[SE] safety off, fire away

so what, my friend, whatever will it be?
i can give you what you crave, just not for free

“Since before Longnight.” Astaroth gently corrects, even though the points the Maverick makes do resonate within him. It’s exhausting all the same to try and recollect it. Luckily, he doesn’t get a chance to, because Danta’s hands and fingers work at a too sharp and hardened knot, loosening under the pressure with a very loud pop and despite being face to face with the ground, the butcher sags in relief.

He thinks nothing other than the tingling bliss radiating from his spine and shoulders, humming a gentle tone of “much” that comes out sounding a bit too much like a moan on the exhale of a breath he’s been holding. Danta’s warm hands smooth over the floral printed shirt, only to find yet another large knot closer toward the top of his lower back, one that draws with tension as a laugh breathily escapes him, tightening his stomach. “I already feel so much more flexible and limber.” He’ll likely be sore tomorrow, but for today? This is incredible.

So much so that his tail winds around Danta’s leg, giving it a gentle and encouraging squeeze as the butcher tucks his chin closer to his chest, braced on his arms, to point the prongs of his horns away from the blonde.

Astaroth

you know what's on the line

Dantalion

but you can't be free

Wrinkling his nose - because he's right, it had been even before Longnight since things had begun going sideways for Astaroth - Danta instead focuses on the other tense spots he's been able to uncover. "I'm almost ashamed I didn't find these before now," he remarks, pointedly deciding that he hasn't heard the almost moan escape the butcher's lips, and that his pants always feel this tight. It's also what keeps his follow up comment locked behind his teeth: then again, I'm usually the one shoved into the blankets by this point.

Clearing his throat, his own tail waving idly in the air as he works on easing the sore muscles, Danta glances down at the squeeze to his leg, scoffing under his breath. "Don't celebrate too soon - I'm not done with you yet," he points out, and as Asta's chin tucks forward the Maverick guides his thumbs in a hard stroke up the full length of the other man's back, ending right against the base of his skull. "Put your horns away a sec?" he requests, tilting his head down at the butcher.

'cause I'm selfish, I'm obscene

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

so what, my friend, whatever will it be?
i can give you what you crave, just not for free

When would the other Ancient have found the time to find the sore, tight spots within the butcher’s back? With all of the centuries in stone and the last few months warming him up to even being okay with unprovoked touch, it doesn’t surprise him in the least that Danta hasn’t noticed them. Aside from comments made (like the one in the Spire that had felt like eons ago), he’s never let anyone do this to him.

He realizes suddenly that he’s been wholly missing out.

Danta is not that careful with his ministrations on his back and spine as his next knot pops with a duller sound, like it was buried deep beneath muscle and bone, and with it another hmfph of sound leaves him even as he tucks his chin in and his tail winds around the other man’s leg as if to share in the gratitude while the rest of him was otherwise occupied. “Good. I can already imagine myself mourning the loss.” He hums even as he does do as requested without a fight.

Truthfully, Danta’s got him wrapped all around those dastardly hands of his. But after a heartbeat, his horns vanish and his tail does as well – loosening the pressure around the other man’s thigh – and he appears very much like a normal version of himself in the reflected sunlight, if not far more relaxed, his heartbeat drumming a steady beat beneath the blonde’s warm fingertips.

Astaroth

you know what's on the line

Dantalion

but you can't be free

He has been missing out, and Danta makes a point to remember to offer this sort of touch more often, if not just because they both shamelessly enjoy it, then also because it's probably good for the Dusklight's head of security to be on top form. Not that the Maverick is remotely thinking of work right now. "It'll only be for a few minutes," he sasses at the other man's drama, huffing out a laugh and letting his attention linger against the back of the other man's neck before his racial traits disappear completely.

Taking advantage before Asta can snipe at him with some comment or another, Danta's fingers plunge into the butcher's dark hair, offering a slow, firm starburst of touch against his scalp, unimpeded at last by the taller Ancient's horns. "Screw being a magician - maybe this is what I should have been instead of Theocrat." A masseuse working in the Dusklight does seem very much to the Maverick's taste, but of course he'd not get away with nearly as much.

'cause I'm selfish, I'm obscene

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

so what, my friend, whatever will it be?
i can give you what you crave, just not for free

Work is as far away from his mind as ever, with the sand beneath them, the cries of hels in the distance, the dull roar of the ocean and the sea salt tang in the air that melds with the citrus that wafts closer from the Maverick’s own scent with where his hands are pressed against his neck while he forces the horns and tail to vanish, utilizing his glamour to keep them away and free from impediment.

Not thinking much of anything past what kind of terribly wonderful things Danta’s hands are doing to him, he expects to be requested to tuck his head in further where his horns now wouldn’t knock against the board he’d placed to lean against. When it doesn’t come and his hands instead plunge into the ruffled dark hair, over spaces where his horns typically sat, the butcher’s body shivers with delight hard enough that it jostles the other man ever so slightly, leaning into the touch as goosebumps line and pepper along his exposed neck and shoulders before vanishing deep beneath the floral print scarlet shirt.

