Cherubplay

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He listened to the water gurgle some down the drain as he dried himself off a little, then turned off the light and tiptoed back into their respiteblock. It was easy to forget that anyone else was in the apartment when they were goofing around in the hygieneblock, but now that they were in the room, he remembered to keep quiet. Tavros rummaged through his things and pulled on some undergarments and one of the many sweaters, opting for that as pajamas. It was comfortable enough, and he sat on the bed, yawning some as he stalled in buttoning it up. "Oh, ah...do you still want to give that massage?"

2014-09-21 00:41:04
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After they'd crossed the hall, Gamzee found some loose pants and underthings, foregoing a shirt for the moment. He nodded adamantly at Tavros's question. "Hell yeah!" he whispered, grinning and crawling onto the bed behind his matesprit, sitting cross-legged behind him. Making sure his hands were warm before he started, he touched Tavros's shoulders once the copper was comfortably arranged, then started rubbing and digging gently into the muscles of his shoulders. He moved in small circles with his thumbs as he massaged up and down with the heels of his hands, using the rest of his fingertips to keep Tavros steady. Concentrating on the most tense spots to loosen them, he moved over his matesprit's shoulders to the back of his neck and down, on and between his shoulder-blades.

2014-09-21 00:48:40
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He had taken his sweater back off and held it in his lap, unsure how relaxed he was going to be, if at all. His mind was definitely not on Wonderland or the state it was in, which would relaxing in itself - he hadn't even known how stressed out he was until he actually stopped thinking about it. Gamzee's hands were warm and solid against his back, pressing out the knots and tensions that Tavros was oblivious to. Was he really that tense? He was not always so serious, but he supposed suddenly being some important figure would do that to a person. He nearly fell asleep at the massage, his lids growing heavy as he purred deeply in his chest.

2014-09-21 00:53:31
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It brought a smile with an unknowable depth of love to Gamzee's face to hear him purr and see him getting so relaxed. When he thought he was properly relieved of some tension, Gamzee gently moved his hands around, following Tavros's arms calmly to pick up the sweater in his lap. Every motion he made slow and comforting, so as not to jar Tavros to wakefulness as he moved the garment to wrap around his mateprit's slim shoulders. When he was in it, he buttoned it for him, having his chest right behind the copperblood to lean into and receive some warmth from before he scooted them both back to rest on the pillows under the covers and sleep for the night.

2014-09-21 01:00:12
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It was safe to say that Tavros was barely even awake. He was operating on auto pilot by the end of the massage, the only thing signaling that he was awake being his eyes, which were open just barely. By the time his head hit the pillow, he was already asleep, lips slightly parted as he slept soundly. Even though Tavros normally slept whole nights through, it was, more often than not, a light sleep, just in case something happened. But now, he was in deep sleep, a dreamless void just for rest and recuperation.

2014-09-21 01:05:41
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After Tavros was most definitely asleep, Gamzee tucked the blankets around them a little more as he snuggled up to the brownblood's side. He was quickly out like a light himself, sleep coming easy with the one he cared for so much so relaxed. The next morning he stayed in bed instead of getting up right away, watching the relaxed Tavros lazily and drifting lightly while waiting for him to awaken, too.

2014-09-21 01:09:02
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He slept pretty late into the morning, his body trying to make up for the all the stress he had put himself through. Slowly, his brown eyes fluttered open, the first thing in his vision being Gamzee, which brought a sleepy smile to his face. "Mmn...g'mornin', 'Zee," He mumbled, stretching his arms above his head before curling further into him, not too excited to get up and start the day just yet. They had some real down time until Kanaya and Vriska could get back.

2014-09-21 01:11:41
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"Good morning sugar....heehee, brown sugar, that's you," he muttered. "Maybe gonna have to relax you like that more often before bed so's you can get such good sleep, huh?" he mentioned, draping an arm around Tavros as he started to purr lightly just from how pleasant being so warm and comfy next to the copper was right away in the morning. It made him look forward to their life after the quest and how they'd be able to wake up like this all the time if they wanted.

2014-09-21 01:18:26
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"Mm hmm. Being pampered like that was lovely," It had been a long time since he had ever felt so well-rested, and Tavros rubbed at his eyes for a couple moments before he settled into the pillows and blankets again, "What is it that we have to, do today? We are done with all the notes and translations, right?"

2014-09-21 01:24:33
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"Yep, totally done with what we have. Dunno if there's really much else to do, besides solidify plans and the like.... and cook you breakfast, and feed you breakfast, and decide weather or not I wanna bake that cake soon or right before the girls get back as a sort of surprise, and there is lunches and dinners too! My goodness, I got such a mess of things to worry about," he chuckled. "May not get much time for cuddles!" he joked.

