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+---- Thread: [SE] kept us awake with wolves teeth (/showthread.php?tid=10231)
kept us awake with wolves teeth - Astaroth - 10-12-2024
Much had been accomplished recently, and with it the butcher is feeling in quite high of spirits. Between the room renovation and quiet love admissions, to crafting the rest of the shrine and indulging in the distinct approval from Dygra, to even the heat of Longheat soaking through the Inner Quarter and warming his bones into a welcome fire. Everything had been next to perfect, except for one tiny little detail.
He's gone some time without hunting any
So today’s adventure has him slipping out early in the morning, while the Maverick still slumbers, giving him a bit of time to enjoy the dawn as it crests over the Hollowed Grounds. It also grants him time to check in and feel the power that reverberates around the shrine in the Temple. And it has also granted him enough time to sneak away into his favorite clinic to catch up on what he’s been too busy as of late to indulge in.
It's later when he returns, a leather bag in hand and dressed immaculately as always, despite the slight wrinkle in the black and red plaid waistcoat as if he’s been busy (which he has been, as Danta would soon realize), and as he returns to the Dusklight and slips up the dreaded stairs to their room, he swans through the door without even a moment of hesitation. “[say]I have a few gifts for you, darling.[/say]” He practically purrs his delight – before belatedly realizing that he likely should have checked to see if Danta was even in here first.
What can he say? His love language is gift giving and he was quite pleased with the trinkets he has in that dark leather bag in his hand.
RE: kept us awake with wolves teeth - Dantalion - 10-13-2024
It's a bad start to the day for Danta, to wake up with the space in the bed next to him cold and empty, and as such he spends a good part of the morning skulking around his rooms and the Dusklight. Still, it is Longheat, and things have been going unexpectedly well lately, so after some strong coffee and a shower hot enough to flay the skin off an ordinary man, his mood improves somewhat.
[say]"A good morning to you too,"[/say] he purrs in response to the butcher's accented voice as he finally steps into their room - a room which will look much changed from the place Asta left a few hours earlier. Having situated the bed properly now beneath the mezzanine level (listen, their drunken attempt was pretty good, but not really sustainable) and moved his own things back into more-or-less their usual space, the as of yet unpacked boxes are now stacked near the window where they can't trip over them without an effort.
[say]"Gifts, you say? Colour me surprised."[/say] Danta's tone couldn't be dryer if he tried, though the grin he flashes Astaroth is one of mischief. The Maverick has been busy tying drapes along the side of the mezzanine, effectively hiding the bed from view, and should Asta duck in to look more closely, he'll notice an array of candles and origami shapes on display, lightning the area in a soft glow.
Straightening up and running his fingers back through his hair, he raises his eyebrows at the sight of the butcher, amusement all too obvious in his expression. [say]"I thought you'd never be seen dead in tartan,"[/say] he remarks, sweeping across to smooth out the wrinkle in the waistcoat. For Danta's part, he's wearing something that looks like it used to be a fishnet in the shape of a sweater, paired with the striped pajama bottoms he plans to exist in all day.
RE: kept us awake with wolves teeth - Astaroth - 10-13-2024
His delight grows as Danta’s voice purrs through the air – and the butcher’s taken a touch by surprise to find just how much everything had shifted in the span of time since he’d been gone. He had assumed the Maverick might have slept the majority of the hours away and evidently, he had assumed wrong. Not that he’s complaining as he drifts in further, setting the leather bag on top of one of the boxes still needing to be unpacked as he hears the dry tone and the butcher huffs a soft snort in response.
“[say]Come and see,[/say]” he starts to say, as if to prove to Danta that yes he tended to always show up with gifts, but this time it seemed more imperative than the last time that Danta receive them. Regardless of the contradiction, though, he does step away from the bag to duck under the drapes that billow slightly from the movement of being tied up and he can see the origami creatures and the candles that illuminate it in a beautifully homey kind of way.
The grin remains, reflecting the one Danta shoots back as he returns to the bag, leaning against the box as the blonde sweeps toward him and the warmth of his hand smooths out the wrinkle formed within the waistcoat. “[say]Mm, yes, well. The color was brilliant and I am in a wonderful mood.[/say]” He explains in a tone unbothered by it (yes, yes, anyway,), “[say]The shrine is completed and Dygra has given her utmost approval regarding it.[/say]” He announces, grin sharp and bright as he reaches out to tug at the loops of fishnet that makes up the sweater the Maverick wears, aiming to tug him in close enough to nuzzle his nose against Danta’s in a true display of excited affections. “[say]And as such, I thought we might celebrate.[/say]” And unpack, of course, but that goes unsaid.
