give praise, for he has no equal

[seducer]

[ the world is still in one piece, and belial isn't particularly bothered by their grand finale being thwarted. he'd intentionally poked a few holes in the plan—"forgetting" to destroy those documents gabriel and cagliostro found, and telling lucilius to have fun at etemenanki in front of the singularity and her friends, informing them where to go—leaving just enough possibility for either outcome to occur. it's more interesting when the chips can fall either way, and belial is all about keeping things interesting, thriving on the chaos he creates.

also, their failure means he gets to spend more time with the love of his life. watching the world burn and disintegrate together would've been romantic and he isn't opposed to it happening eventually, but it would have been anticlimactic to spend 2000 years bringing lucilius back and then die with him two hours later. he wants to draw it out, savor their reunion fully, before going out with style.

belial grins as he pulls lucilius close to his body, holding him tight when he takes off with his eight draconic wings spread wide, leaving the divine tower behind. he's tired and probably shouldn't even be moving right now, but the combination of adrenaline and avatar's maddening power pumping through his system is what fuels him to keep going anyway, his wings flapping hard enough to break away from the dimensional rift's gravitational pull.

that was a close one; had he arrived even one minute later, it would have been too late. belial adjusts his hold on lucilius and tosses a quick glance behind him, seeing the tower being sucked into the unknown beyond the shimmering rift. the airship he left to the crew is still in one piece and at a safe distance; belial grins and wishes he could see the looks on their faces when they find his... ah, parting gift. but as fun as it would be to stick around long enough for the explosives to go off, they both need to get to a safe location and rest up properly.

he draws in a deep breath and flies toward the eastern parts of phantagrande, landing in the courtyard in the center of the stone mansion he'd purchased a few decades earlier; he's made some good money over the years and decided to buy some nice properties to stay at. it's decently secluded, located at the end of a long pathway over a large hill, so they're unlikely to be bothered. finally, it's just the two of them. ]

So, Cilius—what's next on the agenda? A bath? I think we both need a nice, hot bath to rest our muscles in after today.

[ he gingerly sets lucilius down on his feet and relinquishes his hold on him. the sound of heels clacking against the stone tile almost makes him shiver. ]

Comments

[noga]

[ Lucilius was too tired to complain when Belial pulled him into his grasp, taking the chance to rest his worn body, and Belial, apparently had enough sense, for once, not to take the opportunity to do anything inappropriate that required complaining about; on his part, he took the opportunity to rest his body, relaxing in Belial's grasp and closing his eyes. The second they land, though, he slips out of Belial's grasp with an irritated grunt, opening his eyes and staking stock of their surroundings.

The skydweller building that meets his eyes is secluded, overly, unnecessarily luxurious and decorative, the two of them standing in the open center surrounded by tall walls of stone. Primitive. But it is secluded, and it is large— large enough to give give him the space needed to set up a new laboratory, as well as as fit in anything else he might need. The question now is how secluded this particular area is, and how likely some unknowing skydweller is likely to stumble upon and bother them. None are likely to have the brains to understand or suspect their true intentions, even if they were to see his work with their own eyes, but eh doesn't want anything getting to the Singularity or the other Primarchs.

And speaking of which—

What's next, Belial asks. What's next, as if nothing important had happened. As if they didn't just lose, as if they didn't get defeated— as if hundreds of years of planning didn't just go down the drain— no, far worse. All that, perhaps, he could deal with. The Singularity, the two elements circling her whose full power and importance she herself isn't aware of— all three of them, far too unaccounted for, far too unpredictable. That his failure came on their behalf is acceptable, inevitable. That Belial doesn't care— of course he doesn't, the idiot. But that is predictable. Bearable.

What he cannot bear with is the realization that he was also defeated by the spare. That useless, unrefined, incomplete creature he let Lucifer keep around as a pet, a toy, something to entertain him— Lucifer, whose power he sensed, who he saw standing behind the spare in all his dignified power, upon taking that finishing blow. Lucifer, siding with the spare over him— choosing his useless toy over him—

These are the mounting thoughts that make Lucilius understated irritation and acceptance of their situation mount into anger. Fresh out of battle, the anger is easy to focus on. Far, far easier than the thought of the Speaker, and having to bear with the implications of all his words. ]

Our next step, [ He snaps, stalking off inside, every step of his heavy, sullied armor clicking loud and harsh. ] is to start over. I have no intention of giving up. [ Find the backup pieces for other plans that he had scattered across the skies before the rebellion and before Lucifer discovered the truth, set up a new laboratory, formulate and rework his calculations to account for these new elements— it can be done. It will be done. So what if it all went out of his control, with far too many unaccounted for elements getting unnecessarily involved? So what if all his creations dared to evolve beyond his control, into areas his designs went unaccounted for, into such contradictory creatures beyond anything he had any control over. He is still here, and so—

A sharp spike of exhaustion and pain makes him stumble and nearly fall just near the entrance, and he slumps against the stone briefly, getting back on his feet with his arms leaning against it with a grunt. Even in Lucifer's body, designed by his own hand to perfection, his physical limitations inevitably betray him. ]

