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+---- Thread: april showers (/showthread.php?tid=11350)
april showers - Astaroth - 05-18-2025
He’s running late – he knows that. He shouldn’t have left, but the bag at his hip is something that he covets as he departs from the Maurader with a quick wave to Thal – still acting as though everything is perfectly fine, before he’s moving through the crowd with a surprising amount of purpose, trying to reach the ship heading to the Grounds that looks as though it’s getting ready to depart.
Scanning the crowd, he tries to spot the flicker of diamond horns in the warm sunlight, but it isn’t until he reaches the dock that leads to the skyship that the butcher finally spots Danta and relaxes a touch in relief. Unfortunately, he’s a mess – with a cut on his arm through his shirt that’s soaked up most of the blood, a bit of bulk in his pocket, and his slate pants that had otherwise been perfectly pristine, singed up his calves and hanging on by mere threads.
But gods if he isn’t relieved to see him, rushing in immediately to snag his lover into a brief hug before corralling them onto the ship. “[say]Apologies for being late, darling.[/say]” He’ll explain on the way.
RE: april showers - Dantalion - 05-18-2025
Late is something that has caused boundless problems in their relationship previously, but this time Danta has promised himself that he won't freak out or do anything rash. And he'd only smashed one trinket from a stall accidentally-on-purpose, and he'd only even sort of pushed a kid into a fountain on the way past. Small acts of chaos that do little to calm the bubbling in his thoughts, granted, and by the time the butcher is cutting through the crowd at the dock, Danta is doing his best not to chew a hole in the inside of his cheek as he waits.
It's only a fleeting glance up that has him catching sight of the tall Ancient cutting through the crowd, and Danta is relaxing before he's ever fully comprehended the state of his lover. [say]"You're here now,"[/say] he says, voice muffled by the hug Asta catches him in, feet carrying them towards the skyship so they can board. [say]"I thought I was going to have to go without you,"[/say] he adds, not pausing until they are properly on deck, and then it's to frown at the scent of old blood that clings to Asta like a second skin.
[say]"What happened?"[/say] he asks, stepping back enough to look the butcher over, barely hiding the raw concern - and the flicker of something angry and dark - that flickers across his face.
RE: april showers - Astaroth - 05-18-2025
It’s a rush, a quick embrace to drag up onto the skyship before it takes off so they aren’t left behind, and only a soft “[say]Never, darling,[/say]” as confirmation for having to go without him. At least, if he could help it. Perhaps it isn’t a promise he should make so easily, but here he is, in the ragged little state of himself but here nonetheless.
Finding an easy place to settle on the skyship, the butcher’s smile remains – though softer edged. “[say]I had something in King’s End to pick up and when I was there a Spectral Villi appeared.[/say]” He murmurs, pausing to clarify as his smile twitches toward a frown. “[say]A void infected one.[/say]” He hadn’t had time to reach the fountain on the way back, so the ache and burn of the hands against his chest still linger, but are ignored for now in favor for seeing and being near his lover. “[say]A group of us destroyed it, thankfully.[/say]” Which had been very relieving,
Suddenly, he’s reaching into his pocket to withdraw the velvet bag, opening the drawstring of it to pull out the piece of fabric he’d snatched from the villi’s shawl. “[say]I took a piece from it. I may ask Dygra to help me create something with it.[/say]” Aside from that piece of lace, within the bag sits the confines of pale dreambird feathers along with a unicorn horn – which had been the whole purpose of the initial trip to King’s End.
RE: april showers - Dantalion - 05-18-2025
Settling beside Asta as he starts to explain the reason behind his tardiness, Danta is left near reeling by the story that comes tumbling out, blinking up at the other man as if waiting for the next insane chapter to unveil itself. He doesn't know what a Villi is or what makes it spectral, only that to hear of it being void touched has a muscle tightening in his jaw. [say]"You destroyed it but not before it got hold of you, by the look of it,"[/say] he says, feather light fingers brushing across the dry blood on his shirt, blue eyes flicking down towards the singed fabric of his pants.
Glancing only briefly at the weird little rag Asta produces, it's only the not knowing of it that stops him from putting his hands all over the other man to check he's in one piece. [say]"You're alright?"[/say] he asks, glancing towards the hatch that will take them belowdecks. [say]"I got us a cabin, since the journey back is so long,"[/say] he mutters. [say]"You don't mind if we go down, do you?"[/say] Suddenly having so many people around while having to swallow this news is more than Danta thinks he can handle.
RE: april showers - Astaroth - 05-18-2025
“[say]I was only touched once.[/say]” He confirms, though the realization as he focuses on Danta’s face suddenly hits. The feather of his lover’s jaw is a beacon, one that tells him belatedly that it isn’t the time. At least, not until he knows that he’s going to be okay, and it’s that which has him stilling a touch to let Danta take a quick superficial look before the question hits. “[say]I am.[/say]” He confirms, refraining from saying until they get to the grounds and he’d very much like to go and see their favorite healer, because he knows that would make it that much worse.
