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+---- Thread: [SE] love you 'til I rust (/showthread.php?tid=12155)
love you 'til I rust - Dantalion - 11-04-2025
[say]"Shit--"[/say]
It isn't Danta's most elegant greeting to the Inner Quarter as they step out of the bonfire from The Climb, but he likes to think he has a fairly good reason. For one, if they thought the rain in Torchline was something to scrunch their noses at, it's got nothing on the Grounds. And for another one, unlike the more tropical region, with torrential downpours here comes an abundance of mud.
More mud than he's perhaps ever seen in the place, and not even the roaring heat of the bonfire has been enough to dry it out. Danta's boots sink into a few inches of mucky water that coats the cobblestones, the Maverick splashing his way through it to reasonably dry (read: slick but not flooded) land and hurriedly turning his collar up against the hammering rain.
All around them, people are trying to sweep the water towards drains or line sandbags against doorways to prevent flooding, and as Danta squints towards the roads leading out of the Inner Quarter, he can already spot the evidence of a mudslide preventing carts from being able to come and go. [say]"Are you fucking for real?"[/say] Squinting through the rain back at Asta, he rakes his already wet hair out of his face.
RE: love you 'til I rust - Astaroth - 11-04-2025
The curse that leaves Danta’s lips as they step into the other side of the portal from the heat of the Climb is met with Astaroth’s immediate rumble of “[say]how?[/say]” Of course he knows how, it’s Flowerbirth and with all of the rain and melting snow, it meant that the ground wasn’t just soil and dirt – but it was mud. And it was moving to block out everything around them.
Immediately, his hair is soaked, long dark strands sticking to the sides of his face and dripping in the places it remains away from skin, the tines of his horns glistening with the water and minor splashes. His boots also sink into the mud, taking a small amount of work to get them unstuck as they find their way toward somewhere they won’t have to peel their footwear out of, only to pause abruptly once they’re there to avoid someone’s extended reach of their broom.
Trying to hop around it, it’s immediately as Danta looks back at him that the butcher’s traction fails, slipping with a curse of his own, wobbling slightly before he’s able to catch himself. All limbs out for balance like a spider preparing to pounce, he slowly draws up and flashes a glare to an apologetic store owner, sighing as rain continues to pelt against his frame. “[say]Perhaps we should not have taken a vacation.[/say]” He mutters. Not that he thinks Kiada couldn’t have handled some of this, but the more hands the better is his logic.
RE: love you 'til I rust - Dantalion - 11-04-2025
At any other time Danta would have found Asta's situation with the mud and the broom and the shop owner to be the peak of comedy, but right now the most he's able to offer is a scoff of laughter and an apologetic smile for it, reaching out to grasp the other man's forearm to try and steady him. [say]"What, you think the rain might have stayed away if we'd not gone to Torchline?"[/say] he asks, having to speak a bit louder to be heard over the endless drumbeat of the rain.
About to suggest that they hurry the fuck out of the Inner Quarter to get home, Danta's plans are interrupted by a few calls for help from a ways down the already mud-blocked road. Something about a cart being stuck fast on their way into the Quarter, and needing assistance getting it freed and also clearing the path through. Groaning and shaking the cold from his fingertips, Danta spends a few seconds fighting his hair into a messy knot out of his face before tilting his head towards Asta.
[say]"Sounds like Theocrat work to me,"[/say] he apologises. [say]"You can go on ahead if you want."[/say]
RE: love you 'til I rust - Astaroth - 11-04-2025
“[say]No, but perhaps we may have gotten an upper hand on it.[/say]” He drawls with a hint of annoyance when he’s righted again, grateful for the hand on his arm to steady him. He straightens once he’s sure he’s got his footing, fighting to tame the hair that’s heavy and soaking wet as it drips into his face, brushing it back and out of place even as a few strands still cling.
The calls for help are met with a slight sneer, but he refuses to let Danta go and deal with it on his own when he’s more than capable to help – even if it’s the last thing he wants to do. “[say]Mm, no, the more hands the merrier, mm?[/say]” A motto heard before, but for a different reason in the Dusklight. “[say]Lead the way, darling, I will try not to fall behind.[/say]” But he makes zero guarantees, given how the few steps he’s taken so far have been tumultuous.
