You don't?

[He was just fine before, though. Or maybe it's just an uncomfortable adjustment. Kazuya moves, reaching out to press a warm hand to Basil's forehead. If he has become suddenly ill, then that won't do at all.

But... He doesn't feel like he's ill, so maybe it just things in him settling as they should.]

Have you eaten recently? [The next part he mumbles to himself:] Maybe everything was a little much for your system... You'll adjust in time, but I probably should have at least fed you before I took you like I did.

( Basil finds himself flinching away at the touch. At this point, he's not sure what to make of his concern.

It's too late to get out of this, isn't it? He'll have to adjust to this idea of a new life. )

N-No, I-- Sorry, I... n-need to go.

Can you even walk?

[ Humans can be delicate, can't they? And beyond that, if he feels ill, then it may be more likely that he encounter something problematic.

Though... No demons will bother him, given the marks and scent emanating from him. And since he's human enough, surely others won't bother him. ]

You should be safe enough to wander on your own, but I'd hesitate on letting you go too far on your own if you're not well enough.

Edited (typos) 2024-09-20 06:31 am (UTC)

I-I'm okay. I won't leave the house.

( Why wouldn't he be alright? Did he expect everything that they had just done to be that damaging? Or, was it because they were so different?

With those words and Basil's clothing back on, he'll make his way out of the room. He had to be alone for a moment. He had a lot to take in... )

[ Well, if he can walk and move on his own, there's no point in hovering over him now is there? He has other things to do and attend to now that he's free, like getting something far nicer as a place of residence than this house.

He'll only peak his head out enough to call after him. ]

Call my name if you need help.

[ And with that, he's going to snap his fingers and disappear into the same sort of ominous portal he'd first appeared in, leaving Basil alone with his thoughts until either the other calls him, or he properly bullies lesser demons (all of them) into doing his bidding and finding a more luxurious place to live.

A King of his calibre needs a suitable castle after all, right? ]

Edited (mobile typo hell x 2) 2024-09-20 09:11 pm (UTC)

[In his time away, he's gotten things settled. A new home, where he can keep his promised human all to himself. A more comfortable place, luxurious and spacious and filled with anything and everything the other could possibly need or want.

It fits a King, and Kazuya has finally come to collect Basil to take him there.

However, when he sees him he's a little surprised by just how much he's filled out in the interrim. Has he really taken so long? Well, he's been stuck in the demon realm so long that maybe his sense of time has just become that skewed.

He knocks softly on the wall to get his humans attention before speaking.]

I've come to take you elsewhere so you'll be more comfortable.

[Though the plants in here are nice. It'd be a shame if they didn't end up being brought along, wouldn't it?

He'll have to get some others to bring them to the castle.]

( The soft knock is enough to make him jump a bit, and Basil blinks up at Kazuya in surprise. )

O-Oh... uhm -- hi, Kazuya.

( He shrinks back a bit at his words, hesitating. What did he mean by elsewhere? Where exactly were they going? )

What kind of place...? Where do you mean?

To your new home. As nice as a place this may be for you, it's not suitable for myself. Everything you care about will be brought over to your new home in short order, so you don't need to worry about gathering your things.

[He leans against the doorframe, keeping his eyes leveled at the other.]

I've instructed them to treat your things with the utmost respect, unless they feel like forfeiting their lives. Your things will be well taken care of, and I think it may help to liven up your new chambers as well.

( A new home. This is where he grew up. He's never even thought of living anywhere else.

He puts the watering can down, straightening. )

I've never lived anywhere else. Where exactly is it...?

Somewhere where we're less likely to be bothered by humans walking by and sticking their noses into things that don't concern them.

[ More easily defensible. ]

Of course, it still has to be close enough to the human settlements if I require supplies.

( Basil takes a step forward then. A place away from humans... Despite the last four years, the fact that he may not see any of his friends fills him with an indescribable loneliness.

Despite that, he steps forward - gently reaching for Kazuya's sleeve. )

... Will we come back?

Once you're settled, if that's what you want.

