wotanon | Dreamers After Dark (VII)

-- I was fine with a little pecks here and there, but there's no need to be rude.

[ his tone is more faux-offended than anything, though, since he could just as easily conjure another hat in his hand. he'll step after the bird, trying to reach to grab the hat back, still with Levity's arm in his other hand.

it'd almost be a comical sight, really, and he's trying not to focus on Levity's train of thought at the home. Emet-Selch warned him Levity would be the sort to pry, but he's really trying not to encourage that! he's just wants to charm him superficially how dare Levity care about him!! ]

[Absinthe is the rude one, so he's not getting the hat back. The bird backs away, yanking its head back once Absinthe reaches close enough. Though it's apparently angry, it's also still trying to play.

Unfortunately for Absinthe, though, Levity's inner monologue isn't stopping there, although there is a touch of amusement at the scene playing out. Who knows how his consciousness is layered right now, but likely he's just thinking while dreaming.

I suppose that's why everyone keeps trying to tell me to be more careful around him. Though, true trust, true trust... It would help if Alexander didn't need to be so vague all the time. "Even if he comes to value you, he might end up hurting you". On accident or purpose? That's... sad, really. Breaking things and people you like on purpose, just to hurt yourself? To have something to be angry about? Or simply out of lack of control over everything else? I cannot even ask him...

The thought trails off into less well-defined streams of emotion moreso than anything - a manner of sadness at not being trusted, knowledge that he hasn't yet earned that trust (because not even Levity is that naive), desire to become closer and a not inconsiderable amount of affection and admiration and worry for the amnesiac Ardyn he'd met. Have fun Absinthe, Levity sure does like your good person self more.]

That is a possession of mine, you silly creature, not a toy.

[ he!! dislikes this!! it's not like Alexander warning Levity of as much was a surprise, though, considering what he's done to Alexander before -- altogether it's a rather mild-mannered warning. but Absinthe doesn't like the tone of this at all. it's straying vaguely too close to pitying him, feeling sorry for him ...

he feels he's been bared, in a sense, having Levity see him without memories. to get a hint he was not always this way. he doesn't like it, and he tries to push past the thoughts he's hearing. if he can't grab the bird, he'll sigh, giving up on their "game" to step back towards Levity's displayed corpse.

unceremoniously he'll dig his hand into the abdomen, with enough force to try and reach up through to his heart. ]

[Well, if his intent was to upset Levity himself with that, Absinthe's aim is unfortunately off! That is to say, the more conscious part of Levity seems unaffected - and, indeed, as the thoughts continue to flow they do come to wondering about what could have happened to Absinthe, niggling at the differences in his behaviour as Ardyn and as Absinthe, putting together all the vague warnings Levity has been receiving from others and trying to correlate them to what he knows of the man so far. Rather sincere and open as an amnesiac, horrified by his condition - but very nonchalant about it as Absinthe, as though it doesn't matter, all easy smiles and played up charm. A distraction of sorts, a defense mechanism?

The bird, meanwhile, seems to be a bit disappointed by the fact Absinthe doesn't want to play anymore - but it does startle when he tries to reach in to grab the heart. It drops the hat, hops closer to stand across the corpse from Absinthe, jabs its beak down to grab at his hand - though this seems to be more a warning than an attack.

Earn.

As in, you gotta work for the heart, buddy! Who's the rude one now, walking into a guy's psyche and then trying to steal his heart, geez.]

[ what, so it's fine when rowdy teenagers do it but not a nasty zombie cannibal? Absinthe is being oppressed!

he sighs, as he's nipped, taking his his hand back. if he's able to he'll try to give the bird a bop on the head, as if admonishing. ]

And here I thought you had no need for him! What is the harm if I do a little exploration?

[To be fair, Absinthe is a rowdy teenager by ancient standards!

There's a complicated mental moment as the bird gathers all of its vague perceptions and instincts in regards to the corpse. There's a certain amount of guarded fear, verging on defensiveness, annoyance directed at the corpse, somehow, but a hint of affection, too. Bird brains sure are weird!

The conclusion that Absinthe can draw from the tangle is thus: if you take the heart, prove that you won't hurt bird. If you plan on hurting bird, it will try to destroy the corpse.]

