Stoatorian Guard Private Completed Maybe You Won't Die Alone

[Asta Dalgaard]

"I liking this idea, performing on the ship," Asta said. "And at the Gizzard. Why not doing both, ja? Would be good meeting your crew." She thought more on their initial conversation about Morgan's injury and what the crew had gone through on their voyage in the north.

"I having an idea. The song I wanted to write, being about you, what about if I writing it as story song." Asta stopped, frustration apparent in her brow as she once more gave up on describing her idea in Vulpinsulan and switched to Varangian. "Do you think your crew would enjoy a song about the voyage you told me about? Something to memorialize what you all went through?"

---

Caden nodded, pushing through his own trepidation that caused his tail to twitch back and forth on the couch. "It's a serious offer, aye. Rent is not--well, I own the place outright, so my expenses in that regard are mostly taxes and upkeep. If you'd like to help, we can certainly talk about what that would look like, but I'm really not wanting for money." He shrugged, trying to find a line between nonchalance and reassurance.

"You won't be a burden or imposition by any means, Daniil. I trust you, otherwise I wouldn't have invited you to stay. I'm very careful about who I let into my life in this way." The marten nuzzled his head against the todd's shoulder. "And I want to have you here with us, if it feels right to you."

 

[Morgan Liu]

Morgan looked thoughtful before nodding slowly. "Yes," she allowed, "but if you're going to do that, we should introduce you to Vihma. She actually went ashore on Urk, where all of the truly awful stuff happened. I've heard some of it, but... from the way that the crew still seems haunted by it, it had to have been far worse than what little I've heard so far. You should really get the full story from her, to do it justice."

~~~

Daniil blushed, then reached out to slip his paw into Caden's. "I would like that a lot, Caden," he agreed. He cleared his throat before adding, "Since I'll have to file a change of address with the Guard, though, and Alwyn might notice, is it okay if I just say that I'm rooming with you for sake of convenience?"

 

[Caden S. Freemont]

"Would be good to be meeting her," Asta agreed with a grin. "I having an idea. Niceties having a party soon, for birthday of Minister. Will being a big, fun party at the Opera House. I playing music at the party. I have inviting for some beasts. Could be inviting you and Vihma, ja?"

---

Caden nodded, looking down at their intertwined paws and allowing himself a measure of hope at their connection even as he tucked away the anxiety at knowing there would certainly be an uncomfortable conversation with Alwyn he would have to field.

"Of course. We do have the guest room, after all, so it would not be far-fetched that you were rooming here. I'll have a key made for you, and um, I suppose we can take a look at my room later to see how we might want to fit your things into it. I gave Asta the master bedroom, so my room is a bit on the smaller side. My bed is at least big enough for two." He cleared his throat, ears flattening back in mild embarrassment. "Just to be sure, are you interested in staying overnight tonight as well?"

 

[Daniil Ryalor]

Morgan lit up at the mention of a party. "A real swanky affair, huh?" she mused. "Sure, that sounds real fun! I'll even dress up nice and be on my best behavior. Don't want to embarrass you, after all," she added. She hesitated before adding, "If I bring Vihma, do you mind not mentioning what I said about liking her? I... I want to tell her in my own time."

Bezine then poked her head out the back door, calling the two to dinner. Morgan grinned, offering her paw to Asta. "Thanks for the invite, Asta. You're a really awesome friend."

~~~

Daniil blushed a bit at the offer, but he squeezed Caden's paw. "I would love that, Caden," he confirmed.

There was a small knock on the frame of the doorway to the dining room, and Eirene poked her head in. "De dinner is ready," she announced. The smell accompanying that pronouncement was positively divine.

