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[Cater wasn't a sore loser or winner by any means, but he had to admit there was something just a little bit satisfying about Fearless' reaction. About knowing he'd gotten it right--but more than that, surprised someone who might have been underestimating him just a little bit. He laughs, pretending to be wounded at the shove.]

You think so? I can explain my reasoning.

[He might feel way more seen than he already does, however.]

[and he had been underestimating him, to some degree. then again, at the same time, it isn't like he's surprised on his second thought. there were so many things about this guy that reminded Fearless of Angel despite what screamed as being a lack of experience— a certain amount of resourcefulness, a commitment to a character. the acknowledgement between the two of them that playing a character is acceptable to do in front of each other had come as a result of Angel and Fearless both having played the game so long, was all.

but whether or not Cater himself realizes that's the same space he's entitled to here, Fearless makes it open. where he might usually not want to hear what someone has to say about him, Fearless turns onto his side more like a child at a sleepover ready to share secrets after lights out.]

Alright, prove it, then.

[There's a quick instant where Cater feels doubt--he knew the reasoning he'd used to make his choice, but what if he was still off-base about it. Sure, he was right, but he was about to assign actual motivation to some of the behaviors he had seen today. What if laying this all out there ended up offending him?

No, he decides just as quickly. Fearless was clearly interested in astrology, so if he didn't like what he heard, well, it was just your typical understanding of a Cancer, right? He could play it off, if he had to.]

Alright, well...I get the impression that you're good at reading people. For better or for worse, if you see something in someone that resonates with you, you have a hard time leaving them to struggle on their own. And when you like someone, you don't want to let them go--even if that's not something you're willing to say out loud.

[He thought about what Fearless had said to him at the club, before Greed had walked in on them. That he didn't need to put on an act in front of him. Like he knew him already.]

You could've ignored my drunk-ass text and let me learn my lesson by facing the consequences firsthand...but you didn't. [A slight pause.] I think you're quick to forgive people who fuck up, but you don't forget that it happened. But I also get the feeling...that you do have a boundary you won't let anyone cross, and when they try, you get real serious real fast.

[He looks like he's going to say something else, for a second. You seem like you're looking for someone that you're missing. I think you're desperate for the feeling you had with them.]

Am I, like, totally off base?

Edited 2025-06-17 08:51 (UTC)

[there is a moment where the quiet staring coming from Fearless must seem like being watched by an animal. the way he looks now, without a demonic ring of red around his iris, still looks so strange. like there's no light in his eyes, some have said, like a newborn infant before they've become aware. still as a statue, it might seem like Fearless is waiting for something. like a snake about to strike.

but instead, he stretches out his arms and rolls his eyes, lifting his head just enough to fold his arms under. ]

Damn.

[it's strange, really. it's been a long time since anyone has looked at him like that. no— that's not right, that's not exactly the feeling, he realizes in that moment.

it's strange because on Mars he was invisible. a statistic. one little boy looking at him, bothering with him, saving him from the streets eventually— that was a fluke. catching Vicious's eye had never been a given. if he'd shown up even a week before or a week later— would things have been different?

but here in Hell there are people like this, like Seras who doesn't always get what she sees in front of her but for some reason always does see it; like Greed whose deep unknown origin gives him some sort of timeless insight into the hearts of men; like Angel, who saw the warning signs of self-destruction because he made them himself.

Cater is strikingly perceptive, and months ago this would have been alarming. now, it's just strange. like Fearless is blinking through a blinding light only to find out that he's on a stage in a near-empty room, being looked up at.

like Fearless is the tiger Cater is seeing in the zoo, not the other way around.]

Eh.

Perception's subjective.

[and sometimes those subjective perceptions happen to be correct, which is probably why Fearless doesn't deny anything.]

Alright, so then, which is the nosiest sign, again...?

[There was a second there where Cater thought maybe he was right to be nervous--that he'd hit a nerve with something he'd said. The look in Fearless' eyes reminded him slightly of the way Leona's eyes would change when he got pushed over a line. That cold, predatory warning to back off.

But then it passes, and the tension falls off of Cater with the same ease in which it seems to fall off of Fearless.]

Oh, you think I've been noisy already, you haven't heard anything yet.

[He grins, reaching over to poke him teasingly in the cheek. If he was in for a bit of a roasting, well, he supposed that was only fair.]

Edited (you hear sound you don't watch it) 2025-06-18 04:19 (UTC)

Ohhh, so we've got noisy, we've got arrogant,

[teases Fearless back, pulling one arm back out to start keeping count of his little traitlist.]

Outgoing, sociable, little party boy goin' on...

[that trait-listing hand turns into an accusing point.]

Pretty sure there's a sign you're pushing me toward.

But nah, that's too easy.

[he swats the thought away with the wave of his hand, and looks back at the simulated stars.

'easy' isn't what Fearless gets out of Cater. desperate? sure. that's not 'easy', though. Fearless is desperate, but he isn't easy, in many senses of the word. the way Cater was with him earlier? that's desperation, baby.

