Senecio adn Tide II

[VisAnastasis]

" If my own dearest star, my sweet only sun wants to dance, " Conrad replied, with a confidence that was unwavering and wholesome under the growing influence of the wine and conversation they had. " I'm going to teach you how to dance so well that all the stars in the world will grow envious of you... "

[Mirach]

Svarik smiled and stood up, offering his hand to Conrad to take it and lead Svarik.

[VisAnastasis]

" Everything begins with your stance... You need to be fluid like water, but confident enough to look like you could tear off the stars from the sky with your bare teeth if you felt like it... " Falcon grinned playfully, with words full of fire as he stood up and accepted Svarik's hand. He was not drunk enough not to be able to dance, but just drunk enough to not be able to control his emotions as he usually would. And so, he seemed nervous a little, but on his face, it was clearly written just how excited he was to do this, and confident as he began slowly showing Svarik the proper steps. More through his eagerness and just how easily man slipped into the lesson, the king could see Conrad thought a lot about how to make the learning easiest to Svarik, and what kind of dances would be easier to pick up for a listener that focused more on patterns of music than physical patterns. In the slight tremble of his hands and glow in his eyes, it was clear he was looking forward dearly to the upcoming ball where they could openly be together without danger.

[Mirach]

Svarik learnt the moves quickly and danced with Conrad in that way for a while, but then he shook his head. "Let’s keep this for the ball, shall we? I'd like a different dance... unscripted..." He stepped closer into Conrad's embrace, wrapping his hands around his neck. He listened and perceived him with his whole body, moving in harmony despite it wasn’t clear who leads the dance or what the steps are, relaxing into it.

[VisAnastasis]

Falcon grew a little unsure at first, as it was clear he never danced like this with anyone, and he was more self-conscious of making a mistake when he had no rules or louder music to follow. But, fast as he was when learning, he quickly picked up on how Svarik was picking his moves, and he seemed charmed and invested as he focused on meadow king in turn, both leading and responding to the king's steps more confidently, enjoying it wonderingly, as if it was a new and fun game. After a moment, he suddenly smiled tenderly with a clear burst of light in his eyes, as if he realized something with the balance of the game, leaning closer against Svarik's embrace, and whispering to his ear.

" You are truly fit to be the face of my joy... as blindingly bright as bony, scrawny and frail, " he teased, barely audibly, as he suddenly held him close and raised his from the ground but lightly and gently, and made a light, elegant swirl as he held his waist as if underling his words with the graceful move. " Still, you're finally just a teensy bit harder to raise up than when we first met... It seems like all my dreams are coming true one by one... "

[Mirach]

Svarik chuckled. "Patience, dear. I'm sure that it will improve even more with your care. Unless you also get stronger, because then you won't be able to tell the difference. "

[VisAnastasis]

" Oh, I already got considerably stronger that time when you made a deal with Riversong before the Long Night when he just became Spirit again. He made both of us stronger, but still, he can't cheat and build your weight out of anything... He can only work with material that exists already. I am stronger, but still, I will always have a constant to compare with. That is - Melody's child form weight doesn't change no matter how much she eats, since she is a Spirit... When we met, you were barely 2 little Melody's weights heavy... I really thought it was solely due to not eating well on the run, but then I realized it's more of lord Nameless's problem - that you just play so much that you're always weighing the bare minimum to stay alive... It was so frustrating. No matter how many cakes and sweets I poured on you, it wasn't getting better... But things are finally changing! "the man spoke with clear enthusiastic joy. " You are finally about 2 and a half Melody's heavy! Even since I began pouring nutrient powder Eros made into your food in the last few days, things finally began looking up more noticeably! I can finally say that the experiment is a full success! " under influence of wine he spoke with unapologetic joy and no remorse of testing out something like that behind Svarik's back, " Now it's still just way too early, but just imagine - wouldn't it be lovely if there comes a day when I need just a little more force to raise you up? " he sighed with pleasure, as he raised and gently spun king once again, with joy, as if he were a feather. " What a wholesome sight to look forward to! What a terrible test for my patience... "

