New Year, New Cookies

[winterfrosting]

Who: Dark Cacao, Affogato and anyone else in Cookie House willing to brave the blizzard
What: The Sunrise Holiday is here, and already signs aren't good
When: New Years Eve/Day
Where: The Grove
Warnings: Drama, mostly

[Cacao, earlier in the winter, had planned to invite the entire Grove to celebrate his region's most important holiday. But as the cold keeps getting deeper and sharper... no, it was not safe. The household knows his plans to see the new year come in. But he doesn't expect any of them to come out. And if they do not for long.

He's in his full winter gear as he tends a small campfire to hold back the worst of the chill. It's strange, even with it blazing away it barely cuts into the cold at all. And he finds he has to keep feeding it constantly.

It's a bad sign. He doesn't need to be a shaman to know that. He has a notebook out to take note of any signs in the weather or the sun when it arrives. Any strange animals or guests to analyze later. But he knows that will be more Affogato's task then his own. He is here as the King. The Winter Lord. As a sign all on his own.]

I suspect we may not see the sun at all if this snow continues.

Comments

[submittome]

If this was a normal winter, I would agree, but I fear this one will be far beyond whatever we may have seen upon the Ridge.

[ He sighs in disgust at the card before tucking it away, then curls his lips and wrinkles his nose at the rest of his tools. Does he dare? ]

[winterfrosting]

Hm.

[His eyes follow]

You have done your duty well and beyond what is required.

[he doesn't HAVE to keep fishing for information if he doesn't want to. Especially since it's clear now the gods are watching]

[submittome]

[ Silence follows, as Affogato drags his finger over his lip in thought, before sighing. ]

If it was just you and I, I would. But I fear Pearl and Dasik's comfort.

[ He reaches back behind him to gently curl his fingers into his little babies horns whose a good sweet precious baby? You are! ]

[winterfrosting]

[That makes him pause. He remembers the babies hissing at the cracking bones before. They can sense the evil here- they are not safe]

Very well.

[sticksandbonesmods]

Pearl nudges into the touch, cooing gently.

It's a sweet moment in the tremendous dark, before crows and ravens start cawing.

[submittome]

[ The nudging makes him smile, the coo soft in his ear, and he nods to Cacao conceding. If it was just him, with Cacao to protect him, he would continue to pry Fortuna for information.

But with the babies, as vulnerable as they yet are-

His hackles raise to the crows and ravens, his tail lashing around Cacao's. The Messengers. He speaks to the air, to the fire, even as he draws closer to Cacao. Yes, he's going to use him as defense if needed. ]

Yes, we hear you. We hear your warnings, your omens. They are clear. There is Hope in this darkness, but this darkness will bring about grief. Powerful grief. Death.

[winterfrosting]

[That is fine. Cacao would have stepped closer regardless]

You should take the little ones inside. I can wait for the daylight on my own well enough.

[He would get no sign or fortune for it. But fleeing from his own ritual? Being intimidated away from the culture he helped nurture over generations? No. His pride will not allow it]

[submittome]

I will take them inside, but I will be back out. You will not see the morn in without me.

[ It sounds like a threat. He reaches out to lift Dasik off Cacao, hefting the little one up into his arms like the giant baby he is. Thank the Witches for Rolipo giving him exercise in big baby lifting, and he takes the two little ones inside to set them down so they can warm up.

Then he will be back out by Cacao's side, rebundled up in some more furs though. His duty done, he's going to look like a walking shaggy beast, thank you. ]

[winterfrosting]

[He can't blame him. He's just as bundled since he didn't need to do any dexterous work]

Thank you. If I knew we were going to have certain eyes on us I would not have let her come out at all.

[But he is an easily bullied baba]

[submittome]

[ They are all very easily bullied Baba's but none more so than Cacao. Affogato hums and pulls furs around him tighter, soon only his slitted eyes peeking out from them and his tail - bundled too - curling in the snow. Ugh. ]

As I would not have brought Pearl. Ill omens I was expecting, not the very Gods choosing to intervene.

[ Gold, Silver, Black. He sighs and pushes his lips out into a pout, though it's hidden behind his furs. ]

Will we never have a month without something clawing away at us?

[winterfrosting]

Not until there is peace in these lands. It may one day come to carving the Black Sun's very roots out of them. If so, I will hold the blade.

...

Yet I do not wish it so. Even after all this.

[submittome]

[ Sorry, Cacao, he truly does love you.

But that sentiment makes him scoff.

Listen, you wanted Affogato as he is, this is him. ]

Candied sentiment, yet you and I both know it will come down to spilling his rancid blood. He will not stop until we are dead, and our souls erased from the very fabric of being. It is him, or us.

[ He shivers and pulls his furs up until he's fully hidden in them, his tail seeking Cacao's out again to curl greedily around it to leech warmth. ]

[winterfrosting]

I know. You know me well enough to know I do not lean to mercy easily.

[His tail curls around Affogato's]

But when I regained my memories of my Awakening I saw a memory of his as well. When his sister first met her wife. A new sparking jealously. I... am not above such clinging obsessions.

[And if he can change maybe he can spare some empathy for someone else overrun by madness]

[submittome]

....

[ Gross, he doesn't want to sympathize with Suri, but the idea of jealousy over something. He understands that very much. Cacao praising Caramel Arrow, his devotion to Pure Vanilla, his growing affection for White Lily (oh anyone with eyes can see that).

