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

[garudas]

Who: Cidolfus Telamon & Benedikta Harman.
Status: Closed.
Where: Around places.
What: Cid and Benedikta follow a lead and sneak into a fancy holiday party. Event stuff TBA.
Warnings: it's them, what do you want from me



🥂 🎄 ❄️

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[ramuhs]

[As Cid shields Benedikta by subtly stepping in front of her and turning his gaze towards the maid, he gives an exaggerated sigh of relief as he hurries over to her.]

Thank heavens! I got a bit lost trying to find someone who could help me. You see, my lovely wife has been wanting peach flavored drink, but unfortunately everything here is alcohol...

[A subtle glance at the maid. Hint hint.]

[garudas]

[He'll feel Benedikta nudge the side of his leg that is out of view with her foot before he departs.

What does he mean by that? Is he implying that she wants juice like some kind of child!? Of course she wants peach wine.

"Oh..." She looks at him, confused for a moment, before it dawns on her. "Ohhhhh. I see. Well, in that case, I could show you our selection of teas that will certainly help her with any discomfort she might be feeling. And they say it is very healthy for babies."

Benedikta nearly chokes.]

[ramuhs]

[His smile just widens.]

Aye, that'll do nicely. And perhaps some food that would be easier on her. Still in the early stages, you see, so she is a bit...sensitive.

[And just going to walk closer to the maid who will turn back around to walk down the other end of the hall.]

[garudas]

[She wishes that she had a drink right about now to wash down the sputter that she feels coming, threatening to give her away before Cid can get the woman far enough that she won't hear her disbelief. There is a scoff, however, and she has to bring a hand to her mouth to stifle the urge to hiss at him. Well, at least it's working—she won't notice if Benedikta closes these doors, but she can't bring herself to.

If Cid looks back, he'll see her blonde head poking out from behind instead of hiding, her eyes narrowed at him in warning as a light wind brushes past his cheek.

"Ah, that is so sweet of you." The maid does blush a little as she leads him out into the hallway. "Is there anything that she does like?"

And as they approach the end of the hallway, the door creaks slightly as she pushes it further open. She waits until they've gone around a corner before she quietly steps out to follow them, her feet as light as feathers wisping across the floor.

Benedikta peers out from around the corner, and she hopes that he cannot sense her presence lingering.]

[ramuhs]

[Feeling that wind, he glances back and just tosses her a wink before focusing back forward.]

My darling has particular tastes these days. Cherry tomatoes, small fruits, crackers, and tiramisu are mostly what she can stomach.

[He's really making her sound like a little bird.



And yes, he knows she's following but he's going to pretend otherwise, finding this all so amusing.]

[garudas]

Why must you always make me sound like a bird...

[She grumbles under her breath, turning the heads of a couple nearby that she ignores as she walks past them.

As they are led through the people mingling and passing in the hallway, Benedikta uses them to shield her as she walks, leaning up against the wall when she thinks they might glance back, and then continuing to pursue them.

"Oh, how delightful. We do have some tiramisu as well as some other desserts available. Some crackers will certainly help settle her stomach, too." She motions around a corner where she will guide him, the hallway opening up into a smaller dining area, and the kitchen is just on the other side.]

[ramuhs]

That would be greatly appreciated, thank you. I tried to tell her we could skip this grand function, but she insisted that we appear.

[A low, resigned sigh.]

You see, I'm a bit new to the business world here, and we thought it would be a good opportunity to meet and make some connections...but I didn't want to push my love to something that could be stressful for her. And yet she was so adamant, encouraging me and not wanting me to fall behind.

[A wistful, fond smile as he can feel the maid's eyes looking up at him with admiration.]

Truly she is too good for me, so I only wish to offer the best comfort I can while we're here.

[garudas]

[She continues to follow, her ire being stoked as he makes her out to be some sort of delicate little lady. As if!!! And yet, in spite of that, she feels her heart fluttering and her chest growing warm at his words, because even if so much of this is a lie, she knows that there is some truth to it, because she has heard it before.]

You...

[Muttered under her breath as she wanders around the table in the next room while they wander into the very spacious kitchen.

"That is very sweet of you. She must know how lucky she is..." Colour tints the maid's cheeks. "But I wondered why I did not recognize you. You seem like the sort of person I would if I have seen you around before."

As Benedikta peeks around the corner again, she makes a face at the woman, only to hide away when they stop.]

[ramuhs]

[A quiet laugh.]

You flatter me. I'm still trying to work the ins and outs of it. In fact, if you don't mind, do you think you could spare some help? Tips or things you may have heard that I could use?

[He gives her an innocent yet charming smile, one that looks so friendly and perhaps even a little hopeful.]

