Archive of Our Own ^beta

Private Chat between <GoodTimeWithScar> and <Grian>

<GoodTimeWithScar> grian

<GoodTimeWithScar> griaaaan

<GoodTimeWithScar> griiiiiaaaaaaannnnn

<Grian> what is it, scar?

<GoodTimeWithScar> bad pain day

<GoodTimeWithScar> and i don’t have enough vex magic in me rn to make it more betterer

<GoodTimeWithScar> can you come over?

<Grian> ah

<Grian> you see

<Grian> i would

<Grian> but

<Grian> i am dreadfully busy organizing my sock drawer

<GoodTimeWithScar> :( 

<GoodTimeWithScar> what’s really goin on?

<Grian> ugh

<GoodTimeWithScar> g r i a n

<GoodTimeWithScar> tell me

<Grian> my Sight is acting up

<Grian> not really in a position to move atm

<Grian> i’m sorry, i promise i would come over if i could

<GoodTimeWithScar> oh no!

<GoodTimeWithScar> i’ll come over one sec

<Grian> scar

<Grian> you were literally just telling me about how you are having a bad pain day. bad enough to want me over

<GoodTimeWithScar> it’s not that bad

<GoodTimeWithScar> if i can make it to my wheelchair then i can be there in 15

<Grian> “if”

<Grian> do not put your health in jeopardy for something so stupid

<Grian> i mean it, scar

<GoodTimeWithScar> …

<GoodTimeWithScar> fine

<Grian> thank you

<GoodTimeWithScar> it feels like we should have plans for days like this where neither of us can move

<Grian> eh

<Grian> it doesn’t happen frequently enough to bother

<Grian> this is like what? the third time ever? in the years we’ve known each other?

<GoodTimeWithScar> smth like that

<GoodTimeWithScar> do you want to call?

<Grian> i don’t know if i can handle more sensory input rn

<Grian> i have my Comm on its lowest brightness and it’s still burning my eyes lol

<GoodTimeWithScar> oh :( 

<GoodTimeWithScar> i can find something else to do, then

<Grian> oh no no no no we can keep messaging

<GoodTimeWithScar> you sure?

<Grian> yeah

<Grian> i’m watching you anyway

<GoodTimeWithScar> awwwww you like looking at me

<Grian> more like i can’t help but see everything in a 100 chunk radius and focussing on one thing helps

<GoodTimeWithScar> still

<GoodTimeWithScar> you chose me as your one thing

<Grian> bc i know you’re just in bed so i’m not seeing anything private. unlike what ren and doc are doing rn

<Grian> plus, you said you’re fine w being watched

<GoodTimeWithScar> ooooo what are the octagon buddies doin?

<GoodTimeWithScar> something kinky i bet

<Grian> SCAR

<Grian> i’m trying not to look at them, tyvm

<GoodTimeWithScar> oh yeah

<GoodTimeWithScar> just keep your eyes on me

<Grian> wow that’s so helpful. it’s almost like that was what i was already trying to do.

<GoodTimeWithScar> do i at least look good?

<Grian> you looked like you were dragged through the nether

<GoodTimeWithScar> so what i’m hearing is that i’m hot

<Grian> correction, you look like you got run over by a ravager

<Grian> ARE YOU TRYING TO FLIP ME OFF??

<GoodTimeWithScar> yeah! :D 

<GoodTimeWithScar> don’t know quite where you’re lookin from

<GoodTimeWithScar> so i just aimed in the general direction of your base

<GoodTimeWithScar> did i get it?

<Grian> hmmmm almost

<Grian> little up

<Grian> k, and now to your left

<Grian> i can’t believe you still have to do the the holding up Ls on both hands thing to identify right and left

<GoodTimeWithScar> i’m dyslexic!

<GoodTimeWithScar> do i have it now?

<Grian> yep

<Grian> flippin me off good and proper

<GoodTimeWithScar> can’t you change your perspective?

