Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 25, 2021 1:02:35 GMT -5
Nico had enjoyed tossing around the smaller stick, but there was something so endearing about the way Kelsier ran after the larger one that Nico couldnโt help but enjoy this one a little bit more. It was as though the size of the stick just egged Kelsier on, and he did his absolute best to rise to the challenge, even if that meant having to roll end over end to try to catch it. Kelsier had the kind of determination that Nico didnโt see very often in people, and he couldnโt help but wonder if that was a trait his human self had, or just one that had developed by nature of being a wolf. It wasnโt as though Nico could ask, though, and he wasnโt going to try to find excuses to meet Kelsier as a human.
โNeed some help?โ Nico asked, ambling over to where Kelsier seemed to be more or less stuck. If Nico were the sort of person who was able to carry around a smart phone, he may have stopped to take a picture. It was difficult to get his hands on one, though, so he just took a mental picture and hung it up on his metaphorical wall with the other things he didnโt want to forget. One day, he thought, he might forget what it meant to be happy. And this picture was going to be a reminder of it.
He took a moment before kneeling on the ground beside Kelsier and hefting the branch up to free the wolf, though he was careful not to wrench the stick from Kelsierโs mouth.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Jul 25, 2021 1:27:59 GMT -5
Kelsier wasnโt going to give up. No matter how hard it was to bring the stick back, he wasnโt going or quit, no matter how long it took. Andโฆconsidering how heavy it was and how difficult to catch it seemed to beโฆthat might be a while, if it happened to get stuck somewhere. So far, that hadnโt happened, but it felt like only a matter of time at this point.
He wriggled over to look at Nico, his jaw still clenched firmly around the stick. He wasnโt letting it go. He wasnโt going to let it go.
He did let Nico move the stick a little, though, and he wriggled again, trying to get up without letting go. It took a long, awkward moment of shifting and pushing and pulling, but he made it to his feet again, dirt and grass caught in his fur. Then he moved a little closer to Nico, and finally dropped it, looking up with the most proud expression a wolfโs face could have.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 25, 2021 1:32:35 GMT -5
โIf this is what youโre like when youโre human, everyone you know must be incredibly torn between hating you and loving you,โ Nico commented, rolling his eyes affectionately as he hefted the stick back up. He was grateful that Kelsier hadnโt attempted to initiate another game of tug of war with this stick. Nico was fairly certain whoever was the loser of that was going to get flung feet away just because of how unwieldy the stick was. He pushed the thought away, hoping that Kelsier didnโt get any ideas. They were probably both hardier than the average human, but they were both capable of getting injured, and any injury could put them in danger if they were found by hunters. It was better to be careful and prepared than be caught off guard like that.
Nico looked at Kelsier for a long moment before he threw the branch again, crossing his arms as he watched it fly. It was higher this time, so it was possibly feasible for Kelsier to catch it in midair, but Nico was fairly convinced that would be impossible. If anyone could do it, though, it was someone with Kelsierโs unfailing determination.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Jul 25, 2021 1:45:31 GMT -5
Kelsler was pretty sure he could have won another game of tug of war, if heโd tried to. It wasnโt hard. He had won the last time, hadnโt he? But he wasnโt going to do that just yet. He was still having fun with it, chasing it and trying to catch it, and he didnโt want to stop.
He waited impatiently for the stick to be thrown again, then dashed after it, his paws pounding a rhythm into the ground as he ran. It was definitely higher this timeโฆhe sped up, catching up to it, then leapt off the ground and snatched it out of the air, jaws closing around it and holding on as he landed.
He rolled over a few times with it, barely holding on, then straightened it again and turned back to Nico, tail waving excitedly. He pulled it back, doing his best not to trip over it, and looked up with it in his mouth, his eyes bright and mischievous.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 25, 2021 14:04:36 GMT -5
Nico watched, still mildly in awe about the way Kelsier was going for it, even though an accident with a stick that large could have been disastrous. If he fell the wrong way or if it hit him in the face when he was intending to catch itโฆ neither of them were impervious to harm. Nico just hoped that werewolves could heal as quickly as vampires. If they couldnโtโฆ he pushed the thought away, deciding it would be simpler to deal with that issue later, if it happened to arise.
โTug of war?โ Nico asked, brows raising as Kelsier didnโt immediately bring the stick back. He was starting to be able to read the wolfโs body language, though he wasnโt certain if that was a good thing or a bad thing. He hadnโt even intended to stick around tonight, butโฆ he didnโt want to leave now. He would have a whole month to convince himself that befriending a werewolf was a superbly bad idea. For nowโฆ he just wanted to enjoy it.
