sometimes you gotta backstab a motherfucker

you're never gonna get it, I'm a hazard to myself

"Flora, I think you do him proud every time someone cowers away from you a little when you get annoyed," Danta says easily, and although such a thing doesn't sound as if it should be a compliment, it very much is, especially when it comes to the butcher. Turning his back so he can shake up a new(er, better, stronger) batch of The Merchant's Wife, his nose scrunches at the mere reminder that Kai was raised up in Stormbreak. "It's always so grey up there," he complains, as though that should be indication enough that the place is stuffy and boring and highly-strung.

Of course, one shouldn't speak ill of the dead or of soon-to-be falling regions, but there's no lie in what he's saying as far as he's concerned.

"Well, maybe he should take an internship at the Dusklight or at the House of Midnight," he says with a playfully exasperated sigh, measuring out three new cocktails. "I would give him a wonderful reference for the record, as long as he leaves everyone's hands alone while they're busy doing other jobs."

Dantalion

I'll break it to you easy, this is hell

i can't help it if i want to kiss you in the rain, so

Flora flushes at that despite herself, colour blooming warm across her cheeks as she lets out a small, pleased breath through her nose. She knows she shouldn't care so much about what other people think, especially now that she was married, and yet hearing of Asta’s hypothetical approval eases something in her chest all the same. "I do my best," she says lightly, but the smile that follows is unmistakably delighted.

She wrinkles her nose at the mention of Stormbreak, nodding along without hesitation. "It is," she agrees. "And racist. I still don’t know why my brother stayed up there as long as he did." Her mouth quirks as she lifts one shoulder. "If there’s a silver lining to it falling out of the sky, it’s that he’s moving to Torchline."

A giggle slips out of her as the manicure nonsense grows legs, and she shrugs with theatrical acceptance. "Maybe he can be your new nail tech," she says, amused, eyes bright as she leans into the absurdity of it. Then her brows lift, expression shifting into something knowingly curious. "Though...I’m pretty sure he also saw your priestess while he was up in the Grounds." Her gaze flicks back to Danta, playful and pointed. "Charlie seems very, er...liberal. So maybe some of that will rub off on him."

you're never gonna get it, I'm a hazard to myself

"And it shows," Danta assures her, bouncing his eyebrows over his shoulder at her as if to assure her that her best has been duly noted by both himself and by Asta. "Racist?" he repeats of Stormbreak with a tilt of his head as he works on massacring another few pieces of watermelon to act as garnish for their drinks. "Ugh, I didn't know that. Do I really want that kind of riff-raff in my region?"

He isn't serious of course - and besides, Danta has all sorts of riff-raff in his region already - but it's certainly something to keep in the back of his mind. "Oh, he is? Good for him. Means there should be more than ample ways to get merry when we visit." Evidently he has heard of Mateo's skill with plants and their properties.

Turning to offer her one of the cocktails, he collects up the other two and nods towards the pool area as if to ask if she'd like to come and lounge in the hot tub with he and the butcher while they continue to gossip. "A nail tech - now that's something," he agrees. "And Charlie will very literally rub off on him if he isn't careful, so he ought to watch out about how broad he wants his horizons to become."

Dantalion

I'll break it to you easy, this is hell

i can't help it if i want to kiss you in the rain, so

Flora nods theatrically at that, mouth twisting as if the whole thing is both obvious and exhausting. "They killed Abandoned on sight for the longest time," she says plainly, then lifts one shoulder in a careless shrug. "I didn’t go there on principle for years. My twin’s Abandoned."

At the mention of Mateo, her expression brightens immediately, a grin breaking through as she nods again. "Oh, Mateo is very good at being merry," she says, emphasis deliberate before a laugh slips out of her following an affectionate roll of her eyes.

She follows his nod toward the pool without hesitation, chuckling at the image of Kai as a nail tech as she moves, head shaking in amused disbelief. "Much as I believe that of Charlie," she says, still smiling, "Kai is as audacious as he is loyal.' Shrugging, she takes a sip of her cocktail and adjusts her sunglasses from her hair down onto her nose. "I don't think I'll ever have to worry about him cheating even if his horizons do end up broadened."

you're never gonna get it, I'm a hazard to myself

"Oh, ew," Danta says automatically, brows furrowing as he slurps at his cocktail under the pretext of being able to carry it better without spilling any. "Don't get me wrong, I think Ancients are superior because they are," he tells her, grinning. "But I don't discriminate when it comes to killing people. Perish the thought." No, for all of his many flaws, Danta can at least be considered an equal opportunity killer.

