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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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[paraselenic]

[To say he missed this was an understatement. Maybe it was that wolves were social creatures at their core, but being able to return to a fraction of what they had...

His tail has not stopped swishing since he brought that wine over. He couldn't stop it even if he tried at this point.]

Mm. You're right. And if Sir Zulius finds out...I'd probably never know peace again. [Not that he'd be against a...whatever it is they just had. A make up? But Zulius would want every detail.

Lycaon takes a sip from his own glass, swirling it after as he looks at the contents idly. True, he'd never really done anything with Hugo when they were younger, but in their time apart he'd have plenty of time to let his mind wander into that dark abyss of sinful thoughts only to mentally slap himself after.]

Because it's you. [He says that so confidently, no hesitation whatsoever.] That's all I really need to be sure of it.

[myriadeclipse]

You're... right.

[ Hugo never hesitated to hype himself up. It was part of being a vampire to act seductively and use your looks to your advantage. There wasn't the same flood of warmth with others said it, and Hugo would effortlessly smile back and flirt. Lycaon was different. He wasn't one to waste words or feelings that could be expressed more succinctly. It made the compliments real, even when he was fishing for them. ]

You're excited.

[ He said, instead of the words on his mind, he comments on the energetic sway of Lycaon's tail. Hugo knew everything was real, but the physical reminders helped remind him that it wouldn't disappear this time. Not yet. He hadn't cursed this reunion yet. ]

I've thought of these things while we were apart, too. Perhaps my imagination was a bit crueler than reality, but it was the only way back then. [ His voice was a low, slow purr as he swirled his wine. ]

... Those pitiful, yearning thoughts.

[paraselenic]

[In some ways, he did always wonder about the feud between wolves and vampires. Destined to be bitter enemies, unable to reconcile their differences. When if you boiled down their basic needs, they complimented each other quite well. Wolves were so sure of their feelings, and vampires could use the unfiltered, genuine affection. Societal differences, he supposes.]

It's your imagination.

[It's said as a defense, but in such a tone that's obvious that he's not hiding it too terribly. He was excited, in a way he never really allowed himself to be before. He lets Hugo's words sink in, though, and that tail moves up to settle behind the man's back on that chair, wrapping around onto his lap.]

We were both pitiful in that respect. Learning of our feelings too late and filled with regret of the sand slipping through our fingers. Clinging to what we could as it fell.

...

It's not an issue anymore. I'll make sure those are forgotten.

[myriadeclipse]

[ If he was going to complain about Lycaon's tail wagging being his imagination, it was gone from his recollection when he felt that same tail touch him. His head dipped, pausing until he felt the tip settle against his lap. Hugo's free hand fell over the soft fur, idly petting down the fluff and looking up to him again.

Instead of commenting on Lycaon's poetic declaration to correct their sordid past, Hugo snorted softly. The wine glass was finally set down on the counter, deciding a better place for it was around Lycaon's arm. He could drag his fingers down his forearm and across his wrists, looking at how much bigger Lycaon's hand was than his own. ]

It doesn't have to be all on you. We're both here now. Surely realizing Your Moon was a murderer couldn't have been easy all of these years? I also have a duty to replace those daydreams with solid memories.

...no matter what salacious acts I was doing in them. [ It was light teasing, even if he wasn't one to talk. ]

[paraselenic]

[Hugo wasn't wrong. Looking back on it, heartbreak was a light way of saying what he went through. In a lot of ways, he preferred the pain of losing his legs--at least those could be replaced. Nothing took away the demons that constantly reminded him the moon had left the sky.

His tail swishes against Hugo's fingers as he thinks that over, accepting that this was their cross to bear together, and something that was both their responsibility to repair.]

Aiming to be low-maintenance now?

[A light tease back, as he watches Hugo's thinner, more delicate fingers trail his arm. There's a slight drop in his expression as he does so, watching them catch over some recently scabbed scars and scrapes from the past few days. He'd made it out better than some in his group, but the whole ordeal wasn't one he was looking back on fondly. He'd hoped they'd completely heal and be completely covered by his fur.

