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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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[velluminous]

...


To effortless achieve impossible.

[inklongdry]

[ He glances up, angling his head to try and get a glimpse of her above him. ]

'Tis a scholarly name if I've ever heard one, and lovely, besides. It suits you.

[velluminous]

[ he gets all that and a lovely view of her cleavage to boot. ]

Please continue to call me by it. I am not that woman anymore.

[inklongdry]

[ Oh. Nice view. But he won't let himself get too distracted, reaching up to cup her cheek. ]

Chosen or given, your name is your name. I'd only call you otherwise to call you my heart, my sky, my love.

[velluminous]

[ again, her entire chest clenches. she wants so badly to take him to bed... or even just to the floor. he'll feel the weight of her face tilt gently into his palm. ]

Thank you. Arthur.

[ his name is his name, too. ]

[inklongdry]

[ Brushes his thumb over her cheek in a soft little arc. ]

'Tis naught you need to thank me for.

[velluminous]

Oh, there is. [ but rather than linger: ] Why did you change your name?

[inklongdry]

Mm. A couple of reasons. Do you care to listen to me ramble on about viera culture?

[velluminous]

Why would I not wish to learn, Arthur? Learn about you?

[inklongdry]

Fair enough.

[ A chuckle. ]

Then to begin at the beginning: Viera are a secluded race, and very rarely venture from their forest homes. To do so is to be branded an exile, and never to be welcomed back. My mother is one such individual, a city viera, if you will.

[velluminous]

[ what a strangely sober starting point. she hums to encourage he continue, still stroking through his hair. seems like "shoulder massage" has been forgotten. ]

City viera. I see.

[inklongdry]

[ He hardly minds either way. It's nice to have her hands on him in some fashion, so far removed from the vicious shocks from her oni. ]

Mm. Thus it has become custom for such viera to pick a "city name", something that removes them from their homes. It can be anything, from a favorite food or flower, to names inspired by other races. "Ava" is my mother's chosen name. When I was born, she named me Avi.

Which brings me to my next point: viera children are born with no discernable gender until our teenage years. When coming of age, some may choose a name that is more masculine or feminine as it suits them, though some choose to stick to the more gender-neutral names of their childhood.

[velluminous]

[ her tail gives a curious little flicker ] Is this so? Fascinating... So you gave yourself name of Arthur, as this felt right to you. What if one such viera feels their identity changes once more, later in life?

[inklongdry]

It felt right yes, and my step-family is hyuran — what you would call human. I took my stepfather's surname, and chose a given name to match.

As to your question... well, I suppose they simply change their name again. We're a long lived people, and no one stays the same forever.

[velluminous]

Hm. [ no one stays the same forever. ] I like you that you are now. I will like you that you will be in fifty years.

[inklongdry]

[ Fifty years is such a painfully short time in the lifespan of a viera, but this doesn't seem to be the time or place to bring it up. ]

And I, you, my sweet sky.

[velluminous]

[ and fifty years is about as far ahead as she can look at all. tieflings live longer than humans, but not by enough for it to make a difference on the scale Arthur means.

she hunches forward and wraps her arms around him from behind, tightly ]

I will make sure I am still around to see it.

[inklongdry]

[ Again, he angles his head to try and get a look at her. His own hands come to rest on her arms. ]

You had better be.

[velluminous]

[ not possible! not with her face pressed into his neck ]

Some things are worth their effort.

[inklongdry]

[ Ah, well. He reaches up to toy with her hair. ]

Sprezzatura... 'tis my hope that when we're free of this place, I might still be able to see you. Somehow. Someway.

[velluminous]

[ the sentiment is warm, but "when this is over" is such a raw, frayed edge that she all but stops breathing for a moment. it's coming. like waking from a dream. the horror and the love both worlds away.

when she next takes breath, it's heavy. ]

I will find you again. Believe that.

[inklongdry]

[ He feels the way she stills against him, and his hand over her arm gives a squeeze. He knows. Oh, does he know. ]

I do believe it. And don't think for a moment that I won't be looking for you in turn.

[velluminous]

You don't get to live without me again. Alright? Only for little while.

[inklongdry]

Only for a little while.

[ He gives a little hum. ]

There are many things I wish to show you. Places I would love for you to see.

[velluminous]

[ she has things she has to do at home. now she has to survive them, too. that was always the plan, but now there are people who will know if she fails to deliver.

she slowly straightens up, only to press her cheek against the hair at the back of his head ]

Tell me...