"Do you think he will arrive while we are still vacationing here?" he asks as they begin to swan through the airy hallways towards the pool area. "You know, in case we're in need of some extra merriment while we're soaking up the sun." Which, for the likes of someone like the Maverick, there is no such thing as too much merriment.

Smirking around another sip of his drink as Kai is branded loyal but also audacious, which suits Danta just fine, he lifts his glass in a lazy toast. "At least you know he practices what he preaches, eh?"

Dantalion

I'll break it to you easy, this is hell

i can't help it if i want to kiss you in the rain, so

Flora shoots Danta a look that could politely curdle milk, brows lifting as her mouth twists, though she never actually calls him on it. Instead she hums under her breath, doubtful but playful, the sound pitched somewhere between indulgence and you are unbelievable, and lets it pass as they move, sunlight spilling across pale stone and open air.

At the question of Mateo, she shrugs, one shoulder rolling as she considers it. "Mayyyyybe," she says. "He’s got Everest and Kai helping him pack things up, but between his wardrobe and the shop..." Her lips press together briefly, amused. "I honestly have no idea how long that’s going to take." Then her expression brightens, grin spreading as she glances sideways at Danta. "You two could always just stay longer," she adds lightly, as if it’s the most reasonable solution in the world. Her smile turns sly as she flashes him a look. "I’m sure you’ll get along great." A wink follows, unrepentant. "Mateo is very much a not afraid of dicks in a hot tub type."

She chuckles softly as he lifts his glass, nodding along. "He absolutely does," she agrees, then eases closer, leaning into Danta’s shoulder with easy familiarity as they walk. "But I will talk to him about what happened, " Flora says softly, but her voice no less determined for its tone. "I’m obviously fine with how he sees things, but it’s not okay that he made you feel bad for seeing them differently."

you're never gonna get it, I'm a hazard to myself

"Mm, I bet it's quite a lot to have to pack your life up forever and move somewhere completely different," Danta says with a gentle furrow of his brow, never having properly considered it before. "I never really had much than what I could carry with me, so it wasn't much of an issue. Hopefully all of it makes its way down here safely though, him included." Leaning in to munch on the watermelon garnish from his cocktail (it's a skill with both hands full, alright), he almost chokes around his laughter at Flora's next comment about Mateo.

"Well, what a relief," he says, grinning across at her. "And I wouldn't say no to extending the vacation a little, so long as we're gone before Leafchange. I can tell you from experience last year that no one will want to be too close to Asta for a bit then."

Danta leans back against Flora as they stroll through the sun dappled halls and out towards the pool area, the scent of watermelon from their cocktails and jasmine hanging in the air. "Thanks," he says, his own voice softening somewhat. "I like to think I've got a thick skin, but I'm not invincible. No one is."

Dantalion

I'll break it to you easy, this is hell

i can't help it if i want to kiss you in the rain, so

Flora hums in agreement, gaze dropping to her cocktail as her steps slow just a fraction, brow knitting as she turns the idea over. Packing up an entire life, leaving behind places and habits and histories, all of it condensed into boxes and goodbyes. She wonders whether she should have pushed harder when her brother insisted he had all the help he needed, whether being needed is sometimes quieter than being asked. Should she be up in Stormbreak, helping Mateo?

The queen glances sideways at Danta and flashes him a grin. "I was only around Asta once last Leafchange," she says, amused, voice warm with memory. "He did keep all of him to himself, but yeah I could for sure tell a difference." Her lashes flutter with exaggerated affection, the look playful and entirely sincere, like she’s sharing a favourite anecdote rather than a warning.

As his thanks lands, Flora slows enough to turn her attention fully to him, nodding softly. "No, of course not," she says, the reassurance immediate, her expression gentling as she looks up at him. "I’ll take care of it." There’s no bravado in it, just quiet certainty, the kind that doesn’t need to announce itself.

Then her gaze lifts ahead, catching sight of Asta near the hottub, and her smile sharpens into something mischievous. "In the meantime," she adds lightly, already angling her steps that way, "I can try to convince Asta to extend your vacation."

~FIN