voidtreckerexpress | Grow Me A Garden Of Roses

Grow Me A Garden Of Roses

Who: Daia and various open and closed
Where: Various locations
When: Throughout September
What: Daia catching up with people.
Warnings/Other: Posts may be added throughout the month. If you want a post, please feel free to hit me up at

Tseil or PM me.

..::|| Pillow Talk - Backdated to Symphony 20 - closed to Kaiba ||::..

Daia had been wanting to catch up with Kaiba since he came back - there's so much he's missed, for one. But now, he also has something he really wants to share with Kaiba. Something important to him. Maybe to get advice, maybe just to share his hopes, or maybe just to keep Kaiba in the loop. But he's really excited, and nervous, to tell Kaiba what's been going on.

He'd asked Kaiba if they could have a sleepover, and then rents one of the Hire Sleepers for their use. And he's been getting everything as ready as possible. He tries to bring all the snacks he thinks Kaiba might like and goes to the room when it's ready to wait for him there.

When Kaiba comes in, he might find Daia fidgeting on where to put pillows and blankets as he tries to make something of a bed/nest for himself on the floor so that Kaiba can have the bed.

..::|| Cookie Baking - Tribulation 1 - OTA ||::..

Daia has scrambled into the kitchen while the new people arrive, hoping it's enough time and distraction to keep Esteban busy. He hopes he's guessed correctly that Esteban would be more interested in meeting new guests more than wandering into the kitchen.

Daia has several cookbooks open, all for baking, and specifically on cookie recipes as he's scrambling around the kitchen. The clanking of mixing bowls and pans can be heard as he tries to gather materials together. As he clatters some bowls, he knocks over the flour and powder goes everywhere.

He exclaims an, "Oh, shoot!" then follows with a series of coughs as the powder covers a good portion of the kitchen.

He needed that flour... He hopes there's more. But now he has a mess to clean up, and he hopes it didn't coat the things he needed to cook with.

He tries to dust himself off as he rubs his face with his other hand and tries to pick up a few of the utensils that got knocked over with the flour.

Okay, baking is a little stressful. But he's on a mission. He can't let this set him back!

..::|| A Surprise for You - Tribulation 2 - Closed to Esteban ||::..

Daia had worked hard on the cookies, and after a couple of less-than batches, he's sure he got the hang of some really good ones. He carries several cookies in three separate confectionary bags as he looks for Esteban. He had almost gone to find Esteban's room, but then he remembered that Esteban didn't seem to like the cabins all that much. He's pretty sure Esteban said something about avoiding them as much as possible.

After some mild wandering around, he decides to try where Esteban first took him - the Stone Garden Carriage. As he peeks his head inside, it's a little cool, and a little damp, with fog everywhere. It's pretty, and it kind of reminds him of home, back in England. He hopes the weather setting is because of Esteban and not someone else as he starts to wander in. Looking around, he sees someone silhouetted in the fog. His face brightens and he starts making a little jog towards them.

"Esteban! I brought you something!"

He holds out the bags to show Esteban.

"I... I made them myself. I made three different kinds. I made ginger cookies, cinnamon cookies, and ginger cookies with pepperflakes."

He hit all three things that Esteban likes best, he thinks. Spicy, ginger, and cinnamon. He hopes the spicy ones taste good; he didn't try them. Spicy things make his mouth hurt a little more than he would like.

He holds them all out for Esteband to take.

"I hope you like them," he can't help but give his brightest smile.

..::|| (Wildcard) ||::..

[OOC: Want a top-level? Have an idea for a post? Hit me up at

Tseil or PM this account so I can write a top-level for you, or write your own reason for visiting Daia in the comments. ♡]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's been a while since Kaiba's been to one of these...in fact, it's quite possibly his second, ever, in his life. He arrives dressed in a blank tanktop and fuzzy orange pajama pants, courtesy of the train...somehow still fuzzy after all this time. This must be an important subject if Daia wants to have a sleepover with him to discuss it, so he arrives early.

One swipe of his ticket and he stumbles across the blanket nest, a little smile on his face. He'd been taught how to do this once, a long time ago.

"Here, I think I know a few things about pillow and blanket based construction---and then maybe we can discuss what was so important that you called me here," he says with a gentle nod. This is going to be a fluffy and cozy little place, possibly even more comfortable than the bed.

"How have you settled back in, Daia?"

Daia scoots over a bit to let Kaiba come help, returning the smile.

"Okay, thank you. And I've been settling in okay. It's kind of weird that my old room isn't my room anymore. But other than that, I... think it's been pretty good."

His cheeks turn a little pink as he says that other part, relevant to the conversation that will come after the forming of the blanket nest. He watches how Kaiba sets up some of the pillows and tries to mimic it on his side.

"How have you and your boyfriend been? While I was gone, I mean." Well, recent could be important, too. He hasn't caught up with any of it. But he hopes Kaiba and Yugi are doing well.

Kaiba's surprised at that question, of all things...but he supposes it makes sense. It's been a while. He knows this was a sore spot for Daia, so he's gentle when he answers, stopping his pillow-fluffing to carefully lift his left hand, revealing the small black ring with a ruby that he wears.

