[A small breath, it hitches in his throat and he smooths his thumb over the other man's skin. His eyes open though, he merely looks up. Through branches, through leaves still small...]
Two years. Not long at all. [Closing his eyes again.] Why is it the young always impress me the most? [A laugh.] Or perhaps, it's the wait that makes me long.
[No one ever accused him of being humble. But he's not arrogant either - just realistic. And he's aware of what he's made himself into... and what he has still to become.]
...although I don't spend much time on battlefields. Most of the time.
But I think it's just a question of perception. I've never considered myself especially compelling on my own. Only as one part of a larger unit.
[A small breath, pulling his hand away finally and moving to sit up. His neck stretches, looking up still, lids low. There's a chill in the air but he knows the shiver running down his spine is lingering results of his fight. Still- Lancer isn't who's on his mind right now.]
[Funny thing- he should be. But maybe the past is fading into the abyss far faster than usual? Or maybe anything past not concerning his current company just is out shined by what does. Thoughtful again, quiet, his hands back to sitting in his lap.]
Mmm- The Phantom Troupe. [A light laugh, closing his eyes. He raises a hand up, but just to smooth back his white hair, strands of it flopping back over his face soon after.] Known by that name, that group. But then that's what you want, to only be known by that, rather the spider's head, than Chrollo Lucilfer.
[True silence. His mind leans to think about it, his own words, saying such a thing, and then about Chrollo's question. Should Chrollo be gone, should he die- should Hisoka be who ends him, in this world- no, back home, where it was final. He supposes he would just move on, yes. Fight the legs of the spider as they clawed at the air without a head to direct them. He supposes he would.]
[But now.]
[Could he say the same?]
[He doesn't think about it- doesn't want to, as he said. So he stays facing away. Closing his eyes, and focuses on everything else around them. Sound, breeze, his own heart, slow and steady now in his chest. The slight prickle still in his skin. Chrollo's words echoing in his ears. His stomach tossing from the idea of it-
Him gone. A world without him. Why does it keep prying at him? He really feels like an idiot now, ah- and not for the reason Chrollo said it earlier.]
[He sighs a breath through his nose, a light laugh, his eyes closing before he leans back. Still sitting, but slumping up against Chrollo's front, leaned back over his lap till he can look up at him. His lips curl, offering an oddly genuine sort of smile.]
[It's odd to hear something like that from him- for several reasons. The first being Chrollo's own acceptance of death that Hisoka's rather aware of. How couldn't he be? With how willing Chrollo was to defend his 'friends', how willing he was to go after Kurapika after seeing what he was capable of- and how he willingly spends this much time with him, someone who's not at all secretive about how he wants to end the Troupe Leader.]
[Then there's just- who he's saying it to in general.]
[Hisoka's not naive to how he can be, he knows he has issues, knows that he hardly deserves anyone to say that to him. He isn't bothered by it, and has never sought out someone to care or feel anything should he endanger himself, should he even die. So to hear it like that- it's weird.]
[He's frowning when and if Chrollo looks down, not really sure of his reply for a few moments before finally looking forward again, still slumped back against him and not about to move.]
At least you have help now, should I disappear. [Because that's- the main issue right. What makes the most sense anyway. He has Uvogin's company, an enhancer, simple at times, in ability, but strong, useful, capable. Maybe his mind is just- purposely avoiding any other reasons. Or trying to- for some reason his gut feels unsettled again.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[And he rests his hand over Hisoka's.]
no subject
Two years. Not long at all. [Closing his eyes again.] Why is it the young always impress me the most? [A laugh.] Or perhaps, it's the wait that makes me long.
no subject
[Not much does, actually. He's still confused by it.]
no subject
How doesn't it? Your potential is limitless.
no subject
[No one ever accused him of being humble. But he's not arrogant either - just realistic. And he's aware of what he's made himself into... and what he has still to become.]
...although I don't spend much time on battlefields. Most of the time.
But I think it's just a question of perception. I've never considered myself especially compelling on my own. Only as one part of a larger unit.
