#thr 4 angelictragedy

[bluestringpuppeteer]

Festivities seemed to be a favorite of the people who lived in this place, taking every opportunity to celebrate and party. It's... odd, for a man who grew up without anything to celebrate on a world where there were few enough reasons to do so for normal people. He's learning to relax and enjoy himself, slowly but surely, and it's helped along by Knives' eagerness to do the same as long as it's with him.

Instead of dismissing the festivities outright and only acknowledging them when his job called him to, he actually looks into what's going on beforehand.

Granted, most of the events aren't something he's interested in attending. One or two, perhaps, but it's not until he sees the description of tapestries woven to represent one's home that something actually calls to him. He... wants to see what home would look like, woven out before him, just for him.

But also, 'home' wouldn't mean anything without his partner, the one being he loves more then anything else.

"Knives," he asks softly, padding out into the garden to find him fussing over his plants. It's still terribly odd to see Millions Knives with dirt up to his elbows and smeared across his cheek, but it makes something in his chest warm every time.

"Have you looked at the festivals the Aercons have planned? Is there... anything you might be interested in attending?" Not yet consistently bold enough to make a request or a suggestion outright, but if Knives had already picked something out he would of course go along. And if he hadn't, well, that left him an opening to present his idea, didn't it?

@angelictragedy

[bluestringpuppeteer]

Legato, for all of his unease about taking what he wants, is still quick to tilt his head up and press his nose and mouth against the pale throat of his angel. When it's so clearly presented to him, it's impossible to resist.

Nai himself is impossible to resist of course, but that's besides the point.

"Tomorrow," he mutters against Nai's throat. "We can go tomorrow. Right now we should go inside, where we can close the door." It's a little easier to be bold when he's got his face hidden against Nai's skin, he's shrouded by feathers, and his skin is tingling with the touch of his angel's hands.

Besides, Nai's touch helps him not to think of other hands on his skin and that is always worth delaying an outing for.

"Upstairs? Please? We can go out later, make a day of it..."

Nai happily purrs at the clear distraction, pleased the other was coming to know his love was boundless and all encompassing. It's not to say he doesn't want to share his life mate with platonic kin, he wants his love to have a community, but...

"Mmm... We should part soon then... For the sake of a tapestry...." He doesn't move, however, pressing into the hands in his hair, baring his throat with shameless ease as he keeps the human flush to his frame, greedy for contact, for affection given and received.

He was hopeless when around Legato.

[bluestringpuppeteer]

Legato shudders at the feeling of teeth on his ear, breath catching in his throat and heat tinting the skin even more red as he flushes. If Nai keeps that up, they're definitely not making it to making a tapestry in the near future, and he lets his angel know by letting out a tiny, high noise in his throat.

"Nai..." He breathes the name with reverence and adoration and a tiny amount of sheepish heat. Can anyone blame him though? His lover is very distracting.

"You are making it very difficult to want to get up and go anywhere, you realize." He reaches to curl his fingers into feathers, then up to drag through dark hair. "As nice as a tapestry would be to have, I am beginning to believe that maybe I should just never leave this spot instead."

Nai huffs at the insecurity, growling ever so faintly through his purring, a light teasing note as he nibbles delicately on the other's ear.

"If I ever stop proving my devotion and love to you, I'm already dead." Lips press feather kisses to the man's now red skin, nosing the hair just above. "I will double my efforts if you fear a piece of cloth made with the song of our hearts will cease my affections." He let wings envelope them both, curling tight as arms squeeze the human.

"You are mine. The tapestry is simply there to show you my heart sings with yours when I am off gathering my next armful of gifts for you." Speaking of, he needed to collect some things whilst out, if they had the chance to. Perhaps he will plan another time instead, when his love won't see until it's too late to return them.

[bluestringpuppeteer]

He doesn't like the thought of a world without Knives in it, doesn't like the idea of Plants having an end to them. But of course everything dies eventually and everything ends. The black hair of his angel says it all loud and clear.

