[The warm, balmy climate of the island—and its expansive territory of greenery—is at odds with everything he's ever known. As soon as Cain steps off the train at the station, his attention is consumed by the strange otherworld of Primavera, an almost trance-like fascination leading him through exploratory hours just staring at things: a pale, pink-petaled tree in full bloom, shedding over dark stone steps; bright azure waterfalls flowing into near-translucent springs; grass and moss and vines a shade of verdant green that nearly hurts his eyes in its intensity. The frigid, dusty plains of his home can't begin to compare to the vivid kaleidoscope of colors that live in this place. It doesn't even compare to the grainy vids of Earth he used to spend so much time playing and replaying in the fantasy of one day being able to visit.
Eventually, Cain wanders into the avenues of Yaranak, owlish wide eyes taking in the site of open marketplaces. He's somewhat unsettled by the honeycomb pattern of the stonework, reminded too readily of Colteron architecture, but the overall style and atmosphere is different enough to take him away from that thought. Not to mention the scents. A sweet fragrance is in the air, carried on a tepid breeze. He's wrestled out of his jacket and tied it around the waist. Now clad only in a sleeveless red shirt, he heads down the street sampling everything offered out to him.
It's a lot. By the time Cain finishes grazing, he's pretty buzzed and light-headed from several cups of mead and sticks of honey, shoulders slack as black eyes scan the crowd with relaxed curiosity.
And then he sees them. Pointed above the heads of several natives, twitching in the next wind—soft, fluffy, furred ears.
His heart rate quickens, a flutter up in his throat. He takes off at a half-sprint down the street, shouldering roughly through the crowd in pursuit. Eyes on the prize.]
Hey, you! Hold it! [Simultaneously excited and a little tipsy, Cain thinks nothing of pointing rudely at the man(???) he finds in front of him.] What the hell is on your head?
[ the city of yaranak is a lot to take in after six steps off the train at the station.
there are a plethora of colours — floral aesthetics mixing together with the futuristic vibe of this world, and it makes for a polychromatic experience that's incredibly difficult to look away from. it's hard to tell what he should focus on first when they're all vying for his attention, no matter where he goes. not that it matters too much, because in the end, just like cain, he'll have tried out every free sample there is.
normally, he wouldn't bother checking out everything this place has to offer, more interested in going places that'll help him map out what's dangerous or not, but he is trying to forget about what happened to him on the way here —
someone's voice manages to stop his thought right there and then. a voice calls out to him, his ears perking up and swiveling towards the direction it came from. it's not long before he realizes that someone is quickly approaching him. gut instincts tell him to run away, but all he does is take one step back. ]
... What do you mean? I'm not wearing anything on my head.
[ can't this person see he isn't wearing a hat? not even his hood?
those furry ears continue to twitch, as if taunting the other man. ]
[The line of his gaze doesn't waver, hooked on pointed cat ears with an intensity not soon to ease. By their movement, they can't be fake—or if they are, it's a work of engineering he's never seen before. In this world anything feels possible… but the threat of crushing disappointment keeps Cain hoping.]
Uh, no. Nope. You definitely got something on your head. Are you serious right now?
[Emboldened by the sweet intoxication of mead and honey, he doesn't stifle the impulse to reach out, itching to get both sets of fingers on fluffy triangle ears. He's never wanted anything more in his life. Truly. This is it. He's already fantasizing about how soft they must be, whether they'll fold easily under his touch or remain rigid, whether they'll tickle and twitch to be freed, whether they'll elicit any sounds from their owner. All possibilities are thrilling to imagine after he's spent so long looking at Earth creatures but never seeing them in the flesh. Uh, fur. He's just gotta…reach—]
[ it doesn't take long for six to realize what exactly this person is looking at, lilac eyes widening. once it dawns on him, his ears point all the way up—just as alert and alarmed as their owner. he's taking a step back, followed by another, and then another, determined to remain out of reach because like hell he's allowing some rando touching him after what happened on the train. ]
Do you ask everyone you see if you can touch their ears?