"He's my husband now. We've had our ups and downs, but it's going pretty well."

Deep breath. But then there's a gentle smile as he adds: "But you're my brother and I want you to be happy."

Daia looks at the ring; it's so pretty. He stares and observes its features, as he absorbs all that Kaiba said.

And his face lights up when it sinks in: they're married!

"I'm so happy for you! When's the wedding?!"

Wait...

Being married usually means that the wedding already happened. It feels surreal, since he still hasn't adjusted to the time difference, but...

Daia's face falls and he buries his face in his hands, letting out a whiney groan.

"Aaawwwhh... I missed the wedding..."

It makes sense that Kaiba wouldn't be able to wait for him to come back, especially if he didn't know if Daia ever would come back. But he still wishes he could have been there. He wonders how happy Kaiba looked that day.

He wonders if he'll get that happiness himself someday.

"I was thinking of you. I promise," Kaiba says softly. "A lot of people I care about weren't there. But you're with me now."

And that's what's important, what he has to focus on. He gently nudges Daia's arm once he finishes setting up. It looks cozy now.

" So what did you need to talk to me about?"

Kaiba tries to soften Daia's regrets, and yes, Daia can be happy that he's at least made it back somehow. He's happy that Kaiba doesn't have to worry about him anymore. But the regret is still there, even if it isn't his fault.

...He hopes he doesn't miss any more important events in his friend's... his brother's Kaiba said, life. Daia's never had any siblings, so it's a strange, yet warm, feeling that Kaiba considers him as such. He hopes he can live up to it well. And he gives a silent prayer that the train won't leave him out of the loop again.

Looking over the bed, Daia has the strong urge to just flop onto it. It looks so comfortable. But with Kaiba's nudge, he remembers why he asked him to come spend time with him. A jolt as he comes back to that reality.

"Right! I...!" And he pauses and fidgets, thinking about his first day back, the wonderful things that happened that very first day. Daia's face flushes a little. "I think I... met someone. I really like him. He's super sweet, and he's so cute, he has such a bright smile. He's so thoughtful."

He's smiling as he fidgets, recollecting these traits, remembering the moments they shared.

Ah, a new crush. Kaiba had wished for Daia to find happiness in love, and now it seemed his brother could be on his way there. Just as long as the man is worthy of him...

"Hm. Think I might know him?"

"I think he's been here a while, so maybe. His name is Esteban. And..." Daia can't help but look giddy. "Kaiba, I told him I'm a vampire, and he still was so sweet to me. He didn't pull away, and he gave me the tightest hug I ever had in my life."

He'll just politely exclude the details that lead up to that hug. Esteban was already upset for him at his life circumstances that happened back in Japan, he doesn't want to risk upsetting Kaiba over it, too. Not when they're having a sleepover to talk about the good things that are happening.

"I really like him. I'm going to bake him his favourite cookies. I hope I do it right. I..."

I hope I can get him to like me back.... He's not sure if it's a far hope, but there were things Esteban did that no one else had ever done. Daia likes how Esteban teases him, how kind he is, and the things that Esteban likes.

Amusingly enough, the description calls a few people to mind for Seto, and one of them is....

"Oh," and there's a knowing little smile on his face. "He's a friend of mine. I can see why you like him. And..."

They have a few things in common. Kindness, generosity, facing human distrust...and Esteban's so joyful and determined that it's hard not to like him.

"I think you'll be good for each other, no matter how you choose to go forward."

Edited 2022-09-03 22:47 (UTC)

Daia lights up and scoots closer to Kaiba. If Kaiba approves, then it won't be like it was with Shishou. Not that he thought it would be, with how strongly Esteban reacted to his story. But the extra assurance that Esteban is good helps Daia perk up and just properly gush over him.

"Tell me other things he likes." If Esteban hasn't told him so already. But within a half-beat, Daia stops it. "No wait! Let him tell me!"

Another beat.

"...Or maybe a little? I just want to surprise him with things other than cookies. He told me he likes lots of things, the seasons, music, culture, dancing, the moon... moons? and stars, the wind... I'm going to make him cookies, because he told me he likes ginger cookies, and cinnamon, and spicy food. I think I'll make one of the cookies spicy. Do you think he'll like it?"

Kaiba smiles and enjoys these moments of happiness. If there's anything he can do to help Daia with his quest...well, he'll give it a try. Even though relationships definitely aren't his strong suit.

"He's big on cooking, I'm sure he'll love anything you make him. He also has a lot of stories, and I'm sure he'd love to tell you. And spicy should be fine!"

He rocks back and tilts his head up, still thinking. "My 'cooking' is the bare minimum competence for chores, I'm not passionate about it like you two. But I could help you test things."

"You're the best, Kaiba!"

Daia throws his arms around Kaiba, excited for it all.

"I'll have you try lots of things!" Oh, but then he looks up at Kaiba. "Do you like spicy?"