2014-09-21 01:30:50
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He remembered that he still had to send Aradia a note of some kind detailing what they were going to do, but he figured that telling his new friend that they were going to kill her mother was not a solid plan. He supposed he'd tell her about HUED and what they found out with all the notes, but nothing more than that. "Aw, you should save it until we know they are coming home. It would probably make them so happy - we can have a little, uh, welcome home party. "

2014-09-21 01:36:49
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"Yeah! That's a fabulous idea. Hmmm, until then I've got an idea for honey cakes. Well, Karkat came up with most of that one, I can't take the credit for it. Maybe they'll cheer Sollux up a little? Don't near make up for Kanaya's absence, but maybe be a little light bit in the day. Otherwise there's just pigeoning to do, yea? I dunno as we can do much of anything else with ourselves."

2014-09-21 01:52:51
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"Gosh, I hope those cakes lift his spirits. He seems very aimless without her." Not to mention prone to anger and some anxiety. "I will conjure up something for the princess, but I think I will, uh, leave some select information out. I don't think it will help us much if I include the plan to off her mother."

2014-09-21 02:06:56
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"Mmm, no, I don't think so. From our conversation in the garden I gathered she knows she isn't the best person, but I think she still loves her anyways. She is her mum, after all." Gamzee could understand that somewhat. Hell, even though she was surrounded by people, how many treated her as more than just a princess? Like an actual troll? It probably got a bit lonely.

2014-09-21 02:09:46
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He sighed, "I feel horrible about it, really. She is a sweet girl, but the foundation of our friendship is not a good one." The only reason why he was getting close to her was so he could have a foothold in the monarchy;he still was not sure how they were going to kill the Queen, though he guessed that was where Zodiac came in. "If I thought there was, uh, another way to fix things, I would do it."

2014-09-21 02:12:50
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"The queen won't change her mind though; some people are too set in their ways to see they're wrong and hurt people for no good reason...like the HUED. Aradia'll be sad, but hopefully she'll understand eventually," he murmured. "...but we've got more pressing matters for the next hour or so... what do you want for breakfast?"

2014-09-21 02:16:00
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Tavros glanced at the window in the room, and though the curtain was mostly covering it, he could see that the sun was beating against it in an attempt to illuminate the respiteblock. "Ah..it is starting to edge towards noon, isn't it?" He asked, "Perhaps we should lean into brunch territory."

2014-09-21 02:20:42
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"Hmm, Hmm, quite right, Mr. Nitram, good observation of that motherfucker, the sun's, position all up in the sky." He felt kind of goofy from all the sleep. "Let us sojourn to the kitchen, and find out what our, uh, associates, feel like munchin on this fine mid-morning." With a laugh and a leap he was out of bed, then remembered he neglected a shirt the night before so dug out something relaxed for the day.

2014-09-21 02:24:15
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He, honestly, did not feel like putting any clothes on outside of the loose sweater and underwear, but he figured he'd have to in front of everyone else. Tavros pulled on his original Alice dress, but kept off the stockings and apron for now, padding around barefoot and with the sweater atop it again. Holding Gamzee's hand, he left the room, peering into the living area where the translated materials were all organized and stacked by the front door where they would be transported back to the library at some point. The notes were on the cleaned coffee table, which looked surprisingly barren without everything on it. Despite the sun's brightness, it seemed that clouds were steadily rolling in, and Sollux predicted some snow, perhaps just slush and not any ice. The yellowblood greeted the pair, not exactly pleasant but not entirely devastated, either.

"Kanaya called this morning," He informed, "The trains still aren't up and running yet, but it seems HUED's calmed down out in Undlegire. Or perhaps someone has apprehended them?" He shrugged, "Whatever the case may be, policetrolls aren't getting randomly shot down and members of HUED aren't just strolling around and wreaking havoc."

2014-09-21 02:30:38
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"That's good news," Gamzee replied, quite relieved the dangers were lessened for the two not present. Karkat was found sitting on the couch, reading something with his brow furrowed, deep within the book. Eridan sat, sipping tea and going over notes or doodling; who knew which, at the table.

"So did you all eat already? We thought brunch might be in order," Gamzee eventually asked the group. He was fine with making whatever, and potentially roping Tavros into the preparation as well.

"Just tea," Eridan answered.

It took a while for Karkat to surface from the ink on the page. "Same, here, I'm up for whatever... maybe that thing we talked about?" he mentioned mysteriously, glancing up at the taller troll with a raised eyebrow in curiosity.

2014-09-21 02:39:06
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Sollux, who looked as confused as ever, thought he should try his luck in questioning what the 'thing' was, "What on Wonderland are you two talking about?"

