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

Started October 19, 2019 by @ElderGod-Icefire

tune

(exactly!)
(Lmaoo oof)

Cameron was quiet, watching him with a faint smile. "Whatcha think?" He asked once Cal was done with it. "It's junk food, really, but it isn't bad."

Cal furrowed his brows some at Cameron’s comment. “I’ve had candy before,” he stated, making sure to keep his tone on the lighter side to keep Cameron from apologizing for the millionth time. “Never liked it much, but this one’s not bad or anything.”

"Oh. Right. Just– sorry." He said, shaking his head a little. "Your reaction was just…I thought you hadn't. Sorry." He looked over at Calixto with a faint smile

Of course his attempt didn't help any. "Stop apologizing. There's not any point to it if you haven't done anything," he reminded again after he pushed the candy into the inside of his cheek to speak. The only time where he would ever really want an apology would be if Cameron ever physically hurt him or spoke like his old master did. He found the idea unlikely, but not impossible.

"Ah. Right. Sor–" he broke off with a faint sigh, shaking his head a little bit. "Argh." He felt a little bit stupid, really, for being like this and apologizing so much.

Cal let out a sigh. "You really make it hard for me to understand you," he commented. It was true. He had no idea what would give him such an apologetic person to someone he hadn't wronged.

"Uh–" he almost apologized again. But didn't. "I don't mean to be?" He looked over at Cal, making a slight face. "I don't know what else to say."

"You just confuse me. No one who has endured that much pain himself by his own kind can be this apologetic and nice to someone they barely know," he replied, being overly blunt about his thoughts once again.

He cocked his head faintly. "Oh. I…I guess the reason I'm like this is because I've been hurt? I don't know." He shook his head.

Calixto let out a sigh. "Even I've heard the expression 'hurting people hurt," he said. That used to be a common excuse for all the abuse his kind was put through. While it was probably true, there were things that lie couldn't cover.

He frowned. "But that's…I…not all of us do. That doesn't justify anything." He said, shaking his head and frowning. "Being hurt doesn't justify hurting someone else."

“Never said it did. Not everything is right, but people do it anyways,” he hummed. Cal wasn’t implying it was just human kind either. His own race were quite similar to them in that way. It wasn’t as common, but one could get away with so much as long as they hid their eyes.

"Well, but…I don't do that." He said, a little unsure about what it meant that Cal seemed to think him capable of being that sort of person.

It wasn't Cameron's fault. Really, it wasn't. He was quite distrustful of everyone. Cal made a small noise before running a hand through his hair. "Just forget it," he muttered eventually.

Cameron nodded faintly. "Okay." he said softly, not wanting to push about it anymore, and irritate Calixto.

Cal wasn't really sure how to respond to Cameron. The silence was awkward surprisingly, but it was impossibly hard to hold a conversation. He really didn't have great social skills and had no idea what to do in this type of situation. Earlier, he had wanted to argue, but really wasn't sure he could. Cameron was honest in his statement. He hadn't been harmed around him or even spoken to harshly. Not at all.
Cal didn't really want to have to ask for anything, but he really did miss being clean. "Would… am I allowed to get up and wash up?" he asked, attempting to joke as the other was insistent he stay on the couch over moving anywhere yet.

Cameron blinked at him. "Only if you're careful not to tear your stitches. I'd rather not have to stitch you up again." he replied, standing and stretching. "So. Please be very careful, and shout if you need anything."

Cal let out a sigh of relief. He was happy Cameron didn't insist on helping him with getting himself clean. That would be more than awkward. He also didn't like the thought of his chest ripping open again either. "I will be. Thank you," he hummed, slowly shifting so he could get himself in standing position again.

Cameron nodded a little. "You're welcome. Will you need help, do you think?" he questioned, reaching out a hand to try and steady Cal without really thinking about it. He just wanted to steady Cal and keep him from falling.

He hesitated a moment before deciding to to take the offered hand. It would be a lot easier if he had help anyways. Cal eventually got to standing without aggravating his stitching much. "I'm not really sure. I've not done this collar free thing with an injury this bad," he replied honestly. Hopefully, all help implied was helping to reach things on a shelf rather than… a different type of assist.

"Right. Well, I'll get the bathwater ready, and I can just wait outside the door so you can call?" He asked, raising his eyebrows a little bit at Calixto. "Unless you want me in there with you?" He hoped Cal didn't need that, but if he did, Cameron would help.

Cal felt his cheeks warm at the third offer. "Ah… I'll pass on the company," he said, suddenly sounding timid. Which was heavily out of character for him as far as the new day had gone. It did make sense with what Cameron already knew, but seeing Calixto act embarrassed again was probably a bit of a surprise.

Cameron blinked, but smiled a little. "Yeah, alright. I'll wait outside, then. Just call if you need me, I suppose." He replied, heading over to the bathroom and starting up the water.

Cal seemed appreciative at how Cameron let the subject drop. Not that he was known to push, but it was still nice. As for himself, Cal worked on keeping himself steady while standing again. He really didn't get a lot of time to try as his host forced him to lay down again. Eventually, the Mirro got it, just choosing to keep his pace slow. He stood by the bathroom door, feeling a bit out of place. He wasn't used to being idle this long.

Cameron came back out of the bathroom. "I assume you can figure out how to adjust the water temperature?" He asked, holding the door open for Calixto. "I can show you if you want me to, though."

"I do, yes," Cal replied simply. He kept any possible snide comment to himself. Cameron was just trying to help. There was also the fact that he usually didn't recognise a lot of things previously, including the candy from moments ago. That's what Cameron reminded him of. Something sweet and pleasant, but a bit much if you weren't used to it.

"Right, of course. I'll be out here if you need me." He stepped back a little, shaking his head faintly. Not at Cal, mostly at himself.

Calixto gave a small nod, trying to be polite. "Thank you," he said after a moment. He took a few steps into the other room before giving a final glance to Cameron. The Mirro looked away again before gently closing the door. Seconds later, he took off his pants so he could step into the warm looking water. A mirror was just above the sink, and the man stared at himself a moment. The wound still looked quite irritated looking, but due to being clear of any infection, it seemed less red. Cal let out a sigh before moving to step into the bath. He found he could sit there without the water lapping at his injury. Well, that was a nice touch.

Cameron leaned against the wall outside, waiting just in case Calixto needed his help. He had work tonight, and would have to leave the Mirro alone, unless Calixto wanted to come? But Cameron would have to carry him there, and he wasn't sure Calixto would be comfortable with that.

Cal wouldn't have really wanted to go back there just to sit and watch Cameron flirt around with customers, much less be around said customers. He was still quite adverse to most social interaction. The man took his time getting himself washed up. He cupped a handful of water, letting it wash over his wound. He hissed a bit, but it was necessary to keep it clean.
After a few minutes, Calixto had himself cleaned and feeling better. His hair looked a bit longer now that it was wet. Getting out of the tub, he moved to grab a towel, drying himself off. Cal didn't feel comfortable just walking out with a towel around his waist, so he'd be putting his clothes back on.