<Grian> yeah

<Grian> but i wanted to make you do the work

<GoodTimeWithScar> Rude

<Grian> you’re the one flipping me off!!

<GoodTimeWithScar> …

<GoodTimeWithScar> that is technically true

<GoodTimeWithScar> but you’re still the rude one

<Grian> you keep telling yourself that

<GoodTimeWithScar> i wish i could be with you physically right now

<Grian> i know

<GoodTimeWithScar> i hate that my body just decides to not work sometimes

<Grian> i happen to love your body. but i get what you mean

<Grian> at least we’ve got comms

<GoodTimeWithScar> OMG YOU’RE RIGHT

<GoodTimeWithScar> WE HAVE COMMS

<GoodTimeWithScar> AND SERVERMATES

<GoodTimeWithScar> I CAN MESSAGE SOMEONE TO COME OVER

<Grian> oh

<Grian> yeah, you’re right

<Grian> you can do that

Private Chat between <GoodTimeWithScar> and <Keralis>

<GoodTimeWithScar> hello there!

<Keralis> hullo sweetface!

<Keralis> what brings you to message Papa K this fine morning??

<GoodTimeWithScar> bad pain day :( 

<Keralis> i’m so sorry, babe

<GoodTimeWithScar> it’s okay

<Keralis> can i do something to help you out?

<Keralis> massage? hot bath? bring you food?

<GoodTimeWithScar> actually…

Private Chat between <Grian> and <Keralis>

<Keralis> hullo brian!

<Grian> hey, k

<Keralis> i’ve got a question for ya but you can’t tell Scar i told you

<Grian> ok?

<Keralis> he wants me to pop over to scarland so i can help him over to yours

<Grian> oh

<Keralis> and while i’m more than happy to help, i wanted to check with you first

<Keralis> he wants it to be a surprise, bless his heart

<Keralis> but i figured if you’re not already with him, you’re probably not feelin too great yourself

<Keralis> and i know having other people around can make things more difficult for you

<Keralis> so do you want scar to hold off on coming over?

<Grian> …

<Grian> he can come

<Grian> i thought

<Grian> when you told me he was gonna message ppl

<Grian> i thought he was just gonna find someone else to hang out w

<Grian> since i suck and can’t handle my own senses enough to help him

<Keralis> hey now

<Keralis> you don’t suck

<Keralis> well, you suck one particular part of Scar

<Grian> KERALIS

<Keralis> but you don’t suck

<Keralis> it is perfectly okay and natural to have bad days

<Keralis> are you at Dwayne?

<Grian> yeah

<Keralis> Scar and i will be there in about 20 minutes

<Keralis> <3 

<Grian> …<3

<Grian> can you be quiet when you come in?

<Keralis> of course

<Keralis> we’re right outside

<Keralis> still okay for Scar to come in?

<Grian> yeah

<Keralis> he thinks he can take himself from here

<Keralis> do you need anything else?

<Grian> no, thx

<Keralis> love you!

<Grian> <3

Private Chat between <GoodTimeWithScar> and <Grian>

<GoodTimeWithScar> heeeey

<GoodTimeWithScar> do you want us to keep messaging?

<Grian> feels silly when you’re in the room

<GoodTimeWithScar> but is it what you need?

<Grian> ughhh

<Grian> yeah

<GoodTimeWithScar> okie!

<GoodTimeWithScar> you don’t seem surprised that i’m here :( 

<Grian> k told me

<GoodTimeWithScar> that traitor!

<GoodTimeWithScar> i’ll ban him from scarland forever

<Grian> he wanted to make sure i wasn’t too overwhelmed to have someone here

<GoodTimeWithScar> oh

<GoodTimeWithScar> crap

<GoodTimeWithScar> i didn’t think of that

<GoodTimeWithScar> he’s officially unbanned

<GoodTimeWithScar> i can leave!

