#cayde | ofsnakesandmen

[gaygxnslinger]

night terrors // accepting!

@of-snakes-and-men asked: Cayde wakes up with a startled gasp, his optics illuminating the walls of the tent. At first, he's not sure what, where, and why, still caught up in the terrible nightmare he just had. Andal --

Andal!

Maybe checking up on him could wait till morning, but the nightmare has a stronger hold on the Exo than reason. He slips out of his tent and quietly treads to Andal's own. It's clear Cayde has a lot of experience in sneaking over to the other Hunter, as he barely makes a sound walking, and then working the flaps.

With his throat still clenched by anxiety, he opens the tent just enough to peek in, and even though he sees Andal sound asleep, he can't help but shudder. It's better if he sleeps together with him. Just in case.

Quickly, Cayde cuddles up to Andal's back.

Andal is dragged from the comfort of sleep by the rustling of his tent’s zipper, he’s always been a light sleeper and nothing like that gets past him. To his relief, blue optics shine brightly to let him know who it is, though he wonders why Cayde’s come over at this time, normally he either arrives early into the night to maximise his time with Andal, or not at all. Andal hadn’t stuck him on patrol, right?

The way the Exo holds him so tightly only furthers the idea that something’s wrong. Of course, Cayde is known for being a very touchy-feely person when it comes to affection, he dishes it out in spades, but he can tell the difference between the Gunslinger’s intense cuddles and stress or fear.

Right now, something’s set Cayde off, and Andal is intent on knowing what, or who’s ass he has to kick.

“Hey sunshine, what’s up?” His voice is gravelly with sleep, and he battles to turn himself around in the Exo’s iron grip, but he manages, “somethin’ out there?” And then he realises, “ah...nightmare?”

[lxghtbound]

@of-snakes-and-men asked: Cayde doesn't even let Scout take off his armor after coming back from a mission. He cups the other's face and smothers him with kisses all over it.

"Is that enough?" He chuckles, his blue optics shining brightly.

Only his chestpiece has been removed when Cayde comes up and kisses him, but Scout’s attention is gladly dragged away from the boots that still remain.

“Mm,” the Hunter steals another kiss before shaking his head, “Nah. Need more.” He backs them up into the couch so Cayde falls and Scout goes with him, landing on top of him. “This is better.”

[gaygxnslinger]

of-snakes-and-men​:

“I hate it…” The Exo wails, his fingers clutching at the fabric of Andal’s clothes, his face buried against the other’s collarbone. “It’s s-so s-stupid… You’re fine, and I knew y-you w-will be -” His voicebox buzzes with a stifled sob. “- but I was-ss-so scared anywa-aay.”

Cayde despises feeling like this, so raw, so open, even if he knows Andal won’t ever mock him for it. It was easier to keep those feelings to himself when he was on his own, when he didn’t care about anyone but himself. Now? Now, he cares, and probably too much.

“Does it – ever go, away?” He mutters, rubbing his forehead against Andal’s collarbone.

He has to be completely honest. “Not really,” Andal sighs and squeezes Cayde’s hand, “it always sticks. You’ll always feel shitty, like it was your fault, and there was somethin’ you could’ve done to stop it, but the truth is there’s nothin’ to be done. But you get used to it, as shitty as it sounds.”

“You get used to shoving the feelings down and fightin’ on. It gets easier, but...never goes away.” Unless you’re the one doing the killing. That is a different story entirely, and he desperately hopes Cayde never heads down that path, Andal will do his damnedest to make sure that won’t happen. Cayde means too much to him.

Void fills the air, a comforting blanket over the poor Exo to try and ease his worries, lull him into a sense of protection and calm. It’s probably the most Andal can do. Unfortunately, Cayde has to work through this on his own as best he can, and the only thing to be done is to take these things as they come.

[gaygxnslinger]

question sentence starters // accepting!

