seven sins, don't let them in

// Greed won't rest 'til he's crowned as a king //

“Correct.” Asta drawls with all the cocky arrogance of a man that thrived based off of ego and reputation as he makes himself comfortable on their bed, his dark gaze full of expectation as he peers back at his fiancé. The news of it being a long time since someone told him he wasn’t allowed to do something strikes true, enough that the butcher can’t hide the small smirk that tugs on his face. At least it’s this and nothing serious, nothing like what Morax would have told Danta what he wasn’t allowed to do.

So, he nods, comfortably watching from his perch on the bed, watching as the Maverick slowly unbuttons his shirt and hangs it on the back of a chair much to the butcher’s surprise – fully anticipating yet another pile of Danta clothes on the floor of their den. “Oh I am very lucky.” He confirms, his gaze soaking in the smooth, scarred skin of his fiancé and the pants that hang low against his hips with unabashed appreciation.

The useless belt is undone slowly as well and with the question, the butcher’s low chuckle is warm and inviting. “Great.” He hums, his gaze skating over his skin to lift to his face with a glimmer of amusement in the deep honey of his eyes. “Prim and proper, though I will say at this rate it may be my next birthday before you join me.” Dark brows lift as he tilts his head, a curtain of dark hair falling across his shoulder.

It’s evident he does want Danta to join him, though, from the warmth that flares from the alcohol and the heat that flushes his cheeks and splotches against his neck. It might not be Leafchange anymore, but it’s evident that Asta’s enjoying the show, lounging there against their furs and blankets waiting for Danta to join him like a divine shadow to be taken.

Astaroth

// From the land to the sea, he'll take all that he needs //

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

"What can I say? I'm not so practiced at prim and proper, not like you are. Takes me a little longer to put everything in its right place." Danta's voice drips with amusement, his fingers deftly unbuttoning his pants, though he makes no move to take them off just yet, caught by the butcher's gaze and the pink in his cheeks. "Besides, I'm not sure you're as annoyed about it as you're making out,", he adds.

Rolling his shoulders to draw up his glamour, Danta nevertheless turns at last to shimmy out of his pants, glancing over his shoulder as he steps free of them. "There," he chimes. "All in time for this year's birthday." Straightening up, of course he takes the extra few seconds to fold the garment and set it on the chair with his shirt, hands lifting to feather back through his fair hair, left unadorned for today thankfully enough.

"Much better," he purrs, prowling forward so he might finally join Asta in their den. The furs are plush and warm against his bare skin, but that's nothing to the heat radiating from the butcher, and Danta seeks it out immediately with a greedy touch that cares little for propriety now.

Dantalion

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

// Greed won't rest 'til he's crowned as a king //

“Does that mean you are the baby when it comes to etiquette?” The butcher drawls, playfully sent back to the Maverick as he remains there against their furs and comfort, keeping his gaze lingering on every inch of his fiance’s exposed skin. A low laugh leaves him at the idea that he isn’t as annoyed as he’s pretending to be – which is true but still beside the point as the butcher relaxes.

The glamour is drawn up and they look as normal and boring as can be, humming a note. “Thank Dygra.” The butcher drawls at the mention of it being in time for this birthday. And he watches as he folds the pants and feathers his fingers through his golden hair, and as he makes his approach to join him in the den does the butcher start to move – greedily and gladly drawing him in up against him.

Immediately wrapping his arms around him to tangle himself up with him, the butcher dives in and presses a chaste kiss to his lips then descends down to his neck and his shoulder, nuzzling in. “So much better, darling.” He purrs, shifting them enough that he can rest on his back and have the Maverick drape over him to soak up all the heat still splotching his olive skin.

Astaroth

// From the land to the sea, he'll take all that he needs //

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

"I suppose it does," Danta says with a crooked smile. "Unlike you, I have no shame in telling it how it is." Then again, it's not as though he'd ever been given a chance to grow an ego, and the one he possesses now is more like a costume he puts on than anything else.

