[ME] every single hot take is cold as ice

Now, walk into the club like, what up? I got a big cock.

His breath sucks in, core tightening as he hunkers down and grips onto one of her spines tighter. "Hey!" he wails, positive she heard him and taking that as a full body no with an added touch of sass. "What'd we say about the shaking!" That is, please don't drop me tonight Charlie. He didn't make her swear it though, and that's on him, although he's not certain she's the kind to abide by swear rules anyway.

Though, the stunts she pulls right after make lightwork of the little shake, and maybe it had been a warning in disguise the whole time, a reminder for him to actually hang on, should he become too complacent during her more mild-mannered soaring periods. The roar is enough to make his teeth chatter, the vibrations rumbling up through his seat and rattling up the top of his head. It's entirely awesome. He lets out his own roar, which is a long drawn out whoop bellowing just after her, completely wind-eaten and fragile in comparison.

The tail end of his battle cry is cut off into a gasp as they're suddenly spinning and lurching toward the ground at increasing speed. "CHAAAAAAARLIE!" he hollars, delight awash with the mild terror of potentially getting flung off at any second. His heart races, thrill bursting out in a reckless laugh that's whipped away from his throat before he can even hear it.

A fresh jolt of holy shit is not long waiting when licks of fire rise and roll around her. They're too windtorn to really catch on him, but their sparking spray and warm teeth drag past and he gasps at it. "Ok, I might get fired if you fire anyone!" he calls out to here, shaking his head despite himself because despite his best attempt to maintaining a boy scout attitude about the work, he is having a blast.

"Do it again!"

Kaisel

Peep game, come take a look through my telescope

Melita

Eating fire is your ambition
to swallow the flame down

Iskra’s penchant for asking about plans that the Honeybee had barely construed in her mind, much less cemented into anything tangible, never failed to instigate a laugh. Melita should have a murder list; gods, that would be incredible. That would require some amount of thought and planning though, and the world knew she’d be far too powerful if she was organized. “Maaaaybe,” but the grin would report ‘no’. She’d be much more apt to simply appear out of the blue, ready to cull monster bullshit (or if she glanced up, maybe mentioning like ‘hey is that a fucking dragon?’).

But then the bonfires were different colors, and he was grabbing her hand, promising a dance. Her eyes widened, mouth dropping in a slight inhale of disbelief (glimpses of the past, she’d realized, portions of the old Iskra that weren’t so dormant after all, little light catches in her heart where she remembered him being carefree), before they were racing off. Her limbs flew – more than eager to be drawn into the antics and infernos, giggling at the bounce of his strides. She only glanced down to ensure she wasn’t tripping and faltering over the sand; light and airy as she spun, waving at Sohalia as she bounced by. then tried grabbing Iskra's free hand to see if she could get him rambling through too. “Hey Soh!”

to be lit up from within, vein by vein
to be the sun

CHARLIE

Charlie grins, a wicked, sharp-edged flash of teeth gleaming like forged silver in the dark. Kaisel’s cheering only feeds her chaos; his hollered CHAAAARLIE! is heard, understood, and gloriously ignored. With a hiss of laughter that trembles through her whole body, the dragon twists mid-air, wings cutting through the night with a sound like thunder smirking. Fire blooms from her jaws in wild ribbons, arcing across the beach in erratic, jubilant bursts that send the crowds below scattering and hollering their delight.

Then, with a predator’s grace and absolutely no concern for health or safety, she glides up again, black wings slicing through the air until they vanish against the ink of the LongNight sky. The ocean glows faintly below, like she’s flying above the reflection of another world, and the heat of her last blaze still licks at her belly scales.

Kaisel’s "Do it again!" makes her rumble with something that sounds suspiciously affectionate; a deep, purring growl that rolls like thunder beneath him. And then she dives again. This time her trajectory aims for a group of shrieking teenagers along the surfline. She tips her body just right, enough to send them squealing into the bioluminescent waves, trails of light exploding beneath their feet as they flee. Charlie’s draconic cackle rolls out behind them, gleeful and unrepentant, the sound of a goddess of mischief in motion.

She banks too sharply, though—definitely on purpose—and the landing that follows is nothing short of spectacular. Her claws dig into sand that gives way instantly, her wings flare too late, and with a final huff of laughter she crashes, the impact rolling through the ground in a tremor of heat and smoke.

