goodolfashionedvillain | † RYSLIG- IC INBOX †

[For a long moment, Kronid is uncharacteristically silent. His brows are knitted together, even as he leans into the hand that cards through his dark hair.

Vicious is being...gentle. So gentle about this.

Tell him more. Or I will.

Leave me alone.

The struggle is visible again on his expression for a moment - a darting back and forth of the eyes, a clench of the jaw - before finally he speaks back up.The softer tone has lost...for now.]

... It's just that...no one has ever known. Besides myself.

Everyone who was there died that night.

[You killed them all.

No. You did. You didn't need me yet.]

This is the first time I have told...anyone.

[At least this time he witnesses the struggle, mirroring the worry creasing the smaller man's brow. He can tell he isn't particularly happy to share this piece of history with him, but it still feels... important enough, to Vicious, to be one of the first to ever hear it.]

I-- wow. Thank you... for trusting me enough to tell me.

[He shakes his head, exhaling a soft sigh. What... do you say about something like that? He isn't sure, but... he does still have questions.]

May I ask-- "Those whose lives you disagree with." [He repeats, tilting his head.] What... do you mean by that?

[Too softly, too gently, for just a moment:]

Thank you...for listening.

[But the moment is fleeting - he chuckles humorlessly, grabbing the Shade's hand and dragging it over the cruel scar on his chest.]

I mean...that they came after me when they learned that I laid with another man.

This happened. Because I didn't stack up to what they expected. Someone hurt me for it.

[He kisses the back of the hand.]

I don't regret it. For a moment.

[Kronid may not regret it, and that is his right, but that doesn't stop Vicious from feeling a distinct sort of sorrow for him either way. How many centuries had passed between then and now... and how little had humanity actually changed?

He isn't the best at controlling his expression, so the look of pain and sympathy is quite obvious even as Kronid assures him that he's fine, that he's not sorry for what he did to earn this. He draws his fingertips along the outer edge of the scar, shaking his head slowly.]

...Still, this should have never happened to you.

[His eyebrows knit and his fangs flash with a sneer in a brief flare of anger, but he's-- he's not going to make a scene here. They're having too nice a time. He doesn't want Kronid to regret asking him to stay over, after all.]

One would think the greater sin would be causing harm to someone over love.

[Of course, of course Kronid does not miss that flare of anger, that sympathetic fury crossing the face of his current companion. It's...sort of nice, actually, to have some of his own long-burning rage validated. Not that he needs it, of course, but...well. It's still sort of nice.

He opens his mouth to reply to the latter statement, but he freezes up, just for a second, one word echoing and sticking in his mind.

Sin.

I know so much of sin, don't I? Don't you?

The moment passes swiftly, the Goblin shaking it away in favor of a wry, dark little smile...but his eyes - his eyes are...weary, in a way that only someone as old as he can experience.

There is a faint crackle of electricity in his scar. Not enough to hurt, but enough that Vicious can just feel it, like something in him trying to reach out.

Kronid does not acknowledge it.]

You would think, my Knight. But they had other ideas, back then.

...

Fuck them, though. What do they matter now?

I suppose you're right. You did have the last laugh, didn't you? Outlived them by centuries, doing whatever-- and whoever --you like.

[The smile he gives is a tired one, choosing to accept Kronid's response for what it is instead of delving any deeper into the frustrating reality of the life he's lived.

The crackling sensation beneath his fingertips is curious enough to divert his attention to, head tilting slightly as he brushes his fingers back and forth over the scar and the skin surrounding it.]

...huh. [He blinks, casting a curious glance up to meet Kronid's gaze.]

Can you... Feel that?

Exactly.

[He grins, chuckling a little, hands moving to play in Vicious's hair. There. The topic is sidestepped -

Until the question.

STOP it.

You can't restrain me forever.

His smile turns strained, shoulders rolling in a would-be casual shrug.]

I do. I'm...not sure what it is. My dream powers misfired...maybe this is just my elemental ones reacting to the conversation. It doesn't hurt.

[blink]

Dream powers? [blinkblink] You did that?

[He sits up on his elbow, looking the goblin up and down. Since when has he had "dream powers"?]

I-- I figured the Fog just had something to do with it. Is that-- is that part of the hypnotism? Or..?

[Shit.

You're usually sharper than this. He softens your edges a little, doesn't he?

SHUT. UP.

Externally, the only hint to this internal struggle is a little flinch in the eyes - but it rolls into sheepishness swiftly, an equally-strained chuckle escaping from that strained smile of his. A little apologetic.]

No, it's - a Goblin thing, I have been told. I have not experimented much with it, but...well, like I said, I haven't slept beside anyone in a very, very long time. I must have let my nightmare bleed over to you.

I suppose you could say the Fog had something to do with it, just not - direct action. She gave me the power. I haven't...mastered it. I was never a dreamwalker before.

I admit, I don't know much about goblins. The one I do know-- aside from you, of course --has never mentioned anything of the like. Huh.

[He just hums, impressed, and settles back against the pillows.]

Always something new and exciting with you, isn't there?

[Most people would be concerned that "dream walking" is even a thing, but Vicious has been here for a year now and it's far from the strangest thing he's heard.]

I suppose you could always practice on me... You know, getting used to it.

[Sure, that was a pretty rough topic to start with, but... He can't really say he minds. It's odd, but it's a sort of bonding experience, right? ]

Maybe there's a little variety. I'm still learning what all I can do, anyhow...if there's one thing I already knew about being a monster, it's that it isn't an exact science.

[Satisfied when Vicious relaxes back, he scoots in to cuddle up again, his hand moving to lightly trace the lines of the Shade's muscles. His smile sheds some of that strain, moving instead to being calm, pleased.

Ignoring that nagging little hum in the back of his head.]

If you like. I don't think they have to be nightmares...it would be interesting to see what else I could do. It could be very interesting.

[Yes. It could be.

Yes.

Ignoring.]

Right, no two monsters are truly the same.

[He nods, allowing the smaller man to get snuggled up against him before pressing a kiss to his crown and nuzzling into the mop of curls atop his head. The shade breathes him in as the other speaks, sage and sandalwood, considering for a brief moment what it would be like to... Do this a little more often.

He's really the first Kronid's slept next to in...centuries? What an honor. Maybe if he's lucky, he'll get to keep it that way.

His brows bounce at the agreement, a pleased hum reverberating low in his chest.]

That could be interesting. You're the quite the creative sort; I'd like to see what sort of dreamscape you'd conjure up for me~

† RYSLIG- IC INBOX †

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject