escordvi | closed 🪶⚡ all i really, really ever want is under the mistletoe

[When Benedikta picks up the lead, Cid is all too willing to join and prepare for their fanciful outing. Even if he has to wear a suit for it, one that would match her dress and tailored by the same seamstress. A dress that Cid certainly eyed for quite some time when she first revealed herself in and made him question if he shouldn't make her change or put something over it—or lock her away completely. Thoughts he only hints and teases her with as he not so subtly helps drape a matching shawl over her shoulders when they depart since it is colder out now.

But at the door, he just grins.]

What, we don't already look like one?

[With his arm still around her waist, he just her left hand with his to reveal the pair of rings gracing their fingers—the same pair they used when they posed as a couple before.]

[Oh, she knows how he feels about the dress—or any of the ones that she dons. It is a large factor in why she picks the ones that she does, besides feeling confident in them. And even as they stand at the front door, she can feel the stares turning their way, eyes taking in the both of them as she preens for the guard. All while hiding the way that her breath catches slightly when he shows off her hand, his fingers coming dangerously close to the ring on her own.

It was not so different from the last time. Especially given how things had happened between them only recently, it had awakened more of those feelings again. Ones that sit heavy on the ring that she wears. But if it is the only way to get them into the party, then so be it.

Benedikta says nothing as the guard looks at their rings, then at them, but she does offer him an overly sweet and cocky smile when he grunts in affirmation and steps aside for them to enter. Her hips sway past him and through the gates into the magnificent courtyard filled with people and couples overflowing from the inside of the house. Her eyes land on the especially gaudy fountain in the center of it all, and she leans in to whisper to him.]

Clearly you are not holding me close enough.

[A snort as his hand tightens around hers and his face tilts closer.]

Or perhaps you are not leaning onto me close enough, letting your eyes wander elsewhere?

[A brush of her nose to his as she leans closer, as he bids her to do. It certainly helps that this is not merely an act...]

Yes, at that horrible looking fountain over there.

[The bridge of her nose crinkles as she turns her head slightly to look at it, and getting a better look at it now—]

Is it supposed to be of the man who lives here?

[Made of marble and gold, it depicts a man standing tall, one foot stepped up over a pile of coins, and a hand reaching up to the sky where the water pours from.]

[His eyes flit over to the statue before his brows raise.]

I imagine so. What is it with the rich and wanting to build gaudy statues of themselves?

I am of the same mind... Is this truly how the rich live here? Remind me not to do this when we retire with all this coin.

[By having to look at a statue of themselves every time they return home? She is confident in many ways, but looking at it would utterly exhaust her.]

Does not help that it is so distasteful... And we have not even seen the inside yet.

[Her hand slips through his, and she nods to the doors.]

[He laughs at that.]

What about gilded statues of birds instead? Or I could a build a mechanical one.

[And he... Really could with the new skills he's learned in his time here.]

But if we are to fit in we'd best pretend. The more rich we seem, the more likely we'll make our desired "connections."

[With their target.]

[Her eyes do light up at the mention of birds, intrigue and a little bit of fondness sparking under the warm lights strung about the grounds, but it flickers away when she huffs a laugh.]

My mistake.

[She lowers her voice with her lips near his ear.]

How is it that rich people act?

[And just a careless shrug as he listens to he voice, enjoying that closeness as always.]

Like they own the world.

[A wry grin as he takes his turn to brush his lips against her ear.]

You are rather good at that, my queen—are you not?

[Oh, she so does love it when he calls her that, and the feel of his lips at her ear send a shiver rippling through her, a soft and breathy laugh following as she looks around.]

I like to think so.

[She moves in to reward him with a quick kiss, her arm around his shoulder to anchor her as she looks around the courtyard.]

Let us go find some wine inside and see if we can't find those connections that we are looking for...

[As another couple wanders by, looking at them.]

I think I saw a table over there.

[And he will expertly guide her, keeping his arm fast around her waist as he carries that natural swagger and confidence to help them appear as if they belong.

Between his natural social charms and her own haughty displays, they should have this in the bag.]

