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

[She returns to the page and sets the book on the desk so that she can dig through her phone.]

A light, if you would be so kind.

[As her own magic fades when she clumsily pulls up the camera to take a photo.]

Were there no other names that we should be looking for?

[At her request, there's a small crackle of his levin before the soft light appears for her.]

Let me see... Ah, I think I remembers few from the ledgers that appeared a few times.

[Recalling the names, he tells Benedikta at least four others that was deciphered.]

[After she takes that first picture, she searches through for the four other names mentioned, and the further she goes, the more her expression seems to tighten with her irritation.]

Every single one of them in here. I should not be so surprised, and yet...

[Click.]

I am starting to wonder if we should be questioning our gracious host instead.

Also a possibility. And yet if he is part of the trade, he hasn't made a show of any of the goods we know that are involved.

Still, could warrant an investigation around, see what we can find.

Mm, and with the guards being such simpletons, it should be easy to get access around. And what of you?

[She takes a few more pictures of the pages, just for good measure.]

Have you found anything useful in the shelves?

Actually, now that you ask....

[He doesn't want to get her hopes up, so he speaks carefully.]

I found a few that could be of interest for own little problems.

[She lowers her phone then, trying to stem that little spark that she feels in her chest, but it still somehow edges into her voice, making it falter.]

Solutions? Perhaps some potions or magic?

In some ways. [Hmm.] As you know, I have been talking with others, and I've come to believe that our "curse" is not so much of a curse at all, but a side effect of how we use our aether, particularly the over use of it. I can explain more later, but there are a few books here that discuss similar concept of overusing magic, the risks observed, and methods to prevent it.

More importantly, there was something about "converting" different magics, such as those from other worlds.

[Her chest rises and falls with a slow breath, and she hadn't realized how intently her gaze had focused on him until he finishes.

She isn't quite sure how to feel about all of this. "Side effect" does not make her feel much better about it than "curse" does—in the end, it does the same thing, and the result would not change with the use of her magic. It is still disappointing, frustrating even that they have yet to find something that can reverse the effect, or even stop it, but whatever leads they are able to find on it, she will take them.]

Converting magics? Do you mean so that it works more like it does here? What of our aether? And the Eikons themselves...

[She pulls herself back a bit.]

I am getting a little ahead of myself.

[There's a soft, wry smile.]

Something like that. My main concern was whether any methods, be it from other worlds or this world, would even work on us because our aether is unique to us. But the text suggests there could be ways to do so.

I'll have to read more on it later.

[He knows she wants a simple answer, one that would get rid of it all entirely. But he doubts that such a simple solution exists, which is why he looks towards more alternative methods in the meantime. Something that can serve as a suitable stopgap.]

[If they were not standing in the middle of this godforsaken office in this godforsaken house, she would walk up to him and wrap her arms around him right about now, lest she be overtaken by that disappointment. Instead, her fingers flex around the edge of the desk and she chews on her lip, her brow twitching with the beginnings of a frown.]

It is our aether that is the problem... but if we could find these books elsewhere, then it would be as good a place to start as any.

[She offers him a crooked smile in return, a light joke to try and dispel the tension she feels in the back of her shoulders.]

If not, we could always break in here again to steal them.

[And likewise, he would go up to her and hug her, but he will make it up to her later.]

These books don't look to be rarities, so we have some luck yet.

[Instead, he'll step over to her and reach out to gently brush her hair back.]

There were some others that seem interesting, but I can tell you more about it when we're home.

Or over more wine.

[What if... she indulged just a little bit?

He makes it very difficult for her not to when he brushes back her hair like that, her eyes closing at the feel of it. So she'll close the rest of the distance between them in a single step, until she is pressed flush to him, and she can lean up to kiss him. That is enough to make her feel better.]

Shall we keep looking? Or should we see what else these keys open before someone comes in and discovers us where we should not be?

[He accepts that kiss and returns it just as gently.]

If someone comes in, we can just say we stumbled into the room wanting a bit of privacy.

[A smirk.]

But I think we got what we need for now. Let's see where else we can go.

For privacy.

[She kisses him again with a pleased wiggle of her shoulders.]

I like your thinking. But first...

[Benedikta leans back over the desk, and she might be arching just a bit for... Reasons. A good view. Her eyes flit to him and then down to the drawers. She slides the first open and there's the telltale jingle of coins inside.]

We might as well help ourselves while we are here.

[There's a slight arch of the brow when she leans back like that, and he will take full advantage of the view she's offering. If they weren't in the middle of something, he might actually try to make their little "act" a reality.]

And where do you plan to hide it all?

[She brushes her leg up his side, and there's a light clink of metal as she comes back to him with several gold coins held between her fingers.]

Your pockets should be enough to hold some, yes?

[And he'll feel a sudden and firm tug on the pocket of his pants.]

[She's going to feel something else if she keeps this up—]

Might be able to make some room.

[Maybe that is the plan. And she is not going to let up on it as she slips her hand down into his pocket, making sure that he feels the firm graze of her nails through the fabric as she drops the three coins in.]

You have your jacket too, but... we might want to save some room in case we find other things of value, hm?

[A brush of her lips over his jaw as her hand slooowly slides back out.]

[This woman... His gaze sharpens at her movements and touch, knowing she's trying to provoke him.]

So I've become your luggage now, have I?

[A low voice as his arms will suddenly reach on either side of her, pinning her to the desk.]

I'm sure we can few little "nooks" and "crannies" on you for a few small things, too.

[The little black book clatters to the floor when she's caged against the desk, and she preens and chuckles low under her breath. Her leg hooks around him playfully, pulling him closer, her dress falling away from it and to her hips.]

Do not worry your pretty little head. You will receive your share for carrying it around. Plus interest.

[She knocks on the desk with her knuckles.]

Now, be a dear and grab the rest, will you?

[His eyes bore into hers for several moments before he there's a low chuckle and he just sways his hips a little.]

Seem a bit caught.

[That sends a jolt to places it shouldn't at a time like this, and she bites her lip, her eyes darkening as they rove over him.]

Would you like me to move?

[As she scoots a little over the desk, laying back until she's propped up on her elbows. It gives him plenty of room to lean over her now—]

[Oh so is this how she wants to play it, hm?

His eyes slowly travel down the length of her torso, lingering at the way her cleavage is revealed more, the top of her dress looking as if it's only barely hanging on. As he slowly leans over, his hips press more against hers while his hands slide up her sides until he's pressed more on top of her.

Now their faces are within hairbreadths of each other, his eyes now back on hers.]

Hmmm, depends on the kind of movement.

[A low voice, lips brushing against hers.]

But think there's something over here...

[His lips travel down her chin to the underside of her neck, one hand reaching out on the desk as if to grab something...

...

While the other has moved over to that gap in her chest, slipping beneath to find something else grab.]

[Her head falls back in invitation, something else falling to the floor as she arches even further, and when his fingers start to travel, she has to bite her lip to stifle the sound that nearly leaves her. There is so much wrong with this, but perhaps that is the thrill of it all, and it certainly has been a while since they've shared a moment like this. With all the risky business that comes and goes in their days, especially lately, this is the thing that gets her blood and aether thrumming the most, sending an overwhelming heat through every inch of her.]

Is there?

[She teases, coming back in so that she can search for his lips, and her other leg slides up his other side.]

Something better than the gold, I should hope?

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