He drops his arms, turning a little sheepish as he manages to pull a laugh out of him. Andres lets the arm slide around his waist, allowing the champion to shepherd him where he liked. "You sure? Don't wanna do a victory lap?" He asked as the door closed, cutting off the crowd cheering with a metallic thump. [break][break]

"Better than where we were?" He asked with a small laugh. This entire entire looked about the same to him after all. But he's not nervous about it. He's with Onyx. And he's more than capable of functioning off well lit streets. As they walk away from the place he added, voice low, "You know, I bet on you?"


[break][break]

+ onyx straub [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

His burst of anger is matched by passive acceptance. Onyx doesn't even try to defend himself. He doesn't explain- doesn't add context or closure. He leaves it all squarely on Andres who has been doing nothing but overanalyzing his actions to determine if the guy felt anything for him. Not just a thing Andres imagined because it was easier. [break][break]

Just say anything to prove him right again. [break][break]

Anything to get his hopes up, like he always did. [break][break]

Onyx is a ghost and Andres can do nothing but internalize his last words. He knows how this kind of thing works. He knows, deep down, there might not be any coming back from this. [break][break]

He hates how Onyx was right. That this would end badly. He wishes he had died that night. At least he would've died happy. [break][break]

He's been pulled so tight he finally snaps, tears bubbling up to the surface quietly and dripping down his face as he watches Onyx go. He lets the key fall to the ground, vaguely remembering the spare he'd palmed into Onyx's hand while bed ridden. [break][break]

He remembered, vaguely, Onyx had comforted him. He wished he could have that now, when he really needed it. But his mouth doesn't open. He doesn't stop him. He just keeps crying, quiet, and forcing down his sobs. [break][break]

Because maybe, his spiraling brain thinks, maybe he had just been a convenience after all. Beneath treating him as anything more than a bedwarmer. If Onyx had really loved him, he would've said so. He wouldn't have looked like that. And he'd known it that night. He'd broken that night. [break][break]

Now he truly had time mourn and curse himself for seeing this coming. [break][break]

Onyx speaks one last time and he blinks away tears, searing this last moment in the back of his mind. And then he's gone. And Andres can jsut barely close the door before sliding down to the floor and letting out muffled sobs as he covers his face and hides amongst his furniture.

[break][break]

+ onyx straub || affections confections (ee) [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

His smiles, all teeth. Bitter and sharp and tight. "I don't fucking see you correcting the script, Onyx." Everything he had to go on was speculation. That maybe Onyx did want to seem him. That maybe, this was special. That maybe Onyx did care about him in the kind of way Andres did. Maybe not as fervently, but something close enough.

He would've been fine with that. [break][break]

Onyx calls him a victim and Andres doesn't hesitate any longer. "Blame my dazzling track record, 18 years in the making." [break][break]

andres buenaventura has always excelled in things he set his mind to. Even being the victim. He just had a natural talent for it. [break][break]

For a moment he felt his brain shut down from the shock. Something thumps hard in his chest his eyes unfocused for a moment as he stared blankly back. The memory replays. He remembered the horror at his balcony and the pooling blood and the delirious man at his feet. He remembers how stupid a decision it'd been and waiting for surgery to finish. He remembered the constant trips to see Ziadem, a bird he was convinced hated him and his partner but had no one else to let her know if her trainer was ok. [break][break]

He remembered how fragile Onyx had looked in his bed and how cold he felt when they'd told him he'd lost his eye. [break][break]

And he remembered how Onyx had called for him. How he'd tried to reach out for him and move when he barely had the strength to stay awake. [break][break]

And he remembered their kiss. Something gentle, and affectionate. Something that wasn't just angry and sloppy biting. He'd made a big deal about it, staked his final moments in needing to do it. And Andres had held that close to his chest so tightly. [break][break]

And for what?

[break][break]

"You didn't mean you 'didn't want to die without' kissing me?" his words are hollow, expression morphing into something unreadable. Not because of it's neutrality but because of how quickly he seemed to bounce between grief and fury. [break][break]

"You probably didn't mean it." the echo is stronger, colder. A statement and not a question. He mocks Onyx's own tone, pissed he had ever let himself become so vulnerable for him. [break][break]

"You didn't." Silence. Uncomfortable silence. In the low light of the living room Andres' eyes are wide, staring from the gloom. Almost too similar to Chuchi's preferred greeting. Another beat of silence, and then anger wins out.[break][break]

"Take your shit and get the fuck out. NOW!" So help him if he didn't move because Andres would grab him by the throat and throw him out himself.


