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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]

[ 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. ]

[velluminous]

[ —SHIVERS OUT AN EXHALE. judgement is passed. ]

Oh, lapochka.

[ she's going to remember the feeling of crushing her for a very long time. the oni will see to that. but right now, the only one in control of Sprezzatura is Sprezzatura. she cups her hands and brings them up to cradle Clover, if she'll allow it, and press the gentlest kiss to that tiny face ]

I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.

[inklongdry]

[ She does allow it, cuddling into Sprezzatura's hands. Arthur watches the exchange with a muted sort of smile on his face. ]

... When I first met her, she was trying to defend her current summoner from a treasure hunter. She threw herself right in my face, thinking I also meant harm.

[velluminous]

[ she is so small. Mammon, she is so small.

just as with Lan Wangji's rabbits, when Clover cuddles down, she feels her own heart beating fast. she could break her—did break her. it is very hard to move. so she stays still, the cradle of her fingers neither loosening nor tightening. ]

Such brave girl, you. Bravest of anyone.

[inklongdry]

She's very brave.

[ He reaches up to curl his fingers around Sprezzatura's hands and the faerie nestled within them. ]

Full glad am I to have both of you returned to me.

[velluminous]

[ abruptly, again, she meets his gaze.

once more, with feeling: ] I love you.

[inklongdry]

[ Oh, there it is again. That feeling like his heart might flutter out of his chest. ]

I love you, too.

[velluminous]

[ that feeling, the very selfsame. a teariness comes over her, abrupt but brief. she refuses to cry over this—not when her fight with Alec left her so close to it already. these two things are not the same. ]

I would like to use mirror...

[ can she say this in front of clover. close your ears honey ]

[inklongdry]

[ Ma'am? That was rather an abrupt admission. His ears stand upright. ]

Right now?

[velluminous]

No, not... [ not right now. she's exhausted, she's angry, and she doesn't want to move from this spot yet. she doesn't deny it fully, though, as the way his ears swivel makes her stomach clench. ] That is, I mean... my heart is so full...

[inklongdry]

[ He smiles at her, sweet but with a bit of mischief in those blue eyes. He ducks his head to press a kiss along her jaw. ]

As is mine, my sky. I've promised a teammate that I would step into their palace to help recover their missing memories, but after that... [ Another kiss, this one lingers. ] You may do with me what you wish.

[ Clover, meanwhile, has decided to excuse herself if you all are just gonna sit here and be gross. She flits off and poofs back into Arthur's soul crystal. ]

[velluminous]

[ unfortunately, Clover poofing away does send Sprezzatura's pulse on an upward spike—just for a moment, that old worry she gets when holding small creatures combined with the very real memory of trying to crush her skull in her palm. it both is and is not her own, but the fact remains: she does jump slightly, only to relax again into the warmth of Arthur's kiss. ]

Mister Ingo. He mentioned. Be careful, won't you?

[inklongdry]

[ Clover has the good sense to fly away before poofing, so hopefully it isn't as jarring as it could be. Still, Arthur gives Sprezzatura an apologetic look. He nuzzles against the side of her face with his own, soothing and warm. ]

I will. I'll have Clover and Ori with me, as well.

[velluminous]

Miss Oriphi... good. Powerful woman, she.

[ little does she know she's gonna end up getting speared through the back in a palace this very same ic day, so her largest concern now is Arthur dying. ]

[inklongdry]

Powerful and as stalwart a friend as anyone could ask for. I'm in good hands.

[ Sprezzatura honey please love yourself... ]

[velluminous]

[ SIKE the palace is out of time i was wrong ]

I attacked her also. Please look after her.

[inklongdry]

[ Sprezzatura deserves some breathing room ]

... You did no such thing. 'Twas the work of your possession. I know that, and Ori knows that, too.

[velluminous]

It plays in my mind as though it were me.

[inklongdry]

Oh, my sky...

[ He curls his arms around her to pull her close. ]

That is her doing, too.

[velluminous]

She uses me like puppet, makes me feel everything—my horn, broken. My hand... [ nearly ripped from her wrist, she can't stop seeing it in her mind's eye ] I am being apologizing all day, I wish—

[ stops herself, for a moment seething again. no. no. no, she doesn't wish that. ]

[inklongdry]

[ He winces a little. Clearly things got so much worse after he first encountered her. He should have gone back for her. He... gods, that does no one any good now, does it? He was hardly in any condition to go another round with her oni. ]

You wish-?

[velluminous]

[ if she has her way, he will never know how bad it got. how many people she hunted, how many people just left her, and how many fought back with the real intent to kill if they had to.

that's what she keeps saying she wanted, but the reality of it is not so cut and dry. she's always going to remember the crunch of her arm as Ruggie bit it in two. she's always going to remember Lotor's face twisted up in an intensity of spite she never before ascribed to him. she's always going to remember Alec Brennan's fucking arm around her throat. ]

I wish she never looked at anyone but me. I am sick of swallowing my words to let everyone else say what they think.

[inklongdry]

[ Would that she were that fortunate. Arthur's own possession has been almost a non-issue since he got here, but he realizes he's one of the lucky ones. ]

My sky... have you not the coins for an exorcism? Mayhap it would be better to be rid of her completely.