The sight of the food was just as heavenly. The table was laden down with dishes that spanned a range of continents in origin, meat and vegetables and starch and spice pulled together in medley as diverse as the beasts who came together around the table, yet somehow all the more beautiful for it. As they sat down together all as family and friends, Daniil looked over to Caden and smiled, fully relaxed for once. He didn't even notice that his mother's blade still rested in place of pride atop the piano, looking on as her son found family again for himself.

~~~

Daniil stood beside Caden as Bezine, Eirene, and Morgan said their goodbyes and shuffled out the door with promises to visit again soon, and assurances that Caden and Asta could keep the leftovers from the meal. As they left, Eirene leaned in to Caden's ear and whispered, "Have fun, pengyou," before following after her wife.

Daniil rested his head on Caden's shoulder, smiling happily as the food settled as a delicious warmth in his stomach. "That was wonderful," he commented. "I haven't had a meal like that, so relaxed and happy, since we last lived in the Imperium. The Ryalors aren't really much for small, intimate gatherings."

 

[Caden S. Freemont]

With Asta on his right and Daniil to his left, Eirene, Bezine, and Morgan opposite them, Caden found himself settling into a contentedness he had not felt in a year's time. The food, diverse and delicious, was as pleasant as the company, and he felt a swelling of warmth and camaraderie for those in what he realized could be a newfound family in the Imperium, something he never imagined he could find in this place. He listened as Asta chatted animatedly in an endearing combination of Vulpinsulan and Varangian, telling stories and legends from her culture. It was good to see the rapport she was already building with Morgan; he knew how important it would be for her adjustment to their new life to have friends her age.

At the conclusion of the evening, hugs and goodbyes exchanged in the foyer--Caden winking in response to Eirene's whispered comment and Asta promising to drop off tickets for Morgan once she received them--the door swung shut and Caden put an arm around Daniil as the fox leaned his head on his shoulder.

"It really was wonderful, wasn't it? We'll have to make a habit of it."

Asta looked between the two, a small smirk dancing upon her lips. She opened her arms to both and gave them a tight hug. "I going to bed. You two having a good night."

She danced away down the hall and disappeared into her room. Caden rubbed the back of his neck and yawned.

"All that food and wine, I'm certainly ready for bed, too. I've got a spare sleeping gown you can use if you care to." He led the way to his room, passing the lounge on the way.

His room was simple and sparse: a bed and bedside table, a dresser, an armoire, and a full length mirror in the corner that reflected the moonlight streaming through the window. A vase of flowers sat on the dresser beside a leather-bound journal. Several simple paintings depicting scenes from the Varangian countryside adorned the walls. His dirk hung in its sheath from the bedpost.

Lighting the candle on the dresser, he opened a drawer and pulled out a folded white gown, offering it to Daniil. "If you want it. Thought it might be more comfortable than sleeping in your clothes."

 

[Daniil Ryalor]

Daniil briefly ducked into the lounge and retrieved his mother's blade from atop the piano before hurrying to follow Caden back to his room. He felt a tiny bit nervous, and when offered the folded garment, he nearly dropped it and Requiem both. "Thank you," he remarked gratefully, suddenly a little shy. They'd both been stripped nude in front of each other in the hospital, so why was this different? "I'll slip into this, if you don't mind, um, turning around." His cheeks flushed pink a bit. "I... I hope you don't mind if you just... hold me a bit tonight," he finally managed to get out, as he began shrugging out of his coat. "All of this is very new, and I just... I want to proceed with caution is all."

 

[Caden S. Freemont]

Caden offered Daniil an encouraging smile. He was glad the todd had broached the subject first, as he was not sure how he could have asked him what his preferences were without stumbling through the question himself. "I don't mind at all. I'd love to do that for you, Daniil. I don't want this to be overwhelming for you, so I'm glad to know what you're comfortable with."

He felt a pang of sadness as he thought of Einar and how much he had helped Caden with communicating in such a way. Offering gratitude to the memory of his late husband, he turned away and went to the armoire. He fetched his own sleeping gown from a hanger. Still turned, he undressed, hanging his clothes and donning the gown. He kept his gaze down as he went to the bed and slid onto it, pushing the covers back and finally looking up when he was sure Daniil was fully changed. The marten could not help but smile at the sight of the fox in his night gown, which was slightly overlarge for his smaller frame.

"I hope you don't mind me saying, but you look very cute in that."

 

[Daniil Ryalor]

Daniil seemed uncertain of himself wearing the borrowed gown, so the compliment was enough to make him blush once more. "Thank you Caden," he murmured. He only hesitated a moment, glancing toward the katana he'd hung from the bedpost, before he pulled the covers back and slid in beside the marten. He paused a moment before he turned and, resting his head on Caden's shoulder, settled himself against Caden. "Thank you," he whispered softly. "You... you've been nothing but kind and patient and understanding to me. I'm so happy that I met you."

 

[Caden S. Freemont]

The sensation of the todd against him quickened Caden's heartbeat with a variety of potent, conflicting emotions, and it took him several breaths to collect himself. He turned to press his nose against the top of Daniil's head, closing his eyes as he inhaled. The fox's smell sent waves of calm through him, and Caden felt his body relaxing.

"Of course," he murmured back, letting himself feel the contentedness that had been so fleeting for so long. "It's the least I can do. You deserve it, Daniil." He wrapped his arm around the todd and held him close. "I'm so happy that I met you, too."