cuddle cuddle cuddle

[onlyasign]

Who: Sufferer and everyone cold
Where: various places throughout the bubbles
When: during the cuddle curse
Style: I'll match
Status: as OPEN as his heart

It is a curse week. It is a curse week where people are cold unless they get cuddled. Sufferer is used to getting cuddled for warmth, and enjoys it. He knows what he must do.

[OOC: Sufferer will be wandering the bubble during the week, gently offering cuddles to anyone who is cold. Just tell me where and what your character is doing in your tag, and they will end up gently embraced in the warm, cuddly arms of troll Jesus.]

Comments

[onlyasign]

"Oh, you know me... enjoying my boring peace and quiet." Sufferer gets the sense that Bro isn't exactly happy to see him, but that doesn't change the fact that he's obviously cold, and therefore obviously going to get cuddled. He just needs to break through that Strider aloofness and get in under his guard. "Who's Aquaman? He sounds like an Earth seadweller."

[stridercentric]

At this point, Bro isn't even trying too hard to hide the fact that he's cold. Sure, he's forcing his body not to tremble too much, but his hands are crammed deeply into his pockets and his shoulders are hunched in obvious tension.

"That's pretty much exactly what he is. Superhero, actually. He's like that superhero that all the other superheroes make fun of because his powers are fuckin' useless, but if you ask me? That's what makes him awesome."

[onlyasign]

"Why do useless powers make him the best one?" While Bro is talking, Sufferer is trying to stealthily get closer to him, maybe even brush their arms against each other, convinced that feeling a little heat will make him more willing to accept a hug.

[stridercentric]

No such luck, Sufferer. Bro's still very protective of his personal space. The second he feels the troll's getting too close, he diverts his course a bit to gain more distance.

"Because he's a superhero anyway. His powers are half-assed and a total joke, but he's not letting that stop him. Guy's got some serious determination."

[onlyasign]

"I can see that. Determination is a good thing." Sufferer stops trying to get close to Bro after being rebuffed a few times and just walks beside him. "You're cold, aren't you?" Might as well take the direct route.

[stridercentric]

"Hell yeah I'm cold." There's no point in lying about that. Everyone's cold around here. Might as well admit it with his head held high.

"So what? A little cold's not gonna kill me."

[onlyasign]

"I could hug you and make it go away. Or even shake your hand and get your hand warm for you." Sufferer thinks it's probably a good idea to offer Bro two options, since he doesn't think he'll go for a hug.

[stridercentric]

Yeaaaaaaahhhhhh that hug is a big no-no. Hell, with the way it's being offered, even that handshake doesn't sound appealing. He got warmth through his hand by ruffling Mituna's hair the other day and it was pretty damn amazing, but he got away with the gesture because he did it on his own volition.

"Nope. I'm good." Except he's so cold his nose is getting a little stuffy. Damn.

[onlyasign]

Like a handshake is any weirder than ruffling someone's hair!

"Bro, you're cold. It's obvious you're cold. I want to help you get warm." Sufferer is prepared to be pushy about this! "If you want let me hug you or shake your hand, do you want to strife instead?"

If they're strifing, they'll brush up against each other and Bro can get a little warmth that way, Sufferer figures.

[stridercentric]

It's the principle of the matter, Sufferer. And it's that same principle that has Bro shake his head at that strife offer. He loves challenging people, but he can sense that underlying intent a mile away.

"You tryin' to trick me, or what? You and me both know actual exercise ain't gonna do squat, so if want this to end with us draped all over each other, I'm gonna have to crush your hopes right here and now. Not gonna happen, bro."

[onlyasign]

"So you're just going to be cold then?" Damn Striders. "You're being ridiculous."

[stridercentric]

"Man, just chill." He pauses, then grins in a somewhat strained manner. "No pun intended. You're acting like a little cold's gonna kill me."

These curses weren't designed to lead to people's deaths, he's pretty sure. The head nurse strongly opposes that sort of shit.

[onlyasign]

"It might not kill you, but you could get sick!" It also stresses Sufferer out when his friends are having troubles, and he firmly considers Bro a friend now. "And you look really unhappy and that bothers me!"

[stridercentric]

It bothers Sufferer? Bro's not used to people being legit worried about him. Or, well... He's sure Dave has worried about him in the past too, but Striders never show that sort of thing, so it's basically the same thing as the worry not existing. He's not sure what to do with the knowledge that Sufferer's fretting over him, so he'll just rebuff the gesture.

