you’re so obsessed with me

// tell me i'm forgiven, say you'll always be mine //

The Dusklight thrums with a certain air of tension — held taught like a bowstring on the edge of snapping either forward or breaking entirely. Why, you might ask? Well, you see, there’s one particular trouble maker that keeps trying to harass the staff. And the butcher, having decided to try a new type of attendance (hiding in the shadows mostly to ensure that people weren’t on their best behavior because they saw him wandering around) seems to have quite the bit of excitement in seeing how brazen some people could be.

The butcher blends into the shadows as he watches the pest, a brawny attuned by the look of it. And when he finally reaches out for his first official step over the line, shadows thread out to reveal the security in question in a straight line toward the attuned who clams up the second they spy his too sharp smile.

It’s an easy and quick exchange (with the butcher hauling the man out of the Dusklight, wrapped in shadows and darkness), when the butcher returns with his threaded cane glinting a touch red on the silver and bronze streaked blade. It clicks against the floor as he returns and heads straight for the bar, his smiling shadows of ghouls following him to spread across the floor as he takes up a space at the end of the bar, snagging a shot of whiskey to down and a large glass of water to follow it.

He wears the usual body guard outfit Danta had picked for him forever ago, only forgoing the muzzle for the time being. The shirt is black, cut and molded to his body aside from the window cut out of the back. It leaves all the rootlike scar tissue on display, raised and angry and so similar to that of tree roots growing under concrete. The butcher doesn’t seem to care though, smoothing out the uniform as he hangs his cane on the end of the bar to take the shot and the sip of water. Then, the next step is getting his hair back behind the long dark fire obsidian horns that extend from his skull, working on returning him to being perfectly presentable.

His cover is blown now, though, which makes it nearly impossible to return to hiding in the shadows, so the butcher certainly takes his time.

Astaroth

// say that everything is over, tell me i'm fine //

the rumpus and ruckus are comfortable now

There is only so much hiding behind Flora he knows he can do. This had been his fault, whatever the cause of his actions they had still been his, and he'd have to be the one to make this right. While his stomach is in knots over the idea of facing Astaroth again, alone now, he's equally determined to fix this and see it through to the end. He's swallowed down the haunting image of the demonic form he saw as if it's nothing more than a bad dream. Although it isn't, and watching Astaroth at work across the room as he sees someone out shows there's more than scary imagery the man could deploy if he so wanted.

Ultimately this is a friend, he reminds himself, and although he doesn't fully understand the connection Flora has with Asta (aside from fake dating him), he doesn't need to. Asta is important to her, and that's what matters. The world is not without fearsome, terrifying things in it, ranging from wildly gruesome monsters that tower over Asta, to the gut-wrenching horrors of emotional vulnerability. It's not the lack of fear that matters, it's what's done inspite of it.

"Astaroth!" Kaisel calls out cheerily enough, lifting a hand in a wave even as he slides out of his chair to start to head towards him. His other hand clutches a wrapped parcel, the red and black paper creating a pattern of fyrhounds at play on a shiny silver backdrop. Flora had selected the dark cherry tea that's nestled within, but he'd added some chocolate turtles and strawberry suckers to go with it, and wrapped it with all the neat perfectionism of a soldier making their bed. "I hope I'm not interrupting your work," he says warily as he nears, noticing that Asta looks more intimidating than usual both in dress and stance, and that perhaps the one ruffin he drug out wasn't the first, or the last. "Sooo, if there's a better time to talk, let me know, but I hope we can?"

Kaisel

everybody come hang, let's go out with a bang

// tell me i'm forgiven, say you'll always be mine //

Pulled away from his thoughts and the burn of whiskey as he hears his name cheerfully called, the butcher turns toward the man approaching with recognition and a few seconds to school his face into the easy smile that borders on too sharp. Dark eyes take note of the package in the soldier’s hands, and while he does immensely appreciate the little fittings at play, he lets his gaze linger on Kaisel’s face in acknowledgement and greeting.

“Hello, Kaisel.” He hums, the ashen spaded tip of his tail twitching like a curious feline’s. “You are not interrupting. Now that everyone knows where I am they should be on their best behavior.” A brief pause before he tilts his horned head in a subconscious manner that seems to say as I assume you are doing too.