But it won't be a world that Legato will see anyway, so he supposes that's alright.

He all but purrs at the kisses across his face, a soft noise in the back of his throat as his eyes close in pleasure at the simple affection. There's no room for dire thoughts right now.

"Will you stop proving it to me? If we have a tapestry? If that is the case then I don't want one after all." It's mostly a tease, though he's pointedly not examining the insecurity it's tied to. No dire thoughts, only warmth and comfort.

He presses close and buries his face against Knives' neck, losing most of his interest in moving for the moment.

Right. Their time is limited, so to speak. But, a hand drifts to his own hair, to the small speck of white that had returned to him and he smiled.

"Even Plants are not immortal, my love. When the time comes, I will join you, as I always would." He kisses the warm temple, the soft cheekbone, when he hears the plea.

"I'd be honored to make one with you, my love." They'd have to discover the size and placement for such things, but he'd be overjoyed to make one. "Perhaps then you can see with certainty my home, is in your arms." Physical things are better than anything else, actions, touch, love, kindness.

What's more physical of something so metaphorical than a tapestry made of their feelings, showing perfection and peace in the embrace of his starlight?

[bluestringpuppeteer]

Legato would be startled and dismayed initially by the words, calling the memory unfair, if he wasn't still being wrapped up by his angel's wings and watching tears slide down his face, feeling his lips claim the human's. With context though, he understands Knives is teasing him, which would have been entirely inconceivable before, so he smiles and tucks himself against the steady chest.

"I am only human my love, but I will do my best to exist as long as I can with you."

And that, in of itself, is still monumental. That he would keep finding reasons to exist, to live, after everything he'd been through. Not just Knives even, though certainly he is a very large part of the desire. Legato is content, happy even, in this existence despite the troubles it brings.

"Make a tapestry with me? Please?"

Nai doesn't take a second to melt into Legato, to press their foreheads together, let his eyes fall shut and open himself entirely to the love of his life.

The memory began to unfold before him, a swirling flooding awareness of warmth and peace. He witnesses himself under a sensation so familiar it felt like a simpler time struck him. It claimed his breath as he watched, as he felt the desire to remain, to not awaken. As he felt his own arms lay claim to the body he resided in, unknowingly mirroring the clinging touch with limbs and wings in the present.

Is that how he looked to Legato? Like he hung the stars in the sky and shone light into the world where darkness lays? It was accurate, that deep well of love, unyielding even in the face of the moss, even when he see's a corpse gurgling at him it was his fault, the love knew the truth and didn't hesitate to push back.

Knives longs to share his own memories, the dozens of times he's captured snippets of smiles, of sunlight resting on the other's skin just right that it looked as if he had a halo. The way his cooking made Nai want to break down and cry from the love he felt made it. He was a strong believer emotions were an ingredient when you cook.

He jolts as he notes tears on his face. Since when was he such a cry baby again? Lips curled in a warm smile, claiming lips that belonged to him with ones that were always claimed by the human since the day they met.

"It is incredibly unfair. That's my home too! I suppose you will just have to share with me for the rest of time." Their embrace, entangled in bed in the warmth of the rising sun. Legato was always home, he hoped his soft, near teasing words - a skill he'd learned under Astarion - would convey the tears were happy ones. It's what the elf does with Roberto.

[bluestringpuppeteer]

Legato isn't sure what triggers this reaction in his lover, brows drawing together in confused concern as he watches Knives, catalogues every shaken movement and tries to piece it into the puzzle he has.

"Again? I- I saved you?" Another thing he doesn't know, from a future he's never seen but that they all have. This, at least, is a good thing he's done, apparently using his power to save Knives from... consuming Vash? Saving Knives is obviously good, even if he had to use his powers on his angel to do so but it's the rest he's confused about.

