softspokenlandlord | IC Inbox

[ The Ring-Spirit isn't entirely sure what to do with "staring, no other reaction". And hovering is - but then Ryou decides to open the window actually, thank fuck. So the Ring-Spirit quickly clambers inside almost-nimbly, ending up down on the floor, which... ok! He'll just. sit on the floor for a bit, that's fine. ]

...Unforn'ly, so do hallways. An dare do narrow d'fly down.

[ If the Ring-Spirit seems unusually winded from the flying, it's because he normally does less of it and more of walking than he's been doing recently. Unrelated, his nose is still kinda fucked up. Things just aren't healing very fast with the whole vortex situation.

Speaking of the vortex, what with everything going on when they last saw each other, Ryou might not have noticed the Ring-Spirit's bandaged fingers and toes before now. They're still bandaged and... the tips are still a bit bloodied. His long talons are all missing - guess what he gave the vortex - and his digits look significantly shorter without them. ...His digits are also missing slightly more than just the length of the talons, which might or might not be noticeable to Ryou - but uh. Yeah. There's a reason he didn't opt for walking through the building to their door.

After a moment of catching his breath, he opens up the bookbag-looking thing he's got slung around his neck and pulls out a box from a bakery. ]

Where do you want'ese?

[ He doesn't care (or, to be honest, seem to notice) that Ryou's shirtless. Ryou's shirt-regrets are sadly wasted... but the box is filled with profiteroles smothered in powdered sugar, so. maybe Ryou cares less about the shirt now? ]

[You know what, this is fine. Ryou just...drops down to the floor as gently as he can, which is slightly more nimble than whatever the Ring-Spirit did, but only just. He's clearly having problems with hovering. Which is stupid, he's a shade?! This is the only time he needs his powers, and they're acting up.

Sigh.

At the very least, most of his attention is drawn to the Ring-Spirit, who really does look worse for wear. Ryou hadn't realized...he was missing his talons. No wonder he wanted to fly around rather than walk, since it looks like he'd taken off more than the talons.

Ryou's own taloned foot curls up in sympathy. Eugh...why did he take that much off...?]

A-are you gonna be okay?

[Look, he really does care about you, Spirit. Not just the box. Buuuut...the box does grab his interest.]

Uh...what? D...did you bring me baked goods? I broke your nose, that's...not how it works. I hurt you and you saved me from dying so shouldn't I...uh. S-shouldn't I give you stuff?

[Bless his heart, he's so confused and out of it. He's balanced precariously on his remaining arm and WHY ARE YOU GIVING HIM TASTY THINGS?]

[ ...Yknow, not normally using a power isn't exactly helping your ability to use it once you're stressed out, Ryou. Not that the Ring-Spirit is focused on that - he's way too distracted with Ryou's befuddlement. He actually snickers a bit, he can't help himself. ]

I' done worse do myselb - an' you.

[ He offers a wry grin. ]

Don' worry aboud d'node, ob all dings.

[ The Ring-Spirit puts the box down on the floor between them and kinda. just looks at it. Now what? ]

...I'n be fine.

[ He hesitates, then... tries nudging the box closer towards Ryou...? What is he supposed to do,, ]

Well...yes, but...oh, never mind. You're right, I just...your claws, too. That must have hurt.

[Ryou looks thoughtfully at the box, trying to figure out how best to get at it when his hand is currently occupied and his powers were not responding correctly. Eventually, he manages to get his good foot positioned in such a way that it would counterbalance his weight, after which point he was able to reach for the box.

Upon flipping the lid open, the look on his face was probably as close to delight as he'd felt since being injured. He didn't even realize how much he wanted something sweet until it was here, facing him dead on.

He glances up at the Ring-Spirit and rest assured, if he had pupils then the expression on his face would be downright saccharine.]

T...thank you. Did you...know these were my favorite?

[Please tell him you did it'll make him so happy.]

[ The Ring-Spirit watches Ryou puzzle things out, attempting to determine what Ryou's puzzling out, exactly... and then frowns to himself as he realizes it's a physics-puzzle he wouldn't have expected a shade to be faced with. Ryou's really not good at being a shadow, huh. The Ring-Spirit had always assumed the shadow stuff just. happened, and that what shades had to figure out was how to turn things like intangibility and hovering off... Does Ryou need something to lean against? Should he just get something, or ask, or - ]

[ Ryou's question catches him off guard. ]

Eh? I - yeah? D'at's... why I god t'em...

[ As he stumbles through a response, Ryou's expression starts to sink in and... it occurs to him that. he? may have done something right?? Did he finally do something right??! ]

Edited 2021-08-09 08:02 (UTC)

[Correct answer. Very extremely correct answer.

Ryou pushes the box of profiteroles away for a moment--just a moment, he's going to absolutely vore the whole box even if it makes him sick in a second--before awkwardly using his remaining limbs to propel himself forward.

Right up against the Ring-Spirit.

