09-09-2022, 05:46 AM
Whetstone - Mulligan Miniseries
Featured Characters: Gallows, Courier
CW: None
Recommendation Notes: Reading King's Mulligan recommended but not entirely needed.
Part 1
Featured Characters: Gallows, Courier
CW: None
Recommendation Notes: Reading King's Mulligan recommended but not entirely needed.
Part 1
Gallows: This okay?
Courier: Mm. Folks around here sure are cuddly…
Gallows: Nobody can afford heating and it rains about 300 days of the year.
Gallows: People here made do with what they got. Platonic cuddling is just a thing. Especially for cold-blooded folks.
Courier: Like me…
Gallows: Mmhmm..
Courier: Makes me sleepy going out too long.
Gallows:Good trick is to just wear a coat and stuff the pockets with hot food. There’s a technique people here use for that.
Courier: Considering.
Gallows: Means you got food through the day too.
Courier: You ever tried that yourself?
Gallows: Absolutely, Starman makes it mandatory during the winter.
Courier: Really?
Gallows: Needed at times but… between you and me, gives them an excuse to gather folks to make tamales.
Courier: Never had one.
Gallows: Stick around long enough and you’ll see one for sure.
Courier: Plan to. Admittedly I wasn't expecting you to all be so fine with me.
Courier: Body of a crown officer and all.
Gallows: Long as they aren’t surfacing up at all, it’s no issue.
Gallows: But… if it does become a problem we’ll make something work. Looked into making something for you as a backup.
Courier: Really? II’d like to keep the same shape I think. Been stuck in all sorts of object and animals and the occasional clumsy bastard but never really just done.. this.
Gallows: Bother you?
Courier: Little. But also know that with how this civil war’s working out, they couldn’t be let off easy.
Gallows: Absolutely not.
Courier: Would be nice if we could pluck them out but…
Gallows: Still would snitch.
Courier: That’s the thing. We’ll see… do want to make it clear though, that after we burn down the crown I want them free one way or another.
Gallows: Mm. I’d respect it but Starman… that’s hard to promise. Seem to be on their good side though so they’d consider it.
Gallows: I’d vouch for you on this.they respect the opinions of folks they’ve worked with for a long time. Big deal to them.
Courier: You’d do that?
Gallows: No hesitation.
Courier: Too nice to me…
You can’t help but give him a nuzzle, one that’s returned with a warm face.
Courier: Admittedly… hmm…
Gallows: Everything alright?
Courier: Feelings are a bit complicated right now I think.
Gallows: You need some space?
Courier: Nothing like that. Thinking a lot. Never really done anything like this before just a few months ago. Curled up with a few others but…
Courier: Wondering if maybe.. my feelings are more than platonic, you know? With you..
Courier: New experiences. Not really sure where I stand on anything but I like you quite a bit…
Courier: I think sometimes about someone just… maybe I shouldn’t say it…
Gallows: You can keep going, I’m listening.
Courier: Guess lately I like to think about someone just holding the real me and being just as happy… and more than often it’s you doing that when I picture it.
Gallows: Easy.
Courier: Don’t know if those feelings are exactly romantic either but… it’s the closest it’s felt. Would you consider that sometime?
Gallows: Would be honored.
Courier: Need to prep in case the other person in here wakes up and well… It’s a vulnerable state.
Gallows: Down the line then?
Courier: If you don’t mind. Think I’d like some time to figure out my feelings. No matter what happens… I’m glad we’re friends, even if it doesn’t go further than that.
Gallows: Never liked that phrasing personally, the whole idea that a friendship can’t be just as important a bond as a romance.
Courier: Isn’t that usually how it’s seen?
Gallows: It is, that’s the issue. Bonds take all shape and form and can still have the same impact on you regardless..
Gallows: That said, my feelings here aren’t exclusively platonic either. If you decide you want something more, I wouldn’t be opposed to exploring further.
Courier: How much further?
Gallows: Tempted to kiss that hilt…
Courier: That’s sweet… admittedly I’ve wondered what a proper snog’s like, now that the possibility exists for me. Lot to ask though.
Gallows: Could arrange that….
You lean toward the rabbit…
Courier: Doesn’t bother you?
Gallows: What does?
Courier: This face used to lick the crown’s boot…
Gallows: You’re putting it to better use…
You reach for a hand. You can feel your heart race…
And then… it never happens.
Courier: Gallows? You okay?
The rabbit goes quiet, eyes out of view.
There’s a sudden recoil. He releases your hand hesitantly and pulls back.
You can just barely make out his face.
The gaze you see is distressed, one that makes him feel almost unrecognizable.
Courier: … Gally? You okay?
Gallows: Must’ve forgotten I was taking shift tonight… your friend is taking a break.
Courier:... You’re someone else?
???: Aye, my turn with the rabbit so to speak…
???: I’m…wel… can I get some space?
???: I’m feeling rather unwell…
You distance yourself immediately. He rolls over to face away from you. He’s shaking.
Courier: A-Are you okay?
???: I just need a moment to decompress… I… appear to have walked in on a rather emotionally intimate moment.
Courier: Appreciate that you spoke up, is there anything I can do?
???: I don’t know. Feel my whole body riddled with guilt and same frankly… nothing to do with you specifically of course, should clarify that. Don’t want you getting the impression that you’re ugly. Opposite really.
???: Just… ill timed entrance.
Courier: I understand. Do you need to talk?
???: I probably should.
