[ 'lay an egg', huh. it's times like these that wanderer is reminded of riddle's own peculiarities. he'd spent centuries surrounding himself with humans, mulling over their inherent differences, but with riddle... there isn't a need to dwell on his lack of heart. riddle is just as strange as he is. admittedly, it's comforting. ]
It's probably better you can't lay them now. We'd run out of space. I don't doubt they wouldn't be fertilized.
[ and then what..... they'd be surrounded by more baby dragons? little durin is already a handful. ]
I'll finish putting out the blankets before getting the humidifier going. There's incense we have in storage that I can light with it. It's the closest we'll get to the outside scent of the jungle.
What do you want to eat? I was gifted an apron, so I guess I'll use it.
[ buer had given it to him recently. he'd begrudgingly accepted it. ]
[ riddle's thoughts also drift to durin-- how cute the little dragon would look wrapped in riddle's long, crimson tail flecked with iridescent ruby scales, his sharp spines vibrating to keep the little one warm... would he be opposed to being buried in dirt? ah, but they're different species, so perhaps--
there he goes again. riddle needs to focus. he completes his purchase, decides to shell out a bit extra to have the roses delivered to the sanctuary for him, and continues his meandering. ]
They would most *certainly* be fertilized, but worry not. Back then, I would just simply eat them, or smash them up in the rosebeds. We could do the same now if necessary.
[ eat their babies??? well, the wilds are an uncivilized place. while riddle sometimes longs for the distant comforts of hot sand and lava flows, golden thorns scraping his scales and the scent long-extinct natlan roses, there's no way he would ever return to such a life. not needing to worry about being ambushed and gored by monsters? no humans harassing him or trying to steal his treasured ores and flowers? being able to have his food delivered to him by a gorgeous puppet who will drop everything to mate with him? not even lord murata herself could pry these luxuries out of his cold dead hands! ]
That sounds splendid. Thank you! I will arrange everything once I arrive to ensure our comfort. I have no intention of letting you leave my side for a long while.
An apron? I can't wait to see it. As for what I'm craving, how about a big soboro bowl? Or a pot of arroz con pollo? Anything full of protein, so as to tide me over for the next month or so.
[ wanderer makes a little huffing noise to himself. ]
You wouldn't destroy them. It'd be impossible to stay here, but we'd just move somewhere else. I'd take up a hut in the jungle and leave the outside nesting to you and them.
[ 'them'. yes, he can't say 'offspring' or 'children' or, the most damning of all, 'babies'. they would be theirs, though. wanderer knows it; he just won't verbalize that fact.
instead, he'll send a little attachment. the picture is taken from his perspective, one hand lifting a pink-tipped stick of incense up for riddle's appraisal. in the background, lush, vibrant greenery is present—all of the plants they moved into their living space. ]
I lit them. The scent should be strong enough by the time you get here.
[ wanderer then leaves to room to collect his apron. ]
I can make the pot of arroz con pollo. The other has the meat cut into small pieces, and I think it'd appeal to your instincts if you had chicken on the bone.
[ riddle imagines all this and can't help laughing. ]
You're surprisingly accommodating when our offspring are involved! I'm quite attached to the Sanctuary, and living in the wilds is utterly nightmarish in this form. Or are you saying you would still love and adore me even if I reverted to my original form?
[ needless to say, riddle is teasing since being in a relationship with a giant qucusaur is a logistical nightmare, but the thought is quite a sweet one. wanderer truly is too soft for his own good... were it anyone else, riddle would insist upon the harsh reality of life as a truly wild beast. he would remind his mate that even if he didn't eat their children, he would still be compelled to force them out of the nest as soon as it came time for him to lay another egg. riddle can say with certainty that wanderer wouldn't have the figurative stomach to throw their year-old baby off a cliff, never to be seen again.
even after the great atrocity he has seen, such a gentle core remains even now. riddle knows this is what he fell in love with; even if wanderer himself doesn't believe in it, riddle sees it plain as day. so, why not daydream a little bit? for wanderer, he will imagine a world where he defies the rules of biology. it'll be the two of them, and their dozens and dozens of hatchlings, living peacefully and happily.
his reverie is put to a halt when he sees the attachment, and riddle can't help stopping in the middle of the street, breathless, his heart filling with an ache of longing. ]
I always loved that incense. It truly does smell like the top of the plateaus after a fresh rain. There would be a short time where everything was green, just like this, and I would leave my mountain to gather rare flowers before the ground became too hot.
