Work Text:
'SO CAN 1 CUM OVER OR NOT'
Anemone sighed, pressing his thumbs onto the keypad of his phone a little too hard. He and Err have been through this for what felt like hours at this point, and yet neither of them had reached a satisfactory conclusion.
He read over the text multiple times, each time starting to type up something, but quickly deleting it as soon as be realized he came across a little too desperate. He honestly debated on leaving Err's message read. He's done that before, and the result was a 50/50 between Err showing up on his own accord, or becoming pissy enough to avoid Anemone for days at a time. He was willing to take that gamble, rather than degrading himself to the point of actually responding.
It was only a minute after he ignored Err's text that another one came, one that was surprisingly calm for Err.
'I MEAN ITS C00L 1F U DONT WANT ME 2. I ALREADY GOT THE STUFF THO S0'
His eyes narrowed. It took him a few seconds to realize Err probably meant DVDs, since the Mooninite kept begging him to watch movies with him for some reason. He wouldn't exactly tell why, he just always 'because I said so' or 'because I wanna' or something of the sort. It felt like he was hiding something, but Anemone really didn't care enough to ask. If he did, there was a solid chance Err would spill his guts and unleash a lot more baggage than Anemone was willing to put up with.
After a few seconds of repeating the same process he's been doing, he just settled on his own reliable answer.
'ok'
It was casual enough that he didn't seem desperate about it, but it WAS an agreement. To anyone else, it might have seemed like Anemone was just trying to find a way to agree with Err without being too overly uninterested in it; Even if it was obvious he wasn't eager. And that was true, but to Err, it was enough for him to think Anemone really did want to spend time with him, that the human was lost without him and really needed him there.It was frustrating. And one day Anemone was going to outright tell him to stop assuming such things about him, but that day wasn't today.
Surprisingly, Err left him on read. It wasn't extremely common that this happened, so to say he was surprised would have been an understatement. He tried to shrug it off, figuring that maybe Err just wasn't up for it tonight. That was his original thought, but then he heard a knock on his door. A high-pitched, almost bit-crushed knock. A knock that increased in its volume and speed by each second that passed.
"Alright!" The human snapped, his voice peaking to try and speak over the impatient frenzy of knocks. He angrily muttered under his breath, fiddling with the lock on the door, his fingers slipping a little. It took a little longer than it needed to, and Err seemed to notice, judging from how the knocks only got more aggressive.
As soon as the door creaked open, the small fuchsia Mooninite walked right in, not even waiting for a greeting by the human. Err was never one for pleasantries, which was the more convenient part about his abrasive behavior.
The small Mooninite appeared to be carrying some sort of.. a closed book of sorts, at least that's what it looked like to Anemone's mind at first. But it appeared too flimsy to be a book, and it had weird plastic peeking out of its zipper. It was only when Err opened it that the human saw the multitude of CDs and DVDs in the plastic, most of them being completely grey with crude almost unintelligible marker written all over them.
He just stared. Err seemed to finally snap out of whatever daze he was in while holding the weird.. carrier case, staring up at the human with his default scowl. Though it felt a bit more aggressive this time, Anemone wasn't sure how.
"What are you lookin' at, huh." The Mooninite snapped, seeming defensive over something. At first, the human wasn't quite sure what Err seemed to be upset about, until his brain clicked. He shook his head, stepping back away from the increasingly aggressive Mooninite. Maybe he would have entertained how defensive Err was over what was, in all consideration, a very harmless hobby, and interest.. but right now he didn't feel like it. He didn't know why, he just wasn't.. in the mood.
The Mooninite's default scowl twitched a little bit, the pixel mouth he had moving up and down in a very bizarre motion. It made the human a bit uncomfortable. Err didn't hold his gaze on the human longer than necessary, returning his attention back to his CD case, flipping through the plastic 'pages.' He seemed to be looking for a specific disc, though he kept flipping back and forth with increasing frustration. Eventually, he gave up, turning back around to Anemone, who was very visibly confused.
"..Are you gonna help pick a movie out for tonight, or are you just gonna sit on your ass?" Anemone blinked for a moment, trying to gauge the amount of audacity the small alien had to speak to him like that, but his thoughts were interrupted by Err again. This time, the alien sounded more defensive than ever, though his voice was a lot softer than the human was sure he'd ever heard it before.
"..I mean, like.. We talked about this. I figured you would remember." He sounded offended, a hint of insecurity in his voice. Anemone didn't consider himself exceptionally stupid, but he was having a hard time trying to understand what Err seemed so upset about. His silence only made the tiny alien more upset.
