logs | Life is hard, that's why no one survives (half-closed)

1.

[Who knows where you're coming from and where you're going (Cotton Eye Joe playing muffled from someone's house), but mistletoe is everywhere. Really everywhere.

At this point, it's impossible for Zagreus not to know what the whole thing is about, with the sprites insisting on telling him about what they're doing in great detail: Paying tribute to this earthly being and how he should do the same if he does cross its threshold. Ever respectful, Zag had acquiesced, wondering if there are more stories surrounding the whole thing.

And lo and behold, a sprite drops on its behind on the top of Zagreus' head to call his attention.] Hey, little one, be careful; you'll get burned.

[The sprite points at the sprig above you. His eyebrows shoot up.] Oh. [His eyes cast down to you.] Er. Have you heard about what you're supposed to do with this?

[No offense, mate, but he doesn't want to convince anyone to smooch him, even if it's only to respect this little herbal god. Consent is a great thing.]

2.

[Or maybe you catch him in the midst of the festivities, sipping at the eggnog, looking a little loopy if anything because of the hanahaki meds that he had to down with the alcohol since it makes him talkative and a bit too nostalgic.

He makes a beeline in the middle of the crowd to get to your vicinity and then taps you on the shoulder.] Are you enjoying yourself?

( having just recently detached himself from a restless, aspen takes a moment to recuperate. just watching the party is usually enough for him - he smiles as he watches the merriment, trying to squash down his own loneliness. the cold has encroached on his heart, but no matter who he tries to pick and flirt with, it's never good enough. it's not aza. it's not wisteria.

he's almost about to give up, really. maybe he should go back and study some more of the vegetation here.

at least, that's what he thinks before zagreus taps his shoulder and speaks to him. oh, here's the baby sun. )

I've been better. ( he places a hand over zag's on his shoulder. ) You look a bit addled. Have you been drinking?

[Zagreus' face falls, concern weighing down his eyebrows.] 'Been better'? Why's that? What's wrong?

[He pats at that shoulder again, reassuringly squeezing it at the end of the motion. He's thankful that Aspen has noticed enough to look a bit concerned, although another part of him is grimacing internally for letting it show. This is a time of merriment! He's had enough of those flowers. So he shakes his head.] I had to take some medicine due to that illness that has been going around. It makes me a little light-headed, but it's not unpleasant.

Ah, nothing to be worried about.

( he gently pats zag's hand, gaze fond. )

I just miss my husband and my lover. Merriment is... lonely without the people you love, sometimes.

( 'love'. oof. he has a feeling aza might fluster a little if he'd said that to his face. ) I am sorry you have the same cough, though. Perhaps you should take a moment to rest your feet?

I understand. [It's tentative, the smile Zag offers. Somehow that does hit close to home, and suddenly Zag feels said merriment waft away in part, to be replaced with longing. His throat threatens to clench, but it only manages to subside until he clears his throat absently, a tickle in his tongue.

While Aspen always seems to carry languor on him, it seems heavier, tiresome. Zagreus pretends to consider.] Ah, only if you'd join me. Would hate to be sat alone and all.

( aspen puffs out a little laugh, giving zag an incredulous - but fond - expression. he reaches up onto his tiptoes to gently tousle his hair. )

Oh, you. Twisting my arm without even a shred of shame! Alright, but I'm sitting in your lap. I'm cold.

[Oh, my, is Aspen actually shorter than Zag?

He bows his head to make it easier for Aspen to ruffle his hair in his own bashful manner. Zagreus chuckles, a bit surprised at the quick comeuppance, his own mind getting whiplash from the fond gesture, followed by the jab towards how forward he's being and how Aspen suddenly takes advantage of it. He tips his head to guide Aspen toward a nook in the room in the direction he came from, noticing how comfortable it looked and considering sitting down for a second or two.

Guess he is sitting down, after all.] I'm afraid I'm not as comfortable as these cushions, though. Have you managed to stay warm at home?

[He's been bringing blankets and warm beverages to people, after all. Had he known, he'd probably swaddle Aspen in those, too.]

