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+---- Thread: [SE] hearthlight (/showthread.php?tid=11979)
hearthlight - Dantalion - 09-01-2025
Danta can tell that it's snowing even before he parts the curtains around their den properly. Squinting himself awake, he spots the strange quality of the light in the air through a sliver in the fabric, the chill that has him burying his nose beneath the blankets, the soft, muted sound of the world. It doesn't surprise him - the temperature has been plummeting these final few nights of Leafchange - but it still doesn't mean it's particularly welcome.
Regardless, though, the change of season is something he's been looking forward to, and so it's with a stifled yawn and a mighty stretch beneath their tangle of fur and fabric that he finds a smile curling at his lips. [say]"Happy Deepfrost,"[/say] he mumbles, his voice roughened by sleep, his tail sweeping across the bed as he rolls over to bully his arms around Asta. He's even kind enough to glamour his horns before he burrows his head into the butcher's neck, ensuring that no one gets mauled first thing in the morning.
RE: hearthlight - Astaroth - 09-01-2025
For all intents and purposes, the butcher is basically dead. All the fire and vigor of the previous season has escaped him as if it was merely a blanket that had been removed. So when Danta rises, opens the curtains of their den and is greeted by the winter storm outside? Asta hasn’t moved. He’s still curled up in their bed, face and horns buried into the side of the pillow, sleeping a deep and sound sleep even as Danta jostles the bed slightly to curl back into it.
The only real sign that the butcher hasn’t simply died is the slow thrum of his pulse, the malleable way his arm moves to wrap around Danta in his sleep, the way his subconscious has his ashen tail winding loosely around his lover’s leg and the way his bearded chin presses down into a mercifully hornless crown of golden, sleep tousled hair. There’s another slow inhale, followed by the slow exhale that’s nothing more than a gruff, hoarse, “[say]mm?[/say]” As he tucks his chin down against Danta's head again and his fingers make half hearted attempts at drawing a little design in the dip of the blonde's spine.
RE: hearthlight - Dantalion - 09-01-2025
Huffing a laugh against the crook of Asta's neck as he sluggishly moves just enough to let Danta know he's still sleeping rather than worryingly unconscious, the Maverick curls himself closer and tugs the blankets further over them, more than content to make himself into the butcher's hot water bottle while he catches up on some well deserved sleep. [say]"Nothing important,"[/say] he says softly. [say]"Don't worry about it."[/say]
It works just as well for him, as it happens, Danta drawn into a nap with his back to the slice of snowlight pouring in though two sets of drapes from the bitingly cold world outside. He isn't sure how long he sleeps for, only that the heat generated between two Ancients is thoroughly delicious compared to the chill of the room.
Eventually, though, even their body heat and the blankets isn't quite enough to keep him molten toasty, and so Danta carefully extracts himself from Asta's arms to clamber out of their den. He leaves the curtains parted just on the off-chance that his lover has awoken, working on kindling the fire to something merry and crackling and setting the kettle over it to boil.
[say]"Tea?"[/say] he asks through a yawn, snagging a thick blanket from the couch to wrap it around himself as he potters about.
RE: hearthlight - Astaroth - 09-01-2025
It’s really all he needs before he’s out again. The two of them napping far longer than either of them had likely anticipated. The butcher’s still completely unaware of the snow outside and what exactly the Maverick has said. It matters very little, though, because as Danta starts to stir again and withdraws, Asta’s at least aware enough that the space is empty. And empty for too long.
But rather than have the immediate rage and start that last season may have started, the butcher instead slowly stirs, opening his eyes to glare at the light that pelts him from the crack of their curtains to see the snowlight that blinds him momentarily. And for a split second, the butcher very nearly thinks he’s back in Whitebrim. The cold bite, the throw of blankets, the smell of the fire and the cooler warmth within only to witness the glitter of sun on snow.
