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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]

[ 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. ]

[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. ]