An SOS to the world [Vix]

[rii]

Again Vix took that retreating step backwards and, again, Kostya had to hold back on the impulse to pursue the younger man. Neither the time, nor the place, for such play. Instead he let the shiver show at the loss of body heat due to the distancing. He curled his arms around his chest, quietly pleased with Vix's encouragement to let Tekivisk run with Konstask.. not refute the use of we.. all this even after appearing to disapprove of Kostya's not-so-subtle implications. Not that he had actually voiced anything, Vix's mind had been the one to finish venturing down that particular path..

Not that Vix was by any means wrong with any possible assumptions.

His pale eyes met Vix's defiant ones with ease, inner feline purring with the challenge the younger handler presented. Even as the whers took off along the riverside, Kostya patiently waited for Vix to be the one to finally turn and stalk after the greens. Kostya followed at leisure, shaking out his shirt as they walked..

A good thing Vix was so keen on not looking, because otherwise he might have noticed the impish delight broadening the smile on Kostya's face. In the next instance the shirt found it's way over Vix's head and half way down his torso and arms. Made a nice trap to keep those elbows temporarily at bay. Kostya's gaze passed over Vix's ear, thoughtful, before lightly pushed the other male to keep their progress from completely halting. "Warmer if you put yours on too~"

Mirage emphasized these words by sending Vix images of blazing fires, piled furs... and ended with the earlier image of Vix turning the music box handle. Kostya lazily swatted at the white, who simply disappeared to appear on Vix'x head instead. "I have a feeling she's going to be stalking you for a while because of that."

Tekivisk might as well have been faster in that moment. Konstask's sprint soon turned to a slow trot, but instead of letting her limbs sag, the proud wher kept her head high and steps as graceful as possible despite the tired pull to her limbs. Racing around, wrestling, then swimming had taken it's toll. Where did her sister get so much energy! At least the weyr wasn't too far off now, she could see scent the well used path used to get into the caves that made up the wher handler apartments.

[Avu]

Later, he would adamantly deny the sound he made as the shirt came over his head: A mix between a startled squeak and a choked-off protest, Vix flinching automatically. He almost dropped Rook in his surprise, barely managed to catch the limp blue body in his fingers as he twisted awkwardly, pulling at the shirt with his free hand so his arms weren’t trapped. He was focused enough that he allowed Kostya to push him forward without resisting, though the glare he shot at the other male was obviously one of ruffled dignity, even though he was grateful. That didn’t stop him from whipping his own shirt in Kostya’s direction, letting the sleeves coil loosely around the other’s wrist.

“And what, you’re not freezing too? I had my own shirt. Don’t need yours. You should…put something on.” No, of course he didn’t care about Kostya’s well-being. Not at all. Right. Vix rolled his eyes upwards in an attempt to see Mirage, opting to entirely ignore that train of thought in favor of the one the white Salamandyr had so helpfully provided. A fire had never been quite so welcome before, he was sure. Of course, that was probably because he’d never gone swimming in the middle of winter, but. Still.

“I don’t mind. I like her.” The emphasis on the pronoun probably hadn’t been entirely necessary. Neither was the rather pointed look Vix swept over his shoulder at Kostya that followed the statement. It was ruined by another shiver, but the unspoken words were fairly obvious nevertheless – he liked Mirage. Her owner…not so much. Sure. Curling his fingers around Rook again, Vix tugged on the edges of the sleeves absently – too long for him, if only by a little. Well…that much warmer, right?

As soon as Tekivisk was aware that she’d outpaced Konstask and her sister had fallen into a slower pace, the smaller of the two greens stopped as well, turning around. Her mouth was opened, breath coming in quick pants. Tekivisk’s head tilted to one side, the green offering a brief, breathless hum to her sister. Almost there…and once they got there, they could be dried off and it would be so warmmm. She offered a wave of remembered warmth to her sister encouragingly. And sleep, too…yes. They could share Hers’ bed if Konstask wanted to…he didn’t mind~

(Never mind that Vix definitely did mind having a pile of wher in his bed. He never meant it when he growled at her.)

