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+---- Thread: one hundred sleepless nights (/showthread.php?tid=9788)
one hundred sleepless nights - Astaroth - 07-12-2024
A mixture of sedatives and painkillers has certainly helped the Butcher achieve the rest he needs, despite how he’d seemed to hide away until he felt as if he had the flexibility and movement to truly continue his work. Light Duty, was what he had called it, and with the sun of Flowerbirth having returned, the Dusklight wasn’t quite as rowdy as it had been over LongNight.
He supposes it makes sense, given people weren’t all so cooped up anymore.
Himself, though, door locked and the fire raging merrily, Astaroth has settled at a small table toward the back of the room, a piece of charcoal sketching little designs of the cane that’s sat across the table in front of him. There’s a multitude, one that could activate fire, one that’s pole is jagged and sharp, broken apart into a whip of blades fury, and a few others too smudged to actually tell what they are.
Himself, though, content with a glass of whiskey he’s been nursing, white sleeves rolled up and slightly wrinkled from where he’s hunched over, put together enough with an emerald vest with golden chains draping from the breast pocket. Content and comfortable, Astaroth continues his little designs, brushing back his dark hair around his horns, smudging a little black line against his cheek.
RE: one hundred sleepless nights - Dantalion - 07-12-2024
The unceremonious bonk against the butcher's door might not be what Asta is expecting - but then Danta hadn't been expecting the thing to be fucking locked, had he?
The sound of his quiet cursing is audible even as the key clicks in the lock - sorry, Asta, but privacy from the Maverick is something you have long given up - and soon enough Danta is stepping inside, still dressed from his meeting with Maea and with ash on his fingertips and blood on his mind.
[say]"Well, it's done,"[/say] he grumbles, knocking the door shut behind him; only then does he glance up to find the gentleman monster himself sitting at his table with his horrific little designs on display, and Danta feels himself immediately ripple with tension and relax all at once. [say]"I spoke to her,"[/say] he clarifies.
Crossing the room and snatching up the butcher's whiskey, he empties the glass in a smooth movement and sets it down again, gazing at the designs over Asta's shoulder and raising an eyebrow. [say]"Old cane not doing it for you these days?"[/say]
RE: one hundred sleepless nights - Astaroth - 07-12-2024
Funnily enough, Danta, he’s used to hearing the random bonks against his door from patrons either too drunk to walk straight or couples paired up, unable to wait. This one doesn’t capture his attention until he hears the door begin to unlock over the crackle of the fire. Dark eyes slide to the door to see the Theocrat himself, dressed in finery that has his gaze lingering, before drifting up to see the murderous gleam in his face.
“[say]And how did it go, darling?[/say]” He asks, leaning back in his chair to watch as Danta drinks the rest of his whiskey and inspects his designs. Looking back down to the pages themselves, Astaroth snorts, sliding the bladed one front and center. “[say]This one can turn into a whip with blades. Far superior, wouldn’t you agree?[/say]” He leans forward to tap at the oak of the cane he currently has, before he smirks up his shoulder at the other man.
RE: one hundred sleepless nights - Dantalion - 07-12-2024
[say]"Well, it was only words, so I kept my promise to you,"[/say] Danta mutters, not that he sounds particularly pleased about it, reaching across for the whiskey bottle to top up the glass they're now apparently sharing. [say]"I banned her from The Last Whisper and the Dusklight,"[/say] he continues in a lower voice, taking another sip of liquor while a ringed hand comes to rest on Asta's shoulder as he sets the drink back down.
Tilting his head to see one design in particular slide before him, the Maverick tilts his head this way and that and nods his head, clearly impressed. [say]"Can I have your old one when you're done with it?"[/say] he wants to know. Whether for show, as a weapon or just to mount on the wall in his bedroom, clearly the item has developed some significance for Danta over these past few seasons.
RE: one hundred sleepless nights - Astaroth - 07-12-2024
“[say]Mm, I appreciate that.[/say]” He hums, even if Danta didn’t. He can feel the vibrating tension lingering from the blonde above him, especially as the glass is refilled. Asta watches casually, hand lifting to rest atop Danta’s on his shoulder, the edge of a smirk tilting the corners up. “[say]I doubt she’ll stick around.[/say]” He muses, and if she does… well, once he’s fully healed, he isn’t sure exactly what he would do.
It wouldn’t be good, though. He can guarantee that.
His hand lifts from Danta’s to snag at the glass, twisting toward him a little bit more, offering a leg if the Maverick wishes to sit, the top couple of buttons undone to reveal the edge of scars and the fading out yellow bruise. “[say]Sentimentality doesn’t typically suit you, darling, but of course. If you want it.[/say]” He drawls, smirking up at him as he hides the amusement with the rim of the glass.