( aspen is only 5ft tall and hollow-boned so very likely to be smaller than zag.

he patiently waits until zag does sit down, and then plops himself into his lap with a flutter of his wings to settle. )

Comfort is relative. ( whilst he looked perhaps moderately warm, aspen radiates heat, especially from his fluffy wings. they're shedding down everywhere he's going now, probably because his wings have reached maximum density and can't hold any more feathers despite the chill saying that he needs more insulation. despite it all, he's light - and fluffy, even besides the wings, thanks to the bunch of petticoats keeping his skirt in an A-line. )

I've stayed relatively comfortable, but my wings will always be cold. My bed in my current home is just too small for my wings to fit comfortably under my sheets.

[Oh my lord he's smaller than Zag by 8 inches that's so cute.

And there he is, with a lapful of bird, releasing a titter before he accommodates Aspen better to make sure that he is comfortable despite how he insists it's not an issue. Zagreus makes sure that his arm is well placed so that Aspen has some sort of support on his back if he needs it whilst not disturbing his wings, which he finds fascinating still. He's only ever seen the hint of downy wings in light flashes, and the one tangible wing he daren't touch had no feathers.]

Oh, how would you warm them, if at all? Do you need more covers?

( aspen settles into his lap and hold like a little bird would in a human's hand, nestling and fluffing up his wings so he can cozily lean against zagreus.

he means it when he says he's comfortable. how can he not be, amongst muscle and strength? it makes him feel safe. one of his hands stays on zag's chest, a light touch to steady himself. )

It's not so much the covers as it is the bed. The floor gets very, very cold late at night, and thus - because my wings can't fit atop the bed in a relaxed state, they'll end up all over the floor instead. I could cover them with sheets, but... the chill seeps into my bones. Even though my wings are quite warm, I need to sit in a warm bath for a while before I feel alive again in the morning.

I just need a big bed. ( sigh. ) Maybe once I finish building my treehouse.

[The position feels nice, his head leaning back on the seat gets him to sigh in some relief. Aspen is light as a feather on his lap but very solid, and the warmth that comes with his weight is nothing but welcome. Though he is not expecting the hand on his chest, making him aware of how he's breathing as he watches his fingers rise and fall with the motion of it, his lip twitching at it bashfully all the same.

Though that's not really important since the idea of Aspen spending so many cold nights seems terrible, so terrible that his own body reacts with a hunch of his own shoulders, half a shiver and half trying to envelop the mage closer to warm him further.] What about blankets on the floor? Would they help?

[He smiles.] Like the ones in Serene? You're building one?

[Tell him more!]

( blankets on the floor? he mulls it over. )

I just think it's a bit of a waste when I'm so cold, but perhaps that will help me be warm overall?

( he shakes his head, deeming the talk of treehouses more important. )

I am, though I would not say it is entirely like Serene's. Me and my kind live in joined treehouses during the winter months on our island, as our monsoon season often floods our homes. While I don't think Stygia has such a problem, there's comfort to be had in the trees. I miss home, a bit.

All I hear is that you need more blankets.

[He grins, trying to make it sound practical. A bird bundled in blankets everywhere, on the floor, on the bed, around him.

That image is adorable in his mind.]

I see. How is that going? Do you need any help with that?

[He spots something out of the corner of his eye, something above them, and something in the back of his mind is telling him to look. But he wants to pay attention to what Aspen is saying, so he'll get to that in a bit.]

(no subject)

terraria - 2022-12-28 23:29 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

dodgeouttahell - 2022-12-29 00:50 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

terraria - 2023-01-02 04:36 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

dodgeouttahell - 2023-01-03 12:34 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

terraria - 2023-01-03 23:31 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

dodgeouttahell - 2023-01-04 10:13 (UTC) - Expand

[ zag can't look down when he's supposed to be shorter than childe smh

Either way, Tartaglia's eyes follow where Zagreus is looking, glancing upwards at the pesky parasitic plant dangling right above him. Man. These things really are everywhere, huh. It almost feels like there's no escape.

And maybe there isn't, what with how persistent the sprites have been in making sure everyone is indulging in the tradition. ]

I'm supposed to give you a big kiss on the lips. Or something close to that.

[ He shrugs. ]

[He's looking down from looking at the ceiling, silly.

Unless Childe is just as tall.

The sprites are already looking expectantly at them both, to which Zag actually scoffs.] "Supposed to" doesn't necessarily mean you have to. And why is it you giving me a kiss in the first place?

