crossfists

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"Mm, eye contact and nothing more, but I have wanted to reach out. I can be a bit awkward, if I am to be frank." He does give a half-hearted chuckle to the large man, moving around the bushes to greet him more earnestly.

Holding out his hand, he nods.

"I live here with my partner, Steven A. Starphase." If his hand is taken, he will shake the man's hand, and if not, he would have no concerns in taking his hand back. Although neither smile, there seems to be no animosity.

"Please, if you ever need anything, do not hesitate to call on us."

War was on his way back to his campsite with a bag of groceries in one hand. It was mostly meat, and a jug of chicken broth. He was attempting to make a better tasting perpetual stew. Why? Well...perhaps his stubborn ways were slowly being worn down by the people that surrounded him. Not in a bad way, of course.

Nevertheless, he had passed by this fellow's property many times. Any time he went to and from his campsite, actually. However, this was the first time either of them had spoken to the other.

The horseman stopped his movements, and stood there. Staring at the stranger, he let out a grunt. "Hrmph.." There was no smile, but he did lift his large gauntlet of a hand, waving back.

" Yes.. I've seen you before. We've exchanged eye contact many times." Technically they were neighbors. "....Hrm....keeping well, I take it?"

[crossfists]

He coughs in response to the question, quickly moving onto the next topic before his face turned too red. "Well, it would certainly be unfair if I were to be mad at you if I allowed it to pass as well. I would vastly prefer to think about a future date." Continuing to walk, the maze hardly requires solving for either of them, he fiddles with his cufflinks as he continues.

"Though it is certainly something that it all does blend together. Would we consider the date we moved in together to be back in Hellsalem's Lot? Or even when we first arrived here. Would it be when we moved into the house?" He smiles to himself, only a slight quirk of his lips.

"We have been through a lot together, here and in our home world. I feel selfish in not wanting to return, and yet I find myself simply not wishing to." Something difficult for someone as righteous and self-sacrificing as him, though he wouldn't call himself either of those things, as he was far too humble for such things.

"Don't you think...?"

steven is nodding along at klaus' words, lost in his own thoughts about the suddenness -- or, perhaps, not so suddenness -- of their relationship. had it truly been so sudden, when apparently they both had been stewing in their feelings for years? but then klaus says something about the perks of being official, and steven cannot keep himself from the laugh he snorts. he does not need to look up to confirm his partner's face is that same endearing red it always is when such topics are brought up.

"Perks, huh? Like what?" he asks innocently, although the sly smile on his face is the very opposite of innocence.

they come to a stop at the beginning of the maze. steven should not find it so odd that nothing about it has changed in the year since he had last seen it, what with the proliferation of magic in this part of the city. and yet the feeling of deja vu he gets is strange.

"You know, most guys would be upset that their partner forgot their anniversary."

"But I guess you're right. The date doesn't really matter. Still, it probably wouldn't hurt to have one..."

or another very particular type of anniversary. a far more important one.

[crossfists]

It was rare to find someone who was both taller and larger than him, as he usually had someone beat in one category or another. He appreciated the other man's rough appearance, and had seen him on his walks around the property in the Mistwood.

He was in the middle of winterizing his garden when he looked up and saw the man closer to the property than general. Giving a wave, he stands, wiping dirt on his pants.

"Hello,"

"I've seen you around here before, but I haven't introduced myself. My name is Klaus von Reinherz, and I moved into the area recently."

@redhorseman

[crossfists]

;; here's a little non-event starter call for now, capping at 2 with castmates and trigun cousins exempt

[crossfists]

"Aha, it's...Huh." He chuckles, rubbing the back of his head, looking at the flowers, "It feels as though it happened so suddenly that I, too, am not quite certain." It seems without their additional staff to keep them in order, neither were quite as organized as they should be as the leaders of an organization, even if that organization does not exist at this moment in time here.

"Well, to be completely frank, it feels almost more difficult to parse out. Is it when we began living together? If so, where? We have lived together multiple times throughout the years."

