Permanent Catch-All

[dealtinthebar]

WHO: Husk
WHAT: All the things
WHEN: Forever
WHERE: Everywhere
WARNINGS: Headers will be labeled as needed.

Comments

Locked to <user name=legsfordays> - Late Night Fright Knight

[dealtinthebar]

The night had gone well enough at work, nothing to report really. Husk served customers got paid, closed up and cleaned up for the boss. but then there was the minor accident of cutting his paw on some broken glass sticking out of the bag he was tossing into the dumpster. No big deal, right? Just bandage it up and go home. But that wasn't what happened. Instead, something was happening to Husk and he stumbled off into the night as his mind blanked. Looking for something.

It didn't take long to find that something, about fifteen minutes or so of stalking through the alleyways before he happened across the sight of a familiar spider and some guy. Husk lingered in the darkness, watching the pair intently.

cw: assault, stalking, one assumes much violence

[legsfordays]

In light of all the recent bullshit happening (most, if not all of it self-inflicted because he had the audacity to feel actual emotion), Angel was, unsurprisingly, in deep with his vices. He may have had a little to drink while working a shift at one of the strip clubs, hence the slight slurring of his speech, but that sure didn't give the guy pressing him against the wall any right to stalk him out of the club and start touching him.

"I told ya - I don't do shit for free and I'm off the clock, fuck off- hey!" He tried to push the big, lumbering jackass back, but the guy only pressed closer, crowding Angel enough at least two of his arms were pinned. He should have brought a gun. He knew it.

Re: cw: assault, stalking, one assumes much violence

[dealtinthebar]

That was really all he needed to hear to act. The pressure against Angel would disappear immediately as large claws snatched the perv by the back of his shirt and lifted him into the air. A long tail with familiar feathers lashed angrily as Husk snarled at the man, easily dwarfing both the spider and this twerp. His form is both bulkier and lankier somehow, with clawed tips emerging from his wings and horns from his head...but it's clearly still Husk. A looming formidable, very angry Husk who might just kill the guy he's dangling like a terrified mouse.

[legsfordays]

So that was fucking terrifying. Angel immediately sank back, sliding down the wall as the beastly shadow loomed and snatched his stalker in its claws. The man squirmed and screamed in terror, and for a moment, Angel was frozen in fear, staring wide-eyed at the scene.

"H-Holy shit..." he muttered, mismatched eyes darting to the tail, the wings. They looked familiar. "Husk...?"

[dealtinthebar]

Husk's ears flicked up and his eyes went from the man to Angel, softening a little as he leaned down to check the spider over for injuries and finding none. He locked eyes, his bright with recognition. Angel was in no danger right now. Not from the bartender...cat...gargoyle-monster thing. On the contrary, he was relieved to see him.

[legsfordays]

With the wall behind him, Angel couldn't back up any further, although he certainly tried to when Husk drew closer - at first anyway. When it became clear he wasn't planning to maul him, Angel relaxed just a little, a hand tentatively raised to press to Husk's cheek. The poor guy still squirming and sobbing in the bartender's grasp was all but ignored.

"What the fuck happened to you?"

[dealtinthebar]

Husk only rumbled quietly, deep in his chest, nuzzling into Angel's hand. Apparently he just couldn't speak like this, but could understand just fine. He offered his free hand to help Angel up, despite the somewhat deep gash in the heart-shaped pad that he didn't seem to notice at the moment.

[legsfordays]

Angel went to take the hand, but flinched back at the last second, spotting the gash and frowning.

"You're hurt." He said, frantically searching around for something. Eventually, he stood up and snatched the stalker's shirt, tearing a bit off to wrap around Husk's paw. "You - you can let him go, Husk. I don't think he's gonna do anything now."

[dealtinthebar]

Husk allowed the cut to be bandaged without more than a light wince. He flexed his paw a little and growled as he glanced at the stalker, snapping in his face and then dropping him. The man scrambled away, apologizing and promising to never bother Angel again, and Husk simply pressed his forehead into the spider's shoulder and folded his wings around to cover them both. Only his forehead made contact though, not forcing the closeness.

Candid needs a drink - CW: Drinking, depression discussions - During Macaque plot

[noodleboi]

Candid needed to get out of the damn house. After his talk with Macaque, he needed space. The original was up in his room so that was a no go. Good thing about that meant he wasn't planning on going anywhere. He gave the clones their orders to keep the house running and headed out. They'd probably slack off but the others could deal with it. They had food, water, and the house was standing. He needed to get out and get a drink.

This drive to numb the feelings with alcohol had to be bad long term. Oh well. Right now, Candid would shelve that as a possible issue for later. He knew where to go. That dive bar Mk was starting to frequent more. The clone walked up to the bar, sat down, and rubbed his temples.

"Sake, if you have it. Wine, if you don't. Please and thank you."

Re: Candid needs a drink - CW: Drinking, depression discussions - During Macaque plot

[dealtinthebar]

"Someone knows what he needs."

Husk wasted no time reaching for a bottle of sake and a glass, though his attention was on MK. Something was different with him today. Less soft and more to the point. Like he had no time for BS. Not that it was his business but...

"Something new happen?"

Re: Candid needs a drink - CW: Drinking, depression discussions - During Macaque plot

[noodleboi]

Candid nodded and ran a hand through his hair. He watched Husk for a moment. The bartender was going to notice the differences. Might as well just lay it out.

"I'm a clone and I need time away from that house. That's what's new. Can't even have a conversation in there without someone either worrying too much or getting defensive over the smallest things. It's irritating to say the least."

Re: Candid needs a drink - CW: Drinking, depression discussions - During Macaque plot

[dealtinthebar]

"Sounds like a shitty situation."