Almost immediately the weight of Charlie beneath Kaisel disappears. The scales, the wings, the bulk, all collapse into nothing, replaced in a flicker of heat and colour by Charlie. She’s sprawled half in the sand, half draped against him, laughing like someone who’s just cheated death and loved every second of it. The dress she’s wearing is a sin in fabric form—black, slinky, low enough to be criminal and short enough to make even Torchline blush. Her curls are wild, her skin still warm from firelight, her grin absolutely radiant.

"That was so fun!" she declares, breathless and delighted, pressing a red-lipsticked kiss to his cheek. Her laughter bubbles over as she leans back, blue eyes glittering with joy and leftover adrenaline, her cheeks flushed and glowing like the embers still dancing in the sand.

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

Now, walk into the club like, what up? I got a big cock.

It's all he can do to cling to her as she arrows through the night, the wind and the dark her domain now. It doesn't feel like it should be hers, not when she's ordinarily a bright flash of color and heat, but as she climbs into the folds of midnight, she becomes nothing more than another shadow spilling through the absence of stars.

He leans low over her as the breeze of her speed cuts in, his unending smile pressed to her scales as he marvels at it all. His grip on her spines is unrelenting, especially as the bonfires and sparking sea drop away. It's impossible to discern where her edges start and the depthless sky begins, a disorienting feeling that intrusively begs him to relax and reach out into the abyss, just to see if he can find it. It's the various rumbles and chortles rolling through the frame of his body that keeps him with her as they crest at a new height, heart hammering in his chest while his stomach turns in that suspended moment before she arcs down into a drop. His grin is loud now, streaming into laughter like his version of fire breath as they dive through the youths. "Keep it wrapped up!" he shouts at them in passing, which is granted all the intelligible sound of a blaring song from a car window on the highway.

The glee of shouting out safety advisements and safe sex tips to teenagers is short-lived as her turn threatens his seat. Joy and fear skip hand in hand against her back, and Kaisel shouts in surprise before tightening against her like a spider monkey. It does him no good though, not when she skids through the shore and vanishes beneath him. The force of the halt jars through his body, and without better grip strength he's hopeless to keep hold, bouncing off and back behind her with a flop and a roll. He scrabbles for new purchase as he tumbles down her back, a strangled "CHARLIE!" coming out with a flare of panic. He's about to swipe at a new ridge when it leaves, tumbling against the sand and her skin as they flop to a stop.

He's still gasping for air, half sure he's just died, when the chime of her voice and the weight of her arms against him suggest he's very much alive. Her kiss breaks the stupor he's in, grin chasing back the shock with a lung-emptying laugh as he turns to look at her. "All other patrols are going to be so dreadfully boring now," he manages after a moment, struggling to his feet and hauling her along with him. They feel like they're vibrating still around the thunder beneath her hide and the teeth of the wind, like they're separate from his body. He forces them to work, drawing her up to his side with a hug around her shoulders. "C'mon, let's go enjoy the party without making anyone piss themselves."

Kaisel

Peep game, come take a look through my telescope

charlie

The beach is still alive with LongNight’s heartbeat after Charlie parts from Kaisel, and already the pocket-sized priestess is looking for something more to do. The dress she wears is black and slinky and downright criminal, clinging where it shouldn’t and shimmering where it should, a dangerous sort of invitation wrapped in silk. Bare feet sink into the sand as she flounces closer, curls haloed in firelight, eyes bright with mischief that could set things ablaze all on its own.

She makes her way toward a quieter fire like a comet with opinions, the silk of her dress catching every stray lick of orange as if begging to burn. She tosses her hair back, all honey and hellfire, and grins at the lone alchemist like she’s been looking for him all night. "Is this fire taken?" she asks, voice as bright as the flames she’s about to desecrate, and before Niki can answer, her hands plunge straight through the blaze. Heat licks up her wrists, gold light kissing her skin, and she exhales an indulgent, sinful little sigh like the flames are silk sheets and she’s slipping into bed.

"Mmmm, that’s better," she purrs, flexing her fingers inside the burning heart of it, tail flicking behind her like a satisfied cat. "Cold out there tonight!" Especially for a nearly naked Ancient.