Because Daia's pretty sure he's tried it before and it hurts more than he would like. Spicy's not for him, thanks.

"If not, I can have you try things before I add spicy to it."

Luck is on his side.

Esteban's actually seated today, his back to the stone lion that is his favourite spot, as he shifts through a list of names and skills. He hadn't actually expected people to participate, much less this many, and he's trying to piece together some sort of order, so that everyone can enjoy it without it growing repetitive.

But Daia's voice snaps him out of his current dilemma, and Esteban is more than willing to get distracted, especially by him. So the list gets tucked against his journal and the pen is threaded through the leather strings holding it closed while he grins at his companion and cheerfully calls out to him.

"Heya, Silver~"

There's a surprised blink when his companion offers the baked goods at him, but he doesn't take them right away. Hints of mischief scrunch along his nose and tease the corners of his smile as he shifts his head to the side a little bit, rising to nudge Daia into coming closer.

"Am I catchin' you between two things?" He hopes his tone is innocent enough as he tries to find the best way to rope his companion into sitting down and staying with him for a bit. Part of it because he wants to give him his honest opinion. And part of it because he likes spending time with Daia, and he'd much, much rather keep the small vampire with him to ~~tease~~ ~~flirt~~-- because that's what friends do, right?

Daia's cheeks go pink at being called Silver again and he can't help but smile a bit. He likes having a nickname, and he's happy it's Esteban who gives it to him.

"Catching between two things?" Daia's not entirely sure what he means, but after a moment he thinks he has it figured out. "Oh! No, I don't have anything else planned. I'd... I'd actually like to stay. So you can tell me if you like the cookies."

That way he can know if he needs to improve on anything before making the next ones. Though he'll have to decide if he should change up some more recipes for him, or if Esteban likes regular repeats of the same thing. He wants to be a good waifu to Esteban. Even if they aren't even dating, let alone married. He wants to give Esteban all the nice things he can.

He doesn't need to say it twice. Esteban perks up as soon as Daia offers to stay, and he nods with a "great!" and shepherds the small vampire to sit right in that little nook, with the stone lion curled protectively around them, in a crescent of rock and stone, head laid out over his front paw.

The area is slightly small with the both of them, as Esteban has never had another person settled in his little corner with him, but he hardly minds the required closeness, the way it squeezes them together. With the way the lion is curled, away from the middle lanes, away from the doors, it also grants them a surprising bit of privacy; all the moreso since the fog shelters them into the thin veil of a cloud.

It's most definitely cozy.

"You really didn't have to," the half-elf mentions, but he's beaming regardless, finding light and warmth in the gift. Now he feels bad-- he should have saved some of the churros he'd made for Daia. "... But I'm happy you did," he admits readily, his grin growing mischievous.

"Cookies definitely makes my day better! Especially from you~" he cheers, because it's a sweet gift. That Daia remembered at all is more than he expected, to be honest, and went out of his way to bake them too-- If Esteban doesn't watch himself carefully, he's likely to do something stupid to convey his thanks.

He can't help it! Daia is so cute! Behaving is the very last thing he wants to do when he finds him blushing-- and Esteban loves to make him blush.

It's a vicious cycle.

He's paying close attention, wanting to catch it even as he ruffles through the small bags curiously. Ginger, cinnamon and-- pepperflakes?

He'd never heard that one. He pulls it from the bag, and the scent is just a little odd-- but sharper than he's used to. The bite sinks into the soft dough, sweetness first teasing him, before the spices mix into the flavour, full and sharp and still tempered by the sugar. Esteban blinks twice, finishes his bite, and glances towards his companion.

"'Dians, these 're sinful, Daia!" He compliments, and caves in enough to add a wink to his words, deliberate as they were.

Daia allows himself to be ushered into his now-assigned spot beneath the stone lion, and the closeness now between him and Esteban. He gives a happy sigh, hoping it can stay this way forever. Or, at least all day. That would be nice. The moment makes him wish that the train wouldn't pull them back into their assigned cabins at the end of the day. He'd offer to stay up all night with him if he could. Even if it would mean he'd go back to a nocturnal schedule from ages gone by. But the time they can get, he's happy to spend.

Esteban's enthusiasm with the cookies makes it even happier. He leans in closer, practically pressing himself against Esteban as he watches him try the cookies, eager to see if he likes them. Esteban takes a bite, and Daia can't help but hold his breath in anticipation.

And Esteban likes them! He did good! He's so happy! That wink makes his heart race and his face flush.

"If you like them, I can keep making them! Or I can try other recipes, too! I'll try anything you like!"

He'll even try to make curry sometime! Or stew! He'll warm his way up to there starting with noodle dishes first, and maybe try his hand at meatloaf again. He wonders how many foods he can make spicy to make Esteban happy. He wants to try them all.

There's laughter that chuffs through Esteban's lungs, and sky-shard eyes turn to Daia's with a grin as he protests lightly.

"Hey, hey! Slow down! A good gift d'serves 'nother!" That, might not have come out as well as he intended. Expressions can get so tangled up sometimes in his head. 'A good gift deserves one in return?' Something like that.