What I wouldn't give to be able to see it all just one more time.
[ riddle hasn't been homesick in what feels like centuries. he had to make peace with his banishment long ago, so there was never any point. it helped that nothing has traveled out of natlan ever since the cataclysm. as humans say: out of sight, out of mind. now though... he finds himself wishing he could share his old home with wanderer. perhaps even introduce him to lord murata. ]
That *does* sound quite lovely! I won't be able to eat the bones themselves, but it's still satisfying to see them. I wonder if little Durin would like them? I would be happy to feed them to him, and perhaps even give him a cuddle.
[ unlikely. durin reported that "rosie is actin' weird" and is playing somewhere he won't be fussed excessively. ]
I assumed you would have the ability to go between them. The scenario fails otherwise. Or were you thinking I'd breed you in that form? I'm a puppet, but that's impossible still. I'd have to mate you as you are now, first.
[ technically, even that isn't true. wanderer knows he lacks proper seed. procreation is a function he is sorely lacking. after all, it'd be nonsensical for an artificial being that was originally created to rule a nation to create offspring of its own. and it's because of that, that it took a long while for wanderer to develop a libido. he supposes that living alongside humans for as long as he had encouraged that bodily change. there could've been a timeline where wanderer had no interest in bedding riddle at all.
but we're not in that one. wanderer does have urges. and for a peculiar reason, he derives pleasure in tormenting his partner, too. fate is very strange. ]
Natlan sand should carry the same scent. I could collect some at the border after my next errand. Sometimes I'm sent out into the desert to deliver packages, so it wouldn't be a problem.
A jar should hold enough of it.
[ he pauses to prepare the seasoning for the chicken. then, he coats each leg before setting them aside. ]
And Durin is wary that he'll catch your infection. He'll probably eat after you've settled.
You bring up a good point. I would invariably crush you, and that would put *quite* the damper on any romantic atmosphere we were able to create. In that case, we will have to plan when we mate ahead of time, so as to avoid having more offspring than we can appropriately care for. I rather like that idea.
[ does he dare divulge that he'd mated with other qucusauruses in his early life? the encounters were mostly transactional, where he allowed suitors to linger near his den in exchange for choice bits of their prey until the next season-- he would eat their potential spawn, of course, and after his power blossomed there was no point in offering such charity to suitors.
even so, would wanderer be jealous of now-dead lizards? riddle doesn't doubt it. he's already being so obliging though-- riddle decides to keep the factoid to himself for a bit as to not get him worked up. ]
Even so, the question remains: would you still love me if I reverted to my old form?
[ would you still love your girlfriend if she was a worm???? ]
I would love that so very much. It would be the only way I could touch my ancestral grounds once again. You don't know how much this means to me.
[ riddle feels his heart fit to burst from his chest, and a primal longing to bury his nose in the curve of wanderer's neck and breathe him in fills his tiny body. if the sand doesn't blind him, then this would open up a world of possibilities for him. perhaps he really can find a way to correspond with lord murata? maybe write her a letter, and send the traveler over to hunt her down and deliver it-- she can finally know her little whopperflower is as smart as she says and even learned what love is. that thought, more than anything, excites riddle the most. ]
Infection?! Silly little thing... That simply won't do though, he mustn't delay his mealtime on my account. I will drag him home this evening, and the three of us can have a cuddle together in the nest.
[ normally he would give little durin a lecture, so his instincts are kicking in harder than he thought. well, durin is an uneaten baby, so what choice does riddle have but to mother him while he's too young to be out on his own? as he begins making his way up the walkway leading to the sanctuary, riddle even contemplates taking a detour to hunt the little guy down.
no, it wouldn't do to embarrass him in front of his friends... riddle will surely fuss him. best to just go straight home. ]
[ yes, wanderer would absolutely be jealous of dead lizards. he even sometimes envies murata.
often presenting himself as aloof and cold, anyone beyond riddle might find it very surprising how protective and possessive wanderer really is. he cherished the abandoned child, the people of tatarasuna—and even his single devote follower, haypasia. his mother thought it was a fault unfitting for a divine creation, but he harbors deep affection. wanderer himself knows it's wildly irrational for an artificial being to feel this way.
although terribly hypocritical, he would seethe from the knowledge of others possessing riddle before him. wanderer considers riddle his... in just about every sense of the word. so, perhaps it's well and good that wanderer not know about these past breeding habits. ]
I'd feel the same for you regardless.