I did a double take, triple take
Take me to naked Twister back at your place

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

don't you ever tame your demons

"Mm, napping and in sweaters, since he's mentioning it." Danta smirks as they head towards the drinks. "He woke me up the other day with one decorated all over with little foxes. I almost thought I was dreaming." The grin he shoots Asta's way is full of indulgent adoration, of course, and he accepts his drink with a trill of thanks.

Mmhming around a generous sip of it as Flora echoes his words, Danta flicks his gaze skyward to once again try and track Charlie as she streaks overhead (metaphorically, though he's sure it would be literally as well if it were possible). "Your boyfriend?" He echoes, perking up at that and turning back to Flora, only to exchange a scandalised look with Asta.

"Well is he going to sit in the cuck chair and watch us? I was rather hoping to occupy some part of your Longnight with a specific sort of fun."

Dantalion

but always keep 'em on a leash

NIKI

Having determined enough of the powder's composition to satisfy his curiosity, Niki is about to finally toss it onto the fire when he spots the movement of someone through the various braziers and torches and bonfires, making a beeline for his lonely camp. Nevertheless, it's with a polite smile that he welcomes the woman - Ancient, he can see now - to his campfire, gesturing for her to go ahead and join him.

Only she doesn't just do that, she plunges her hands and wrists straight into the naked flame, and Niki blinks his interest to see an Ancient's fire resistance in action up close. "I bet," he says with a ready nod. "At least there are plenty of fires to go between." He picks up his flask, offering it out to her. "It is only coffee, but you are welcome to some if you would like. It is still hot."

stay your pretty eyes on course
keep the memories of who i was before

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

charlie

Charlie flashes Niki a dazzling grin, fangs catching in the firelight like jewels, and tips her head with a nod that’s more flourish than gesture. "I can use my own flames to keep myself warm too," she says brightly, flamelight flickering across her collarbones as if in agreement. "But there’s something so nice about a bonfire. The way it hums, you know? All that wild energy pretending to be tame." Her voice drips with amusement, as if she’s describing herself. "And also the smell."

When he offers the flask, she lights up even more—quite literally, a faint blush of heat shimmering over her shoulders—as she darts forward in a blur of movement to appear beside him. "Don’t mind if I do," she chirps, snatching it with gleeful boldness. One sip later and her nose wrinkles, expression twisting into exaggerated tragedy before dissolving into laughter. She holds it out to him again, eyes sparkling. "You look like the type to drink his coffee black." Whereas Charlie, of course, preferred her coffee with more parts sugar than caffeine.

I did a double take, triple take
Take me to naked Twister back at your place

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

NIKI

Niki finds himself smiling without intending to, as if caught in the orbit of the blonde Ancient and her firecracker actions, and he nods his ready agreement about the bonfire. "This is my first one in a long while," he admits, before raising the powder and tossing it into the flames at last. The fire flares and crackles, turning a bright green and smouldering orange and purple. Satisfied - it's as he had suspected - he tosses the paper in after it so as not to litter.

"Of cou-- oh!" Starting a bit as she seems to simply appear beside him, Niki brushes a bit of sand from his clothes before readily surrendering the flask, no matter how welcome it ends up being. "Ah," he says with a soft laugh and an apologetic smile as she offers it back to him. "Quite so - I ought to have said, sorry." He sets it back into the soft sand next to him. "I am Niki, by the way. It is nice to meet you."

stay your pretty eyes on course
keep the memories of who i was before

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

charlie

Charlie gasps as the fire blossoms into colour, the hues spilling across her face in molten greens and violets. "Oooooooh," she exclaims, practically purring the words as the light dances across her skin. For a heartbeat she looks like she might step right into it again just to chase the shimmer.

When he introduces himself, she flashes him a smile full of easy understanding and a flick of her tail that seems to punctuate it. "Charlie," she declares, thrusting out her hand for him to shake like they’re sealing a deal rather than exchanging pleasantries. "Don't worry, you seem sweet enough to make up for the coffee."

Her grin sharpens as her attention flicks back to the fire. "Hey!" she bursts out, blue eyes alight with mischief. "Do you have more of that powder? Want to throw some of it at me—" her tone is gleefully conspiratorial, "—and see if my flames change colour too?"

