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[myriadeclipse]

Hugo Inbox

Home of Mockingbird and the voice in his head

Mockingbird

Please forgive me for missing your message. I'll be right with you.

The Other Me

He isn't that sorry.

Mockingbird

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[myriadeclipse]

[ Hugo carried the bags in to the kitchen, setting them down on the island where Lycaon was leaning. A stare was given down to his legs, Hugo's brows knitting. The damage was far more than he was expecting. It was like he was attacked by a shark more than a rabbit. What sort of board game night comes with that level of violence?

Clearing his throat, he tipped his chin up, pulling his arms from the bags. One bag was doubled up with paper and plastic for sturdiness and easy of carrying, where the smell of grilled meat and hot food. The other two bags contained two bottles of wine in one and miscellaneous small snacks in the other. ]

The American's are already teaching you horrible habits. Anyway, do with it all as you will.

[ He steps away and leaves the rest to Lycaon, as he expects the wolf has a way his stuff is organized, and seeing him move around will give him a better idea of just how well his mobility was. ]

The meal is for you. I've already eaten.

[paraselenic]

[Belatedly, Lycaon feels vindicated in his terms for their fake challenge they issued to each other. Any more than $25 for a daily gift would have had anyone melting in Hugo's hand. Then again, he would never expect this man to do anything subpar. He gives a little nod in thank you to him, too. This was well beyond what was needed.

Shoving himself up from the counter, he starts to unpack the bags, starting with the hot food and laying it out on that island, while moving to put those wine bottles away. His walk was best described as a limp, with Lycaon putting weight on it, having it give and catch a second later.

Setting them under the cabinets, as he felt like they'd be used later, he shakes his head in amusement.]

Surely you can grant me leniency this once, Mr Vlad.

[The rest of the snacks are put away in his both incomprehensible, but very orderly fashion, him compartmentalizing and reorganizing as if it were an assembly line. Once taken care of, he returns to that island and gestures for him to take a seat at one of the bar stools there.]

You look well.

[myriadeclipse]

[ Mr. Vlad watched Lycaon hobble and nearly slip on his leg. It was just as he thought. There was no way that Lycaon should be moving around or doing bartending while he leg was like this. Lycaon was stubborn, and Hugo understood that the work ethic was important to him, but watching him move like this stirred something inside him.

His eyes lifted, looking at him when he spoke again, turning away quickly afterward. Should he have come here in person so soon? They were alone in Lycaon's apartment, and Hugo did not think this through. The only saving grace was Lycaon's lack of it due to his injured leg. ]

I'm fine. I kept Lia company because she was worried about The Meropide Group.

[ The pause was short, Hugo realizing he hadn't explained Lia at all. Maybe talking about her would help ease the air a little. ]

I met her after we parted. She was a young girl trying to run from The Black Order, and since we often ended up crossing paths, I'd help her out here and there. Eventually, she decided to stop running and I ran into her again here. She seems to be getting along with The Order much better these days, but since we have a rapport, I keep in touch with her.

[ He would not call her a sister figure or a partner. She was not Mockingbird and the avoidance of closeless was all but littered all over his statement. ]

Everyone was transported and I left them to it. They hardly need an outsider swarming the hospital.

[ And he was worried about Lycaon, but that's staying in his head where it belongs. ]

[paraselenic]

[Lycaon took the opportunity to lean forward on the island again, propped up on his elbows and his one stable leg. Grabbing one of the containers of food, he moves to open one, but his ears swivel in Hugo's direction when he speaks.

Meropide...so they had gotten the assistance to the hospital they needed after all. But more importantly, there was the mention of this girl, Lia. This is the first time he's heard Hugo talk about anyone else since their separation. Surprise and curiosity show on his face, though he doesn't have to wait long for elaboration.

What he hears sends a shot of warmth into his heart. While (reluctantly) he had reconcile with the fact that he was Mockingbird's traitor, he was proud of the organization and what it accomplished. To hear that even after his departure, Hugo was helping those less fortunate and even keeping in touch after, he tried to keep his undeserved pride hidden. It also didn't go unnoticed how unattached the man made himself sound from her, or the situation, but she was a name.]

I have heard that The Order recently came under new management, so that may be the reason. [He may have done a little research based on its members, like Anby. Surely if things were still dire she would not be as content as she was.] I'm glad you still keep in touch with Miss Lia, she seems like she's been a good influence on you.

[A little joke, as his tail idly swishes back and forth.]

I'd like to meet her sometime.

[myriadeclipse]

Yes, some of her co-workers came and went as well while we were waiting. I'm sure she'll be willing to see you eventually. We're supposed to be visiting the stable gates and Meropide in time. Although, I suppose giving those in Meropide time to recuperate and make sure everything is as it should be will be wise.

