Senecio adn Tide II

[Mirach]

"As if you wouldn't fulfill whatever I ask for," Senecio grinned. "But fine," he took Tide's hand. "Walking is boring. Let's dance..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I would fulfil whatever, but I can't refuse a favour, on my honour as a very serious Being. It's more fun to up the stakes... " Tide finally grinned a little, with a chance to do something resembling romance, and he pressed the actor's hand before he took the lead. He began the slow light dance, supporting him when he would stumble, humming a soft, loving melody as he moved, the memory of their dances from before making his expression and step lighter and more confident.

[Mirach]

Focusing on the dance and rhythm helped to ease the discrepancy - helped Senecio to feel alive. He grinned, relieved that the poison did not affect his movement and looking forward to dancing with Tide all dressed up.

[VisAnastasis]

Neither of them was dressed most impressively, Tide in plain simple human clothing, and Senecio in Findling's costume - yet still demon seemed content, relaxing with his grin, pleased that his method is working, not wasting such unexpected treat, a chance to be romantic. They danced for a while, and when he felt actor's moves got more synchronised, and that he grew a bit tired, he slowed down the pace gradually and then suddenly, as if not able to keep himself from it, he ended the little moment with a timid hug, with nothing dramatic or showy about it this time, only a simple feeling poured into spontaneous gesture.

[Mirach]

Somehow that gentle hug released something and Senecio started to sob, clutching Tide desperately as if the weight if what happened caught up with him only now.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide, however, was more secure by now. Actually, even more calm with Senecio like this - when actor seemed to be taking this way too well, he was unsure about it, but now, felt much more relieved, when seeing him pour his insecurities out and anxieties. He let him bury his head on his chest, rubbing his back soothingly.

It was Hans who was more quiet and thoughtful with it, watching him quietly. He carefully climbed out of the pool, his bslsnce barely enough to do it on his own by now, and stepped to them. Maybe because he was wet, maybe because he wasn't as free in gestures as Tide would be, he didn't try to impose into the hug, he just hesitantly laid his hand on actor's shoulder, a gesture almost as much comforting himself that Senecio is alright as it was trying to be supportive.

[Mirach]

Senecio sank to his knees in Tide's embrace, his shoulders shaking hard with sobs as his mind tried to deal with all the pain and fear he felt in the last hours.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide knelt next to him too, not letting go. He did not cry, though, as if he couldn't right now, as his heart was strongest when facing emotional crises, unlike Hans, who had the clearest head when there was a dangerous situation he had to throw himself in to solve.
Demon breathed deeply, holding actor close as they sat on the floor, unlike actor who was upset and hit with everything at once, it seemed to embrace Senecio was actually calming him down, and the man could feel Tide's aura beam softly as he was leaning so close to him, aura calmed and reassured.

[Mirach]

Slowly the sobs subsided and Senecio just leaned on Tide quietly, breathing in his scent, an occasional tremble still running through his body. 

[VisAnastasis]

Tide as well seemed content to remain so, being a demon and having endless stamina, not growing weary or impatient, in fact, seemingly enjoying the prolonged moment.
As sobs subsided, Hans seemed a little reassured. Quietly, he took the blanket from the side back, and covered actor over shoulders with it, hoping the texture and weight will help ground him more - or maybe just hoping he could do something about actor's shivers, perhaps.

[Mirach]

Senecio took a deep breath and pulled the blanket closer to his shoulders. He turned his head a bit to see Hans. "Well... now that having a breakdown is out of the to-do list," he smiled shakily, "how about I do that make-up I promised you?"

[VisAnastasis]

Spirit seemed to be holding itself together mostly out of spite and determination to make sure Senecio is alright, so at the reply, while he grinned a little, he had a rather faint expression, like that of someone not wanting others to pity him for his weakness, so insisting it is not a big deal.

" Well... I am planning my mental breakdown later or in the morning, if mind permits, so you are not interrupting my schedule." He whispered." If you are up to it, I had already packed our makeup in my bag, as we were supposed to do it before the ball..."

[Mirach]

"But if you put it off for later, it will ruin your make-up," Senecio said gently. "Better get it over now..."

[VisAnastasis]

There was a little softer look in Hans's eyes as if Senecio's words reminded him of something.
" It would be a nice skill, but you know I can't cry on command. I had to use hot sauce to get a few tears when we did the adoption ritual, remember? " he whispered quietly. " Tears only come to me at really inconvenient moments... You are right, though, I have a feeling I would probably cry as soon as we were done with makeup and I could see myself in the mirror. It would feel... too abnormal to see myself looking so normal when I don't feel it. " he rubbed his fingers subconsciously, against the nervousness as he admitted. " Maybe we can leave makeup for after we dress up, right before we go to the ball? Now, let's do something nice, let's play a board game, maybe? "

" Hans... " Tide finally brought himself to ask, hoping maybe he could stir the conversation. " Hans, would you like us to sit down, and talk about this first? Just a little. You need to take it easy, rest, reflect, calm down, get yourself together, you tried to Sing, but you can't, you know it is bad for you... "

But Spirit, unlike with Senecio, seemed to be much more touchy when Tide would try to address the subject, his look growing colder.
" Stop... patronising me like that. I am the one that knows what I need, not you, " he retorted more sharply. " What I need isn't rest, but a fast pace. In rest, you are left to the mercy of your own thoughts, but in doing things there is a reprieve. I just need to focus on something else, someone else. I absolutely can't take thinking about myself right now. Let's just do something... "

[Mirach]

"You'll need to slow down eventually," Senecio said and unwrapped one side of the blanket from his shoulders, inviting Hans to share it. "But do you want to say *fuck you* to Guilamo and enjoy the ball before that?"