"Must be a wonderful secret if it is just called a 'thing,' " Tavros remarked good naturedly, but Sollux did not seem very convinced. He continued, "What have you been up to, today, huh? There is not much to do, at the moment, but surely you, uh, have kept yourself busy, Mr. Architect."

"Barely," He rolled his dual colored eyes, distracted for the time being, "Working on designs, mostly. There is supposed to be some new addition added to the local orphanage. Even if I can't be /at/ work, in the flesh, I still want to get this project rolling for those kids."

2014-09-21 02:53:53
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Gamzee gave Tavros's hand a quick squeeze in thanks for the distraction. Behind his back he signed, wondering if Karkat wanted to help out since he'd been the one thoughtful enough to come up with the idea. Just as secretive, Karkat replied with the affirmative and set down the book he had been reading before taking up Gamzee's with the proper recipe. He went into the kitchen first. "A refill on tea, anyone?" he called to belay suspicion for at least the moment.

"No thank you," Eridan replied. He had his own suspicions about what those two could be up to, and expected something sweet, in more than one way.

"Do you want to cook with me, Tav, or sit and relax here? I'll bring you some tea..." except Karkat was already on it, bringing the pot out with him and a cup and saucer with Tavros's preferred or absent amounts of cream and sugar, handing him the dish before pouring the tea into it and then heading over to Sollux to see if he'd like some more.

2014-09-21 03:01:36
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The yellowblood held out his cup for a refill on his tea, thanking Karkat as he began to detail his newest job to Tavros, who was genuinely interested in his line of work. "I think I will just sit out here, for a bit," He answered, thanking Karkat speedily as he blew a kiss to Gamzee playfully and listened to Sollux again, who spoke to anyone willing to listen. "An awful storm last summer caught part of the orphanage on fire from lightning. Thankfully, no one was injured, but now the entire space is cramped," He shook his head in disbelief, "It's on the other side of town, one of the few places I'm allowed to go with this fucking thing," He waved his bracelet around with a frown, "It's horrid. The conditions are not up to par at all."

Tavros, pitying as always, urged him to continue with a furrow of his brows, "How terrible! When do you think construction will start?"

"Not until mid-spring, if we're lucky," He sipped his tea, "Grand idea putting the Chief Architect on hive arrest. I can't access most government buildings like this, which means I can't get to my usual working materials. It's looking more like late summer, early autumn at this rate."

"And no one's been adopting much?"

"Hardly. Most everyone's concerned about themselves and not those kids all cramped up in a couple rooms, there's hardly any space for the one's about to pupate. Kanaya always talked about adopting, but she legally can't. Fancy that! The most matronly troll I've ever met is /prohibited/ from adopting."

2014-09-21 03:15:41
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Eridan was perturbed by that news, and wrote it down on a list he set aside of things they couldn't do that were ridiculous and needed changing. It was getting quite extensive. The likelihood, he figured, of any of the rest of them being able to do so was probably pretty low, except for Tavros and Sollux, and they probably weren't ready, for one, or interested all that much, for the other.

Returning to the kitchen, Karkat saw that Gamzee had already turned to the proper page of the book. Silently they communicated, to give as little indication of their activities as possible. The batter was pretty easy, but because of the eventual consistency once they were baked; a spongier almost flan-like texture, they would have to be filled with the fruit jam afterwards. Gamzee over saw what Karkat did, adding extra honey to really bring out the flavor. While he was busy with the body of the cakes, he had to figure out what to cook them in to make them a good size and shape. If these turned out, maybe he'd acquire something for the future.

2014-09-21 03:25:08
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"Fucked up, right?" Sollux said once he saw Eridan's expression, "And it really is all on the basis of her blood. It isn't like Kanaya's not certified: she makes enough money, she lives in a safe place, her record's spotless. Well, probably cleaner than most people around here," He remarked with a frown and a sip to his tea as Tavros did the same. It was disheartening to know that Kanaya was not allowed to adopt simply because she was of the Problem Castes. She would have made an excellent lusus, but, sadly, was prohibited from doing so.

The brownblood piped in, "Where are you now when it comes to the designs?"

"Not as far as I'd like," He looked saddened by that fact, but he was only a troll, there was only so much he could do, "I have not yet seen the orphanage lately - when I last saw it, it looked absolutely horrendous. Even their play area was badly damaged. I am hoping I can just restructure the entire thing, but I'll have to look over it again and see what space there is to work with and take some updated measurements."

He smiled widely, "Can I come?"

The yellowblood faltered, "...You want to come with me on a work-run?"

2014-09-21 03:41:34