Shifting to unzip the leather bag, the contents seems as if it’s a sporadic mix of things that are revealed at the very top. Withdrawing the contents of collected human bones and a variety of gemstones to continue to make those windchimes he’s so excited about adding to the mezzanine, beneath the Maverick will find a bag well packed and tightly secured, heavy as it’s opened from a flap to reveal perfectly carved snacking pieces of – you guessed it – human flesh.
RE: kept us awake with wolves teeth - Dantalion - 10-13-2024
Come and see Danta does, even as Asta prowls away to take a look at what he's been up to, leaving the Maverick lingering by the leather bag until he's done. He has to stay his busy fingers away from opening the bag before the butcher is good and ready, instead tilting his head as if he can see what the other man sees as he peers into the den beneath the drapes. [say]"Is it to your liking?"[/say] he asks with a lazy smile, only to be happily ferried forward by Asta's fingers upon his return.
Expecting a kiss - and chasing after one even after the affectionate nuzzle - Danta eventually turns his attention back to the gifts he's been brought, raising his eyebrows. [say]"When you put it that way, I can understand the wonderful mood,"[/say] he agrees, even as he continues to trace the plaid pattern on Asta's vest and steal glances within the leather bag.
Bleached bone and rich gems are already a good start, Danta lifting up what looks as though it used to be someone's vertebrae to hold it to the light. [say]"You have been busy,"[/say] he purrs, nudging Asta with his hip, only for a very familiar scent to spike through the air. With eyes made dark by the bloodlust always softly lurking beneath the surface, he lets out a content sigh. [say]"I bet the infirmary missed you."[/say]
RE: kept us awake with wolves teeth - Astaroth - 10-13-2024
“[say]It is absolutely perfect, darling.[/say]” The butcher purrs contently, and with the addition of bone and gemstones to make the candles flicker all kinds of different rainbow hues within their den-confines, it would be almost as if they’ve taken a portion of the bonfire inside with them. A little homage to Danta, as it were, given that he wasn’t around for the crafting of it. But he does adore it all the same.
As Danta chases after the kiss, the butcher does take a small amount of pity and leans in to offer a chaste one before the goodies are revealed – and it’s worth it, in his opinion, leaning his hip into the touch that continues on his vest even while his arms are busy revealing each wonderful addition to their celebration.
A snort slips past his lips as he’s jostled slightly by the nudge of the Maverick’s hip, letting him peer at the vertebrae he’d snagged just before he plays his full hand. “[say]I have indeed.[/say]” He agrees, sharp grin turning a touch sharper to hear Danta’s content sigh. And rather than dive straight into it, he winds his arm around the Maverick’s side, up and under the loose fishnet sweater monstrosity that the blonde wears, running his fingertips along the Theocrat’s lower back. “[say]I got the impression that they thought I might have died, it has been so long.[/say]” He laments, head tilting from his dramatics, letting the lock of hair come loose from his horns as he tilts his grin toward the Maverick. “[say]They had a stockpile awaiting my return, at least.[/say]” Gesturing to the vertebrae and the rest of the bone-goods, the butcher also sighs contently.
“[say]You have also been busy, though.[/say]” Because he doesn’t want to steal the show, of course, prolonging any indulgence to look around the room once more to see what had all changed in the span of him wakening and slipping away into the dark hours of the morning.
RE: kept us awake with wolves teeth - Dantalion - 10-13-2024
Preening, both at the compliment and the kiss he's managed to steal, however chaste it might have been, Danta doesn't need any persuading to lean further into Asta's side, relishing the warm feel of the butcher's fingers against the small of his back and the strong line of his body to drape himself against. [say]"With your luck, I can understand their worry,"[/say] he teases, though he'll freely admit that Asta has managed to keep himself out of trouble since their vacation to Torchline.
[say]"You'll have to send them a thank you gift for thinking of you,"[/say] he says with a smirk, before following the other man's gaze around the room. [say]"Mm, I just wanted to get a head start. I was starting to miss the way the room looked,"[/say] he says; his dressmaker's mannequin has been set back up near the door, currently draped with his red leather coat, and he's dragged his own trunk of clothes to the end of the bed (suffice to say he only needs one trunk, and the rest of the space is reserved for Asta's wardrobe).
[say]"I didn't unpack any of your things, though. I just moved them to a safer space until you could get to it."[/say] Hence the boxes in very plain sight.
RE: kept us awake with wolves teeth - Astaroth - 10-13-2024
Rolling his eyes affectionately to the teasing barb, Astaroth huffs a sigh of annoyance as his voice grows more accented. “[say]I have been good. But I have been busy.[/say]” And meeting with Dygra to complete the shrine had only reinvigorated what the butcher had realized he’d let slide in the interim. And now he’s rejuvenated, feeling like a brand new butcher with the praise of their goddess.
