[Imagine being Rosso, thinking you know how to kiss a boy (you do not) and suddenly his whole tongue is taking up all of your mouth space. All of it. Every little bit. It's... a lot? Also kind of very much hot?? Help?
Rosso makes a noise, something between a yelp and a squeak (a squelp, if you will), which doubles in intensity when Adrian's fangs gently brush over his lips. Reciprocating is becoming difficult only because Adrian's so much larger than him, not that this is a problem, but he feels like even when he has his mouth all the way open that he hasn't quite fit the manticore's tongue fully inside. Which begs the question about his di—
He thinks he might be dizzy. In a good way? In a, all the blood is rushing to his cheeks and not to his brain, way. The tail wags slow in their intensity, not completely gone, but certainly not kicking up a vortex of snow behind him any more. The airplane ears return, too. Congrats on flustering him beyond belief, Adrian, he's now dying.
It's at this point that he has no choice but to break the kiss and, frankly, plap his hands over his face while it burns, likely hot enough to be felt by Adrian considering the proximity. He is, in fact, radiating this heat everywhere, but mostly clustered around his cheeks.
[Yeah, it...only really occurrs to Adrian just how much this is when it's already too late, and he's like. Got half his tongue just whole-ass in Rosso's mouth, and it's suddenly less a proper kiss and more Adrian realizing in that moment just how much of a discrepancy there is in size between them. Like on one hand, cute, on the other that is actually kindof embarrassing, oh god.
...fortunately though, it seems to be well received, even if Adrian actually has to take a fraction of a second to feel self conscious about it. They part- there's a sound to it, since it was just that deep- and Adrian is leaning back with his head against the wall so he can watch Rosso cover his face with both hands, so red that he's practically blending in with that cascade of red hair at this point.
Ugh. Cute. Stop it.
Adrian tilts his head just a little, mostly trying to get a better look at Rosso's face despite the way he's desperately trying to hide it.]
[Internal screaming intensifies if only because Rosso is Very Flustered. He still has his fucked-up hands over his face as he responds, in a yell, because of course it's in a yell,]
Ugh! What the fuck are you so large for anyway?! [To kill You specifically, Rosso, duh.] It was hot and I'm mad about it!
[He's not mad about it, he's just waffling for an excuse. Excuse failed, by the way, good god excuse failed.
When he finally deigns to unhide his face, it's with a small groan. He almost reluctantly meets Adrian's eyes — man, why does he look so smug? — before debating on hiding yet again, if only because that's easier to cope with than being looked at. Further debate happens on if he should just plop snow on Adrian's head to break the tension he feels, but he doesn't actually go for it.]
[...oh my god, Rosso. If you don't want Adrian to look smug, quite literally like a cat that caught the canary (or wolf, as it were), maybe don't blurt things like that. Just a hunch.
Adrian snorts, his tail tip flicking back and forth exactly like a contented cat's would now that he realizes that he didn't fuck up by kissing Rosso weird. Like, it definitely was still...not great, but all that matters is that Rosso liked it. He wins.]
Oh it was?
[He practically purrs that, leaning in a little bit closer until his nose is almost touching the backs of Rosso's hands.]
'Least ol' Foggy's good for somethin', if you like how "large" I am.
Rosso does not hesitate. He reaches for a pile of snow on the porch, scoops it up, and then slaps it into Adrian's mane. It's predictably wet and cold.
With his arms crossed over his chest, Rosso pouts. And he doesn't just pout, no no, he pouts. He's Angry (not really). He's....... upset. (Still not really.)]
Fffffuck you. [Held out that F for as long as possible for maximum emphasis.] You're — fucking stupid.
[You know he's down bad right now, because he can't muster a single comeback or other witty retort except for "fuck you" and varying shades of that. It's absolutely not working no matter how hard he cranks his brain to produce anything intelligent.