He manages to gather himself and calm down a little. He turns around to look at you.
You do your best to give him an assuring smile but all it does is cause him to break eye contact immediately.
???: Best to give proper introductions.
???: Styx, Local entity and collector of anomalies.
Courier: Mm. Folks around here sure are cuddly…
Gallows: Nobody can afford heating and it rains about 300 days of the year.
Gallows: People here made do with what they got. Platonic cuddling is just a thing. Especially for cold-blooded folks.
Courier: Like me…
Gallows: Mmhmm..
Courier: Makes me sleepy going out too long.
Gallows:Good trick is to just wear a coat and stuff the pockets with hot food. There’s a technique people here use for that.
Courier: Considering.
Gallows: Means you got food through the day too.
Courier: You ever tried that yourself?
Gallows: Absolutely, Starman makes it mandatory during the winter.
Courier: Really?
Gallows: Needed at times but… between you and me, gives them an excuse to gather folks to make tamales.
Courier: Never had one.
Gallows: Stick around long enough and you’ll see one for sure.
Courier: Plan to. Admittedly I wasn't expecting you to all be so fine with me.
Courier: Body of a crown officer and all.
Gallows: Long as they aren’t surfacing up at all, it’s no issue.
Gallows: But… if it does become a problem we’ll make something work. Looked into making something for you as a backup.
Courier: Really? II’d like to keep the same shape I think. Been stuck in all sorts of object and animals and the occasional clumsy bastard but never really just done.. this.
Gallows: Bother you?
Courier: Little. But also know that with how this civil war’s working out, they couldn’t be let off easy.
Gallows: Absolutely not.
Courier: Would be nice if we could pluck them out but…
Gallows: Still would snitch.
Courier: That’s the thing. We’ll see… do want to make it clear though, that after we burn down the crown I want them free one way or another.
Gallows: Mm. I’d respect it but Starman… that’s hard to promise. Seem to be on their good side though so they’d consider it.
Gallows: I’d vouch for you on this.they respect the opinions of folks they’ve worked with for a long time. Big deal to them.
Courier: You’d do that?
Gallows: No hesitation.
Courier: Too nice to me…
You can’t help but give him a nuzzle, one that’s returned with a warm face.
Courier: Admittedly… hmm…
Gallows: Everything alright?
Courier: Feelings are a bit complicated right now I think.
Gallows: You need some space?
Courier: Nothing like that. Thinking a lot. Never really done anything like this before just a few months ago. Curled up with a few others but…
Courier: Wondering if maybe.. my feelings are more than platonic, you know? With you..
Courier: New experiences. Not really sure where I stand on anything but I like you quite a bit…
Courier: I think sometimes about someone just… maybe I shouldn’t say it…
Gallows: You can keep going, I’m listening.
Courier: Guess lately I like to think about someone just holding the real me and being just as happy… and more than often it’s you doing that when I picture it.
Gallows: Easy.
Courier: Don’t know if those feelings are exactly romantic either but… it’s the closest it’s felt. Would you consider that sometime?
Gallows: Would be honored.
Courier: Need to prep in case the other person in here wakes up and well… It’s a vulnerable state.
Gallows: Down the line then?
Courier: If you don’t mind. Think I’d like some time to figure out my feelings. No matter what happens… I’m glad we’re friends, even if it doesn’t go further than that.
Gallows: Never liked that phrasing personally, the whole idea that a friendship can’t be just as important a bond as a romance.
Courier: Isn’t that usually how it’s seen?
Gallows: It is, that’s the issue. Bonds take all shape and form and can still have the same impact on you regardless..
Gallows: That said, my feelings here aren’t exclusively platonic either. If you decide you want something more, I wouldn’t be opposed to exploring further.
Courier: How much further?
Gallows: Tempted to kiss that hilt…
Courier: That’s sweet… admittedly I’ve wondered what a proper snog’s like, now that the possibility exists for me. Lot to ask though.
Gallows: Could arrange that….
You lean toward the rabbit…
Courier: Doesn’t bother you?
Gallows: What does?
Courier: This face used to lick the crown’s boot…
Gallows: You’re putting it to better use…
You reach for a hand. You can feel your heart race…
And then… it never happens.
Courier: Gallows? You okay?
The rabbit goes quiet, eyes out of view.
There’s a sudden recoil. He releases your hand hesitantly and pulls back.
You can just barely make out his face.
The gaze you see is distressed, one that makes him feel almost unrecognizable.
Courier: … Gally? You okay?
Gallows: Must’ve forgotten I was taking shift tonight… your friend is taking a break.
Courier:... You’re someone else?
???: Aye, my turn with the rabbit so to speak…
???: I’m…wel… can I get some space?
???: I’m feeling rather unwell…
You distance yourself immediately. He rolls over to face away from you. He’s shaking.
Courier: A-Are you okay?
???: I just need a moment to decompress… I… appear to have walked in on a rather emotionally intimate moment.
Courier: Appreciate that you spoke up, is there anything I can do?
???: I don’t know. Feel my whole body riddled with guilt and same frankly… nothing to do with you specifically of course, should clarify that. Don’t want you getting the impression that you’re ugly. Opposite really.
???: Just… ill timed entrance.
Courier: I understand. Do you need to talk?
???: I probably should.
He manages to gather himself and calm down a little. He turns around to look at you.
You do your best to give him an assuring smile but all it does is cause him to break eye contact immediately.
???: Best to give proper introductions.
???: Styx, Local entity and collector of anomalies.