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+---- Thread: [SE] 'til you get to the bottomland (/showthread.php?tid=12567)
'til you get to the bottomland - Dantalion - 03-01-2026
Danta is glad of his experiments with the tent he'd purchased, even if it had been hard going trying to fold it all away in the confines of his office. It means when they arrive in the sunshine and rippling sands of Hak Etme, he doesn't need to fuss about with it very much to make it stand up straight, and before long it's providing shade and ventilation without sacrificing any of that delicious heat. It's clear that it used to be a circus tent now from the bright colours and central poles, but they've managed to fill it with enough luxuries that it feels more like a home away from home than an out of place carnival.
Not that the Maverick expects Asta to care as much for furs and wine and good food as he normally might. It's only the second Leafchange since the discovery of his feirw shift after all, and while Danta is convinced that he's much more prepared this time than he had been last year, it won't be the first time he's been humbled by the stag now living in his fiance's blood.
He stands, at present, just outside the tent, barefoot in a billowing linen shirt and a wide brimmed hat to keep the sun from scorching the top of his head, blue eyes protected by a pair of dark sunglasses. [say]"No one for miles and miles around,"[/say] he confirms with a smirk, assuming that will be to Asta's liking above anything. [say]"Did you see the rain before we left, though? And did you hear it?"[/say]
RE: 'til you get to the bottomland - Astaroth - 03-01-2026
He’d heard about Danta’s attempts with the tent – though any struggling he may have heard about seems next to impossible with the impressive way the Maverick gets it all set up once they arrive in the heart of the desert. It’s a smidge cooler than it had been the last time he’d been here, but he knows it’s leagues better than what the Grounds has to offer right now, and he’s not sure he’s ever been more grateful for all the thought his fiancé has put into everything to start the season off right.
Already not on edge for anyone nearby – it’s a sentiment verbally shared by his lover, and one that has the butcher’s low thrum of a laugh accompanying it. “[say]Good.[/say]” He hums, striding from the other side of the tent where the heat blows in nicely and he’d absolutely been taking a look around for anything that might decide to make itself known, so that he can sidle up behind the blonde Ancient and wind his arms around his middle, close enough to press a warm and gentle kiss to the side of his neck before he rests his chin on his shoulder and peers out into the sandy expanse in front of them.
“[say]I did.[/say]” He croons. “[say]I do not think I have ever heard rain scream like that. How thrilling.[/say]” There’s a slight breeze from the way Asta’s tail twitches as if attempting to wag with the brief memory, amusement clear in his tone.
RE: 'til you get to the bottomland - Dantalion - 03-01-2026
Laughing to hear Asta's decisive response when it comes to the number of people around that there aren't, Danta turns to glance over his shoulder just as the other man all but melts against his back. With the heat of the desert beaming in against his front and the fiery heat of his fiance behind them, the Maverick is all but putty in the other man's arms, closing his eyes to better enjoy the soft lips that brush the side of his neck.
[say]"I haven't either,"[/say] he admits of the screaming rain. [say]"I wonder if it will still be there when we get back. Not that I am keen for us to leave any time soon,"[/say] he adds quickly, just in case the very idea of it causes Asta's hackles to rise. [say]"How are you feeling, now that we're all set up and ready for another vacation?"[/say] Relaxed, he hopes, though he very much doubts that word is in the butcher's vocabulary right now.
RE: 'til you get to the bottomland - Astaroth - 03-01-2026
Asta can feel any lingering tension from setting up the tent begin to melt from his lover’s back the longer he’s pressed against him. Heat swallows them up like a blanket, comfortable and necessary even as Asta still squints out into the desert – and squints hard, without having his sunglasses on at the present moment. He doesn’t mind, though, because being satisfied with the fact that nobody was around for miles meant that his focus could remain precisely on the Maverick – as if the butcher would want it any other way.
“[say]Mm, well, I suppose we will have to find out when the time comes.[/say]” He murmurs, alleviated by the quick catch up Danta has offered over whether or not they’d be heading back soon. Even if he seems unfettered by it, his fingertips do twitch against Danta’s sides from where he’d wrapped his arms around him.
At the question, though, Asta can’t help the brattish nature that comes so easily to him with this particular season now. “[say]How do you think I am feeling, darling?[/say]” He asks, tilting his head again to press another kiss to his neck and his cheek, tearing his attention away from the sand to entirely focus on his fiancé.
Relaxed isn’t exactly the word he’d go for, but it’s not not wrong.
RE: 'til you get to the bottomland - Serendipity - 03-01-2026
The air grows suddenly, oppressively still around you. Caught in the eye of a storm you didn't know you were in, you almost wish for the shrieking cries, for thunderous wails of unrest.
Instead, it's a mournful, keening sound that sighs overhead, like a voice too tired to scream any longer. More human, perhaps, than any other voice in the storm, you're nevertheless relieved when it's gone.
