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being this young is art - Aithne - 11-06-2025
Mud.
Mud everywhere.
It's the first thing Aithne thinks as she steps through the Portal and into the Everlasting Bonfire, and she wonders briefly if she's made a mistake in coming here. The Climb, after all, was warm and dry, at least in the Burrows. The Hollowed Grounds is another story entirely.
Grey thunderclouds roll over the Inner Quarter, drenching anyone who happens to be out and about. Mud squelches beneath Aithne's feet as she runs through the flames and darts towards the nearest building. Whether it's a store, or a tavern, or something else entirely, she neither knows nor cares. Once she's safely under the eaves, she glares out at the rain as though it has personally offended her. And, truthfully, it has.
Huffing an annoyed sound, Aithne wrings out her wild curls. They're going to be a mess now that they've gotten wet - and she's going to look like a damp poodle - but at this point, it is what it is. She's here now, and she might as well make her way to that place Astaroth had told her about. What was it called again? The Dusk... something, she thinks. Not that she has the slightest idea where it might be. And in this weather, there's not many people around to ask.
RE: being this young is art - Dantalion - 11-07-2025
Not many people, no - but there's always someone. And the someone in question today is just ducking out of the building Aithne has taken shelter beneath, immediately putting up a large and jaunty umbrella decorated with little glotters chasing sparkles of gold. Danta has come more prepared to the Inner Quarter today; along with his umbrella he's got a red raincoat with a wide hood and a pair of calf-high boots to keep off the worst of the mud.
As for the building, it happens to be a bakery, which explains the paper bag he carries with him and the faint scent of sweet pastries that drifts in his wake. Scrunching his nose up at the downpour, he skirts around one of the deeper puddles - consequently taking him closer to Aithne - and finally hops over a smaller one to get onto the street itself, tail lashing its annoyance.
RE: being this young is art - Aithne - 11-07-2025
A door nearby opens, bell jingling merrily. It's in far too good a mood for Aithne, who turns to glare at the offending sound. Her glare quickly turns into a look of interest, though, when she takes in the sight of the man exiting what appears to be a bakery, if the smells wafting from the open door are anything to go by. He's taller than her by a head, carrying a rather gaudy umbrella and swathed in a red raincoat. Aithne is immediately jealous; she is ridiculously unprepared in her fine silk shirt and jeans, her feet wrapped in shoes that are far prettier than they are useful. Of course, they aren't so pretty now that they've got mud all over them, but it is what it is.
She might have let the stranger pass her by and gone back to moping about her surroundings, but as he walks along with his umbrella, a sudden spray of droplets ricochet off the material, drenching Aithne further. [say]"Hey!"[/say] she protests, shrinking against the building in an effort to avoid most of the sudden downpour. Then, caught somewhere between a snarl and a grin, she adds, [say]"If you're gonna get me all wet, at least buy me dinner first."[/say] She might as well try and salvage her day - and her impromptu trip to the Grounds - with a little fun.
RE: being this young is art - Dantalion - 11-07-2025
[say]"Mm?"[/say] Glancing from beneath the umbrella at the bleat of protest he can just about hear over the next purr of thunder, Danta tilts his head and smirks from within the dark warmth of his hood, blue eyes glittering with mischief. [say]"If I was going to get you wet I'd not need to go as far as dinner,"[/say] he assures her, tail flicking its amusement at his heels. For good measure, he gives the jaunty umbrella a purposeful spin, sending another spray of water her way.
[say]"If you insist on compensation, though, have a drink on me down in the Dusklight. Just tell the barman Danta sent you, and make sure you look at least a little pathetic when you say it. Lots of people try it, but they all usually seem far too pleased with themselves."[/say] He raises his eyebrows towards her as if to ask whether that's a suitable deal.
RE: being this young is art - Aithne - 11-07-2025
Blue eyes glitter from beneath the hood, a smirk appearing on an attractive mouth. Aithne pouts, but there's no heat to it - merely a playful sort of mischievousness. [say]"Now, where's the fun in that?"[/say] she purrs, fluttering her lashes. [say]"Isn't there something about guys enjoying the chase?"[/say] The umbrella twirls, and the girl lets out a shrieking giggle as droplets rain down upon her ruined hair and drenched clothes.