[rii]

"I should," Kostya readily agreed. A nice gesture, being given a shirt in return, but doubtful Vix wanted to be thought of doing anything remotely kind – perfect teasing material but Kostya let it slide. In favor of taking the two sleeve ends and sliding one arm over Vix's shoulder, and the other wrapping from under the other arm on the opposite side. Hands met in the middle of Vix's chest, deftly tying the two sleeves together. "Though," tone lowering, "I'm more concerned about you – shivering like you are."

Sure, the shirt would have made him a touch warmer, but Kostya would much prefer a warm body near his. His arms tightened, a light snug rather than anything constricting. Lingering because Vix was comfortably warm.. maybe hoping to startle out one of those surprised yelps in the process. The feeling from Konstask – who was currently rubbing along Tekivisk in passing with pleasant thoughts of curling up together on a bed to snooze – didn't help motivate him to move away either. "A shame though, I'm the annoyance attached to the salmandyr you like, and the sister ki likes. Just not fair, is it."

Almost sounded hurt, but only just. Kostya released his hold, sliding the belt off his shoulder and began pushing it through pant loops. Teeth clenched against another shiver. Almost out of the wind. The whers already there. Konstask happily loped along, bumping into Tekivisk as the two greens headed the way. Next time they would swim in the warm baths, then theirs wouldn't complain so much. That would be nice, wouldn't it?

[Avu]

Vix managed not to yelp again this time. He stopped walking, a low hiss of disapproval slipping between his teeth, grumbling a resigned “I’m not shivering.” Which was more or less a complete lie (and not even a good one), given that he was shivering, and Kostya was close enough to probably feel it, too. Still, he tugged the shirt a little closer. It probably looked ridiculous, like a crooked cape or something, but Vix was still a little too cold to actually protest having another layer draped over him. Kostya not immediately removing himself, however, was considerably less welcome.

Although he was warm.

Nonono, not going there. Vix arched his back, trying to minimize the contact. The attempts at squirming were fairly halfhearted, though – he didn’t like having a Kostya draped over his back like a blanket on the best of days, but it was freezing. He hissed quietly in protest nonetheless, tugging at Kostya’s wrist with his free hand. “Life isn’t fair, haven’t you heard?” he replied peevishly, vaguely aware that he was actually agreeing in that statement and he wasn’t supposed to agree, but oh well. Another shiver as Kostya released him, Vix immediately beginning to walk again and resisting the temptation to turn around and walk backwards in case of another attack from behind.

He settled for just walking a little more rapidly than before, shoulders hunched slightly against a cold breeze. Not looking back. He would like to keep some of his pride, after all. Vix snuck a brief backwards glance anyways, still clinging to his little makeshift cape and trying to wrap it around himself. He turned back forwards relatively quickly, though – so close to the Apartments. And getting warm took priority over Kostya.

It was faintly disturbing that he’d even had to think about that.

At least inside the Apartments, there was no wind, even though Tekivisk was certain she could be much warmer. The green crooned, rubbing her head against Konstask’s shoulder in agreement. Baths, and then when summer came it’d be hot enough to swim outside. She bumped her body lightly against Konstask’s as they reached the door to the room she shared with Darmosk and His. Konstask should stay, please? The bed was big enough, promise, and Darmosk wouldn’t mind. Darmosk was nice. And it’d be much warmer together. Tekivisk pawed at the door hopefully, glancing over her shoulder for the humanlings. Clearly they needed two extra legs if they were so slow~

[rii]

Not shivering, just shaking like a leaf for the hell of it. The growling words and hisses reminded him of an ornery cat. In fact, Kostya was surprised he had not been bitten as of yet. Made him curious to know where Vix's drew the line. The older of the wherlings watched Vix scurry on ahead, following a subdued pace and letting out a content hum when they finally made it into the tunnel and out of the wind. His arms bent up, lazily stretching his lean from while folding both hands behind his head to thread fingers into his damp hair.

