white roses in the red dirt

so give me your prayers up on your feet
and i'll give you a show, it helps fill the seats

The slab leveled thanks to Charlie’s work, allows for the butcher to place the marks exactly where they needed to be in order to make sure it was both level and the ideal representation of half perfect, half not. So when he steps back to allow her to look at it and see, a deep chuckle leaves him to see her excitement over it.

It’s reflective in him as his tail wags similarly to his fyrhund shift would – more relaxed and content than her own spaded tail with how it flicks back and forth, he inclines his head to her. “Of course you may, darling.” He says, discarding the chalk and collecting up a chisel and hammer so that he can work on his side, letting her pick which tools to use for hers. “Have fun with it.” Comes the quieter addition as Astaroth moves to his side of the slab and starts to break off the larger pieces of the side until he can get close enough to the chalk line to get more precise.

Astaroth

so give me your sins, give me your lies
but whisper your love, and i'll whisper mine

charlie

"Oh I plan to." The priestess hums. Unfortunately because obsidian is natural Charlie can't simply use her magic on it, but instead she selects the smallest chisels that Asta had brought, hoping to fit them into her palm and use them as an extension of her own hands. "Sometimes I wish we could partially shift the way the attuned do, you know?" She murmurs conversationally as her fingertips dance across the glassy surface.

"In moments like these it'd be so nice to have claws." Charlie adds, glancing at the butcher with a lighthearted shrug.

Without much of a plan, though by no means recklessly, the priestess begins to tap the chisel in various places along her side of the slab. Some immediately had spiderwebs of tension racing away from the metal, whereas others hardly did more than leave a small notch. It was against these weakened places in the slab that she set herself to work, chipping away the stone until only what was strongest remained.

Please, please, please don't prove I'm right
& please, please, please
don't bring me to tears when I just did my makeup so nice

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

so give me your prayers up on your feet
and i'll give you a show, it helps fill the seats

“I find myself wishing for that quite often, darling.” Astaroth hums as he works, having imagined in the past the ability to partially shift to make his teeth even sharper or to have the ears of his fyrhund shift on his head amongst his horns if only to pin them back for added dramatic flare and emphasis. But alas, he has to make do with what they have, and for the most part the butcher thinks he succeeds.

Claws would make quick work of it, too, though. But his portion is supposed to be far more precise, and as the larger pieces fall away to reveal the mostly flat edge of the pedestal he’s intending to create, he swaps the larger chisel out for a smaller, flatter one, to get the curves down. “Do you recall the tea I told you about? I brought some and my tea set, I thought it might be nice to share a cup or two once we are done.” Glancing over the slab of obsidian toward Charlie, he pauses in his work to hear her response.

It takes some time to get the shape down, but when it does the butcher grabs a file from the bag and starts to smooth out the stone, polishing it shortly after until his side is completed.

Astaroth

so give me your sins, give me your lies
but whisper your love, and i'll whisper mine

charlie

"Right?" Charlie exclaims enthusiastically. Of course she'd never actually suggest that the ancients ought to be any different than they in fact were, but sometimes she wished she could have her claws out.

Tap, tap, tapping away, the priestess is able to be a lot more laissez-faire with her efforts than the butcher was. "Mhmm." Raising her eyebrows, Charlie glances over her shoulder before accidentally knocking out a rather large chunk she hadn't intended to. Oh well. "Ooh, or three!" The blonde chimes eagerly, and once more, had this little exercise not been in service to Dygra, Charlie would have abandoned it already to have tea instead. "What kind did you bring?"

Eyeing Asta as he reached for smaller and smaller files and then a file, the priestess purses her lips as she takes a step back. Closing one eye and narrowing the other, her tongue poking from the corner of her mouth, she inspects her side of the slab with absolutely no real strategy, only finding that she quite liked the sharp angles and the utter absence of sense and order.

Please, please, please don't prove I'm right
& please, please, please
don't bring me to tears when I just did my makeup so nice

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

so give me your prayers up on your feet
and i'll give you a show, it helps fill the seats

Pleased to see how its taking shape, the butcher starts to smooth out his portion with files and polishing materials. Once the side has a smooth enough surface, he starts to work on the other, leaving the point where the joint connected, intending to keep it sharp as can be. It never hurt to have more options to prick ones’ finger, did it?

Chuckling lightly as Charlie suggests three, the butcher isn’t one to deny anyone a few or a lot of cups of tea – and while he works, his dark gaze remains focused on the obsidian slab in front of him, glancing over once again to see how Charlie’s side is ending up. “I brought a chocolate and peppermint one for you to try, as well as a charry blend.” Options, in case she didn’t harbor the sweet tooth he had.

The shrine itself becomes carved much into the design he’d had in mind – matching it to the half polished and near mirror finish while the other side was broken up with pockets of jagged cuts, like when the metaphorical bomb went off, it took out half of the shrine as well as the flooring.

