[ P ] when the party's over

when the party's over

The drums of war were pounding in her ears as she raced home to tell Danya the news of what she'd learned. He might already know, if he'd encountered a soldier or two already. Her stomach churned uncomfortably as nausea threatened to overtake her but she couldn't stop... not yet. As soon as she burst through the door of the Howling Moon, she called out for him. His scent was heavy in the air and so she figured (and hoped) he was nearby.

"Danya!"

Once she found him, she fell into his arms and began to sob. "Oh Danya, they're drafting for a war. I heard it in town, the soldiers... they're making their rounds." she cried.

Dodging the draft was a crime but she couldn't imagine him going away for war only to possibly never return. They had only just begun, it couldn't end like this. "Please don't go.! Say you won't go!" she begged.

This wasn't his country and he shouldn't have to fight for its causes. She was useless to the war efforts, being blind and all, so perhaps that was the one good thing her condition had brought her. But Danya, he was strong and able-bodied. He would make an excellent soldier but all Aurelia could see was the danger that spelled.

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danya novikov

Danya had been hearing tales of things happening in Rionnach, clients talking with each other, if they weren’t too ashamed of their presence in the Howling Moon, that is. He had just come back inside from gathering payment from the last client, a rabbit gripped in his jaws when the door burst open behind him. Aurelia’s scent washed over him, it was bathed in panic. The fur along his spine rose, the rabbit dropping from his jaws, forgotten, as he turned quickly to face her.

“Danya!” She exclaimed, drawing him closer. She found him as he came close, falling into his grasp, as sobs overtook her. Confused, he nuzzled the fur on the side of her neck, waiting for her to regain enough composure to speak. “Oh Danya, they’re drafting for a war. I heard it in town, the soldiers… they’re making their rounds.” She said in between sobs.

A draft? For war? While Danya was familiar with the concept of war — his natal pack had been a fearsome group, accustomed to fighting and warfare, however small scale it had been in his homeland. He had heard of the wars that had been fought in Rionnach, and how they drew in the entire population. He frowned slightly, shaking his head. He didn’t entirely understand the magnitude of what she spoke of.

“Why would I be involved in that? I don’t care about the political bullshit of this place,” he said. It was clear he didn’t entirely understand the concept of a ‘draft.’ While he had heard whispers of such a thing, he’d not yet quite gotten the opportunity to ask what it meant exactly. He was not a soldier, so he shouldn’t be bothered with such things, right?

“Please don’t go! Say you won’t go!” Aurelia begged. Danya shook his head slightly.

“I do not understand, Aure… Does a ‘draft’ mean I do not have an option but to get involved in these stupid political things that are going on?” He asked, still holding her close, still holding her tightly, trying his best to comfort her. He thought over what she’d said, putting two and two together. That must be what it means. He frowned.

This was not his country.

These were not his politics.

He did not want to fight someone else’s war.

A quiet rumble vibrated in his chest, as he shook his head again, speaking again before she could get the words out.

“No, I think I understand. I will avoid this, somehow. I’m not fighting someone else’s war,” he said bluntly. But, the slight tinge of fear that he felt at it made his accent thicker than it normally was.

@Aurelia

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when the party's over

“Why would I be involved in that? I don’t care about the political bullshit of this place,” he said and she sobbed into his chest. It didn't matter whether he cared about the politics or not. This was no longer about politics, it was about winning, and the King had decided to drawn upon the population now to do just that. “I do not understand, Aure… Does a ‘draft’ mean I do not have an option but to get involved in these stupid political things that are going on?" she was unable to catch her breath right away to tell him that he didn't have a choice, that they'd have to avoid soldiers now at all costs if he wanted to avoid being drafted. “No, I think I understand. I will avoid this, somehow. I’m not fighting someone else’s war,” he told her before she could. It was those words that brought her a sense of some calm, enough to stop her relentless sobbing anyway. She sniffed and drew away slightly so she could tilt her head up and appear to look into his face.