[Mirach]

Svarik rolled his eyes. "You like being secretive even if you absolutely don't need yo, don’t you? But the more important question is, do you have enough of this powder for lord Nameless, too?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Come on, don't act like I am not a king of Multitasking," drunk Conrad seemed exceedingly trustful and playful with Svarik, entrusting his plots almost eagerly " I really didn't want to make you hopeful and then sad in case it doesn't work, but I planned to test it on Nameless regardless, as even if not on one, it can work on the other. But since it works on you, it's highly likely it will work on him too! I had Eros make a lot of powder, and special nutrition pills I can give you when you are not well after playing too much. There is a catch I will use, though - current powder is mostly based on your deficiencies, Eros will have to meet Nammy to tailor special nutrients he has missed, eating so many sweets his whole life. Eros is normally anxious about leaving his house arrest so I will use Nammy's health to guilt him into coming to capital briefly! I am going to trick him into falling in love with the capital when he stays, our garden especially! " Falcon laughed most splendidly, with flamboyant confidence with which he danced, too. " My *acquire Being friends for Simbel and Erdel* plan is coming along great!"

[Mirach]

"It's the best kind of plans when you can help multiple people by arranging one thing," Svarik smiled, beaming with joy as they danced.

[VisAnastasis]

" The more positive influence and people to learn from will be good for Simbel too - he is trying so hard to become a better person, so I am going to arm him with tons of learning opportunities to grow, too... And Erdel will naturally grow as he sees Simbel grow - Ah, multitasking is truly the best!" Falcon was beaming, too. Sharing his plans for a better future with Svarik in such a soothing carefree atmosphere, after their heavy talk seemed to have left him more hopeful and free, and his dance was unrestrained, as he, like in a game, followed and lead by anticipating Svarik's steps, observing it playfully, and with clear joy at Svarik's slowly improving health that was evident in the balance of the dance.

[Mirach]

Svarik had enough of talking, he wanted to perceive Conrad with all his senses as they danced. His face was flushed with the wine and movement, his breath quickened, warm against Conrad's skin. He didn’t pay attention to the others that joined them by the fire.

[VisAnastasis]

Others truly were discreet and gave them as much time as they could, probably led by Eros's following of their feelings, only coming after they settled down their talk and then some. They joined them quietly but did not disturb them, sitting by the fire and beginning to spread sweets among themselves and roast marshmallows. Janus was stealing glances at them thoughtfully from time to time, though he mostly focused with a serious face on learning the proper way to roast marshmallows, as it seemed kids like them. On the other hand, Alpha and Tide were whispering something with smiles and Eros laughed brightly, but Hans rolled his eyes, and took his lute from the side instead, handing the playful Beings correctly by not arguing with them, but doing his own thing. As the fire was cracking, without saying anything himself, he began to play the instrument, something he rarely took the initiative to do himself but did so this time. It was a rather strange and unexpected song. It was not a song to distract, pull attention, or try to accompany their dance. He did not dare impose like that. In his music echoes the mysterious yet soothing sounds of the night, the dance of wind among the leaves, the gentle warmth of the fire, and the twinkling of stars. It was the song that enhanced the sounds around them and bought them privacy.

A little thanks to the song that covered their bathed breaths, more than not noticing them, Conrad ignored them to the best of his power. This level of activity was not really hard on his body, so rather than with movement, the man's face was red with wine and timidness of dancing like this with Svarik, before everyone. He did not stop though. Rather than with movement, his breath was bathed with embarrassment, for he knew he wasn't willing to take eyes of Svarik, but he couldn't help it. His gaze as he watched meadow king was incredibly warm and full of wonder.

[Mirach]

Svarik stopped slowly, feeling the dance coming to a close. He smiled at Conrad broadly. "That was wonderful, thank you. Now do you want to try the marshmallows?"

