Senecio adn Tide II

[Mirach]

The magnitude of the wave of feelings was overwhelming to Senecio. He felt like he was drowning in it, unable to keep any sense of self under the strong emotions. He struggled to grasp something solid, and managed to focus on Tide. "So, did you save me some ham sandwich?" he asked, grounding himself in the normalcy of the central item of the play.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide turned its head toward him. The actor could see Tide's cheeks were wet with tears, too, that were idly falling in an afterglow of an unexpected emotional scene in front of them - it came as a shock and a surprise, but a pleasant one. When their eyes met, Tide's expression and feelings beamed with thankfulness.
" My slippery little eel... it seems you are learning very well about deception from that mischievous God of lies over there... How about learning some confidence instead? Dearest Senecio... how dare you ask such a thing in the form of a question, not a request? You should just ask me to give you a piece of sandwich I saved for you, not ask if I saved it at all... " he whispered with the brightest, softest grin, snuggling a little closer, wrapping one arm more from the side, as if trying to distract him and shield him from the fraying reality. " For whom would I save my indirect kiss, if not for you, my Seine? I saved you the last bite there is, from this fragment of a life you should not miss..." he conspiratorially referenced the song he once before sang for him in that party in the garden, that night when he danced for him, while spinning the lyrics of saving a last piece of something delicious for him and sharing good things in life with him. As he did that, he handed him the small piece. It was clear when the actor took it and inspected it, that Demon only very lightly bit off a bit of bread from the side, and left the more delicious part full of ham all to the actor, so more tasty part of their indirect kiss would be his.

[Mirach]

Senecio took it with trembling hands. If perceiving feelings could be likened to hearing, this was a foghorn right next to his ears, and he needed to ground himself with other senses, despite being also exceedingly happy for Hans and Alpha. He bit into the sandwich and leant even more closely againt Tide while the reality still moaned around them.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide's joy bubbled only louder with the actor seeking his closeness for comfort. While he ate, Demon held him close and pulled him closer into the hug, and he gently started rubbing circles on his back and caressed his hair, trying to distinguish what was more soothing. The actor could feel the purring getting louder on purpose, too, as if the creature hoped with touch and sound he could distract him. Carefully watching if the actor was okay with it and giving him enough space to recoil, Tide slowly enveloped him in his large embrace and nestled and snuggled against him while he loudly purred.
Through the sound of purring in the distance, as the kiss ended, Senecio could hear that Alpha realised how overboard things had gotten for others.
" Oohh, oh my, my apologies, folks! Please, everyone aboard the happiness ship, all stay seated! No sudden movements, no peaking! " through the bubbly river of blinding feelings, the actor could marginally more feel than see that Alpha raised Hans from the ground lovingly, and was embracing him from one side as he stood up, apologising sheepishly, air vibrating and reality fracturing in strange ways under the power in his voice. " We are, uhm, having some minor technical difficulties, yes! Let me just fix things up real quick... " he was clearly sorry to everyone and slightly embarrassed, as one would be if they sneezed too hard and sprinkled their friends by accident. It seemed, still overflowing with surreal feelings and amazement at what just happened, the creature still hoped he did not go overboard and was acting more playful, hoping no one would feel scared. He dramatically snapped fingers on three hands that weren't holding Hans, and kept blubbering reassurances while the fraying, fracturing song of the world that was swayed by him was slowly being stirred back into normal. First, things slowly stopped shaking, and electricity sparks faded away along with the pressure. At last, the temperature began slowly cooling down to what it was before, and Alpha's form was familiar matte black as before - the only thing that remained were iridescent sparkles on his cheeks. Those unique blushing colours remained ever present on his flushed face, while he was innocently rubbing his cheek against Hans's. Spirit definitely looked like he couldn't stand on his own right now, and would fall if Alpha wasn't carrying him in his arms, but despite looking extremely worn out by intense emotional experience and weakness, his makeup smeared and a little melted from closeness, and his glasses crooked to the side, while Alpha snuggled with him and carried him, supporting him gently while also doing his best to not make his clear weakness on display, Senecio could feel that Spiriit was genuinely happy, and that he seemed to have forgotten any hardships at least in this very moment of bliss.