[seducer]

[ belial anticipated that kind of response, really; he knows how resistant to resting up lucilius can be after many instances of finding him conked out at his desk after an all-nighter in the lab. he always enjoyed those moments, getting to carefully lift him into his arms and carry him to his bed, gently tucking him in without waking him up up—and as a reward he'd treat himself to watching that sleeping face for a few minutes before soundlessly leaving the room. he always looked so deceptively serene in that state, like he wasn't secretly planning to burn it all until nothing remains. ]

That's our next next step, Cilius. [ he replies in a casual tone of voice as he trails a few steps behind lucilius, appreciating the sight of watching the other move in heels. something occurs to him then; he's taller than belial now, even without the heels. he'd known this since he decided he would use lucifer's body, but it's not until now that it truly hit him. the extra height is extremely sexy, but part of him is gonna miss the shorter lucilius.

when lucilius nearly falls, belial quickly bridges the already short distance between them, sliding a loose arm around him to help keep him steady. ]

We both got totally trounced. We need to get some rest or we won't be able to get anything done.

[noga]

[ In response, Lucilius lets out a small, grunting noise that might be agreement. Belial is being remarkably reasonable and sensible— logical even. He's meant to be, he's designed to be all these things, far beyond the average person, mortal, primal, or Astral, but the cunning he's been given is buried beneath layers of hedonism and whimsy that have baffled everyone and irritated Lucilius to no end from the second of his conception.

Regardless, Lucilius must concede the point, if just to himself. He hasn't had a moment of rest from his awakening— he didn't think of it as something that would be required. As impatient as he is to get to work immediately to repair these mistakes, and while downtime only means more time to wallow in frustration over their failure, more mistakes and a subsequent failure is imminent if he acts when his mind and body aren't in proper shape.

Still. We got totally trounced— Belial is far too cheerful about the situation for his liking, and it grates on his nerves, clear in the way Lucilius snaps back again: ] Yes, we certainly have. No thanks to your unreliability and incompetence.

[ In fact— Lucilius has certainly taken notice of Belial's new form, and realized the implications. In the heat of the moment he hadn't cared to focus on them, but it takes on a new meaning in the current situation. ]

You took in Avatar's core, didn't you? Couldn't even rely on your own power to defeat the Singularity and the spare, yet even with yours and its power combined, you still failed. Pitiful.

[ The words are said with no true venom; he's fully aware that their failure can't possibly be blamed on Belial alone— it would be giving far too much credit. Were he in a better mood, he'd be somewhat more lenient, or at least, in a less situation frustrating situation. As it is now, his mood needs an outlet. Still, he doesn't shake off Belial's easy grip, in spite of himself, and allows him to maintain his supportive hold as they open the doors and head inside. ]

[seducer]

[ belial tucks his wings as close to his back as he can as they step through the doorway, keeping them out the way instead of unsummoning them entirely in case lucilius wants to have a closer look at them. with all the changes to his body, belial would be surprised if an examination wasn't coming up soon. lucilius is always in the pursuit of knowledge and scientific discovery and this is something new for him to study. ]

In my defense, Bubs gave me a pretty nasty stab wound. Taking Sarry's wings and tainted core was my only option.

[ you don't fuck around with chaos matter, that stuff is dangerous and he wouldn't have been able to put up much of a fight at all without an outside source of power to speed up the healing process. speaking of sariel... he can't help but wonder how he's doing. if he hadn't been in a hurry to reach the tower after he fell from pandemonium, he would have liked to check up on him real quick just to make sure he's still breathing. he's got somewhat of a soft spot for him—not that it stopped him from willfully using him when it benefitted him, but it's there nonetheless.

the inside of the mansion is light and airy with white walls and dark furniture, with pillows, drapes and rugs in various shades of purple to complement the primary color. a faint ambient magic lingers in the air; after buying the place, belial hired a professional to cast a spell to keep dust from settling over the furniture while he's away. ]

Want me to go put on a pot of tea for you? Your favorite went extinct while you were gone, but I've found a few similar alternatives.

[noga]

[ Lucilius takes a seat on one of the excessively ostentatious sofas, the color of which is as immodest as he'd expect of someone with Belial's tastes. He's about to settle into a lounge before he realizes that he has misjudges the proportions of size; his new height makes it far too small for him to comfortably spread across; Lucilius stands up just in time to hear Belial's question, and the news that his preferred herb for tea is permanently gone makes him scowl. ]

Really. The skydwellers could not do something as simple as preserving a single plant for a mere two thousand years? [ He sighs as he moves to the longer sofa that seems able to contain his new size. ] Fine. Make the alternative. [ In practice, it's unlikely to make any difference. It isn't as if he needs the tea in the first place, or would benefit from it in any significant way. But he has maintained the habit of drinking from this particular blend and this specific herb for so long, and that change being forced upon him is irritating.

