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Turns out Trauma is a Good Thing to Bond Over // OxO with Iris

@ElderGod-Icefire forum 734 comments schedule
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(also wanted to listen to the song before I reply)

Calixto frowned lightly. Cameron's voice was beautiful and smooth, but the song was kind of sad sounding. Me and my true love will never meet again…
It was also kind of funny to him. The tune reminded him faintly of home. Where he came from. At least what he remembered. Its atmosphere was similar to earth in the sense that it was capable of sustaining life. Everything else was so much different though. The languages, the customs… the people.
Were all people truly as bad as he had assumed…?

@ElderGod-Icefire

"'Twas there that we parted, in yon shady glen, On the steep, steep side of Ben Lomond, Where in soft purple hue, the hieland hills we view, And the moon coming out in the gloaming." Cameron sang, closing his eyes against the memories that rose up as he sang this song. It reminded him of too many people he had lost, and would never see again. "The wee birdies sing and the wildflowers spring, And in sunshine the waters are sleeping. But the broken heart it kens, nae second spring again, Though the woeful may cease from their grieving."

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His mind really didn't know how to answer its own question.
Everything that had happened could not be forgotten.
It was practically ingrained in his memories.
But… that voice. It almost acknowledged that fact but offered something calming.
The woeful may cease from their grieving.
What about Cameron was continuing to force its way in his mind still? His eyes with that kind of special shine to them? The fact that he was hiding his own secrets? His buttery voice? The blunt flirting?
Calixto gave a soft groan. The feelings of greed were allowing themselves to surface, right alongside with curiosity. Slowly, Cal descended the stairs, only to seat himself on the bottom step. This didn't mean he'd allow this stranger into his bed. Even if he was handsome.
Wait, what-

@ElderGod-Icefire

Cameron began the last chorus of the song. "Oh you take the high road, and I'll take the low road and I'll be in Kevra afore ye. But me and my true love will never meet again, on the bonny, bonny banks of Loch Lomond." He drew out the last lyric, and closed his eyes. For a moment there was a pause, then people clapped or whistled or laughed. "Another!" Some called. Cameron pasted on a smile, hiding how hurt he was, the inner wound this song had rubbed against. "Yeah yeah, in a minute. I've got to clear my head first. I'll be back." He slipped outside onto the porch, bracing his forearms on the armrest. Roshan…I miss you, love. He thought, remembering the smiling, happy man he had loved. Also a Berserker, but no longer alive. He had been killed three years ago, after the edict making Berserkers illegal was released. Cam had never even gotten a body to bury.

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(well oof)

Calixto knew a forced grin when he saw one. Before he knew it, his legs were carrying him towards the same door Cameron had just gone through. It was terrifying. Almost like the past where his body would do exactly what his mind told him not to. Except this time, it was for a few seconds and less forceful. It wasn't because of a collar. It was some part of him, deep down. Something he really didn't understand. Opening it, he saw the other tall man staring out in a daze. Deciding to wait a moment, he sat at the base of the porch railing.

@ElderGod-Icefire

(lol sorry. My boyo has some emotional baggage)

Cameron let out a breath, and looked up when Calixto came out. "Oh, hey." He greeted calmly, a half smile tugging at his mouth. "Change your mind?" He asked, raising his eyebrows. He absently touched a finger to the cloth patch covering his tattoo, and wished he could be open with it. Wished he didn't have to hide it so much, but knew it was a futile wish. His kind was illegal. They always would be. He would always live like this; afraid for his life and hiding everything, even his own looks.

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(bro it's cool, my boyo was legit a slave to mind control in a sense so-)

Cal simply raised a brow. "If I did, it would only be because you keep bringing it up," he replied, a weak smile beginning to form. It took him a moment before speaking again. I came because… because why?
"Your singing was good," he said simply, changing the subject.

@ElderGod-Icefire

(yeahhh they both have some issues lol)

Cameron smirked a little, sitting on the porch wall. "Mhm." He nodded. "Thanks. I'll probably be singing for half the night, now. That's what happens." He chuckled, looking over at Calixto with a smile. I like him more than anyone else here, but he's the most likely to turn me down. So I'll be spending the night alone or with some old man.

