Private The Trenches Completed Nowhere To Go But Everywhere

[Caden S. Freemont]

As Caden pawed over his glass to Morgan and the banter flowed around him, he gave a hearty laugh and slung an arm around Daniil's shoulders. "Oh he's tried and found he liked it very much, keeps coming back for more, this one."

He nipped playfully at the todd's ear. "Don't hear me complaining, though."

Asta rolled her eyes at the pair and strummed a loud chord on the lute in her paws. "I will like a glass of Varangian wine that Bezine bringing."

Another round of drinks was doled out and the festivities continued with pawfinger food arrayed on the bar and Asta providing music as she perched upon a stool, strumming and singing. Caden milled amongst his friends, face and ears warming as he continued to consume round after round of drinks. It had been some time since he had drank in quantity, the last time being with Eirene, and prior to that it had been at his wedding in Varangia. Now it felt as though he was sloughing off the tension that came with the experience at the Opera, letting his body finally relax, the alcohol allowing him to loosen and just be in existence with those around him.

When they sat for the main meal around the table, the smells of roasted fowl and vegetables and freshly baked bread emanating from the platters placed before them, Caden took tight hold of Daniil's paw and squeezed it. He leaned in and kissed the todd, then stood, raising his mug of wine. Though his words did not yet slur with inebriation, they flowed openly and with great feeling.

"I know it's odd to do a toast on my own birthday, but I want to recognize everybeast here for standing by my side." His gaze swept the table, and emotion caused his voice to catch. He pushed through, blinking rapidly as his eyes shone with tears. "It's been a hard year and more for Asta and me. I took a chance coming here, knowing what I left behind and what could lay in wait for me upon my return. In so many ways, though, I have found more love and joy and connection than I thought possible in this city. Rekindling old friendships," he nodded towards Tanya, "and creating new ones," he smiled towards Eirene, Bezine, Morgan, and Vihma, "while opening my heart again when I thought perhaps it was broken forever," Caden placed a paw on Daniil's shoulder and gazed lovingly down at the todd. He let out a long, breath and raised his mug.

"To all of you, my friends, my family, for being there for me and for Asta. We couldn't have done this without you."

 

[Daniil Ryalor]

The D'Oiravere-Liu family listened attentively to the speech - for the most part, at least. Morgan, who was several drinks in and thoroughly buzzed, was nuzzling up against Vihma, affectionately rubbing cheeks with her. Daniil, despite being a bit sloshed himself, was managing to sit up straight, listening to his partner with a smile. As the toast concluded, he raised his mug to meet the others', adding, "And to you, Caden."

"Hear hear," Eirene agreed, joining in the toast, then taking a sip of the Felmarian spirits. Bezine wrinkled her nose, keeping herself to the Varangian wine she had split with Asta.

After finishing his drink, a bit emboldened, Daniil stood, accidentally knocking his chair back with his legs and having to hurry to right it. "Sorry," he apologized to the table. "I just want to say a toast of my own, if I could." He let Eirene refill his mug, then raised it to the nameday lad. "Caden," he began, then paused for a few moments longer than appropriate for sake of drama. "Caden," he repeated himself, apparently having found his words. "I just want to thank you. You have been endlessly generous, letting me into your life, your home-"

"His bed?" Morgan quipped, pausing briefly from where she'd started tipsily kissing Vihma's neck. This immediately earned her a set of trilingual rebukes from her mothers, and a few seconds' reprieve for Daniil while he figured out how to resume his speech.

"You've been kind to me," he continued, "and given me a home and a family. With you, I belong. You've given me endless chances to be better, and even when I fail, you've trusted me enough to let me try again. And," he added, raising his mug a little higher, "no matter the tragedies of our past, with you, I can believe in a future spent together. To Caden Freemont."

"To Caden," the echo went up.

 

[Vihmastaja]

Vihma tried to pay attention to the speech, truly tried. She still didn't know him well, and what she'd heard had been interesting. She raised her glass a bit to the toast, thankfully sober enough to keep it steady, even as Morgan leaned into her, a comfort she could hardly resist mirroring.

She took a drink after, setting the glass down carefully to nuzzle Morgan back while Daniil began his own speech. She didn't have the time or focus to comment on Morgan's comment about Caden and Daniil's... intimacies, blushing hard as the ferret explored her neck. The jill rather liked what Morgan could do with her mouth and her teeth, rewarding the ferret's bad behavior with a kiss of her own.

Maybe it was the alcohol - maybe that was what made it too easy to get lost in her lover's touch and her scent, no matter the rising notes of finely cooked meats and vegetables on their plates, and no doubt despite some judgemental eyes, particularly from Morgan's parents as Daniil spoke on.

She broke away just in time for his short speech to end, splitting away from Morgan just enough to raise her glass and echo the fox's toast.

"To Caden, 'n may ye 'ave a fine future t'gether."

The last bit somehow worked its way in, though this time without the self-consciousness that so often followed her.

 

[Tanya Keltoi]

Alcohol and Tanya had long enjoyed a complex relationship: as such the vixen appeared, to all intents and purposes, as though she had not touched the amount of alcohol which had disappeared down her maw. She settled back comfortably in her chair, tailbrush flicking with lazy contentment whilst her focus remained on those giving the speeches.

The vixen was not an especially prudish creature when it came to public displays of affection, but it did make her miss her husband, so she strived not to pay it too much mind when those around her took the opportunity to flirt. Over the years on Kutoroka the pair had taken full advantage of Kiptooth’s presence to enable regular travel and work to keep the homestead running smoothly: life at sea had meant months spent apart and she had grown used to long absences as part of the rhythm of maritime life. Since the voyage back to Imperial waters, however, she had grown increasingly unsettled in Jeshal’s absence. Was it really change; a desire for closeness as age began to catch up with them both, or a fear of the new regime they had set paw into?

Ah well, it was a thought for another day. Tanya raised her glass, gold-capped premolars glinting as the offered a toothy smile. “To Caden!” she echoed. “May your days be bright an’ your nights warm.” A wink. "All the best fer a grand future ahead of you'se both."

 

[Caden S. Freemont]

At the generous and kind toasts, Caden flushed moreso than he already was from drink. He threw back the rest of his current beverage to cover for his sudden and unexpected embarrassment at the attention, and for the tears welling in his eyes. Asta laughed and prodded him in the side.

"Strong, tough warrior is soft at heart, ja?"

Caden chuckled, wiping at his eyes. "Oh aye, I'm very soft at heart, no doubt about it. Thank you, all of you. I couldn't have asked for better friends and family to celebrate with. But look, we've been yammering away and the food is getting cold. Can't have that, can we?"

As they all dug into the feast spread before them, Caden reached under the table and squeezed Daniil's thigh, catching his lover's gaze. He leaned over to whisper in the todd's ear. "I love you."

Though he felt a pang of fear at those words, as he did nearly every time he uttered them to the fox, tonight the fear had less hold on him than usual. Maybe, just maybe, everything would be all right.