[open] waste time with a masterpiece, don't waste time with a masterpiece

[activatingcombatmode]

Who: Zack Fair & You
Status: Open
Where: Where these threads happen.
What: A catch-all log for closed threads for February! Includes a few Manta Board prompts as well. If you would like something specific please let me know.
Warnings: Tba.


[🐺 a. the edge of sleep: closed to crewmates & planned cr]

[Ever wonder what it's like to drown? It's a story of opposites. There’s peace in the water. Like it’s holding you. Whispering low tones to let it in. And every problem in the world will fade away... But then there's this thing. In your head. And it's raging. Lighting every nerve with madness. You have to fight. To survive. And all the while the question is before you. Have you had enough?

Zack can't breathe. He can't concentrate. All he can feel is the water cradling him like a vice and the strange invisable fingers around his throat that are both there and not there. He's drowning... He has to fight to breathe and swim. He has to fight to wake up.

This time he does manage to wake up. It's with a painful jolt, his body screaming in pain as he winces awake. His lungs gasping and his muscles screaming. The black mark on his hand pulsates with dirty murkiness, threatening to slide up his arm.

There can be a few places to find Zack when he wakes up. Either in his cabin aboard his crew's ship or on deck where he's failed to keep himself awake and has fallen asleep in a chair or even leaning against the wooden railing. Or at the worst passed out in some random storage room on the ship.]

[🐺 b. part of their world]

[When he's not suffering sleep deprivation Zack does manage to get some work done. Life goes on and he’s well enough during the day to go about his daily life. That means that Zack is getting back to work. And that means taking pictures of...]

Mermaids? Great, the last time I dealt with mermaids they wanted to drag me under the water.

[He sighs. But he clicks through his shellphone for the camera function and then nods.]

Let's just hope the mermaids we find today are a little less touchy-feely.

[🐺 c. wildcard]

[got something else? feel free to put that down here or find me at michrure for some extra plotting.]

Comments

[afflatusexarch]

[ Well Raha wouldn't tell Zack no if he would think to twist and turn in the embrace. It would mean that he could gaze upon the other more readily. Fully. And there is something powerful about that. Something that sends shivers up and down his spine at the sight of those enchanting eyes.

He sighs when Zack speaks, hugging him a little tighter. ]

I am not the one who suffered the experience thus I'm fairly sure 'tis I that should be spending time reassuring you. Not the other way around.

[ He feels the squeeze. Smiles sadly, grateful Zack can't see it. His tail wraps around Zack's arm. ]

Krile is well, though I didn't know it until after I had woken up two hundred years later.

[activatingcombatmode]

[Zack frowns for a moment. G'raha really is the type to try and brush off his trauma because he's too busy comforting someone else, huh? It's just like him.]

Finding out two hundred years later? I'd still say you went through something traumatic from that alone.

[He went four years not knowing if his friends were dead or alive- he can barely imagine two hundred. But they're not here to compare they're here to support.]

Come here.

[He'll turn around in G'raha's embrace then. Scooping his arms around G'raha's torso. Tugging him in so they're touching and close once more. And he hugs him tightly and firmly.]

[afflatusexarch]

I was in stasis for nearly all of that time, Zack. Honestly, I wasn't even aware of the passage of time.

[ That's why it's not really comparable. Zack seems to have been able to come in and out of awareness. G'raha... It had been like going to sleep and then just waking up.

But he's not given a chance to argue. Instead Zack turns. Sweeps Raha up in an embrace and seeks to hold him. It's a tight thing. One that makes Raha's chest want to burst in warmth and a blend of emotions. Many, many emotions.

He can't help himself. Raha bumps his forehead against what he can get to of Zack. A feline instinct that he just can control at the moment. And he embraces the other just as tightly. ]

[activatingcombatmode]

[G'raha will forehead bump the top of Zack's head because he's still lower on the bed enough to be the little spoon right now. Even if Zack's arms are all-encompassing G'raha is a big tight hug.]

Still. I'm sorry, anyway.

[He lets out an easier sigh. His breathing seems to be evening out now. The remnants of the nightmare slowly ebbing away. He inhales slowly, enjoying G'raha's body close to his. Letting that feeling ache through him.]

This makes it better. Makes the nightmares feel farther away. Thanks for being here.

[afflatusexarch]

[ His tail is going to shift again. This time it is going to wrap about Zack's waist. Or at least drape there, the tip of it twitching. Raha hums into Zack's hair, accepting the sentiments without pushing them away further. Instead he closes his eyes and nuzzles into it more. Feels Zack's breath. Listens for the heartbeat that continues to slow down to normal. ]

You may have this whenever you need and even time when you do not.

[ In other words, Zack is allowed to have this from Raha. It's something he can have. Can request. ]

We are together in this as well as other things. Thanks is not needed.

[activatingcombatmode]

[This is bliss. Using G'raha like a pillow and hugging him like one too. He can entirely forget that nightmare now. He has... cat boyfriend.]

How did I get so damn lucky...

[A sentiment he's been wondering for a while now. Actually.]

