[MAG] Tonight At Our Beach

Vodovorot handed off the popsicle to Affine, the smile on his face warm and inviting. Affine's hand lingered on Vodo's for a half second, trembling, almost betraying something. But he accepted the treat all the same, and hobbled off in the direction of the sea. Vodo smiled after him, his expression almost serene. 

Did he not notice, or did he not care?

That naive look on his face was disrupted with a startled jump when Juice's hand slammed on the counter.

Vodovorot whirled around, eyes wide, tail raised like a frightened cat. At the sight of Juice's grin, half-obscured in the darkness of the little stand's roof, his shoulders relaxed and lowered. It was a cute expression, on his boyish face.

"Pray, do tell me, for how long have you waited there?" 

"Just long enough t'see you hand off the ice cream to the kid," Juice drawled, reaching into the ice cooler to pick out one himself, with two sticks. He popped it into his mouth, though he barely noticed the cherry flavoring. "Ya like giving out popsicles?"

Vodo smiled, though his eyelids dropped into a stare that was a kind of intensity. "I do enjoy gifting presents to beloved friends of mine, yes."

"Nice outfit," Juice gestured to the wide-brimmed straw hat and sheer cardigan. "Does Farley pick them outfits out for you?"

There was a pause, in which Vodo's eyes narrowed further. After a moment, he ventured, "Forgive my pressings, Juice-"

"-Whatever's fine."

"...Whatever. But you are not the type that strikes me as to be enchanted by idle chatter, so I must inquire, for what purpose are you here?"

Juice pulled the popsicle out of his mouth. "Yeah, I'd agree with ya - that's a fair assessment. But really, is it so hard to believe that I'd just wanna hang out with one of my buddies once in a while?"

"Of course not," Vodo said, lifting a hand placidly, "but I am under an impression that you are spurred into action in pursuit of your goals, and nothing less. Please forgive me for overlooking your attentions towards social pleasures."

"Forgiven," Juice said, easily. "Anyways yeah I'm totally here for ulterior motives 'n shit."

"Oh?" the light tilt of Vodo's voice was perfectly constructed to push Juice into continuing.

So he grinned at the other Mag instead, twirling the popsicle on a finger. "Want some help mannin' this thing?"

"I would greatly cherish your company," Vodo replied, evenly.

Juice slipped from the darkness to the front counter, where the sunlight was stronger, and turned the oak wood yellow through its beams. He leaned on it, feeling the warm through his fur. The occasional breeze tugged at the leaves, and he watched as the palms rustled. Vodo sat next to him, perched in his chair once more, the cooler closed behind him. 

He lifted a hand, feeling magic course through his arm. Back and forth, he moved his wrist, watching the trees sway in tandem. It was thoughtless, mindless - stretching a muscle, a tic. There was all the time in the world to talk about what he wanted to know - and really, that was phrased as if he wasn't curious in tides about what Vodo would say and how he'd breach it. 

After all, he'd planted plenty of seeds implying it. Vodo was curious and nosy enough to burrow right in, wasn't he? Juice smiled.

"Does cherry appeal, Whatever?" Vodo broke the silence. Perfect.

Juice glanced back to him, at the other's stare. Vodo always had a ferocity in his eyes that made it hard to look into them for too long, or else Juice's skin would crawl with tiny bugs he'd be compelled to slap off. But, also, that was kind of why he liked looking at Vodo. He returned the intensity with an open-mouthed smile, slipping the popsicle through his teeth. Its cold skin scraped against his enamel, leaving gashes in its face.

"I wasn't there when the big B got killed," Juice said, only drops of casual poured into his voice, "but I was the guy who shot down Genesis. I did hear you were there, though, weren't cha?"

Vodo glanced to the trees for a second, eyes flicking over. It was only a second, though, and he glanced back to Juice. "Dismayed, I must inform you that I was not. I was the byproduct - only arriving after the fighting had ceased. Surely you have been told?"

"Sure, but, you were there when the dust was settlin', and that's what I care about."

"For what purpose do you?"

Juice glanced towards the beach idly, chewing over what he wanted to say. It was probably best to be plainly upfront, yeah? He tilted back towards Vodo. "You 'n me, but mostly me, came waaaay after those two had clocked out fer the last time. All them older Mags knew and hated 'em, but we never really got much time to form opinions. And I've noticed people are damn touchy if you bring up either of their shitparents."