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(lowkey I can see Cal like: You're welcome to use it as an excuse to deny some drunk dude I guess
Cameron: I knew you'd change your mind, lol
Later on:
Cal: Ok, on the couch with you.
Cameron: waitwhat-)

(There could also be a "sleepwalking" incident too where Cal still says no but Cameron doesn't wanna be with some old guy so he lies and says Cal asked already. Wanting to seem like he was telling the truth, he comes in while the other is sleeping [Cal sleeps hard dw] and gets comfortable lolllll)

@ElderGod-Icefire

(duuuude either one is absolutely hilarious and we can do whichever one you prefer)

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(uGHHHHH I REALLY LIKE THE FIRST ONE BUT IT SEEMS OUT OF CHARACTER FOR HIM-)

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(With 1, literal chaos will ensue and make Cal feel so awkward but 2 I can yeet in some angst afterwards)

@ElderGod-Icefire

(lol uhm…either one works great with Cameron's character. For two, he would only like…lay down on the bed, he wouldn't try to touch Cal without permission or anything. He may be a bit of an atrocious flirt, but he still respects boundaries (sometimes))

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(I meant like as in laying down on one side of the bed but having that cliche where they wake up cuddling and confusion happens)
(Mmm, I think I'm gonna do 2 despite the fact I could make 1 happen. My boyo can't be rushed lol)

Calixto gave a soft hum, a bit of sadness there. "You could just say no," he said simply. There was always that option for Cameron. The other wasn't the same as he was. It didn't really matter what he was, honestly. Free will was a thing to be valued. If you focused on every little thing someone else wanted, then it wouldn't be far off from forming your own ball and chain around both ankles. Not allowed to walk without pulling extra weight or until someone else set you free.

@ElderGod-Icefire

(ooh yeah perfect lol)
(Alright!)

Cameron shrugged. "I either sing for half the night, or I go to bed with some gross old man." He replied in a matter-of-fact tone. "And I'd rather my throat hurt than my ass." He chuckled, wiping his hands on his apron again. There were still the strange pale spots from the tea, though it wasn't very noticeable anymore. Cameron had smeared the dye from his upper arms down onto his hands to try and hide those strange pale marks.

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Cal made a face at the second option. He didn't think he really wanted to know what Cameron was implying. It seemed the male had repainted his hands to hide his vitiligo again, though he was unsure as to why it bothered the other so much. The tiny patches weren't something to be afraid of. Though, he probably couldn't say that as he could alter his skin tone if he wished. The light tan was nice though.

@ElderGod-Icefire

Cameron saw the face, and let out a soft chuckle. "Mm. It's not that bad." He said with a shrug. "None of them have ever hurt me. Or not on purpose, anyway." He let out a sound that was half laugh, half snort. He ran a hand through his hair. The dye made it feel rough and strange, not it's usual silky smooth feeling that he was used to. Then again, he hardly recognized himself in the mirror anymore, so that didn't really matter that much either.

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Calixto felt something in his chest at the sound of the other's laughter. It was bright sounding and happy. It also confused him as to how sleeping with a stranger wouldn't be "that bad." Especially if they were several years older than you. It seemed wrong. Cameron could do as he wished though. He would be singing instead, so it was fine. Fatigue was pushing at Cal's mind, but he forced it back for a bit longer.

@ElderGod-Icefire

Cameron looked over at him. "You know, you're being really quiet and it's starting to worry me." he remarked. "Did you change your mind, or are you just here for some company?" he looked up at the sky, which was already darkened into nighttime. He looked at the stars, letting out a soft breath. Some people believed the spirits of the dead went to the stars; the Kevrans believed that they became one with the sea. What he wouldn't give to see the sea again.

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Calixto raised a brow in confusion. "Worry you? I don't understand," he said, tilting his head lightly. He thought it had been obvious that he wasn't much of a talker. Guess not. He stared at Cameron a second longer before continuing. "The song you sang… it takes experience to make lyrics have meaning. There was sorrow in your voice…" he stated, now looking at his hands while he played with his fingers. His mind returned to the memory of his homeworld, understanding what it was to lose something.
"Sleeping with old people won't bring them back," Cal said suddenly. It was incredibly blunt, but he knew no other way of putting it.

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(romance like: hey i sympathize with u)
(Calixto: stop sleeping with people and try something else)

@ElderGod-Icefire

(okay but truth lol)

Cameron flinched slightly, and something in his face closed up and shut away from Calixto. "You think I don't know that?" he replied, voice turned cold and distant. "I sleep with people because that's part of my job description. Sometimes yeah, I'll take in interest in someone and try to get to know them a bit better. So what? It's none of your business. You'll probably be leaving tomorrow anyway, what do you care if some guy in an inn sleeps with people?" there was a faint biting note in his voice, a hint of anger, but nothing harsh.