His hand turns over, palm up, to curiously touch Hugo's fingertips with his own. The size difference between them really was more apparent now.]

I should show you around, if you're going to be staying here. [And stopping by often.]

[myriadeclipse]

Certainly not. I never aim to be forgotten.

[ Hugo grinned up at him as their fingers touched. He had seen the evidence of his time in the bubble around Random Play and could feel its weight on his mind. What if something worse had happened. That ridiculous Korean Barbecue date, if you could even call it that, would have been their final time seeing one another. It was a thought that remained in the back of his mind since everyone learned about the bubbles. His hand could spread and splay again Lycaon's larger one now, but what if.

He pushed that unnecessary regret away, tipping his chin up at the proposition. ]

Probably a good idea, so long as you feel able to give me the tour.

[ He could find everything on his own if he wanted to spare Lycaon the pain of having to limp around, but why would he deny himself the ability to laugh if he did laugh in a particularly hilarious way. ]

[paraselenic]

Good.

[He likes his Moon high-maintenance, after all. It was what started this whole thing. The idea of leaving Hugo on that line only to perish at the hands of a calamity-inducing board game was never an option. He'd 100% intended to come back from it, no matter what. As Hugo smiles up at him, he snaps the container shut on the food he'd picked at--he'll come back for it later.]

I am able, if you'll spot me. [It was about time he started placing trust in someone again. Lycaon leans down to press the tip of his nose to Hugo's temple before he straightens up, making his way around behind Hugo and starting to head towards the hallway that designated the bedrooms. Even limping, he maintains that obnoxious air of dignity as he walks.] Follow me, your room is this way.

[Spoilers: it's also his room. And he may or may not want to pass out on the bed in a nap.]

[myriadeclipse]

[ It almost insulting how a simple nose touch nearly shut down all the thoughts that had been running through his brain. Hugo watched him for a few more moments, turning as Lycaon began his stride. A faint look was given to the kitchen island, and then he was on his feet. If Lycaon was willing to leave a mess, then he had better keep up.

He would spot him as asked, falling in pace when he caught up, his gaze going everywhere as they made their way down the hallway. Lycaon's poise reminded him of his siblings, strangely. They were violent, horrible brats, but they were also utterly clueless when it came to such grace. Even in such a state, Lycaon's perfection outclasses so many elites he's known over the years. ]

To the bedroom already... [ He teased in a purr, beyond amused that he called it Hugo's instead of his own. ] My, you are in a mood today.

[paraselenic]

[Don't worry, he'll come back to put that food away once his brain's stopped getting high off the sudden shot of endorphins.

Lycaon's living arrangements were certainly not humble, by any means. Despite the high prices for both the existence of and maintenance on his legs, he was able to afford some spacious housing. The kitchen had been white and minimalistic, the island and cabinets black to contrast it. Nice wood floors, with classy furniture that didn't scream price tag over function. There was a staircase that led up, but even just from the looks of it, it seemed hardly used. A place Lycaon would go when insomnia took over, to look out at the sky.

Paintings hung perfectly spaced at equally perfect angles, and there were even sconces on the walls that looks like Lycaon added himself and giving the place a warm glow. Everything was spaced out due to his size and the extra bulk his legs provided. The hallway, the closets, the windows. In essence, it was Lycaon.

It did make it look a tad spacious for just one person, though. Even for this wolf.]

It is of the utmost importance to be hospitable, is it not? [He hid his smile against those wolfish lips, his ears flicking at the way Hugo's voice practically melted the air. He can't help but tease back.] I could always shove you into the wardrobe if you'd like to mix it up a little.

[That had its own appeal, too.

The bedroom was no different. Spacious, Master bedroom sized, even, with a large bed and nightstand, lamps emitting the same glow as the living area. He wasn't even going to hide that this was his room--they both knew the moment he said 'Hugo's' what he meant. There was a wardrobe in there that didn't quite seem to match the same style as the rest of the room, and Lycaon himself seems a bit perplexed at its existence.

Hm. Well. He'll deal with that later.]

Here we are. [Not 'you'. 'We'.]

[myriadeclipse]

You could, but I thrive in dark, cramped spaces far more than you do.

