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[wicka]

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DOM

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[wicka]

new moon

[chokedout]

[love that book]

how does it affect u?

[wicka]

no energy

[ To do much of anything, including the suddenly Herculean task of explaining how he feels in a whole text. Dom puts the phone down and tries to fall back asleep. ]

[chokedout]

want a protein drink?

[Theo struggles to put words together that don't sound stupid. He pauses, typing and erasing:]

want company?

[wicka]

[ The phone buzzes with a notification. Dom tries to ignore it.

The phone buzzes again. Slowly, he picks it back up. It doesn't take long to answer the second question in his head, but it takes a while to move his fingers. The idea of having Teddie around reminds Dom of how lonely he is any time he isn't, and that's just so — sad. He hates this. ]

yes

[chokedout]

ok

[That's - that's all he needs to say, or hear, and Theo disentangles himself from sketch books and a wine glass, pulling on a cardigan and slippers and setting out to track Dom down. He could ask where he is but instead he tries to use a little bit of divination, slippers slapping up and down the halls before he's sliding into whatever room he's nestled into bed after knocking on the door.]

Hey. 's me. Can I come in?

[wicka]

[ Dom slides up until he's sat on the bed, sheets and blankets up to his hips. His body isn't so warm today, shoulders hunched, a little swollen under the eyes. Either he hasn't slept in days or he's been crying. ]

—I didn't tell you where I was.

[chokedout]

I might be a shitty witch, but I'm a witch nonetheless.

[And he's hovering in the doorway - question unanswered, feeling awkward. Do you know how stupid it is for him to feel awkward? He's the King of flirtation and yet here he is, wanting someone to like him and it fucks everything up. He clicks the door shut behind him, and scratches idly at the underside of his chin.]

I brought hot chocolate packets and tea bags in my pockets. If you want a warm drink?

[wicka]

[ He wipes his nose with the back of his hand, frowning with a nod. Times like these are when Dom's age really shows, not really knowing how to act in front of the one person he should feel comfortable with, the one person who would've been his support network if this universal game didn't play by cruel rules. Dom can't just go around whining to him about it, though, let alone how much he misses his mothers and friends when everyone's going around having fun, somehow.

(He sees the public posts and wonders if everyone's just pretending they're not from here, or if he's insane for being the only one who's unhappy.) ]

Uhm. Yeah. Hot chocolate, please.

[chokedout]

Okay.

[Theo has direction. He pauses for a second, then gets to work - buzzing around, if not briefly departing to secure a mug and hot water - getting the help to secure him a cup of warm milk instead. He grins upon re-entry, packet of warm cocoa in hand, and he sheepishly approaches the bed. God, when was the last time he was nervous about asking to get into bed with someone?]

Is it cool if I uh, sit?

[wicka]

[ He waits, feeling awkward and hopeful the whole time, hugging folded legs by the time Theo comes back with the mug.

Dom nods. He'd really like him to sit, yeah. He can't believe that's even an option right now. ]

Thanks, Teddie.

[chokedout]

[Theo invades space, rather than sitting at the foot of the bed - he gives Dom the cup, then goes around to the other side of the bed and promptly takes his place next to him. He's not under the covers or anything, still feeling that buzzing sensation of awkwardness in his chest. But he can't imagine he's the only one.]

What d'you usually do on new moons? Netfl- uh, movies and chill?

[wicka]

[ Cup warming his hands — he only really feels the cold on these dates — Dom follows Theo with his gaze, moving a little to give him room without any sign of discomfort. He wants him to be close. He'll take anything he can get. ]

Not really. My moms try to get me to do stuff so I don't stay in bed all day, but… I don't know. It's not that I'm super fucking exhausted, it's just really hard to, like. Exist.

[ Looking down without drinking. Pouting, almost. ]

It's dumb.

[chokedout]

Not dumb.

[It's - werewolf shit. Exactly a thought (and phrase) Teddie's used before, not that Theo'd know it. He's pulling from his pockets two more things - bundles of cookies wrapped in tissues. He stole these from some serving tray earlier, but never eaten them. He offers two of the four to Dom.]

