[It's rare that Cater calls. Almost always, he communicates via text. This time, though, something's different. He won't leave a voicemail, trusting instead that Rayne will pick up the phone if he's free and sees Cater's ID on the screen.]
[Oh, he's not wrong. Cater needs help with something, alright, though it most certainly isn't what Rayne's expecting. In fact, Cater gives a laugh at the question, though he sounds...a little breathless.]
I just wanted to hear your voice. What are you wearing?
( it's been a few days since... well, since. usually, cloud would have just showed up on rayne's doorstep, but like that first time, they really don't know each other well enough. so, a message is more than fine. )
Hey, it's Cloud. How are you doing?
( no need to elaborate. rayne knows what he's referring to. )
[ Rayne isn't sure how to reply-- For one, his mental state wasn't exactly the greatest, but on that same note, it wasn't because of what had happened. There were other things - too many to name. Cloud had taken great care to make sure he would come down from the drug, had cared for him after the fact, and... ]
Hey. I was sore for a day or two. Fine now.
[ ... Cloud better not be asking after his emotional state because that's a whole thing. No thanks. ]
Thank you. For helping. You were very diligent and attentive.[ How very... eloquent. He's great with words. At least he's blunt with them? ]
( maybe he should just leave it alone. they don't owe each other anything, and the gift rayne had made him is tucked away with the singular materia he'd arrived in the city with. of course he wouldn't throw it away, but trying to have a conversation over these devices is making it a lot harder than it has to be. )
Is that really it? You don't have to thank me for what happened.
[ Maybe a little too snappy there. He realizes this after he sent it. The little typing symbol pops up again, before Rayne erases that next message. This happens several times before the next one comes in. ]
I'm not the best at using my words. In any capacity. Texting is difficult. Harder for me to understand what you even mean. Can you just come out and ask what it is you want to know?
[ Better? Maybe. He just hopes he doesn't come off as a little bit bratty. ]
he's not the best with words either, and trying to talk to rayne and be proactive about talking about what happened between them is a new level of difficult he hadn't thought he'd ever have to broach. but here they are. )
You know what I mean. I pushed you too hard. So... how are you feeling?
( because cloud can't imagine what his mental state is after all that. )
[ ... There it was. Laid out in front of them. Words on a screen, pointing out the obvious that Rayne was trying so hard to avoid. ]
I was drugged beyond anything that either of us could handle.
[ Is that supposed to explain his feelings? ]
I was already not doing great before. It helped me forget that for a while.
Mortified that anyone saw me that desperate and needy. I do wish that we could have had a time where we could do that without city intervention of some sort. Before that. Then maybe I'd feel less mortified over it. Nothing we can do to change that.
Really, it's almost a net positive. I needed the time to stop thinking.
[ He learned he could trust Cloud too, didn't he? Not that they were going to become friends or anything after this. They might not even continue talking, once this conversation ended. Still, if the city shoves them together again for some reason, at least he'd be able to relax somewhat into it, to get through it. ]
[What carries more weight, the fact that there's no abbreviations or emojis in the sentiment, or the fact that this is during Tumenalia, and Cater is Crested? That is, if the effects of such designations even carried through texting. ]
[ Everything about this carries a weight. Each word, texted so simply and to the point - in a way that reminds him more of himself than Cater. And... knowing that Cater's Crested, something burns in him to comply, even if he already would want to. ]
[It was frustrating enough that he couldn't just have Rayne come over to his house. He texts Rayne the location of the closest hotel before heading out to meet him there--location hardly mattered, as long as he could see the other teen.
Wary of the gang activity even as a Crested, Cater clings tightly to his magical pen the whole way there, only relaxing when he catches sight of Rayne from the building's entrance. Before saying anything at all, he reaches out to grab the other boy by the back of the neck and bring him in for a kiss.]
[ The activity around was... concerning, to say the least, but Rayne's not all that concerned with it. He'd rather get to Cater as soon as possible, to be able to pull him in, to press his hands against him, to clutch him close--
He doesn't take his time, doesn't wander. He approaches Cater with ease, with the confidence of someone who knew what he was there for, knew who he was there to see. And, as he's brought in for a kiss, who is he to not comply? Their designations spoke for themselves, but more than that.
He wants to feel the other's lips on his. Rayne returns it easily, moving his hand from his pocket to instead reach out and grab at Cater's waist, to pull him a little closer. ]
[Happy Non-Descript Winter Holiday! Cater's dropping off a couple of gifts: a wrapped box containing a pair of earrings, and a red orchid that's been placed inside a bunny planter.
Two can play at the language of flowers game, Mr. Ames.]
