+- Court of the Fallen (https://cotf-rpg.com)
+-- Forum: Out of Character (https://cotf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=26)
+--- Forum: Important (https://cotf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=27)
+---- Forum: Archives (https://cotf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=38)
+---- Thread: [SE] refugee from stone and sand (/showthread.php?tid=11779)
refugee from stone and sand - Astaroth - 07-23-2025
Exhaustion still lingers in his bones, but it’s wearing a different coat this time. Instead of it being the kind to lull one into comfort and quiet serene naps when given the chance, this one has him on edge, bunched up and tense, mostly because of the day that they have planned. To the tailor, first and foremost, for the outfit that they’d wear to the masquerade, and while any other time he’d love to sit back and watch the tailor fuss over Danta, the butcher finds himself dreading it some.
Luckily for the Maverick, the butcher has picked up a thing or two based off of his frequent visits, and with having warned the tailor of the changes he’d been feeling as of late, everyone is on their best behavior.
And that means that Asta gets to run the show. (For now, at least).
“[say]I may or may not have a surprise.[/say]” He coos playfully, tail sweeping up against his lover’s leg as he holds the door open for him to step in first before he follows. “[say]I would like for you to pick whatever fabric you wish to have something crafted from… And I shall not complain nor judge.[/say]” Flashing his too sharp grin caged behind glittering metal at the Maverick as he follows him in, the butcher’s amusement is palpable even if it is a touch on edge. He’s worn his muzzle just to be safe, and with the premonition made ahead of time, the tailor is also aware from where he greets them from the back, very diligently keeping his distance from the row of fabrics that the Maverick has at his disposal to find whatever it is he wishes.
RE: refugee from stone and sand - Dantalion - 07-23-2025
[say]"You are so good to me,"[/say] Danta trills, grinning as he steps inside, his own tail flicking gently at his heels and brushing against Asta's calf. [say]"I think the whole masquerade theme means it has to be black, right? That's Ludo's whole thing. But I'm sure it won't mind if we sneak in a few other colours..."[/say] Unsurprised to find that they are the tailor's only customers today - and the Maverick calls out a casual greeting to the merchant at the back of the shop - he turns to the fabrics on offer, before casting a careful little glance back at the butcher.
[say]"And you're sure you'll be okay with this?"[/say] he asks him softly, even as his hands already reach out to delve into the rows of silk and velvet and chiffon. [say]"Because even if you say you are, if you change your mind while we're here you just need to tell me."[/say]
Reaching out, seemingly without rhyme or reason, Danta plucks a dark fabric heavy enough to drape across him but light enough to still billow appealingly, and he holds it up with a raise of his eyebrows. [say]"Perhaps frayed at the edges, like our trickster herald's rags? And lined with..."[/say] Grinning, he brushes his fingers across some burnished silk in a deep golden ombre. [say]"This?"[/say]
RE: refugee from stone and sand - Astaroth - 07-23-2025
“[say]So long as it is still within the parameters of the theme, I believe we can get away with anything we desire.[/say]” The butcher boasts a touch proudly, chin dipping in quiet greeting toward the tailor who’s busied himself far enough away that Asta doesn’t feel the overprotective thread within him bunch up. He’s relaxed, at least, following Danta as his shadow (and followed even still with his own shadow, smiling and content).
As Danta’s question reaches him, the butcher inclines his head as his dark gaze follows the path of his lover’s hand along the rows of fabric, along varying patterns and material. “[say]I am, yes. I have already informed him, therefore your fitting today shall be done by yours truly.[/say]” It’s a boast masked in mischief and playfulness. “[say]Anything that requires actual tailoring shall wait until we have departed.[/say]” Which, likewise meant that Danta would have a chance to pick and design things for him once that time arrived.
But for now, his attention is on the heavy fabric that he pairs with the golden ombre that has his brows rising in clear delight, his smile widening a touch as he reaches out to drag his fingers along the silky fabric, then back up Danta’s arm. “[say]Ooh, have I been rubbing off on you, darling?[/say]” The approval is clear in the butcher’s accented voice.
RE: refugee from stone and sand - Dantalion - 07-23-2025
[say]"That's what I hoped you would say,"[/say] Danta purrs. [say]"And besides, even if it isn't exactly to Ludo's liking, it's not like we worship it. If it gets uppity, I'll tattle on it to Dygra."[/say] Chuckling to himself, the Maverick is withdrawing the ombre silk to pair it with his darker fabric when he senses Asta's closer approach, glancing up towards him with an arched brow.