Vodo's gaze fell to the side, but Juice continued: "Now, ya had at least the time to know Genesis, and ya heard all the hub right after Bereave got punked. What I wanna know is, what impressions of them did ya get?"

"...Impressions?"

"You know," Juice gestured for him to go on, "yer feelings on them. What were they like? As people, parents, I don't care. Anything works."

"Well." Vodo turned around, toying with the the leaves of the daisies in the vase on the counter. Hm. "May I pass that query unto you, Whatever?"

"I don't know nothin' bout them. Kinda got caught up in the moment when I saw Dijamant and nuked the guy without a second thought." he shrugged. "Not the first time it's happened."

"Pardon? Is the great, powerful Juice admitting to harbor a regret?" Vodo teased, glancing over his shoulder.

"We all have flaws," he said, with a smile. 

Vodo turned back to the vase. "This is true. And, from my understandings of many a situation I have been informed of, they were flawed individuals, as well." he paused, for several long seconds. "Mistakes littered a great number of their behaviors. But does that render them irredeemable? Or, perhaps, slated for such permanence as death?"

"Vague," Juice quipped, biting the popsicle in half.

There was a sigh, then Vodo glanced at him again. "Probing me for answers appears pointed, Whatever. For what purpose, to arrive on my doorstep?"

"Ya seem defensive, Vodo."

There was a long stretch, as Vodo stared at the daisies. Juice raised an eyebrow, even if Vodo couldn't see. Stars, he kinda wanted to see Vodo's expression right about now. It was hard to see anything but a smile on his face. Maybe he'd get to see Vodo look frustrated. Or even cry? That'd be interesting.

The vase screeched as Vodo pushed it across the wood, and pushed away from the counter. Juice stared, unblinking, as he bit off another chunk. He could taste the wet wood, now. Gross. Thankfully, it barely registered - the subdued worry on Vodo's expression was far more interesting. What to say, to get him to spill? 

"I am. Your insights are correct."

Oh, okay, he was going to spill anyways. "So what's up?"

"I implore of you, do not mistake my forwardness as my trust, Juice," Vodo said, slowly, deliberately, as he finally met Juice's eyes. "But to have this conversation without admitting to my secret would be disingenuous. Moreso than I am willing to indulge in."

Juice raised both eyebrows.

"When Bereave died, his consciousness did not drift into the sands of time. It is an unmistakable part of our world, as it functions, equal in significance as any shape or force. Such is my understanding. And so, it was at once inherited by the largest remaining pool of sentience originating of his magic. In simpler terms: my mind."

"No shit, really?" Juice peeled from the wall, taking a half-step forwards, "fuck, the same thing Zmeya's got?"

"I was under the impression many suspected as much," Vodo said, resting his chin on the counter. "I merely waited for one to approach and interrogate me. Though, I was uncertain whether the truth would slip or not."

"Why haven't ya told anyone but me?"

"It does not appear relevant. Pray tell: what is there to gain, from crowing to all that they failed?" Vodo tapped the counter. "I know that many had suffered under an abusive hand of Bereave's - Trougao, Kolo, Dijamant... the list stretches, seemingly endlessly. Is there a point in informing them, if it will only transform the fashion in which they look to me into disgust?"

Juice leaned onto the counter next to him, lowering so their heads were level. "Ya don't want them to judge ya?"

"Partly, yes, despite how self-centered that may appear. In spite of such, consider: the trauma it would surely stoke in Trougao. After he has suffered through so much painful growth, as of recent? When I was welcomed into the Mags, he was still so very withdrawn, chained by his sufferings, though you may not recall. There is nothing positive to pushing him back into that such shell."

"You're kinda assuming he'd break under that weight, yeah?"

"You posit to look me in the eyes and swear that you believe he would hold strong?"

Juice whistled, then gave a yielding shake of the head.

The ocean licked at the beach, so far away, but close enough that if he extended an arm, it felt like he could snatch it up. He reached forwards, blotting out the sun as the horizon cradled it. It would be easy, huh, to get rid of that light? Is that kind of what Vodo felt like, in some philosophical sense?

His stare flicked to Vodo, out of the corners of his eyes. There was something else. There had to be. Vodo was too smart for there not to be.