He looks back to the bartender to order another round — one for himself and a strawberry layered shot for the soldier at his side — before he’s gesturing for Kaisel to take a seat beside him if he so wished, moving the cane to the side so that he doesn’t have to be met immediately with the glint of red that’s splattered against the pieces of the blade. “All that to say that I have time now. What is on your mind?” He drawls it curiously, not leading so much as he is expectant. Kaisel has something he wants to say and the butcher will hear him out.

Astaroth

// say that everything is over, tell me i'm fine //

the rumpus and ruckus are comfortable now

It's a relief to hear that now is an okay time because mustering up courage and smoothing away anxiety is best done once and altogether rather than pieced out and waylaid. Well, relief may be the wrong word, there's very little of that feeling when Astaroth's attention settles wholly on him, shadows flickering behind him like troublesome reminders and his smile eerily out of place with the rest of his otherwise warm-ish features of greeting. He's unsettling to say the least, so yes, Kaisel happily sinks into the offered seat.

"Oh, great." He does mean that, sarcastic as the words could otherwise be shaped, because the last thing he wants to do is wrinkle Astaroth's opinion further by butting into his job. Scooching into place alongside the butcher, he sucks in a breath, punching through all the nerves and the worries like a train. "I'm sorry for the way I acted at the festival, I don't really know what came over me, to be honest." There's the briefest pause, that flicker of confusion still about what exactly had gone wrong. Flora's theories are just that, theories. He shakes his head faintly, clearing that away. "I never meant to do any of that to you, and you didn't deserve it, and I feel bad that I ruined our evenings."

He slides the gift across the counter to Astaroth. "This doesn't really make up for it all, I know, but I hope you like it. Oh and I can run your clothes to the nearest cleaners if you need, or pay for them, at least?"

Kaisel

everybody come hang, let's go out with a bang

// tell me i'm forgiven, say you'll always be mine //

Luckily for Kaisel, whether it was sarcasm or the man meant it, Astaroth doesn’t care one way or another. He was still here, taking a seat like the good soldier he is, with that curious package with playing fyrhunds and the butcher can certainly put two and two together. After all, he’s the only fyrhund in this building at the moment.

He turns his dark gaze onto Kaiden as he begins to speak, even as the shots arrive, and it takes everything in him to rein in the haunt that wishes to play across his features — which means his smiling gang of shadows dance around behind him and watch with equal curiosity.

He hadn’t expected such a flagrant, full on apology, though he won’t complain to hear it. And as for taking his strawberry stained clothing to the cleaners as part of the apology has him chuckling softly, a bit warmly. He might be more upset if he and Danta hadn’t worked it out after, but for now things were good and he’d promised Danta he’d make the space a reminder of the good to outweigh the bad.

“Thank you for the apology.” He hums, reaching out to take the gift and slide it closer to him so he can slide the layered shot toward Kaisel — a peanut butter whiskey with a line of red on top of a strawberry simple syrup. An ode to the drink the butcher wore the other day. “As for the clothes, I have already taken care of getting them cleaned.” A casual shrug as he snags his shot of whiskey, layered with something sweet like maple syrup, while his other hand toys with a piece of the wrapping paper that’s lifting. “Perhaps rather than being my errand boy, you may consider making a deal with me? A favor, you see. Not for right this moment but if there comes a time and I need something, I could call on you to assist?” He looks back to Kaisel as his tail flicks behind him, an almost expectant gleam to his gaze as if he can’t imagine the young man would do anything but agree.

Astaroth

// say that everything is over, tell me i'm fine //

the rumpus and ruckus are comfortable now

Well, that ended up being easier than he imagined. Astaroth takes it all in without eating him, although he still looks like he could, if he wanted to. Genuine relief this time finds Kaisel, the tension in his shoulders easing further, letting the seat take him more fully. "That's good, I was worried they'd be ruined." From one clothing lover to another, he knows the travesty of that.

Claiming the shot Asta slides towards him in exchange for the gift, Kaisel picks it up with interest. He can't say he's ever had one like this, but it looks pretty. He gives it a cursory sniff, and other than the strong punch of alcohol, it smells good too—sweet. He knocks it back, an approving grimace answering back as he sets the empty glass down on the counter, shaking his head faintly. "A deal?" he wonders around the lick of sugary heat that's beginning to settle in his gut. He lifts his gaze back towards the Butcher, feeling very much like this is one of those nights his mom used to warn him about. For someone who finds promises rather binding, Kaisel immediately prickles at the overly vague nature of this offer.

