Desire

*watches her tears fall, brows creased in confusion, then sympathy*

Outliving... Ah. I see.

*withdraws his hand, uncertainty in his eyes now*

Still, that is several decades in which you could be happy. You could love, and be loved. Don't you want that?

+
No scratches. No bruises. Tell me: your beloved won't do these things for you, will he?

*fingers curl around Illario's throat and squeeze, not to choke but enough that he feels the pressure*

But I will. Ask me again, sweet thing.

*eyes darken further with each request, deep amber tinted red when they catch the light*

You know exactly what you want. That is... refreshing.

*runs his fingertips down Illario's cheek, then down his neck, pausing at his pulse with a curious tilt to his head*
+

+
*lays a hand over Illario's on his hip, fingers lightly caressing the backs of his fingers, more comfortable now that they are back in familiar territory*

What is it you truly want? You can tell me. Anything at all.

*eyes narrow with a flicker of suspicion, but tilts his head with curiosity at the purr*

Well, you've certainly changed your tune, pretty thing. And what makes you think I won't leave you bleeding just as soon as your... friend here leaves us alone together, hmm?
+

You misunderstand me. *raises a hand gently to her face, brushing away a tear* I don't mean the choice whether to live or die. I mean the choice of whether to do so alone.

*his voice seems to echo very slightly* You have carried your burdens for so long, haven't you? Poor, sweet thing.

+
*glances at Envy with a flicker of guilt, then back at Illario. One hand rises as if to reach out, an instinctive reflex to offer comfort, but then he hesitates*

I shouldn't have come here. If you will not force me to fight my way out... I should leave and seek my prey elsewhere. Far from here.

*silently absorbs the man's unexpected confession before looking over, dark eyes unreadable*

No wonder you are so attached to your amor. And I expect he feels the same way about you. Shared grief is a powerful thing.
+

*watches the storm of grief in her eyes, his expression impassive but for a very slight frown at the kiss*

There is always a choice, lethal'lan. Some choices are just... easier than others.

+
*steps away from the bed, looking out of the window and muttering almost to himself*

This was a mistake. A miscalculation I will not repeat.

*smile sharpens at Illario's words, before his cold dark eyes fix back on Envy*

I never asked for your help, little one. Your intentions are good, I know. But not all of us wish to change as you have. I like what I am.
+

So young... *undisguised sorrow in his eyes, fascinated by her story* And alone at fourteen? Not much younger than he was.

*hand tightens a little around hers* But you survived. You persisted, despite it all.

*his hand tenses, as if to pull away, but something flickers behind his eyes and he leaves it in hers—not gripping back but not recoiling either*

You have felt the same pain, haven't you? Is that why you're so drawn to him? A kindred spirit, forged in blood? How fascinating.

+
I wouldn't have succeeded, of course. We both know that. But we would have had /such/ fun in the trying. *smiles slowly, eyes flickering down Illario's body and back up to his face* I was looking forward to finding out if the Lesser Dellamorte was greater in... other ways. More's the pity.

Perhaps I will. I tire of this game. *stands, fluid and graceful, and turns to look balefully down at the human sitting on the bed* I was going to kill you, you know. Use this pretty, pretty face to get close enough to bleed you dry.

*dark eyes flick to Envy with a mirthless chuckle*
+

*eyes flicker, uncertain and defensive without truly knowing why, drawing away as his voice grows colder and sharper with every word*

I... I am content as I am. As I have been for as long as I can remember. Why should I change? Because this form disturbs some mortal and his pet demon?

Yes. *his voice shakes very slightly as the man's grief bleeds through the spirit's facade* I found him in the ashes, the only living soul for miles. He gave me his heart and in return, I gave him revenge. *smiles sadly* Not a fair trade for a mother's love, but... better than a lonely death.

*shakes his head slowly, rueful smile still in place* I am what he might have been, if he'd made a different choice.

*tilts his head, dark eyes carefully watching hers without blinking* He was grieving, terrified, alone. I offered my hand, and he took it.

*glances briefly down at his bare wrist, his eyes narrowing slightly, a flicker of something almost like guilt in their depthsㅡhe hadn't intended to hurt this one, but clearly he miscalculated*

Ah. *inclines his head with a rueful smile* It appears our game is over. I concede. Well played, hermosa.

+
*silent now, he watches the two of them with an almost envious expression, unused to seeing such compatibility and respect between a spirit and its host*

*smiles sadly*

I hope you lie better than that to your zorro cariño.

*smile fades as Envy speaks of experiences that are all too familiar, but something piques his interest*

Admiration? That is where you began? *tilts his head* Then we are not so different after all. Just... different paths.
+

*withdraws his hand with a sharp hiss of pained surprise, revealing sharp teeth of his own for a fraction of a second, before his expression shifts to a look of hurt and betrayal*

I never said that. Amor, why would you say such a thing?

*understanding dawns*

I see. You resisted because you don't need me. Not like he did. Your pain can't be undone so easily.

*brow furrows in sympathy, dark eyes flicking to Envy with something almost like pity*

Sweet thing. Your purpose has changed so many times, hasn't it? You must be exhausted.

You did not want it? The power, the freedom? *still confused, a creature that has never been denied*

He invited me in. Desperate, hungry, frightened. I gave him hope. I gave him love.

*blinks slowly, considering*

He was never your Santiago. So why are you trying so hard to reach him?

*raises his head, the deception finally falling away in the face of such unexpected kindness*

I... I don't understand.

*dark eyes shift to Envy, comprehension dawning* Oh. You know what I am because you're like me. Like us. But you are... two. Separate. How?

Of course. How could I forget?

*smiles softly, a hand sliding up her neck to cradle her jaw, dark eyes following the motion of his thumb stroking gently across her lower lip*

I still cannot believe that someone as lovely as you has chosen me.

Will you stay by my side? | Forever.

*dark eyes flicker, holding Illario’s gaze without blinking for just a moment too long*

Fen’Harel? He rebelled against the other gods and trapped them behind the Veil. I-It was always my favourite story.

*bows his head, eyes hidden behind his curls, breath hitching as if holding back tears*

Of course, preciosa.

*eyes narrow very slightly at the obvious tension in her posture, confident smile remaining as he raises his hands to unfasten the buttons, shirt falling open to reveal smooth unblemished skin*

*eyes darken as he watches her fingers working the buttons open, exhaling sharply at the nip*

We certainly would not. It could be heated again, of course, but what a terrible waste of time we could be spending... otherwise engaged. *begins to slide the half-unfastened shirt down over her shoulders*