( ARCHIVED. )

Stretching out his own muscles in preparation, he couldn’t help but smile slightly in amusement as he watched Jarvinia’s tail wag. His dear puppy was just far too adorable without her even trying to be so. Though he supposed that he could share the excitement. The only person that he had ever been able to spar with that had actually been a challenge had been his brother, so it was nice to think that he could have someone else with a different style to test his abilities against.

Getting into position himself, he gave a simple nod. “I am ready. Try not to hold back, as I don’t really know how to do so myself.” But he did know that it was best not to rush into a battle without some understanding of his opponent’s abilities, so he will wait for her to make the first move.

–— 「 ♛ 」HER ONLY RESPONSE WAS A MERE SMIRK, a simple curl of her lips before her expression relaxed into a cold, calculating one. Concentration overshadowed the excitement in her body, though her muscles still itched to move. The playful, ecstatic demeanor disappeared in a matter of seconds, replaced with the foreboding presence she usually exuded in combat. Hold back? She never planned on it.

Her laughter warmed his heart in a way he found difficult to express with words, but watching her smile fade worried him. He’d been purposely ignoring this particular toping for a while now, but he didn’t let a sudden sense of uncertainty stop him. He had to finish what he wanted to say, because if he didn’t, he couldn’t say for sure when he would be able to try talking about this again.

He desperately wanted to feel reassured by Jarvinia’s words when she spoke, but her tone unnerved and worried him too much for that to be possible. He’d been trying to avoid thinking about the nagging idea that perhaps immortality wouldn’t be possible for him; that he’d missed his chance somehow, or he’d never had one in the first place. But…now he was thinking that might be the case. His heart sank, and he bit his lip lightly, not bothering to hide the crestfallen expression on his face. He sighed heavily, reaching out to take one of Jarvinia’s hands in his and lacing their fingers together.

“No matter what, I’ll spend as many years with you as I can. I love you, Jarvinia. Even if I do grow old, that won’t change. I wouldn’t want you to make me a promise that you can’t keep, but…I mean it. If I can spend eternity with you, I will. When I was talking to Nero, he also suggested the option that you might be able to give up your immortality somehow, but I don’t know if that’s possible either, and I wouldn’t ask you to do that even if it is.”

He paused, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves. “You said there’s a price. Honestly, I’m not surprised. Immortality is a pretty big deal—I understand that. But…if it’s not money, what kind of price would it be?”

–— 「 ♛ 」HER LIPS FORMED A SMALL FROWN AT HIS disappointed expression. It broke her heart to discourage him in this way, but she couldn't bring herself to deceive him and give him false hope. She squeezed his hand in subtle comfort, carefully listening to his words. ❝ I love you, too, Chara. I know that you meant what you said, and I'm sorry that I couldn't give you the answer you wanted. But I can promise you that I'll try to find some way for us to be happy. Even if it means giving up my immortality. ❞

It sounded like he was under the impression that she wanted to keep her immortality when that wasn't the case at all. She already told him that immortality was a gift and a curse in and of itself. The only reason she wanted it was for love ... the exact reason that Chara wanted it as well. But she was tired. Tired of watching everyone around her disappear before her very eyes, of watching war after pointless war, of seeing death touch everyone but herself. It showed most of the time, the aged look in her clouded eyes that contrasted greatly with her youthful face. They were the eyes of someone who saw many things they didn't want to, didn't need to.

Seeing her open the door for him instantly put a smile on his face, but he restrained himself from saying or doing anything else in greeting since she was on the phone. He walked over to sit on the side of the bed, and though he didn’t purposely pay attention to the conversation she was having, it was one he wasn’t sure he could ask about.

He waited until she was done, then wrapped his arms around her as soon as she was beside him. It was tempting to just keep holding her and ignore why he’d come to talk, but he knew better. Giving her a quick kiss, he pulled back and shifted so that he was facing her more directly. Despite how strongly he felt, saying this wasn’t going to be easy. Saying it would be a commitment; one he wouldn’t back down from unless it proved to be impossible.

“Yeah. It’s a long story how my conversation with Nero got to this point, but…the point is, he brought up your age—and before I say anything else, that’s never been a problem to me. I don’t care, and he doesn’t seem to be bothered by it either. The problem, though, is something I think we’ve both been avoiding discussing, and talking to Nero reminded me.” Here he paused, taking a deep breath.

“One day…unless we do something about it, you’ll look the same way you do now, and I’ll be an old man, both physically and mentally. I don’t want that day to come. If there’s a way…if you would be okay with it, I’d like to be able to stay with you—for the next several hundred years, if possible. It doesn’t have to happen right now, but if it can be done, I want to become immortal and stay with you.”

–— 「 ♛ 」 A PLEASED LAUGH RANG FROM HER LIPS when she felt his arms wrap around her, returning the kiss eagerly. She listened to him patiently, blinking in shock when he mentioned her age. The smile on her face gradually shrank as he spoke, her expression becoming more thoughtful as the words sank in. Quite honestly, she was actively avoiding this conversation. She dreaded it. It just wasn't a subject she was willing to talk about, addressing the proverbial elephant in the room.

The fact that he wanted to spend eternity with her made her happy, more than words could ever express. Her heart swelled and ached all the same, but a mental battle raged inside her. She said the same words once, as eager as he to give up her mortality for love. But ... it was so easy at that time. Rath had already established himself in the realm of magick, made connections and ties with people who could grant her wish. But Jarvinia, she avoided that world and made more enemies than friends.

As much as she wanted to grant his wish, she didn't know if she could. Or if she wanted to. She's lived for such a long time, experienced things that she would never wish upon anyone. Frankly, she'd rather give up her own mortality and grow old with Chara than let him live the taxing life of an immortal.

–— 「 ♛ 」 THE TWO TALKED ABOUT SPARRING BEFORE, but neither found the right time to do so. Whenever an opportunity came, it was quickly swept away by an assignment or some other circumstance. But now both of them were free, and frankly Jarvinia was buzzing with excitement. It's been quite a while since she's fought with a worthy opponent, someone who could actually make her sweat.

@cu-sithe​

After his latest conversation with his brother, Chara headed off to find his girlfriend. Nero was right—she was the one to talk to, and she was the only one between the three of them that had any real knowledge or experience on the matter of immortality. Sure, he’d come across it before in some novels, but those were purely fiction. It was still strange to think that such a thing was really possible, but then again, Jarvinia was living proof.

Stopping in front of the door to her room, he drew in a breath and knocked. Hopefully she was inside, because this wasn’t a discussion he would want anyone else to hear. “Jarvinia? Can I come in? I just finished talking to Nero, and I wanted to ask about something.”

–— 「 ♛ 」 HER EARS TWITCHED WHEN THE SOUND OF a knock reached them, distracting her from the voice of her broker over the phone. She went to answer the door once she heard Chara's voice on the outside, giving him a smile and silently gesturing him inside. There was only a few more exchanges of words until she ended the conversation, putting the phone to the side before placing a kiss on Chara's cheek and sitting near him. 

BEWARE the black wolf, harbinger of death. BEWARE the silent hunter and its three blood-chilling howls. BEWARE its maw that drips in the blood of its victims ;; those who have heard the howl of the beast.