Well, firstly… I think we need to drum up some wedding vows. The most romantic kind, an endearment of true love.
And secondly, we might need rings. Thankfully… [He holds up a hand, wiggles his fingers where several rings adorn them. Just goth things.] I have more than enough for the two of us. Want to borrow one?
[Oh, well. They're set on rings and then some. Even if he can't make out Declan's clearly.
He ceases his fiddling with a donut pillow, retracting his cane and leaning on it again.]
In romance, perhaps. But in eloquence? I very much doubt that. You need only find the enthusiasm.
[And if that enthusiasm is not necessarily directed at getting married to him, well, he won't hold it against him.]
Pretend you are putting together an ode to your... favorite invention. Declare how much you love it, how much you'd hate to be without it, and turn that sentiment towards me.
[ That sounds... very silly, but for Declan, it might just work. At the very least, it will be enough to pull him out of his awkwardness enough to compose anything at all. ]
Alright... are we taking a moment to figure this out, then?
[It may seem silly, but silly is probably what Declan needs to get over this hump of embarrassment.]
If you like. I can come up with something off the top of my head, I think. But if you'd like to... take a seat... on our very interesting furniture and ponder, I won't rush you.
I've rented the room for the whole night, after all.
[ Of course V can just come up with wedding vows on the fly. As if this wasn’t strangely intimidating enough. He makes another face, digging around under the glove on his right hand to tug free a ring that probably started life as a somewhat unremarkable signet ring, but has clearly undergone some kind of Declan-flavored upgrade. The gears move soundlessly, the inset gem swirling with some sort of untapped power.
He sets it on the small table near the couch to be used later in their “ceremony”. ]
Just… give me a few moments. I should be able to come up with something decent.
[ This isn’t for him, he has to remind himself. It’s for a pair of lost souls long separated by the cruelties of life and death. While this is outside his usual adventuring wheelhouse, he can make it work for their sake. ]
[Well, no one said they were going to be good wedding vows, but he has faith that he can flourish them up to sound nice enough. Nice enough to ease a spirit's woeful discontent, at least.]
As I said, take your time.
[V can't help his curiosity. He leans forward a little, to get a better look at the ring on the table.]
This is an interesting ring of yours.
[He supposes he should remove one of his, too, and he twists a large silver ring off his own finger, setting it down.]
Ah, that? It provides me with a bit of extra magic when I would otherwise be unable to cast. My own design, of course.
[ He smiles a bit. V wasn’t wrong to turn the subject to Declan’s inventions, because talking about them in any capacity always brings a smile to his face. They are his pride and joy, after all. For just a moment, the awkwardness melts away completely. ]
Now then… let me think.
[ And think he shall, finding someplace unobtrusive and hopefully not terribly questionable to sit. He turns over what V said in his head, and figures with all the things he and Adelaine have been through in Barovia, he can say more than enough to constitute a declaration of love. ]
[His own design. Of course. More cleverness from Declan — even with something as small as a ring.]
Useful. And very aesthetic.
[He likes the look!
But while Declan brainstorms, V does the same, never mind what he said about crafting wedding vows off the top of his head. But he’s ready by the time his friend is, who has seem to have lost his edge of awkwardness somewhere in the process.]
[ That loss of the awkwardness seems to have been temporary at best. Declan fiddles with his gloves a bit. ]
Do we need to...? [ He lifts his hands, the gesture asking if they should, you know, hold hands? Also he should probably remove his gloves, if only to make the exchange of rings a bit easier.
(He has not yet considered the possible exchange of mana.)
So, gloves gone. Hands awkwardly extended. Lets do this??? ]
Edited (repetition my old nemesis) 2023-06-29 05:01 (UTC)
[The idea of mana exchange being a thing has also slipped V’s mind for now, too. Don’t worry. They’ll both be unduly reminded.]
Hold hands? Yes.
[And so he reaches out, his darkly-tattooed hands gently grasping Declan’s own, and—
Oh. There it is again, that feeling sweeping over him. Warm. Content. Nigh dizzying. It almost makes him sway on his feet. How could he have forgotten? He—]
I… nearly forgot about this. Now, talk about an undue distraction.
