Senecio adn Tide II

[VisAnastasis]

Erdel did not reprimand him or tell him to repeat anything, no matter how crooked or unrecognisable the numbers sounded, proud for each little success, knowing the actor had to remember to breathe to get it out, pacing and counting together with him, with each letter trying to slowly time it better to help him focus on breathing and realize there was no pain shoothing through his body with breathing, unlike that night. It seemed he was good at assessing and counted that the actor would stumble and need more time than normal to count, because right around 3 seconds left, among other various noises around, the actor heard quick footsteps getting nearer. From the dark door to the side leading to backrooms, he suddenly saw Hans sneak in, his hair dishevelled, and his breathing not shallow, but still laboured - his breath burning up, because he was running to get there as soon as he could.

[Mirach]

Between the counting, Senecio slowly realized that he's not really dying, that he has a ring from Alpha and didn't feel it activate, that it just feels like that because of a panic attack, but he still wasn't able to get out of it.

[VisAnastasis]

Hans ran up to them, leaning closer beside them, not asking for explanation, no blame, no hesitancy - but a heartfelt apology.
" I am sorry for not being here. I... miscalculated. Next time, I'll be right here from the start, no matter how well you're doing throughout, " he promised firmly in between taking his breath, and he knelt fully, and took actor's exposed hands into his own, and he peppered them with warm kisses while rubbing them lightly, focused on his sense of touch, a little coarse, chapped lips grazing across his knucles and the ring he wore. " Dear Simay, sweet Simay... " he whispered reassurances between kisses, before like he always did, without mistake, reliably so, even in this shaky situation, he focused on giving him options so he can figure out what he really wants instead of it being imposed to him without his choice. He did so only working within boundaries he was granted, of touching the skin of his exposed hands. " You did so well, so well, Simay... Won't you let me reward you? Would you have us call Tide so he can comfort you, and so we can leave flower giving for some other time? Or do you require a nice treat to snack on instead, if you'd rather us not call Tide so you can get flowers today after all? Do you require something nice and cool to drink to celebrate, a nice wine or lemonade instead? Do you require more kisses? Do you require compliments? Do you require a hug? " he offered soothing, forming the question in way Tide always offered hugs, offering him many things earnestly while kneeling at his side, fierce love and devotion swirling from it much stronger and louder than already loud roar of enjoyment of the play aidence was feeling.

[Mirach]

"N-no..." Senecio stammered. "I want... I want to get through this stupid panic... I want to bow and hear the applause and get flowers from Tide in frong of the audience... I just need go get through this panic..." he clutched Hans's hand, trying to calm his breathing.

[VisAnastasis]

Hans klutched his hands back firmly in his own, peppering them with kisses, giving him a sensation to focus on.
" If that's what my Simay wants, that's what he is going to get, "  between the gentle kisses, he spoke with determination. " Sweet Simay, listen to me. We'll get to the applause, I promise. You just have to do a tiny little task for me first, okay? Just focus on my voice and just do as I say, and we'll get to the applause, to flowers, and to Tide. You will have it all, just as you wish. First, I need you to tell me five things you see, okay, dearest? Just number 5 things you can see, just 5... " he instructed him, patiently waiting, as if they had all time in the world, slowly guiding him to first say 5 things that could be seen, then 4 things that could be touched, 3 things that could be heard, 2 he could smell, and 1 he could taste, encouraging him and guiding him to different possible options gently as he spoke, grounding him in the outside world through his senses instead of the overwhelming panic of his inner world.

[Mirach]

Trusting Hans, Senecio did his best to focus on the task, and slowly managed to get his breathing under control. He felt drained and dizzy, but no longer had the overwhelming sense of dread that felt like he was dying again.

