And every time we kiss I swear I could fly, can't you feel my
heart beat fast, I want this to last, need you by my side
Artemis Dagger

It was a warm night tonight, and Artemis was very much in need of a release. He was wound tight, tensions at work had only seemed to have grown more strenuous, after the 'incident' during the Hidden Blades Casino night well, there had been a lot of paperwork to sort through and the repercussive talk he had endured with his father. Well, to say the least, it hadn't been easy. But he held his ground, he knew that his father would likely make a move soon, something to establish his power over Artemis. At this point, even Lucarius Dagger could see that his son was not only rising to the task but challenging the status. Whether the Dagger's were okay with this or not Artemis couldn't exactly tell, no one talked openly about Hidden Blades, so there wasn't anything to pick up on.

So for now, it was a waiting game.

The Dagger lad had been strolling home when his gaze caught the sight of neon lights, the luminous pink and cyan hues drawing his attention. Curiosity peaked, he had turned on his heel, moving toward the light. The booming music humming distantly in his ears, it was loud, really loud. He should have noticed it's intensity earlier but he had been lost in his thoughts. He had just assumed some concert was going on nearby, but it would seem he was wrong. This was more than just some concert. He found an event poster, listing the purpose of the festivities, a devilish smirk rising to his lips. This. He needed this.

The first thing he did was pull out his iLac, opening the contact list, he found her name. A short conversation later, the date of the evening was confirmed. If date was an appropriate term for whatever the hell they were. 'Hang out' just seemed too... relaxed of a name for it. But they were friends so, maybe it was just that. After this he called an 'ubar' for the rest of the journey home, forgoing the nighttime walk. He would rush back into his condo, jumping in the shower, he would freshen himself up for the evening. Changing into dark denim jeans, maroon trainers and putting on a shirt from one of his preferred designers. It was nice to wear stuff like this, it was so much more... him. Not the sharp suits he had to wear at work every day, he hated those but he suffered them for professionality.

Once he was ready, he moved over to his mini-bar. She shouldn't take too long to get to his, he'd called for his personal driver to come and get them so it didn't matter how much time it took for her to arrive. In the meantime, he made himself a rum and coke with ice. A small starter to take the edge off, he wanted to be relaxed when Sivvy arrived. Not carrying the weight of his work on during their night out, he wanted to let loose and have fun.

Oh, how he wanted to have some fun.

---

One by One They Fall at My Feet

Sivvy

The invite was unexpected, but not unwelcome. Normally their time spent together was during the day, but it wasn't as if Sivvy slept much anyway. Night was often filled with reading or training, occasionally peppered with sleep filled with nightmares. If only she never had to sleep at all. The ambassador was in the middle of a sweaty session of kickboxing when her phone alerted her to a message, a very welcome message. If she could she always dropped what she was doing when he wanted to hang out. Like a moth to flame, the pinkette was drawn to the Dagger heir. She rushed right to her room, took a shower, and changed into some new clothes.

What she wore wasn't really her usual style, but as far as she knew it would be appropriate. What Artemis had briefly described seemed like a large-scale party of some sort. Her quick lacnet search expanded her knowledge as much as it could. A loose, side-less shirt tucked into a pair of white shorts would keep her cool in the warm summer air. The shirt had one of her favorite things snaking through the black fabric, a dragon print in gold and the sole reason she bought the garment. An embellished brown belt and black choker later, and she was slipping on some strappy heels and rushing out the door. It felt a little weird to not be in a dress or something a little more decorative, but no one could say Sivvy didn't try new things lately.

It didn't take long for her to arrive at his place. It was much more comfortable now that she'd been here before and no old clients were on the sidewalk to derail it. Pressing the button that would alert him that she'd arrived, Sivvy waited for her favorite person to either let her in or meet her at the door so they could get to her very first Rave.

