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Asbolus: Asbolus' corner of the motley household was a tidy little thing, the room kept neat with a few burgeoning signs of personal touches here and there - the bookshelves that had been previously in his hollow with their contents added to since he now had the funds available to do so, one of Nevermore's prints hanging near his bed, and most notably for this evening was an antique full-body mirror on the wall close to the door. It was before that mirror that Asbolus stood...in a sense, at least. Gone was the keen sharpness of his mien, the edges smoothed out and the weight of the City's touch upon him wiped clean. His face sported a well-kept beard and his hair was quite a bit longer, the waves of curls-to-be turning it into an almost leonine mane.
The Darkling was quiet as he observed his reflection, eyes flitting here and there as though he was looking for something. What that was, though...now that was the question.
Lux: There's soft footsteps from the hallway, which pause outside the door to Asbolus' bedroom. After a few seconds its followed up by a light knock.
Asbolus: "Come in" was the quiet reply, that pale gaze still on the mirror for the moment.
Lux: The door opens gently, and Lux steps inside. They're wearing brightly colored leggings and an oversized sweater, unraveled in places, hanging down off one shoulder. Their glow is just a bit more green than it once was, less yellow, but still not the pure green of the City's light. Right now, anyway.
Lux nudges the door closed behind them, looking Asbolus over, taking in the image of his mask. "...Hey."
Asbolus: Asbolus turned to look towards Lux as they entered, a small but warm smile on his face. "Evening. Apologies if this is off-putting...I know you haven't met him yet."
Lux: "No need to apologize," Lux assures, smiling softly. "It's a good look." They step further into the room, moving to sit down on the bed, looking up at him. "Still not... feeling well?"
Asbolus: "It is, I will say that." He nodded, eyeing the mirror one last time before moving to sit on the bed beside them. "Yes. I've let him know we need to speak but haven't been able to meet with him yet. Hopefully soon."
Lux: They reach over to take Asbolus' hand, squeezing gently. "Good. Seems like a talk will do you good." They watch him a moment. "Do you want to tell me why you're like this?"
Asbolus: "It usually does." A soft, shaky smile settled into place as Lux took his hand, giving theirs a small squeeze in return. "A seed planted by a conversation with Alex a night or two prior. What it might be like to quiet the Wyrd for a time and be...normal."
Lux: They listen, frowning softly. Their fingers lace through his to squeeze a bit more snuggly, thumb brushing across the back of his hand. "Is that... what you want?"
Asbolus: "No." He shook his head quietly before looking back to Lux. "If I put that part of me aside there wouldn't be anything left worth calling a person. Just a shell, the frame She used to make her hunting dog."
Lux: They smile, relieved to hear that. "What do you feel, when you look at yourself like this?"
Asbolus: "It's hard to pin down, honestly. On one level it's...comforting, seeing what could have been if I hadn't been taken that night. Thinking about if I would have followed his path and taught others the same love for the stage that was endeared in us."
Lux: "Hm. Maybe." Their head tilts a bit. "I think you would be good at it. But at least it's something you can share with him."
Asbolus: "It is. That's something I kept at least." He paused for a long moment, looking towards the wall but at nothing in particular. "That was what broke Her hold on me long enough to get out, in truth. On the last run I did I came across a copy of a play that I had always been fond of, and that jogged enough of a memory of who I had been. Those I had come to retrieve let me come with them instead."
Lux: "What play was it?" They rest their head on his shoulder.
Asbolus: "Coriolanus, by Shakespeare." Asbolus turned to lightly kiss the top of Lux's head before resting his own against theirs. "It's a story of a Roman general whose fortunes rise and fall on his skills on the field and the enemies he makes along the way because of it. It doesn't end well for him, admittedly, but there was always one line that stuck out to me. I talk of you: Why did you wish me milder? Would you have me false to my nature? Rather say I play the man I am."
He went quiet once again, taking comfort in Lux's presence as the words swirled around in his mind like a snow globe set into a paint shaker. "I thought I knew who that man was at one point." He finally said, his voice quiet. "Now I'm not so sure."
Lux: Their expression shifts to introspective, looking down at the ground for a moment. Then up at him, smiling softly again. "I think it's okay to not know. We are... new. New people. Whole new lives, different from who we were. We get to choose who we are, so... it makes sense that what we want would change over time. Sometimes without us even being concious of it."
Asbolus: "Mmm...true." He looked down to them, a small smirk on his face. "It feels so...nebulous, I suppose. Too many options to take, and feeling unsure if it's the right one."
Lux: "Who says there is a right one?" Their shoulders lift. "Maybe its just me, but... I like having so many options. Feeling... like anything is possible."
Asbolus: "I feel overwhelmed by it at times. Not that I want to go back to being told what to do, mind, but it can be intimidating."
Lux: They look up at him. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Asbolus: "Being here like this helps. Having someone to talk things through with, rather than letting it rattle around up here until it just makes a mess." He lifted his other hand to tap his temple gently, smirking a touch. "I know I need some work asking for that kind of help, but I appreciate it when it comes."
Lux: "I get it." They smile softly. "I do too."
Asbolus: "And you know you have an open invitation to speak with me if you need to." He smiled in return, heartfelt if a little on the brittle side in that moment. He spared the mirror a brief glance before looking back down to Lux. "Suppose I should take this off, hmm?"
Lux: Lux hesitates, then just nods faintly before smiling wider. "Only if you want to. I don't mind, really."
Asbolus: "You did mention wanting to see what I looked like with longer hair at one point." He chuckled, briefly running a hand through it. "Not so sure on the beard, though...it suits him, but not so much for me."
Lux: Lux lifts their head to peer at him a moment, lips quirking. Their hand lifts to ruffle up his hair playfully. "I definitely like it. It makes you look... part wild, part regal." Then a little scritch at his jaw, feeling the beard. "I dunno. I kinda like it."
Asbolus: His smile widened as Lux mussed his hair, a little content hum slipping out at the scritching of the beard. "Wild and regal, eh...I'll take that. And that does feel rather good..."
Lux: His reaction makes them grin, continuing the gentle scritching for a moment before they lean in to kiss him softly on the cheek. "No matter how you look, I'll always love you. So do what feels best for you."
Asbolus: "And I you." He turned to look at them with a quiet smile, leaning forward to kiss them lightly on the forehead. "I'll leave it for the moment, if only so you can continue playing with it if you'd like."
Lux: Lux nods, then nods down to the bed. "Want to lay down for a while? I'll hold you, and play with your hair and beard."
Asbolus: "Sounds good to me." He stood to let Lux get comfortable first before sliding in beside them, watching the light that shone from them for a moment as he got settled before meeting their eyes with a small smile. "Thank you for this."
Lux: Lux contently settles in, wrapping an arm around him fingers of the other hand seeking out his hair to comb fingers through. "Anytime, Bobo."
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