[SE] good time not a long time

kick back a little just to watch and see

"Hey, I have a full season to learn to keep up. By Deepfrost you're going to be the one in trouble," Danta says with a wink that, despite its wicked nature, is playful and they both know it. He's always been one to respect Asta's need for space and their admittedly mismatched libidos - if anything this is just a fun break to make the most out of before normality returns.

Unable not to laugh as he spots the butcher not-so-subtly warning the deckhands away (and they've never so much as gotten close enough to reach out for), Danta passes him the next box and gives his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Only a few more," he promises, before nodding at the semi-plan they've made for his feirw shift. "Well now that the world is getting safer again, there's no better reason to let it," he says with a smile.

Passing him the last box and wiping his hands off on his pants, Danta steps back to let the cart drivers start trundling away with the goods. Once they're out of sight, he steps back in against Asta's side before he can get snappy, offering a bit of cheerful chit-chat with the man who had waved them down and nodding at the tavern he recommends to get lunch and some drinks.

"Shall we?" He raises a brow at the butcher.

Dantalion

getting sicker by the minute with debauchery

They say I'm a dangerous man, better run fast as you can

“I loathe the day.” The butcher whines, dramatically even as the laugh bubbles as an undercurrent. Because while yes, he’s very much aware that his libido leaves much to be desired for the Maverick when he’s his usual state, but given how he’s felt since the start of Leafchange, it’s certainly made it impossible to see how life was like before.

Still, as Danta laughs and they load up the carts, he blinks over at him with the squeeze to his shoulder, his smile softening a touch as he nods. “Mm, unfortunately.” He drawls - a few more hours of having to put up with everyone simultaneously being too close and somehow not close enough to get rid of the tension thrumming under his skin, the butcher’s left to exert his energy in stacking box upon box until they’re done and Danta’s wiping his hands off. The butcher pats the side of the crate to signify they’re finished, easily sweeping his arm and tail around his lover to keep him close with the suggestion that they go and grab lunch and drinks.

Nodding contently, he noses his way in to press a kiss to his temple. “I will be scouting for any of those terrible void spiders, in case you were wondering.” He doesn’t hate spiders, if anything the butcher finds them fascinating. But the Void touched wine spiders were a certain breed of awful that the butcher would rather keep at as far of a distance as possible.

Astaroth

Don't you look back, every bone in my body's bad

kick back a little just to watch and see

"You have survived worse," Danta assures him, leaning into the kiss Asta presses to his temple and giving him a squeeze around his waist as if to assure him that regardless of the number of people around, he isn't going anywhere. "Oh, you will? How astute of you. They shouldn't get the jump on you this time at least." He winks. Once they've been given official leave for lunchtime, he turns with the butcher to stroll across to the tavern; a homely place, but with good booze and better food, according to the deckhand.

Tucking his hand casually into Asta's back pocket, the Maverick leads them through the door as casually as he thinks the other man is capable today, nodding immediately towards a small corner booth. "How about there? No one behind us, and you can survey your kingdom to your heart's content," he says tilting his head towards his lover. "I'll even sit on the same side of the booth as you. Scandalous, I know."

Dantalion

getting sicker by the minute with debauchery

They say I'm a dangerous man, better run fast as you can

“So I have.” Astaroth touts proudly, even if the fact of it wasn’t one to really be proud of. But he was still standing, still breathing, and he’d made it through whatever strange events his life had set upon him. All for the better, as far as he’s concerned, because he gets to sit here right now with his arm wound around the one man that truly understood each dark and devious corner of his heart and mind, whether he’d wanted to or not.

As for the spiders, though, the smile he flashes Danta’s way is sharp with a hint of how feral he is beneath the pleasantries. But he subdues it, because as they start to walk and the warmth of Danta’s hand in his pack pocket spreads through him, he loosens up easier without having all of the eyes on their Theocrat as they enter the tavern. Immediately spotting the booth as it’s suggested, the butcher nods his head. “That sounds perfect. Scandal included.” He winks back toward him, his smile still lingering as he drifts toward the booth in question.

Ever the gentleman as he lets Danta slide in first, he follows suit, sinking into the comfortable cushions, and when he’s satisfied no arachnids will show to ruin his day, he slips his arm around Danta’s shoulders and finally starts to relax a little, one of his legs pressed up against Danta’s own as he scans the menu in his other hand. “What are you thinking? Echo shark once more orrrr… It appears they also have a vampire gourd soup.” His head tilts opposite of where Danta is, so he doesn’t run the risk of snagging him with his horns.