He splays himself upon the couch and makes himself at home, all but forcing his new body to relax, and analyzes his injuries. The battle has not left him with any permanent injuries, and nothing that his original Astral body would be unable to survive and regenerate from; this body has belonged to a Primal he himself designed and built to not only survive but emerge victorious in the most brutal of battles. In fact, the fusion of an Astral's consciousness and will with a primal body, even one that has been designed to fit, not to mention a body that has experienced skydweller mortality rather than death as primal beasts know it, should have fascinating results— he's curious. How far he can push his new power, what the limits are, just how much of this new body is alive or dead, what its needs are. He's already gotten a taste of it on Etemenanki, and the change of exploring this unprecedented mixture to its full potential is potent enough to almost make their failure worth it.

Later. The point remains that all external damage has been well taken care of by the innate regenerative abilities long before he had taken step upon this island; and the internal damage is laughable to any primal beast's regenerative abilities. So, any pain or discomfort he is still feeling is simply from fatigue, from overuse. Perhaps less in his body than in mind. A sensation well-known to his old body, but not one he'd expect to experience in Lucifer's. ]

[seducer]

[ belial can't help the slight upturn to his lips as he watches lucilius realize that the couch is too small for him. it's kind of endearing, actually. ]

You can blame Sandy for that one, actually. [ he exhales a soft chuckle. ] The island it grew on was destroyed when he threw a temper tantrum over not having a purpose and started sinking islands so Lucifer would pay attention to him.

[ and the tea in question could only grow in the volcanic soil unique to that particular island; after the cataclysms, people had tried to replant it elsewhere but the plants just wouldn't thrive anywhere else. having said that, belial turns around and leaves the room, heading towards the kitchen, detouring briefly to one of the side rooms to look at himself in a full-length mirror.

he runs a hand along the outside of one of the horns, feeling the texture and the spikes. there's a large crack in middle from one of sandalphon's attacks; if he'd aimed a little better the horn likely would have broken off. it'll probably heal in due time like the rest of his body, but in the meantime he'll have to be careful and make sure it doesn't get damaged further. that's assuming the changes are permanent—ah, if that's the case, he's gonna have to start pretending he's an usually short draph with a defect that makes his ears look human.

he's also going to have to get an eyepatch to hide the black sclera. it kind of bothers him that one eye changed but the other didn't; the asymmetry isn't aesthetically pleasing. and the markings... he's not especially fond of having them on the side of his face, but he likes the sprawling pattern across his arms and torso. he'd like to find out he's got any down there too, but he mustn't keep his lucilius waiting too long.

so he leaves the room and enters the kitchen, humming to himself as he heats water in a kettle on the stove. it's been far too long since he last made tea for lucilius, but he falls back into that old routine with ease and soon enough he returns, carrying a silver tray with a pot of tea and a pair of teacups and saucers. he sets it down on the coffee table and carefully pours liquid into both of the cups. one for lucilius and one for himself, of course. ]

Here you go, Cilius.

[noga]

[ For better or for worse, Belial leaves right after saying that, and so does not see Lucilius' reaction; the way his lips purpse, the way his expression twitches and settles into a deep scowl, the way his clawed hands dig into the fabric of the couch, nearly tearing it. And so, while Belial is off busying himself, Lucilius sits alone and simply seethes in silence, whatever calm he's managed to regain now discarded and his frustration reignited into anger. Again. The spare, getting in his way, again. An annoying little fly he can't seem to swat no matter how simple it should be.

The only distraction he finds from his anger comes when Belial comes inside carrying the tray; he turns his head to to catch the sight of him, and Lucilius finds himself appraising the new form, looking at Belial as if seeing him for the first time. His eyes run over him, looking him up and down— if there is something that intrigues him half as much as the combination of his body with Lucifer's, it's the effects that Avatar's core are to have on Belial. In truth, if they are to start over, that Belial took in the core is a good thing— better than for such a finely destructive creation that he poured so much effort into creating to be lost. No, this gives him far more to work with, and the iron control he had embedded into Belial's very being, the very basis of his design, has, for once, not failed him this time, given that Belial is as lucid and as much of himself as ever. Two designs that were never meant to tbe combined, meshing into something new— these experiments and curiosities are the principles that drive him as a scientist and a researcher.

And then Belial pours him the tea, but doesn't stop there, and pours a second cup— for himself. Lucilius raises an eyebrow. ]

Oh? You're being quite presumptuous, aren't you. Did I instruct you to prepare it for the both of us? Or, perhaps I should ask, did I give you permission to pour for yourself?

[ Lucilius's mood is such that he has the urge to knock it out of his hands, spill the boiling liquid all over him, make him clean up the mess while his burns are still healing. He resists it. There's no need. Observing Belial's new form has given him a much better idea— several of them, in fact. Instead he leans back and looks Belial straight in the eye. ]

Strip and kneel down on the floor. [ He taps his foot on a spot down right next to him, heels clicking against the stone. ] Now.

[seducer]

[ belial immediately stops pouring, leaving the cup half full with amber liquid as he sets the pot down. he gives lucilius an apologetic shake of his head and pushes the tray closer to where he's sitting. ]

Sorry.