"Whatever, man. This was stupid. A stupid idea." The human resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the melodrama. He really didn't feel like playing these games right now, but he was curious why Err was acting so weirdly over something as insignificant as.. DVDs? Honestly, it felt like Err was upset about something else. But the human couldn't figure out what it was, nor did he really care, honestly.
"..Oh, yeah. The uh.. movie marathon you keep bothering me about. Yeah, I remember." Christ this felt Awkward.
"..Yeah, dude. I was really looking forward to it, you know– I brought all the stuff! I told you, did you not read my texts?"
"How could I not?"
There was a soft pause between them. It went on way longer than it should have.
"..Yeah, okay dude. You don't even seem like, remotely excited to see me. I get it, I know when I'm not welcome."
The human's eyes narrowed. Err was right, he wasn't excited to see him. But to be fair, was he ever? Err never cared about that before. If he did, he never expressed it.
"There you go being silent again. Fuck, you're impossible!" The alien's voice rang, picking up volume like it usually did when Err was upset. The human sighed, picking his hand up to run through his frizzy hair, ignoring how his hair got caught in his curls a few times. He knew what Err wanted him to say. Err wanted him to say that wasn't true, that he DID want to see him. But he didn't see the point in lying, he wasn't sure why Err wanted him to.
"..Look," Anemone started, trying to speak calmly. "why don't you just calm down. Just pick out a movie. It's really, really not that big of a deal." The fuchsia Mooninite's tiny pixel eyes narrowed a bit, making an expression that was way too difficult to take seriously.
"..Not a big deal? Dude, you.." For once, Err seemed stunned, unable to say something. Anemone couldn't hide the small sparkle of worry that was beginning to show itself in him. Err wasn't usually like this, it would be obvious to anyone who met him, even if they just knew only a fifth of what Anemone knew about him.
But if Err was feeling anything out of the ordinary, he himself didn't seem to care, doing what Anemone asked of him and taking out a small disc from the plastic pages. The writing on it was crude, in black marker just like most of the other discs, only this one felt different somehow. The writing on the disc seemed almost new, not as smudged with age as the other ones.
"..What movie is that?" The human questioned absentmindedly, a little unnerved with the silence between the two of them.
"..Final Destination." The Mooninite muttered, his voice still uncharacteristically soft, though his normal smug behavior was returning in his tone. Anemone felt a little bit of warmth rise to him, watching as the Mooninite tried to put the disc in the player on the TV.
Anemone had heard that movie title before, but he wasn't very.. well-versed in movies, to be honest. It was obvious Err loved them a lot, or at least had a vague interest in them, judging from the massive carrier he had with a shit ton of DVDs and discs inside it. It was a little cute, honestly, how Err seemed so defensive over it, too. Like it was something to be ashamed of, liking something that didn't directly harm other people. Anemone wondered who would have instilled that idea into his mind, but he already had a vague idea anyway.
".. Didn't take you for a film buff." He commented, trying his best not to sound too mean while saying it. The Mooninite didn't reply immediately, taking the time to press the remote and DVD player carefully. Anemone couldn't even tell what he was doing, but he was treating the equipment with more care than he's ever shown him, or any other living being for that matter.
Once the movie started rolling, the Mooninite hopped onto the sunken-in couch, whose fabric still had a multitude of stains from their previous visits. Mostly beer stains. The human just stared. He didn't really feel comfortable sitting right next to Err, so.. close to him. It felt weird, firstly. They weren't friends, nor did they even like each other despite how often Err visited, even without his larger green companion by his side. He supposed Err just felt a sick enjoyment out of forcing the human to hangout with him, though he was starting to have his suspicions Err was doing it for more.. pure reasons now.
He didn't wanna think on it, that was what 3 A.M was for. And right now it was 8 P.M at night, his weird friend-enemy in or whatever Err was to him was in his living room, watching the opening credits of a movie. It was only then that Anemone decided to make popcorn. It would give him an excuse to leave. Not that he trusted Err alone with his belongings but.. whatever.
He carefully ripped open the plastic covering the popcorn bag, his hands shaking more than usual. He couldn't explain it, but there was a feeling of dread that hung over him. It was nothing he hadn't felt before, he felt this way quite often, but it felt more harrowing this time. He ignored it, pushing it aside and quickly shoving the popcorn bag into the dingy microwave, messily pressing the faded out buttons.He could hear Err's movie playing in the background, the volume cranked up a little too high. He huffed, wondering if Err had some sort of hearing problems or something. Err was pushing 30, so he was basically in his grave. Unlike him, he was still young. He snickered.