Slowly, Nico approached Kelsier, half certain the wolf was going to run away with the stick before Nico could get to him. It was fortunate, it seemed, that the stick was too heavy for Kelsier to hoist all the way off the ground for long. If he wanted to keep holding onto it, he wasnโt going to get very far.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Jul 25, 2021 15:10:21 GMT -5
Kelsier wasnโt worried about being hurt. He wasnโt considering the possibility at all, actually, though it was extremely possible. He was justโฆhaving fun, that was all. Having fun with a friend who also seemed to be having fun, which made it even better. The last thing he wanted to do was stop now, when they were just getting started again.
He held onto the stick, eyes appraising as he watched Nico approach. He didnโt move a muscle, aside from the slow, careful way his tail waved back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. He was ready.
As soon as Nico crossed the invisible barrier, he tried to sprint away again, only to find that the stick was still as heavy as it had been a moment ago. He tugged it, managing to drag it at a surprisingly good speed away from Nico, every muscle tensed and straining in his determination. He didnโt have Nicoโs thoughts about the consequences of this potential friendship. All he knew was that he liked Nico a lot and he wanted him to stay.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 25, 2021 22:33:48 GMT -5
Nico gave a quiet laugh that seemed to surprise him as it slipped from his lips. He hadnโt meant to laugh, but it wasnโt the first time Kelsier had managed to tease the sound from him. It was just that he was so purely innocent in spite of the monster inside of himโฆ it was just that he clearly tried so hard, that he was good, even though there was a part of him that wanted to hurtโฆ Nico couldnโt help but be endeared by it. He knew he himself wasnโt that good. He was just trying to make up for any pain he had caused. He was just trying to live his life and be as good as he could now, even if he hadnโt always been in the past. He was trying. Kelsier didnโt need to try.
โNot tug of war, then,โ Nico murmured, taking a step forward to see how Kelsier would react. He bent down into a crouch, almost stalking forward as though he could get the jump on Kelsier and take the stick away.
โYou want keep away. Weโll see how well that works.โ The words were accompanied by a smile as Nico stalked even closer, not making any effort to hide himself. This was play, not hunting.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Jul 25, 2021 23:07:51 GMT -5
Once he wasnโt thinking of hurting anyone anymore, or was hard to remember why heโd wanted to. It was still there, of courseโฆstill in the back of his mind, as always. But it was dormant for now. He wasnโt a killer in this moment. He was quite possibly just an overgrown puppy.
He wasnโt worried about anything. He wasnโt thinking about much, either, other than the stick.
The moment Nico stepped forward, Kelsier leapt back again, dragging the stick with him. It wasโฆprobably not the best item to play keep away with, considering its size, but he was trying as hard as he could to make it successful. He wasnโt going to lose, not easily. He could keep it away if he tried hard enough, without a doubt,
He gave a low play growl as Nico stalked closer, pulling the stick a little further away and rearing his head back without letting go of it. Heโd have barked, but he wasnโt quite that stupid, for the time being.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 25, 2021 23:31:47 GMT -5
Nicoโs brows raised as he watched the way Kelsier tried to back up with the stick. Evidently, he had forgotten (or didnโt know) that vampires could move ridiculously fast. If it came down to it, Nico could take the stick in no time with almost no trouble. He wasnโt going to do that, though. It would just defeat the whole point of the game, and Nico wanted to make it last. It was the most fun he had allowed himself in a very long time. He hadnโt allowed himself fun in as long as he could remember, actually.
Slowly, Nico continued to stalk closer, the smile on his face evident as he watched Kelsier growl. He had a feeling this might turn into a playfight, but he didnโt think he would mind if it did. It meant something fun to do, some way to connect with Kelsier in a way that didnโt require thinking. Hopefully, it would continue to distract Kelsier from the urge to kill or hurt humans. Nico had spent so long managing his own urge that he forgot how overwhelming it could be. Especially if you didnโt have logical thought and memory to stop you from mauling the nearest person. He was helping everyone around him, he told himself. He was doing a service. He was also just hanging out with a dog. Maybeโฆ maybe that was okay. Maybe he deserved a little bit of normalcy. Maybe he deserved a little bit of fun.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Jul 25, 2021 23:52:09 GMT -5
Kelsler moved back again, dragging the stick along with him, his eyes fixed on Nico. He wasnโt going to give up that easily. He wasnโt thinking of the fact that Nico could technically take it away in an instant, with his speed on his side, and he wasnโt thinking of the fact that Nico probably didnโt even want it. He was just playing the game as well as he could. He was perfectly content to keep it away from Nico for as long as he possibly could.