“[say]I think I might.[/say]” In terms of sending them a thank you, but when it comes to the rest of the room and the present that he finds himself in rather than future plans, he sets the items within the bag back down so that he can give Danta his full attention. “[say]Well, I cannot imagine a better way to end the day than to dispose of these boxes.[/say]” He can, as it turns out, but when it comes to Danta missing how the room was before he’d invaded and left his boxes around and gone and fucked off elsewhere, he can always make an exception for the Maverick.
So, giving him his full attention now, he tugs the blonde closer, leans in to steal a softer, more lingering kiss, and fully commits himself to getting to work. “[say]Is there anywhere in particular you wish to start, darling?[/say]” He asks as he pulls away from the kiss, reluctantly releasing the Maverick.
RE: kept us awake with wolves teeth - Dantalion - 10-13-2024
[say]"Clearly keeping you busy is the best way of keeping you safe,"[/say] Danta quips, tucking that bit of information away should he need it in future. [say]"There's still the rage room to work on, so you ought to be out of trouble for a little longer yet, at least."[/say] And until then, there's this place to work on. Win-win, right, especially when it comes to getting rid of the boxes. [say]"Mm, think of all the space,"[/say] he agrees.
About to step away only to find himself caught in a sudden kiss, the Maverick far from minds, as it happens, all but melting against Asta's chest and letting an arm loop around his shoulders. [say]"Yeah,"[/say] he says sweetly, the confirmation almost whispered against his lips, [say]"you can start by unpacking your fucking clothes, since that makes up the most of this stuff."[/say]
Grinning - because it's as affectionate as it is true - Danta steps back as well and gestures for the butcher to feel free to get started. [say]"I'll help as much as I can."[/say] Or hinder. He hasn't decided yet.
RE: kept us awake with wolves teeth - Astaroth - 10-13-2024
“[say]Do not think about that too much.[/say]” Astaroth warns playfully, but the sharp smile on his face remains in the fact of the rage room still on its way to completion. And with it, the butcher is quite content to stay out of too disastrous situations for that much longer. He wants to be able to use the rage room, after all. It’s enough to keep him from becoming reckless. (And Danta, of course, but he still won’t quite admit it unless he’s plastered.)
Anyway, pulling away from the kiss to hear the sweet yeah, only to be met with the quip and affectionate grin – it surprises the butcher enough to let a laugh escape him, rolling his eyes again as he untangles himself from the blonde to get started on it. “[say]We shall see, won’t we?[/say]” Because he’d have to be dead before he believes that Danta would abide by the helping manner. He knows enough about him to expect some amount of sabotage with whatever it is he does.
So, picking the box up to nearly his height where it had been stacked, the butcher pops it open and pulls out a multitude of hangers, so that when he pops open the flap of the second box beneath it he can pull out the waistcoats and less ornate vests to hang, setting them aside for the moment. He’s on his third one before he pulls out a vibrant red one and his lips quirk in nostalgia as he tilts his head toward Danta while he hangs it. “[say]I purchased this one right after you woke me and abandoned me.[/say]” He whines playfully, before he slides his dark gaze over toward the Maverick.
RE: kept us awake with wolves teeth - Dantalion - 10-13-2024
Asta is correct with that much, at least, and it's with a playfully fanged grin that Danta opts to help by being nowhere near the butcher's fine clothing while he unpacks. Instead, heading to the fireplace, Danta stokes it to a heat that would only be comfortable for two Ancients during Longheat, returning to the butcher only to collect his empty boxes to burn. He doesn't even pass comment on the less ornate garments, even if he does eye them approvingly, and only as Asta speaks does the Maverick give him back his full attention.
[say]"Aha, that's right. I left you in Torchline, didn't I?"[/say] Grinning fiendishly at the memory and letting out a laugh of his own, he burns the third box and returns to the other man's side. [say]"Gods, has it really been almost a year since then?"[/say] Has it really been only a year? Feeling his cheeks want to heat up at the realisation of all that has come to pass in that time, he reaches out to run his fingers across the vibrant fabric. [say]"Who would have thought we'd be here now?"[/say]
RE: kept us awake with wolves teeth - Astaroth - 10-13-2024
The clothes are placed on the hangers and Astaroth continues to ensure they’re meticulously kept exactly wrinklefree in how he drapes them before he can place them where they need to go – and with it, he lets the blonde’s laugh infiltrate the smile that still lingers on his face. “[say]You did.[/say]” He confirms, because no – he hasn’t forgotten that. “[say]And yes, nearly. You woke me in Leafchange.[/say]” And it had only been three seasons since for him to figure out how this life worked.
