#i'm eepyyyy . have some dec n echo

[bluntforcefem]

Declan & Echo for 8 :eye::eye:?

8. an arm sneaking around a waist, holding them close

the ballroom is stuffy, crowded, ostentatious, and a million other disparaging adjectives that echo is bored enough to start listing off. declan had looked just as tired of the whole display as they had before they got separated. the favors they do for elegy in favor of extra intel are always... interesting.

it is, at least, an excuse to dress up. all of echo's practice has come in handy—their heels click on the tile, satisfying, and the way they hold themself means most people don't bother approaching for small talk.

most people.

they clock the man who comes up to them as both old money and an asshole the moment he tries to catch their attention. what he wants, they don't know and they don't care, but they play along with the niceties as they study him. the conversation, though, begins to drag uncomfortably; he takes a step forward and they slide back, easy, pretending at ignorance.

"behind," they hear, recognizing dec's voice almost instantly. they don't startle as he slides an arm around their waist, the jewelry hanging from his horns jingling lightly as he tugs echo against his side. "so-orry, we've ju-ust got to be goi-ing-!"

"oh, is it that time already? really is a shame," echo says, resisting the urge to smirk as they play along. declan hums in amusement as the stranger flees, doesn't let go as the two of them step in turn across the floor and tuck themselves away in the alcove of a heavy curtain. there's no real reproach in their next words, mostly teasing. "i did had that handled, dec."

"i kno-ow." declan knocks his head into theirs, gentle as usual, eyebrows furrowed apologetically. "but i di-idn't like hi-im at all!"

"but i could've stolen from him," echo pretends to mourn. they grin as declan snickers, the two exchanging a look as they put their hands over his and twine their fingers. "well, the night's still young."

"ho-ow much ca-an we g-et, do yo-ou think?"

"as much as we want," they drawl, and declan's delight sharpens to a point at the same time as their own.