be the fire that'll catch you

// day breaks sorrow //

For the first time in seasons the butcher feels as if he can confidently mingle without being a horrible threat to society. Leaving Danta to mingle on his own as well, the butcher sets his sights on a familiar man who seems like the type to prefer reading and drinking tea by the large bonfires than actually indulging in any of the debauchery that appears to be happening surrounding them.

He's a bit buzzed by the multitude of warm and lovely drinks he’s downed by the time he swans over toward Nikandr, his sharp grin on display as he sinks into the open seat beside him rather than asking if the chair is taken. (It is now.) “Hello Niki, darling. Have you migrated to warmer temperatures for Deepfrost or are you no longer residing in the Greatwood?” He asks, angling his horned head toward Niki with a glimmer of fondness in the black of his eyes.

Astaroth

// and i still feel the edge of this cold knife //

NIKI

Having indeed been enjoying a few pages of a book by the merry firelight of the little campfire where he's settled himself, Niki only even realises he has company when Asta's voice trills out towards him. Longnight makes all shadows seem to dance in ghoulish shapes, and he's been trying his best not to glance up at every passing flutter of darkness. This time, though, the darkness takes the shape of the man he'd met once before, and he finds a polite smile on his face even before the butcher takes the seat beside him.

"Hello, Asta," he greets in return, slipping a mark into his book before shutting it and tucking it into the satchel at his feet. "Only for Deepfrost, I am afraid - I will be returning to the Greatwood when the sun rises. A friend - Flora - has been kind enough to let me stay with her for the season." On autopilot he glances out into the sea of bonfires, like he might catch a glimpse of her, but to no avail. "What about you? I imagine the Grounds must get very chilly at Deepfrost."

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!

// day breaks sorrow //

Nodding his understanding, Asta’s grin remains as the shadows continue to play, floating and dancing with each shift of flame from the bonfire. Having not wanted to fully interrupt Niki from his reading, he notes that he doesn’t seem too upset about the interruption as the answer comes – the butcher nodding his agreement. “Flora is wonderful, isn’t she.” It comes out more of a statement than a question, a knowing look flickering across his face (and in the smiling shadow that appears in the stretch of sand between them).

“Oh, terribly so. Far too much snow.” He laments, the dramatics making him sink into the beach chair a bit more, even as his ashen tipped tail flicks comfortably close to the bonfire, dipping into the flame itself. “It is not so bad indoors, however, I have admittedly spent much of the season asleep.” The quiet chuckle leaves him, shoulders shrugging. “And then Danta and I received the invitation here for this and had to see what the buzz was about.” And truth be told, Torchline’s LongNight party was so far amazing. The lack of snow also helps.

“How have your projects been coming along?” Not necessarily the ones he’s been tinkering with off and on to sell, but the necromancy aspect of his magic. Because obviously that’s the one the butcher latched onto the most.

Astaroth

// and i still feel the edge of this cold knife //

NIKI

"She is," Niki agrees before realising what he's said, and his blue eyes sharpen a fraction as he glances back to Asta with a smile. "You know her as well?" he asks, not having had the chance to discuss any potential mutual friends or acquaintances the last time they'd run into one another. "I am staying with her at Wildering House until the start of Flowerbirth," he continues. "Providing I can find my way back to it in the dark, of course."

Glancing towards the shadow he's certain just smiled at him before promptly looking away (don't be stupid, Niki), the boy hums ready agreement regarding the snow, reaching down to the satchel to draw out his flask of coffee. "Would you like some?" he asks, before recalling his brief interaction with Charlie. "It is black coffee, but unsweetened, I am afraid." He remembers Asta's penchant for sweets, at least.

"The Theocrat in the Grounds?" he asks as the butcher references Danta, uncapping the flask while they speak to pour himself a cup of warm coffee. "And alas, my projects have not made much progress as of late. I have been here since Leafchange, and there are not nearly so many opportunities to study as there are in the Greatwood." Everything that dies seems to be sucked out by the tide and into the Arclight.

"What about you? Did you make anything with those antlers you got?"

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!

