OPEN RP POST 2020

[siberia]

1. Post here with the character you want to play with in the header or body
2. Put your prompt in the body of the comment (or leave it to me - i don't mind coming up with something!)
3. ????
4. Profit

ACTIVE CHARACTERS:
    
    

--> FULL MUSELIST

Comments

[heartsteals]

[ he is not mad at them - although it might be kind of hard to tell, considering how grumpy he looks. He's mad at Sholmes, as usual. The man is infuriating enough when he's showing Lupin up -- rather, competing with Lupin at work. Seeing him being friendly with Cairngorm is even worse. And, normally, he has the presence of mind to not be bothered by something so petty, but the alcohol's pierced straight through his filters.

Still, he takes notice of Cairngorm's demeanor, and backs down slightly, clear-headed enough to not want to actually make them angry. With a deflated exhale, he brings his glass to his lips again, resting his elbows on his knees. ]

Yeah, well... 'Cause I'm worried, that's all.

[unghost]

[ It is hard to tell. But what isn't hard to tell is that it isn't like him at all to admit to being too worried or stressed about much of anything... even if he is, they're sure he always keeps them from seeing it. Saying as much upfront is almost unheard of.

They frown, looking at him more seriously with some concern. It would be a golden opportunity to grill him more about being worried over Sholmes possibly ruining his plans, but he seems to be in an actual bad mood, and Cairngorm is not the type at all to kick someone when they're actually down, contrary to the common belief. ]

About what...? [ their eyes wander to his defensive posture, treading carefully, because they're thinking of how they should react if he really is upset with them. ] The plan?

[ They guess, maybe hopefully, wanting his bad mood to come down to that. ]

[heartsteals]

No - no, my plans always work, I'm not worried about that, just...

[ when he's more clear-headed, he'll definitely feel bad about making Cairngorm take him so seriously when he's drunk (obviously, nobody has explained alcohol to them in detail), but for the moment, he also feels like this is a serious matter, including that ridiculous claim. Lupin shifts in his seat, pausing for a moment to consider his next words, as much as he's considering anything right now. His ego (of course he's better than Sholmes - this shouldn't be a question!) is currently at war with a niggling bit of jealousy (but maybe Cairngorm won't think so?) and his brain can't quite figure out how to process it into words. ]

If... you ended up liking him more than me, or something, [ he admits, eyes flicking away with something closer to embarrassment than Lupin would ever usually let show; he slumps down more, frowning, the tips of his ears red. ] I couldn't accept that. So...

[ he trails off, uncharacteristically, nursing the glass. They rarely get along with anyone - they didn't even get along with him at first! So this is cause for concern, at least in the moment. Sholmes is handsome, smart, generally a nice guy even if Lupin is loath to admit it -- and Cairngorm is tough and clever and beautiful, so who wouldn't want them? ]

[unghost]

[ It feels strange to be the one trying to meet his gaze for once, is what they think, while they watch him dart his eyes away. Is this what he feels like when they avoid his gaze? They watch him carefully, finding his words and his behavior equally surprising, equally confusing. ]

That's what you're worried about? Me "ending up" liking him more than you.

[ Cairngorm takes extra care to seem genuine here, their tone cool and even as opposed to their usual challenging dryness. How could they act haughty when they're surprised to even hear this from him? The pieces are starting to come together for them, a little bit, even if the find the idea of confident, popular Lupin feeling insecure over them rather bizarre - as bizarre as it had been the last time, at the greenhouse when he'd mentioned his jealousy of Phos. ]

Where is that even coming from? I've barely talked with him.

[ How are they supposed to "end up" liking him more just from that? They sound more confused than anything else - of course they don't like Sholmes more than they like Lupin. Just looking at things logistically, that much should be no question, their sureness of the permanence of their feelings for Lupin aside. ]

[heartsteals]

I know. But you looked like... you were having fun chatting with him.

[ he starts, then pauses, seeming frustrated. He is, by both his inability to articulate what he's feeling in his current state and the fact that he's feeling it at all. It's pretty lame - he knows it's lame, and normally, he'd never breathe a word of it to anyone, but at the moment, he can't keep himself from rambling on. After a moment, he seems to realize something, shaking his head briefly and glancing over at Cairngorm again. ]

Not that you can't have fun -- I want you to have fun, and have friends and all that lot, but, you know, Sholmes is my - my rival! [ he declares this with some level of seriousness, as if it's a grand statement that will explain everything, but the rest of it is far less grandiose, sounding more like a confession. ] Seeing you smiling with him... made me wanna run off with you and keep you all for myself.