[Mirach]

On the other side of the room, Svarik sighed with relief as the threads of the world stopped swaying so wildly and returned to a smoother melody, but Senecio who didn't perceive the vibrations of reality but feeling was still perceiving the incredible strength of those. But thanks to Tide's grounding, he already got used to the intensity and wasn't getting lost in them anymore. He used the moment when the two of them were preocupied with each other and most of the attention was on them to check the pendant that Hans has si sneakily given him.

[VisAnastasis]

Alpha carried Hans lovingly in his arms while they went from person to person receiving congratulations and chatting with them - Demon was worried his outburst hurt anyone, and gently checked up on their health, making sure not a spec of song was out of tune anymore, paying special attention to more sensitive ones to the song of the world, like Svarik and Beings present, to make sure they are tryly alright.

While they were occupied, since they were leaving actor and his aprtner for the last, shielded in Tide's embrace, Senecio had plenty of time to examine and get familiar with the pendant. When he felt it with his hand, the texture was that of the bone, but the same as ring it was shiny, white but shimering with iridescent colors when turned under different angles. Sage carved it intricately in great detail, and it was clear that, despite what happened in the past, great affection and warmth were put into carving this, without even the slightest hint of resentment.
The pendant was perfectly round, and one side of that round shape was carved to resemble the surface of the moon. Around the edges of that perfect circle, wrapped around each other, were thorny bushes occasionally interwined by the carvings of roses. Despite the carving was done by Sage, it was clear by the style that the design for it was made by Hans himself - actor recalled Spirit using the same kinds of swirly lines as here on some of his sketches, and only he who had also seen the key with thorny rose that Janus gave to Senecio could remember it and use exact same rose style for roses on the pendant. The carving was clearly designed to reference their chosen name, Moonthorn, with the shape of the moon and the decor of thorny roses around the moon.
On the opposite side of the pendant, Senecio saw a simple night scene. There was a tiny moon at the top, a star on the left side, lines representing the wind spreading on the right side, and at the bottom were the swirly waves of the night sea, mixing with the wind partially. As he watched it, the actor realised that it was a symbolic family portrait, designed and crafted lovingly - he himself was the bright moon, Alpha the shining star, Hans the swirling wind, and Tide, largest of them all, was the sea circling and embracing them all at the bottom.

[Mirach]

By the time Hans and Alpha accepted all congratulations and got to them, Senecio has already quietly put on the pendant and wore it as if he had it all the time.

[VisAnastasis]

Alpha was still carrying the weakened Hans, and Spirit gestured to him lightly to kneel so he could reach the actor better. He saw the pendant, and his weary face lit up a bit more before he met his eyes. His face looked worn, but at peace, his makeup smeared but his expression blissful. Very lightly, he reached and caressed the actor's cheek with the back of his hand - it was still a little wobbly and shaky, but a warm gesture was searing with so much gratefulness and love it felt like it could burn him.
" How are you doing, sweet Simay? " he whispered while caressing his cheek.
" Hi there... I apologize... I must have put you through quite a meat grinder, dear... " Alpha dared to whisper shyly, but his apology, the same he gave to others, was spoken with feelings of thankfulness instead. He knew his feelings must have taken a big toll on the actor, and he was slightly apologetic, but he could not help it - they were still just so dazzling. " Everyone's gathering up so they can do their own things until the play later. Do you wish us to retreat somewhere so you can have a breather? Or... if our feelings are too loud, do you wish the two of us to leave you and Tide alone so you can retreat somewhere quiet to rest up? "
" Scale one to ten, how unwell you feel? " an unwell Spirit shamelessly asked, his gentle voice and caress laced with worry for the actor, not himself. " If you don't feel good, maybe we can ask Svarik, Eros or Ben if they can come up with anything that could help... "

[Mirach]