"What sort of favor?" he attempts to clarify, gaze narrowing faintly as he considers the possibilities at play. Astaroth and him don't know each other well, and he's certain the butcher has much stronger allies to call upon, but as a man recently slighted it wouldn't be surprising if he wanted to slot Kaisel into a sticky situation that he'd not put one of his better friends into. Flora's name could only offer so much protection, especially if it could be said Kaisel willingly took on whatever shitshow occurs. "No fucking or killing," he offers up, as a good place to draw some boundaries.

Kaisel

everybody come hang, let's go out with a bang

// tell me i'm forgiven, say you'll always be mine //

“Mm, I have put them through worse conditions at times.” The butcher hums in regard to his clothes — though he leaves the details out. The soldier doesn’t need to know about the copious amounts of blood that had flooded the threads of some of his favorite attires, though something tells him the young man might be able to figure it out on his own.

Either way, the butcher knocks back his own shot alongside Kaisel as he takes his own, letting his smile stick to his face with easy grace and charm. He nods, the corners of his mouth twitching up slightly. “A deal of which if I ever come into a position where I need the assistance of a good soldier, I know whom to ask.” Asta had his ego inflating constantly these days, and in order to get what he wants he’s more than ready to offer up an ego boost to whomever he wants the result of.

In this case, the butcher very much wants Kaisel indebted to him, but without a reason just yet. And with all the bravado of the soldier making his own boundaries, Asta’s chuckle is warm and mirrored by his shadows that dance around them. “Mm, a minor adjustment? No sex and no killing of people.” He hums with a smirk, turning toward Kaisel to make it more official. Perhaps he’d need his help getting rid of a nuisance creature in which he wouldn’t be able to enact the deal if it was a blanket no killing rule. “Do we have a deal?”

Astaroth

// say that everything is over, tell me i'm fine //

the rumpus and ruckus are comfortable now

He can imagine, based on what he saw earlier, that his drink is not the first to get spilled on Astaroth, among other liquids. He's betting he has an in with a cleaner, in fact, but he would also wager that Astaroth has work clothes (case in point his current look) and party clothes, with the latter not usually so exposed to stray drinks and fluids. At least, that's how Kaisel's wardrobe generally works, and for the most part he's managed to avoid soldiering in any important merch.

He expected a fair number of reasons to be handed over, potentially even none at all. Praise however, hadn't been one of them, and it leaves him momentarily slackjawed in the wake of it. Not because it's untrue, of course, no no. Just, he didn't think Astaroth had any real positive considerations about him, but clearly his little display at the festival had inspired the man to think otherwise. Not accustomed to having his ego stroked, usually it's quite the opposite, Kaisel is immediately warming up to this favor idea. "A good soldier, of course. Always good to have one of those on call," he grins, only very clearly preening.

That Astaroth doesn't even balk at the limitations, in fact improves them, because Kaisel isn't exactly used to layering words just so, makes it impossible to refuse. "Right, right, that's what I meant, thank you for clarifying." His smile is a touch more sheepish now, glad at least Astaroth understood even if the implication otherwise had been that Kaisel would let monsters roam unhindered. "Yeah, deal," he agrees, extending his hand to shake on it.

Kaisel

everybody come hang, let's go out with a bang

// tell me i'm forgiven, say you'll always be mine //

He sees it the moment that his compliment and praise affects the soldier. The way the warmth soaks in and the acceptance comes almost immediately. It’s always easy to do when there’s an inflation of compliments, something that Asta knows all too well (it works on him too). So when the younger man practically preens, Asta’s grin grows brighter and sharper. “Precisely, darling. You never know when you may require one.”

And then Kaisel is agreeing to the modification, one that the butcher had figured was the reasoning — and truth be told, if he wanted someone dead he had much better ways to go about it than to use Flora’s boyfriend. So he nods to the gratitude of the clarification, before he’s reaching out to claim Kaisel’s hand for the deal they’ve struck. “Lovely.” He practically purrs, tail sweeping back and forth with delight, his hand hot to the touch but not in a way that hurts as he shakes his hand decisively.