[ Lycaon really hadn’t changed much, but the look of the place surprised him in a different way. It reminded him in part of the place they occupied when they were younger. That thought ruminated in his mind as he saw how little the stairs up was used, wondering if it was difficult for him too, and that’s why those stairs seemed like they had little company over the time.

Lycaon was a big person, but did he really need so much space? Or was he always thinking of more than just himself?

The bedroom was as expected save for the strange wardrobe. A glance up at Lycaon’s face showed him what he expected. That wasn’t put there by him. It seemed wildly out of place, but what sort of force would drop a wardrobe of such make into someone’s home? It certainly wasn’t a mysterious gift, as Lycaon’s past would surely mean he’d have known if someone broke in. Plus he was so precise with everything up to that point it that the wardrobes haphazard existence was puzzling.

What’s more, his elf senses told him of the magic within. ]

We. That’s a dangerous word. You may never get rid of me if you talk like that.

[ He was fond, stepping in closer to put a hand at the back of Lycaon’s elbow. Hugo looked up at him and then passed on his way to the bed. The blond man stopped short, turning and looking at Lycaon in consideration. ]

This whole place feels like someone who never intended, nor wanted to be alone.

[paraselenic]

[Guilty as charged, Lycaon made no move to defend himself from Hugo's deduction. Its not like wolves were lone as a choice--it was often a circumstance that brought them there. His home and all the space it had was always intended as a 'what if', in itself. And once again, Hugo had saw through it as if it was wet tissue paper.

The man's been in his house for an hour or two and he's already been figured out. He can't help but chuckle at how obvious it looked in hindsight.

The gentle brush of Hugo's hand against his furry elbow made his heart leap a little, eye tracking him as one would watch a bee dance around a flower.]

I suppose you're right. I had talked myself into this place saying that I would leave it open it to anyone who had a time as unfortunate as my childhood, or even humored the thought of a roommate. [As if many could live with his level of micromanaging the place. Even he knew what the real reason for its purchase was.]

[He watches Hugo's body language like a hawk, trying to read exactly what the man's thinking.]

For what it's worth, I do have a house plant now and have been suggested I name it.

...

I hope it does not come across like I am trying to coerce you, but you have a safe perch here if you wish to land on it.

[myriadeclipse]

[ Hugo released a slow breath. Coercion was the last of his worries. It seems they had the same intention. Hugo hadn’t gotten a place yet, but had been contemplating the same thing before he met up with Molly. The thought of getting a quaint little place out of the way that he could use to help others or fill with the presence of another was always in his mind. He never intended to end up in the same place as Lycaon intentionally, and their reunion was unplanned.

Yet, they still fell in step with one another. All of this time had past and absence still consumed them both.]

No, I just felt a little jealous of someone that doesn’t exist, that’s all. Spending your days fighting with someone else, learning their annoying habits and where their scent sticks the most.

[ The amusement was clear on his smooth as silk voice, a smile pulling at his lips. Even if Lycaon had managed to get that far, Hugo was confident that his place in Lycaon’s mind was always the strongest, be it for positive or negative reasons.

Hugo lifts his harm, holding it straight with his hand dangling, as if waiting for his attendant to tend to him. After a few moments his hand turned palm halfway up and fingers spread in offer to come closer.]

It seems like a fine perch to me. One befitting of a high maintenance Child of the Night. I’ll have to make use of it often, it seems.

[ Then the smile falters, his mismatched eyes going up toward the ceiling. ]

I remember how we found each other in our past lives. The memories I hold from that life started with you, first of that room, and then your happy family and satisfying job. I remember that resentment of being left behind, and expected to see you in that same state of not needing me as much as I … and I have been wondering this whole time what I would feel if it were different this time.

Now it is, and I find the change only makes me want to steal more of you.

[paraselenic]

[Truly the sun and the moon who reflects his light, after all. Together, they were an eclipse--a spectacular duet of the likes that they've never seen. Something in their minds told them to consider the extra space. And fate somehow did the rest, as clumsy and chaotic as it was, arguing in a crosswalk and into a Korean Barbecue.]