[ He has no reason to keep a leash on Basil, after all. He's the one with all the power, and the fact the other hadn't tried to even attempt to run from this place already deserves a reward, doesn't it?

Kazuya catches his hand as it reaches for his sleeve, and kisses the back of it gently. ]

You've behaved so well, so there's no reason for me to keep you locked away.

( His lips are warm and soft on his hand, and Basil can't help but think it's a contrast to how he had come across during their good byes. )

I... haven't done anything different. I-I've just been living my life like I usually do.

( It feels like instinct, how his hand curls around the others. )

Then keep living like that, if it pleases you.

[ It's one less headache for him to deal with. ]

You can decorate your room however you please, and order around the lesser demons to your hearts content. If there's something you desire, tell them to bring it to you, and they will.

[ Kazuya straightens upwards, snapping his fingers as a dark, ominous portal appears behind him. ]

If there's something you'd like immediately from here, you can bring it with you.

( Basil looks to the portal then. It doesn't have to be permanent. He can come back. He knows better than to trust in those words, but he wants to. )

What if... I want to stay here...?

( He doesn't think he'd force him. Despite everything, he's been gentle about everything for the most part. Then again, with what's coming... he doesn't think he should go through it alone, either. )

[That does manage to catch him off guard. Why would he want to stay here, alone? Wouldn't he want something more luxurious? Wouldn't he want some kind of companionship? It's not fitting for a courtesan to be so far away.]

Is that what you want?

[There's mild disbelief in his tone, but he doesn't oppose it, not yet.]

N-No.

( He doesn't want to be alone. The thought terrifies him more than he cares to say. He doesn't care about staying anywhere luxurious. Both himself and his grandma weren't exactly well off, but the simple life was what he preferred. )

There's... a lot of memories here. It feels a little sad to leave them behind.

You can come back whenever you want.

[If it's the memories that are holding him back, then there's no reason to force him to stay at the castle for all of his time now is there?]

I'll see to it that it's kept in good condition for you, for whenever you want to visit.

( Basil takes a step back then, releasing his hold on Kazuya's hand to find one of the potted flowers he's been taken care of. A single flower -- tall and white, with feather like petals. )

... If you really mean it, then I'll come with you. But, we shouldn't wait long to bring the rest of the flowers there.

Like I said, we'll bring whatever it is you'd like from here over there as soon as you're settled. And everything here will be taken care of in the mean time.

[He'll tilt his head back towards the portal.]

Is that all you're bringing for now? I can hold something too, if it's important to you.

... Thank you. Uhm... I-I don't know if it's what you meant, but... I know that you're trying. Even though you said that demons aren't kind, I think that you can be.

( He walks forward then, holding the potted plant. )

No, this is alright for right now.

[Humans are interesting. What he sees as necessary and normal, the other sees as kindness. And in turn, it's also cruelty what he sees as normal.

Kazuya shakes his head, and motions.]

All you have to do is step through. We'll be in your room.

[And Kazuya will do so first, waiting on the other side for the other to come through. The room is- lavish, but barren at the same time. The intent is to let the other decorate it as he desires, to personalize it to his hearts content, and there's plenty of room to do so, and two book cases as well. One filled with books that Kazuya thought that the other might like about horticulture, and the other empty, a gift waiting to be filled.

And there's a large window, and a large desk beneath it. Enough to let in plenty of natural light for any plants that he might decide to decorate it with.]

( It's a strange, surreal feeling to step into the portal. It feels like no time passes at all between when Basil steps through it, leaving his home and finding his way into a room far larger, far more luxurious than anywhere he'd even hope to live.

It's difficult to believe that this is for him. He feels undeserving, and it's frankly a little overwhelming. He takes a moment to look around, gently placing the plant on the desk. )

This... This is for me?

Of course. As I said, yours to decorate and change around as you see fit.

[Kazuya himself will find his way into one of the plush two-seat couches, settling in to watch the other as he leans on his hand.] There's a connecting door to the bath just over there, also for you to use as you see fit.

[He'll motion with a nod of his head. A private bathroom too, with everything that anyone could ever want inside, fashioned out of shiny white marble.]