In his daze of delight and trying to bite back the huff of breath that wants to escape in another sound, the butcher knows subconsciously that Danta is making a joke of it, but physically he can’t help but to lay praise down instead. “Ah, but you are a brilliant Theocrat, darling.” He purrs, trying to chase the sensation of the hands in his hair. “However... You could do both, you know, if ever you decide to change your mind. Magic and masseuse.” Planting the idea, there’s the crinkle of crows feet at the corners of his eyes and the smile that stretches so wide his cheeks bunch up and can be seen where he’s got his face initially pressed into the towel and his arms.

Astaroth

you know what's on the line

Dantalion

but you can't be free

Danta expects his attentions to be well-received, but he hasn't expected this, and as Asta all but flinches involuntarily, the Maverick's hands still for just a moment as if to check he's alright. Which he is, thankfully, allowing him to continue to comb his fingers through sleek, dark hair and to press his grip into the spaces where the other man's horns usually sprout. "Oh, you are too kind," he purrs in return. "We have stalled a bit on that rage room, though. Other things came up." He's sitting on one of them, if he's being completely honest; he'll have to check in with everyone soon.

"A masseuse magician?" he echoes, snapping back into the conversation purely because he can hear the shit-eating smile on Asta's face, and as he shifts to the side a bit to peep down at him, he can see it too. "What of you, then, if that happens? You going to become some new Theocrat's security?" he wonders, smirking at the prospect and giving the butcher's hair a gentle tug. "Or will I be hiring you as a personal bodyguard?"

'cause I'm selfish, I'm obscene

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

so what, my friend, whatever will it be?
i can give you what you crave, just not for free

“Mm, the shrine as well. Though Charlie and I have one more portion to do before you, her, and I can build it the rest of the way.” Which should be easy enough – given the state of everything that had happened. This part was the breeze after all of the more difficult portions. And Astaroth can nearly taste it, already looking forward to not having to go to the shrine in the middle of the Black Lake just to speak with Dygra.

And yes, he’s essentially just voluntold Danta to be there with the construction of it. Something tells him the Maverick won’t complain though, and he isn’t listening for it as he curls into the other man’s hands, extra focus on the portions of his head where his horns typically sprouted as if it hadn’t been touched in forever. He can feel the shifting weight of Danta as he peers down at him and the butcher’s chaotic portion of his mind harbors less of a leash with how relaxed he is right now that he squirms under the Maverick to try and get him to settle back upright.

“Dygra, no.” Comes the scoffed laugh, even as his hair is tugged. “You cannot get rid of me that easily, darling. I am yours.” He vows, letting his answer trail off in the hiss of a dark delighted laugh, still letting the amusement of the idea practically glow from him.

Astaroth

you know what's on the line

Dantalion

but you can't be free

"Oho, that's very good news to hear on vacation," Danta purrs, and as if it's a reward for such a thing, his fingers scritch indulgently against Asta's scalp and through his dark hair, not unlike how one might give affection to a well-behaved dog. "I'm more than happy to join the shrine building party, of course," he adds, voluntold or otherwise; it would be his pleasure, in fact, to take part in the finishing touches of their new altar to Dygra.

Promptly jostled back astride the butcher as he leans to try and sneak a peek at that sharp smile, Danta's laughter sounds almost foreign even to his own ears - it's an unexpectedly carefree sound out here on the Torchline beaches, and gods, has it really been that long since things felt easy?

Dutifully returning to his fuss and smoothing his hands back down towards Asta's shoulders as if to test for any stiffness in the muscles or knots he's missed, the Maverick's fingers stutter automatically to hear the butcher's words hit the air. Smiling despite himself, this time Danta shifts himself forward; just enough to be able to nose against the back of the other man's neck. "And don't you ever forget it," he mutters.

'cause I'm selfish, I'm obscene

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

so what, my friend, whatever will it be?
i can give you what you crave, just not for free

“I was intending on you being there whether you wanted to or not, darling, but I am very glad to know you would be happy to join anyway.” Comes the playful tease, even though there’s no tail, thanks to his glamour, to curl happily against Danta’s side.

Once the shrine is done he can focus on getting his cane ready and back to its terribly wonderful form. But before he can say as much, hes jostling Danta back astride his back to prevent him from peering down at him again, relishing quietly in the laughter that radiates from Danta’s chest — one that mirrors the muffled dark snickers of his own.

As Danta tests for more knots in his back, he’ll find that they’re mostly free of anything tough now. Little bumps of tension are easily worked out, but the true relaxation comes from feeling the warmth of Danta’s breath rake across his neck, nose pressed in against his dark hair. “As if I could ever forget it.” He purrs softly, relishing in the touch.

