IF WE AMASS ENOUGH SHITPOSTS NO ONE CAN READ OUR SHAME

[conchy]

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[conchy]

[That's the true nature of a promise. Lobelia has made so few in his life, and those he's made have never been broken with the exception of one. The Tower ensured he paid for it, if not in full due to the intervention of the administrators, but Lobelia has no intention of betraying his allegiance to Vergilis. Not now, not ever, no matter how many lives they live together.

Unto hell, until death do they part. Lobelia shifts, bringing his hand to Vergilius' to complete their "vow."]

Je le fais. Heheh! Très bien! You truly are a romantic at heart. Still, you've neglected one very important step of this process, haven't you?

[immortalpoet]

Oh, please.

[The tip of Lobelia's finger feels like it tickles against his own, rough against soft, scarred against unblemished.]

[The question is an answered with a huff, words tinged qith anusement he can't fully hide.]

And what is that? Remind this old guide.

[conchy]

Oh, please! As if you don't know. Don't they say that with age comes wisdom?

[Lobelia holds up his left hand and wiggles his fingers. There's a ring on his middle finger, but his ring finger is conspicuously bare.]

A ring precedes a vow, ma chère âme soeur. Are you so cheap that you would skip on the formalities?

[immortalpoet]

You got me there.

[Maybe he IS cheap. Time to get a Ring Pop.]

[But more seriously, what feels like something of a light comment on the strange binding nature of their relationship has wandered into new territory. A ring to bind them. A physical thing to emphasize the vow. Them made to be bound to one another, and one another alone.]

[The tips of his ears feel warm.]

...Where would I even get one? It's not like such a thing grows on trees.

[conchy]

[Lobelia peeks up at Vergilius, and seeing the flush on his ears, smiles. It was an innocuous comment initially, he's sure, but did Vergilius realize what sort of conversation he was walking into?]

The solution to your problem is simple! Make one.

[Make a whole ass wedding ring?? Hold on, let him explain.]

You have already left a permanent mark on my soul, so why not scar my body to match? Still, any mark you leave on me here is destined to fade... but I did promise you that we would not remain here forever.

[immortalpoet]

[He's looking at him like he's grown another head.]

You're asking me to scar you? As a so-called "ring"?

[what the heck]

[conchy]

Heh! Don't look at me like I've said something strange! Would such a permanent reminder of our bond not be appropriate, given the nature of our arrangement?

[translation: are they not already fucking insane, why not commit to the bit]

[immortalpoet]

[him sighing in being insane why does he have to be insane why wasn't he born in a normal city like a normal person so that things like this wouldn't be happening]

Doesn't that mean you need to return the favor?

[conchy]

Naturellement! In fact, I would be delighted to!

[One more scar to wear is no big deal, is it Vergie?]

[immortalpoet]

[:|]

[Of course he is.]

You don't even have a weapon to make a scar with.

[conchy]

Heh-ahaha!

[No weapon? Please! Lobelia is the weapon. Lifting a hand, Lobelia rapidly snaps his fingers — snap, snap, snap, snap, snap — and slices into the tree looming above them, a rough circle cut into the bark.]

It's a simple matter to carve a pattern into an object... or another person, with my audiomancy. Need I remind you how versatile and wildly powerful my peerless magic is?

[immortalpoet]

[....Right.]

[He stares up at the tree with its garish gashes, before his gaze fixes on Lobelia. Mad magicians and their immense weird sound powers (just Lobelia).]

Don't hype yourself up. [binch] But I get your point. And what would you want me to use? My gladius? I could slice your finger off.

[conchy]

[Please, don't spare him any praise!! Lobelia is certain that somewhere deep, deep down inside of Vergilius, he's very impressed with his abilities. He's gotta be.

As for his question? Lobelia practically giggles (gross) and squeezes Vergilius tight. Cutting his finger off... Ah, he wouldn't mind that one bit, however—]

Je te fais confiance. I know you're quite skilled with a blade. Should you get overexcited and cut my finger off, I won't hold it against you! I'll understand! You can fashion a necklace out of it and wear it for good luck.

[immortalpoet]

[In the most deadpan voice.]

If you say things like that, I'll just cut your hand off for good measure.

[WHY ARE YOU LIKE THISSSSS]

[conchy]

Ah, you're so violent! You aren't romantic at all! Très bien!

[VERGILIUS, DON'T GET HIM WOUND UP]

[immortalpoet]

That reaction is going to get the arm off, now. And I won't reset you by killing you either.

[INB4 HE REALIZES THIS IS GETTING HIM WOUND UP HE KEEPS WALKING INTO THIS]

[conchy]

Heheh! What delightful agonie! You'll keep me alive to savor the pain that much longer, non?! Ahhh! What a wonderful idea!

[Vergilius is so considerate making all these threats of bodily harm. If that isn't foreplay, what is?]

[immortalpoet]

[closing]


[his]

[eyes, hi realization]

I can't stand you.

[conchy]

[How is he supposed to nap when Vergilius has wound him up as tightly as a coil? Lobelia shivers and it's not because he's cold. This is Verg's fault, all of it, and now he has to live with it.]

Je t'aime aussi~

[If nothing else, Lobelia hopes he's proven to be a good distraction for Vergilius in the wake of all that's happened today. It's hard to think about how miserable you are when you're disgusted and fed up, right?]

[immortalpoet]

Mm.

[Where did he go wrong? When did his path lead him here? His sins, the weight of his darkness, it all came to this...the manifestation of a SADOMASOCHIST ON HIS CHEST-!]

[...But its true, it is a distraction. Hard to say if its a good one though.]

...Do you really want a "ring" or are you messing with me?

[conchy]

[Don't worry! He's calming down!! Gradually... Vergilius will still feel those full body tremors by proxy, but at least Lobelia isn't escalating. When in doubt, remember that it could always be worse.]

Mm, why not? Rings are a symbol of des couples everlasting devotion to one another, non?

[They've already made The Accursed Blood Pact, so at this juncture, a shiny ring or even a permanent scar to commemorate it is only appropriate.]

[immortalpoet]

I'm not sure whoever invented that particular ritual expected it to be used for me and you.

[Also he is trying not to focus on those full body tremors. he is trying. Please. Jesus christ. A shaky little sigh.]

I guess it is still devotion of a kind...

[conchy]

[It's fine! This is normal Lobelia behavior! He'll calm down eventually... maybe.]

Still, it's poor form to ask someone for a ring. I would never make such demands of you, rest assured. What you've given me thus far is more than sufficient.

[Lobelia really isn't the kind of guy who would throw a fit and burn all of Vergilius' possessions if he didn't give him a ring. Lobelia is a lot of things, but he isn't that particular shade of unhinged.]

[immortalpoet]

...

[He thinks about it for a long moment. The memories of the past, falling through his hands like sand. His many markings, evidence of the turmoil of his life.]

[So...]

What's one more scar, I suppose...?

[conchy]

[Ah... He could easily drop this conversation and be done with it — Lobelia did give him an out — but could it be that leaving their permanent mark on one another would hold some sort of symbolic meaning for Vergilius too?

Lobelia glances up at him, taking Vergilius' hand in his own and encircling his ring finger with his own.]

Are you quite certain that's what you want? I won't humor any second thoughts.