Lets not be too hasty~ (Tags Avu and Rii)

[Rei]

Ow, ow, ow. Those where Darmori’s first actually completely coherent thoughts as he woke up. What in Faranth’s name had happened to him? He felt kind of like he had been run over or something. Or maybe got really drunk. Never mind that he didn’t drink. Shifting he noticed a very large warmth at his back. One that gave a concerned croon. Darmosk. Below him was the hard stone floor of the apartments and upon his shoulder was a large pale yellow presence that gave a hiss and spoke softly and privately to him. The first words she had uttered since Imp left. Mori okay? Big ugly make fall. Take Rookone. A soft hiss voiced to the bed above as the bronzehandler shifted. Ow. He obviously had hit his shoulder in the fall to the floor. Nice. A quick check over told him that besides the shoulder he was pretty much okay. Maybe a bruise or two. As the teen sat up Harmony dug her claws into his skin and he winced before gently moving her to his lap. He was at least half dressed to he noticed. His pants still in place just his shirt missing. Argh.

Hands scrambled around on the floor for his shirt before Harmony’s words finally sunk completely in and Darmori froze. Big ugly took Rook’s huh? Finally he remembered or at least kinda did. Tekivisk had ran and Konstask had been there, so naturally Kostya would have been. But hadn’t Darmosk caught? And he was now vaguely recalling some shoving and…. Great just great. On one hand. Yay, that meant he didn’t just end up tangled with his roommate and friend. On the other? Now the handler had to deal with Kostya and he was pretty sure the guy hated him for reasons completely beyond the bronze handler. On top of that…was Vix even okay? Darmori knew what it was like to wake up with someone after a run, (thank you Mony) and well, it wasn’t pleasant. At least not in his opinion. And he had even been lucky enough that the other half was a woman. It had been more awkward than anything else but definitely not what he would call pleasant. So sue him, he was now really worried about his friend.

With sudden determination the teen placed Harmony on Darmosk and then crawled toward the bed. Thankfully being a handler had definitely improved his night vision and he reached out to briefly poke who he knew to be Vix in the arm. “Hey Vix. Are you okay? Are you awake?” Came the slow whispered words his concern, sadly, very obvious. A brief worried look was sent in Kostya’s direction. Hopefully he was still asleep.

Darmosk in turn was more content than anything else and didn’t really share his handler’s obvious concern. Silly humans. His head brushed in another caress against Tekivisk and he crooned softly to her. He did not mind being a pillow for her. At all. His however seemed concerned. A brief yawn as the bronze again half lidded his eyes, his tail curling about his smaller sister. Was hers okay? The large wher moved his gaze to the bed and the human’s tangled upon it. Originally he had been upset to see his handler curled up on the floor but that upset had fled when he had proceeded to curl close to his chosen to warm him. Still a lingering of that upset was there and Darmosk did not know exactly where it belonged.

[Avu]

He was fairly certain that he really had been asleep, really truly gone (or maybe he’d just blacked out or something), at some point, but for a kind of unknown space of time he’d just been kind of half-conscious and half-not. That didn’t entirely explain why he didn’t leap five feet out of the bed and flee the room, and vague unformed wisps of reasons kept drifting across his mind, making very little sense when Vix tried to actually pin them down. If he didn’t move it could all go away—hadn’t happened—hmm, warm—still sleepy—why was there only—hmm. Just…warm. Besides, he couldn’t really feel his toes yet and wasn’t that a perfectly acceptable reason, not wanting to concuss himself trying to get out the door, to stay put?

Vix had one arm slung over his face and eyes, in what he could only assume was an attempt to turn off the light of the glows. Not that it worked. A slight amusement, almost giddiness, that he blamed entirely on Tekivisk; her elation made it hard to truly hyperventilate in panic because, yeah, no, he actually hadn’t done anything even remotely sexual before, not even a kiss, and wasn’t that sad, not to mention that he hadn’t even been willing to accept bisexuality. And now…well, he rationalized, feeling detached and remote and maybe a lot hysterical, when it came to body warmth, there wasn’t really a gender factor there…

A poke.