[ Hugo crossed his arms, turning to watch Lycaon while the conversation went on. He watched the way his expression moved at which parts. The surprise was hard to watch, Hugo's eyes diverting and moving back once the flustered feeling died down. He couldn't imagine what Lycaon was thinking with this information. He didn't even know what Lycaon thought of Mockingbird anymore.

His feelings obviously can't be too negative if what he said before was true. ]

The only other people I know in this city that you may not be aware of is Mollymauk. Although he did say he took you for drinks and thought forever that I might have an issue with his flirting with you but...

[ Hugo waved a hand. It was Molly. ]

And Sampo. We aren't... We're more like rivals than anything else. How did that little date with Molly go?

[paraselenic]

That makes things easier. I am set to visit Meropide myself in due time--I made a promise to Jun that I would take a look at the premises. Though seeing as he's currently receiving medical treatment, it'll be some time.

[Lycaon notices Hugo's glances to and from him after a bit, figuring it must be his current condition that was causing the reaction. He'll have to reassure the man later.

His attention now turns to Hugo continuing his list of acquaintances. While Sampo is a new one, he already feels bad for the man. Hugo was a formidable rival. Molly does get his ears to perk up slightly, however.] Ah yes, I'm aware of Mollymauk. [He says it so casually, like he was saying he was aware of the existence of turtles.]

That explains why he focused on our conversation. ..You might say it was more me treating him to a drink than him taking me. I figured it would save time if I prepared one for him at the Vogue.

[But his lips curl a little bit more at Hugo's question. Might have an issue, hmm...]

He was quite upfront about his intentions. A change of pace from the standard, flirtatious customers who 'have a type' as the saying goes. I gave him a bit of precaution and wished him luck in his effort.

[myriadeclipse]

Molly was focused on that?

[ Hugo scoffed. Really, Molly was worried about nothing. Granted, Hugo knew they both didn't speak much about their past, he really didn't think the public altercation was enough to warrant that level of concern. It was endearing. Maybe he should have just pushed them to flirt harder. There was time for it when he didn't feel like all the blood in his body was rushing to his face. ]

Molly is dependable and good-natured like that. I don't know how long he'll be around, since he likes to stay on the move, but it would be nice if you try to get to know him better while he's still around.

[ If Molly was going to poke, Hugo was going to poke right back. ]

Does that mean you're flirted with often? People do love the muscular wolf type, I knew it... I won't push on your conversation with him. I trust whatever he did, he thought was for the best.

[ It was the least he could say. Was he curious? Yes, dreadfully so, but he would contain himself. But now, Hugo's gaze lingered on Lycaon quietly for a time. Thinking. ]

... I truly don't think you should work tomorrow.

[paraselenic]

[Lycaon can't help but smile as Hugo goes on. He couldn't agree more about Molly--underneath that seemingly smooth-talking attitude was a large heart. He can see why Hugo took to him so easily, too.]

I'll be sure to keep in touch with him, then. I wasn't aware of his vagabond status--though I suppose some are just more attuned to the wandering life.

[He does chuckle slightly at the comment.]

Yes, as futile of an attempt as they are. It tends to happen more on the cruise lines I frequently am hired to attend, and often accompanied by an enormous tip as incentive. [A pause, as his fingers go to his mouth to conceal a smile.] Last time, I returned it graciously to him as an oversized ice cube in his drink.

[Sometimes he would tell a seagull to take it, or use it to clean a glass. There's no shortage of ways of getting the message across.

Hugo's concern does make him his eye turn towards him, locking with the heterochromatic ones in turn. He's never been more thankful for his fur right now--it conceals any possible attempt of showing his skin flushing.]

After our talk, and before you arrived, my boss responded to my text with what I can only describe as a loving threat. I've been told to stay home until I can contact the engineer who does maintenance on my legs.

He's currently not answering me, which isn't uncommon. He tends to hyperfixate and lock himself away in his lab from time to time.

[myriadeclipse]

[ It was actually amusing to hear how he tried to avoid unwanted advances on his more questionable job. They both were aware what taking money for the elites was bound to lead to. You couldn't trust any of them as far as Hugo was concerned. He didn't speak his displeasure of those people out loud, letting it fester inside him instead, as it always did. ]

Zulius, yes? I may not know him more than the messages I saw, but I could tell he seemed to be that sort. I wholeheartedly agree. I've already seen you stumble in your own kitchen. You'd be of no use to anyone behind a bar right now.

