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[belheir]

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[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?

[belheir]

[The hand that isn't petting Marigold comes up, and he counts off the names as he goes.]

Beldr, Belial, Jezebel, Belzaboul, Belberith. Those are the demons that I fought crowned with the title of "Bel". It's in the name. When Cain killed Abel, he didn't just die, but his very soul was shattered, and while some parts found themselves a home inside of the next humans, some demons also managed to consume pieces of it as well. The part of my soul that was Abel's was the biggest, and since he'd also been crowned with that same title, it meant that he, and therefor I, would be able to participate in the war. I killed and absorbed the other demons crowned Bel, and emerged the victor, and holder of that title.

[photographists]

( It's complicated, to say the least. If he hadn't had any backstory on what Kazuya's homelife was like, he'd be completely lost.

But, it all boils down to one question, regardless. )

Is that what you wanted?

[belheir]

No. But I was the only one who could do it.

[Which is the important thing.]

I wouldn't change what happened, even now. Even if it's not what I wanted, it's what kept my friends safe, and it's what is going to free Naoya from his curse. And those are things I do want.

[photographists]

( Basil reaches then with his bandaged arm and placing a hand on Kazuya's shoulder, squeezing it gently. )

You're a good person, Kazuya. I... hope you never forget that.

And, I hope you get what you want, too.

[belheir]

[But he's not a good person.

That doesn't mean he can't do good things, however. And truthfully, he knows there's no point in arguing with the other, so instead he'll grab his hand, wrapped up and bandaged that it is, to do something good, he thinks.]

I already have what I need, both here and at home.

[Gently, he'll unwrap the bandages until he can see the extent of the wound. It looks... Probably better than it did initially, but there's still some bruising that he can see, and still lingering wounds.]

Is it still painful?

[It looks painful. It looks fresh enough that it's a good thing whatever inflicted this wasn't near him when it did.]

[photographists]

( He feels the way his expression softens at his words. He's someone who values his friends so much. It's something Basil can understand. Much like Kazuya, Basil would do absolutely anything for his friends.

But then, he undresses his wound, and he flinches a bit at the sight of it. )

A little. Sunny did the best he could to heal it... But, uhm -- it was really deep.

( It'll probably scar when it heals. )

I'll be okay. The important thing is that no one else got hurt. It-- could've been really bad...

[belheir]

But you got hurt.

[Basil doesn't care enough about himself. Even if "Sunny" had healed it, it was still deep. It'll scar if nothing else is done about it. Magic flows from his finger tips, a Diarahan to heal what remains. Maybe it's too strong of a healing spell for what's needed, but he wants to be sure. Basil needs his hand for the work he does.]

I'm sure you were trying to help, but I wish you hadn't gotten hurt.

[photographists]

( The warmth of the light is overwhelming, far more than it had been when his friend had healed it, but he can feel the way that those bruises lose their sensitivity rather quickly. )

I promised my friend that I'd try harder to be more brave. I... I don't want to not do anything if someone is in trouble, even if it means that I get hurt.

[belheir]

Being brave is one thing, and I won't give you trouble for trying to help people, but you need to be smart as well as brave. Putting yourself at risk for someone else isn't bravery, it's recklessness. You might not care about your life so much, but other people do.

[With his hand healed, he leans in, gently pressing his lips to Basil's forehead, briefly, affectionately.]

I do.