ꜱ1ᴇ2　　ballroom

@✧　Valor Rosewain ↳ ᴍᴀʏ 31, 2051
↳ ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: heart to break - kim petras

“I think the confusion may be more likely,” Kivari remarked, a shy flush spreading over his cheeks. He couldn’t help but think of all the times that Vos had refered to Valor as his boyfriend, and how often Monarch pushed him to admit that there was something between the two of them. And how often Monarch called him an idiot for making remarks about their friendship. It made a twisted sort of sense, now that Kivari was confronted with it. “I mean… Vos made their assumptions a long time ago, I think.”

Just how long had he loved the vampire? How many of those fourteen years, after that first fateful night when Kivari and Valor had met in the darkness, had been spent with feelings Kivari didn’t understand? The phoenix couldn’t say; he didn’t know; perhaps he had fallen in love the first time Valor told him he was capable of control.

“I’d like that,” Kivari agreed. He was sure that there would be a lot going on in the beach house when members of Vos began to come home from the ball, and not only did he not want to be part of the chaos, it would be nice to spend more time with Valor now that they had turned over this new page in their relationship.

@♆　Kivari Ae Valor touched Kivari's cheek before dropping his hand and turning his attention to the ballroom once more. "It is certainly the soul," he agreed, fingers tightening around Kivari's as he pulled him back into the ballroom. The heart was likely just another word for the soul, anyway. Used because of the strange feelings love put in your chest. But as Valor had learned, those feelings were not the result of the heart, but something else; something more. And though Valor would normally argue that he did not have a soul, that it had been damned, he would not today; today he believed that he had a soul, and that it belonged to Kivari. The phoenix had been safeguarding it this whole time, and that was why his temporary death under the waves had been so painful for Valor; Kivari had taken his soul with him.

"I am sure people shall be either pleasantly surprised we are finally a couple, or not surprised at all," he said with an amused smile as he settled his hands on Kivari's shoulders for the next dance. "Or perhaps confused, thinking we already were an item. Nevertheless, we need not tell anyone or do anything for anyone but ourselves tonight. Tonight we dance and afterwards, if you wish, you may stay at my house. The door has always been open for you anyway, mon amour."

@✧　Valor Rosewain ↳ ᴍᴀʏ 31, 2051
↳ ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: 27 hours - banks

"That makes two of us," Kivari quietly murmured. Two of them who couldn't imagine loving another person now that they had discovered that they had each other; that they loved each other. Of course they were both slow enough to not realize their feelings sooner, but Kivari felt that they couldn't be blamed; Kivari was blind to such feelings as he hadn't experienced much positive input even in the way of friendship in so many lives, and Valor had already explained himself. Not that Kivari felt the vampire had owed an explanation in the first place. After all, Kivari himself couldn't explain how he felt, or why he had incorrectly interpreted his feelings.

Through Valor's suit, Kivari could feel his cool temperature, his lack of a heartbeat. To someone else it might have been strange, to not feel a heart that was racing as his did; but it did not bother Kivari. The still, the lack of a rhythmic thrumming under his fingers merely concreted that the person whose chest lay beneath his palm was Valor; the calm in his storm, but also the gasoline that could fuel his flames.

He didn't say he couldn't feel it. Instead, he listened to Valor speak, hanging on every word until the vampire had finished. "I want to believe it's the soul," the phoenix finally said, fingers smoothing the tiniest ridge in Valor's neat suit. "The heart of a phoenix may change from life to life, but the soul never does."

And Valor's heart had no beat, but the vampire still held this affection for him. Kivari would argue that, in itself, was the purest evidence of this theory.

@♆　Kivari Ae The term "boyfriend" sounded strange to Valor. Likely another result of the era he grew up in. Back then, there were no boyfriends or girlfriends. You simply admired someone, courted for a brief period of time, and then married. Of course, with such a short period of courting the odds of finding actual love that went beyond physical attraction or puppy love was low. Many people got into unhappy marriages because of it. His father had never married; his mother was a Korean woman who he had loved, but had been unable to marry since there hadn't been any cathedrals in her little village. Valor wondered if she would have wanted to marry his father if she knew what kind of person he was when he hadn't had a few sips of whiskey to keep his hands steady.

But this was entirely different. Valor no longer had to fear what others thought, what the church would say. He only needed to care about his feelings, and his phoenix's feelings. Slowly, a smile spread on Valor's face to replace the look of concern. He looked back at Kivari, into his warm eyes, and nodded.

"Of course, mon amour," he said gently. "Of course I am comfortable being called your boyfriend. And calling you mine. There is no one else I can imagine ever loving besides you."

