Afterparty

[latinumsbetter]

[After Zvei walks down into the earth and it closes over his head, and Typhon gives his goodbye...the Phantasmal Bar finally flickers out of existence. Quark breathes out a slow breath.]

Alright. The bar downstairs is going to be open. Stop in. [That is not a request.]

Riful, let's see what we can do about that thing you need.

[He'll give Leb a squeeze--before she detaches from him. He makes eye contact at least once with all of his employees, and then he turns and walks out of the Arena. So...post trial, the bar downstairs is once again open. The employees are around at different times, and Quark is once again behind the bar. There’s been several of the extra togas gathered and folded to be used as blankets. There's food and drinks and places to sit and think or talk or whatever one would like to do.

There are two more drinks that are made and sit just behind the counter to accompany with the other two that are usually remade and replaced every day.

The door is open.]

Comments

[markofnobility]

[ he rolls his shirt back down, brow furrowed in confusion for a moment before he remembers that part of their rooftop confessional]

Ah. Well. Maybe not the falling in battle more so than why I was there at all. I think... if I ever find myself facing down such a thing again... I will make sure it is for something I believe in rather than some misplaced obligation. That... will be the kind of loyalty I can be proud to represent.

[stringup]

[ Velvet reaches over to take one of Ferdinand's hands, if he'll let her. ]

...Perhaps this is trite of me to say, but...I'm relieved that's the sort of loyalty you've chosen.

[markofnobility]

[ he not only allows it, but squeezes back almost desperately]

I do not think it trite at all. It warms me to know you think so kindly of my choices.

Even so... after watching Seymour and Zvei today... I fear I may have been terribly cruel to you in turn

[stringup]

[ The way he squeezes her hand makes her stroke a thumb over his knuckles, as if to comfort him. ]

Why do you say so?

[markofnobility]

... when I first made my feelings clearly known I still had this foolish surety that this all would end up well in the end. How could it not? I am Ferdinand von Aegir, after all.

But I know what kind of man I am, and I hope you have an idea of it too. If I had been the one with the doll I would have done the same as Misane. And these carrots Typhon dangles... I can not say one could not tempt me. Not anymore. But I do not want to see you with that same look as Seymour.

Yet somehow, I can not make myself regret what led me to this room. I have become too selfish, I suspect.

[stringup]

[ She has something to say now that Typhon has revealed his hand to them, but that is a separate thing to this at the moment. ]

So you mean to say that loving me and winning over my heart is cruel to me?

[ But her tone isn't accusative or upset. She is simply asking a question. ]

[markofnobility]

[ a cowardly part of him says to backpedal. But he is no coward.]

Never willingly. But in our circumstances... in a way, yes. A sensable man would have waited until Athena returned and we were all safe. When I could give you the assurances you deserve.

1/2, CW: just. so much negativity and fatalism here

[stringup]

That is true. [ She'll concede that much. ] Though I'll also say that if we're being honest, Athena's return was never guaranteed to begin with, as much as she wants it to be.

[ So perhaps that moment would've never come, and even now, they still aren't sure when or even if it will.

For a long moment, she looks at their clasped hands, both of them unwilling to let go. ]

...You know, that day, when I walked out of the camp, I truly had no plans for what was supposed to come after. I wasn't even thinking about how—reprehensible and evil it all was. I just finally woke up, realised I was miserable, and wanted to no longer be. So I left.

But after that, I was still suffocating under the sunlight if I didn't shield myself with the trappings of death, as if the sun Himself was telling me he would keep rejecting me for what I've done. I couldn't go back home, I couldn't take back my name, and I still had nowhere to go. All that changed was that I no longer had to answer to someone above me.

I had no future. When I committed the sin of swearing that oath, I gave up all right to a good life and happy ending forever. Even now, I don't know if that's changed. No matter how much I regret, and regardless of having walked away, trash is still trash.

[stringup]

But you...you look at me like I'm lovely and worth cherishing. No one had ever pleaded for me to stay before you did, or thought of my happiness. When I'm with you, I feel like I can bask in the warmth of the sun again, and live like anyone else. No sensible man would ever do any of these for an enemy of the world.

So...please don't say you've been cruel to me. You have given me more kindness than I should ever ask for.

[markofnobility]

[ every word feels like it's carving things out of him, filling them with something strange and new and terrifying. Yet thrilling as well. He is trembling with it, eyes hot with it.]

Velvet... every word of my adoration for you is true. Deserved or not, I do not give a single damn. And I swear, on my name and my mantle, that I will forge a future for you no matter what it takes. If the sun itself has rejected you then you will have the stars instead. I will make it's so one way or another.

[stringup]

[ Ferdinand's sudden declaration startles Velvet in its intensity, though if she thought about it, she should have expected this from Ferdinand. After all, hasn't he proved time and again he's a truly ridiculous man?