He needs another jar of peanut butter to throw at Adrian's skull. And maybe a pillow to beat him in the face with. And Adrian needs to suffocate in his sleep while he's at it—]
[The snow being bashed across his head happens with a satisfying thWACK, the snow spraying across the far side of the balcony as Adrian leans his head into the motion unconsciously. Unlike when the jar was hurled at him, this kind of retaliation he was expecting a bit more, so he can't even really be mad about it.
...okay no, he will be annoyed. He's not a Mer anymore, and as a Manticore he does not like being wet and cold unless he volunteered for it, okay. Tigers are built to love the water weirdly enough, but Adrian still has to be difficult about it. So now he's sat there with ice clinging to his whiskers, reflexively sticking his tongue out so he can lick his nose and jowls a few times as Rosso pouts aggressively in his lap.]
Speak for yourself, You look stupid.
[You want him so bad it's making you look stupid--]
And lemme take a wild guess. Everythin'?
[Everything is funny about it.
Even as Rosso is pouting up a storm and refusing to look at him, though...Adrian will take advantage of the fact he's looking elsewhere to lean in and drag his rough tongue across Rosso's cheek, just underneath his eyepatched eye.]
Guess it works out, though. I kinda like how tiny you are. It's cute as hell.
[Yeah well if Rosso didn't pull away there they would've had Problems okay?! Maybe he does look stupid, maybe he wants Adrian so bad it makes him look stupid, what's it to ya—
And then Adrian just has to go for the (deserved) height jab and licking his face, and Rosso makes another squelp noise and very quickly tries to shove his hands into Adrian's muzzle like it'll defend him from anything at all.]
I'm not that fucking short! You're just a big fucking oaf! It's not my fault the Fog made you so fucking huge!!
[Yeah, okay, but consider: Most monsters get bigger eventually. Rosso... has simply continued to be 5'3". So.]
Yep. I need you for stupid shit like digging up glass, flying me to the amusement park, and eating my cooking. Oh, and for stupid sweaters.
[Don't forget about the stupid sweaters. The crocodile sweater on a crocodile lives rent-free in his head to this day.]
Definitely all I wanted you for. No other reasons. Didn't start havin' stupid mushy feelings for you when you put that flower in my hair that one time.
[—whoops hey did Adrian ever know that information because he sure does now.]
[He did not, in fact, know that. He honestly had no idea when it started, just that it did and he didn't seem to notice...it was kindof the same with him, one day things just started feeling more and more right, and suddenly you're going on not-dates with the guy, like. Fuck. It's funny, because at the time him sticking that flower in his hair had just been a spur of the moment thing. It didn't really mean anything much...so how might things have gone if that never happened?
He huffs, breathing out harshly against Rosso's hands before drawing away, seeming like he's going to give him a reprieve from the gross, childish licking he'd been doing. He brings both of his hands up and takes hold of Rosso's wrists lightly, taking a mental note of how much bigger his are compared to the Were's. Adrian's "hands" never did return to a more human-like shape, having adopted a sort of cross between paws and fingers for gripping. He envies Rosso for not having lost that in the shift from human to monster, yet he knows that Rosso dislikes them for other reasons.
...which is why he decides to temper the licking by bringing one of his scarred hands up so he can kiss its palm instead.]
Rosso's fingers curl instinctively as he unconsciously tries to cover his palm up, which only results in them booping Adrian on the nose. He doesn't jerk away, doesn't do anything, just... lets it happen, which goes to show how much he trusts Adrian. Not like he expects the guy to poke fun at scars that he didn't even want in the first place, but still.
He thinks it must show on his face how flustered that single action makes him, wide-eyed and with his ears flat against his head, practically pointed behind him at the forest in the distance. Then, he sputters, because he hasn't had working Words for the last several minutes:]
[Adrian's real glad that wasn't the wrong thing to do. He wasn't sure, because he'd realized a bit...too late that making so much contact with his hands (licking them) might have actually been making Rosso uncomfortable...considering. And as much as he enjoys teasing him and making him react to things, that's not something he plays with.