Then, withdrawing, he turns back to the gift box with the playing fyrhunds. “Besides, the Blood Moon is known for making those in attendance have some impulsive thoughts. Aaaand, I may have overreacted with the haunt.” He pauses, cracking open the wrapping paper with precision as if he wants to keep the paper to show Danta later. “How did you find my puppet show?” He asks, glancing sidelong at the soldier as his shadows crowd around the top of the bar as if they too wish to inspect the gift brought.

Astaroth

// say that everything is over, tell me i'm fine //

the rumpus and ruckus are comfortable now

The heat is not unpleasant, but it's warm enough to be unexpected, and Kaisel finds himself quickly drawing his hand back once the deal is struck. He affords a glance down at his palm, a shade more red after the contact, already cooling. He half expected to find bloody runes or something carved there, something etched in to sink against his soul with this devil's deal. Just another Ancient thing, and maybe the alcohol.

Lying it against the cooler counter of the bar, Kaisel glances towards the gift's dismantling briefly, before his attention returns to Astaroth with a bit of surprise. "It is?" His 'brows lift along with his slouch, a short huff delivered in response to this news. "That would have been good to know going in. I thought I lost my damn mind. Flora suspected a spiked drink or a curse from my ex." He'd have to make a checklist of questions next time Charlie invites him anywhere.

An honest laugh escapes this time at the cute reference of a puppet show for the horror that he witnessed. It dies out soon enough though, wary eyes flicking back towards the dusk heeling behind Asta. "Can't say it was my favorite," he admits, playing with the empty shot glass for a place to put his nervous energy, spinning it between forefinger and thumb. "I hope never to see it again," he says quieter, but with no less conviction for the volume. He might not bear whatever burdens Danta does at its sight, but it is still an ugly encounter just the same.

"Flora and I want to invite the two of you over to her house again sometime soon, have another go at a nice evening between us all. She mentioned it's Danta's birthday, so we could arrange him something nice that he likes." Offering up a far better subject than puppet shows, Kaisel glances back over at him.

Kaisel

everybody come hang, let's go out with a bang

// tell me i'm forgiven, say you'll always be mine //

It’s not a deal with anything magical occurring, but it is one that the butcher will remember and call upon at some time in the future. So, perhaps it’s under the threat of that in which the butcher doesn’t feel the need to add the fanfare to their deal. Instead, the smirk remains when he explains the Blood Moon and how it affected those within – how he might have overreacted too. But then Kaisel’s talking about how he’d thought he’d lost his mind, how Flora had suspected a spiked drink or a curse. And honestly? He can see why they might think so. “Luckily for you, it was simply the festival.”

Hearing the laughter as he questions about the puppet show, the butcher’s smile remains bright and sharp as he catches the wary glance. His fingers still play with the wrapping paper, cracking it open in a neat reversal of how it was likely wrapped, slipping the box out from the paper and folding it neatly and small enough to bring with him. Before he has a chance to slip it into his pocket, Asta chuckles softly. “Good, I am glad to know it worked, then.” He smirks, before he settles.

Pausing before he opens the box, he glances sidelong at Kaisel curiously. “I imagine he would not be opposed to the visit.” Neither is Asta for reference. “We do both adore the hot tub, after all.” A smile remains on his face, bright and curious to see if he’d balk at the idea just as he had before. He pretends to focus on opening the box but half of him is paying attention for Kaisel's response, long slender fingers plucking out the items before he responds to them - clearly charmed and pleased by the gifts and the tea especially.

Astaroth

// say that everything is over, tell me i'm fine //

the rumpus and ruckus are comfortable now

He can honestly say he's never once considered opening a gift as carefully as Astaroth is. In his hands, paper becomes shredded instantly, near rabid to get to the gift that's buried inside. It's like an unnecessary husk around an otherwise tasty food, like the exterior of an avocado, or the skin of a potato, the crust of bread, and so on. That Astaroth is cherishing this part, is baffling, and definitely distracting when he keeps doing it in small stages. Kaisel is not about to tell scary shadow man how to open a gift though, so he just glimpses over at the process every so often with a hefty amount of judgment.

He supposes it should be an endearing sign that the wrapping paper is worth the saving, and it is cute. Astaroth has finally freed the box now though, so we're finally getting somewhere. "Do you perform puppet show often?" he wonders with as much casual curiosity as he can scrounge up, fingers leaving his shot glass be. He's privately hoping for a very specific answer. No, it'd be no.