[break][break]

+ onyx straub || affections confections (ee) [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

His heart constricts in a familiar way as Onyx derides him and hurt pulses and pools inside him. Every second they locked eyes together is another second of pain, old and new mixing together. He may not mean it, but it dredges up old pain and claws at hidden scars. Gasoline floods his system and the indifference Onyx gives him is the spark. He wouldn't let him trample on his feelings any longer. [break][break]

"What do you know when you only come around when it's fucking convenient?" [break][break]

He sneers, pain and doubt coating soft memories with a lens of cynicism. He forgets, for a moment, what he really felt when he looked at Onyx. [break][break]

"Halloween? The hospital? New years?" [break][break]

He glares as he continues his list. [break][break]

"Cookies? My flu? All just convenient excuses to show your fucking face and get your dick wet right?" [break][break]

The words cut his throat as he manifested the worst possible thoughts his anxieties had ever offered him. But he just keeps going even with the cracks in his voice. Any attempt to keep it level was useless as his emotions flood his words. [break][break]

"Did you even mean- I should've never listened to you when you were high off morphine, you fucking parasite." [break][break]

He wouldn't have cared so much. He wouldn't have gotten his hopes up. He wouldn't have shared his keys- his home with a man that didn't care about him.
[break][break]


[break][break]

+ onyx straub || affections confections (ee) [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

There's a flash of cold fury that runs down his spine. The same he'd felt in the woods. The same he'd felt the last time he'd put his hands on someone. The shock is evident. Andres had never been one to hide how he felt, to his detriment. But the momentary lapse only makes his eyes narrow and teeth clamp shut, damn near grinding them together. [break][break]

Because he'd meant it. He really meant what he said. Why else would he tolerate so much shit tossed his way? Even now, this was just the tip of the iceberg. Most would say this is a mistake. Onyx had said it to his face. [break][break]

Onyx had said it without saying it. Without a word, the deafening silence he'd woken up to the day after had broken his heart. And everytime after he'd leaned on false hopes only to get disappointed again. [break][break]

"I don't." The assertion is dark, deep. Because Andres had such a hard time making relationships in the first place. Yeah, he got around but it was superficial. The few friends he had were ex hook ups or he lost friends because he hooked up with them. Pushing for something more was always off the table. Even now, Onyx had rejected him. Andres just let him come back as he pleased. The insinuation he said it to anyone after debating for countless nights if he should was beyond callous. Onyx is proving just why he didn't want to. And he never would've if he hadn't thought they'd die.
[break][break]

"You don't get to hold my feelings above my head either!" He snapped. "Not when all you do is come around for a cheap fuck!" [break][break]

Not like Andres stopped him. Even if Onyx didn't believe he felt the way he did it didn't matter. Those feelings would linger and sour like milk. And he was helpless to do anything but suffer through it. He feels familiar stings in his heart and in his eyes but he forces himself to hold strong. [break][break]

"I don't know what your problem, but you need to handle your shit elsewhere. It's not my fucking problem to be constantly available to whenever to feel like you can barge in!"


[break][break]

+ onyx straub || affections confections (ee) [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

It's cute, in retrospect, how one tiny kiss could quiet Onyx so easily. It's...soft. It made him kinda mushy inside. Like his ears tickled or he wanted to rub his own cheeks, embarrassed he'd even done something like that without permission. But he could figure that out later. For now, he holds the rifle above his head triumphantly. [break][break]

"U-NO-VA! U-NO-VA!" he chants before setting the rifle down as a snorting booth man un clips a yellow giant bird sphere for Andres who them promptly hands it over to Onyx, smiling ear to ear. "Victory lap funnel caaaake!" he sang as he nodded his thanks at the carnival worker before leading away his date. "My money is on Zia can last a week with Jr." he added, playfully. Ideally Ziadem never destroyed it but it's also...low quality. And a little doofy.

[break][break]

+ onyx straub [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Onyx reacts the way he'd expect and Andres is quick to soothe any sudden worries. "It's ok, we're good." he said letting the fighter move him. "I'm fine, no issues getting in or anything." he said moving in close. His heart flutters seeing the smile Onyx gives. It's oddly pure for what he just witnessed. [break][break]


But all the same, it flusters him just a bit. "Nooo! You!" he said putting his hands on his shoulders and shaking him gently. "You're the Tiger!! You kicked ass up there!" he said, admiration on full display. "C'mon, let me buy the champ his drink."
[break][break]

+ onyx straub [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Andres swallowed feeling the beginnings of a storm forming in the back of his head. A great many things happen all at once and for a second he felt like every wire in his brain were crossing. Happy, angry, confused, petty, bitter, excited, hurt. Everything mixes in his brain like a blender and he's not sure how to feel at this development. He just knows dinner is off the table because he needed to focus. [break][break]