[ And that put a thought in his head that burned in his gut. It was hard to think of, much less say. Yet, Hugo's gaze was lifting and falling on Lycaon once more. ]

How long do you propose that will take? If it isn't uncommon, then you must have a usual length of time this takes. Also, how long do the prosthetics take to fix?

[ Questions about time meant he was considering something, but he knew there was more to do before that was truly a consideration. ]

[paraselenic]

[Much like an excited puppy, Lycaon's tail gives him away at the mention of Zulius. If anyone was in his corner during his time coming to America, it was him.]

Yes, Sir Zulius is certainly the type to take you under his wing whether you realize it or not. He has not even seen the damage to it, but I don't think that would change his mind any. [His eye softens.] You should stop by to visit. I told him to treat you like any other customer, but he outright refused. So you'll get special treatment if you go. [For better or worse. Blood to sharks, as he said.]

[The question of 'how long' makes his head tilt. He supposed it depended on when Percy dove into his work...though he can still give a rough estimate.]

Usually no more than a week, two at maximum, if we are assuming he went into the lab today. [Which he doubts.] He has coworkers to make sure he eats properly and gets ample sleep when this happens, so it shouldn't be too long.

As for the maintenance itself, Master Percy's quite quick...when he's not trying to coerce me into installing gun turrets into them.

[myriadeclipse]

[ Something told him that taking Lycaon up on the offer to go to The Vogue. He didn't think Zulius was going to be as welcoming to him as he might be to others. Hugo was more than aware that the way he and Lycaon behaved in public always brought on a certain thought and if someone was in One corner, they may have ideas about the other. ]

I see...

[ The mentioning of gun turrets in prothetic legs of all things made his brows furrow, but that was Lycaon's curse to bear. Turning to the counter, Hugo finally took the seat on the stool that he was offered long ago, seating himself before Lycaon so he could lean forward on his arms and peer up at him. ]

Well then. I'm prepared to hear your answers. The ones you've been sitting on all of this time. Tell me any way you'd like.

[paraselenic]

[Ah. He'd been mentally preparing himself for this over the past two weeks, and although he is in a much better position to explain than he was over the World's Most Socially Awkward Korean Barbecue, the thought still made his stomach leap up to his throat.]

Very well.

[The food was put aside. He'd go back to it, to not waste Hugo's effort, but he has a feeling that it'd be picked over at best.]

I should preface this with an apology. I did leave you with quite the drop of information, and I'm sure you've got quite a bit to say to me about it.

Also, you should not let my perspective shift yours, though I don't suppose you'd ever let that happen.

[myriadeclipse]

I will reserve my comments for after you are finished. It’s better to let you speak and get everything out first, given the way things ended last time.

[ It was funny to him that Lycaon always seemed to get the last word that left Hugo flabbergasted. Whether it be to leave him forever, or say something that almost sounded soft and affectionate, Lycaon was the only one to bring him to silence. ]

And for what it’s worth, apology accepted.

[ With that said, he falls to silence, giving Lycaon his full attention. ]

[paraselenic]

[All too fair, Lycaon thinks. There's no way he can run from it now, not that he was planning to. His elbows rest on the counter, fingers laced together as his eye turns to face him. Even now, Hugo held such a presence that he could only try to match. Maybe he said what he said as a way to give Hugo something instead of taking something away.

Maybe that's too presumptuous. He had no idea what this man's feelings towards him were at all.]

In the interest of keeping things simple, we'll use the same metaphor I used back at the restaurant. The moon vs. the surface. Dating the way humans perceive it is more like the lunar surface. You can certainly learn a lot about the moon from looking at its craters, landscape, what you will. Gifts, flirting, gestures like holding hands, these are all equivalents. Granted, humans fall in love like any other living creature, but they don't have the perception often to see things like we do.

When it comes to the moon itself, this includes the surface, of course. But we are talking about the moon as a whole. Its surface, its bedrock, its core, why it revolves around the Earth, its phases, the influence on the tide. Wolves perceive on this level, and they will find one person to be that moon. The one they don't want to just look at the surface of. It's easy to translate this as 'love', but it would be...ah. Underselling it.

[A pause.]

Granted, if a wolf were to find love in a partner that was not a wolf, it's possible that their chosen person does not love them back. It is natural, and we accept that part of ourselves. The youth today might also think this is old-fashioned, and might not be shared by people who simply turn into a wolf versus what I am.

[He grew up in the Franco-German countryside. Who knows how things evolved since then.]

...You also asked what things I do to court others. You'll have to excuse me for finding my way out of that question, as they would implicate me immediately.

[His hand extends out, letting his fingers count them off.] Providing them food, soft touches with our tails, memorizing scents, to name a few.

You can understand the situation that put me in.