"Personally, it seems the only difference now is that we are being upfront about our feelings. Among, ah, other perks." The very suggestion of it caused his ears to flare as red as his hair as he continues walking.

"...It is funny, I hardly think the date matters. It has been a year since it has been official, but it feels as though we have been together for so much longer than that."

as the flower has only wilted in steven's absence, he has understandably not been around much to see its waxing and waning as klaus has -- and so he does not think as much about it as klaus seems to. even as unusual as the bloom is, it would not strike him as strange to know it could wither in time. that's what flowers do, as far as he's aware. although, admittedly, his knowledge on gardening is limited to what little he's picked up from watching and listening to klaus.

(but if it's truly meant to represent love, anything less than flourishing cannot be a happy omen for things to come)

"About a year, or close enough to it." steven confirms, easily allowing his hand to slip into the redhead's. something occurs to him, now, and he really, really hopes klaus cannot see the heat rising to his cheeks in the dimming light.

"Damn. This is going to sound terrible, but..." he's mentally kicking himself in the ass as he begins, because, really, wasn't he supposed to be the one who's good at remembering these sorts of details? "...I don't remember when our anniversary is supposed to be."

worst partner ever.

[crossfists]

"Not your body...Power...?" He tilts his head in confusion scanning 'Steven'. His body language was off, cornered, almost as though he'd found a Blood Breed who was fully aware of who he was.

Which is certainly not how Steven would act in general, and certainly not in their own home. However, he had heard of...

"So, you are not Steven." It was less a question and more a confirmation of what the man had said. Hands raised slightly, palms out, he backed up.

Whatever was going on, he didn't want to hurt Steven's body.

"I will not hurt you, nor will I touch you further. First, please tell me who you are - I believe you may know I am Klaus von Reinherz, and this is my home. I am the romantic partner of the man who's body you are inhabiting."

Knives growls at the touch, retracting his hands from Klaus at once.

As much as he resents the instruction, being addressed in concern by an infuriatingly familiar name, it all helps him to regain composure. His arms fold, hands tightly clutching at either of his upper arms.

"This isn't my body," Knives snaps back, as though it were the most obvious thing to the other. His eyes dart from the bags of groceries, then back to Steven's partner. "This isn't a life I want any part of. … Including whatever power you clearly have over 'Steven'."

This awful feeling in his heart, the thoughts of fondness, the twist of dread in his gut; it's all due to Klaus' presence, he is sure of it.

[crossfists]

"Especially since the flower seems to be doing well." When Steven had been absent, it had wilted. As much as he had been trying to take care of it, there was no amount of gardening expertise that seemed to be able to make it back.

And there was the crushing guilt of knowing it was likely best for one of them to be home, just in case the worst were to happen or their absence would be noted.

But...

If he were to believe Steven was allowed to feel happy without guilt here, then certainly Klaus himself should be allowed to, right?

At least, he supposed, that was an idea to hold onto with the thoughts running through his head. A year together, then, mostly uninterrupted. And yet it feels like it had been so much longer.

"I do wonder if it will look the same. If so, we may have to consider where we currently place decorations." A distraction, mostly, as he holds out his hand for Steven to take. "This makes about a year we have been together now, yes?"

"Hard to believe it's been a year already..."

hell of a year, too. if anyone had told him back then he'd go on and make something of a life for himself here in this city, he would have laughed. what purpose was his life without libra? yet here he is. rather than the crushing guilt he had once felt for all the things left undone back home, he now only feels content. it could be the warm glow of the pixie lights, or the warm memories this maze conjures up... the very place where he and klaus finally got their act together, months and months ago.

and the setting of a further development in their relationship, if he's lucky.

"I wonder if there will be another flower waiting for us when we get to the end. It'd be cute to have a matching set."

@crossfists

[crossfists]

"I must admit, I've been trying quite hard not to dream."

"...The denizens of Hellsalem's Lot may scare the citizens of this island."

[crossfists]

"If my words make you blush, then they are simply ringing true on your face." Or something like that, he was definitely blushing himself, given the implications of everything in the evening.