@of-snakes-and-men asked: “Where have you been?” Cayde to Andal cause he's been worried 

Andal looks tired. Bags hang under his eyes, which are dull too. Boots tossed lazily onto the ground are quickly followed by armour which feels terribly heavy compared to when he first donned it a few days prior, and he starts approaching the other Hunter. “‘M sorry I couldn’t talk to you earlier, Cayde,” Andal does his best to offer a smile.

But there’s no excuse for leaving his pack for so long, and he feels so terrible for going out without telling them. Unfortunately it had to be done, he couldn’t sneak off to talk to them before the mission he’d been sent out on by the Vanguard. Hell, Andal wishes he’d been able to get there sooner, then maybe he would’ve been able to make calls before anyone could run off and try to be the hero. The worst part was it had been two younger Hunters he had been expected to help.

He doesn’t try to scoot past Cayde, instead collapsing into his arms with a hearty sigh, his own arms wrap around the Gunslinger and his eyes squeeze closed. With gentle sways, Andal leads them towards the couch, ever so softly pushing Cayde downward onto it and resting atop him. This was all he needed right now.

“One of them died.”

Death of Guardians is nothing that is unexpected or uncommon. It happens all the time, regardless of how they throw their immortality around as if it can’t be lost with one, wellplaced shot, but there’s something about knowing he could’ve done something for the young Hunter had he arrived a little earlier, to stop him from going down to face the Hive alone.

Just like that, tears start falling. Andal’s grip on Cayde’s arm tightens, and he hides his face against the other’s chest. He’d done his very best to stay strong for the remaining Kinderguardian, and now those walls start crumbling. “On the mission. There wasn’t anything--... I just wanna rest. With you.”

[gaygxnslinger]

@of-snakes-and-men asked: It's not like Tevis thinks much about what he says when it comes to Cayde - it's mostly an insult or a mean comment, anyway. He never really bothers, since the Exo reacts with dramatics or banters back, which even if annoys the older Hunter, is rather amusing.

This time though, he regrets even opening his mouth when he sees Cayde lose the bright spark immediately. It wasn't the first time he told the other how nobody likes him, but it definitely hit differently now.

"Hey, wait up!" Tevis exclaims after the Exo, who has already left their den and rushes after him. Curse this, he really likes the kid and didn't mean to hurt him.

Normally, he’d shrug off any of Tevis’ comments and shoot right back with something of his own, but today? Cayde isn’t in the mood. At all. His optics dim and he holsters the Ace without so much of a glance towards the others in the den, muttering, “‘M goin’ out on patrol.”

There’s no need to. They’d cleared out the last of the Hive yesterday, setting the heart of the nest ablaze so they wouldn’t think of coming back here, and Cayde had been in great spirits until Andal came up and reprimanded him for striking out on his own -- again. No matter how much he wants to deny it, it’s entirely his fault for not thinking of the pack, but paired with other thoughts that had been floating around his mind, it doesn’t end up with the best result.

Andal starts to get up from where he’d been on the couch, too, but another Hunter gently grabs his arm. He’s about to shake them off when they speak, “Leave ‘em, boss. Let ‘em sort it out. If we hear a Solar six shooter? Then we go ‘n’ see what’s goin’ on.

Cayde dashes through the woods, hoping to shake Tevis, but everyone knows the Nightstalker is the expert in disappearing. There was no way Cayde could fool him, but he still tries. Until he finally reaches a clearing. He slows down, eventually coming to a stop, and sits himself down near the bank of the river he’s come to, and that’s where Tevis finds him, knees held close to his chest, hood pulled up as if it could hide him away from the world.

[gaygxnslinger]

@of-snakes-and-men asked: "Cayde!" Tevis yells from the other room of their den, then storms out to find the Exo in question. He's holding his cloak, heavily decorated with blooming flowers all over, and he glares at the younger Hunter from the doorway. "I can feel the Solar fingerprints all over those flowers..."

A few Hunters glance his way when they hear the call of his name. Uh oh.

