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]

Ah, ah, but that wouldn't be good for our little egg.

[Smirk.]

[garudas]

Our little what—!?

[She throws a cracker across at him!!!]

And what if rumour begins to spread, hm!?

[ramuhs]

[He'll half-heartedly deflect the cracker, letting it fall to the floor with a laugh.]

What, as if anyone would know!

[garudas]

The maids will all gossip about the sweet man who took such good care of his wife who is with a baby. And then they shall point you out the moment we step foot into their view.

[She sips at the drink, only half as angry at him as she is pretending to be. Everything else that he had said had been far too sweet for her to be mad about it.]

"Look at that good husband taking such good care of his wife and child!"

[ramuhs]

So?

[He pulls up a chair and sits down next to her.]

That just makes us all the more unassuming...and perhaps more vulnerable.

[Yet he says that with a mischievous grin.]

[garudas]

[She pouts at him.]

Or you simply wanted everyone to believe and admire you for being the most doting husband.

[She leans over him and flicks him gently between his brows.]

I might have preferred you charming her instead.

[ramuhs]

[There's a small wince, but he laughs as he picks up a cherry tomato and holds it up to her.]

Would you?

[garudas]

[She stares at that tomato for a few beats before she simply leans further and takes it between her teeth, making sure to nip at his fingers on the way.]

Yes. At least then I could have set the record straight.

[ramuhs]

[He feels that nip, but it does little to change his mood. If anything it just encourages him further as he starts to cut into that tiramisu to get her a spoonful.]

I can only imagine how you might go about doing that.

[And now a little wave of the spoon.]

Come now, I thought you would have appreciated my efforts to show what a true, loving couple we are. Although I suppose it does conflict with your earlier charms with the bird earlier.

[Said with a light smirk.]

[garudas]

[He is spoiling her! First the peach drink, then the tomato, and now tiramisu!? She knew that he had gotten all of this, but she pretends to be surprised anyway—and she is, only because he insists on feeding her. Once she's finished with the tomato, she takes the spoon between her lips instead, her leg nudging in between his knees to rest on the edge of his seat.]

As if there was any doubt that we were not a true, loving couple.

[There's a slight roll of her eyes, audible in her voice.]

I just hope that, for your sake, I do not have to field well wishes from the servant girls when we step out there.

[She licks her lips, swiping away the tiramisu from them.]

Now, are you going to regale me in the tales she told you or not?

[Because she totally didn't hear them.]

[ramuhs]

Do I really need to?

[He'll lean in close, a thumb brushing over the corner of her lips where she missed some cream as his voice lowers.]

I know you were listening in from the very start, hiding around the corner behind those plants.

[garudas]

[She lets her lips part, a soft purr escaping her at the sweet, warm trail that it leaves behind...

Only for that heat to suddenly cool when he calls her out. She straightens slightly, her gaze flitting away and then back.]

What plants? I was here the whole time waiting for you, as I said. Why in the world would I follow?

[ramuhs]

And yet you heard everything that wasn't discussed until after we left that hall.

[He leans in closer.]

Come now, Benna, you think you can hide from me?

[garudas]

[Her face twists, her frown going through several different emotions one after another in the silence before she finally breaks—]

I only wanted to be sure that you would not get into any trouble...! Or that she would not try anything funny.

[She bristles again, trying to shake off that pesky heat rising into her cheeks.]

I was not expecting you to start sharing with the world your feelings for me.

[She's being dramatic.]

... Did you truly mean all of it?

[ramuhs]

[His smile only widens as she sputters about, the change in her emotions quite amusing and pleasing to see. His hand now gently brushes over her cheek, as if to try and soothe and cool that heat that's grown.]

Of course I did. I have no reason to lie or make up anything about us.

[Well except for the pregnancy thing.]

[garudas]

[She leans into his touch with a weary sigh, but her heart flutters quietly in her chest.]

Are you going to be like this when all of it is true?

[ramuhs]

Oh, no.

[And then a roguish grin as he leans in close enough for his breath to ghost over her lips as his voice lowers.]

I am going to be far, far worse.

[There's a playful gleam in his eyes, but there is also something else. A kind of expectant hope, an anticipation that while he isn't really thinking or planning any of the sort to happen quickly, when the thought does come to mind it makes his own heart race and smile. A flutter of hopeful joy that is hard to contain at times.]

[garudas]

[She should have known. She should have known and yet, there's a flicker of surprise in her eyes before she's tapping her palm against his cheek in a light "smack", if one could even call it that.]

You are going to be the most insufferable man in the world, aren't you?

[She leans in, kissing him, and when she pulls back, she has a tomato in her fingers that she replaces her lips with against his.]

[ramuhs]

You mean I'm not already?

[A quiet laugh before he takes that tomato from her fingertips, lips brushing against them before he rolls the tomato around his mouth to one side.]

Suppose I need to try harder.

[And then a bite after he closes his mouth with a more mischievous grin.]

[garudas]

No, but you are going to be hard-pressed to follow tonight, that is for certain.

[She moves onto his lap, draping herself over his legs and wrapping her arms around his shoulders in a single and practised motion, forgetting or not caring where they are or that anyone could try to unlock the doors at any moment to find them where they should not be.]

I ought to be sure to punish you later for spreading rumours about me, though.

[ramuhs]

Come now, as if we'll ever see any of these people again. And we could always make it not a rumor...

[With his arms already around her waist, his lips tease her as his hands tease around her dress.]

[garudas]

[She chuckles, teasing him in return, but she does gently swat at his hand before she takes it, threading her fingers through his. She brings it up, letting her lips brush over the ring on his finger.]

In some rich man's guest room? I would very much like to attend these parties again...

[ramuhs]

Would you really?

[He watches her for a moment, eying the way her lips move over that ring that he wishes wasn't for pretend.]

Perhaps if I play my cards right we could get a formal invitation.

[garudas]

[She peppers it with soft kisses, the metal cool against her lips, before she moves along his finger.]

Your cards?

[Her eyes meet his, intrigue sparking within them even in the dark.]

And what cards might those be?

[ramuhs]

You heard my conversation with the maid.

[He grins a little.]

Suppose I actually do make some business connections here? Of course... I am not so enamored at the idea of joining hands with just anyone, and the guest list is dubious, but perhaps there could be a few names worth noting.