It is, hands-down, the most awkward hug ever. Ryou's face is buried in the spirit's feathery ruff and his arm's thrown over the harpy's shoulder. He's on his knees, so it'll be easy to settle back once he needs to but that's a problem for later.

He wants a fucking hug right now. Firstly he has to reward kindnesses appropriately and secondly he's so, so lonely and lacking in self-esteem as of late that a kind gesture is literally his undoing.]

Th...thank you so much, i-it's a very nice gift and I'm so glad that...that you...got them for me. You didn't have to but you...you did, and it's the nicest--

[Ooookay okay he's rambling, he's still out of it but he means what he says. It's not his fault that he's taking painkillers (not completely anyway) and his inhibitions are fucked.]

Just...thank you. Thank you.

[ The Ring-Spirit isn't sure what to expect when Ryou comes at him, but he doesn't move out of the way and - oh, uh. He's being. hugged.

He did! He fuckin did something RIGHT!!

He's not sure what to do in response. His arms twitch as he hesitates, hovering between moving them and not... but after a moment he decides to try (Ryou seems pretty solid) and wraps his own arms around the shade. If Ryou's form stays sturdy enough for it, the Ring-Spirit will tighten his hold on him, but he can also keep his arms in-place-but-not-holding-onto if Ryou starts losing solidity. He's tried to mime hugging a shadow before, he's sure; he can do it again if he can't maintain a real hug.

He doesn't really have anything to say, until Ryou rambles at him for a bit - he still doesn't know what to say exactly, but he should say something, right? ]

Wha'eber you wand - anydin you wand...

[ If the Ring-Spirit sounds grateful right now it's just. uh. ignore that. yeah. ]

[Even after the way Ryou had hurt him...the Ring-Spirit still had it in him to offer Ryou anything he wanted, and that's just...it's a lot. It really is. This could be proof that their history needn't be so painful anymore. Ryou won't forgive the spirit for all that he's did, he'll still hold those hurts in his heart.

But right now, all Ryou wants though is to stay like this just a little longer. There's no falter in his tangibility, for the moment. He stays solid, he feels the hug being reciprocated and he's gonna get emotional, oh no oh no ohhhh--]

Stay.

[It's a simple request that Ryou can't help but say thickly, like he's trying not to break down crying.

...Which is somewhat true. His inhibitions are practically nonexistent right now, he's drugged up to kill his pain, he's been presented with a gift, and now he's getting hugged back. Anyone would feel overwhelmed.]

Just stay here with me. I don't wanna be alone.

[ Ryou,,, - "after the way you hurt him" it's a broken nose he's fine gkjggd,, ...Since the Ring-Spirit can't actually overhear Ryou's thought process (anymore), mental keysmashing forever remains hypothetical; instead, he's simply pleased to be asked for something so easy, something he can not only provide but would like himself. ]

Ob courd - nong as you wand.

[ He'll hold Ryou as long as the other wants to stay like this, until whenever Ryou starts to move away of his own - and the Ring-Spirit makes a mental note to not completely let go then, to keep providing the physical support Ryou seemed to need - why bring him pastries only to turn his eating any of them into a literal balancing act, that'd undermine the point of pastry itself. ]

Edited 2021-08-11 06:46 (UTC)

[As long as he wants it is. Ryou stays there for a couple of long minutes, because he's very reluctant to stop hugging the Ring-Spirit for several good reasons. One, his feathers are soft and comfortable. Even Ryou's arm thrown over the spirit's shoulder puts him in contact with the space between his wings, allowing slender fingers to brush against the exterior feathers. Those, too, he finds comforting.

Two, with Atem not always being around, especially now, Ryou finds that the loneliness is almost unbearable. He can't put that kind of strain on Atem, but neither can he resolve his own loneliness so easily.

Finally though...he does start to try and push himself away from the Ring-Spirit, rocking himself backwards as best he can and nearly overbalancing as he does so. He manages to catch himself on his remaining arm, but it's...pretty uncomfortable.]

Nngh...th-thank you for humoring me. Your feathers are very...soft. Your neck feels weird though.

[Yeah ABOUT THAT. Don't think he didn't notice something.]

[ The Ring-Spirit has plenty of time to decide, for 100% certain, that he definitely likes hugs. It's not exactly a surprise or anything at this point, but. anyway.

He's distracted because of it when Ryou finally moves away - and Ryou nearly falls over, not ok! The Ring-Spirit tries to help support the shade, but he suspects Ryou might be trying to limit contact with him on purpose - he can think of a good reason or two for that, after all - which complicates logistics...

The Ring-Spirit's very much not focused on the topic of his own neck when he replies. ]

By neck's 'ong, bird-whadeber - do you wand... a jair, or? someding??

[ Ryou could also like. continue leaning on him, that'd be very ok. ]

No...a chair would be awful...

[Ryou glances at the blanket nest where the couch used to be. He's...thinking about how best to get there, especially with his powers on the fritz. His only viable options are to crawl there, which would be embarrassing, or...]

We can sit there. I'm...just going to need your help.