Likewise. [The idea of being second place in Hugo's mind was always a possibility, but it certainly wouldn't be one he would accept. Not willingly, that is. And in what few instances he could call a 'date' he had in the past, his mind always drifted back to this man. Hugo truly owned the entire property of his mental real estate sometimes.]

Then it is yours. Though you're free to take whatever actions you need to keep your identity as Mockingbird, as well.

[PO boxes, fake addresses, the works. He'll even help get him set up. He still has some connections to underground dealings, after all.

And much like a dog being beckoned by its master, he walks over when those fingers splay out to him, his hands immediately reaching to settle on the man's waist. As he listened to Hugo wax poetry about the past, he remembered he was going to bring up the strange creature that escaped Belle's psyche. The one that triggered some of his key memories.]

While they're still coming to me, I do remember our past back in that life. I found it quite humorous that we were given a similar script in this one.

...Am I to assume I'm Mockingbird's next target?

[myriadeclipse]

[ Hugo lifts his hand as Lycaon stepped in closer, resting his arms atop Lycaon's own. The various bits of set up had already begun far before he entered the city. It would be effortless to join this place in his network, as he tried to get settled into Kaisou proper. ]

There's much I don't remember, and I've been slowly recollecting them for this last decade.

[ It was strange to miss people you never met. At least missing Lycaon made sense. It mixed with all of his regrets and the welling guilt that never let him. Now he could lean into the wolf's bulk and close his eyes as if none of that weighed on him. ]

Next target? More like [ He looked up, moving the back of his fingers to rub under Lycaon's chin. ] the recently completed target, but the only recipient of this treasure is going to be me.

Or maybe I'm the one who's been caught. One way or another, you need to sit down, don't you? Standing on that leg isn't good.

[paraselenic]

[Lycaon's chin tilts up at that gentle brush underneath, his tail giving himself away as it swishes against the side of the bed. The very idea of being Hugo's prize was enough to get a soft chuckle, the soft growl underneath rumbling in his chest.]

I did convince you to come over, so there's perhaps some merit to that. Wolves are patient, determined hunters, after all.

[But he really did need to sit down. Despite not having any actual feeling in his legs from the knee down, the rest of his body was starting to feel the retroactive fatigue of the wave of natural forces he'd been through. His fingers drifted away from Hugo in that moment, that touch trailing as he moved to unsnap his dress shirt a button or two before taking a seat on the bed.]

Make yourself comfortable as well, there's no need for you to stand.

[Before making a soft gesture to join.]

[myriadeclipse]

[ The gesture was noted, but the attention was stolen by the buttons being released in Lycaon's dress shirt. He did tell him to sit down. They were in the bedroom. His brain was caught up on what was happening. It was the opening of Lycaon's shirt that reminded Hugo of how long it's been since he's seen something as mundane yet attention-grabbing as Lycaon undressing.

Reaching up, Hugo pulled down on the knot in his tie, dragging it down until he could pull it free from his neck and rest it around his shoulders. Slowly and methodically, the buttons were undone, starting from the top. ]

There may not be a need to stand, but I rather enjoy watching you disrobe. It reminds me of when you were younger, more eager, and less refined.

[ There was a pause, his hand stilling on a button and then continuing. ]

I will sit in time. By your reaction, that strange wardrobe must have shown up while you were in the barrier, yes?

[paraselenic]

[An amused, yet slightly flustered snort escaped his nostrils at Hugo's comment. Undressing in front of each other was not unfamiliar territory--they were two boys who often had to share a room in their younger days. He'd be lying if he said he didn't stare at Hugo's back in those days a little longer than one probably should have.

His eye tracks the knot of that tie, following Hugo's hand as he methodically removed it and draped it around his neck, pausing his own undressing for just a second.]

Do you, now. [His smile returns, eye practically sizing up the man in front of him. His voice, however, keeps that cool and collected tone, idly reminiscing.] We used to throw our shirts off and collapse on the bed when the temperatures were too high.

[Or maybe that was just him. While it's true, he did mature over the years and doesn't remove his clothing out of sheer inconvenience, that unrefined wolf still lurked under the surface of that dignified outer shell. One that was showing the cracks in front of this man.]

