howling in the hills

[quinientos]

WHO: Vasquez
WHERE: The Woods
WHEN: November 27 - December 2
OPEN TO: OTA
WARNINGS: Animal Transformation

---

What Great Fur You Have

After he'd healed from his illness, Vasquez probably should have been more thankful for his good health.

Instead, he's quickly remembered all the secrets about himself that he had given up. He remembered confessing about his fears, showing his weakness, and worse, he thinks he remembers telling Faraday things that he'd vowed to keep inside. For sure, he shouldn't have told him how Rose Creek had ended, because thinking about that gory conclusion wasn't good for anyone. When he'd healed, he'd marched himself down to that bunker where it had a machine for powers and he did what any cowardly man who never took responsibility for anything or anyone would do.

He turned himself into a wolf and went out into the wilderness, knowing that so long as he was an animal, he wouldn't have to talk about any feelings.

Unfortunately, it also means that you don't get to eat so easy and raw venison is not something Vasquez likes, which is why there's a wolf sitting outside of a house, making whining sounds and pawing at the window, pleading for whatever food is inside. He's not eating raw meat, not unless he absolutely has to, and he didn't even do that when he'd been half-starving in a dead man's cabin.

Human Skin

Eventually, he knows that this transformation won't last forever. When he'd gone to the machine, it had said a week, and counting the days, Vasquez knows that his time is quickly coming up. Of course, he didn't exactly plan it completely, because when the week is up, he's nowhere near the clothes he'd hidden, which leaves him standing near the outskirts of the south village (more in it than out), hands over his personal area, cheeks flush with red.

This is definitely not how he had intended to end this, and he knows that getting all the way back to the house isn't an option. Even stealing something isn't such a good idea, because he doesn't want to burst into anyone's house like this.

They might get the wrong idea.

So, it looks like a kind gesture is all that's going to save Vasquez, and a little humiliation until then. "Morning," he greets the nearest person with a smile, fucking freezing. "Maybe, I don't know, you have a jacket you can give me? I think it would be best for everyone if I could get some clothes."

Comments

[quinientos]

The worry goes through him, but that's quickly hedged off by the fact that even though the pattings are nice, even though he likes this, he wants to be able to talk and complain and rant and if Bobo hasn't seen Faraday, then he should be safe.

Shifting, like to prove a point, he sheds his fur and puts his human skin back on, not caring about his nudity so much as he cares how cold he is. "Until I don't have to worry about explaining anything I said to him," is his reply, slumping into a seat by the warmest part of the shop, naked as he gestures for something to cover himself that Bobo's willing to give up.

[fooloftheking]

Vasquez shifts, and Bobo is glad. Even if it's harder to snarl at him when he can actually respond back. Heading to the wall, he has his coat on a hook. Taking it down, he brings it over to wrap around Vasquez, knowing how deeply he feels the cold.

Even as he does, he doesn't move far from him, moving a chair close enough to touch as he settles in by the fire with him.

"Okay. Talk to me now that I'm not translating whines. You told him he's dead, and he's either going to believe you or not. Why the hiding out in the woods thing?"

[quinientos]

Wrapping the coat around himself to cover up, he settles in by the fire, staring at it and letting the flames hit his face, making him frown and grimace. "I did more than tell him about the part where he's dead," is what he says heavily, voice hoarse from disuse (and also, a lot of howling).

"I think I told him what I feel," he admits to Bobo, warily. "I don't think he said anything back, so I don't want to be around when he decides to take offense and kill me for it."

[fooloftheking]

To his credit, Bobo flinches at that, making a face as he settles in on the ground by the chair.

"Wait, you don't know, or he didn't? Those aren't the same things," he points out with the twirl of a finger. "Which was it?"

[quinientos]

"We talked about his women and how he'd never been with a man," Vasquez strains to recall, but he knows that's the truth. He gives Bobo a pointed look, like that ought to be enough evidence, so why bother staying around to find out how much he's not wanted?

Reaching for the food to eat the remnants, he feels awful. "I told him that he died. Now he knows."

[fooloftheking]

Bobo's nose wrinkles at that, arching a brow. "Really? Is he celibate?" Because that makes as much sense as anything else.

"He needed to know that, Vasquez. If nothing else, he should know that. The rest..." He took a breath, rubbing at his chin as he considers. "So just act like life is normal? As if you said nothing. Maybe he'll chalk it up to the whole fever we had going."

He smirks then. "Not saying you fell for looks and not brains but... there's a chance he'll fall for it."