"A draft does mean you don't have a choice. You'll have to avoid the guard... they'll be looking for dodgers to drag back to the barracks." she said shakily. He'd either be made to fight on the front lines like some meat shield or thrown into the dungeons for evasion.

There just had to be a way to keep him out of both.

Aurelia sniffed gently and kissed his cheek, then she paused as if in thought. Blinking away her tears, she drew a paw along one of her cheeks then glanced down. "There are ways out of it... maybe..." she flicked an ear and then fell silent. She didn't want everyone hearing them but they were still in a rather public place and since her crying at stopped she noticed that it had grown a little quiet near them. Were others listening? She paused a moment longer until the regular din resumed and they were more or less forgotten. "Maybe... you could get me pregnant. With a blind woman and kids to take care of, surely they wouldn't be able to take you then. We'd be lost without you." she said in a hushed tone, a plan forming in her mind that would protect him from the draft for sure. She didn't really know if it would work but it was an idea. What were the guards going to do, snatch a father up and leave his children to fend for themselves? She didn't think King Adamh was that cruel.

Then she realized the implications of what she was saying and she felt her cheeks warm. "I mean, if that's something you still want anyway. I know it's not the most romantic way to go about it..." but when have we ever been all that romantic?

code by claerie , image by Tomoko Uji

danya novikov

As he spoke, and as the moments ticked by like the beating of a heart, Danya watched as Aurelia regained some of her composure. She pulled back, looking up into his face. He gave a gentle smile, despite knowing that she could not see it, his paw gently resting upon her shoulder, ready to pull her back into an embrace should she begin to sob again. The air around them held a hushed static, one that he knew had eyes upon the pair.

“A draft does mean you don’t have a choice. You’ll have to avoid the guard… they’ll be looking for dodgers to drag back to the barracks,” Aurelia explained, conforming his questions and assumptions with shaky words. He frowned slightly, shaking his head.

“I will not fight someone else’s war. This is not my home — they can go fuck themselves if they think I’ll die for this kingdom, and a king that is clearly subpar,” he said, his accent thick and heavy. There was a slight annoyance to his voice at the subject, as he knew his life would be changing because of this.

He was no soldier. He was a pimp, and a damn good one. They could not take him from his love, and his business, he had things he needed to take care of here not there. He returned the kiss that he felt on his cheek, his gaze searching hers once more as she began to speak again.

“There are ways out of it… maybe…” Aurelia said, flicking an ear. Danya tilted his head to the side slightly, curious. Before he could prompt her to continue, she was already going on once more. “Maybe… you could get me pregnant. With a blind woman and kids to take care of, surely they wouldn’t be able to take you then. We’d be lost without you.”

Danya blinked in surprise, his head tilting slightly to the side. It… wasn’t a bad idea, not at all.

“I mean, if that’s something you still want anyway. I know it’s not the most romantic way to go about it…” She said. He chuckled a little.

“Have we ever been truly good at the romance?” He asked her gently, standing as he began to usher her out of the public space, and up the stairs to the room that he had claimed for his own, and now usually shared with her. He nudged the door closed behind them, mumbling something about privacy from eyes and ears that he was sure they could trust, but one could never be sure.

“I am okay with that idea,” he said. “But only if it’s something you want. Don’t use my freedom as the only reason for us to do this. I know… you want a family, and you have made me want one, too… It may not be the most ideal time to start, but… It is a time.”

@Aurelia

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when the party's over

Aurelia would be lying to herself if she said she wasn't hopeful that he'd oblige her. While she did want a family, she also didn't want him to feel like she was coercing him into something he wasn't ready for. If anything they could just hide out until everything blew over... right?

“I will not fight someone else’s war. This is not my home — they can go fuck themselves if they think I’ll die for this kingdom, and a king that is clearly subpar,” he said with determination. At least he would not willingly go but she didn't want him to end up in prison for avoidance, either. Oh... how had things come to this?!