Astaroth

you know what's on the line

Dantalion

but you can't be free

"Yeah? You were going to make me, I suppose, if I didn't want to attend?" Danta asks with a raise of his brows, and if the tone of his voice drops to something darkly challenging, so be it. He has no doubt that the other man could physically manhandle him if it came down to it, though the fight in itself would be interesting. He's got a feeling that Asta would have been a little less obvious about something like that, though.

Sighing out a warm breath against the back of the butcher's neck and nipping him gently with his teeth for good measure - as if he could ever forget, indeed - Danta sits himself back up and walks firm hands down the length of his back before finally relaxing his grip. "Much as I hate to say it, lavishing you with all of this attention has actually woken me up a bit," he grumbles, though he makes no attempt to move from his spot.

"Shall I get us something to drink?"

'cause I'm selfish, I'm obscene

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

so what, my friend, whatever will it be?
i can give you what you crave, just not for free

With the Maverick’s lips still pressed against the back of his neck, Asta’s head remains tucked neatly to rest closer to his chest, his forehead pressed against his folded forearms. “I would have, yes.” Is he being truthful? Hard to say. He may or may not have felt it necessary, depending on who was around to help. But the threat of it is amusing enough to him that he can’t back down now from the challenge.

Feeling the warm breath snake across his neck and the bite that pinches at his skin, radiating a small amount of pain, the hands that walk down his spine will be met with a flurry of goosebumps and a too content hum of a sound, until the blonde has sat back and relaxes his grip. And it’s about now that the butcher’s arms straighten a bit, propping him up onto his elbows which effectively pushes Danta back a bit further toward his ass, not impeded by the tail that usually resides there. His hornless head turns to glance at him over his shoulder, the smirk blooming bright even from this distance.

“Well, you did have a wonderful nap.” He starts to say, rolling his head a little as a few light pops ricochet through his neck, made loose by Danta’s help. “A drink sounds lovely, though. What did you have in mind?” The butcher hums, before he’s twisting, shifting to try and keep Danta astride him as he flips onto his back, elbows still propping him up as his dark honeyed gaze finds the bright blues of the blonde’s.

Astaroth

you know what's on the line

Dantalion

but you can't be free

I'd like to see you try, Danta almost whispers, but he's not quite awake enough to encourage impromptu wrestling on the beach - give it time though, Asta, and he might be inclined. Instead, between the smirk levelled at him over the butcher's shoulder and the way he twists in the sand, it's about all the Maverick can do to to keep himself balanced in the other man's lap. Pressing a hand to his chest to keep steady, he considers their options with a casual glance down the beach towards the little stalls in the distance.

"Well," he said, "I was going to get a cocktail, since we're on the beach. Something strong enough that I don't feel it when I inevitably get a sunburn." Because let's face it - of the two of them, Danta is infinitely more likely to do something that stupid. "But for you? I'll bring back whatever you like."

'cause I'm selfish, I'm obscene

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

so what, my friend, whatever will it be?
i can give you what you crave, just not for free

All the twisting has the shirt unbuttoning, where Danta’s hand presses against scar tissue and immense warmth soaked up from the sand below. Asta heeds it little mind as he flashes that bright smirk to the Maverick, watching as he peers down the beach, his dark gaze not following in favor of watching the reflection of the sun against the blonde in his lap. It dances across diamond horns, while his own are still unable to be seen, and it glimmers along the outline of his hair casting him in a golden glow. “It is vacation…” He considers for a moment, head tilting slightly as he considers it, dark strands of his hair sweeping back from his temple to fall across his ear now that the horns don’t block the movement.

“I would like something sweet but refreshing.” He makes his request easily, before he’s pushing up against the hand at his chest, looking perfectly normal and not Ancient as he places a kiss to the edge of Danta’s jaw as if it might guide him back to claim a kiss from his full lips before the blonde inevitably departs to retrieve their drinks.

Astaroth

you know what's on the line

Dantalion

but you can't be free

"My first vacation, if I have to think about it," Danta agrees, flashing a fanged grin down at the other man for good measure. Yes, one could argue that prior to becoming Theocrat and actually needing to do work to take a vacation from, every day was a holiday for the Maverick. But Asta knows that for all of Danta's lounging and drifting and chaos, the learning curve from centuries ago compared to now is a fucking sharp one.

"I think I can manage that," he purrs, his fingers splaying further against olive skin and pale stripes of scar tissue, his head turning only moments after the kiss lands against his jaw so he can make good on a real one. With his free hand plunging into dark hair to run the rich strands through his fingers, Danta's tongue and teeth could arguably considered sweet and refreshing, but alas, he's also without his own cocktail, and so eventually he draws back - and swiftly stands, before Asta can grab hold of him.

"Don't do anything fun without me," he calls, ducking out from under the parasol to saunter away across the sand.

'cause I'm selfish, I'm obscene

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!