The look in his eyes, the fire in his words... The hollowed out parts of Velvet's soul begin to fill with something both wonderful and terrible, something she had resigned herself to having little of: hope.

For the first time in years, she can feel tears well up in her eyes. ]

You...

[markofnobility]

[He grips her hand between both his own]

I am going to kiss you, okay?

[Because as dramatic as a sudden lunge would be, he knows her better than that]

[stringup]

[ On the one hand, she's grateful for it. On the other hand, she can't help laughing a little, a rare sound from her that is becoming less so as time passes. ]

Fine by me.

[markofnobility]

[He laughs too, breathless already, before leaning in.

This. This is much closer to the kisses he eluded to in the library. Firmer, more frantic and desperate. Head tilting properly to really slot together just right]

[stringup]

[ Velvet only had a vague idea of what a "passionate kiss" was supposed to be like, mostly from a couple of some clandestine books she tried very hard to keep hidden as a teenager, and tales of young trysts that were whispered among friends in the days of her old life. Actually experiencing something like one is a different thing altogether.

And oh, she finds herself matching Ferdinand's desperation, pressing a little closer into his warmth. Her free hand reaches up to thread through his hair, resting at the back of his head, but intending on keeping him there. ]

[markofnobility]

[She has nothing to fear there- unlike last time he makes no move to retreat, just pressing closer. When breathing through his nose isn't enough he just breaks the seal enough for a few quick breaths against her lips before going back in. Like he's starving to death.]

You-

[Whatever though he was starting to form is quickly lost- as if he just has to acknowledge her for a moment]

[stringup]

[ If Velvet still had toes, they would've curled from the intensity of it all. She gasps when he breaks the kiss, with a dazed look like she's wondering why he had stopped even momentarily (girl, you both need to breathe).

The heat of his body against her own cool skin feels like fever. His hunger is met with something equally needy, Velvet nipping at his lips as if to ask for more, despite not knowing what that "more" should look like. ]

[markofnobility]

[ his lip is already mostly healed from his deserved slap, thanks to the Ochain, but each nip comes with iron-y echos.

Ferdinand doesn't mind it one bit. Devour him. He'd happily give it all if asked. It's enough of a clear request for him to open his mouth just a bit. Clumsy- this is further than any of the fumbling teenage attempts of his past ever got- but welcoming and eager either way. While her hands go to his hair his own setle on her back, tracing nonsense on the raised skin he can feel through bedclothes ]

[stringup]

[ He earns a shiver from Velvet, who is unused to having someone else's hands on her scar. If she was less caught up in the moment she'd be more self-conscious, worrying that her body would prove unattractive with its disfigurements that have marked her for life.

Instead, she's absorbed in the faint taste of blood traces as she clumsily runs her tongue along his lips, tries to deepen the kiss when he parts them for her. She wants to devour him; she wants to melt into his warmth; she wants to keep clinging and never let him go. ]

[markofnobility]

[ with both their lack of much experince it's all a bit messy. Lots of spit and clacking teeth. But Ferdinand would not trade it for the world. He delves to taste and meet her half way, chest heaving a bit with how heavy his breathing is.

But eventually he pulls back a bit, face flushed. As if he had drawn some of the infection away from her and was burning it out in a bout of fever.]

Ha... hah. I... if we keep this up I doubt there will be much talking or sleeping.

[ his bright expression suggests he isn't against the idea. But it's been a long emotionally destructive day, and that too shows there. He fears he would pass out right after, honestly. Not nearly as romantic as he would like]

[stringup]

[ Velvet's own face is flushed when Ferdinand pulls back, and if she weren't just fresh off making out, she'd be deeply embarrassed by the keening sound of disappointment she just made.

But...oh, hearing what Ferdinand is saying reminds her of the circumstances. Today's been a long, devastating day, even though they're both alive here and now. Arguably, this isn't exactly ideal?

The hand in his hair slides over to cup his cheek. ]

T-true...we could always save this for a better time.

[ As much as she'd like to keep going. ]

[markofnobility]

[Sothis save him, but that sound is gonna haunt his nights for some time.]

Probably for the best... but know it is not out of a lack of desire.

[stringup]

[ Sure is going to be awkward when they're sharing a bed from now on, huh.

She leans in to gently touch her forehead against his, since she's still reluctant to...well, not be close to him. ]

Of course. Is there anything else you want to talk about?

[markofnobility]

[He practically nuzzles her at the slight touch. Desperate ass man]

I have said the thing most troubling my mind. Though if you had more to ask, I am not so far gone to exhaustion yet.

[stringup]

[ She certainly isn't complaining about it, though. ]

Then...just tell me more about yourself? Anything you wish to tell me.