Vix’s fingers twitched vividly, the greenhandler dropping his arm from his face slightly, peering over his hand anxiously. Darmori. Wait—what. So that was what had felt off—Darmosk had Caught Tekivisk and Darmori had not…been there so just what—forced awake, Vix sat bolt upright, forgetting how closely he’d squirmed to Kostya and his nudity. At least, until the coldness of the air hit him and he turned bright red and snatched for the covers, attempting to regain at least the barest hint of modesty. Which was currently impossible. That didn’t mean Vix gave up, though, trying to wrap the furs entirely around him, cover-hogging be damned.

“I’m awake,” he replied blankly, because pointing out the obvious was always a good start, swallowed around the roughness in his voice. “I. Uh.” He absolutely did not want to inform Darmori that no, he was not okay because he kind of hurt in places he generally ignored outside of hygiene, but he didn’t want to lie either. And Vix was sure in a horrified, petrified kind of way that it would show anyway if he tried to laugh it off and walk away because yeah, no. Ow. Instead he opted to, trying to pretend that he was not bright red, turn the question around on Darmori, “What about you—what happened?”

And okay, the minute that question came out he wished it back, because he was about ninety-nine percent sure he really did not want to know the answer to that.

Tekivisk’s head lifted up from Darmosk’s side at the sudden wave of ohmyfuck emanating from Vix, a quizzical chirp warbling from her throat. What was wrong, was Konstask’s not warm anymore? Her tail curled around Darmosk’s as she dipped her head sideways to brush her muzzle across her green sister’s side—was loathe to let either of them out of her sight for long, so happy with them both. With them all, even Pidesk. So nice, all of it, except for Darmosk’s at the end—she couldn’t figure out why he hadn’t been with Hers and Konstask’s, but she thought that was maybe okay, since Darmosk hadn’t seemed terribly worried.

[rii]

He had been quite comfortable.

Kostya's arm fell away from where it had been draped over Vix's chest. The pale eyes slitted, a thin sliver of blue between lashes as he briefly took in the scene. Vix's back blocked view of Damori - and vica versa - but it didn't tune out the voices. Kostya let his eyes close, let them think he was still sleeping. In truth he hadn't even begun to drift off, content to just soak up every bit of skin that touched and having his fellow green handler cuddling back up to him. It would be a moment short in occurrence, likely to never be repeated because Kostya was willing to bet that Vix was going to freak out. Come on, the kid had avoided him for months after a single night of sleeping in the same bed.

Damori's presence didn't help matters either. Oh how utterly sweet, Goldilocks was ever so concerned about his room mate. Thank you. Kostya was more than sure he could handle it; and not make Vix feel overly awkward, ashamed, or on the verge of panic about the whole ordeal. But, oh yes, Kostya gave a half smile as he shifted to bend an arm under his head, not all that worried about the hogged blankets nearly leaving him completely bare. He was ever so curious to hear Damori's version of past events. The kid, when possessed by the personality of his wher, really didn't put up much of a fight being denied what should have been his.

Sorry, whers be damned, Damori had no claim and hell if Kostya was going to give up his claim because of some nuisance run. Tch..

Konstask, unlike her handler, had been well into a doze when Tekivisk's muzzle brushed her side. Uttering a soft rumble of a purr, the darker green shifted closer to her sister. Habit really, they often curled up together to sleep or just soak up each other's attention. The scent of Damorsk so close, though, made the green's eyes flutter open. Why was he still there?

She yawned widely in his direction, tail tip beginning to twitch as the feelings began to trickle in from her handlers. Annoyance, thought she couldn't rationalize why, but it was directed at the bronze - something about him intruding where he was not welcome. He had fulfilled his role, and now it was time for him to disappear. Konstask, however, merely tucked her head in next to Tekivisk's and closed her eyes. Too tired to deal with all these stranger matters. Her muscles were sore from the lovely run. Sleep now, she'd deal with the rest later.