Valor squeezed Kivari's hand, feeling a strange sensation in his chest. It was a tightness, but also one of elation. "Kivari," he said gently, guiding one of the phoenix's hands to his chest. "It is strange. My heart doesn't beat; it cannot. It is dead. And yet, every time I am with you...I swear it's started to beat again. But it hasn't, right? Strange. I guess it is something else that dictates love, isn't it? The mind, perhaps. Or the soul."

@✧　Valor Rosewain ↳ ᴍᴀʏ 31, 2051
↳ ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: 27 hours - banks

When Valor's fingers slipped between his own, Kivari cradled the vampire's hand gently, like he was porcelain that might break under his touch. And that was the concern, wasn't it? That those in Vos who said that he broke and burned everything he touched were right, and Kivari would break the vampire that was currently hold onto him, leading him back out of their private little alcove and back into the public. Kivari almost wanted to wrap his arms around Valor and hold him in the alcove just a little longer, but he followed him without protest, with his heart in his throat and an unfamiliar warmth spreading in his chest.

Truly there had never been anyone like Valor in any of the lives that he had led before.

The word /courting/ seared itself into his brain, understanding what it was that Valor was asking, seeing the uncertainty in his vampire's face, the way he bit at his lower lip. Carefully, Kivari lay his free hand along the line of Valor's jaw, fire stirring in the depths of brown eyes when they met Valor's. "I'd like to be able to call you my boyfriend, Val. If you're comfortable with that."

His vampire. His boyfriend, if Valor would have him.

He let his hand drop, sliding down Valor's chest and hooking on the vampire's waist, settling like it belonged there. There was no one else, Kivari was certain, that such things would feel so natural with. This was a feeling that belonged to Kivari, a closeness that the phoenix couldn't picture having with anyone else. And somehow he had mistaken it as friendship for fourteen years.

@♆　Kivari Ae Valor sighed softly as he looked at Kivari, wondering how on earth they got to this point. Surely there must have been a day, a moment, a breath, where Valor had given his heart over to the phoenix. Surely he could pinpoint the exact moment. But as he flipped through his memories, he couldn't say there was one moment. Maybe that's why people said falling in love was like falling asleep; slowly, then all at once.

Valor could remember appreciating Kivari's sunny smiles, his warmth. He'd always found his rambling to be cute, but when had that fallen into something more? Something deeper? It was likely in between dimpled smiles, over steaming cups of chamomile tea, precious moments that slipped through Valor's ink-stained porcelain fingers and melted into Kivari's ever-present heat.

Now that the vampire thought about it, he could not remember a day where he did not love Kivari. Life without him would be impossible now, and Valor was not sure if that was a good thing or not. Whatever the case, Kivari was here and Valor had no plans of ever letting him go.

Another gentle smile at his phoenix, and Valor was slipping his fingers back into Kivari's to start to guide them into the ballroom. Valor could hear the minuet winding down, the violins and violas fading with a decrescendo. "We're..." Valor started, looking at Kivari with a touch of uncertainty, "...courting, yes?" he finished, catching his lower lip between his teeth.

@☠　Derek Mantaya The angel smiled as the pair of long arms from the taller wrapped around his shorter frame, a soft hum leaving his lips. “I suppose that’s right, there’s beauty in everything, right?” It was a rather comforting feeling, the arms being around him. He was a er for hugs, of any kind. The gesture had such a comforting feeling to it. “You’re lucky I don’t have anything to tie you up with right now,” He answered with a laugh as the man held out his hands. However, Youngmi’s cheeks reddened with embarrassment at the kiss blown in his direction. It would be enough to fluster anyone really, wouldn’t it?

Youngmi shot him another grin, taking a slow sip from his drink. “You really mean that? Well I’ll be here whenever you need me Derek, I’m not going anywhere,” He promised with a firm nod of his head, sending his runtime his eyes that he quickly pushed out of the way. “You’re definitely gonna be hung over after the party, I’ll give you a day or two to recover before I kidnap you, hey? Or with the way you’re going at the alcohol you’ll end up asleep on my couch, I won’t let you drive if you get drunk.” The question made him pause, his heading tilting lightly as he wondered how to answer. “I admired the fact that they keep people safe. They do so much positively for the city. Plus, lots of them are really really kind. They always offer me a hug when I’m upset. The training is really hard - but it’s great! I stay fit, I’m happy and have a great place to stay, and I know I’m helping the city!”