   

---

   
   

And every time we kiss I swear I could fly, can't you feel my
heart beat fast, I want this to last, need you by my side
Artemis Dagger

Perhaps it was his anticipation coupled with the stressors associated with his recent endeavours, but by the time that he would hear the buzz echoing throughout his apartment alerting him of Sivvy's arrival; The man had already finished his second drink. The flavoursome alcohol a welcome relaxant, and strong enough so that when he trotted down the greet her, he would appear chilled out and not at all tightly wound. He stepped out of his condo, locking the door behind him before turning to take a proper look at her. A playful grin creeping onto his lips at her choice of outfit, it was as flattering as all of her outfits were, the black shirt exposing her sides toyingly, the shorts that allowed him the opportunity to admire her long legs. In honesty, he believed that Sivvy could turn up at his house wearing a bin bag and still look like a ten. Without skipping a beat, he would take her hand in his, guiding her down the path to where their mini limo was waiting. "You look..." There was a collective of words he wanted to use; exquisite, sexy, delectable. But instead he would settle on a safer compliment. "Great, perfect for tonight."

He would guide over to the black car, opening the door for her before climbing in after her. Once they were seated and on their way into the city of Crocus, Artemis would push a button next to his seat, the car would emit a series of clicks as a panel next to his chair would open, and rising from the panel was a bucket of ice hosting a champagne bottle and two empty glasses. Carefully he would open the bottle, pouring them each a glass before passing Sivvy a flute of the fizzy golden fluid. After returning the bottle back to the ice bucket he would present his own drink to her, clinking it against hers in the gesture of cheers. "To having a good time." He said simply, before knocking his glass back and downing the entire drink.


With the Ambassador's hand still gripped gently in his, Artemis wandered through the streets of Crocus. Head bobbing along to the rhythmic thumping of the music and they made their way to the block party. He was feeling much better now, in fact, he hadn't felt this buzzed in a long time. It was great; to be so relaxed. He spotted a bar stall and found himself craving the need to feel even better. He would pull Sivvy along towards it, "Let's try a cocktail!" He suggested eagerly, admiring the glasses presented to them. Letting go of her hand, he would scoop up a menu, examining the names presented to him. He recognised none of them, which meant whatever he ordered would be a risk. But he was okay with that, he just wanted another drink.

"I'll have a Sloth Toddy." He ordered, before turning to the pinkette with him. "What drink do you want?"

---

One by One They Fall at My Feet

Sivvy

Much like her behavior quite a while back at Nessa's birthday party, the champagne downed on the limo ride had altered her behavior a good deal. She was definitely a lightweight when it came to booze, a fact she was aware of and used when needed. It had come in handy on some of her less savory jobs, as it turned off many of her deeply ingrained characteristics and humanized her, things that men responded favorably to. It was only recently that she'd adjusted her thinking that it could be something done for enjoyment among friends she trusted. The dulling of her mind was still something she didn't like, but her persistent strides to break free from her old life had her doing many things she'd have otherwise firmly resisted under the watchful eye of Dr. Raelin.

On that note, attending such an event at all was its own step forward. As soon as they stepped foot out, she knew that her quick research had been an understatement. The bright splashes of color, the music that played at a level that seemed too loud but was necessary to be heard over such a large distance and over so many voices, the throngs of people pulsating through the streets, it was unlike anything she'd ever seen. Sivvy'd been imagining something like the secret dance club Artemis had taken her to when they'd first met, but this was a different beast.

Holding true to his toast to a good time, her date enthusiastically suggested trying cocktails so they navigated hand-in-hand to the bar where her hand was released. A very smiley, rosy-cheeked Sivvy had no intention of resisting more drinks. If Artemis wasn't going to stop the already tipsy girl, she certainly wasn't going to moderate herself. None of the drinks sounded familiar to her either, but then again, she didn't really know much about different types of booze and their various combinations and weird names. Once he settled on a drink, he'd made her mind up as well. "I'll have the same," she said, then giggled lightly. "Sloth toddy, what a weird name," added the girl, already starting to sway to the thumping music's alluring beat.

What they received was a pretty drink. The liquid was a lovely shade of lavender and had strange, glowing cyan ice cubes. "Oooh..." awed the pinkette, adoring the colors but not enough to resist tasting it. Tasting things was the second biggest thing Sivvy was known for, after all. Downing most of the glass, she pulled the glass away long enough to make a noise of approval and comment on it. "Mmm, it's really sweet, Arty," she told him before gulping down the rest. It hardly tasted of alcohol at all, and given her unaltered feeling, she thought maybe it hadn't had any. She was, however, getting the intense urge to dance, and the man across from her was certified her favorite dance partner, even if he was her only dance partner. "Do you want more drinks or do you wanna go dance? This music is weird, but I can't resist the beat!"
 

