OPEN ♔ I WISH I COULD SAY IN JUST ONE SWEEP WHAT YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU MEAN TO ME

[socialgraces]

♬ Silent Shout - The Knife

WHO || Anyone and everyone! [OPEN]
WHAT || Francesca's birthday party
WHERE || One of the big parlor rooms on the castle's second floor.
WHEN || [Backdated] July 11, Evening
HOW || Actionspam

 

[Earlier in the week all DRAKENET devices received a message announcing Francesca's birthday party, courtesy of Sir Bancroft, to be held the evening of July 11. No RSVP needed. It's especially good timing now that many mission groups have returned to the castle, at least for the time being.

As the guests make their way in, it's clear the party's been well stocked with food and drink. There's plenty of room for mingling and some music in the background. Gifts are completely optional, but welcome. Come in and get comfortable.]

(OOC: Feel free to make your own threads/threadjack, etc.)

Comments

[slay]

Oh! No - No, I know, I just ... I nothing. Out is good, too. We could go out.

[cabot]

Do you have a taste for fancy restaurants? Dancing?

[slay]

Dancing and fine dining, huh? Careful. Some people might start thinking you're trying to woo a gal like me. [ she says it slyly, then inclines her head in a thoughtful nod. ] Food. Always a mark in the plus column. And, dancing is kind of a thing with us.

[valdrin]

[ he leans close enough to entirely pierce her personal space bubble ] Would it be working? The wooing, that is.

[slay]

It might be. [ she seems undeterred by the closeness, and in fact leaned in a little herself. smiling, she recants to substitute a more honest answer. ] It is.

[cabot]

[ he lifts a bold hand to brush her hair over her ear, taking in her features with a tiny smile for an indulgent moment ] Quite encouraging.

[slay]

[ there's a feeling of fluttering in her chest that she pushes down with a deep inhale. ]

So! Dinner. You, me, cozy little restaurant outside castle walls. Potential date-like qualities.

[valdrin]

Will this be before or after you're sent away from us for months again?

[slay]

Better go with before. I hear it's about to get wicked dangerous. Or, you know, dangerouser. [ she rolls her eyes to dismiss it, though the concern's still undeniable given her decision to plan for before. ] Besides, we don't even have a flight lined up yet. Gotta make the most of my castle time while I've got it.

[valdrin]

Very well, then. I'll make arrangements.

[slay]

And I'll pencil you in.

[valdrin]

I'll try not to take up too much of your valuable time. [ his eyes soften and scan her features, lingering on her lips ] Though perhaps, I can take a moment more tonight. [ and with that, he presses a warm kiss to her mouth before she can take a breath to respond ]

[slay]

[ it catches her off guard. it shouldn't, she realizes, because he's been close enough for her to feel him breathe for a while now, but she's all discombobulated and amnesia makes for lots of signal difficulty. still.

despite the surprise, she melts into the kiss easily, leaning forward and raising one hand to rest softly against the side of his face. oh yeah. he's a welcome time-suck. ]

[valdrin]

[ he takes her response as encouraging, apparently, one hand snaking around her lower back to draw her slowly but inexorably flush against him, another kiss following up the first with increasing passion. ]

[slay]

[ the hand at his cheek slides around to the back of his neck, and her lips part as they fumble against his while trying to fall into a pattern that she knows -- except she doesn't know. she breaks the kiss with a sharp, almost pitchy gasp and her hand flies to her mouth, eyes snapping wide open. after a beat, she holds up both hands in an apologetic gesture of surrender. ]

Sorry, I don't -- I just. I just realized, I-I've never really ... not that I remember, anyway. [ ... OH GOD WHAT IF SHE WAS A TERRIBLE KISSER AND SHE DIDN'T REMEMBER IT no wait if she were she probably wouldn't have known in the first place. well that's a small comfort at least ... ]

[cabot]

Ah yes... [ he gives her a forgiving smile, looking slightly disappointed, but still cheerfully understanding about it. his hand rubs her back apologetically. ] Well. In that case... I certainly hope it lived up to expectations.

[slay]

[ her hand finds the side of his face again, cupping it reassuringly, and a smile stretches across her lips. ]

It was perfect. [ the answer is a little girlish, and realizing it, she leans up to give him another soft kiss. ]

[valdrin]

[ he returns it just as softly, fingers brushing through her hair, without releasing her until the kiss has lingered on awhile. ]

[slay]

[ she keeps the closeness even after the kiss is broken, hesitant to break away and let the moment be lost. ]

We should get back inside before someone misses us.

[valdrin]

Well, you know what they say about absence and fondness. Maybe we'd be doing them a favor.

[slay]

Mm. S'that what this is? [ she tugs lightly at his shirt to better indicate that she means how things have gone between them. ]

[cabot]

Well, it might be any number of things. Isn't that what makes it so much more tempting to stay and find out?

[slay]

Oh, I never said it wasn't tempting to stay. Beyond tempting. But. [ she tugs at his hands, glancing over her shoulder toward the party. ] Party. [ she says it a little pouty. ]

[valdrin]

I rather prefer this party.

[slay]

Now I know you're just trying to butter me up.