clockworksoul | INBOX ⚙️ duocaeli

[Well, he just glances away from that magnified, violet gaze.]

You’re right, of course. An inventor would see the value in all the fragments laid out before him.

[It is nice to hear, though, as simple as that.]

[ Declan has no way of knowing what's going through V's head, and if there's any trace of it passing over his face, he's too distorted by Declan's lenses for him to notice.

So he just goes back to his work, idly motioning with a screwdriver. ]

It's like I like to say: never underestimate the importance of something small.

[It's fine. V's just pulling his attention to the inside of his takeout box, which has next to nothing in it now, just sort of picking up little stray noodles with his chopsticks.]

I take it you're unfamiliar with the poem, Auguries of Innocence?

[One of his favorites. He's already spouted it more than once in this world. Though maybe Declan's false memories might make it seem familiar, he's not sure.]

Hmm...

[ A thoughtful hum, while he begins the far more tedious work of reassembling what he has laid out before him. ]

The name sounds familiar. I'm sure I've heard it from you before somewhere in these false memories of ours. Why don't you tell me for real?

[Alas, he doesn't have his book with him.

...Good thing he does not need it at all.]

Hmm. From the beginning...

[The best place to start.]

'To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour
A Robin Red breast in a Cage
Puts all Heaven in a Rage
A Dove house filld with Doves & Pigeons
Shudders Hell thr' all its regions'

[If Declan's got the time, he's just going to recite the whole thing, droning on as he works. Afterwards-]

It's rife with meaning. But part of it... is that even the small things can hold an immense, incomprehensible importance. That there's beauty in even the most fragile of balances.

[ Declan does have the time. While he's often prattled on to Lucy while he's been in the middle of tinkering, he's never had anyone around who talks back. It's a lovely poem, melodic, and V makes it easy to listen to while he works away.

When it's over, he glances up, this time shifting his goggles up to his forehead so he can look at V properly. ]

Mm. I think I'm beginning to see how you and I ended up friends in this world.

[He can prattle all day when it comes to reading verses aloud, but at least he'll spare him and read only one today.]

Oh? [He finally glances over at him. No more bug-eyes from Declan!] Why do you say that?

It seems we have a bit in common.

[ Is he going to elaborate on that? Maybe not. ]

I don't suppose this food you ordered came with one of those delightfully fizzy drinks in a can, did it?

[?? ? This tells him nothing!]

Of reading long passages aloud?

[But he’s setting his empty takeout box aside and rising to his feet whether or not he receives an answer in the process. He won’t take his cane, because this isn’t a long trip—]

No need. There’s a fridge in the back full of “fizzy drinks.” I’ll fetch something for us.

I only have to assume that you like that poem enough to commit it to memory. A poem about small things holding great weight.

[ So, in this, they share the same opinion. Never underestimate the importance of something small. ]

Oh, that would be wonderful! Thank you!

[Hm. He supposes they do share that belief in common, most especially now. Maybe such an idea resonated with him when he was younger, and thus he committed its entirety to memory; but he's sure he lost sight of it in his later years, only to loop back around to this belief once more. Funny how that works.]

Or maybe I just like impressing others with 132 lines of poetry read aloud.

[He smirks. But then he disappears into the back.

Then he returns, two soda cans in-hand.]

Do you prefer... [Squints. Wry:] "Orange 'n Cream" or "Artificially Flavored Grape"?

It was very impressive!

[ Says Declan "eidetic memory" Steelsong. He tugs the goggles back down over his face to resume the process of putting the tattoo gun back together. There's a bit more finesse required here so it's slower going.

When V comes back, he's once again treated to the sight of Declan's cartoonishly giant eyes lifting his way. ]

I am deeply intrigued by the phrase "Artificially Flavored Grape".

[God... those magnified eyes. It's really very comedic, and V's lips twitch, even if he's seen them already.]

...You're a brave soul.

[He sets it down next to him.]

Purple calls to you.

[It matchies Declan, right-]

I'll try just about anything once!

[ And yes, Declan's outfit for the day is indeed quite purple. He flashes a grin, snapping his fingers as if to produce some spark of magic. Of course, it doesn't work, so he waves it off and plucks up the can instead. ]

Well, of course it does. It brings out my eyes.

[ His eyes which are still cartoonishly huge. He's having a real Mister Magoo moment over here. ]

[Yeah, V’s just wearing all black today. Surprise.

Looks like someone expected some magic to spark to life — that’s going to be a difficult habit to break, he muses.

But YOUR EYES, SIR—]

Your eyes which are as big as a saucer plate? Which exude the color of… artificially flavored grape? Oh, I rhymed.

[ It might be a habit that Declan never breaks, which is fine by him. People already think he’s weird. What’s a little more? ]

Look at you. All that poetry is really going to your head.

[ Another grin. He cracks the can open, bringing it to his lips for a taste. He considers it a moment, tilting his head. Another sip seems to be in order, and so he repeats the process again, this time with a bonus smacking of his lips, like that will somehow help him figure out how he feels. ]

Wow. You can really taste the “artificial” part. But I don’t hate it.

[Well, he's in good company.

V crosses back over to his chair, sitting and popping off the tab of his soda. The can hisses in protest.]

It's nothing but sugar that'll rot your teeth.

[And he takes a sip. His mouth twists a little; oh yes, that's very artificial. But it's better than some things he's had.]

But I don't hate it, either.

[ Declan grins at that, raising his can. He turns that bug-eyed gaze back at V, the corners of his too-large eyes crinkling in amusement. ]

To trying new things!

[Oh my god STOP WITH THE EYES, he catches V mid-sip and the sight is again so comedic it nearly has the soda going down the wrong way. He sputters a little, coughing, before he can even hope to raise his can in a toast.]

You- [wheeze] -really need to take those off while we're talking, Declan.

Edited 2023-05-12 02:20 (UTC)

[ You know what?

He just looks right at V, with those giant, magnified eyes. And slowly goes cross-eyed. ]

[Holy shit. WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO HIM, HE'S NOT GONNA LAUGH, HE'S HOLDING IT BACK-]

You look... [hhhelp] -ridiculous.

[ Tilts his head, almost owlishly. His eyes are still crossed. ]

Why, I have no idea what you're talking about, V!

[It's the head tilt that does it, really. V's smile twists until it can't really hold anything back any longer, and he just...

Laughs, a low-sounding but sincerely amused thing. Finally:]

I think you do.

[ The laugh seems to be what he was waiting for. Declan laughs in turn, pushing the goggles up his forehead again. ]

Maybe.

[ He offers a cheeky grin, lifting his soda can again. ]

Cheers?

[Fine, he wins. But if his clear show of mirthfulness is what spares him of a bug-eyed Declan, then so be it.

V lets his laughter trail away, clearing his throat.]

Cheers, I suppose.

[Raises his... soda can.]

To new things.

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