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

And I still have one for you.

[That he also hesitates for some reason.]

What if we opened them at the same time?

[...

She just glances nervously at him...

And then gives a shake of her head.]

No, it is better if I do it after yours. There is not much to open, per se...

[There's a sharp rise of his brow at that...

And then a more mischievous smile forms as he slowly pulls out the last small box he had hidden behind himself and hands it to her, leaning in closer as he does.]

One of those gifts, hm?

No—!

[She flushes further at that, lifting the scarf around her face to hide the embarrassment there, and she snatches the box from him, lifting that too in between them.]

Not at all, but if you would like, I am certain I could arrange for it.

You know my answer to that.

[He continues to smile mischievously, but his eyes do move and linger on the box. He's given her many things in the past year, some more personal and sentimental than what is in there. Yet for some reason, perhaps now because he's not trying to sway her feelings towards him anymore, he feels a little nervous. A confidence he is lacking because unlike the other gifts one, this one left him a little uncertain on what she would think.

Which is silly because it's nothing extraordinary.

When she opens the box she will find inside two pieces of jewelry: a set of necklaces with small pearls on a simple chain, and a matching pair of clip on earrings with a larger pearl set with a small feather behind it, almost like a flower petal or a leaf.]

[While she is expecting some form of jewelry, when she opens it, her heart practically leaps and her breath is stolen from her in mere seconds. One might think from looking at her that she would prefer more lavish things, and in some cases she does, but when it comes to the jewelry she chooses to wear, she prefers the simpler, more subtle things. And this fits into that.

Her lips fall open in a silent gasp, and her fingers run over the golden chain and the small pearls that decorate it. They're smooth and cool to the touch, shimmering in the warm light of the room. They move over the earrings next, and she gingerly picks up the little feather pendant to rest it on her hand, observing it closer.]

Cidolfus, these are... beautiful...

Do you like them?

[Although he tries to hide it, she can likely sense and hear that bit of nerves as he watches her.]

[She can, and she will glance down at the pearls again before she looks at him, that wine-induced haziness in her eyes clearing until all that is left is fondness and a love for him that only grows.]

Like them? I... these are perfect.

[If he had any doubts left, she leans in to kiss him, though this one is not as soft as the others. Her lips crash into his, locking him into a passionate kiss that is filled with all sorts of feelings, as well as her gratitude. She parts only enough for her to whisper over his lips.]

I love them.

[He's too surprised to do more than just accept the kiss at first, but then he relaxes when it does sink in that she does in fact like—love—the gift. A small sigh of relief mixed with a wry laugh escapes his lips as his nose brushes against hers, head leaning forward so that their foreheads touch as his eyes first meets hers before drifting down.]

I wasn't sure... I know you always wear the pendant, but I thought you deserved better options for whenever we went out to nicer places.

[More importantly he just wanted to get her something nice. Something that would be seen as luxury. Gemstones are not so difficult to find, and while he's never given her anything "cheap," most are things he's found on his own and had them crafted. These pearls are genuine and appraised for a much higher value. Still within his means, but he might have stretched his budget a bit for them.

So while there was certainly a lot of inherent worth in things he's had a more personal hand in, there was a different value here that he also wanted her to have. And that was something very new for him to do.]

[He could give her anything and she would adore it. Pearls, gemstones, silver, gold, or simply his hand to hold and she would have been perfectly fine with that. Even still, luxuries were few and far between in their world, especially as she was growing up, and so even the smallest ones feel like a lot to her. Even now, after he's given her so much of it in many different forms, it feels more special when it does come. And this is certainly no small one. She knows how valuable pearls are, and she knows that he would not simply go halfway on something.

With a brush of her nose against his, she kisses him once again.]

You silly old man. Were you worried that I would not?

Well...

[The word drags out and only ends with a small half shrug, because he does know she's appreciated and treasured everything he's given her.]

Bit new territory for me.

