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[clayking]

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[guylining]

i trust you to tell me if you think he's a real and ongoing danger to me

this place can make any one of us dangerous. that's not what i'm talking about, i'm talking about him still being him and in charge of himself in a reliable way

honestly? i don't know how he'll feel about another demon prince
but he says what he cares about is keeping me safe
if that's true then he'll let you help, right?

[clayking]

All right then- I know the weight of those words. You're not the sort to flinch around me, after all.

The city's madness tends to be temporary, we're talking about something that might be instilled in him.

Sound enough logic- though perhaps the fact we don't claim the same throne might work out in favor but yes, if he's the man you think he is. The least he could do is let me help and...

See what he is.

[guylining]

yes
exactly

there's others i can ask to help too, like chris i'd imagine would know what he's talking about

but you, you're a demon like him. you're the most like him, even the same rank
i don't think there's anyone better equipped for this at all.

especially not that i can trust like i trust you. i put my whole self in your hands and i was safe
i'll be safe with you now.

[clayking]

Well-

You'll always be safe as long as I'm around, Nate. Even more so in my hands. I would never mislead you on such a thing.

The heart just isn't always the easiest thing to overcome- I do wish this will work out in the way you want. Your smile along would be worth such a price but-

For all I know about we demons-...well.

I just hope it works out.

Thank you for thinking of me, however.

[guylining]

you say things like that but you say demons don't have a soul

they have something. you have something. you're not just evil.

[clayking]

You were imbued with life, Nate. A certain amount of free will from whatever you believe in if you do belive in such a thing.

I was made from infernal clay. We might have something but it's not a soul. Not in the same way mortals do. We have nothing to judge after if or when we're killed.

We only are exactly what we appear.

I care for you, Nate. But do not think there are not parts of me that you do not know.

[guylining]

i don't imagine for a second that i know everything there is to know about you

i'm sorry, i didn't mean to be reductive

[clayking]

I know you weren't...intending to.

I just mean that it's easy to think there isn't much difference between us. My kind and yours.

Regardless-

You've more than earned your place in the list of people I care for- and those I would fight for. Even my own kind. So, I suppose the point matters little.

[guylining]

i would fight for you too

and i care about you too.

ineroth...he wasn't whole when i knew him. he was missing all the parts of himself that made up thorn

i don't think he should've been split apart like that. i don't really know what it means for him

[clayking]

And he could be far more dangerous now that he's whole- even with Thorn's supposed influence.

Perhaps the split apart was untentional. A part of him severed by mistake- we might be cocky creatures but even we sometimes stumble. I imagine it says quite a bit that you managed to leave an impression on Thorn enough that he failed to come after you in that time apart-

As much as I loathe to suggest this- have you considered trying to separate them again?

[guylining]

I suggested it

thorn doesn't think it can be done

but if it could, i'd do it in a heartbeat. separate them, bind ineroth so that he couldn't hurt anyone

yeah. i'd do it if i could

[clayking]

Thorn might be reveling in the power that he has currently- and separation would diminish that. Not saying he's wrong but his words might not be pure.

though binding him alone while might be more of a permanent solution, might be a harder thing to achieve.

It rather depends on how much risk one would take to have the man you knew back.

[guylining]

a month ago i was ready to die for him, so
that's where i am

[clayking]

Ah.

Well...

We're speaking in hypotheticals till I meet him. Hopefully, you would not have to do such a thing. I do prefer you alive.

[guylining]

yeah. me too.

[clayking]

...Are you OK?

I imagine this whole thing is quite...hard.

[guylining]

i'm better than i was

i thought he was gone and he isn't

i just have to keep a tether on hope, you know? because i could get blinded by that
i have to stay rational, that's the hardest part

[clayking]

Well, better than you were is an improvement.

I don't mean to put a damper on that hope- if we can contain him. Perhaps everything will work out.

I'm just perhaps more wary of my kind.

[guylining]

no, you're right to be. you know your kind better than anyone

hope is dangerous. i know that.

i don't want to have to be afraid of him, but right now i can't help it

[clayking]

Fear can be good. Healthy, even.

This feeling won't last forever but for now- a little objectivity is the best thing you can do Nate.

[guylining]

yeah. i know you're right

you've already done so much for me.

[clayking]

You simply need to ask you know-

Doing this and more is not a burden. Not when it comes to you, Nate.

[guylining]

thank you.

i mean it. for everything.

[clayking]

of course.

I’m happy to do it.

[guylining]

thank you

i'll bring him to meet you?