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

[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?

Far better.

[His lips brush against her skin as he continues to travel down her neck, perhaps sharing a little of that same thrill. They could be caught at any moment, and yet what was a joking cover story may not be such a "joke" after all. Should anyone see them like this, would they really question why? Well, maybe, but they could play it off.

Still...]

However.

[His teeth nips the top of her breast, a place that would be somewhat hidden by the dress, while fingertips slide over her skin as if appraising the soft, smooth feel of it.]

I may want to savor this piece of treasure later. Take my time with it to discover all its little secrets.

[The heat of levin will dig into her skin before he pulls back and she'll feel the coolness of some gemstones that were in that drawer, a dotted line right down the center of her cleavage.]

[His teeth on her skin manage to draw soft, pleading sounds from her lips, quiet in his ears for only him to hear, and at the heat of the levin, her hips jolt beneath him, her already threadbare restraint at risk of snapping completely. His name leaves her on a sigh, one that turns into a sound of frustration when he pulls away from her.

The touch of something cold sends a shiver over her skin, raising goosebumps, and as she shifts to see what they are, they cascade down her chest and into the cleavage of her dress.]

It would seem there are far more riches than even I anticipated...

[She smiles approvingly at him, and lets the last of those jewels fall and gather in her dress.]

You will want to explore it...

[It's her turn again, the clatter of coins as shaky hands reach clumsily for them filling the space in between her breaths. Her fingers trail slowly along the length of his belt, dipping just beneath his shirt to touch the warmth of his skin, before she drops more coins into his other pocket.]

Thoroughly.

[Heat continues to rise as he watches those gemstones disappearing, provoked even further when she touches him and drops those coins.]

I will be sure to.

[She really is terrible for him, tempting him away and distracting their focus. He's usually better than this, but how he so wishes to indulge a little more, mess her up a little more...

But just as he moves in to perchance steal another kiss, there are voices outside the door. Immediately the spell is broken and he glances before looking at her, pulling her up. He then quickly mouths, "Put everything back," before quickly grabbing what's fallen.

Wouldn't do to have them sound the alarm if they start noticing things missing too quickly.]

[She is moving to meet him halfway, but only he is the one who draws back when those voices sound out from the other side of the door. One voice more familiar—a squawking sort of noise. And she swears she hears him asking about the lady in the feathered black dress. She would have been happy to continue, happy to accept that kiss regardless, so when he pulls her up with him, there's a fiery, frustrated look in her eyes, and a woeful growl that comes with it.

She lifts one finger, mouthing "you owe me one kiss" to him before she kicks her legs off the desk and picks up the black book as well as the papers that had been thrown askew. She puts the book back into the drawer where it belongs and takes a few coins before she shuts it.

With a glance around, Benedikta motions to the door on the other side.]

[He just gives her a wry grin and a wink at that, and after making sure everything is back in order (or at the very least not so obvious things were disturbed), he quickly moves over to her while glancing at the other door.

The voices are louder, closer, but fortunately so far nothing amiss. It seems there's some chatter, and a new voice that's loud and boisterous can be heard as well as another.

"I do believe we can work out a wonderful deal! Here, we can speak more in my office for a moment."

If Benedikta had been working to get that door open, she better have gotten it now!!]

[It takes a few tries for her to get the door unlocked, but she manages to swing it open just as the other door clicks. There's a panicked sound from the bird as he realizes his own keys have disappeared, but no time to linger on it. She grabs Cid by the hand and pulls him through, closing the door quietly behind them when the opposite one swings open.

It leads them out into a darker, quieter hallway, further from the sound of the party at one end, and as soon as they are through, Benedikta can't help but smile at him before she glances around. There are several more doors, but her interest falls on the set of double doors at the end of the hall.]

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