Danta’s yawn reaches him before he has a chance to actually register anything, though, and it forces him to relax from glaring back at the snow to flatten onto his back, feeling his spine crack at least three times with the stretch he indulges in after. “[say]Please, darling.[/say]” Comes the quiet and hoarse voice, the sound of blankets rustling briefly before Asta is emerging from their den, wrapped up in a knitted blanket and one of their thicker furs, his hair not even straightened out apart from where he’s brushed it out of his face. His lips part to speak before he shuts it again and perches on the back of the couch beside where Danta’s gotten the kettle settled in the flame, soaking in as much heat as he can.
RE: hearthlight - Dantalion - 09-01-2025
Nodding at the affirmative the other man has given him, Danta prepares two mugs of black tea with cinnamon and nutmeg (and honey for Asta, of course) and sets them out ready before he's padding across the room to squint around a corner of one of the drapes at the world of white outside. Scrunching his nose instantly and letting the curtain drop again, the fire in the hearth intensifies and their candles and lanterns immediately blink to life, as if to alter the ambience from chill and cool to warm and inviting.
Hiding another yawn against the back of his hand - but still seeming positively perky compared to the butcher - he notices Asta shuffle out from the den a moment later, Danta scoffing a quiet laugh and crossing the room to him. [say]"Good morning,"[/say] he murmurs, opening his arms to wrap himself and his blanket around the other man. [say]"How are you feeling?"[/say]
Code for: still murdery and possessive?
Whatever the response, it's with a grumble of his own that Danta reluctantly peels himself away with the whistling of the kettle, the Maverick going to crouch at the hearth to prepare their tea. [say]"I don't know about you, but I'm going to struggle to get anything done today."[/say]
RE: hearthlight - Astaroth - 09-01-2025
There’s the sound of Danta pottering about outside of the den, prepping their mugs, that’s quite a welcoming backdrop of sound – not that the snow wasn’t, it was just particularly quiet in a way that the butcher is all too familiar with. So as he emerges and takes his seat, dark eyes track his lover with a sleepy, exhausted level that immediately has him sinking into the offered hug. “[say]Good morning.[/say]” He mumbles into the press of skin and plush blankets, nuzzling in and closing his eyes. “[say]I feel like I have been hit in the head.[/say]” He admits with a soft snort, his own code for no, he isn’t feeling murdery and possessive. At least not when it comes to his lover.
The kettle starts to whistle and the butcher reluctantly lets his lover go, curling back up in the blanket as Danta prepares their tea. “[say]I may struggle to do anything for the next week.[/say]” Comes the admission behind a yawn that he stifles into the blanket, shaking his head to try and get out of it. He looks across to the Maverick with a small twitch of a smile but it seems clear it takes a lot of effort to do that and not fall back asleep. “[say]I suppose my affliction was only seasonal, which might explain how terribly fatigued I feel right now.[/say]” He pauses, nose wrinkling a touch before he focuses on Danta again. "[say]How are you feeling?[/say]" Not that he thinks anything would afflict Danta as it had himself, but the last season had been a lot for both of them.
RE: hearthlight - Dantalion - 09-01-2025
[say]"Yeah?"[/say] Danta's laughter is soft but no less amused for it, and he quickly prepares their tea and sets it down on the hearthstone before returning to Asta. [say]"You do seem pretty out of it,"[/say] he agrees, hands coming up to carefully disentangle dark hair from darker horns, leaving the butcher ruffled, still, but a bit less dragged backwards through a hedge.
Shrugging airily, he leans in to nose against the scruff of Asta's cheek. [say]"If you want to take the next month off, I'd say you'd earned it,"[/say] he admits with a smirk. [say]"Me, though? Honestly, tired. But it feels lazy to say that given how you're doing."[/say] Grinning against his jaw, Danta finally steps back a bit from Asta once again. [say]"Go sit in front of the fire where I've put our tea?"[/say] he suggests. [say]"I've got an idea."[/say]
Padding away again, he ducks into their den for a few moments before emerging, eventually, with his arms full of plush pillows, a large, thick fur, and a few other blankets, still warm from their nap. Bundling them over to the hearth, he carefully arranges them before the fire so they might sit (or lay, or nap) as they please and enjoy the rich warmth - and the tea on tap. [say]"How is this?"[/say]
RE: hearthlight - Astaroth - 09-01-2025
“[say]Do I?[/say]” The bucher asks with a hint of sarcasm interlaced in the quiet tones of his hoarse voice, his smile still tugging on his face as Danta disentangles his raven dark strands of hair from equally dark horns. It’s something that he leans into slightly – craving the heat of the other Ancient’s kettle warmed hands before they vanish. Leaning in for the brush of his nose against his cheek, the butcher’s head tilts enough to press a soft kiss to wherever he can reach.
