( Oh, that breaks his heart. Perhaps it's even audible.
He's been curled against Ish like a spoiled child, but here he has to shift - and he moves freely, knowing that even if he loses balance, Ish and his magic will catch him - and he pulls Ish into a hug, Ish's head at his chest, and he presses his cheek to Ish's hair. )
... I wish that'd never happened to you at all.
( He smiles a little bittersweetly, because Ish's story ended hopefully - generously, toward Hwylryn's presence. He wishes Ish had never had to suffer at all. But he's so happy he's met Ish, too, the way he is - contradictions, maybe. )
I wish I could've been there for you then.
( A nonsensical wish - one that falls apart in the mere premise - but sincere, and true.
And he presses forward with further greed: )
... I'm glad that witch is gone. ( He recalls Ish telling him of her fate. But— ) But I want to get rid of those humans, too. It might not change what happened, but I don't like that there's a kingdom founded on your pain. I don't want to allow that.
( Maybe revenge fixes nothing - maybe it heals no wounds. Hwylryn would know this much. But whether or not this revenge does good for Ish's heart...
In the same way he could not simply ignore Snow and White for killing Gwawlyn once they entered his field of view, there's no way he can simply allow things to proceed as they are, when the root of all this is Ish's hurt.
And when he learns of the king who started this conflict later, that his foolish proposal is what harried Norna so much into trying to resolve the conflict this man had triggered - he will only feel more ardently that the fruit borne of these seeds must be cut, and humans must learn to begin anew.
If not for Ish, then for himself. For his pride, as someone who adores Ish with all his heart and all his soul. He could not allow it. )
[ he's said as much before, but ish feels like he can never properly express what hwylryn's affection does for him. it loosens the scars around his chest and warms his heart every single time without fail.
naturally he accommodates the shifting too, using the change in their positioning to run his fingers through tresses of silver. the motion has quickly become a comfort for him even in the short time they've been together.
his mood lightened, he manages to laugh lightly at the suggestion. not manic this time, but amused. ]
I was doing that before I started with this plan where I kidnapped you. But are you sure that's something you want to do? [ ish will only learn in the coming days just how vicious his sweetheart can be. destroying an entire kingdom usually isn't a date topic too. ]
( He presses a little kiss to the triangle of skin between where Ish's hair slicks back and his hair falls over his eye, full of frustration as much as it is love. )
The same way I swore I'd destroy the twins who killed Gwawlyn next time I saw them... How could I let this kingdom prosper when you've had to suffer all this time?
( He had been friends with the twins - or, at the very least, Gwawlyn had been fond of them. Hwylryn had some sentimental attachment that prevented him from wiping them out.
These humans, though, are strangers. Faceless villains profiting off Ish's pain.
He holds Ish so close, so protectively, it's almost as if he seems to feel he's protecting Ish from these enemies as they speak. )
Let me join you. Whoever needs to go— I'll make sure that they do.
( If Ish has a plan, he's happy to play along with it - if this is Ish's catharsis, he only wants to accent it; make it even better. )
[ ahhh, ish feels a little silly thinking that the literal dragon couldn't handle some of the more gruesome things (the first execution seems so far away now). ]
Because I know loss can hurt you. [ that's why they're here like this today, isn't it? though he'll admit that he still doesn't understand how hwylryrn comes to love. ]
But if that's what you want to do, I'm not going to question you.
[ not since their conversation in the second week. of all the things ish knows about hwylryn it's that he's earnest. a particular brand of it, but still true and beautiful.
he presses a light kiss between their lips in emphasis. ]
( An easy answer - said breezily, though what he means is that he condemns them blindly to death. He knows where his own flaw lies; why he has suffered as he has, is suffering as he does, and will suffer in the days coming - it's knowing someone and finding things within them to treasure that does him in. )
Do you remember what Cain said about the people I beheaded?
( He pulls back here, just a little, to look to Ish with a soft gaze - full of adoration. His hands some around to caress Ish's cheek, his jaw... his neck, where it'd been nearly severed. )
I did that all for Balthazar. And I know they must have been people with stories - people I could have come to love. But I didn't want to. And... even if I came to know them, came to like them... I still want to choose you, before all of them.
( It's why he's decided to kill, and reap no benefit but the potential for growth (failing that - to simply collapse under his own grief, if he's not strong enough, not worthy enough, to survive). )
[ oh... hwylryn really does love him, doesn't he? ish has known that of course, but hearing it like this he realizes it fully, that the love hwylryn has for him is special and unique.
he doesn't have the words for that immediately but his cheeks warm into rosy apples, dimpled and happy. ]
...I think you're the one sweeping me off my feet now. [ it's supposed to be the opposite! ]
I don't know what to say, but... thank you. For saying these things, meaning them, and for making me feel like my heart will beat out of my chest.
( Hwyl kisses Ish twice - once on each dimple. Cute... cute....... )
For accepting my love.
( And, well, they both know how it isn't quite a given - to love and have that love received, and held dear, even without hope of being loved in return. )
So if your heart escapes you, I'll just have to catch it. Just like how you've held mine, even as it's felt like breaking.
( He's still mourning - and will be, for awhile yet. But even with his red-rimmed eyes, that he can feel in a way so raw and unfettered toward Ish, and be held by his love in return... it lifts his heart, even as it'd felt heavy and dead against the sea floor. It reminds him of how he'd safely bubbled Akira and Balthazar, and how he'd never expected - and had made peace with - never quite getting the same in return.