It is an odd way to phrase a yes, and it makes Kaisel's eyes lift from the unwrapping experience which feels like an ASMR stream he doesn't realize he's a part of, just so he can accurately read the man's expression with the roundabout agreement. "I'll take that as a yes then," and though it's a statement, he almost finds himself asking it. Though soon enough he's simpering instead at the quick little jab Astaroth delivers, because he'd nearly suggested they try something other than hot tubs this time when he made the offer, so they're already of one mind it'd seem. "Oh good, and this time you've got enough notice to pack swim wear." His smile reaches into his cheeks, as hospitable as ever.

"Glad the gift is to your liking," he says with a tilt of his chin onto his hand once everything has been unboxed and fully appraised.

Kaisel

everybody come hang, let's go out with a bang

// tell me i'm forgiven, say you'll always be mine //

“Not the full show, no.” He confides, leaning a touch toward Kaisel as he opens the box meticulously. “I tend to prefer the little changes. If those do not work, then yes, I bring out the calvary as it were.” He shrugs a shoulder a touch too casually – like he’s talking about the average outfit change and not the fact he single handedly can provide nightmare fuel to a variety of people.

The full thing was what had done Danta in that night, though. And part of that was him not thinking and simply unleashing. But they had worked that out as it seemed Kaisel and Flora had worked it out between them as well to come to the conclusion of making this adorable little gift box, full of tea and sweets that the butcher’s already snagging a chocolate turtle to dive into – his sharpened teeth making quick work of slicing it in half.

“That is a yes.” He confirms once he’s swallowed down the bite of chocolate – being genuinely polite, of course, and as his gaze skates over toward Kaisel with that amusement in his gaze, he finds it far more funny when he sees the way Kaisel’s smile grows at the mention they have enough notice to pack swim wear. “I suppose we do.” He sighs with the same amusement, even if it seems like he’s deflating.

It just adds to the point that Kaisel is not as much fun as he could be if he didn’t have the fear of dicks that the butcher’s head cannon is certainly providing.

The gift itself, though, is granted a nod and a brighter, shark toothed grin. “The gift is wonderful. Perhaps you should offend me more if this is how you intend to make it up to me.” The joke slips from his lips with ease, his accent growing thicker before he snorts a little and closes up the box so he can pocket the wrapping paper. “Shall we go and find our partners, then?” He asks, giving Kaisel an out if he didn’t want to continue to sit here and talk to him lest he decide to toy with the boy with his shadows and haunt some more. (More than he already is with the grinning ghouls that stare into the box and at Kaisel proper, and the way the dark fire obsidian horns on his head have extended to grant him a couple more tines to his antlers).

Astaroth

// say that everything is over, tell me i'm fine //

the rumpus and ruckus are comfortable now

It is an immediate relief to hear that the show he got to see is not a common occurrence, and though he's not entirely sure when he might be able to relax completely around Astaroth, he does ease into the chair even further than before. "Oh, then I'm so honored," he attempts to say lightly, but it comes out with a laugh a touch too high, the nerves underneath pitching it up. Yeah, the flickering darkness around him is plenty haunting enough all on its own.

As for coming over, swimsuits included, Kaisel's smile is genuine. "Great! Then it's settled. Sometime before end of season so we can get Dantalion a birthday dinner proper." He drums his fingers across the counter and ends with a small slap of finality about the proposal. "Did you know it's my birthday too this season? We're twins!" He finds this far more amusing than Flora had, but he rather thinks it means Dantalion and he are steeped in a birthday, brotherly bond the likes of which the rest couldn't understand.

His amusement twitches deeper at Astaroth's joke, and despite himself Kaisel can appreciate that the demon has an excellently lowkey sense of humor. That kind that slides in and delivers very dry moments of punctuation, but ones Kaisel can still appreciate. "I'm sure it won't be our last gift exchange," Kaisel reassures with a twist of his lips, and whether that's to mean he is likely to offend the butcher again or if it might be for more friendly reasons is really anyone's guess. The lingering question is one Kaisel would have already been agreeing to assuredly, but the leering press of the shadows and the creep of the tines earns a swift answer. "Yes! Let's!" he chirps as he slides off the seat and makes his way back towards where Flora left him, barely sparing a glance back for whether Astaroth is following or not.

[FIN]

Kaisel

everybody come hang, let's go out with a bang