[If there was an question at all as to whether Ryou is avoiding touching the Ring-Spirit, then the way he reaches out with his one hand absolutely dispels the theory. He isn't showing any avoidant behavior.

To be fair...he's pretty woozy.]

Bring the box. When I get to those blankets...I am going to give you one of the profiteroles and you are not going to argue about it. And then I am going to eat all of the rest.

[Something about the determined way he says that is almost...convincing? Ryou don't eat all the profiteroles you'll die.]

[ Ok, Ryou's not just trying to get away from him, nice. The Ring-Spirit reaches back automatically, not remembering "oh, right, I had concerns about whether I could lift him before" until he's trying and... well, between his own monstrous-strength and Ryou being down most of one of his longer limbs, he can, but he was definitely right to harbor doubts about it. It's not so much the hollow bones as it is the injured digits and the mismatching odd proportions, but it takes him a minute to stand up with Ryou in his arms.

At this point he hesitates, remembering there's also a box he's supposed to move. He stares at said box for a moment, trying to figure out how to pick it up... and decides nope, fuck it, too complicated, he'll make two trips. ]

H-heh... Take your dime eadig. You'b god ar nide, an I bet dey'd tasd bedder ib you're nod chokig.

[ A vague hope that if Ryou stretches the box out across the night that he'll... die slightly less intensely? And the Ring-Spirit will lighten the load by the one (1) creampuff Ryou insists he take. That's it, that's the closest to enforcing responsible pastry consumption the Ring-Spirit's even going to try.

He deposits Ryou in the blanket nest awkwardly, then goes back for the pastries; and once he's fetched the box as well, he flops awkwardly into the nest himself, stretching his wings out behind the both of them. ]

Oof...

[ He. is. exhausted. Not from the exertion just now, no, just. the rest of the day catching up to him. And the days before this one. ...And his toes may have reopened a little. Again. (Annoying how they keep doing that.) ]

[Whoa hey now!

He hadn't expected the Ring-Spirit to carry him! It's weird, to be carried by a person who he knows has hollow bones and hurting feet, so he finds himself curling up a little awkwardly as he's carried, looking embarrassed.

Ryou glances at the spirit with a big-eyed, still-uncomprehending expression as he flops on the nest. It's not that the flopping is discouraged--quite the opposite, actually. This is designated Big Monster Furniture. It's just...he's not sure he's ever seen the Ring-Spirit look so...tired. So affected by things going on around him.

He'll think about that in a second. First, he opens the box, pulling out one of the profiteroles and taking a bite. And...look. Ryou's eyes literally glow all the time. However, there's a difference between what they normally look like and glowing as an expression.

This. This is what he needed. This thing right here will solve all his problems. He doesn't even care how he looks, he opens his mouth again and shoves the rest of the pastry in.]

Mmmmhh ffh suh guhhd...

[This is why Ryou could never give up eating normal food. He eats souls to survive, but he eats sweets to live, alright? He'll...probably apologize for talking with his mouth full in a second though. And...also ask the spirit if he's okay. Just uh, give him a second. He's reveling in decadence.]

[ The Ring-Spirit had assumed the reaching out was because Ryou wanted to be picked up - and he's too tired right now to do things like "consider alternatives" or "hesitate before attempting thing-he-might-not-be-physically-capable-of". Whoops!

He's going to have a hard time getting up later, he'd like to just. not move. for a year or so. ...For now though? Ryou looks so happy, and it's because of a thing he did. He did a thing to make Ryou happy and it actually did. The Ring-Spirit is a little giddy right now. He'd be content to just sit and watch Ryou inhaling pastry forever. ]

[And inhale he does. He eats...a good quarter of the box before he realizes he's done so. It's been nearly a year since he's had a profiterole at all, and they represented more than just a favored treat.

At this point, having his favorite snack represented something from home, something he had sorely missed. Something that comforted him...and reminded him that even if bad things happened, someone cared, and that someone was from home.

The Ring-Spirit, even.

He takes a bite out of the pastry he's holding, then glances silently at the spirit, and again...he wants to cry.]

Th...thi'h...

[He shakes his head, swallows the mouthful of sweets, then tries again.]

This was...s-so kind of you. After everything that's happened...I-I'm so lucky, aren't I? I almost died. I was almost consumed, but you...you pulled me out of that thing. And now I have these, and...and...!

[Yeah alright. Okay. He's actually crying now, oh no. He can't help it though! It's a lot! No arm, no foot, Ring-Spirit lounging in the nest, sweets on his tongue, brain fuzzy...

Yeah. A lot. Ryou settles himself next to the Ring-Spirit, probably way closer than should be expected...and throws an arm over his shoulders, just above his wing joints. This is a hug. It's an awkward hug from someone with only one arm but it's a hug nonethless. They've barely spent a few minutes around each other and now they've approached second hug status.]

IC Inbox | ryslig

[cw: mention of fingore (and foot version of same)]

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[cw: minor self-injury]

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