"Ain't it more dangerous to not tell anyone? What if he possesses ya like Genesis does Zmeya?"

"He will not dare."

"How come?"

Vodo shifted slightly. "I do have a trust placed within him."

"Ya trust 'im? After everyone else thinks he's utter shite?"

A long pause filled the silence, stretching on. Juice just stared at Vodo, waiting. The other couldn't meet his eyes, but that was alright. Actually, it was better than alright - Vodo was so confident, normally, that this was probably a great sign that he was about to spill. Unable to speak? Classic. Trying to sort out his thoughts, how to phrase it all, most likely.

"I believe Bereave has done many deplorable things," Vodo said, finally. "But, simultaneously, I must also trust in the idea - no, the hope that people are capable of enormous change."

And there it was. "So?"

"You queried of my impressions. They are: that despite - or even, in spite of - Bereave's deeds, he is as capable of our greatest goods, as well. It is the nature of what we are, fluid beings. I do not excuse or deny the cruelty he has inflicted, but I stand with hope that he will one day develop past it. And I am eager to encourage him towards that path of change."

Juice hummed. That was... certainly a take. "Is he nice to ya?"

Vodo blinked rapidly, then looked to Juice, "Pardon?"

"Genesis is pretty cruel to Zmeya, if I understand it right. And supposedly Bereave was always the meaner of the two, yeah? So is he nice to ya, Vodo?"

"Does that matter? The future that we are toiling towards is well worth any temporary struggles. To achieve that is my greatest dream. But regardless of that, I do not conceptualize actions as that in regards to myself-"

"-Stars, Vodo, ya got problems." Juice incinerated the finished popsicle sticks.

That threw Vodo harder. He just stood there, awkwardly, staring up at Juice. It was almost a helpless expression, like he'd really just heard something he didn't grasp at all. Kind of cute, to see him so bewildered, the way his eyes widened and his mouth dropped into a tiny frown.

"What?" Juice magicked up a lit cigarette, popping it into his mouth to chew on the tip. "You're sittin' here spewin' stuff about how you're fine with suffering for some greater good nobody else knows about. That's hilarious, y'know."

"...Is it?"

"Yeah, martyr complexes, they're fucking top grade comedy. Or do ya prefer depersonalization, Vodo? Does feelin' like a tool fill somethin' in ya?"

Vodo burst out laughing. Now Juice blinked, as the other Mag nearly doubled over, arms wrapped around his stomach. 

"Ah, Juice, you are right. Perhaps I have complexes of my own, clouding my sense of self and my judgement. But I must question: how impulsive were your jabs?"

"Oh, I see whatcher gettin' at." Juice tossed the rest of the cigarette into his mouth, swallowing it as he leaned over Vodo. "Gonna try't psychoanalyze my ass 'til ya think ya have any idea who I am?"

"Do you truly mean but a quarter of what you spit?"

"Does it matter? I said it."

"I believe it does."

Silence. Vodo's smile was subdued, quiet, smaller, but altogether smug and confident. He knew what he was saying, and he backed it with conviction. This clearly wasn't the way he'd thought the conversation would go, but he was fine with it. Could Juice blame him? He'd taken most of it in stride, even if he'd spilled secrets. He still had cards.

And, Juice'd gotten the information he'd wanted. It didn't take as much finessing as he'd expected. So Vodo wanted to tell him to some degree - otherwise he wouldn't have spilled. So, what was his plan? Why admit to having Bereave? He clearly didn't think Juice had guessed it.

So, he told Juice as a sign of trust. As a flag to say that he wanted in, so to speak. That he wanted to open communication. So he'd tell a secret, and in return, Juice would start to believe what he said and trust in what he meant. A business deal, almost. And then they'd have a nice little working relationship, yeah?

Except Vodo didn't really hustle, not in the way Juice did. The ulterior motives he had, they weren't about information and backhandedness and preparing for the worst and paranoia. No, Vodo always had the confidence and pride to know that he was doing the correct thing. This wasn't an attempt at gaining an ally. It was an attempt at doing what Vodo did best, what he did to everyone.

So it was an attempt at being friends.

Juice tilted his head, then grinned at Vodo. "Alright, I can see ya want me to say it first, so: we should'a talked sooner."

"I concur," Vodo said, offering another popsicle.

