when you're close to me

we thieves and lovers will keep up our urges to sin, to sin
let your desire be simply acquired within, within

The kiss to his hair has him closing his eyes against the bright golden hour hue of the panorama in front of them, though Asta doesn’t mind. If anything he gets the warmth of the Climb unbothered by crows, with Danta in his arms, content to linger there for what felt like eternity if they wanted to.

“It appears right to me.” Though whether or not it was also romanticized for a time he knew how things worked, rather than being thrust into the new technology of the world, it was hard to say. What he knows, though, is that it seems right, and everything is perfect with the way the other man says into his arms, as he gets to be as open and loving unapologetically, even if Danta isn’t sure how to receive it entirely.

Hearing the low tone of his lover’s voice with the way he’s nodding off, the butcher presses a series of soft kisses against his neck where he can reach it, arms still possessive but gently wound around Danta to keep him close and relaxed. “I am so glad, darling. You deserve it.” Suddenly, for as impulsive a thought this change had been, he wonders what he can do next year to top this.

He has a year to think about it at least, and for now he wills the Climb’s sunset to continue as they both close their eyes, content to hold Danta for however long his doze takes, uninterrupted, pressing the occasional kiss against his skin before he buries the bridge of his nose in against citrus and sage and feels completely and utterly whole.

Astaroth

if you want me all to yourself, then take on the leap

// sun comin' up on a dream come around //

"You appear right to me," Danta sasses, almost under his breath, the sleepy smile in his words suggesting that he's well aware that what he says both does and doesn't make much sense. It's the last coherent thing Asta will get out of him for a while either way; with the soft press of his lover's lips against his neck and the way he nestles in against his shoulder a few moments later, the Maverick is out for the count in no time at all. His tail flicks idly for a second or two before stilling as he succumbs to real sleep, basking in the warm, sunset glow of The Climb.

By the time he comes back around they might be anywhere - literally, given the properties of the room, and Danta doesn't know if he awakens to The Climb, Halo, or to another place entirely. All he does know is the warm comfort of the bed beneath him and the smell of blood and smoke and sweetness, and it's with a slow stretch that he arches his back to languish in the space. "Mm... so much for waking me if I fell asleep." He grins, peeking his eyes open.

Dantalion

// one hundred years from the empire now //

we thieves and lovers will keep up our urges to sin, to sin
let your desire be simply acquired within, within

The sass is accompanied by a low hum of a laugh that softens as Danta begins to crash. He holds him, pressing tender and gentle kisses against him as he slumps against his shoulder, and he’s quite content to let him sleep for however long he wishes. He doesn’t even change the room all that much, simply speeding along the sunset of the Climb until night falls, a storm on the horizon that he deftly keeps away until he feels Danta stirring.

It’s still stiflingly warm, as the Climb often was, with the dark blue hue of the rocks broken up by the flares of magma rivers brightening up the occasional dark corner of their view. And he’s spent the time while Danta slept, watching a couple of fyrhunds prowl on the hunt. Lights have sparked to life in little bobbing orbs amongst the silks of the bed and the actual room they find themselves in, with the wide expanse of the Climb at night in the distance in that same panoramic view.

He may have dozed off for a few moments himself, too, but for the most part he’s been well and awake enough to keep his arms around Danta and hold him close, littering his skin with affection until he feels him stir and stretch, shifting himself to make room for the full stretch. “You needed your sleep.” He murmurs playfully, taking the moment to stretch out himself as he wills the lightning to come closer — one of Danta’s favorites if he recalls — allowing the low rumble of thunder to echo and roll down the crevices of the Climb. “How was your nap, darling?”

Astaroth

if you want me all to yourself, then take on the leap

// sun comin' up on a dream come around //

"That's no excuse. We both need our sleep," Danta objects without any real fire to the words, stretching himself out completely before relaxing once more against Asta, draped against the other man in utter comfort. He does smile a grateful kiss against the butcher's cheek, however, as he asks how his momentary doze had been. "Every sleep I have lately is the best one I've had for days," he admits without shame. Now that the other man is warming his bed again, he's got no reason to have anything but sweet dreams.