[ his worm.......... ]
You desire me despite the fact I'm inorganic. Would it make a difference if you were a dragon? I'd stay with you even if you abruptly returned to your original form.
We'd find ways to entertain ourselves and move forward.
[ the chicken is placed into a cast iron and set onto the stove. wanderer then moves to prepare the rice. ]
I'm sure he felt a chill with that message. You're fierce when you coddle someone.
[ would he have been suffocated by riddle's clinginess had he not had immense strength? wanderer has to wonder. ]
[ riddle's heart feels as squirmy as a worm. while he understands wanderer's trepidations with using the dreaded L-word, every close encounter with it is still precious. it's just as illogical for a former beast, a child of war-- for something as long-lived as he to care for matters of the heart. in a way, riddle still doesn't (with a few exceptions here and there); he cares little for the perspective of others, believes himself to be right at all times, and while his thoughts may be seen as chaotic to some, to riddle, his logic makes all the sense in the world. as crude as the term "lizard brain" may sound, when it comes right down to it, that is riddle's default means of processing the world around him. simple, orderly, pragmatic, neat-- even now, he wouldn't hesitate to throw an infant off a cliff if he believed it was the right thing to do.
for all the ways he has changed wanderer for the better, riddle has been changed by the puppet just as much. slowing down and having someone to safely marvel at the complexities of emotion with is a luxury not even lord murata offered him. finally, there's someone with whom he can learn with, or idle away and watch time pass by with. wanderer will never leave him.
this declaration proves it. ]
I knew you would say that, but it still makes me happy to hear. Any other answer would have me liable to look for a way to transform back just so I could eat you alive.
[ the one time riddle gave genuine thought to being without his beloved was after he had begged the traveler to stop scaramouche's ascent to supposed godhood, only for the starborne hero to return from the secret workshop empty-handed. riddle can only recall screaming, crying, and cursing his fate as a long-lived creature. the thought of bearing such pain for eternity could have driven him to madness.
thankfully everything worked out in the end. riddle will always be wanderer's worm........ ]
You really are far too sweet for your own good. Anyone else would head for the hills if such a thing happened to their dyad. But, you have always been exceptional, haven't you? I would have never looked your way otherwise...and now, I'll never let you go.
Truthfully, however, I love the life I have built with you far too much. I never want to go back to living as a saurian.
[ meaning, no litter of baby dragons for them. alack and alas. ]
Surely you jest? You are the main recipient of my cuddles, and *you* seem to enjoy them greatly.
[ what a spectacle that would be. no longer in his petite and dainty human form, a monstruous dragon-like creature would instead take riddle's place—and then he'd promptly chase after wanderer. would they both dive through the sky together? it might not be a boring way to die, he supposes. that is, if riddle managed to catch him. his anemo vision has granted wanderer incredible speed, which means that riddle would have to act quickly if he wanted to devour his deplorable puppet lover.
well, he won't linger too much of it. the thought of being swallowed whole is unappealing. wanderer would much rather flip riddle over and devour him instead. he has plenty of times before; it's certainly more favorable. ]
And I'm not sweet. I don't think anyone else would say I am, either. [ except buer, but she doesn't count! ] It just so happens that things work out this way. I wouldn't look into it.
Just be quiet and let me look after you.
[ is this the most tsundere response ever? yes ]
Anyway, just keep the squeezing to me. Durin won't be able to handle it.
Oh? I'm tempted to test that theory. You know how I get when I lose my temper. If I wasn't certain it would lead to you permanently ceasing to function, I would look into giving it a try.
But, no. There is no need. As long as I have you, I have no desire to change a thing.
[ as fanciful as the thought is-- riddle glowing crimson in the sky, trailing after his mate for life as they cut through the clouds... there really is no advantage, no need for him to assume that form ever again. he can't hold wanderer, can't squeeze him or kiss him or reaffirm promises of his eternal devotion to him with low, sincere whispers.
he certainly wouldn't be able to enjoy teasing him like this anymore either. no one knows a tsundere better than another tsundere, okay?? riddle sees through wanderer's words. ]
Is that so? Curious how it always seems to work out that way all the time when I'm involved. But, if that's how you want to describe spoiling me, then so be it. I won't dare protest either way.
Then squeeze you I shall. It will be the first thing I do when I arrive home, which should be in but a few moments. I'm entering the sanctuary as we speak, so I'll see you in a bit.
