[They can teeter together on the precipice of staying good people, or becoming bad people. Sometimes, you simply stay on that precipice forever, rocking back and forth, never stepping back and never falling over.
The amulet of boyfriend blood is his to covet always.
His eyes lift to study Lucien's face, and he follows the gaze to the Hex Core before looking back again.]
I could have never even... dreamed of a day where so many people were able to... just bypass something like... illness, death. [He's overwhelmed by the possibilities.] We'll get Cree for you, Lucien. It's alright.
If you want her to come with us, that's okay, too. She's your... friend? I can't possible ask you to come with me to a world belonging to a friend and not extend to you the same courtesy.
If we're able to do that, it'd be her choice. She's followed me enough places.
[ friend seems a understated word for it. extremely codependent platonic queer-bond vibes. though shamefully on lucien's part I think cree is a little more soul-bonded to him than he is in return. always his shadow.
reaching over to tuck some of viktor's hair behind his ear, studying his face in return for a moment. ]
The tucked hair looks like it doesn't want to stay, looping around his ear, fluffy. Probably because he has this stimming habit Lucien may have spotted where he twists the hair around and around his finger idly when he's engrossed in something, studying it, working. He's trained the thing to be unruly.]
[ his fluffy hair is really adorable though, and his stimming habit is going to help lucien's curly hair routinue so much. the subreddit will be envious.
poking a gentle claw against one of his moles. ]
Aye. The glint. Cree always said not everyone can see, but it's a shine. As likely to be a blessing as a curse. Bristling with destiny. A shiny coin, but one the Matron of Ravens is like to notice, hm?
[Unlocked the secret to a good curly hair routine: have a partner who will twist them all repeatedly because they always have to be doing something with their hands.
That eye squints closed briefly.]
Not sure if I really want to be a shiny bauble for a, um, raven matron...? Sounds ominous.
[ he sort of chuckles at this reaction, because it is very dramatic and he did it that way to be dramatic. pulling his hand out of biting range. ]
And fate, of course. The Claret Orders are big fans, considering the legend goes that she's the originator of Blood Magic. So they were always on with the prayers and such.
Don't make that face, I'm not particularly religious myself.
[The bite Lucien deserves is lost so quickly in his brain.]
You could have lead with that part, Lucien. I can't say I'm a fan of the idea of being plucked out of the cosmic soup by a matron of death and fate just because I shine once in the light.
Honestly, can't people just live their lives normally without all that...
You were about to blow yourself up is what you were about to do--metaphorically.
[DON'T BE A SHIT. He glances at the Hex Core which is really having the best time of its life twirling in this wizardry machinist prison despite. Quickly:]
Absolutely not. Can't you think of a less theatrical hobby to take up, Lucien? Like... gardening, or something.
[ aw. picking up his habits. lucien scoffs a bit in return because hes still not entirely unconvinced his plan wouldn’t have worked, he’s just decided not to do it now. ]
I’ve got a black thumb.
[ moving to go circle around him a bit to inspect the core. still not touching as instructed. ]
And you wouldn’t like me if I only cared about gardening.
[ he assumes viktor likes him BECAUSE of his insanity, not despite it. ]
[It's what happens when you spend too much time with someone.]
It's starting to look like we could use a black thumb actually.
[His head turns to watch Lucien circle, and he stands in place to allow it. The prism really is this Eldritch, awful thing. The familiar organic edges of it quiver, stretching out and back in as it spins. It sings still in the back of Lucien's brain, making it comfortably fuzzy. The glowing center looks bottomless, easy to get drawn into and disappear.
Not unlike the void Lucien was dropped inside.]
It's dangerous to touch, but... for reference, it... takes blood. To start the transmutation. I'm sure you're familiar with that part of exchanges.
[ he doesn’t stare at it too long, considering what happened when he tried that before. he’ll go sit himself down somewhere at this point - probably whatever surface viktor was trying to do work on in here. ]
You mentioned. And I saw the— [ he gestures across his body. the runes and all. ]
Quickly, his eyes dart down toward the floor, and his hand tightens on the staff. The look of his body still holds a kind of shame because of what he's put it through, but more than that, the idea he was doing something incredibly stupid with a dangerous thing out of desperation.]