"I mean-- I'd like t' do somethin' for you first!" he corrects, reaching over the infinitely short distance to pluck at the ends of Daia's stripped ribbon. He pulls at it gently, to lay in easy reach so that he can tease it again later, before deciding that no, he's actually having fun just twisting it around his fingers lightly, enjoying how smooth and silken it is.

"I c'ld make you some apple pie?" he offers lightly. "Or churros, 'f you like?" There's mischief in his toothy grin as he woefully admits "that's the only sweets I know how t' bake though." He's not that great at it, but his apple pies are Perfection, thank you. He's worked hard to get to that point.

There's a light hum as he considers what else he could do, but he doesn't really have good skills to gift to someone else. He's good at sports and movements, but small and delicate tasks are hard for him to do, and he doesn't have a strong patience for them.

"Or I c'ld tell you stories from my world?" he offers, grinning easily as he adds to that little tidbit. "My grandfather was a storyteller, an' he collect'd them from all over the world an' all over time. He used t' tell me stories wh'n I was jus' a little hookling." And, well. It stayed with Esteban. He likes sharing them in turn, and learning his companions' stories as well. The grim, the painful, but also the brightness that he can find in them.

"Melchor used t' say that we create stories 'cause we're made 'f stories." And Esteban believes it in turn.

Daia pauses for a moment. Esteban wants to give him something in return? And with how close Esteban is, and playing with his ribbon, Daia just goes completely red. Is it normally this hard to breathe? He feels like he's been having to catch his breath with Esteban quite a bit, actually. And Daia just... looks up at Esteban. Not sure what he should be expecting. He can feel himself swallow as he tries to push his heart out of his throat and back into his chest.

And then Esteban offers to make apple pie or churros for him. And Daia lets go of a breath he didn't realise he was holding, a few rapid breaths to make up for the lost air and calm his heart down.

He's going to try to pretend he wasn't just blushing like crazy. He's going to look somewhere else. Yep, that's fog over there. Sure is pretty.

But then, listening to Esteban also offer stories, he wonders if the stories would give him more insight to Esteban and his world. But apple pie also sounds good. Is he allowed to ask for both?

"How about... I hear stories this time. And then the next time I bring you something, you can make apple pie. ...Is that okay?"

"Sure!" It's no problem for the half-elf. Besides; that way he gets to sit here and enjoy Daia's company a bit more instead of running off to bake right away.

Well, he could tell a story and bake at the same time, but... no. No he doesn't want to move from there. He's greedy after all, and though he's only met Daia fairly recently... he wants more time with him. Just-- being together. Doing simple things. He knocks his knee lightly against Daia's leg, and the ribbon drops from his careful hold.

Hmm, now. Which story to tell?

Well... There's always his favourite.

"Want a cookie?" he offers first, because this might take a little while. He shifts as well, growing more comfortable in their little patch of stone, hidden from the world, the foggy stillness sheltering them in a perfect ambiance for stories of another world. Melchor's rumble of a voice whispers in his memories, the feather-sound of pages rasping as he read, and Esteban closes his eyes at first to sink into the comfort that it brings him.

"List'n to the wind. List'n to the stars." He breathes.

"They have stories to tell."

[OOC: As discussed, skipping it for now! I'll put it up here once I am done with it!]

B'fore the sun dared peek at the world, an' before the night'd grown any colours, the sky knew only one moon.

[He goes on to tell the story of the moon; how it was called by a song, until the god of fire grew jealous, and threw a pebble at it, to knock it from the sky. The pebble burst into fire, and became the sun, and the moon, Umrakiel, cracked down the middle, and hatched, causing the dragons to spill from its shell.

And the dragons stumble and fell from the heavens, surrounded by the night, by the dark, by the silence, and the shell scattered to become the stars. They fell and were caught by the wind, by the clouds, by the endless reaches between heaven and earth, and they stretched their wings as far as they could go, born into the sky.

Because the price of learning how to fly, is that first, they must learn how to fall.]

He can't help the smile that climbs up to his lips, the warmth that pours from him at the story he's learned so much from, and the story that still means so much to him. There are others; tales of other lands and of gods and monsters already long past, or perhaps only newly found. But this is important to him. This is meaningful to him, and he wanted Daia to know it.

He leans lightly against his companion again, and the stripped ribbon around Daia's neck almost gets another tug, before Esteban realizes that he's being awfully mischievous when the small Vampire is around him. He might really need to sit on his hands if this keeps going. He fusses over the bags of cookies instead, tries to keep his hands still, and to himself, and not all over Daia-- 'Dians, he's-- urgh! His focus is so bad when they're together, and he can't regret it one bit.

"It's my fav'rite story," he chimes instead, hands to himself. Hands to himself. There's a cheeky grin, and a bit of mischief still, that passes through his self-control, unable to completely remove it all from his interactions when Daia is so much fun to be around and so easy to tease.

"How 'bout you?" he asks in return, smile glittering at the corner of his eyes as he turns the question onto his friend. "Did'y have a story like that, growin' up?"