Blinking out at the sudden flash of thunder and the purr of lightning, Danta perks up a bit so he can watch the storm roll in across The Climb. With his pale face awash in the fiendish glow of magma and the pale ghostlight of the storm, there's something altogether quite young in his expression; an open curiosity he'd never been allowed to express in this place growing up.

"I didn't realise you'd ever seen storms like these while you were in The Climb," he says, having asssumed that Asta holed himself up every night away from the crows.

Dantalion

// one hundred years from the empire now //

we thieves and lovers will keep up our urges to sin, to sin
let your desire be simply acquired within, within

The nonpressed objection has Asta snorting lightly, giving Danta room to stretch out. “I dozed for a few minutes, I believe.” Though time was certainly an odd construct within this room with the ability to change how it looked at any given moment. But he leans in when the kiss is pressed to his cheek, indulgent in nuzzling back in with a soft hum. “I am glad.” It’s been the best sleep he’s gotten, too, without the fear of nightmares betraying him.

But then Danta notices the storm Asta has conjured for him, and letting him straighten the butcher shifts enough to finally release his hold on the Maverick to press up against his side, popping his glamour on so that he might rest his head against Danta’s shoulder in turn once he’s noted the youthful expression lying there. “I saw them occasionally in passing when I left or arrived to the Climb.. This is the first time I’ve witnessed it fully, so you will have to tell me if I got it right.” Comes the soft chuckle, dark gaze drifting back out to the scene before them as the storm rolls in further.

It’s still hot, with the cracks of lightning coming from clouds in the distance. The charge in the air sparks a nearby plume that erupts so minutely to join in on the show with a beautiful mixture of blue and red forks of lightning, crackling into the sky amongst the clouds and smoke. His gaze flits to Danta now, observing him as he watches the storm. “It is truly beautiful.” He murmurs, though it’s somewhat unclear whether he means the storm or the expression cast upon his lover’s face.

Astaroth

if you want me all to yourself, then take on the leap

// sun comin' up on a dream come around //

"Clearly I didn't tire you out enough earlier," Danta drawls, arching an eyebrow in challenge over his shoulder at the other man. "Remind me to try again in a bit, mm?" He doubts either of them would complain - and it's his birthday besides. Shifting to give Asta room to lean in beside him, he smiles softly to see him without the telltale obsidian crowning his head, nuzzling into his hair for no other reason than because he can.

"Oh I think you got it just right," he says, his words barely beyond a whisper as the sky lights up and a jet of magma erupts to join with the storm. Feeling the thunder ripple through his bones as it purrs across the sky, Danta reaches out to sling an arm around the butcher, letting out a long breath he doesn't realise he's been holding. "It is, in its own way," he agrees in a low voice. "There's nowhere quite like it."

It doesn't mean he's in any rush to spend prolonged time there beyond their little vacation within these walls, but it's certainly got its merits.

Dantalion

// one hundred years from the empire now //

we thieves and lovers will keep up our urges to sin, to sin
let your desire be simply acquired within, within

The low chuckle that accompanies the playful hum of his lover’s voice has him exhaling an affectionate sound. “I did not want to miss this.” He admits in a softer rumble of his tone, as if sleeping the time away meant that he’d get to miss the moments he could watch the golden reflection of the sun dance across the panes of the Maverick’s face and reflected stunning rainbows from his diamond horns onto Asta’s warm, olive toned skin, from the way the little wrinkle between his brow softens into nonexistence with just how relaxed he was, to missing the way he stays in that beautifully deep slumber that draws slow and content breaths, where Asta had the chance to sit there and hold him close and keep him warm and feel his slow and content heartbeats.

All things which he certainly didn’t want to miss. But it’s affectionate, regardless, even as he nuzzles in a little and allows his glamour to vanish his pronged, antlered horns from puncturing his lover. “I will hold you to it.” He teases back softly, before he draws quiet to watch the storm as it plays over the space before them, as the lightning cracks and the erupting magma vibrates and shocks the air. He’s shifted again in this time, watching the splash of color paint Danta’s face in varying hues, dark eyes peering up at his lover. “Agreed.” He murmurs, before he surges up to press a soft kiss to Danta’s jaw, shifting enough to wind his arms around his Theocrat.