You're rather complicated for a beast, hmm?

[ it's almost like he's dealing with a ... metaphor!! he doesn't think it over too much right now, much like he's trying not think about Levity's dwellings from earlier, and his touch is gentler when he tries to stroke the top of the bird's head. Absinthe can play nice!! ]

[Wow, metaphors, in dreams??? Who'd have thought!!! The bird is pretty receptive to the petting, though, and seems to relax under it, making a pleased robotic beep and shuffling its feet. The earlier wariness is gone, once again to be replaced with contentment. Absinthe is friend?]

[ Absinthe friend! he puts down the arm for a second, keeping up stroking the bird while his freed hand goes and sinks back into Levity's abdomen. he doesn't go straight for the heart this time, but he does watch for the bird's reaction to see if he'll be interrupted. ]

[Well, now that it's established(?) that Absinthe = friend, the bird doesn't seem bothered by him going back to his organ looting! It tilts its head into the stroking, although it probably becomes a little hard to do because once again the robofeathers on its head rise in appreciation, much like they would on a real bird. There is a touch of curiousity as it watches Absinthe's hand, though, and the slightest hint of anxiety. But for the most part, it trusts him!]

There we are. I'll even forgive your stealing my hat.

[ Absinthe murmurs, soft, soothing as his hand pries its way through tissue and tears viscera on the way back up to Levity's heart. if this weren't a dream it'd take more strength than he had to do so; thankfully, they don't need realism here!

so he can take a hold of Levity's heart and squeeze it, firmly. ]

[iyaaan absinthe senpai be gentle!!

The bird gives a sound that's... as close to a chuckle as a robot bird can get. It's not ashamed of the hat stealing at all, and it thought it was very fun and funny. It doesn't seem to react to the heart gripping, meanwhile.

The rest of Levity's background psyche does, though; not the more conscious part of him that could speak - that seems to have disappeared somewhere, really, - but the part of him that's... well, responsible for dreaming overall. The atmosphere shifts; it's almost as though he's... embarrassed?]

[ Absinthe's lips split wide in a smile -- it's probably not at all subtle that he enjoys getting a rise out of others, in a positive or negative sense, so even though he can't directly hear Levity's reaction to that ... well, it's enough for him!

he squeezes again, as if he could mimic the pulse of his heartbeat while dead, before with a harsh wrench of his elbow he'll rip it down and out of the cavity of his chest entirely. ]

[Listen, Levity has been reading poetry and hanging out with Vergil, he can really appreciate the symbolism here. The bird, pacified, hunkers down, watching Absinthe curiously. It's glad he's having fun!

The overall flustered feeling dies down somewhat, though not entirely, and instead a kind of anticipation replaces it, as though Levity, too, is curious to see where this will go next. Somewhere at the back of his mind is the awareness that this is a dream, and he's interested to see how his subconscious perceives Absinthe.]

[ part of him wonders how Levity's subconscious will react to him doing as he please in his heart. ah well, it's not like he's going to face consequences for his actions anyway!

he lets the bird be to focus on the organ in his hand, giving it another testing squeeze -- the blood dribbles from severed aorta in a way that's almost satisfying -- before bringing it to his other and taking a bite out of it, full-teethed. ]

[Never any consequences for the garbageman, ever! Absinthe is possibly fortunate that Levity isn't aware that he's, well, actually himself, strolling around dreams, not a figment of Levity's dreaming mind.

And the reaction from Levity's mind is essentially--well, that's just about what he'd expected, honestly, but there's still a tinge of embarrassment. It's one thing to just be aware of it and another to actually dream about a cannibal guy you like symbolically eating your heart.

Does it taste good, I wonder.]

[ the real question is would Levity be bothered if he knew it was a version of himself strolling around in his dreams eating his organs.

Asbinthe smiles, "hearing" that -- and as he swallows the chunk in his mouth there's a pleased sigh, making his enjoyment all the more evident for Levity. much like just muscle and flesh would taste delicious to him, the same applies to organs and the like, though the texture is definitely different compared to biting into an arm. ]

[Who knows! Fuck around and find out, garbageman.

...Hm.