@✠　Lee Youngmi "You know." Derek repeated after Youngmi, his mellow voice laced with tease. He wasn't sure if the angel was doing it on purpose, but he found his speech absolutely adorable. As the other leaned into him, he placed his arms around the shorter casually. "Oh? So chicken suits you?" He joked, shaking his head. "I'm kidding. But I agree. Some birds are more pleasing on the eyes than chickens, but every bird has their own little charm, no?" He arched his brow and tilted his head to the side, the corners of his lips curving into a smirk before lifting both of his wrist up to Youngmi. "Well. Make my dreams come true, Mr. Guard. Arrest me." He blew a small kiss at his friend before turning back to the bar and lifting his glass to his lips once more.

"I already have everyone I need. And that's me, myself,  and you, of course." Derek chuckled at Youngmi's efforts and was grateful. But he didn't know if he had the strength and drive to make any other friends. "If this is your way of asking me out on a date, it's working." He downed the rest of his glass and signaled the bartender for a refill.  "Really. It's okay. But I'd love to hang out with you in a more casual setting." He cleared his throat. "What made you want to join the guards?"

@✧　Valor Rosewain ↳ ᴍᴀʏ 31, 2051
↳ ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: church - chase atlantic

Kivari couldn't honestly say he'd been in any solid relationships. His lives generally didn't last long enough for the phoenix to become romantically involved with anyone. And in the years where he was constantly on the run from hunters, Kivari had known that his unnatural body heat would have tipped someone off that he was a monster if he picked the partner. Of course, then there was also the matter that he didn't age... There were a lot of factors that had kept Kivari from pursuing a connection with anyone.

And there had never been anyone quite like Valor, anyway.

Maybe that was why Kivari had taken so long to come to this realization—spurred by Valor kissing him, and not his own intuitive genius. He hadn't had someone who he had truly loved. Or at least, if he had, it was one of the things he didn't remember—and Kivari was sure he'd remember something like that, no matter what he managed to forget from his previous lives.

"I know," he murmured, tilting his head into Valor's hand. He knew the vampire didn't think he was dumb. But Kivari tended to think so. Sure, it was in part because of what other people said, but he couldn't deny they were right when they said he lacked common sense or general intelligence. He'd done and said some pretty dumb things.

He made up for it in other areas. Or at least, he'd like to think he did.

"No thoughts of harming anyone," Kivari agreed. Well, unless they started it, but he didn't have to share that information with Valor. Obviously, if something happened Kivari was guaranteed to respond to it.

@☠　Mu Lian @☠　Lio Fotia Beau held Lian in hand. Her eyes trailing over to briefly glance at the beautifully dressed princess in pink--the color itself was a gentle pink that accented and brought out Mu Lian's bubbly personality. And indeed, she was beautiful. Beautiful in all of her bright, bubbly glory--but as Beau made her way towards Lio, Beau's eyes softened. The sight of the baker dressed in a silk navy blue with the ribbon tied around his neck like a present--it was very much... Lio.

"I see you got to cater for the ball, Lio." Beau began, rose pink tinted lips pulled into a smile. "What are you serving tonight? Have you managed to capture any potential new customers?"

[post deleted by owner]

@♆　Kivari Ae "No, I was an idiot. Emotional intelligence is separate from book intelligence. Book intelligence I have plenty of, but emotional..." Valor shook his head. "I spent a lot of my younger years--my human years--trying to blend into my surroundings. People like me who were of mixed race and heritage were not looked kindly upon. I had already experienced violence because of it. And to make matters worse was my uality. Naturally it was in my best interest to pretend I did not exist and hope others followed suit."

The vampire sighed softly. "I never courted anyone, and even at balls where I'd write my name on ladies' dance cards, I would be ignored or laughed at for thinking I could socialize with anyone of the higher class. I have forgiven all of those people. Everyone who called me names, everyone who harmed me emotionally and physically. It is all in the past, and ignorance is something that takes time to weed out.

"Either way, I learned to hide my emotions or ignore them. Things were easier that way. But as we grow up, our emotions become more complex. That was when the opium aided me in numbing things. So, mon amour, I am sorry it took me so long to be able to read my own heart, and to read yours." Valor lifted a hand to Kivari's cheek, smoothing his thumb over it lovingly. "You are not dumb either, Kivari. I have never once thought that."

The vampire sighed, shaking his head. "You have control, Kivari. As I have told you. You know you do. I will find a way to prove it to you in a more concrete way, but that will not happen today. Today we shall enjoy the ball. No thoughts of harming anyone. Alright?"

@✧　Valor Rosewain ↳ ᴍᴀʏ 31, 2051
↳ ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: born ready - zayde wolf

One of Kivari's favorite sounds, the phoenix had decided, was that of Valor's laughter when it was genuine. Valor's sarcastic laughter was certainly not as enjoyable to hear, as one might have assumed. But Valor's happy, amused laughter—that was beautiful, melodic, and Kivari loved to hear it.

