spent twenty years trying to get out of this place

[anthophilia]

[ Taking Vash to the orphanage has gotta be one of his best ideas of all time.

He’d warned Vash on the way over that the kids can be wary of strangers. That it’s not like in old movies where every adult who comes in is a potential parent and everyone’s on their best behaviour, hoping to make themselves seem like a good choice. That they test people, they can be withdrawn or outright rude, that some of them probably won’t even look at him. Because more than they remember the kids who were there and got adopted, they remember the tiny handful who got adopted and came back, quieter now, feeling like there must be something wrong with them, something that makes them bad, and they learned too soon that sometimes it’s better never to have something than to have it and lose it. But they’d arrived and there’d been the usual cries of Nico! Nico’s here! and they’d clustered around, and the kids had known exactly what Nick had known: it didn’t take more than a minute to know Vash was good.

As predicted, they’d asked if Vash was his boyfriend. Well, they’d told him. Oooh, Nico’s got a boooyfrieeend, and he’d just looped his arm around Vash’s waist and said yep. A good one, and they’d gone nuts for approximately 30 seconds before dragging Vash off for a guided tour of the bedrooms, the rec room, the animals - a couple dogs who loved Vash just as much as the kids do, the chickens who are so used to little hands that they’ll wander right up for pets.

Best of all had been Theresa. Seven years old, still full of childlike innocence but old enough now to be wary of her differences, to know how cruel the world can be, used to new adults giving her a tight smile and saying hello, sweetheart before their eyes slid right off her, unwilling to look at the prominent scar on her face. She’d been quiet as usual for a good chunk of the morning, but when they’d all sat down for lunch and a small round of bickering broke out about who got to sit next to Vash, she’d skipped the queue with the determined and slightly stilted gait her prosthetic leg gave her and claimed her place at his side.

Nick’d had to excuse himself to go get an extra pitcher of water for the table just to avoid pissing her off with the gooey look on his face.

Later, there’d been games, the kids laughing delightedly as Vash and Nick followed along with little dancing animated characters and then absolutely destroying their scores. Reading, which Nick used as an excuse to show off a little. The Big Bad Wolf got a Clint Eastwood drawl, the three little pigs developed a tendency to call each other pardner, and in a new twist ending Little Red Riding Hood showed up armed with a six-shooter, scared the wolf away for good, and was made sheriff of New Pork. When it was time to leave and the kids tried to make Nick promise to bring Vash next time Nick said he would if he hadn’t scared him off by then, and Theresa deployed the savagery of a child with a good vocabulary and slightly lesser social skills by turning to Vash and saying you know where it is now. You can come without him.

Then as promised, Nick takes Vash to the chapel. It’s small; it doesn’t need to be big, because thankfully the orphanage is never quite full. It’s pretty, though, and built with children in mind. Low pews for little legs at the front, and the stained-glass window is a lamb slumbering peacefully in an emerald field, a lion’s face making the sun in the sky, framed in red roses that are the only visible reference to thorns - no crucifixes here, because Catholic as they may be someone apparently put their foot down about scaring the kids. There’s a little confessional but it’s seldom used; the kids aren’t required to go in there at all, and at least in Nick’s days it was primarily a place to hide and make out. Or other things – Nick’s at least 75% sure he’s the reason there’s a smoke detector in there now. And of course, the little shelves with their little candles, flickering in their jars. It’s probably not the done thing to have open flames anymore, but when your whole organization is dedicated to making a place of peace and healing for children who’ve lost everyone, sometimes tradition is important.

Nick slips his hand into Vash’s as they enter, and he can’t quite hide his affection for the place. He may be very, very lapsed, but good memories last. ]

Huh. I haven’t been in here for years, but it hasn’t changed. Feels like I’m a kid again.