[At some point early in the day, Finn will offer Rayne the meager gifts he picked out: a stationary set and pens to match. As Rayne is looking them over with an undoubtedly characteristic deadpan expression he will stammer an explanation about how he thought that it would be helpful and motivating doing administrative paperwork for the business. Embarrassing!]
I think that I might end up getting hurt here no matter what either of us tries to do to stop it...
[Finn did not like pain, and while he did feel safe knowing that Rayne and now Mash were here to protect him...this city sure did find a way to get them all vulnerable despite their best efforts.]
I don't want you to feel like it's your fault, if I do.
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audio;
Hey--are you alone?
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Hello-
Yes...?
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[If he wasn't, Cater would've suggested he excuse himself.]
What are you doing right now?
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Why? Is something the matter? You usually send messages, not call.
[ It's clear he's like, 100% sure Cater might need help with something. ]
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I just wanted to hear your voice. What are you wearing?
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One of my button ups. Black slacks-- I just got home from work. Why are you asking?
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text ; un: strife
Hey, it's Cloud.
How are you doing?
( no need to elaborate. rayne knows what he's referring to. )
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For one, his mental state wasn't exactly the greatest, but on that same note, it wasn't because of what had happened. There were other things - too many to name. Cloud had taken great care to make sure he would come down from the drug, had cared for him after the fact, and... ]
Hey.
I was sore for a day or two. Fine now.
[ ... Cloud better not be asking after his emotional state because that's a whole thing. No thanks. ]
Thank you.
For helping. You were very diligent and attentive. [ How very... eloquent. He's great with words. At least he's blunt with them? ]
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Is that really it?
You don't have to thank me for what happened.
( there's no room for it anymore. )
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[ Maybe a little too snappy there. He realizes this after he sent it. The little typing symbol pops up again, before Rayne erases that next message. This happens several times before the next one comes in. ]
I'm not the best at using my words. In any capacity. Texting is difficult. Harder for me to understand what you even mean. Can you just come out and ask what it is you want to know?
[ Better? Maybe. He just hopes he doesn't come off as a little bit bratty. ]
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he's not the best with words either, and trying to talk to rayne and be proactive about talking about what happened between them is a new level of difficult he hadn't thought he'd ever have to broach. but here they are. )
You know what I mean.
I pushed you too hard. So... how are you feeling?
( because cloud can't imagine what his mental state is after all that. )
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I was drugged beyond anything that either of us could handle.
[ Is that supposed to explain his feelings? ]
I was already not doing great before. It helped me forget that for a while.
Mortified that anyone saw me that desperate and needy.
I do wish that we could have had a time where we could do that without city intervention of some sort. Before that. Then maybe I'd feel less mortified over it. Nothing we can do to change that.
Really, it's almost a net positive. I needed the time to stop thinking.
[ He learned he could trust Cloud too, didn't he? Not that they were going to become friends or anything after this. They might not even continue talking, once this conversation ended. Still, if the city shoves them together again for some reason, at least he'd be able to relax somewhat into it, to get through it. ]
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un: craycray; text;
[What carries more weight, the fact that there's no abbreviations or emojis in the sentiment, or the fact that this is during Tumenalia, and Cater is Crested? That is, if the effects of such designations even carried through texting. ]
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[ Everything about this carries a weight. Each word, texted so simply and to the point - in a way that reminds him more of himself than Cater. And... knowing that Cater's Crested, something burns in him to comply, even if he already would want to. ]
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Wary of the gang activity even as a Crested, Cater clings tightly to his magical pen the whole way there, only relaxing when he catches sight of Rayne from the building's entrance. Before saying anything at all, he reaches out to grab the other boy by the back of the neck and bring him in for a kiss.]
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He doesn't take his time, doesn't wander. He approaches Cater with ease, with the confidence of someone who knew what he was there for, knew who he was there to see. And, as he's brought in for a kiss, who is he to not comply? Their designations spoke for themselves, but more than that.
He wants to feel the other's lips on his. Rayne returns it easily, moving his hand from his pocket to instead reach out and grab at Cater's waist, to pull him a little closer. ]
Holiday Delivery
Two can play at the language of flowers game, Mr. Ames.]
Gift Giving
text -> u/n: honeybee:
rayne being an idiot for 10 years
[ How does this help with Kaldo's request? ... It just does, in Rayne's head, ok? ]
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[ It isn't a no, of course. Kaldo is happy to help in that situation. ]
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[ in, like, 6 days. ]
We haven't been able to have a proper celebration for a few years.
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[ He sounds clueless even just over text man- ]
mistlefoe continuation
I think that I might end up getting hurt here no matter what either of us tries to do to stop it...
[Finn did not like pain, and while he did feel safe knowing that Rayne and now Mash were here to protect him...this city sure did find a way to get them all vulnerable despite their best efforts.]
I don't want you to feel like it's your fault, if I do.