He really should be the one thanking Ish, but he does in his own way - in how he kisses him, spoils him, gazes at him; in how he can't stand all the moments without him. This world has been hard on his heart, but - he feels safe held here. And it's nice to know that maybe - if all goes well at the carnival - if all goes well wish Norna, and Ish - there might just be more and more years like this. )
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no subject
He's been curled against Ish like a spoiled child, but here he has to shift - and he moves freely, knowing that even if he loses balance, Ish and his magic will catch him - and he pulls Ish into a hug, Ish's head at his chest, and he presses his cheek to Ish's hair. )
... I wish that'd never happened to you at all.
( He smiles a little bittersweetly, because Ish's story ended hopefully - generously, toward Hwylryn's presence. He wishes Ish had never had to suffer at all. But he's so happy he's met Ish, too, the way he is - contradictions, maybe. )
I wish I could've been there for you then.
( A nonsensical wish - one that falls apart in the mere premise - but sincere, and true.
And he presses forward with further greed: )
... I'm glad that witch is gone. ( He recalls Ish telling him of her fate. But— ) But I want to get rid of those humans, too. It might not change what happened, but I don't like that there's a kingdom founded on your pain. I don't want to allow that.
( Maybe revenge fixes nothing - maybe it heals no wounds. Hwylryn would know this much. But whether or not this revenge does good for Ish's heart...
In the same way he could not simply ignore Snow and White for killing Gwawlyn once they entered his field of view, there's no way he can simply allow things to proceed as they are, when the root of all this is Ish's hurt.
And when he learns of the king who started this conflict later, that his foolish proposal is what harried Norna so much into trying to resolve the conflict this man had triggered - he will only feel more ardently that the fruit borne of these seeds must be cut, and humans must learn to begin anew.
If not for Ish, then for himself. For his pride, as someone who adores Ish with all his heart and all his soul. He could not allow it. )
no subject
naturally he accommodates the shifting too, using the change in their positioning to run his fingers through tresses of silver. the motion has quickly become a comfort for him even in the short time they've been together.
his mood lightened, he manages to laugh lightly at the suggestion. not manic this time, but amused. ]
I was doing that before I started with this plan where I kidnapped you. But are you sure that's something you want to do? [ ish will only learn in the coming days just how vicious his sweetheart can be. destroying an entire kingdom usually isn't a date topic too. ]
no subject
( He presses a little kiss to the triangle of skin between where Ish's hair slicks back and his hair falls over his eye, full of frustration as much as it is love. )
The same way I swore I'd destroy the twins who killed Gwawlyn next time I saw them... How could I let this kingdom prosper when you've had to suffer all this time?
( He had been friends with the twins - or, at the very least, Gwawlyn had been fond of them. Hwylryn had some sentimental attachment that prevented him from wiping them out.
These humans, though, are strangers. Faceless villains profiting off Ish's pain.
He holds Ish so close, so protectively, it's almost as if he seems to feel he's protecting Ish from these enemies as they speak. )
Let me join you. Whoever needs to go— I'll make sure that they do.
( If Ish has a plan, he's happy to play along with it - if this is Ish's catharsis, he only wants to accent it; make it even better. )
no subject
Because I know loss can hurt you. [ that's why they're here like this today, isn't it? though he'll admit that he still doesn't understand how hwylryrn comes to love. ]
But if that's what you want to do, I'm not going to question you.
[ not since their conversation in the second week. of all the things ish knows about hwylryn it's that he's earnest. a particular brand of it, but still true and beautiful.
he presses a light kiss between their lips in emphasis. ]
no subject
( An easy answer - said breezily, though what he means is that he condemns them blindly to death. He knows where his own flaw lies; why he has suffered as he has, is suffering as he does, and will suffer in the days coming - it's knowing someone and finding things within them to treasure that does him in. )
Do you remember what Cain said about the people I beheaded?
( He pulls back here, just a little, to look to Ish with a soft gaze - full of adoration. His hands some around to caress Ish's cheek, his jaw... his neck, where it'd been nearly severed. )
I did that all for Balthazar. And I know they must have been people with stories - people I could have come to love. But I didn't want to. And... even if I came to know them, came to like them... I still want to choose you, before all of them.
( It's why he's decided to kill, and reap no benefit but the potential for growth (failing that - to simply collapse under his own grief, if he's not strong enough, not worthy enough, to survive). )
no subject
he doesn't have the words for that immediately but his cheeks warm into rosy apples, dimpled and happy. ]
...I think you're the one sweeping me off my feet now. [ it's supposed to be the opposite! ]
I don't know what to say, but... thank you. For saying these things, meaning them, and for making me feel like my heart will beat out of my chest.
no subject
( Hwyl kisses Ish twice - once on each dimple. Cute... cute....... )
For accepting my love.
( And, well, they both know how it isn't quite a given - to love and have that love received, and held dear, even without hope of being loved in return. )
So if your heart escapes you, I'll just have to catch it. Just like how you've held mine, even as it's felt like breaking.
( He's still mourning - and will be, for awhile yet. But even with his red-rimmed eyes, that he can feel in a way so raw and unfettered toward Ish, and be held by his love in return... it lifts his heart, even as it'd felt heavy and dead against the sea floor. It reminds him of how he'd safely bubbled Akira and Balthazar, and how he'd never expected - and had made peace with - never quite getting the same in return.
He really should be the one thanking Ish, but he does in his own way - in how he kisses him, spoils him, gazes at him; in how he can't stand all the moments without him. This world has been hard on his heart, but - he feels safe held here. And it's nice to know that maybe - if all goes well at the carnival - if all goes well wish Norna, and Ish - there might just be more and more years like this. )