There's still that touch of embarrassment--and though Levity would be flattered by the fact Absinthe likes the taste of him, there is also a note of peevishness, because Absinthe would probably react like that to eating anyone's heart at all. This is also clearly all just a metaphor for Levity's crush on the zomboid and not an actual vore session.]

Edited 2021-01-13 06:45 (UTC)

[ clearly! Levity knows poetry!

Absinthe eats the heart delicately -- much like the parfaits they shared, there's no rush to how he bites, chews and swallows each piece, like he's really lounging in the taste and feel of the piece of Levity in his mouth.

after he finishes, with one bloodied hand he'll stroke the side of Levity's (deceased) face, leaving wet streaks of blood over his skin as Absinthe lick his own lips clean. to not much effect, since the blood has dripped far beyond his lips at this point. ]

Ah, I've made a mess.

[It's all fun and romance until your zombie friend tries to actually eat you irl, which will definitely not happen at any point ever, so why worry about it.

Wow, though, that's GAY. Levity's subconscious definitely reacts to Absinthe's more obvious enjoyment of his heart and the tender touch to his face. The atmosphere shifts again; he's more flustered now, and even though he does know he's pretty drawn to Absinthe (even if in a different way than he is to Lily and D.Va, though these days it's coming dangerously close to an overlap at times), it's still embarrassing to actually think about it! He's not even sure Absinthe actually likes him back that much, and though Levity is naive, it's not to the point where he is fine with a power imbalance, however subtle.

As though prompted by that, his earlier musings return: a different kind of attraction to Absinthe, a benevolent desire to pick the man apart and know how he works and why, and maybe put him back together to be happier than he is, smooth out those strange differences between Ardyn and Absinthe, or at least know where they come from. Maybe in someone else that would suggest treating Absinthe as a mechanism, a toy of sorts, but Levity can't not care about people, and so there is a gentleness to the desire; an interest and determination not unalike to that of, perhaps, a doctor faced with a new patient with an unknown disease. The same probing at possible causes, examination of their behaviour, theories constructed and ruled out.]

[ he's far more comfortable with that sort of attraction. he's already more than used to that type of desire -- the one to dissect and take him apart, see how he functions, from Cosmo. the thought strikes him that he could invite Levity to something of the sort in a dream, show him the full extent of how the Starscourge manifests in his own home. a date plan for another night, perhaps!!

for now -- he's enjoying the embarrassment, Levity being flustered, though he can't see a physical representation of him the feeling carries across more than well enough. and because he's Absinthe he's not just content with that; he wants to keep pushing and pushing till he sees if there's a point at which Levity will recoil. the same thing that Emet-Selch had to put up with, really.

he cups the side of the deceased-Levity's face with one hand and leans down, close enough to press his lips against Levity's cool ones, caring little about the blood that drips down onto the other man in the process. ]

[if this goes on I'm gonna have to start kinkshaming

Unfortunately moreso than fortunately, kissing a deceased loved one is also a prominent enough motif that Levity can still chalk it up to "it's poetry". Because he's unaware that this Absinthe is real, though, Levity parses the scene as a manifestation of his own attraction to the man - and, well, that is embarrassing! But maybe there's no harm in indulging it a little - he's in the privacy of his own mind, after all, and dreams are strange things. It's fine.]

[ he can't be kinkshamed if it's poetry. #checkmate

he pulls back with another fond little stroke on the side of his face, and his gaze turns to the bird -- he'd almost forgotten it during his meal, though he isn't overly concerned it will be bothered now. ]

I'm not boring you, I hope?

[if you try to fuck a corpse you WILL be kinkshamed, poetry or no!!

The bird... has been watching him! It tilts its head and gives a little trill. It thinks what Absinthe is doing is funny, and kind of cute - he's like a child, pretending that toys are real creatures. It doesn't understand why Absinthe is affectionate with the corpse, but that's amusing rather than boring. Like it means something to him! That's funny! Like he has feelings!]

[ feelings are hilarious, when they're not terrible, it's true. ]

Oh, what a relief. I wouldn't want things to be dull for you.

[ it's as if he can understand the trills. he obviously doesn't understand bird speak but you know what, the sentiment comes across rather well thanks to dream logic, and he reaches back into Levity's abdomen to raise a fistful of intestine -- looking towards the bird. ]

Do you hunger? This meal may be too big for just me.

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