So when Rosso's fingers curl against his nose and he takes in how flustered he's gotten, ears flat and eyes darting as he tries to think of what to say, he realizes that it's alright. So he smirks, exposing his fangs as he brings Rosso's hands down between them so they're no longer the main focus, leaning forward so he can bonk his fat head into Rosso's.]
I'll take that as a compliment.
[Even though he considers himself the hot one, not the cute one.]
...I gotta tell ya though, I super ain't drunk 'nough for all this.
[He's hot too, but Rosso will probably die if he admits it right now, thanks. He's still thinking about earlier, what with how Adrian's whole fucking tongue was in his mouth while he was straddling the guy's thigh. The latter thing is still happening because he hasn't moved since.
Now, at least, he leans over to grab Adrian his glass of wine, breaking the hold on one of his wrists as he goes. No head bonk, he has to hide now, except not really he's just thrusting Adrian's glass at him. Here take this do not perceive Rosso thanks—]
Then drink more!! [There goes the Yelling.] I'm not stopping you from getting shitfaced! Here!!
[The way Rosso all but shoves that glass into his hands is near comical, prompting Adrian to snort as he takes it from him readily. He hadn't drunk a whole lot of it between Rosso pouring it for him and now, so don't mind him as he shows off and just drains the entire damn thing in one go. He's a monster now, so he knows his limits are much higher than they used to be. He can do this at least a time or two without getting so blasted he can't sit up, probably.
At the same time, he'll lean back so he can reach over to reclaim Rosso's glass for him too, offering it back to him.]
C'mon. We ain't gotta toast or nothin', but I ain't gonna be the only one drinkin' here.
[Rosso has stupid high limits already due to drinking contests with Ventus back in the day. Fun facts: Ventus can drink anyone under the table, but damn if Rosso's competitive ass didn't try to win anyway. (He never did.)
This wine — light and fruity as it is — is not enough to get him shitfaced after only a glass or two. Luckily, he brought like... all the wine, and if they want to get white girl wasted on wine they can do so, that's what it's there for. That being said, he takes his glass and follows suit, not so much chugging as it is fast-sipping. He doesn't have a giant manticore mouth to gulp things down with. Adrian is obviously cheating.]
Not gonna be. Got distracted kissing your stupid face is all.
[Annnnd here he goes, stretching again while trying to maintain his spot on Adrian's lap to grab the bottle and refill their glasses. Smart, sensible werewolves bring the whole-ass bottle out onto the porch with them, you see.]
[It's true, it's going to take some considerable effort for them to get white girl wasted on this wine, but like...it sounds considerably more enjoyable to just drink something that tastes nice than down gasoline just so they'll get drunk. At least, Adrian is definitely in that kind of mood, anyway. Sometimes you do need a bit of gasoline, but not today.
He can't help it: he chuckles at the way Rosso streeeetches to grab the bottl without having to get up, as if Adrian planned on going anywhere. Once he's got it though and has topped them both up, he'll take it upon himself to pull that sherpa blanket back around the both of them. It had, uh. Slipped a bit, while they were making out.
Adrian sighs as he looks up at the sky, still just barely able to see a few stars peeking down at them through the clouds. Despite the brief break in cloud cover, it hasn't stopped the snow...which has started to steadily fall again.]
Guess a place like this prolly don't do fireworks, huh?
[Fireworks are, uh. Only used on the Harmony Festival back home, and that's only once every three years. That usually happens in autumn, so Rosso's having a hard time imagining fireworks in the middle of winter. Like.
Why.
He takes a long sip from his glass and re-positions so that he's yet again Between Adrian's thighs and not straddling one, with Rosso's back against the manticore's chest. It's warm under this blanket, and Adrian may as well be a very large space heater. It's awesome.]
What? Elrianode don't do fireworks for New Year's? Even Perovskia does that.
[Adrian looks up at the sky in front of them, as if expecting Bavan to operate on some sort of poetic timing to make some fireworks happen right then and there. They don't, of course, but wouldn't it be cool if they did?
