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only seconds to draw me in - Dantalion - 04-26-2026
Danta promises - and then promises again - that he won't be too long in his office, ushering the butcher away to either lurk in the Dusklight or to sulk in their rooms. It's true that Asta could have accompanied him, and most of the time he likely would have, but those who have dealt with a deer shift at Leafchange know that sometimes you just need a fucking break.
The Maverick is stretching his arms above his head as he meanders down the corridor, letting the raucous noise of the bar start to fade and enjoying the brief peace and silence of it. A rarity for an Ancient to be sure, but then one has to appreciate order to fully enjoy chaos when it steps all over it, no?
He doesn't notice the familiar scent of Flora's perfume in the air and he doesn't realise his office door is ajar until he's already pushing it open, surprised and delighted to find her already within. [say]"Well hello, Flora,"[/say] he purrs. [say]"Don't let Asta catch you hiding away in here. He loves you, but I don't know that his ego could tolerate it until the weather changes."[/say]
RE: only seconds to draw me in - Flora - 04-26-2026
Flora doesn’t bother pretending she hadn’t heard Danta coming, such that she's already turning as the door gives way beneath his hand, her smile arriving first, bright and sharp and entirely unrepentant, like she’s been caught doing something she’d absolutely do again. [say]"Well if he gets upset, he can take it up with Kiada,"[/say] she says easily, the words sliding out with that particular brand of confidence that isn’t bluff so much as a refusal to imagine being wrong. [say]"She said I could wait in here."[/say]
Her rings catch the light as she reaches for the Maverick, gold flashing briefly before she tips up onto her toes, pressing a quick, warm kiss to his cheek. [say]"I'm sure Asta hated coming to my party, but it made me really happy to have you both there."[/say]
RE: only seconds to draw me in - Dantalion - 04-26-2026
[say]"He can and he will, though I imagine she would put him in his place quite quickly. My registrar is a force of nature."[/say] Danta says with a grin, leaning in to accept the kiss to his cheek with blatant enjoyment (sometimes it's nice to accept affection without having a snarling shadow monster over one shoulder, you know?) [say]"Were you waiting for anything scandalous or urgent?"[/say] he wonders, gesturing for her to feel free to take a seat or to perch on the desk. [say]"Or is it just the pleasure of my company?"[/say]
Crossing to the desk himself, Danta pulls a face at the neat stack of papers Kia has labelled as for his attention, and he sighs and flumps down into his own seat to start absently flicking through them. [say]"It was a pleasure to be there,"[/say] he says of her party, brightening immediately at the mere mention of it. [say]"And on the contrary, Asta was very happy, especially when he was playing security for you. Getting to deal with a bit of spice in the celebration let him vent some energy out, I think."[/say]
Lifting one paper and squinting at it, he eventually rolls his eyes and thrusts it out to Flora. [say]"I can't read quickly - does this look important to you, or just boring?"[/say] It's some kind of notice about part of the harbour being closed at Jack Tar for repairs, as far as he can tell.
RE: only seconds to draw me in - Flora - 04-26-2026
[say]"I’d expect nothing else,"[/say] Flora hums in agreement, like Kiada being formidable is less a statement and more a law of nature, or of Danta maybe.
At his question, her head tilts before her smirk twists into something brighter, more mischievous. [say]"Nothing scandalous or urgent,"[/say] she says, before shrugging. [say]" But maybe dramatic and timely?"[/say] The grin that follows is quick and sharp, and she’s already turning on her heel as he moves toward the desk.