A soft laugh leaves him, a hand bundled beneath the bunch of furs and blankets rising as if in gesture to wave off the laziness. “[say]So long as I have approval for an extended vacation, Danta, darling.[/say]” The butcher teases as he does slowly rise, drawing himself over toward the fire to sit by where Danta had placed their tea. He’s there when the Maverick returns to adjust everything he’d snagged to create a perfect little den of warmth right in front of the fire, complete with their plus pillows and multitude of blankets.
His smile stretches more as he readjusts himself, settling into the pillows and loosening his deathgrip on the blankets wrapped around him as the heat pours in from the crackling flame. “[say]This is perfect.[/say]” He murmurs in a softer tone, one laced with a touch of surprise and affection. “[say]Now come here.[/say]” He says once he’s stifled another yawn, this season harboring none of the possessive neediness last season had. Such that if Danta indulges him, it’ll be to wrap up in his lap with the blankets and their tea in front of the fire where the butcher definitely
RE: hearthlight - Dantalion - 09-01-2025
[say]"Oh, but of course,"[/say] Danta purrs. [say]"You worked overtime and then some last season, I would say you've earned a little time off."[/say] Not only that - and it's something he deigns not to tell the butcher - but he imagines a lot of the staff and the regulars of the Dusklight would also appreciate a break from the intensity of the security personnel as of late.
Ensuring the large fur is beneath them and that there are plenty of pillows and blankets in reach to lounge against and into, Danta grabs for his mug of tea and takes a long, necessary sip of it. [say]"Mm, now it feels like the sort of Deepfrost I can handle,"[/say] he says, flashing a fanged grin at Asta and setting the cup down so he can do as he's told.
Dutifully crawling into the butcher's lap, still draped in his own blanket, Danta slips an arm around Asta and leans in to steal a quick, chaste kiss from his lips. [say]"It does feel pretty perfect, doesn't it,"[/say] he agrees. [say]"I won't tell anyone if you end up napping again. Just enjoy some of your tea first."[/say]
RE: hearthlight - Astaroth - 09-01-2025
The soft chuckle leaves him as he nods. “[say]Great.[/say]” Comes the soft but no less warm agreement. He snags his tea in the interim as well and doesn’t take a sip just yet, inviting Danta into the warmth of being pinned between the blankets and fire and his exhausted body. The low rumble of a laugh accompanies the comment, tucking him in as he fully takes up the lounging role. “[say]Mm, me too.[/say]” He mutters quietly, pressing back into the chaste kiss without the heat last season always provided.
It's a press of affection more than it is with ulterior motives. His free hand lifts to run through sleep tangled blonde, shifting enough to indulge his lover with the request to take a sip of the tea, feeling the warmth and sweet of the honey coat his throat. “[say]Good. Everyone had been on their best behavior with last season’s policy of bite first, ask questions later. They can go a bit longer believing it to still stand.[/say]” He murmurs, nosing his way in for another kiss.
One that he keeps chaste as well, but only because there’s another knock at the door and a letter slipped under their doorframe – as had become customary last season for the possessiveness that lingered in his skin. This time, however, the butcher doesn’t seem to mind. “[say]Would you like to check that or simply wait for your responsibilities to begin tomorrow?[/say]” He asks with fatigue pulling at the wrinkles in his face.
