you could call me babe for the weekend

Flora

The way Flora thinks she's somehow taming Astaroth with her charm and affection, where he's merely allowing himself to be fussed over, is a dangerous misunderstanding that's sure to cause problems later, but for the moment the way the butcher's dark eyes drink her in, contrasted against the small maroon bud on his neck has the Doubletake smiling with velvet delight.

Stretching out fingers ringed with gold, Flora combs back the lock of hair which his constant bending forward had once again allowed to slip out, before tidying the placement of the silver chain on his horn. "Well, like I said in my letter..' The queen purrs, her words twisting with her smile. "Just a bit of divine help from Frey." Of course she might have been able to do it sooner, their first date actually, had someone not gone and gotten himself battered by a tree. Ahh well, Flora certainly hadn't minded, and if she hadn't saved Asta, none of this might have happened in the first place.

"Ever the gentleman." Flora hums, looking for all the world like a kitten whose whiskers were flecked with cream even if the heat in her belly had been ignored. Smoothing out her curls and adjusting her necklaces, the queen lifts an eyebrow as if silently asking for the butcher's final approval before emerging. "Oh, one other thing." Her fingertips on the curtain, the Doubletake glances over her shoulder. "I was hoping to do a check on some of the Guild's caches around Torchline. Do you think you and Danta might come down next week or so to help a girl out?"

Fatefully, I tried to pick my battles 'til the battle picked me
Misery, Like the war of words I shouted in my sleep

Code stolen from Queen Sky

Astaroth

// but if you think I'm misery,

“Ah yes.” He hums as she fusses over him in turn and answers with the true reason of waiting a season, even if it starts to sink something strange in his gut. Another sensation he doesn’t know how to place, and so it floats endlessly within the tangle of feelings he’s unable to compartmentalize aside from reverting to the gentlemanly self she knows him for.

Helping her get into the dress, he straightens it out and smoothes out any wrinkles, making sure her curls aren’t ruined or trapped beneath the strap of the pale dress. “Of course, darling.” He hums, flashing her a too bright smile and inclining his head a little, giving her more of a view of that reddened mark on his neck above his collar.

Stepping back content with how she looks, she receives that approval as she makes her way to the curtain. “I do not see how that would be an issue.” He agrees easily, following her out of the dressing room like a tall shadow, ignoring boldly the couple perusing the finery as they stop and stare at the two of them as they emerge.

Either way, Astaroth, with the red dress over his arm, pays for the the work the boutique will be doing, and ever the gentleman, treats Flora to an easier time out and about before parting back home, on time this time.

— FIN <333

then baby, all the company,
it never leaves me alone, no //