[ for a single moment, venus knows he could stop this. it's within his power. he could push anna away, or rebuke her, or do a dozen different things to cast the devil away.

he chooses not to. and that's why he has no one to blame but himself for what happens. ]

I don't think I could. [ his own voice drops, closer to anna's register. it's not even intentional, most likely - just a mimicry of her own pitch, her own tone. ] It's just the two of us, remember? The devil might not stand a chance against two, but one's a whole different story. You'd overpower me if I even tried, right?

[ his own eyes meet anna, and for a moment - for a single moment - it seems like he might move in for a kiss. but he doesn't, against all odds. instead, he leans in, resting the side of his head on anna's shoulder.

just normal things. just normal things for a boy to do with a girl he likes, in this exact position. ]

So what are you going to do if I don't do anything? If I just... leave the devil there to play?

[ there are lights dancing in his eyes. there are lights dancing within and without. for a single moment, maybe anna can see them - the lights, floating just at the edge of vision. so beautiful, so enticing. the knowledge that something different is just around the corner, if you can only turn and look. ]