His laughter is immediately silenced by the warm sweetness of Asta's lips, Danta relaxing and allowing himself to be corralled and adjusted however the butcher decides he'd like him best. Ending up sprawled atop the other man, covered in kisses and feeling thoroughly rescued from the cold and the work he'd been doing, the Maverick relaxes bonelessly against his fiance.

"Mmm, I can only agree," he decides, patting a hand out to snag the nearest blanket and draw it over them, sandwiching the heat all around. "When," he asks, "do you consider that we've prepared for Longnight enough to make plans to creep down to Torchline?"

Dantalion

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

// Greed won't rest 'til he's crowned as a king //

A low laugh leaves him, warm and husky as he draws him up against his chest, effectively blanketing himself with the Maverick. “Oh, how offending.” The butcher drawls, amusement clear as he steals the kiss and drags his lips along the warm expanse of his lover’s pale skin. Feeling him relax against him, the butcher tangles his legs with his, burrowing down into the bed as Danta drags the blankets over, hands lifting to ruffle through the other Ancient’s hair.

Fingertips scratch lightly along his scalp, providing attention where Danta’s horns typically sat, before one hand drops to rub small circles and massages into the nape of his neck. “They have enough firewood now to last them, yes? And Kiada will be here to set anything straight that may go awry..” He muses softly, surging up to press a soft kiss to his forehead before dropping down again to smirk at his lover with a warm and indulgent smile. “I would say we could leave tomorrow and everything would be fine.”

Astaroth

// From the land to the sea, he'll take all that he needs //

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

I'm an expert at offending, Danta might have said, but at that moment Asta's fingers have plunged into his hair and snuck down to the nape of his neck, and rather than any actual words, he grumbles unintelligibly into the other man's shoulder. "We should give Kiada a break next year," he manages after a long few seconds, shifting only enough to receive the kiss to his forehead before his weight drops fully back atop the butcher. "She probably does more work than both of us combined."

Paperwork, anyway; it can't be denied that between them, the Dusklight definitely receives the care and attention it deserves. "And maybe not tomorrow, but soon, then." He smiles - it's always good to know that the region is in a position where it can look after itself while they take themselves off on vacation somewhere. "I quite enjoy being inside with you when it's freezing out there." And whilst even Torchline can be nippy for them this season, it's not like there's snowfall to worry about.

Dantalion

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

// Greed won't rest 'til he's crowned as a king //

Overly content with the grumble that he can’t make out from where Danta’s mumbled it into his shirt, the butcher expertly hides the twitch of his lips in the smile that blooms there where he presses the kiss to his forehead. Exhaling a sigh of relief as Danta drops his weight onto him, the butcher’s free hand winds around his middle and upper shoulders, thumbs stroking along the edge of his shoulder blades and over the soft rise of scar tissue. “Mm, perhaps. We can make our own little LongNight tradition here, maybe?” He pauses, musing thoughtfully. “Let Kiada and Fox take a trek to Torchline to see what it’s like.” He doesn’t know how violently motion sick the hunter gets, but he does think it’s only fair that they trade off now and then.

Even if he selfishly refuses to let it be this year.

Pressing another kiss to his crown, he hums a quiet agreement – more or less at Danta’s whim and will when it comes to making the decision to leave. After all, Danta had a lot more to get in order than the butcher did. “I quite enjoy being inside with you regardless of the temperature outside.” He teases, sinking into the pillows a bit more to shoot a snarky, shit eating grin at his fiancé. “But I will admit it has its extra perks to be like this while watching the snow fall just past our window.” He concedes, thumb still stroking a gentle pattern into his fiance’s skin.

A thought occurs to him then and he perks up a little, honey dark eyes snapping to the handsome blues of the Maverick’s. “Oh! I nearly forgot to mention… I made a deal with Deimos.”

Astaroth

// From the land to the sea, he'll take all that he needs //

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

"Ooooh. Is the tradition that we get wine-drunk and pass out? Because I think we already do that quite often anyway." Maybe they ought to think of something a little less obvious, but Danta is unfortunately in no state to come up with inventive ideas with Asta's hands all over him as they are. "That sounds good, though. I reckon they'd enjoy it down there, all the bonfires and shit." What Ancient doesn't enjoy a roaring fire, after all?

