wizardmanor | Floor 4, Room 2

[Things have been going better since feeding on Yamato, though it certainly helps that his boyfriend is the most supportive and wonderful person imaginable. Malice is in a good mood when he shows up to Yamato's room tonight - it's just getting dark so Yamato should still be awake and not be rudely woken up (as Malice has undoubtedly done many times by now).]

Yama! Open up, it's me!

[At least he doesn't try to barge in...]

[ Yamato has actually adjusted some of his sleep schedule to accommodate Malice's, so he's up a little later these days. He smiles at the sound of Malice's voice, and he goes to open the door. ]

Yo. Wanna come in?

Got a different idea for tonight, actually. Wanna go on a date?

[Given how big his grin is, he's expecting Yamato to agree and he looks very proud of his idea. Good job, Malice, you finally asked your bf on a date, good for you.]

A date?

[ He blinks twice, like he's surprise by what he's hearing, but his expression turns into a grin and he nods. ]

Sure. What'd you have in mind?

Stargazin'!

[He gestures for Yamato to follow him; c'mon, we can walk and talk!]

I've been told it's real romantic, but I've never done it with a date before.

[Usually he'd be staring at the stars alone and then Cody would swing by to check on him, but that definitely wasn't the same thing.]

I like lookin' up at 'em. So I figured it'd be fun to share 'em with you!

[ Oh...oh, that's cute. He's only ever stargazed alone, too, so... ]

Yeah. That sounds like a good time.

[ Gently, he nudges Malice's hand with his own -- a quiet way of asking for permission to hold hands. ]

I've never done something like that before, either, so I'm looking forward to it.

[He takes Yamato's hand immediately, grinning at the contact.]

Right? I've found a good spot for it too - further out, no threats, so we'll be on our own.

[Peace and quiet and hopefully no incidents tonight. It sounds perfect. Malice isn't wearing his claws today, having instead opted for the prosthetic arm with the regular hand, which he almost never actually wears. Despite saying there's no danger, he can't help but always try to be prepared for the worst anyway. At least he isn't wearing the claws. At least there's that.]

Shouldn't take us too long to get there either!

[ That's fair. After everything, yeah, that's fair. Yamato always makes sure to be on Malice's left to hold that hand specifically; he walks with his partner, hand and hand, to wherever Malice's decided to take him. ]

You went to look for a spot for this? You should've told me. I would've helped.

[ Yamato...that defeats the purpose of this being a surprise...!! ]

Well, yeah, 'course you would've. But then it wouldn't be a surprise!

[Malice laughs at that, tugging on Yamato's hand. Let's go!!

The place he ends up bringing Yamato to is a large clearing in the forest - there's a small structure nearby that seems like it might have once been a tower, though it's now mostly rubble. It's still accessible, however, and Malice gestures to it.]

Wanna head up to get a better look at the stars?

[You can definitely see them from the ground here, but a little height is always nice, in his opinion.]

An' if you're worried 'bout hurtin' yourself on the climb up, I can always carry you~

[That's meant to tease, of course... but he'd be lying if he said he didn't consider it when picking this arm over the claws.]

[ This is a nice spot, and he looks up at the structure before he considers Malice's offer. Hmmmmm. ]

You sound pretty excited about the carrying thing.

[ Hmmm! ]

I wouldn't say no to getting a lift...

'Course I am, I get a chance to show off.

[...thanks, Malice.

But he moves to pick Yamato up - he'll back off if Yamato's uncomfortable, otherwise he's being scooped up in a bridal carry.]

See? Told ya I'm strong.

[ He immediately winds his arms around Malice's neck and looks pretty impressed at his strength. Look, maybe Yamato just wants to be held in his strong boyfriend's arms...ok...... ]

Yeah, yeah. Like there was any question about that.

This is the part where you're supposed to praise me, y'know!

[But fake-pouting aside, Malice looks up at the tower and grins.]

Though you can just wait 'til I've gotten us up there for it, that works too.