[ he does not sound remotely sorry, and it's hardly the first time lucilius has reprimanded him for doing even minor things without his permission. he's about to say something else when lucilius tells him to strip, the sound of his heel against stone sending a tingle of electricity up his spine. he steps back from the table and begins to divest himself of his clothes as fast as he can—he quickly unsummons his wings, letting them retreat into his core so he can take his jacket off without ruining it. he tosses the jacket onto a nearby armchair and kicks his shoes off while deft fingers make quick work of the belts, letting them clatter onto the floor.

within thirty seconds he stands there as nude as the day he emerged from his seraphim cradle. he obediently kneels where lucilius indicated with his foot; he spreads his thighs to give lucilius a proper view, settling his hands on his legs, straightening his back and jutting his chest out proudly. he's perfectly still save for the slight inclination of his head, almost holding his breath in anticipation of what's coming. ]

[noga]

[ Lucilius watches Belial undress, just as perfectly still and unmoving, a cold, hard gaze boring into him, as if to keep him in place. The way Belial rushes to follow the order sends a quiet thrill through him, even knowing it's only Belial's own hedonism that makes him so exceptionally obedient this time. He lets his gaze run down his body as Belial divulges himself of more and more of his clothes, once again finding himself pleased with his own work and the fine design, but also finds his eyes drawn to every newly exposed flash of bare skin, until Belial's full body is before him, bared and exposed, the stretch of pale, flawless skin over his finely-designed, shapely form. And then, finally, he drops down to his feet.

Yes— there it is. Much better. Belial on his knees, at his feet, stripped naked, in a display of such pure, enthusiastic obedience and submission that makes another thrill run through him, a rush of power and satisfaction over feeling in control again. Lucilius wants to explore that body again, sink his claws into his skin, into his scalp, to grip and tug his hair. Instead, he takes the cup of tea and saucer, crosses his legs, sits back, and waits for it to cool for a bit before sipping at it.

He lets time pass like this, in silence, letting the tea cool for a bit before sipping slowly, taking his sweet time finishing his cup. A few minutes pass; then another few; he lets his mind wander into idle areas, sitting as if he had forgotten Belial was even there. When he does finish, finally, after what could have been five minutes or ten&mdash he hadn't been counting— Lucilius stands up, not even looking at Belial, not acknowledging him any more than he would a piece of furniture, takes the pot, and pours into the half-filled cup until it's as full as his has been. He sits down, and, the exact same way, takes his time as he finishes, sip by tiny sip, all in perfect silence, as another few minutes pass that could be anything from five to ten to fifteen.

And then, finally, he speaks, suddenly breaking the silence as if he had just remembered Belial was even there. ]

It is clear to see that you have grown arrogant in my absence, and forgotten your place. However clever I had designed you to be, you are still, at your core, nothing more than a beast, playing at being an intelligent creature. [ He leans back and crosses his arms, thoughtfully stroking his chin. ] Whatever am I to do? Terribly bothersome as it is, I see no other choice but to re-train you.

[seducer]

[ belial is uncharacteristically quiet the entire time lucilius drinks his tea, putting on a display of silent submission. ah, seems like his dear cilius is in the mood for some good ol' neglect play today, treating him as if he doesn't exist. not exactly his favourite kink, but he knows that being given the silent treatment now will make any and all attention he'll get later taste even sweeter. his teeth graze against his lower lip; it's tempting to put his head on lucilius lap like some kind of puppy, but he mustn't.

he concentrates on keeping his body still, his back straight, the only movement being the steady rise and fall of his chest and the occasional tremble to his thighs. he keeps his gaze firmly on lucilius, not even once looking down to see what's changed between his legs. he watches the way the clawed fingers of his gauntlet curl around the cup's handle, wondering if the tea is to lucilius's liking when he takes the first sip.

belial wants him under him so he can kiss the scar marring his neck, suck bruises into pale skin, sink his teeth into him and claim him as his territory, to break his bones so he can nurse him back to health–the line between his own fantasies and avatar's violent urges blur together into one abhorrent whole, if only for a moment. he immediately backtracks mentally, banishing the last thought from his mind.

he focuses on breathing in and out and when lucilius finally acknowledges him him and speaks, he allows himself to relax just a little. a fine tremble work its way through him when lucilius mentions re-training. ]

I've been a naughty little beast. [ he licks his lips, eyes glinting with excitement. he knew this was going to be worth the wait. ] Train me and discipline me as you see fit, sir.

[noga]

[ Belial responds to the proclamation of how he is to be used next with usual lascivious enthusiasm, so clear in his tone, practically pouring out into the air around him, that familiar excited glint in his eye; would be more familiar if one weren't so clearly not his own, the sclera painted black. (Ugh, the asymmetry of it is so irritating and aesthetically unsatisfying. He needs to find some way to fix that later— he'd rather clear both sclera, will make it easier to blend in and stay out of sight if he can pass among the skydwellers, but if that's not an option...) It is, overall, entirely unsurprising and expected, as is the way it's mostly ridiculous, yet stirs just a little bit of Lucilius better attentions— namely, he finds himself not entirely against, maybe even enjoying, being called sir. Particularly, the way the word sounds coming from Belial's lips... and yet, still, it's just ridiculous enough that Lucilius can't help rolling his eyes at the shameless display with a snort. ]

What a truly debauched creature you are. How fortunate for you that this quality of yours is going to be an advantage, for once.