[Rei]

Darmori almost skittered back from the bed as Vix suddenly sat up and scrambled to cover himself. To be polite the bronzehandler averted his eyes although he was well used to nudity. He had been born at the weyr after all. Lived here his whole life with the lower cavern staff. That sort of stuff never really bothered him but the teen was well aware that it did bother other people. With his roommate now at least covered a little the bronze handler was able to return his gaze to the older boys face. The question however kind of surprised Darmori and he blinked almost in confusion before he tried to wrap his mind about a suitable answer. To be honest he wasn’t completely sure what had happened. At least not totally the teen could recall bits and pieces but that was it. And really he didn’t even know if he wanted to know the whole thing.

Still Vix deserved an answer. Too bad Darmori took things rather literally most of the time “Uh….well I ended up on the floor so obviously I was the unwanted third wheel?” It was a poor attempt at a joke and immediately he regretted it especially when it caused Darmosk to give a grumble of irritation. In all honesty it was really the truth though. The handler was sure he had tried to participate, he had just been denied and ended up on the floor with a probably wrenched shoulder. “I guess after being ousted continually I just gave up.” Darmori bit his bottom lip and rubbed the back of his head. “Woke up on the floor with my shoulder killing me and....” He just noticed how dry and coppery feeling his mouth was. “I just woke up like a minute ago and thought I’d check on you cause I was worried.” He offered a small hesitant smile and then dropped his gaze.

Darmosk stiffened and a grumble left his throat as his spoke but it quickly quieted when Tekivisk wound her tail about his. Dipping his head he nudged along her back. His would have been there had he been allowed. His gaze went pointedly to Kostya before he caught Konstask looking at him and the bronze wuffed at her softly. Sorry to disappoint but he wasn’t going anywhere. To display this fact Darmosk leaned more heavily against Tekivisk and draped his head slightly across her back. He still liked both his sisters and he wasn’t quite sure why Konstask had a problem with his presence but he was wasn’t one to create waves. So he chose to ignore her for the most part. Tekivisk was more than happy with his presence anyway. Thus he focused on that.

[Avu]

He didn’t notice Kostya waking up, but considering Vix was currently having a mild panic attack, it was probably a little incredible he’d even noticed that Tekivisk was, indeed, in the room. For the moment, though, everyone except Darmori was being ignored—dark eyes had fixed onto his roommate, and his cheeks darkened further at the bronzehandler’s attempt at a joke, lips parting in a soundless protest. Being the ‘unwanted third wheel’ (while Vix really didn’t want to think about waking up with a roommate that was just a kid) implied that he had wanted Kostya and he hadn’t, except that apparently he had because he was vaguely, nauseatingly under the impression that he’d made some highly humiliating noises. And begged, probably.

And—well, he was actually kind of glad Darmori had apparently been unaware of that. Didn’t do much to loosen the growing embarrassment, but, “Oh…” And because that seemed kind of inadequate, “Fuck.” Vix didn’t really know where to go from there, though. Which, apparently, meant his brain went on autopilot, because the next words from his mouth were, “Um, thanks. For—you know, checking. On me.” Open mouth, insert foot: Maneuver complete. But. Thank Faranth Darmori didn’t remember. And hadn’t just—he didn’t even know, watched or something, he still had to share a room with the kid.

Vix blinked awkwardly, turning his head to peer across the floor intently to avoid looking at Darmori. Or Tekivisk. Or Darmosk. Or Konstask. And—oh. Kostya. His spine stiffened a little; now what. Couldn’t just leave Kostya there because, yeah, speaking of rooms, it wasn’t his. “Pants,” Vix opted to suggest articulately, because at least the fact that he really, really wanted clothes made sense, “Could you, uh. Have you seen…?” He squinted unhappily, couldn’t help wishing he could just go to sleep and never, ever wake up—at least he’d be warm, and he was pretty sure he’d never been this mortified in his dreams.