[myriadeclipse]

[ The concept was simple enough to understand. The difference between courting and making a choice for life, in a sense. What caught his attention was how this might have been the first serious talk they ever had about what they were. Childhood never presented the correct opportunities. Questions would be lobbed back and forth, but never something like this.

Thievery was romantic, but this was something deeper.

Hugo listened to everything, keeping his eyes on him even as he counted. Lycaon was right, the list did immediately implicate him, although Hugo would not call being smacked by his tail over and over 'soft'. Taking it for what he was saying, Hugo's brows lowered, the dip at the corner of his lips deepening. ]

I can see that would have been awkward for you to address at that time. The way you talk about your moon and your one person is also very touching. Now that I understand those particulars, addressing the mounting evidence against you seems like it should be next, right?

Your actions and your proclamation of how you would not call the lunar surface 'high maintenance'. The way you said you had found your moon already.

[ It was against his nature to have such a talk lingering around a kitchen island as if they were having a meeting about it. It was too late for ambiance. He was locked in to this conversation. ]

[paraselenic]

[Learning this had been a process for Lycaon, too. It's not like he learned from parents. Jack was human, so it left him to rely on instincts and word of mouth. Research. Slow realization as he grew older.

But Hugo was right. Terminology and explanations were out of the way. It was time to discuss what was really the meat of this conversation: His actions.]

Correct. [To both.]

[Lycaon's tail swishes in thought, eyes looking away for the right words to string together. All the practice he'd done amounted to his thoughts still being one big jumble of feelings.]

You already know what I meant by it, so I won't waste our time by being redundant. From how your expression reads, I can assume you want the 'when' and the reason why I have not acted in a way that suggests this.

[myriadeclipse]

[ Hugo scoffs, tilting his head back. ]

It may be redundant, but I am giving you your moment. If this choice is supposed to be as final and all encompassing as you make it seem, you should make it as grand and embarrassingly charming as your furry little heart desires.

Without falling.

[ When his head picks up again and his gaze was on Lycaon, he nods. It was more or less true. The 'when' and the 'why' were important. It was better to hear him out and decide after he has all the facts. ]

... Regardless. Yes, those answers would also be lovely. Do continue.

[paraselenic]

[There's something a bit freeing about Hugo's words. Unbinding, in a way? Maybe he was onto something with that--he'd always been reserved in his words, and when emotion did take hold, it tended to be more annoyance than romanticism. Maybe that's why he couldn't master those speeches the same way Hugo could.]

Very well.

[With an exhale, his lips curl into a smile as he looks up at the kitchen ceiling a moment. Prepping his words. Oddly enough, this seemed easier than the skirting around he was doing earlier. His hands raise up to the muzzle like brace that holds his eyepatch, fingers expertly unclasping the buckle on it and pulling it off. His fingers fold it up gently, setting it just to the side of him for later.

Once that's settled, he finally turns back to Hugo, the eyepatch no longer hiding a grayed out right eye adorned with a scar, and a red one on his left. Funny how fate decided they should match even like this.]

My 'high-maintenance' moon has been you, Hugo.

[myriadeclipse]

[ He did tell him to be as grand and embarrassingly charming as he felt like. What Hugo forgot was the little issue with his transformation, currently. Seeing Lycaon's grayed eye brought back a flood of guilt. It was something that he had been contending with since seeing Lycaon stumble, but it came back in full force when he saw his face once again. It choked him, remembering everything his failure brought on.

And then Lycaon says it.

Hugo, the elegant vampire he is, gives the declaration his full attention, his arms having fallen into his lap by then. After a single blink, Hugo's body erupted into shadows, him and the stool obfuscated by darkness that rose like smoke from fire.

When it clears, an albino fruit bat is curled up on the stool, pushing its face into the cushion with a scream. HE WAS TRYING TO BE COOL! WHY NOW?! ]

Don't. Say. Anything.

Just continue.

[paraselenic]

[There was a bit of weight off his shoulders the moment those words left his mouth, as if coming to terms with his own feelings. His eye, exposing himself like this to Hugo, he'd intended it to show just how vulnerable this made him to the vampire.

At least, that's how it was originally supposed to go.

Unfortunately, Hugo exploded.

Lycaon's eyes fluttered at the way his body suddenly enveloped into darkness, a puff of smoke erupting from the singularity and leaving...a bat? A very small one at that. Ears are pretty big too...and he's kind of fluffy.]

Hugo...? [What does he do. Does he pick him up? Instinctively, he pinches the little fur collar of the bat and moves him to the counter, his dog like curiosity now piqued.]

Ah. As I was saying, you're my... should we really be having this conversation while you're...[WHAT DO YOU EVEN CALL THIS?] petite?

