[ 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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[ 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. ]
no subject
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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[ As if pieces of Harry being there means all of him is. ]
You've earned a favor from me. [ A silent but, ] You may ask the next time we see each other, if you have one by then.
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[Harry presses himself close for a moment, hugging Zephir.]
Thank you.
🎀
You're welcome, [ A beat. ] Papillon.