She watches him settle with a kind of fond, sidelong amusement, the way he visibly deflates under the burden of paperwork earning a quiet, knowing roll of her eyes. [say]"I did feel quite protected with him as my shadow,"[/say] she adds, leaning her hip lightly against the edge of the desk. [say]"There’s something very reassuring about knowing anyone who tries anything will regret it immediately and probably creatively."[/say]
When he thrusts the paper her way, Flora's gaze skims the words with a brief squint that suggests she’s reading just enough to understand and not a syllable more. It takes only a second before she exhales something soft and dismissive, shaking her head as she straightens again, already losing interest. [say]"Nah,"[/say] she says, the verdict easy and unbothered. [say]"The people who need to know about it already know about it."[/say]
RE: only seconds to draw me in - Dantalion - 04-26-2026
[say]"Dramatic and timely is my favourite,"[/say] Danta says with a gleam of wild amusement in his eyes, and he pointedly slouches back in his seat as if strapping himself in for whatever well-timed drama Flora has brought to him today, even if it's just the pleasure of her company. [say]"And he does make a very reassuring shadow, I'll give you that,"[/say] he agrees about his fiance. [say]"Though it can get a bit stifling when you're trying to make a drink for someone at the bar - but don't tell him I said that."[/say]
He holds the paper steady as Flora skims it, his eyes on her expression as if he might stand a better chance at reading that, and when she confirms it's nothing pressing, he exhales a sigh of relief. [say]"Oh, good. I was afraid it was something asking me to leave the Dusklight. I don't know about you, but I've had enough of the rain screaming at me."[/say]
Screwing the paper into a ball in his hand, it catches fire with little more than a pulse of willpower, and the Maverick dusts the ashes from his fingers onto the floor when he's done. [say]"Speaking of screaming, though - I know it didn't devolve into that at your party, but now that we're alone, what the fuck happened?"[/say]
RE: only seconds to draw me in - Flora - 04-26-2026
Flora’s mouth curves immediately and she lifts her hand to mime sealing her lips before flicking her fingers outward, tossing the imaginary key somewhere over her shoulder. The mention of screaming rain earns a long, theatrical roll of her eyes, her head tipping back just enough to let her own frustration show. [say]"Gods, if I never so much as hear the wind blow again, it’ll be too soon."[/say]
As Danta asks about her party, Flora leans forward. [say]"Well, actually, that’s the dramatic and timely gossip I came to tell you about,"[/say] she says, widening her eyes with deliberate emphasis, the look edged with something that’s equal parts amusement and warning. [say]"You’re about to have a neighbour up here—"[/say] she pauses, tilting her head, recalibrating with a small flick of her fingers, [say]"—well, it’s in Hak Etme, but given no one’s been ruling the Greatwood for a while, it’s basically your next neighbour."[/say]
Her hand lifts to her curls, pushing them back in a quick, restless motion before dropping again, the movement carrying more impatience than vanity. [say]"The politically correct version is that a rancher left King’s End and is making a go of leadership in the desert. Normally I’d say she’d be right up your alley because she’s very happy to let lucrative business ventures set up even if they aren't strictly legal, however—"[/say] her brows rise, holding the space open for a beat, [say]"—this is the dramatic part."[/say]
Her expression tightens just slightly, not enough to lose the composure but enough to make the shift unmistakable. [say]"Her ranch burned down in King’s End and she blamed it on Sunjata. Told him he was a bad leader and just...fucked off. And then with me, she tried to poach my best friend away and didn’t even have the nerve to say it to my face, even when I tried to include her. Invited her out, made space for her, offered to help."[/say] Flora exhales through her nose, the sound quiet but edged, her head shaking once as if to clear it away rather than dwell on it. [say]"So anyway, I figured I’d let you know, since you’ll probably be hearing from her at some point. Not that I’m saying don’t do business with her or anything, but she really seems like the sort who’s happy to burn any bridge, so."[/say]
RE: only seconds to draw me in - Dantalion - 04-26-2026
[say]"I'll drink to that,"[/say] Danta grumbles in agreement - and he plans to, in fact. Leaning down to open a desk drawer, he withdraws a bottle of what looks startlingly like some of Remi's upside down waterfall gin, holding it up as if to ask if she wants some. [say]"Oho,"[/say] he exclaims as Flora commences with her gossip, meanwhile pouring himself (and his guest) a drink should she wish to imbibe.
He raises an eyebrow at the thought of a neighbour, immediately assuming the Greatwood, but as she continues and readjusts to Hak Etme, the other eyebrow joins in. [say]"You don't fucking say,"[/say] he croons, all ears for this latest development. Meanwhile, his free hand is casually screwing up the next paper in his stack without looking at it, setting that alight too and allowing the ashy remnants to flutter to the ground.
And as she begins, so far so interesting, because Danta is always on the market for lucrative neighbours. [say]"A rancher,"[/say] he begins slowly, realisation briefly dawning. [say]"Shit, she isn't the one who did the rodeo, is she? I won a great belt buckle from that thing."[/say]
But now it's time for the dramatic part, and Danta rests both hands around his tumbler of gin to keep them from fidgeting, leaning in a fraction closer in case he misses the best bit. Which happens to be all of it, the Ancient's mouth dropping open in scandalised delight to reveal the tips of a fanged grin. [say]"What a bitch,"[/say] he announces, fully invested. From Sunjata to Flora, that's already two strikes, and if Asta has had to bust out his shadow daddy persona at the Doubletake's birthday because of this rancher, well, she's pretty much out.