[ riddle stows his phone away and, just as he said, enters their section of surasthana. passing through the door does invoke memories of lush forests and freshly wetted earth; before he searches for wanderer, riddle slowly makes his way through to their room where the scent of incense and flowers is strongest.
it's strange, he thinks to himself as he stops at the edge of their large bed where all manner of bedding is piled atop. riddle wonders if he should miss home more. is it okay that he feels this way? does a child of war deserve this happiness?
whenever wanderer decides to check on him, he'll find riddle still basking in the familiar comfort of their private jungle. riddle does, however, slowly turn to greet the puppet with a smile that's affectionate and warm. ]
There you are. Or rather...
[ as charming as the apron looks on his beloved, riddle knows he made a promise a few minutes ago. wanderer is quickly treated to arms around his shoulders, an impossibly hot body fitted to his, and a face buried in the crook of his neck. there's no way he can't feel riddle's smile against his synthetic skin. ]
[ distantly, wanderer hears the sound of the front door opening. he knows better than anyone what riddle's movements are like, so he doesn't react with unease and continues preparing the rice. it isn't until a few more minutes pass—the rice now cooking in a pot, wanderer having returned to the chicken—that he decides to see where riddle ventured off to. though, only after he's put a small lid over the meat to prevent any grease from spattering the counter.
he figures that riddle in is their bedroom. having arranged it for him, he would not find it surprising if riddle wanted to delve into his nest as quickly as possible. riddle might already be lounging in the freshly-piled bedsheets, content and happily awaiting his meal.
however, that sight isn't what wanderer is greeted with.
riddle is still standing in the midst of the room, seemingly taking it all in. and for a moment, wanderer almost decides to steer back around and leave him be. but riddle notices him first, turning towards wanderer with a refreshing smile and a terribly tender look on his face. wanderer's chest aches because of it, and he remains quite still as riddle advances and hugs him. ]
...Mm.
[ he acknowledges the cute phrase with a low hum. honestly, it wouldn't take someone particularly observant to notice the slight color in his cheeks. wanderer then tilts his head away and reaches up to grasp the back of riddle's neck, silently urging him forward so that his nose nestles into the crook between wanderer's jaw and shoulder. is it to hide his own expression? possibly. or he might be encouraging riddle to inhale his scent where its strongest. ]
[ how miraculous it is that a being made only to uphold the era of eternity can turn pink when greeted by what is, at the end of the day, a beast. a pair of creatures not fit for walking among humans-- when he nuzzles into the curve of the puppet's neck, even though he feels no pulse, riddle is still reminded of age-old mating rituals, twining tails, shared plumes of fire; the overwhelming scent of spring, the taste of blood, the satisfying feeling of his back muscles stretching when he spread his wings.
riddle thinks of home. of natlan, yes, but more importantly, of how good it feels to be loved and treasured. to be himself. the hand curled against the back of his neck to hold him closer is grounding, serving only to make this daydreamy happiness even more real. ]
Were you waiting that long? My apologies.
[ his tone is more amused than remorseful. he knows wanderer isn't truly angry or put-upon. ]
I was just so enraptured by the warmth of the forest. I know it isn't like me to take so long rambling about, but you need not worry.
[ and then, riddle draws away, just enough to where he can comfortably move over to rest his forehead against his mate's. that painfully tender, adoring expression on his face remains even as he holds the puppet's gaze. riddle swears he can simultaneously see himself as well as the entirety of the world reflected in those soft, indigo eyes. ]
I'll always come back to you. You're my home, Ren.
truthfully, it hasn't been very long since wanderer received an actual name. he'd always, always longed for one, never having been gifted a name from his creator, his mother. instead, wanderer cycled through many titles over the centuries. none of them hold value to him at this point, damnable now that he has decided to own up to his past sins and live. they also lacked consideration from the very beginning—even 'kabukimono', a name to demean him for being 'strange' and inhuman.
however, 'ren' is a name that riddle chose himself. he'd intently studied inazuman culture and the many characters the people of wanderer's nation write with, determined to not settle on something flimsy and thoughtless. wanderer may not resent the traveler for it, but they had done just that—a nickname off the top of their head, joined by their little flying companion's derision. it felt more respectful of riddle to give naming wanderer proper thought.
he will treasure it. each time riddle says his name, a sliver of his broken 'heart' heals itself. wanderer is mending little by little. ]
Don't leave me.