---

 
 

And every time we kiss I swear I could fly, can't you feel my
heart beat fast, I want this to last, need you by my side
Artemis Dagger

The lavender coloured liquid and glowing cyan ice cubes sure made for an enticing drink; one Artemis was sure was bound to give him a little more buzz to thrive off of. But after knocking back the entirety of the cocktail, he felt no immediate 'zing', nor tingle that drinks of a stronger nature might. "Mmm, it is tastier, I was hoping for a little more 'zing' though." He responded to her feedback, at least Sivvy enjoyed it. Perhaps it's alcohol level was really low, or maybe it had no alcohol at all. Upon her query, he glanced over to the crowd, a grin creeping onto his lips. "Let's dance." He responded, guided her over to the group. One hand reaching out and swooping up a shot from a passer-by, ignoring the annoyed 'hey!' from the stranger, as he led his company over to the horde of jumping bodies moving in rhythmic succession.

He knocked back the shot, which turned out to be vodka. Turning to Sivvy, his smirk utterly devilish he allowed his body to move. Much like the time he took her to Club Maria, the dancing was modern and easy to sink into. The hard bass drops and repetitive beats moving his body for him, once again years of experience and training portrayed in how easily he danced along to the music. His eyes trained on Sivvy, flashing her a grin as they danced together. The Sloth Toddy, would slowly begin to take effect on him. He felt the strain melt away from his body, replaced with a pleasant lightness. He felt utterly relaxed and completely lost in the movement. He didn't just feel good, he felt incredible. Like all his struggles had just disappeared at that moment and all was left was him and Sivvy in the middle of the dancefloor. The combination of the Sloth Toddy, as well as all of the other drinks he had consumed, meant that Artemis was more inebriated than he had been since he had ever met Siv. The last time he had gotten close to being this drunk was the night he met Del and they had hit the town together.

Inhibitions lifted, he would move a little closer to Sivvy, spinning himself around her. He would take her waist and pull her back into him, swaying against her. He would bury his face into her neck, "Do you realise how good you smell?" He told her softly, barely loud enough for her to hear over the music, nuzzling his nose lightly against the soft skin of her shoulder. There was perhaps a part of him that told him not to do this, to respect their friendship. But the voice of reason had been drowned completed, all he could focus was how good he felt and how much he enjoyed embracing her. He brought his face up from her neck, leaning close to her ear. "And you look good enough to eat." He purred, his voice heavy with suggestion.

"Gross, Get a room." The voice of a peppy teen, drew his attention, he looked up. Spotting a set of twin girls in matching clothes eying them with disgust. Artemis raised a brow, "Am I seeing double or is there really two of them?" He asked with a chuckle, just how strong was that Sloth Toddy! "Haha so clever. How many brain cells did it take for you to come up with that? One, maybe two. Careful you don't wanna short-circuit. Anyway, can you two like move, we're trying to dance here." The other sister retorted. Artemis stood up, moving around Sivvy and towards the girls. "Do you know who you're talking to? I'm Artemis fucking Dagger, and that is the Ambassador of Dies Irae. We'll dance wherever we want to, and you fetuses can't do shit to change that." The girls exchanged looks, they were young but not naive to think that they could push two adults out of their way.

"Fine, Mr Fartemis Fwuckin Dwagger. You asked for this." The girls would begin to move in sync, dancing together and quite clearly eying the adults with a challenging stare as they did so. The crowd immediately picked up on the energy and moved away, giving the group of four room to hash it out.  "Ohohoo, Shiiiieeet. Aight, if that's how you wanna play. " Arty replied, a merry grin stretching across his face. He turned to Siv,"You ever been in a dance-off babe. Cause we're about to have one. Just follow me okay." And with one swift movement, he would scoop Sivvy close to him, and begin to lead her into a dance-off against the bratty twins.

