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[glub]

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[tindery]

… I mean, don’t get me wrong, it didn’t take me long to get into it. [ like. he’s never going to complain about intimacy with his boyfriend even if it happens strangely and inconveniently. of course he has a good time!! ] But I don’t think I was quite as… engrossed as you were?

[ he sure wasn’t all that into sniffing. but he’ll bring up their hands to kiss the back of rafayel’s briefly before letting go. he’ll fill a glass of water and offer it to him first before finally putting away their cake… ]

Did we get pranked…? What the hell…

[ no…………………… ]

[glub]

Yeah, I know. You can never keep your hands or eyes off of me for too long. Must be the abs. [ he's kidding. he doesn't think tobari was the type who was attracted to just appearances. which is also what he appreciates about tobari. maybe in that sense they were more similar than dissimilar. that said— ]

... Hey, do you have to word it like that...

[ engrossed....

but, he does end up drinking down his shame with that glass of water. he still tries to be considerate and leave some in there as he slides it back to tobari. honestly, he probably still needs to hydrate since it's cut into his bath hours, but...

he nods, yeah. they were probably pranked.

jk, he doesn't think that's true, but he also doesn't feel like explaining more, so if tobari wants to blame his friend for the bath oils... ]

[tindery]

[ help me. tobari laughs, because even he’s susceptible to being in a good mood after being intimate with the person he’s enamored with. ]

Is there a better word for it?

[ but he’ll see the gesture for what it is, reaching to finish the glass and then refilling it again to give back to rafayel. he’ll deal with the person who gave him this perfectly nice gift that’s being grossly misinterpreted later…

for now, he’ll stretch idly, looking down at himself and sighing at the splotches of paint. ]

Finish that glass. I’ll go refill the bath. I’ll take a shower upstairs [ assigns them a two bathroom house ig ] so you can just enjoy your soak.

[ no more distractions… ]

[glub]

[ the idea of this innocent person getting accused of aphro essential oils is wild...

but, rafayel really would put tobari through the secondhand embarrassment of that. ] Yes, mommy. [ lol, sliding that remark in before he finishes off the rest of his water. he'd be a sims and pour it into his ears if he could... tbh i feel like i saw this clip, but idk if it was real or a glitch. ]

But, okay. I do feel pretty sticky thanks to someone. You have to mind the paints around the tub, you know.

[tindery]

[ openly makes a gagging noise. he hates your ass sometimes

also: ]

I kind of had my hands full. [ LITERALLY ] But noted.

[ WANDERS OFF TO GO REFILL RAF’S BATH!! THIS IS WHAT HE GETS FOR BEING CONSIDERATE? one day he will lash out (unlikely) ]

[glub]

[ it’s always a good time when he grosses tobari out. so he feels a little smug… ]

Then you should learn to multitask a little better. [ he really should retaliate against him…

that said, rafayel also follows along (like a sims). mostly to grab tobari and pull him into a light hug in thanks. despite him not putting it into words, he does appreciate all he does around the house, especially when it can’t be easy following along with his whims. ]

[tindery]

[ NOT THE SIMS FOLLOW

he makes it as far as getting the temperature right on the bath and starting to fill it before he gets pulled into the hug. there’s a brief, half-hearted grumble at being interrupted before he shakes his head and returns the hug. after a moment, he tilts his head to press a kiss against rafayel’s cheek. ]

Welcome home, troublemaker.

[glub]

[ the kiss on the cheek gets an easy smile from rafayel. there may not have been an immediate welcome at the door, but tobari's steady presence and his clear desire to make invisible amends... more than makes up for it. which is a little tiny bit regrettable since he was planning on milking it. (sad)

either way, he returns the kiss by giving tobari a small one on the top of his head. ]

Yeah, I'm home. [ ... and he thinks he likes the idea of tobari calling it his home too. ]

[tindery]

[ i think rafayel should still milk it because it'd be funny

for some reason tobari is surprised by the return kiss... but he's not displeased by it... well, in the end, his home at this point is where rafayel and suzune are. where's suzune. staying with rafayel's aunt i guess.

but tobari will be the first to pull away ]

Alright, go get clean.

[glub]

[ next day he has "amnesia" and he only forgot the part where he forgave tobari ]

Okay, okay. Try not to miss me too much.