[ He finally stands up, sets the teacup and saucers back on the table, and walks across to the other side, an open space on the carpet. Taking a moment to evaluate the space, he considers it thoughtfully, and nods to himself. Yes, this should do. While there should be a bedroom in this entire home that he'll be able to take this to, and a proper bed would be more comfortable, it would defeat the point. Maybe later on, if he's in the mood, and perhaps if Belial manages to earned a small reward for good behavior. ]

This new body you've resurrected me with, and the new form that absorbing Avatar's core has given you... I am curious to explore both their full potential. This is a good opportunity to take both of them for a test drive, to see where their limits lie. To combine it with your training should make the process more efficient.

[ He turns around to face Belial again, and pauses, admiring the sight of him kneeling— so quiet, so docile, so obedient. A ferocious hunting dog that knows to heel for its master. Again, it fills him with a deep satisfaction he wants to bask in, but what comes next will be just as effective a display of power, and even better to vent out the depths of his swirling, writhing emotions. He raises a hand and gestures for Belial to stand up with a single finger, and to take place in front of him with a quick gesture of the foot. ]

Now, let's start by taking a look at you.

[seducer]

[ test driving and training. belial thoroughly enjoys the implications of what's in store for him. ohh, how he's been waiting for this, for them to fall back into old habits, for lucilius to take charge and use him, and belial is nothing short of delighted. he was made for this, to make sure his messiah is satisfied and he does it better than lucifer ever could—now if only lucilius would acknowledge as much; belial is still a little irritated that lucilius started talking about lucifer after his awakening. don't you dare bring him up while you're training me, my messiah. i am the only one you need.

it's been far, far too long, and he's going to savor every second of this. he can feel his cock throb with attention between his legs, not hard yet but he's getting there soon enough; he needs a little more than neglect play to really get aroused. he inhales sharply through his nose, feeling needles shoot down his calves as he rises to his feet from the position he's been in for the past fifteen minutes, his knees a little sore from the hard stone tile. ]

This brings back memories. [ he says as he walks over to stand in front of lucilius, meeting his gaze. ] I've missed your examinations.

[ drawing himself up to his full height, belial stands with his feet apart and his arms out. two thousand years have passed but he still remembers how lucilius and the other researchers would have him stand like this. they'd scrutinize every inch of him and take notes, making sure he's up to standard. sometimes they would go further and pull and bend his wings, or take a scalpel to his skin to make sure his regenerative abilities function properly.

every other angel he knew always hated examinations; they were invasive at best and painful at worst, but belial never minded the pain. at worst he'd just be bored, being stuck with one of the dull scientists sent by the high council to spy on lucilius under the pretense of assisting him with his research. ]

[noga]

[ It doesn't escape notice that Belial takes a moment to get back on his feet, catching a whiff of discomfort from the shift in position, and there is something deeply pleasing about the low inhale that comes from him. It's even more satisfying when Belial follows his order in perfect obedience, standing up straight, getting into the old position he was ordered to take as flawlessly as if it were an everyday examination. He says he missed it, that it brings back memories— Lucilius doesn't want to concede to feeling somewhat the same, even if for what are clearly different reasons. He himself has found himself craving some recreation of the past, of times before the rebellion that he finds himself looking back on with emotions that he doesn't care to examine nor assess the nature of.

Regardless, it is a strange echo, close enough to be satisfying, yet with enough differences to stand out. For one, there is no council, no lab, no tools, and they have perfect privacy— no bothersome spies or councilmen to interrupt him or get in his way. He doesn't have to look up at Belial or use any of the platforms in the laboratory to meet his eye— Belial no longer towers over him, if only in physique. Belial stands right in front of him, and instead it is Lucilius who looks down at him, seeing the whole of his body with no effort, and it is a difference he quickly realizes he rather likes— yes, he likes it very, very much. It elevates the sensation of power and control, and he relishes in it, eyes up his creation cooly and clinically, taking in the whole body bottom to top, eyes running up and— ... down...

His eyes stop at the midway point down when something catches his eye, and he stills, blinkings and then simply stares, a rare expression of pure disbelief, even surprise, settling on his face.

The other effects are clear. The horns, the markings on his body, the change in color in his sclera— all of these come from Avatar itself. There don't seem to be any substantial changes in physical composition, the shape and form of his body exactly as has been designed from the start and exactly as Lucilius remembers it. At the very least, externally, there are no other changes— they will have to test out the rest in the usual, practical way. All of that is acceptable. For Belial to resonate as closely with Avatar as he does, with little external side effects, able to still keep his mind and lucidity and to act the same way— an entirely logical, natural outcome of his design. All of it makes sense. All of it except that.

