sticksandbones IC Inbox

[livlaughlove]

livio

netbook · overflow

©

Powers nerfed & gained

Self-healing: Nerfed on arrival from near-instant to delayed by a few minutes. Think 5-10.

Superhuman strength: Nerfed on arrival. Still super strong, but not to the same extent.

Dragon Blessing - Strength: Makes up for original nerf. Plus dual sets of horns, one pair curved down to frame his face, one pair curved back and up. Sharp and harshly angled, like his sunburst tattoos.

Dragon Blessing - Balance: Thick, alligator-like tail.

Deaths & Resurrection prices

Death - August 2024: Killed by a Corrupted Vash.
Price: Marksmanship skill. Can no longer aim a gun worth a damn.

Other permanent changes

Memory Loss - February 2024: In Razlo's heartspace, his memory of Chapel defending him to the other Masters was destroyed. He still recalls having been fiercely loyal to Chapel, but not why.

Scarring - March 2024: Scars in an enormous jaw pattern spanning from his thighs to upper arm, with teeth marks along both his chest and back.

Temporary changes

Hydra form - May 2025: from Event/TDM 24. A bunch of fungi made LR into some fun guys.

CODE

weasel's note: livio's handwriting is extremely neat and uncannily consistent. every letter is always the same exact size and shape. as if simply writing perfectly in times new roman was a humanly possible thing.

livio can commonly be found where he lives at vash's house or looking after the school.

plotting contact: PM // discord @ fuckweasel

Comments

no one i would rather have in there

[livlaughlove]

[... bunny bakery. liv can't say he's ever heard of the concept, or held a bunny in his lap before. he hasn't even been in here yet.

really, ain is a welcome change of pace from livio's earlier breakdown. the tearstains on his cheeks are just starting to fade, but he has a gentle smile for ain regardless. and of course, a hand to hold out to the bunny for sniffs. he'd rather an animal invite him to pet it than just assume.]

Not a bit. Reckon I embarrassed myself, if anything.

[eidxiety]

[It's like a cat cafe but bunnies, and Ain lives upstairs so the bunnies are completely used to him manhandling them every day. It's a gentle manhandling, okay.]

Aww, no, I was just... [He flips his wrist around, trying to be super dismissive, but eventually he relents and blurts:] Flirting. You don't have to acknowledge it.

[...]

You and Mr. Sheep... were really having a rough discussion. Are you okay?

[livlaughlove]

[yeah, unfortunately nomansland was kind of short on cat cafés too. not that livio is complaining. he'll pet the little ball of fluff very gently, in fact.

his shoulders tense visibly at the mention of truthless, and he reaches one hand up to wipe at his cheeks, as if that'll erase the lasting evidence. he's quiet for a long moment before he gives a quiet, mirthless laugh.]

Did you mean it? The flirting.

[eidxiety]

...yeah. Haha, I always do. I understand if that went too far, though. I don't like being aggressive with it, but I'm not very good at social graces either, so I never know until it's probably too late.

[He slumps forward, laying his upper body across the table, crossed wrists and his chin on top of them. His anxiety is dialled up to 11 — when is it not? — but he knows better than to lie, even if emotions make him quite cagey.]

[livlaughlove]

[at least ain isn't alone in that. livio did just avoid an entire ass line of questioning because he doesn't want to face how he feels about it. honestly, sometimes he hates being crybaby livio again. misses the time he could simply shut off his moral compass and ignore the magnitude of interpersonal relationships.]

Didn't feel aggressive. Just wasn't... expectin' it, I guess.

[it helps, to talk about something that feels... lighthearted? good? enough that livio's ear and cheeks flush like they did back on the docks. he doesn't dwell, though. ain seems off, too.]

What about you? Y'alright? Need anything?

[eidxiety]

[He forces the most forced laugh of his life.]

I'm really... not good with emotions. They make me jittery, if it's not happy or excited or anything like that. Anything awkward, or embarrassing, or upsetting makes me feel like I'm drowning, kinda. If that makes sense.

[Ain has never made it a secret he's an anxious person, but he certainly tries to avoid coming across that way.]

Besides, things like this are embarrassing by nature, aren't they? You know, confessing to someone that you think is cute...

[livlaughlove]

[as... detached as livio feels from anything but grief right now, talking about this stuff doesn't feel so difficult. sure, his body reacts with a flustered response, but he doesn't feel fear. concern for ain, on the other hand... the poor guy seems really distressed.

liv reaches a hand out toward him, not touching him without permission, but settling near his own hands in a silent offer. only if ain wants it.]