[afflatusexarch]

[ G'raha chuckles and holds Zack tighter. ]

Are we about to get into another argument over those sorts of statements? I feel as though to say that quite often. It is debatable, of course, who is more fortunate here.

[activatingcombatmode]

[He chuckles in return. Even turns his face to G'raha's skin and blows a very mature raspberry on it.]

Agree to ... agree then. [Yeah.] We both are.

[afflatusexarch]

[ WOW YES SO MATURE OF YOU!? G'raha yelps and laughs, tail smacking against Zack.

This is not what you do in order to sleep, sir! ]

To think it all it took was sitting at the wrong table one random evening.

[activatingcombatmode]

[Listen, this is therapy. Zack grins against G'raha's skin and then kisses the spot just below his collarbone.]

Well, that and you wearing a pretty dress.

[Don't forget that's when Zack completely wanted to ask him out on a date.]

[afflatusexarch]

[ He hums, amused and touched by the kiss. G'raha scratches at the back of Zack's head. Right were the neck starts - the hairline. ]

Is this a poor time to tell you that I still have that dress? 'Tis kept with my things in my room.

[activatingcombatmode]

[Head scratches feel the best... He's a content man right now. Nightmares completely forgotten for now.]

You're telling me this now? Are you going to wear it for me again sometime?

[afflatusexarch]

That might depend entirely upon your behavior. It really would be sort of your eyes only at this point.

[ As silly as it is. Raha doesn't really get the appeal himself but if it appeals to Zack? Well then that makes it worth it. ]

Maybe after we are cured.

[activatingcombatmode]

[Don't underestimate the power of lace and stockings.]

Hah. Alright, that's fair.

[He can be good and wait.]

I'm surprised you kept it, though.

[afflatusexarch]

It... Well. It was the payment for going through with all of that nonsense. I suppose I could have just sold it, in hindsight.

[ So why didn't he...? ]

[activatingcombatmode]

[Zack looks curious.]

No harm in keeping it, I guess? Maybe you could use it in another job sometime.

[You know, sneaky corsair things. Or something.]

[afflatusexarch]

Ah... I don't think I'll need to go undercover like that again? Rather, I am going to actively try to avoid that.

[ At least in the sense of being fooled into it. ]

[activatingcombatmode]

That's fair too. Do you want to sell it then? Or keep it?

[afflatusexarch]

After seeing the expression on your face? How could I possibly think of selling it?

[ Because he is a brat and wants to see Zack fall apart. ]

[activatingcombatmode]

[Oh, he'll fall apart, alright!! He grins...]

So you're keeping it just for me? I'm flattered.

[afflatusexarch]

Not sure why this is so surprising. I allowed you to convince me to accept a gift of yours.

[ His nose brushes Zack's brow. Then he presses a kiss there with a content sigh. ]

Truthfully, there is quite a bit that I would do just to continue to see that smile of yours.

[activatingcombatmode]

[Zack snorts at first, the laugh contently rumbling through his chest. Then he's hugging G'raha just a little more. Like he's the perfect cat body pillow.]

To be honest, I didn't think you'd let me give you gifts at first. You could barely take my honest compliments.

[He looks up at G'raha and gives that very smile.]

There isn't much you need to do to make me smile, though. Just let me call you cute anytime I want.

[afflatusexarch]

[ Raha huffs, a little embarrassed. Flustered. His tail thwaps against Zack for a moment before he settles again with the squeeze. ]

Complements are one thing. Gifts are another altogether. Those are appropriate to exchange given our present r-r-relationship.

[ Blushing! Yes, he is blushing now because he said something like relationship. An acknowledgement, of sorts, yes. G'raha hadn't wanted to assume anything but he's sort of making a claim now. To a certain degree.

And that's what Zack is going to see as he smiles up at Raha. It only worsens when he calls the Miqo'te cute. ]

Y-you assume I've ever had the power to stop you from doing just that.

[activatingcombatmode]

[Sue him, he really likes seeing G'raha a little huffy and embarrassed. But it's the word "relationship" that G'raha uses that makes Zack raise an eyebrow. He already figured they were in a relationship seeing as they already agreed to be partners and have been outright dating but it still amuses him in a good way to hear G'raha stumble over the word.]

You're right. Since we're in a relationship that means I can call you cute, give you compliments and give you gifts anytime I feel like seeing your smile. Do I have that right?

[His smile turns a little playful.

Truth be told, his heart is aching in a good way again. At the rate that G'raha is letting Zack go he feels like... Yeah. He's pretty sure he's falling for G'raha. Very hard.]

What's the word for that. Boyfriend?

[afflatusexarch]

[ He knows that he is being teased. Knows that tone of voice with the way that Zack raises a brow. Then seeing Zack smile... Oh Raha is taken. So, so taken. ]

Mmmn. I suppose if you want to be technical... Though I would have thought that complements are more in the wooing stages.

[ Implying that Zack has successfully wooed G'raha? At least that's the impression that Raha seems to be given Zack. But then he uses the term boyfriend. G'raha makes a surprised little trilling noise. ]

I-if that is the w-word that fits...