There's no denying his enthusiasm for it, even as he prods his new friend for this. Likewise, if stories tell a lot about Esteban when he recounts them-- there's no denying that he might gleam something about Daia from the stories that his friend might recall in turn.

Daia accepts the offered cookie and listens intently as Esteban began his story. Listen to the wind. Listen to the stars...

He watches in awe as the birth of Dragons flows from Esteban's lips. Falling and flying. Daia tries his best to picture it all in its magnificence. It's such a beautiful story.

"Is that really how dragons were born? It's so amazing! I only read about dragons in my homeworld. I don't know if they were real or not."

After all, he's supposed to only be a legend, too.

"I always loved reading about dragons. And I always felt bad for them, too. The stories always said they were kidnapping princesses, keeping them in towers, only to be slayed by knights for the kingdom. I always felt like... maybe they were misunderstood. Or painted in a bad light on purpose."

Like him.

But he's positively awestruck. The dragons of Esteban's world, they sound more like the way they should be.

"Did you ever get to meet a dragon?!" What are they like in person? He wants to know. And he can't help but lean in a little closer, waiting with bated breath.

Edited 2022-09-16 04:07 (UTC)

His friend's enthusiasm warms him, feeling it down to his bones at how proud he is. To have shared this with him. To have delighted Daia with his favourite story. He can't resist it this time, and a large hand comes up to gently catch the ribbon around the vampire's neck, twisting the silken fabric around his fingers as he speaks.

There's a mention of stories from Daia's world, of their own tales of dragons, and Esteban doesn't have the time to hold back his confusion, eyes narrowed as he glances back at his friend.

"Why would we kidnap princesses?" he asks with a wild look, his head shaking just a little at how nonsensical the concept seems to be. There's theories that are quick to form in his mind, but none of them would make sense if what Daia tells him is true. Besides, he's gone on again, and Esteban is much more comfortable to answer his next question.

"I-- I did." Esteban should-- silence will only grow if he lets it linger. He knows this. And he doesn't want to give it space to take root, refuses to give it space to take root, that silence becomes the only thing between them.

He likes Daia. And he'd been told so much, been trusted with so much, even on their first meeting. About the people Daia liked, and the people he's lost. He doesn't want the silence to grow.

It's still difficult.

"Want another cookie? It's the last one I'm givin' away," he teases, the snicker caught somewhere at the corner of his eyes as he offers. The rest are all going to be his-- but he did miss which one Daia took first; and he doesn't want to miss it a second time!

It gives him a brief respite, a careful second where he can lean against his friend, cheek pressed to the crown of his head. Tries his hardest to quieten the thunder between his ribs-- impossible as it is-- and silence the voiceless protests in his mind. He wants to trust Daia. He refuses to let the silence grow.

"I met a lot 'f them, actually," he manages, and this, this makes him smile, because there is no stillness in him anymore. Just a little bit of joy, a hint of a tease as he adds. "Most 'f my family are." He grins, and if there is nervousness in the way he lays his hand over Daia's, he hopes his smaller companion won't notice it.

"On my mom's side, at least."

He carefully, carefully does not hold his companion's hand, even when his heart races to his throat, and his wings itch against his back. The unnatural stillness only lasts a moment; the same breathlessness as a sky full of stars over his stretched hand.

The first lesson of flying, is learning how to fall.

Why would we kidnap princesses? It doesn't go unnoticed. Why would Esteban say that? Maybe it was a slip-up? Maybe his friend meant something else or didn't understand what he said at first. He's sure, for just a second, that Esteban surely got confused in a breath and meant something else.

And Esteban tells him that he did get to meet a dragon. And then there's a small bit of quiet. Daia wants to ask more. But before he can finally push himself to do so, Esteban offers him a cookie.

Daia blinks, confused.

"...Yea, okay. Thank you." Daia goes ahead and takes another cinnamon cookie, careful to avoid the cookies in the spicy bag. As he thinks of what to say next, Esteban leans against him, feeling Esteban's head against his. He wonders if maybe he said something wrong, asking if Esteban had met dragons. Maybe one of his close dragon friends got hurt, or something. Maybe there's no more.

Until Esteban breaks the silence again, and much more in line with what Daia wanted to know. Most of Esteban's family are.

It takes Daia a moment to absorb it all, even with the added on my mom's side at least. Daia looks up at him, taking in the pieces given. And finally, after what Daia feels like he might have taken too long to put it together, it clicks, and Daia's eyes widen.

But his brows don't furrow; he's not afraid. It's the same awe he had with Esteban's story.

"You're... a dragon?"

It makes Daia's heart skip beats. Esteban is something special. Is something not human, like him. More than something half-elf. He wonders how long dragons live. A million questions rise up in him, to learn it all. And he has to stop himself from asking those million questions in a constant cascade.

And then he thinks back to when he told Esteban he was a vampire, and how scary that is to do.

He takes Esteban's hand, pink flushing his cheeks. He hopes he's not being overly forward, but he doesn't want Esteban to think for even a second that he rejects any part of who he is.

