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[belheir]

Not here, leave a message and I'll get back to you when I can.

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[photographists]

I guess bufu is an ice spell? I know how strong you are, but it feels like I'm always learning something new about you.

( It seems like Basil isn't the only one who wants that warmth, though. Marigold pushes herself up to curl up against Kazuya instead.

Basil, on the other hand, lifts a hand to gently place his hand on his. With their closeness, it's easy enough to forget the chill. He shifts a bit to bring himself closer to him.

Sometimes, it's easy enough to forget that he's a demon. He seems so human, and he always seems to be looking out for him... )

That's amazing, Kazuya.... Thank you.

[belheir]

That's right. Agi is fire, Bufu is ice, Zio is electric, and Zan is wind.

[He'd count them off on his fingers, but his hands are currently warming Basil up, and he'll even lean against him a little more heavily to let him soak in that warmth that he provides.]

You really, really don't have to worry about me. I know you know I'm strong, but I'm much, much stronger than you realize.

[So please stop worrying about him...]

[photographists]

... I know.

( Basil gently leans against him then, though his expression falls a little. With his anxious nature, perhaps worrying just came too easily to him. )

You're-- really important to me. We don't know what'll happen here, and I'll be here if you need me, but... I know you'll be okay no matter what.

[belheir]

You're important to me too, you know.

[One hand moves from his cheek to ruffle his hair a little, affectionately.]

I just don't want you to worry about me. I promise I'll be fine, and if I'm not, I'll ask for your help, okay?

[photographists]

I promise, I trust you.

( Basil pushes his head a bit at the ruffle, blue eyes peering up at him. )

Naoya asked me to look out for you, too....

[belheir]

That was nice of him.

[He doesn't trust it, to say the least. There's a reason for it, but he doesn't know it. Yet, anyway. He'll figure out his cousin in time. For now, he'll rest his hand on top of the other's head.]

Don't worry too much about him, alright? He's my problem to deal with.

[photographists]

( He offers a smile, although a bit uncertain. )

Naoya's been nothing but nice to me... I know to be careful, though.

You don't have to worry, Kazuya. I'm... stronger than people think I am.

( Sometimes it feels like only Sunny really believes that. )

[belheir]

I worry because it's not about being strong when it comes to him. He's a master manipulator, and he knows how to play people without them even realizing what it is that he's leading them toward.

[ He ducks his head a little, pressing his forehead against Basil's. ]

He's someone who would kill his own brother to get what he wants. Don't trust him.

[photographists]

( What he says next is enough to make him freeze up a little. Not just in shock, but he thinks back to the things that he's done. For a moment, he can't look Kazuya in the eye.

He thinks of his best friend, and he wants to run. It's enough to make his heart twist in anxiety, and he pulls away a little. )

...

I'll be careful. You don't have to worry.

[belheir]

[ Something is-

Wrong. Basil freezes. He can smell a spike of anxiety that radiates off of him. It makes him wonder. Has Basil told Naoya anything? Is that why he's worried?

Does it explain why he's pulled away, ever so slightly? It doesn't quite connect. He feels like the other would tell him, if he said something. Is that wrong? Is it something else? It's possible he doesn't know him as well as he thinks.

That's alright. He doesn't have to say anything. ]

It's okay. You don't have to worry.

[photographists]

( Is it? He isn't sure. The secret he has is something that he'll carry with him to the grave. The ones who know it either learned by accident, or were told at home. Even if he's been forgiven, he hasn't yet forgiven himself. He doesn't think Sunny has, either.

Maybe it's the same with Naoya. He doesn't know. The situation between him and Kazuya are confusing, and he doesn't want to push him to talk about it. Basil knows better than that.

He moves to take Kazuya's hands into his instead. He can't help but think that he's worried him, and that's the last thing he wants. )

Do you think that--

If someone does something bad, it makes them a bad person?

[belheir]

I used to. But I know it's more complex than that now.

