You can pry the whump and hurt/comfort from my cold, dead hands

[pippilongsockings]

hurt/comfort smut; meme Bruised. Beaten. Stabbed. Sapped of energy. Tricked. Mentally played and abused. Perhaps you've even seen your home world destroyed, depending on how Homestuck you are. Any way you slice it, characters go through a lot of crap. There's nothing wrong with wanting to see them get pampered and taken care of when they're ailing. In canon, they may not have someone who can provide them with care when they're injured, support and love when they're sick, and physical intimacy all around. In this post, AU or other scenarios can provide them with a caretaking partner of their very own (or, maybe, someone to take care of, if the reverse is their preference). So, for once, weary traveler, you don't have to carry that weight all by yourself.

to bring you out of the darkness; The injury may not be a temporary physical or mental one, however. Some characters suffer more deeply, even if they don't know it. Darkness covers their hearts, they're withdrawn, insecure, angry, or lonely. They need someone to reach out to them and show them unconditional love. This post can provide that, too. Whether it be the cliche and shameless "changed by your love" trope or something more subtle like getting someone to open up, the characters here can offer that and more. All are welcome, they just have to take that first step. » Comment with your character, canon, preferences, and info about what your character's role would be, if you'd like. » Reply to others. » Thread.

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[herewolf]

"Well, for one thing, you'll have to give up coffee and chocolate. They make us sick, really fucking sick. If you do accidentally get into them, never try to shift after doing so."

He's starting with the tiniest corner of everything, the worst little indignity, the loss of caffeine. That's because the rest of it is hard to just jump into.

Matthew curls himself up tight on the other end of the couch, like he's trying to be as small as possible. "It won't all really set in until the next full moon. Over the next few days, you might feel warm, it might look like a fever, but it's really you, starting to change just a little, before you change a lot. You'll be stronger, heal faster, have better senses--smell, hearing, night-vision."

[woocas]

Considering half of his work diet is coffee, Lucas makes an unhappy noise in his throat. How the hell is he going to pull all nighters now? He reigns in his reactions seeing Matthew pull in like that. It's only going to get worse from here and somehow the man's faced all of it alone.

The thought sits heavy in his mind. Lucas knows he has no right to complain, not with Matthew here, helping him out despite feeling like it's all his fault.

"And...on the full moon?" He ventures quietly, dreading the answer. It's what he has to face eventually. The moon would be full again and they both needed to be prepared.

[herewolf]

"On the full moon, we're both going to change. And we're both going to be out of control. Dangerous. Wild beasts, who could hurt others, bite others." He doesn't look at Lucas as he speaks, his voice thick around the words.

He doesn't have any right to pity himself. He's dealt with this for years, and should have been able to prevent this somehow. For Lucas, it's all new and scary, and it's going to be painful in ways Matthew can't describe.

[woocas]

For a long moment the Medium is quiet. There's deep pain in Matthew's words, the kind that clings heavy to the soul. For good reason. Matthew wasn't himself last night. The beast takes over and that's it, leaving the human to pick up the pieces the next day.

The unknown of it all makes the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

"...Can I see...what it's like?" Some experiences can't be conveyed through words. Lucas fidgets his hands together. "I never did tell you what else I can do as a Medium, did?"

[herewolf]

"No, you didn't, but if you can...if there's some way you can get what information you need from me, go ahead."

He looks Lucas in the eyes for just a bare moment.

"I trust you more than I trust me."

[woocas]

His jaw and throat clench tight as Matthew glances up, only to look away again. But instead of arguing, he takes a deep, meditative breath, letting it out slow.

"What I'm best at, really, is called retrocognition. Seeing the past. In a place, or...in a person. So, I could see what you see, feel what you feel. I'd only look back to last night," He presses his lips together in a thin line, taking another breath.

"I'll need your hand. And, if you feel weird about it or I ask you to, just take your hand away and it'll break the reading. Okay?"

[herewolf]

Matthew nods, offering Lucas his hand. And perhaps, perhaps when Lucas takes it, he holds on tight, at least to start, because as much as he'll deny himself, he needs the reassurance of touch right now.

"Okay."

[woocas]

Sliding his hand into Matthews, Lucas holds on just as tight. Normally all he needs is a brush of fingertips, but he can sense the man needs an anchor, and Lucas knows he'll need one, too.

"Okay," For a moment the grip tightens, silently reassuring. he takes one last deep breath, eyelids drooping to half closed and lets down the mental walls with last night's transformation in mind.

CW: Body horror!

[herewolf]

It starts as the sun sets, as a pressure in his face, as if the wolf is straining to burst out of his head. The transformation comes whether he's wearing clothing or not, so once he got out into the woods far enough to be safe he thought he was safe he stripped in preparation so at least his jeans aren't straining as it begins.

It comes easier on the full moon. The transformation, that is. It comes easier and feels quicker, but that doesn't mean it hurts any less. It is an excruciating thing, to become. Bones crack, and he feels it. His guts rearrange themselves, and he feels it. Claws burst from hands and feet as fingers shrink, and he feels it. He always feels all of it, before his mind recedes, and there's only Wolf.