Snorting at Asta's response when it comes to their hiding away from the world come rain or shine, he smiles a kiss against the side of the other man's neck in agreement. "Mm, there's something about being inside when it's awful outside that just makes it feel better," he hums, peeping up just in time to see the butcher seem to wake himself back up, leaving Danta blinking up at him.

A deal has all the necessary pieces falling into place, though, and the Maverick lets out a soft and rumbling laugh, burrowing closer and raising his eyebrows expectantly. "A deal with Deimos, of all people. Do tell me more, before the suspense kills me."

Dantalion

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

// Greed won't rest 'til he's crowned as a king //

A low and warm laugh leaves the butcher to hear Danta’s possible tradition idea, and despite the fact his head is buried in against his neck, he’s sure he’ll be able to feel the stretch of the grin that blooms on his face. “Is it still considered a LongNight tradition if that is something that we do throughout the year?” He poses, fingers still dancing and drawing those gentle motions along the nape of his neck and between his shoulder blades, across every inch of skin he has within arm’s reach.

He hums an agreement to the idea that Kiada and Fox would likely appreciate the bonfires of Torchline and the general party-vibe, even if they would have to miss out next year for it. He does hope to hear something about it when they come back. For now, though, he’s content to nestle into the pillows, feel the gentle press of the kiss to his neck. “It does.” He agrees about being inside while hell raged outside that made it that much better to enjoy it from the confines fo comfort.

He does, however, perk back up with the reminder to tell him of the deal, and he meets Danta’s beautiful blue gaze with a small twitch of a conspirator’s smile. “It is nothing intense or difficult. He asked for information in exchange for a coat like yours.” He nods his bearded chin toward the coat hook, barely viewable between the drapes of their den to the burgundy wool and velvet jacket where it’s hung up, before he’s peering back at his fiancé with that same sharp smile, leaning in to press a kiss to his forehead. “Now, do you still intend on perishing?”

Astaroth

// From the land to the sea, he'll take all that he needs //

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

"No, I suppose not," Danta mumbles, his head tipping down further as if to encourage Asta's fingers to continue their magic along the nape of his neck and beyond. The butcher's grin is contagious, and it takes a couple of moments before he can speak again, but at least this time he's got more of an idea. "You know that day we swapped jobs? When I dressed as the Dusklight security and you were behind the bar? We should do that every Longnight."

Especially given that it will be Deepfrost and Asta will be much less likely to bite everyone's heads off. "Either that, or we pick a time during Longnight and we dress like we're going on the most extravagant night out," he offers as an alternative, despite the fact that - like all other Ancients - they wouldn't dare set foot outside in the endless dark and freezing cold.

Shifting enough to gaze up at the butcher as he starts to expand on his deal with Deimos, Danta's brow furrows automatically at the fairly vague exchange. "Information about what?" he wonders. "I never took Deimos for one to engage with spies. That seems much more... well, anyone else."

Laughing, he nevertheless follows Asta's gaze through the drapes to the coat hook and the coat like his, tilting his head before scoffing out a laugh. "I could have gotten you a red coat from anywhere," he declares, entirely missing the point or the importance of it being like his coat. "Now we are going to match and look ridiculous." Beaming, he silences any retort Asta might have about it with a sudden kiss.

Dantalion

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

// Greed won't rest 'til he's crowned as a king //

Amusement flickers in Asta’s gaze, reflected in the smooth movement of his hands along his fiance’s back and shoulders and neck. “I do recall that, yes.” He murmurs, relaxing into the bed even further, letting Danta drape against him as the plans are made. “We should do that.” He pauses, smirking slightly. “You cut quite the striking figure in my uniform, darling.” Nosing his way into leaving a kiss against the blonde crown of his fiance’s head, the butcher settles again, chuckling at the next potential idea.

And honestly, they could do both. Dress up like they’re going on an extravagant night out and go partake in the festivities of the Dusklight, off duty if they wanted to pretend it was a real date in the confines of the comfort of their space. The options are endless. “And I will be the first to admit I am absolutely a fan of getting you all dolled up.” He practically purrs, pausing in the gentle affections to give the Maverick a squeeze.