He growled again as Nico came close, and shook the stick as hard as he could, like he was trying to break its spine. Then he pulled back again, dragging it along with him as best he could. It kept catching on the grass, but he didnโt stop pulling, and after a moment he managed to get it out in the open again, just a little closer to the place the family had walked past. If he remembered that, he gave no indication of it. He just looked at Nico, eyes bright and mischievous.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 26, 2021 0:18:55 GMT -5
Nico couldnโt help but think that Kelsier was more than a little bit ridiculous. He clearly was enjoying himself, if the way he was pulling the stick back was any indication. Nico would have told him he was a good boy, but he had a feeling that might lose its potency if he said it too often. It didnโt matter that Kelsier didnโt know what Nico was saying. He would learn, eventually. He would come to associate different sounds with different things. He had already learned the word โstick,โ after all. Nico shook his head, laughing quietly to himself as he crouched down, then rushed at Kelsier with normal human speed. He wasnโt going to make it too difficult for Kelsier to keep the stick, but he figured the wolf would get bored if he never tried to โattackโ it.
Not for the first time, Nico couldnโt help but wonder what Kelsier was like as a human. Surely not this childish and eager to play, butโฆ he couldnโt help but feel that there must be some of the wolf in the human. It just made Nico want to meet him, though he would never do that. He wouldnโt plague Kelsierโs human life like that.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Jul 26, 2021 0:46:04 GMT -5
Kelsier pulled back, his jaw locked around the stick as firmly as possible. He wasnโt letting it go. Not to Nico, not to the ground, not to anything. This was his now, he was keeping it and he was never going to drop it ever again.
He hadnโt expected to be rushed at, though, and he nearly dropped it in his surprise as Nico came suddenly closer, a muffled bark escaping his mouth through the wood as he leapt back and away as quickly as he could.
He was half tempted to just drop it and start playing a game of chase instead, butโฆit was his stick. He didnโt want to just leave it. He was way too stubborn for that.
He had no memories of his human life, of course. He just knew Nico was the nice boy who didnโt smell of fear and flesh. That was enough for him.
He managed to work the stick into a better position and began fo haul it away as fast as he could, tail whipping wildly back and forth.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 26, 2021 0:52:06 GMT -5
Evidently Kelsier hadnโt expected to be rushed at. Nico gave a soft smile, trying to make it clear that he wasnโt going to actually attack. They were just playing, and though Nico was going to pretend to try and take the stick, there was no actual malice in the attack. He slowed his pace, reaching suddenly for the stick. He was careful to keep his motions normal human speed. It was more difficult that he anticipated, pretending to have normal movement and reaction times. His muscles and nerves screamed at him that he could be going much faster. That he was a vampire, that this was easy. But the point wasnโt to actually take the stick back. It was to provide Kelsier with his fair share of entertainment.
Nico followed a safe distance behind Kelsier, just close enough that he might seem like a threat to the stick, but far enough away that he wouldnโt get hit by stick or tail. He had a feeling that a tail as large as Kelsierโs could knock someone flat on their back if they werenโt careful. Nico was going to do his best to be careful, although he rarely was in battle. It wasnโt as though there was anyone around who might care if he disappeared. Now, though, looking at Kelsierโฆ it was becoming clear that there might be someone.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Jul 26, 2021 13:49:11 GMT -5
Kelsier wasnโt afraid of Nico. He wasnโt worried about an actual attack. Nico was his friend. His best friend, probably. He didnโt have any others to compare it to, to be fair, but he felt like he would probably have done anything for Nico already. He was going to keep playing with him as long as he possibly could, anyway.
He leapt backwards as Nico reached for the stick, dragging it with him as he went, very nearly toppling over backwards in his haste to get it away from him. He didnโt know Nico wasnโt actually trying to take the stick but he knew it was a game, and that was all that mattered. They were justโฆhaving fun.
He tugged it a fair distance away, then dropped it, straightening up to pant at Nico, tongue hanging out of his mouth and tail waving back and forth, again and again. His eyes were bright, and he waited, patiently watching the boy.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Jul 26, 2021 15:03:53 GMT -5
Kelsier didnโt have any memories of any other time. He didnโt know he had another life. He didnโt know he was anything other than a wolf, playing with Nico at night, catching sticks and running around and play growling and justโฆhaving fun. He wanted to just be able to have fun like this forever.