Well. It's no matter. He has permission to proceed, so he breathes out and tips his forehead against Knives'. The wires are just a way to transmit the charge he needs and here, pressed so close together, he doesn't need them. Skin contact is plenty.

It's like watching an old movie, the kind filmed far before high definition cameras. It's a little grainy and fuzzy but the image is still clear enough. It layers itself over Knives' own perception, like he's seeing it now, experiencing it now, like it's his own memory instead of Legato's.

Darkness and then light as he wakes slowly, eyes cracking open and adjusting to the light of day filtering in through the window. He's warm, comfortable, soft blankets against his skin and a soft furnace pressed up against him. Focus comes and there is Knives, fast asleep beside him. The soft light of a new day gently caresses his relaxed features and makes him seem to glow. There are no lines of stress around his eyes, no hardness or anger to his mouth, no hint of the rage that had once boiled constantly beneath his skin. Only softness, only ease, and he's turned toward Legato in his sleep. They're tangled together to the point that Legato couldn't get up without waking him if he wanted to and god he doesn't want to. There is warmth down to his bones, like soaking in the first wash of sunlight after a freezing night in the desert, and the only thing he wants is to lay here forever and let the warmth fill him. But Knives' blonde lashes flutter and he breathes out and icy blue eyes slowly open. There's no scold or harsh word or even a frown for watching him, only a sleepy hum and warmth in his gaze that matches the one in Legato's bones as he reaches out and tugs the human closer.

The memory fades away but the warmth lingers because this, to Legato, is home. More then any location could ever be, more then any other person could ever be. He doesn't care if others say his devotion is unhealthy or codependent, Knives is and always will be home.

Nai winces as the memory is called forth. The rage, the desperation to keep Vash close, safe, to pull him in like he did their sisters, only to feel himself tearing apart because he never wanted to hurt anyone. To feel his body reel back on it's own accord, to scream as he's torn from his brother, the momentary bond-

The breath he lets out is shaken, though hands tremble he continues to hold the man's face. His savior from another world, from another place in time, still pure, he could still protect him, save him. He remembers rage, insanity. He knows now only gratitude and regret.

"If you truly wish to share and it does not put a strain on you or your mind, I'd love to see anything you chose to share. For you, I trust your judgement. And should you regain the ability to control one's body... I wish you to know you have my consent to save my life again should i do something unbelievably idiotic like try to consume my brother." He tilts those gold eyes to him again, kisses those ever so soft lips with the barest touch.

"I still breathe because of your actions... You became my savior, a debt i will forever reside within." Lips curl softly on the edges as he witnessed the beauty of his beloved human.

[bluestringpuppeteer]

Legato is still unfamiliar with this, this soft, gentle love so freely offered, but he basks in it like a Worm in the early morning sun. He soaks up every ounce of affection Knives offers him and revels in it even while he fights with the dark thoughts of being undeserving, of being lesser, of being tainted trash that is only pulling his angel down to the ground where he shouldn't be.

Today those thoughts are far away, subsumed by sweet touches and tender words and he curls as close as he can get, just to feel a little more of that warmth that sinks into his bones.

He doesn't think too hard about what exactly Knives means by those words. It doesn't really occur to him to do so.

"My power, I lack the ability to control others, which of course I would never do to you again," (he doesn't know he did, to save Knives from being absorbed by Vash when he tried and failed to force Vash into the Plant collective he became) Legato assures him, still wary of using his powers on Knives in any way, least it upset him. But this should be tame enough, right?

"I have regained the ability to connect mentally, to read another's mind and offer my own. I could show you, though it's not as easy or clear as with your feathers." Reading someone else and controlling what they thought they saw or heard or experienced was much easier then actively sharing from his own mind but... he could do it.

"Both." Nai preens as his love melted into the touch, tried to hide at the soft shy offering. "I want to make a home with you, to love and cherish you. To make even more memories than the ones I cling to now." pale lips pepper skin again as he pulls the other close.