Juice accepted gracefully, biting into it as he glanced out towards the ocean again. "Yer a nice kid, Vodo."

"Age is irrelevant for creatures who are divorced from time."

"Yer still younger than me." Juice ruffled Vodo's hair. It was already so messy that he didn't make much difference. "Everybody's a kid when yer older than 'em."

Vodo smoothed his hair back out, though his smile remained. "Do the elder Mags designate you as 'kid'?"

"I'd punch em if so."

"Ah, understood. Tragically, I confess my blows are not as ferocious as yours."

"I can show ya some ropes sometime." Juice cracked a smile.

"Violence, by and large, is unsuited for the likes of me," Vodo half-laughed.

"Sure, sure." though he couldn't quite picture Vodo swinging a punch. That was weird. Who'd he even punch?

He tried picturing it collided with... Quantum, maybe. Nah. Vodo was too nice for any of that shit. It was kinda admirable, how nice the guy was. And he'd had Bereave going nuts in his head the whole time. Juice couldn't say he admired that, but... hey, he could get behind it. He'd respect that shit. Also, he liked being told secrets.

There was silence, for a few more seconds. Juice finished off his second popsicle, staring down at the sticks. There weren't any jokes scribbled on. How tragic. Who ran popsicle stands without puns on the sticks anymore? 

"Was your arrival here merely to question after Bereave?" Vodo asked, taking the sticks and magicking new popsicles onto them.

Juice gave a noncommittal shrug. "Pretty much. I asked Devy but I didn't get jack shit from 'im."

"Then, if your time is not preoccupied, would you care to attend a wedding at my side?"

"A wedding? Between who?"

"Kolo and Dijamant. Dijamant informed Affine and I where upon the sands it would be, and when the festivities would begin. As it nears sundown, I recall that was the stated time frame."

Hmm, Affine was invited? Intentionally? Nah. Dij probably forgot the kid existed most of the time. "Ya think Affine'll actually be there?"

"I could not say."

"Alrighty, then, let's go," Juice vaulted over the counter, shooting Vodo a grin. "Not like there's anythin' else to be doin' today."

"Very well," Vodo said, and teleported out of the stand like a normal person.

His hand slipped around Juice's, and he pulled the other down side of the beach. It was pretty cute, watching him take charge like that. Vodo didn't exactly strike him as leadership material - he was a bit too much of a wallflower for that - but he had his moments of shining confidence. Better than what some doormats could claim to have, anyways. 

As they paced across the warm plank path, Juice stared at the back of Vodo's head. In there, somewhere, was Bereave. Probably talking right now, if it was anything like Zmeya's brain - and why wouldn't it be? And Vodo had kept that secret since he was born, all to himself. For a martyr complex? But that didn't seem his style: Vodo was too... genuine to be a narcissist like that. It was easy to trust the guy.

So, what then? Why hide it from everyone? He'd implied he was scared of hurting others or having his reputation tarnished, but those didn't sit right with Juice, either. If anything, he'd get more pity than Zmeya did - everybody knew how much Bereave sucked, and they'll all rush to coddle Vodo 'cause of it. And Vodo was too smart to have misinterpreted what would happen, like that.

"Look, yonder, we are nearly arrived."

It really had to be self-valuation, didn't it? Complete disregard for his well-being, but not even in... a way that made him seem bothered? Like this was all natural and fine, that he could take it, like he didn't know what breaks or mental health was. Kinda... weird and horrible, but also kinda admirable. Juice could get behind that.

The winding path led them up a slope, until they were properly on a cliff. The sand transitioned to rocks, glossy and black in the sunlight. Peresekat lingered on one, in front of a few haphazard fairy lights and doorframe, just sitting there, doorless, like it belonged. Vodo paused in front of him, though Juice shifted to push Vodo behind himself.

"It's formalwear only," Pere said, eyes half-lidded, smiling, pointedly ignoring Kolo still in the skimpiest swimsuit Juice had seen since coming to the Mags' home, next to Dij in a ridiculous swimdress and arm warmers. Endearingly dorky.

"Aw, well, excuse us," Juice replied, giving a small bow as magic flitted over his skin. A suit, in his colors, replaced his beachwear, complete with a tie.