Astaroth

so give me your sins, give me your lies
but whisper your love, and i'll whisper mine

charlie

Glancing at Asta's side of the slab, Charlie folds her arms comfortably across her chest, assessing it from various angles. Her fingertips twitched against her skin, her tail lashing back and forth again and again, and while it might seem as though she was growing more and more annoyed the longer she looked, eventually she flashed a toothy grin up at the butcher. "Ugh, it's perfect!' She gushes sounding utterly delighted. "I can practically feel the pull of entropy just looking at your side, that's how good it is." All those smooth lines, all those polished edges just beginning for a chaotic touch.

"Someone has very clever hands." The priestess purrs, and innuendo or not, it certainly was true.

"Mmmmmmmmmmmm." The priestess hums, her tail lashing animatedly behind her as her mouth began to water. It was difficult to imagine the taste of things she's never experienced before but that didn't stop her mind from trying. "Do you have more to do, or can we go now?" She wonders, not wanting to pull Asta away from his work if he felt he had more to do, but unable to ignore the anticipation that had the muscles of her jaw softly feathering.

Please, please, please don't prove I'm right
& please, please, please
don't bring me to tears when I just did my makeup so nice

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

so give me your prayers up on your feet
and i'll give you a show, it helps fill the seats

“Thank you, darling.” Astaroth purrs contently, withdrawing from it to brush away the shavings, letting them mesh into the revealed earth. Stepping away and brushing off his hands and collecting the tools, he’s very content with the design of the shrine. Packing away the tools, a soft laugh leaves him to her innuendo, and the grin he shoots over toward her is sent with a wink.

Rising back up from the pack, he steps over toward her with a nod, offering a hand out for her to take. “I think it is perfect as it is right now. I have the tea and the tea set with me. Do you have a sitting area or a space you’d prefer to relax and brew it?” They could summon the fire to heat up the tea kettle, but if there was a more comfortable space for the priestess, the butcher certainly won’t complain.

Astaroth

so give me your sins, give me your lies
but whisper your love, and i'll whisper mine

charlie

Sliding her hand into his, her fingers momentarily blazing with flame, Charlie crinkles her nose affectionately up at Asta before nodding. "Mmhm! I'll show you!" She replies eagerly, nodding her head so that he might know which direction they were headed without having to tug him.

Within one of the vast alcoves Charlie had accumulated various chairs and couches—and even a single bed—arranging them together to create little pockets of intimacy and larger spaces for communal congregating. "Taddaaaaa!" Fanning out the fingers of her free hand, the blonde looks up at Asta with a bright smile. "I know none of it really matches, but maybe that can be part of its charm?" Scrunching her nose as if not entirely convinced of this herself, she shrugs before flopping down onto one of the couches that had a low coffee table before it that they could use for the tea.

Please, please, please don't prove I'm right
& please, please, please
don't bring me to tears when I just did my makeup so nice

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

so give me your prayers up on your feet
and i'll give you a show, it helps fill the seats

Murmuring a great! as he follows the priestess toward the sitting room, immediately taking in the sight of every piece of furniture and mismatched pieces. Not that Astaroth would complain, even before he sees the glimmer of uncertainty in her face as he snags his bag on the way. Settling into the space, Asta settles beside her as he pulls out the tea set, a vibrant red to match his usual wardrobe.

Getting it set up and sparking the flame to set it upon so that it can brew, he returns to sit beside her, posture straight as he smooths his hand over the fabric of the seat. “I like it. I believe they call it quaint.” He hums as he looks around and takes it all in once more, letting his gaze land on her. “So, while it’s heating up, have you been up to anything fun recently, darling?” Wondering halfway whether or not there was anything he may be able to help with from all the help she has been giving him.

Astaroth

so give me your sins, give me your lies
but whisper your love, and i'll whisper mine

charlie

"Ooooh, it's beautiful." Charlie purrs, her tail wrapping around her lower leg as she leans forward to inspect the delicate craftsmanship. Leaning back against the couch as the water heats, the priestess tucks one leg beneath her small frame as she gazes up at the butcher. "Mostly I've been working around the Temple." Charlie murmurs, though whether anyone else would consider that fun might have been up for debate, the priestess was able to make almost any task enjoyable.

"I did go up to Stormbreak recently. It sure is different up there." Though her nose wrinkles at the memory, Charlie doesn't necessarily look displeased so much as a touch overwhelmed. "Have you ever been?" Lifting her eyebrows, the blonde waits for his answer. There was no use explaining the gothic columns and how they loomed overhead if Asta had seen it for himself already.

Please, please, please don't prove I'm right
& please, please, please
don't bring me to tears when I just did my makeup so nice

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

so give me your prayers up on your feet
and i'll give you a show, it helps fill the seats

He leans back after a moment, one leg crossing over the other, smiling a touch softer at the red cups still on the low coffee table. “Thank you. Danta purchased it for me.” He hums, before his dark gaze flits over toward her, listening to hear what she’s been up to. His tail drapes over the edge of the couch, the spaded tip flicking idly like a comfortable cat, until she mentions Stormbreak.

