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[inklongdry]

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"Arthur Inkwell here.
I've no earthly idea how this thing is supposed to work, but leave me a message if you're so inclined. I'll retrieve it at some point or another!"

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[inklongdry]

[ He will heft her up, then! Take her fully in his arms and lift her feet from the floor to hold her. I hope no one else is going to try to leave the dorm because they're gonna be here a minute. ]

Oh, my sky. I'm so glad to see you.

[velluminous]

[ what did he just say? who knows! she's buried her face as deeply against his neck as she can, one hand firm at the back of his neck. she even wraps her legs around his waist, but this time there is nothing sexy about it. ]

I couldn't stop her—I couldn't—

[inklongdry]

[ Abruptly, he tries to straighten, to pull away a little to look at her. Difficult when they're so entwined. ]

No. Please don't. You cannot blame yourself. I won't hear it.

Twelve forfend, I was so worried about you.

[velluminous]

I'm fine.

[ it's childish, but she pushes her face down even harder when he tries to draw away. don't look. just... don't. ]

[inklongdry]

[ Oh no you don't!! ]

Sprezzatura... my love, look at me. Please.

[velluminous]

[ act like a child and get reprimanded like a child. her heart staggers in her chest, though—my love.

she lifts her face. looks like she hasn't been sleeping well again. ]

I will be fine.

[ a gentle self-correction ]

[inklongdry]

[ His expression softens. No, he doesn't suspect she's been sleeping well at all after all that. ]

All things with time. May I come in?

[velluminous]

[ . . . sir, you are carrying me. you can do whatever you wish. ]

You may.

[inklongdry]

Thank you.

[ He's being polite about it!! But he will carry her into the dorm if she wants. ]

[velluminous]

[ now that she's up, she does not want to come down again. also, her legs are so unsteady from sprinting up the stairs that she isn't sure she can confidently walk.

she looks at him, really looks. he's completely healed. ]

Dream... rescued you.

[inklongdry]

[ He'll carry her down the stairs then. ]

... He did. I have since learned all I have to do is call for him and he'll hear me.

[ So you know. LESSON LEARNED. ]

[velluminous]

[ ah....... he didn't know.

lowers her face down again with a little sigh. tiny sigh. her face buries in his hair ]

I never thought to tell you. I'm sorry, zaychik.

[inklongdry]

Nor did he. 'Tis not something I blame either of you for, of course. What's done is done.

[ Now that they're in the common room proper, he finds a couch to deposit them both on. ]

[velluminous]

[ she's going to continue to koala.

murmuring, ] Arthur... Arthur... Blood is gone, isn't it.

[inklongdry]

[ That's fine. He reaches up to stroke her hair. ]

It is. I think I would have destroyed it eventually, regardless. I'm sorry.

[velluminous]

[ the gesture soothes. her hair is silky and smells nice.

she is nevertheless aching. if you're going to say this always happens to you, that everything you want always slips out of your fingers--well maybe not, but fuck, quite a lot of it does ]

All that work... [ an utter waste. she closes her fingers against his back and heaves a much larger, heavier sigh. ] I never wanted it to be like this. Never to put you in harm's way.

[inklongdry]

I know... [ in the end, that vial had to go. Research pursuits aside, it was doing more harm than good just by being in her possession. ]

I know that, too. I don't think for one moment that you meant for any of this to happen.

[velluminous]

[ of course he would never blame her. he is so perfect. ]

I could feel...... [ the noose tightening ] I could myself fixating on it. Thank you for taking it, Arthur.

[ again, she's squishing her face into his neck ]

[inklongdry]

Of course. You know I'd do anything for you.

[ He draws his fingers through her hair again. She truly is so precious to him. He hopes she knows that. He— ]

I love you, Sprezzatura.

[velluminous]

[ the side of his neck gets warm, and damp. just a little, a sudden pressure release.

she releases a breath into the cut of his collar. and suddenly, Arthus is being hugged, squeezed very tight. tail and all. ]

I love you.

[inklongdry]

[ He hugs her back, just as tight. Like he never wants to let her go. ]

I'm so glad you're alright.

[velluminous]

[ hears herself make this sound like a whine, but also kind of a wheeze, because this hug is tight. we'll ... it is out in the world now, and she can't take it back!

how did this happen? Theo first, and now Arthur and Herlock. her heart feels far too big for her chest. she turns it over in her mind: I love you. it's such a glorious sound. ]

I love you, Arthur. I love you...

[inklongdry]

[ Oh dear, he broke her. She's stuck on repeat.

It's precious, though, and he can't deny the way his heart soars every time she utters those words. ]

I love you, too. My sky. My love.

[velluminous]

[ such a far cry from the woman who held him at an arm's length—even she can hardly believe how easily it comes to her lips. and she doesn't want to stop saying it.

every inch of her feels covered in goosebumps. she could laugh. she could—cry? no, not that one. drops back into his lap so she can look, really look, at his face. ]

Where... Where is she? Is she back?

[ you know who. ]

[inklongdry]

[ He does know who. He angles his head, and at some unspoken command, Clover shimmers into being just over his shoulder.

She looks none the worse for wear, though she had to be resummoned altogether so perhaps that's expected. There is the briefest moment of hesitation as she looks at Sprezzatura, a lightning flash of memory playing behind her gaze, but ultimately...

She flits over, resting one tiny hand on either side of Sprezzatura's face. She dips her head, pressing her forehead against the space between Sprezzatura's eyebrows. It's okay, the gesture seems to say. I know it wasn't you. ]