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

[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.]

And what is that supposed to mean?

[There is a very clear flicker of regret when he moves away from her, her lips chasing after him but not quite catching him before the plate is brought between them, her gaze ravenous, darkening with the promise of what is to come later.]

Are you saying that I am a messy eater?

[She carefully picks up the piece of meat that sits in the shell with a fork, and shakes off excess sauce before taking a bite of it.]

Not at all.

[A wry grin as he does the same.]

I just know that some traces can't be helped.

Only because you made them.

[She narrows her eyes for a moment, but as she chews on the food, her expression turns a bit more thoughtful.]

I do quite like the sauce... What do you suppose it is? A bit spicy...

[He just waggles his brows playfully as he chews before humming in thought.]

Not sure...we could ask, see if they could give some hint assuming it's not some secret recipe.

And risk giving ourselves away?

[She shakes her head, and with the last bite of the meat on her fork, she brings it to his lips.]

We might as well try what else this party has to offer first. It is not every day we get to eat this fancy. [A pause, and she smiles.] It is almost like a date, isn't it...

[He honestly wouldn't care and still ask—but there is a small rise of his brows before he smiles as he takes that last bite, eyes warm.]

It is...and now that you mention it, it has been a while since we've been on a proper one, hasn't it?

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