Tekivisk leaned comfortably against Darmosk, her head still nuzzled next to Konstask. Didn’t think anything of it, to be near her favorite clutchsiblings; the prickle of animosity was lost on her. It was just nice, being in the middle. She hummed, tail curling comfortingly across Darmosk’s flank; she didn’t understand human mating rituals (didn’t see how Konstask’s could have Run Hers since they were both greens, weren’t they), but Hers was awake now and Hers was terribly fond of His. It’d be okay, now, promise. Just…they could sleep more now? So tired, wasn’t he tired too…

[rii]

Uh. Oh. Uhm. Well, weren't those two just the epitome of awkwardness.

Kostya, having let his eyes open, found them narrowing back into slits as Damori spoke. What a sad little sap, all mopey about getting cock-blocked. Yeah, well, Vix probably didn't want to wake up next to Damori anyway. Or him for that matter, but because it had to be someone, Kostya thought himself the better choice. Arrogant much? Their small exchange though, made the irritation rise enough behind his calm mask to make Konstask begin to stir restlessly on the floor as if she couldn't find a comfortable position.

Shifting into a sitting position, legs over the edge of the bed. Kostya found where he has left his pants – pulling them on as he stood. "As if it's not already enough that he has to deal with, why don't you go ahead and make him feel guilty while you're at it." The words, and cold sliver of a glare was directed at Damori. Fucking bleeding hearts all over the floor. Kostya doubled, picking up Vix's pants and tossing them to land next to the younger green handler. He was pretty sure Vix's shirt was still out in the hallway. Damori's though, Kostya picked this up too and shoved it into the owner's bare chest, just barely able to keep from snarling at the kid.

Kostya could have dealt with everything - with Vix's panic - just fine. Yet something about – no, just no. He wasn't going to get into it at the moment. He pushed slightly at Damori; wanting to knock the damn fool off his feet, but not putting the strength behind it. "You should get your shoulder looked at." Because Kostya could claim he wasn't responsible for actions done under the influence of his wher, right? Even though Konstask was acting on his desires, not the other way around. Details, details; no one needed to know about those. Without so much as saying another word to the other two, Kostya stepped out of the room.. to go find Vix's shirt.

Konstasks had finally picked up her head up, gazing over the other two whers at her handler with a muted trill of worry. She didn't understand, but the anger rolling down the bond made her want to shrink into the corner and curl in on herself. It had something to do with his sister and her brother and she didn't understand. Maybe she had done something wrong. Love, wait for her, what was wrong. Dipping her head, and tail all but dragging on the floor, Konstask skulked after her handler.

[Rei]

His eyes remained trained on the floor for a few minutes before Vix started speaking again. Darmori raised his head to catch a glimpse of at least a little of his roommate. The blush didn’t go unnoticed and it made him a tad uncomfortable solely because his roommate was remaining uncomfortable. This was really the picture of awkward wasn’t it? On top of that it didn’t seem to be getting any better. Darn. The bronze handler hazarded a small smile at Vix. “No problem. It’s what friends do right.” A one shouldered shrug before the green handler went on about pants. Oh yeah right. Pants. That might be helpful. As soon as Darmori started searching for them though there was movement from the other occupant of the bed and the teen froze in place. He wasn’t sure completely why, but he suddenly got the feeling that he was in trouble for some reason. Thus almost instinctively he retreated back into drudge mode trying to make himself look as small and as invisible as possible.

