[ He finds Harry's tent, surveys his state for a moment and makes a soft comment, then leads him to the maze — which should be safe if they don't wander in too far, now that most have made it out and warned everyone else off — taking out a cigarette as he rests his back against one of the many stone pillars spread throughout. ]
Cigarette?
[ Maybe Harry remembers what happened the last time Zephir offered him one. ]
[If Harry's little smile is any indication, he remembers. But he shakes his head. In his hands he clutches a Sobe beverage bottle, empty of liquid but with his eyeball sitting neatly at the bottom. The optic nerve trails from it like a tail and it's a bit worse for wear having been out for over twenty-four hours.]
[ It'll be just for him, then. Inadvisable considering the circumstances, but he's still able to reverse and heal what isn't being regrown by the maze's game rules. ]
May I?
[ Cigarette between his lips, he reaches for the bottle now. ]
You're not giving it up. You get to watch how it transforms.
[ As he observes and contemplates, Zephir knows exactly what to do with it. He knows who is responsible for it, too; it has traces of the eternal boy all over it. The one who was incapable of feeling pain until Life stepped in and changed that. His gaze flicks over to the other man. ]
Very thoughtful of you. [ As if Harry said Devon's name somewhere in that, ] I took something from him as well. To save his life. Isn't that a strange coincidence?
[ Making it sound like a happy one, too. After another drag from his cigarette, he touches Harry on his chest. ]
Opened him up and took out his heart. He told me he'd never felt pain before that. I gave him a taste of what it's like.
And then I changed what agony felt like for him, too.
Ah. Yes. Of course. It is not any business of mine, anyway.
[Harry suddenly realises that he is protective of his goblin twink. And he really has no right to be. Devon is an adult, and Zephir is... something else.]
[ Good answer. Zephir smokes the cigarette one last time, puts it out on his own tongue, then discards the thing. He hands the bottle back. ]
Don't let it go, love. It mustn't break.
[ Closer than before, towering over the other man, he cups the untouched half of Harry's face and holds his chin with the other hand. He tilts Harry's head back slightly, making him look upward — at the sky overseeing the maze, or at the deity overseeing his newest harvest. Zephir gets started on removing the eyepatch. ]
[Harry holds the bottle with both hands and allows Zephir to manipulate him. He breathes slowly and steadily as Zephir removes the eyepatch and the bandages below.
It's still so fresh. It aches even under the numbing comfort of painkillers.
[ Zephir removes everything until Harry's wound is exposed, all the colors and shine of pain and violence to the body on display. He leans down with both hands on Harry's face, angling himself as though they're about to kiss, until his tongue darts out and he licks into the empty socket. Some of his white ichor pours into it to find out whether the sacrifice will obey his orders to heal itself, but nothing happens. That's good. And at least he can say he tried. ]
Remember this: your agony serves a purpose.
[ Whispered like a prayer for a ritual. The hold on Harry's face is stronger, steadying his head, ready to hold him in place if he tries to jerk away for the next part. ]
Do you want it? Or shall I make you feel something else?
[Harry's breath hitches when Zephir leans in and his lips part slightly in anticipation. He makes a soft, distressed noise when Zephir licks him instead, but he doesn't move away.
[ Zephir doesn't think he's ever felt sorry for anyone. There is no tragedy or pain great enough to stop him from seeing beauty, and how can he ever deny that a smile? Harry's reaction earns him a caress; his willingness to endure earns him a god's pride and approval, leaning down once more, to stick a finger in his eye socket. He holds Harry by the nape, watches everything he does to commit his agony to memory, making the body create a seed inside the skull.
When he's done, Zephir digs the small thing out of the gore, held in bloody fingers. He works on healing the damage he's caused next, but anything Harry suffered prior remains as it was. ]
Beautiful, aren't you?
[ Talking to Harry, talking to the seed. They're two pieces of the same being now, and both belong to Life. ]
[Harry very nearly screams at the intrusion. Instead he keeps his teeth locked together and exhales a long, tortured noise. His fingers spasm uselessly as Zephir digs, endlessly, endlessly.
But it does end. Zephir is holding a seed and Harry slumps, one hand clutching Zephir's shoulder for support. He's panting like a frightened animal, his good eye staring without really seeing.
[ Zephir is quiet for a long moment, letting Harry's words sit, forcing him to live with their meaning, here and now, with Zephir as his aggressor turned support. He leans down to kiss him on the top of his head, keeping him close with one hand while the other holds his seed and his blood. Then, ]
You didn't drop it. Wonderful job.
