this is.... probably going to become NSFW

[necromanswers]

[this here is an entry Locked From The Kids. Replies are automatically private unless otherwise stated or accidentally misfired...]

There's no subtle or graceful way to do this, so yolo: anybody out there interested in a no-strings-attached booty call? no drama, no dating required, just a good old fashioned roll in the straw. mutually beneficial, if that sort of thing is appealing to you. can promise a good time and I have on good authority that my tits are spectacular. please for the love of every god in the pantheon if you have an SO already do not get me shanked by them, I just wanna get off okay?

man this sure does sound like a hooker ad, huh

anyway wanna fuck

[She will attach a selfie, for honesty's sake, and also to show off, let's be real.]


-----


[a few separate texts are sent out first to Era, Honerva, and then Pyra-]

ladies, mansion is open for business. same bat time, same bat channel (aka location)

because bats echo-locate and I'm hilarious

[.....and then ardyn too]

hey nerd come have a bath


-----


[Anyone coming to visit Lup will find the magical pocket-di-mansion set up much the same as it was few months prior, though the basement will come with some tweaks at Era's request. It's time for NERD BRUNCH!]

Comments

[necromanswers]

[She pauses, glancing sidelong at him.]

What're you going to change into? Have you got a suit on beneath, or underwear? Or did you expect us to jump in with our clothes on?

[She is very curious about his expectations when he'd agreed to this, now. Progress is good, yes! But you gotta think these things through, buddy.]

[scourgingstars]

W-well obviously not, I--

[He pressed both hands to his face with a frustrated and embarrassed sound.]

Humor me and turn around for thirty seconds.

[necromanswers]

[She somehow manages to have the self-restraint not to sigh. This is probably better than she'd expected anyway.]

Oh, fine. I won't even peek and lie about it.

[She tosses aside the robe and dips herself into the bath, settling into a corner seat and closing her eyes.]

[scourgingstars]

[It was, admittedly, a few steps in the right direction. Ardyn sank into the bath up to his neck a few seconds later, wearing a pair of black shorts, a wide arrangement of scars, and a thick aura of insecurity.]

[...Still, progress was progress.]

[necromanswers]

[Precisely thirty seconds later she cracks an eye open, then two, hands lifting together in a little golf clap, a satisfied smile crossing her lips. His scars would be near-impossible to miss, but she neither reacts nor comments on them.]

Heyyy, look at you! That's a pretty big step, yeah?

[scourgingstars]

[He smiled awkwardly with a small laugh, folding his arms over his chest.]

Perhaps it is. But this is...nice, honestly.

[necromanswers]

Lup strikes again as being the bastion of wise choices when it comes to Good Experiences, in other words. You're welcome.

[scourgingstars]

How foolish of me to ever question you, of course.

[necromanswers]

I'll forgive you.

[She stretches a leg out, idly crossing it over the other.]

So you're sold on the hot spring concept, you're just not a fan of the unknown company?

[scourgingstars]

It's more that I just...don't want people seeing me like this. In the same vein as the whole...

[He unfolded his arms for a slight gesture indicating his face.]

...just less immediately horrifying.

[necromanswers]

[Well, she could dance around it, or-]

You know, some people are into scars.

[-she could say shit like that.]

I knew a guy who was super proud of his, would show 'em off every chance he got. Lots of folks liked him- people are into confidence, too.

[scourgingstars]

[...Honestly, the casual bluntness was so very like her that it was almost comforting. She definitely had a point about confidence, even if Ardyn didn't have much himself.]

I don't really have any reason to be proud of mine. They're an unfortunate reminder given in betrayal. [He kept his back to the wall but straightened up just a little as he spoke; a collection of stabs, slashes, and a pair ominously circling both ankles painted a dark and unfortunate picture.]

I wouldn't know how to feel confident about something like this--it's difficult enough to merely allow anyone to see them.

[necromanswers]

Pride doesn't have to come from great deeds or anything like that. You can be proud of something as simple as surviving the injury that your scars come from.

[She's seen enough wounds in her life to recognize what sort of attack those scars might have come from, and is aware of his backstory to the extent that she can fill in a few of the missing pieces. What he feels is valid, it isn't wrong- but that doesn't mean he has to be ashamed of his body.

She lifts her leg up out of the water, running a finger along her calf.]

This here was so stupid- Taako hurt his leg screwing around with a sword too heavy for us to lift, and I freaked out that we wouldn't be identical anymore, so I tried to copy his scar on myself. Just kids being dumb, nothing special, but the aftermath is the only memory I have left of our mother. Scars are reminders of our history, carved into our bodies so we never forget.

[scourgingstars]

[Ardyn listened in silence, starting to fidget nervously with scarred hands.]

That's rather sweet, actually. [Somnus hadn't been his twin, but another piece of his own heart in a similar sort of way. But that just made it bother Ardyn more, knowing who had given him the whole arrangement carved in his skin.]

...I've forgotten most things I should have remembered, and little of positive note remains. Better memories of my brother have been lost to time and resentment, and my own history is now just faded patchwork recollection.

[necromanswers]

That happens, over time. It sucks, but it's part of being as old as bones. That's why it's important to keep making new memories, though- give the past the middle finger if you don't like what's there. Shove off the bullshit, it doesn't deserve your attention. Hell, get really good at lying, so you can make up better stories about the scars you hate. Believe me when I say you've got options.

[scourgingstars]

...I do envy that confidence. I might like to try learning a bit of it myself.

[necromanswers]

What do you think you're doing right now?

[scourgingstars]

...Feeling despondent?

[the usual]

[necromanswers]

[exCUSE

She uses her foot to splash water at him.]

[scourgingstars]

H-hey-! Alright, what are we doing, then?

[necromanswers]

Making a new memory, dumbass.

[She likes you, but keep up.]

Though, we do need to come up with a way to make it especially memorable... that part's tricky. Most memories don't like to be artificially created.

[scourgingstars]

I suppose that you're right, forcing it would do little good for either of us. Even so, was there anything in mind?

[necromanswers]

Hmm...

[What to do, what to do...]

Well, you said you'd like to learn, didn't you? So pick a scar. Let's spin some bullshit.

[scourgingstars]

Oh--a-alright. [Thinking it over, he hesitantly raised one hand slightly.]

What about these? Those are the only ones anyone would see on an average day.

[necromanswers]

[She honestly half-expected him to refuse, so when he lifts a hand she quirks a brow and scoots closer, her own hand raised. Should he allow it, she'll hold it gently to examine them.]

Do you remember how they actually happened? A good lie is one that skirts the truth while being distant enough that someone can't guess it.