Kostya’s words made the bronze handler inwardly wince but he kept the feeling from outwardly manifesting. Instead Darmori’s face went carefully and completely blank and he kept his gaze on the floor to avoid the cold look shot his way. It was always better to take punishment this way, because if you didn’t react to much they often got bored and left. Obedience and acceptance. It was what he learned in the lower cavern. You did what you where told and you accepted what you where given. The shirt thus was accepted with a soft “Thanks” and little more. The bronze handler certainly didn’t raise his head. In the back of his mind the teen felt Darmosk’s irritation growing and he had to grit his teeth against the feeling. A sharp mental, No!, given to his wher who was growing increasingly upset with the whole situation.

When Kostya left Darmori hazarded a slightly nervous glance at Vix. “I um didn’t mean to piss him off?” He fidgeted with his shirt before shoving it over his head. “Sorry if I made this weirder. I know what it’s like. Harmony gave me a front row seat. It uh…gets easier if you let it I guess.” Yeah it kind of did cause really this time he wasn’t as upset as he had been the first time it had happened. Then again this time he didn’t really end up bedding anyone either so….

Darmosk gave a soft croon to Tekivisk and had just lowered his head when Konstask’s started to move. His eyes followed the larger male with care the barest rumble starting in his chest as the man shoved his in the chest. However the sound was only audible to the ones closest to him so low was it. His bonded’s command had the bronze stiffening and he huffed in annoyance. His head brushed along Tekivisk’s and he left it there beside his sister’s. Yes he was tired. She was right. The little inkling of peace did not last however. Konstask’s movement made the large male give a sigh. The last little bit of peace seemed to be broken. Darmosk was a little more than sure that the darker of his sisters leaving would upset Tekivisk and that was irritating. Did humans have to make everything complicated. For once the large bronze’s good humor was wearing thin.

[Avu]

Since when had he been awake.

Vix actually jumped in surprise at the shift beside him, whipping his head around instinctively, vague ineffectual attempts at reaching his pants without actually getting out of the bed forgotten. But—his eyes narrowed at Kostya’s movements—apparently he was going to be talked about like he wasn’t even there. It didn’t help that Darmori was his friend, even if Vix didn’t show that much past snippy fretting and fussing, and just—he grabbed his pants, jerking them on as fast as he could without mooning everyone in the room, momentarily distracting himself from the other two. At least, until Darmori spoke to him again, sounding apologetic.

Like it was his fault Kostya woke up in a foul mood. Or—or whatever. Even if he’d overheard the entire exchange, what was so bad. “’S not your fault,” he assured Darmori, a little preoccupied with his irritation, “Don’t worry.” He shoved himself off of the bed and was only halfway to the door when his legs informed him, not so politely, that no, actually, they would not like to operate smoothly today, thank you for asking. Vix was mildly pleased that he didn’t just run himself onto the ground, considering that he hadn’t expected it to hurt like that, instead swallowing as he caught the doorframe, having gone the remainder of the way to the door on momentum alone.

He caught Kostya by the belt loop of his pants. Probably get punched in the face or something judging on how Kostya was treating Darmori (but then, he’d never really seen Kostya and Darmori together before, so how they got along regularly he had no idea—did know that Kostya didn’t regularly ignore him, though), but Vix was angry enough that the risk didn’t really factor much into his mind. It probably should’ve. He probably also should’ve considered just what he was planning on saying, because randomly chasing somebody and grabbing them by their pants (not his fault there was no where else convenient to grab) usually needed a good explanation.

Vix’s was, “Where are you going?”

And he didn’t even sound angry, just a mixture of bewilderment and irritation, and that kind of just made Vix angrier; since when couldn’t he sound appropriately angry? Vix let go of Kostya, his hand joining the other on the doorframe, and his mouth twitched downwards into a kind of sulky frown, “At least don’t make Konstask go—‘ki likes her there,” which was as close as he’d ever get to saying that he kind of maybe liked Kostya’s company. Not if he was going to be ignored, though.