[ incredulous. then again, maybe he shouldn't really be surprised given the nature of where he got whisked away. it'll be a different story if this is someone he knew but this man looks like he isn't someone who would stop at one touch.
his ears have suffered enough today... ]
I'll have to pass, thank you.
[ time to make a quick exit. he'll sidestep the guy if he has to. ]
[Like a dog with a rabbit in its teeth, the denial is fuel for pursuit, fast steps taking him forward for every inch of distance he loses in the retreat. Maybe in a more sober state he'd have some self-control not to be so unleashed; then again, maybe not. He's never seen a cat before. Those have to be cat ears, or the ears of some other animal equally as fluffy and twitchy—he's stared at too many vids to believe otherwise.]
No, yours are different.
[Anything for this dream come true. As Cain is sidestepped, he swiftly turns in their weird dance, attempting to catch the stranger by one slender shoulder as a hand again makes a greedy swipe for an ear.]
Come on— [grabby grabby,] —just real quick, promise—I haven't even seen one yet and I've been here for days!
[He doesn't clarify what he means. Determination lit like a fire, Cain doesn't care that he's corralling the other man back toward the obstacle of a building wall. It's not totally deliberate.]
Edited (oops i have bad reading comprehension) 2021-04-14 18:05 (UTC)
[ as it is, his options for escape are quickly dwindling. this is a situation that shouldn't really surprise him anymore given how many others he's met before who have never seen an erune in their lives but somehow it always manages to catch him off guard. it's not long before his shoulder is grabbed and he is valiantly attempting to dodge every swipe the guy makes at his ears.
it's a funny sight to behold if you happen to be passing by, because while the stranger is determined to touch his ears, six is all the more determined to not let him. not that it lasts—as soon as his back hits the wall, he freezes up, wonders why he hasn't decked the guy just yet, but he just got here and would rather avoid getting in trouble with the peacekeepers of this place for the time being, thank you.
he reaches for the hand trying to touch his ears, wanting to still its motions. ]
You haven't seen one what, exactly?
[ depending on the answer, he may or may not tighten his grip. enough for it to start hurting if he doesn't like what he hears. ]
[His wrist is easily caught, captured by fingers in a punishing grasp. The pressure causes Cain to bare his teeth almost reflexively; it isn't painful, not immediately, but the threat is a low promise. Violence is like a siren's call—it only makes him want to win more.]
A cat. What the hell do you think? Cats have those pointy, fluffy, cute ears…
[Hesitation trails his voice off. Dark eyes narrow, more with realization than anything else, slow brain working at the puzzle of why a man would have a cat's ears on his head. Maybe… modifications? Magic? The bizarre nature of this world suggests anything. His fingers slacken, but he's still crowding Six back without sign of defeat.]
[ his voice is completely deadpanned. it's almost as if he couldn't believe what he just heard, but then again, this isn't exactly the first time he'd been seen as such. he falls silent as he regards the one before him with narrowed eyes. is he lying? should he believe it when he says he's never seen a cat before? and then quietly, in the back of his mind: what kind of rock did this guy crawl out from, if that was the case?
those treacherous ears of his flicker once again, taunting the other man now that they're within reach. six looks as though he is considering what his next move should be: does he shove the guy away now that he's been backed up against a wall, or does he let things play out since it's so harmless?
he sighs again, but then his grip on the man's wrist slackens until he finally lets him go. ]
Of course they're real. I was born with them and have lived with them my entire life.
[Cain's eyes automatically snap to the twitching ears, frown drawn tight and petulant, almost a pout—like he's really capable of demonstrating more than sneers and scowls. If he was aware of the reaction, he'd try to tamp it down, not wanting to slip up in his normal show of masculinity and composure; as it is, the allure of soft cat-ears serves as a powerful distraction.]
So you're... a cat. [His dumb, rocks-filled brain is trying to do this mental calculation.] Or... uh, one of your parents is? 'Cause you still look like a guy. Mostly.