---

One by One They Fall at My Feet

Sivvy

Unlike the first time they'd danced, where she'd been more than happy to be in his space but very clear that anything romantic or intimate was basically off the table, a very relaxed Sivvy was almost putty in his hands. As usual, his dancing skill was a joy to watch, and his different behavior was electrifying. She danced close to him as she had before, but this time felt different. The girl wasn't one to ever shut off her constant worries and pressures, so having them completely obliterated by the purple drink put her in a place of pure human freedom. It was the perfect storm for her to have no choice but give in to impulses that normally she only analyzed and filed away into the file cabinet of confusion. This was not thinking Sivvy, the one who constantly heard Dr. Raelin's words in her head. This was acting Sivvy, a whole new creature fueled by alcohol, whatever was in that Sloth Toddy, and Artemis.

The pinkette was far more reactionary and tactile than usual. By most of their interactions, it was clear she didn't mind him close to her and showed a preference to touching him even if it was generally platonic. But ever since the Winter Solstice festival, things were getting murky and harder to navigate, harder to separate and understand. The fake wedding had complicated it further. Every move they'd made since meeting had condensed and compounded into this powder keg, and though they may not know it, the trail of gunpowder leading to it was already lit. Inevitably it'd blow up, it was just a matter of time. The last few pieces within Sivvy needed to fall into place.

Her perfect control over her body and reactions was all but gone. This devilish Arty was something she'd never encountered before, but the thrills were exhilarating. As they moved together, body against body, her hands gripped his shirt at his waist, then one hand moved to his hair once his head had lowered toward her shoulder. His whispered words and touches to her neck and shoulder were giving her goosebumps. No amount of alcohol would make concepts foreign to her magically make sense, but it could provide the lubricant for her to investigate without all the prohibitive mind control. At the end of all the messed up things that made up Sivvy, she was still human, and instincts were still a thing. Love might elude her, but she was starting to recognize signs for what they were. She was too smart to deny it any longer. Attraction. Primal. Physical. His suggestiveness drew a giggle from her, especially since he was using a point of reference she understood well. Taste. Food. Something she enjoyed very much, and in her own weird way had linked him to as well, in terms of cravings. "Maybe you should ta--"

Another fun thing was Siv hated to be interrupted, but thankfully for the twins, the Sloth Toddy had her in such a peaceful state that she merely smiled and giggled at them instead of a cold rebuke or worse. She was all out of witty retorts. Alcohol dulled her, made her feel stupid, which was one of the main reasons she usually refrained. Being the giggling bimbo on some rich guys arm was a place she'd been many times for survival, but tonight was different. She was here on purpose, of her own volition. Sure, everything was bright and distracting and blurry, but Artemis was here and he was smiling. It was beautiful, like sun rays. And now it seemed they would be entering into a battle...of feet. "Fartemis? ...Artemis-- Oh, I get it. How silly," she babbled, wanting to get upset that they were mocking him, but being unable to. The beat was too strong and she very much wanted to continue dancing, even if it was off for some reason. Seemed like dance-on would be a better term. Were they not turning the dance on, rather than off?

Either way, as she was re-scooped into his arms, she executed a neat little twirl and leaned her back against Arty's chest. Carmine eyes locked with each of the twins appraisingly, then something weird happened. A smirk spread over her lips and she tilted her head, giving her quite the cocky expression. It seemed she was competitive. "It's a shame for you both. I've been practicing," she taunted, arms snaking up with the fluidity of someone who had indeed been honing her skills. They wrapped around the back of Artemis's neck for a moment as her hips swayed against his, then she slowly slid down him, her hands brushing against his chest as she dipped low, butterflied her legs, then rose back up with a sassy booty pop. She'd watched a lot of videos on LacTube for different types of dancing, and this style seemed to best fit with this bass-heavy music. Swiveling her hips and shoulders, she turned around to face Arty. "Don't worry, I can keep up now."
 