Of course they danced well together - Klaus had the training and technique and even without anything formal in his background, Steven was more than capable of holding his own on the dance floor. In recent years, he imagined Steven had even more practice than he did at these kind of social events.

But it is at Steven's declaration that he truly feels his face heat up, his ears turn red.

"I love you, too." He says readily, and then shakes his head lightly at Steven's self-admonition. "We are the kind of people who speak more with our actions than our words. The state of our crystal plant itself shows how much we love and care for each other."

"They won't even miss them."

why would they? all of the weddings steven has had the pleasure of attending have been, in comparison, far more casual than what he's sure klaus has experienced, given their difference in backgrounds. keeping the bouquet was always kind of expected, if not outright encouraged. although usually there was an actual toss involved, with a gaggle of young women pushing eachother out of the way.

not that he imagines either groom cares about how weddings are "supposed" to go.

it's easy to fall into step with klaus. it's easy to let klaus lead -- as easy as it is in battle, in everything. steven has never been much of a dancer, but he is graceful, and there's no danger of stepping on his lover's toes.

"Keep talking like that and you're going to make me blush." that might actually be true. sometimes klaus says things that make steven's heart ache in the most pleasant way. klaus says them so genuinely, so frankly that steven almost finds it funny. like saying the sky is blue and i've never cared for anyone the way i care for you are both universal truths everyone should know.

it suddenly strikes steven how far gone he is. how utterly, ridiculously enamored he is with the man whose hand rests on his waist.

"I love you."

he's a bit startled at how the words leave him before he has time to think -- but he can't take them back, and he doesn't want to.

"I know I don't say it often enough..."

[crossfists]

"Me?" Was the first thing he could say, moving the bags he was holding as far away from his body as he could so the groceries weren't crushed in whatever situation was happening here.

Steven had rushed him and grabbed him by his tie, asking more than odd questions - even when Steven hadn't remembered anything, he definitely didn't react this aggressively - but luckily the large man was hardly moved by his much smaller partner(?), though he could feel the temperature begin to drop in the room, signaling something far more dangerous.

"Steven, is something wrong?" The answer to that was obvious, but it would be much better to ask the question first and work to subdue him later.

(He didn't want to do this again, he didn't want to fight - the last time they were pitted against each other he...he...)

Exhaling, he places a hand on Steven(?)'s hand, feeling the icy touch of his Blood Arts. "Calm down and explain what you're asking."

@crossfists

Knives' feelings of disgust are, horrifically, belated. When he awoke in a human body, nothing immediately felt out of place. If anything, waking up to completely unrecognizable surroundings incited initial feelings of alarm. He isn't shielded by his coat, either… The sudden vulnerability prompted for the Plant to examine his body, only to shudder then in disgust for being made to wear human clothes. A wordless grumble is cut short the instant it sounds unfamiliar in his throat.

There is a mirror near the front door of the living room, placed there likely to check on one's appearance before leaving, but the idea behind the placement goes over Knives' head. He's much moreso focused on this stranger he's been transformed into, appalled at the sight of himself and shocked still by it. He's scarred. He has dark hair.

He hardly even wants to move.

The front door nearby clicks open, the sound belatedly registering in his mind as Klaus. The knowledge is startling just as much as the feelings of affection and excitement associated with the name; it all serves to make Knives seethe at the other's intrusion, head whipping to glare.

"You…!" Knives ends up moving anyway, rushing over to grasp at the other's tie. Chin tilted up in indignation, his hands are beginning to feel cold with more than just hostility. "What have you done to me?!"

[crossfists]

"Oh, no, no," he puts up his hands, shoulders hunched at the disappointment definitely coming once he clarifies. "The club was one I was part of in Hellsalem's Lot. Although..." He trails off, considering. While he was a leader at Libra, he can't quite see himself gathering people for a gardening club.

Given, well, his general appearance tends to make people keep a bit of distance when walking by him, he doubt she could gather a social club. "I don't doubt there is one around here. If not, I suppose we could form one."

