[SE] now it's keeping seconds

cover you when the sky comes crashing in

The Oerwoud, as if often proclaimed, was alive and varnished with its vivid colors and vibrant hues. Still, with the way things had flickered about in between seasons, of weird dreams, golden light, and disappeared heralds. He had half a mind to wonder if Ludo would simply appear out of the fern shadows with a ghoulish wave of its rags, then pilfer off back into the distance, as if nothing had been the matter at all. Which, to Caido’s credit, could also be a possibility and potential, if it wasn’t always so drawn to the more lacquered hardships of the past.

He made no mention of it near the Ancient, as he had a strong feeling it wouldn’t have much mattered. Instead, his mind went towards the recent delivery of mail – this one embossed and embedded with sparkling crimson and gold – and far happier announcements. “Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. Erebos enjoyed the glitter.” Had gathered as much as he could and threw it on the snow to make some patchwork picture. Regardless though, it was nice to hear that so many had found the peace, repose, or in their case, probably necessary chaos, to move forward with their lives. "Thank you for entertaining him last season. He would not stop talking about you the entire way home." Whether or not this was a good thing, Deimos didn't say, letting his features settle into a snicker. 

His eyes went towards the ground, examining the layers of undergrowth, mind already calculating how he might be striving to assist in wakening Ghilio; head tilting vaguely as his attention went in a variety of directions. “Do either of you want a particular gift?”

DEIMOS

open hand or closed fist would be fine

Deimos is right - it wouldn't have much mattered. Danta is now aware of things happening in the Oerwoud (in general at least, when it comes to weird desert things and rampant sleepiness) but his interest in that lasts only insofar that it has his attention. And he is much more interested right now in waking Flowerbirth up than finding Ludo, wherever it might have gone.

"Mm? Oh, thank you. I thought it was a memorable touch," the Maverick purrs, offering a roguish little bow as he trails after Deimos through the jungle, stepping over vines and moss in a pair of steel-capped boots made more for kicking than hiking the wilderness, but whatever. "And think nothing of it, please. He was the one keeping me entertained, truth be told." Which, for a creature as chaotic as the Ancient, may well be the truth.

"And let me know if he wants me to send origami instructions, so he can also send glitter bombs." He winks, ducking under a bough to catch up with the taller man. As for a gift, he hums a sigh and shakes his head a bit, nothing immediately coming to mind. "Your presence is plenty," he assures him, "but I'll ask my spookier half, just in case."

Dantalion

the blood is rare and sweet as cherry wine

cover you when the sky comes crashing in

Memorable, indeed. Whatever remnants Erebos hadn’t managed to grab were probably still embedded into the Sword’s desk. Pressing his wake through the brush, brambles, and boughs as if they were nothing, he laughed at the notions that Erebos had been the more entertaining one – the youth was certainly amongst the outgoing portions of the Ignatius clan. “Glad to hear it. He sent me with a letter for you too,” which Deimos snagged from his pockets – said parchment had clearly been attempted at the origami arrangements of a ningo – slightly off-kilter, with detailed instructions, labels, diagrams, and pictures on how to make the perfect snowman. Glancing at it again, given how it had survived the journey, he passed it off to the Ancient. “Probably for the best. He would appreciate it.”

Maneuvering to where Ghilio had been rumored to be slumbering, his head tilted; surprised when Danta had nothing but his presence in mind. Eyes widened a fraction, showing the brief bewilderment, before the rumble of another laugh threatened in his chest. “Sure. Let me know.” Maybe Deimos could surprise them with something, regardless.

Twisting his hair off his neck once the warmth stuck more to his skin, he moved it into a messy bun and studied the landscape. “How did you plan on waking Ghilio?”

DEIMOS

open hand or closed fist would be fine

"He did? Delightful," Danta says, entirely authentic in his pleasure about the letter, and he hops over a further bit of undergrowth to catch up with Deimos properly and accept it. "Is this a ningo?" he asks, turning the origami bird this way and that (and unintentionally settling on holding it upside down). "I've never seen one in person, you know. Are they really as stupid as they say?" He nods, too, at the idea of returning the favour with glitter-bomb instructions - and let's be honest, probably another origami creation as well.

Raising his eyebrows at the other man, amused at the clear bewilderment in his expression, Danta gives him a good natured elbow for his trouble. "Are we not friends, Deimos?" Good friends? Best friends, even? "Why would your being there not be plenty?"

As for Ghilio and waking him up, the Maverick chuckles and pats the satchel slung over his shoulder. "Same way I wake myself up. Nice, strong cup of coffee. You?"

Dantalion

the blood is rare and sweet as cherry wine

It hits you out of nowhere - a sudden wave of exhaustion dragging at your limbs and making it difficult to keep your eyes open. You suppress a yawn and consider, briefly, sitting down somewhere for a quick cat-nap. How strange - perhaps you haven’t been sleeping as well as you could. Maybe something to take note of when your head hits the pillow this evening.

Please note: this serendipity CANNOT be used for levelling purposes.

cover you when the sky comes crashing in

His smile remained as the Ancient turned over his son’s gift, snorting when the bird was held on entirely different angles, straightening it thereafter so it at least resembled the annoying avians a little more. “It is – and yes. Very dim. Still fun to hunt though.” In that they could come up with new and various ways to rid themselves of said creatures, until the flocks always returned, unperturbed and unbothered. “Too numb to steal, unlike your crows,” as a catering to the intellect of the Grounds’ cretins, snorting a little under his breath as they continued walking.

Not expecting the other man’s reaction to his surprise – nor the elbow to his side, perhaps he was more caught aback by his own presumptions. It hadn’t been so long ago that the Sword had been merely expected by the masses to cater to creations at requests and needs, or simply presumed to be the one to uphold expectations. “We are,” and he wrinkled his nose, forming amusement to endure over the way some had treated him. Danta hadn’t. It wasn’t the Maverick’s fault he had a world of issues navigating around Caido’s peculiarities. “That was why I had offered,” at which he arched his brow. “I just do not get to hear that much.” He grinned again, letting those wayward fractures go.

At which, Danta’s suggestions were much more…gentler than what he’d planned. “Oh – I had planned on a miniature earthquake of sorts,” he relented with a slight dimple of amusement in his cheeks; very boyish and mischief-laden. “Perhaps yours is the superior choice. I can add the water or what-,” the statement didn’t finish as the sudden onslaught of slumber caught him – not for the first time.

And it was still unnerving when he reeled back like his head had snapped; eyes widening again, jaw clenching, nothing to fight except the unknown. “Better yet, we should all have some.”

DEIMOS