Yeah, this one definitely had no time for BS. It was weird, though Husk could appreciate that at the same time. It also implied that MK had his limits, which was good. He didn't speak again until he set the drink in front of Candid.

"At least you're self-aware enough to remove yourself for awhile. Not something everyone has mastered, or the ability to do."

Re: Candid needs a drink - CW: Drinking, depression discussions - During Macaque plot

[noodleboi]

"Tell me about it," Candid said and sipped his drink. He didn't go right in to down it like the original. He knew how to pace himself better.

"It is shitty and irritating. But no. Forbid I say someone is responsible for their actions. Nope. That's a bridge too far. Macaque can't stand to think one of his precious widdle students is at all at fault. He's just a kid. He didn't know better when conducting brain surgery. How could he know better?"

A longer sip this time. "Needed to vent that out. Thanks."

Re: Candid needs a drink - CW: Drinking, depression discussions - During Macaque plot

[dealtinthebar]

Brain surgery...from a kid? That was a new one, even for Husk. But there was clearly a bigger underlying issue there that wasn't any of his business for sure, so he wouldn't touch on that. Who let a child operate on their brain though?! Clearly this Macaque guy, but still.

"No problem, uh...what do I call you, anyway? You've got a name, right?"

Re: Candid needs a drink - CW: Drinking, depression discussions - During Macaque plot

[noodleboi]

"Candid. That's what everyone calls me," The clone explained. Sure, the name was a little on the nose but it worked.

"Anyway. I'm here for a drink and good conversation. And you give both. So, if you wanna like ask me anything and get a blunt answer, go ahead. It'll distract me."

Re: Candid needs a drink - CW: Drinking, depression discussions - During Macaque plot

[dealtinthebar]

"On the nose, but it lets people know what they're getting into," Husk drawled. He gave a light scoff and leaned on the bar again, fixing Candid with a mildly amused look.

"I'd like to know who lied and told you I'm good conversation. I won't argue the first part."

Exiting the Matrix - Locked to <user name=legsfordays>

[dealtinthebar]

The whole simulation was rough going, so when the option to log out finally presented itself, Husk was more than ready to get out of dodge. Then came the inevitable question: Forget or Remember?

He would have liked to forget everything that happened, but this whole situation had put things into perspective for him. A lot of things. So with a sigh, he chose to remember...and his eyes snapped open. He was still on the couch like nothing had happened, but it took a lot of effort to push himself into a sitting position and look around. He frowned, listening for any signs of life in the apartment.

He hadn't seen Angel in the simulation at all, so he had to hope it was because the spider just...hadn't been there. "Angel..." God damn, his voice was hoarse. His throat must have been really dry. "Angel, you here?"

[legsfordays]

Angel had been a mess for days, going through damn near all the stages of grief before someone told him about the simulation, that others were stuck inside. They were working on it, it would be fine. He just had to keep Husk fed and watered and make sure he didn't just die right there on the couch.

He was in the shower when Husk finally woke up, and he very nearly cracked his head open when he stumbled out, grabbed a towel, and ran out to meet him.

"Husk! Holy shit, you're awake."

[dealtinthebar]

"Yeah. I don't even wanna know how long I was out." Husk definitely had that look of someone who had too much sleep about him. He didn't need a mirror to notice, because he felt it. Looking at Angel though...he frowned.

"You okay? You look like you've been back through Hell."

Swinging his legs over the edge of the couch, he almost tried to stand before thinking better of it and just frowning at the younger sinner.

[legsfordays]

"Me? Oh, you know, just came home to my pal unconcious and unresponsive on the couch and assumed he fucking died before someone told me he was in a simulation against his will." He huffed, moving around the couch to flop down beside Husk.

"Worried me to fuckin death, pussycat. Are you okay?"

[dealtinthebar]

"Besides basically being in that time Vaggie was running trust exercises and feeling like I've been sleeping with my mouth open for days-" Which he probably was at least some of the time. "-I'll be fine."

His eyes never left Angel, and after a moment he reached over and pulled the spider into a tight hug. "I'm glad you weren't dragged into that mess, Legs," he mumbled into the soft white fur of Angel's shoulder. He spent the whole two weeks worried sick, and it was a relief to know he was just here. Worried sick, but safe. His wings actually sagged in relief.

[legsfordays]

"That's what was going on in there?" He was tempted to ask for more details, but then Husk was pulling him into a hug and, frankly, it was so jarring Angel didn't even know what to do.

Besides hug him back. Which he did after a pause, gently scratching his fingers behind Husk's ear. "Mighta been better if I was, then I wouldn't have had to sit here wondering if you were ever gonna wake up, you asshole." He said with a sigh. "I tried to give you water, but I was trying to make sure I didn't waterboard you while you were lying down." Hence the dry mouth.

[dealtinthebar]

"Yeah. I passed on the volunteering for it, but it was some bullshit test to see how we'd do if shit really hit the fan. 'Cept some fucker broke it on purpose I guess."

Husk's ear twitched gently and he started to purr despite himself. "I appreciate the attempt to avoid drowning me. And to be fuckin' honest, I'm glad you weren't there. Not that I think you can't handle yourself...but..." He looked up at met Angel's eyes again. "I don't know what I'd have done if something happened to you in there."

[legsfordays]

Angel looked surprised when their eyes met. Husk sounded so... sincerely worried that it almost made him laugh. The spider had a lot of shit going on inside him - a lot of shit related to Husk that he was still trying to parse.

"Good thing I wasn't in there then, huh?" He said with a playful smile. "You should take a shower or something, by the way. I kept you as clean as I could, but it'll probably help you feel better."