Comments

[anthophilia]

[ That smack isn't helping! He mostly manages to bite down on the little sound it provokes, and follows Vash into the next aisle, determinedly thinking about the shift roster for the Evergreen. And it helps that the next aisle is mostly ridiculous. The gummy dildos do have for novelty purposes only on them in pretty prominent font, but he still frowns a little at the sight of them. That seems like asking for trouble. He picks up a little container of shimmery golden dust that comes with a feathered brush, apparently for brushing it on so you can lick it off. Seems like kind of a production when you could just skip the middleman and lick your lover anyway, but hey. Whatever gets people going. He does grin at a set of jelly boobs that jiggle amusingly when he pokes the box, though. What are those even for? ]

Paradise for the pervert with a sweet tooth, over here.

[spiculatus]

[ he’s twirling one of those throat-numbing lollipops around his fingers, flashing wolfwood another grin. ]

When you say it like that, almost sounds like an accusation. [ but! staying just ahead of him and out of his reach kinda makes for a fun game of cat-and-mouse, which is why he’s ducking into the next aisle.

this one’s for people with dicks, and maybe it’d be polite to linger here on wolfwood’s behalf, buuut… why get him a pocket pussy when he’s already got vash? he does linger just long enough to grab a vibrating cock ring, because that does seem like fun, and then he ducks into the next aisle over just as wolfwood pops into this one.

oh. he does have to pause here, because while it’s a lot of fancy straps and harnesses for bondage, it’s also where they’ve got the actual strap ons. another area where he didn’t realize there was so much, uhh, variety?

and he’s peering at a particular model when the girl from behind the counter pops up out of nowhere, giving him a little up-down once-over when she realizes what he’s looking at, voice low and flirty. ] Hi, handsome. Finding everything okay? We’ve got a few private rooms in the back if you want to try anything on.

[anthophilia]

[ Nick's not too fussed about skipping Cock Castle for the Bondage Bastille - Vash is plenty, and when they're not together he's a pretty traditional guy. Lube and his hand is just fine, and he's already got a vibrating plug tucked way, way in the back of a drawer at home for when he's feelin' fancy. So he's about to round the corner when he hears that, and just... pauses a second in the aisle previous, folding his arms with a little smile on his face. Some things never change. For him, it had been in the bar. Hey, handsome. What time do you get off? He'd told her his shift finished at ten, impressed by how plain she was being about it, and she'd just grinned and said bet I could get you off again by ten-thirty. And she had, which is why he knows she's probably gonna have excellent advice regarding strap-ons.

It's a little mean, maybe, but he can always swoop in if Vash sounds like he's bothered by it! ]

[spiculatus]

[ it’s… actually hard to tell whether vash even picks up that he’s being hit on, considering he seems happy enough to gloss right over it. ]

Oh! Yeah, thanks! I’m pretty good at eyeballing it when it comes to picking out the right size.

[ but alexis is not to be deterred! you don’t make top salesperson of the year if you let yourself get deterred by a thick skull! ]

You sure? [ leaning in a little, batting her lashes up at him. ] Sometimes it’s hard to tell until you see it in action. I don’t mind giving you a little demonstration.

[ vash just furrows his brow a little, cocking his head slightly to one side. demon… stration? why would he need…? ] Oh! No, it’s cool! I already get how they work, no problemo.

[ there is… a pause. clearly, this isn’t the kind of response alexis is used to getting, and it’s taking some recalibrating. ] … are you joking?

Huh? Uh, no, I mean… [ equal parts sheepish and confused, and the little ahaha sums that up perfectly. ] … it seems kinda straight-forward? And if I get confused, I guess I can always just Google —

[ which happens to be the last straw. she huffs at him, flicking her hair back over her shoulder. ] Okay, okay, already. If you’re not interested, just say so.

[ and then she’s turning sharply on her heel and huffing her way into the back, leaving vash blinking in confusion in her wake.

… then again, this place seems pretty popular, and seeds isn’t doing so great. maybe whatever that was is how you’re supposed to do customer service?

he’s now blinking up at the ceiling tiles, considering. ]

[anthophilia]

[ Well

that was pretty cute, actually, and Nick can't help grinning at Alexis as she strides past, giving her a little wink. ]

Swing and a miss, huh?