<Grian> no, stay

<Grian> that’s why keralis checked

<Grian> also even if he hadn’t told me you can’t sneak up on me when i’m like this. i literally saw you coming from chunks away.

<GoodTimeWithScar> good point

<GoodTimeWithScar> <3

<Grian> <3

<Grian> are you just gonna sit there?

<GoodTimeWithScar> idk if i can get from my chair to the bed lol

<Grian> hang on

<Grian> can i do something weird?

<GoodTimeWithScar> i love weird things!

<GoodTimeWithScar> OMG THAT WAS SO COOL

<GoodTimeWithScar> how did you do that??

<Grian> take a wild guess scar

<GoodTimeWithScar> oh, yeah

<GoodTimeWithScar> magic

<GoodTimeWithScar> can you do it again?

<Grian> i am not levitating you for your own amusement 

<GoodTimeWithScar> we should definitely take advantage of that particular power during sex

<Grian> i’m ignoring you

<GoodTimeWithScar> :’( 

<Grian> it’s funny how my bad days are when i have too much magic and yours are when you don’t have enough

<Grian> i know it’s not quite that simple

<Grian> but still

<Grian> it’s kinda funny

<GoodTimeWithScar> if only you could give me some of your magic

<GoodTimeWithScar> then we’d be perfectly balanced

<Grian> i don’t think you’d want this magic

<GoodTimeWithScar> idk, it makes you look handsome. and i’m already handsome, so i’d be absolutely stunning!

<Grian> oh yeah, having glowing purple eyes all over my body is so hot

<GoodTimeWithScar> it is

<GoodTimeWithScar> you are

<Grian> stop

<GoodTimeWithScar> okay

<Grian> your thoughts are incredibly loud

<GoodTimeWithScar> don’t go rattling around in my head!

<Grian> i’m not TRYING to

<Grian> you’re the one that came over here knowing my senses are on overload

<Grian> i love how as soon as you found out i was aware of your thoughts, they all became super nsfw

<GoodTimeWithScar> look, i can explain

<Grian> a goldfish in a condom? really? 

<GoodTimeWithScar> so maybe i can’t explain

<GoodTimeWithScar> the more i try not to think abt it the more i think abt it help

<Grian> you just gotta find a distraction

<Grian> thinking about what you want to do to me in the bedroom does not count

<GoodTimeWithScar> i swear i’m not trying to!

<GoodTimeWithScar> hey hey what’s wrong?

<GoodTimeWithScar> i didn’t think my thoughts were THAT bad

<GoodTimeWithScar> grian– you gotta breathe with me, okay?

<GoodTimeWithScar> i’m gonna count and we’re gonna breathe together

<GoodTimeWithScar> there you are

<GoodTimeWithScar> take your time, everything is okay.

<GoodTimeWithScar> can you tell me what happened?

<Grian> gem came back from empires

<Grian> instincts didn’t like it

<GoodTimeWithScar> does that happen a lot when ppl log on?

<Grian> yeh ig

<Grian> and when they log off

<GoodTimeWithScar> you know they wouldn’t do it then if you asked

<Grian> i’m not going to make them put their lives on hold for me

<GoodTimeWithScar> still, we could at least set it up so that you get a warning before it happens

<Grian> it’s really only a problem on bad days

<GoodTimeWithScar> and? you are just as valuable to us on bad days as you are on good ones

<Grian> can we talk about this later?

<GoodTimeWithScar> sure

<GoodTimeWithScar> as long as you don’t just keep saying that forever without ever talking abt it

<Grian> deal

<GoodTimeWithScar> on the bright side, it looks like the breathing thing helped some of the eyes to close!

<Grian> yeah

<Grian> might have also been that i managed to focus on watching one thing

<Grian> can’t really be you anymore since you’re here

<GoodTimeWithScar> ooooo who’d ya pick?