"I ain't unhappy. This is just the face I make when I'm fuckin' cold. Pretty sure everyone does that."

[onlyasign]

"You come from Texas and it's warm there all the time." Thank you, Dave, for giving Sufferer that little tidbit. "And now you're cold, so you're unhappy." Sufferer crosses his arms over his chest and looks defiantly up at Bro. "And I'm going to follow you around the rest of the day until you let me shake your hand or touch your shoulder or something until you're warm again."

[stridercentric]

Yeah, thanks Dave. Thanks for giving the Sufferer ammo to use against him. That was real thoughtful. Sufferer may be giving him a defiant stare, but Bro will stare right back.

"Man, don't be stupid. You can't follow me the second I start flashstepping, you know that." In fact, he could flashstep away right now. Why hasn't he done that yet?

[onlyasign]

Sufferer has stared down eight foot tall subjugglators in the past. Bro doesn't have shit on them.

"No, I couldn't. Which means I'd end up searching all other the bubble for you and getting cold and miserable myself. It would really be easier for both of us if you'd just cooperate and let me help you."

[stridercentric]

Oh come on. Bro can totally be worse than subjugglators if he wants to. He just doesn't want to. That's all.

"Yeah? Mighty big assumption to make, thinking I'd care if you turn into a popsicle looking for me." Except that one's right on the mark. He would feel guilty and he knows Sufferer's dead serious about that claim. That's why he hunches his shoulders a little more and adds: "If I let you do that, are you gonna stop pestering me?"

[onlyasign]

Has Bro ever met a subjugglator? Sufferer isn't going to argue that Bro is badass and all, but man, subjuggs are worse.

"I think you would." Sufferer knows it's a gamble, but it's one that seems to be paying off. He perks up a little when it seems like Bro is starting to relent. "Yes. I'd leave you alone after that."

[stridercentric]

He doesn't need to meet a subjug. He already knows he can outintimidate weirdo clown minions. He's the kind of person who laughs when people talk about how freaky It was.

Either way, he's not going to get out of this predicament without Sufferer warming him, so he might as well make the best of it. There's an odd shuffle of his feet, then he turns to face the troll entirely, spreading his arms out. "Okay, if we're gonna do this, we're gonna go all out with a freakin' hug. Once in a lifetime opportunity, right here. Make it count and thank your lucky stars on both knees that you got to be this close to a Strider, because it's never gonna happen again."

1/2

[onlyasign]

Sufferer grins as soon as Bro turns around; with all the persuasion he's had to use, he's gotten a little cold himself. He pounces right into the offered hug, wrapping his arms tightly around Bro and leaning his head against his chest. Awww yeah, it's hug time.

Regarding Bro's last statement, though... "Hey, Bro?"

2/2

[onlyasign]

"I've already hugged Dave and Dirk."

Not this week, but in the past. This makes it a hat trick, he has officially worn down each Strider.

1/2

[stridercentric]

What. What. Dave and Dirk, you traitors. Weaklings. Totally unbecoming of the Strider name. Not that Bro's one to talk. He's got an armful of Sufferer as well. Perhaps this troll is like Strider kryptonite, breaking down the walls of stoic indifference one nice gesture at a time.

Either way, that sure is an invasion of personal space that's going on, here. Bro was hoping that maybe the Sufferer would take it easy and not press himself up against his body, but 'lo and behold, that grip sure is tight and there sure is a head resting against his chest. The combined impact of what Sufferer just said, the sudden physical closeness and the warmth rushing through his body causes his cheeks to flush. Once he realizes that's a thing, he gets hit by an unwelcome wave of shame which- of course- isn't helping that redness any.

2/2

[stridercentric]

It's just a hug. No need for him to lose his composure. A deep breath and there we go. He's calming down. The warmth is great, but no way in hell is he hugging back.

"Yeah, well, they're kids. They're easier to trick." ... Oh wow that sounded less childish in his head.

[onlyasign]

Damn, Bro. Damn. Even Darkleer hugs better than this.

Sufferer isn't one to ease up once he's midhug, especially not when he's getting some needed warmth himself, but what Bro says is actually a little hurtful. He looks up, and while his voice is calm and quiet, his eyes betray a little hurt. "I wasn't trying to trick anyone. I'm hugging you because you're cold, I hugged Dirk because he was a child and lost in a snowstorm and cold, and I hugged Dave because..."

because he missed you and really wanted you here to do it instead