[VisAnastasis]

" What I want... " Falcon repeated words wonderingly, with a vulnerable expression in his eyes. More daring when drunk, he reached for Svarik's face, caressing his cheek, and confided in him shyly. " Honestly... I can't wait for Erdel to come to join us at sea. I received the report that he should arrive to join us any day now, but it seems too late whenever he comes... I... have never felt a greater need to brag in my whole life. I feel like I will shrivel up and die if I don't get a chance soon... When Erdel comes, I am going to take him aside and brag to him for hours about how cute boyfriend I have, " he murmured conspiratorially, with a grin, as if confiding in him a grand master plan. " Until then... Marshmallows sound quite tempting, too. Both bragging to my friends about my boyfriend and eating marshmallows with said boyfriend is on my new bucket list... "

[Mirach]

"Let’s have the marshmallows then!" Svarik led him to the fireplace and got sticks for both of them. "The trick is in the timing," he explained. "There’s a very thin line between a perfect marshmallow and a burnt one."

[VisAnastasis]

Falcon hesitated for a moment when led to the fire, as if gathering his courage, before sitting down between Svarik and Melody, as if sitting down between two fires. He seemed self conscious about playing favourites, and it was more clear on his face that was unusually unsure with this whole experience he never had before. He tried to follow instructions carefully, but he was getting more distracted, and due to being a little tipsy slowly by that point, he would often slip his stick closer to flame, and it seemed he unconsciously used his new warming blessing on marshmallow too. He appeared genuinely shocked when his marshmallow was half charred on the inside when he touched it.

" Uhmm.. I must have been thinking too hard about it... I.... am sorry...?"  He murmured tensely, as if not knowing what to do, unused to such definitive mistake, looking rather sad and lost all of a sudden, his emotions more easily swayed by the alcohol.

[Mirach]

"No problem," Svarik smiled and handed him a new marshmallow. "A moment, they can be quite hot. Let me try..." he extended his hand over the burnt marshmallow and used his new power to cool it so that it could be removed from the stick safely."

[VisAnastasis]

Conrad still watched the marshmallow Svarik was removing somehow sadly and thoughtfully.

" It just doesn't seem like I can make them properly at all with my mindset. It just seems that whenever I merely have to do something as an obligation, it turns perfect from the start, but when I really want to do something, it is ruined spectacularly... " he murmured quietly. " I just... really wanted to make you and Melody a couple of nice marshmallows and see you happy eating them, that's all... "

" Isn't it tiring already, to make all those invisible rules? That you have to pass through specific steps and if you don't, things will end up ruined? " Melody who was quiet until now, leaned to them quietly, with a gentle smile. " Is it really important that it's not charred when its intent is clear? " she reached for the half-melted marshmallow that Svarik safely removed with his cooling power as she said cheerfully. " Beings can't get sick from this much, so I shall take all your fiery intent, and Svarik can take the accidental survivors, so won't it still be just alright then? "

" W-wait... " Falcon unconsciously reached for her hand to stop her, sounding rather anxious. " It won't do. How could I possibly agree to that? I can't have you eating burned melted marshmallows and keep better ones for Svarik. That's... that0s a straight ticket to getting you jealous and having all of us grow unhappy in turn, and I don't want to.... wait... should I want to make you jealous? " Conrad suddenly seemed lost, as if it was dawning on him that he truly does not know how to handle and what he should want in their unusual situation, and Melody used his moment of overthinking and confusion to quickly with other hand take the marshmallow Svarik cooled and stuff it in her mouth.

Falcon without thinking tried to stop her from eating it, but as she had a headstart, he just realised he is touching her lips instead, and his red face grew a couple of shades redder, and flustered and half-drunk, he covered it with his hands as if to hide, and Melody laughed triumphantly as she munched on the marshmallow.

