lady_moon | Tarot Beach Party

There are those of the tarot who know how to set up for a party.

Ruin had spent most of the afternoon building the bonfire. He has carefully made it much in the way he would have with the villagers of his mortal life when they would celebrate the harvests. Charity, Unity, and Skill had spent most of the day setting up food, both their sorts of foods and the sorts the sentients would be expecting.

Moon watched it all with rapt fascination, her eyes on the marshmallows Skill told her firmly she isn't allowed to touch yet. But they're white and fluffy looking and Moon is curious. Mons barks at her, warning Skill, and Moon is shooed off.

It's Fortune who puts out blankets, spread all over the beach area for everyone to use. Moon watches her family set up for a party, for guests... real guests who are coming simply to come instead of for answers. She watches Fortune set down a large stack of very warm looking towels, and she grins.

Swimming. Damian will like the swimming.

Her wolves run up and down the beach in excitement, and Moon knows it's time.

Disappearing back to Milliways, she sets it up so people can come and go as they need to, pleased with herself and her family.

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"Unless you had other plans, mon ami," Jean-Claude says, smirking. It has been far too long since he's seen that particular expression on Asher's face. "No one will fault us a dance."

Asher gently sets his hand in Jean-Claude's, standing in one smooth movement. He brushes sand off his clothes, inclining his head in a slight bow to Jean-Claude.

"Very well, mon merle noir," he murmurs.

Jean-Claude leads Asher a little closer to the fire, his thumb idly sweeping back and forth over the inside of Asher's wrist. "Shall you lead or I, mon chardonneret?"

Asher steps into Jean-Claude's arms, resting one hand on Jean-Claude's shoulder, turning his other to link fingers.

"You lead," he says softly. It is only right, after all.

Jean-Claude nods and does so, moving them into the rhythm of the dance. It's faster than the somber waltz that was the last dance they'd shared many years ago, but that doesn't matter. This is a night for happiness and upbeat music, and Jean-Claude allows himself to get into the spirit, spinning Asher through the steps as they circle the bonfire.

Asher laughs, his head back, holding on to Jean-Claude tightly. He feels lighter, more carefree than he has in days. It has been far too long since he danced with Jean-Claude, since he held him.

The feel of Asher in his arms like this, with witnesses, is wonderful. Nothing hidden or clandestine about it. Not that they needed to hide in order to just dance, but Anita sometimes makes it feel like that is the only course of action.

He stares up into Asher's face, his heart thrilling to hear the elder vampire's laughter. It's almost infectious, and Jean-Claude is soon chuckling with Asher. "Enjoying yourself, my goldfinch?"

Asher's smile is wide, open, as he looks at Jean-Claude. He nods, firelight dancing in his eyes as they dance around the fire, faster and faster, the music speeding with them.

"It has been too long," he murmurs. It's not bitter, merely a statement of fact.

Jean-Claude smiles at Asher.

"Oui," he agrees as they move easily together. The firelight in Asher's pale eyes is hypnotic. "It has."

The song ends, or at least slows, sliding into something more intimate, softer. Asher slides his arms around Jean-Claude, pulling him closer. He's not as accustomed to this style of dancing, but he would give anything for the feel of Jean-Claude's body against his, even through two layers of clothing.

Jean-Claude doesn't fight the change in position and rests his hands on Asher's shoulders. They move together slowly, the thin strains of the violin tugging at distant memories.

"You do not fear your leopard seeing us dance so intimately?" he murmurs, fingers combing through Asher's hair.

Asher shakes his head gently.

"No," he answers, "he understands." And he does, that is the wonderful thing. He knows that Asher's feelings for Jean-Claude are separate to his feelings for Nathaniel, and neither are the lesser for the other.

"He may understand, my friend," Jean-Claude says, looking up into Asher's eyes. "But does he approve?"

They are two very different things.

"You would have to ask him that," Asher answers. "He would tell me that he does." Whether or not its the truth is another question.

Jean-Claude nods. "I do not expect that he would give me a dissimilar answer," he replies with a slight frown.

Asher sighs, shrugging.

"It is hard to get a better answer. Damian, perhaps, could glean the truth."

"Perhaps," he replies, making a note to give the suggestion some thought. But later. Tonight was not the time for such things. For now, he just lays his head on Asher's shoulder as they sway to the music.

Tarot Beach Party

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