He waited for Nico to come closer, his tail going still, his whole body going very, very still. He let Nico come closeโฆcloserโฆthen the moment he came close enough to grab it, the wolf snatched it and ran again, tugging it over the ground and away, springing over the grass and sticks and leaves and play growling loudly, practically daring Nico to chase him.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 26, 2021 15:13:51 GMT -5
Nico felt like a child again. He was, technically, still a child, but he had forced himself to be grown up for so long. He had to take care of himself. He had to keep himself alive, he had to keep himself hiddenโฆ he had to bear grief and pain enough for two dozen adult lifetimes. He had been a child when he had been turned, and though he had killed the man who had turned him, he had been alone after that. He had needed to teach himself how to exist like this without being a killer. Orโฆ without killing more than was strictly necessary. He hadnโt allowed himself to exist like the child he still was. He didnโt know exactly how quickly vampire brains matured, but he certainly didnโt feel the eighty-something years he was, technically.
Nico pushed the thought away, eyes narrowing playfully as he took off after Kelsier, staying just barely a bound behind him. His heart was racing, his breath coming in hard and fast. It didnโt need to be, but maybe he could play at being alive, just this once.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Jul 26, 2021 18:48:16 GMT -5
Kelsier was an adult, but at least as a wolf, he seemed to act far younger. He had no concept of how long ago heโd first turned, or how it had happened, or even what his first time had been like. Orโฆperhaps he did remember his first time a little. He hadnโt felt hunger that intense before or since, and he didnโt know how many heโd ended up killing. It was probably a miracle that he hadnโt been caught right away, as desperate as he had been, as starving and alone. He had had no one to stop him, then.
And nowโฆhe was playing with a stick instead of fighting off the effects of bloodlust. Something had changed when Nico had stopped him. Something much deeper than just one life spared.
He bounced away, trying to pull the stick into a run, which didnโt work as well as heโd hoped. He ended up settling for a sort of choppy trot, which included him tripping every few minutes as he got ahead of himself. Keep away was much easier to play with small objects, it seemed.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jul 27, 2021 0:16:59 GMT -5
Nico wished he had a camera. He had never needed one, given that they would be obsolete eventually. That, and the fact that he couldnโt take pictures of himself anyway, and anything he could take was likely to have already been taken by hundreds of people before him. There was something endearing about the way Kelsier was trying desperately to drag the stick, doing his absolute best to keep it out of Nicoโs graspโฆ he shook his head a little, trying not to audibly laugh. He didnโt want Kelsier to think he was laughing at him, even if the wolf would have no concept of what that meant. It was justโฆ well, it was cute.
As surely as Nico had changed Kelsierโs life by appearing in it, it seemed that Kelsier was changing Nicoโs. He couldnโt help smiling around him, and he didnโt feel as though things were that hopeless. Somehow, he could still have a friend. Somehow, there might be more to him than a monster. It was the sort of thought that Nico hadnโt allowed himself to even think in over seventy years. He was a monster. That was all he was ever going to be. Except, it seemed, when there was another monster around. When there was somebody he could be friends with without having to worry about hurting them.
Nico followed behind Kelsier, doing his best not to get too close, except when it seemed that the game might be lagging. He wanted to keep Kelsier on his toes.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Aug 3, 2021 21:56:47 GMT -5
The closer Nico got, the more frantic Kelsierโs efforts to keep the stick away became, though his tail was waving fast enough to make it pretty clear he was having fun.
This was so completely different from the nights heโd had before. This wasโฆthis was him actually playing, having actual fun and not killing anyone at all. He wasnโt even thinking about killing. Not now, at least.
He ran, pulling the stick with him as best he could, dodging out of reach, though he was finally slowing down a little. It was a heavy stick, after allโฆhe was very strong, but not supernaturally strong. He would beat most wolves, if it came to a fight, but he wasnโt going to be able to continue carrying a small tree forever.
What he was, was supernaturally stubborn. He didnโt let the stick drop from his mouth for even a second as he surged forwards, ducking around Nico and heading back around closer to place heโd smelled humans, galloping as fast as he could go.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Aug 3, 2021 22:29:36 GMT -5
Nico wasnโt entirely certain if he needed to keep Kelsier away from other living beings, but he felt that, for now, it was the best possible idea. He didnโt want Kelsier to start hunting again, especially not when or if Nico couldnโt stop him before he caused any damage. Unlike Nico, Kelsier didnโt have to bear the weight of the spirits he carried on his chest, butโฆ he had still killed those people. And the man the wolf was when the moon wasnโt fullโฆ he probably wouldnโt have liked the idea of killing people, especially if he didnโt remember doing it. Unless he did remember and he didnโt care. Nico shifted uncomfortably with that idea, but he pushed it away. That seemed unlikely. He had seemedโฆ nice, from the short time Nico had watched him from a distance, careful to stay out of sight the entire time.