Valor was right. They were an unlikely pair—a vampire and a phoenix, cold and hot, a man who's undoing would come easily through fire and a man who had fire running in his very veins. They were so different, even in personality, that it made them a strange combination. And yet it worked for them, it had since they had met even if they had failed to interpret what had been right in front of them.

"You're not an idiot, Val. But I won't deny it. I know I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed," the phoenix shrugged. Even so, he could also see where others were coming from—a little bit. He didn't agree with their remarks, however. Regardless of whether or not the pair had feelings for one another, they hadn't been dating and their denials had continuously been disregarded and that was rude.

He wasn't angry, though.

Kivari could have said a million things—could have said that Akaedi and Jinhai only drowned him because it was necessary, could have told Valor that it wasn't necessary to protect him—but something about the vampire's tone kept him quiet, giving Valor's sides a gentle squeeze. "I am," he agreed quietly, "but I don't know how I'm going to keep from burning this city down." He paused, and added, "Especially if another Mer threatens to do something to /you/."

Nothing had ignited the phoenix's fury quite like when Kal and that crew had spoken of harming Valor. No matter how much of a 'joke' they had thought it was, it was unforgivable.

@♆　Kivari Ae Valor let out a soft, breathy laugh. His hands slid down Kivari's chest, settling at his midsection to wrap around him and pull him close. With Kivari pressed against him like this, surrounding him in warmth, the vampire felt utterly and completely safe. Nothing could touch them when they were like this, tucked away in a corner away from prying eyes.

Nervously Valor awaited Kivari's answer. He was patient and did not interrupt or pry him for more information or to speak faster; Valor was, and always would be, patient with his phoenix. Valor let Kivari gather his thoughts into words, then listened. Slowly, Valor nodded, leaning against the wall behind him more and gazing into Kivari's eyes. He couldn't help but smile when Kivari said it made sense, because he understood exactly what he meant.

"It feels right," the vampire agreed, letting out a soft sigh of relief that his risk had been worth it. So incredibly worth it. Honestly, if he hadn't made the decision they would have kept at their little dance of skirting around what was right in front of them. Valor knew Kivari never would have made a move like this, so he was happy he had bit the bullet.

"It is strange though," he commented. "We are a very unlikely pair. However, I feel as though I am beginning to understand why others would get so annoyed at us or insist we were dating. Why I would be called your boyfriend and you, mine. It would appear that we are a couple of idiots, Kivari." Valor laughed softly, pressing a gentle kiss to Kivari's cheek.

"So long as your boss does not try to put you near water, he shall have no issues from me. If it was not made clear before now, I will make sure that it is. You are mine, and no one can touch a hair on you except for me." Valor's voice was soft but firm. No one would harm his phoenix. No one.

@✧　Valor Rosewain ↳ ᴍᴀʏ 31, 2051
↳ ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: telepatia - kali uchis

Once they were apart, Kivari inhaled, unsure of what to say—but Valor spoke first, so the phoenix was quiet and listened, his heart still hammering. Surely Valor could hear it—how it raced, how the vampire had made it race. Kivari hadn't been expecting this, any of this. It felt as though Valor knew his feelings when even Kivari himself didn't know them.

Or maybe Valor had just been taking risks when he kissed him.

Kivari knew the kind of thoughts he meant. Kivari thought he had thoughts like that before, perhaps more prominently in a past life and certainly not thoughts of kissing someone. But he was... there was a part of him that felt at peace, like it had been waiting for this. Like /Kivari/ had been waiting for this, like he had subconsciously been aware of his own feelings even if he himself hadn't been.

This was definitely why Monarch had called him a .

"Well," the phoenix started. Now he had to verbalize the way he felt, and in a way that would make sense to Valor. "I've never been the best at understanding feelings. But," he added quickly, before Valor could jump to any conclusions, "this... makes sense. It makes a lot of sense." It made sense why Kivari was willing to make compromises and sacrifices for Valor, why he had set the north quarter of the city on fire to find him , why everything they did affected each other so greatly, why Kivari had an ugly temper when things were said about Valor that he disagreed with.

"I can't name any other person I'd tell my boss to piss off for," Kivari shrugged. He rested his forehead against Valor's. "Or learn to dance for. Or try /not/ to die for. Or wear a suit for, for the gods' sakes."

@♆　Kivari Ae Valor sighed against Kivari's mouth. His fingers had fully entangled and knotted themselves into Kivari's hair to keep him close, to keep them close. His warmth was delicious and so was his touch, and despite all the nerves and doubts Valor had, kissing Kivari felt so incredibly right, as if he had kissed him many times over many centuries.