[ He'd be nicer about it, if she wasn't hitting on the guy he came in with. He gets flipped off for his trouble, but she's smiling - never was the kind of girl to let things keep her down. Given that Vash seems to have pretty limited experience he can work on being open to the idea if Vash does want to shop around a little, but if he's gonna share it's gonna be with someone who'll treat Vash right. Alexis is great at sex and terrible at anything involving being even a little tender, and that had suited him just fine at the time, but Vash seems like someone who needs the tenderness too. He rounds the corner and comes up next to Vash, loops an arm loosely around his waist. ]

Sounds like somebody found something they liked the look of. What about you?

[spiculatus]

[ vash is happy enough to lean into him and let himself be caught, pressing a kiss against the corner of his mouth. ]

Pretty sure I got all the essentials. Unless you’re gonna change your mind about the one that lays eggs.

[anthophilia]

Absolutely the fuck not. I'm not ending up some doctor's hilarious story over after work drinks because one got lost up there.

[ He's sure Vash is joking. Like, 99% sure. But if Vash did want to, uhh, leave a trace, either because it would be affirming or he just wants to make a mess... he points to a strap with this whole setup with a pump for lube meant to look like jizz (even aware that the things that have caught Vash's interest so far means there's a chance he'd forgo the white stuff and try to find something with shimmers).]

If you're after revenge, there's your chance.

[spiculatus]

[ listen, vash was just about to reach out to grab one of the simpler setups, so wolfwood has no one but himself to blame.

he pauses, looking where he’s directed, and…

his expression lights up with something devious. he dips close enough to press a kiss against wolfwood’s cheek, mostly because that leaves him close enough to murmur into his ear. ] You want me to come inside you, Nico?

[anthophilia]

[ Hey, no, listen-

that idea was meant to be for Vash. A suggestion of something he wouldn't mind, if it made Vash happy! So how come hearing Vash say it like that makes him shiver and stand there with his mouth just hanging open for a second? ]

Yeah. Yeah, I do. You'd be the only one.

[spiculatus]

[ oh.

he likes the sound of that! really likes it! enough so that he reaches over to snag the model that wolfwood mentioned, and then shifts his accumulated treasures under one arm so that he can grab wolfwood’s wrist and drag him over to the register.

it’s probably a small act of mercy that the clerk behind the counter isn’t alexis. also that he’s too preoccupied with the graphic novel he’s reading to really pay attention to either one of them, barely even glancing up when vash karate chops wolfwood’s hand when he attempts to go for his wallet, beating him to the punch when he uses the card linked to his phone to pay.

he’s not dipping into wolfwood’s little brother’s college tuition just to pay for a bunch of sex toys!!!

but once he’s got everything bagged and paid for, it’s safe to slip his hand back into wolfwood’s again. ]

Okay! You owe me a grand tour.

[anthophilia]

It's not gonna be grand. But I think I can guarantee it's gonna be fun.

[ Thankfully, it's not far to his apartment building from here. A short trip, and when they get there there's only one pigeon in the hallway and 0 Mrs Molina, which is a goddamn relief because while she's definitely earned her status as official abuela, Nick doesn't want the first time he introduces Vash to her to be when he's got a bag full of sex toys under his arm.

The apartment itself is small, but at least it's tidy. The kitchen and living area is pretty much one space divided by a countertop and the transition of linoleum to carpet. Everything's in the kind of bland neutrals you get in a place where you need to be able to rent it out to just about anyone, but there are traces of personality in what Nick's brought in himself. Pictures on just about every wall - photographs of people at the orphanage, staff and regulars from the bar, tons of Livio, and a few attempts at artsy shots peppered through. One wall is basically a gallery dedicated to the pictures the kids have given him - he doesn't smoke when he's at St Michaels, but the drawing of grumpy cat in sunglasses with a cigarette hanging out of its mouth gets pride of place despite being an indictment at how poorly he hides the fact that he's a smoker. One lone peace lily, doing its very best, black motorcycle helmet hanging on a stick-on hook by the door. Not much of a nod to his former profession, though there's a lamp with the virgin Mary on it, although closer inspection reveals that the sacred heart she's displaying is a tattoo ringed with the words BAD BITCH in gothic script. He sweeps his arm around, mouth cocked into a smile. ]

Ta-da. Here's everything. [ And then pointing to the only visible doors that aren't cupboards or storage closets: ] Livio's room, bathroom... my room.