[Don't tell him it's by height order.]

[ wait, i thought zag is shorter than him—

Tartaglia gives Zagreus A Look, as if he couldn't believe what he just heard. ]

What do you mean? Why shouldn't it be me who gives you a kiss?

[ He's got no logical arguments as to why this is how they should be doing things. It's just what came to mind at first, okay!! ]

[jsdfhsf My bad, he's still a short king, this lad. He's aiming his eyes lower than the ceiling to look at Childe, but he's still looking up!

Zagreus gives Childe A Look right back! Although Zag is grinning because it's sort of funny that the Harbinger didn't even think of the alternative.]

I could be giving you one instead. [Why are they discussing what's basically the same thing. Oh, right. Himbos.]

[ sometimes archer is just dumb—

It is pretty funny that the Harbinger never thought about that possibility, huh. But such is the way his mind works. It's either his way or the high way. Simple as that. ]

Isn't that the same thing? [ ?????????? They're both kissing each other in the end, right??? ] Come here.

[ He gestures for Zag to come closer. Come on. ]

[No, I'm just forever stuck in ESL hell.

ESL? ETL? Who knows.

Though, Zag chuckles with a shake of his head and finds out as he gets closer that, at 5'8", there's actually some height difference between them that makes the logistics of it a little tricky if he were the one to initiate. Maybe if he gets on his tip toes?]

Has this happened to you a lot?

[ There is a sizable height difference between them right now. Tippy toes might help Zag out though, if he really wanted to bridge that gap. ]

A few times here and there. I figured getting a kiss out of this is better than dealing with the pranks.

[ Unless Zag REALLY wants to be cursed instead, but still. Tartaglia isn't going to let that happen. He's already leaning close to capture the man's mouth in a simple kiss. No bells and whistles here since he doesn't think it's all that necessary. ]

[Well, Zag finds that fair, and he will meet him halfway with said tippytoes. He reaches to cradle the Harbinger's face between his hands to both steady himself and to add a little whistle to the kiss. He's never doing something half-assedly, so Zag actually hums heartily at it, unafraid of showing that he enjoys a good smooch.]

There. I'd like to think that's better than being pranked, yes.

[ If the Harbinger is caught off guard by the hands on his face, he doesn't say anything, breaking away from the kiss with a satisfied smile. It was a nice smooch all things considered; simple and mutually beneficial. ]

Saves us the trouble of dealing with the sprites, yeah. If only most people are like you — no fuss, no questions.

[ Who knew so many would be against a simple kiss??? Smh. ]

[At that, Zagreus frowns, a little concerned.

He hasn’t really faced many problems with people, just the sudden awkwardness of having to.] Did they not want to?

[ it was a mistake to try and continue some of their housing restoration project this month, even on a day where the wind is just slightly less cutting than it has otherwise been. Ruby had thought they were safe after she checked the front doorway and found no mistletoe, but of course she isn't that lucky—the little bastards had set up further inside the building, and she didn't catch it in time.

none of her outrage shows on her face. she does stare up at the sprite for longer than Zagreus, though.

Excuse me? In my house??? ]

Yes... I-I've had it happen a few times already. [ more than a few. she ducks her head to feign at shyness, fidgeting with her fingers. ] It's a little embarrassing... but the curses are rather unpleasant, too.

[Zagreus does a double-take, both at the way Ruby looks at the sprite, who wiggles softly in the air, expectant, observant, and at the sudden bout of shyness to Ruby's front, her fingers weaving through each other.

He looks a little sheepish. Well, he certainly doesn't want to make anyone uncomfortable, even if he has no qualms with kissing someone square on the lips.] Why do you find it embarrassing? Isn't a kiss something nice?

[Though, he does know mortals hold very high standards for who they're close to and apparently how to show affection or respect. He bows his head, if only slightly, in an unconscious gesture of empathy, setting down the plans that he had been carrying when he walked in.] I do understand if you wish to avoid it, though. Both, I suppose. I'm alright either way.

[He'd rather be cursed than have Ruby (or anyone, really) feel forced by his laid-back approach.]

Life is hard, that's why no one survives (half-closed)

Filí for everyone

2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

1.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1. CRAWLS IN HERE A WEEK LATE.......

Not at all I've been absent, this is perfect. <3