The vampire wanted more of Kivari. He wanted to feel his warmth, to taste him and his blood and skin. He wanted all of Kivari. But. Valor was a gentleman. Things now were not as they were when he was young, but he still believed in a period of courtship, of making your intentions known. They called it dating now, but despite Valor's wishes, despite his thirst and hunger for the phoenix, he would not do anything further. Sure, they'd been in an ambiguous friends-but-more-than-friends relationship for fifteen years, but knowing their feelings was new, and Valor wanted to go slowly, for them to take their time.

Slowly Valor pulled away from Kivari, his honey eyes meeting the phoenix's deeper ones. "I do not know why I never had the courage to kiss you before," he said softly. "I have...wanted to. Many times. But I assumed I was not myself, that such thoughts were not mine, but the strange thoughts that come when you do not call for them. I see now that I was incredibly foolish."

The vampire smiled gently at Kivari, placing his hand on his cheek. "Mon amour," he said gently, his eyes and voice full of warm affection, endearment, /love/. Valor had so much love for Kivari. Nothing would hurt him in this world, not without answering to the vampire's wrath. "Kivari, do you...do you feel the same way?"

@✧　Valor Rosewain ↳ ᴍᴀʏ 31, 2051
↳ ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: heaven and back - chase atlantic

Valor's request fueled Kivari's confusion. How could he ever hate the vampire? Valor was the person who had always treated him like more than a flamethrower with a faulty off-switch. There was nothing that Valor could /possibly/ do, Kivari was certain, that would make the phoenix hate him.

Especially not this.

Valor's lips were cool, just as cool as the rest of his skin and yet when their lips meant, it sent tingles of warmth skittering throughout Kivari's body, settling hot in his fingertips and palms, hands warm against Valor's expensive suit. Muffled alarm bells rang in the back of the phoenix's head and he had to check, had to be sure that he wasn't on fire and that he wasn't about to set Valor on fire before he could relax, some of that formerly-present tension gone.

He held Valor tight, like the vampire would disappear if he let go, letting his thoughts be pushed away by the moment, by the feeling of Valor's lips on his own and his hands in his hair.

Maybe—

Perhaps it was possible, after all, that he was in love with Valor. His Valor. His vampire that he would go to the ends of the Earth and even challenge Akaedi, Jinhai, Kallistae for—anyone. Anything. All to protect Valor, to defend the vampire even if it didn't bother Kivari when the Mer belittled and drowned the phoenix.

Kivari had yet to find something, after all of these years, that could kill him that he wouldn't merely revive from, but the phoenix felt as though he had found his weakness—for surely he couldn't live if he lost Valor.

@♆　Kivari Ae Letting out a rushed breath, Valor tightened his grip on Kivari's jacket. He hadn't fully thought this through; he knew if he did he would back out of it, and he needed to know. Valor knew this would answer his questions, his uncertainty. There was no time to think, no room for any uncertainty in his head, not when it was filled with Kivari, Kivari, Kivari.

Valor's gaze lifted to meet Kivari's, his own topaz eyes determined and just a little hard. "Please do not hate me," was all he said before he pulled Kivari in closer to him by his lapels. Tilting his chin ever so slightly since Kivari was just a bit shorter than him, he pressed his cool lips to Kivari's warm ones.

Valor hadn't kissed anyone in...well. Valor hadn't kissed anyone. Not since he was a teenager at a party held by one of his father's coworkers. It had been with a young man named James who had pianist hands and a kind smile. But he had been sixteen then. Human. And now James was gone from Valor's mind, replaced with the beautiful phoenix in front of him.

Kivari's lips were warm, soft, and tasted just as sweet as his blood. It was almost funny to Valor that he'd experienced the intimacy of feeding before kissing with Kivari, but they had been walking circles around each other for over a decade, skirting around feelings. Now as Valor's hand moved from Kivari's chest to his silvery hair, lips gently moving against the phoenix's, he was certain.

He was in love with Kivari.

@✧　Valor Rosewain ↳ ᴍᴀʏ 31, 2051
↳ ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: right here - chase atlantic

As they waltzed, Kivari noticed that Valor seemed like his mind was a million years away again. The vampire had already assured him that everything was fine, however, and Valor never lied to him—so Kivari wouldn't worry about whatever Valor was thinking about. If he wanted to share his thoughts with the phoenix, he would.