[Is that biologically possible? Then again, after all he's seen here, maybe his own imagination is limited. Wrist released, Cain rubs it briefly before—of course—trying to reach up again. He can't resist the siren's call.]
[ those ears remain as the tantalizing prize, gone completely pin-straight now that the guy's hand is reaching out for them again. they settle soon enough, dipping low against equally soft, downy hair. he might as well just let this happen since it doesn't look like the curiousity will ever be satiatd if he denies it.
that's why he stays still, back still up against the wall.
the one lilac eye that's exposed, however, narrows by the tiniest fraction. ]
I'm not a cat. [ he knows it won't make much of a difference to people who don't know, but. ] I am an Erune.
[He's sounding the words out, attempting to shape them with the same familiarity, despite how foreign it sounds. Not a cat, but some other creature with similar characteristics? Maybe it has something to do with ancestry? Cain finds his head bobbing, unconsciously, eyes wide with an almost childlike fascination.]
Yeah, was one of them a cat? Is it a cross-species thing? Never heard of anything like that, even back on Earth.
[Taking advantage of that stillness without a shade of regret or shame, he crowds closer to Six, both hands landing on triangular ears. Calloused fingertips are surprisingly gentle, passing across the pointed tips before closing over in a caress, stroking velvety warm fur, his expression only brightening with awe.]
[ the gentleness of those fingers don't really help. if anything, it makes heat rush up to colour his cheeks much faster than it usually would. his ears tremble under the curious touch, always so sensitive despite all his attempts to still their movements. he can only hope the guy isn't looking too closely at his face. ]
... Of course they are. Were you expecting them to be hard?
[ who has ever heard of ears like that? he scoffs quietly, mostly as another attempt to keep his own voice steady. ]
Both of my parents were Erunes, just like I am. We all look like this — but I suppose you can find variation in the kinds of ears you see.
[ a hand moves up to place itself on the man's chest, ready to push him away at any moment. not right now, at least. not yet. ]
[What was he expecting? It's a good point, but one Cain discards with little more than a pinched frown, all of his attention narrowed onto soft cat ears. He doesn't immediately notice the effect his touch has on Six, although as soon as that hand plants itself at the center of his chest, black eyes drag down, half-curious.
Seeing the stain of red cheeks, Cain smirks—but he doesn't say anything. Fingers aren't soon to loosen, thumbs tracing to the velvety fold of those ears as though emboldened by the reactive twitching, rubbing from base to tip with new purpose.]
Guess it's like a totally different species. [Not unbelievable, considering all of the strange shit he's seen so far.] Weird.
Anyway, it's 'cause we didn't really have any animals, back where I'm from. I mean, they existed, just not… on our planet. They're all on Earth, so I only ever saw cats in grainy vids. Never touched one.
[Admission lowly murmured, Cain shoves forward a bit, as if to taunt that hand that hasn't actually begun shoving him back. Give him an inch; he'll definitely try to take a mile.]
[ there are no attempts to hide how badly this is affecting him: his ears have all but practically melted thanks to what this man is doing to them, no longer able to keep themselves upright, soft and pliant. he's never been more thankful to have the wall behind him too because even though it keeps him locked in place, it offers stability when his knees are beginning to feel a tiny bit like jello. ]
Then... that will continue to be the truth. I'm not a cat.
[ is it just him or are the two of them absurdly much closer than before? he doesn't need anyone to tell him where things might be headed so he does try to create space between them again, pushing the other back by keeping his hand planted firmly on his chest. ]
Regardless, your curiousity is satiated. I'll be on my way.
[ it's time to make an exit, stage left. nevermind the look on his face that's practically begging for this to keep going. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
@wray
Eventually, Cain wanders into the avenues of Yaranak, owlish wide eyes taking in the site of open marketplaces. He's somewhat unsettled by the honeycomb pattern of the stonework, reminded too readily of Colteron architecture, but the overall style and atmosphere is different enough to take him away from that thought. Not to mention the scents. A sweet fragrance is in the air, carried on a tepid breeze. He's wrestled out of his jacket and tied it around the waist. Now clad only in a sleeveless red shirt, he heads down the street sampling everything offered out to him.