[quinientos]

Vasquez snorts. "Not willingly, I think. There were women who would have him, and if not, there were definitely whores," he says bluntly, without reproach. It's just common understanding that whores would service any man who had an itch and he can't imagine Faraday going that long without.

"So ignore it," he sums up. "You think I shouldn't say anything to him again, let him just stew and not know if what I said is real? I told him my name," he points out heavily, because Bobo of all people should understand what that means.

[fooloftheking]

"Did he never work beyond cards?" Again, even Bobo who had been such a shy and timid man knew how often men mingled when they needed to, and while he had indeed been celibate before he became a revenant.

"You have a name?" As a man that doesn't give his real name either, he's never thought of it. So Vasquez goes by his surname, so be it. "Listen, you're asking the wrong person. We both know that. What I know? If you want him in your life, then make him part of your life. If he breaks your heart, you live with it. Or end up in another world," he says, snorting, since he ended up in another world after having his heart broken.

[quinientos]

"I don't know," he admits, because he'd only known Faraday all of a week and change before he'd lost him, and they hadn't had much time to do anything other than plan for Bogue (and flirt, because Vasquez had never taken to someone so quickly, not like that). "And yes, I have a name," he adds, annoyed.

"It's mine, and when it didn't turn up on my posters, it became more important to me," he says darkly, because that was a way to hide when he needed it, still.

"I want him in my life, and I want more," he agrees. "But I'll let him tell me that. Until then, I'll be a wolf," he insists, setting the bowl aside and gesturing for Bobo to come nearer. "Come here, tell me how bad I reek."

[fooloftheking]

Bobo nods at that, understanding that. "And does he understand how much that meant to you? In sharing that?" Bobo knows how important it will be for him when he shares it, and how he can understand how it might feel if Faraday isn't appreciative of what he's been told.

"Or until then you live your life, and you stay downstairs with me if you need to, but what if he wants there to be more? How is he going to tell you that if you're all... wolf like?" He waves a hand at him. "Besides, how long does that even last?"

[quinientos]

Vasquez shrugs, because he's not really sure. He thinks that Faraday should know this, that he's been so cautious about keeping his name to himself that when he shares it, it should be clear how important it is, but does he really know?

"I got it for a week," he admits, and his time is starting to run out. "And you're right. I know. I just don't want to talk to him and he has nothing to say to me, has nothing to want to do with me." That would be the worst thing he could hear, and better to be a cowardly wolf and avoid that.

[fooloftheking]

"Okay, let's be honest. I have no idea how to do this. Willa was literally handed over to me in her youth and then was in my life since then. I don't know a whole lot about dating," he points out, figuring that Vasquez should have warning.

"That said, all I can tell you? If I wanted someone out of my life because of something they told me? I wouldn't be looking for them, or asking their lover if he'd seen them and he won't stop asking me." He pauses and then adds. "And one time, fairly drunk, he added that he didn't care about my opinion and stormed off."

[quinientos]

Vasquez can't help his fond laugh, because that sounds so much like Faraday and he hates it as much as he loves it. He should be irritated at how much that stubborn, idiot man tickles his fancies and makes Vasquez feel like a boy again, but he does.

"He's really worried?" he asks, just one more time, because he's selfish and he wants to hear it. "What'd you tell him? Other than nothing, because I think a little, you like to see him upset."

[fooloftheking]

"He seems it. Heads out all the time, never comes back with nothing. I figure he's been checking around for you." He pauses, giving Vasquez a look before adding. "Neither of us were sure you weren't gone for good," he admits, trying to act nonchalant about it, but the look he gives Vasquez says otherwise.

He's opened up to some, but Vasquez is one of the few that understands him in ways that no one else can. Except Faraday and he's not interested in that. He reminds him too much of Wynonna, he realizes.

"I think a lot I like to see him upset," he says, snorting and rolling his eyes. "I told him that I never offered my damn opinion, and I didn't tell him you were maybe off banging a lover." Which is him being nice. See it for what it is.

[quinientos]

He reels back a little, surprised to hear that, but at the same time, he feels guilty and touched. He hadn't really considered that Bobo might also be worried about where he'd gone, so to hear it is something new and unexpected.

"I should have probably left you a note," he admits, because it was Faraday he was trying to avoid, not Bobo, and he'd started sleeping on the foot of Faraday's bed. Maybe he should have been better about that.

"I don't have so many lovers these days," he admits. "There was the one woman it didn't really work out with because of her bubble and there was Cael. Now, it's just you."

[fooloftheking]

"Might have been an idea," he agrees. "Not like I would have told him if you asked me not to." And then, because he can't help himself. "He even able to read?"