"I think that's amazing!" he says, a little louder than he meant. He pushes himself through the awkward beat that follows. "I hope you'll tell me more. I want to hear all about it."

Breath catches as Daia takes his hand. A faint echo in his ears. The smile on his friend's face, so bright and the dusting of pink across his cheeks, the way his eyes gleam golden in the faint light, like coins shimmering in water. Daia's words, his trust, his eagerness.

Tension snaps from him, and Esteban soars.

When was the last time he'd told anyone? When was the last time he'd chosen to tell anyone? Not hinted, not side-stepping and chattering about wings but not showing them-- actually, actively decided to tell them about this? He can't remember.

Of course, people found out, but-- it wasn't the same.

Missions where keeping up appearances had taken a backstep while he was out with his friends, things that he couldn't think about in the heat of the moment. Protecting them and then dealing with the consequences afterwards. But Daia's acceptance is freely given, without more knowledge, without more than a handful of words.

Amaya. Amaya was the last one he'd chosen to tell-- some long, long time ago.

He laces his fingers with the small vampire's. Lets his weight grow heavier against him, tension melting from his limbs as he smiles, a knee coming up to his chest so that he can lean forwards and avoid squishing his friend. Joy dances in his eyes, as he grins, cheek to palm, elbow to knee, and Daia's hand pulled to his lap. The bead tangled in his hair taps lightly at his forearm, but Esteban brushes the thought aside.

"Sure!" He chirps, smile growing wide and hoping to tangle the warmth that Daia's given him with it, cradled somewhere in his ribs or lungs or heart. A shard of sunlight that won't be quick to fade just yet.

"Y' can ask me anythin' you want!" because he wants that. Because he wants to give that to Daia. Not to let the silence grow. But first!

"But I did ask you 'bout y'r fav'rite story," he teases lightly, lips curving sharply into his toothy smile. Small-ish revelations aside, he's genuinely curious about his friend, and he wants to know more about him. And- while he's at it--

"I'd like to know more about Vampires too. Seto says y'r not descended from cats." Mischief wars with a mock pout, nose scrunching lightly even though he's unable to stop smiling. "Though, y' got the ears of one?"

He wants to touch them. He wants to stroke along Daia's hair and follow the shape of them, and the thought is-- foreign? Old and forgotten. 'Dians, that's inappropriate! He's got to stop this-- and yet, he doesn't regret the desire at all.

It's a good thing his hands are busy though. Daia's hand gets squeezed before he can think to complete the movement his thoughts called for, else he'd really need to sit on his hands.

Esteban's fingers lace with his, pull his hand into the other man's lap; Daia can't help but blush more. And oh, that joyous grin. Daia can feel his heart swell, knowing that he's given Esteban that happiness - The gift of acceptance. And Esteban is open to questions. Daia can barely contain his excitement.

...But then he's reminded that he didn't bring up his favourite story. Oh, right. He supposes he could mention it. But before he can complete that thought, Esteban asks about vampires. And that pounding of excitement in his chest turns to a temporary dread. He has to internally argue with himself that just because Esteban didn't understand before doesn't mean he won't understand now. But the ears?

Daia's head forgets everything leading to that point as he gives a confused headtilt.

"Ears? I'm not a cat. My people aren't descended from cats..." He's still confused about the ears part, but that dread comes back - Esteban doesn't know what vampires are... He has to take a few breaths to try and keep himself as calm as possible. He'll get back to the favourite story after this, he promises to himself.

"I... we... vampires... have to drink blood to survive. I've... never bitten a human..." not that the thought hadn't come up. But to date, he has never bitten one. "Kuro always gave me vials of blood, and I drank from animals before. But... that doesn't mean others of my race didn't bite humans..."

His face falls; he can't look Esteban in the face. He's so worried that momentary happiness will be replaced with hatred.

"The Hunters... kill my people... they killed my parents... Kuro was my Hunter, but he promised to let me live if I never bit a person. The Train provides me with blood to drink. I promise I would never hurt someone!"

He says it desperately, pleading for Esteban to not hate him. He can't fight back the tears, and he tilts his head lower to let them fall into his lap, hoping that Esteban doesn't see.

Oh-- Oh.

Oh, wow, that's--

"I thought you were a prey species!" Words bumble, tumbling from him in this awkward obliviousness that he has no time to control. Shock means his mouth is completely independent from his brain, and Esteban squirms, biting his lip for how crass that moment was. Shit. He's-- his hand squeezes Daia's as he shakes his head. Wow, he's fucked up.

But Esteban has one way forwards, and one way forwards alone, so he blunders and fails and gets back up, even if his stumble is marvelously gauche. Ouch.

"Wait-- shit-- that wasn't--" Dead Guardians in a ditch. Bury him. It's what he deserves. But he won't give up and he can't muster words just yet, but he know he's been in the wrong and Esteban won't stop, can't stop until he's at least given himself time to process this.

"That came out wrong." He doesn't know how to explain it anymore. Something about culture and knowing it had flown over his head, but not sure what had.

