like actual hair. They need to be paying attention to making the illusion more detailed and hair is so very detailed! Pleasant, though, to allow Artemy's hands to trail through the strands.

They keep their ear to his chest, just enjoying listening to the heart of the man they've been falling in love with...]

It's not faith, I know it's true. [faith is a silly thing for a god to have, isn't it? They can only know... or should only know. Ydris has to fight their youthful insecurity quite often. It's easy to put forth confidence with Artemy, though. The man trusts them and Ydris can believe in themself when he's around.

They finally turn their head and look directly up at him, giving a playful squeeze, avoiding that tender spot ever still]

You must trust me in the same way you cherish me, Artemy. I shall do just the same to you!

[pathofsacrifice]

[ Yet as strange as it feels, he still touches them as though they are spun of only the most precious and cherished of things. He continues to gently stroke their hair, not minding that they continue to listen to his heart. ]

Of course.

[ There is a laugh beneath his words; he does not know if it is truth -- if a good heart can never rot. But it is as Ydris says; he trusts in them as much as he cherishes them. If they say it is true, then he will believe it. Why shouldn't he believe in such kindness about himself?

Because he knows the truth about who he is.

His jaw bunches for a second; he appears conflicted before smiling, in a small, brief way. ]

Can this not be one-sided? I can't help but think one day I will lead you astray.

[enterthe]

Of course not. [Ydris answers with an echo, but smiles vibrantly up at Artemy all the same. Their eyes shimmer like the heart of burning coals, all giving in their warmth. It both cannot be one sided... and Artemy cannot lead them astray.

Or, well, he already has. But that is alright by Ydris.]

I cannot help myself around you.

[is that too much an admission? Did they say it too much in a tone of I love you-? They bury their smile back into his chest, grinning their even if they share his doubts as much as these feelings of joy and delight]

L, leave it at that.