prismatica | First Incantation: un: fox🦊

( he nods, a little. )

It's an item from home, so — I'll have to save up for it. ( leaning in, he gives fox a little rough and tumble shoulder nudge. attempting, a little fruitlessly, to lighten the mood. ) You can help me raise Chroma. Right?

We wring out all the information we can from his neck, and we build from there. ( thinking for a moment ... his mouth settles into a frown, a hand lifting up to rub his raised scar in thought. ) Or ... Last case scenario. One of us could turn his magic back on him.

Go digging for that memory. Find whatever there is to find.

[ He gives a faint apologetic smile at the nudge, and leans against him instead, feeling the warmth of the moonlacing flicker and blossom under his skin. ]

I can pay for it, but yeah, that’s the plan. With all the chroma I need for my magic anyway, I’ll have plenty to spend. Hopefully.

[ He chuckled about wringing his neck, but the chuckle died at the final suggestion. He stopped leaning, the moonlacing ceasing as the contact did, his brows pinched. ]

No.

[ The word had a firm conviction to it, though he looked away. ]

No, even at the last case, we won’t do that. For one... if he had enough information to find Huli, he would have done so. A rescue operation wouldn’t be necessary, it would already be complete. I don’t think Huli even told him where he was going, the night that he got abducted, so we would just be forcing him to relive it for cruelty’s sake.

[ He paused, turning sorrowful eyes on Harry. ]

Two, after seeing what it did to you... It should never be used on a living creature. I’ve seen the spell, now, and it’s... If I have any chance of convincing him to give up the dark magic he’s developed, I can’t use it against him. Or anyone. Ever.

We’ll find another way. No one ever believes me, but there’s always an option that won’t wound.

( he takes that answer with the level of severity fox pushes into it, gaze serious and sharp, but. he'll find agreeable, nonetheless.

it's an easy argument to make, justifying the means to an end, but. harry comes to a rather deep conclusion, that this particular decision does not revolve around him — that this is fox's story to write, not his own. there's something oddly satisfying in that. accepting that it's someone else's responsibility to keep them on a narrow path, and then listening to that instruction. following, instead of leading.

despite the heaviness on fox's tongue, harry smiles at him, small and warm. )

You're the boss.

( and even though he pulled away, harry reaches out again, hand on his arm. )

And I believe you. For whatever it's worth.

[ He couldn’t help the quiet chuckle. ]

I’m the boss, huh?

[ That sounded like a joke and a half. Even Queen West knew better than to run him as gang leader. He turned to look at Harry and then reached out and ruffled his messy hair fondly. ]

You always this eager to sign up for a hopeless cause, or did you take pity on him in the end after all?

But thanks. It actually does mean something, weirdly enough. It’s a hard sell to most magic users, when the violent option is usually the faster and easier one anyway. Makes it hard to be a pacifist.

Edited 2020-05-29 04:12 (UTC)

( folding his legs up on the sofa, harry turns to better face him — a lanky arm reaches past to plant his hand down on the other side of fox's thigh, effectively boxing him in. )

Bit of an expert on hopeless causes, actually. ( he shrugs ) And Gabriel is downright fowl, but I don't believe he's a bad person. Corrupted, maybe. In need of guidance. But not evil.

I think being a powerful wizard means you have to hold yourself accountable for your actions. Of course you can — do things. Sometimes unspeakable, horrible things. But should you? That's the question, isn't it. When does the end justify the means?

But — that's your own journey to go on. You're a far better person than me, actually. I'm a little envious.

He’s not fowl! [ A low whine of a protest. ] He did very wrong by you but I promise he’s not fowl, he just... needs our help.

[ He gave a bit of a hopeless shrug before putting his hand onto of Harry’s and giving it a squeeze, his other hand resting on Harry’s thigh in turn, the gentle hum of moonlacing vibrating in his blood. ]

Mm, we’ll see if I can actually keep to it if I’m tested the way Mingyu was. Considering that I’m dead, maybe I stick to my morals and it gets me killed. Who knows.

[ He’s talking in a very detached way about it, and a second later he offers Harry a smile. ]

You’re kidding, right? You get assaulted by someone and now you’re going to help me save him? Ah, you’re right, you must be an awful, terrible person, how did I not see it...