It's a lot. By the time Cain finishes grazing, he's pretty buzzed and light-headed from several cups of mead and sticks of honey, shoulders slack as black eyes scan the crowd with relaxed curiosity.
And then he sees them. Pointed above the heads of several natives, twitching in the next wind—soft, fluffy, furred ears.
His heart rate quickens, a flutter up in his throat. He takes off at a half-sprint down the street, shouldering roughly through the crowd in pursuit. Eyes on the prize.]
Hey, you! Hold it! [Simultaneously excited and a little tipsy, Cain thinks nothing of pointing rudely at the man(???) he finds in front of him.] What the hell is on your head?
[WHAT ARE THOOOOOSE]
no subject
there are a plethora of colours — floral aesthetics mixing together with the futuristic vibe of this world, and it makes for a polychromatic experience that's incredibly difficult to look away from. it's hard to tell what he should focus on first when they're all vying for his attention, no matter where he goes. not that it matters too much, because in the end, just like cain, he'll have tried out every free sample there is.
normally, he wouldn't bother checking out everything this place has to offer, more interested in going places that'll help him map out what's dangerous or not, but he is trying to forget about what happened to him on the way here —
someone's voice manages to stop his thought right there and then. a voice calls out to him, his ears perking up and swiveling towards the direction it came from. it's not long before he realizes that someone is quickly approaching him. gut instincts tell him to run away, but all he does is take one step back. ]
... What do you mean? I'm not wearing anything on my head.
[ can't this person see he isn't wearing a hat? not even his hood?
those furry ears continue to twitch, as if taunting the other man. ]
Unless you meant to ask someone else.
no subject
Uh, no. Nope. You definitely got something on your head. Are you serious right now?
[Emboldened by the sweet intoxication of mead and honey, he doesn't stifle the impulse to reach out, itching to get both sets of fingers on fluffy triangle ears. He's never wanted anything more in his life. Truly. This is it. He's already fantasizing about how soft they must be, whether they'll fold easily under his touch or remain rigid, whether they'll tickle and twitch to be freed, whether they'll elicit any sounds from their owner. All possibilities are thrilling to imagine after he's spent so long looking at Earth creatures but never seeing them in the flesh. Uh, fur. He's just gotta…reach—]
Lemme touch them. C'mon.
no subject
Do you ask everyone you see if you can touch their ears?
[ incredulous. then again, maybe he shouldn't really be surprised given the nature of where he got whisked away. it'll be a different story if this is someone he knew but this man looks like he isn't someone who would stop at one touch.
his ears have suffered enough today... ]
I'll have to pass, thank you.
[ time to make a quick exit. he'll sidestep the guy if he has to. ]
no subject
No, yours are different.
[Anything for this dream come true. As Cain is sidestepped, he swiftly turns in their weird dance, attempting to catch the stranger by one slender shoulder as a hand again makes a greedy swipe for an ear.]
Come on— [grabby grabby,] —just real quick, promise—I haven't even seen one yet and I've been here for days!
[He doesn't clarify what he means. Determination lit like a fire, Cain doesn't care that he's corralling the other man back toward the obstacle of a building wall. It's not totally deliberate.]
no subject
it's a funny sight to behold if you happen to be passing by, because while the stranger is determined to touch his ears, six is all the more determined to not let him. not that it lasts—as soon as his back hits the wall, he freezes up, wonders why he hasn't decked the guy just yet, but he just got here and would rather avoid getting in trouble with the peacekeepers of this place for the time being, thank you.
he reaches for the hand trying to touch his ears, wanting to still its motions. ]
You haven't seen one what, exactly?