You have encountered one of the Scream Rain SE serendipities! You may use this to complete requirement 1. of the seasonal event. Please note: this serendipity CANNOT be used for levelling purposes.
RE: 'til you get to the bottomland - Dantalion - 03-01-2026
[say]"Mm, I suppose we will,"[/say] Danta agrees, resting a warm hand atop Asta's forearm as he feels his fingers flinch against him, the Maverick grinning and tilting his head into the continued affections. He shifts enough to twist in the butcher's arms to face him properly, tossing his hat further into the tent and winding his arms around the other man's neck. [say]"If I had to guess,"[/say] he admits, [say]"I'd say horny is how you're feeling."[/say]
With a wicked laugh, Danta is about to lean in and close the distance between them for good with his lips when, all at once, the air drops to something still and ominous. The Maverick's frown is half hidden behind his sunglasses, but as that mournful wail carries across their patch of the desert he completely stiffens in Asta's arms, tail cracking like a whip at his heels. [say]"What the fuck was that,"[/say] he asks even after it fades and the desert breeze picks up again.
Leaning out of the tent a little to peer at the sky as if looking for the rain that isn't there, he's nevertheless very unimpressed by the sudden haunting they've received.
RE: 'til you get to the bottomland - Astaroth - 03-01-2026
Loosening his arms so Danta can twist within them to face him, he doesn’t hide the amusement that blooms in his face in the too sharp grin aimed for his lover. The hat isn’t missed, sailing beyond them deeper into the tent – turning a deep red from where the sun shades the inside of their tent in varying carnival-esque hues. Asta snorts, his hands dropping from where they’ve wound tightly to press against the sides of his hips. “[say]Perhaps.[/say]” He teases in a low drawl.
The preparation of the kiss is what Asta’s expecting as well, until the air seems to be charged with something, and that something being jarring and full of unrest, and while it sends an air of surprise through Danta’s bones, Asta’s are entirely on the defense – hackles sufficiently raised.
His tail twitches against his heels with the jolt that radiates through them, straightening up to peer over Danta’s shoulder, out into the abyss of nothing as the sensation vanishes on the collapse of a raw scream. “[say]The screaming rain has found us, perhaps?[/say]” He suggests, keeping his hand on Danta’s side while he parts only slightly to step toward the edge of their tent, not willing to let go of the Maverick yet as Asta ensures there’s nothing hiding around the waves of sand. “[say]I do not see anything.[/say]” At least, nothing aside from a scorpion somewhat nearby, using the shade of their tent for a brief amount of respite.
RE: 'til you get to the bottomland - Dantalion - 03-01-2026
[say]"...Maybe,"[/say] Danta mutters, equally as suspicious, and as Asta parts from him somewhat to go and investigate beyond their tent, he won't find the Maverick straying far. Stepping up beside the butcher to peer out into the suddenly cloud-thick sky still stifling with its heat, he almost flinches back at the first light drops of sudden rain. [say]"It did find us,"[/say] he says, almost accusingly, and he's already tugging the other man back inside where they won't get wet. The tent is sturdy as well as colourful, and with luck this will only be a passing (screaming) shower.
[say]"Never mind what you see,"[/say] he continues, ferrying Asta closer as if to distract him with a return to their original plan. [say]"If anyone manages to find us all the way out here they deserve whatever they get, in my opinion."[/say] Whether that's being soaked in a sudden desert downpour or systematically murdered by a tightly-wound Ancient, the blame falls squarely on their shoulders.
Danta's fingers carefully clasp Asta's jaw as if to keep his attention front and centre before he leans in to kiss him at last, lips soft and body pliant in his arms as if to assure him that whatever might be happening around them, he isn't going anywhere.
RE: 'til you get to the bottomland - Astaroth - 03-02-2026
Suspicion lingers, filling up the chambers of Asta’s chest, hackles raising a touch more as he sees the little pitter patter of rain begin to fall. He doesn’t get to stand around for long to inspect it, however, because before he knows it Danta’s tugging him back, and while it was an easy thing for the Maverick to do anytime of year, this time of year it’s almost necessary.
He goes willingly, ferried with the distraction Danta provides, ignoring the dull thump of the rain and the humid heat that fills their tent. “[say]Darlinggg, do not make it sound so tempting.[/say]” Comes the playful whine, the quiet hum of a laugh behind the sharp smile aimed at his lover that’s clasped easily – the monster docile in Danta’s touch. He notes the soft kiss, the assurance within it that alleviates some of the threats that come to his mind, because the putty that Danta’s body becomes is far more of a better distraction for the stag in his bones.
Surging back into the kiss, the butcher’s arms wind around the blonde’s waist, tugging him closer as he indulges in the sweet kiss with a touch of greed and urgency, his tail sweeping over and wrapping around his lover’s leg tightly, as if ensuring the point that he wasn’t going to leave.
