Friday the thirteenth doesn't usually get this whacky

[indigo_league]

Who: ANYONE AND EVERYONE
Where: ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE
When: NOVEMBER 13TH TO 15TH
Summary: GET IN HERE AND MINGLE
Rating: BUT PLEASE MARK YOUR THREAD CONTENT ACCORDINGLY
Log:






Need a reminder of our Fourth Wall Rules or how to handle the power swaps? Find them here!

Comments

[insidegalra]

Thace smiles fondly at the action and starts to work on Steven's arms. He's glad Steven is enjoying the grooming at least, and can't help but wonder... "Would you like to learn how to do it back?"

[fingersandteeth]

After a moment, Steven nods. "I mean, I owe you, don't I? And it kind of looks like it's... I don't know. Good for you too?"

(That did not come out how it should have.)

[insidegalra]

"Only if you want to do it, but yes it does feel very pleasant." Thace doesn't bother to hide the smirk at the slip of tongue.

[fingersandteeth]

"I would," Steven says, decisively. There's nothing wrong with homosocial bonding activities, after all. Nice, innocent things that he'll definitely not be filing away in his imagination for the future.

[insidegalra]

Thace smiles, and as he works on the last of Steven's arm, he slows down to demonstrate.

"First is removing in debris or tangles, and any loose hairs, like this. I definitely have cold-weather coat coming in so you may have to go through twice to get through to the undercoat. Next, rub the skin a little. It encourages oil production, and helps promote healthy follicles. The last step is to pull along the hairs gently like this to spread those oils."

[fingersandteeth]

Steven watches raptly, listening closely and nodding as Thace finishes demonstrating on him. Then he'll reach over, hesitate, and ask, "May I?"

[insidegalra]

Thace tips his head towards Steven's hand, eyes crinkling at the corners from the feeling in his smile. "Of course."

[fingersandteeth]

Steven starts just above one ear--god, they're so big this way--combing through with his claws, as if they were the teeth of a comb. There's something immensely satisfying to it, like he's actually accomplishing something of worth, even if it's just making his friend cleaner.

[insidegalra]

Thace's ear twists and moves into the touches, and Thace lets out a rumbling sigh of contentment. "You're doing very well."

His eyes have gone half-closed, like he might be about to fall asleep.

[fingersandteeth]

"I'm trying my best," Steven tells him softly, as he starts massaging the skin once he's finished with claw-combing.

[insidegalra]

"You're a natural," Thace murmurs. He's now leaning against Steven, almost boneless. It's been so long since he's been able to share a good grooming with someone.

[fingersandteeth]

"I'm just trying to think of what I'd like if I were a very big cat," Steven says honestly. "Besides tuna fish sandwiches--which is stupid, really, because I'm not actually much of a fan of canned tuna in the first place, even if I like it in sushi."

He makes a very Galran sound of amused chagrin. "I mean, I guess you're not really straight up cats, but you have to admit you are fairly feline-ish."

[insidegalra]

"If cats are obligate carnivores, I can't imagine they like the bread in a sandwich very much."

The conversation means Thace is a tiny bit more awake and grins while pushing a little bit into the touch. "Now that I've become more familiar with the idea of cats, furred Galra can be very much like them. Not all Galra are furred, though. Some have scales and scutes, or hairless skin. Galra as a species have a wide variation that makes us hard to describe."

[fingersandteeth]

"Maybe not, yeah," Steven admits. "But, uh, you know how I told you about how Tio Carlos and I used to read Calvin and Hobbes together? Hobbes loved tuna fish sandwiches. And he was a big old tiger, so I guess part of me kind of expects tigers to be all over tuna fish sandwiches."

He finishes up the spot he's working on, shifts elsewhere on Thace's head. "And that's-- huh. That's interesting. I wouldn't have expected that. What about color variation? Or are you all purple?"

[insidegalra]

"Mostly. Some are more bluish. It's complicated by the existence of hybrids." Thace tips his head to give Steven more access. "Galra can produce viable offspring with many different species. The corruption of Galra society puts high value on "purity" that I'm not sure ever was a real concept. The destruction and altering of history has made it even more impossible to determine."

[fingersandteeth]

Steven uses his new access to work on places he hadn't been able to reach as well before.

"That's-- well. That's astounding. Most species can't do that. I mean, I do believe you, but. Wow."

His claws continue to comb through fur. "Do you think a human and a Galra could?"

(Not that that matters given that they're both men, of course... even if Steven's initial survey of Galra anatomy had proved it wasn't quite so clear cut as it was among humans.)

[insidegalra]

"It's unusual to the extreme," Thace says agreeably. "And yes. If you've met him here, Keith from our world has a human father. Some hybrids do take incredibly strongly after one parent species or the other, so I don't believe he had any changes to his body like you or I did."

It's, well, seen as weak, but there's no one around to judge, so Thace bunts into the contact, seeking more even if there really isn't anywhere left to groom that doesn't involve removing clothing.

[fingersandteeth]

"Not in person, I don't think, but I've seen him on the pokegear network," Steven says. He doesn't mind Thace trying to seek more contact from him. If this is an important social activity for Galra and he hasn't had it since he got here...

"You know, I'm happy to do this with you when you're not furry anymore," Steven says quietly. "If we can find somewhere to do it that's relatively private."

You know. So nothing gets back to Jack about it.

[insidegalra]

Thace knows immediately that he's going to say yes. Still, he forces himself to try to think about it reasonably first. As long as it isn't private, Steven won't be at risk from Jack, and Thace thinks he can understand the desire to be close with someone trusted, in a situation like Steven's.

On the other hand, that bit of attraction could make indulging in something humans don't instinctively separate from more intimate bonding a slippery slope. Is that selfish indulgence for himself worth the risk to Steven? Should he be making that decision for Steven, who's certainly an adult who can judge his own tolerances?

Want wars with care. Thace presses into Steven's hand again. "I want to say yes. It's something I've missed for so long. It's also something humans don't engage in, and I value your friendship."

[fingersandteeth]

"We don't," Steven agrees, "but you're not human. And if it'll make you feel better for me to finger-comb your hair from time to time, I'd be happy to." He's quiet for a moment before he adds, "I— rather enjoy having tactile friendships, actually, if the other person is comfortable with them."

And if he can take advantage of being able to sink his fingers in Thace's admittedly attractive human form's hair for innocent reasons on a regular basis... look, Steven is stuck in a quietly decaying relationship with a narcissist. He needs something to think about when he's alone.

[insidegalra]

The admission soothes his worries more than it probably should, but Thace is generally good at reading others, and doesn't spot falsehood. It's enough to make the yes an eager one.

"If you're benefiting as well, then of course, as often as we're together."

[fingersandteeth]

Steven smiles and he'll lean his brow against Thace's if Thace will let him. "Thank you," he murmurs.

[insidegalra]

Thace returns the gesture. It's such a rare and intimate gesture of trust, and a precious thing to have found someone (several someones) he can share it with in this world. Even better that Steven understands and is willing to return it.

He huffs a little sound that's almost a chuckle, but not fully realized. "Thank you."

[fingersandteeth]

Steven does chuckle, softly. "I'm glad I met you," he says quietly. "I'm so very glad I turn around to discuss that match with the surprisingly tall man sitting next to me."

[insidegalra]

"And I'm glad I chose that spot to watch from," Thace says, nuzzling just a little. A moment later he surprises himself by yawning.