chatime | ✧ — peach iced tea.

[ there are so many things that can set him off right now don't even start ]

If it gets too late, I can just carry you back again.

[ whether either of them will actually be in the right state for that is questionable. still, elysium says it anyway, slipping his hand into thorns' to guide them the rest of the way. the hot springs are tucked away in the mountains, obscured by greenery but clearly cared for by the locals. there's a sign for them to flip and indicate it's in use, so interruptions seem unlikely.

even so, it wouldn't take much for someone to disregard it and walk in on them anyway. but who would do that?

…

he begins by helping thorns undress first. his priorities… ]

Shouldn't I carry you?

[ he's so funny

well, not all of his mental health problems that make him very unwell, but everything else. anyway, thorns will help him out by kissing him? this is likely not actually helpful and will in fact make the undressing stage take longer, but it's motivating? ]

Does it really matter who carries who?

[ they'll end up in the same place either way… or just make do with where they are now. plenty of things are cozier than the floor of a ship—like this padded floor.

and sure enough, elysium's hands wander from thorns' waistband to his face. they could be making out in the hot springs proper, but instead they're tangled up here in the changeroom. okay. they have not had a proper shower in days now after both being on the run and hunting for game… everyone who's told them they don't stink is too nice. ]

[ everyone is so nice...

the only reason thorns manages to separate himself from elysium is the knowledge that yes, this would actually feel much better in the spring. he steals a kiss, then another one, before pulling back. ]

We can go wash up and get into the bath...

I wasn't done…

[ pulls thorns back for another kiss. brat.

that's just him acting up to act up, though. so without further ado, he'll sit thorns down to rinse him off first. ]

We'll have to be careful about getting hot water in our hair. [ mumbles. black to brown really isn't anything, but he does miss thorns' original colouration… ] It isn't good for dye.

[ thinks about all the times i've had light coloured hair and killed it in a day goodbye ]

Hm, really? This is so complicated.

[ there are so many things to keep in mind that thorns is not going to remotely keep track of, so that will be elysium's job. is thorns putting on sunscreen? who can say.

but he sits still as elysium works... ]

[ can they even get sunscreen out here. they'll probably have to make trips into the town next over just for beauty hauls. not that it matters if thorns puts it on now, their morning routine is another one of elysium's favorite parts of the day. ]

Annoying, right? [ … ] Maybe in a year or two we won't have to bother.

[ they have so much other stuff to worry about in a year or two the colour of their hair should be the last of their priorities. anyway. ]

... Yeah, probably not.

[ thorns is thinking that yeah, they will definitely be alive in a year or two! doing things!! this is definitely what is going to be happening!!

but they would likely have moved on from this town by then, in any case. even if they try to settle down more permanently at one point, making it the first place they get to is probably a bad idea. ]

[ everything goes perfectly smoothly right up until it's thorns' turn. thorns' turn to wash him, that is.

…

elysium eyes him warily, like he's not entirely sure if he should trust him? hm. ]

Why do you look scared?

[ at least, he is not immediately jumping to the conclusion that elysium is being rude. maybe he is having a delayed reaction to his fragile hair dye apparently is?

make a move... ]

[ IS HIS TRAUMA NOTHING TO HIM?

he just narrows his eyes but still settles in front of thorns anyway, obedient for now. this will determine everything… this will determine their future. it's thorns' move next after elysium has trusted him with his life.

this continues to be dramatic for no reason when they truly do have so many more important things to worry about. ]

[ elysium is desperate to cling to one thing is solely his and it is his self care routines... and thorns just comes in and sloppily stomps all over them...

listen, he maybe bad at skincare and any hair care that isn't simply putting shampoo in, but he at least knows how to take a bath. it's fine. any time elysium looks too apprehensive, thorns just pauses to think his house with his fingers.

baby..... ]

[ the truly infuriating part is that they've washed each other perfectly fine before, but now, after one (1) incident he's suddenly acting like thorns had committed the gravest betrayal imaginable. he is innocent… kind of… no one would blame thorns for not being able to keep up.

still, thorns doesn't seem intent on terrorising him this time so he eventually eases into his touch—though, not without a few false starts, double-checking that thorns isn't plotting anything with the occasional accusatory look thrown over his shoulder.

he may be nerfed with his single-toned hair, but if he doesn't uphold his title as the sexist man on terra, then what is he? who is he?? it's his whole brand. no bully. ]

[ he is so overdramatic and for what

when thorns finally finishes up, he just drapes himself against elysium's back and bites his shoulder annoyingly. when you try to punish someone with something you usually give them for pleasure. ]

See? I took care of you.

[ one point for thorns ]

[ punishment would be leaving him alone but at that point they would both combust. ]

You did…

[ vaguely wonders if thorns is trying to get him to lower his guard so he can get him when he's vulnerable. this thought is written across his features before he simply decides to splash thorns with the showerhead because he can. ]

I missed a spot, oops.

[ this is why thorns is always retaliating, -1 point for elysium ]

[ OKAY.

thorns just picks elysium up, walks over to the spring, and drops elysium inside. ]

[ that's one way to hurt his ass

okay. he is not the type to go down alone in these situations? he yelps, quickly grabbing onto any part of thorns he can to drag him down with him. this is not a pool and they're about to get banned so quick if anyone catches them in the next ten minutes. this is likely a generous estimate.

their bath… ]

[ help

thorns sputters out water, and then just grabs onto elysium to make sure he does not go anywhere... this is fine. ]

Stop moving so much.

[ thorns is the one who threw him in. ]

[ that one meme where it's like aren't you forgetting something? and it's not about them. elysium doesn't think it's fine, actually. ]

You want me to drown?

[ they can wrestle in the hot springs. sure. it's probably good for their muscles. ]

I'd never let you drown.

[ he will, however, pvp him apparently.

and then he just tries to hold him still. shhhhh. ]

Let's settle down.

[ WHAT IS HE, A CHILD?

he bristles again by instinct, just barely holding back from smacking thorns' head. ]

I'll consider it if you kiss me.

[ bribe him ]

[ help

thorns just stares at him for a long moment, before he finally just leans in to give him a rather soft kiss. and then another. ]

Now?

[ at least he expresses himself and isn't thorns who just stares at him until he figures out what he wants.

but the soft kiss is nice… he will settle and look only a little put out. ]

Okay.

Come on, we finally have our bath...

[ it took them way too long to get to this point and they also almost killed each other somehow? so much water is now outside of the spring, but they can just... clean that up when they leave... no one has to know. ]

Does it feel nice?

[ an old person is going to slip and fall and die so yes they probably should clean it up

until then, elysium just sits himself in thorns' lap to be difficult, almost grinding into him? he's just sitting down, though. ]

I can think of something nicer…

[ mutters! ]

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