[ only here, in the warmth of their home, can wanderer truly be vulnerable. he silently searches riddle's soft gaze as their foreheads lightly press together, wanderer's brows upturned to compliment his uncharacteristically demure expression. ]
Edited (i nerfed some icons earlier and reuploaded IGNORE THIS) 2024-12-03 07:27 (UTC)
[ he doesn't need his hormones to oversaturate his brain in order to feel a powerful, almost painfully protective urge to come over him when he sees the softness of wanderer's eyes, hears the fragility in his tone. just like a real doll, riddle thinks fondly; something precious, made to be loved, made just for him.
truthfully, qucusaurs rarely mate for life, at least in riddle's time-- and definitely not the ones with his calibur of strength. sharing one's heart and den were too risky, and the crimson tyrant truly believed deep down he needed nothing and no one. his time away from home did nothing to make him question his belief; after all, if he could thrive without lord murata, then truly, what need does he have for anyone else by his side?
maybe that still holds true in a sense, given that even now riddle may care about humans and their welfare (the poor creatures never seem to know what's good for them), but he's never found himself particularly crushed when they disappear; what he does know with certainty is that this is something he can't live without. riddle couldn't leave even if he wanted to. ]
I love you. My precious Ren.
[ he leans forward to give wanderer's forehead a light press, a display of intention and determination. ]
I won't ever leave you. Celestia herself couldn't keep us apart. I'd give her a smack for daring to try.
[ and he means that too. riddle even seals his promise with a kiss to wanderer's lips, his own still pulled into a smile. ]
Edited (crying on the fucking floor) 2024-12-16 06:03 (UTC)
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no subject
It's probably better you can't lay them now. We'd run out of space. I don't doubt they wouldn't be fertilized.
[ and then what..... they'd be surrounded by more baby dragons? little durin is already a handful. ]
I'll finish putting out the blankets before getting the humidifier going. There's incense we have in storage that I can light with it. It's the closest we'll get to the outside scent of the jungle.
What do you want to eat? I was gifted an apron, so I guess I'll use it.
[ buer had given it to him recently. he'd begrudgingly accepted it. ]
no subject
there he goes again. riddle needs to focus. he completes his purchase, decides to shell out a bit extra to have the roses delivered to the sanctuary for him, and continues his meandering. ]
They would most *certainly* be fertilized, but worry not. Back then, I would just simply eat them, or smash them up in the rosebeds. We could do the same now if necessary.
[ eat their babies??? well, the wilds are an uncivilized place. while riddle sometimes longs for the distant comforts of hot sand and lava flows, golden thorns scraping his scales and the scent long-extinct natlan roses, there's no way he would ever return to such a life. not needing to worry about being ambushed and gored by monsters? no humans harassing him or trying to steal his treasured ores and flowers? being able to have his food delivered to him by a gorgeous puppet who will drop everything to mate with him? not even lord murata herself could pry these luxuries out of his cold dead hands! ]
That sounds splendid. Thank you! I will arrange everything once I arrive to ensure our comfort. I have no intention of letting you leave my side for a long while.
An apron? I can't wait to see it. As for what I'm craving, how about a big soboro bowl? Or a pot of arroz con pollo? Anything full of protein, so as to tide me over for the next month or so.
no subject
You wouldn't destroy them. It'd be impossible to stay here, but we'd just move somewhere else. I'd take up a hut in the jungle and leave the outside nesting to you and them.
[ 'them'. yes, he can't say 'offspring' or 'children' or, the most damning of all, 'babies'. they would be theirs, though. wanderer knows it; he just won't verbalize that fact.
instead, he'll send a little attachment. the picture is taken from his perspective, one hand lifting a pink-tipped stick of incense up for riddle's appraisal. in the background, lush, vibrant greenery is present—all of the plants they moved into their living space. ]
I lit them. The scent should be strong enough by the time you get here.
[ wanderer then leaves to room to collect his apron. ]
I can make the pot of arroz con pollo. The other has the meat cut into small pieces, and I think it'd appeal to your instincts if you had chicken on the bone.
no subject
You're surprisingly accommodating when our offspring are involved! I'm quite attached to the Sanctuary, and living in the wilds is utterly nightmarish in this form. Or are you saying you would still love and adore me even if I reverted to my original form?