[say]"I mean, if you want me to do business badly, just say the word,"[/say] he offers. [say]"As Ancients, we're quite good at burning things, so bridges don't last too long around us anyway."[/say]
RE: only seconds to draw me in - Flora - 04-26-2026
Flora’s brows lift the moment he produces the bottle, her expression answering before her words do. [say]"Obviously,"[/say] she says, reaching for the offered glass without hesitation.
At his question, she nods, taking a small sip before answering, the familiar brightness of it sharpening the edges of her grin. [say]"Yep. The very same."[/say] Her shoulder lifts in a loose shrug, mouth tipping sideways with open skepticism. [say]"I don’t know if she thinks running a successful rodeo is the same as running an entire region, but..."[/say] The thought trails off into a look that says enough on its own, her doubt worn plainly rather than dressed up.
When Danta declares her a bitch, Flora’s grin snaps brighter, satisfied in a way that settles something quick and clean in her chest, and she lifts her tumbler toward him in an easy, deliberate toast. What was the point of having friends like Danta if not for their unfettered and dramatic agreement in times like this? [say]"Thank you."[/say]
Snickering at his offer, Flora shakes her head as she leans a fraction closer over the desk. [say]"Honestly? How about the opposite."[/say] Her aqua gaze flicks up to meet his. [say]"She’s got basically nothing to offer, so I’d bet you could bleed her dry if she came to you with a deal."[/say] And seeing Colt in the hole while her friend made off like a bandit would suit Flora just fine.
RE: only seconds to draw me in - Dantalion - 04-26-2026
[say]"Especially a region like the desert,"[/say] Danta says through a laugh and a sip of his drink. [say]"I won't lie, if it had been in a similar state to the Grounds, I'd have considered it."[/say] A similar state being pretty much established but just left neglected, rather that full fat buck wild. [say]"But then if I told you there were a bunch of Dygra loving Ancients living in Hak Etme, no one would be surprised. It's a lot more difficult to survive up there when overheating can kill you."[/say]
At her mingled relief and delight, Danta doesn't waste a moment, tipping her a wink and reaching out to chime his glass against her own. [say]"My pleasure,"[/say] he croons, willing to leave it at that, but then Flora - like the established ruler of a successful region that she is - is leaning in and offering further tomfoolery, and the Maverick doesn't have to think twice before getting on board.
[say]"I'm starting to understand why Torchline is top of the pile,"[/say] he says approvingly, setting his drink down and gesturing to his paperwork. [say]"Who knows - maybe there's already something in here about it."[/say] There isn't, but he does spot something that he ought to keep and file, Danta groaning and promptly folding it into an origami frog.
[say]"So what happens if no one wants to get sunburned to death in the desert?"[/say] he wonders, promptly disappearing from behind the desk and appearing at one of his bookshelves to file the frog in a container labelled to be actioned. [say]"Is she a ruler of nothing but sand? Also, I thought horses needed to like... drink a lot of water."[/say]
Clearly he hasn't considered that the ranch burning down part means there will be no future horses in Hak Etme.
RE: only seconds to draw me in - Flora - 04-26-2026
Flora nods along, the logic of it settling easily enough even if the execution still feels wildly questionable. [say]"I didn’t ask at the time because I was trying to be supportive,"[/say] she says, the word landing with just enough dryness to undercut itself, [say]"but given the Greatwood is right there, it’s kind of wild she picked murderous sand land over magical forest."[/say] Flora is biased on this point of course, but even if she weren't, it still seems like a crazy option.
The Maverick's compliment earns a quiet snicker, her shoulder lifting in a half-shrug that doesn’t pretend she’s responsible for all of it, even if she’s not about to downplay what she’s built either. Her attention flicks to the paper in his hands as it transforms, the origami frog earning a small, private smirk that tugs at the corner of her mouth before she looks back up and exhales, rolling her glass between her fingers. [say]"Colt definitely strikes me as the type to die mad about something rather than admit defeat,"[/say] she says, tone almost admiring if not for the way it tightens at the edges. A trait Flora would have a good deal more sympathy for had she not so recently been slighted by the rancher.
Her gaze tracks Danta as he vanishes and reappears across the room, the movement earning little more than a blink before she settles again, growing more and more used to seeing Ancients dart around, and lifts one shoulder in another loose shrug. [say]"Who knows. Maybe she’s got, like, twenty favours from the gods she’s planning to cash in,"[/say] she says, the idea tossed out lightly, more speculation than belief. [say]"But given how long it’s taken Sunjata to get King’s End up and running from how he found it, I do not think this is going to be a smooth venture."[/say]
RE: only seconds to draw me in - Dantalion - 04-27-2026
[say]"Maybe she gets allergies or something,"[/say] Danta says through a scoff of laughter; it's the only reason he can think for magical forest to lose out to a murderous sand land, anyway. [say]"And I can also appreciate dying on a hill, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to fleece her for everything she's got for being a bad friend and causing a ruckus on your birthday."[/say] Making sure the frog is in the right container, Danta promptly darts back behind his desk, taking up his drink again and rolling his wrist to slosh the gin around.
