forum Turns out Trauma is a Good Thing to Bond Over // OxO with Iris

Started October 19, 2019 by @ElderGod-Icefire

tune

(I always like finding songs that fit the mood of the rp or thing I'm writing and that song coincidentally came on XD)

Calixto stared at the other man's features for a moment, wondering how he would seem without his disguise. He wasn't bad in appearance as he was though. The only thing that would make him more handsome would be a smile that would finally reach his eyes. At the current moment, all he could see was sorrow in Cameron's features. It was only able to be found if someone knew what to look for. "I guess you need some dye before you leave here…?" Cal questioned, trying to take the other's mind off of whatever was ailing him. Likely his lover that he had hinted at. Calixto pressed his lips into a thin line thinking about that. Forcing away the thought, he began to question how in the heck he would be able to get said dye. He never needed to use any of that due to being able to change at a moment's notice.

(lol me too! Alright)

Cameron blinked. "Ah. Right. Yes." He replied. "I uhm…I have some in my room, but I don't know how to get there without being seen. I need a new patch for the tattoo, as well." He touched the tattoo again, snatching his thoughts away from Roshan. He knew he would always miss Roshan. His shield-mate, friend, and lover, but at the same time…he was feeling more ready to move on. To find someone new. And maybe…maybe he had been sort of hoping to find that in Calixto. Which he knew wasn't fair to the other male, but he had sort of hoped that.

Calixto sighed. While he wasn't on the best terms with Cameron, he didn't want the other to die. He stared at Cameron's facial features intently, studying each section carefully. He wanted to get this as close as possible so he wouldn't be caught. Slowly, Cal's face began to shift, highlighting the jawbones in his cheeks, the shape of the other's nose and eyes. Seeing as there wasn't any warning, this was likely horrifying. It seemed that the man in front of Cameron grew in height as well, becoming slightly skinnier as well. It took only a few moments before Calixto stood nearly identical to the other man in the room. The only difference was the clothing, his eyes, and the scarring over his body. Cal blinked a few times, feeling a bit odd for doing this.
Why was he doing this again?
He felt a tightness around his abdomen and noticed how his dark shirt didn't quite fit anymore. Due to being a bit leaner than before, he was able to wiggle out of his top without too much hassle.
"I'm… sorry that I didn't ask first," he attempted.

Cameron was staring at him, wide-eyed. "I uhm…" He blinked several times, staring at Calixto still. "You uhm…" He raked a hand through his hair. "Wow. I… didn't see that coming." He said slowly, a faint laugh leaving his throat. "So…what now?" He asked, pushing aside his surprise and looking at Calixto. Though…he was wondering why Calixto would help him like this. The other male didn't owe Cameron anything, much less help of this magnitude. He was now helping a criminal, in the eyes of the law. A dangerous criminal. A murderer.

"Where is your room?" he asked bluntly, wanting to get this whole ordeal over with. It felt off looking identical to someone. Normally if he changed, it was something he came up with on the spot. This? This was new. But a weird new. Surely, Cameron knew what he was now. Right? He seemed smart enough to connect the dots.

Cameron took in a breath, and walked to the window. "Over there." He pointed at a small outbuilding. "The dyes are in the cabinet in the washroom, along with patches for the tattoo." He replied, leaning his forehead on the glass window pane. He sighed softly, and looked over at Calixto. It was strange, seeing him…well. seeing himself. But at the same time…was the person he had seen last night and this morning…was that even what Calixto actually looked like? Or did he look like someone completely different?

Calixto nodded, but felt reluctant to leave. None of his shirts would likely fit anymore, being of a taller stature. Perhaps he had an oversized one still…? Cal quickly strode over towards his things, feeling a bit relieved at seeing a white shirt that was a bit longer than his others. Pulling it over his head, he felt satisfied that it still fit, though less big. Casting one last look at Cameron, he walked out the door, wanting to rush out of the inn. He didn't want to be seen like this. Not that Cameron was bad looking or anything, he just wasn't prepared to be acting as the other man. Cameron was quite the opposite of his personality: flirty at times, outgoing, and talkative. Not to mention talented…
Shaking away the thought, Cal made his way down the steps quickly, hoping to leave before anyone noticed "Cameron."

Cameron watched him leave, letting out a shaky breath. He had told someone. About being a Berserker. About Kevra. About the dyes. And…Calixto had been shocked, maybe, but he hadn't immediately called for Cameron to be killed. So… maybe he could be trusted. God, Cameron hoped he could trust Calixto. Then again, the other male was probably leaving soon anyways. So it didn't really matter.

He sped through the bar, flashing the customers a smile with Cameron's perfect teeth. Cal noticed a confused look from someone who likely worked at the inn, but didn't dare stop. After a single word, his cover would be blown. While in technicality, he could change his vocal cords, no Mirro ever did as it was extremely painful. He wasn't about to give away any hints about the real Cameron, still left in his rented room. Calixto crossed over to the smaller building and towards the door. Getting inside fairly easily, he looked around the place. Washroom, washroom…
He pulled open a couple of doors, until finally finding the room he was looking for. Opening the cabinet, the dyes were there just as Cameron had told him. There was a fair amount of it as well…
Sighing, he took a few bottles and a patch and shut the cabinet. Moving the bottles into the crook of his arm, Calixto made his way back out of the building again. Almost done. Then this chaos of a day can be over.

Cameron waited, sitting on the bed and hoping no one came to the door. His rooms were messy, with clothing strewn all over the place, and a map of the world tacked to one wall. The washroom was small, but the bottles of dye were nearly organized. Cameron drummed his fingers for a moment as he waited, a silver ring on his left hand hitting the wood with a clank each time.