Please, Tekivisk put in quietly; the green coiled closer to Darmosk, loathe to follow her sister and risk her Bonded’s anger, disappointed to see Konstask leave. Her muzzle nuzzled Darmosk’s side, her shoulder bumping lightly against his side as she repositioned herself closer to the bronze, tail curling over his legs and one wing tucked between their bodies. Wide-eyed, she peered past Darmosk towards the door, flicked an apologetic look at Darmori—so sorry, she murmured tentatively to him, about…about everything; she hadn’t meant…it wasn’t supposed to be like that, even if she didn’t know what it was supposed to be.

They were supposed to be happy, though. All of them.

[rii]

Kostya's eyes narrowed at the tug at his waist, wholly expecting to see Damori there as he turned around. The look softened, slightly, as the words and face made it clear it wasn't the bronze handler standing in the doorway. Instead it was Vix, sulking and having to use the wood as a brace. Got all the way out of bed and across the room to stop him, the action merited a fair amount of acknowledgment. Still, even if Kostya might have said something, his jaw firmed as he looked beyond Vix to Damori, wasn't going to talk to Vix – as he normally did – with a witness around.

He moved, backwards, a few more steps before cocking his head to the side. A brief glance lowered to Konstask's submissive approach, and he smoothed his fingers along her snout to assure her that nothing was wrong - just grumpy at losing his bed warmer. She knew he didn't like to sleep alone. White lies, but Konstask accepted them as easily as she always did. Kostya turned away, still silent, and took the last few steps to pick up Vix's discarded shirt ( An eager runlust Vix had shed it before they could reach the room), then turned back around to carefully approach the occupied doorway.

After shaking it out to the side, and flicking off a patch of stubborn dust, Kostya held it up to the younger green handler. "You wanted your clothes," He spoke softly, purposely to make it sound apologetic, doubling it as an effort to exclude Damori from the conversation. No reply was given to the comment about the whers. Kostya knew, full and well, the effect that Tekivisk could have on Vix's mood. If he ever wanted to hurt the kid, he knew exactly how to go about it. Yet, his dislike for Damori's presence (not really him specifically, just that he was there at that moment), had already translated over to Konstask to leave the wher declining to rejoin her siblings.

Almost felt spiteful enough to point out that Tekivisk had Damorsk, there wasn't room enough for a third. Kostya gave Vix a last searching look before slipping back into the room to find his own discarded piece of clothing. As much as he didn't want to hear the every so heartfelt exchange between the two awkward kids, Kostya sat on the edge of the bed and quietly turned his shirt right side out. This was him being good and not running Damori off. He was allowing goldilocks to linger, albeit awkwardly, and share his sentiments about caring – not that Kostya wouldn't have done his own version of it. He just didn't like people around, other than the target of his attention, to hear it.

"Do you want me to find your shoes? I think they got left outside.."

[Rei]

Biting his bottom lip hard enough to cause pain Darmori dropped his gaze from Vix and gave a short nod. “Okay.” Don’t worry? But, but, he wasn’t trying to worry. It was just that the whole situation felt a bit wrong. The blonde watched his roommate almost stagger to the door and gave one soft noise of protest before quieting again. The green handler seemed determined and although the bronze hander was really worried about him it was obvious Vix was on a mission. It just wouldn’t be right to interrupt. Thus the teen just smoothed out his shirt and then tried to roll his shoulder hissing at the pain the movement caused.

No it wasn’t right to eavesdrop but as Darmori started towards the whers he kept an ear on the other two handlers. Drawing close to the wher pair he gave Darmosk a gentle soothing mind brushed before kneeling down and throwing him arms around Tekivisk’s neck in a brief hug. Moving his arms up to rub the wher’s head he smiled at her. “You have no reason to be sorry Ki. Good girl. Everything will be fine. Humans are just silly about things sometimes. You did nothing wrong.” The words where a mumbled soothing whisper though he was sure the green could hear him just fine.