But the stranger doesn't stop there. He offers her a free drink, and her brows raise a hair before she puts on her best kicked-puppy look. With her damp, bedraggled appearance, she certainly looks the part. She manages to hold it for long enough to prove her point, then laughs, shaking her head. [say]"Don't think I won't take you up on that offer."[/say] Then she tilts her head. [say]"Just one problem. I don't exactly know where the Dusklight is."[/say]
RE: being this young is art - Dantalion - 11-08-2025
[say]"I prefer to have someone else doing the chasing, myself,"[/say] Danta says with an easy roll of his shoulders. [say]"Though I'm quite a flexible person, but even so, are you sure it's dinner you want?"[/say] Smiling hard enough now to flash his fangs at her, he's even more pleased to see his blatant display of chaos treated with laughter rather than upset, and so it's not much of a surprise that he lifts the umbrella to invite her beneath it.
[say]"Isn't it lucky for you that it's where I'm going, then?"[/say] he says, adjusting the bag in his arm so it won't knock against her should she choose to walk with him. [say]"And I happen to own the place, so the likelihood of us getting lost on the way is minimal."[/say] Never zero, not with Danta, but certainly much less likely than if he were to give her directions anywhere else.
RE: being this young is art - Aithne - 11-11-2025
Aithne flounces beneath the umbrella, boldly hooking her arm with Danta's. In answer to his question, she merely smiles, tilting her head to one side to better show off the fanged grin. [say]"Well, now that you mention it..."[/say] she says, her voice thoughtful even as her eyes dance with something else entirely. [say]"Dinner can be so tame, don't you think? Especially if the meal's pre-cooked."[/say] These days, Aithne prefers the hunt to the food itself, and she laughs suddenly. [say]"Perhaps that's the problem, then; I should be the one doing the chasing."[/say]
They begin on their way, and the girl practically jumps for joy at the realization that Danta is leading her exactly where she wants to go. [say]"Well, isn't this just perfect?"[/say] she muses, tail flicking eagerly behind her. [say]"I've been wanting to visit for a while, you know, but I've been staying in the Climb the past few seasons. I especially didn't want to leave during Deepfrost. So cold, and the Climb was a pleasant place to spend the colder seasons. But I heard there are more people here, and I much prefer to have company, don't you?"[/say]
RE: being this young is art - Dantalion - 11-12-2025
[say]"Ain't that the truth,"[/say] Danta purrs, allowing his arm to be seized and starting to head back out into the square, the rain pattering down merrily upon his umbrella as they walk. [say]"Don't get me wrong, I'll not complain if someone wants to serve me dinner when the weather's like this. But there's nothing quite like getting your blood up when you're already hungry."[/say] It's not clear if he's talking about food, sex, or bloodlust, but honestly? It could be all three.
Gazing sidelong at her as she buzzes beside him, Danta finds himself grinning again and gesturing towards a long set of steps that will lead them down into the belly of the Last Whisper's many alleyways. [say]"The Climb, you say? I just recently came from a trip there myself."[/say] As she'll well know, it's an easy enough journey with the portal. [say]"And I can only agree. It's why I opened a brothel, after all."[/say] He tips her a wink and begins to head down the steps.
[say]"Danta, by the way. Welcome to the Grounds."[/say]
RE: being this young is art - Aithne - 11-14-2025
Food, sex, or bloodlust: who cares which Danta is talking about? Aithne giggles, nodding enthusiastically. Her mood is buoyant; she's much more cheerful than she was when she originally stepped out of the portal. Good company, as she's just stated, will do that to a person. [say]"Oh, I'm Aithne,"[/say] she says. [say]"Nice to meet you, Danta."[/say]
With the rain pitter-pattering onto the umbrella above and her shoes squelching in the mud, the girl tags along gladly enough as they descend some stairs. It occurs to her, briefly, that perhaps she's being led into an alleyway to become an unsupecting meal, and she peers at Danta sidelong. [say]"To be clear, you're not a crazy serial killer or something, right?"[/say] she asks suspiciously. [say]"I mean, not that I'm not grateful for the directions and everything, but leading me down into a bunch of alleyways is a little sketch."[/say]
RE: being this young is art - Dantalion - 11-15-2025
[say]"A pleasure,"[/say] Danta purrs right back to Aithne, before his focus swings to not slipping down the rain-slick steps before they reach the safety of steady ground again. At her question, he can't stop the laugh breaks from him, the Maverick raising his eyebrows and smiling sidelong back at her. [say]"I mean, I'm not a serial killer,"[/say] he says, as if he can reassure her on one of her points. [say]"Not right now, at least."[/say]
Gesturing, once they reach the cobblestone network of alleyways at the bottom of the steps, to the relatively busy nature of the area, hopefully Aithne can at least be reassured that if he does try to murder her, there will be plenty of witnesses. [say]"This is the Last Whisper,"[/say] he explains. [say]"It's where all of the fun parts of the Grounds can be found. And there's a lot to be said for retail therapy down here too."[/say]
But where they are headed is a little ways further down the main strip, the Dusklight standing out as the only redbrick structure cozied up between two other buildings, as if they are all leaning on each other for support. [say]"See? As advertised, and with no death needed."[/say]
RE: being this young is art - Aithne - 11-16-2025
Not a serial killer right now is good enough for Aithne, who grins devilishly up at her new friend and says, [say]"Fair enough."[/say] The steps that they descended fade away behind them, and Aithne takes in the dark alleyways that stretch ahead. The Last Whisper, apparently, is home to a great many people and seemingly endless establishments catering to all types of tastes. She peers into doors and windows, catching sight of everything from bars to brothels, and by the time they arrive at their destination, she's practically vibrating with excitement. Only her good manners - forced upon her from a young age and, therefore, ingrained into her psyche - and her curiosity about the Dusklight keep her on Danta's arm.
