[o] keeping it PG - Positively Gory

Blessed are the curious

Knell nods at his question, proceeding to demonstrate her magic with a little mental effort. His obvious interest and approving movements draw her smile wider, the fire appearing to ripple with the unspoken emotion that swells in her chest, particularly as he shares his own fire in a kindred display of friendship. Her blue flame reaches out towards the orange in quiet acknowledgement before they're both dispersing into the air, leaving only the warmth and the flickering echo in her eyes. 

When Asta offers to show her his favorite shift, it comes as no surprise that the young girl is leaning forward with intense and overwhelming curiosity, her head bobbing as she pipes up with a "Yes please!" 

Then he's moving, rising to his feet that suddenly transform into hooves that clack gently against the obsidian floor. His head lifts higher, his antlers now wreathed in fire that stretches up like a cozy hearth atop the deer's head. 

Knell takes in every detail, scrambling with her awkward limbs to stand atop the bench and reach her hands up towards the flames. "Wow! It's so pretty! I like your antlers!" Whether a tall, dark, dangerous looking man is happy to be called 'pretty,' Knell doesn't quite know, her eyes fixed intently on where the fire originates, a million theories and curiosities sparking through her mind. But instead of asking them when he can't answer, she lowers her hands and stands proudly on her perch to say, "Look at mine!"

She reaches inward for that thin veil, pressing her mind against it until she feels the familiar heat spread from behind her ears. The Temple comes into sharper focus, the scent of blood, fire, and aged paper making her nose twitch as she lands on four lithe paws. She gives Asta a lupine smile, hopping along the bench to show off the way her fur ripples and shifts like a living flame, careful to avoid the book should she ruin it.

Knell

for they shall have adventures!

if you could find your way inside
you'd have to find a way to stay alive

Amused that she’d followed along with what he’d anticipated when it came to childish curiosity, the butcher stands and begins to shift – transforming from man to fiery crowned deer, sleek and black with fluffy ears and a fluffy tail, cloven hooves that click against the Temple floor. His gaze lands back on the youth as she rises on the perch of the bench to get a better view, his head lowering toward her to offer a small huff of amusement to hear that the shift was pretty and that she liked his antlers.

He withdraws a fraction, though, as she begins to show off one of hers – ears perked forward and curious as she begins to shift from small child to an ember fox kit. Orange fur sparks and ripples like a flame and Asta’s very obviously impressed by it, shifting back into himself to get a better view of the fox. “Very adorably fierce, my dear.” Asta offers verbally the second he has a chance to, crouching before the bench to get a better look at the ember fox shift, figuring it must be a newer one just as his feirw shift was from their goddess’ tinkering as of late.

Astaroth

welcome to the show, come show me in

She contains her energy as Asta shifts, leaning closer to inspect her form, but Knell doesn't still, her paws shuffling in place as she watches him in turn. Ears twist forward to hear his words, head tilting as she gives a small yip and a playful spin, showing it off from every angle. Unlike the gangly limbs of her other form, she moves with ease, each movement landing how and where she wants it, the control feeling as natural as breathing. 

But since she can't communicate in her fox form, Knell pauses, fur rippling into skin as she stands atop the bench again. The lupine grin shifts into a childish smile, red hair curling into her face where she pushes it out of the way with an open palm. "Thanks! I think so too!" 'Adorably fierce' isn't something she's been called before, but Knell decides in that moment that she likes the term very much. 

Moving to sit back on the bench, she looks to the forgotten book off to the side, the various blood vessels crisscrossing through the image. Her eyes alight once more, eager to learn more about the veins and arteries within bodies before turning back to the bones and muscles of before. It's very important business leaning everything she can, and she has a lot of catching up to do with Asta. 

Looking to the Ancient, she smiles, kicking her feet out again as she announces, "Well, I should get back to reading. Do you want to stay and read with me some more?" She gets the sense that it'll be easier to absorb the knowledge if she has someone to ask all her questions to, and she likes his company.

Knell

Astaroth

i think i'm the devil in disguise, here's my state of mind

Excitement ripples through the ember fox with the shifting of her paws, the small yip and the tilt of her head, and the butcher can’t help but to let the soft laugh leave him to spy her boundless energy within her shift – wondering what it was like to be young and full of it again. But, he leans back once it seems like she’s shifting back, book perfectly fine and not at all singed in the process. He nods to her agreement, and when she takes the seat on the bench again he’s half expecting to get back into his day when she snags the book and sets it in her lap.

Her feet kick out and her question reaches him before he has a moment to actually step away, though, tail flicking idly in amusement as he seems to debate whether or not he has other things to do. He doesn’t, really, not when it comes to time for Dygra’s demigod. “Sure, I suppose I can stay a little longer, darling.” He decides, stepping back over to resume his seat and to read over her shoulder as she peruses the book some more.

Happy to answer whatever questions she has, he’ll stay until he really does need to leave, but hopefully imparts some of his wisdom into her in the process.

- FIN

give me destruction, tell me i'm scrumptious
i'm a fucking delight