ㅤ ㅤ( * nursing a busted lip, licking away pin-pricks ㅤof ichor that pool at the surface of skin —— ㅤperched in front of a mirror, observing ㅤthe laceration with tired eyes. ) ㅤ

vic.⠀ i'm bringin this weird guy back EVEN IF IT KILLS ME

⠀ ⠀jus' cracked my neck so damn good 'm 50 ⠀percent sure i saw god 'gain. ⠀ ⠀

⠀ ⠀.. yes ? y' heard me right, didn't ya ? ⠀

⠀ ⠀i ain't like how yer' ro–ing me. ⠀.. sounds like ya got somethin' to tell me. ⠀

⠀ ⠀so it's a .. * good ro, is that what yer' ⠀tryn'a tell me, josh ? —— ⠀( * .. sluggish blink-blonk. ) ⠀

⠀ ⠀oh. thas' .. nice, thank ya. ⠀'m glad to see that yer' in a good mood, josh. ⠀

⠀ ⠀hello, sugar .. —— ⠀i feel .. what's the word — * pliable ? maybe. ⠀

⠀ ⠀( * visage scrunches at the other's dialect, ⠀not judging —— merely fascinated. ) ⠀mhm .. can y' think of anythin' better, hon' ? ⠀

⠀ ⠀( * acutely aware, taking in each and every shift ⠀and subtle movement .. and gratefully basking ⠀in the comfort of proximity. bringing ace closer. ) ⠀then i ought'a say pliable is th' perfect ⠀word, doll –— sounds all .. fancy, too. ⠀

⠀ ⠀but they're nice, 𝘪𝘯𝘯'𝘪𝘵 ? ⠀( * british slang sounds unfit for southern timbre, ⠀leaving the seams of his lips like a language he ⠀didn't quite understand. soon, a hand would ⠀raise to rake through flaxen tresses, careful ⠀to avoid the tangles. ) ⠀

⠀ ⠀( * hues would peer down at ace, giving a cant ⠀tilt of cranium as he merely chuckles —— ⠀lowering his head to pepper a delicate kiss ⠀unto the blonde's forehead. ) ⠀.. ohh –– bless y'r heart, hon'. ⠀

⠀ ⠀( * allowing himself to be silenced by the demand, ⠀humming out a response —— soon, an arm would ⠀snake around ace's waist. pressing yet another ⠀flurry of kisses onto the expanse of ace's face. ) ⠀

⠀ ⠀( * languidly raising his attention from the ⠀book resting in his lap —— funereal gaze ⠀meeting qui, soft smile gracing visage. ) ⠀well, good evenin' , qui. ⠀

⠀ ⠀come again ??? ⠀

⠀ ⠀ain't .. ain't what i was talkin' 'bout, ⠀but alright —— can'tcha just go ⠀to a senior center ? you ought'a ⠀find someone suitable there. ⠀

⠀ ⠀damn .. yer' clever. but i pray ya' ain't ⠀hound-hungry, don't y' go pickin' up ⠀some ol' folk off the street. ⠀.. antique shops, 'm thinkin' ? ⠀or yard sales, just gotta look. ⠀

⠀ ⠀you've got th' wits to back that up, ⠀hopefully, you'll find a good meal. ⠀.. should've introduced myself first, ⠀pardon –— 'm rowan, an' you? ⠀

⠀ ⠀( * loud, discordant neck cracking —— ⠀squuuu-uuiiiint .. he's awake now. ) ⠀