His sexual organ did not look like that when Lucilius last saw him. Why would taking in Avatar's core make that, and only that, change not only its size, but also shape and color? Why increase in size, shift to this, distinctly unnatural, shape and color? (What would it feel like, if he were to take it inside of himself—?) ]

... Have you been messing around with your core on your own? [ It's the first explanation that comes to mind, at he blurts it out as soon as it comes to him, shaking off the surprise, scrunching up his face into an expression that makes his opinion on the matter clear. ] That this... thing would be the part of you most affected by resonating with Avatar's core would be predictable, if it weren't so absurd.

[seducer]

[ this isn't the sterile laboratory environment they're both used to, but the pang of nostalgia feels as though it's pulling at his very being as lucilius looks him over just like he used to, centuries upon centuries ago. he's like an insect pinned to a piece of cork, to be studied under a microscope; he's vulnerable and exposed and he's loving every second of it. even though nothing's really changed with the dynamic between them even after all these years, luciliius being the taller one now is a visual reminder of who's in control here; having that cold gaze scrutinize him sends a shiver through his veins, passing through every muscle and bone in his body.

and then lucilius makes that face. the way he's blinking, eyes widening ever so slightly in disbelief, the slight parting of his lips—all of it so utterly adorable and completely unbefitting of a cold-hearted scientist. it's so rare for lucilius to express confusion so clearly—or most emotion beside vague disinterest, really—so these moments are like gold to belial.

he can't help the soft sound of amusement that rises from his chest. ]

I wouldn't dream of doing that to the core you gave me, Cil—sir. [ he corrects himself hastily; he's supposed to be a submissive and obedient beast being put in his place so he'll play the part. now's not the time to break character.

he finally glances down between his legs to get a good look at the organ himself; even in its flaccid state, it's visibly larger with ridges and a thick mass of skin at the base. the color has changed , too, with the markings on his abdomen merging into a solid purple as they reach his cock, fading to a lighter shade at the tip. ]

Calling it a thing is a little harsh, don't you think? [ there's a touch of feigned hurt to his tone. ]

[noga]

[ It is unsurprising that Belial affects perfect obedience so flawlessly and skillfully; it is part of the skillset that is imbued in his nature, the ability to blend in and change behavior according to the situation, to adapt and play a part that's opposite to that very nature. Indeed, it is quite interesting that at this point he has decided that it is in his best interest to play this part to the fullest, directly towards one who won't be fooled... and still. That complacent, pliant tone, that submissive, obedient posture— and again, calling him sir— Lucilius likes all of it.

Perhaps Belial knows that to be the case, plays the part knowing he will please his master, and in this case, he's right, but Lucilius decides he will forgive him this particular deceit. Not in the least because the way it makes him have to supress another shudder, because it's such a fetching look, because it excites him, and oh, why can't Belial always be this cooperative? Even that slight hurt in his tone... all of it makes the corner of his mouth twitch as he suppresses a smile, quite amused on his own part. Now he's playing up the role of the wounded animal, hm? He's doing quite well. Anyone else would be fooled. ]

Oh? Do you find it insulting? [ He leans in and whispers into Belial's ear: ] You seem to operate under the assumption that you have any dignity or pride to be wounded.

[ All the while, he raises a hand, slowly, still fully decked out in clawed armor, and presses it to the side of his neck— perfectly gentle, not at all cruel, not at all meant to harm. Exerting enough perfect control of force to press his fingers into the soft flesh of his neck to caress without breaking skin or drawing blood, but enough enough for Belial to feel. If he's to test out his body, a check of how his erogenous zones react to stimulation would be a good start, no? ]

[seducer]

[ obedience and cooperation does not suit someone like belial; it goes against his nature as a being of cunning and wild unpredictability. but perhaps that's what makes it all the more thrilling, casting all that aside and temporarily allowing himself to slip into a different mindset. he's done similar things for many of the mortal men and women he's bedded over the years—yielded to them, letting himself be tied up and flogged, used as they pleased. of course, he never fully submitted, never felt actual vulnerability around them. belial does not let skydwellers close enough for that kind of thing.

he's experienced sub space before and it's an intense place to be, but it doesn't compare to this. standing before his messiah—his most precious and important person—who owns him fully, body and soul and heart and all. theirs is a special relationship he can never replicate with anyone else. he wants to yield to him, submit to him, make this a reunion that completely satisfies them both. he can tell lucilius is enjoying his little show as much as he is; two thousand years may have passed but belial still remembers all of his tells, all the subtleties in his body language. he knows exactly what that little twitch means. ]

...I suppose a mere beast wouldn't have such things, sir. [ he visibly shudders when lucilius whispers in his ear, and again when he feels his delicate touch against his neck, making him draw a sharp inhale of air into his lungs. he arches his neck into the touch, pupils widening with undeniable desire as he looks at lucilius with half-lidded eyes. ]

Nnhn...