[spiculatus]

[ vash zooms right in on the pictures, and proceeds to linger there like a patron browsing the gallery of their favorite art museum. he recognizes livio from the couple of pictures wolfwood showed him the night before, so those are the first to grab his attention -- but the wall of drawings from the kids at st. michaels gets an equal sort of careful perusal, and it's obvious from the little glances he's throwing over his shoulder at wolfwood (and the giggling) that he's comparing the art to the likeness.

but once he's done, he turns on his heel to beam at him. ]

I like it! So far. If you open the door to your room and there's a bare mattress on the floor, I'm climbing out the window.

[anthophilia]

Surrounded by cigarette butts and empty beer cans, I'm sorry to say.

[ It isn't. He doesn't even smoke in the apartment - mostly because it'd be a violation of his lease, but also because he doesn't want Livio coming home to somewhere that stinks - so there isn't an ashtray to be seen. He opens the door, and his room is pretty much like the rest of the apartment: photos everywhere, lots of sturdy wood furniture that he picked up in thrift shops or garage sales and refinished, because new stuff that's within the meagre amount he's willing to spend is practically disposable. And one glaring nod to the need for a little softness, a little cuteness - an insanely fluffy pale blanket folded at the foot of the bed, perfect for crashing on when you need a comforting nap, that he probably would have stashed in the closet if he'd known he'd be bringing Vash home before he set out. There aren't a lot of windows in the apartment, but both the bedrooms share a wall that actually gets sun, orangey early-evening light filtering through to make it look warm. ]

What's the verdict? Did I cockblock myself?

[spiculatus]

[ blanket spotted!

sure, the apartment isn't much, but it feels like someone's home. like a family lives here and cares enough about it to make it theirs, and that's all it takes to make it warm and cozy. vash knows enough to know that it'd come out condescending to say he almost likes this place better than the apartment he shares with nai -- and that's not it, exactly! home is home, it's just...

this place reminds him of the house they used to share with rem. nothing new and shiny and modern about it, but every faded color and time-worn edge just spoke of things loved. it makes him homesick, in a weird way.

but he knuckles down on it and goes for a smile instead, shaking his head. ] Nn-nn, I like it.

[ reaching out to grab wolfwood by both wrists and reel him closer, pressing a little kiss to his mouth. ] I like you.

[anthophilia]

That's a relief.

[ He slips the hold Vash has on his wrists just to loop his arms around his waist, kissing him back, grinning. ]

'cause I like you so much I'm almost annoyed by it.

[ It's disgustingly true. Yeah, Vash is hot, and the sex has been great and he wants a lot more of it, but... he also wants all the other stuff, the things he always thought he could take or leave. He wants evenings tucked up on the sofa watching movies with hot chocolate, quiet hours spent just being with each other, talking. Trips to markets so Vash can peruse the plants on offer and Nick can hunt out that one stall that appears at every market everywhere where a white guy with a beard sells a variety of hot sauces and offers free samples of the hottest one like it's a dare.

He wants to be a cliche with Vash, and the realization is at once gross and a little dizzying with how happy the thought makes him. ]

[spiculatus]

Oh no! [ but he's grinning from ear to ear. ] Not the cute aggression!

[ he walks backwards until his knees hit the back of the bed, then tugs wolfwood down into his lap. not even because he's in a hurry to get to all the great ideas they've come up with about what to do on said bed, just because it's nice to be close. to settle into a space that's wolfwood's and feel like he belongs -- to hold him and kiss him and joke around. ]

Warn me if it starts to hit critical mass, okay? I don't want to end up on a true crime episode.

[anthophilia]

Gotcha. Those murder podcast girls'd have a field day with our tragic backgrounds. Can't have that.