[ needless to say, riddle is teasing since being in a relationship with a giant qucusaur is a logistical nightmare, but the thought is quite a sweet one. wanderer truly is too soft for his own good... were it anyone else, riddle would insist upon the harsh reality of life as a truly wild beast. he would remind his mate that even if he didn't eat their children, he would still be compelled to force them out of the nest as soon as it came time for him to lay another egg. riddle can say with certainty that wanderer wouldn't have the figurative stomach to throw their year-old baby off a cliff, never to be seen again.
even after the great atrocity he has seen, such a gentle core remains even now. riddle knows this is what he fell in love with; even if wanderer himself doesn't believe in it, riddle sees it plain as day. so, why not daydream a little bit? for wanderer, he will imagine a world where he defies the rules of biology. it'll be the two of them, and their dozens and dozens of hatchlings, living peacefully and happily.
his reverie is put to a halt when he sees the attachment, and riddle can't help stopping in the middle of the street, breathless, his heart filling with an ache of longing. ]
I always loved that incense. It truly does smell like the top of the plateaus after a fresh rain. There would be a short time where everything was green, just like this, and I would leave my mountain to gather rare flowers before the ground became too hot.
What I wouldn't give to be able to see it all just one more time.
[ riddle hasn't been homesick in what feels like centuries. he had to make peace with his banishment long ago, so there was never any point. it helped that nothing has traveled out of natlan ever since the cataclysm. as humans say: out of sight, out of mind. now though... he finds himself wishing he could share his old home with wanderer. perhaps even introduce him to lord murata. ]
That *does* sound quite lovely! I won't be able to eat the bones themselves, but it's still satisfying to see them. I wonder if little Durin would like them? I would be happy to feed them to him, and perhaps even give him a cuddle.
[ unlikely. durin reported that "rosie is actin' weird" and is playing somewhere he won't be fussed excessively. ]
no subject
[ technically, even that isn't true. wanderer knows he lacks proper seed. procreation is a function he is sorely lacking. after all, it'd be nonsensical for an artificial being that was originally created to rule a nation to create offspring of its own. and it's because of that, that it took a long while for wanderer to develop a libido. he supposes that living alongside humans for as long as he had encouraged that bodily change. there could've been a timeline where wanderer had no interest in bedding riddle at all.
but we're not in that one. wanderer does have urges. and for a peculiar reason, he derives pleasure in tormenting his partner, too. fate is very strange. ]
Natlan sand should carry the same scent. I could collect some at the border after my next errand. Sometimes I'm sent out into the desert to deliver packages, so it wouldn't be a problem.
A jar should hold enough of it.
[ he pauses to prepare the seasoning for the chicken. then, he coats each leg before setting them aside. ]
And Durin is wary that he'll catch your infection. He'll probably eat after you've settled.
[ 'infection'.......... ]
no subject
[ does he dare divulge that he'd mated with other qucusauruses in his early life? the encounters were mostly transactional, where he allowed suitors to linger near his den in exchange for choice bits of their prey until the next season-- he would eat their potential spawn, of course, and after his power blossomed there was no point in offering such charity to suitors.
even so, would wanderer be jealous of now-dead lizards? riddle doesn't doubt it. he's already being so obliging though-- riddle decides to keep the factoid to himself for a bit as to not get him worked up. ]
Even so, the question remains: would you still love me if I reverted to my old form?
[ would you still love your girlfriend if she was a worm???? ]
I would love that so very much. It would be the only way I could touch my ancestral grounds once again. You don't know how much this means to me.
[ riddle feels his heart fit to burst from his chest, and a primal longing to bury his nose in the curve of wanderer's neck and breathe him in fills his tiny body. if the sand doesn't blind him, then this would open up a world of possibilities for him. perhaps he really can find a way to correspond with lord murata? maybe write her a letter, and send the traveler over to hunt her down and deliver it-- she can finally know her little whopperflower is as smart as she says and even learned what love is. that thought, more than anything, excites riddle the most. ]
Infection?! Silly little thing... That simply won't do though, he mustn't delay his mealtime on my account. I will drag him home this evening, and the three of us can have a cuddle together in the nest.
[ normally he would give little durin a lecture, so his instincts are kicking in harder than he thought. well, durin is an uneaten baby, so what choice does riddle have but to mother him while he's too young to be out on his own? as he begins making his way up the walkway leading to the sanctuary, riddle even contemplates taking a detour to hunt the little guy down.
no, it wouldn't do to embarrass him in front of his friends... riddle will surely fuss him. best to just go straight home. ]
no subject
often presenting himself as aloof and cold, anyone beyond riddle might find it very surprising how protective and possessive wanderer really is. he cherished the abandoned child, the people of tatarasuna—and even his single devote follower, haypasia. his mother thought it was a fault unfitting for a divine creation, but he harbors deep affection. wanderer himself knows it's wildly irrational for an artificial being to feel this way.
although terribly hypocritical, he would seethe from the knowledge of others possessing riddle before him. wanderer considers riddle his... in just about every sense of the word. so, perhaps it's well and good that wanderer not know about these past breeding habits. ]
I'd feel the same for you regardless.