Darmori never had to feel weird around the whers. They where simple. A brief look back at the two green handlers. People on the other hand where a whole new can of worms. Sometimes he wondered why he even bothered trying to have friends at all. One worried look thrown at Vix before the teen half hid behind the two whers as Kostya reentered. It was painfully obvious the other guy didn’t want him here. So why was the bronze handler lingering? Because Vix was his roommate and friend and he wanted to be sure the green handler was okay. Yes that was it. A final pat to Tekivisk’s head and a brief trailing of fingers down his bronze’s neck before Darmori rose from the floor again and made his way back over to the doorway. “You want some help back into the room?” A almost mumbled offer, his eyes going back to Kostya at the offer to find Vix’s shoes.

Darmosk allowed his sister to tangle herself with him. No complaint voiced at all. No quite the opposite, a soothing croon offered before he nuzzled along Tekivisk’s neck and back. No one was upset. His was just worried about hers. That was all. Everything was going to be okay. He was still very tired however. A brief glance given to his darker sister before the bronze gave Konstask a soft wuff and a light mind brush. She was more than welcome if she wanted to return. A lazy tail flick before the bronze curled the extra long appendage around his mate, brushing it soothingly over her hide.

[Avu]

Oh. Clothes, right. Vix blinked, still leaning against the door (he planned on testing just how much freedom of movement he had left later. Alone). Reached out to take his shirt from Kostya, though, turning it right-way forwards and pulling it over his head with one elbow pressing against the wall throughout the maneuver; still slightly sleep-dazed meant balance was negligible at best. Vix took an entirely unnecessary moment to attempt to pull the shirt into some semblance of unwrinkled once he’d gotten it on, gave up a minute later and decided that leaning against the doorway was probably the best option. He’d already decided he wasn’t going to sit down for a week. Or walk.

“Thanks,” equally soft, though that was less due to Darmori’s presence and more because Vix was just uncomfortable with gratitude at all. He stole a glance at Darmori, shrugged at Kostya’s offer. “I don’t need them.” It wasn’t like he was going to, you know. Walk. Anywhere. “Can get them later.” Gun-shy, his gaze skittered back towards Tekivisk again, lips thinning uncertainly. Wasn’t fair to keep Darmori there; the younger boy was probably feeling ten kinds of awkward—but his presence kept a wall between Vix and Kostya (one he wasn’t exactly comfortable with, but Vix figured he’d be even less comfortable with pillow talk) and—they were friends. It was reassuring.

In a very fucked up way, but still.

Tekivisk, at least, was happy enough with Darmori’s presence that the green uncurled her head from Darmosk’s back, nuzzling into the bronzehandler with a soft happy noise. One of her favorite people in the world, this one. Different from Hers, different from Konstask’s, but the best kind of different there was. She huffed, a warm breath across Darmori’s shoulder, and then licked at the line of his jaw—a slobbery, affectionate lick. The green turned in his arms, nuzzling her body against his quietly; this was the one who had comforted her whenever Hers couldn’t, after all. Sorry she was that he had been hurt—sorry that they couldn’t get along. But it could be fixed. It could.

The green licked his jaw again as the bronzehandler stood, nuzzling back into Darmosk again quietly. She didn’t understand why Konstask didn’t like him; didn’t like that her two favorites didn’t like each other, even. Would never—though Tekivisk didn’t know if she was trying to reassure Darmosk or herself—never choose between them.

Vix dipped his head slightly at Darmori’s approach. And at his words, turned red—he knew it’d been obvious, but—“I. Um. The door’s, you know. It’s fine. I’m fine. Thanks.” The gratitude was genuine, but it was probably kind of hard to tell. Vix patted the doorframe vaguely with one hand, like it was a favorite pet. Which it wasn’t. But it was supporting a lot of his weight at the moment, so that had to count for something. “I. Just, what now, exactly, now that…” Too soon to finish that question, but the flick of his hand towards Tekivisk and Darmosk made it clear enough—as did the glance that flicked towards Kostya, though the question was intended for Darmori too.

But things changed more, didn’t they, with Kostya. And Vix hadn’t anticipated that. Why would he; Konstask was green.