His hold remains, fingers interlaced and the half-elf attempts a move before switching hands to leave this one between them both, undisturbed. Off-handed, he ruffles through his hair harshly, as if that could maybe settle his thoughts despite them bouncing off with more energy than even he has on his best of days. They scramble and unscramble and it's hard for him to make sense out of any of it just yet.

Daia flinches when Esteban yells, and he shrinks back a little. And, for a moment, he hates that the statue is against his back. He feels like he has nowhere to go. He can't put any more distance between them, to give Esteban space. He wishes he could shrink, fall through the cracks.

But Esteban gives his hand a squeeze, and backtracks a bit. He's not sure what Esteban wants, especially when he says it came out wrong. This isn't the way Daia had hoped it would go. He thought he had already gotten past this part when he was upfront with Esteban the first time. Only for Esteban to not understand what he meant.

Just what is he supposed to do?

He tries to open his mouth, to offer some words of reassurance, to tell Esteban it's okay, even if he does hate him now. Even if it's not what Daia wants, that he can respect it.

But he chokes, instead, a hiss of a sob. And he finds himself unable to hold back all of his pain. His sobs become loud, and he cries, pushing his free hand to his face to try and keep everything from becoming a mess. And what he manages is so much more different than what he meant to say before.

"I'm sorry..."

"No-- it's not--"'Dians. He has to force himself to quieten down. Daia being upset is making him upset, but he knows he's just making things worse with his mad scrambling. It takes him a moment to push aside the mumble jumble of useless words that cluster in his mouth, and the half-elf tries to squeeze lightly on his friend's hand to offer comfort, before that falls too short.

He's surprised, he's reordering his thoughts, but Daia shouldn't be sorry for him not understanding, for him to miss something that clearly affects the small vampire very much. There's twenty different gestures that he wants to complete all at once, unlacing their fingers to have both hands hover over Daia's shoulders, at his forearms-- and failing to know how to do so without--

"Can I--" He could just pull him into his arms and that would be that but-- "I wanna--" There's a tiny huff when his words still don't make sense, before Esteban scoots-- impossibly-- closer, large hands strong as he tucks his small friend in a bear-tight embrace. It's still not enough for the comfort the redhead wants to offer, and Daia is so small-- he barely thinks it twice before he manages to get an arm underneath his companion's knees, and one behind his back, and pull him onto his lap.

"Is this okay?" Belated. Just a bit. But it's easier to reach Daia like this, to offer the same warmth that he'd given away last time his friend had been upset, and Esteban does want to comfort him again. Blood and what-not doesn't matter right now, so long as he can help Daia calm down.

One arm supports his friend's back, hand rubbing some warmth onto his arm as he tries to find ways to make it all the more clear. What message he is trying to convey is lost, even to him, but he hopes the gestures are enough; show enough that Daia doesn't need the words right away. He's bound to mess them up right now, and he can't afford that, not when it's so important.

Edited 2022-09-26 20:56 (UTC)

Esteban tries a few attempts at words, and Daia tries to calm himself, enough to try and listen. But none of the sentences finish. None of them give him a clue for what comes next - hatred or forgiveness. And he just wants so much to know what to brace himself for. He can't help but sniffle and whimper a bit. But then he has an arm around him and under his knees and... he's pulled into Esteban's lap.

How did he get here? Is this real? Daia's mind switches from asking questions to just... not existing. He's sure he's going to pop. His face goes completely red, and he's not sure what to do with himself. And then Esteban asks if this is okay, and he has no idea how to answer. He's afraid to open his mouth, because he's sure the sound that comes out will not be even words.

He manages a bit of a nod. It's okay. He just. Never expected this. He's not sure what to think or feel. Relief? He guesses? He's pretty sure this means that Esteban doesn't hate him, at least. Daia begins to find his thoughts again, and... maybe he could... just lean, a little, against Esteban's chest, letting Esteban's hand rub his arm.

At least his crying stopped. His face is still pretty red, though.

Good... Good! The-- At least he's stopped-- The silence lets him find his words, lets him find little pieces of what he wanted to say, lets him quieten his surprise. Assured that the small vampire doesn't mind, he squeezes him closer again, and the movement of his hand remains, a constant touch of comfort as he holds Daia tight.

"Sorry. I'm... clumsy," he finally manages, before they stumble out of him too fast for him to know where he's going with that. "I'm clumsy, an' I get tripped up an' things don't come out right an-- I didn't wanna make you scared, it just came out really wrong." No, wrong words, better words.

"I'm-- I'm here." They still feel clunky in his throat, a mix of too much that he doesn't know how to say and too much that hasn't been said and too much in Esteban's head that he can't quite sort out yet. He'll have to sort it out, but it doesn't even matter to him right now because, because--

Daia. He's worried about Daia. About how he's messed up and made him cry and-- and--

"I'm here, an' I'm not goin' anywhere." He lets out a weak grin, pulls back just a bit to show it to his friend, before he tugs Daia right back against his chest, holds him close and in his warmth and right where he can... Share. This.