[myriadeclipse]

[ Under no circumstances can he tell Lycaon what caused this, even as he picked up and moved to the counter where his shame can be put on better display. But does he have a choice? Does he really have a choice? He could try to avoid commenting on what's happening to him, but now Lycaon was worried. This might as well happen. ]

You will have to ignore it. It will not end... until my heart stops racing.

[ There were more elegant and avoidant ways of telling Lycaon what happened, but in his flustered state he could do nothing but just say it like it was. This was how this conversation was going to go while he did his best to calm down. This was the worst conversation to have while this ridiculous curse was affecting him.]

When? When did this come about? Why am I only hearing about this now?

[paraselenic]

[Lycaon's brow furrowed at Hugo's explanation, his words only raising more mysteries. Is this just something that...happens to vampires under stressful situations? He feels like he would've seen this in their younger years, but maybe it WAS best to ignore it for now.

No matter how awkward the idea of laying your feelings bare to a bat is.]

If you insist.

[He'll just do his best to answer the questions as they come to him, Hugo's fluffy situation aside.]

'When' is a bit of a difficult thing to narrow down. I suppose before our departure from each other. Although when I realized exactly what it all meant...that came after.

[As for why he's hearing about it now...]

I'd thought the Hugo I knew was lost to some revenge-seeking vigilante.

[myriadeclipse]

[ These were the harder answers to hear. Hugo spent the time since Lycaon's first comment thinking heavily about everything. It made sense for the events to have come about that way. That day truly destroyed everything for him, didn't it? Even now he can be found stumbling, so many years later.

The pale bat pushed up as much as he could, folding his wings in so he can attempt to look like more than a flying rat.

He had his own piece to say on the matter. No matter how he chooses to answer, what has been finally said to him, there were things Lycaon deserved to hear after bearing himself to Hugo like this. He wouldn't be unfair after asking him so many things already. Deliberation over how to put his feelings kept him quiet for a time.]

I have thought about that day endlessly since it happened. Part of me will always be stuck in that moment. I failed to kill my father, and thus in turn assuring the rest of my family died. I lost my freedom to the will of the gods. Most of all, I lost you to the very people who assured that destruction. That was the worst of all my losses that day.

I hated you, but I hated my weak self who couldn't do anything to change that fate more.

[paraselenic]

[This was always going to be a contentious topic, and it probably always will. That day is something not one perspective can tell accurately, and unfortunately, when blended together does not provide any assuring answers. They were two young men who made terrible decisions and were now forced to live with them ten years later. There was no getting around that. Even Lycaon, who had the very image of 'put together', wasn't clear of being unable to let go of the past.

At least they could get through this without a shouting match, for once.

Watching Hugo struggle to sit upright makes him move one of the food containers over, to allow those little bat hands to perch on if he needs.]

That...[Wow, he is a bit glad he doesn't have his own little curse going on right now. Hugo's words leave him speechless. Even hearing Hugo's raw admission of his hatred for him somehow brings relief.] Mm. You were the biggest loss of my life. [His parents abandoning him were pennies compared to the pain this caused. His limbs and eye were proof his life persisted, but he couldn't bring back Hugo.]

I truly should have believed you. Our weakness was exploited that day.

[It's infuriating to think of how those ten years could've been spent differently. A hand runs through his hair idly, fingers tracing along his grayed out eye and down his scar.]

My injuries required Zodiac's expertise in prosthetics, so I had to go to America quite soon after the incident. [In the end, he couldn't even take that job, ironically.] From there, I worked as a bartender and took whatever high-end jobs I could get a hold of.

After all, that's where Mockingbird would show up.

[myriadeclipse]

[ Taking the chance provided to him, The hook of his winged hands reaches out to hold onto the container, using the leverage to pull his other wing up to continue to work himself upward. It was much easier to look up at him while he was clinging into the corner of a container, loathed as he was to admit it helped.

From his new position, he huffed. It almost felt worse that Lycaon waited, wanting to see him all of this time. ]

I did not want it. Mockingbird. Not for a very long time.

[ His voice was low, even while he was a bat, and most of his language was already pitching all over the place. Hugo truly wasn't used to having such extensive conversations in this form. ]

I didn't want to look at the name, nor wear it. The deep importance and meaning of it all was like a scar I couldn't cover up. It was only recently that I decided to pick it back up. Part of me wondered if you'd come back and take it from me. It always felt like it was meant for you instead and the ... chaotic seed of evil.

It grew harder to outrun the questions or the dark place I left myself in to rot. So I stopped. I picked it back up, dusted it off, and got back to work under the moniker once again.