To hear that the butcher will be the one taking his measurements has a wicked sort of delight igniting in his blue eyes, and he flashes the other man a grin that's all fangs and mischief. [say]"I'll have to be on my best behaviour then,"[/say] he lies says. [say]"And you can rub off on me after this if you're lucky,"[/say] he adds under his breath, his tone low and salacious.
Clearing his throat and straightening up, he nods decisively at the two fabrics. [say]"I would like a cape made from these,"[/say] he declares. [say]"And I think I'll use some of my own feathers to decorate my mask. How does that sound?"[/say]
RE: refugee from stone and sand - Astaroth - 07-23-2025
“[say]What might that look like, I wonder? Chastising a child?[/say]” The butcher muses with a soft laugh under his breath. It’s true, he’d never worshipped it, nor had he ever felt the need to before he’d claimed his allegiance for Dygra. Even if it was, perhaps, the closest to the ideals he’d had when he was nothing more than a Whitebrim cannibal.
Ah well, he finds it matters naught given the way Danta’s dazzling and playful smile is aimed at him, all promise and bite and he finds the shiver race down his spine in pure delight, even if his tone takes on a hint of dramatics — as if he were the child being chastised. “[say]If I am lucky, mm? I am lucky most days.[/say]” He confirms with a waggle of his brow, diverting his attention to the two fabrics as Danta makes his decision and the butcher sweeps his arm in against his lower back as he collects them.
“[say]That sounds absolutely delightful and a good use of those feathers from your neverending preening, yes? For me, I was thinking of adding antlers to my own mask.[/say]” Perhaps defeating the purpose of it being a masquerade where everyone’s hidden, though Asta admittedly finds he doesn’t care. If anything, he returns his attention to the racks of fabric, spotting a dark black velvet that looks matte in the light of the tailor and finds a few other fabrics. One, a shiny but dark burgundy, silken and smooth. The other a glittering gold to accent.
Reluctantly releasing Danta, the butcher drapes their finds over his arm as he steps over to the premade racks, searching for a style that would suit Danta’s vision so that at least he would be able to see them on and imagine it himself. Once he’s satisfied with a beautiful but billowy shirt and a vest (that still need fabric for his vision), along with a cape that seems as though it might half drape over his shoulder, he invites his lover back over once more. “[say]Shall I go all out and feel as though I wish to rip my skin off before the event is over, or something more… Scandalous?[/say]” Smirking behind the cage of the muzzle, the butcher’s head inclines toward his lover far enough that his hair slips over where it had been neatly tucked back to bunch up against one of his horns.
RE: refugee from stone and sand - Dantalion - 07-24-2025
[say]"However it looks, if it means we can get away with our choice of outfit to this masquerade, I'll do whatever it takes,"[/say] Danta says with a fiendish smirk; he's not above telling on a god to a bigger, better god to get what he wants, evidently. Surrendering the fabrics to Asta and willingly stepping into the cradle of his arm, he tilts his head mischievously up towards him. [say]"Mm, your luck has been quite good lately,"[/say] he agrees, voice dropping to a velvet whisper. [say]"Let's hope your run of good fortune continues tonight, yes?"[/say]
As for his never-ending preening, Asta receives a good natured thwack against his middle for the comment - it is entirely necessary preening, Danta will have him know - and he hums a note of approval to hear about the antler additions. [say]"I'm surprised you didn't want to go for something a little more plain, so you could let your horns and your haunt do the hard work,"[/say] he admits, letting the other man release him in lieu of finding his own fabrics.
Whilst he rummages in the premade racks as well, Danta does find a fabric for his vest - dark and silken and beautifully embroidered with golden thread - and soon steps up to join the butcher again.
[say]"I think, given how the season is being so unkind to you, that your own comfort is paramount,"[/say] he informs him, stepping in close to reach up and fix his hair neatly back behind his horns. [say]"What kind of scandalous are you thinking? I have some lovely mesh shirts you could borrow. Or we could deck you out in chain jewellery and nothing more."[/say] It's enough to make his mouth water just thinking about it.