"Oh I've heard plenty," He replied teasingly, pale eyes settling on Vix's rounded shoulders. The younger wherling always seemed to twist something negative out of any given situation, shove any positive comments far, far away. It was dangerous, after all, to enjoy something only to risk losing it later. At least that was out Kostya rationalized the behavior. Ever analyzing, just what Vix lost in the past to cultivate such an introverted personality. "Though I'm not complaining."

What was that silly phrase, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Vix's attitude was most definitely sour..

"Is it really all that bad?" The soft quality to the words illustrated the seriousness threaded into the question. Kostya patiently settled his attention on Vix as they came up to the two young whers settled outside the closed room. He shouldered against the wall next to the door, for all intents and purposes appearing to be waiting to follow Vix inside.

Konstask was not as polite as Tekivisk, apparent by the demanding way she clawed at the wood barring their path. Her mind already set pleasantly on having a nice wher pile inside on the bed (handlers be damned). She stood on hind legs, front claws pushing against the middle of the door as she lightly pushed at it. Her impatience was amplified by Mirages images. Big fat wher going to break the door down~!

[Avu]

…why was there still a Kostya.

This was definitely his (and Darmori’s, but for right now, it was his) room, and Kostya was definitely not his roommate. And there was also a Konstask that appeared to be doing her not-unimpressive best to break down the door. Vix blinked at the pair of greens, Tekivisk looking back up at him innocently – whaaat. She wanted to cuddle with her favorite – her only, Vix reminded her – sister. And why shouldn’t Hers come along too? It would be fun. They could all stick together~ The green offered a cheerful chirp, backing out of Vix’s way as he reached for the handle, nudging Konstask in warning so the wher wouldn’t go tumbling face-first in when the door opened.

Opening the door and actually getting through the door, it seemed, were two very different things. Tekivisk slipped immediately under his arm as soon as a wide enough crack appeared, calling over her shoulder for Konstask as she made a beeline for Vix’s bed, leaping into it and making herself comfortable among the veritable pile of furs. It was so niiiice, and so dry. And Darmosk wasn’t here, so they didn’t even have to feel guilty about stealing Vix’s bed because he could steal Darmori’s. Because that was just the height of logical reasoning, wasn’t it?

Vix sighed, more or less resigned to having a pile of wher invading his bed, and then glanced back at Kostya. The question…made him wary. It was obviously intended to be taken seriously, and Vix was fairly certain Kostya was more than stubborn enough to pursue the subject if he just waved it away. “What?” he asked, trying to avoid answering anyway. “Specifically…?” He pushed the door open entirely to enter the room – not really closing the door in Kostya’s face (which he was seriously tempted to do anyway, except for the fact that there was kind of a Konstask to consider and he didn’t want another wher to cope with), but not holding it open for him, either.

It was as close to an invitation as anyone had gotten yet, actually. Which was, in itself, fairly troubling. Wherefore art thou, social life?

Vix dropped Rook safely onto the nearest table, the Salamandyr offering a sleepy burble, and set the music box down next to the blue, and headed for the wardrobe, where there were towels. He threw one at Tekivisk, managing to land it directly on the green’s head, where it draped across her face like a veil, earning a startled mrrp from the wher. “Share it with your sister, don’t get my furs any wetter than they already are. You need a towel?” The last was aimed at Kostya. Of course, Vix hadn’t exactly looked back to see if the other male had even followed, so it was entirely plausible that he was talking to himself.

Cheerful thought, that. Descent into insanity, hello~


[[so I kind of made some assumptions about konstask – shoot me if you wanted her to do something different <3]]

[rii]

Konstask dropped from the door, pushing in past Vix on the opposite side of Tekivisk eager path. The jade green wasted no time in leaping onto the furs and tackling her sister much to the creaking protest of the bed. Playful nips and gnawing bites were aimed at the neck and shoulders. At least until the towel intercepted her light attacks. A soft trill questioned both Vix and Tekivisk before she pawed at the fabric covering the latter.