And the Wolf Must Hunt.

CW: mentions of death

[woocas]

As Matthew sees, Lucas sees, feels down to his core like it's his own memory. Soon, it will be, the next time a full moon rolls around, but for now it's a shared horror playing out fresh for the Medium.

He's experienced pain before, from other readings, mostly from last moments before the end. The body fighting it until the very end, the pain reaching a peak before ebbing away entirely.

But this pain is different knowing it will return, time and time again. It reaches deep, etching its way into his nerves. His breath comes in shaky gulps, his voice just above a frantic whisper, "Matthew...let go, let go...please, I need to stop, I can't..."

[herewolf]

Matthew lets go, pulls his hand back, gives Lucas his space. He stands, moving into the kitchen to fill a plastic SOLO cup with water, bringing it back for him.

"Yeah, it's...bad, huh?"

On some level, in some sick way, seeing this reaction is...reassuring? It validates his own feelings about the transformation. He's not being a baby, he's not being a wuss, it's actually a fucking awful thing to endure.

[woocas]

As soon as Matthew pulls away Lucas hugs his arms around himself, not bothering to wipe at his fave as tears slip down his cheeks. He knew it was going to be bad, but this is on a whole other level.

"Duse, you're the strongest person I know to endure this shit," He peers up with wide pale eyes, finally reaching out to take the cup and sip on it. "...Thanks."

[herewolf]

"What choice have I had, other than to endure it?"

Well, there is one, but he avoids thinking about it.

He looks at Lucas, and then moves so he's sitting up against the arm of the couch, arms open in a clear offer of a cuddle. "Come over here, let me hold onto you?"

[woocas]

"Beats the alternative," Lucas says with a ghost of a wry smirk that vanishes just as quickly, in between gulps of water until the cup is drained. Dark humor is one of his coping methods, but a cuddle definitely the better option.

Setting aside the cup Lucas scoots down the couch, all but crashing into Matthew, throwing his arms around the man in return.

"We're going to figure something out," He finally says. They had to.

[herewolf]

He adjusts for comfort, settling into a proper cuddle and his hand runs slowly through Lucas's hair as he clings on. "I'd really love to believe in that, you know."

[woocas]

"It's true," Lucas mumbles against Matthew's chest, one cheek pressed to it as his arms tighten a little more around the man. Briefly his eyes shut, just to enjoy the simple contact between them and the comfort of Matthew's fingers combing through his hair.

"It is true," He says again with conviction. "The Chief'll work something out temporary for next time and we'll keep working on it, too."

Tilting his head up just enough to look Matthew in the eyes. "I promise."

[herewolf]

"You think that's a promise you can keep?" His eyes meet Lucas's and he shivers slightly. The idea of getting actual real help, that's overwhelming. He's not sure he trusts it.

But he does trust Lucas.

[woocas]

"Yes." But his serious expression does soften at its edges. "I know that sounds naive, and I know it'll be a process. I kinda...already started looking into it after meeting you."

He'd kept that to himself until now, not wanting to upset the man. Now that they were in this together the work could really begin in earnest.

"Just in case, that way you could try and...stay? In one place, try for something like a normal life?"

[herewolf]

"Do you still want me to stay, after what's happened?"

He can't believe that that would be the case, except this is Lucas and his heart is the size of of a planet. Somehow, on some level, knowing that someone might want him to stick around is scary. It makes him want to run, because then he'll have disappointed Lucas and proven he's not worth wanting to keep around.

[woocas]

Lucas arches one brow, almost pouting at Matthew. "Do you think I'd really cuddle with someone that I didn't want to have stick around?"

And maybe that's scary in its own way, too. He tries not to get so attached, work and all the baggage being a Medium could bring has always made him feel like he needs to stand apart. But maybe not too far apart now?

[herewolf]

"I don't know, you could just be a slut for cuddles." This is an attempt at a gentle tease (and on some level, he's pretty sure it's kinda accurate).

But damned if being this close to someone, getting to hold on tight, isn't helping Matthew a lot right now.

[woocas]

How dare you call him out like this Matthew.

Lucas snorts, laughing into Matthew's chest. "Maybe I am. I think I'm not the only one?"

[herewolf]

"I'm just touch-starved, that's all."

Said as he nuzzles against Lucas's hair gently. You know. Not like a cuddle-slut at all. Not like someone who desperately wants to cling and hold onto hope and be warm together.

And certainly not like someone who has been dreaming of having pack.

[woocas]

"Mmm, I know that feeling."

Embrace your inner cuddle-slut Matthew, it's okay. Lucas holds the man just a little tighter. And for a few minutes he's content to be quiet and enjoy that feeling of closeness.

But, it's not long before more questions snag in his mind. "So...I know you can shift into a wolf. When can I try that?"

[herewolf]

"I don't know if it's possible before your first full moon, but if you want to try it, be my guest. I recommend taking your clothes off; hulking out of them isn't actually as cool as it sounds."

Not that he's letting go yet. Nope. Sorry, Lucas, you're stuck here.