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[twocomplex]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, COIN PRINCE. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 097.26.245.13 *** Coin Prince has joined 097.26.245.13 <Coin Prince> And how secure is this communication, really? <Coin Prince> Well, go on then, let's speak.

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[twocomplex]

Ah, yes.

[Leaving the eggs on the counter and setting down the pan he'd been juggling with, Oren steps close enough to reach out, fingers plucking at Ryan's hips to urge him away from the counter and closer. Just a little.]

I've been craving your expertise all morning, and yet I was left abandoned. Terribly cruel...

[He smiles a little warmer and straightens out Ryan's shirt by the shoulders.] But I can cope. It's a shame, I had wanted to surprise you.

[averagemedium]

You could have just stayed in bed, you know. Staying the night's already enough of a surprise.

[As soon as it's out of his mouth he regrets saying it-- way to make yourself sound pathetic, Ryan-- but there's no taking it back. Instead he drapes his arms over Oren's shoulders, stepping closer, and matches that warm smile.

Then there's a yawn he just barely fails to stifle, and he leans closer still, his chin resting on top of Oren's head.]

...I'll get up next time, though. If- you want to do this again.

[twocomplex]

Will you? Or will you leave me trapped in your embrace? I'm not sure I believe your words, Ryan.

[He laughs, giving a playful pinch to Ryan's side in revenge for being suddenly used as a chin rest. Ryan's sad little comment goes by without even a falter in Oren's mood.]

That is to say yes, I'd love to. Even despite your clear flaunting, here; am I nothing but a rest to you?

[Another laugh and he slaps lightly at Ryan's chest, trying to urge him away.] Come, help me fix things and you can show me what you usually make.

[averagemedium]

Yes to both of those. Sorry, but this is what you signed up for, here.

[His tone's warm, amused, and he lingers there as if he really isn't going to let go.]

Though I guess on second thought, you're not only a rest. You make a nice pillow too.

[And then he does step back slightly, lets one arm drop back to his side-- the other only follows after brushing through Oren's hair.]

We're gonna need to wait more to actually turn it on and cook, but I can at least explain how the stove works?

[twocomplex]

Well, if we have to wait to turn it on...

[He's teasing, really, and he lingers against Ryan before he takes his head back in sudden freedom. He's still going to stay close, smiling as he looks back to the stove.]

I'd thought I had the hang of it. The switch turns on the flame, isn't that right?

[averagemedium]

[The closeness is still nice. Really nice, in fact. It still isn't going to stop him from launching right into explanation mode, with the kind of tone often known as 'teacher voice'.]

It does, but you can't turn the dial and let that run for too long before you start the fire. That's the gas-- it's what the fire ignites-- so you can't turn the flame on if you've already let out a lot of gas, or you're risking more fire than you actually wanted. You smelled that, yeah?

[He makes a vague gesture toward the stove, evidently meaning the gas.]

If you can actually smell it, there's too much and you shouldn't light anything. That's really what you want to remember, but yeah, you had the hang of it otherwise.

[twocomplex]

That's not so difficult.

[He says this, but he was mostly paying attention to watching Ryan rather than listening to that teacher voice. Right, okay, don't wait until it smells... It's easy enough to grasp!]

Of course, I say this only after nearly burning the place down, it seems. And when I had wanted to wake you peacefully, as well!

[averagemedium]

Let's be honest, here, I might never have gotten out of bed if you tried to get me up peacefully. You'd be waiting another hour at least- but it's still sweet of you.

[He flashes Oren a brief, amused grin, reaching up to comb his fingers through his messy hair-- and then he winces, nose wrinkling, as they snag.]

...speaking of waiting, maybe I should take care of this before we get breakfast going. Gonna be a pain in the ass.

[twocomplex]

[Sweet, huh? He'll take that. Watching Ryan struggle with his hair, he hums in thought before standing on his tip-toes. Just high enough to press a kiss as close to his lips as he can manage.]

Go on. I'll wait for you.

[And just as soon as he'd pressed close, he slips away, stepping away from the kitchen and over towards a chair. He sits down slowly, crossing one leg over the other as he watches Ryan. He doesn't mind being a little forward. Especially not when the guy had said he was surprised he stayed over at all.]