" With a cute face like that, " she teased gently with a full mouth. " You are hundred years too early to make either of us jealous, you silly Birdie... "

[Mirach]

Svarik didn’t laugh with the comedic situation, looking into the flames pensively instead. "There seems to be a lot to talk about," he murmured, taking a fresh marshmallow and putting it on the stick. "First, why do you feel you have to do for us a thing you've never done before, and get it perfect in the first try? Wouldn't you accept me or Melody sharing with you until you get it right yourself? Second... are you worried about us getting jealous? That's hard because I don't really understand jealousy. If you love someone, wouldn't you want them to be happy and loved? If they can get twice as much love, why should you feel bad about it?"

[VisAnastasis]

Falcon didn't remove hands from his face, even as initial embarrassment passed, not revealing himself. Maybe thanks to not looking at either of the two, he was able to reply, though only after a moment.

" For my whole life... I excelled and excelled to no end. Despite the fact that in retrospect lot of my goals were selfish... and my personality was awful... all the effort I put in was passionate and genuine. Yet, for all my efforts... I always... lose everything I really want, " he whispered tensely, the words even Melody could not help but fall silent with. " It had a low probability of success, to begin with... the wish to be with a sweet Listener Spirit to whom I can't even dedicate a properly constructed song. But to want to be with one more person on top, and balance out what King Zares, charming as he was, could not.. how can I possibly expect success unrealistically? You at least have ambitions as a king, and I can help you to rule better, but outside of it... what can I really offer to the two of you that's worth sticking around for? I am a objectively perfect ally... But I am objectively the worst person to be with, " he murmured barely audibly, with a dread unusual for his voice, indeed, as Eros said, something he'd never say if not touching alcohol. " I failed even at things where my skills were ridiculously above my enemies. B-but... My skills at this are truly negligible. I can't even construct a proper listener song, and my learned dances are impeccable without a flaw, but they are pale in comparison with joyful dance moves you pull out effortlessly. I hoped... maybe if I just put a lot of effort... an incredible amount of effort... maybe I could find a way to make it work. If I put enough work to show I don't favour either side more... maybe I coudl avoid Zares's mistakes? Maybe I could... win against the odds... just this once? " his voice was unusually hoarse and grieved, more worried than he ever sounded, not even when facing a demon army in the fifth layer. " But nothing is in my favour. I can't even roast marshmallows right... "

[Mirach]

Svarik sighed. "Maybe we don't expect you to try mastering a full new art for us. Have you considered that we can love you for who you are, not for what you do? When you believe it's only what you do for us that matters, then it's true that you'd have to split your time and give each of us only half of it. But what really matters is who you are, and you're always that fully, no matter how many things and people you divide your time between. You're too competent for your own good, because then you assume it's only that competence that matters. It's not. I don't care if you burn all marshmallows, okay? And Melody might tell you about what king Zares actually did wrong instead of you assuming..."

[VisAnastasis]

Melody watched the unresponsive man quietly for a moment, before she took a deep breath as if steeling herself, and leaned closer to him.
" Conrad... " she called him by his name quietly, speaking as a Morning Dew this time. " King Zares was charming.... but he was still a charming fool. Yes, I loved him, and yes, he made lovely songs for me, and he made Halls of water for me - but why do you feel it's something you have to top to be with me? Is there really something to envy there, when... " he paused before adding quietly. " He lived his life as if he'd never die, and when he did, I was forced to run away from those very Halls to save our child? From my love for him, I lived quietly, and with all power given to his other wife, to not make her jealous... But what did it matter that I had no power when his actions clearly favoured me? In the end, all he did was put me in a position when I could do nothing but run away... When I could not even afford to raise the child whom I loved dearly as my own, " her voice was faint and pained, as she bid him. " Why is he a person you want to outdo when you're nothing like him? If anything, you're obsessed with protecting people you love to a fault... Who can outdo you, in your protectiveness and care? I'm never afraid with you that I'll suddenly one day wake up and have to flee for my life and abandon my new friends and home. If I'd leave, it would never be out of danger, but by my own choice. Your protection provides me with that choice. Are you not winning by default, then? Is it not enough that you are giving me life when I can be anything I want to be, something I never had before? "

