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

Ice?

[She seems surprised by that, but pleasantly.]

What might Garuda think of me wielding Shiva's domain?

[A light giggle as she continues to admire the sword, turning it around in her hands and watching as the pristine blue-tipped steel shines in the light.]

I wonder how this might work with the winds...

I'm sure you could create something extraordinary.

[And while that's half flattery, it's also sincere.]

I am sure that I can.

[Her finger trails along the sharp edge of it, though not firmly enough that she would cut herself. But she sets it down carefully on the table, not wanting it to get in the way as she leans in to kiss him.]

Perhaps I could give it its first test run on a bounty. Together?

[He smiles into that kiss before he looks at her.]

Has been a while since we've been on one. We should try to choose one that would work well given the sword's properties.

Mm, or might it be better if we gave it a true test in both the sword and my skills by going in the opposite direction?

[Another soft kiss that she smiles lazily into.]

I will bring it with me on our next adventure regardless. Thank you, Cidolfus.

[While she does still hold her sword near and dear, as it was her very first sword made specially for her, this one now holds a special place in her heart. It came from him, so of course it does, but it is more than that. Their first Winterstide together as... this. Whatever they are now. Already, it holds special memories that she would not trade in for anything.]

[His own expression can't help but soften at that, and the warmth he feels has become so commonplace now yet still very much treasured as he feels similarly.]

You're welcome.

[There's a more playful grin as he regards.]

Now, my turn?

['Their next adventure'. Who would have thought, but she is already looking forward to it anyway. And after a moment of looking over him fondly, a hand caressing his cheek, she motions to the small pile of gifts for him.]

Yes, which would you like?

[There's the box, a gift bag, and the velvet satchel.]

[Hmmmmmmmm. He eyes the gifts for a moment before he points to the gift bag.]

Let's start with this one.

[It's quite the sizeable gift bag, and as she hands it over to him and sets it on his lap, he'll feel the weight of it. As well as pick up the smell of coffee...]

I do hope you like them...

[Inside, there will be several bags of artisan coffee beans from several different roasteries across Escordvi, including some of the more famous ones, and those known for their high quality and their even higher prices. Some from Elah, some from Nogard, and even some that are labeled from Ocard and Latrommi as well. There are even a few different flavoured beans, like maple and vanilla.

And in the center of it all, padded among the various bags is a tall, black coffee mug. When he takes it out, he will see golden letters lightly embossed on the cup bearing a name:

TELAMON TECH

Below it, a hammer in that same gold.]

[Curious, he takes it and is surprised by it.]

It's got some heft to it.

[He raises it up and down before setting it down on his lap to open it properly. Seeing all the different sorts of coffee, there is a small laugh and sound of amusement along with words of praise and anticipation. He even picks out one he'll try out for the morning.

But when he gets to the mug...he's actually a bit speechless. At first he just thought it was a normal mug, but then he turns it to see the words and the hammer and stares at it a little stunned.]

Is this really...?

[She is a little nervous, considering how much time was spent on meticulously picking out each small bag of coffee for him to sample, and when he picks up the mug, her breath somehow catches a little in her chest.]

Yes, it is.

[Her cheeks are a little redder now, not because of the alcohol.]

I had designed the writing and the little hammer myself. Took far too long to perfect it... and then I had someone place it onto the mug.

[She shifts, moving a little closer to him.]

It is one of a kind, for our Captain. My Captain.

[He keeps turning it around in his hands, eyes shining in admiration and marvel.]

It's beautiful—I almost don't want to use it.

[But of course he will because that's the purpose of it, isn't it?]

That defeats the whole purpose, does it not?

[Her own eyes shine as she watches him admire it, some of that tension that she hadn't realized she'd been holding easing out of her in a relieved sigh.]

You can try your new coffees in the cup. Make the rest of the crew jealous down in the workshop.

[He just laughs quietly at that, his eyes lingering on the words before he finally sets it down so he can look at her.]

I love it. Thank you, Benna.

[He'll then lean in to give her a soft, loving kiss on the lips, that smile never fading.]

[The way that he says her name right then makes all of the trouble worth it. All of the time spent searching, all of the sneaking around behind his back to get her hands on those bags, and then the designing of the mug. She is no artist, to be sure, and the writing and the hammer are far from perfect, but she knows that it will mean much more to him that it isn't. She knows that it doesn't have to be "perfect", if only because it was created by her hand. Though, to be fair, she is quite proud of what she did manage.

So when he leans in to kiss her, she is all smiles, and between the happiness and the wine warming her blood, she tries and fails to stifle a little giggle against his lips.]

You ought to make me some of your coffee in the morning, yes?

Oh I will.

[He chuckles as he pats one of the new bags of coffee.]

Even picked one out already.

Mm, good. I look forward to trying it.

[Another soft, sweet kiss that lingers before she's eyeing the gifts laid out again.]

Why don't you pick one for me this time?

Hmm, all right.

[He muses for a moment before he ha da her the small velvet pouch.]

You are sure it is okay for me to open this one?

[Before she takes it, she gives him a playfully dubious look.

And she'll start to tug it open...]

[He just laughs at that.]

Aye, you can.

[And when she opens it, she'll find tightly wrapped in some gift tissue paper to hide the sound is a small chain of rings that look like any other piece of fine jewelery, however...]

These have a little trick to 'em that I am sure you'd quite like.

[She drops the wrapped tissue paper into the palm of her hand, and by the time she starts to delicately unwrap it, she can hear the metal starting to move against each other, and she glances up at him before peeling it all away fully. Only to find a set of rings, all of them chained together. It is an interesting piece of jewelry, and certainly not what she expected, but they are beautiful nonetheless. She lifts them up to the light in awe, and at his words, she gives a small, curious cant of her head.]

A trick?

[Carefully, she slips one onto her finger with a smile, and it fits perfectly.]

Is it not enough that they are simply pretty? What sort of trick?

[He grins and points to a candle about the height of his hand on the coffee table.]

Hold it up against the candle there.

Oh...?

[With a curious arch of her brow, she slides the rest of the rings on and lifts her hand to the candle...

With her fingers hovering near it, she waits for something to happen, but when nothing does...]

Am I supposed to do something to activate this trick?

[He chuckles and taps against the candle.]

Touch it with the ring.

[Well, that just piques her curiosity more. There is a bit of tentativeness, her ringed fingers reaching out for the candle but stopping just short of touching it. She glances at him again to be sure before she lets her fingers graze the wax, and she gets as far as brushing her fingertip against it before it suddenly jerks and then...]

What—!?

[She pulls back, visibly startled, when it vanishes and she casts a quick look around.]

Where did it go?

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