<Grian> x-eye-suma-void

<Grian> he was closest to gem by chance

<GoodTimeWithScar> what’s he up to?

<Grian> organizing his tea collection

<Grian> i wish i were joking

<GoodTimeWithScar> pfffft that’s so british

<Grian> ikr. like, i’m british. but x is British

<Grian> only problem is voidwalkers can sense when they’re bein watched, which means it’s only a matter of time before…

Private Chat between <Grian> and <Xisumavoid>

<Xisumavoid> Hey, what’s wrong?

<Xisumavoid> Are you in danger? are you hurt?

<Grian> i’m fine, x

<Grian> senses are just acting up

<Xisumavoid> Do you need me to come over?

<Grian> nah, scar is here

<Grian> looking at you is grounding

<Xisumavoid> Oh

<Xisumavoid> In that case, feel free to continue. i’m not doing anything particularly interesting, though

<Grian> i know

<Grian> that’s why it’s good

<Grian> also you accidentally put a box of elderberry in with the chamomile

<Xisumavoid> Oh goodness me i did

Private Chat between <GoodTimeWithScar> and <Grian>

<GoodTimeWithScar> whatcha chuckling abt?

<Grian> just xisuma bein a derp

<Grian> …ya know, if you want a hug that badly you can just ask

<GoodTimeWithScar> …downside of having a mind reader boyfriend

<Grian> or upside

<GoodTimeWithScar> i don’t want to overwhelm you

<Grian> it should be fine i think

<Grian> come’re

<Grian> you’re very warm

<GoodTimeWithScar> and you’re very cold

<GoodTimeWithScar> together we can create:

<GoodTimeWithScar> uhhh

<GoodTimeWithScar> what’s inbetween warm and cold?

<Grian> room temperature, ig

<GoodTimeWithScar> together we are the room temp duo!

<Grian> that’s a terrible name for a duo

<Grian> you can talk now, if you want

<Grian> yeah, that’s soft enough

<Grian> imma keep typing for now

<Grian> yeah, worried if i try to talk it will come out all echoey

<Grian> well i know YOU don’t mind

<Grian> but i think if everyone on the server could suddenly hear me talking, they wouldn’t be SUPER happy about it 

<Grian> also there’s a chance it would come out in galactic

<Grian> can we reposition so i can see your face?

<Grian> don’t flatter yourself

<Grian> only because i’m struggling to tell your thoughts from your words. it’ll help if i can see your lips moving

<Grian> yeah, that’s better

<Grian> thanks

<Grian> you can ask, you know

<Grian> you’re thinking about it anyway

<Grian> no, i don’t know why the eyes open and close when they do

<Grian> i mean, obviously it’s tied to my magic

<Grian> but i don’t know why like, the ones on my left arm closed before the ones on my right arm this time around

<Grian> i’d prefer if you didn’t touch them

<Grian> no, i don’t think you could do any damage to them if you did

<Grian> scar i can say in all honesty that you are the only person to have ever asked that question to a watcher

<Grian> i guess it tracks that if i need vision correcting glasses with my normal not magicy eyes…

<Grian> no, we are not testing it by putting my contacts in them

“Anyway,” Grian whispered. “Do you need anything?”

Scar smiled and carded his hand through his partner’s hair. “All I need is knowing you’re okay. And if you’re talking, then I’m guessing you’re feeling at least slightly better.”

Grian hummed. “Your thoughts are betraying you again.”

“Really, all I need is you.”

“But…”

“Why are you making me say it if you already know?” He really didn’t mind Grian rifling through his thoughts, especially when he couldn’t help it, but he was going to be tongue and cheek about it anyway.

“Because you need to practice advocating for yourself. Now…”

Scar sighed. “All I need is you, but… a warm bath would really help.”

“On it.” Grian pulled away and moved to stand beside the bed. He looked unsteady on his feet for a moment but used his wings to balance himself.