But it’s news he can tell him in the comfort of the cabin, and the butcher tucks the trinkets back into the bag and into his pocket, before the arm that doesn’t have the cut on it sweeps around Danta’s middle. “[say]Not at all, darling. Lead the way.[/say]” He murmurs softly, steps already taking them below so that he might show him which cabin they’re staying in.
RE: april showers - Dantalion - 05-18-2025
Once is one time too many, Danta might have said, but he's still too busy making his visual assessment of the man at his side to bother with such quips. Nevertheless, he forces himself to relax a fraction - Asta is here and clearly well enough to make the trip back home, despite whatever bumpy ride he'd had in King's End, and the Maverick has seen him in much worse states than this.
The knowledge isn't exactly comforting, but it's enough for him to manage a smile that's at least superficially like his usual swagger as the butcher gets them to their feet and starts leading them belowdecks, Danta nodding. [say]"My pleasure,"[/say] he mumbles, stepping down into the warm darkness of the ship. Other passengers are already milling about here and there, carting luggage into their own little cabins, and Danta turns them down a couple of corridors before finding the number on their door; home for the flight back to the Grounds.
[say]"After you,"[/say] he murmurs, unlocking the door and pushing it open to reveal their bags already neatly stacked and ready for them. It's small cozy, with a little porthole to peep out of and watch the world go by and a bunk large enough to accommodate the two of them, though it will likely still be a bit cramped for someone as tall as Asta.
Danta waits to click the door shut and turn the key in the lock before he turns back to the butcher, letting out a long sigh that shivers just a little at the end. [say]"Where did it get you?"[/say] he asks, glancing to the dry blood on instinct as if assuming there.
RE: april showers - Astaroth - 05-18-2025
Having not made the arrangements for this ship, the butcher is mostly at a loss when it comes to the belly of it where their cozy room sits. Having to duck a few times to ensure his horns and his head don’t smack into the wood, he’s pleased when they reach the door that’s theirs, lingering close to Danta’s side as he opens the door before he’s stepping in, peering through the porthole for a moment before he turns to watch Danta step in and close and lock the door.
“[say]Not there.[/say]” The butcher’s hum is soft, already reaching up to unbutton and untuck his shirt. “[say]That was mine.[/say]” The bloodbane, with how precise the cut had been, even if it was deep. It wasn’t in a spot where it would cause too much damage other than an additional little scar to join the rest of them – though Astaroth was quite used to that.
His tail flicks slowly at his heels as he peels away his shirt, slipping out of it to reveal the bulk of scar tissue against his chest, where there’s discoloration in the form of hands in prayer against his sternum. It looks like a bit of frostbite, pale and grey against the ripple of olive scar tissue. “[say]This is the only place.[/say]” He says quieter, stepping toward Danta to tug him further in with him, to give him ample space to see the mark.
RE: april showers - Dantalion - 05-18-2025
[say]"Ah,"[/say] Danta murmurs with a gentle nod of understanding; somehow knowing that the blood is as a result of something Asta has chosen to do makes it easier to swallow. His attention sharpens as the butcher slowly peels off his shirt, though, letting himself be tugged further into the cabin so he can properly examine the strange, frostburn marks that mark his chest.
[say]"They look nasty,"[/say] he mutters, reaching out to press warm hands to the scar tissue just beyond the imprint of those ghostly hands, where he hopes it won't be so sore. [say]"Does it hurt?"[/say] he asks automatically, already able to feel the tension creeping back into his shoulders and jaw. Clearing his throat suddenly and stepping out of Asta's grip to ruffle his fingers through his hair, the Maverick is evidently at a loss of what to do with himself.
Because Asta is already okay, more or less, so there's nowhere to put the sudden spike of outrage and upset.
RE: april showers - Astaroth - 05-18-2025
The warm hands that touch his chest beyond the ghostly hands has Asta relaxing into the touch, his dark gaze focusing on Danta’s face as if he might be able to read it like a roadmap to just what he should be expecting. “[say]A little. Just… lingering, I suppose? Nothing terrible.[/say]” He offers as if it were as much of an attempt to calm whatever storm rages within Danta despite not seeing it in its entirety. Though they both know the butcher has had worse, it feels moot to point it out.
He watches as Danta steps back, ruffling his fingers through his golden strands and he steps forward, arms reaching for Danta to pull him back, like the butcher might be able to ground him. “[say]I am sorry, darling. I did not realize something like that would show.[/say]” He murmurs softly, his warm hand reaching for Danta’s elbow or shoulder in a gentle touch. He withdraws shortly after to slide completely out of his shirt, proving as he turns around to fold it and set it on his bag that he is otherwise unharmed. “[say]Come, let me curl up with you.[/say]” He makes the offer as he peers over his shoulder, undoing the buckle of his belt.