He leans back a little, his weight on one hand while the other holds his glass, unceremoniously plopping his muzzle atop Rosso's head now that he's curled up in his lap between his legs now.]
I used to watch 'em from the woods. Helped me keep track of what day it was. Can't see 'em from the desert anymore.
We do fireworks for the Harmony Festival, but not really for any other holiday. Maybe some small towns might use them for other occasions, but nationally-speaking, that's the only time. If I'm remembering Tiny's [Gaia's] explanations right, way far north of Elrianode in the Xin Empire, they release lanterns and shit into the skies for some holiday.
[Rosso's never gone that far north, so... who knows if that's true. Not that Gaia is ever inclined to lie, but still.]
It sounds kind of like Tanabata. Dunno if it's exactly the same thing. [Then, after a small pause and one of his exaggerated sighs,] I guess something like fireworks would be a nice way to round out the evening.
[haha stupid tsundere can't admit that he enjoys the glittery sky bombs]
I don't know nothin' bout Tanabata other than what they had here, so don't ask me.
[It is similar, even though there are some very clear differences as well. It sounds like fireworks being set off for festivals and holidays in general is a universal thing, at least...Adrian was starting to wonder if he was going to just sound weird for suggesting it.
Adrian shifts his weight a little, tugging Rosso just a little bit closer to him. It's warm...he's warm.]
Maybe they'll do 'em here someday. I'm sure at least somebody else has heard of it.
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Rosso makes a noise, something between a yelp and a squeak (a squelp, if you will), which doubles in intensity when Adrian's fangs gently brush over his lips. Reciprocating is becoming difficult only because Adrian's so much larger than him, not that this is a problem, but he feels like even when he has his mouth all the way open that he hasn't quite fit the manticore's tongue fully inside.
Which begs the question about his di—He thinks he might be dizzy. In a good way? In a, all the blood is rushing to his cheeks and not to his brain, way. The tail wags slow in their intensity, not completely gone, but certainly not kicking up a vortex of snow behind him any more. The airplane ears return, too. Congrats on flustering him beyond belief, Adrian, he's now dying.
It's at this point that he has no choice but to break the kiss and, frankly, plap his hands over his face while it burns, likely hot enough to be felt by Adrian considering the proximity. He is, in fact, radiating this heat everywhere, but mostly clustered around his cheeks.
Give him a second to die please.]
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...fortunately though, it seems to be well received, even if Adrian actually has to take a fraction of a second to feel self conscious about it. They part- there's a sound to it, since it was just that deep- and Adrian is leaning back with his head against the wall so he can watch Rosso cover his face with both hands, so red that he's practically blending in with that cascade of red hair at this point.
Ugh. Cute. Stop it.
Adrian tilts his head just a little, mostly trying to get a better look at Rosso's face despite the way he's desperately trying to hide it.]
...sorry. That was...uh.
[Too much? Was it too much??
He clears his throat.]
......you good?
[#romance]
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Ugh! What the fuck are you so large for anyway?! [To kill You specifically, Rosso, duh.] It was hot and I'm mad about it!
[He's not mad about it, he's just waffling for an excuse. Excuse failed, by the way, good god excuse failed.
When he finally deigns to unhide his face, it's with a small groan. He almost reluctantly meets Adrian's eyes — man, why does he look so smug? — before debating on hiding yet again, if only because that's easier to cope with than being looked at. Further debate happens on if he should just plop snow on Adrian's head to break the tension he feels, but he doesn't actually go for it.]
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Adrian snorts, his tail tip flicking back and forth exactly like a contented cat's would now that he realizes that he didn't fuck up by kissing Rosso weird. Like, it definitely was still...not great, but all that matters is that Rosso liked it. He wins.]
Oh it was?
[He practically purrs that, leaning in a little bit closer until his nose is almost touching the backs of Rosso's hands.]
'Least ol' Foggy's good for somethin', if you like how "large" I am.
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Rosso does not hesitate. He reaches for a pile of snow on the porch, scoops it up, and then slaps it into Adrian's mane. It's predictably wet and cold.
