escordvi | closed 🪶 i'm in the end, just what you made me.

Just—

[SORRY BUT THIS—]

Well—she's old all right—

[He's wiping his eyes. Does she get the hint?]

[Not quite yet, and she's only bristling more!]

What is that supposed to mean!?

[Did Cid find himself an older woman? How much older? She has half a mind to slap him across the arm again, if he keeps laughing like this! Take her seriously!!!]

[OKAY OKAY—]

Hell if I know her real age and doubt anyone would live if they tried to ask.

[Another snicker as he clears his throat.]

But Old Nan is one of my finest merchants, capable of bringing in goods that none other can get their hands on.

[Another snort.]

No, the only flames she'd be setting is all our asses should we do her wrong. Not a woman to be trifled with—and I would commend any old sod who managed to try and date her and lived to tell the tale.

[Benedikta is equal amounts embarrassed and relieved when she hears him blurt out "Old Nan", and it unconfirms all of her suspicions that she regrets ever having, and voicing out loud. She should have just kept her fucking mouth shut because now her face is flushing and the sun shining through the windows no doubt illuminates that fact...

And it doesn't help that he is standing right in front of her.]

So, she isn't. You could have just said so!

[He did. But she's blaming him anyway!!!]

[He did and that smug look on his face says as much even if he doesn't voice it.

Now his smirk is only deepening further as he takes in her flushed face.]

Now what would you do if I did have someone else?

[If this were more serious he would call her out on double standards, but as it isn't this is amusing as it's revealing a lot.]

Edited 2023-11-28 21:54 (UTC)

[She shifts uncomfortably, suddenly breaking eye contact with him.]

Then this deal of yours would be off the table. Among other things.

[A glance at him through the corner of her eye, and then she focuses on Ash past him still sitting on the table grooming her paws, unaware or uncaring that she is being watched.]

... Is there?

[Ah ah. Just a grin and slight tilt of his head.]

But that would have been in the past, not current. So why would it matter?

[She chews on the inside of her lip because damn it, he got her there.]

It wouldn't.

[She's just going to try shoving his arm away so that she can escape from being pinned against the counter, thank you.]

I was simply asking if she was, and then you started laughing!

Well if you were in my position, think you'd do the same.

[A smirk.

Also no not budging. Yet, anyway.]

But if you really must know... I've only had one person who I'd consider an "old flame."

[And now he steps back, grinning.]

And you know her quite well.

[Well, it's not like she was trying that hard to escape, and when he moves back, she remains where she is.]

And who is she?

[As if she doesn't know the answer.]

[Just a half shrug with a small tilt of his head.]

Not as much fun if I just tell you.

[That annoying head tilt he does...

She just does it right back, her hip cocking the other way.]

And if I find her myself? What then?

Then I hope you have an enjoyable conversation.

Or try not to fight over me.

[Smirk.]

[Why won't he just say whether or not she is right in her suspicions!? Why does he keep dancing around this!? It's infuriating, and there is just the lightest, briefest furrow in her brow as she tries to maintain a straight, proud expression.]

You and I both know I would win.

[Because it's fun seeing her suffer— And she knows the answer to this, surely.]

I do.

[And now, that smirk widens.]

But that means I'm worth fighting over, eh?

[It's her turn to step closer to him, leaving only a small space between them as she meets his gaze...]

I never said that.

[...before turning it to the rest of the apartment, finally having the chance to note it without a cat in her way.

And she'll just casually start walking in the direction of his room to peek shamelessly at it...]

[He eyes her for a moment...before they do a half roll at her answer, a small laugh escaping him before he follows.]

It was implied.

[He won't stop her, though, since there's not much to hide. It's a fairly simple room, with the standard furniture in place with a bed neatly made. He does have a desk on the other side of the room, some papers and pens a little scattered but otherwise things are...organized in his usual way. Even has a few notebooks and books on the shelf above it.]

[She pauses in the doorway, looks around, and immediately makes her way to his desk. Even in Waloed, that was always the place she went. There was something about it that had her curiosity getting the best of her, always wanting to look at what he was working on, listen to him explain things to her that she would never understand. The corner of his desk was one of her favourite places to perch... back then.

And now, though she might seem disinterested in most things—and she is—there is still that innocent curiosity that shines behind her eyes, deep within, as she peeks at the papers that are organized on his desk, shuffling them around a bit and leaving her own little brand of chaos before moving on to the books.]

What are you working on this time?

[She pulls out a notebook to flip through it.]

[He just leans against the doorway, arms crossed over his chest as Ashtail saunters inside to hop on one of the perches Cid installed to keep her from his own shelves (didn't work).]

This and that.

[So helpful. But also partly in jest.]

Mostly been looking at the various tech they have here and comparing it to what we had back in Valisthea. But I do have a few projects lined up, including a conductor for some new machines they are working on.

Got approval for a lease for a workshop, so will be taking care of that soon, too.

A workshop?

[She lifts her gaze from his scribblings in the notebook to look at him, a brow hiking up.]

Here on Nogard?

Where else?

[A slight arch of the brow.]

Can't do too much tinkering here, and Eltrut's a bit far.

[She just shrugs and gets back to idly fingering through the notebook filled with diagrams of different things that she still doesn't really understand.]

You did always have a knack for tinkering.

[She shuts it and tosses it to the desk on top of some papers before she sits along the edge of it, fingers trailing over the wood.]

... And I did like to watch.

Interested in watching again?

[Now he'll slowly saunter over towards her—]

Or—

[—he doesn't pin her like he did before at the counter, but he will lean a hand against the desk to lean close to her.]

—would you like to be my next masterpiece?

[Her eyes meet his for just a moment when he leans in, and there is a slight pull of her lip, and a heavier roll of her eyes.]

Hm. I think I might be a little too tricky for you to figure out, Cidolfus.

Well you know me.

[That slight cant of his head and waggle of his brow.]

I enjoy challenges.

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