𝚒𝚗𝚋𝚘𝚡 — 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚗𝚒𝚊.

[sacral]

EVEN WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS

Comments

[sacral]

...by divining his blood.

[hallowedly]

My dear Subaru-kun, aren't we past pretending at the virgin bride? This is nothing your clan hasn't done for the Koushitsu for years.

[sacral]

I'm not disavowing it.

[hallowedly]

Then?

[sacral]

I'll perform it.

Though already, I can tell you that invocation was made by choice.

[hallowedly]

Keeping busy?

[salaryman]

I'm coming to find how sheltered I have been.

[ A laugh - or one that he forces. It has the sound of canned laughter from a sitcom. ]

Drained, if I'm honest. Drained from emotions that aren't even mine and horrors that I've not ever experienced.

[sacral]

It was only a matter of listening.

[hallowedly]

You keep loving hopeless things.

[sacral]

It's nothing to feel ashamed of. [ Likewise, platitudes softened. ] Most people experience things like you have.

[ Anything else is, well. Not normal. ]

Do you want me to take it away from you?

[sacral]

Maybe so.

[ He doesn't intend to stop. ]

[hallowedly]

As for my small favour, I'm afraid it comes with limitations: look, but don't touch.

( For whatever curse sleeps on it to consume two would be — )

After all, our happy little family isn't at the point of sharing assets. But I'm not so crude: bearing in mind I'm but a humble veterinarian incapable of shouldering the Sumeragi fees, what might I owe you?

[sacral]

[ Look, but don't touch. Look. But don't — ]

His blood wasn't meant for you. I expect the cost will already run steep.

[hallowedly]

A fair conclusion.

[sacral]

Then promise me your safety.

[hallowedly]

Of all the things.

[sacral]

It's what I want.

[hallowedly]

But I refuse to lie to you.

[sacral]

Do you?

[hallowedly]

I've not lied to you a moment since our bet ended.

[sacral]

Then...

Do you want to know? If you have the blood of a dead god on your hands?

[hallowedly]

( Gritted. Teeth. ) You might as well ask for my right eye again.


( Already hopelessly compromised. )

[sacral]

[ A hoisted guillotine's blade, flashed by way of guilt, glinting — to think that he'd nearly had his left, too. Still: ]

Bring the blood to me.

[ In one piece. ]

[hallowedly]

And where is your place of business nowadays?

[sacral]

[ A silent sensation, not as accurate as a tether but still commanded through the Murmur's intrusion all the same: a building in Chelsea, its arched doorway red as a torii gate. ]