“I think given everything this represents for us, I am quite fond of the Hollowed Grounds in comparison.” He admits a little quieter, lips brushing against Danta’s jaw, nuzzling in where he can, listening as the sky begins to growl with another streak of pale blue against the dark scarlet background.”I will admit, I did find it to be a… mmm, unique choice when I first found you there.”

Astaroth

if you want me all to yourself, then take on the leap

// sun comin' up on a dream come around //

"You have a worse fear of missing out than I do," Danta teases with a crooked little smile, his finger strumming absently against the other man's arm. He doesn't know, of course, that Asta's version of missing this centres mainly on himself - not when they're in a room that can quite literally be anything they like - the Maverick instead settling back against his lover to watch the storm roll in.

With forks of silver and crimson crowning the distant volcanoes and the dark night shrouding all else, it's a ghoulishly beautiful scene, and Danta is suitably mesmerised such that the kiss to his jaw is something of a surprise. Flashing Asta a playful grin and leaning into the arms that twine around him, his head turns so he can respond with a kiss to the other man's forehead.

"You and me both," he says of the Grounds, scoffing out a laugh. "And you're right, honestly. Of all the places for Ancients to settle, it doesn't feel like the first or even second choice. But no one wanted it, and it was there for the taking. I guess I knew how it felt a bit." He winks.

Dantalion

// one hundred years from the empire now //

we thieves and lovers will keep up our urges to sin, to sin
let your desire be simply acquired within, within

It’s true. He does have a tendency of having hardcore FOMO. But for this, while he could replay the room over and over again, he couldn’t create these moments with the Maverick again. But he’s happy to not clarify, instead indulging himself with the kiss and the way he winds around the blond. Smiling a gentler one as Danta flashes a playful grin and plants a kiss to his forehead, he settles almost immediately, running his fingers along his sides softly.

“Except you are not for the taking.” He points out before a low chuckle escapes him and he sighs, smirking up to Danta in a mixture of dramatic innocence and mischief. “Unless it is me that is doing the taking.” He jests, letting his laugh bubble up brighter and reverberate through Danta’s frame.

Sighing contentedly and draping harder into Danta, Asta shifts again to rest his head in his lover’s lap so that he can peer up at him, his one hand resting against his scarred chest while the other brushes gentle touches against Danta’s leg. “In all seriousness, darling, you have done a beautiful job.”

Astaroth

if you want me all to yourself, then take on the leap

// sun comin' up on a dream come around //

Danta's lips part to object, to say that under the right circumstances he is very much for the taking, but Asta beats him to it, and it's with a wicked little laugh that he relaxes into the other man's affections, his tail flicking contently among the blankets around them. Leaning back against the headboard as the butcher shifts again, his head landing in Danta's lap, he resists the urge to wave him off as he's showered, again, with compliments about his handling of the Grounds.

"Part of me thinks I ought to have stayed at The Climb and built it back up," he admits. "When I first woke up, there were a few Ancients who seemed to have the same idea. But..." He scrunches his nose and teases gentle fingers through Asta's hair, carefully tucking it out of his face. "I guess I was afraid if I went digging around up there for too long, I'd find something I didn't want to see." Like Morax.

Dantalion

// one hundred years from the empire now //

we thieves and lovers will keep up our urges to sin, to sin
let your desire be simply acquired within, within

Settled so comfortably in Danta’s lap, the butcher’s praise comes in an easy shift of his tone. Twisting only slightly to brush away some dark hair that’s fallen into his face, Asta blinks up at his lover with nothing but warmth radiating from his face. It’s a warmth that almost sours with the idea of what kind of things they’d find.