RE: april showers - Dantalion - 05-18-2025
Huffing out a relieved sigh to hear that the marks on Asta's chest aren't causing him too much pain - though in reality given both of their tolerances, that doesn't mean much - Danta lets himself be ferried back into the butcher's arms. It's a movement that's aided by the gentle rock of the skyship as it takes off, the Maverick gently resting his chin on his lover's shoulder. [say]"It isn't your fault,"[/say] he assures him. [say]"You couldn't have known."[/say]
He just needs a little time to sit with the feelings and what to do with them, Danta stepping back and shrugging out of his shirt almost at the same time as Asta does. [say]"Gods, I'd like that,"[/say] he admits quietly, to collapsing into the bunk with the butcher, and he wastes little time in tugging off his shoes and pants and dragging up his glamour before he crawls onto the makeshift bed. [say]"I'm suddenly exhausted."[/say]
RE: april showers - Astaroth - 05-18-2025
It doesn’t mean much. But it does mean that they can take a quick trip to the healer when they get back, and he’s soothed in the gentle warmth of Danta’s embrace in return that he hadn’t fucked up too badly. Not like he had multiple times before they’d finally gotten together. It’s that balm that the butcher lingers on when they withdraw and Asta starts to unbuckle his belt. Working at his pants – because he intends on changing them out anyway for a fresh set – he cares little for how they fall as he sheds the rest of his clothes alongside Danta.
Pulling his glamour up as well so that he can make himself as short as can be, when he said curl up, the butcher means it. Legs hooked enough to not hang awkwardly off the little bed but to instead allow his feet to press against the wall at the end, he curves into Danta and wraps his arms around his lover to tuck him in against his shoulder and chest, burying his face into the blonde without worry about scraping his face on diamond horns. “[say]I am sure you are, love.[/say]” He hums softly into Danta’s hair as he feels the skyship begin to turn as if banking for the winds. “[say]Just relax. I am not going anywhere.[/say]” it’s softer and gentler, his hands starbursting out along Danta’s shoulder and side, drawing little patterns in against his skin where he seems to focus on where he holds most of his tension.
RE: april showers - Dantalion - 05-18-2025
Watching through suddenly tired eyes as Asta moves about the little cabin, Danta does at least manage a soft smirk to himself as the other man also draws up his glamour; he feels it might be more necessary than anything for him on this particular trip. Shifting enough to welcome him into the bunk, the Maverick is like putty as Asta manoeuvres them, settling like a dead weight into his chest, his eyes already drifting shut.
[say]"I'll do my best,"[/say] he murmurs, the words hummed around an almost apologetic smile. [say]"Sorry. I should be the one comforting you after you got bashed around in King's End."[/say] Something about Asta popping up completely fine (more or less) with another horrific story to tell has reminded Danta of their ill-fated encounter with a certain Wicker Woman, what can he say?
[say]"And I suppose I haven't had you quite as much to myself as I'm used to, this trip,"[/say] he adds. Not that he's remotely complaining about it, but it has still been a change.
RE: april showers - Astaroth - 05-18-2025
The weight of Danta against his chest is the best balm the butcher can ask for. Soaking in the heat and heaviness, like the best weighted blanket one could get, the butcher noses his way into the blonde strands free of horns, arms squeezing gently around him when he speaks – if only so the soft little laugh doesn’t bounce Danta too far away from his embrace. “[say]I only got bashed once, and even then it was not a bashing so much as it was a touch.[/say]” The butcher complains in his typical whiny tone, letting the huff of a laugh escape him gently.
But he gets it. He’d gotten really fucked up with the wicker woman. But this time he’d been better prepared and stronger, with only the priestess landing a blow on him and not even the full powered villi. Only one ghostly, ghastly revived person. “[say]That is true. There was a good amount of sharing.[/say]” He agrees, realizing they hadn’t really talked about it. He presses a soft kiss to his temple before settling in again, neck angled so his head can rest without having to press against the opposite wall. “[say]Did you mind it?[/say]” He asks softly, a gentle probe – because it was just them. They could talk about it between the two of them without any hurt feelings.
RE: april showers - Dantalion - 05-19-2025
The grumble of something incomprehensible that leaves Danta's throat is quietly affectionate, his face buried in the crook of Asta's shoulder, his arms tangling him in an embrace that the butcher will have to fight out of, should he want to leave any time soon. [say]"Bashing or touching, you still had a fight on your hands while I was out here working on my tan,"[/say] he mumbles, voice muffled against Asta's neck. Still, with the other man's skilled fingers stroking against his bare skin and his familiar warmth wrapped around him, Danta supposes he can believe that his lover is alright.
Inhaling a deep breath of blood and smoke and honey, it's a wonder that the Maverick hasn't already passed the fuck out against Asta, stirring only fractionally as he hears his question. [say]"Mm, I didn't mind it overall. But I did have my moments, I'll admit."[/say] Moments where jealousy had nipped at his heels and he'd wanted to peel Asta away to covet and keep him all to himself. [say]"Still, I suppose it was the first time sharing you with anyone. At least it was Flora."[/say] Arguably the person he'd feel most comfortable around for such endeavours.