post-snek recoveries

[neonleon]

[You know?

That weird temple wasn't good, but it wasn't the worst. Not by far now that he's back in this dimension. He floats a bit aimlessly, body broken, shell cracked and falling apart, some bones and insides shattered. His head aches in a way that he can't think.

All he can really do is hope Prime doesn't find him immediately right now. The light off his ring catches his eye and he looks at it, not fully registering that it's lit up.

A promise.]

Comments

[neonleon]

...You told him about me and the temple. That's pretty weird. I'm sure he could handle that.

[pyrighteous]

Well - I - yes but - I HAD to. This I don't have to! I can just - pretend it's not happening!

[neonleon]

[Well now he's awake again.]

Why would you wanna pretend it doesn't happen? ..You aren't ashamed of it are you?

[pyrighteous]

..........

[ Hunter looks away. ]

I'm weird enough already. And they worried enough about the Temple and you to begin with.

[neonleon]

I guarantee nothing about you is weirder than my whole existence.

But- [Reel it in, Leo. He gives Hunter's shoulders a squeeze.]

I get it. But they care about you right? So you just gotta trust them with you.

[pyrighteous]

I - I guess I'm still working on that. After Belos.

[ Not that he thinks Raine or Darius would so much as harm a hair on his head, but Belos would 100% have cracked Hunter open at some point if he was a palisman. ]

[neonleon]

...Right.

[If he could kill that guy again, he would in a heartbeat.]

Well. Not gonna tell you what you should do, but. I think they'd still wanna know and wouldn't think it's weird.

[pyrighteous]

... I will. Just. Not yet.

[neonleon]

All right. If you want, I'll be there when you're ready. Or be ready for after if you don't want me there.

[pyrighteous]

I'll figure that out later...

[ For now Hunter flops delicately against Leo's shoulder. ]

[neonleon]

[Just... holds him, runs a hand down his back in slow circles.]

Got plenty of time for it now.

[Even though he definitely can tell they're being watched. Probably by Darius and Raine at the door, but Leo only glances at the door before focusing on Hunter again.]

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter is entirely oblivious, meanwhile. Totally focused on Leo. ]

Y-yeah. All the time you need.

[neonleon]

....

[Poking the tip of his nose]

And time you need.

[pyrighteous]

[ hey ]

I’m not in a hospital bed!

[neonleon]

Okay, point, but don't count yourself out. All right?

[pyrighteous]

Okay, okay. I’ll rest too. Promise.

[neonleon]

Good. You better.

[Just not even hesitating now, kissing Hunter's hair because it's right there before starting to settle in for proper sleep.]

[pyrighteous]

[ Good fiancé... Hunter smiles up at him before closes his eyes. At some point he's going to change into a birb and snuggle that way, but for now? Full cuddle. ]

[neonleon]

[Full cuddle! All while Darius and Raine are watching and listening....

They seem happy. The turtle demon seems nice. But the two coven heads do startle a bit seeing Hunter change into a bird. Must be what he was talking about not wanting to show them yet.

The healers come to routine check overs of Leo for the following days, any touch ups they can. By the end of the week, they agree they've done all they can and let him leave with Hunter. No one really said anything about the sleeping arrangements at the university hospital. But now Leo's kinda wondering as they walk through Bonesborough.]

Uh. So where... exactly am I staying?

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter, meanwhile, is nearly giddy to see his fiancé up and moving around. He completed five additional courting steps while Leo was in the hospital (breakfast in bed, sunrise beetle migration viewing, bespoke mushroom crown, moon fortune, and board game duel), but there are SO many more he wants to do, and most of them really require Leo to be ambulatory.

Like this one. Sort of? He's pretty sure Dell will understand. ]

With me, of course. Well - me and the witch I'm apprenticed to. But he knows you're coming.

[neonleon]

[All of those things were lovely! A little confusing sometimes, but that's just the culture shock. The healers gave him a lovely basket to carry all the gifts in (which they thought was cute, these two young boys going through courting-) as he walks alongside Hunter.]

The ...witch- Oh, the guy who's teaching you palisman carving?

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter's holding whatever hand is free as they walk, still beaming over at his fiancé. ]

Yeah. Dell Clawthorne. He'll like you, I think.

[neonleon]

You know, for someone who said they didn't have many friends, you sure do have a lot of people to introduce me to.

[pyrighteous]

I -

[ Hunter pauses at that, blinking rapidly. ]

I - I guess I do. I never really thought of that.

[neonleon]

[Cute. Everything about him is cute, Leo can hardly stand it. He squeezes Hunter's hand while they walk.]

It's a good thing.