[garudas]

[Stop flattering him! That is her job!

More peeking around the corner though, because she heard his question, and is interested in the answer.

"Well... I have worked for this household for a while now. I know most, if not all, of the people at the party tonight. What exactly are you looking for?"]

[ramuhs]

Then if you don't mind...

[Cid will proceed to ask a few basic questions, such as how the host was able to earn his own wealth and business. This is always a good start as a loyal servant would be happy to share such flattering stories, even if they don't spill any secrets. Which is fine for Cid, that's not his real target. With the maid's guard lowered, he continues with his questions. Who are some guests he should consider speaking to leads him to a number of names—including Danos and his wife. He asks for more information about them and their appearances, mixing Danos in with the group.

This leads to the topic of trends, Cid seeding in the idea that his business is related to shipping, and while not much, the maid does mention that certain products are popular nowadays. A new line of perfume in particular, and she refers back to some of the names mentioned earlier, including Danos.

With the food now prepared and armed with more leads and something to work with, Cid bids her thanks for the assistance. She asks him if he needs help returning, and he waves her off, saying he knows exactly where he left her. And there's perhaps good timing as another servant is calling for her.

So with a friendly wave, he'll slowly turn around to start walking back....]

[garudas]

[From around the corner, Benedikta listens, peeking around every now and then. She can't help but smile to herself, thinking him so incredibly clever and charismatic with the way that he can so easily needle information out of simple-minded girls. Information that should otherwise be incredibly classified, but what woman can resist that charm?

She is smitten by the fact that they do indeed make quite the pair. She is going to have a few words with him about how he described her as some delicate flower, as well as with a child!? Was that really necessary!?

Thoughts that she is all caught up in when she realizes that the conversation has come to an end and he is turning on his heel, likely to head back to where he thinks she is waiting. She scrambles a bit, shuffling past some of the people standing around in the dining area so that she can walk very, very fast back to the room. A brisk walk that turns into an awkward half-jog in heels once she reaches the hallway which is, fortunately, empty, and the door has remained untouched.

She will only arrive back moments before he does, with hardly enough time to straighten herself out. She only just realizes that they have entered a common sitting area with a bed in one corner and a bath in the other. Some sort of guest room? She can't quite tell with how dark it is.

But when he returns, she'll be standing at the center, pretending to look around as she fixes her hair back into place.]

[ramuhs]

[Try as much, there's no escaping his eyes as he spots her before she can disappear completely. He chuckles to himself at that as he keeps his pace slow, giving her a bit of a head start and the illusion that she wasn't caught. He also wants to make it not so obvious he's chasing after her, too, in case there are people watching.

Turning back down the hall, he ensures that no one is following before he quickens his steps to reach those double doors. And once he opens them...]

Hope you weren't waiting long.

[garudas]

Oh.

[She turns around, acting surprised, but she kicks the bottom of her dress back into place when she realizes that it's crooked.]

That took longer than expected.

[Her eyes flit down to the tray of food. Did he really...?]

You would keep your pregnant wife waiting?

[ramuhs]

[There's just a quirk of his lips as he first makes sure the door is locked behind him before moving further in to set the plates and glass on the table.]

I wanted to make sure my love was resting well.

[And then a fuller smirk.]

Except I thought heard her wings fluttering about instead.

[garudas]

Did you?

[Ignoring his smile and instead examining the food tray he's brought. She picks up a cracker and nibbles on the corner, lifting a perfectly arched brow at him in the dark.]

You must have imagined it because I have been here all this time.

[ramuhs]

[Uh huh.]

Then you will have already looked around the room to see if there was anything of worth?

[garudas]

No.

[A pause, silence as she munches, the only sound being the distant music and the crispiness of the cracker.]

I was waiting for you.

[ramuhs]

[He'll just watch her for a moment and nod his head as if in understanding as walks up alongside her.]

Then I should regale you of what I learned from the maid. Of course this was after I sing praises of your beauty and wit, your strong support for the business I am starting—which I should tell you so we won't have conflicting stories later.

[garudas]

[She bristles a bit at that, turning away from him and pretending to pick at more of the food.]

The maid that seemed so very charmed by you.

[ramuhs]

[He sees that bristling and just subtly moving to the other side.]

Oh? How so?

[garudas]

[A glance over her shoulder at him before her entire countenance changes to something mimicking the maid, and her voice takes on a less sharp and more wistful tone.]

"Oh, how very charming of you! How sweet of you...! I would have remembered you if I had seen you before~"

[ramuhs]

[An arch of the brow.]

Now when did you hear that?

[garudas]

[Ah, shit—]

When you were in the hallway. It's not as if she was very quiet about it.

[ramuhs]

In the hallway...which one?