[She lets him guide her through the crowds of other couples through the courtyard and into the house, and the rest is all natural. The sway of her hips, the brush of the wind against the feathers, the curl of her lip when someone looks their way. And then there is him with his smile, his charms, that charisma that seems to light up a room the moment that he walks into it... Perhaps it is not a good thing that they are drawing some attention, but that is all part of fitting in, is it not?

Besides... she does not mind it one bit. Let them stare.

She picks up two glasses of champagne as they pass someone with a tray of them and hands one to him as they enter. There are tables of food scattered about, mostly finger food, but...]

I have never seen half of these things in my life.

[As he takes the champagne, he glances around the food.]

Given this world seems to be full of different culture and cuisines, I'm not so surprised. It does look mostly seafood.

[Which, given the nature of the world, makes sense.]

...But what of those oysters? Those aren't real pearls in them are they? Or is it just something imitating them?

[There are sizeable balls placed on the center of a platter of stuff oysters, their shells open wide to reveal their "treasure." The balls have that iridescent sheen, but really anything could be made with food so he's not sure what to make of it.]

[She looks between him and the spread of very fine looking oysters in front of them, and then motions to them with a grin.]

Why not find out?

[She has even less of an idea than he does!!!]

And risk breaking my tooth?

[A wry look before he does take one because he is curious.]

Find me a knife and I can try cutting it open.

[One corner of her lip slowly curls, and her free hand moves down to adjust the waist of her dress.]

Well, if you would like to grab it, there is one beneath...

[There's a high arch of the brow before he laughs lowly, leaning in closer.]

Tempting...but I think we'd fare better if we used a dining knife.

[She gives a disappointed click of her tongue and brushes her dress back into place.]

Mine is sharper.

[But there is amusement gleaming in her eyes despite her frown as she lets her gaze brush over him before she's searching the table. She'll have to lean away to grab it and twirls it between her fingers as she hands it to him.]

Better?

[And he will watch the way her body leans before taking the knife with a grin.]

Much.

[He then turns back to the plate, moving them a little to the side for more privacy.]

Now, let's see what this is really made of.

[Because while he can imagine someone rich enough willing to show off by giving away pearls, he also would expect more for them to be greedy and show off their wealth like this in a different way.

And so he'll tap the knife against the outer shell and sure enough, although a little tough its soft, clearly meant to be chewed. And when he cuts it...]

[She is very curious now as he leads them aside. It looks just like any other oyster that she has seen, save for the pearl. The hard outer shell is to be expected, and for a moment she thinks that it might really be a pearl, but as he cuts into it...]

Oh—

[The "pearl" pops, exploding with a creamy sauce that spreads over the meaty part of the oyster. It spills over the edges of the shell and fills the plate, some of it dripping over onto Cid's hand, and Benedikta glances around over her shoulder to make sure no one's watching before she laughs.]

Surely there are easier ways to do that...

[It's a good thing he's not wearing gloves or those would have to be tossed. As it is, he raises his hand to take a lick over the drops on his finger.]

Mm, gives it an extra flair, I suppose. But it's rather good.

[And then a pause and grin before he holds out his hand where there is still some sauce left.]

Care to try?

[She watches him, amusement shining in her eyes, her gaze flitting to his tongue for just a moment.]

Mm, don't mind if I do. But I do I wonder if the point is to pop it in your mouth, with the meat.

[She does step closer, however, and leans in, parting her lips and waiting—]

[A quiet chuckle.]

Maybe so.

[He then lifts his hand so that his fingertip first brushes against her lips, smearing it a little before resting just against her lips as he leans in closer.]

Perhaps you could try it next.

[She should not be surprised at all, but her lips part around a gasp when his finger comes up to smear a dabble of sauce across them. She nips at it playfully, her tongue flitting out to take some of it from him with a grin that makes its way all the way up into her eyes.]

And ruin my lipstick? We have only just arrived, Cidolfus.

[But it is quite delicious, she has to admit. And she doesn't just mean the sauce—]

It's going to be ruined one way or another, might as well be the first cause of it, hm?

[A smirk as he watches, lingering for only a few moments before he pulls away to bring the plate up to her.]

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