Falcon flinched a little at her last words, before he slowly, hesitantly whispered.
" It is not enough... to simply make sure neither of you is going to immediately lose your positions the moment I would die or leave. Of course, I am putting many safeguards so the kingdom won't crumble in Svarik's hand the next day in case something happens to me, or that you'll have enough inheritance from me to live as you like... It's just basic precaution, " he murmured, as if unimpressed at all with his preparations. " But it's something a good ally can do easily. Not something you need a boyfriend for... You both could have just easily stayed my friends with no losses. I have... no worthy skills as a keeper boyfriend. I can't make you good songs. I can't... even kiss you without getting an existential crisis... "

" If I wanted the best song maker here, I'd date Svarik, and if I wanted a good kisser I'd pick Eros, and if I wished for a flamboyant serenader, I'd date Mole, " Melody cut him off firmly, shaking her head with some wonder. " Of course you aren't a grand kisser, but I don't want a guy that kisses well, I want you, Birdie... And it was kind of fun to watch you try so hard to make music for me... but it is not fun at all to watch you suffer over it. When did I ever say I desired grand songs? On the contrary... " she smiled sadly. " Why do you think I almost always start my human lives as a child but end them by the time I'd growing into an adult? When I grow, a number of people that want to court me grows like a weed. It's an incredibly tiring ordeal, to be wooed all the time over how I look. Since I am clearly better at it, shouldn't I be wooing you with songs instead, if it were about competence? But I do not, because I know that you don't really desire songs the most, so why should I try to give you songs instead of other things? "

That seemed to shake up Conrad a little bit, as he showed his face a bit, his gaze still lost and worried.
" I... Yes... I don't really long for love songs and such, but... other than Songs for a Listener... I do not know what I can offer you that matters, " he whispered, revealing a fear hesitantly. " I just... understand why Zares did what he did. He was just living life true to himself... he did not think of things he did as favouritism... he just did whatever he wanted to. I want to be free to live my life as I want to... but I am scared it will lead to favouritism, no matter how hard I try not to make it look like that, " he whispered hoarsely. " I just... am really honest, when I say, that I really want to change the kingdom for the better. It is... exciting... to finally see my effort changing things considerably. I know I will be excited about it. I know I will be happy, to share that progress with Svarik, as we work on it together. But... " he gulped. " There is nothing as equivalently big I can do for Melody, just as there was nothing that could top the Halls of Water of King Zares. I'm scared it will end up as blatant favouritism, no matter how hard I try not to make it so... I... want to make sure to divide my care equally, but... my desire to change the world is directly tied to Svarik. It is just something I can only do thanks to him... and... I know I will be grateful to him because this is something I really desire deeply, " he sighed shakily. " I don't know how to make this equal when my dreams for a better world are so biased to begin with... "

[Mirach]

"You show your love by doing things," Svarik said with understanding. "And you can do a lot for me, but you don't know what you can do for Melody. Melody, do you have any ideas? What do you care for most?"

[VisAnastasis]

" It is very much like our Birdie... to lose himself in things he can't do, " she whispered quietly. " Are you still eating yourself that we can't go out on dates in public, too? When we get back home, will you only continue eating yourself over not being able to go out with Svarik as well? Why are you so worried about winning us over when you have us already? " she smiled faintly, as she added with softness in her voice. " You have us, not because you composed a song well, but for yourself. I love it, when you read me books in a cosy room as we drink hot tea, or when you tuck me in before bed. I love when we dress warmly and eat apple pie and watch stars for hours. I love it when you pat my head when you are proud of me, and when you brush my hair... Do you think I don't know you take hairdressing courses every few months so you can do my hair well? " she called him out gently. " How can you know all that and not think I have the loveliest boyfriend? Honestly, you haven't done it in a while, I'd rather you do that than struggle making songs... "

That seemed to encourage Falcon a little, and although he did not relax fully yet, he seemed thoughtful with it.
" I... I have missed doing your hair, too. Honestly... Honestly, I spend more time thinking about missing that than about kissing you, " he admitted unexpectedly. " It just... doesn't seem like a thing a boyfriend... should really want? Everything you list seems to be things I was doing for you when you were a child... Do you really want me as a partner... and not just a father? "

