Welcome to Gaia! ::

He laughed as Grendel spun and wrapped his arms around him, pulling the Disciple in close. Not surprised at all that the God knew it was him that approached. Ravnos suspected that he could feel his presence just as strongly as he felt the God’s. So he generally always had an idea if he was close or if he were to just about appear out of the shadows. It made it hard to sneak up on one another but he rather have that comfort on knowing his love was close.

“Hello. Fancy meeting you here.” Grinning, he wrapped his arms around a Grendel’s neck and pulled him in even closer as they kissed. Time seemed to slow down in that moment and the only ones that mattered were them. The music slowed and dragged, the rhythmic beat of the drum thundering through his brain. His fingers lacing through red hair as his eyes slipped closed. Relishing the feel of his lips against his.

———

She caught her brother’s little smile which only caused her own to grow. Kieran, in Vadoma’s short experience was that he was fairly stoic. It was rare that he smiled in the company of strangers. Not that they had had that much experience with strangers in the first place. But this female didn’t feel like she posed any threat. Happy that the glowing lady was so nice and smiled and smelt like something familiar.

Vadoma watched intently as they approached the vardo that looked so ancient, covered in symbols and shapes she didn’t understand but felt so drawn to. As they were settled on the table and their blanket rearranged again she watched with even greater intensity at the bags that were lain out in front of them. Her wide eyed gaze flicking to Lillian for only a moment as she tapped her claws on the table and spoke once again.

Whether or not she understood just what it was Lillian wanted them to do could be any bodies guess. But she really wanted one of those bags. Specifically the seventh one that had been set down. When the vampire’s hand was over top of it she jerked forward in the pack. Almost willing her to give her that particular one.

Lillian watched and waited to see what the babies would do. As Vadoma took the lead the red-haired vampire watched closely. Whether it was because she was quite sensitive to the energies around her, or some other reason she couldn't quite comprehend, her eyebrows raised gently when she felt Vadoma's influence before her her little body moved toward a specific bag and the vampire's paw stopped on the seventh. Lillian smiled, picking it up and handing it to the child. There was a knot in the top of each bag so they would only be able to hold it until either their father's opened it or they were old enough to do so themselves. "There you go, Tigress. Now, let's see to your brother, eh?"

Her paws fanned out over the bags and her gaze turned to watch Kieran as he processed, hesitating only a moment. He was a deep thinker certainly, calculating and weighing the task before him. Again she felt that pull of influence before she saw him actually reach, her paw stopped on the second, which she plucked from the table and handed to him gently. "Here we are, little Baro. All yours. Keep them close darlings. They are very special." She gathered the babies together snugly again, making sure they could still see out. The bells and coins on her skirt chimed musically as she stood, giving the elderly Kat a thankful nod and tossing her some coins for her service. The seer nodded and offered a polite smile, her gaze still wary as the trio wandered back toward the bonfire, the way a deer would be wary at the scent of a wolf on the wind.

Lillian made sure they didn't drop their little bags as they headed back, snagging her bottles along the way. Thankfully they were still there. As trustworthy as family was there was still a little room for worry when it came to the pilfering of certain items. She took the babies to a small circle of children settled about a woman telling stories close to a smaller fire and sat with her back to the woods so they could either listen to the tale or watch the fire and keep an eye out for their fathers. Taking a tiny sip from one of the bottles a warm smile lifted her lovely lips as the liquid sent a flame coursing through her veins, enhanced by the sound of the music and the lovely story being woven. She adored old Ravnos tales. Ah, it was the one she'd referenced earlier about the two thieves trying to compete for the love of a woman who wouldn't fall for either of them in the end. The storyteller lifted her gaze to Lillian, that predatory sheen glowing in the darkness as she did, telling the petite female all she needed to know. It was always nice to see another Ravnos. Lillian nodded, offering her the bottle which she took gratefully. Stealing a sip.

The kiss ended, and as it always did, it always felt far too soon. Grendel held the Disciple tenderly in his arms, leaning his forehead against Ravnos's in return. To the God, it was just the two of them there at that moment. Nothing else around them mattered. Not the noise from those gathered, the music, or the bonfire that burned and lit their faces with its glow and warmed their skin. He was warm enough just by being in his Dracian's presence.

"Te iubesc cu toata inima." He murmured so softly that it would be drowned out by the noise around them, except that Ravnos was not like other people and would surely hear the words spoken carefully and with conviction. Ravnos was using his language around Grendel more and more, and while it was not always clear whether or not the God was listening, he did pick up on the odd thing.

He then smirked and pulled away to look into Ravnos's eyes.

"I think it is time we go and find somewhere quieter. We can always come back afterwards." They would need to. Neither of them would ever leave their children all night.

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The lady had called him something he had never heard anyone call him before, and he gazed up at her with a sudden curiosity that was usually so serious. He clutched the bag she had given him close, unusually paranoid that his sister might try to grab it from him so that she could have it too, and leaned back in his spot, eyes finally dropping from hers to go back to looking all around them, as if remembering he had been searching for their fathers and was trying to catch another glance.

After all the excitement, sounds, and activities happening around him, Kieran's eyes had grown heavy again, and he yawned wide, showing off little pointed fangs before blinking a few times. He looked to Vadoma, whose eyes had also begun to look tired. As they settled in next to a fire with a droning voice nearby, he began to shake his head back and forth against the softness of his blanket, and when Vadoma leaned against him, he yawned again, though he still tried to clutch the bag tight with his little fingers.

Eventually, he could fight it no more, and sleep overtook him, his fingers going slack as his little head drooped to one side.

Hearing Grendel speak in the language of his people filled the Disciple with joy. “Ah, so you have been paying attention.” He laughed. It was the first time he had actually heard him string together a sentence. The words were sweet and rolled off the God’s tongue like honey. Even his accent was correct.

Good. They were on the same page then about finding someplace else to be. Though not surprising. The drink and the dancing was enough to get his passion burning. The fire of the bonfire paled in comparison to that which burned in his eyes.

Taking him by the hand Ravnos began to lead Grendel away through the crowd. Ducking around revelers and slipping into the sea of Vardo. Stopping in the shadow of the wagons from time to time to share a kiss before they finally slipped off into the forest around them.

It would be some time before they would return. Just before daybreak they would thank Lillian for her hospitality and gather their sleeping children to head home.