[PQ+] I ran right through my shoes

NIKI

With Ronin already having made his departure with Remi and Niki having to move slower than most for obvious reasons, by the time he makes his way out to the pool, Mateo has already helped himself to a drink and is bobbing around in one of the inflatables, his cocktail held high in a toast. (His goodbye, as it happens, is to stay and get day drunk until Flora kicks him out or tucks him into bed - no alternatives).

The necromancer, in comparison, can't swim and has no intention of getting too close to the water to tempt fate, and so he settles himself in the shade on a barstool, leaning his cane against the side of it. "Thank you for inviting me," he says warmly, selecting a drink that's much more juice than it is alcohol (better to be safe after the masquerade) and reaching out to clink it against the Doubletake's. "Here is to new beginnings."

my body's on the line now, I can't fight this time now
I can feel the light shine on my face

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

// he's nice, polite, he'll catch you by surprise //

The pool glitters as Asta and Danta follow Flora to the outside bar, settling on the edge of it as they wait for everyone to arrive. Citrus flares in the air alongside the salt of the sea with the warmth of the sun beating down on them despite standing in the shade. He watches as Danta drifts toward the inflated flamingos, looking with a touch of longing at the pool itself which admittedly has a slightly exasperated sigh escaping the butcher.

Squeezing his hand to keep him from getting lost in the pool lest he have to put more focus in on his over protectiveness this season, the butcher’s tail continues to flick at his heels for a few moments more before wrapping around Danta’s leg as an anchor. “We are looking forward to it, darling.” He flashes her a bright smile, snagging his drink and handing Danta his own, clinking once the toast is made.

And when everyone begins to slip into comfort and relaxation, the butcher cradles his drink and nods to Flora before he starts to tug Danta in toward their room (much to his quiet displeasure).

Sunjata, on the other hand, has taken the hint. And with a nod toward them all, shifts from man to bird and takes off toward the sky - his macaw shift glinting in the light before it vanishes in the blue of the sky.

Astaroth

// a smile so bright, you'd never bat an eye //

Sohalia

I don't even know myself at all
I thought I would be happy by now

Soh followed the party out to the pool that she, Flora, and Mateo had so diligently set up. She was pleased by the gleaming bar with its many accoutrements; maybe she had a future as a designer alongside her cartography. The thought made her smile, and as she settled onto one of the chaises beside the pool, she thought that life couldn't get much better than this.

As Flora toasted their success, Soh raised her own glass. "Wouldn't miss it for the world." And for a while thereafter, she mingled with the other guests - at least until those she knew best disappeared to their own rooms or, in some cases, to leave the house entirely. Then she retired to her own suite to curl up with a good book.

fin

The more I try to push it, I realize
Gotta let go of control