"I'm not sure," Senecio said. "You're being very loud, but I think I could get used to it, just not that fast. I'd rather leave you to it and go somewhere quiet now. If I don't feel better then, that's when I'd ask someone for help, but I think I'd actually prefer Sage. I didn't talk to him much, but his emotions are very calm and soothing, that's just what I need. How about you?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Sage told me he'll spend a few hours in the mansion, most of the time he plans to spend in the room with the souls, so he said to tell you you can invite him if you wish to talk about anything, and that even if he leaves, you should send Tide to fetch him and he'd be glad to come, " Hans could not help but smile a little, still caressing the actor's face as he replied. " And as for me, well, you know me! I bounce back great from things, seriously, I am as resilient as a weed and... "
" Don't you dare think you can dance around the answer, now... " Tide scolded him, and when both Tide and Alpha stared him down sternly, Hans puffed up his cheeks poutingly.
" Well, uhm... I am not that peachy, you could say... But don't worry! I don't have temperature flucations, no fevers, no headaches like I had that time when we got beaten up. It's a bit shitty feeling like being run over by the carriage, but I always bounce back much quicker when it's a flare-up from positive things than when it's from negative garbage, " he chipped in cheerfully as if it was something worth being happy about. " This was just a temporary setback! It was just way too... perfect a day... doing this all with you I just need to rest up a bit and I will be right as rain by the time of play in the evening, I promise! "

[Mirach]

"Okay," Senecio nodded. "Just promise you'll call someone if it turns out that rest is not enough, too, alright?" he closed the topic, and then smiled broadly. "But, congratulations, you two! I've told you you'll enjoy the play if you come, didn't I?" he winked at Alpha. "Wasn't it great? I'm so happy about how we managed to pull it off. Erdel helped, too. Only he and Sage knew, nobody else."

[VisAnastasis]

" Wow, no wonder I couldn't figure anything out... I was wondering for the life of me how Tide was acting all casual about this instead of exploding into excited confetti. I see you really controlled information masterfully there for maximum secrecy, " Alpha admitted sheepishly.
" Oh, indeed, I felt betrayed for about a single millisecond before I realised, yes, thank you so much for not telling me - I would absolutely not be able to hide it. It is just too wonderful, I am so happy for you! " Tide spoke while snuggling at the actor's side and purring still.
" True, if you were told, I'd have guessed in a heartbeat, indeed, " Star confirmed while he watched at Tide with affection and gratefully embraced him from the side while accepting his congratulations, before his gaze moved to Senecio again - but the affection stayed. " Little moon... don't you think you actually undersold Hans's promised reaction? I would describe it as far, far more than a couple degrees above just *excited*. Thank you.. for underselling it so masterfully, sweet, dear, littlest moon... " he whispered quietly then, with no pathos, giving him a little more personal nickname, a little unsure but hopeful, like trying to check if he is allowed to and if the actor accepts it - speaking slowly, as if not knowing how far he can go and if actor would feel he is going too far. " The play was a gift enough - it was something I would not know how to repay to begin with. But Hans told me on top of it that you gave him your mother's pearl for my ring, " he shyly flashed the gem he was holding onto preciously on one of his ring fingers. " As you know, Being customs would dictate that I tell you it is just so precious I must give you a gift in turn, and put it in a show to continue building upon our relationship that way... but it is far too meaningful. I want to have a bond with you without pretending this is just a step in the game. It is something beyond Being customs, to me. Could you feed me the lines you'd hope to fear? I wish so dearly to make you as happy as you made me, but I do not have the words... " he whispered, and with the hand that held the ring, very softly and gently, he booped his nose lovingly, like he did when they talked in the garden. " ...I have no words of wisdom, no smart comeback. I... Hans said I could take one blue pearl from the bracelet to fashion a ring for him in turn. We... will stay engaged for a while now, but when the time comes, we will use those for our wedding rings, too. They are too precious to be short-term engagement ones... they will be here to stay, as wedding rings, once time feels right for it, " he shared shyly what they seemed to have decided along the way while being asked around for their plans, while talking with the others. " I will never forget all you gave me today... "