[ Oh, yes. The mana exchange and the feeling that comes with it is pretty quick to remind them both of its presence. Declan's cheeks almost instantly go flush, but more out of the sense of warmth than embarrassment. ]
As had I. I don't... mind it too much, though.
[ Idly, he draws his thumb over the back of V's hand. ]
[Not that this was going to be difficult for V, but there's an ease of comfort that takes away the edge of silliness that comes with doing this in a candy-themed room. Maybe that'll help with convincing the spirit of their romantic love? Either way, he isn't inclined to overthink it too much.
He feels warm, too. When Declan drifts his thumb across the top of his hand, V squeezes his fingers gently.]
Helps with the feeling of being hopelessly in love, right? Now then... Shall I go first? Or do you wish to?
[ V, you can’t just say things like that to Declan, whose feelings have been everywhere the past few weeks thanks mostly to you. (And Juniper, though that’s much more easily sorted in his brain.) The blush on his cheeks goes a little darker, and his gaze flits away, almost shyly. ]
[Oh... is Declan being shy again? That's a bit cute; it seems certain traits remain steadfast even after a mana exchange.
So does V's fearlessness when it comes to (fake but necessary) declarations of love. Though this is not a poem, he speaks it with the inflection of a man reciting something flourishing and dear to him:]
Declan, tonight I stand here before you, my heart overflowing with love and admiration. We have been through... so much together- [Have they tho.] -and I cannot believe how far we've come. You are the absolute love of my life, and I am blessed to commit myself to this marriage. Blessed by your ingenuity, your kindness, and your very handsome face. [Help, maybe these vows are not 100 percent serious, but they are at least 80 percent seriously-declared.] But what I am blessed by most is how you have opened up my lonesome heart and changed my life for the better.
Indeed, I am a better man for knowing you. I cannot imagine what I would have been should our paths never have crossed. Together, may we tackle anything that life throws at us. I love you more than even the words the most eloquent poet may put to the page. Still, one can try, and very simply put:
'If a thing loves, it is infinite.' So is my regard for you.
[ It becomes very clear very quickly that Declan was still woefully unprepared for this (fake but necessary) declaration of love. That blush crawls right up his ears and for a very brief moment he considers what it might take to just simply vanish from this plane of reality. The only thing that keeps him anchored is V’s fingers twined around his own, and the thrumming warmth and comfort that accompanies it. (A feeling that he is slowly beginning to associate with V, in general.) ]
I, um. I hardly know what to say.
[ Sure, he thought about it, but what little he came up with feels woefully inadequate. Deep breath. He should have known that V would be a tough act to follow. His eyes drift down to their clasped hands between them. ]
I suppose I’d like to thank you. Your presence has proven invaluable since the moment I met you, and I know that my time here would not be half as entertaining as it has been. [ He breathes out a small laugh. ] I have not your gift for words, but I hope that in spite of that you realize how deeply. Ah. Precious you are to me. And how deeply I… l-love you.
[ HELP HIM. He needs a moment. Another deep breath. ]
So… here I am, your stalwart companion now and forevermore.
[ That better be good enough because that’s all he’s got. ]
Edited (not me noticing i forgot some brackets way after the fact) 2023-06-30 23:50 (UTC)
[Oh. Declan may not say he has the same flourishing gift for words as V, but V thinks that there's eloquence in conciseness, too. And the simple statement of how deeply I love you, really does strike him at his core, even despite knowing that this is just for show. But what a show it is.
Perhaps blame the mana exchange flowing through them, leaving them buoyed in a sense of warmth and contentment. But as Declan continues, ending his statement with the use of stalwart companion, even V feels a little flush creeping up to dust his cheekbones.]
That was actually very... touching, my friend.
[Ah, help. He clears his throat, flicking his gaze away only briefly.]
Stalwart companions forevermore. Shall we exchange our rings, then?
[ Declan hasn't really lifted his eyes from looking down at their hands, so he misses the slight color to V's cheeks and the way he glances elsewhere. ]
Thank you.
[ It didn't feel especially touching. But neither does he think that V is humoring him. Finally his gaze flicks up to his friend, and something twists strangely in his chest. ]
[Maybe V is not used to hearing these kind of declarations sent his way, regardless of its intention or sincerity. And maybe he should have thought about this first, taking the mana exchange into account...