Though, between Danta and Charlie, he’d managed to figure out a happy middle ground. And without Maea interfering and intervening in his affairs, well, things have been quite smooth sailing. (You know, if you don’t account for the whole misconstrued dates and nearly getting wiped out of Caido by a fucking sentient void tree.)
Regardless, he steps away to hang them before opening the next box that harbors a multitude of ties, already hung on hangers and in a rainbow of hues regardless of the occasion, he goes to hand the empty box to Danta to burn as he continues. “[say]Oh, certainly not I.[/say]” He drawls, flashing an amused smirk over his shoulder. “[say]It has been much for me to navigate, but… I am glad to be here, even if it seems we have a battle on the horizon.[/say]” The void, he means. With Starfall ruining the impeccable views in Torchline that he can only imagine because he’s never seen them with his own eyes.
RE: kept us awake with wolves teeth - Dantalion - 10-13-2024
[say]"I wish you could have heard how smug I was that I found you,"[/say] Danta titters to himself, though the memory is almost embarrassing with how quickly they'd gone for each other's throats, if only because he can't imagine how those versions of themselves would view the future they stand in now. Shaking it off to accept the box Asta gives him, Danta moves back to the fireplace this time in a series of Dart!s, allowing him to pick up other debris that needs to be tossed into the flames.
Watching it all burn for a few seconds as if to help centre himself back into the present, when Danta returns, it's apparently to talk of Starfall and the ever encroaching void. [say]"Mm, I bet you didn't expect to have to contend with that on top of everything else,"[/say] he says. [say]"The Inner Quarter is safe, though, if it ever comes to it. And with the bonfire and that new shrine, I'd say we have everything we need to wait it out."[/say] Danta isn't one to try and push for further protection when, as far as he can see it, they're doing just fine with things as they are.
RE: kept us awake with wolves teeth - Astaroth - 10-13-2024
Astaroth finds it hard to believe – because he can only imagine the things Danta back then would have said when stumbling across the butcher in all of his gargoyle glory. And none of them are anything good. But it was to be expected, he supposes, given what little they actually knew about one another. And as he looks back on it, he’s nearly embarrassed by the thought of how he had acted – how they both had acted.
Though it isn’t like it doesn’t pop up from time to time, with past arguments too close to bloodlust to actively referee whatever was slipping past too loose lips and sharpened tongues.
“[say]Mm, no, I did not.[/say]” He agrees with a soft snort of a laugh, hanging up the hangers full of ties before he returns to the last box of the current stash, harboring heavy trinkets of jewels and metals. Ones he doesn’t wear often, but if ever the occasion arises, the butcher is prepared. Most notably, the chain that he had worn around his horns like glittering spiderwebs during the Midwinter Ball.
Placing those into a safe and secure spot where they couldn’t be lost or tarnished, the butcher starts on the next set which actually harbors the fucking shirts that Danta had so wonderfully mentioned. And this entire stack is, you guessed it, full of boxes of shirts. Simply too many and yet somehow not enough. And as he hangs them, Danta would recognize quite a fair few. “[say]The Inner Quarter, Dygra, the Rage Room, and you.[/say]” He hums as if listing off all of the reasons he’d be more than content letting the rest of the world fight off the threat. “[say]I would be more than content to wait for the dust to settle.[/say]” He admits, flashing a too sharp grin over his shoulder as he gets to work hanging the metric ass ton of shirts he has. "[say]I am curious, however. Was it around when you woke up?[/say]" Starfall, he means.
RE: kept us awake with wolves teeth - Dantalion - 10-14-2024
Resisting the urge to go and rifle through all of Asta's trinkets and jewellery (as the butcher may well have noticed by now, Danta is a magpie for that kind of stuff), the Maverick promises himself he'll do so when the other man is out or sleeping, instead focusing on the rest of the boxes. He contents himself with grabbing hangers and offering them out to Asta to hang his shirts, long fingers brushing across fabrics he finds particularly interesting or alluring.
[say]"I am glad to hear you say so, because I don't particularly want to go out and be a hero in any of this,"[/say] he purrs, flashing a fanged grin to the other man and soon abandoning his hanger assistance so he can walk his hands along Asta's shoulders to try and bother and/or distract him. [say]"Hm? It was not, no. The island crashed into the Arclight a year ago, but I'd been awake already for a while before that."[/say] He doesn't remember exactly how long, honestly.
[say]"I remember I was already Theocrat when I woke you from the stone, so it had been a fair while."[/say]