Kostya made a pained face at each creak and crack coming from the bed. The whers were getting too big to be wrestling on the bed. Stepping into the open doorway, there and no further, Kostya loosely dropped his hands to his sides and took a quick survey of the interior. "Sure," He answered the offer of a towel, pale eyes settled on the double-shirted back of the younger wherling. The former question had not been forgotten, but Kostya was debating the worth of pressing the subject.

Against his better judgment (he had really told himself he was just going to hang out by the door) Kostya moved those few steps forward to be next to the younger wherling. He reached past, hand linger on the towels. His gaze, however, was set intently on the side of Vix's face to try and see his expression. Maybe it was just him, but he didn't like talking to the back of someone's head.

"Life," He specified with a tilt of his head. "It is really so bad."

[Avu]

She couldn’t seeee. Tekivisk whined, the sound coming out garbled around the mouthful of towel, and butted her head blindly at Konstask before she shook it back and forth. The towel slipped off her head, and the green growled playfully before she twisted to rear up, trying to throw the towel on top of Konstask instead, pawing at her sister lightly. Had to dry off, Hers said, wet furs were bad~ Tekivisk emphasized her words bouncing lightly on the bed, tail flicking across the furs in question.

Vix was deliberately trying to tune out the sounds of the bed creaking in order to spare himself the hissy fit – probably why he missed Kostya’s approach until the other male spoke again. He paused halfway through pulling out a towel, let his breath hiss out between his teeth, and then jerked the towel out the rest of the way, perhaps a little harder than was strictly necessary. No immediate answer. Instead, Vix turned, pressed the towel against Kostya’s chest, and then turned back to take another for himself.

Still trying to avoid having to answer, maybe. Vix picked at the tied shirt around his chest, let it drop to the floor, and draped the towel around his neck instead, and then settled for an evasive, “Sometimes.” His gaze flicked sideways to Tekivisk, the affection poorly disguised in his eyes, and he shrugged, even though he didn’t think she’d been paying any attention to him. “Not always, anymore.”

Not that it was good, most of the time. But it wasn’t bad, either. Hard to describe. Vix shrugged one shoulder, stepping sideways to get around Kostya – hopefully, that’d be the end of that line of questioning.

A distraction came in the form of Tekivisk dropping back down from her precarious halfway-vertical position, weight coming down on the already-protesting bed hard. Something cracked, loudly, and the bed sagged alarmingly at one end; the mattress dipped and slid, whers and all, halfway down until the end hit the ground at a steep tilt. Tekivisk flailed her wings, a guilty little eep emerging from her throat as she scrabbled for purchase and slid into Konstask, muzzle landing against her sister’s back – and promptly attempted to burrow there; hiiide her.

Vix, for his part, managed not to flail at Tekivisk, if only because she actually looked terribly apologetic. He did, however, stop dead, eyes narrowing. “Well,” he said, and managed to sound calm(ish). “Great job. I always did want to sleep on the floor.”

[rii]

Me-ow.

Kostya took the towel, lightly keeping his lips pressed together in a neutral expression while behind the calm exterior his teeth gritted. He had not even touched him that time, no reason to suddenly get hissy. Wasn't even teasing. Clearly the more personal subjects made Vix bristle a great deal more than a casual jab. Slow, delicate work – was it even worth the effort. At least, Kostya mused as he rubbed the towel over his damp hair, he got an answer.

Thankfully it wasn't a woe-is-me, life is so hard answer. Kostya didn't do well with people that did value their life. If life is nothing but suffering, then why make them suffer any longer than necessary..

As Vix moved evasively, Kostya hand snapped up to almost grab the other male's arm. The crack from the bed stalled him long enough from completing the action. Fingers brushed skin, little else before Kostya dropped his hand back to his side. A curse flashed through his mind before he turned to survey the damage. Hm, was it better or worse that it was only half the damage he expected. One side of the bed still stood..

Konstask, for her part, didn't seem to care about the broken bed. They could just use the other bed in the room, right? She rumbled a half-purring sound at her dear sister, plucking up the damp towel in muzzle and dropping the cloth over Tekivisk's head. Barking softly, Konstask turned her head toward Vix, repeating the high pitched sound – oh where oh where was her dear sister? Surely not here. Konstask tail flopped over Tekivisk's back to further hide her sister.