"I would love to see the memory. But... How would we even do such a thing?" He seemed confused, fighting through his mind to recall ways to do so. "I've only recovered my wings, they cannot even sharpen. My wires are.... Restrained, so to speak." It was difficult, to adjust to no power, but it was oddly pleasing to him.

He didn't want the rest of them.

[bluestringpuppeteer]

Legato is all but scooped up by a wall of soft white, and he makes a small, surprised noise before relaxing in Knives' hold. He loves it when Knives does this, and if he could possibly purr, he would as he settles happily against Knives' soft warmth.

He's even happier when Knives peppers his face with kisses, leaning into it with eyes squinted shut like a particularly happy cat.

"A home or a tapestry?" He asks quietly, shyly. Either would make him happy. "I uhm... I have a memory in mind, too. It's a good memory. Most of my memories with you are good." Most. Many. More since being away from Noman's Land. Many more when they were away from that land of strife and suffering.

"Do you... want to see?" He offers even more shyly, head ducked into Knives' shoulder.

Nai wasn't sure what he'd expected, but this shy admission was not it. It flusters him, face heating up before the emotion grabs him in a choke hold. He whimpers as his eyes fill with tears, wings manifesting to bundle his precious human close as all other thoughts escape him.

All he could think of in that moment, was his beloved, sweet life mate in his arms finding him home. Just as he found Legato home above all else.

It takes far too much time for him to come back to himself, to find his voice, broken and on the cusp of a sob as it was. He purrs through it, kissing his human's temple, his cheek, his lips as hands cradle that brilliant face that grounds him every day.

"I'd be honored to make one with you, my love." Nai's voice is rough with emotion, but lips curl to a warm smile, one full of love and hope, that same one he's held so strongly since they'd arrived, that only grew brighter since the moss. "And I believe I know just the memory to focus on for my part." Oh, how many he had, though he knew one precious moment meant more to him than the rest.

[bluestringpuppeteer]

Legato had been relieved the struggle with the moss was over, to step out from the strange pillar as though he'd just arrived only with Knives' fingers entwined with his. It answered his looming questions and brought a sense of ease, even as his old desires raged at the inability for him to be truly ended.

Knives seemed to only burn brighter, sharper, and more eager to spend time enjoying whatever could be found of life while they had the opportunity. Exhausting, to an extent, but Legato would never deny him.

At least he slept hard enough not to have or remember nightmares when he was worn out.

"You had something...?" Of course he did. Plants were all about growth, were they not? It made sense that this season would appeal to someone like Knives. Legato idly wondered what Vash was up to.

"Ah, well... I saw something speaking of tapestries, woven to represent someone's home. Apparently, one simply needs to focus on a memory they associate with 'home' and the tapestry weaves itself. I thought..." He pauses, struggling with words, and dips his head to hide behind his bangs.

"You are home," he says quietly, hardly above a whisper. "I couldn't... it would be wrong to make one alone."

Knives had been... Off, since the moss. To die in such a way, at least he was in the arms of his perfect human this time. It was strange, uncomfortable and weird, but he came back, waking with his love in his arms just as they had been when they died. Peace, knowing they were united still.

He however, eagerly pushed for them to live life. the shock of death still being here, still haunting him had him reaching for anything and everything for a piece of life. He'd turned to Astarion for help in a few things, learning of all the celebrations he knew many he wanted to go to.

Yet, the moment he was asked, he instantly sensed this was a branch, the other wanted to reach out, but was still learning. Thus he conveniently found him mind painfully empty.

"I did look into it all. But..." He frowns, clawing at his memory mentally. "I can't seem to remember what I was excited about... It was... Something." He tips his head only to huff, accepting the gap in his memory without more fuss.

"Did you see something you liked? I'd be delighted to join you, as you know. Perhaps on the way to what you want it will jog my mind for what I was previously thinking." He looks hopeful, eyes gentle and wide.