Between Vash's house and his own, they certainly had no lack of interesting locations teeming with plant life. "We could meet at your home, or at mine - or we could set up something in Cotes ward? Ah, but I certainly shouldn't be the face of it." The stoic man frets a bit over that point, although he does tend to gain respect within the gardening community, there always was that worry and rough spot upon joining.

"But I will ensure Miss Kuroneko behaves. Steven will be strict enough to account for any lapses on my part."

★ --;; Vash's eyes visibly light up at the realization of what Klaus had just said. "Gardening club? Here?" Realistically, he should have probably thought of that sort of thing sooner-- of course there'd be a club for that sort of thing. It's just that the kind old ladies in his local park tend to have mentioned book clubs or taken up knitting, and while he does like to read neither of those had ever particularly interested him. He's only really made one other gardening friend through Aerith, but that hardly necessitates a club.

If he didn't have one hand full of champaign glass Vash would have grabbed the other's determined fist with both hands-- as it stands, he simply rocks up on the balls of his feet.

"Of course you can! Feel free to any of them! Just-- I want in, too! To the club, I mean." And then; "You really have to be careful with her. She can be dramatic! Actin' like she's never been fed a day in her life."

[crossfists]

"Oh? Really?" While that question may have been one of concern for both, it's obvious that the large man was excited by the prospect, given his tone and despite his usual stoicism. Were he able to smile without frightening the guests at the wedding, he most certainly would have.

"Truthfully, I've been away from my gardening club for quite some time. Steven and I only moved into our manor in the Mistwood recently, so I haven't been able to accumulate my own garden." It was late in the season, too, but the Mistwood was likely not operating on the same seasonal schedule as the rest of the island.

"It's exciting to be able to engage with plants of a large number and variety. Perhaps if there are any offshoots, I could harvest them..?" It would be a wonderful payment, in all honesty. Oh, but Miss Kuroneko-

"Of course, we'll be sure to abide by the instructions you already gave. We cannot have her tricking us into altering her diet, after all."

★ --;; It's been a bit of a whirlwind; Vash keeps flitting back and forth between guests now that he's not entirely glued to Wolfwood by the hip ( though that doesn't stop him from making frequent pitstops back together again ). He's finally managed to get some food in him, having slowed down just the bit to do so, before he's back at it again. He's got his own drink in hand before getting stopped again.

"Oh, thanks!" Vash chirps. It's been impossible to get the same wide smile off his face that's been there almost the entire evening. It's far from the first time he's been congratulated in the past few hours, but each time is still deeply appreciated, each thanks genuine.

"Uh-- both for the congratulations and for helpin' us out-- we really appreciate it. There's-- uh-- a lot of plants at the house. Prrrrobably more than you're expecting," he laughs, hand coming up to the back of his head.

"So- ah- sorry if it's a bit of work." And then, as it suddenly pops into his head: "Oh-- and-- she's sweet, but she can a little glutton! Don't let her trick you into overfeeding her!"

[crossfists]

"Before I forget again, congratulations," Klaus got along well enough with the newlyweds, given their connection to Steven. They were more than pleasant, if a little odd - essentially exactly the kind of people he tended to get along with.

Sipping his drink, he seems more than at home at the venue at this point. He'd already spent much and more time examining any interesting flora, and the bouquet that had hit his head was resting delicately at his table to be saved.

"Of course, Steven and I will be sure to care for everything while you two are away."

"Plants are my personal expertise, but Miss Kuroneko seems sweet enough to be no problem."

@amoirsetpacis

[crossfists]

"Do you think...?" Klaus trailed off. Most of the weddings he had attended were far more formal affairs, and certainly didn't involve one of the newlyweds ripping open his shirt and tossing a bouquet at someone's head.

With ease, he puts a hand on Steven's waist, moving their held hands into position and joining the other guests on the dance floor. As Steven knew well enough now, Klaus was quite graceful in these situations, guiding Steven in a more formal dance than many of the others.

"Neither have I. Typically, I only danced when required of me, and I otherwise stayed to the side."

