「✦」 All good things come to an end.
And so, Aurelius accepted the passing of his dove and its fall into unsavory hands. He would not force the issue like Sebastian had—dyeing the color of Vanth's soul to suit his own hues, then binding them together under the shackles called love.
Perhaps Vanth loved his demon now, but could Sebastian have ever permitted anything less?
To cherish a thing was to have it—and then let go. It would come back to you if it was meant to be. Klaus had gone and then returned, but while he would never see Riel again, he—
Aurelius Vane-Tempest stops walking in the middle of a street at the sight of teal-colored hair. Appearances were superficial—he's seen this color more than once on the heads of summer-loving youths out for fun at the beaches—but it is the hue of the soul buried beneath that captures his attention.
How very surreal, to wake from a dream and then see its traces pass you by on an ordinary city sidewalk. Most likely, his brain reasoned, this is another trick by the Stars.
That was all well and fine. If he knew it was an illusion but fell for it anyways, then it was a matter of private preference, not personal weakness.
A car beeps, its driver annoyed at the blond man spacing out in front of it. The next second its driver yelps as a blast of wind cracks his windshield—it's Aurelius spreading his wings, all four golden in the sunlight, before putting on a burst of speed to catch up to the figure from his memories.
Sweeping up to Riel from behind, he gently wraps his arms around the other's shoulder's and pulls him close.
The illusion, as solid as it looks, doesn't fade or burst into ashes under his touch. Aurelius has to commend the Stars for their consistency, at least, in drawing out a farce until it grows old.
He holds the shade for a moment longer, but sensing the body tense, he eventually speaks.