RE: love you 'til I rust - Dantalion - 11-05-2025
[say]"Maybe,"[/say] Danta concedes with a frown at the rain and the muddy chaos it has caused. He doesn't say but I doubt it, though the evidence is all there in his expression; they'd have likely laughed off any thought of going outside upon first seeing the rain, only realising far too late about the resulting mudslides. [say]"Want me to tie it back for you?"[/say] he asks with a soft smile and a nod at the butcher's soaking hair, holding up a hand to reveal a spare tie on his wrist.
While Asta decides as much, they hurry over to the road in question, where citizens are already using shovels and buckets and barrows to try and clear away the mud and redirect the streams of rainwater. [say]"At this point we might as well just accept that we're going to get home in need of a bath and a change of clothes,"[/say] he calls over his shoulder to Asta with a smirk.
Stopping to ask one of the citizens where the cart is stuck, he follows their directions further down the road where - and he can just about make it out - the roof of the cart can be made out, at a strange and jaunty angle due to being completely stuck in the muck. [say]"Alright, let's help dig 'em out first,"[/say] he says, wiping rain out of his face before continuing onward to help.
RE: love you 'til I rust - Astaroth - 11-05-2025
“[say]Please,[/say]” the butcher hums, hesitating enough for Danta to tie back the long raven strands of his hair out from his face so at the very least he wouldn’t have to battle that alongside the mud that coats his boots. Once they’ve finished that, though, it’s a rare event for the butcher to have his hair up so much but it’s the least of his worries as they make their way over toward the disrupted path.
Shovels and buckets are used to try and scoop the mud away, resigning a sigh that’s betrayed by the lilt of his lips as they curve in a small smile. “[say]It shall be well worth it, however.[/say]” He’s very much looking forward to it already, based off the soreness lingering in his arms from the antics of his dragon shift and the few crash landings he’d suffered through.
Stretching them out as water pelts down against them, he tries to push his sleeves up enough to keep them from getting too muddy (it will fail spectacularly), because as the butcher snags a shovel to start heaving the mud out and away from the cart half eaten by the mud, the butcher finds trouble. He goes to swing the shovel to dispel some mud, only to feel as it clings to it and the relief of pressure doesn’t come. Instead it launches him off balance again – and thanks to the willowiness of his body and the height he typically boasts about, he’s far too far from the ground to save himself. “[say]Shit--[/say]” Is really all he manages to get out before he can’t catch himself and slams into the ground and the mud, coating his entire left side as the shovel and butcher both go down.
RE: love you 'til I rust - Dantalion - 11-05-2025
[say]"Oh it absolutely will,"[/say] Danta agrees, already thinking of the scalding hot water and the swathes of steam. [say]"And if we don't feel clean or rested enough tomorrow, I vote we hurry back through the portal for a morning spent in Frey's Breath. You know, just to make sure we're back in full working order."[/say] Especially given all of Asta's crash landing earlier on in the day, yes.
Grabbing up a bucket - and not bothering in the slightest to try and keep himself clean given the sheer volume of muck clogging the roadside and the cart wheels, while Asta focuses on shovelling, Danta uses his bare hands to start digging through the mud to free the wheels, loading it into the pail ready for someone else to drag away. He's making slow but steady progress, keeping fire flaring at his fingertips every now and then so they don't go stiff and grey with the cold, when the butcher's curse hits the air.
[say]"Asta?"[/say] Straightening up and turning sharply (yes, just in time to see him go down like a sack of shit), Danta claps a muddy hand across his mouth to stifle the bark of laughter that tries to escape, of course coating his face in the process. [say]"Fuck, are you okay?"[/say] he almost wheezes, trying to make his way towards the other man and nearly slipping to his doom en route. He luckily maintains his balance - for now - and reaches out a hand slick with dirt to help try and get Asta back on his feet.
RE: love you 'til I rust - Astaroth - 11-05-2025
The idea of Frey’s Breath is a siren song, even before disaster strikes. It’s a welcome reprieve to the already sore muscles that will undoubtedly grow even more sore with the work he does today. “[say]I think we should do that regardless, darling.[/say]” Even if the shower was perfect and everything they needed.