Astaroth

Don't you look back, every bone in my body's bad

kick back a little just to watch and see

"I know we both do enjoy a good scandal," Danta agrees, tipping a wink to Asta before settling into the booth and allowing him to scoot in beside him. Once the other man has concluded his spider-search, the Maverick shifts closer to let a hand rest against the top of Asta's thigh, thumb sweeping across his knee in gentle strokes. Content to have the butcher's arm stretched around him, he also peruses the menu.

"I think," Danta says slowly, "I'll get the special. And a bottle of some really good red wine - but I'll let you choose that, because you're much better at it than I." Said special is lamb shank in a rich sauce, served with roasted vampire gourd, greens and mashed potatoes. And since it's Leafchange, Danta isn't about to turn his nose up at heartier food.

"What about you?"

Dantalion

getting sicker by the minute with debauchery

They say I'm a dangerous man, better run fast as you can

They do love a good scandal, that is something that Astaroth regardless of the season will absolutely appreciate. So he hums his agreement as he scoots in beside his lover, relaxing easily into their closeness because he’s got the Maverick precisely where he wants him, relishing in the gentle strokes of his thumb across his knee.

“Ahh, that sounds lovely.” He hums, scanning the special when he spots another leafchange dish on the menu that isn’t as vegetarian as the vampire gourd soup was. He tilts his head as he looks back toward the wine list, lips quirking in a playful smile. “I think I shall try their gumbo.” He contemplates for a moment, before glancing back over at Danta with a softer twist of his smile. “And as for the wine, a Malbec might pair well with our dishes.” Bold and dark.

Leaning in to press an affectionate kiss to Danta’s cheek, his fingertips draw idle designs in his shoulder as he straightens up a touch to tell the waiter what they will be getting - taking the lead on it lest the poor man look too long at the Maverick and receive the daggers the butcher would throw his way.

Astaroth

Don't you look back, every bone in my body's bad

kick back a little just to watch and see

"Look at us, being adventurous with our different meals," Danta drawls playfully, content to sit tucked away with the butcher in their little booth. It might be a remarkably mundane outing compared to their usual shenanigans, but given what he now knows about Asta and his Leafchange moodiness, ordinary is nothing to sniff at. And besides, the man beside him finally seems something like relaxed - or close enough to it, anyway - and he nods ready agreement at the choice for their wine.

Allowing Asta to take the lead with their order, Danta busies himself in people watching the rest of the tavern, his hand absently gliding from his lover's knee and towards his inner thigh quite without his notice or permission. "Maybe we could run home," he offers conversationally once the waiter has left. "Or, you could run as a feirw. I'll go on the wing. Might get rid of some of your restless energy until we can get to The Climb, no?"

Dantalion

getting sicker by the minute with debauchery

They say I'm a dangerous man, better run fast as you can

“You have always had a preference for the meatier options.” The butcher hums playfully, glancing over toward him before the waiter comes to take their order. “It makes me wonder what it is you’ve seen in me.” It’s another tease, because while he knows what Danta sees in him, he’s always been of the willowy, more lean and muscle type of frame as opposed to having meat on his bones, as it were.

He pulls his attention away to place their order, watching as the man writes it down with a nod and a cheery grin that Asta matches professionally, only to puff it out into a shape of a near grimace once the waiter’s turned away to put their order in. He’s acutely aware of Danta’s hand and how it slips to the inside of his thigh, and after a heartbeat of a second, the leg presses outward, giving the Maverick more space in his tantalizing strokes.

Taking the idea, the butcher nods, tilting his head to press his cheek and jaw in against Danta’s blonde crown, a smile felt briefly there. “That sounds lovely. I have yet to test my limits.” He hums in a slightly deeper tone.

Astaroth

Don't you look back, every bone in my body's bad

kick back a little just to watch and see

In response to the butcher's teasing, Danta can't help the salacious little smile that curls across his lips, though he at least waits until their server has departed before leaning in to grin a kiss against the sharp curve of Asta's jaw. "You're plenty meaty in all the places it counts," he assures him, nibbling along his jawline and letting his hand glide further inward before he catches himself. Pressing a sweeter kiss to Asta's cheek this time, the other man is crowding into his space even as he draws back, not that he's remotely complaining.

"It's settled, then," he purrs. "We'll eat, drink and be merry, and then once we're finished with this nonsense here, I'll race you home. Whoever gets there first gets to decide what we do with the rest of the evening." Granted, he's firmly of the belief that their ideas will be quite similar, given the season and the butcher's mood.

Dantalion

getting sicker by the minute with debauchery

They say I'm a dangerous man, better run fast as you can

“Ahh, I see.” The butcher chuckles softly, leaning into the affection with a touch more gusto than he otherwise might — the season, and all that. He even finds himself mourning the shift of Danta’s hand when he realizes the trajectory but it doesn’t stop him from remaining just as close, nuzzling into his hair. “I would imagine we are thinking of the same things, darling.” His tone is more suggestive, playful as he presses a kiss to his lover’s temple before withdrawing just enough to straighten up.