"Not gonna say anythin' either 'cause that's just gonna make me trip 'gain, an' we really don't need that right now, but it's not.. I'm not leavin' Daia. Okay? Jus'. Gimme a minute?" He needs to sort it out.

Esteban's not going anywhere. Daia lets out a breath he was holding, looking up at Esteban's smile, pulled back into the hug. And Esteban promises he isn't leaving. It's almost surreal. For someone to have such an outburst, and yet not mean it to be aimed at him. He's used to people hating him for his species, even though he's gotten more friends than he's ever known on the train. And for that moment, he was truly afraid he might lose Esteban. He hasn't seen that kind of reaction since back home. And not knowing that Esteban didn't know what vampires were...

Why did it never cross Daia's mind to think there might not be vampires where Esteban is from?

But Esteban promises to stay, promises to not leave, and asks for just a little bit of time to think.

"Okay..." he answers softly, the devastation from his voice almost gone. He'll wait, and let Esteban form words. He'll continue to lean into Esteban, reaching a hand up to just brush his fingers against Esteban's arm. Since Esteban promised he wasn't leaving, he can be patient for Esteban to reach the rest of those words, and listen to what he has to say.

Edited 2022-12-17 19:26 (UTC)

The quiet fog enshrouds them in an eerie silence, so loud that all Esteban can hear is the thrum of his heartbeat and the soft shift of Daia's breaths. The shimmer of movement remains, and the redhead bites at his lower lip when he notices Daia's gentle touch on his arm, and he follows it, raises his hand so that Daia can settle him however he wants into this hug.

Behaving is the last thing he wants to do. But he tries his best at it. There's a dry sound in his throat as Esteban clears it, finding the quiet too oppressive, and a light, mindless hum that rises from his throat, clumsy in its sound. He's not the best at singing-- or even humming-- but it helps. Light, inconsequential sounds as Esteban tries to untangle what best to approach about this. His hand rubbing at Daia's arm never goes still.

Blood. Parents. Hunters. All of it is a rather impressive tangle that he fears is very delicate. And Esteban-- Esteban is clumsy. But he owes it to Daia's friendship-- Daia's belief in him, that he's not a horrible person-- he owes it to Daia to try to understand.

"So--" He lingers, stuck on his own words. Not sure where to start. Blood. Parents. Hunters. Prey, predator. Daia doesn't bite humans. "Tell me 'bout Vampires. As a race-- what's-- what c'n you do. You drink blood-- d'you have to? Y' said you liked sweets," he lingers, not quite sure what else he can say that shows what he means to ask. "Y' have cat ears-- an' you..." --he's not bringing humans into this yet--

There's a slight jump as Esteban realizes something. "'re all Vampires 's small as you?" Because. Well. Daia is... Small. Dainty. Pickupable.

Maybe he shouldn't say that last one aloud.

"No. We're not all small." Daia's pretty small for his species, actually. Probably because his diet was already stunted from a young age.

He takes a breath in, almost worried that what he says will change Esteban's mind about staying. But... at this point, he supposes he owes it to him. To make sure he understands, before they can even continue their friendship. Much less if Daia hopes to have anything more with him. Esteban has to understand.

"Vampires drink blood. We do need it to live. Many have drank human blood before us. Our bites turn our prey into servants. And... if a human can withstand multiple bites, they can become vampires." He already knows it sounds bad. But he continues, before that space can linger too long. "But my family, we never did. We harvested off animals, and my parents cared for me for the longest time. When Kuro found me, I... didn't know how to take care of myself. He taught me how to get animal blood safely, and even gave me vials of his own blood to drink. But I never bit a human; not once. I... I came close."

He can feel his heart quicken, with fear and rage, at what Esteban might think and at the one he almost turned.

"I was... tired of being alone. I wanted someone to be with me forever. Human lives are... so short... But it wasn't because I wanted his blood."

Human lives are so short.

He can't help but startle with a gently voiced "oh!" when he catches on, notes down the 'forever' that was added to his sentence.

Daia is immortal.

Daia is immortal and lonely, and Esteban-- Esteban knows this feeling. Which does not mean he's any less clumsy, but this... this he is familiar with. It takes him several long moments to find anything to say.

"In my world, we say 'mortals', 'cause there's not only humans." It's gently said, and without malice; a... preface to what he wants to say. "Though- we do have humans too. It's just-- I know." Deep breaths. A quick hug closer.

"I know."

When he draws back from Daia this time, it's to give him a gentle smile; something warmer at the corner of his eyes, but not as sunny as his usual grins. It's quick to morph into mischief, however; scrunches the bridge of his nose and grows just a tad sharper at the corners, just a bit.

"So how old 're you? I might still be older th'n you~" he teases, just a bit, because-- well. This has been a... whirlwind of emotions. Joy and sadness and shock and-- he just wants to bring the mood up a bit. Just for now.

Too much of this is too heavy, and he's worried about Daia.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Grow Me A Garden Of Roses

sleepover!

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

1/2 maybe 3

2/3

3/3

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