( he accepts the smile, and with it takes the hand on his thigh up, not kissing it per se, but pulling it close to his mouth, looking at him a little poutily through the inky brush of full lashes. )

Got you killed. ( he corrects. harry's thumb runs across his knuckles. ) We're going to fix it.

Help is given to those who deserve it. And you deserve it, Foxy.

( a brow arches onto his forehead — he does, finally, press a kiss on the back on fox's hand, comfortable with him despite the ups and downs of their conversation. he's glad he's here. he's kind of shocked he came at all, but he's. grateful. friends really are a valuable asset to have. )

I don't know. I was alright with turning his magic on him. ( the smile on his mouth twists, wolfish. ) You're the one with all the morals, all these better notions of right and wrong. I can feel my hero kink growing just looking at you.

Ah, well, you know what I mean. I think most people deserve help.

[ He felt his chest flutter a little as Harry’s lips brushed his skin, though he couldn’t tell if it was attraction or relief. He’d been a bit worried that Harry would get distant with him, after all this. He wouldn’t blame him. ]

I’m not so sure pacifism is a moral standing. You’d be surprised just how many people think that not wanting people killed for their crimes is a moral failing. So I don’t know if I’d really call myself a hero.

[ He smiled, though, looking more fond than he actually meant to let slip into his expression, and turned his hand a little in Harry’s grip so he could run the pad of his thumb over Harry’s lip. ]

Oh is that what you have a kink for? [ He teased. ] I should probably get you to make me a list.

I disagree. So there's another reason, why you're a better person than me.

( he doesn't say it with any fraction of sincerity or seriousness — just trying to lighten the rather dark topic of fox's death, while making sure to let nothing slip of his own undeniable fate.

he tilts his head into fox's hand. )

You want a list of kinks? ( he, unexpectedly to even himself, lets out a jovial laugh. ) Consider me a blank canvass, for you to paint your worst kinks on. All the dark stuff comes out during Sanguis. My boyfriend Jin Ling would tell you — actually he'd probably blush and get angry, if you asked him. It's really cute.

Yeah, yeah, sure. [ He doesn't seem super put out by it, but also clearly doesn't believe it, and he's happy to let the conversation move on.

He grins when Harry laughs, feeling very relieved, finally convinced that he did the right thing by coming over, if only to see Harry happy. He scrubs the boy's cheek fondly, green eyes meeting green as his grin makes the edges of his eyes crinkle. ]

That would make two of you, then. Though I think I'm going to have to give you a lecture about safe kink exploration, [ He teased, giving that cheek a pinch. ]

Do you have pictures? Show me this boyfriend of yours. He sounds like a Tsundere.

Oh, yes, teach me your kinky ways, Professor.

( he really wishes he didn't say 'professor', but. once it's out of his mouth, there it is. huffing a little laugh, he raises a hand to bat fox's pinch away, settling instead to turn himself, pressing his back to fox's side as he leans over, feet kicked up on the couch. )

I don't know what that is, but yes, I do.

( scrolling through his phone, he picks out an angled shot of jin ling — grass green beneath him, a smile plastered on his face while a very handsome looking dog takes a big lick against his chin. he's dressed in fancy, ancient robes, all white and accented with gold details. harry flickers through to the next picture, this one a candid of jin ling and another boy in fancy robes, blue in place of his yellow. they're both very cute! )

Jin Ling — and that's Lan Sizhui, his boyfriend.

Ahh, teacher-student kink, adding that one to the list, [ He said with a laugh.

He loops an arm easily around Harry's chest as the boy leans against him, and then leans a little himself to better see the images on the phone. Ah, he was cute. He could see them being very cute together. ]

It means someone that acts like they don't like someone or something when they actually really do. They tend to get pretty sappy eventually.

[ He grinned as he watched the next picture flick over, then raised an eyebrow. ]

Your boyfriend's boyfriend?

[ He doesn't sound judgmental, to be clear, but he does sound a little surprised. ]

You guys poly, or...?

Ah — yeah, that does sound like him. Especially the sappy bit.