[ He sniffs. Jealousy, for sure, but admitting he was jealous of Sholmes feels like admitting defeat. Even doing it in this oblique way seems to embarrass him a little, judging by the pout and the way he pinches the bridge of his nose, hanging his head a bit. ]

Sorry, I -- shouldn't be saying this stuff to you. Wine always does this to me. Damn that Impey...

[unghost]

[ They're not sure if they should be worried or not as soon as he mentions the wine's effect on him. He's definitely acting strangely, but it's nothing harmful... or else, why would humans keep bottles of it lying around? Maybe they should ask him about it when he's not so... affected. They're regretting never looking very hard into alcohol and why everyone back in Chroma was so excited to have it when it was around.

All of that can wait, though. Their hand reaches out to pull on the lobe of his ear, slightly harder than any regular playful tug. ]

Lupin. Look at me.

[ A sigh. They see what's upsetting him, they think - they're just taken aback because they didn't expect as much from him. They're sure Sholmes would never be interested in them, anyway, if they even bothered giving him a second glance (which they never would.) ]

You don't have to run off with me. Don't be stupid. [ The words are harsh, but their tone isn't - it's one of gentle reprimand, giving him another tug. They acknowledge his feelings on the matter. But they also think he's overreacting, because to them, it should be obvious that no one could ever come close to what he's done for them already. ] He just... reminds me of someone. That's all.

[ Honestly, it's the only reason they've warmed up to him in any way - nostalgia for centuries past. A wanting to know someone like that again. ]

[heartsteals]

[ he is definitely overreacting - it just seems valid in the moment. Sort of. As evidenced by his comment, he's halfway aware that he's being silly, but he's lacking the logical filter to stop; nonetheless, when they pinch his ear, his theatrical sway in their direction indicates he's still trying to be somewhat playful about it all. Lupin obediently meets their eyes, though his own are rather unfocused. Cairngorm has such beautiful eyes. The exceptionally strange fact that he's the one who made them crosses his mind. Now they're regular human eyes, of course, but - maybe that makes them more beautiful. Cairngorm's the one who brought them to life. He can still see the jewel they used to be here, in their shining eyes...

Hmm. It's harder to pay attention than he thought. When they tug his ear again, he lets the momentum carry him, dropping against their shoulder and resting his head there childishly. ]

I know, I wasn't really going to do it. Probably. It's just the feeling, [ he mumbles, turning his face in towards their shoulder a little bit more (which doesn't help the mumbling any.) ] If I'm stupid, it's because of you, you know.

[ a sigh. something about the way Cairngorm says Sholmes reminds them of someone makes him feel a little jealous, again, irrational as it is. Like he said: stupid. ]

Look at me. I love you so much, it's turning me into a fool. Take some responsibility.

[unghost]

For what? You becoming a fool?

[ They look down at him with exasperation, their hand moving from tugging on his ear to resting on the juncture between his neck and shoulder. ]

That happened way before we met. Don't blame me...

[ They're kidding (sort of.) Their serious worry over this is starting to fade a little more after seeing how affected he really is - his dazed stare and childish clinging don't seem becoming of him at all, but they're not foolish enough to think the root of all this is coming out of thin air, or put more literally, out of that wine glass. ]

Are you really so worried over me?

[ There's a faint surprise in their voice, because truly, they never thought they'd see him so insecure - at least by his standards. If he feels worried that they'll run off so easily, then it's surely their own fault for not expressing themself well enough. From their prospective, they're the one that should feel concerned over him finding someone better, not the other way around. While they speak, they move their free hand to cover one of his on the glass, trying to get him to hand it over to them. Somebody's had enough, even they can understand that. ]

[heartsteals]

[ cairngorm... so mean... he loves it.

he was looking to put the glass down, anyway, so they'll find it easy to take it from him, even if the quadrant of his brain that's thinking straight is mortified to realize that Cairngorm (who barely knows what alcohol is) has figured out that he's a little drunk and is trying to stop him. Seriously uncool. On the other hand, it's nice to have both of his hands free. Lupin immediately shifts to wrap that arm around their waist and unabashedly hug them closer. Their skin feels nice and cool against him. ]

Dear Cairngorm, a day doesn't go by where I don't worry about you, [ he sighs, with a lovelorn affectation that may or may not be the real thing (it becomes even harder to tell when he's got a few drinks in him.) But after a moment, he continues, returning back to something that's probably closer to how he'd actually speak if he weren't a gentleman thief. ] I wanna make you happy. It should be enough, just seeing you be happy, but I want it to be me. You can smile all you like, but I'll - I'll steal all your best and brightest for myself. That's a promise.