But of course, when Valor stopped moving altogether, Kivari couldn't help but be confused, gazing at the vampire in confusion. "Okay," he mumbled, following the vampire off of the dancefloor with his head tilted to the side. He was very confused now. Valor never just stopped in the middle of the waltz—was it something Kivari had done? Did he make a wrong step? Step on Valor's toes?

No, Valor was very accepting of his mistakes, he didn't behave like others Kivari could mention. He was very patient with Kivari, he always had been. It had to be something else.

He was definitely not expecting Valor to lean against the wall and grab his jacket, pulling him in close. Startled and unsure of where to put his hands, Kivari internally flailed for a moment before he hesitantly rested them on Valor's hips, where they settled as easily as if they belonged there.

"Okay," he murmured, trying to keep his voice even, to keep it from shaking too much. He wasn't sure why he was suddenly so tense, not necessarily in a bad way but it seemed like every nerve in his body was alight with... with what? Anticipation? Excitement? Kivari was just confused altogether, from Valor's strange behavior to the way he could feel his own heart like it was caught in his throat.

His brain sounded with a possible explanation, but Kivari wasn't sure how it could be true. He had spent so much time denying that he had feelings for Valor—hell, Valor had denied it too. So even if his heart was trying to run away because he was in love—which Kivari didn't quite believe—there was simply no way it was requited.

@♆　Kivari Ae If Valor had to describe Kivari's expression while trying to concentrate on the steps of the waltz, the rhythm, the careful positioning of arms, he would say he was cute. Valor did not call many things cute, as he felt he was too old to use such terms for anything save puppies and bunny rabbits. But sometimes it fit Kivari and made Valor want to slide his fingers through Kivari's hair and...

And what? The question was nagging at Valor, more than it ever had. He knew he had intrusive thoughts regarding Kivari, regarding /intimacy/ with Kivari. But he only saw them as intrusive thoughts, strange things that came to his mind unbidden and stemming from absolutely nothing. Nothing. Right?

Valor wasn't too sure about that anymore. He gazed at Kivari, dancing with him, with his beautiful silver hair and rich brown eyes that sometimes flashed silver like the moonlight itself. Kivari, with his endearing tendency to ramble and all of his insecurity, yet his fierce protectiveness over Valor. He had never hurt Valor and never would. Valor wasn't sure of many things in this ever-changing world, but he knew that much for certain.

As the vampire stared at Kivari, his chest ached unbearably. His heart was dead, unbeating. He could not have a heart attack nor heart disease nor any other affliction and yet...what was this pain? This heaviness in his chest that felt like pain but also not quite like pain. What was it that made him so protective over Kivari, that made him miss his sunshine warmth when he wasn't around? It was more than just his body temperature that made Valor feel as though he were living, as though his heart was replaced with a small sun fueled by his phoenix.

Valor had felt platonic love, had loved friends, but why was this different? Why was this love--oh. /Oh./

Valor, who was breathing out of habit, stopped breathing. He halted his movement entirely and stared at Kivari. "Come here," he said, pulling the phoenix off to an alcove, away from the throng of bodies. "I need to check something," he murmured, leaning against the wall and grabbing the lapels of Kivari's jacket.

@☠　Derek Mantaya “Most birds actually, lots of chickens aren’t even very pretty. There are some /ugly/ chicken breeds out there, I’ll tell you,” He chattered away. Youngmi was more than happy to offer Derek his hand, a grin on his lips at the small kiss it received. It was nice, spending time like this, relaxed. It hadn’t entirely thrown away the anxiousness in his mind, as he knew that at some point, he’d have to slip away into a corner to join the Guard in their seriousness again. But while he could, he wanted to make the most of a moment with his friend. “Well in the case, you’d definitely better stay in the spot. Cant have you starting wars all over the place you know, or I’ll actually have to arrest you one day!” His fingers slid around the glass served by the bartender, raising it to his lips to take a small sip.

“Aw, but you’ll never meet new people if you hide away all the time, you know. You can’t stay all by yourself forever you know, that sounds really unfulfilling.” The angel huffed, his head tipping lightly to the side as he leaned against the man’s side once again comfortably. It clearly worried him sometimes about the amount of time his old friend spent in his own company. But then he also knew that if Derek didn’t want to, he wouldn’t be able to force the man to go out and meet strangers. He chided himself and told himself that not everyone felt comfortable running up to random people to become friends with them. “I’ll drag you out every weekend and make sure you meet some people, I can’t take care of you all the time, you know.”

@✧　Valor Rosewain ↳ ᴍᴀʏ 31, 2051
↳ ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: rock that body - black eyed peas

"I'll take your word for it," Kivari murmured, letting himself be pulled out to the floor. Dancing wasn't so bad, when it was with Valor. He was the only reason he knew how to dance, anyway. It would feel weird for Kivari to dance with anyone else.