[ his cock throbs with want and anticipation. he could probably come just from lucilius caressing his neck, given enough time. ]

[noga]

[ Oh, that's a good sound. That shudder, too, is a very good reaction. Such a thing cannot be faked— it is a natural bodily response, raw and honest, as honest as a creature of depiction can be. If the submission and humility is a performance, that reaction speaks of a beast being put properly in his place, being shown a display of authority that its instincts recognize. Still, again, Lucilius savors all of it; the sensation of Belial shuddering against him, his subservient, trembling voice, his small noise of pleasure. A throb of pleasure jolts down between his legs, and he lets it pass through him. There will be time to take care of that once he's done with the full examination. ]

That's right. [ His expression is unchanged, but there's the slightest shift in his tone that sounds clearly pleased. He's not going to praise him yet, but... a bit of acknowledgment should give him incentive to continue, and quell his rebellious nature. Such methods are, too, part of taming a beast. ] A fine start. Continue like this, and your obedience may be rewarded.

[ Still, how interesting that Belial's body has reacted so strongly to the slightest touch, to such slight action. He has always been very reactive, but it seems his sensitivity so far seems a touch more than usual. Certainly, he needs to test it out more. It must be Avatar's influence; it isn't as if he would have gone on all this time without sleeping with anyone else (realistically speaking, even if Lucilius is far from happy at the thought of Belial quelling his urges with mortals— or even with anyone else) and there is surely no logical reason for it to be a unique reaction to Lucilius himself. Unless it is a matter of the time that has passed since they had last done this that makes him react more strongly... but surely any such sentiment would be shallow at best coming from Belial, and would have no influence on such things.

His hand moves upward, slowly, exploring the soft flesh of his vulnerable neck, leaving soft, pale red scratch marks in their wake, until his hand reaches Belial's lightly pointed ear and takes it in between his fingers, just as he takes his other ear between his teeth. His mouth and hand make a double assault, worrying one ear between his teeth, down to the shell of his ear, biting on the lobe, while his hand mirrors the action with clawed hands that scratch at all the spots he knows to be most sensitive. ]

[seducer]

[ those words are almost enough to make belial salivate. he's already set on pleasing lucilius first and foremost and putting his own pleasure second, but the notion of being rewarded for it making him all the more motivated. the word 'may' implies there's no guarantee and it hinges on how generous lucilius feels like being, but that's fine. belial loves him more than anything else and the fact that this is happening at all is its own reward. it's been far, far too long and the building heat is making two thousand years of sleepless nights completely worth it.

he draws in another deep breath when lucilius leans in and takes his earlobe between his teeth, taking in his scent—a mixture of perspiration, blood, dirt and something that belial would describe as 'death'; nothing like rot or decay, just something that faintly reminds him that lucilius is a reanimated corpse. objectively speaking, this combination isn't particularly good, but belial wants nothing more than to bury his face in the crook of lucilius's neck and inhale more of it as he leaves hickeys across the expanse of pale flesh.

he then exhales on a breathy little moan at the dual assault on his ears and he scrapes his teeth across his lower lip, quelling the urge to take charge. his hands. his hands slide down towards lucilius's waist, stopping just short of actually grabbing onto him. ]

Requesting permission to touch you... sir. [ normally he would have gone ahead and done so already, but today he won't be so bold. he's merely a beast to be yoked in the service of his owner, after all. ]

[noga]

[ Lucilous takes his sweet time playing at Belial's ears with his teeth; enjoying even these subtler reactions, soft exhales and gentle sounds. He hears Belial's request— and notices that Belial's hands run down, yet he stops himself just in time before doing anything out of line, very good— but takes his time considering and thinking on it; should he give a positive answer, would it encourage the right behaviors or the wrong ones? Should he make Belial hold off a little longer to teach him patience, or allow him to use further positive reinforcement to encourage requesting and behaving with the proper deference? What is the best way to balance punishment and reward?

By the time Lucililus pulls way, he has made up his mind, and Belial's ears are flushed a pleasing red. He releases his hand on his hold and instead moves it back downwards to his nape and neck, where it stays still, not touching, as ready to caress and stroke him gently as it is to wrap around his windpipe; ready for either punishment or reward, to be either a threat or violence or a promise of attention, depending on what Belial does next. ]

Permission granted. [ He meets Belial's eye, voice neutral and still, expression giving nothing away. But he is curious; what does Belial intend to do? ]

[seducer]

Thank you. [ proper deference is important and so is showing gratitude for being granted the honor of touching him. he feels elated, his core feeling as though it's soaring where it resides in his chest, heat blooming in his blood as it pumps through his system; he wonders how much of his elevated pulse is avatar's insidious influence and how much of it is the result of his own arousal.

the skin around his eyes crinkles as he grins, his hands settling against lucilius's waist. the metal of his armor is cold against his fingertips as he trails them upwards, skimming across the edges of the metal and over the expanse of bare skin. he's not cold the way a corpse tends to be, but his body temperature does seem a little lower than it used to be. another side effect of being brought back, belial assumes as he brushes his fingers upwards over his abdominal muscles. but it's soft and feels just right and he wants nothing more than to tear the armor off and explore every inch of him with his hands. ]

I've missed this, too. [ he murmurs as he trails the pads of his fingers over lucilius's pectoral to his collarbone. he fixes his gaze on lucilius's lips, the urge to catch them in a fierce kiss cutting through his thoughts. he stands up on his toes and leans in to do so, but stops at the last second; he hasn't been given permission to go that far yet. ]

[noga]

[ He finds himself almost surprised to see the answer to his question. Belial's touch is exploratory, but gentle, careful, almost chaste. It's not the touch of a beast driven by instinct, not even of a man succumbing to lust and single-intendedly seeking to fulfill carnal desire. The look on his face, the tone of his voice— missed this? It does not sound as if he's talking about the act of their copulation, exactly. Is this some expression of loyalty, filtered through Belial's own forms of communication? Even the way Belial leans in to kiss him seems not to be driven by pure desire.