And if they didn’t find Morax, they might find some of her lackeys in the rubble of rebuilding the Climb. “You did not have to go digging far to find just me.” He murmurs softly, in complete agreement, before he puffs out a little sigh as the sky screams and erupts again, the lights around the canopy of the bed dancing with a warm rogue breeze. “I am content to let things lie how they are.” He agrees before a thought occurs to him and he finds himself staring out into the turbulent night sky.

“Have you informed Charlie of what she looks like, so there are no surprises?” They both know he means Morax. And while they couldn’t control what everyone else did, they could hope that spreading a bit of information to those trusted meant that if she were found, she’d be left utterly and completely alone.

Astaroth

if you want me all to yourself, then take on the leap

// sun comin' up on a dream come around //

"No, I didn't. I don't even think I actively found you - you just appeared in the rubble as the lava shifted things around," Danta says, his tone one of quiet affection mingled with worry about how easy it might be for Morax to do the same, if she really was still slumbering out there in The Climb. "Granted, finding and freeing you was one of my better decisions," he adds softly, teasing a small braid into Asta's hair as they relax together.

Similarly content not to go digging around where they don't belong, Danta closes his eyes to enjoy the play of light and colour behind his lids, before Asta speaks again and he peeps down at him. "...I haven't, no. But you make a good point. The next time I see her I'll be sure to let her know." Exhaling a long sigh, he finally nods out at the panorama. "All this talk, and I think maybe I'm done with this view. Anywhere else you'd like to be?"

Dantalion

// one hundred years from the empire now //

we thieves and lovers will keep up our urges to sin, to sin
let your desire be simply acquired within, within

“Mm, I wouldn’t know. I was a gargoyle.” He teases softly, before he nuzzles the side of his face in against his lovers lap. “And I am fairly certain it was not the best idea you had at the time, but I am very appreciative.” He purrs, content to feel Danta’s fingers thread through his hair to place a braid within.

Nodding slightly before he tilts to look up at Danta again as their eyes meet, he hadn’t meant to drum up so many thoughts, but perhaps they were all things that needed to be said. “I am happy to help however you need.” And for the moment if it’s just the change of scenery, well, he’s happy to provide.

He shifts to sit up a little, propped up on his hands and knees as he looks up to Danta with a crooked smile. “I can find somewhere. Close your eyes.” He hums, leaning forward to press a consuming kiss to Danta’s lips, ensuring his eyes are closed before he warps the view.

Night turns to a summer day, hot and warm with a touch of humidity and the scent of grasses and flowers blooming in the air. The bed remains, but warps, to a canopy of sheer white fabric with floral patterns dotting their skin from where the sun passes overhead. Withdrawing from the kiss, he beams at Danta as he glances over his shoulder. “Open.”

The bed is set in the height of a hill within the warm confines of a valley, with no other person in sight but a gorgeous view of the cordillera in the distance, long grasses brushing up against the sides of the bed and waving in a warm gentle breeze while birdsong chirps in the air. Water from a small lake similar to the oasis glitters within eyeshot, an easy and quick distance should they wish to take a dip.

Astaroth

if you want me all to yourself, then take on the leap

// sun comin' up on a dream come around //

"Mm, very true. Well, let it be said from the one of us who wasn't a gargoyle that you were very helpful in making your presence known. Kind of like always," Danta says with a smirk. And as for their conversation, all of it definitely feels like things needed to be said, but it doesn't make it any easier, and he relaxes, relieved, as the man in his lap agrees to change things up. Raising his eyebrows as Asta rolls upright, the Maverick nevertheless obliges him and allows his eyes to close.

"If I open my eyes and we're in the middle of another blizzard--" His protest is cut off by the kiss Asta claims from his lips, and any further objection Danta has hums into something reluctantly approving. He barely notices as the world seems to lighten around them, his arms twining around the other man, and only as he's finally instructed to look once more does he blink his eyes open.

Soft and genuine surprise floods his expression, Danta turning to let his hand brush along the grass that sweeps against the side of the bed, his head cocking as if to better hear the babble of water. "This is..." He laughs softly, shaking his head. "Is this a memory, or just somewhere you made up...?"

Dantalion

// one hundred years from the empire now //