Right. You don't have to-- [His eyes flicker up, then down again.] There are a lot of options now, so you don't have to... with the Core... You can decide on something else.
[ it's not as if he's any different in that regard, covered in a vast constellation of scars for the bloodletting. leaning forward, trying to catch his eye. ]
... Don't back down so easily. You were so confident before, yes? Scien said you were quite possessive of the cure for me, even.
[He glances up, seeming both disgruntled and embarrassed Scien just RUNS HIS MOUTH!!!!!
The look away to the side is the embarrassment, but he does end up looking back again.]
I wanted to be the one to do it, yes. To... help you. But... it's more important to me that it is done... in a way where you will be alright with as little pain as possible, and you will... be with me at the end.
[ he thought it was very romantic of him in a sort of fucked up way and the fact it was fucked up is even more romantic.
gesturing widely, still trying to keep his gaze, so he knows he means it. he is not always great at selling sincerity but he is trying to here. ]
Well, to that end, I want you to be the one to do it. I trust you more than anyone else here, and you seem to have a vested interest in keeping me around, so I imagine the choice you make will be the correct one. We'll do it your way, whatever way you choose that to be.
[ he's not afraid of the hex core if viktor isn't. ]
I dont know that a new body will solve everything for me. Death did not dislodge them. I believe they are attached to the soul, rather than the physical flesh. We'll need to remove them some way.
[ taking it, pulling it over so he can kiss the knuckles. sorry he is going to be gay about it. ]
I meant, we could get new bodies after we get the Eyes out. If you didn't want to be...
[Extra mangled? Mixed with yet another Eldritch arcane object? If he didn't want to be busted up and full of screws.
The kiss is gay, and it makes him shiver gently.]
Not... exactly. It was sort of numb when the Core wasn't active. When it is, you can feel the pressure of things and... the--I don't know, energy of... being alive...? It doesn't hurt.
I don't know yet... I just told them I would think about it.
[He straightens a little in the back. The kiss makes his face hot, and he thinks it's probably because Lucien makes a point to look at him while doing it. The iridescent, glowing lines in the flesh pulse outward gently.
He is stuck between being extremely gay about this and wanting to tell Lucien to stop kissing his nasty fucked up hand.]
I can feel it... It just feels... a little different.
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The amulet of boyfriend blood is his to covet always.
His eyes lift to study Lucien's face, and he follows the gaze to the Hex Core before looking back again.]
I could have never even... dreamed of a day where so many people were able to... just bypass something like... illness, death. [He's overwhelmed by the possibilities.] We'll get Cree for you, Lucien. It's alright.
If you want her to come with us, that's okay, too. She's your... friend? I can't possible ask you to come with me to a world belonging to a friend and not extend to you the same courtesy.
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[ friend seems a understated word for it. extremely codependent platonic queer-bond vibes. though shamefully on lucien's part I think cree is a little more soul-bonded to him than he is in return. always his shadow.
reaching over to tuck some of viktor's hair behind his ear, studying his face in return for a moment. ]
She'd like you I think. You've the Glint as well.
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The tucked hair looks like it doesn't want to stay, looping around his ear, fluffy. Probably because he has this stimming habit Lucien may have spotted where he twists the hair around and around his finger idly when he's engrossed in something, studying it, working. He's trained the thing to be unruly.]
Glint...?
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poking a gentle claw against one of his moles. ]
Aye. The glint. Cree always said not everyone can see, but it's a shine. As likely to be a blessing as a curse. Bristling with destiny. A shiny coin, but one the Matron of Ravens is like to notice, hm?
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That eye squints closed briefly.]
Not sure if I really want to be a shiny bauble for a, um, raven matron...? Sounds ominous.
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Only the goddess of Death.
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Goddess of what?!
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And fate, of course. The Claret Orders are big fans, considering the legend goes that she's the originator of Blood Magic. So they were always on with the prayers and such.
Don't make that face, I'm not particularly religious myself.