( a kind of noncommittal sound escapes him at the question and prodding — it's plain to see that harry himself doesn't much understand his own situation, but he also hasn't lingered on it for any extended amount of time. there's too many complications that come along with being in a relationship in the first place — thinking past then just halts his brain entirely.

he shrugs. )

I guess. I'm not sure of labels. ( he closes his phone, lets himself ease closer on fox's chest. ) It'd probably be different if we met at home, but ... ( he waves his hand ) This place. It'll let you have everything you could want, if you know how to take it.

[ Unfortunately for Harry, if there is one driving force behind Fox it is relentless curiosity. ]

This place is definitely something, that’s for sure. But what do you mean it would be different back home? You wouldn’t be together?

[ He just kind of lazily strokes Harry’s chest, letting the moonlacing tingle under his fingertips. ]

I ...

( he wriggles against him, letting himself get more comfortable. sideways, he leans his head back to look at him more directly, a hand floating up to wind around fox's at his chest. )

It's complicated. I mean — we're from different worlds, and he's at least a thousand years in the past, so. Meeting each other would've been impossible. ( he's not too sad about it — it just makes it all the more special that they've met here now. ) Plus, he has a big inheritance, I think, which means he doesn't get to date around. So ...

Plus, I wouldn't exactly say I was interested in dating multiple people back at home. But. ( doesn't matter now! i'm dead! he gives a small smile, that's only sad enough if you stay looking at it for too long. ) This place, that's what I'm saying. You can do what you like, so why wouldn't I? I guess.

[ Luckily for Harry, Fox is not the best at seeing people's underlying mental states. He tends to believe what people tell him on the surface, until he figures out that something doesn't line up. ]

Mm, as long as you're doing what you like and everyone's into it, it isn't a problem.

[ He tilts his head a little, and then presses a finger where he expects Harry's belly button to be. ]

Except that you have already made clear that you probably have massive consent issues, so. You are into it, right?

— Consent issues?

( he's certainly never thought of himself like that, so it's surprising to hear it coming from someone else. it probably makes sense, coming from an outsider — harry doesn't have much leeway over his own life, and that tends to spread into every aspect of it, namely what he would call his more 'go with the flow' attitude. he could get lost in thought in this for awhile, but —

he instead lets out a laugh at the tickle, wriggling away from fox's prodding fingers. )

Yes, yes! I am. That's not what I was trying to say. ( effectively wrangled out of fox's tickling way, harry scoots himself back, lifting up past his lap, to go take a seat on the other side of his thighs. his legs drape over his lap. ) His boyfriend is the best, and he has a girlfriend too, who is really quite lovely. I'm not — really sure it's for me just yet, but I also wouldn't ask him to change. I love us how we are.

... And it's better, if he has many partners. In case I go home, yes? ( he lifts his brow ) Him being looked after is the most important thing. He's chosen good partners that I can trust, so I feel lucky from many different angles.

( probably not how jin ling feels, considering the only real partner harry has had besides him is ... kaz. hm. )

Yeah, I have a pretty good feeling that you’d just say yes to whatever was on offer, which really isnt how consent should work.

[ He pulled Harry’s feet a little more solidly into his lap and then aimlessly started to massage one of his feet, working his thumbs firmly into the muscle. ]

But if it works, it works, I guess. Sounds like a lot of effort to me. But then what would I know. [ He flashed Harry a grin. ]

That sounds - weirdly practical but also sad? It’s not like one person can replace another.

( pleased, he sighs, leaning back on his palms as his head rolls back, eyes falling shut. that's the spot. )

It's not that. ( lazily, he head rolls back — he flashes fox a sleazy smile. ) He just has a big heart, I suppose. One of the many things I do adore about him.

Then you must be more of a one person only. Is that it?

[ Fox hummed thoughtfully as he worked his thumbs into Harry’s foot, then shook his head. ]

No, not even that. Not really.

It’s a little different here but... just never was a good time or opportunity to date anyone, and not all that much interest. I— I tend to be a lot to handle even just for my friends. So I am careful not to outstay my welcome, you know?

Trying to manage a relationship on top of my studies just sounds like way too much work.

[ He’s lying, a little bit, but not entirely.

It just happened to be effort he would put in for Mingyu, if he thought he really had a chance. If he didn’t think it would ruin everything. ]

First Incantation: un: fox🦊 - text

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject