[RA] [SE] my cup runneth over

I'm still comparing your past to my future

"Kiaaaaaaa," Danta is calling as he elbows his way into his office where he's 90% sure she's working. He's already got an overnight bag over his shoulder, a very securely capped bottle of lightning in a leather holster, and also a few papers and files and a bottle of wine in hand as he bursts inside. It's a true miracle that he doesn't lose or spill or break anything as he gets to the desk, setting down folders and wine and dropping the bag so he can slouch into his chair.

"Fuck," he announces, "that was an ordeal. Anyway, I'm gonna be heading out in a couple of hours to King's End. Sunjata wants to trade some lightning for bits of unicorn - which, savage that they do that to the ponies, very metal - and I figured we should probably decide... y'know." He gestures to where they are and the desk and the files and yeah, she gets it.

"Do we want more lightning to replace the shit we're trading away, you think?"

Dantalion

it might be your wound but they're my sutures

KIADA

i'm sorry to interrupt, it's just i'm constantly on the cusp
of trying to kiss you, i don't know if you feel the same as i do

“Dantaaaa,” Kia calls back as she stuffs the third origami frog into a giant glass jar she’d collected from a merchant from the inner quarter – having gone and organized the notes by reason and animal type, it only seemed to make sense to file it away in a stackable way that she can label, just in case they need it later on.

She is surprised to see him juggle everything in the office though, her fingers trailing along the glass edge of the jar as she takes him in. “Ew,” she says quietly about Sunjata before her iceberg gaze lands on the wine specifically. “Not a bad trade though, I think the unicorn stuff can heal, can’t it?” Her head tilts, dark hair falling over her shoulder as if she’s trying to think back on what each region had for perks as it were. “Replacing it sounds good to me. Never know when you need lightning, right?” She flashes a bright, fanged smile at her Theocrat that touches on a bit more chaotic than polite.

but we could be together, if you wanted to
do i wanna know if this feeling flows both ways?

I'm still comparing your past to my future

"Yeah, it's just as muddy there as it is here apparently," Danta says, assuming that's the reasoning behind the ew - though it could be the Flood, you really never know. "And yeah, that's what Sunjata told me. Which - and that's another thing--" Taking a deep breath and letting it out again as if to gain control of his thoughts, while he does so Danta grabs for two wine glasses to pour them both a generous measure from the the bottle.

"I was thinking this year we could ask Dygra for a healing fountain. One filled with wine, if I get my way." He winks, raising his glass as if to chime it against Kiada's. "It's selfish on my end, because Asta keeps getting himself chewed up and spat out by monsters and I think the Temple are going to start charging us for healing if it keeps up. But it's good for the rest of the region, right?"

It's always good to run that sort of thing past his Registrar, he finds.

"And that was my thinking, yeah, since it keeps raining and storming anyway. More lightning it is." He grins.

Dantalion

it might be your wound but they're my sutures

KIADA

i'm sorry to interrupt, it's just i'm constantly on the cusp
of trying to kiss you, i don't know if you feel the same as i do

It definitely is about Sunjata, though Kiada finds the point to be moot if they’re to go and have a leaders meeting anyway. Besides, it was a long while ago, so she files that gossip away for later to indulge Fox with as additional little government tea to share – one of her favorite past times while they’re making dinner. “Oh?” She asks, immediately abandoning the jars for the glass of wine he pours – shoulders slumping with content as she sits on the corner of his desk and plucks it up by the stem.

“Ooooh.” She croons, her tail flitting in delight. “Eh, I think it’s only selfish if it only worked for you two.” She snorts, pausing to swirl the wine in the glass even if she’s fairly certain it doesn’t do anything despite Asta saying it did once upon a time. “I’ve heard really good things about Torchline’s fountain, so I think it’s a good idea to have something like it here. And making it wine? I loooove it.” She beams, nodding an agreement to the lightning they’ve decided on.

Lifting the wine glass when it seems decided in a makeshift little toast, the registrar takes a sip once they’ve toasted the event. "So how long are you gonna be gone?" She asks curiously, unsure how long of a trek it'll be to Kings End.

but we could be together, if you wanted to
do i wanna know if this feeling flows both ways?

all you have is your fire, and the place you need to reach

"I mean..." Danta grins and shrugs, slouching back in his seat as Kia comes to perch on the corner of his desk as is her customary spot. "Let's not get it twisted - we are probably going to get much more use out of it than anyone else. But that doesn't mean it won't be useful for people who need to heal and kind of get buzzed at the same time." Besides, there's nothing stopping them from bathing a wound in healing wine opposed to drinking it - it's just the latter is more fun.

"Mm, Torchline's fountain is definitely worth the work they put into it," he agrees with a ready nod and a generous sip of wine. As for how long he'll be gone, though, he can only shrug a bit, setting the glass down and thumbing through a few of the papers he's brought with him. "Probably a week?" he says. "Asta has convinced me to take some kind of mental health vacation while I'm out there. He'll be in Torchline, so I'll probably fly across to meet him and then we'll come back together."

Setting a couple of papers to the side that seem unimportant and boring (i.e. please deal with those Kia), he stuffs the rest into a drawer like they don't exist. "Work for you?"

Dantalion

don't you ever tame your demons, but always keep 'em on a leash

KIADA

i'm sorry to interrupt, it's just i'm constantly on the cusp
of trying to kiss you, i don't know if you feel the same as i do

“Heyyy, don’t forget. I married a monster hunter. I’ll get use out of it too.” She touts, sticking her tongue out at him as if to prove her point – not that she thinks she needs to sell it too much. He was at the wedding, and if there was a wine fountain that could heal here, she’d feel a lot better about letting him go after those really dangerous creatures that people sometimes were certain they had lingering in their backyards.

Nodding at the mention of Torchline’s fountain, she takes a second sip of her own glass and relishes in the tartness of the wine before she’s leaning over to inspect the papers he thumbs through. “Oh that sounds nice. I hope you have fun.” She flashes him a more honest smile, even if it twitches with something like what the fuck Danta when he shoves some papers in a drawer she had just finished cleaning out and organizing.

Let it be known that Kiada never really runs out of things to do and she certainly isn’t going to complain about it. “Works for me. Anything you need me to do while you’re gone?” She asks, lifting the wine glass to her lips again to hide the twitch of her smile.

but we could be together, if you wanted to
do i wanna know if this feeling flows both ways?

I'm still comparing your past to my future

"Oh that's right," Danta says with a fanged smile, the Maverick running his finger around the edge of his wine glass in an unsuccessful attempt to make it sing. "And how is the mighty hunter of beasts and monstrosities? We don't see him very much here in the Dusklight." He knows it's because of Asta, finding it more amusing every time, but still. It's nice to ask after your Registrar's family, right?

Taking up the glass again at last to sip at it (something he knows works), Danta hums his agreement; he's sure he will have fun, even if he's not sure what kind it'll be just yet. As for the contents of the drawer, he spots the look on Kia's face, ensuring he maintains eye contact with her as he slooooowly crams it shut, the papers crunching inside. You do not see me. I'm magical.

"Mmm, I don't think so. Keep an eye on the mud situation and make sure we've got people cleaning it up and stopping shit flooding, especially down here in the Whisper." Other than that, he thinks it should be smooth sailing. "And when I get back I'll tag you in to have a mental health vacation, how about that? Unless mine sucks, obviously. I can't endorse something I don't enjoy myself."

Dantalion

it might be your wound but they're my sutures

KIADA

i'm sorry to interrupt, it's just i'm constantly on the cusp
of trying to kiss you, i don't know if you feel the same as i do

She watches the rim of the wine glass as it offers up nothing more than a pitiful squeak for Danta’s attempts, and as he asks about Fox she gives into the impulse to lean across the desk and shove at his shoulder like a cat prodding a glass off the edge of a counter. “He’s good. He’ll be happy to know Asta’s taking a vacay.” She trills as she withdraws, sipping at the glass again in an almost matter of fact way.

It wasn’t a secret that Fox disliked Asta – not that Kia hadn’t tried to make the shadowy man more appealing. Something about the teeth, she thinks she remembers him saying. Or maybe the aura? Anyway.

As he makes eye contact with her, her smile brightens in a way that seems to suggest I fucking see you, you twat, tail flicking as she remains quiet for what her tasks would be while he’s gone. “Got it. I’ve got a group on rotation and another group with some abandoneds that are helping with clearing up the drains already.” Feeling rather proud of herself, she shoots him a brighter grin to hear she’d get her own vacation. “Deal. I’ll still go even if yours sucks.” So there.

but we could be together, if you wanted to
do i wanna know if this feeling flows both ways?

I'm still comparing your past to my future

"Maybe with us both gone he can come and help you work for a day or two? You know, bring your monster hunter to work day." Grinning and shrugging his shoulders, he leaves that up to Kiada and promptly finishes his wine as she describes the efforts already underway to keep the Grounds from being eaten by a mudslide. "See, there you go. I knew there was a reason why I made a council." A council of Kiada, but whatever.

Setting his empty glass down on the desk (and considering, for a moment, pushing it off entirely), instead Danta finally rises back to his feet with his bag and his little holster of lightning. "I would expect nothing less," he purrs. "Alright, I better get ready to head out. Lightning, wine fountain that heals, self-care vacations. I have high hopes for the year already."

And with that, he's gone once again from the office.

~FIN

Dantalion

it might be your wound but they're my sutures