The man himself attempts to slink away into the next room, optics going wide when his escape is foiled when Tevis catches a glimpse of his cloak. Cayde peaks back around the corner to meet the Nightstalker’s gaze, coming all the way back with a sigh and a roll of his optics, “C’mon, Tev, how d’you know I did it? There’s a buncha Solar Hunters sitting in this room right now!” And not a single one helps to back his cover story up. For shame.

“I think it looks cute! Even though I was not the one to do it, I think the person who did it did a very great job of picking flowers to compliment the colours of your cloak.” Cayde holds both thumbs and pointer fingers out to make a little frame with his hands, watching Tevis through it, “Can’t be that bad. It’s better camouflage! Isn’t that what’s important?”

[lxghtbound]

of-snakes-and-men​:

Cayde claps his hands and does a little swirl to the direction he was going before. He grabs Scout’s hand again, not that he has to, but it’s just… It just is better, somehow. “It’s gonna be fun, promise!”

His ship is waiting outside, maybe not surprisingly, another model than a couple days before. The ramp opens and the Exo is quick to get on board, for a moment forgetting about Scout and letting go of him. He gets into the pilot’s seat and starts the engines, his lights bright from excitement.

Sundance takes over the process, and Cayde turns around with the chair. Scout is left standing with the other in the seat, so the Hunter Vanguard pats his lap. “Sit down and I will tell you what’s the whole deal ‘bout~”

“Fun, yeah, just make sure I’m not the one filling out all the paperwork afterwards.” Would Cayde really saddle him with all the boring after-mission stuff? ...Maybe. Scout wants to doubt it, but a little part of him can’t help but be amused at how eager the other Gunslinger is to relieve himself of any and all paperwork. Of course, he can’t blame Cayde -- paperwork fucking sucks!

There’s a little spark of something that lights up in him as he’s pulled toward the ship by his hand, and Scout doesn’t bother to think about the feeling too much, far more eager to shove it to the side and refuse to acknowledge it.

Only one seat.

Scout can’t help but chuckle to himself at the thought, it sounds like a plot one of those terrible romance novels he’s caught Cayde with one too many times for it to really be ironic would use. “Hah-- Really?...” The longer he stands there, the more his lights take on a flushed tinge of lighter orange. Eventually he moves closer to the Hunter, sitting himself down, antennae twitching ever so slightly. “You’re ridiculous. Couldn’t even cough up the glimmer to get yourself a damn co-pilot seat? But yeah, what’s this whole mission about?”

[gaygxnslinger]

@of-snakes-and-men asked: Tevis rolls his eyes when he sees the look Cayde is giving him from the doorway. The blue optics glow in the dark, and the Nightstalker pauses what he's watching.

He always wonders how an Exo can even look like a giant puppy and how it even works on him.

"Ugh... Fine." The older Hunter extends one arm, inviting Cayde to take the spot beside him on the couch. "But I'm watching a horror movie, you better not jump at every scare."

He’s arrived home from a mission, only to see Tevis in the middle of a movie. Couldn’t even wait for Cayde to get back? So unfair!

“I won’t! I’m made of steel -- literally. I’ll be fine!” The Hunter settles onto the couch next to the Nightstalker, rolling his optics a little. Scared. Pf. Cayde can handle anything from here to the stars, a horror movie is nothing.

...And yet, a few minutes later, during a particularly intense scene, he finds himself shifting ever so slightly closer to Tevis, letting out a tiny squeak at the jumpscare that follows.

[gaygxnslinger]

send me a ★ and I’ll bold what applies to your muse // accepting!