“Have we ever been truly good at the romance?” he asked and she felt an awkward smile touch her lips. This was true, they weren't the best at romance though sometimes she wished they could be. She didn't have much time to think more upon it as he whisked her away to his room, where they could speak more privately. She hadn't thought about the ears that may be listening and felt embarrassment for that. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make a scene," she murmured to him gently as they walked. When she heard the door close behind them she turned to wait and listen to what he had to say in yearning silence. “I am okay with that idea,” he said. “But only if it’s something you want. Don’t use my freedom as the only reason for us to do this. I know… you want a family, and you have made me want one, too… It may not be the most ideal time to start, but… It is a time.”

Aurelia's heart felt like it was soaring and she practically leapt back into his arms; while not the ideal setting, it was better than nothing.

"I want a family more than anything, you know that. I just didn't picture it like this. It's not an ideal time but when is it ever? If it's not business or this horrible war, it'll be something else. At least this way we can stay together, as a family." she said gently.

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danya novikov

As he ushered her up to his room, Danya heard Aurelia speak. He glanced over at her, shaking his head slightly.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make a scene,” she murmured quietly.

“No, Aure, don’t be sorry,” Danya said gently, perhaps in a gentler tone than he’d ever truly spoken to her before in. “I just want privacy for this matter. I trust the girls, I do, but I do not know who has clients, and it is them who I don’t truly trust right now.” And it was true — while Danya generally knew who was in the building, it wouldn’t be the first time that there was a client he hadn’t entirely been aware of. The girls, he trusted undoubtedly, but the possibility of unaccounted-for ears, that may have looser lips than the girls was what unnerved him about the situation.

Once within the privacy of the closed room, after he had spoken again, Aurelia seemed to brighten up a bit. She came back to him, his arms holding her closely, one paw rubbing gently over her back as she began to speak once more.

“I want a family more than anything, you know that. I just didn’t picture it like this. It’s not an ideal time but when is it ever? If it’s not business or this horrible war, it’ll be something else. At least this way we can stay together, as a family,” she said. Danya pulled back a little, his paws coming to slide up her neck and rest upon either side of her face.

“Then it is time,” he said quietly, pressing her nose to hers for a moment before he placed a gentle kiss against her lips. “Come to the bed.” His words were more a request than a demand, gently spoken against her lips, in between kisses.

@Aurelia

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when the party's over

The gentle tones caused her to smile; she was glad he was not angry with her over her outburst and he was right. This was a private matter anyway. Despite trusting the girls, she too did not trust some of the clients that passed through the halls of the Howling Moon brothel. There were all kinds of men, and even some women, that tainted the place with their presence and while not all were bad not all were good either. It was good to be away from prying eyes and listening ears, especially when talking of dodging a draft that was mandatory.

Aurelia leaned into his touches gently, nearly closing her eyes as his paws drew along her face. She sighed softly but said nothing the mood slowly shifted in the room.

"Then it is time." he said as he pressed his nose to hers before kissing her. She kissed him back, a smile on her lips as she did so. He parted from her and she turned her head, following his paw steps with a curious sightless gaze. "Come to the bed," he said and she shivered lightly. Compliantly, she stood and sauntered over, a sway in her hips that she thought he might like. She smiled gently at him as she slipped into the bed beside him. She pressed her body against his and kissed him again, more deeply this time. She didn't say a word because she didn't need to. These children would be conceived out of love and nothing more in her eyes.

[ fade to black ]

A breathy sigh escaped her as they tumbled apart, though their bodies were still entwined in the end. "I'll be surprised if that didn't work." she teased gently, moving her paw to place it on his broad chest as she rolled onto her side. She was never left wanting with him and she hoped he felt the same.

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danya novikov

As she followed him, Danya’s eyes lingered on Aurelia. His ears tilted forward a little at the sway in her hips. He took a breath, a small smile touching his lips. At her kiss, he fell into her arms, embracing her and everything about her.

He had never thought he would have a family, but… It seemed that tonight might be the night that one started for him. Oddly, Danya couldn’t be happier, despite the situation that spurred this on.