He popped the microwave open before it dinged. He hated that annoying noise. Not as much as he hated Err, though. He should have let it beep for a little bit. It would have been funny. He didn't know why he didn't, actually.
'Maybe I'm just overthinking things..' His thoughts said, one of the few rational things they've EVER said. He didn't know why he felt so on edge. He was always high-strung.. especially around the Mooninites, and especially when he was alone with one of them..
He poured the popcorn in a small plastic bowl. It wasn't the best, but if Err didn't like it he could deal with it. Anemone didn't feel like doing dishes tonight.
He quickly flicked the lights in the kitchen off, the living room developing into complete darkness aside from the blinding glow of the TV. The movie had started by this point, now in a scene that Anemone couldn't make out nor make sense of without the proper context. The human didn't really care that Err didn't bother to pause it when he left. In all honesty, he was thankful he didn't have to sit through it, he really didn't wanna watch a movie. But Err did, and for some reason he chose him to watch it with.
It was weird. How important this seemed to Err. He didn't understand why Err didn't just watch it with Ignignokt. Before he could really stop himself, he asked.
"..Say, why exactly did you.. like.. uh.. hm." Not exactly asked. But close enough.
"Cuz I wanna." The Mooninite responded quickly, his voice almost too low to hear over the cranked up volume. Anemone's eyes twitched.
"..Right, so.. you couldn't watch a movie alone?"
Err sighed.
"..Jeez, I don't need to explain myself to you."Anemone honestly contemplated if he should press Err on this. He wasn't completely stupid, despite what the Mooninites like to say, he understood this was important. But he didn't understand why. Why Err seemed so defensive and closed up, way more than he usually was. Err liked movies. So what? It was nerdy, yeah, and he would make fun of Err for it, but he didn't care about it. Err had to know that.
"..Chill, it was just a question." The Mooninite let out a groan that was way too loud and exaggerated, trying to communicate he was annoyed. The human's eyes twitched again, the melodramatic way Err was acting starting to grate on his nerves.
"Dude, quit acting like such a bitch. Are you upset I don't enjoy your movies or something? What is your problem. You're not usually like this."
Again returned the uncomfortable pause. The human let out a small, shaky sigh, realizing how he sounded just now. His words had an almost concerned light to them when he spoke to Err like that, his usual sour and bitter voice sounding so sickly soft. Gross.
"..What do you care, huh. Jeez, all these damn questions, you're pissin' me off!"
Anemone stared. He didn't know what to think of that response. His first instinct was to deflect and make fun of Err for acting so gay, but that really didn't feel right at the moment. This was getting too real, and he didn't like it.
"Sure, dude." He just decided on an eye roll, placing the popcorn bowl near Err, putting some distance between the two of them when he sat beside him.
He tried to focus on the movie, but if he had to be honest he really didn't care about it. It was probably obvious to Err he was only entertaining this out of the little empathy and courtesy he had left in his heart for the small Mooninite. He felt a little bad, ignoring Err's interest when Err already seemed defensive about it. But he couldn't lie that he just didn't care. That was his problem.
Anemone's eyes eventually trailed off the TV screen, eventually laying his sight on the Mooninite again. He watched him, for way longer than was necessary. Err was fiddling with a cigarette he somehow had, Anemone had no clue where he even got that, his little blue pixel arm twitching. Somehow, a little flame erupted from Err's.. hand, arm thing, igniting the cigarette and creating a soft orange glow.
Anemone stared, entranced. His eyes blinked, the disgusting smell of cigarette smoke flooding the air.
".. Ugh, you're smoking in here?" His voice grew sour again, his hand instinctively covering his nose.
"Relax." The Mooninite responded, his tone annoyed and dismissive. The human scowled.
"..Nah, not 'relax,' I can barely get the cigarette smell out of my fuckin couch now because YOU two keep smoking in here–"
"Jesus Christ– do you EVER SHUT UP."
Anemone flinched, his eyes widening at the sudden volume of Err's voice. His initial reaction was just to scoff, but he could spot the venom in Err's voice from a mile away.
"..Jeez, what crawled up your ass." He folded his arms, staring at Err, waiting for his response.
"..You don't care."
Seriously?
"Dude, I'm being serious right now. You've been acting like this all day, what's your problem? I didn't even do anything this time." He wasn't technically lying.
"It don't matter what you did or what you did not do. You piss me off. Just being near you puts me in a pissy mood."
The human's nose wrinkled a bit, his hands falling down into his lap.
"..Then why do you insist on coming over here all the time, if you're just gonna get mad about dumb shit. YOU wanted to come over here. I ain't want you here. You're so goddamn clingy it's embarrassing."
