#diolanza

@diolanza | cont.

For the past week, Lazarus had often been distracted or sometimes inattentive to his surroundings and projects during the day to day. Sleep is evading him even tonight, despite his attempts to doze off nestled comfortably against Perospero's side. Finally he had decided to give up on running around in mental circles and bring up what he'd been ruminating over regardless of the late hour. There is something like concern written on his face, because he couldn't fully wrangle the uncertainty gnawing itself through his nerves. He luffs out a sigh and sits up to reorient himself, "Nothing has happened, I just have had a lot on my mind recently." Which isn't unusual for him, he was a quiet and introspective individual who spent a lot of time mired in his own thoughts.

"Would you set that down for now, please?" Gesturing to the novel held loosely in his partner's hand, a clear sign that he wanted his undivided attention for something important. Lazarus tries not to seem too grave about the whole thing and in fact, he looks a little nervous to continue speaking period. He fidgets with his hands during a hesitant moment, twisting fingers in the hem of his sleep-shirt without really realizing he is doing such. "I have been thinking about our future and whether or not we could be married one day," the words stumble somewhat, "I haven't found any definitive information about if same-sex marriage is permitted by the World Government, or if that even matters. In Eternia, it was not even a concept that the Orthodoxy or the Duchy cared for.." Never mind the fact he'd given up the pretense of a normal life whilst living in Eternia.

"I'm not a cop." Wow, he was really mad about a simple observation. "S'pose Law didn't tell you yet then." ...This was probably why he'd told her not to go wandering around the place or talk to anyone until he said she could. Oops.

She supposed she'd just met the master of this island though. Unfortunate.

A brief moment of though, and she decided not to point out that as the creator he was kind of responsible for what his weapons were used for in the end. Not an argument worth having. "You should probably ask him then, he'll explain it better than I can."

Or rather, he'd probably have an explanation that didn't include the fae dropped me here to meet Law before I went on my quest to find a magic evil sword as the foundation. He'd only believed it because of the weirdness of circumstances.

Lazarus regards Caesar with a mostly blank expression but there's just the slightest notion of disdain for the gaseous scientist, and a dark brow quirks slightly for the mocking way he is addressed. "Perospero has far more important matters to deal with than waste time dealing with you," he responds blandly, ignoring the jabs about them being in anyway involved. He flicks an empty beaker on the desk with a sharp nail, making the glass chime.

"I asked you a question," he goes on, staring unblinkingly at Caesar, "but perhaps it needs no answer, I can see for myself you've done nothing productive. I'm certain Linlin can find something far more useful for your soul than the failure you've amounted to now." His tone is darkly malicious.

@diolanza liked for a starter!

"Brother?" Looking up with surprise as her eldest brother entered her kitchen she couldn't help the warm smile that pulled over her lips. Fingers dusting over the last of her creation for the day, sugar sprinkling down to add a dusting over the cupcakes. Her devil fruit power cuaseing the sugar to look as if it shimmered like stars upon the sweet treats.

Dusting off her hands on her apron she then moved around the counter, rising on her toes to press a soft kiss to his cheek. "What brings you all the way up to the clouds?"

@diolanza asked: [ PUSH ]: having just rescued the receiver from a blizzard, the sender insists on pushing the receiver closer to a fire to warm them up first. (from eros to ryker, if you don't mind me tossing my ocs at you!)

BLIZZARD PROMPTS.

the ravenette had since returned to his full human form, but his arms still ached with frigid stiffness from the blizzard even as he was gently nudged toward the fire in front of him. his arms were crossed, entire body shaking with the effort to warm itself up. teeth hit teeth repeatedly, uncomfortably, even as he tried to clench them together.

ryker hated the cold. he hated what this damned fruit did to him in the cold too. he could still feel the phantom sensation of the ice in his feathers, of how it made him want to curl up and sleep, even as he'd lain in the snow. regret, as usual, swirled in his mind; but if he hadn't, then who would have protected his brothers? who would have assisted dezmond and jack with finding their crews. who would have been their navigator with a keen eye and a sense for the weather?

he tried not to think about how things could have been.