Hm. So you noticed... [Lycaon's eyes drift just past Hugo and to the wardrobe.] It is not a piece of furniture I acquired myself over my time here. And speaking honestly, it's aesthetic leaves something to be desir-

[No sooner had he spoken those words than the wardrobe practically shifts on command, morphing into the classy aesthetic that matched the rest of the room. Lycaon's hands immediately go to the bed, nails clutching the sheets and the hair on his neck standing on end.]

!!

[myriadeclipse]

[ He remembered their youth together. Back then, he didn't think as much of it. He was proud, naïve. It wasn't a family, but it was something that felt like home. After spending hours running from family, servants, and thralls, going 'home' to Lycaon was something he didn't realize gave him such hope and comfort, until it was gone. It was the emptiness of that old, rundown house that made the entire fall out real.

They were just boys; playing, fighting, and sleeping together. He remembered throwing his shirt at Lycaon and following it with a pillow. He also remembered getting quickly taken down by Lycaon. It was a time far away.

Hugo remains quiet, watching Lycaon until the wardrobe was the topic, looking over to the piece of furniture. The explanation make sense as he was told. It didn't seem his type and it stood out being different from the rest of the set--

Oh. Nevermind. It fixed its individuality.

The shift on the bed caught his attention, looking down to Lycaon and the way his nails were curled in the sheets. Reaching out, Hugo rests his hand at top Lycaon's head, lightly petting him like you would a spooked dog. ]

I would guess, given how quickly it acted, that it's attuned to your desires.

[paraselenic]

[Halcyon days, those were. Lycaon could vividly remember when they first found that rundown house. Finding out that he and Hugo were to share a room, with the advice that this would strengthen their bond. They argued, they laughed, they wrestled, they stayed up late talking about their dreams. How he took that for granted, in hindsight.

He'd never known true family, hanging onto his given name and the vague idea that he was born for some purpose. Hugo spoke of his own sometimes, words dripped with poison--which made him think about what his own feelings towards his parents should be. But as far as what a home was...that was Hugo himself.

His ears flattened a little bit at the man's gesture. The wardrobe's aesthetic change in itself was enough to convince him that this item was magical--and if Hugo didn't see the threat in it then, it couldn't be too dangerous. Gently shaking off Hugo's hand (he's not a dog ommggg!) he unfastened the last button on his shirt, letting it rest on the bed next to him. Removing it did reveal some nasty scars on his back, courtesy of some unwelcome reptiles he'd been trapped with in the barrier, stitched together by magic and time.

Getting to his feet, his hand brushed against Hugo's arm before he moved to inspect the wardrobe.]

Magic has never been my strong suit. [His ice magic was the exception, and even now he couldn't conjure anything, merely manipulate.] Let alone enchanted items.

[He gripped the handle with one hand, claws drawn with the other in case something unsavory were to pop out. With a single motion, he pulled it open. Only to reveal...

A closet. He shouldn't really be surprised--what was he expecting? Well, he did expect it to be empty, for one. The wardrobe was already stocked with clothing--on one side, clothing of all kinds built for a man (or wolf) with broader shoulders and a slot in the slacks for a fluffy tail to poke through. On the other half, clothes clearly meant for a more humanoid wearer]

...

[He can't even hide his confusion now.]

[myriadeclipse]

[ Instead of complaining, he followed behind him while finishing his unbuttoning of his shirt. Letting it hang open, Hugo stopped behind him, looking at the wardrobe as if he expected it to have a name placard or a note. Seeing nothing, he looked to the front doors, watching as Lycaon opened it and raised his brows at what they found.

Honestly, he would have been happier with a bomb, or someone's lost stash of guns. Maybe in a stack of bodies or a monster. A wardrobe full of clothes was rather anticlimactic until he paid more attention to the clothes themselves. It was simple to see some were designed for Lycaon's body, although he couldn't really agree with some of the choices. That sheer robe in salmon was not Lycaon's color. The other side featured clothes he was sure Lycaon would rip through upon attempt. ]

A secret admirer who knows your clothing needs and sizes? And here you made it sound like you were being the big lone wolf before I arrived.

[ It was a confusing situation, but he couldn't help making a joke out of it. ]

Do you have a fae lover, perhaps?

[paraselenic]

[Lycaon could not agree more on the choices--a first when it came to their tastes in fashion. He sifted through the items curiously, finding not only that gaudy robe, but a leather jacket, a vest not too different from his work uniform, and a lime green tank top with with the words 'THREE WOLF MOON' splattered across it. It certainly was..eclectic.

At the joke, the corner of his lips turn upwards in a slight smile. He's trying to hide it, though.]

Your humor knows no bounds.

[As if a Fae would even fathom the idea. They were even more pretentious than elves.]

They must not know my size all that well. The ones over here would not fit over my shoulders no matter the fabric.

[His hand flips through the selections, pulling out another tank top with three aesthetic tears in the shape of claw marks, as an example. ....Wait. He' holding it up to Hugo now. Making the comparison.]

[myriadeclipse]

[ It took everything in him to not laugh at the three wolf moon shirt. It was clearly there with Lycaon in mind. He was right about the other ones, though, and Hugo had been eyeing them. It wasn't until he held it up over him did the meaning strike him. Was the other side for him?

That fried his brain a little. ]

Me?

[ It was all he could get out, looking how it fit over his frame perfectly, and then squinted inside the wardrobe again. He dealt with enchanted items enough that the happenings wasn't outside his understanding, but it still left a knot in his gut to think this offensive piece of furniture was possibly counting him as a resident of this bedroom already.

There had to be a fae to blame. ]

It's barely been an hour, and we already have something calling us a couple.

[paraselenic]

[You're not the only one, Hugo. He'd only just made the offer for the man to stay here. Did the wardrobe update its contents along with its aesthetic? Did it consistently update against your will like Windows OS?]

It. Appears so.

[He cleared his throat and put the shirt back gingerly.]

It is but a wardrobe, however. It doesn't have to be put to use...nor do the clothes have to be worn. I've heard tales of enchanted clothes, and none of them end with their wearer better off for it. [Just ignore it, basically. This piece of furniture didn't have to call out so blatantly what delicate new ground they were still tiptoeing through. His hand parted the clothes once more, making sure there were no skeletons (literally) or other creatures waiting to jump out at them before he's ready to close it for good.

Nope. Just a regular wardrobe. ...Except his nails did catch on a crease against the back wall.]

[myriadeclipse]

I can see what information can be found about this and it's contents. I'm sure someone somewhere has information about it.

[ There was a second option, but he would keep that to himself for the time being. Choosing to work at a skill not for his own immediate benefit didn't suit him to speak out loud. Lycaon knew a lot about him, but he still had a reputation to protect. Wolves can smell weakness, and he will not be known as soft-hearted in top of fluffy.

He did have a good chuckle when Lycaon parted the clothes to inspect the back. It was expected that he would check the security of the object. Who knew if there were camera's or other nefarious things outside its other strange abilities. His eyes followed when his claw caught, Hugo crossing his arms and watching on. Was it really so cheaply made as to have a crease? Who ever left this here insulted them. At least have the decency to make it not seem like it came from Ikea.

Quarreling with the implied cheap magic of an unknown force occupied his mind for quite a few moments before he realized he should obviously speak.]

Did you find something? A false back? Narnia?

[paraselenic]

It would be appreciated. As convenient as it is to not worry about finding clothes that benefit wolfmen, I cannot be sure if there is a catch.

[He'd just sum it up to Hugo's natural curiosity. The man loved puzzles, and even more so changing them once he'd cracked the code. He can see the appeal. And magic was not Lycaon's own forte.

Alright Hugo, you can keep your secrets.

Lycaon was also about to comment on the supposed quality of this wardrobe--it can conjure up clothes down to the second regarding relationship status, and yet it cannot be anything more than plywood? He seems just as frustrated at this concept as Hugo before his nails pull that crease.

It's hinged. It's a door. It's...

A portal to just outside any of the stable gates of Kaisou, rotating through them as if it were a level select.]

Hugo. [What did they just FIND.]