[VisAnastasis]

As he was calming down, he could at one point sense that Sage and Alpha had also arrived backstage and were watching over, but did not interfere since Hans was having things under control. Sage instead chatted up and distracted other actors so they would not look for Senecio. Alpha, on the other hand, was just quietly watching over them from the side, leaned against the wall, twirling with his fingers. The world felt completely normal on close look, as it seemed Star did not want to mess anything up not to make Senecio panic again, but by what man gathered now that he was calm, it seemed Alpha was spending some casulty to create bit of sparkles on stage and small things like wind and fiireflies, to build up anticipation  - but it was clear that he was giving it his all to use as little power as possible to not add to actor's confusion, but still distract the audience with those little illussions, so they would not start cooling their heads and wondering why did wait for curtains to raise streched. He was not sweating, but actor could see his face looked littlest bit more like melted down crunchy sand, a little coarse from his efforts.
As he kissed actor's hands one last time and stood up, Hans gave Alpha quick thankful smile, before his smiling face turned back to Senecio.
" The audience is getting louder... They are waiting for you, little moon... Can't you feel their anticipation? " he whispered once he straightened out, pressing his hand in reassurance. " Do you want me to come with you and Erdel if it would be easier? Since I am a writer, nobody will think it strange that I stand at my cool protagonist's side... "

[Mirach]

"Y-Yes," Senecio nodded immediately, leaning on Hans and Erdel as he was getting up.

[VisAnastasis]

Hans and Erdel supported him and guided him gently, doing so in as inconspicious a way as they could, to not alert any of Senecio's enemies to anything other than three people chatting up together after successful play. In the meantime, Alpha and Sage moved to make sure other actors are ready and gathered up, further distracting them from Senecio's plight.
At last, once they were in their spot, the curtains rose, and thundering, roaring applause overflowing with feelings washed over the actor. While it was true with his new power to sense feelings, he could not escape some streaks of ugly envy and displeasure at how well actor's life was getting from people that disliked him, they were drowned by the streams of positive feelings, shining with admiration and approval. Instead of dark, Alpha clearly put in effort to make the moment littlest bit lighter, to build up proper magical atmosphere for Tide's gift, and reward him with something soothing to look at after his ordeal, for tiny sparcles in shapes of iridescent fireflies and dandellion seeds that looked as if they were carried as if by the wind, were now around stage, swirling around the revealed actors.
Amid all those positive feelings, there was one streak bubbly, but nervous, full of anticipation - Tide's. Senecio could not see him right now, but he could see him, and based on his feelings, it seemed the man waited, carefully, wanting to give the actor a moment to soak in his victory before trying to see an opening in which he could approach him.

[Mirach]

Senecio smiled, basking in the applause. He was still feeling weak and dizzy, but he was proud of himself, and the feelings of the audience let him feel the reality of the moment. He took in as much of the reality as he could: the play was a success and he was fine, it was safe and he wasn't dying. He did that so that next time - and he knew there will be a next time, he wanted to act again because it was something he loved - his body would remember that, too, and no drag him into panic.

[VisAnastasis]

Senecio enjoyed the aplause and everyone's feelings for a while, before, as the aplause was starting to die down, he noticed the change - from one of higher secluded lodges for special quests, not from lower seats, sound of water rushing through the air sounded, and before their eyes everyone could see shining stairs made from water form from that side toward the stage, looking like a spiral glowing staircase, carefully positioned to not obrstruct the view, but also, to make sure no one would by accident miss this moment Senecio desired to be seen by all. It seemed Tide combined his waterbending along with his own ability to create sparkles, to make it glow, although, unlike Alpha, whose sparkles around were iridescent, his were limited to white colour, swirling around handrails and steps of the watery staircase.

And then at last, the actor saw him, carrying a large bouquet of pastry flowers from the morning, and sliding down, unable to hide the pep of excitement in each step. As he got closer, he could see Tide was wearing a mask, like always when they were in public, not to frighten anyone, but his clothes were unlike any actor had seen him wear yet, clearly made by Alpha, but judging by more distant emotions from the material, it was made a long time ago. They were seemingly dark, looking not like the night sky, but the dark blue surface of the night sea, swirling as he moved, with boots the texture of black sand. But the star of the outfit was the cloak - it was no ordinary one, appearing as if someone took the wave and fashioned it into garnment, swaying in the air, dark at the top, and lighter toward the middle, at the bottom foaming into white texture like a wave that splashes the shore. As he watched him, and as he heard the gasps of awe and felt the swirls of wonder and approval from the Being audience, the actor realised those were no ordinary clothes or a fancy constume - this was Tide's official royal regalia. The Beings of his kingdom lived in hiding, and although fashioned, not having any occasion to use them, those clothes seemed to have been gathering dust, saved only for rare special ocassions when more hopeful open future with no hiding was to come, perhaps not worn since Tide's coronation, countless years ago.