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You could have lead with that part, Lucien. I can't say I'm a fan of the idea of being plucked out of the cosmic soup by a matron of death and fate just because I shine once in the light.
Honestly, can't people just live their lives normally without all that...
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[ grinning at him briefly because he loves being a shit, gesturing at the Hex Core. ]
Well, we're worshipping this instead, yes?
[ JOKING, A JOKE, BY THE WAY. ]
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You were about to blow yourself up is what you were about to do--metaphorically.
[DON'T BE A SHIT. He glances at the Hex Core which is really having the best time of its life twirling in this wizardry machinist prison despite. Quickly:]
Absolutely not. Can't you think of a less theatrical hobby to take up, Lucien? Like... gardening, or something.
[THIS COMING FROM HIM.]
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I’ve got a black thumb.
[ moving to go circle around him a bit to inspect the core. still not touching as instructed. ]
And you wouldn’t like me if I only cared about gardening.
[ he assumes viktor likes him BECAUSE of his insanity, not despite it. ]
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It's starting to look like we could use a black thumb actually.
[His head turns to watch Lucien circle, and he stands in place to allow it. The prism really is this Eldritch, awful thing. The familiar organic edges of it quiver, stretching out and back in as it spins. It sings still in the back of Lucien's brain, making it comfortably fuzzy. The glowing center looks bottomless, easy to get drawn into and disappear.
Not unlike the void Lucien was dropped inside.]
It's dangerous to touch, but... for reference, it... takes blood. To start the transmutation. I'm sure you're familiar with that part of exchanges.
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You mentioned. And I saw the— [ he gestures across his body. the runes and all. ]
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Quickly, his eyes dart down toward the floor, and his hand tightens on the staff. The look of his body still holds a kind of shame because of what he's put it through, but more than that, the idea he was doing something incredibly stupid with a dangerous thing out of desperation.]
Right. You don't have to-- [His eyes flicker up, then down again.] There are a lot of options now, so you don't have to... with the Core... You can decide on something else.
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... Don't back down so easily. You were so confident before, yes? Scien said you were quite possessive of the cure for me, even.
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The look away to the side is the embarrassment, but he does end up looking back again.]
I wanted to be the one to do it, yes. To... help you. But... it's more important to me that it is done... in a way where you will be alright with as little pain as possible, and you will... be with me at the end.
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gesturing widely, still trying to keep his gaze, so he knows he means it. he is not always great at selling sincerity but he is trying to here. ]
Well, to that end, I want you to be the one to do it. I trust you more than anyone else here, and you seem to have a vested interest in keeping me around, so I imagine the choice you make will be the correct one. We'll do it your way, whatever way you choose that to be.
[ he's not afraid of the hex core if viktor isn't. ]
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He smiles, exasperated but resigned.]
Your arm will probably look like...
[Motions a little with the purple hand as if he thinks this is somehow going to be an issue for Lucien.
Who is purple already.]
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[ holding out a hand for the purple hand? give it here? ]
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[He shifts the staff to the other hand and moves to Lucien, offering the stupid purple hand out.]
We're trying to get it all out of you... I don't know if you will want to be connected to this after so much trouble with the Eyes.
Apparently, we could... both get new bodies. From the Relivers. Emotions included this time, I think.
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[ taking it, pulling it over so he can kiss the knuckles. sorry he is going to be gay about it. ]
Does touch feel the same?
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[Extra mangled? Mixed with yet another Eldritch arcane object? If he didn't want to be busted up and full of screws.
The kiss is gay, and it makes him shiver gently.]
Not... exactly. It was sort of numb when the Core wasn't active. When it is, you can feel the pressure of things and... the--I don't know, energy of... being alive...? It doesn't hurt.
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[ turning the hand over so he can kiss the palm, flicking his gaze up to look at him carefully. ]
So you can't feel this?
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[He straightens a little in the back. The kiss makes his face hot, and he thinks it's probably because Lucien makes a point to look at him while doing it. The iridescent, glowing lines in the flesh pulse outward gently.
He is stuck between being extremely gay about this and wanting to tell Lucien to stop kissing his nasty fucked up hand.]
I can feel it... It just feels... a little different.
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