But also, maybe, he finds himself not minding it too much. Despite the way his face has faintly flushed.]
In that case...
[With one hand, he holds gently onto Declan's. With the other, he reaches down to pluck his ring from the table and slip it slowly onto Declan's finger.]
[ Declan gives a little nod, swallowing a bit as V slips the ring onto his finger. It's hard to tell if the mana transfer is making this better or worse, with the way that lingering warmth swells behind his ribs.
Gods above, this is an act, but he's very nearly convinced himself that it could be real.
He spends perhaps a moment too long staring at their hands again before he realizes it's his turn to do the whole ring thing. With a bit of an awkward cough he reaches down to take the remaining ring and slide it onto V's finger in turn. ]
[Help is right. There are an awful lot of lingering glances going on here, even on V’s part, whose eyes are rather fixated on the way Declan slips his ring on his finger. He says, without really thinking about it, just an interesting observation that has his chest feeling like it might swell:]
It fits perfectly.
[And though it’s nothing more than coincidence—and he knows this, logically—how can he not interpret it as both of them being finely tuned together for this particular act?
Finally, eyes flicking back up to Declan-]
Well. Can you not guess? I think we are supposed to… kiss, now.
[ V!! Logically, it’s pretty obvious that it would fit. They’re the same kind of slender, right down to their hands. To their fingers, wound tightly around one another. But even knowing that, the observation makes Declan’s ribs suddenly feel like they’re too tight around his lungs, his heart which is now trying to beat its way free.
This is so dangerous. For a man so starved for affection as he has been, it’s all too easy to want to lean into this, but doing so will make it so much more difficult when the charade is over.
He makes the mistake of glancing up and meeting V’s gaze when he brings up the prospect of kissing, and he feels his face flush impossibly deeper.
[It probably is dangerous for both parties, for different reasons... or perhaps not-so-different reasons. V isn’t exactly a man who experienced much affection in his lifetime, either — or Vergil’s, for that matter.
And maybe that’s exactly why he feels compelled to follow this through to the very end. Surely, the kiss is not necessary, not after exchanging vows and rings. But suddenly, he’s curious, he’s compelled and he simply… wants to. To see what happens, and to see how it makes him feel.
No verbal reply, then. Still holding onto Declan’s hand, V takes his advice — and he leans forward, closing his eyes, to catch his lips against his own.]
[ For all Declan knows, the kiss is necessary, but he also can't help but recall V's answers to Juniper's oh-so-subtle post-date survey. How he said he'd wanted to kiss him but lost the nerve. Was there any truth to that at all?
Perhaps Declan will never get the answer to that particular question, because every time it springs to mind, something else swoops in and takes priority. In this case, an actual kiss. No loss of nerves here, if only because V is swift enough not to let Declan get to that point.
Their lips come together with a pulse of warmth that is in part from another point of contact facilitating the mana exchange, but also in part from something else entirely. It's the former that definitely soothes his nerves, though, and he finds himself practically melting into V. This is... nice. ]
[V remains oblivious of his answers to Juni's survey taking up residence in Declan's mind. Maybe if he had known before now, he would have clarified that he had exaggerated those responses mostly for fun. He might have feared making this even more difficult for friend, otherwise.
Of course, now such thoughts are far from his mind. When their lips meet, there's that feeling blooming behind his ribs again: the mana exchange. But something else lays beneath the surface, too, something a little newer than before, and therefore all the more poignant: a strange little ache of wanting. It makes his heart ratchet up its tempo, where no such thing had ever really happened before.
…Oh. Well. That’s dangerous, isn’t it?
It doesn’t need to be a lengthy kiss; in fact, a peck on the lips probably would have sufficed. But Declan isn’t pulling away, and V finds himself in no hurry to, either. Instead, he just leans in, grips his hand a little tighter, and deepens the kiss — just for a bit. It's probably fine.]
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clockworksoul) wrote2023-04-30 08:50 pm
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And secondly, we might need rings. Thankfully… [He holds up a hand, wiggles his fingers where several rings adorn them. Just goth things.] I have more than enough for the two of us. Want to borrow one?
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As for a ring... I have one.
[ He waggles his fingers at V, though thanks to the half gloves he normally wears, it's hard to pick out any jewelry. ]
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He ceases his fiddling with a donut pillow, retracting his cane and leaning on it again.]