Even as he asks it, Bobo holds up his hand. "Don't have to answer that. I'll let it go, and assume not," he teases, just so that Vasquez knows it's all okay.

But then everything else he is about to say dies. He just stares at Vasquez for the longest moment before he bursts out laughing.

"Oh. God. You tried to bang the heir," he manages, shaking his head and then wagging a finger at Vasquez. "You have got to be the only man I've ever known that couldn't get in those pants."

[quinientos]

Vasquez snorts at the jibe, because it's no worse than what he's said (he might have even made that exact joke), but he's already feeling the guilt of not having told Bobo, so he doesn't want to go down that road of apologizing, even though he probably should.

"Who the fuck is the heir? Wynonna?" Vasquez didn't catch anything about her being an heir of anything, which only confuses him some more. "We still had fun," he guarantees with a smirk. "Maybe not as much as you and me, but fun enough."

[fooloftheking]

Bobo shudders. "I don't care who you sleep with but too much of my name near hers with sex involved in that sentence," he says, making a face.

"She's Wyatt Earp's heir. The man that cursed me and others." He shakes his head, just not even surprised. "Only way she can break the curse is to kill us all. Her ancestor though was a good friend of mine. Right until he let me die under the curse."

And he knows that Vasquez doesn't believe all of this, or hasn't ever seemed to, but he's just shaking his head at all of this. Not like the village is large or anything.

[quinientos]

That's more complicated than Vasquez wants to get involved in, truthfully, and the look on his face of stunned shock is evidence that he probably accidentally got involved in a mess that he's not so sure he wants to clean up in any way.

"This Earp family sounds like you have your own business with them, I don't think I should intrude," he says, and it's helpful that he doesn't intend to go back and try and fuck her.

Not with Faraday here, not when he's still vying for something to happen. "Do you hold any ill will to her still?"

[fooloftheking]

"No. There's nothing to get worried about. Go there if you want. That is Purgatory, not here," he says, waving a hand about it, still trying hard not to laugh. "I think who you sleep with is between you and Annoying McWorrywort," he teases. "But all of that is the past."

Including the parts he didn't include. Like Willa.

"I don't hold ill will towards her. Wyatt? Yeah. She and I have our issues, but the source of those issues is gone now. We have a truce here."

[quinientos]

"His name is Faraday," Vasquez counters, even though the name he uses in his head lately is Joshua, which is a private thing that he only thinks about instead of says out loud. At least, for now, maybe until he earns different. "I don't think I'm going to go there. Her bubble, Cael's disappearing, my sickness, I think it's all a sign from God to be honest..."

"Which is why a wolf is easier," he admits, but squints when Bobo talks about the truce. "Why is it okay with you two?"

[fooloftheking]

"I'm aware. He told me when we met. I even remembered it." Which made it clear he's intentionally using another name. Just to taunt. Maybe to taunt Vasquez, definitely to taunt Faraday.

He moves in closer to where Vasquez is, leaning in to press a soft kiss to his cheek. "Love sucks, doesn't it?"

Smirking as he moves to settle back down by the fire, shrugging. "The women I loved? The one that turned on me? She was an Earp. Wynonna's oldest sister."

[quinientos]

Vasquez lets out a snort, turning his head to steal a longer kiss from Bobo, because he's still figuring what he wants from Faraday out, and he still wants to get as much as he can from him. He drags his fingers slowly down Bobo's cheek before he lets it fall away.

"So, you have a type," he flatly says. "I think, maybe. Maybe I should just feel lucky you found me attractive, since I wasn't like this woman you loved."

[fooloftheking]

Bobo isn't going to insist on the things they've shared, and he's also not going to turn down options for the intimacy he enjoys either. So he stays there a moment, smiling at him before moving to settle down, but close to him.

"Bite your tongue. I wouldn't fuck her with your dick," he says, rolling his eyes. "Willa was dangerous and violent and Wynonna put her down," he says, growling the words. "Least that's what she tells me. So don't try and play that game. I am not trying to kill Wynonna here because I don't know where I'll be condemned if I die. And I find you attractive because you are sharp, and deadly and have a beautiful smile."

[quinientos]

"But maybe I could fuck her with my tongue," he jokes, as if that's ever going to happen now. It's a shame he didn't get to before, because she really is very attractive and he likes his women brazen and forward.

"I do have a very good smile, but also a good body," he adds, patting his abs as he lets his shirt lift a little, easy to show off when he's just been naked. He settles back and keeps eating the last remnants of the soup. "It's good that you won't hurt her. Don't leave me alone with Faraday yet, I'm not sure what to do with him."