"By me?" the phoenix blinked, but he smiled as Valor explained. "I wanted to surprise you. I might have told a bit of a lie... I didn't have any special work to do for Vos, but I wanted to surprise you by wearing a suit and I had to enlist Monarch's help. I still think suits are uncomfortable, but... it was worth it." Making Valor happy was worth it, even if Kivari wasn't quite sure why he was made so happy just by seeing Kivari in a suit.

Valor, on the other hand, was always wearing suits, and Valor was always breathtaking. Kivari used to think that was merely the nature of the vampire, but he knew other vampires like Monarch and they didn't have quite the same effect on him that Valor had. It was just Valor—Valor and his white hair and pretty smile and cold hands that took some of the scorching heat from Kivari without everything burning.

Ah. Maybe /that/ was why Monarch was always calling him a .

Kivari wasn't going to give it much thought; he could worry about it later. Right now, he had other things to think about, like the steps of the waltz. It was a good night to not step on Valor's feet—he knew how to waltz, he just wasn't the best dancer in Vos.

He had fourteen years of practice under his belt now, though, and it was all thanks to Valor.

@♆　Kivari Ae Valor took a moment's longer pause to answer. He smiled at Kivari reassuringly and shook his head, reaching up to touch Kivari's cheek ever so slightly, shaking his head. "I'm alright," he assured. "I'm just a little...distracted tonight, it seems. But I'm fine."

Valor took Kivari's hands, trying not to let himself revel in the phoenix's warmth for too long, pulling him to the dancefloor as the next song began, a waltz. Valor placed one hand on Kivari's shoulder and held his hand with the other, straightening his posture. He was glad he taught Kivari to dance; the vampire wouldn't want to dance with anyone else even if he were asked.

"Truthfully, I am distracted by you," the vampire said as he looked at Kivari as they twirled, Valor lifting Kivari's elbow a bit to be in the proper position. "You look wonderful cleaned up, mon cher. You managed to take me by surprise. No one is bothering me, you needn't fight anyone. I am merely momentarily enraptured." If Kivari knew what 'enraptured' meant (and Valor wasn't sure he did), he might feel the strange energy that lie under the words.

It was a strange energy they had sometimes, in moments like this. When Valor saw ash raining down and his phoenix racing through the city to save him. When he fed from Kivari for the first time, the phoenix being reckless as always. And all the other times they had quiet moments to themselves. All of these moments were laced with unspoken desire, feeling. Valor was feeling its presence more and more these days and was starting to struggle to deny it was there. But if Kivari didn't share those complex feelings, if he really only saw Valor as a friend...Valor might ruin things. And the last thing he wanted to do was ruin the lovely moments he had with his phoenix.

@✧　Valor Rosewain ↳ ᴍᴀʏ 31, 2051
↳ ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: middle of the night - elley duhe

Kivari was used to Valor's quiet, but he wasn't used to Valor being /this/ quiet. How few words the vampire spoke had Kivari worried that perhaps something was wrong. Valor had just been watching him for most of the night, so very, very quiet. And while Kivari by no means minded having Valor's attention, he was concerned.

"Valor?" he started. "Is everything alright?"

It was clear that Valor had been lost in his thoughts, because he seemed surprised and it took him a moment to answer.

"I was just asking if everything's alright," the phoenix repeated, reaching for Valor's hand. "You seem a little... I don't know. Distracted. Is something wrong? If something's bothering you we don't have to stay here." There had been so much going on lately, the last thing Kivari wanted was for anything to be overwhelming Valor. "And if someone's bothering you, I can fight them." All he wanted was for Valor to be having a good time, so if someone or something was ruining it he'd... do something about it, if he could.

That was just what good friends did, wasn't it? Because they were friends, nothing more... despite what others within Vos were wont to say. Kivari wasn't in love with Valor, and Valor definitely wasn't in love with Kivari. They were just... one another's closest friends.

@✠　Lee Youngmi "What's cooler than a chicken? Enlighten me." Derek laughed and allowed himself to lean into Youngmi's touch, relaxing a little more. " yes. I'm always down for drinks." He nodded in response,  his eyes flickering over to the bar. If there was one thing Derek was good at, it was drinking. He liked to think it cleansed his soul after completing a job. That or it just knocked him out cold for the rest of the night. As the music came to a stop, Derek gently borrowed the angel's hand and placed a small peck onto its backside, the corners or his eyes crinkling into a well practiced eye smile. "Shall we?" He raised his brow and nodded his head towards the bar, a pursed grin pasted onto his lips.

