It took them long enough to get here...

[envy_the_sinners]

Who: Scar, Raikov, Lust, Greed
Where: Outside Saffron
When: Around Sept 16, may contain subthreads on different dates.
Summary: Meeting up! ...Semi-reluctantly. But totally not.
Rating: Starting PG to be safe?
Log:

Why had they crossed two entire regions, again? Right, because Lust wanted to "see Scar" about something, and he had had nothing better to do.

Raikov had, for some reason, stuck by him throughout the month he had spent traveling.

They were approaching Saffron City when they finally caught up with Lust and Greed, though Scar was beginning to show reluctance as they approached the campsite. This whole thing was stupid, not to mention pointless. What was he even doing here?

Comments

[majorcrotchgrab]

The Russian stopped, taken aback by Greed's words but did what the man wanted, letting go of his arm. He knew he wasn't all that fond of physical contact outside of more 'intimate' acts but this was unusual, even for him.

"Talk?" He frowned. "About what? Did I do something wrong?"

He had thought he made a good first impression with Lust. Finding out that she was a homunculus like Greed made him interested in getting to know her. And despite her namesake, she seemed like quite the classy woman. Was it because he was with Scar...? Raikov shook his head slightly, then looked at Greed he awaited his answer.

[ossifragant]

"You humiliated me," he said, tone severe. "You can't act that embarrassing and expect nothing to happen. I've told you before I don't like people touching me, and on top of that you try to invite yourself in on something Lust is doing." He dismissed it with a wave of his hand, taking a step back.

"I don't find dragging me off like a teenager endearing."

[majorcrotchgrab]

His heart sank. So it was even worse than he thought. He swallowed and looked at the ground. "I... I'm sorry, Greed. Scar didn't tell me anything about this trek other than him and Lust meeting up so I wasn't sure what was going to go on today... I didn't even know you were traveling with anyone or that you'd be here. ... And I didn't realize she was addressing only Scar about the food."

Raikov paused as he tried to sort his thoughts. Looking back on his behavior, it had been down-right awkward and he felt like an idiot for even bothering to tag along. Katya chuffed quietly at Greed and nuzzled herself against her trainer's cheek in hopes of making him feel a bit better.

"I know you've told me numerous times. I just... I'm sorry I got clingy." He didn't want to admit it but he was very desperate for attention. No one took him seriously or was interested aside from Greed.

[ossifragant]

"Did you really think I've been traveling alone since July?" he asks, sounding confused more than anything. He'd thought that Raikov knew him better than that. "Ah, it doesn't matter. I suppose I never did say anything directly." He shrugged. Greed didn't like being alone. It was the antithesis of who he was as a person.

"Listen," he said carefully. "I'm Greed. I'm greedy. That's what I am, that's not going to change. You don't need to be possessive of me. I'd come back to you the same as I'd come back to anyone else." He sighed.

"But you can't go around making me feel like a possession. You don't want me to start thinking things like that about you. I don't want to start thinking you feel that way. In the end, it'll lead to bitter feelings I don't care to feel again."

[majorcrotchgrab]

"Yeah, I did. I should have figured though."

Greed's explanation made sense, hitting Raikov hard. He stood there silent for a moment or two, the relization sinking in after all these years. In almost all of his relationships he was always a possession, which in turn made him possessive over his lovers. It was all he knew how to be. He thought that was how relationships always were.

The Russian ran his fingers through his hair and let out a sigh. "I wouldn't have minded if you were greedy with me..."

But Greed didn't want that.

"... The last thing I want to do is ruin our... relationship though. I'll try to ease up, if that will make things a bit better."

[ossifragant]

It's one of those realizations of just how little he's shared about himself. He doesn't discuss these things with anyone, save for Envy and Lust who understand. Even the two of them don't understand, aren't capable of understanding just how deep it goes. Envy was in deep with him but Greed had been the one forced to be on the outside for so long that it was maddening.

He had never been capable of returning such deep attachments, not normally. Those who had earned it were a select few, and one of them had been the one to betray him. He'll probably never entirely recover from it.

"I can't be," he said finally. "Not in the way you mean, I don't think. I already am in the way I see things. People I 'have' and people I 'don't have.'"

He's possessive, certainly, but it's not in the same way entirely, he doesn't think. He won't ever think of another person as a thing, not when he had spent nearly all of his life being treated as a thing, making him question whether or not he was a person at all.

[majorcrotchgrab]

He wished Greed would share more things with him but he understood him being reluctant. Some people were just like that. It took Volgin quite a long time before he started talking about his past to the younger Russian and even then, he didn't know everything but far more than any other living person in his world did now. Maybe... Maybe someday the Homunculus would open up to him too.

Raikov raised an eyebrow though, confused by Greed's wording. "People you 'have?' What do you mean...?"

[ossifragant]

He gestured smoothly with one hand. "Friends. Companions, even distant ones. That's what I mean," he'd had this sort of conversation before. Perhaps it was a mistake not to differentiate, but he didn't see the point. It was a needless distinction when he would come to their aid no matter how close they were.

[majorcrotchgrab]

"Oh!" He smiled a little. "I suppose your phrasing is fitting for your nature..."

At least things seemed like they were starting to get better. Raikov stepped a little closer to Greed but not to the point of where it'd make him uncomfortable. "... Can we start over then? Take things slow. I'll keep in mind what you said and... try not to get too grabby."

Although that would be hard because Greed was fine as hell and it had been too long since he last had sex.

"I'll apologize to Lust when she returns too." That was the least he could do after how unintentionally awkward he had made things earlier.

[ossifragant]

"I would appreciate that," Greed said finally. "You don't need to be possessive. You already have me." He could only hope that monogamy wasn't a requirement. It wasn't like he was seeking people out-- he hadn't ever sought out people before, either, but it was complicated. Get into the right situation and he wasn't about to turn down an offer. There was also the matter of what if one of those people he desperately cared for found their way here.

But there was an underlying implication there: getting too possessive, acting jealous, would mean that the relationship was not going to end well. Greed wasn't the sort of person to come to a conclusion too soon, so he was content to let it drop. Stop being so possessive and they'd be fine. Anyone who tried the same thing would get the same speech.

Ultimately, Greed was at odds with himself; struggling to balance his own needs with the needs of others. "I'm sure she would appreciate it, but I'm not certain it's necessary." But he smiled just the same, the severeness gone from his face.

[majorcrotchgrab]

That was reassuring to hear and may have even made him blush a bit as he nodded in response. Monogamy wasn't a requirement, thankfully. Raikov would just have to teach himself to stop being possessive over his lovers.

"You know her better than I do. If you think I don't need to mention anything, I won't." He paused. "... You still want to grab something to eat?" Now that his nerves were calmed, he found himself feeling quite hungry.

No surprise there.

[ossifragant]

"Yeah," Greed said, his tone becoming pleasant. "Sure. Seems there are a few decent spots in Saffron, though I haven't had much of an opportunity to explore the city properly." It was good enough, at the moment.

He'd always struggle with people, so why not enjoy what he had?

[majorcrotchgrab]

"We haven't had much time to explore either. Scar wanted to get here as soon as possible." Much to Raikov's chagrin because he liked visiting and staying in the cities for long periods of time.

And as much as he would have liked to lock arms with Greed again, he knew it wouldn't end well so he put his hands in his coat pockets and started heading towards the city, looking over his shoulder to make sure the other man was following.

Maybe if he played his cards right, they could sneak off somewhere after their meal for some "dessert..."