// day breaks sorrow //

“I do, very well actually.” The butcher confirms with a reflected smile back at the young Abandoned. He knows her intimately, though he doesn’t feel the need to add that portion in. Instead, he brightens at the fact that Niki is staying at the Wildering House as well, his smile growing sharper somehow. “Ah, we are staying there as well. I am sure there will be plenty of signs leading back to it.” A knowing look accompanies the comment, sure that Flora would likely have littler bonfires in the shapes of arrows aiming directly to the house for her guests to follow.

Watching as he reaches down to the satchel again, the question is met with the butcher finishing off the drink in his glass. “How very kind of you.” He extends the glass out to Niki to fill however much he’s willing to share. “I do love my sweets but it is admittedly all I have been drinking tonight. A change of pace sounds lovely, darling. Thank you.” Even so far as coffee – which is a decent indicator that he’s quite buzzed.

Cradling it in both hands when Niki finishes filling their glasses, he offers an easy nod that has a few dark strands falling from where they’d been tucked neatly behind his horns as his tail continues to dip into the flames. “Yes.” He pauses, taking a sip of the coffee and humming contently, before he lets his dark gaze focus back on the Abandoned. “He is my partner.” He tacks on in a mischievous whisper, like it’s a secret between them even though it was quite painfully obvious these days to anyone that looked at them. There’s no mistaking the way the alcohol plays with his tone of voice to provide a picture of just how much he was in love, though, settling in and shutting himself up before he gushes about the Maverick further so he can listen to Niki’s projects.

“Oh, what a shame. Perhaps you should come and visit me in the Grounds. We could make quite a unique team.” The shadow between them grins brighter again, almost wiggling in anticipation with its dagger-like teeth that mirror the butcher’s own. As for his own project, though, he nods and begins to gesture with his free hand, painting an air picture of what he had crafted. “I did, yes. I combined them with a wolf’s skull and a crow skull and wings.” Feathers, more accurately, but he’s already realizing he’s been blabbing. “It turned out quite lovely.”

Astaroth

// and i still feel the edge of this cold knife //

NIKI

"Ah, of course - I remember seeing you at the construction of the house," Niki says with a gentle nod and a smile; he recalls them being given keys as well, though at the time he'd not been able to put names to any of the other faces. (Apparently he's seen the Theocrat in question, even if they'd never properly interacted). "You're welcome," he adds of the coffee he's sharing, carefully pouring a measure into the cup for Asta, the steam curling delicately above it. "I read that Ancients do not fare well in the cold, so hopefully this helps to fend it off a little."

Sitting back with his own coffee after setting the cap back on the flask, he follows suit with Asta in cradling it in his hands, only for his eyebrows to shoot up at the unexpected admission from the butcher. "He is?" he echoes without meaning to, a small smile on his lips and his cheeks colouring a little with it. "Is he out in the party somewhere right now, then?" he wonders, letting his gaze drift briefly to the neighbouring bonfires before it returns to Asta and their conversation.

"I have never visited the Grounds. It is not nearly so far as the journey here from the Greatwood, so perhaps I will try to come and see you in Flowerbirth?" he suggests, finding the prospect strangely cheering given that his time in Torchline is coming to an end. "Perhaps then you can show me the sculpture you made in person."

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!

// day breaks sorrow //

He hadn’t been at his best during the constructing of the Wilding House, but he had been there at least. Even if half of the time he wanted to devour anyone that crossed his and Danta’s path. Luckily, Flora had kept them together enough that he could make it through the majority of their tasks without too many issues. But he nods to the follow up answer, that he’d done some reading up on Ancients and as he sips from the hot, black coffee, the butcher’s head inclines with a nod. “We do not, that is true. It is helping immensely.” His voice drops with a low hum of gratitude, his ashen tipped tail still dipping into the fire.

And that’s when he realizes he’s been blabbing, but he isn’t quite drunk enough to miss the way Niki’s cheeks color with the question – filtering that thought away for later Asta to think about. “He is, yes.” He hums, perking up a little to go and look around the area for the familiar handsome splash of gold and flashing glints of rainbows and jewelry. “He is mingling at the moment.” Sinking back down enough to offer his own abilities for the Abandoned to practice.

“Ah, yes, that sounds perfect. Perhaps I can show you some of my other projects as well.” His grin slants a little more playful – already imagining a perfect one he’d made without a place for it to go that might fit perfectly with Niki’s choice of décor – not that he knows what he decorates like, but he’s sure he could find a way to make it work.

Astaroth

// and i still feel the edge of this cold knife //

NIKI

"I am glad to hear it," Niki says of the gifted coffee, the boy blowing on his own cup before taking a much more tentative sip. "At least there are plenty of bonfires out here as well - I have never seen so many in one place, in truth." And he's quite enjoying himself if he's honest, though it's not a lie that he'd also prefer to watch them from a window up at Wildering House.

Following the butcher's gaze for something to do while he collects himself and this new knowledge about the Ancient, he can't make out much in the darkness, but there are a few fireworks that have just started to go off nearby, along with a riot of laughter. (Asta will notice, undoubtedly, that one of the voices in that celebration definitely belongs to the Maverick).

"Mm? Oh, yes - I would like that. I could bring a few of my creations as well," he suggests, slightly distracted, but nevertheless looking forward to this potential visit with every detail they add to it.

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!

// day breaks sorrow //

“No?” The butcher asks, though it really shouldn’t surprise him. It makes sense to him that Niki in the Greatwood would have likely not seen so many bonfires with the off chance one might try to light the entire forest aflame. That, and it has been many centuries since the butcher had lived in Halo where Whitebrim was connected by bonfire to bonfire to bonfire. “Before I became an Ancient we nearly exclusively used bonfires.” He hums, offering the explanation as he sips from the warm coffee, letting the heat of it warm him further. “Of course, it was Halo, so I suppose it makes sense.” He chuckles softly.

That’s precisely before he takes his glance around, trying to spot Danta around the bonfires, hearing the tell tale pop of fireworks in the distance before he hears laughter bubble up from the groups – and one in particular belonging to the love of his life. It brings a particular warmth to his chest, one that he can’t hide from the curve of his smile as he sinks back into the beach chair and they make their plans.

Considering it, he brightens with the mention of Niki’s own creations, there’s a slight eagerness in his tone. “That sounds brilliant. You are welcome to stay in my old room in the Dusklight, if you have no other preference.” Of where to stay, that is. His room was mostly still used as storage these days, not quite ready to part with it.

Astaroth

// and i still feel the edge of this cold knife //

NIKI

"Ah, you were not born as an Ancient?" Niki says with soft surprise, eyebrows raising, though he's clearly more interested than he is remotely judging of it. "I bet that was quite a change after Halo. I do not expect The Climb has much need for bonfires in comparison." Making a mental note to do a little more reading about Halo and its customs, and trying not to get too distracted by the riot of fireworks nearby, Niki nods his agreement with their plans.

"As long as you do not mind," he says with a ready smile (though he might well change his mind when he realises what the Dusklight is). "I will send a raven before I set off so I do not arrive by surprise." In the meantime, though, someone - yes, it's Danta - is starting to wave Asta over from the bonfire, clearly desperate to show him something dangerous and explosive.

"I believe you are being summoned," Niki says through a chuckle.

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!

// day breaks sorrow //

“I was not.” He murmurs softly, flashing his shark toothed grin a bit brighter at Niki as he makes the connection he’d been trying to point to – that the Climb had more than enough fire itself. “It was an immense change, but not an unwelcome one.” He sighs wistfully, as if those were some of the fondest days (after becoming Ancient, of course, without having the worry or fear he’d be dragged back into the fires of hell for his crimes).

Shaking his head to whether he minds or not, he latches instead onto the mention of the raven to prepare the Abandoned’s arrival. Before he has a chance to respond, though, he follows Niki’s gaze toward the Maverick who waves from afar, perking him up nearly immediately. Finishing the coffee in his glass and following it up with a slanted smile of apology to Niki, the soft laugh that leaves him is content and pleased. “It would appear as though I am. Thank you for the coffee. It was a pleasure catching up again and I look forward to seeing you next season.” And perhaps because he is drunk, the butcher reaches out to squeeze Niki’s shoulder gently before he stands – his firewarm tail looking sooty from the flame as he slips away to wrap his arm around Danta’s middle so he can show him the very dangerous and combustible item.

- FIN

Astaroth

// and i still feel the edge of this cold knife //