[ his worm.......... ]
You desire me despite the fact I'm inorganic. Would it make a difference if you were a dragon? I'd stay with you even if you abruptly returned to your original form.
We'd find ways to entertain ourselves and move forward.
[ the chicken is placed into a cast iron and set onto the stove. wanderer then moves to prepare the rice. ]
I'm sure he felt a chill with that message. You're fierce when you coddle someone.
[ would he have been suffocated by riddle's clinginess had he not had immense strength? wanderer has to wonder. ]
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for all the ways he has changed wanderer for the better, riddle has been changed by the puppet just as much. slowing down and having someone to safely marvel at the complexities of emotion with is a luxury not even lord murata offered him. finally, there's someone with whom he can learn with, or idle away and watch time pass by with. wanderer will never leave him.
this declaration proves it. ]
I knew you would say that, but it still makes me happy to hear. Any other answer would have me liable to look for a way to transform back just so I could eat you alive.
[ the one time riddle gave genuine thought to being without his beloved was after he had begged the traveler to stop scaramouche's ascent to supposed godhood, only for the starborne hero to return from the secret workshop empty-handed. riddle can only recall screaming, crying, and cursing his fate as a long-lived creature. the thought of bearing such pain for eternity could have driven him to madness.
thankfully everything worked out in the end. riddle will always be wanderer's worm........ ]
You really are far too sweet for your own good. Anyone else would head for the hills if such a thing happened to their dyad. But, you have always been exceptional, haven't you? I would have never looked your way otherwise...and now, I'll never let you go.
Truthfully, however, I love the life I have built with you far too much. I never want to go back to living as a saurian.
[ meaning, no litter of baby dragons for them. alack and alas. ]
Surely you jest? You are the main recipient of my cuddles, and *you* seem to enjoy them greatly.
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[ what a spectacle that would be. no longer in his petite and dainty human form, a monstruous dragon-like creature would instead take riddle's place—and then he'd promptly chase after wanderer. would they both dive through the sky together? it might not be a boring way to die, he supposes. that is, if riddle managed to catch him. his anemo vision has granted wanderer incredible speed, which means that riddle would have to act quickly if he wanted to devour his deplorable puppet lover.
well, he won't linger too much of it. the thought of being swallowed whole is unappealing. wanderer would much rather flip riddle over and devour him instead. he has plenty of times before; it's certainly more favorable. ]
And I'm not sweet. I don't think anyone else would say I am, either. [ except buer, but she doesn't count! ] It just so happens that things work out this way. I wouldn't look into it.
Just be quiet and let me look after you.
[ is this the most tsundere response ever? yes ]
Anyway, just keep the squeezing to me. Durin won't be able to handle it.
[ he will NOT admit to enjoying cuddles!!!! ]
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But, no. There is no need. As long as I have you, I have no desire to change a thing.
[ as fanciful as the thought is-- riddle glowing crimson in the sky, trailing after his mate for life as they cut through the clouds... there really is no advantage, no need for him to assume that form ever again. he can't hold wanderer, can't squeeze him or kiss him or reaffirm promises of his eternal devotion to him with low, sincere whispers.
he certainly wouldn't be able to enjoy teasing him like this anymore either. no one knows a tsundere better than another tsundere, okay?? riddle sees through wanderer's words. ]
Is that so? Curious how it always seems to work out that way all the time when I'm involved. But, if that's how you want to describe spoiling me, then so be it. I won't dare protest either way.
Then squeeze you I shall. It will be the first thing I do when I arrive home, which should be in but a few moments. I'm entering the sanctuary as we speak, so I'll see you in a bit.
[ riddle stows his phone away and, just as he said, enters their section of surasthana. passing through the door does invoke memories of lush forests and freshly wetted earth; before he searches for wanderer, riddle slowly makes his way through to their room where the scent of incense and flowers is strongest.
it's strange, he thinks to himself as he stops at the edge of their large bed where all manner of bedding is piled atop. riddle wonders if he should miss home more. is it okay that he feels this way? does a child of war deserve this happiness?
whenever wanderer decides to check on him, he'll find riddle still basking in the familiar comfort of their private jungle. riddle does, however, slowly turn to greet the puppet with a smile that's affectionate and warm. ]
There you are. Or rather...