@of-snakes-and-men asked: ★ Cayde and Tevis 

I like you / I hate you / I dislike you / I love you / You are family / I would take a bullet for you / I would shoot you / I would lie to your face / I would say something cruel to you on purpose / I would say something cruel to you accidentally  / I would cheat on you / I would physically hurt you / You annoy me / You amuse me / I’d laugh at you / I’d laugh with you / I’d manipulate you / You scare me / You confuse me / I wish I knew you better / I trust you / I don’t trust you / You inspire me / I consider you an equal / You are beneath me / You’re better than me / I would trust you with my life / I think you’re mean / I think you’re petty / I think you’re childish / I think you’re smart / I think you’re stupid / I think you’re a bad person / I think you’re a good person / I’m not sure what kind of person you are / I wish you would listen to me / I want to make you proud / I wish you would notice me / I want to impress you / I would hurt other people for you / I’m not sure how to make you happy / I’m a bad influence on you / You deserve better than me / We make a great team / I’d have a one night stand with you / I’d have a relationship with you / I would marry you / I fantasize about our life together / I would trust you with my most treasured belonging / I would tell you my darkest secrets / You disgust me / You intimidate me / I hope I intimidate you / I’d hug you / I’d let you hug me  / I’m scared of losing you / I don’t think you like me / I want to be better for you / I respect you / I don’t respect you / You’re my mentor / You’re my friend / You’re my best friend / I have a crush on you / I could easily watch you die / I’d get drunk with you / I’d party with you / I’d comfort you / I’d prank you / I’d spike your drink / I’d act behind your back / I’d abandon you / I’d hurt you to get what I want / I would choose my happiness over yours / I would choose your happiness over mine / I despise how much I care for you / I need you / I’m dependent on you / I don’t know what I’d do without you / I’m scared of you leaving me / I’d give my life for you / You frustrate me / I’d call for you in a time of need / I would protect you / I’d visit you in hospital / I’d carry you if you were hurt / I’d feel guilty if I hurt you / I’d let you be near me when I am vulnerable / I’d ignore a phone call from you / I’d call you at 3am / I’d break you out of jail / I’d get angry at you / I would shout at you / You’re too loud / You’re too quiet / You’re too sensitive / You can’t take a joke / You embarrass me / I feel nothing for you / You’re reckless / You’re bossy / You bore me / I would ask your advice / I would blame you for something I did / I would cry in your arms / You have the power to hurt me more than anyone else /

[gaygxnslinger]

send me a ★ and I’ll bold what applies to your muse // accepting!

@of-snakes-and-men asked: ★ Cayde and Drifter 

I like you / I hate you / I dislike you / I love you / You are family / I would take a bullet for you / I would shoot you / I would lie to your face / I would say something cruel to you on purpose / I would say something cruel to you accidentally  / I would cheat on you / I would physically hurt you / You annoy me / You amuse me / I’d laugh at you / I’d laugh with you / I’d manipulate you / You scare me / You confuse me / I wish I knew you better / I trust you / I don’t trust you / You inspire me / I consider you an equal / You are beneath me / You’re better than me / I would trust you with my life / I think you’re mean / I think you’re petty / I think you’re childish / I think you’re smart / I think you’re stupid / I think you’re a bad person / I think you’re a good person / I’m not sure what kind of person you are / I wish you would listen to me / I want to make you proud / I wish you would notice me / I want to impress you / I would hurt other people for you / I’m not sure how to make you happy / I’m a bad influence on you / You deserve better than me / We make a great team / I’d have a one night stand with you / I’d have a relationship with you / I would marry you / I fantasize about our life together / I would trust you with my most treasured belonging / I would tell you my darkest secrets / You disgust me / You intimidate me / I hope I intimidate you / I’d hug you / I’d let you hug me  / I’m scared of losing you / I don’t think you like me / I want to be better for you / I respect you / I don’t respect you / You’re my mentor / You’re my friend / You’re my best friend / I have a crush on you / I could easily watch you die / I’d get drunk with you / I’d party with you / I’d comfort you / I’d prank you / I’d spike your drink / I’d act behind your back / I’d abandon you / I’d hurt you to get what I want / I would choose my happiness over yours / I would choose your happiness over mine / I despise how much I care for you / I need you / I’m dependent on you / I don’t know what I’d do without you / I’m scared of you leaving me / I’d give my life for you / You frustrate me / I’d call for you in a time of need / I would protect you / I’d visit you in hospital / I’d carry you if you were hurt / I’d feel guilty if I hurt you / I’d let you be near me when I am vulnerable / I’d ignore a phone call from you / I’d call you at 3am / I’d break you out of jail / I’d get angry at you / I would shout at you / You’re too loud / You’re too quiet / You’re too sensitive / You can’t take a joke / You embarrass me / I feel nothing for you / You’re reckless / You’re bossy / You bore me / I would ask your advice / I would blame you for something I did / I would cry in your arms / You have the power to hurt me more than anyone else /