RE: refugee from stone and sand - Astaroth - 07-24-2025
“[say]It should.[/say]” The butcher purrs to Danta’s velveteen whisper, his smile twisting into a smirk that promptly widens brighter and his purr turns into a low chuckle when he’s thwacked in the middle. Warmth erupts in him as he releases his lover so that he might be able to peruse the racks, but he doesn’t drift far from his side. “[say]They will still be present, never fear, darling.[/say]” The butcher hums confidently. Even if half of it would be hard to see with the wreathed shadows, he’d know it was there. Sometimes that’s all that matters.
And besides, it isn’t as though he can go all out with his haunt. He doesn’t want to ruin the night for the Maverick. So he peruses, makes his suggestions, hears the confirmation that his comfort should be of utmost concern, and it’s the fyrhund shift within him that has him nuzzling immediately into the hand that fixes his hair. “[say]Mm, well, perhaps that mesh turtleneck you have would suit well with…[/say]” Pausing to slip out from the rack one of the more chain-like silver cape-like material that could be misconstrued for rags, he lifts it and lets his dark gaze slide over toward Danta with a fiendish raise of his brow. “[say]This?[/say]” Leaning in after he gets a good look, his voice drops low. “[say]The chain jewelry can be for you to unwrap later, should you wish to.[/say]”
RE: refugee from stone and sand - Dantalion - 07-25-2025
[say]"Oh, he's confident,"[/say] Danta purrs right back, grinning over the bolts of fabric towards Asta. His expression suggests challenge, though of course they both know very well indeed that the butcher's run of luck is absolutely set to continue this evening, especially given that his hands are about to be all over Danta at close proximity. [say]"Good to know. I'm tempted to hide away my traits in the name of masquerading, personally."[/say] On the one hand it would add to the mystery, but on the other, his lover might lose his fucking mind about it.
So he leaves that in the open for Asta's valuable input, and once he's satisfied that the butcher is looking his best again, Danta's hand drops so he might admire the chain-like cape with visible approval. [say]"Oh I do like that,"[/say] he drawls. [say]"Scandalous it is. Maybe I'll be the one making sure you don't stray far at the party."[/say] He winks. [say]"Alright, do we have everything we need?"[/say]
RE: refugee from stone and sand - Astaroth - 07-25-2025
Of course he’s confident. It’s practically his middle name — especially this season where any quiet doubts he kept hidden were nowhere to be found. He’s self assured with the arrogance and antagonizing way this shift allows him to be, and while some parts of it this season he wasn’t used to, this was something he could shrug on like an old coat.
When he hears Danta’s thought of slipping his glamour up, he glances over at him curiously, briefly before he settles quickly. He’d promised not to judge, so he tries his best to keep his face vacant of anything that might prove otherwise as he smiles over at his lover. “[say]Ah, I would imagine you could certainly fool the masses.[/say]” He hums with a soft laugh.
It does burn, but only in the way that he’d miss those diamond horns shining and glittering under the lantern light as he perused the crowd.
Of course, assuming he’d let Danta get that far away from him.
They’re all in agreement, at least, and he drapes the chain cape over his arm and sweeps his other arm against the Maverick’s lower back. “[say]I believe so. Are you ready, darling?[/say]” He asks, though having given the question he assumes as much and already begins to guide them back toward the fitting room full of mirrors, tucked away as it usually was in an offshoot of the tailor.
RE: refugee from stone and sand - Dantalion - 07-25-2025
[say]"I could - but I could never fool you,"[/say] Danta agrees, slanting a smile up at Asta as if to quietly reassure him that, even if by some miracle they manage to get separated at the masquerade, he's confident in the butcher's ability to find him in a crowd. With or without his glamour. [say]"Oh, ready as I'll ever be,"[/say] Danta confirms with a nod and allows himself to be ferried towards the back of the tailor's.
Humming another hello to the merchant as they idle past, Danta ensures he puts down the fabrics he's holding onto carefully, before he's faced with the room of mirrors and the platform where he assumes he's supposed to stand while Asta gets all handsy with him and a measuring tape. [say]"Bold of you to assume I'll stay still long enough for any of this,"[/say] he purrs. [say]"I'm sure you already have my measurements anyway, don't you?"[/say]
RE: refugee from stone and sand - Astaroth - 07-25-2025
“[say]Correct.[/say]” Asta hums with all the confidence that he could never be fooled by Danta without his glamour. Not only has he seen the man without it, he also knew his lover enough to recognize his mannerisms, the cadence to the other man’s walk, the way he flits from person to person.