[ as charming as the apron looks on his beloved, riddle knows he made a promise a few minutes ago. wanderer is quickly treated to arms around his shoulders, an impossibly hot body fitted to his, and a face buried in the crook of his neck. there's no way he can't feel riddle's smile against his synthetic skin. ]
I'm home.
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he figures that riddle in is their bedroom. having arranged it for him, he would not find it surprising if riddle wanted to delve into his nest as quickly as possible. riddle might already be lounging in the freshly-piled bedsheets, content and happily awaiting his meal.
however, that sight isn't what wanderer is greeted with.
riddle is still standing in the midst of the room, seemingly taking it all in. and for a moment, wanderer almost decides to steer back around and leave him be. but riddle notices him first, turning towards wanderer with a refreshing smile and a terribly tender look on his face. wanderer's chest aches because of it, and he remains quite still as riddle advances and hugs him. ]
...Mm.
[ he acknowledges the cute phrase with a low hum. honestly, it wouldn't take someone particularly observant to notice the slight color in his cheeks. wanderer then tilts his head away and reaches up to grasp the back of riddle's neck, silently urging him forward so that his nose nestles into the crook between wanderer's jaw and shoulder. is it to hide his own expression? possibly. or he might be encouraging riddle to inhale his scent where its strongest. ]
Took long enough.
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riddle thinks of home. of natlan, yes, but more importantly, of how good it feels to be loved and treasured. to be himself. the hand curled against the back of his neck to hold him closer is grounding, serving only to make this daydreamy happiness even more real. ]
Were you waiting that long? My apologies.
[ his tone is more amused than remorseful. he knows wanderer isn't truly angry or put-upon. ]
I was just so enraptured by the warmth of the forest. I know it isn't like me to take so long rambling about, but you need not worry.
[ and then, riddle draws away, just enough to where he can comfortably move over to rest his forehead against his mate's. that painfully tender, adoring expression on his face remains even as he holds the puppet's gaze. riddle swears he can simultaneously see himself as well as the entirety of the world reflected in those soft, indigo eyes. ]
I'll always come back to you. You're my home, Ren.
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truthfully, it hasn't been very long since wanderer received an actual name. he'd always, always longed for one, never having been gifted a name from his creator, his mother. instead, wanderer cycled through many titles over the centuries. none of them hold value to him at this point, damnable now that he has decided to own up to his past sins and live. they also lacked consideration from the very beginning—even 'kabukimono', a name to demean him for being 'strange' and inhuman.
however, 'ren' is a name that riddle chose himself. he'd intently studied inazuman culture and the many characters the people of wanderer's nation write with, determined to not settle on something flimsy and thoughtless. wanderer may not resent the traveler for it, but they had done just that—a nickname off the top of their head, joined by their little flying companion's derision. it felt more respectful of riddle to give naming wanderer proper thought.
he will treasure it. each time riddle says his name, a sliver of his broken 'heart' heals itself. wanderer is mending little by little. ]
Don't leave me.
[ only here, in the warmth of their home, can wanderer truly be vulnerable. he silently searches riddle's soft gaze as their foreheads lightly press together, wanderer's brows upturned to compliment his uncharacteristically demure expression. ]
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truthfully, qucusaurs rarely mate for life, at least in riddle's time-- and definitely not the ones with his calibur of strength. sharing one's heart and den were too risky, and the crimson tyrant truly believed deep down he needed nothing and no one. his time away from home did nothing to make him question his belief; after all, if he could thrive without lord murata, then truly, what need does he have for anyone else by his side?
maybe that still holds true in a sense, given that even now riddle may care about humans and their welfare (the poor creatures never seem to know what's good for them), but he's never found himself particularly crushed when they disappear; what he does know with certainty is that this is something he can't live without. riddle couldn't leave even if he wanted to. ]
I love you. My precious Ren.
[ he leans forward to give wanderer's forehead a light press, a display of intention and determination. ]
I won't ever leave you. Celestia herself couldn't keep us apart. I'd give her a smack for daring to try.
[ and he means that too. riddle even seals his promise with a kiss to wanderer's lips, his own still pulled into a smile. ]