[gaygxnslinger]

question sentence starters // accepting!

@of-snakes-and-men asked: “What did you do?” Tevis to Cayde 

The poor Hunter hangs about five feet above the ground by his cloak, dangling oh so helpessly. And Tevis refuses to even help for a second!

“Okay, next time I get the chance? You’re getting shoved into a snowbank. Or a mudpit. I don’t care if I gotta tackle you in there, if I have to be a sacrifice that’s just fine!” For a moment Cayde attempts to reach towards the Nightstalker, only to find himself lightly swinging in the air. His brow furrows and he folds his arms across his chest when Tevis only laughs at him.

“C’mon, Tevis! This isn’t my fault!” Cayde pointedly ignores the way Tevis‘ rare almost-smile grows into a smirk -- something that he would normally be delighted to see, instead it now infuriates him, “there is nothin’ I coulda done. The floor gave out beneath me! What am I supposed to do, look--...okay, well, I could’ve looked where I was walking,” his voice progressively grows smaller as he admits wrongdoing, before immediately going back, “but still! Completely out of my control.”

[gaygxnslinger]

of-snakes-and-men​:

Tevis doesn’t go after Cayde, doesn’t even call after him, far too emotional himself to be able to calmly talk it out. He figures they both need a bit of time to sort themselves out but no matter what he does, he can’t stop thinking about the Exo. With Andal gone, he’s more aware of how easily one can lose their closest friends and the idea of losing Cayde gnaws at him. What if their last conversation is this fight? What if something happens to one of them? What if the other Hunter decides to go off alone just to spite him?

No. He can’t allow this to happen. They should be there for each other even if they’re not the best at dealing with emotions.

It’s not hard for Tevis to find Cayde, not only because of the very dense Solar signature, but simply because he knows the other - what better place to hide in a moment like this than a spot he had shared with Andal?

The Nightstalker stands there for a moment, watching the Exo, then comes over and lifts the blanket a little. “Is there space for one more?”

Big, bright blue optics stare at him, flickering with what could only be simulated tears, though he does his very best to act as if that isn’t the case. Cayde is close to telling Tevis to fuck off and leave him alone, but the solemn tone of voice changes his mind in an instant.

“Sure,” he mumbles through the slight whitenoise haze that overlays his voice, shuffling over to make room for Tevis. Losing one friend was enough, spending time with his others is something Cayde for sure will not complain about. He can let his guard down around the Nightstalker, he doesn’t have to act like the damn pack leader and Vanguard all at the same time; he can be him.

And right now? All he wants to do is bawl his optics out.

“Why’d it have to be him? I should’ve-- I dunno, done somethin’ instead of sittin’ on my ass back here--”

[gaygxnslinger]

starter for @of-snakes-and-men​

The festivities have been going for about an hour now -- the pack had gathered up a large stack of sticks, tinder and logs into a clearing, woops and varying volumes of cheers sounding off from the sidelines as Cayde set the bonfire alight.

Now? They’re all at least on the tipsy side. Shiro is the least drunk, seemingly, so he sits nearby and watches carefully to make sure no one accidentally sets themself on fire, however he’s also very distracted by Tevis. The Nightstalker has a smile on his face, and it’s almost unrecogniseable! The dark bags under his eyes give away the fact that yeah, it’s still him, but the fun is infectious.