He straightened up and guided Youngmi alongside him. "That's great that you’ve made such great connections. I'm happy for you." He really was. But there was still some bitterness that swelled inside of Derek. "Oh, really? I'd be really upset if that wasn't reserved for me. There'd probably be another war." He joked and brushed his hair back, signaling the bartender for two drinks. "Allies? I just joined not too long before everything went down. I have no idea who anyone is." He shrugged, taking the glass from the bartender. "And, making friends is too much effort. It's not worth."

@♆　Kivari Ae Perhaps it was because Valor had grown up in a time where short sleeves didn't exist and women always wore skirts that swept over the floor, but seeing Kivari in a suit made him more attractive to Valor than if he had been . Not that Valor would want to see Kivari , or be attracted to him if he did. Of course not. That was silly. After all, he could appreciate the strong line of the phoenix's shoulders, the way his shirt tightened slightly over his chest muscles as he spread his arms out, the way his thighs flexed when he moved... Valor shook his head a little bit to snap himself out of it.

The vampire was usually the less talkative out of the two of them, mostly because Kivari tended to ramble and Valor had no problem listening to him. But today Valor had been unable to utter more than a few words at a time, entirely entranced by the phoenix. He idly wondered if a witch or fae had cast a spell on Kivari for him to have this effect, but Valor usually could see through glamour. So was it really all the suit's doing? Valor had thought himself stronger of mind than this.

Though really, it wasn't just the suit; Kivari's hair looked soft and golden, and his eyes were too. If Valor stared too long in them he would likely lose himself. Already Valor's mind was going hazy, his eyes focusing on the dimple in Kivari's cheek when he smiled, the sound of his voice...

Wait. The sound of his voice. He'd just asked Valor a question. Stunned, Valor blinked a couple of times. "Sorry?"

@♛　Ziminiar Thorn smiled, happy that he could finally leave. He was about to turn and just leave when he heard a soft nagging voice in the back of his head--Arthur's voice. Of course. His spirit guide/ancestral guide was Japanese. Thorn was Japanese too, but removed from his roots. Arthur had been trying to replant those roots starting from the basics of Japanese etiquette and manners. He was also teaching Thorn Japanese, though luckily that came pretty easy to him. Either way, Arthur would chew him out if he just left the mayor so rudely. So Thorn paused and quickly walked back to bow ninety degrees to the mayor before continuing on his intended path.

@✠　Thorn Umber ↳ ᴍᴀʏ 31, 2051
↳ ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: solo - clean bandit

"She's a good one to go to for lightning, I'll give her that," remarked Ziminiar. "I haven't met anyone who would be a better authority on that than her." Her temper, however, could be a problem. The mayor absently wondered if she was ever angry at this little thing.

Apple juice. Oh dear, Ziminiar had to keep himself composed to not burst out laughing. A Dream Guard that drank apple juice! How adorable. He would be keeping an eye on this one when he needed to be entertained. "Oh, yes, of course. I won't keep you," the Mayor smiled. "Thank you for your time."

@♛　Ziminiar Thorn beamed at the mention of Reina. "Miss Reina is nice. Is helping me with my lightning lightning. Is hard, but am improving!" Now the fox began to look around for her, wanting to say hello and to ask where a quiet place was that he could decompress for a bit.

Glancing up at Ziminiar, Thorn shook his head. "No thank you thank you," he said. "Have never had alcohol before before. People said not to try for first time in public public. Will get apple juice later. Thank you. Now..." Thorn looked around again. "Can leave?" Thorn was still anxious from Eden's messages after all, and he wanted to be helpful to the rest of the guard, but he'd need to be calm first before he could properly use his abilities.

@✠　Thorn Umber ↳ ᴍᴀʏ 31, 2051
↳ ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: heat waves - glass animals

It was rare, very rare, for Ziminiar to be influenced into some kind of... well. He loathed to say the word soft, for he wasn't a soft person in the slightest. But there was something about this child named Thorn that did appeal to a less violent side of the demon.

"Ah, yes... that would explain why it's Reina glaring daggers at my back right now," laughed the Mayor, making light of the fact that Reina probably wanted to punch him again. He'd hate to have to lock her up again on a night where they were supposed to be celebrating. "Ah... thank you." He tucked the necklace away in the pocket of his pants for later inspection, and glanced over the door as it opened again. More guests, still no sign of Eden. it was unlikely he'd enter through the door anyway. He hated doors.

"Is there anything I could get for you?" Ziminiar asked, conversational. "A drink, perhaps? Unless you were given instructions to remain sober, in which case... I won't risk Eden's wrath."