[ Utterly ruined by the gooey expression on his face as he looks at Vash. How's he supposed to tease his lesbian friends about U-hauls when Vash has him wanting to book a U-haul? Even this - he's got his hot new lover in his home, on his bed, a bag full of sex toys they just shopped for at the ready, and he wants to take a little while to just be together, close and comfortable, just soaking up Vash's presence. He kisses Vash but it's a soft thing, full of warmth rather than heat. ]

[spiculatus]

[ it's the kind of kiss vash can't help but melt into. he loops both arms around wolfwood's waist as he kisses him back, happy enough to keep it sweet and slow. maybe three days is too early to tell someone you love them with words, but maybe it's okay to say it like this? safer, less likely to send wolfwood running for the hills, but it still gives vash a chance to offer up all of the warm affection that's made a home in his chest. ]

[anthophilia]

[ God, it's good. It feels like Vash belongs here - in his home, in his room, in his arms. He'd always thought it was bullshit when people talked about finding The One and said things like "when you know, you know" - partly because he never really believed in the idea of The One, but also because things are always great up until the point they're not. Vash might be changing his mind. It's easy to be with Vash like this and feel like there are endless happy days ahead of them, tangled up in each other. He nips softly at Vash's lip as he pulls back (maybe that's the cute aggression Vash warned him about) and crooks a smile. ]

Hey.

You're pretty great, you know that?

[spiculatus]

[ he blinks at him, but his expression is quick enough to melt into a smile. ]

You think so? [ he presses forward enough to rub their noses together, silly and affectionate. ] I guess if someone as great as you thinks so, it’s gotta be true.

[anthophilia]

[ He snorts a little - he's not so great, but he's okay enough not to second-guess whether he deserves someone like Vash, and if Vash thinking he's great keeps him here? That's a solid win. That little rub does spark an irrational desire to nip the end of Vash's nose, though (maybe he had a point), so he settles for distracting himself with another little kiss and a suggestion. ]

Lay down with me.

[ Not even for sex! Although he's hoping they get to that too, especially after all the buildup. He just... wants to hold Vash, to look at him and make out a little. Just enjoy having him here. ]

[spiculatus]

Your wish is my command!

[ and he's doing as directed by... flopping backward, then grinning up at him, holding his arms up. ] C'mere.

[anthophilia]

[ There we go. He follows down, moves in close enough to wrap his arms around Vash's waist and twine their legs together. It's nice, warm, and it equalizes the difference in their heights enough that he can just look at Vash's gorgeous face without having to look up - something that could be an issue when looking at Vash's face is something he wants to do constantly. He's gonna get a crick in his neck. ]

I know I already said it, but thanks for coming with me today. That place means a lot to me, and the kids loved you. I don't normally take anyone out there so early 'cause it can get messy, but I had a feeling about you. And I was right.

[spiculatus]

Thanks for trusting me enough to take me there.

[ vash gets it! he does. he'd felt the same way when he'd invited wolfwood over to his place, knowing it'd mean putting him on nai's radar -- it's an important step for him, and not one he'd be taking with just anyone.

it means a lot that wolfwood feels the same way. ]

I always thought it'd be cool to have a really big family. Lots of nieces and nephews running around causing chaos! Kinda felt like an afternoon of wish fulfillment.

And I'd like to take a better look at Theresa's leg, if she's cool with the idea. Pretty sure there are a few easy tweaks to help her walk a little easier.

[anthophilia]

[ It's too mean to say out loud, but maybe it's a good thing they can spend time at the orphanage. Nai... doesn't seem like the type to settle down and have a passel of kids. Nick tries to imagine it and his mind throws up the image of a thin and angular wife just as icy-blonde as he is, two children-of-the-corn lookin kids in the kind of outfits that just make them look like miniature adults, the whole family wearing neutral tones in natural fibres and the kind of disdainful expressions that make you wonder if they can all smell cat shit. He threads a hand up into Vash's hair. ]

If things don't work out with us - and I'm hopin' they do for a good long time, if that's not too intense to say so soon - I want you to know you can still go there. Those kids need people who just treat 'em like kids, and you're amazing with them.

Reesie especially. She can be a real cold one when she wants to. Not her fault, she's been too hurt to be trusting, but it's clear as day she trusts you. If anyone in the world could sit her down and get her to be honest about how much hassle that leg gives her instead of trying to be God's bravest soldier about it, it's you.