[ he will allow tobari to the actual bathroom to get washed up. 👣 ]

[tindery]

[ the way that tobari does think that rafayel is letting him off surprisingly easily but just isn't saying anything about it because he doesn't want to invite more of a headache

also not the feet emoji

tobari takes a quick shower when he's not harassed and distracted—even though in the end, he has to wash his hair anyway becAUSE THERE'S PAINT IN IT. so when he wanders back down, he's toweling it off, wearing a loose pair of pajama pants and stepping around stray paint splotches on the floor to sit on the edge of the tub... since he just got home, he doesn't actually want to leave rafayel by himself for too long. he's too accommodating. ]

Thanks to a certain liar, I took tomorrow off. [ because he didn't know what time raf was coming home. stupid. ] Do you want to do anything or should I clock in anyway?

[ he feels like he knows the answer but who knows, maybe raf just wants to start working on his next painting ]

[glub]

[ are they matching lobster pajamas pants…

the answer dictates the mood for tomorrow’s fake amnesia

that said, rafayel is also diligently washing off. maybe it’s fortunate this wasn’t the paint he blended hundreds of crushed beetles into. not that he would tell tobari if it was…

once he is sufficiently cleaned up, he eases back into the tub, letting his legs soak as he turns to look back towards a familiar pair of footsteps. he had a feeling he would return, but it still puts him at ease every time tobari is in his direct periphery. he’s about to grab some sketch paper, but stops a few inches short. ]

You’re lucky I’m here to give you an excuse to slack. [ a quiet hum, before— ] Should we take a day trip somewhere?

[tindery]

[ LOBSTERS? i flipped a coin on whether tobari grabbed a pair of his own pajama pants or raf’s and the coin said raf’s. so i guess it can be

i’m scared to ask about the beetles so i suppose i won’t

instead, tobari just lets the towel rest around his shoulders as he finishes drying off his hair, looking thoughtful about the idea of a day trip. without something to keep his hands busy, he’ll reach out to affectionately card his fingers through rafayel’s hair instead. he really isn’t outwardly needy, but after a few days of not seeing each other, he did also miss him. ]

We can. Suzune’s staying with her friends for a few days since their rehearsals run late. We can just drop off her treats at school before we leave. [ so he will only partially be an overly fussy big brother ]

Is there somewhere you have in mind to go?

[ he’s normally perfectly content to just follow raf’s whims… ]

[glub]

[ cute... he will allow tobari cat pajama pants too. he cares about his happiness, even at the expense of his grandpappy turning in his grave...

he sees tobari and his wet hair, and he can barely suppress a laugh. he did end up having to wash it... still, rafayel is equally attentive and so he's already dragging himself out of the water. he grabs the towel and gestures for tobari to sit so he can dry him off.

even if he's still soaked. ] That works for me. I think she'll really like them. The cake you got was so creamy I thought I was eating clouds. [ or maybe he's more delighted in the fact that it's from tobari, but he won't explicitly say that. at least not when he has a mission to dry his boyfriend's hair. ]

As for location... what do you think about a hot spring?

[tindery]

[ oh......... yes unfortunately tobari would love cat pajama pants. local guy loves cats so much

still, he'll sit as directed and let rafayel finish towel drying his hair. he really had to make sure he got all the paint out... but it's fine. he did his entire haircare routine so it probably smells like citrus and roses.

he'd probably say something about how suzune would just ask if rafayel picked out the treats because she's in denial that tobari has taste—but he's entirely distracted by the idea of being able to go to the hot spring ]

Oh? Can we?

[ he obviously wants to... though he seems to think of something, looking down at himself ]

—ah, but if you can't find one that's accommodating, I can wait in the ryokan. [ his millions tattoos... as is, they're across his collarbone, down his arms, the back of his left hand... assigns him back tattoos too since no one can stop me!! just across his shoulder blades and down his spine. between the tats and the piercings, tobari really does look like a delinquent ]

[glub]

[ this is cute...

thankfully the smell isn't enough to force him into heat again, but it is a nice one nonetheless. it's become a scent that's synonymous with some form of comfort to him. a mix between tobari's natural scent and their shared bodywash and shampoo. there's a small hum as his mood naturally picks up as he wipes his hair down. tobari is being so obedient somehow that it does make him squish his cheek just a little, before he responds. ]

That should be easy. It's a hot spring we have to hike up to.