" Some joys are universal, though, " Melody protested gently. " Isn't it tiring to keep making invisible rules? Why should you be miserable just to keep up with the imaginary idea of what a boyfriend should want? I know you love putting flowers in my hair and I love it too. We can just live a lovely life, doing that, eating well, and watching stars. Isn't it just the loveliest thing to strive for? "

" I... guess, "the man said slowly, thinking about it in his own way. " But those are just things we would do together. I would just really like... if there was something I could do strictly for you, not just with you. I know Svarik dreams of better land, so it's easy to come up with things to do for him. But you're content just to live well, and it puts me at a loss... "

" Having dreams and aspirations... is a luxury for Spirit like me. That's why it was always bothersome to even think about them. Living well and being able to make songs was good enough. I could not afford to make any plans while I was just a human child, either... you never know what could happen. But now, I finally can make more choices, than just choose between running or staying, " she replied, with a shyer, but confident voice. " To be honest, I dream of better land, too, but I am quite sure I can help you neither with taxes or laws. But I can make songs. A lot of things have been changing recently. In my life as Morning Dew, I lived isolated in a castle and could never meet White... but in this life, I have decided, that it would be really boring, to always wait for you to return home, Birdie, and do nothing, like I did little, always waiting for Zares. It is just a small ambition yet, and I don't know how to pull it through... but in this life, I really want to help Silver Simbelmyne be a good God to the people. With the power of my songs, I feel it is something I could help best from all three of us. I want to aid him with helping people. "

" You want... to work on a religious part? " Falcon asked thoughtfully. " I guess... I could help with that. I'm handling a lot around the propaganda we're doing with Svarik, anyway..."

" Yes, so, why don't we just share the burden together between us, so we can have more free time together at the end of the day, too? " Melody asked brightly. " Birdie can help me with religious parts, and Svarik with ruling parts. I am a weak and frail Spirit... It's a silly thought for a Nymph to want to change the world, so I never had such ambitions. But I think I can help with helping people, one person at a time, if we do this together. "

" Well... Work is work, I can hardly imagine anyone fitting as well as you for helping Simbel's reputation, considering Svarik will be so busy with the ruling part, " Falcon murmured. " But is it really your dream? Not just something you will choose to do merely so we can have it easier? You never told me before... "

" It's just something I've been thinking those days, ever since Simbel got a body and a new name... But I'll admit it's not a full picture... It's more that with recent changes in Simbels's efforts, I felt like it's an opportunity to make my real dream come true... "

" Is that real dream something I can help with? "the man tied in hopefully right away.

" Both you and Svarik have seen the horrors of a bad God... but neither of you has yet seen the real blessings of a righteous Deity. I may have not met, but I've witnessed rule when White was a God. And Simbel has the potential to be even greater. Good God is a shield that can protect you from many things, even when it's against your better judgement. I really want to help make Simbel into the strongest shield... " she grinned widely, and it was evident she really desires this strongly. " So that when the time comes when we clear Birdie's name, that shield will be big enough to cover him whole and keep him from harm or exile. My dream... is to build you the sturdiest, strongest shield in the world. Birdie, I'll take all the help you can give me to fulfil this dream. "

Falcon, who was hoping for something to do, seemed suddenly timid with what to everyone would be obvious, but to him seemed a strange unusual thing to call a dream. He was surprised, unsure, but also, there was a growing warmth and softness in his insecure expression, grateful for such fiery intent to protect him.

" Ahem... Uhmm...  On second thought, " he murmured, with tied tongue and red face, flustered and humbled, covering his face anew. " I think I may have spoiled you guys too much. Your judgement of the real world is skewed. You both... speak so hopefully of such hopeless things, " he sighed shakily as if finally giving up, as he admitted longingly. " And I really love that side of you both... I am truly accidentally, irretrievably, hopelessly in love with you... "