He lands on anger as Onyx decided to avoid answering him. Fine. If only one of them could be straightforward he'd rip the bandaid right off.[break][break]

"Who I fuck is none of goddamn business." [break][break]

Why he slept with other people didn't matter right now. Onyx had no right to complain. If he cared, he would've said something else by now than just condescend to him about it. [break][break]

"You don't get to be pissy about it either." [break][break]

Because it's true. And while, there had been that mixed jolt of excitement that Onyx cared about him that much, everyhting else with it had soured the sentiment. And instead of keeping it inside it comes out, nasty and venomous. [break][break]


[break][break]

+ onyx straub || affections confections (ee) [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Shit. Shit, shit, shit! They're not stopping. He can't stop them. He- Andres- Memory Andres- was he even trying!? But even as he says that he hears the distorted crying, the yowling from the fake Andres that intermingles so horribly with Chuchi's defiant barks and screams. He feels himself about to snap. An emotional control- something buried pushing up to the surface that seems to undo everything. All his progress. All his work just gone in an instant as he forgot who he was and fell back into that pathetic little kid all those years ago. [break][break]

"Stop."

[break][break]

His words are choked, almost guttural as his partner suffers. He forgets she's different. He forgets he could save her would a toss of his pokeball. He forgets he's not a little kid anymore. He had years of experience behind him. [break][break]

And as he begins to do something reckless, his steps are interrupted by Ziadem, the fearsome she-beast herself slamming down against the abominations. And if he could think straight he would be in awe at the Corviknight so carefully picking up the Eevee she had clashed with so much.
[break][break]

Vatin backs her up and Onyx's Ignis charges forth as well. The children melt and scream becoming more guttural, more feral. Forms- no illusions melt away to reveal the shapes of an assortment of fairy pokemon. Andres feels a slickening pang of hatred and cold anger flashes through him at the sight. How dare they? [break][break]

Amidst the panicked breathing and tear filled eyes, Andres can't help feel something else bubble up and overflow. Resentment, fury, and bitterness all rise to the surface lie ka sticky black tar. The only thing that stems the negativity is Onyx putting Rodric in his arms. His poor student caught up and trapped in whatever the hell this was. "Wait!" he protested as he adjusted himself on Ziadem's back leaning close to her back. One arm tight around Rodric, the other clutching thick black down. Just like so many months ago. Yet again he's emergency lifting out of something horrible on the Corviknight's back. [break][break]

He's not jumping off of her. That'd be fucking stupid. Not with Rodric, not without. He's too much of a coward. But as the bird pokemon takes off he squeezes his legs tight against her before swiping a pokeball off his waist. It falls, half open to the ground. The burst of light reveals a Stouland that slams onto the ground and pounces with a vicious ICE FANG as Andres shouts for Chulito to help Onyx.

[break][break]

+ onyx straub | throwback thursday besty [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"We'll get some of that next, then," Andres said without room for question as played wit h the rifle. His last shot. He was getting excited now. Andres turns to Onyx one last time, "I've only eaten it plain." he added smiling as Onyx broke out into a laugh. [break][break]

"I dunno! I think Zia cuts the motherly figure." he said not really sure if he believed it or not. Chances were low but...he had to believe she cared for Onyx to some degree other than Food Person. And anyway, Ziadem probably could hunt her own sustenance. She was huge. [break][break]

He loads the very last cork and sneaks a peck to Onyx's cheek before lodging the rifle into his shoulder and planting his elbows on the counter. "For good luck~!" And he brings the toy gun in tight, one eye closing with concentration as he stared down the very last can. Dead center wouldn't do. It's already pushed far back enough. Top half, without missing. He breathes in like he'd been told to and pulls the trigger to send the little dud shot flying off.

[break][break]

+ onyx straub [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Onyx staggered off the ring without much of a winner's lap. The poor Incineroar crawls over to its trainer and Andres turns away from the more gruesome displays. He can't help but feel hurt for it, but he turns away before he lets it show too much. That kind of thing- it may be like blood in the water for a place like this. Instead he goes to cash out his winnings. Perhaps he should've bet more. Then Onyx's prize money would be bigger but he pushes that thought away. It was his first time in a place like this after all.
[break][break]

He pockets his winning in a crossbody under his jacket and pushes his way through the obnoxious crowd as the set up for the next bout. His heart is racing still, and he hadn't even been in the fight. He swallowed replaying the high kick and the jump in his mind over and over again as he went to search for Onyx. He sends a quick text of where's he waiting, moving with dogged purpose.
[break][break]

He sets up by the tunnel where he'd seen Onyx disappear, buzzing with energy. The next match sets up and the crowd moves on, screaming and yelling. Andres watches with vague interest before perking up. He grabs at his target, vaguely, pulling back once he realized that may be an aggressive gesture in this place. "Onyx!" he pushes closer. "What the fuck was that, Tiger?" It'd been the last thing he'd expected.