[ exercise, his least favorite human activity. ]

Since they don't get a lot of visitors, they should be pretty relaxed. [ he traces his fingers against tobari's chest, as if to study his tattoos. when will he study how to do it so he can leave his mark on tobari too... ]

[tindery]

[ cheek squish?? forget being obedient he's just nipping at rafayel's finger like when you pet a cat in a way they don't like ]

—don't make me carry you the rest of the way up.

[ like

he would

but don't make him do that ]

... that sounds fine, though. [ if they're really alright with him. he doesn't fight off rafayel tracing along the curves of ink, even if he does tilt his head about it. ] ... what, looking for inspiration?

[ studying someone else's art that tobari got inked up with a while ago ]

[glub]

[ help... he laughs, because even that's kind of endearing. ]

I won't. I did pretty well on the treadmill the other day, didn't I?

[ just a thousand complaints, but that's still good, right? ]

Do you see me as someone who'd get inspired by someone else's art? It's more like I'm thinking about the nerve of the person who would get this when I'm right here. [ even when he frames it like a joke, his voice does get a bit softer as he leans to whisper it in his ear... ]

[1/2]

[tindery]

Your mouth was working harder than your legs.

[ is it good? is it?

but the comment absolutely makes tobari laugh. his tattoo artist and he go way back, and it's obvious enough that consistency is important to tobari when it comes to his collection of tattoos. still, he turns his head toward rafayel and catches his mouth again in a kiss that holds traces of his amusement, lips upturned at the corner. despite this, he lingers as if the gesture of affection might dispel any doubts. ]

[tindery]

[ bluntly: ]

I think you'd accidentally stab me and I'd bleed out on the tattooing table.

[glub]

[ this kiss is enough for him to almost forget what they were just talking about. he pauses, almost like he's short circuiting, and a light tinge of color shades his cheeks. in turn, he kisses him back on the lips, the cheek, and then: ]

It normally does, and you like it.

[ he winks.

only it's dispelled by??? confusion?? ] The needle is so small that the vampires would starve.

[tindery]

[ tobari accepts the kisses as they come, leaning into each one like they're welcome gifts.

even as he continues to talk shit, ignoring rafayel's initial semi-correct statement ]

I feel like you'd find a way. Or you'd try to tattoo something annoying on me like 'property of Rafayel' where I can't see and I'd have to hold it against you for the rest of our lives. I'd start covering up like a nun just to spite you.

[ why is he getting irritated about things that haven't happened ]

[glub]

[ the statement does alleviate some of the actual jealousy that lingers beneath the surface. to be honest, it's easy to feel possessive, like tobari and his body belonged to him. that the colors he leaves in the wake on their intimacy were also a way of laying claim to him...

there's a second in which he actually thinks about it, though... ] Hey, I'd be more subtle than that. [ he touches the side of tobari's neck where idk i guess he left a bitemark... ] But, holding it against me, huh? Does that mean I'll still be on your mind all the time? I'm tempted...

[ tobari is mad about things that haven't happened...

while rafayel is jealous over nothing... ]

[tindery]

[ the idea of getting jealous over tobari’s tattoo artist is so funny and yet—he somehow completely fails to be surprised. there’s an urge to tease rafayel over it… ]

Listen when people are talking. It wasn’t a suggestion.

[ but he’ll let rafayel touch him as he pleases, hand coming up to gently wrap his fingers around his wrist. this time, just for an excuse to touch him, not actively pulling him away. instead, tobari will be the one to lean in ]

But I’m already yours. If you want to leave evidence of that on me that lasts, I’d let you.

[ but if it’s stupid he’ll just move out don’t test him ]

[glub]

[ the touch may be small, but it's nice. he feels the natural hint of warmth radiating from beneath his fingertips and can't help but find some semblance of comfort in that. he felt like it was tobari's way of saing he still accepted rafayel, even when he was being greedy.

he brushes his fingers over his skin, before they slide over his chest. mostly, he feels just enough to get he palm over his heartbeat. ] Then I'll have to think on the design. Maybe something like what I drew on the card I gave you the other day...?

[ a motif of two fish that subtly circled around one another...

a red flammula, considered an emmissary of the sea god. ]