I did a double take, triple take
Take me to naked Twister back at your place

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

If you're standing in the cold out of fear your flaws will show

“The foxes were lovely.” He says in defense of the sweater choice. Not like he really needs to, but the butcher’s grin is sharp and playful as can be, as if proving the point that he very much would wear said fox sweater again. Like it may or may not be packed up in the bags left in their room at Flora’s house.

He takes a sip of his own drink at precisely the wrong time, however, because Flora mentions boyfriend and Danta reacts precisely at the time Asta turns away to stop himself from choking on the alcohol, feeling the burn of it as it becomes trapped in his throat. Hiding the cough as best he can, he turns to look back at Flora with a raised brow and a smile that’s a smidge flimsy as he holds in another cough.

“Is this a new man or…?” Had she told them about him before or was it someone completely new? And perhaps it had happened when he’d been so overwhelmed with his emotions and napping to have not properly checked in with her over the seasons. At any rate, he recovers enough to slip up beside Danta again, arm brushing by his own as his tail twitches in an almost frantic kind of sway as opposed to the usual ease of a wag.

Astaroth

We can live out where the warmth is 'til our names are etched in stone

If you feel like night is falling

His attention is reclaimed swiftly and fully to the flame of Melita dancing around his hand, so he doesn't much notice if Sohalia does or does not respond. The wild wheel of their motions rapidly spins out and around the pit, little more than some drunken moths. Though, he's not drunk, hasn't been much at all lately, not since her really.

Struck by new inspiration, and becoming more winded than he'd like to admit given all the fitness he thought he had, he slows into the sand. "Okay," he declares, smile a playful gleam across his features as he offers his two hands out for her. "Grab my hands and let's spin reeeeeally fast," he suggests it like a dare, figuring she won't back down from much, least of all challenge. "We lean back and spin the same direction. Who knows, maybe we get fast enough we'll make a sad tornado." It's rather unfortunate he's no wind magic at his beck and call just for the shits and giggles of it, although surely the nearby partiers are in preference of it.

Iskra

I wanna be the one you're calling

yeah I got heartbreak that I reminisce about

Flora all but melts, the sound that leaves her something between a delighted oooooooh and a theatrical sigh. "Little foxes?" she coos, eyes glittering as she flashes Asta a look of pure adoration. "You’ll have to wear it for me sometime—it sounds absolutely adorable." The grin she turns on Danta is wickedly approving, teasing in a way that makes the gold at her throat wink with movement as she takes a generous sip of her cocktail.

Asta’s near-death by drink earns a quirked brow and a poorly disguised smirk as she watches him struggle to swallow both the alcohol and his surprise. Her gaze slides to Danta just in time to catch the scandal blooming across his expression, and she can’t help the warm, affectionate roll of her eyes. "Gods, I didn’t think it was that big of a deal," she says, laughter threading easily through her voice as she shakes her head. "It’s someone new," she adds for Asta’s benefit, her tone softening, fondness colouring her features as she thinks briefly of Kai, her smile going a touch dreamy before she reclaims another sip of her drink to ground herself again.

Then Danta’s comment sinks in, and the dreamy dissolves into a spark of wicked amusement. She laughs, low and bright, the sound catching like starlight on glass. "Well," she muses, mischief curling around every syllable, "we had just been talking about a threesome." Her gaze flicks between them both—first Asta, then Danta—with brows arched high in playful disbelief, before she adds, "You’re welcome to ask him. I’m sure it’d make fantastic small talk over tea in the morning."

real big things I still gotta figure out

Code 100% taken from the queeeeeeen herself, Sky <3

Melita

Eating fire is your ambition
to swallow the flame down

Turning her attention wholly back to Iskra, her steps were light and airy, daring and bold, if a little prideful, head and chin raised in defiance to see what he’d come up with. She didn’t anticipate spinning, but rarely had any of his suggestions been detrimental, so she eagerly and easily fitted her hands into his, clasping them together on the daring impulse. “Or fall on our asses,” she grinned in return, nose wrinkling, picturing an inevitable and swift demise to the ‘sad tornado’ as they bulleted and ricocheted back into the sand.

But she’d happily and eagerly persist with him – so she immediately leaned back, spinning in the direction he sought, intending to gain momentum in swift strides and audacious intentions.

to be lit up from within, vein by vein
to be the sun