Andal is far more drunk, cheeks flushed a betraying pinky-red as he laughs loudly at whatever shitty joke Cayde says. “You’re gonna kill me. I’m gonna die laughing and it’s gonna be alllllll your fault, Cayde.” Andal is very close to Cayde as he throws an arm over the Exo’s shoulder, enough so that he thinks he can hear Cayde’s inner workings even above the roar or the flames. “But I gotta ask, when’re we gettin’ around to those fireworks you promised?”

[gaygxnslinger]

@of-snakes-and-men & @eggsmuses

The Hunter Vanguard (is he the Hunter Vanguard when there’s two other Hunter Vanguards standing right in front of him?) folds his arms over his chest. “So. I think we gotta talk about the elephant in the room: you guys! Why the fuck are you taller than me? What’s the deal?”

How was that fair? Even if it is barely anything.

[gaygxnslinger]

tension with a dash of 👀 prompts

@of-snakes-and-men asked: 🚨   //   push  my  muse  to  the  ground   &   straddle  them . Cayde and Andal fooling around, he's smug af fs

Andal crashed to the ground with a grunt, hair splayed out messily on the ground. Fuck...he’d have to take a shower to get rid of all the dirt. Not like he wouldn’t anyway after a sparring match, but--

His eyes found their way up to the smug Exo that was keeping him pinned to the ground. With a feigned huff of annoyance, he commented, “Real proud of you there, Cayde. That last move you pulled was definitely agreed on in the rules.” There was a glimmer of mischief in his eyes mixed in with the bright brown; of course he knew Cayde would break the rules. What Hunter wouldn’t in a fun sparring match? Hell, half of the fun was breaking the rules?

“So,” Andal moved his arms up, folding them so his head could rest on them. He was gonna be here for as long as Cayde stayed, unless he really tried to shove the Exo away, “What’s your plan here?”

[gaygxnslinger]

hard-to-find hurt/comfort sentence starters

@of-snakes-and-men asked: “wake up… please, wake up.” Cayde to Andal 

Andal could feel the life slowly draining from him with every drop of blood, the large gash in his side being the main problem. His Ghost had advised that it’d be easier and faster to let him die so she could revive him from scratch, which was an entirely normal suggestion to the Hunter; not pleasant, or preferable, but normal.

Cayde, however, was clearly still not used to seeing his fellow Guardians die on the battlefield. That’s what you got for running alone, Andal supposed.

“Hey,” he managed to force the words out, offering a soft smile that certainly didn’t fit with the rest of his bloodstained appearance, “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. Go help Shiro ‘n’ Tevis.” Despite that prompt, Andal reached to place his hand atop Cayde’s. He was glad of the company -- a luxury him and many other Guardians never got during many, many deaths.

Consciousness was slowly starting to slip from him, his vision fading between reality and darkness, the only common thing being Cayde’s bright orange eyes staring down in shock, and presumably in a plea that Andal might get right back up without the bad part happening first. With the last of his strength, the Nightstalker gave a gentle squeeze to the poor Exo’s hand, before going limp, vaguely aware of his Ghost appearing.

With a flash of Light, it was as if nothing had ever happened.

Andal jolted right back upwards with wide eyes, gasping for breath and reactionarily clutching at his previously-injured side. The only remnants of any incident being a few bloodstains and a tear in his cloak, to which he let out a, “Damn,” when he noticed. Oh. And of course Cayde’s expression, which looked quite similar to that of a puppy who was sure his owner would never return from work ever again. Just, y’know, replace work with whatever liminal space Guardians went to when they died.

He had heard the Exo’s soft pleading somewhere, distantly in the back of his mind, and that convinced him to lean to the side and bring him into a hug. “I’m okay. Everything ‘s gonna be okay. Just...need a second to orient myself. But whaddya say we go see Shiro ‘n’ Tevis now, like I said before?”