[ He takes the bottle back, carefully, and drops the seed in with the eye. It's held up while Zephir concentrates. Slowly, like a gravitational pull, the seed moves toward the orb and is absorbed into the sclera. ]
Come see me in a week from now. You'll be ready by then.
[ As in the seed, but perhaps the man as well. ]
Here, love. [ A kiss to the forehead, then his lips. ] This gift is worth so much more than you imagine. Thank you.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Yes, with Tim. I shall meet you outside; I'd rather he not see it.
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We'll find privacy elsewhere. I imagine no one wants to see what I intend to do.
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Thank you, dear.
blanket cw from here on: eye gore bound to happen
Cigarette?
[ Maybe Harry remembers what happened the last time Zephir offered him one. ]
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You look well.
[Pleasantries even now.]
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[ It'll be just for him, then. Inadvisable considering the circumstances, but he's still able to reverse and heal what isn't being regrown by the maze's game rules. ]
May I?
[ Cigarette between his lips, he reaches for the bottle now. ]
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It feels strange to see it. And to... to give it up. But for you I can.
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[ As he observes and contemplates, Zephir knows exactly what to do with it. He knows who is responsible for it, too; it has traces of the eternal boy all over it. The one who was incapable of feeling pain until Life stepped in and changed that. His gaze flicks over to the other man. ]
You said you removed your eye?
[ Not had it removed—? ]
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[Like this is a normal thing to ask for help with.]
I needed someone to sever the nerve.
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[ Making it sound like a happy one, too. After another drag from his cigarette, he touches Harry on his chest. ]
Opened him up and took out his heart. He told me he'd never felt pain before that. I gave him a taste of what it's like.
And then I changed what agony felt like for him, too.
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He liked it?
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You should ask him. I wouldn't want to speak on his behalf.
[ He lifts the bottle instead. ]
I propose using your eye to create new life. Do you approve?
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[Harry suddenly realises that he is protective of his goblin twink. And he really has no right to be. Devon is an adult, and Zephir is... something else.]
Yes.
...what kind of life?
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[ What better way to ensure compatibility? ]
But you'd have to let me take it, Harry. [ The finger moves from his chest to his face, resting softly on his forehead. ] The seed.
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He nods.]
Yes. You may.
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[ And this time it won't be life-saving. Harry would be suffering for what is essentially mother nature's vanity project. ]
Are you worried?
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Pain was my constant companion for quite some time. I will be alright.
[His good eye searches Zephir's face.]
I am frightened. But if you are bringing forth life from what I have discarded, I believe it is my duty to proceed.
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Don't let it go, love. It mustn't break.
[ Closer than before, towering over the other man, he cups the untouched half of Harry's face and holds his chin with the other hand. He tilts Harry's head back slightly, making him look upward — at the sky overseeing the maze, or at the deity overseeing his newest harvest. Zephir gets started on removing the eyepatch. ]
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It's still so fresh. It aches even under the numbing comfort of painkillers.
Harry keeps his gaze on the sky.]
cw: eye gore, pseudo-emeto, licking wounds
Remember this: your agony serves a purpose.
[ Whispered like a prayer for a ritual. The hold on Harry's face is stronger, steadying his head, ready to hold him in place if he tries to jerk away for the next part. ]
Do you want it? Or shall I make you feel something else?
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He exhales.]
I want it.
[Deserves it.]
eye gore continued, slight body horror
When he's done, Zephir digs the small thing out of the gore, held in bloody fingers. He works on healing the damage he's caused next, but anything Harry suffered prior remains as it was. ]
Beautiful, aren't you?
[ Talking to Harry, talking to the seed. They're two pieces of the same being now, and both belong to Life. ]
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But it does end. Zephir is holding a seed and Harry slumps, one hand clutching Zephir's shoulder for support. He's panting like a frightened animal, his good eye staring without really seeing.
Harry licks his lips. Swallows.]
I don't feel it.
cw: eye body horror
You didn't drop it. Wonderful job.
[ He takes the bottle back, carefully, and drops the seed in with the eye. It's held up while Zephir concentrates. Slowly, like a gravitational pull, the seed moves toward the orb and is absorbed into the sclera. ]
Come see me in a week from now. You'll be ready by then.
[ As in the seed, but perhaps the man as well. ]
Here, love. [ A kiss to the forehead, then his lips. ] This gift is worth so much more than you imagine. Thank you.
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He looks up at Zephir and nods, hand still touching his shoulder. When he's kissed he closes his good eye and even smiles a little.]
You're welcome. I know... you'll do something beautiful with it.
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🎀