That's changed a bit, here. It needed to.
no subject
[Funny thing- he should be. But maybe the past is fading into the abyss far faster than usual? Or maybe anything past not concerning his current company just is out shined by what does. Thoughtful again, quiet, his hands back to sitting in his lap.]
Mmm- The Phantom Troupe. [A light laugh, closing his eyes. He raises a hand up, but just to smooth back his white hair, strands of it flopping back over his face soon after.] Known by that name, that group. But then that's what you want, to only be known by that, rather the spider's head, than Chrollo Lucilfer.
no subject
The latter is simply my name. The former is who and what I am.
That's why I prefer to be seen - and known - that way. Besides. Every last one of them is exceptional. Why focus on me?
...of course, I already know the answer. It's only that it... sits strangely in my mind.
no subject
no subject
That you focused on me simply because I'm the strongest of them.
[It's not something he says regularly. It seems simultaneously excessive and unnecessary. But he can say it. To Hisoka, he can say it.]
In a world without me, perhaps you would have been following one of the others.
[Probably Feitan or Uvo.]
no subject
I'd rather not think of it. ['A world without you'.]
[The words are there, in his mouth, but feel strange. He doesn't say it- or finish it rather.]
no subject
You don't have to.
[Although, isn't that what Hisoka wanted to create?]
no subject
[Another breath but then.]
[Just silence after that.]
[True silence. His mind leans to think about it, his own words, saying such a thing, and then about Chrollo's question. Should Chrollo be gone, should he die- should Hisoka be who ends him, in this world- no, back home, where it was final. He supposes he would just move on, yes. Fight the legs of the spider as they clawed at the air without a head to direct them. He supposes he would.]
[But now.]
[Could he say the same?]
[He doesn't think about it- doesn't want to, as he said. So he stays facing away. Closing his eyes, and focuses on everything else around them. Sound, breeze, his own heart, slow and steady now in his chest. The slight prickle still in his skin. Chrollo's words echoing in his ears. His stomach tossing from the idea of it-
Him gone. A world without him. Why does it keep prying at him? He really feels like an idiot now, ah- and not for the reason Chrollo said it earlier.]
no subject
...Hisoka.
[What to say? He frowns.]
Well. As it stands, you have me for a while longer.
[In fact, Porter magic aside, it's up to Hisoka how long.]
no subject
no subject
As long as you like.
[He could add the technicalities - Hisoka has until he claims his end of the deal, so of course it's as long as he likes. In theory. But...
...the thought seems complete where it is. So he leaves it there. Another casual confession that Hisoka is likely to misunderstand.]
no subject
[Quiet for a bit longer before.]
Thank you.
no subject
For the healing?
no subject
Did you rush to my side?
no subject
[No hesitation. No shame.]
no subject
Good.
no subject
Don't get yourself killed. That I can't fix.
[And even if it is temporary here... it still makes him feel... unsettled.]
no subject
Why not? I'd just come back.
[NAH IT'D BE FINE.]
no subject
[...spare him the sight of it.]
...don't. Besides, the resurrection time is unreliable. If you're gone for weeks, my life would lack for color.
no subject
[Then there's just- who he's saying it to in general.]
[Hisoka's not naive to how he can be, he knows he has issues, knows that he hardly deserves anyone to say that to him. He isn't bothered by it, and has never sought out someone to care or feel anything should he endanger himself, should he even die. So to hear it like that- it's weird.]
[He's frowning when and if Chrollo looks down, not really sure of his reply for a few moments before finally looking forward again, still slumped back against him and not about to move.]
At least you have help now, should I disappear. [Because that's- the main issue right. What makes the most sense anyway. He has Uvogin's company, an enhancer, simple at times, in ability, but strong, useful, capable. Maybe his mind is just- purposely avoiding any other reasons. Or trying to- for some reason his gut feels unsettled again.]
no subject
[If Hisoka's avoiding it... well, Chrollo isn't helping. But he's not trying to make it worse, either.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)