And void, he was beautiful. Scar could barely see in the dim light of the room, just a few beams of mid-morning sunlight peeking through the gaps in the blinds, but he could see enough for his heart to beat faster in his chest. Even with messy hair, wearing rumpled pajamas, tear streaks down his face, and with at least a dozen glowing purple eyes each the size of his fist still open around his body (several of which appeared to be staring directly at Scar), and unkempt wings, Grian was stunning. 

Scar was so in love.

“Stop thinking about how much you want to fuck me later.”

“I was not .” Scar felt his face grow hot. “You’re just really pretty.”

It was Grian’s turn to blush. “C’mon, we’re getting you a bath.”

Scar rolled his eyes and half-heartedly reached an arm out toward where his wheelchair sat, before he felt Grian’s hand on his hip.

The avian picked him up without so much as staggering, despite the fact that Scar was significantly taller than him. He looped Scar’s legs around his waist and held him securely, even though Scar couldn’t do anything to cling back.

“G,” he huffed. “You shouldn’t–”

“Hush. You’re having a bad day and I’m taking care of you.”

“But you’re also having a–”

Grian put his hand over Scar’s mouth. “I’m taking care of– gah, did you just lick my hand?”

Scar smirked, but let Grian carry him to the bathroom. He expected him to set him down on the toilet cover once they got there, but instead Grian continued to hold him close as he turned on the spout and adjusted the temperature, as if Scar would disappear the moment he loosened his grip.

“Do you need help getting your clothes off?” he whispered.

Scar didn’t answer, but his thoughts must have for him, because Grian hummed quietly and finally set him down on the toilet lid. He pulled off Scar’s pajamas with gentle hands (Scar hadn’t bothered to change into day clothes before coming over, despite Keralis's offer to help). He started with Scar’s socks, working his way up until every item of clothing was neatly folded on the counter.

Scar was touched by Grian’s care, even though his vision was starting to swim just from sitting up unassisted for a few minutes. His partner’s usual philosophy with undressing was to throw all clothing into a pile on the floor, if not just scattered about. But for Scar, he carefully folded each item into an orderly pile.

Grian picked him up again, using his wings to shield both of them from the slightly-chilly air. He lowered Scar into the warm water.

Scar almost moaned as his skin hit the surface, relief flooding through him. Grian helped him to settle in, and by the time he was submerged up to his neck, he did make a less than dignified noise. The bath wasn't going to take away all of his pain, not by a long shot, but it did soothe his aching joints in a way that allowed him to truly breathe for the first time that day.

“Good?” Grian asked.

“Good,” he mumbled. He tilted his head back so that he could see his partner. “Have I told you recently how much I love you?”

Grian pressed a chaste kiss into his hairline. “Once or twice.”

“Well, I love you. A lot.”

Scar paused, trying to think of how to word his next thought. He knew he didn’t strictly have to, since Grian would hear it before he said it aloud, but he still wanted to get the words right.

“I would love you if you weren’t doing this, too. If you hadn’t wanted me to come over, or didn’t feel well enough to get us out of bed, or if looking at your Comm was too much... I would love you then, too. I love that you want to do things for me, but my love for you is not contingent on it.”

“I know it’s not. Doing things for you helps me feel better,” Grian whispered. “And I love you too.”

They sat in silence for a while. Ordinarily, Grian would probably wash Scar’s hair while they chatted about something stupid, but this day they just needed silence and stillness.

"We should probably get food at some point. And water."

"We have water."

"Drinking water, not bath water."

"Oh, yeah."

Neither of them made any attempt to move.

“I want to stay like this forever,” Grian whispered. “I used to dread days like this. I’d hide from everyone and everything and force myself to keep working on builds until I passed out. And now… I mean, not to say this type of day is pleasant, but…”

“It’s so much better when we have each other,” Scar finished. “I know what you mean.”

They sat in content silence for a little while longer. They would sit in silence forever if it meant they got to sit by one another.

[End]