---

 
 

And every time we kiss I swear I could fly, can't you feel my
heart beat fast, I want this to last, need you by my side
Artemis Dagger

Artemis knew Sivvy well enough to know that she would happily take part in the dance-off, in fact he had expected it. She was easy-going like that. What he did not expect, was what she did next. She would spin away from him, leaning back so that her slender frame was pressed against him. Hands reaching back stroking his body as she lowered herself, his eyes would widen, a reflection of saucers as she lowered herself. The little butterfly movement of her bent knees followed by what had to be the sexiest thing he'd ever witnessed in the entirety of his young male life. As her perky rear popped up against him, the man's jaw dropped completely. His head shook in disbelief and he was utterly amazed. "W-When did you learn that?" He croaked, his mouth curiously dryer than it had been moments ago.

It was at this point that the twins stepped up and began to show off their own moves, they were okay. Cute really. Their attempts at synchronicity giving them a small edge, but they weren't exactly professionals and that much was obvious. Artemis, and his cocktail-inflated arrogance, was certain that he and Sivvy would have no issues beating these girls, especially as it was clear that Sivvy had been practising. So they got into it, immediately getting into the groove of it. Artemis preferred this style of dancing, it was much more enjoyable than the dancing his parents had tried to force him to learn. However, despite hating it, it aided his rhythm significantly, even as drunk as he was. Not too mention, he had Sivvy. The little pink-haired bombshell was attractive to look at standing still, and he was fairly confident in his own looks too. They made for an attractive pair and as they moved with each other, reading each other's moves and complimenting one another. The crowd was in no doubt, its awe of the pair, and he lapped it up. Grinning the entire time, one moment he would pop and lock, before smoothly transitioning into a smoother flow. Allowing both Sivvy and the music to lead him, his crimson-hued eyes locked on her the entire time, he had missed her and this night was easing away months of their work-based separation.

On the final beat, Artemis would take Siv's hand and spin her into his arms, spinning on his heel in the process to bring them both full circle. His forehead pressed against hers, and a playful smirk on his lips, with heavy breath, he held her there for a moment. The temptation was excruciating, those rosy lips plump and kissable, inches from his. "Ugh, whatever." One twin snapped, and with a sassy hair flip they both turned on their heels and walked away. Artemis glanced over, watching them leave. He could have looked back at Sivvy, to return to that intimate moment. But he didn't, instead, he stepped back, and let out a loud whoop. "Hell yeah, now that's what I'm talking about! We wrecked them brats." He said to Siv, offering her a high five.

"That was awesome, seriously who taught you those moves Siv?" He asked, beaming down at her, remembering that first night they had danced together and how he had needed to guide her through it. "Oh my god, that was amazing. Even if the paint got like...literally everywhere. And I mean, everywhere, HAHA!" The booming voice of the loud party girl passing by caught his attention. He glanced over, catching sight of a group of clubbers. They were truly covered in paint, and it was indeed everywhere. Curious he turned to Siv and shot her a grin, "Wanna check it out?" He asked with a devilish grin and taking her hand he led her in the direction of where the paint covered members of the crowd were stepping in from.

Soon he spotted the source of the paint, his gaze falling on a drumming station. His face lit up at the sight of it, spotting an opening he pulled Sivvy over to it. Placing himself in front of a drum, he grabbed two sets of drumsticks. Handing a pair to hair, he took a moment to get a feel for the music before jumping in, drumming away. The heavy drumming added a fast-paced hard beat to the music, making it even livelier than before. Whether they were any good was subject to opinion, but regardless the crowd seemed to love it. Artemis welcomed the paint splatters, chuckled as they speckled her face and hair. He would grin over at Sivvy, once again glad that they had come out tonight. He had needed this, badly.

As the song came to an end, he stepped away, dropping the sticks down, he took Siv's hand and pulled her into a hug. He couldn't explain it, maybe it was the shots, but he really just wanted to hold her right now. He leaned his head against hers, sighing deeply, "Promise you'll never leave me kay Siv? Never." He whispered to her softly, squeezing her just a little bit tighter than before.