[averagemedium]

[Ryan starts to chase that kiss with a pleased little hum-- but Oren moves away all too quickly, and Ryan watches him with equal interest. Oren's not the type of attractive he's ever really been with before, broader and more muscular than Ryan tends to go for, and he's finding that he honestly would not mind if he just- never wore a shirt again. That'd be fine.

Then he realizes he's staring, and clears his throat.]

-you don't have to wait here, you know.

[With that invitation given, he heads off to the bathroom to start filling up the tub. Oren can take it, or he can wait; he won't mind either way.]

welp just gonna label this nsfw again in this line of the thread now bc oren can't stop

[twocomplex]

[He'd been hoping for an invitation.

Still, he waits, purposefully eyeing Ryan until the minute he's gone before he stands and slips in after him. Stepping up from behind, he places his hands at Ryan's thighs, teasing up the sides of his night shirt as he presses a kiss to the back of his shoulder.]

Still tired?

promptly ruins it

[averagemedium]

[He leans back into Oren's touch with a satisfied little sigh, both hands dropping down to cover Oren's, lacing their fingers together.

Then he gently pulls them away from his hips, turning just enough to give Oren an apologetic look over his shoulder.]

Sorry, but that's- kind of going to have to wait a little bit too, unless you have some weird thing for fish.

[He tilts his head toward the bathtub. Oren's seen him in the bath before, seen what his other form looks like.]

It, uh. Still happens.

it just blanket applies for all oren threads

[twocomplex]

[Damn it. That's right, it was likely uncontrollable... He hadn't remembered that part. Humming in his impatience, he presses a little closer just to tease.]

Ah, but that's why I should get in what touches I can.

[Still, reluctantly, he releases Ryan's hands, letting them slip from his grip so he can take a few steps to the side. He'll wait until whenever he gets in to actually sit on the edge of the tub. He chuckles, though, ducking his head a bit.]

I'd forgotten. This time, I'm invited! How nice.

[averagemedium]

[He's not avoiding the teasing for now, at least-- Ryan leans back against him more purposefully, and when Oren shifts away, one of Ryan's hands trails along his arm until the contact's broken.]

I do appreciate that you're not just appearing in my bathtub anymore, yeah-- but it'd make things easier. No need to walk all the way over here, just make sure you're not wearing anything you want to keep dry...

[He flashes Oren a thoroughly amused grin before he tugs the shirt over his head (he'd foregone wearing anything else, apparently), and climbs into the water with a faint grimace. He knows what's coming, and while it's quick, it's hardly comfortable.]

[twocomplex]

[He responds to the grin with one of his own, but once Ryan settles into the tub, it fades back. Stepping closer, Oren takes a seat on the edge of the tub.]

Does it hurt? [An obvious question, he's sure, but what else is there to say? I'm sorry you change into a fish?]

There's rather limited information in the materials I've read on "monsters." Why, it tells me your bottom half will change, but it gives no details on the process more than that. [At least in the ones he's found.]

[averagemedium]

--used to hurt more. It's- you'll see.

[He manages that between gritted teeth, busy bracing himself. No, it doesn't hurt so much anymore, but he hates the feeling. Hates everything about what Oren's watching-- the way his legs fuse together, skin stretching in impossible ways, and then twist into a different shape. Instead of a more straightforward mermaid tail, which might not be as bad, his lower half reshapes to round out in the front, curve back around, stretch out longer and coil at the end.

With the way his fish half's shape curves back, it's more comfortable for him to roll over and lie on his stomach, arms folded on the edge of the tub and hands gripping tight to its rim as the long, fleshy fronds that complete his new form separate out from his body. The whole process doesn't take long-- it's just slow enough that Oren's able to watch its progression, but it still leaves him breathing heavily (even if it's partly just because he's so tense through the entire thing.)]

Fuck. Really not gonna get used to this.

[twocomplex]

[Watching this is strangely familiar. It's a little more calm than the shifting he'd had to deal with, but it's horrifying to watch all the same. Melding and growing of skin that shouldn't be, loss of some limbs and growth of others. Oren reaches out during the process and places a hand to the back of Ryan's head, gently stroking down his hair in light touches so not to snag.

Once Ryan speaks, he pauses his hand at his shoulder and gives a light squeeze.]

No, perhaps not. [He never did, at least. His hand smooths over from his shoulder to his back, tracing his fingers along skin or scales in an attempt to soothe.] But you will learn to deal with it.