[ depending on the answer, he may or may not tighten his grip. enough for it to start hurting if he doesn't like what he hears. ]
no subject
A cat. What the hell do you think? Cats have those pointy, fluffy, cute ears…
[Hesitation trails his voice off. Dark eyes narrow, more with realization than anything else, slow brain working at the puzzle of why a man would have a cat's ears on his head. Maybe… modifications? Magic? The bizarre nature of this world suggests anything. His fingers slacken, but he's still crowding Six back without sign of defeat.]
… Are they real?
no subject
[ his voice is completely deadpanned. it's almost as if he couldn't believe what he just heard, but then again, this isn't exactly the first time he'd been seen as such. he falls silent as he regards the one before him with narrowed eyes. is he lying? should he believe it when he says he's never seen a cat before? and then quietly, in the back of his mind: what kind of rock did this guy crawl out from, if that was the case?
those treacherous ears of his flicker once again, taunting the other man now that they're within reach. six looks as though he is considering what his next move should be: does he shove the guy away now that he's been backed up against a wall, or does he let things play out since it's so harmless?
he sighs again, but then his grip on the man's wrist slackens until he finally lets him go. ]
Of course they're real. I was born with them and have lived with them my entire life.
no subject
So you're... a cat. [His dumb, rocks-filled brain is trying to do this mental calculation.] Or... uh, one of your parents is? 'Cause you still look like a guy. Mostly.
[Is that biologically possible? Then again, after all he's seen here, maybe his own imagination is limited. Wrist released, Cain rubs it briefly before—of course—trying to reach up again. He can't resist the siren's call.]
What are they like?
no subject
that's why he stays still, back still up against the wall.
the one lilac eye that's exposed, however, narrows by the tiniest fraction. ]
I'm not a cat. [ he knows it won't make much of a difference to people who don't know, but. ] I am an Erune.
[ as for that last question... ]
Are you asking what my parents are like?
no subject
[He's sounding the words out, attempting to shape them with the same familiarity, despite how foreign it sounds. Not a cat, but some other creature with similar characteristics? Maybe it has something to do with ancestry? Cain finds his head bobbing, unconsciously, eyes wide with an almost childlike fascination.]
Yeah, was one of them a cat? Is it a cross-species thing? Never heard of anything like that, even back on Earth.
[Taking advantage of that stillness without a shade of regret or shame, he crowds closer to Six, both hands landing on triangular ears. Calloused fingertips are surprisingly gentle, passing across the pointed tips before closing over in a caress, stroking velvety warm fur, his expression only brightening with awe.]
Holy shit. They're so soft.
[Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?]
no subject
... Of course they are. Were you expecting them to be hard?
[ who has ever heard of ears like that? he scoffs quietly, mostly as another attempt to keep his own voice steady. ]
Both of my parents were Erunes, just like I am. We all look like this — but I suppose you can find variation in the kinds of ears you see.
[ a hand moves up to place itself on the man's chest, ready to push him away at any moment. not right now, at least. not yet. ]
Why are you so fascinated by this?
no subject
Seeing the stain of red cheeks, Cain smirks—but he doesn't say anything. Fingers aren't soon to loosen, thumbs tracing to the velvety fold of those ears as though emboldened by the reactive twitching, rubbing from base to tip with new purpose.]
Guess it's like a totally different species. [Not unbelievable, considering all of the strange shit he's seen so far.] Weird.
Anyway, it's 'cause we didn't really have any animals, back where I'm from. I mean, they existed, just not… on our planet. They're all on Earth, so I only ever saw cats in grainy vids. Never touched one.
[Admission lowly murmured, Cain shoves forward a bit, as if to taunt that hand that hasn't actually begun shoving him back. Give him an inch; he'll definitely try to take a mile.]
no subject
Then... that will continue to be the truth. I'm not a cat.
[ is it just him or are the two of them absurdly much closer than before? he doesn't need anyone to tell him where things might be headed so he does try to create space between them again, pushing the other back by keeping his hand planted firmly on his chest. ]
Regardless, your curiousity is satiated. I'll be on my way.
[ it's time to make an exit, stage left. nevermind the look on his face that's practically begging for this to keep going. ]