Right. This isn't the first time he's found Belial incomprehensible. When he has treated him in this reverent way that surely must come from a place of loyalty from a beast to his master, but feels as if there is a deeper, implausibly profound emotion that contradictions everything he knows to be true. Lucilius does not like that, and decides not to think of it. What he does like is the way Belial so obediently leans in for the kiss without making contact, the deep satisfaction at noticing that Belial has to stand up on his toes and lean upwards to reach him, the way he uses nonverbal cues to ask for permission.

Lucilius tilts his head and considers his answer. Really, he could almost laugh. In a way, it was almost too easy. All it took was a reminder, to be put in his place once again, and Belial adapts to submission and humility effortlessly. Internally, he finds himself sighing; why can't he always be like this, instead of an endless source of trouble?

Still. He decides that there's no reason not to give his beast what he's asking for. He's following his rules at this moment, doing everything properly, being such an excessively good pet. Lucilius answers by leaning in and kissing Belial himself, pressing his tongue into Belial's mouth carelessly as the claws of hand scratch at his neck. ]

[seducer]

[ the press of lucilius's lips against his own is nothing short of amazing. his mind briefly blanks into pure bliss, the warmth in his core feeling like it might burst into fire any second as he feels the other's tongue push past his parted lips. it's almost a little overwhelming, really, and had lucilius let belial take the lead he would have taken it as slowly as possible—they may have kissed hundreds of times before, but waiting for literal millennia makes this one special. he'd like to savor it like fine wine and prolong the experience.

on a second thought, maybe not. lucilius demanding tongue action right from the get go is incredibly hot, too, and belial is quickly swept away by the heat spiraling through him. the hairs on the nape of his neck rise with a tingle that spreads across his skin when he feels those claws on his gauntlet scratch his neck; he can feel his cock finally start to rise to half-mast as his own tongue meets lucilius's with enticing sweeps. he wants more. he needs more.

there's a low, lustful growl in the back of his throat and he loops one arm around lucilius's back and dips him low like a dancer holding his partner while deepening the kiss. he's aware that lucilius probably won't appreciate his submissive pet taking charge like that, but he can't help but wanting to go off-script a little to give his master a reason to punish him; it adds a little spice to this game they're playing. ]

[noga]

[ The warm of Belial's body against his own feels rather pleasant, as does the low, primal sound that comes from his throat; he's close enough to feel the press of a hardening organ against his own body. Again, Lucilius finds himself wondering if Belial always been this sensitive, if he always reacted so strongly to such base contact. It seems Avatar has indeed had some effect on his body's response to stimulation, perhaps intensifying his already very overwrought focus on such base needs. What this means about either Avatar itself or Belial he'll have to think over later, but at this moment, Lucilius allows himself to enjoy the pure sensation of the kiss, of the pressing and sliding of warm slick tongue against tongue, of Belial's body beneath his own, of this rare submission, and--

Ah, there it is. Of course. Belial got carried away in the moment and decided to take charge for himself. Lucilius pulls away with narrowed eyes and a click of his tongue. ]

How disappointing. [ His voice is frosty, but with no anger or annoyance, perfectly even and calm in a way that gives the words an almost mocking undertone. ] You were doing so well.

[ But then, that's the point of training him again after all, isn't it? To put him once again in his place, and remind him what comes of such behavior. Lucilius' hand wraps around Belial's neck, claws digging deeper into his flesh than ever before, creating the lightest, thinnest cut on the side of his neck, while his other hand grabs the arm wrapped around himself and plies it off, tightly grasping into his wrist. He presses his lips to Belial's again, the kiss brief and fleeting, and in that moment, sends a harsh kick directly to his shin, with the intent of having him lose his balance and drop back to his knees. ]

[seducer]

[ there's a delicious sting of pain when lucilius digs his claws into his bare flesh, followed by the feeling of a thin trickle of blood running down his neck. the cut only needs seconds to heal and close itself shut, but the red liquid remains on his skin; a reminder of what happens when his master is displeased with his performance. he doesn't say anything, but he even the way he breathes in through his nose manages to make him sound pleased with himself for his disobedience. he knows his master will mete out punishment second now, and his very core pulses with a mixture of trepidation and excitement.

first comes the kiss. lucilius's lips are so soft he's almost caught off-guard by the kick to his shin that comes after, causing him to lose his balance and sink down to his knees. ]

I'm terribly sorry, sir. [ he murmurs in a tone that almost manages to sound sincere, looking up at lucilius with a playful glint behind his eyes. what's his punishment going to be? a good spanking would be nice, but he doesn't think that's what lucilius has in mind. ]

This naughty beast got a little too excited and forgot to behave.