" thanks. " it was the first time he'd spoken in the presence of this stranger. he hated the way he's sounded, voice rough from the gelid air. he prided himself on at least being the more put together one. " n-not many people would stop... to help a frozen, half-dead, h-half-form zoan. "

@diolanza | x

The shortening of his name used to be irksome but he'd eventually just accepted it, it wasnt as if Cupid meant anything derogatory about it. He regards the weary hybrid placidly but there is a touch of concern too - despite how they tended to vex him, Lazarus did want Cupid to be in good health along with their son. Silently, the artist extends a hand to take the glass back once it was emptied and set it aside so they neednt exert themselves needlessly. "I can see that," he remarks in regards to young Oxigeno, watching him paw at the pages of a chemistry book.

Lazarus considered offering a few suggestions but they fall to the wayside when Cupid hefts the infant towards him, and he cradles Oxi carefully after a moment of readjusting. As much as the shade is fond of children, he was still wary of being around them - part of him hadnt let go of the worry that the innocent might fear or scorn him. That isnt the case here though and Oxigeno settles within moments, comfortably nestled in his arms. With a kind of tender softness in his otherwise severe expression, Laz answers, "Don't tell Evanidus that, you know he'll sulk for days."

continued. | @diolanza featuring: silver

Dressed in festive hues of red and green with their hair pulled up with hairsticks and chiming jingle bells, Silver sways across the deck of the Fleeting Dolphin with a large mug of spiced eggnog in hand. Their voice pitches into the carols and shanties that rise somewhat haphazard through the din, maybe a bit too drunk to fully complete any stanza. At some point the half-mink ends up leaning on Vanta's shoulder, purring some half-formed joke in the zoan's ear about dressing up as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Snickering when their response was a playful swat to the shoulder, sending them stumbling away to try and sober up with something non-alcoholic. Silver's fanged smile is on full display as they end up wandering towards Cupid, whom sits poised under a bundle of mistletoe and playfully keeps trying to entice participants into a kiss. And well, why would they ever ignore such an opportunity? Silver had always had a soft spot for the pirate captain, nevermind the casual arrangement they had between them.

Taking a mouthful of cider to wet their palate, they step under the mistletoe with a pronounced sashay of their long, lion-like tail. Snickering as Cupid leans up to plant a smooch on their cheek, leaving behind an obvious kiss-mark. "I'd say the same about you," they respond wryly, reaching out to loosely cup their jaw, "but dont go cheating me what I really want, it's the holidays."

Silver leans down and gives them a proper kiss on the lips, sweet and with the tiniest twinge of a fang catching their bottom lip for a moment. Pulling away with their lamp-orange eyes gleaming, "That's better."

continued. | @diolanza featuring: lazarus

Lazarus often finds himself in a strange limbo during holidays, more often than not content to let them pass by without acknowledgement whatsoever. For so long he hadnt a reason or purpose to pay them any attention, as the circumstances around his livelihood forced him into solitude. So being alone is just habit, a comforting habit by now, if he was honest with himself. Even for the short time he'd been in Totto Land, the old shade just kind of existed along the frindges of the Charlotte family and the citizens of the archipelago entirely. Old habits die hard, you know? He did, however, like to wander and appreciate the festive decor though.

Twinkling lights and ornament-covered evergreen trees, tinsel and ribbon tangled together into artful displays and bows. He'd plucked a candycane somewhere and twirled it between his fingers as he winds up in one of the large gardens of the Chateau. The winter chill made his breath mist silver-white, but he didnt feel cold - the moutains of his home were far, far colder by comparison. Totto Land's cold season is practically mild to him.

Curiously he finds Perospero under some decorated lattice, alone, when he was certain there was a family dinner taking place. Lazarus isnt going to pry though, he merely strolls over to idle by his friend's side. "Happy Christmas, Perospero," he responds lowly after being acknowledged, lapsing into a comfortable silence since he did not always feel it necessary to fill moments with chatter. His thoughts are errant and aimless, stirred from the reverie when Perospero shifts and stands up from the chair he'd been occupying. The artist intended on asking something - but instead he finds his voice failing from the cool touch of the other's fingers on his chin.

The shock of a sudden kiss stills him, shoulders rigid with tension for a few seconds until he tentatively kisses back, the thrill of his pulse quickening has him feel uncharacteristically warm all over. Lazarus is dazed and equally red-faced when they separate, temporarily without coherent thought beyond comprehending the lingering sweetness on his lips.

"Oh," barely audible, his free hand fisting in Peros' coat, "I have been wanting it too," a startlingly upfront admission for the reserved man. Before he loses any more nerve, Lazarus pulls them back together into another kiss. He still hadnt noticed the mistletoe above them that had started the whole thing.