And that’s what keeps him going to fight off the burn of use in his arms as he shovels and Danta works to free the wheels. It’s right as disaster strikes that the butcher’s tail whips his frustration as he peels himself from the mud, hissing slightly as he swipes away the mud lingering on his cheekbone. His tail continues to whip around, launching little flicks of mud here and there before Danta’s hand is seen as an offering to get back up out of the mud. “[say]I am fine.[/say]” He mutters, even as shadows appear and roil from his shoulders.
Taking his lover’s hand, he slowly gets back up to his towering stature, bending to snag the muddied shovel now and using it like his cane as he takes in the mess he’s made of himself. “[say]This will be a nightmare to clean up.[/say]” He whines, focusing on the clothes and not the bruise to his ego for having essentially thrown himself into the mud.
RE: love you 'til I rust - Dantalion - 11-05-2025
Even if they hadn't been planning to go regardless, now that Asta has essentially yeeted himself into the mud, Danta would have insisted on ushering him off to the hotsprings in the morning anyway. For now, though, he carefully gets the other man back on his feet, able to straighten out his coat a bit and make him look presentable on the surface, even if the reality is... well. He's muddy as fuck and soaking wet, that's the reality.
[say]"Mm, it will,"[/say] the Maverick agrees, voice low and sing-songy. Leaning up - dirty face and all - he tugs the butcher down into a kiss, injecting a little fire into it as if to give him a boost. [say]"And it'll be just as much of a nightmare no matter how muddy you get now,"[/say] he adds. [say]"So you might as well make the most of it."[/say] Tipping him a wink, Danta withdraws enough to slip-slide his way back over to the wagon wheel, sinking fully to his knees in the muck now to continue to help free it.
[say]"I think I've almost got this one,"[/say] he calls. [say]"Want to try the last one together?"[/say] The crowd seem to have the others handled.
RE: love you 'til I rust - Astaroth - 11-05-2025
The worst part about being muddy is not only the fact that it’s dirt and buried into the butcher’s facial hair and along the panes of his face and horns and clothing – but that it’s cold too. He hardly looks presentable, which is probably to be expected, but it’s still enough to piss him off a little more.
He tries to swallow it down as he stands, ensuring his footing is alright with the added boon of the shovel to keep him upright as his arms ache in a pulsing manner, only to be pulled down for a very much needed kiss of warmth. Melting a touch internally at the thoughtfulness Danta always seemed to harbor, the butcher squeezes his arm gently in a quiet thanks, pressing his muddy forehead against Danta’s to share a little bit of the dirt before they withdraw. “[say]You are right far more often than I used to give you credit for.[/say]” Comes the softer tease, the way his tail slowly stops whipping around in his anger but instead flicks behind him in a smoother motion as the rage calms down.
Watching – and following Danta the best he can where he picks his steps to not slip and fall again, he arrives beside the Maverick, fully content to ignore the previous job he had in favor for helping Danta release this wheel from the grip of the mud. “[say]I would love to, darling.[/say]” He hums as he suddenly decides fuck it and sinks to his knees beside Danta to help with his hands – the shovel falling into the mud to be abandoned for the time being.
He's already this messy, could it really get worse than this? He doesn’t think so. It gives him enough sense to ignore the clinging sensation on his skin to reach in and help remove handfuls of mud until the wheel becomes more and more visible with their efforts. He’s surprisingly quiet (or maybe not so much surprising) given the still simmering frustration he tries to channel into the clean up rather than anything else. But it’s still visible in the warbling of the shadows clinging to his shoulders.
RE: love you 'til I rust - Dantalion - 11-05-2025
[say]"Careful, saying that out loud,"[/say] Danta purrs over his shoulder, his voice almost - but not quite - lost in the downpour. [say]"We don't need both of our egos starting to compete out here."[/say] Grinning, he makes quick work with the rest of the cart wheel he's been assisting with, clearing the mud away and hefting the bucket to one side. That done, he's turning to go for the next wheel only to find Asta already on his hands and knees in the mud working on it.
It has no right to look as good as it does either, vibrating shadows or otherwise.
[say]"We should have you do manual labour more often,"[/say] he says, brushing a casual hand across his shoulders as he drops to kneel with him, digging out more of the endless muck to help free the wheel. It's a much quicker job with the two of them working on it, Danta sitting back once it's done and using whatever small, clean patch of his coat sleeve to wipe the rain out of his face.