His arms wrapped around her, pulling her close, kissing her back with every ounce of love that he had for her.

[ fade to black ]

“I’ll be surprised if that didn’t work,” Aurelia teased. Danya chuckled softly, nuzzling his nose against the fur on her neck.

“I will be too,” he said. “But, if it didn’t, I’m always happy to try again.” He purred the words in her ear, giving it a soft nip before he pulled back slightly, still entangled with her.

“I love you, Aurelia. And I will love our children. They shall want for nothing when they arrive.” He said, a paw caressing her cheek. He heaved a sigh, letting his head come to rest on the mound of furs that he used as a pillow. His eyes slid half shut, a lazy grin playing on his lips. She was as brilliant as ever, beautiful as always in his eyes.

@Aurelia

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when the party's over

“I will be too, but, if it didn’t, I’m always happy to try again.” "Oh, I'm sure you are. As am I," she said, giggling a little through her words as he nipped her ear. They remained entwined together, unable to tell where one began and the other would end. She loved it here, in his arms. It was here she felt most safe and most loved-- two things she'd never thought she'd feel all those years ago before he'd found her. If you had told her things would have played out like this she would have laughed but now? She couldn't imagine it any other way.

“I love you, Aurelia. And I will love our children. They shall want for nothing when they arrive.” he said as he caressed her cheek. She leaned into his touch and closed her eyes, feeling a shiver run down her spine as tears welled slightly. They were tears of happiness, but she still dashed them away with a paw, not wanting to spoil the tender moment.

"I love you too, Danya." she said, sniffing lightly.

"What do you think it'll be like? Being parents? I've always wanted to be a mother, for as long as I can remember." she told him. She'd never thought it would be in the cards for her but now it was a possibility she could not ignore.

code by claerie , image by Tomoko Uji

danya novikov

Danya could not help the lazy grin that lingered on his lips, satiated in his desire, but yet always wanting more of her even after their intertwining. His heart swelled with feelings — both for Aurelia and for the children that he hoped would come in the next few months. Although, he also felt a slight sense of panic within his chest, because… would he be a good father? Or, would he be cold and distant like his own had been? Things were different, and he wasn’t exactly the same man that his parents had raised, he wasn’t the same man that had left his birth pack in the hopes of a better life outside of the Tundra that they had called home. But, would the example that had been set for him hold power over how he behaved towards his own children or had Aurelia thawed his heart enough to be something… warmer? He didn’t know, and truthfully, only time would tell.

“Oh, I’m sure you are. As am I,” Aurelia giggled, bringing Danya back from his slightly spiraling thoughts.

Her fur was soft beneath the pads of his paws, something he’d realized repeatedly since the first time he had touched her. She leaned into his touch, closing her eyes. He could see tears beginning to well in her eyes a little, his ears flickering back at the notion.

“I love you too, Danya,” she said, a sniffle in her nose. “What do you think it’ll be like? Being parents? I’ve always wanted to be a mother, for as long as I can remember.” He smiled gently, giving her a gentle kiss on the nose.

“I’m glad that you do, love. But why do you seem as if you want to cry? Are these good tears, or otherwise?” Danya asked quietly, paw still resting against the soft fur on her cheek. “I think that… it will be a challenge, but a worthwhile one. I… hope I am a better — a warmer — father than my own was. But, I do know that you will be a great mother.”

Danya, while he was ready — ish — for this possible new responsibility, he felt a strange sense of anxiety about it. He couldn’t help the sensation as it curled in his stomach. It was anxiety about being a father, anxiety about the future. He knew in Rionnach, his business wasn’t exactly ‘legal,’ and he hoped that irate soldiers wouldn’t use that against him. And, while they were making an active attempt to dodge the draft — something of which he still didn’t fully understand — he hoped that it would be one that worked. He didn’t want to be ripped away from Aurelia, especially not if they now had pups that were going to be on the way.

@Aurelia

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