At any rate, he corrals his lover toward the fitting room, ignoring the merchant (not that the tailor is surprised by any of it, given the previous warnings), and once the curtain is drawn for them, the butcher turns toward his lover with a shark-tooth grin, unhooking the metal muzzle from his face so that he can set it off to the side. “[say]I have ways I may be able to convince you.[/say]” He touts proudly, sweeping past him to set the clothes down and pluck the ones Danta had picked. “[say]And for what it is worth, I do have your measurements. However I shall not miss out on a chance to get handsy.[/say]” Gesturing for Danta to step up onto the platform, his head tilts behind him in the mirror, dark eyes lit by faux lighting to a molten chocolate.
“[say]Now, undress yourself, darling.[/say]” He holds up the fabric he’d picked for the cape, busying himself momentarily to pin the gold in the inner lining of the exterior he’d planned, and once Danta has done as requested, he’ll hand him the cape to hold onto as he slips him into the premade vest, pulling a pin from seemingly nowhere, to pin it tight against him.
RE: refugee from stone and sand - Dantalion - 07-26-2025
[say]"Is one of those ways the promise that you'll get handsy?"[/say] Danta asks with a smug smile. [say]"Because you're already winning me over - oh, and I'm supposed to take off all my clothes? Asta, you know just how to charm a boy, don't you?"[/say] Laughing warmly and gazing at the other man's reflection behind him in the mirror, the Maverick of course does as he's told once he's standing on the platform, tossing his clothes over the back of a chair somewhere without checking to see how they've landed.
With his tail flicking at his heels in interest, he accepts what will eventually become a rather fetching cape (er, Ludo rags, he should say) and allows Asta to manoeuvre him into the vest. Raising an eyebrow to see the pin, for a second he assumes it's a threat or a punishment, only for the butcher to step in close and cinch the vest to be perfectly form fitting against his body. [say]"Not for the first time do I think you ought to have been a tailor,"[/say] he purrs, his voice quiet, almost able to feel the heat rolling off Asta's body.
RE: refugee from stone and sand - Astaroth - 07-26-2025
“[say]I explicitly know how to charm you, darling, as it is my favorite past time.[/say]” He hums confidently to Danta’s chuckle. The butcher’s swift with piecing together what it is he thinks Danta’s vision is while his lover sheds his clothes, and the butcher only haphazardly glances over to see where the clothes had landed before he’s focusing back at his now nude lover in appreciation, admiring him in his reflection as he hands the cape to him and slips him into the vest.
Pinning the pieces into place without stabbing the Theocrat, the butcher’s hands smooth down his sides, deftly avoiding the prick of any pins he’d placed as he sends a sharp grin over his shoulder, trying to catch his gaze in the reflection. “[say]I could have been a tailor and you could have been a barber.[/say]” He muses, before he’s reaching around him to snag the cape he’d pinned together. “[say]A one stop shop, mm?[/say]” Because he cannot imagine a life now without the Maverick wholly a part of it.
He slips the half cape over his shoulder, pinning it to the front of the vest to see how it might drape, but before he slips away to the side so he can pin the back into place, the butcher’s lips find the side of Danta’s neck with a gentle, slow, but nearly fiery warm kiss before he parts. His hands smooth along his stomach and his back as he slides the back portion of the cape into place, then slowly withdraws to peer at him with clear approval, awaiting his lover to make his judgement.
RE: refugee from stone and sand - Dantalion - 07-26-2025
[say]"And you are oh so very good at it,"[/say] Danta trills, the praise spilling easily from his lips even as he's forced to stand still and let Asta put his hands all over him (and only one of those things is a problem). Glancing up to catch the butcher's eye in the mirror over his shoulder, he grins his agreement. [say]"Of course. And that way we'd both always look perfect. Not that you're far off on a regular day, of course."[/say]
He might have reached for Asta then, were it not for the sudden flurry of pins and movement involving his cape-to-be, and the Maverick all but freezes in the other man's hands to let him work. It puts him in quite the perfect (read: vulnerable) position for any mischief, and Asta will feel as much as hear Danta's sharp intake of breath, his head tipping automatically to the side as if to beg the butcher's mouth for more.
It's over before he has a chance to snatch a hand out, though Asta's touch never truly leaves him, and it's with heat flushing his cheeks and blood already starting to flee south that he admires their reflections in the mirror. [say]"I'd say all I'm missing is a mask and you on my arm, wouldn't you?"[/say] He smirks. And pants, but who needs those?