RE: one hundred sleepless nights - Dantalion - 07-12-2024
[say]"I wouldn't be so sure,"[/say] Danta mutters, stepping in to all but slouch into the other man's lap as he's offered a leg to perch on, letting his arm stretch around his shoulders, head tilting to rest against his temple as he continues to examine the strange whip-cane Asta has his heart set upon.
[say]"She told me to pass the message along, that she's ready to try and make amends whenever you want to approach her about it."[/say] Something tells the Maverick that Maea won't be straying far until she receives an answer from the butcher, and silence won't be enough of one.
Humming a note of petulant disagreement under his breath - both of them have been plenty sentimental as of late, and Danta is the one with a bone hand sculpture with an extra finger upstairs (he'd done his best to fix it ok). [say]"I hope the new one makes the same noise against the ground,"[/say] he says with a flash of teeth. [say]"Otherwise how will I ever know it's you?"[/say]
RE: one hundred sleepless nights - Astaroth - 07-12-2024
“[say]No?[/say]” The butcher questions curiously, arm easily slipping around Danta’s middle as he sinks into his lap and allows the Theocrat to put his arms wherever around him he so chooses. Head to temple, Danta would feel the start of the shake of his shoulders from a deep throated hum of a laugh that slips from him. “[say]Making amends, mm…[/say]” He manages before he sighs, shifting just enough to set down the whiskey glass and to reach over to a mahogany box, flipping it open to pull out the long stemmed tobacco pipe, setting it down and filling it with dried tobacco leaves, he puts it between his lips and glances over at Danta with a raised brow that seems to say a multitude of things;
Seriously? Like it’s that easy? Also can you light this for me?
“[say]You will know, darling. Though I assume it shouldn’t be all that different from the one I currently use.[/say]” He hums. “[say]It will make you glad you never had to receive it, though.[/say]” A knowing wink scrunches up the edges of crows feet with the brief grin he flashes.
RE: one hundred sleepless nights - Dantalion - 07-12-2024
Immediately taking the glass back up as Asta sets it down, Danta is already draining it of liquor a second time as the other man fusses with his pipe, his arm comfortably stretched around the other man's shoulders. [say]"Mmhm,"[/say] he confirms, allowing a small smile to feel as well as hear the laughter rumble up through the butcher's chest. [say]"Well, whatever you decide to do, there's no rush."[/say] Not now that The Last Whisper has officially been declared off-limits and the ball is in Asta's court.
Reaching out to light the tobacco with nothing more than a wiggle of his fingers, Danta is once again reaching out for the bottle of liquor, though he does manage a dark little laugh at the prospect of being on the receiving end of this particular design of the butcher's. [say]"No,"[/say] he agrees, [say]"but I felt the sting of your others enough times. I think you broke one across my shoulders once."[/say]
RE: one hundred sleepless nights - Astaroth - 07-12-2024
“[say]I think I shall make her stew on it.[/say]” Astaroth hums with amusement, pausing as Danta lights the tobacco and Astaroth drags a long and slow inhale from it, the bowl of the pipe lighting red and orange as it catches further. He lets it sit in his lungs for a breath moment, before he sees Danta reach for the bottle again and he exhales a light plume in the blonde’s way, watching the smoke curl around his arm. “[say]Leave some for me.[/say]” Comes the quiet request or demand, before the subject of canes and the Climb overcome his mind.
His nose wrinkles slightly at the memory, tilting his head a little as he moves the pipe away from his lips. “[say]I did. I was quite upset about it, it was my favorite.[/say]” He says with a sigh, his free arm slipping back around Danta’s middle, tugging at the shirt tucked into his pants. “[say]I apologize for the splinters.[/say]” He murmurs, recalling how he’d then used the pieces of it to enact the rest of the punishment. It’s enough of a memory that has him nosing his face into Danta’s cheek.
RE: one hundred sleepless nights - Dantalion - 07-12-2024
[say]"I'll go get you more if it gets low,"[/say] Danta sasses at the butcher's demand, clearly having no intention on stopping until the fire in his belly has been thoroughly dampened by the amber liquor. So saying, he fills the glass a third time - and purposely sets the bottle down on the other side of the table so the other man doesn't complain - before taking a small sip of it. In the meantime the air fills with the scent of familiar tobacco smoke, and Danta finds himself relaxing against Asta, even as he continues to take in the details of the design.