---

One by One They Fall at My Feet

Sivvy

Sivvy's blood was pumping. The clone was alive, almost as if for the very first time. The drinks, both enchanted and regular, had her synapsis snapping with every emotion that came upon her, embracing it and letting them wash over her just as they were instead of analyzing them and filing them away to be examined at a more convenient time. Showing off her new dancing skills filled her with pride, both from Artemis's reaction and from destroying the two mouthy girls in the contest. Dancing with Artemis was a rush, and the heat in her veins only intensified the more they touched. Sivvy wanted him to touch her, to look at her. She didn't care if anyone else did. Only him.

Once it was over and he'd pulled himself from her, she tried to shake herself from the craving that had stirred up. It felt like a reversal of the first time they'd met, where they'd been like this and Artemis had been tempted, but Sivvy had shut it down. Now she was somewhat on the other side of things, which was confusing but not so much she'd worry about it. She was too buzzed for that. But no amount of alcohol could make some social cues make sense, so poor ignorant Siv countered his victorious high-five with an awkward fist bump into his palm. The smile on her face widened as she basked in his excitement. Where had she learned it? "There's an app on my phone where you can find videos that teach you stuff," she replied, but how much of it he heard was a mystery. Something else had caught the drunk man's attention, and once more she was ushered off to experience another new thing.

The paint drums were actually pretty interesting. The tipsy clone wasn't one to mind getting dirty to start with, so there'd be no complaints from her as glowing paint splatters added some bright dazzle to her loosely fitted black top and her general body. Though she had some sticks of her own, watching Artemis have such a good time was so entertaining she didn't need to drum herself. Once more she was reminded of their first meeting, when they'd taken similar paints and painted on each others' faces. It seemed so long ago. What once had been just a clinical memory now had all this warmth attached to it. She almost wished they could go back and repeat the encounter, but as they people they were now as opposed to then. As oblivious as she could be to herself and her advances, even Sivvy could see she'd changed a lot since then.

Realizing she'd spaced out for a couple moments, she did eventually start drumming, laughing as she did so and got even more paint on herself. They were both absolutely covered and luminous from head to toe. They'd smile at each other, simply enjoying being together and leaving their cares for someone else to worry about. It was new and exciting as every moment spent with Artemis was. Her horizons broadened with each second, each allowance for something 'forbidden'.

As the song ended, she narrowly placed her sticks on top of the drums before she was pulled into his arms, surprised by the intensity of the embrace. Once more their heads touched, and any shock she'd felt by the sudden action melted into familiarity. The heartbeat she adored, the one she felt in her wrist when she checked their friendship bracelets, was close enough to feel without the accessory. Her arms curled around his waist, fingers clenching the back of his shirt as if he'd slip away the moment she let go. Then he asked something of her. Her face crooked up to try and catch his expression, though she'd answer it whether she could meet his eyes or not. Her own expression was warm and sincere as she spoke. "Never, Arty. I'll never leave you. I promise," she whispered in return, not questionig what had prompted the request, but finding the mere thought of not being able to be with him agonizing.

---

And every time we kiss I swear I could fly, can't you feel my
heart beat fast, I want this to last, need you by my side
Artemis Dagger

Under normal circumstances Artemis wouldn't have been this forward with Sivvy, but life had been kind of stressful for the Dagger heir and right now he couldn't be bothered with holding back. Right now, he just wanted to be close to her, to enjoy her proximity. To hear those words that he needed to hear, the moment that the question left his lips. He remained in drunken suspence, because there was so much more behind that question. It wasn't just imbibed conversation, it was more than just your typical exchange of affections that one in his condition might spout. It was so much, he needed to know.

He needed that reassurance, to know that she wasn't going to leave him, to disappear or worse. He had allowed her into that space where no woman had been allowed, not since her. And he knew full well that he couldn't undo this, it was set in stone and all he could do was pray. To hope that she would not fade from his life or that he would not deal her the same fate. She would look up at her, her sweet gaze meeting his, capturing him completely. His own eyes would reflect the glimmer of sorrow as they exchanged glances. And as she answer, a smile would creep onto his lips, relieved although not entirely sure that this promise was enough to ease his worries. Still, he leaned down, planting a soft kiss on her forehead. Remaining there for a tender moment of affection, before moving away once more. "Good." He said simply, then stepping back, he gripped her hand once more, "Now lets go party!" He cheered, before turning and guiding her through the crowd once more.

---