Biting down on the tip of his tongue, Kostya did the best not to laugh out right at the very heavy, very dry sarcasm. The amused smile very much in evidence, Kostya quietly cleared his throat before being able to comment in a semi-even tone. "Suppose you could steal.. " Pale eyes flicked to the whole bed. Name fail. "..goldilock's bed... "

He shrugged, shamelessly flashing a smile at the younger wherling. "I'd offer you mine – " A purposeful pause. "–but young whers n'all."

[Avu]

If she couldn’t see Hers, that meant Vix couldn’t see her, right? Right? Tekivisk ‘whispered’ a quiet croon at Konstask as she made herself as small as possible under the towel, wiggling awkwardly until it draped halfway over her back, lopsidedly stretching over one wing. The green squeezed her eyes shut, as if that would help, and wiggled a little closer to Konstask. She would just…just blend in here, with her sister…good thing they were both green, right? (Never mind that they were very different shades of green. They maaaatched.)

Vix stared at Konstask and Tekivisk, both eyebrows rising at Konstask, since the effect would be missed out on by Tekivisk anyway. “Can you please move before the other half collapses too?” he inquired dryly, and then flicked a wrist to indicate the towel that ate his wher. “Make ‘ki get off too.” Since clearly Tekivisk did not intend to move without Konstask, because then that would give her ‘camouflage’ away. Right.

Kostya’s words and renaming of his roommate actually drew a half-smile, Vix turning to eye the bed speculatively. “Right, well, I don’t think goldilocks would appreciate that,” he snorted. “His name’s Darmori.” And yes, Vix kind of did like him, but he’d blame that on Tekivisk and Darmosk. It was much easier that way, and it didn’t break his brain. A crinkle of his nose at the…‘offer’, but he didn’t answer – namely because he had no idea what to say to that. Except ‘no’, but that was kind of a given.

“So I need to fix my bed,” he added, and nodded at the door – just because he liked fixing things didn’t mean he assumed other people would like to watch. Especially considering that the bed had a wooden frame and splinters were not fun. “I’ll get your shirt back to you later.”

Because it was definitely logical to not want to change in front of someone who’d already seen you in nothing but underwear. Right. He’d go with that.

[rii]

Konstask regarded Vix's gesturing hand with distaste. Her forked tail tapped lightly along Tekivisk's back as the darker green turned her muzzle to her own rider. The words were phrased in a question, but it was very much a command, wasn't it. Just who did this boy think – Lovely, move and they'd find a better bed. The green took her sweet time in rising to her feet, taking a corner of the towel in mouth and leading Tekivisk toward the other bed. What did her sister think of this bed? Good? Or they could go find a better one?

"Mm.. has a gold salamandyr, collects locks of hair.. " He made a back and forth motion to connect the two characteristics. "Goldy-locks will do." The box filled with braided swathes of hair that Mirage hatched from did not escape his memory. It was near impossible to forget those oddities. His offer had been ignored, made in jest because he knew the answer, but he had been serious.

Oh, and now he was being hinted at to leave. "As much as I entertain myself with connecting the dots in another person's mind, you can be blunt – not going to hurt my feelings." A calm smile, paired with loosely crossing arms over his bare stomach. The way he turned his face, eyebrow arching spoke enough of his invitation for Vix to try again. "I am offering to help you get another bed, or detour your roommate from returning here for the night."

A light shrug and a lazy glance at the two whers – Konstask was not going to be happy to be told she had to sleep elsewhere. Albeit, he was getting tired of the cold shoulder treatment when he was very much playing nice (by his standards). Should just call it a night. He ambled toward the door, leaning a shoulder against the frame while trying to coax his wher to leave.