[ he's heavy against them, nuzzling in more, cheeks flushed. He's almost forgotten Sholmes now, in the moment; he's thinking about Cairngorm, their shy smile, their biting wit, the way they blush when he teases them - they're so lovely, he'll work as hard as he needs to if it means keeping them here with him. Yes. Of course he's jealous! Who wouldn't be protective of someone like them? It's perfectly sensible. Maybe he can be selfish for a little bit. ]

[unghost]

[ With him leaning more onto them, they have to stretch their arm slightly to let the glass down onto the table. Really, they can't help but look down at him with some exasperation, shifting slightly when his breath tickles their neck, moving their arms to better support his weight. Idly, they think of the times when him leaning on them like this would feel like nothing - now, he feels so solid, such that him draping himself over them like this feels all the more real and weighty.

Their hand, finally free from the wine, comes to card through his dark locks, brushing wayward strands away from his face. ]

I know that.

[ They murmur. But it wouldn't be like them to admit that they're already happy, that he's already privy to the most guarded and sensitive parts of them. Truly, they didn't know he felt so - not competitive, but protective over it. As if anyone could ever usurp the place he already won. ]

Did you already forget what I said before? [ Their tone is one that's almost playfully scolding, even if the pitch doesn't stray too far from their typical dry monotony. ] You're the only one. Maybe I'll have fun or talk with others... but there won't be anyone else but you. Not that I'll feel this way around.

[ Cairngorm says this with the utmost certainty, serious even when he's clearly out of it. Maybe he won't even remember this happening. All the more reason to be upfront about their feelings, for once. There simply won't be anyone else they'd ever let in to this extent, it's impossible, unthinkable. That truth had been very simple to them, but maybe not so much to him. Their brow furrows, wondering if it's normal for humans to worry over their partners in this way, wondering if they're doing an okay job at assuaging his fears. A conversation like this just wouldn't happen between gems. ]

So, you're worrying for no reason. Really, it's not like you to be this way...

[heartsteals]

[ their touch only makes him melt against them more; he sighs happily, despite his tipsy complaints, relishing the rare delight of having them baby him a little bit, even if it only comes when he's had enough wine to take his pride down a few notches. Normally, he'd be more cognizant of their difference in size, but right now, he seems perfectly happy to drape all over their delicate frame, warm and eager to monopolize their space.

He's... probably still listening. He's still Lupin, after all. ]

I told you, you've made me a fool. Even a magnificent man like me has his worries... [ but he's smiling, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he looks up at them sideways from their shoulder. ] ... I know. I believe you. I really do.

[ tomorrow, he's going to regret not responding more seriously to this heartfelt confirmation of their feelings. but tonight's Lupin isn't concentrating that hard; he only hears them reassuring his drunken concerns and feels their fingers in his hair. He'll have to make it up to them later. For now, he gives a small, somewhat self-deprecating chuckle. ]

God, but you're too good. Listen to you, humoring me. Cairn, you're nothing short of perfection.

[unghost]

[ They meet his drunken gaze with a disbelieving snort, weaving their fingers through his hair to pull back his bangs from his face fully. ]

You've had way too much of that, [ Predictably, they deflect when it comes to praise, and the silly way he's draping himself over them and his dazed smile from earlier don't make them take his comment too seriously. To them, these are the confessions of a drunk man. Not that it's out of the realm of possibility for him to say something like this when he's normal, but in the moment, it's only endearing because he's acting strangely. ] Should I tell Impey not to give you any more in the future?

[ They make it sound like a joking threat, always feeling comfortable to sidestep back away from worded affection whenever they make themself vulnerable for a moment. Besides, it's kind of fun to baby him a little, if only because they know he'd never stand for it under normal circumstances. ]