Gives me a better idea of how to help, though. Make you at least get around and walk? Later, though. 'Cause I'm feeling lazy as shit right now too. It's cozy in here.

[wicka]

… Okay.

[ Regardless of the moon's effects, Teddie's scent is still strong in Theo, and Dom is so desperate to come close, nuzzle his neck, find comfort and warmth in the familiarity. But this isn't his boyfriend. They're barely friends. Dom should feel lucky that they're even that. ]

Why are you so nice to me?

[chokedout]

["I'm nice to everybody" is something Theo would say if the stakes were lower. A laugh, something self-deprecatory, indicating he's a flirt who wants to sleep around. But... he doesn't want to do that. Doesn't want to steer this the wrong way - or let himself be seen so shallow anymore. He shrugs at first, biting into an oatmeal cookie, expression soft. He's not wearing the glamors he usually does - save for the eyes - a sign he hopes conveys trust.]

I want to be friends. That's what friends do, right? Witches have to take care of their own, too. There's - there's a few other people in a coven here I can introduce you to sometime. I just know what it's like to be on your own and... I dunno, I don't want you to have to fight through things that way.

[wicka]

[ He's picking at his cookie. ]

... Are you gonna join their coven?

( juggles timelines )

[chokedout]

I thought I wanted to. Back when - when I arrived, there was someone here in it that I cared about. But he's gone and... there are other people in the coven I like, but I don't know if I fit. I don't tend to fit anywhere. I think it'd be nice to have allies, to have people wanting to go to bat for you...

[But he's not sure he really has that. As much as he wants to put himself into a spot, shave himself down for it, even - he's also trying to let himself go organically to where he's meant to be. He looks up at Dom, eyes a bit sad, but he's trying to smile.]

I always wanted to be part of a coven.

[wicka]

[ Quiet because he's tired, emotionally and physically, and because he can't imagine a world where this is what happens to Teddie, Dom keeps his eyes down for a while. Then he shakes his head softly, shrugging. ]

I wouldn't be in a coven if it wasn't for you. Teddie.

[chokedout]

Yeah?

[Theo looks at him, leaning a little bit his way - shoulder bumping up against Dom. It's nice to think he was - good for something? For someone. He did good. Sometimes Theo forgets that he has any chance of leaving an impact on the world, when it just keeps recycling itself. When he is confronted by that positive change... it's nice.]

You're gonna have to tell me how the coven here compares to the one there. Got any hot goss on your coven? I'm listening. Especially if the gossip's about me.

[wicka]

More like... you are the gossip.

[ Arms crossed because he actually feels a little cold on these days. ]

I don't know what the coven here's like. Ours is kinda... intense. I can tell you names, but I don't know if you're gonna recognize any of them. Probably not.

[ Read: if you recognize other names but not mine I'm going to disappear into the ether ]

[chokedout]

Try me.

[There will be absolutely zero recognition but, y'know, he's up for trying - just like he is up for slinking closer, being all coy about how he wants to lay next to Dom. "I'm a people person" translates into "I'm clingy for attention" every day.]

[wicka]

[ A pause. Fine. ]

Okay, uhm... there's Jules. Tori. [ And he names the rest that make up the seven (I have to give the blood witch a name, oops). Maybe he... also adjusts his position, a little bit, to welcome Theo's closeness, looking at him to check if the names ring any bells. ]

[chokedout]

[Theo is leaning against Dom - practically laying in his bed, head against him, lolled in a way to look at Dom eye to eye. He stares for a long beat, like he's processing that - because he is. But the blank stare continues until he frowns.]

I don't know them. Lame.

[Thankfully Dom spares him the mention of Jules' surname Bennet.]

But at least I know you now.

[wicka]

[ Watching Theo, he knows he shouldn't — he tells himself not to — but Dom is so lonely and Theo's presence is like a weight in his chest that he can't reach into. Theo is against his body, looking with the clear blue version of the eyes that could get any favor from Dom, and he doesn't know anyone from home any more than Dom knows any of Theo's friends here. Why does that finally feel fair?

Dom seems a little... dazed, or maybe he just looks as tired as he feels, and his thoughts aren't at full capacity when he gradually leans over, lips pressing lightly against Theo's. (Teddie's.) ]