Nico chased after Kelsier, doing his best to cut him off before he got himself into a populated area. It was only a game until Kelsier got distracted. It was only a game until instincts took over. And then it became life or death.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Aug 6, 2021 21:12:44 GMT -5
Kelsier had already forgotten about the family heโd nearly attacked. His mind was on one thing and one thing alone: keepaway.
So he ran, and he tried to duck past Nico, scrambling to the side as he was blocked from the direction heโd been heading. Never mindโฆheโd just go this way.
The stick was very heavy. And it seemed only to get heavier as time went on.
He was stubborn, yes, but even he couldnโt hold out forever. Finally, Kelsier collapsed on his side, panting hard as he tried to catch his breath. Heโd even released the stick, as it made breathing just slightly harder than it was normallyโฆhe was thoroughly exhausted now. He couldnโt even quite bring himself to think about being hungry.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Aug 6, 2021 21:58:33 GMT -5
Nico looked at Kelsier, a small smile appearing on his face as he caught up, only to find Kelsier laying on his side as though about to fall asleep. Evidently lugging a giant stick around was tiring. Nico sat down next to him, careful not to touch the stick. He didnโt want to upset Kelsier by making him think he had lost keepaway. He deserved to win this round, at leastโฆ he had managed to haul it quite a ways.
โYouโre a really good wolf, you know that?โ Nico murmured, reaching out a hand to ruffle the fur behind Kelsierโs ears. He hadnโt expected to have so much fun with him, butโฆ he wasnโt going to complain. There was something about spending time with Kelsier that felt a little bit like having a family. Maybe it was just that Nico was achingly tired of being alone.
โWe ought to get you home, soon,โ Nico said after a moment, glancing up at the sky. They still had time, but he didnโt know how long Kelsier would sleep if he were to pass out here. It would be better to have him closer to home if Nico was going to have to carry him back into his bed.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Aug 8, 2021 18:39:24 GMT -5
Kelsier didnโt move back as Nico ruffled his fur, but his tail thumped lightly against the ground. He was very tired, now. The stick had been fun to pull around, but he didnโt feel able to stand up anymore, somehow. He was perfectly content to stay where he was.
Exceptโฆ
He squirmed for a minute, flailing in an attempt to move without actually standing up. He looked a little like he was dying for a second before he managed to push himself close enough to drop his whole head onto Nicoโs legs. He heaved a content sigh, staring up at Nico for a long moment, as if trying to see how he would react, or just looking at his face.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Aug 9, 2021 23:59:04 GMT -5
Kelsler yawned loudly, stretching and squirming a little closer. He was too tired to stand, but still too energetic to actually lie still, it seemed. At least, he couldnโt seem to stop adjusting his position on the ground, and consequently on Nico. The end goal was the same every time he moved: to get closer to Nico.
He pawed the ground with his back legs, clawing at the grass for a long moment before he actually managed to shove the front half of his body on top of Nico. Then he went limp, tongue flopping loosely out of his mouth.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Aug 11, 2021 15:46:10 GMT -5
Kelsier sighed, relaxing the rest of the way as Nico rubbed his head. This was perfect. This was as comfortable as he could possibly get. He was content to stay this way for as long as he possibly could.
He didnโt know he was going to go away for a month. He had no idea he would become human. But maybe Nico wasnโt wrong, either. Maybe he wanted this to last a little bit longer.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Aug 11, 2021 15:54:08 GMT -5
--
Nico hadnโt anticipated coming back for a third month in a row, butโฆ he couldnโt help it. There was something about spending time with Kelsier that made him feelโฆ free. Like he didnโt have to be the monster he thought he was the rest of the month. He could just be a boy with an overenthusiastic dog. He knew that wasnโt a perfect descriptor either. The dog was, in fact, a wolf, and it didnโt belong to Nico, because it was a human being, too. It was complicated, butโฆ that wasnโt the point. The point was that Kelsier seemed to enjoy their time together as much as Nico did. He had made a point of gathering an extra large steak to give Kelsier, and heโd managed to get some blood for himself earlier. Neither would be suffering hunger tonight.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Aug 11, 2021 16:04:29 GMT -5
Kelsier had, as usual, woken up tangled in blankets on the floor. He didnโt know it was because the change to canine form generally knocked him out of bed, and he didnโt really care, he just wanted to be out of this mess of bedding.
It didnโt take too long to squirm out of it. Sometimes it took longer. Heโd actually chewed his way out before, but blankets didnโt taste very good and chewing made him even hungrier, so that wasnโt the best.
The way he usually slipped out was gone.
He wandered the house, trying to find it, but it wasnโt there. He tried to dig under the door, but his paws just slid where there was no carpet and caught where there was.
He howled. He wanted to go outside. He knew there was a way, but he didnโt see it.
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