"...And I have never danced like this with someone I cared for in the way I care about you."

steven has been thinking more about the concept of marriage, recently, than he ever has in his life -- although he would argue it's kind of hard not to, in the lead up to a wedding. had you asked him even a year ago if would ever consider the idea of getting hitched himself, he would have said he was ill-suited. incapable. but then he had said that about any long-term committed relationship, before klaus. really, any reservations he had on the subject -- professional concerns, mostly-- were made moot by being with klaus. which leaves him... where, exactly? he hasn't decided.

and he's not trying to think too hard about it.

there no hesitancy in the way he places his hand in klaus', more than eager to be dragged away from his current conversation. the person he's speaking to only smiles when they tell him to "go on" and he's thankful that the grooms are going to be everything the cafe crew will be talking about for the next week, so he doesn't have to hear jokes at his own expense.

"We can probably take these back to the house, you know." he's speaking of the flowers klaus is still holding. the fact that his boyfriend technically 'caught' the bouquet is not lost on him. "I don't think either of the grooms are going to notice anything but eachother for the rest of the night."

then steven sighs.

"Haven't got to do this for a while." dancing or attending a wedding. "It's nice."

[crossfists]

;; i do have some threads to catch up on, but here's a little starter call for klaus - may be on the shorter side, and uncapped

[crossfists]

Putting Steven's arm in his own, he can feel the excitement building in his chest as he moves toward the car waiting for them just down the block. "It's a bit of a ways to walk, but I wanted to make sure we had a ride for most of the way there."

He doesn't, however, clue Steven in on where they're going, just easing into the car and nodding to the driver once Steven is seated by him.

"It's...Well, yes, a surprise."

...

The driver takes them to the edge of the Mistwood and drives off, not wanting to risk going farther. Klaus for his part, is at ease as he holds out his arm for Steven once more to resume their journey.

"I had come to the Mistwood once, and thought to myself 'this place reminds me of Hellsalem's Lot'. It wasn't until you left for that brief time, and I thought of everyone else still there, that I realized I am nostalgic for those times. I miss them - which is certainly not something I may have thought when we first began our stay."

"I...Admit that I hope you have similar feelings, or this surprise may end up being lacking."

one of steven's biggest faults, probably, is his tendency to overwork himself. even in a comparatively simple job like managing a cafe, he has a nasty habit of staying longer than he should if he isn't chased out of the place. most of the employees are pretty good at doing just that, eventually -- but klaus arriving to escort him home will always be the fastest way to get him out the door. he gives the typical farewells and 'see you tomorrows' to the few on the closing crew, and he pointedly ignores the same looks they always throw his way whenever klaus pops into the shop.

"Yeah, let's head out."

the chill of the evening that greets them is refreshing.

"Well, I have nowhere better to be," he teases.

"You gonna tell me where we're going or is this a surprise?"

[crossfists]

A very tall guest was smacked in the head with the bouquet, and had politely hung onto it on the way to the reception. They really were lovely flowers, and it would be a shame to simply get rid of them. However, Wolfwood wasn't around to return them, so he continued to hold them while they waited at the venue for the newlyweds to arrive.

"Oh I'm so jealous!" A guest said - he recognized her from the cafe, but he wasn't sure what her name was. "So you caught the bouquet! Usually nobody throws it until the reception, so I wasn't paying enough attention."

"Oh, well, I didn't catch it so much as it hit me in the head."

"Still! Whoever catches the bouquet is the next person to get married! Who's the lucky guy or gal?"

"Ah, well, he's over there," Steven was mingling with coworkers, but he was easy enough to point out among them.

"Ooooh! Maybe he'll pop the question soon. Or you can - sneaky, catching that- Ah, there's my date. Good luck!"

Feeling the blood rush to his face, he stands quickly, walking over to Steven. Best to have a distraction from that conversation-

"Excuse me," interrupting, he places his hand out, palm up,

"I hope it's alright if I steal Steven away for a dance?"

@scarrfaze