[He interrupts himself with a tiny chuckle, dry more than anything.] That doesn't sound so ideal, does it? I can't lie to you. It feels wrong, but you have those who can help you along with it.

You're not alone.

[averagemedium]

[That touch is unexpectedly soothing, and while Ryan is tense at first, he quickly begins to relax. He shifts and rolls over onto his side, facing Oren, and settles in a little more comfortably; his tail curls up to wrap around one of Oren's wrists, latching on almost reflexively.]

You've dealt with something similar before...? Or just kind of a general sentiment?

[Ryan peers up at him curiously over the rims of his glasses, head slightly tilted. His tail's not quite stroking along his arm, but it doesn't manage to hold still, uncurling and shifting and curling around again.]

-I can appreciate the last part, at least. It's a little weird not to be.

[twocomplex]

[The tail is surprising, but it's met with a broadening of Oren's smile. He takes it as a sign of relaxation from Ryan, combined with the way he can feel his muscles ease below his fingers. He shifts, touching his knees to the ground outside the tub now so he can lean over the rim of it.

He continues to smooth over Ryan's shoulders even as he watches his other arm and the tail that moves over it.]

It wasn't so widely known, but yes, I dealt with something similar. The pain never went away, but I dealt with it. It's something you learn.

[He turns back to Ryan, placing his elbow on the rim so he can lean his head a bit against that arm and Ryan's tail. His other hand plays with the curls of hair at Ryan's neck.]

Why, that's not something I want to hear, that you're surprised to not be alone. I'll fix that myself if I have to.

[averagemedium]

You're already doing a pretty good job of fixing it, you know.

[The smile Ryan gives him at that is an almost sleepy-looking one, and he feels far more relaxed here than he'd thought he would. Saying things like that is a very good way to put him at ease, to soothe whatever's bothering him, and the tension is easing out of his posture as Oren's hand smooths over his skin and toys with his curls.]

...and I'm sorry. That you had to deal with something like it, I mean. I'd rather we didn't have that in common, but- considering this place, I have a feeling there'll be more than this.

[twocomplex]

[He watches as the curls slip from his fingers, stroking them down Ryan's neck before lifting them again to do the same.]

There likely will be. I suppose I should simply be thankful that I can be alive again. [He guesses... He was, then he wasn't, and now he was again? What next? His fingers curl in place and pause against Ryan's neck.]

Or glad that we can share in something. It's not so easy to have company with something like that, is it? Now tell me, is my job only "pretty good?" [His smile widens, even as dim as it is compared to before. There's still a warmth there. A playfulness.]

[averagemedium]

You don't have to be thankful just because it's not as bad as it could be.

[That is the sound of Ryan being a Giant Fucking Hypocrite-- and promptly ignoring it, leaning into Oren's hand to encourage more attention as his tail curls more firmly around Oren's arm.]

And you could be doing more than "pretty good" if you helped wash my hair, I'm just saying.

[twocomplex]

You'll have to release my arm for that, unfortunately.

[His smile warms and he moves closer, shifting and nudging lightly at Ryan to move with him. Give him room for the faucet, the supplies, all of that.]

I can't pass up the chance to toy with your hair. Do forgive me for the lack of space. [He's going to get water on the floor or something, probably. He's still not hesitating in leaning closer and just going for it though.]

[averagemedium]

D'you really like it that much?

[He can't help but laugh as he says it, cheeks coloring a faint pink at the thought-- though his stubborn tail makes his smile turn into a huff of borderline irritation when he just can't- quite- make it let go.

After a couple of attempts he has to resort to reaching out and unwinding it himself.]

And do you think I'd complain about the lack of space? Come here, jeez.

[There's the laughter again, reaching for one of Oren's hands and tugging it closer to make his point clear. He releases it to shift a little further down into the bathtub, leaning back so he can wet his hair.]

[twocomplex]

It's cute.

[He offers simply, and as he's pulled closer still, he laughs with Ryan. Lightly, he splashes some of the water at more than just his hair, one arm hooking around Ryan's front to grasp at a shoulder as he nearly slips. But he catches himself, straightening and pulling back enough so that he can wet Ryan's hair, fingers running carefully through to avoid what knots he can.

He does notice that pink, though, and he's all for trying to deepen it.]

The color, the shape, the texture— how could I not? [Again, he runs his hands through, cups them and pours it over higher if he needs to. All the while he's leaning into the bathtub, practically.] Do tell me if I'm not gentle enough.