[VisAnastasis]

Tide could only feel sorrow and worry for his family in this situation, for it was in his nature, but he could not understand this specific feeling of being fueled by spite at the dead man, spite born of anger that won't change the fact the man is dead already. Senecio could, and Hans's unsure face sprouted with renewed confidence with that knowledge.
" Yes, " he gritted his teeth, timidly accepting to share the blanket, seeming more comfortable as he stated. " Yes, I knew you would understand. That is precisely what I do want to do, in every way conceivable. Until I am forced to slow down, I want to keep saying it. I can not cry right now, I am too busy cursing him, and I want you to join me in it. "
Tide raised his eyebrows with wonder, taken aback at how good they got along, however strangely. It was the first time for him to witness Hans be like that with someone, even more so, in a situation where he would choose to be angry with the demon while taking actor's side, and it made him feel strangely out of place.
" Okay... I can't say it doesn't seem like you two are fueling each other's destructive habits to a bit worrying degree.... " he smiled sadly. " But as long as you're getting along so well, I am glad... "
" We are getting along so well, " Hans murmured wearily. " Because he isn't preaching to me about * fueling my destructive habits*.  It is not a destructive habit to want to enjoy aggressively something someone I hate wanted to rob me of. If anything, I will enjoy all of it tenfold out of hubris and vanity of not having been robbed. "

[Mirach]

Senecio didn't feel like getting into a dispute. "When you are ready, we can get dressed then," he just said, warming them both in the blanket.

[VisAnastasis]

It seemed, due to strange circumstances, that while Demon's and Spirit's relationship was strained when this matter would be brought up, they both cared for Senecio more than that, and he sort of fell into a role of mediator between them unwittingly. They didn't speak anymore, leaning against him within the offered blanket.

Hans still seemed to be holding a grudge against the prying demon and took more time to calm down, forcing himself to let go of it and not make a big deal out of it, especially, perhaps, because he was self-conscious with two other people in the room. It seemed in the same time as if silence was not doing good to him because it left him to fall into some dark intrusive thoughts, but that in the same time he needed a moment of it to quench his bitterness toward Tide. Still, it came to a point where he was too tense and could not stay silent any longer, his tension manifesting physically in a light fever that could be felt to the touch.

" If... you feel up to it, " he addressed Senecio quietly. " How about we dress up? It would be a pity to miss any more of the ball than we have to... I... made sure it has lot of your favourite foods and drinks, and that the performers would play lot of music that you like... "

[Mirach]

"Yes, it would be a shame to not wear those amazing clothes tonight. Let's get dressed," Senecio said.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide hesitated, knowing Hans would be rather tense with him now and feeling like he'd be imposing and make him more upset if he joined.
" How about... you two guys go and dress up first? Eros can help you out and make sure you have all you need. You can go to my makeup room, lighting is best there, and you have lot of nice mirrors... " he whispered. " I'd rather check on Death right now," he replied simply and straightforwardly, as it seemed he did feel that way and had no reason to pretend before them than he didn't." Now that things have settled a little, I feel like it is overdue, and it seems like a perfect timing if he agrees... "

[Mirach]

Death just nodded and Senecio agreed as well, so they went to the sewing room to dress up for the ball.

[VisAnastasis]

Hans was quiet as they walked to it, and quiet as they began preparing. With time, though, as they focused on it, it seemed to help him feel better, as memories of them picking the materials and colours and talking with Alpha Centauri were bright, overshadowing the bad ones. He was shaken still, a little, but the new more pleasant fixation seemed to help, as well as Eros, who was easy going and not demanding on them, just helping them out and letting them do whatever they liked to indulge in.

---

When they were left alone, Tide took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. Once he was assured they are on their way, he turned to Death at last. His expression was hard to read as he stepped towards him.

" Well, mister mysterious force personification... I seem to distinctly remember pleading you to avoid nodding, " was the first thing he said, with that same little smile. " May I ask, please... how is your neck doing? I could not ask, before Eros, but when you wear my mask, I can not see your face either, so I do not know... "

[Mirach]

Senecio felt the same about it and focusing on clothes and make-up served as a pleasant distraction from thinking about the terrible experience.

---

"I almost forgot about it with everything happening," Death admitted.

[VisAnastasis]

Hans's fever seemed to be going down after a while, as he blocked the thought of Death and Tide out of his mind, only focusing on the current moment. With dressing up, he felt as if pushing the dark memory behind for a while, and with makeup, it brought the memories of previous times they put in, and while a little emotional during it under the weight of how close they were to never do it together again, the actor doing makeup for him seemed to be soothing his mind much more than any words could.

---

" I did not. I just could not help myself, to not focus on Senecio, after what happened. But it was in the back of my mind. I felt guilty for not being able to check up on you properly. Will you help me ease that guilt? " Tide asked, directly, softly, without fear or hesitance, completely differently than when the first time he asked when they met. " May I remove thy mask, scarf and brace and check its state again? "

[Mirach]

Having something to focus on and do with his hands also helped Senecio to feel more normal. He adjusted the make-up to the mask Hans will be wearing, designing it as an extension of the mask.

---

"If it helps..." Death muttered. "But I really don't like that it makes you feel guilty."