[break][break]

+ onyx straub [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

The yowl announces the incoming missile that was the Incineroar but before it can smash Onyx under it's weight, Telluria steps in while Onyx dodges past. And as Andres watches he can't help but feel a strange sense of admiration. Onyx was a fighter, always had been. But somehow, it's more controlled here. Skills honed after years and years of fighting. Of course he wouldn't be exactly like Andres remembered but it's still amazing to watch. All he remembered was pain and anger and explosive power. But this? There's skill, some kind of thought, and strategy put into the fight.
[break][break]

Onyx doesn't just lose his shit from the jump. It's lie ka different kind of battle altogether. One Andres isn't familiar with, but is enthralled by anyway.
[break][break]

As the pokemon occupy each other, Andres follows his fighter and screams "LETS GOOO!!" as Onyx soars through the air and latches onto the Barbarian. "GO NINI! GO NINI!!" he chants, with part of the crowd as Onyx began to tangle up his opponent.
[break][break]

The stomping draw his attention, swallowing hard as he watched the Bisharp cut deep into the Incineroar, watching blood spurt and the cat drop wit ha loud thump. His own eyes go to the MC and the ref waiting for them to call it.
[break][break]

[break][break]

+ onyx straub [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"I'm not- I- I just-" Andres said the fear creeping into his voice, an old stutter making its way to the surface. Flames create a barrier from the weird children creatures and they seem to be held back, for now. Their attention just as quickly shifts as they dart to flank Andres and Onyx. Voices loud and distorted. Echoes of something real and faded. [break][break]

G̵͍͛̚e̶̠̥̚ṭ̴͙̊̈ ̷̦͐̋i̵͙̖̓t̷̖̑!̶͍͛ ̶͎̄ [break][break]
̸͕́̿
̶̱̫̑̈́F̸̮̞̋̎ö̷̹̰̀l̸̪̀l̶̟̻̋ṍ̷͎w̴̘͝ ̶͍̰͌ĭ̸̝ț̵͠!̴͈̄͌ ̵̥̳̾̚ [break][break]
̶̬̥͊̄
̸̜̙̅H̷͙͋ͅĭ̶͙ť̸ͅ ̴̡͈͂̒ỉ̷̥͓t̴̗̓!̶̙̫̀ ̷̠̈́̚ [break][break]
̷̠́̋
̴̘͖̿̅S̷̳̺͊͝t̴͖̊̽a̵̖̟͒b̷͉͖̄ ̷̡̪̉͠ĩ̵̞͝t̶͍̊!̶͔͈̋ ̶̖̀̐ [break][break]
̵̢̛
̸̲̘̋̆K̵̬̽̾i̶͇͒c̶̠̈́ͅk̸̬͊ ̷͔̰͆i̶̧̮̐̚t̵̡̼͐!̵̛̯ ̴̖̞͛͝ [break][break]
̷̙̏͜

The closer they get the more child like they are. Similar, and not. Mismatches socks, wild hair, and expressions darkened by something more sinister than just children being children. The procure sticks and rocks and throw them at their target. Something darts out of the shadows trying to dodge but one of the 'kids' find purchase. The creature yips, tumbling forward, the bulbous ball of silver fur clear now as some type of pink fog disappeared. "Chuchi?!" he shouted, panicked and voice nearly breaking as he felt memory pierce his heart. [break][break]

The laughing is more distinct. The figures more visible. Chuchi, harassed, a group of kids and pokemon terrorizing her. Feral, angry, protective. And out lagging behind a little brunette boy in glasses, wheezing. Bruised and crying as the Eevee is pushed to her limits and she goes for the throat of a Nickit, throwing it against the body of a sparking Yamper. [break][break]

̵̻̝͂S̵͎̫̄̋t̴̗̭̓o̶͉͛p̸̰̐ ̵̧̮̌͘ì̴͕͘t̷̡̍̚!̵͔̃ͅ ̸͎̅ [break][break]

The straggler makes it but is shoved away, projectiles tossed back. Andres shakes, eyes wide as what looked lie ka poorly set up play was super imposed by the lens of memory. His breathing going shallow, sweat running down his next, and adrenaline spiking. It's more clear than ever, this is just a very real threat, but a sick mimicry of something painful and deeply buried.

[break][break]

+ onyx straub | throwback thursday besty [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]