In romance, perhaps. But in eloquence? I very much doubt that. You need only find the enthusiasm.
[And if that enthusiasm is not necessarily directed at getting married to him, well, he won't hold it against him.]
Pretend you are putting together an ode to your... favorite invention. Declare how much you love it, how much you'd hate to be without it, and turn that sentiment towards me.
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Alright... are we taking a moment to figure this out, then?
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If you like. I can come up with something off the top of my head, I think. But if you'd like to... take a seat... on our very interesting furniture and ponder, I won't rush you.
I've rented the room for the whole night, after all.
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He sets it on the small table near the couch to be used later in their “ceremony”. ]
Just… give me a few moments. I should be able to come up with something decent.
[ This isn’t for him, he has to remind himself. It’s for a pair of lost souls long separated by the cruelties of life and death. While this is outside his usual adventuring wheelhouse, he can make it work for their sake. ]
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As I said, take your time.
[V can't help his curiosity. He leans forward a little, to get a better look at the ring on the table.]
This is an interesting ring of yours.
[He supposes he should remove one of his, too, and he twists a large silver ring off his own finger, setting it down.]
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[ He smiles a bit. V wasn’t wrong to turn the subject to Declan’s inventions, because talking about them in any capacity always brings a smile to his face. They are his pride and joy, after all. For just a moment, the awkwardness melts away completely. ]
Now then… let me think.
[ And think he shall, finding someplace unobtrusive and hopefully not terribly questionable to sit. He turns over what V said in his head, and figures with all the things he and Adelaine have been through in Barovia, he can say more than enough to constitute a declaration of love. ]
All right. I think… I think I’m ready.
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Useful. And very aesthetic.
[He likes the look!
But while Declan brainstorms, V does the same, never mind what he said about crafting wedding vows off the top of his head. But he’s ready by the time his friend is, who has seem to have lost his edge of awkwardness somewhere in the process.]
Oh? Well then. Stand before me, and let’s begin.
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[ That loss of the awkwardness seems to have been temporary at best. Declan fiddles with his gloves a bit. ]
Do we need to...? [ He lifts his hands, the gesture asking if they should, you know, hold hands? Also he should probably remove his gloves, if only to make the exchange of rings a bit easier.
(He has not yet considered the possible exchange of mana.)
So, gloves gone. Hands awkwardly extended. Lets do this??? ]
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Hold hands? Yes.
[And so he reaches out, his darkly-tattooed hands gently grasping Declan’s own, and—
Oh. There it is again, that feeling sweeping over him. Warm. Content. Nigh dizzying. It almost makes him sway on his feet. How could he have forgotten? He—]
I… nearly forgot about this. Now, talk about an undue distraction.
[(A fine distraction.)]
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As had I. I don't... mind it too much, though.
[ Idly, he draws his thumb over the back of V's hand. ]
It might make this a bit easier on me.
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[Not that this was going to be difficult for V, but there's an ease of comfort that takes away the edge of silliness that comes with doing this in a candy-themed room. Maybe that'll help with convincing the spirit of their romantic love? Either way, he isn't inclined to overthink it too much.
He feels warm, too. When Declan drifts his thumb across the top of his hand, V squeezes his fingers gently.]
Helps with the feeling of being hopelessly in love, right? Now then... Shall I go first? Or do you wish to?
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… You can go first. If you don’t mind.
[ HELP. ]
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[Oh... is Declan being shy again? That's a bit cute; it seems certain traits remain steadfast even after a mana exchange.
So does V's fearlessness when it comes to (fake but necessary) declarations of love. Though this is not a poem, he speaks it with the inflection of a man reciting something flourishing and dear to him:]
Declan, tonight I stand here before you, my heart overflowing with love and admiration. We have been through... so much together- [Have they tho.] -and I cannot believe how far we've come. You are the absolute love of my life, and I am blessed to commit myself to this marriage. Blessed by your ingenuity, your kindness, and your very handsome face. [Help, maybe these vows are not 100 percent serious, but they are at least 80 percent seriously-declared.] But what I am blessed by most is how you have opened up my lonesome heart and changed my life for the better.