The waiter’s returned with the bottle of wine and two glasses and with a noncommittal response, but nods, snagging the bottle to pour a hefty amount of the dark red wine into their glasses. Sliding one to his lover, the butcher swirls his as his arm tightens around the other Ancient’s shoulders. “Mm, what are your thoughts on the wine?” Wondering whether or not it will pair as well as he thinks it will.

Astaroth

Don't you look back, every bone in my body's bad

kick back a little just to watch and see

As the season progresses Danta will absolutely learn the risks that come with teasing his lover - and depending on the occasion, he'll absolutely relish it. But for now he decides to play it safe, though he tucks himself close against Asta's side as the waiter returns with the wine, leaning into the cradle of his arm. "Planning to get tipsy for the second half of our work, are we?" He grins at the hefty amount poured - not that Danta has any objection at all.

Taking a long sip and humming his approval already, he relaxes and sets the glass down before glancing up at Asta with wine still kissing colour onto his lips. "I think it will go very well with my dish at the very least. It would go very well all by itself, too, with just you to share it with." He winks.

Dantalion

getting sicker by the minute with debauchery

They say I'm a dangerous man, better run fast as you can

“Might as well. Perhaps if I do snatch a bite we can blame it on the wine?” Raising his brows playfully and bouncing them toward his lover, the butcher’s smile twitches more and more playfully as the seconds tick on.It only pauses and vanishes when he does to take a sip of the wine, relishing in the body of it and already imagining how nicely it’ll pair with their respective dishes. It’s a thought that lingers even as he’s distracted by the brief little stain of wine on the Maverick’s lips, something he doesn’t enact on just yet.

Having Danta’s approval helps too, at least, and his smile twitches toward something more smug and arrogant. “Mm, remind me to break out the bottle we have at the Dusklight. Then you shall have it and myself allllll to yourself.” Comes the playful vow, the squeeze of his lover’s shoulders, before he settles again for another healthy sip of the ruby wine, setting his glass down before he finally steals that kiss and sits back.

It’s about this time that their steaming dishes arrive. Danta’s first in all of its glory and meatiness, and Asta’s in a warm ceramic bowl with plenty of seafood and sausages amongst the hot broth.

Astaroth

Don't you look back, every bone in my body's bad

kick back a little just to watch and see

"I'd have blamed it on wine even if you were sober," Danta says airily. "Though for the sake of the poor people you'll be exposed to, I have to warn you that you are more likely to actually bite someone if you've been drinking." Again, not something he'd ordinarily bat an eyelash about, but they have been invited here specifically to make a show of helping out Jack Tar.

Silenced, for better or for worse, by the kiss Asta plants against his lips and the idea of continuing their wine escapades at home, Danta is left smiling a little stupidly as the other man sits back and the server approaches with their respective meals. "It's a good thing our lunch has arrived, because you were starting to look far too tasty," he remarks under his breath, the Maverick finally sitting back enough to dig in.

And it's everything he expected and more, Danta having to resist the urge to shovel the meal into his mouth; instead, he delicately offers a bite of it for Asta to try. "Sharing is caring, so they say."

Dantalion

getting sicker by the minute with debauchery

They say I'm a dangerous man, better run fast as you can

“Ack, alas I have been good. And I shall continue to be with your persistent vision ensuring such.” The butcher purrs back playfully, because while yes he’d love nothing more than to sink his teeth into everyone that speaks with Danta, it seems they can tell. So they have kept their distance enough that the butcher hasn’t had to act. And with the promise of bolting home within the fiery deer shift that’s suddenly taken over his soul, well… The butcher’s quite content to try and focus on that rather than the opposite.

So he delves into the kiss with ease and unbidden desire, nuzzling gently as he withdraws when their food arrives. “I was, mm?” He chuckles softly, readjusting the bowl in front of him of the hot, steaming gumbo. Snagging a spoon, he reluctantly releases his hold on Danta’s shoulder in favor for eating their lunch. He eyes his lover sidelong at first, ensuring that he does love the choice he’s made, when the offer to try it is granted.

And he’s charmed, truly, often choosing to let Danta eat as much of his meal as he prefers and not opting to take some from his plate given his history. So he leans in, snagging the bite gently to not harm or wound Danta when the low hum of content escapes him. “Absolutely divine.” He agrees, sitting back a touch from his own half eaten meal to slide his bowl over toward the Maverick in turn. “Please do feel free to indulge, darling.” If he wanted more than one bite – hell, if he wanted to finish it even, the butcher wouldn’t mind.

Astaroth

Don't you look back, every bone in my body's bad