Calixto had wanted to get out of the rooms quickly, not liking how messy the place was. He tightened his right hand to restrain himself as he left Cameron's place as it was. He had been tempted to stare at the large map, but it felt wrong to stay longer than he had to. Rushing back out, he looked up towards the second floor windows. Pushing "his" hair back, Cal jogged back inside, making sure the bottles of dye weren't going to slip from his grasp. Casting a quick glance around, he made his way back up the steps and to the room Cameron was still waiting in.

Cameron looked up as the door opened, standing. It still felt strange to see…well, to see himself. His eyes fell on the dyes, and he let out a soft sigh. "Thank you, Calixto." he said quietly. He reached out and took the dyes, opening them cautiously to examine which were which. He headed into the washroom, stripping off his shirt as he went. Just before the door was closed, his entire back was visible, a patchwork of scars, both older and newer.

Calixto nodded, watching Cameron's retreating form. He frowned, noting the old wounds littering his body. He gave a light chuckle, shaking his head. What were the chances of meeting someone like him? All scarred, beaten - though for different reasons - and alone…
The world must have some sort of sick sense of humor. Sitting on the floor, he let the disguise of Cameron fall away, face seeming a bit fuller, the familiarness of his muscular body. The shirt spread out around him, seeming airier than before.
He stared at his hands, thumb tracing each little line in his flesh before firmly pressing a nail against his palm. The light sting that he felt was familiar. He did this a lot. Did this make him a masochist? He didn't really know. He shouldn't want to hurt. He didn't want to hurt. It was just… familiar.

Cameron came back out after a few minutes, his hair and skin freshly dyed and the tattoo covered up again. He still wasn't wearing a shirt, revealing that the dye was smeared all over his skin on his torso, as well. Even the blonde hairs on his chest had been carefully dyed to match his hair. "Sorry." he said, gesturing to the fact that he was shirtless. "It takes a few minutes to set, and if I put a shirt on, the shirt gets ruined." he gave a small, wry smile. There were strange spots in the dye where the skin beneath was scarred. His skin was crisscrossed in scars from whips, from swords and knives and daggers, from cuts and breaks and attacks.

Calixto looked up, eyes seeming a bit clouded. "Don't be. It's fine," he said plainly. Truthfully, seeing the markings on the other's skin reminded him of each of his own. Of everyone he had known. He hadn't been the only one in that house…
As he looked up at Cameron, the nail of his thumb was still pressing into the soft flesh. The sudden sticky feeling in his hand returned his full attention. He had punctured the skin and was now bleeding.
"Shit," he cursed, already moving to stand again. He walked past his guest and towards the bathroom where the other had just been. Quickly turning on the water, Cal shoved his hand underneath the faucet. Instead of hissing like anyone else might have, he merely bit the inside of his cheek, watching the pink tinted water.

Cameron watched him go into the bathroom. "Uhm…are you alright?" he asked softly, leaning against the doorframe and looking at Calixto with careful, worried eyes. Cameron had seen bad memories before. Had seen what they did to people. Calixto was showing signs of having them, and…he wondered what had happened. He himself woke up shouting or screaming or crying a lot. Especially if he was sleeping alone. That was when it was the worst, since he hadn't slept alone in years. He had always had Roshan, if not in his bed, then in the same room.

It didn't add up. Cameron wasn't put off by the change in his appearance and hadn't said a thing about the scarring over his body. Perhaps he had already guessed. Maybe as a Berserker, he was never told of his kind. Cal didn't turn, not wanting to think about the past anymore. Cameron didn't need to know.
"'M fine," he replied, trying to convince himself as well.

Cameron frowned a little. "You don't look okay." he replied carefully. "You…look like I used to some mornings." when he forgot Roshan was dead, and would call out to him, then was met with silence. It used to break his heart all over again, because it reminded him that his shield-mate was gone. He let out a breath, releasing his own memories to focus on Calixto again.

"I changed back, so I shouldn't," Cal deadpanned, trying to avoid the conversation. He even managed a light smile, taking his hand out of the water and dabbing at the wound with a towel. Personally, Calixto didn't care much about the appearance of his hands. The backs were speckled with old burn marks, and his palms had light scars where the skin had healed on his palms. This wasn't the first time this had happened. "See? All good," he added, flashing his cleaned injury quickly.

Cameron flattened his eyes a little. "I didn't mean literally." He replied, shaking his head. He inhaled slightly at the sight of the scars on Calixto's hand. He wondered what had happened, but…he knew it wasn't his business. He hardly knew Calixto in the first place. It wasn't his business. He let out a breath, running a hand through his newly darkened hair. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be nosy." He gave a small, wry smile.

Calixto shook his head lightly. "You really don't know, do you?" he asked. Served him right for assuming. Cal's facial expression seemed tired once again. He at least owed Cameron a vague explanation seeing as he had shared a bit of his past. His gaze flitted away for a moment before exhaling. "I'm a Mirro, Cameron."

(lowkey thinking of a short story for these 2 already send help)

Cameron blinked slowly. "I uhm…" he rubbed the back of his neck, looking embarrassed. "I've spent most of my life either in a cage or on the battlefield. I can hardly even read. So uhm…that doesn't mean anything to me. Mirro, I mean." he bit his lower lip a little, looking at Calixto carefully. "So you uh…might need to do a little explaining. I'm sorry. I'm just…a bit ignorant. I'm sorry." he didn't know what to do.

(what's the story??? I have no help to give because I'm the same way lol)