[Her laugh is soft, and though there is a hint of teasing to it, it is nothing if not fond.]

I think all of this is new territory for us, hm? Even last winter, we were... not quite like this.

[Living together in their home. Showering each other in gifts just because they can. Indulging one another in little things that will make them happy.]

We were not.

[A rueful smile against her lips before he presses them against hers.]

I only want to give the best for you, Benna.

[His words tickle at her heart, perhaps more than he realizes, and the only way that she can show him what they mean is by closing the distance between them again with yet another kiss, this one leaving behind a burning need as she pauses for a breath.]

You do not always have to work so hard, you know.

[Another kiss.]

Not anymore.

[And then another, before her arms are going around his shoulders.]

[He knows in his head, but in his heart he will always feel as if he needs to make it up to her. Make up for all the misunderstandings, missed opportunities, missing her...

So he only pushes back with that kiss, arms tightening around her before he's pulling her back to him as he leans back against the couch, that heated desire to not let her go clear.]

[The box is gently set aside on the table for now, arm stretching to reach before it goes back around him, and she falls with him to the couch. The touch of her lips is firm, her own desire making it clear that she does not intend to let him go anytime soon either.

She also knows that saying as much will change nothing because she feels the same. There are so many days, months, years to make up for. So many missed opportunities. So much anger. She wants to banish them from their thoughts and fill them instead with memories like this one. And even when they have finished that, she does not think that either of them will be able to stop. This is just the way that things are now, and she would have it no other way because it is so very them.

Her body melts over his, relaxing, and she only parts from him when her lungs betray her with their need for air. She chastises herself, missing the taste of his lips when she does, but at one point, she giggles.]

This will make my last gift to you seem far too silly...

[At some point a hand slid down behind her and around her hip to guide her leg more over him as they settle in position, and his lips play with hers as he hums in response.]

I doubt that.

[And while he would want nothing more than to continue, he is a little curious about the gift. That and knowing what would happen if they continued further.]

Shall we see?

[Well, now she's embarrassed, and she tries to hide it by burying her face into his neck and kissing him. Maybe she can distract him enough...]

Perhaps it will be better saved for after... Or tomorrow...

[It's a valiant effort...]

Now you have me more curious.

[A low, rumbling laugh as lets her continue before he's pulling back to look at her with some mischief.]

[... But not good enough it seems. She will have to try harder.]

It is nothing special. Truly. Hardly comparable to pearls and warm scarves...

[And when that look of mischief has her flushing further, she'll breach that space that he created to kiss him more fully, dragging her teeth across his lower lip.]

And yet...

[A low murmur as he lets her lips take his before he counters with his own.]

You seem too embarrassed to share.

[There will be a flutter and crinkle of ribbons and paper as he suddenly pushes her back onto the couch, his body now looming over her as he cages her.]

As eager as I am to "unwrap" a different gift, I can have enough restraint to wait until we finish with our other exchange.

[While she does allow him to push her down instead, she can only let out a sound of discomfort in the back of her throat, not quite able to meet his gaze now.]

I'd rather you unwrap a different gift first...

[Mumbled under her breath.]

But I can't very well get it for you if you have me like this, can I?

[He eyes her for a moment, as if reconsidering her words, before he sits up to let her go.]

I'll clean up around here a bit.

[She'd lament him letting her go for just about any reason right now, but this time, there's a sad little whine that turns into a groan when he sits up to free her. She remains slumped on the couch for several more seconds before she finally gets up with a slight wobble—]

Fine.

[—and drags her feet to head to the kitchen.]

But if it ruins anything, I am blaming you.

[She disappears, making a bit of a ruckus as she does, mostly with her drunken complaints. She returns only a minute later, and peers around the corner.]

Close your eyes.

[Oh? The kitchen? He watches with more intrigue as he picks up the wrapping and sets it all aside, and once she peeks out...]

All right.

[A quiet chuckle as he does so.]

They're closed.

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