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While Calixto hadn't expected the outburst, he was used to people being upset with him. It didn't stop the hurt from reaching his eyes though. There was a genuine question Cameron had asked that he didn't know himself. Why did he care?
"You're right. It isn't my business," he said, voice suddenly gaining a bit of exhaustion to it. He had thought about listening to the other male sing for another song or two, but it seemed he wasn't wanted. Cal got to his feet before bowing his head lightly. "Goodnight."
Before waiting for a reply, the man stepped inside.

@ElderGod-Icefire

Cameron blinked. "No, wait, I…" He trailed off. When Calixto was gone, he slammed a fist into the wall, feeling splinters drive into his knuckles and blood trickle down his skin. He felt the tattoo on his jaw burn, and felt the old hunger to kill and kill and kill and destroy. He swallowed. No. No. No Berserking tonight. At all. He told himself, taking several deep breaths to try and calm himself down before something happened that he would regret.

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As Calixto walked away, he heard a thump from outside. Keeping himself collected, he returned upstairs, but to go to sleep for real this time. That old echo of the man who used to own him echoed in his mind. That's what's wrong with you Mirro. You don't know your place. While Cal didn't want to believe such a thing, it was hard not to see the valid point to the statement. Perhaps his kind coming to Earth was one of the worst decision they had ever made. Humans didn't like what they didn't understand.

@ElderGod-Icefire

Cameron sighed softly. After a moment, he headed back inside, greeted with cries for more singing. He began to sing again. "Red is the rose that in yonder garden grows. Fair is the Lily of the valley. Clear is the water, that flows from the boyn, but my love is fairer than any." He took a breath, and kept. "Twas down by Killarney's green woods that we met, and the moon and the stars, they were shining. And the moon shone its rays on his locks of golden hair, and he swore he'd be my love forever."

(Song is "Red is the Rose". My favorite version is by The High Kings. If you wanna look it up, go ahead!)

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Cal now stood in front of the mirror, staring at himself for a moment. Sighing, he reached up and pulled off his dark shirt. The mirror now presented to him the full view of the scars. Calixto frowned, thinking about the longest one across his back. He had managed to fight the forceful pull in his mind once and for that slight hesitation of an order… a knife had been dug into his back.
Oddly enough, there were a few stretch marks as well. His body had been unused to proper eating habits the month after gaining his freedom, so once his forced thin form had a chance to regain its healthy weight, they formed. Not wanting to look much longer than he had to, the male traded his pants for a softer pair to sleep in. Rubbing at his eyes, Cal climbed into the temporary bed. He nearly flinched at how cold it was. No wonder a sleeping buddy was an option for patrons. This didn't quite change his mind about refusing Cameron however. It wasn't likely that he'd attempt to speak to him again either. Deep inside, it infuriated him how his will to fight had been dampened from all those years. Now wasn't the time to think however. Closing his eyes, he let himself fall asleep.

@ElderGod-Icefire

Cameron finished up that song, and a few more. He grabbed himself a drink from the bar, and downed it quicker than he probably should have. And he downed a few more, as well, still faster than he should have. Singing all those songs from Kevra… it had reminded him far too much of what had happened to Roshan, and to his country. So, half-drunk and exhausted, he thought absolutely nothing of it when he went into Calixto's room and got into the bed with him, lying down and falling to sleep almost immediately.

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Calixto hadn't felt a thing when the other male snuck into bed with him. He had already been sound asleep by then. He wasn't the type to toss and turn either. Cameron could probably pull him close and he would be none the wiser. The bed was warmer now that he had been asleep for awhile. Cameron's additional body heat helped as well.
By the time morning rolled around, Cal was still on his side, facing away from the guest he wasn't aware that he had. Still half asleep, the man cast a quick glance around the room before shutting his eyes again. He could stand to sleep a moment longer.

(Now is where Cam can either grab him to cuddle in his sleep or make a noise or whatever)
(to get senpai to notice him i'm sorry)

@ElderGod-Icefire

Cam let out a soft groan, rolling onto his side and flinging an arm across Calixto's waist lightly. His Berserker metabolism had already absorbed all the drinks from last night, but he was asleep and didn't know what he was doing now. He sighed softly. The dye had smudged a little in his sleep, showing strange, pale streaks across his face, and his hair was also lighter than it had started the night as. The cloth patch covering the tattoo was starting to peel at the edges.