“I have been there once.” He admits, right when the kettle starts to whistle. Standing to retrieve it, he thinks back on the design of the city and the people within. “It was the first place I went to receive new attire.” It’s surprisingly fondly said as he returns with it to set up the tea to brew. “I got many strange looks. I simply assumed they have not seen Ancients very often, perhaps that is why?” Given the decor of the buildings, though, it seemed beautiful and yet menacing all the same.

Astaroth

so give me your sins, give me your lies
but whisper your love, and i'll whisper mine

charlie

"He's got good taste." Charlie hums, and if her eyebrows happen to bounce as her blue gaze sparkles over the butcher, she's probably just emphasizing how perfect the tea set was for the butcher.

"Oh, well then you know!" Sitting back so as not to be in Asta's way as he sets about brewing the tea, the little ancient reaches for a pillow that she presses against her chest. "It all felt so...so big. But not in a good way. Or not all of it, anyway. I had a friend show me around and he took me to this place where they had music that was so loud you could feel it in your bones, and lights of every colour." It was magical, had to be, but back in Charlie's time there had never been anything like that at all, and while she understood its purpose immediately (it was a rave), it had still felt overwhelmingly new.

"I know there's no easy way to just...slip back into things after being away for so long, but it can be really hard sometimes, you know?" Crinkling her nose as a smile blooms across her lips, Charlie leans her cheek against the couch as she beams adoringly up at the butcher. "That's why it's so nice that you and Danta found each other. Having someone from the same when must really make things easier."

Please, please, please don't prove I'm right
& please, please, please
don't bring me to tears when I just did my makeup so nice

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

so give me your prayers up on your feet
and i'll give you a show, it helps fill the seats

“He truly does.” Astaroth hums, letting his smile twitch a bit gentler as if nostalgic for a brief moment, before the whistling kettle pulls him out of it. He preps the tea to brew and listens as she mentions Stormbreak, as pillows move and are cradled to her chest. Only when he’s satisfied with the way it’s begun to brew does the butcher sit back for a few moments to give the priestess all of his attention.

Cocking his horned head toward her, the smile takes on an edge of weariness just at the thought. “That sounds a touch overwhelming, darling.” He would be for him, at least, regardless of how much he loved music. To feel it break through his body and bones? The idea alone has his tail flicking a bit more aggressively.

It all fades though when she continues, and despite her beaming smile, there’s a sadness lingering in her tone and the words that she says and Astaroth hums softly as he leans forward to finish up the tea, pouring some into a cup for her first and then himself, finishing it off with sugar and the lightest touch of cream. “It does and does not.” He answers honestly as he hands her a red cup, before he collects his own. “I do not have to explain why I think of something a certain way. But we both have to make adjustments to better suit this version of Caido.” His free hand gestures helplessly around them.

“And truly, had it been just as it was back in the Climb of our time, Danta and I would not be how we are now to one another.” His too sharp smile is still apologetic as he shakes his head a little. “I am sorry that you do not have someone from your time, though. And that the closest you’ve gotten so far is us.” He adds a little self-deprecating humor to lighten the mood.

Astaroth

so give me your sins, give me your lies
but whisper your love, and i'll whisper mine

charlie

"I really liked it, but I'd just put on brand new heels and so my feet were sore and then someone tried to steal drugs from my friends, and.." With a theatrical huff, the priestess gives her head a shake.

Turning her blue stare toward the tea, Charlie watches with silent fascination as Asta goes about preparing and pouring it, gaping as if she'd never seen tea made before. Holding her fingers out delicately, the heat from the cup not bothering her at all, the blonde lifts the brew to her nose and inhales deeply. "This smells incredible." Each word is punctuated with a flick of the spade on the end of Charlie's tail, and without waiting for it to cool, she slurps a sip into her mouth, letting the tea sit on her tongue.

"Mmmmmmmmmm." She hums, still sloshing the dark liquid around her mouth as if not wanting to let even a drop of it go to waste. Finally swallowing, Charlie shivers with delight before helping herself to a much larger sip. "Yeah. It...it sure has changed." Though the blonde does her best to sound pleased about this, entropy and all, her shoulders do slump a touch as she rests the cup on the pillow in her lap.

"No? But you seem so close?" Then again, if all they had was each other in this strange new Caido, perhaps it made just as much sense for them to be bonded to one another regardless of how things had been before for them. "Aww, I love you both though! And everyone! Sometimes it's just..." Wrinkling her nose, Charlie stares down into her tea. "Change is good, but that doesn't mean it can't be hard at the same time."

Please, please, please don't prove I'm right
& please, please, please
don't bring me to tears when I just did my makeup so nice

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!