[ There's more to being a "bad" person than just doing something bad. If he had to guess, it'd be the continuation of that. Of continually doing it, for no other reason than because you can. ]

Good people can do bad things. For many reasons. And bad people can even do the occasional thing.

[photographists]

( He feels himself relax a little. He knows that he doesn't have to tell Kazuya anything. He'd never push him to do that much, and if Basil excused himself, he knows it'd be alright.

Everything will be okay.

Still, he squeezes his hand in quiet appreciation. Kazuya may not be able to understand why, but the feelings are there all the same. )

Do you think Naoya is a bad person?

[belheir]

No. I think he's someone who made a mistake, and refuses to take responsibility for it.

[But that doesn't matter to him. He'd follow his brother to the ends of the earth, would let himself be manipulated by him without question, because he cares about him, and wants him to know it however he can.]

Even if I did think he was a bad person, it wouldn't change anything. I'd love him the same.

[photographists]

...

I... know that everything between the both of you is complicated, but uhm--

I told you that the situation between my friends and I were complicated at home. I didn't think I deserved forgiveness for a long time, but... w-we're friends again, because we forgave each other.

I hope that things can be different for you and Naoya, too.

[belheir]

... Do you think that I dislike him, or don't forgive him?

[A genuine question, and he realizes he may have been misrepresenting the situation between him and Naoya pretty heavily, right now.]

I don't. I love my cousin, and he means a lot to me. I became what I am because of him, and I wouldn't change a thing.

[photographists]

No, uhm -- s-sorry.

( Basil thinks of how to phrase his words carefully. )

I know that everything between the both of you is complicated. I don't know everything that happened, but...

I-- might understand a little, and... I'm here for you if you need to talk.

[belheir]

Do you want to know?

[Hm. He doesn't think it'd be terrible, to tell Basil.]

This is my offer, to clear up the situation so you can understand what's going on between us better.

[photographists]

If you're comfortable enough to tell me, Kazuya -- I'll listen.

[belheir]

How familiar are you with Abrahimic mythology? Do they have the bible, in your world?

[He pulls away from Basil with that, moving to sit himself a little more comfortably beside him, leaning back on his hands.]

It's important to this story, so you have the context you might need.

[photographists]

( Basil doesn't seem to protect, but Marigold does. She chirps and stretches then, deciding to settle onto Kazuya's lap, curling up. )

A little, uhm...

( Basil leans back at bit then, his attention on Kazuya. Luckily, he's still warm enough for him to stay warm even without their contact with one another. )

Almost everyone at home attends church, but I'm not as familiar with it as everyone in Faraway is.

[belheir]

[One hand comes up, petting Marigold as she curls up in his lap. He's warm, so she shouldn't protest too much, right? ]

Then that makes it at least a little simpler... Do yo know the story of Cain and Abel?

[photographists]

( He nods. Marigold's quiet purrs begin to fill any silence left between them in the meantime. )

Cain murdered Abel, because he was jealous. It's... supposed to be a story about how important self control is.

[belheir]

Mhm.

[He nods, but it's only slight.]

That story is my history with Naoya. He's Cain's reincarnation, and I'm Abel's. The War for the Throne of Bel that I participated in, that was the reason I was the only human able to participate in it. Because Abel was me, and that made me the Bel of the human world.

[He scratched Marigold's chin gently as she purrs, letting the rumbles soothe him.]

Unlike Naoya, I don't really have any memories of that time, and what I do have his hazy at best.

[photographists]

( Basil simply takes in those words for a moment, listening closely to everything he has to say. It makes sense, given what Kazuya has told him. He's the one who told him about reincarnation, but Naoya was ultimately the one he had heard mention of the word revenge.

He didn't know why back then, and he hadn't wanted to push him to say anything. )

... I'm sorry.

( He looks down in thought. )

There were some things that Naoya had told me that I didn't really understand, but... I do now.

After everything you've told me, it all makes sense. I know that you said you don't regret anything, but... I-I just want you to be able to have a life that you can enjoy while you're here.

How did you-- end up as someone in control of so many demons?