The Mooninite sputtered, his cigarette almost falling out of his little pixel hand from his arms shaking so badly.
"I am n–.. I am NOT CLINGY." Err immediately defended. "Whatever– Don't lie, you wanted me here. You missed me. Not that I blame you!" Err tried to sound confident, but the insecurity and unsureness in his voice was obvious.
Anemone sighed, ignoring the heat that was starting to show on his face. "I didn't want you here, actually. And I don't wanna watch this stupidass movie, either."
Err paused.
"..You don't like it?"
"Hell no."
Err paused again, the only sound between them being the movie in question. Anemone's hand gently tapped at his own thigh, a feeling of unease filling him at the silence.
"..You know, like.. I picked this movie out for YOU dude, you could be a little bit thankful."
...
"..Excuse me?"
"Nevermind, whatever.. it's not like you care." The human rolled his eyes. There was the melodrama again.
"Nah, repeat that. You picked it out for me?" A soft, lighter fuchsia-colored glow was starting to emit from the Mooninite, one made even more obvious by the darkness. The human was feeling thankful his biology wasn't as obvious.
"Shut up! This is why I never do anything nice."
"..Heh, that's actually kinda sweet, you know. But why this movie?" It was an honest question. He never mentioned liking Final Destination at all.
"..Cuz, like.. you never mentioned liking a specific movie. And no offense, but you don't seem like you go out much, so I thought it would be a safe option."
Anemone snickered, tapping his hand a little faster on his thigh. "Yeah, so? I'm not a movie guy. I don't get why you went through all this effort." He had a feeling he knew why, but he didn't say.
"Jeez, do you ALWAYS have to be so annoying about everything.. I just wanted to do something nice!"
"Oh, yeah, sure. Like I believe that. How much money do you need to borrow this time?"
The Mooninite hesitated, struggling between answering honestly and deflecting on the chance of receiving more money from the human. "..Why, you got some?"
"Fuck no. Even if I did, I wouldn't give it to you. You wouldn't pay me back." The human could feel a small smile threatening to form on his lips, the strange warmth he felt earlier spreading.
"..Whatever, man.." The Mooninite absentmindedly huffed from his cigarette, a sight that was a bit hilarious to watch, considering how he didn't really have a mouth. Anemone sighed, his shoulders relaxing just a little bit.
"..Yo, Err.." He called out, his fingertips lightly poking at the small Mooninite. His tone was too friendly, but he didn't care right now. "..You got another one?"
"Huh?– What the– oh." Err grumbled under his breath, searching silently for something unseen. "..Nah, sorry dude." Damn it.
Anemone usually didn't smoke. He hated the smell, he hated how it.. tasted. The Mooninites used to always refer to him as a prude for it, especially when he reprimanded them for doing it in his house. But right now.. he was craving a cigarette. He wasn't sure why.
"Damn.." His eyes trailed down to Err's cigarette, his eyebrows raising a little. "..Hey, hand me that for a sec."
Err made a small grunt, one that sounded disgusted by the idea. The human rolled his eyes. It wasn't like the idea was anything foreign to them, he didn't understand the disgust.
"Just hand it to me, dick. C'mon.." The soft glow Err was emitting grew a bit brighter, though he didn't seem too happy about handing his last cigarette over to the human sitting beside him. Despite that, he still did.
The human smiled, gently taking the cigarette from his pixel friend's hand. He pressed it to his lips, taking a soft puff and relaxing further into the soft couch. He closed his eyes.
There was a silence between them again, but it didn't feel as suffocating as last time. He could barely hear the soft sound of plastic being moved over the background noise of the movie, but he could feel the cold touch on his arm. His eyes shot open.
"..Woah–"
"Quiet!" The Mooninite quickly snapped, embarrassed that Anemone actually noticed he had moved closer to him, almost climbing on top of the human's shoulder. Again, it wasn't anything new between the two. But it didn't get less embarrassing, even if it didn't mean anything. Err just really liked sitting on the human's thigh, he was small enough to fit completely on there immediately, so it wasn't weird! It wasn't!
".. You're reallll clingy tonight." The human continued to take a drag from the cigarette, which Err was trying, and failing, to grab.
"Quiet, man.. I need this right now.. don't make it weird." It was already weird, and it's been weird. But Anemone didn't say that. Instead he sighed, awkwardly tilting his head to the side so Err had more room to climb on top of his head. He wasn't sure why Err liked standing on his head so much. He always figured it was a power thing, but Ignignokt wasn't around so.. he doubted that was the case.
He just sighed. He wasn't in the mood to fight against this. It felt nice, in an odd way. And he didn't want it taken away. Not yet.
So he savored it, for now.