[And with only that as a warning, Malice takes off. While he typically does move pretty quickly, he never moves at full speed. Hopefully you don't get motion-sick, Yamato... Malice finds footholds easily, keeping his arms tightly wrapped around his boyfriend to keep him steady. He kicks off of one foothold, finds another, and moves upward quickly. It doesn't take him long to scale what's left of the tower, landing on the upper floor easily. It's a broad open space with a great view of the stars.]

See? Easy.

[give praise pls!!!! also no, he is not putting yamato down just yet.]

[ Malice, please.

Yamato holds on tight, though, as Malice like. Hops up this goddamn thing. What a man. Yamato looks surprised at the end of it, and it's obvious that Malice is looking for praise, so. ]

What do you want me to say? "Oh, my tall, sexy, strong vampire boyfriend is so cool"?

[ probably exactly that tbh ]

Yeah?

[..........yep.]

I'm tryin' to impress ya, y'know!

[...do you want to be set down? too bad, he's still holding on to you.]

[ He knows, he knows. He laughs and his grin broadens- ]

I'm aware. I'm just teasing you.

[ His cheeks turn a light shade of pink- ]

It was pretty attractive of you, I won't lie.

[cute......]

Good! 'Cause I want my boyfriend to find me attractive!

[Heh heh... He looks so pleased with himself. But then he places a kiss on the corner of Yamato's mouth and lets him down finally.]

What, don't tell me you were worried about that?

[ Malice, please!! Yamato grins at the kiss and gets onto his feet, and then he reaches out to grab Malice's hand again. ]

Of course I do. I don't have eyes for anyone else.

Nah, not worried. I just like to hear it.

[Listen. Listen,,,

But anyway, he looks very pleased with the last part, gripping Yamato's hand back just as tightly.]

I'm glad ya don't. I wanna keep you all to myself.

[Part of that is simply vampires being territorial over things that are "theirs" and part of that is just Malice things.]

[ That -- that notably makes his heart skip a beat. Honestly...he likes that a lot. ]

Yeah, well, you've already been doing that, and it's not changing.

[ He won't add "anytime soon" to that, because no, it's never changing. He has decided to fully give Malice his heart, and that's that. ]

Haha...look at you. Making me all sappy.

Said as though I'd mind it? It makes me happy to hear it.

[He grins and then tugs on Yamato's hand to lead him over to some of the scattered stones. This is a pretty good place to sit and stare at the stars!]

Try not to get too distracted by my dashin' looks an' charmin' personality, though. We're here to stargaze, remember?

Just as long as you don't get distracted by mine.

[ These two...please.

Anyway, yeah, stargazing. Yamato sits next to him on the stones -- it may not be the softest place to sit, but it is a nice view, and he'll glance up at the sky, since that's what they came here for. ]

I didn't know you were into this sort of thing.

[That gets a laugh from Malice and once they're settled, he leans against Yamato, staring up at the sky.]

Always have been. I used to try to count all the stars when I was a kid. Never really got very far before I gave up, though.

[He hums for a moment before adding onto that.]

Cody used to join me sometimes. He'd always go on an' on 'bout if humans are like the sun, then vampires are like the night sky... but he always compared me to the stars. Bright, shinin' light among the darkness, offerin' a way forward to those willin' to look for it.

[...]

He was wrong 'bout me, back then. But I'd like to be worthy of that kinda praise someday.

Someday?

[ He says it immediately after Malice finishes his sentence. Sure, the betrayal wasn't exactly the kindest decision, but Malice is trying to do better now. He regrets it. And if Yamato were offered the same thing in Malice's shoes, knowing his world... ]

Nah. Not someday. You're worthy of it right now.

[ He likes that comparison a lot, actually. ]

I don't think I've ever properly expressed everything you've done for me...but it's definitely something like that. Pulling me out of a dark place and all of that.

[O-Oh... Now this is the kind of praise that Malice isn't used to or expecting to hear and he colors slightly at it. His grin is a little lop-sided, like he's not quite sure that's the expression he should be wearing, but it's still an earnest expression and one that's clearly pleased with the praise.]

I did what I could for ya, an' I'm glad it helped. An' I'm really happy to hear that. It's... somethin' I think I still need to work for. But knowin' I've done this much for you... it means a lot to me, Yama.

[His grip tightens on Yamato's hand at that.]

right before north mission

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