I'm not real good with them, either. I'm sorry it's so hard on you... but if it helps, you don't gotta be embarrassed about this. I've always thought you were... ["cute" isn't the right word. "beautiful" may be closer, but that's a bit heavy handed, isn't it? livio exhales softly.] ... pretty. And sweet.

[eidxiety]

Oh, it's only because I was created without them, I'll get used to it one day!

[The forced-chipperness sure is something. Either way, Ain does wind up picking his head up off the table, stretching, and putting his hand over Livio's. Totally cool and suave and not at all dorky, nope, not this one. Very put together.

...

AaaaaAAAAAA—]

You give me... cute aggression, I think. It makes me want to tease you like I've been doing. Stealing your hat and blowing you kisses and stuff. I just... [Words. Words words words, why have you abandoned him, words?] ...the way you blush is adorable. I want to see more of it.

[livlaughlove]

[oh. well, ain is getting his wish. more, and more, at the hand holding, and at attention being brought to it. the flush creeps up and down simultaneously, spanning from his forehead to even the top of his throat.]

Jeez... Reckon y'could tease me all y'want 'n I'd thank ya. [he swallows, maybe a twinge of nervousness finally breaking through.] Still think about the way y'kissed me. Shit, been jealous o' Nick, in a way. That wrong of me?

[eidxiety]

[It's that cowboy twang that gets him. By Elria's light, he thinks he's cowboysexual. Hicksexual. Countrybumpkinsexual. Something along those lines.

In spite of himself and the very obvious fluster, he does manage a laugh, less awkward and more vibrant than the others. Oh, he doesn't think anyone has ever said they'd thank him for his near-constant need to run his mouth and be a general nuisance.]

Huh? I've been jealous of him, actually. He gets to kiss you every day.

[Ain, completely obviously at that, has a track record for his interest in Every Boy. This is the fault of Every Boy for being eligible to kiss, obviously, and nothing to do with whatever (w)hor(e)mones he's constantly afflicted by.]

Haha, but... It's not wrong of you. It's flattering, actually.

[livlaughlove]

[seems they're both having a giggle. livio even summons the courage to turn his hand over so he can thread his fingers between ain's. god, his hand really dwarfs the guy's.]

Glad y'think so. Can't hardly believe y'feel similar. [livio is just... livio, after all. he doesn't really get what anyone sees in him.

rather than spiral into that, though, he'll test the waters, see if ain wants to elaborate on something he said a minute ago.]

Y'used to not have... what, feelin's?

[eidxiety]

[Ain has long, slender fingers and slightly manicured nails. Very much the hands of someone who primarily heals and doesn't handle heavy weaponry. He'd like to say there's not a scar on him, but Suri has seen fit to place several vinelike scars around his fingers. Despite how much Ain detests them, he doesn't shy away from hand-holding; more like he's mentally trying to size up how big Livio's hands are and having a little giggle about it.

He'll request to put a label on this in a second. For now, Livio asks, and Ain nods. Yep, that's what he said alright.]

Angels are created without them. [Ever since he got a dragon blessing, he's been halfway stuck between either form, and his ribbony wings move against the booth in emphasis.] I spent five hundred years without them, and only got them, um... five years ago? It's a long story, but the longer I spent around humans and learnt their ways, the more I grew into stuff like that.

[There's very much still a disconnect sometimes, though. Ain was gung-ho about feeling things until some of those things Were Sad and then he was like hmm, don't like this actually, why can't I have only good things? And then his fake-mom diagnosed him with anxiety.]

[livlaughlove]

[... oh.]

I -- didn't realize it wasn't somethin' from here. [surprised as he may be, livio is far from repulsed. in fact, he may look at ain with a little more hushed awe than before. as much as he's grown to be uncomfortable around religion, he sure seems to be falling for angels at the same rate ain falls for bumpkins.]

... I'm glad yer here, like this. I hope that's okay to say. I really like the person y'are. The affection, the mischief, all of it.

[eidxiety]

I was trying to lie about it before... I don't really know why. But yeah, I'm not a real priest, I'm just a servant of the God everybody on Elrios worships.

[Maybe one day he'll tell Livio about how his mom basically created him To Go Die, but that's for another day. Today is a better day than it was going to be, at least for Ain in this specific moment.]

...but thank you. Haha, you're so sweet! I really like you too~. I owe you a kiss about it, don't you think?

[livlaughlove]

[livio's smile falters, for a moment.] I don't blame you. Back home... Vash had to hide what he was for his own safety. Lookin' out for yourself ain't a bad thing.

[rather than getting too far into the mere idea of humanity as a whole's penchant for destroying The Other, he leans back in to the fluttery relief of knowing someone shares his affections.]

Y'don't owe me anything, Ain, but if yer offerin', I'd sure be grateful.