[ooc: gods, he just won't leave, will he.. =( ]

[Avu]

She couldn’t seeeee. Which was kind of good (because it meant VixHers couldn’t see her, right, right?) but kind of bad. Because, namely, she couldn’t see. Tekivisk scrambled after Konstask awkwardly, following the tug on the towel, and barely managed to keep from splaying her wings open automatically for balance. The towel was moooving and it made it so hard to concentrate…she gave a little eep when the leg of another bed appeared in her – admittedly much diminished – line of vision and Tekivisk twitched sideways automatically before she pressed closer to Konstask.

Was this Darmosk’s person’s bed? she inquired anxiously, reaching out to paw blindly at the bed in question. Her claws scraped wood and she gave another mrrp, lightening the touch immediately. If it was, she thought it was very nice. Darmosk wouldn’t mind if they used it, either. He was nice~

“Goldilocks,” Vix echoed, and crinkled his nose, torn between amusement and defending his roommate. The latter was dismissed, though; it wasn’t like Darmori could argue either point – the hair thing was seriously a little creepy, though at least Vix knew his hair was too short to be…pretty. Kostya’s words, the offers that followed, though, had Vix hesitating, blinking uncertainly as the older male moved towards the door. He started after him, aborted the movement and instead opted to stay near his half-upright bed, knuckles of his right hand brushing wood.

“I don’t mind if you stay,” he said. Since he was supposed to be blunt and all. “But I don’t want another bed if I can fix this one. I also don’t want Darmori to be – I don’t even know, whatever you’d do in order to detour him. If you think it’s interesting to watch me fix a bed…well, that’s fine?” The words weren’t supposed to come out as questioning as they did at the end, but Vix could hardly help that. He shrugged, glancing down at the splintered bed frame so he wouldn’t have to look at Kostya. The bed couldn’t stare back.

Ooh, Tekivisk commented delightedly in his mind, apparently forgetting that she was ‘hiding’ from him, did this mean he liked Konstask’s now?
No, Vix replied, emphatically, and shot a glance sideways at the wher-shaped towel. Go back to breaking Darmori’s bed. Shush.

[rii]

Yes, Darmosk's, but theirs for now. She too had no doubt in her mind that their bronze brother would not mind sharing, and he was welcome to join them should he come back. In the meantime though, since he was not around, the bed was most definitely theirs. Konstask jumped onto the whole bed, taking the towel with her. She plopped down in the middle of the furs, tossing the towel to the floor while looking at her handler lingering in the doorway. Tekivisk's person wasn't going to fuss about these furs too, was he?

The surprised registered faintly, briefly on Kostya's face as he rolled against the door frame to be half in and half out of the room, the actual beam of the door settling between his shoulders. His gaze settled on Vix, but the younger wherling was doing a good job of visually studying the broken bed. Kostya had been expecting the very blunt version of get lost. Mentally shrugging the unexpected aside and affected a care-free smile; aloof just enough to make it uncertain about which of Vix's words he found worth the smile.

"I wouldn't hurt him," A promise, perhaps, or making a jump of logic of what Vix would assume considering the younger wherling had admitted to thinking he'd drown little ki. Kostya stepped back into the room, even though most of his mind told him to leave. He pivoted and sat on Damori's bed, slouching against the wall next to Konstask. He let her snuggle up to his side, laying his arm down across her back as a rest. Her skin was warm against his bare side. The goosebumps raised along his skin to reminded him he had once been cold.

"It's interesting," He inclined his chin to gesture lightly toward Vix's task. "Watching what you do; taking things apart and puting them back together. You always done that?"

On the table Mirage stalked forward, hiding her tiny frame flat against the wood as she snaked her way up beside the abandoned music box and Rook. Her tail poked almost curiously at the sleeping salamandyr's side before she continued on her way. Her front paws pushed at the handle, and by putting all her weight behind a push it moved – a few twinkling metallic notes ringing through the air. This drew a glance from hers, drawing Mirage to duck behind the box. Not her, not her, Ghooosts. OooOoOoo~

[Avu]

Ah! Her cover!