Vodo merely zipped up his cardigan, and presented it to Pere. The other peered at him, then gave a casual shrug and stepped aside. The duo entered, though the venue was nothing more than a few overgrown-ivy lattices, a few folding chairs, and a wedding arch overlooking the sea. Still, it was very cute. Quaint, even, really - with the sea lapping at the cliff edge, and the black rock stark against the white wood. Kolo and Dij were under the arch, whispering.

A cute wedding for a cute couple, Juice figured.

Vodo paused by one of the lattices to prod at the leaves, almost enamoured. Juice leaned against it, counting the number of blue flowers wrapped around the arch. Sixty-seven. Did the number have any significance? Mmm... probably not. Pere lounged on a chair next to a stereo Juice hadn't taken note of before. Rather, Pere had probably magicked it up as he sat. Very fair.

"Pere, it's almost midnight," Dijamant loudly whispered, as if it were a secret. "The lights?"

"Sure, Dij," came the amused response, and with a clap of Pere's hands, torches ringing the venue lit with small red fires. 

With the sudden addition of light, there was a shifting on one of the chairs. Juice's head turned in time to catch Affine trying to melt into a puddle, arms raised over his head, wings around himself. So he did show up!

"Oh, joyous, Affine! You chose to attend," Vodo said, smiling as he leaned over the back of Affine's chair.

"Y-yes," Affine mumbled. He always sounded so resentfully uncertain. "Why wouldn't I...?"

"Pardon my assumptions, then, I must have placed a misjudgement on you."

"Er - no, sorry, Vodo, that's not..." Affine just sighed, slumping further.

Juice strung an arm over the back of his chair, too. If Vodo was going to play intimidator, then he'd join in. "What's gotcha all sour, Finny?"

"Affine's fine," he muttered, shifting, "a-and I'm not sour."

"The grimace on your expression, my friend, appears particularly irritated. I don't intend to intrude, but whatever could be on your nerves?"

There was a spot of silence, where Affine's eyes darted from right to left, his hands clasping together. It was too easy to unsettle him, really. "N-nothing."

"Yer not gonna getcher answer, Vods," Juice said, clapping the other's back, "he's a right vice when it comes to this sorta thing."

"I am not!" Affine protested, twisting around in his chair to glare.

Juice grinned. "No? Then what's up?"

"I just -" he froze again, squeezed his eyes shut, bared his teeth, and then sighed. "I tried talking to Jedana about something important later and fumbled it."

"In what methods do you believe you mishandled such conversation?"

Affine's fingers drummed the back of the chair. "I...."

"Hi, everyone!" Dij called. He didn't really need a microphone, but he was holding one anyways - probably for the authenticity? That seemed like something he'd care about. Tragically, he'd neglected to turn it on. Juice grinned. "Thanks for coming on such short notice!"

"He harbors such expressive happiness," Vodo commented, almost like someone cooing over their pet cat. Juice wrapped an arm around his waist.

"Um, I've never done anything like this before, but I am absolutely getting married. To Kolo. Yeah. And I invited Pere to come, and then... this was pretty spur-of-the-moment so nobody else is here, but that's fine!"

"What he is is nervous as fuck," Juice whispered in Vodo's ear, "look at how vulnerable he's bein'."

"So, um, Pere gave me a crash course in how this works. So, uh, here goes," he pulled at his dress' straps. "Kolo, babe, haha... you're, um, the most important person in the world to me. Like, seriously. And I want to spend forever with you, and, um, be happy with you."

The whisper was returned: "Oh, verily agreed. Yet, do you fail to perceive it as endearing?"

Dij handed the mic to Kolo, who was shaking a bit. His cheeks were pink, even in the low light. "Right. Um. I don't really subscribe to mortal traditions, or hold them in high regard, but this night... matters to me. A lot. Since you're here. And I want to be married with - to you, Dij, even if it's a little... beyond us. To be doing this. But I l-love you too. And I want to spend forever with you. Too. Yeah."

"Nah. It's adorable."

Kolo awkwardly shoved the mic towards Pere. The other's expression had failed to change from earlier, though it was also the expression he wore constantly. "Alright, you two. Since I'm licensed as a marriage officiant in Timeline PV-513, I hereby say you're married. Go ahead and kiss."

Dij, bouncing up and down, did not kiss Kolo. "That's all it is?" he loudly whispered, again, more relieved than underwhelmed.

"You also have to throw the bouquet," Pere reminded him.