RE: 'til you get to the bottomland - Dantalion - 03-03-2026
Unable to respond to Asta's theatrics with his mouth otherwise occupied, Danta instead opts to make himself more tempting than anything the butcher might want to hunt outside. Ferrying the other man back further into the tent, one arm remains curled around his neck while the other plunges into the back of his hair, Danta's fingers tightening in the dark locks as if to playfully hold him at bay.
[say]"I hope we didn't come all the way out to the middle of nowhere just to hear the rain scream,"[/say] he purrs when he comes up for air, having been directing them to the decadent fall of furs and cushions where he'd decided their den will be for the stay. [say]"Especially not when I'm sure I can do a better job with the right motivation."[/say]
With a wicked grin, Danta's grip tightens on Asta just enough that, when he lets himself fall back into the pile of blankets, he's very hopeful that he'll drag the butcher with him.
RE: 'til you get to the bottomland - Astaroth - 03-03-2026
Asta will forgive him for being occupied enough to not respond to the dramatics on display – after all, he’s positive there will be plenty more before this vacation is over. The hands that spread through his dark hair and tighten, holding him at bay are met with the withdrawal of a huff of breath, a sharp grin, the snap of teeth well out of the way of catching anything but it might not seem like it off the bat. “[say]Does it not remind you of the Climb in some aspects?[/say]” The butcher asks of the rain as he’s tugged closer to the puddle of furs.
“[say]I am positive you can.[/say]” He purrs, and honestly he should know better than to trust the wicked grin that Danta shoots at him, but he’s reasonably very distracted as he’s tugged and an ungentlemanly ”[say]oomph,[/say]” leaves him as he collapses into the blankets with his fiancé.
Wasting little time, however, the butcher crowds and encroaches on Danta’s space, lips descending on Danta’s collarbone first, before immediately dropping to his other side, and up to his neck over scars that have long since healed that match perfectly to the teeth so close to his neck. “[say]You are distracting, Wasp.[/say]” Comes the drawl, rising enough to peer up at him with a cheshire grin, his tail wagging.
RE: 'til you get to the bottomland - Dantalion - 03-04-2026
[say]"The rain?"[/say] Danta barks out a laugh, both at Asta's suggestion and the playful snap of his teeth, the Maverick shrugging his shoulders a bit. [say]"I can't say it does, honestly. I don't recall a time when it rained up there if I'm honest."[/say] Then again, the majority of his time had been spent in the Burrows, so that's hardly a surprise. [say]"Why, does it remind you of the Climb?"[/say]
Whatever the butcher's answer might be, Danta will freely admit that he's less and less interested in it by the second, especially when Asta's weight collapses atop him in their den. [say]"Am I?"[/say] he purrs, arching his back beneath the other man and tipping his chin up to bare his throat to his lips and teeth. [say]"Good. That means I'm doing my job for the season."[/say]
That job being to keep Asta suitably distracted from any of his murderous tendencies - unless Danta feels like murder might be the flavour of the moment, of course.
RE: 'til you get to the bottomland - Astaroth - 03-04-2026
“[say]Not the rain, darling, the screams.[/say]” He corrects gently, recalling not exactly the rain that would bring them but on feast days – days in particular that the butcher had a hand in when he wasn’t needed. The occasion to bring those that had gotten lost in the Climb’s heat and terrain to one last event. Though it occurs to him after the question leaves that Danta likely wasn’t often a part of those events.
Wisely, he focuses on not doubling down on that aspect when Danta’s beneath him, arching up against him perfectly. It’s the best distraction, honestly, with how Asta gives him absolutely every ounce of his attention. “[say]You do an incredible job all year, love, this season is just the time I cannot rein it in as well.[/say]” He confirms, lips tracing the line of Danta’s neck with the open expanse, his hands finding the Maverick’s stomach and the hem of his clothes to slip under to feel more of his skin and the heat that radiates from him.
RE: 'til you get to the bottomland - Dantalion - 03-04-2026
[say]"Oh I see,"[/say] Danta says through a breathless laugh, eyes slipping shut as if he might better feel the heat of Asta's mouth against his throat without his handsome face as a distraction. [say]"It's lucky for you that I love it when you can't rein it in, hmm?"[/say] One of his legs hooks around the butcher's waist as he speaks, pinning their bodies close together, and as the rain continues to patter (and scream) against the tent outside, he admits that it does remind him of The Climb a little.
[say]"You know,"[/say] he whispers, voice pitched low as if he's worried the howling voices outside might hear him and come to interrupt, [say]"I'm surprised you even let me get as far as pitching the tent before putting your hands all over me."[/say] Grinning - all too aware of the double entendre he's potentially made - Danta punctuates the remark by running his hands down the length of Asta's back, urging him closer still.