With his arms crossed over his chest, Rosso pouts. And he doesn't just pout, no no, he pouts. He's Angry (not really). He's....... upset. (Still not really.)]
Fffffuck you. [Held out that F for as long as possible for maximum emphasis.] You're — fucking stupid.
[You know he's down bad right now, because he can't muster a single comeback or other witty retort except for "fuck you" and varying shades of that. It's absolutely not working no matter how hard he cranks his brain to produce anything intelligent.
He needs another jar of peanut butter to throw at Adrian's skull. And maybe a pillow to beat him in the face with. And Adrian needs to suffocate in his sleep while he's at it—]
Maybe I do! What's so funny about it?!
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...okay no, he will be annoyed. He's not a Mer anymore, and as a Manticore he does not like being wet and cold unless he volunteered for it, okay. Tigers are built to love the water weirdly enough, but Adrian still has to be difficult about it. So now he's sat there with ice clinging to his whiskers, reflexively sticking his tongue out so he can lick his nose and jowls a few times as Rosso pouts aggressively in his lap.]
Speak for yourself, You look stupid.
[You want him so bad it's making you look stupid--]
And lemme take a wild guess. Everythin'?
[Everything is funny about it.
Even as Rosso is pouting up a storm and refusing to look at him, though...Adrian will take advantage of the fact he's looking elsewhere to lean in and drag his rough tongue across Rosso's cheek, just underneath his eyepatched eye.]
Guess it works out, though. I kinda like how tiny you are. It's cute as hell.
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And then Adrian just has to go for the (deserved) height jab and licking his face, and Rosso makes another squelp noise and very quickly tries to shove his hands into Adrian's muzzle like it'll defend him from anything at all.]
I'm not that fucking short! You're just a big fucking oaf! It's not my fault the Fog made you so fucking huge!!
[Yeah, okay, but consider: Most monsters get bigger eventually. Rosso... has simply continued to be 5'3". So.]
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He’s going to get his hands licked. Like he couldn’t have walked harder into that if he tried.]
I can’t believe it, you only want me for my tallness. Just cause I can get shit off the top shelf for you.
[Enjoy the feeling of rough cat tongue being shoved between your fingers. Mlem.]
Piggy back rides and a free step ladder any time you want? I shoulda known it was too good to be true…
[Teasing Rosso is so much easier than having Real Genuine Emotions okay]
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Yep. I need you for stupid shit like digging up glass, flying me to the amusement park, and eating my cooking. Oh, and for stupid sweaters.
[Don't forget about the stupid sweaters. The crocodile sweater on a crocodile lives rent-free in his head to this day.]
Definitely all I wanted you for. No other reasons. Didn't start havin' stupid mushy feelings for you when you put that flower in my hair that one time.
[—whoops hey did Adrian ever know that information because he sure does now.]
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He huffs, breathing out harshly against Rosso's hands before drawing away, seeming like he's going to give him a reprieve from the gross, childish licking he'd been doing. He brings both of his hands up and takes hold of Rosso's wrists lightly, taking a mental note of how much bigger his are compared to the Were's. Adrian's "hands" never did return to a more human-like shape, having adopted a sort of cross between paws and fingers for gripping. He envies Rosso for not having lost that in the shift from human to monster, yet he knows that Rosso dislikes them for other reasons.
...which is why he decides to temper the licking by bringing one of his scarred hands up so he can kiss its palm instead.]
Good t'know I'm just that irresistable.
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Rosso's fingers curl instinctively as he unconsciously tries to cover his palm up, which only results in them booping Adrian on the nose. He doesn't jerk away, doesn't do anything, just... lets it happen, which goes to show how much he trusts Adrian. Not like he expects the guy to poke fun at scars that he didn't even want in the first place, but still.
He thinks it must show on his face how flustered that single action makes him, wide-eyed and with his ears flat against his head, practically pointed behind him at the forest in the distance. Then, he sputters, because he hasn't had working Words for the last several minutes:]
Shut up. You're — you're lucky you're cute.