It seemed demon took his promise that he would be his prince charming today seriously, but if he just came with randomly expensive-looking clothes, it would not be enough for his own heart, since Beings who do not follow romance tropes would not understand the magnitude of his intent. So, while for humans, it looked like he wore beautiful, otherworldly clothes in theme with events of the play, Beings could see he came as a demon king, to support his partner, not as a spectator just casually having fun. He came closest to Prince Charming as he could in a way both humans and his Being subjects could understand, not Demon King of Night like Grendel, but unmistakably different, Demon King of the Sea, so that it was even more clear he came not as part of the play and role, but just as himself. He stepped closer and finally, in one smooth move, landed on a stage while the watery bridge was dissipating into dew behind him. And he, in official capacity as demon king, knelt before the actor, as deeply as he could, despite with their height difference that only made him appear at the actor's eye level. As he bowed his head and extended the bouquet delicately to him, it seemed he was peeking a bit below his mask, trying to figure out if the actor liked it, if he was romantic enough, if it was as grand a gesture as he hoped - clearly, just like Erdel, not above reading as many grand romantic swiping gestures in books as he could find. From this close, Senecio could see Demon's hands were shaking - he, who was trying to break through his own anxieties, of feeling like he's not pretty or dazzling enough to match well with him, put himself in the centre of attention with the actor willingly, in order to proclaim his love. He endured the nervousness and the timidness of the new experience, of the new try to be brave and open and more confident, just like Alpha today, doing it even if it was new, and he was scared. More than fear, Senecio could feel waves of tangible hope clashing down on him, hope and anticipation that had a lingering scent of sea, mixed with adoration and desire that felt like already well-familiar hunger. Despite the actor was wearing a costume of Death, by that hunger and passionate yearning Senecio could feel that the costume was no obstacle, because Tide was only seeing him, staring into his soul with bathed breath as he waited for his response.

[Mirach]

Senecio's breath was taken away by the gesture. He completely forgot about the panic attack and only had eyes for Tide. He took the pastry flowers and leant over the for a kiss, but not conpletely, giving Tide the choice to remove his mask for the moment or keep it.

[VisAnastasis]

It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but perhaps drunk on hope and remembering that the actor had asked him to remove the mask the first time they ever kissed, Demon removed the mask now too, but not before gently pushing him with one hand to make one step backwards compared to others on the stage, so no one from the other actors beside them can see his foaming blue eyes direcyly by accident and get frightenedned. Erdel and Hans helped, moving lightly around and standing tall so other actors would have a harder time meeting Tide's gaze. Demon was dazed, his shaky eyes, nervous to be caught by anyone, fully on Senecio, as he closed the distance between them, his trembling hands wrapping around the actor's arms as he, with a clash of hope and desire, hungrily returned the offered kiss.

[Mirach]

Senecio kissed him deeply, passionately, showing him how much he appreciated the gesture. Then he gently helped him to put back his mask, to not make him feel too self-conscious. "Do you mind carrying me to the backstage?" he whispered.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide's hunger rang with excitement and thrill while the kiss lasted. There were little flashes of tenseness, as the demon too struggled with memories of the actor's cold lips of the day he died, but with a kiss so passionate and unmistakably full of life, the flashes were brief, drowned by rivers of joy and relief for being so irrefutably shown he has done well.
When the actor on top of it all gently helped put his mask back on and asked to be carried, already bright joy lit up even more - it felt as if a fire of a candle turned into a blazing hot fireplace. He was so touched that the actor requested something he knew the demon saw as romantic that his heart ached, and his hunger only grew.

"You know it's something I adore doing... There is no world in which I would refuse. Please, be more confident, my moonlight," he whispered hoarsely." You don't have to ask a question for that. All you have to say is - carry me backstage. " he proclaimed tenderly, and he supported bouguet with one hand so it won't fall while raising him up easily with the other arm, despite trying to look cool and romantic not able to hide loud purring. Luckily, it was drowned by another deafening round of applause that the dramatic gesture brought from the crowd, and Tide used that chance to whisk him away, carrying him preciously leaned close to his chest. Others wondered if they should follow, especially Erdel and Hans, but knowing the couple can easily call them if they want it, they chose to stay behind for a bit to give them a chance to catch their breath away from everyone's keen gaze.