[say]"Oh, well I do apologise. I didn't realise it was your favourite. How careless of me to let it break across my back like that."[/say] Yes, and the rest of the punishment; the Maverick remembers it well, and he smirks and glances at the hand tugging at his shirt. [say]"I deserved them, probably - don't worry about it."[/say] Let no one say that he didn't give as good as he got, or that he didn't provoke just as much as he reacted.
Nevertheless, he doesn't complain at the affectionate nuzzle against his cheek, already feeling the edges of his anger start to bleed and melt together under the influence of the whiskey.
RE: one hundred sleepless nights - Astaroth - 07-12-2024
Rolling his eyes a touch affectionately, the butcher’s dark gaze tracks the movement of the bottle as it’s set on his side to keep him from yapping, snorting instead to the response over his favorite cane. It’s a thought that lingers even as he nuzzles in, withdrawing to take another drag from the pipe before it settles in his hand on the table and he cocks his head toward the blonde with a toothy smirk. “[say]If I recall correctly, you cracked my jaw and I thought I had lost a tooth.[/say]” A tragedy, he knows, but gods if their fights hadn’t been actually trying to kill each other.
Though it wasn’t like Morax or Zac would allow such a thing to come to them, healed enough to feel the pain but not succumb to them.
Either way. “[say]Would you like to talk about the conversation?[/say]” He asks, hand at the other man’s side drawing little designs in the loosened shirt. “[say]You look dashing, by the way.[/say]”
RE: one hundred sleepless nights - Dantalion - 07-12-2024
Barking out a laugh at the memory, Danta grins and nods his agreement, raising his glass as if in a toast to that particular hit he'd landed. [say]"That's right - I remember really hoping it was one of your canines,"[/say] he agrees, holding out the glass for Asta to be able to take a sip without giving up anything in either of his hands (i.e. the pipe or the Maverick). [say]"But then you showed up a few days later with that stupid smug smile and all teeth present and accounted for."[/say]
How insufferable they had both been in those days.
Wrinkling his nose - no he would not, but it's Asta so whatever - Danta sets down his glass and sighs out his next breath. [say]"It got personal quick,"[/say] he says simply. [say]"I called her a hypocrite and a monster, in not so many words."[/say] Not outright, but gods if the sentiment hadn't been there all the same. As for how he looks, the Maverick smirks down at himself. [say]"Well I thought I had better make the effort, since you weren't there to look the part."[/say]
RE: one hundred sleepless nights - Astaroth - 07-12-2024
Sparking another one of those shoulder shaking laughs from the butcher, he settles to take advantage of Danta’s offer, leaning in to sip lightly from the glass and relishing in the combination of burns from the alcohol and the smoke. “[say]Had it been my canines I may have actually tried harder to kill you.[/say]” He says it simply, lips quirking into a smirk as the pipe finds a place right back between his lips.
But all nostalgia and somewhat bloodthirsty amusement fades as he places all of his attention on Danta, turned toward him, hand cradling the pipe with his elbow propped up on the table, dark eyes watching him. “[say]And how did she take that? Considering doing precisely that was her biggest fear, evidently?[/say]” Though it had all been relatively quick from the sounds of it. Perhaps she’d done nothing at all. Perhaps she was intending on licking her wounds elsewhere. He wonders whether or not he should prolong any notification to meeting her at all, or if silence was better.
Another plume of smoke passes his bearded lips, hand at Danta’s side smoothing out up and under the smooth and soft shirt to pale skin. “[say]You certainly succeeded. What a terrifying Theocrat you make.[/say]” He hums, a glint of pride lingering in his dark eyes as he fully gives Danta a full look on each and every addition, the jewelry, the shirt, the way his hair is tied back.
RE: one hundred sleepless nights - Dantalion - 07-12-2024
[say]"Fuck you if you weren't trying hard to kill me anyway,"[/say] Danta fires back with a playful narrowing of his eyes; he refuses to believe that the butcher had been giving anything but 100%, because that's exactly what he'd been bringing to the fight. Don't piss on his bonfire, Astaroth.
Still, just like Asta, Danta's amusement fades considerably as the conversation returns front and centre to the present, and he lets out a sigh and shrugs his shoulders as if to try and portray how much of a not much it had all been. [say]"She just accepted it,"[/say] he said. [say]"Apologised, said she'd take whatever punishment we decided she'd get."[/say]
Shaking his head only to straighten up a fraction as warm fingers sneak their way beneath the shirt he'd painstakingly tucked in before leaving that evening, Danta raises his eyebrows down at the other man. [say]"I'm not sure looking somewhat dishevelled is going to give quite the same vibe,"[/say] he says with a smirk. [say]"Besides, the difference is, if I were relaxing in my rooms like you, I'd not be so dressed up."[/say]
Not that he's complaining about Asta's attire, you understand. Never.