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So when Rosso's fingers curl against his nose and he takes in how flustered he's gotten, ears flat and eyes darting as he tries to think of what to say, he realizes that it's alright. So he smirks, exposing his fangs as he brings Rosso's hands down between them so they're no longer the main focus, leaning forward so he can bonk his fat head into Rosso's.]
I'll take that as a compliment.
[Even though he considers himself the hot one, not the cute one.]
...I gotta tell ya though, I super ain't drunk 'nough for all this.
[He feels a bit like he's dying actually-]
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Now, at least, he leans over to grab Adrian his glass of wine, breaking the hold on one of his wrists as he goes. No head bonk, he has to hide now, except not really he's just thrusting Adrian's glass at him. Here take this do not perceive Rosso thanks—]
Then drink more!! [There goes the Yelling.] I'm not stopping you from getting shitfaced! Here!!
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At the same time, he'll lean back so he can reach over to reclaim Rosso's glass for him too, offering it back to him.]
C'mon. We ain't gotta toast or nothin', but I ain't gonna be the only one drinkin' here.
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This wine — light and fruity as it is — is not enough to get him shitfaced after only a glass or two. Luckily, he brought like... all the wine, and if they want to get white girl wasted on wine they can do so, that's what it's there for. That being said, he takes his glass and follows suit, not so much chugging as it is fast-sipping. He doesn't have a giant manticore mouth to gulp things down with. Adrian is obviously cheating.]
Not gonna be. Got distracted kissing your stupid face is all.
[Annnnd here he goes, stretching again while trying to maintain his spot on Adrian's lap to grab the bottle and refill their glasses. Smart, sensible werewolves bring the whole-ass bottle out onto the porch with them, you see.]
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He can't help it: he chuckles at the way Rosso streeeetches to grab the bottl without having to get up, as if Adrian planned on going anywhere. Once he's got it though and has topped them both up, he'll take it upon himself to pull that sherpa blanket back around the both of them. It had, uh. Slipped a bit, while they were making out.
Adrian sighs as he looks up at the sky, still just barely able to see a few stars peeking down at them through the clouds. Despite the brief break in cloud cover, it hasn't stopped the snow...which has started to steadily fall again.]
Guess a place like this prolly don't do fireworks, huh?
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[Fireworks are, uh. Only used on the Harmony Festival back home, and that's only once every three years. That usually happens in autumn, so Rosso's having a hard time imagining fireworks in the middle of winter. Like.
Why.
He takes a long sip from his glass and re-positions so that he's yet again Between Adrian's thighs and not straddling one, with Rosso's back against the manticore's chest. It's warm under this blanket, and Adrian may as well be a very large space heater. It's awesome.]
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[Adrian looks up at the sky in front of them, as if expecting Bavan to operate on some sort of poetic timing to make some fireworks happen right then and there. They don't, of course, but wouldn't it be cool if they did?
He leans back a little, his weight on one hand while the other holds his glass, unceremoniously plopping his muzzle atop Rosso's head now that he's curled up in his lap between his legs now.]
I used to watch 'em from the woods. Helped me keep track of what day it was. Can't see 'em from the desert anymore.
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[Rosso's never gone that far north, so... who knows if that's true. Not that Gaia is ever inclined to lie, but still.]
It sounds kind of like Tanabata. Dunno if it's exactly the same thing. [Then, after a small pause and one of his exaggerated sighs,] I guess something like fireworks would be a nice way to round out the evening.
[haha stupid tsundere can't admit that he enjoys the glittery sky bombs]
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[It is similar, even though there are some very clear differences as well. It sounds like fireworks being set off for festivals and holidays in general is a universal thing, at least...Adrian was starting to wonder if he was going to just sound weird for suggesting it.
Adrian shifts his weight a little, tugging Rosso just a little bit closer to him. It's warm...he's warm.]
Maybe they'll do 'em here someday. I'm sure at least somebody else has heard of it.