RE: hearthlight - Dantalion - 09-02-2025
[say]"Mm, it won't kill them to still believe you'll snap at their heels for putting a foot out of line,"[/say] Danta agrees with a warm laugh that's soon stifled by the warm, sweet brush of Asta's lips, the Maverick relaxing into the kiss such that the sound of the knock and the letter being pushed under the door is enough to have him jump a little. Parting from the butcher and blinking over his shoulder to glare at the missive, Danta scrunches his nose and burrows himself further against Asta.
[say]"Maybe not quite until tomorrow, but it can certainly wait until later,"[/say] he decides, drawing the blankets tighter around them and nosing obnoxiously into the side of the other man's neck. [say]"Unless your shadow is high enough to brush it helpfully over here, anyway. And even then I don't know if I'll open it unless it's from someone I care about."[/say]
Which is a very elite list of people, thank you.
RE: hearthlight - Astaroth - 09-02-2025
His laugh accompanies his lover’s as he presses into the kiss. It’s a gentler, tender one that becomes chaste from the knock on the door, withdrawing reluctantly as his arms tighten a touch only because he feels Danta jump with the surprise of it. He’s selfishly pleased when Danta burrows himself against him in response, allowing him to take the moment to reach up and run his fingers through the Maverick’s blonde strands as the blankets are drawn tighter and he buries his face in against his neck. “[say]Later sounds perfect to me.[/say]” Or tomorrow. Or the week after.
You know, whenever he feels like he’s human again.
“[say]Alas, I am afraid it is not within my reach.[/say]” He drawls through a voice thick with sarcasm. He settles in after, fingertips resting at the nape of his lover’s neck to stroke little designs into his skin as he nuzzles his cheek in against soft tousled gold. “[say]Such a shame, truly.[/say]” He can’t help the way he stifles the yawn, eyes closing briefly as the fire crackles beside them. “[say]I am under the impression that if it were imperative, they would have been willing to face my wrath to speak to you, wouldn’t you agree?[/say]”
Maybe, maybe not. Maybe he just has a flawed view of just how much of a shark-toothed asshole he was last season. (It's probably that).
RE: hearthlight - Dantalion - 09-02-2025
[say]"And to me as well,"[/say] Danta confirms, smirking to hear that Asta's shadows can't do much when it comes to assisting him in looking at something likely work related. [say]"Oh noooo,"[/say] he groans through a dramatic sigh, [say]"I suppose we'll just have to stay here all comfortable and warm in front of the fire instead."[/say] Punctuating that statement with a yawn and shivering at the affectionate little touches to the back of his neck, Danta melts bonelessly into Asta's arms and closes his eyes.
[say]"I agree completely. If something was on fire or if they needed our attention that badly, they'd risk your wrath however much it might frighten them to do it."[/say] His arms have wormed their way around the other man by now, stroking gentle touches across his back and down his chest, and it's with a sleepy smile that he peeps up at him. [say]"I think your exhaustion must be contagious, because I could enjoy another nap right here,"[/say] he admits.
RE: hearthlight - Astaroth - 09-02-2025
”Oh noooo,” is exactly the same dramatic sigh that burns through his mind at the mere thought of doing anything work related at this precise moment. It still sparks a soft snort to leave the butcher, however, his free arm (once he’s set down the cup of tea) wrapping tighter around Danta as his tail follows suit, fingertips dragging more of those faint shivers from him. “[say]Pity for us.[/say]” The butcher drawls with his own dramatics, playful enough to add that additional boon of proof that he isn’t like he has been the last season.
Not that they need anymore proof, given how he hasn’t tried to do more than just cuddle. He melts under the soft touches against his scarred back and the trailed scars of his chest. He’d purr if he could, but the gentle and slow sweeping motion of the flat part of his spaded tail will have to make up for it. “[say]What is stopping us? I shall not say no to another one.[/say]” He asks, burying his face in against his lover’s temple, voice warm as his tone shifts toward a conspiratory whisper.
As if adding additional proof of it, the butcher already seems to start falling asleep under the relaxing and soothing attention in Danta’s touch.