maybe then you'll get a little heated too

open hand or closed fist would be fine

"Gods, that's better," Danta almost groans as they step off the skyship and into the muggy, oppressive heat of The Climb. He breathes it all in deep - the humid air, the fog clinging to their legs and drifting across the smouldering earth, the smell of smoke and char in the air. "I know it's not as cold in Torchline now that the sun has risen, but I didn't expect it to be so rainy," he continues, stretching his arms high over his head as if to expose as much of himself to the delicious warmth of their homeland as he can.

"We'd better make the most of this, I guess," he says through a laugh, rolling his shoulders and dropping back to walk with Asta, casually slipping his arm through the other man's to lean against him as they begin the trek towards the Burrows and the portal to the Grounds nestled within it. "It won't be nearly as toasty as this until we've made it back to our den."

Dantalion

the blood is rare and sweet as cherry wine

we thieves and lovers will keep up our urges to sin, to sin
let your desire be simply acquired within, within

A long rumble of a groan leaves the butcher as they step away from the skyship, precisely on the heels of Danta’s nearly there groan. Already Asta is removing the scarf from around his neck, shedding the thick wool coat to feel the Climb’s heat permeate his being like it might completely refresh him. “There is nothing better than the Climb for the first few days after LongNight.” He claims, keeping his pace steady as he spent the last few moments tracking Danta as he bounces ahead.

His dark gaze trails him with adoration, nearly melting with it as he pulls back to walk with him, slipping his arm through his that he holds close against him so they’re forced to walk together. “And I am sure it will feel as though it is far too long, darling.” With the tips of their fingers slightly ashen by the time they make it there – or at least his own (he forgot his gloves back in Torchline).

Steadily following the path and soaking in the warmth, the butcher hesitates after a moment as though something strikes him – confusion flaring over his face as he tilts his head to look at Danta. “Is it me, or does it seem even more revitalizing today than it usually is?”

Astaroth

if you want me all to yourself, then take on the leap

open hand or closed fist would be fine

"Mm, you're right - especially now that it's only a portal away from the Grounds, or a little skip in a skyship from Torchline." Danta thinks they can both agree that those two regions are where they spend the majority of their time, even if there's something familiar and feral about The Climb that always means he can't stay away for too long.

"Well, if it is too long for you," he says of the distance between their bonfire and their bed, "I suppose I can be persuaded to help warm you up, however that might look." The smile he aims up at Asta is full of feline mischief, and he's about to tuck himself obnoxiously closer against his side when he feels the butcher's hesitation, Danta slowing his steps somewhat.

Tail flicking lazily at his heels, he tilts his head into the heat and the muggy sunshine overhead, as if trying to sense what the other man might mean. "...Maybe?" he says. "Or maybe the deer in you is just feeling extra prancy. Don't let me stop you if you want to go ahead." He always finds quiet amusement in tracking Asta's fluffy butt as he trots ahead.

Dantalion

the blood is rare and sweet as cherry wine

we thieves and lovers will keep up our urges to sin, to sin
let your desire be simply acquired within, within

It’s quite a perfect spot to be in, between two of their most common haunts. Such that the grin he shoots his lover’s way is pure indulgence. It only grows brighter as he feels him press ever so slightly closer to him and his side. “Ah, is that so, darling..” The butcher hums, only briefly before the hesitation gets the best of him.

His tail brushes against Danta’s leg as the consideration leaves him, his head tilting slightly as if trying to pinpoint the sensation. It’s different than the fierw, but similar in a way to the lial that seems unusual. “Mm, perhaps. Shall we see?” He asks, turning to Danta and crowding his space for a much needed and grateful kiss. His hands cup and brush the blonde Ancient’s cheeks as he pulls away, flashing a playful wink and his shark tooth grin in a playful undertone like enjoy the show, as he steps away to tap into that strange sensation.

He anticipates the lial with the way his skin changes and feels heavy, but rather than shrink to the floor, the butcher grows and grows, taller and taller with more appendages than he’s expecting. Surprise encases the black dragon immediately once he’s finished his shift, a low rumble and a snort escaping him as he flexes wings he’s never had before and swings his head around to see if he can get a look at himself. Sharp jagged teeth break up portions of his maw, and the gnarled scars of his human form appear in the plate armor on his chest and back in the form of darker, devastating cracks.

And only when he’s realized just what he is, does he on that orange gaze back at his lover — so small in comparison to the rest of his shifts and what he’s used to, to offer a snort of amusement, shock, and absolute awe.

Astaroth

if you want me all to yourself, then take on the leap

Hey, what's that? Out of the corner of your eye, you see a colourful, hand-painted egg. Perhaps it's sitting amidst some flowers, on a tree branch, next to a river, or in a merchant's shop, but wherever it is, it doesn't seem to be accidentally placed there. On one side you see a painted hot air balloon. Maybe it has something to do with the upcoming festival!

Go ahead and pick it up!