It wouldn't surprise him if Colt does have a dozen or so favours waiting in the wings - being able to procure something like the belt buckle he'd receive makes him already convinced she's an Accepted. It doesn't stop him from wrinkling his nose, though. [say]"I just think if the desert was meant to be lived in, it already would be, y'know?"[/say] he says, thumbing through more papers. He indentifies two more for the burn pile and another to become a frog, leaving one final missive in need of his signature and to be sent to the Temple.
[say]"It'll be even less smooth since she's just made enemies of, what, three leaders?"[/say] Sunjata for blaming him, Flora for being a ratchet ho, and Danta for solidarity.
RE: only seconds to draw me in - Flora - 04-27-2026
Flora huffs out a quiet sigh, rolling her eyes. [say]"It’s a lot easier to get some magical tissues than it is to tame an entire desert,"[/say] she says with a slight sneer.
Danta's next comment, though, has her grin turning sharp and pleased, her head tipping to the side as she looks at him like he’s just proven exactly why he’s her favourite kind of monster in moments like this. [say]"I love you, you know that?"[/say] she says, laughing under her breath, buoyed by how readily he’s stepped onto her side of the line without hesitation, before wrinkling her nose and nodding. [say]"For all of Torchline’s sand, it’s got a significant amount of everything else too,"[/say] she adds, gaze drifting briefly to the papers as a couple meet their end in flame, the casual destruction earning nothing more than a flicker of idle jealousy before she looks back to him.
With a soft snicker, she tips back the rest of her gin in one smooth motion, setting the empty glass down with a light tap. [say]"One more and she’ll have done as well as Maea."[/say]
RE: only seconds to draw me in - Dantalion - 04-27-2026
[say]"That's true enough,"[/say] Danta says slowly of the magical tissues suggestion. Eventually he merely shrugs, figuring that whatever Colt's reasons, they aren't going to be privy to them. (Especially not now). [say]"Well, here's hoping it's because of some weird mental breakdown. Maybe she'll even shave all her hair off or something to cope with the heat."[/say] And oh, if only he knew.
Blowing her a kiss in response to the declaration of love, Danta winks at her affectionately and also empties his own glass of gin, setting it down to go scrounching around for a pen instead. [say]"Torchline's sand is friendly besides,"[/say] he adds. [say]"Or maybe I just think so because I'm usually laying in it with a cocktail."[/say] Smirking, he signs the last paper with a flourish and starts to fold it into an expertly contained little envelope.
He pulls a face at the mention of Maea, as if Flora has just dropped something unwelcome and smelly onto his desk, but that does beg a question. [say]"I can make up some shit and send a letter to Deimos if you want a full house,"[/say] he suggests, grinning. [say]"Speaking of sending, when you're ready to go, will you be a doll and tie this to me as a crow?"[/say] He gestures to the envelope. [say]"If I go out through the front, Asta will haunt me all the way to the Temple. This way I can sneak out and in."[/say]
RE: only seconds to draw me in - Flora - 04-27-2026
Flora snickers under her breath. [say]"With all the hallucinogenic drugs up there, I wouldn’t be surprised,"[/say] she says, the idea of Colt hacking off her hair landing somewhere between ridiculous and entirely plausible.
Danta's comment about the sand has her grinning like she’s personally responsible for it, shoulders easing back with a flicker of pride she doesn’t bother to hide. [say]"I know it might be a little chilly for you,"[/say] she says, flashing him a look that’s half challenge, half invitation, [say]"but you really should come down during LongNight. It’s quite the party and I think you two would love it."[/say] If nothing else, there were lots of fires around and Torchline was at least warmer than the Grounds would be.
At the mention of Deimos, Flora pauses just long enough to make a show of considering it, her mouth pursing, brows knitting as though she’s weighing something genuinely tempting before she wrinkles her nose and shakes her head. [say]"I appreciate that, but we can let Deimos be the wildcard."[/say] Her gaze drops to the envelope as he gestures, fingers already reaching for it before she looks back up, brows lifting with quiet frown. [say]"He’s still not happy about crows, huh?"[/say] She knew why of course, but it was an unhappy reminder just the same.