Relaxing, he peers down at his fiancé with amusement, spying the furrowed brows at the vague answer he gives. “If I had to guess, he likely meant anything of note that may be beneficial in terms of worldly affairs. However, he did not clarify so I am inclined to offer the most random of information here and there and sprinkle in the things he wants.” It’s a playful thought, though he isn’t entirely sure if he will delve into the humored chaos of those answers if he did want to keep Deimos making items for him.

That was the push and the pull, he supposes. So he distracts himself with nodding toward the coat in general, huffing a deep and accented laugh to hear that Danta thinks they’ll look ridiculous, about to answer and tell him just how ridiculous he could be when Danta silences him with the sudden kiss. One that Asta pushes back into and struggles to keep the smile off his face. He twists them slightly, so that both are on their sides, Danta’s back to the opening of their den as he hooks a leg around him and pulls him in to keep him close, breaking the kiss only when his lungs start to ache. “Keep that up and perhaps I’ll find more reasons to match you and be ridiculous.” He purrs.

Astaroth

// From the land to the sea, he'll take all that he needs //

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

"And you looked positively dashing dressed down. Or up. Or however I would choose to present myself behind the bar on a particular day." Which, luckily for the butcher, really does give him quite a bit of leeway when it comes to his outfit. Smiling a private little smile to himself to feel the kiss pressed to the crown of his head, Danta lets his eyes shut for a moment as if to brand the memory of this casual affection into his mind.

Humming a soft laugh into the crook of his shoulder, he nods in easy agreement to Asta's next point. "That you are. Alright, let's try both next year. Whichever we find more fun for ourselves we'll make a tradition. Though I imagine swapping roles is already the likely winner, given that you can doll me up whenever you like." Except right now of course, because he's not going anywhere.

"In your defence, he is asking for information from an Ancient," he purrs in response to the other man's version of keeping up his end of the deal. "And that's the most chaotic take on it that you could give. I'm very proud of you, even if we will look the same." Grinning against Asta's lips, Danta finally relaxes once again. "And you're in luck - I'm too sleepy to keep this up. Wait until the morning though, and you'll have us in completely matching outfits by the end of the day."

Dantalion

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

// Greed won't rest 'til he's crowned as a king //

It did give him a lot of freedom, and during Deepfrost when half of the time he doesn’t want to spend it getting dressed up in all of his traditional formalities when the idea of it would send him running back to bed from the time it took, Danta’s outfits certainly appear to be more pleasing to his eye in his current spot.

Nestling in comfortably in the bed, the butcher continues on his gentle affections despite the shift in position. “Well, I am always happy to run the experiment, darling.” The dark haired Ancient purrs. “Even if you can read me so well as to know I do enjoy dolling you up.” Pulling back slightly so he can see the waggle of his brows, he settles back down just in time to see Danta continue to miss the point.

A low laugh leaves him, warm and vibrating against the Maverick. “Not just look the same, darling.” The butcher hums, as if correcting it before Danta gets whisked away to sleep. “I am also able to endure the cold just as you can with your jacket.” To this he raises his brow. “And besides, you never seem that terribly opposed to match my fetching style of dress unless it involves a corset.”

Astaroth

// From the land to the sea, he'll take all that he needs //

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

"As am I," Danta agrees with a fiendish grin. "Though if we go away to Torchline before we get a chance to reverse our roles this year, you have full permission to doll me up in all the island finery you can get your hands on." He's not sure what counts as dressing to the nines in Torchline where the point usually tends to be to wear as little as possible, but he feels as though that might be part of the fun and the challenge for Asta.

Waggling his brows right back to the other Ancient, Danta is just about to bully his way against his lover in an effort to silence him to sleep when he finally drives home the point of them looking similar. "Oho, so that is what you meant," he drawls, his voice muffled against the butcher's chest, voice already a bit slurred. "I'll pretend I didn't hear you mention a corset. Maybe a trip to Halo might not be so far out of reach soon, then."

Dantalion

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