---

You've found a painted egg!. Whoever is next to post in this thread will be the first one to see the egg, but if they wish to give it to someone else, they're more than welcome! No need to post in account updates, just keep track of this thread and pick up your egg IC!

open hand or closed fist would be fine

"Why not? When in the Climb--" Cut off by Asta's kiss and far from upset about it, Danta has to school himself not to let his hands wander too much lest they end up tilting in the direction of Frey's Breath and the necessary lack of clothes that comes along with the hotspring. Instead, sighing wistfully to watch the butcher step back, he settles to wait for the feirw to make its appearance when, out of the corner of his eye, he sees it.

A brightly painted egg nestled among the rockery, like someone has placed it there on purpose. "Huh," he mutters, turning to crouch and examine it, entirely unaware of the gargantuan shifting taking place behind him. "A hot air balloon," he murmurs, picking it up and turning it over in his hands. "Heh. Hey, look at th-- whoa."

Straightening up - only to instinctively duck again straight away at the sight of the dragon - Danta feels fire instinctively flare at his fingertips, tail lashing as he squares up to the creature (which would be a terrible idea if it were actually a dragon). Luckily, with Asta nowhere to be seen and the enormous reptile looking shooketh, it doesn't take too long for Danta to put two and two together.

"Asta...?" He cranes his head up (and up) to look at the butcher with wide blue eyes, pocketing the egg even as a delighted smile spreads across his face. "Asta, you're a dragon!? Since when?"

---

Danta has collected the painted egg!

Dantalion

the blood is rare and sweet as cherry wine

// you know that this could be your last day here on earth //

When in Rome…

Anyway, it is regretful that he has to part when he does from the kiss, but it’s not without its surprise as he does so. He doesn’t see the egg that captures Danta’s attention, the tiny little speck as he gets used to being this large and honestly heavy.

He does hear Danta, though, pinpointing his orange gaze onto his lover with a twist of his large, reptilian serpentine head. He doesn’t mean to make him duck, but he’s fairly certain the lack of him attacking might be a good indicator that the butcher is the dragon — and far more fucking confused than anything about this turn of events.

Lowering his head as the realization occurs, there’s a slight shake of his head in as much of a form of I don’t know that he can manage. His wings droop, not used to tucking them in or having the capability of flight in the first place, leaving them to hang against his sides and against the rough surface of the Climb as he drops his nose down toward his lover slowly, as if unsure just how much space he really takes up.

Astaroth

// so buddy please, won't you smile just for me //

open hand or closed fist would be fine

With the egg mystery solved for the time being (in that Danta has forgotten about it in lieu of the fucking dragon that showed up), the Maverick is free to express his delight and excitement about this turn of events as he sees fit. Unable not to laugh as the towering reptile shakes his head, somehow looking even more like Asta without resembling him one bit, he stretches out his hands towards the hulking, scaled muzzle as it lowers towards him.

"Gods, you're magnificent," he breathes, palms pressing to the dragon's maw and the hot, smoky breath that fans across him. "Looks like all that sleeping last season must have been for a good reason, huh?" Listen, it's one possible explanation, right? "Oh shit, that means we can fly together now!" And since they're in the Climb already, why the fuck not try it out?

Granted, as he skips back a few steps, he can't help but notice the awkward way the butcher is holding himself and his wings. "...You want to give it a try?" he asks. "If you go that way, I can meet you over there?" He points to a distant canyon with a flat, broad space at either side.

Dantalion

the blood is rare and sweet as cherry wine

// you know that this could be your last day here on earth //

Having missed most of the excitement of the egg in trying to figure out how to keep so many limbs all in place, he can’t help the slight rumble of appreciation for the Maverick’s excitement, happily placing his large nose into the blonde’s palms. His eyes close for a brief moment before the butcher’s orange gaze flits open, withdrawing to see just where he’s gesturing.

Perhaps it was all of the sleep last season that had cultivated this within him, but gods he doesn’t know how to use it. So with the question, the look of Danta’s steps taking him back a few feet, his question is met with a grumble and a nod of his large head – maw parting momentarily with the needle-like teeth sharp and hidden briefly by a dark cloud of smoke and a nod.

Turning himself and ensuring he doesn’t swipe Danta with his tail, he looks off in the distance to the canyon with the broad space to land, remembering his wings and stretching them out as if to test it first, then hesitates, as if he might wait to see if Danta might go first so he has something to go off of (now that he actually has to pay attention).

Astaroth

// so buddy please, won't you smile just for me //

// fire on the mountain, run, boys, run //

Danta watches and waits with eager anticipation as Asta turns to angle himself towards the canyon, wings flexing and spreading like some monster readying itself for flight. As such it takes him a few extra moments to realise that the butcher is waiting for him to take the lead, the Maverick starting with surprise before nodding and jogging away a few paces. "Sorry, I was distracted! Hold on!"

He waits until there's enough space between them before shifting gracefully into the massive, scaled form of a black dragon, shaking himself off and spreading his wings wide to stretch them. Next to Asta, of course, he's definitely a smaller and more agile example of the species, but Danta has never felt as though he has to be the biggest in the room to feel confident in himself.

As such, with a keening shriek towards the sky, he ascends into the air with a powerful beat of his wings, circling overhead once before soaring away to the canyon.

~FIN

Dantalion

// the devil's in the house of the risin' sun //