Guardian Angel Haruki
KTostada
Morose
Scrawl Banditta
Neziul
Blizz
Forsythe
BlueSky44
Achronum
Simply Not Real
Finley had given no resistance to Callaghan as he pressed against them. They wrapped their legs around him pulling him in tight as she allowed Callaghan to feed her the candy. Fin had no compunctions when it came to the use of mind altering substances. In fact, Fin was quite fond of them.
The candy melted in their mouth and they felt a shift in their perception. It was hard to discern between the chatter of everyone and the music playing. However, it sounded like whispers. Finley was certain they recognized some of the voices. Certainly their mother was saying something, and they heard their father and sister. What exactly had been said was beyond Finley, but it was pleasant to hear. Even better though, their sweet Dewdrop was whispering. Where Dewdrop was was something Finley could not discern. They were not worried though, instead feeling comfortable and safe. Especially with Callaghan there. The other voices, the ones Fin did not recognize, those that seemed scared and worried for some unknown reason were of no concern to Finley. They had their family and dearest Dewdrop to listen to. Even if the words were indiscernible amongst all the other noises.
Fin lay their head against Callaghan’s chest, listening to his breathing and heart beat. Finley had not felt so delectably comfortable since they had been a child. Maybe it was that they heard their parents and sister that made them feel nostalgic and a bit homesick. They thought of family dinner and late nights in their youth. Their sister teasing them and Finley teasing back. Their family was a loving one and Finley was far away. There was little chance they’d see the family again any time soon. Not that Finley wanted to return to their servitude. The life in Otherworld was not a free one. Returning there after having experienced this world would mean accepting the rule of their Lady. Something Finley could not want less. This did not stress Finley out, not at the moment. It often did when they thought of home, right now though, home, while on their mind, was a distant worry. They only focused on the pleasant parts of their life there.
Moreover, they wished that Dewdrop were there with them at the moment. The warmth of Callaghan was pleasant, they would never deny that, or the comfort that Callaghan presented. But their heart belonged to Dewdrop. They had abandoned their whole world and life to follow him. To hold and caress their sweetest Dewdrop would make all in the world perfect at the moment.
Finley immediately responded to Cal in such a way that soothed him, but made the pounding in his chest seem louder and heavier. His arms wrapped around her body, his hands seeming to find her every curve along the way.
He nuzzled his head into her neck and breathed in. ”You smell good,” he rumbled.
“I wanna play with the big bug.” Dysphoria murmured, but their attention was snatched away as the candy hit their Darling's system. It was light and fun and comforting, like the moment they'd found themselves in their Darling's skin, the moment they jolted from the ill fitting, harsh, unforgiving body of their first host into the absolute symphony of sensation Finley provided them in their early days. The feeling of longing for their first host, their Dewdrop, echoed across them and was quickly folded by the glide of hands across skin and a familiar warmth pressed against their Darling's front and Dysphoria's interest peaked, small tendrils gliding out to meet Cal's fingers and caress where they touched Finley's skin.
“Having fun over here, Darling? Comfortable where you are, little dragon? What fun things have you found yourself in?” Dysphoria unfurled their tongue, pressing against his cheek and tasting what delights Barty fed him, but the heady rush beating into them from Finley made it difficult to tell what was Cal and what was their Darling and what was the symbiote.
”You can still play with the bug. We will find time to enjoy everything. There is so much to enjoy. So many wonderful delights. Is that not so Callaghan?” They smile up at Callaghan. ”You also smell nice. Of seas and campfires.”
“Yes we will play with the bug. But now we have this lovely toy, all sweet and soft and tasting like secrets.” Dysphoria murmured in their Darling's ear. “Who wouldn't play with that?”
Finley smiled, mischief in their smile.
Connie’s posture shifted, tightening up, becoming more protective of herself as the group started taking the candies from the twins. Alcohol was one thing. It was known, and people generally reacted to it in the same way. Whatever the candies were, that would not be the same. She sat on the edge of her seat, watching the others warily. Noting who took what, and who didn’t take any at all. She appreciated that she wouldn’t be the only wholly sober person in the room.
If it hadn’t been for the knowledge that Rohan wasn’t taking a candy she might have dipped right then and there. Going back to her room to relax in the temporary privacy it provided.
In general, Connie was very straight laced. She had little desire to consume alcohol or any other drug. Even caffeine she rarely consumed. She pursed her lips, fighting the urge to move to a better location. With her free hand, the one not holding her drink, she tapped her fingers against her leg. Starting from her forefinger to her pinky and then back again. Over and over her fingers tapped going one direction then the other.
Frankie had made his way into the Haven, watching how everyone fell into place. Who mingled with whom, what they drank, and how they reacted to the general environment. He made his way over towards the bar, asking for something simple. A Mexican Coke. As he turned around, leaning his back against the bar and hanging his arms off of it. He looked towards Connie as people began to consume some of the Candies the twins offered. “So, um…did you wanna partake in whatever that is?” He said as he pointed towards the jar. He knew Connie typically didn't care for such activities but, new year always meant things would change. Maybe she had?
”Absolutly not.” She shook her head. ”Do you want to?” she asked. Concern that Frankie, one of her normal allies, would be...distracted.
“Right. No, nah, nope. Cool. Coo-cool cool cool.” Frankie said a bit awkwardly. A part of him was curious to know exactly what was within that jar, but he also would never leave a friend alone and sober in a situation like this. “Besides, I couldn't very well have you be the only sober person here.” He said with a smile.
”Rohan is sober. But I appreciate it.” She smiled, some of the tension leaving her shoulders, though her fingers continued tapping on her leg. ”I don’t think this would facilitate actual conversation. I’ve found that people who are inebriated are not the best at conversation.”
“Who knows? Maybe they're just enchanted so you only tell the truth. Or maybe they make you speak uncontrollably so it makes sure conversation is happening. Or…they're just drugs and the twins didn't want to actually deal with people tonight. Also…Rohan? He seems a bit busy telling far fetched tales of spirits and uh…magic? Wood whittling?” Frankie said with a bit of a laugh.
”You go to a school full of all sorts of magic and you think spirits are far fetched? I’ve made things that are wooden walk before. His talent is not something to ignore. Anyone in this room is talented and dangerous in their own right.”
“Oh I meant more about the ‘monster’. It was probably just a fox or…actually what does hunt owls? Usually I've only known an owl nearby because I collect their pellets but haven't looked beyond that too much.”
Connie knew full well what sorts of untruths Rohan had just shared. She only smiled at Frankie’s comment about what the monster might have been. ”I think any of the cats would too, probably wolves and coyotes. That’s my usual experience with creatures that hunt birds anyway.”