The bundle of furs hm's softly, but Affogato doesn't emerge from them. Hiding behind them means he can make faces no one can ever see. ]

To have to share the one he loves the most. [ He frowns, then bristles. ] But if he truly loved her, he would be happy for her. He does not understand what love is. Obsession indeed.

[ But his voice is soft and the bundle scoots closer to Cacao, leans friendly against him. ]

[winterfrosting]

[He feels a deep warmth at the comfortable casual contact that keeps some of the winter cold at bay

...he's dense on many things. But after all Affogato has told him, and their time on the beach...]

I am not above jealousy as well. Or greed.

[He turns slightly, just his glowing eyes visible in the dark]

Perhaps it is in a dragon's nature to want everything.

[And he had a dragon's heart long before the King and Queen blessed him]

[submittome]

[ Don't do this to him, Cacao. Don't make his heart ache, don't make his breathing quicken just enough that Cacao might be able to pick it out amongst the wind around them. To cover it he laughs, raising his fur bundled hand as if to cover his mouth, only to bonk it ridiculously off the fur covering his face. ]

Ancient though you are, you are a man. No one is above that allure.

[ He can see those eyes, he can feel the tail tighten on his. Stupid. He was so close to being over him. Then one event, then another, and it all comes toppling over like a tower of melting cake. Why?! Why can't he ever get a molding break! ]

... No one.

[winterfrosting]

A man... yes. I suppose I am, regardless of my attempts otherwise.

[That quickened breath is just barely there- but he can't tell himself he's imagining it. His tail tightens more, and he raises a hand to lightly touch Affogato's shoulder. Heavy even through the layers]

Prone to those... same weaknesses as anyone else.

[submittome]

[ The touch undoes him. He barely hears Cacao's words through the sudden rush of heat. It's a little angry, that rush. ]

You infuriating-

[ He reaches up to yank his furs down enough to free his head, then surges forward to close that small bit of distance, arms coming up to wrap around Cacao's neck. They're almost the same height, after all, so it's very easy to do.

And when Affogato presses his mouth to Cacao's it's more like a clash than a kiss, hot and angry and desperate. Teeth bite and dig, demanding Cacao submit to him or rise to meet him. ]

[winterfrosting]

[Affogato probably expected surprise from Cacao. But instead he surges to meet him- as if he expected it. Or maybe was planning the same thing and Affogato beat him to it. His lips are chapped, rough and solid.

Exactly how his alternate self remembered]

[submittome]

[ Oh no. That touch to his shoulder, those words, told him enough. He makes a noise into the kiss, fingers digging into the fur of Cacao's cape, pulling them tight together.

And don't worry about those chapped lips, the chapstick on his own will soothe them. Parting his lips, he licks a little line along Cacao's, but pulls back before Cacao can retaliate or take the invitation. Not far, just so he can speak. ]

Why do you do this to me...

[ He doesn't sound quite so mad here, because he's not letting go. ]

[winterfrosting]

[If anything he expected him to be madder. To rage against him for his constant mixed signals. He certainly would hate himself in Affogato's shoes.

But that month at the beach, even if it wasn't 'really' Affogato... it gave him a taste. And he finds he can not wash it out]

You linger, no matter what I do. It should not surprise you that I come back every time.

[submittome]

[ Oh he hates him. Despises him. Desires him in equal measure. He curls his tail tighter, and he groans a little to those words. Half frustrated. Asshole. He reaches his fingers up to grab Cacao's hair, dig his fingers in and tug. Roughly. ]

Do you want me. Truly want me. Or do you want to only have me on the side, something you can dip in to like ink when you wish to stroke out a new piece of art.

[winterfrosting]

I am not going to tell you I am here to leave my husband, if that is what you want to hear.

[A flint in his voice. Never that. No love or lust could do that, though it's clear the tugging is adding to the second in every motion]

He knows our... complicated history and feelings. Told me to follow my heart if it came to it. I decided against it then because I have come to value you deeply. I do not play games.

[he might never know the depth of Affogato's past, but he has intuited enough that he knows he would never happily play whore- not even for a king. And Cacao would not want him to]

I do want you. Have for some time.

[Finally a direct answer]

[submittome]

[ He figures that as much. Pure Vanilla will always come first, and he rankles over it. No... no, he's tired of being second. The afterthought. Wanted and desired but never enough to be placed above all others. Even with Mizuki, Mizuki has his love before him. Elsword... But at least Elsword isn't here (at the moment).

And if he comes back, Affogato doesn't know what he will do.

So the words hurt, as much as he wants to hear them. He puts his forehead on Cacao's shoulder and fists his hand into his hair but doesn't tug again. Cacao can't read thoughts, however, so after a moment Affogato speaks up, voice bitter. Slightly choked. Because Gods damn you, Cacao.]

I will not be second place. Do you hear me? I deserve to be someone's... someone's only...

[ He is NOT crying, he is not the type, besides they would freeze on his cheeks, but his voice is miserable. He hates him, he hates him, he hates him. ]

[winterfrosting]

[ ah.

He will admit to himself that he had hoped. Hoped there could be some balance. That he could want and have. He feels so much love in him now that was frozen before that surely he can supply all Affogato could want even if was shared.

But that wasn't fair and he knows it. Still, he slumps with the realization and loss of it. His stoic shell cracks under it. A deep sigh on the edge of a sob. When his affections were nebulous there was always the delusion of possibility- not any more. Now there's finality and he hates it]

Yes, you do. More than most.