Indeed, I am a better man for knowing you. I cannot imagine what I would have been should our paths never have crossed. Together, may we tackle anything that life throws at us. I love you more than even the words the most eloquent poet may put to the page. Still, one can try, and very simply put:
'If a thing loves, it is infinite.' So is my regard for you.
[how's that]
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I, um. I hardly know what to say.
[ Sure, he thought about it, but what little he came up with feels woefully inadequate. Deep breath. He should have known that V would be a tough act to follow. His eyes drift down to their clasped hands between them. ]
I suppose I’d like to thank you. Your presence has proven invaluable since the moment I met you, and I know that my time here would not be half as entertaining as it has been. [ He breathes out a small laugh. ] I have not your gift for words, but I hope that in spite of that you realize how deeply. Ah. Precious you are to me. And how deeply I… l-love you.
[ HELP HIM. He needs a moment. Another deep breath. ]
So… here I am, your stalwart companion now and forevermore.
[ That better be good enough because that’s all he’s got. ]
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Perhaps blame the mana exchange flowing through them, leaving them buoyed in a sense of warmth and contentment. But as Declan continues, ending his statement with the use of stalwart companion, even V feels a little flush creeping up to dust his cheekbones.]
That was actually very... touching, my friend.
[Ah, help. He clears his throat, flicking his gaze away only briefly.]
Stalwart companions forevermore. Shall we exchange our rings, then?
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Thank you.
[ It didn't feel especially touching. But neither does he think that V is humoring him. Finally his gaze flicks up to his friend, and something twists strangely in his chest. ]
I— yes. We... we should.
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But also, maybe, he finds himself not minding it too much. Despite the way his face has faintly flushed.]
In that case...
[With one hand, he holds gently onto Declan's. With the other, he reaches down to pluck his ring from the table and slip it slowly onto Declan's finger.]
Proof of our vows which bind us together.
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Gods above, this is an act, but he's very nearly convinced himself that it could be real.
He spends perhaps a moment too long staring at their hands again before he realizes it's his turn to do the whole ring thing. With a bit of an awkward cough he reaches down to take the remaining ring and slide it onto V's finger in turn. ]
R-right. Proof of our vows.
[ Help. ]
What now?
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It fits perfectly.
[And though it’s nothing more than coincidence—and he knows this, logically—how can he not interpret it as both of them being finely tuned together for this particular act?
Finally, eyes flicking back up to Declan-]
Well. Can you not guess? I think we are supposed to… kiss, now.
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This is so dangerous. For a man so starved for affection as he has been, it’s all too easy to want to lean into this, but doing so will make it so much more difficult when the charade is over.
He makes the mistake of glancing up and meeting V’s gaze when he brings up the prospect of kissing, and he feels his face flush impossibly deeper.
This is so, so dangerous. ]
… Then you’d better do it before I lose my nerve.
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And maybe that’s exactly why he feels compelled to follow this through to the very end. Surely, the kiss is not necessary, not after exchanging vows and rings. But suddenly, he’s curious, he’s compelled and he simply… wants to. To see what happens, and to see how it makes him feel.
No verbal reply, then. Still holding onto Declan’s hand, V takes his advice — and he leans forward, closing his eyes, to catch his lips against his own.]
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Perhaps Declan will never get the answer to that particular question, because every time it springs to mind, something else swoops in and takes priority. In this case, an actual kiss. No loss of nerves here, if only because V is swift enough not to let Declan get to that point.
Their lips come together with a pulse of warmth that is in part from another point of contact facilitating the mana exchange, but also in part from something else entirely. It's the former that definitely soothes his nerves, though, and he finds himself practically melting into V. This is... nice. ]
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Of course, now such thoughts are far from his mind. When their lips meet, there's that feeling blooming behind his ribs again: the mana exchange. But something else lays beneath the surface, too, something a little newer than before, and therefore all the more poignant: a strange little ache of wanting. It makes his heart ratchet up its tempo, where no such thing had ever really happened before.
…Oh. Well. That’s dangerous, isn’t it?
It doesn’t need to be a lengthy kiss; in fact, a peck on the lips probably would have sufficed. But Declan isn’t pulling away, and V finds himself in no hurry to, either. Instead, he just leans in, grips his hand a little tighter, and deepens the kiss — just for a bit. It's probably fine.]
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