[say]"Okay,"[/say] he says, getting himself back on his feet and grabbing a shovel. [say]"I guess now we need to clear the road."[/say]
RE: love you 'til I rust - Astaroth - 11-05-2025
“[say]Mm, well..[/say]” He drawls a little roughly, focusing instead on working on removing the mud that clings to the wheel and cart alike. They’ve had enough ego battling for centuries, he thinks, though he keeps quiet mostly to stew in the frustration of the mud that coats him – not quite getting to the drying, chalky portion thanks to the never-ending downpour of the rain. If anything, it mucks it up even more – clinging, clearing, muddying again, only to clear with the next onslaught.
All in all, it’s quite awful.
A scoff slips from him, lips quirking in a brief sneer at the idea even if he knows it’s in jest. The touch to his shoulders are a welcome feeling, even as the shadows coil around his lover’s hand and trail after as if craving more of a soothing touch. Instead, he sits back just as Danta does, interrupting the cleanliness the blonde might find once he’s wiped his face free from the rain to reach up with muddied hands, snagging his jaw and flashing a too sharp smile that edges toward Climb!Astaroth only for the frustration that flares. It isn’t intentional, and the silky smooth voice that purrs out of him is completely opposite from how he would have been before when he purrs a little “[say]I am made for far more than manual labor, darling.[/say]” Before he releases his jaw with a gentle sweep of his thumb and a lick of flame, flashing a wink before he too stands shortly after the Maverick does.
Drawn back up to his full height, he pointedly avoids looking at the mud in his clothes, along his face, along every inch of skin that he can feel. “[say]Unfortunately.[/say]” He mutters in a sigh, picking up the shovel that had become his cane on the way over here, ignoring the squelch of mud as he finds a stable place to stand to silently brood in the rain and mud, far more cautious shoveling the mud out of the way this time than he had been before.
RE: love you 'til I rust - Dantalion - 11-05-2025
While Asta continues to wind himself up over the mud, Danta seems as content as one might expect in the chaos of it all, even if he's admittedly getting more and more cold as time goes on, having been out in the bad weather long past where his coat's enchantments would make a difference. Tail lashing, half in enjoyment and half just to keep moving, he's just deciding how best to attack the mudslide with his shovel when he feels cool fingers seize his jaw.
It's familiar in an old way, one that has his blue eyes sharp and his smile twisting to something darker, chin lifting in defiance before his gaze lands back on his lover's muddied face. Forcing the steel in his bones to relax, he chases after Asta's thumb with a playful snap of his teeth, parting from him properly at last to get back to work. [say]"Come on, it'll be over before you know it,"[/say] he trills, and while the butcher is methodical in his digging, of course Danta is the opposite.
Still, his frenetic shovelling of the mud gets the job done regardless, and he helps to bank it away from the road so a few Grounders can stack sandbags and other barricades to stop it from encroaching again - at least for a little while. [say]"I think the cart might be able to move again now,"[/say] he calls to Asta, glancing to his shovel only to find someone has swapped it for a hard bristled sweeping brush. [say]"Oh."[/say]
Frowning and sighing at the continued work, Danta nevertheless starts sweeping away the residual muddy rainwater, still a little bemused about how it had happened.
RE: love you 'til I rust - Astaroth - 11-05-2025
The way Danta stills in his touch is something that he doesn’t miss – realizing that his frustration has flared out enough to bring a glimpse of the old him out. But as he withdraws, his smile softens a fraction as teeth snap after his fingers, exhaling a small mental sigh at the fact that he isn’t too upset about it. At least, not right now, and for that the butcher returns to work.
“[say]Mmhm.[/say]” He hums, remaining quiet and sulking as they clear the bulk of the mud from the street so that the Grounders can start to place their barricades. Straightening up and resting on the edge of the shovel with both muddied hands propped on top, he pulls his attention away from the road they’d cleaned to spy the broom suddenly in Danta’s hand and all the wind falls from his sails.
Sighing, he unceremoniously plants the shovel in the bank nearby. “[say]You were saying?[/say]” He says, glancing at his lover sidelong before he pulls his gaze away to look at the offender that had replaced the shovel to a broom, stepping a touch closer and letting his mudslick tail brush gently along the Maverick’s leg in a gentle caress. “[say]Remind me how tight my leash is, darling, because I believe I very well might overstep.[/say]” Aka, I can kill them if you want, just say the word.