Fearless takes another moment to look at Cater again, and then rolls over, just a bit closer, onto his stomach. at a closer distance he takes in the lines drawn over Cater's lashes; nearly pristine, aside from the blur of sweat and wiped eyes. Cater's hair is well-kept and long. his outfit is, in some way, coordinated.

and in a flash Fearless takes in a lot of things that he's had to all his life. this non-committal punk style from a boy who's clearly acting out. this wall put up between them that Fearless is actually quite content with.]

...'Cos you're not doin' it for the glory. You're not even doing it for the fun, are you?

Too much of a little smarty pants.

[he raises his hand again, for a new list of traits. he doesn't exactly give the sense of laying into Cater with a read, though— he's peppy, playful, cute.]

The kind of guy who might only know what he knows, but knows it well. Optimistic, probably to a fault, considering the way you stumbled out here— but that rebel heart of yours just...

[he scrunches his face up when he says—]

really gets me.

Definitely an air sign, or else— you'd probably be somewhere better than this tonight if you weren't, definitely in bed by now if you were an earth sign— buuuut you're not really giving Gemini...

'm I on the right track?

[Not that Cater wanted Fearless to be wrong, exactly--kind of had a feeling he wouldn't be, just based on what happened between them at the Nest. But still, it's almost a relief when he seems to be summarizing him based on the pretty little checkboxes he lines up for people to observe.

And then Fearless reads him for filth. The easy little smile on his face vanishes. You're not even doing it for the fun, are you?

He wanted to lie, but what would be the point, when Fearless clearly had him figured out from the start? His birthday would get found out eventually either way. Fine. He'd be honest, but he was going to do it in his own way.]

Hmm...I'd say you're getting hotter and hotter.

[Which is to say, Cater walks his fingers along Fearless' chest, propping himself up on an elbow so he could look down at him.]

Mmm, that's just the bad decisions catching up to ya,

[grins Fearless, bouncing his brows. anyway he's watching Cater's face, knows he's close.

honestly, it's just like a game of poker. a little bluff, a lucky guess, watching the reactions— that's all. you can twist almost any horoscope to a particular set of traits if you really want to. it's not like Fearless actually believes the shit he spouts (though a part of him has to wonder; is it different in a world with magic?) but there is something to the collections of traits people themselves find resonate with them.

boldly, without hesitation, Fearless takes Cater's hand and pulls it up to his own face, humming against Cater's fingers as he muses;]

I'm gonna go with Aquarius.

I'm not gonna believe you if you say Libra.

[Cater brushes his thumb against Fearless' lips, shifts to cup his cheek.]

If I was a Libra, I wouldn't be decisive enough to go for what I want.

[He swings his leg over, placing himself over the man's hips. Although he's looking down at him, he's not quite blocking the view of the stars.]

Ding ding ding! Winner, winner! Ready for your prize?

[emotionally avoidant. classic Aquarius.

but see, Fearless doesn't get anything out of prying, and he is perfectly satisfied with what he gets out of this. his hands are on Cater's thighs immediately, and he nods before he speaks, his body starting to answer before his mouth.

he shrugs, tilting his head to the side and acknowledging;]

I mean, who doesn't like winning?

[he's a changed man, sure, but not that changed.

and Cater is... well, Fearless is taken for a moment, by the way Cater looks framed by the stars, and for that moment those dark eyes of his are wide and curious.]

[He was being all too obvious, he knew, pulling a stunt like this right after everything that Fearless had said. Admitting to it all in the worst possible way. And yet, somehow, he doesn't feel like he's being judged for it. Fearless looks at him like he gets it, and while it's incredibly frightening to be seen, there's something comforting in being understood.

Maybe this would be scarier, if it were someone he knew from home. But what was happening here, it wasn't like either of them were trying for some kind of deep connection, right?

It's hard not to soften at the way he's being gazed at, right now. Like Fearless is seeing something that Cater couldn't possibly see for himself.]

I wanna pick up where we left off.

[He leans in a little closer, hands running down Fearless' chest.]

I don't really care if you tell me it's a bad idea.

Well, I wouldn't tell you that now.

I'm not tryn'a chase you off.

[he drums his fingers against Cater's thighs, mouth drawn into a little grin like someone who's just been served their favorite meal as he looks Cater up and down again. and then he moves one hand up to Cater's face instead, pushing some of that hair out of the way so he can keep a good look at him, so he can rest his palm on the back of Cater's neck.]

In fact, I think it'd be a great idea if you let me kiss you again.

[Looking down at Fearless, some of that maybe-a-bit-desperate edge to what he was doing softens even further than before. He lets himself be drawn closer by that hand, stopping short from actually going in for a kiss himself, this time.]

You have some pretty good ideas. So, what're you waiting for?

[Fearless leans up to speak against Cater's lips;]

Permission.

[he answers, playful and sweet, before giving Cater that kiss he wants so bad. Finger curling in a lock of hair at the base of Cater's neck, Fearless hums, satisfied.]

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