-- 'n if it needs t'be said, Nick 'n Vash 'n I agreed we can kiss who we please.

[eidxiety]

[Honestly if Ain told his main group he was an angel the response would be "oh cool" "thought so" "makes sense" "neat, what're we having for dinner" and one (1) "HAHA I KNEW YOU WEREN'T HUMAN" from his worstie who conspiracy-boards about him every day.

It would be real difficult to smooch a man with a whole table in the way, so Ain gets up and slides into the seat next to Livio instead, shoulder-to-shoulder. By no means is Ain a short man and yet he feels small here.]

Oh, I hope so~. I'd have to smack Nikolaus if he told me I couldn't kiss you.

[And kiss him he shall, cupping Livio's face in both hands and pulling him down for a gentle, slow, chaste peck on the lips.

...

There is an audible thump of his dragon tail wagging and hitting the side of the booth.]

[livlaughlove]

[... logically, he knows ain is probably joking, but livio pouts nonetheless.]

Please don't smack him?

[then he's being kissed. his lip wibbles a little, more on reflex than a conscious movement. he can tell by the way ain touches him that it isn't just a joke or something -- the angel really, actually, truly wants him. it's hard to believe, still. he lifts his hands to cover ain's, featherlight, and deliberately kisses him in return. his own tail doesn't wag, but thumps up and down. that's... new, but the parallel is undeniably cute, which makes the initially slow thumping a little more excited. embarrassing, maybe. livio thought his face couldn't get warmer.]

[eidxiety]

[He won't smack him, but Livio's concern is precious anyway. Ain will not change, he will continue to be sarcastic and a bit devious at any one moment, even if his intent is largely to play rather than to harm. Livio's reactions only encourage him.

To that end, Ain winds up giggling into the kiss, backing off after a half-minute passes before he's tempted to suffocate Livio with his lips, but.

This does not stop him from leaning back in to plant a big kiss right on Livio's nose thereafter. Nor does it stop the incoming kiss on the cheek, once Ain moves his hand out of the way.

Get loved idiot.]

[livlaughlove]

[livio lives for being gently teased. of course he does, he's best friends with wolfwood.

he also lives to hear people he cares about laugh. his response is a broadening of a smile and a chuckle deep in his chest, which echoes itself every time ain kisses somewhere else.]

Hey -- gimme a chance, too! [his turn to hold ain by the cheeks, for a protective smooch on the forehead and a reverent one on the chin.]

[eidxiety]

Aaaaaaa—!!!

[The Ain is squished, and kissed, and he's so happy that his giggling is making the bunnies look at him like "that man is Dying". They're also hopping around the spots where his tail keeps slapping the floor in a desperate bid to avoid it. Oops.

The most dorky snort-laugh leaves him, and then he opts for a simple hug. Livio is the size of a tree to Ain's scrawny ass, so it isn't a very tight hug.]

You're sweet~. I get to call you "mine" now, huh?

[livlaughlove]

[oh... livio can feel his heart melting in his chest at that silly laugh. and he's positively goo in ain's arms, leaning against him before wiggling his arms down and around so that he can return the hug.]

You're sweeter, darlin'. [the warmth in his cheeks just feels like a permanent part of him by now.] I think I'd like that.

[eidxiety]

[The giggling will continue, then.]

Yaaay~. I'm going to brag to Nikolaus about you. [??? bitch he was there FIRST?] Wow, this was easier than I thought! I thought we'd have a much awkwarder conversation.

[He is definitely basing this expectation off Wolfwood's initial fuckup, whoops. It's fine, all good.]

I don't know how it usually goes, though, I guess.

[livlaughlove]

[puffs his cheeks out.]

What if I brag about you first?

[his brows turn up as he smiles, sheepish.]

... Mine've been awkward, yeah. Lotsa dancin' around. Shoot, I nearly had a meltdown when Nick confessed. Thought he was leavin' Vash on a whim for my sorry ass...

[eidxiety]

Wow~. Did Nikolaus ever tell you how he tried to confess to me?

[Oh no—]

He kissed me in the church, touched my wings, and then said "I can't do it right now". I almost killed him~. [Ain.] He made it up to me two weeks later by giving me gifts, though. You cannot possibly fuck anything up worse than that, I'm pretty sure.

[livlaughlove]

[his smile is fond, if a bit pained, as ain tells what livio is sure is a clipped version of the story. his arms squeeze around ain ever so slightly -- not tight, just closer.]

Sounds like him fer sure.

The way we were trained... Showin' vulnerability's hard. Even having, much less admittin' to having emotions is hard. 'm sure he's told ya as much.

But still... I think he's come a long way. He's tryin' real hard.