Tekivisk hunched her back like a ruffled feline, tail swishing from side to side as she blinked at the removal of the towel from her head, but she didn’t protest. Instead, the green snuck a brief glance at Vix, and, after deciding he was suitably distracted, carefully crawled into Darmori’s bed. This time she was extremely cautious about everything, scooting closer to Konstask as if a single twitch in the wrong direction would bring this bed crashing down, too. Which it might! It might. The green’s muzzle ended up against Konstask’s back, Tekivisk settling carefully on her other side from Kostya.

Vix rolled his eyes at Tekivisk, but didn’t deign to comment, mostly because if she didn’t move, she wouldn’t break Darmori’s bed. And one broken bed was going to be hard enough to explain, thanks very much. At least Kostya was staying, though. If Darmori came in, he could have at explaining. He shrugged one shoulder in response to the older wherling’s words – Darmori being hurt wasn’t a pleasant thought, but even if he wasn’t physically hurt…well, being locked in a closet or something was pretty traumatizing all the same.

“As long as I can remember.” A shrug; the truth was simple, not something he bothered to hide – even if he couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually told anyone. Mostly because nobody had bothered to ask and he hadn’t bothered to enlighten them on something clearly nobody cared about. Vix tugged the mattress off of the frame entirely before the uneven weight distribution could take its toll further on the broken bed, kicking furs and pillows off to one side, and then turned the entire bed frame onto its side so he could drop himself in the middle of the tangle of wood.

It was beyond awkward, one leg draped over a piece of wood and his elbow pressed against the main frame where the mattress sat, but it worked. Vix scrunched up his nose, leaning forward to examine the damage. Splinters of wood, but only one leg had snapped. Which was fortunate, he supposed. He paused at the tinkle from the music box – didn’t comment, but it at least reminded him that he did have a Kostya in the room. “So if I completely ignore you while I’m doing this,” he said, and waved his hand vaguely at the bed, “I don’t mean to. Sorry. Ahead of time. Although…you could help?”

Mostly with getting things. Vix didn’t trust anyone else to fix things like he could (or be as modest as he was, of course) – but he still wasn’t looking forward to disentangling himself from the bed in order to get the metal supports or anything else he’d be using from his trunk.

…pretty… came Rook’s mumble, the purple-blue Salamandyr twitching slightly at the poke from Mirage’s tail and curling a little tighter into himself. Mm, prett…y…

[rii]

The bed creaked – very slightly! – as Konstask shifted to better curl around her sister. She rumbled something wholly wordless, a simple warm brush of affection against her sister's mind. In the next moment her eyes were closed, leaving Kostya to wonder if he'd be able to leave her there. Konstask was not a fond of being stirred awake.. not since he had made the mistake of telling her to go back to bed, that she needed her 'beauty sleep'.

Kostya's fingers moved from his own wher to Vix's, sliding up the middle of her snout, over an eye ridge and behind the head knob. All the while his gaze remained on his fellow handler, feeling a touch drozy himself. He purposely shifted his line of sight to the music box, but eventually it wandered back to the only movement in the room. Yes, definitely should have left instead of stayed. Remaining made his mind swim with possibilities..

He eyed Vix's awkward position a moment, a half-smile crossing his lips. "S'fine." Again his hand passed across Tekivisk's hide, mildly wondering if it had any affect on the younger wherling. Doubtful. One of these days he was going to stop blocking Konstask and experiment with how much she influenced him.

Kostya's feet lifted from the floor as he used a hand – curled around the edge of the bed – to pull himself away from Konstask's side and sit up. He rocked forward to stand, dropping the towel on top of the other before sliding into a low crouch over heels. His elbows set on his knees as he looked at broken leg then to Vix's face. "What do you want me to do?"

Mirage stilled a bit as the handle came to a slow stop, turning her gaze back to Rook. She brought her long tail up, the tip making a gesture she had seen her handler do with a finger – pressing the thin tip against her mouth to silently tell the blue to be quiet (regardless that she knew very well he was still asleep and wouldn't see it). She snaked back up to the handle, this time pushing it with the bottom of her head to try and lift it back up. Each note, widely spaced apart, spoke of her progress. When it was back to it's top arc, she'd flip around and use her feet to push it back down.

Pretty indeed~