Their destination stands further down the main strip, a redbrick building seemingly propped up by its neighbors. It's not as exotic as she'd imagined in her head, but she is sure that the inside will prove much more interesting. She giggles. [say]"Oh, good,"[/say] she says. [say]"But then, the day is young, and what's a little murder between friends?"[/say]
RE: being this young is art - Dantalion - 11-17-2025
Aithne doesn't know it about Danta yet, but she really doesn't have to stand on good manners around him. Not that he doesn't find it endearing - especially considering the man he's tumbled in love with - but she could depart to gawk into any number of windows and he'd be perfectly content to linger until she's had her fill of curiosity. Still, the Dusklight is almost upon them, and in Danta's humble opinion (given that he owns it and lives there), it's the crown jewel of the Whisper, however unassuming it might be on the outside.
[say]"Ugh, exactly,"[/say] he drawls - murder between friends is one of his favourite pastimes, after all. Danta nudges her companionably with his hip and, as they finally come upon the lacquered double doors of the Dusklight, lowers his glotter umbrella to fasten it up and hand it to one of the doormen. [say]"Anyway, here we are. Welcome to the heart of the Hollowed Grounds."[/say]
Stepping inside and nodding his thanks to the doorman for holding it open for them, they are immediately hit by a wall of heat and the smell of perfume and liquor. The hum of voices and laughter and glasses clinking is ambient without being overwhelming, laced through with the slow melody of music somewhere, and whether it's at the tables, in the booths or sequestered away in little alcoves, the nature of the Dusklight is all too obvious in its wandering hands and promises whispered through painted lips.
Danta, of course, makes a beeline for the bar, Aithne still on his arm presuming she hasn't peeled herself away to make trouble. [say]"What can I get you?"[/say] he trills when they arrive, leaning against the counter and gesturing to the glittering bottles that line the wall behind it.
RE: being this young is art - Aithne - 12-03-2025
The Dusklight opens before them, all inviting heat and scintillating smells that pull Aithne in just as much as Danta's leading arm. She practically purrs beside him as they pass out of the rain, flashing a fanged grin at the doorman before openly gawking at the interior they've entered. Still, she opts not to wander too far (he does still owe her a drink, after all), staying quite happily on Danta's arm until they arrive at the bar, where she moves to lean her elbows against the counter.
[say]"Hmm,"[/say] she says, a thoughtful hum as she considers the many glittering bottles that the Dusklight has on hand. In truth, she has very little experience with alcohol - at least, not the good stuff - having made do for quite some time with what she could sneak from her parents' stash and knowing absolutely nothing about how to mix it to her liking. [say]"Do you have any specialty cocktails?"[/say] she asks finally, lifting a brow and fluttering her lashes. [say]"I'm in the mood for something new."[/say]
RE: being this young is art - Dantalion - 12-04-2025
Letting the heat of the Dusklight sink into his bones, Danta relaxes against the bar, sidling into one of the stools and patting the one beside him for Aithne to also take a seat if she'd like. [say]"I'm sure we do, but they can change day by day,"[/say] he says of the bar's specialities. [say]"But I do have something I think you'd like. It's my specialty."[/say] Special in the fact that it's the first cocktail he'd learned to properly make, and for a good reason.
Tapping the counter to summon the bartender, Danta orders quickly and gestures to the younger Ancient beside him, before sitting back. Before long, two drinks are set down before them; an old fashioned for Danta, and a chocolate martini for Aithne, dusted with sweet cocoa powder. [say]"Try that on for size,"[/say] he gestures. [say]"It's too sweet for me, personally, but you might love it as the person I normally make it for."[/say]