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Ptolemy notices how Msak is paying more attention to them, well, he always looks at them a lot, but today it seems as if he is analyzing them with his gaze. More specifically, the part where all their legs are, it doesn't surprise him much; maybe he's just curious about it.
"You're staring"
"Can't I appreciate your beauty?"
Ptolemy just sighs. Nothing new answer.
"I'm not referring to that, you seem curious"
"I'm just thinking about something"
"About what?"
Msak remains silent for a few seconds as he gets closer to them and his eyes lock onto theirs.
"Can I ride you?"
Ptolemy's mind fails him for a moment, eyes opening wide and becoming completely still, petrified.
They know Msak can be a bit bold sometimes, but this??
"Uh...excuse me?"
"Yeah!"
"Are you seriously asking that??"
"What's wrong with it?"
"Well...uhm"
Msak tilts his head in confusion, until he seems to realize.
"I didn't mean it like that! I'm talking about literally riding you! You know, on your hind legs? Like riding a horse?"
"Oh"
Of course. Of course he was talking about that.
Msak's expression becomes more playful, moving closer until their faces are just centimeters apart, his voice soft.
"I wouldn't mind if you want try the other way too"
"Shut up"
"Okay!"
"But talkinf seriously, why do you want to do that?"
"I think it would be fun"
"But is that even a possibility? You know I'm not a mob in the game"
"We have nothing to lose by trying!"
Ptolemy thinks about it for a few minutes; Msak seems so excited about it that he even finds it a little funny.
"Alright, alright. We can try"
"Thanks! Let me find a saddle"
Msak almost ran into the house and a few moments later came out with a saddle in his hands, approaching the creature's legs to place it.
Surprisingly, it somehow worked, and Msak sat down.
"Did it really work?"
"It seems so! Minecraft is on my side"
Ptolemy chuckles, a small, soft laugh. It's a shame Msak can't hear it unless they write it down.
"So? Where do you want to go?"
"No specific place, just taking a walk will be fine"
"Whatever you say"
As Ptolemy began to walk, he could feel Msak's arms tightening around his waist. It shouldn't have surprised them; he knew Msak would grab onto something to avoid falling, but... his mind focused on the feeling. He can feel Msak. They feel his weight, felt his arms, felt his, warm, his calm breathing reaching their neck, everything. Ptolemy can feel everything.
They pay close attention to Msak's movements, his reactions, everything. Because they can see them.
But Msak, on the other hand, cannot feel all of this.
He is still an avatar; the real Msak, the person who controls him, can only see this through a screen; it's just a visual thing. He cannot feel the true comfort of the moment, the way Ptolemy tenses slightly when he presses closer, the way their breathing quickens slightly, just as their heartbeat does.
Right now, he's just riding along, a mere stroll. But Ptolemy is feeling much more than that; as he walks, he can sense the joy Msak is experiencing in doing this. They know they are happy.
Msak, on the other hand, doesn't really have a way of knowing how Ptolemy is feeling unless they tell him, or through his movements. There's no expression in how Msak sees they, just cubes and rectangles.
They wish...they wish Msak could feel everything as they do. It would surely make him happy.
Ptolemy is always thinking about him, not only in moments like this when they are together, but also in moments when he is not around. Maybe deep down...the concept of Msak not rejoining the world scares him a little; he'd be losing his biggest source of warmth if that happens, even if they are practically a walking galaxy, none of their stars will ever compare to the brilliance of him.
"Are you alright, Ptolemy?"
"Uh? I'm okay"
"You seem distracted, are you tired? Do you want me to get out?"
"It's not that"
"So what?"
"Nothing too important...are you enjoying the trip?"
"Very much! You look comfortable to travel in"
There's that word again. Look. No feel.
They want him to be able to feel them too.
He would like to be able to reach through the screen and hold the real Msak's face in their hands. He would probably be so happy about that...
Ptolemy knows that Msak isn't doing too well in his real life, he knows there are difficult moments, and he also knows that he finds comfort in them. That's why he joins the world so often too.
At first, Ptolemy hadn't planned to grow fond of him in the slightest, but their heart betrayed them and he let him into his life anyways. How could he not? Msak's attempts to win him over are adorable, even if they don't admit it in loud.
The rest of the walk passed with Msak talking about various topics; Ptolemy usually just listens, they enjoy listening to him, occasionally contributing their own input.
They walked slowly and steadily, wanting to enjoy the moment, so although the path felt long, they didn't go very far.
When they returned home, Msak seemed quite happy.
"That was so much fun, thanks Ptolemy! I didn't think you'd agree to give me a ride!"
"Why I wouldn't?"
"I don't know, sometimes you don't seem very convinced by my plans"
"It's just a simple walk, nothing could go wrong with that"
"Right, right. But you know if you want to try the other type of riding I-"
"Msak."
"Okay I understand!"
He simply approached, arms stretching out towards Ptolemy, brushing against his sides. He wanted give them a hug, and perhaps because of all the thoughts they had shared earlier, Ptolemy returned it, his arms wrapping securely around him. Msak feels so cozy, so alive, they would like him to be able to witness the hug as they do it.
"You're being very nice today, I'm going to cook you something!"
"Bread?"
"Of course!"
"Try not to set the kitchen on fire again"
"Hey!"
Mask giggles. The real one. Even though the whole situation was pretty quiet, he really enjoyed taking that ride on Ptolemy. Ah...Ptolemy, he just wishes they were real...
His hand reached for the screen, carefully and delicately resting on where the creature was, and for some magical or cosmic (or disturbing) reason, Ptolemy moved closer, as if he felt Msak's hand was there. As if they wanted to feel closer to him in a way that wasn't just through the game.
Someday...maybe someday.
But Msak just shakes his head. It's an absurd and impossible thought, he knows it, but he likes to dwell on it and get his hopes up more than he should.