[ Belial is so wrapped up in deceit (and illogical, and weird) that even after all these years, he's a tricky read. But it'd be faster to just check and risk looking a bit foolish than weighing a bunch of meaningless calculations on whether he's lying or not, so. He cracks open the front door slowly, waiting to see if there's a counterweight on the other side. ]
[ Of course Belial is on the other side of the door, standing there with an innocent smile that can, in no way, be trusted. He does have the books at least, though he doesn't hand them over. Lucilius would likely just snatch the texts and leave him to remain outside. ]
[ Of course. ] ...To hide your aura for something as idiotic as this.
[ It's his loss; he'd sorely underestimated Belial. Lucilius levels a dead-eyed stare his way before his gaze drops, predictably, to the books in his arms.
...There's no way to rip them away, and he does have other errands piling up. His expression sours into a tiny scowl before he turns on his heel, striding right back towards his room. In the end, he would've let Belial back anyway out of necessity—but that's not the point. ] Sometimes I wonder where you learned such foolishness.
[ Lucilius' irritation does little to stem Belial's satisfaction as he strolls into the house without showing any remorse in the slightest. He sets the books on their dinner table before wandering over to the couch to lie down with a content sigh. ]
I couldn't think straight knowing you were upset with me. [ He's so full of shit, and he wastes no time in smiling over at Lucilius. ] Though it is thrilling to see you jealous.
[ ...He's so full of shit. Lucilius sits to flip through the first of his poor, hostage books, and though it isn't quite enough to tune Belial out, it at least eases the cut of his words. ]
Oh—? I fail to see what there is to be envious about.
[ Belial looks oddly peaceful as he watches Lucilius, his cheek propped on his palm. ]
Okay, I'll leave it for you to discover.
[ He really is testing Lucilius' patience today. He's not sure if Lucilius will ignore Belial outright, or snap at him to come out with it--but the unknown is part of the fun. ]
[ There's a moment where his eyes flick up past his book, studying Belial instead, deliberating whether this mystery would nag at him if he left it unresolved, or if it was wiser to disengage completely.
In the end, he responds with a quiet snort before poring over his texts, irritation giving way to focus. It's the closest to peace and quiet they'll get now that the moons' sway has passed over, and he isn't keen to waste it. It isn't unlike old days spent in his private chambers, devouring texts before passing them onto Belial when he was finished, wiling the time away in a pointless effort to absorb an entire sky's worth of knowledge.
Speaking of—one of the books he's breezed through in Belial's (extended) absence gets tossed over to the couch, landing on Belial's chest with an unceremonious thump.Edible and Medicinal Plants of Greater Prismatica: Vol I of III. This is not optional reading. Enjoy. ]
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[ As long as he's got a handle on it... ]
Are you bored of taking pictures of weeds, yet?
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I have a way of making anything interesting.
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Then perhaps I should leave you to it.
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[ Get ready for MORE PLANTS ]
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I didn't.
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He wants Lucilius to beg for pictures of him instead. ]
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I had thought you were well enough to return. But I see you're still touched by madness.
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I'll only observe more plants the longer I'm out here.
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Might I suggest spending your time more productively instead? Such as retrieving the texts I asked you to find days ago? [ "asked," told, whatever. ]
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I dropped those off already.
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Is that so?
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On your doorstep with a present.
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Told you, Faa-san.
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[ It's his loss; he'd sorely underestimated Belial. Lucilius levels a dead-eyed stare his way before his gaze drops, predictably, to the books in his arms.
...There's no way to rip them away, and he does have other errands piling up. His expression sours into a tiny scowl before he turns on his heel, striding right back towards his room. In the end, he would've let Belial back anyway out of necessity—but that's not the point. ] Sometimes I wonder where you learned such foolishness.
[ Surely it wasn't from him. ]
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I couldn't think straight knowing you were upset with me. [ He's so full of shit, and he wastes no time in smiling over at Lucilius. ] Though it is thrilling to see you jealous.
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Oh—? I fail to see what there is to be envious about.
[ More gibberish. ]
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Okay, I'll leave it for you to discover.
[ He really is testing Lucilius' patience today. He's not sure if Lucilius will ignore Belial outright, or snap at him to come out with it--but the unknown is part of the fun. ]
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In the end, he responds with a quiet snort before poring over his texts, irritation giving way to focus. It's the closest to peace and quiet they'll get now that the moons' sway has passed over, and he isn't keen to waste it. It isn't unlike old days spent in his private chambers, devouring texts before passing them onto Belial when he was finished, wiling the time away in a pointless effort to absorb an entire sky's worth of knowledge.
Speaking of—one of the books he's breezed through in Belial's (extended) absence gets tossed over to the couch, landing on Belial's chest with an unceremonious thump. Edible and Medicinal Plants of Greater Prismatica: Vol I of III. This is not optional reading. Enjoy. ]