"Oh!" Dij magicked up a, frankly, enormous bundle of cyan roses. He nearly shoved it into Kolo's hands, almost oblivious to the other's blush having spread all over his face. "Here you go, babe! Toss it!"

"There's four people here, Dij," came the quiet, but audible retort. Juice grinned.

"Throw it for me?" Dij asked, voice down from a yell and into something more genuine and private.

That was enough to make every inch of Kolo's cheeks pink, and though he avoided looking at the onlookers, he did toss the bouquet into their vicinity. Juice merely watched it. What was the point? He already had Proximity. Vodo didn't move, either, but made a very cute little squee when it landed squarely in Affine's lap. The latter looked flabbergasted.

"Guess that means you're gonna get hitched," Juice informed him. The astonishment turned to mortification. 

Dij cupped Kolo's cheeks and pulled him into a kiss. It lasted a few seconds too long, and was obviously the two of them slobbering on each other's faces, but it was cute. Expressions of love like that, all genuine and sweet? Yeah, he could get behind them. Juice pulled his hands out of his pockets to clap.

Vodo was quick to follow suit, as was Pere. It took Affine another few seconds, but he followed. They stopped once Dij pulled away, a mix of frazzled and hyper, and looked to Pere, grin open-mouthed.

"I'll put on the song," Pere said, smoothly slipping towards the stereo.

And as the music kicked in, Dij took both of Kolo's upper arms and spun him into a fast-tempo little pirouette.

"They're cute, ain't they?" Juice asked, pulling at his tie.

"Refrain from undressing yourself," Vodo said, putting a hand on Juice's hand. "However, yes, I verily concede as such to you."

Juice glanced left, after Peresekat. He was perched on top of the stereo in cat form, purring up a storm as Dij and Kolo's song played. He glanced left, towards the arch, as Dij took Kolo's hands and twirled him into a dance - quick, a little slutty, but overall pretty endearing. He glanced towards Vodo, who, really, looked three ways of spiffy in that little sundress.

Hmm.

He stepped forwards, holding out a hand to Vodo. After a second of surprise, the other accepted, slipping his hand against Juice's. They were just a tad daintier, a little smaller. Pretty cute, really, all in all. 

"May I have this dance?" he asked, a grin over his features.

Vodo smiled back. "You may."

With that, Juice spun him away from the lattice, onto the black rocks. Vodo was light in his arms, stepping in time almost perfectly, like he knew what Juice was planning before he executed it. Well, Vodo was pretty good at those sorts of things, wasn't he?

The beat was swift and cheerful, energetic. It suited Dij, and it suited Juice as he twirled Vodo, pulling the other Mag in close. Their bodies pressed flush, he drank it in for only a second before shifting into a quickstep towards his right. One hand on Vodo's waist, the other holding Vodo's, and they spun again, the rock warm from the sun under their feet. 

Fireflies glittered, only for a second, as he turned them again - little snapshots against the darker sky, slowly filling with fainter stars. The orange glow of the torches nearly blotted out the green of the bugs, but they shone nonetheless - doing their damndest to burn, as hard as they could. Briefly, as he pulled Vodo in close, he wondered how many would fall into the fires. 

"What distracts you?" Vodo's voice was smooth and quiet. It almost sounded put-on, like nobody could really talk that smoothly. He should do talk shows.

"Fireflies," Juice replied. It wasn't lying.

Vodo dipped him. "What of them? Do you delight in their attendance?"

"They're pretty. I like 'em. You?"

"I do consider them festive. Lovely compliments of a stunning night." 

Now Juice dipped Vodo, lower than he had. "As festive as them pretty little flowers on your clothes?"

"Flattery? It is a most unfamiliar song, spilling from your lips."

"I flatter the ones I like."

He could get behind Vodo's kind of depersonalization, really. It was familiar, in that nasty sense, where everything was fucked up and wrong but felt so right.

Vodo spun Juice, to the edge of the cliff face, where the ocean rose to meet them. "Shall I remember such an admission as you conceding to enjoying me?"

"Absolutely." Juice leaned him over the cliff edge, pressing forwards himself, until their muzzles touched. 

The moonlight laid over their heads like halos, as if it, too, wanted to see. But the kiss was small, brief, short - yet it was nice, and as Juice pulled away and caught sight of the soft satisfaction on Vodo's face, he smiled.