[closed] you're in troubled waters and you know it

[bluffcheck]

WHO || Thoster Chatwyn and Andie Dodge [closed]
WHAT || Thoster takes Andie out and then some serious talks happen.
WHERE || Out and about in London
WHEN || April 14th, evening
HOW || actionspam

[In the early evening, Thoster goes searching for Andie in the castle. He knows the quick little lass could be just about anywhere, but for the sake of ruling out the most obvious choices, he heads to her room first, knocking on the door and calling out.]

I heard a rumor the prettiest girl in all of London might be here. Have you seen her?

Comments

[asap]

[Actually, Andie was out, but she returns just in time to hear him.]

Only all of London? Should I brush my hair more or something?

[bluffcheck]

[He's used to this by now- her sneaking up on him. At her words, he just chuckles and slips to take her hand in his.]

Forgive me, lass. It's been too long since I've seen that lovely face. I'd forgotten that you outshine even the sun. [He places a light kiss on her hand, bringing his eyes up with laughter dancing in them.]

Let me make it up to you?

[asap]

[The kiss and the compliments make her blush enough that she just nods.] Okay. Making up is good.

[bluffcheck]

Good. [With a hold still on her hand, he slips her arm through his and starts the walk out of the castle.] Tell me what you've been up to. I'm sure you've had all sorts of adventures without me.

[asap]

I've got a squire! She's so cool. Like, seriously, you should see her boots.

[bluffcheck]

[He laughs.] If her boots are her most redeeming quality, I feel bad for her, lass. But I'm glad to hear that Wynn's wised up and given you a pup to train. What's her name? And when do I get to meet her?

[asap]

[Andie looks offended on her squire's behalf.] She's got loads of redeeming qualities! But they're amazing boots. Would suck to run in. So would her wigs. But they look so cool! Like, if I ever feel like staying slow for a while, I would totally borrow her clothes. But eww, staying slow, so not my thing, right?

[Kind of... lost track of his question.]

[bluffcheck]

[After all this time, he's learned to follow her train of thought, even if it might derail a few times.]

I'm sure she's a lovely girl. She'd have to be to be squired to you. Wynn plays to our strengths, after all. [He gives her a teasing little smile.] Wigs, eh? Perhaps you can borrow one and show me sometime.

[Yeah he might be thinking about that and enjoying it a little. Whoops.]

[asap]

[She shakes her head.] I don't do wigs. They're strictly for people who don't run at the speed of sound. Hats suck too.

[bluffcheck]

For what I was thinking, you wouldn't be running anywhere. [He muses with a smirk.] But I'm rather fond of your hair as it is.

[Look at that! They've almost made it out of the castle! Andie probably feels like years have passed by now, but whatever. As long as he keeps her talking, maybe she won't complain about the pace.]

Any idea where this girl of yours might settle in?

[asap]

I dunno. Not hide. Maybe tongue, like me. [She glances over at him.] Shouldn't you be more concerned with where you'll settle in? Or are you planning on kissing her for the greater good too?

[Whoops for a girl that has the attention span of a gnat with adhd she can sure hold a grudge.]

[bluffcheck]

[Wow this turned on him all of a sudden.]

Don't tell me you're still hurt over that, lass. Say the word and I'll kiss you silly from morning to night. [And to prove the point step close, halting the both of them just outside the castle, standing very close to her.]

You're quite pretty when you're angry with me, you know.

[asap]

[She always blushes when she calls him beautiful, but it doesn't erase the pouty look.]

You've never kissed me, you know, for the greater good or otherwise. Always just flirting and flirting and do you even care about me or do you say the same thing to every girl? Do you even want to kiss me?

[bluffcheck]

[She has a point, and he has to wonder why he hasn't made his move with her. It's certainly not due to any lack of attraction. He's genuinely interested in her and looks forward to their interactions, however few and far between they are while they're both away on missions. Could it be that what holds him back is an honest respect for her? That's terribly unlike him...

He reaches up a hand, fingertips brushing over her cheek.]

I wanted to the first night we danced, and a thousand times since then. [It's not a lie. He's not bluffing. He's nearly kissed her several times now, but something held him back. Now, knowing that she wants him to (even if she's only saying it by being cross at him for not doing it yet), his free hand moves to her waist, pulling her closer while he tips her chin up and leans down to press his lips to hers.]

[asap]

[Oh.

Her heart races like a hummingbird's and the world simultaneously speeds up and slows down. She thinks she's going to explode or move or that she should want to run because seriously this kiss thing is taking forever but for once, she doesn't want to be moving. Just being in Thoster's arms and kissing him is enough.

After what feels like eternity, she pulls back, smiling at him.]

What took you so long?

[bluffcheck]

[He doesn't let her go far, his hand at her waist slipping to the small of her back. He shifts his weight, swaying slightly... almost like dancing.]

No idea. But I won't let it happen again. [And to prove the point, he kisses her again, this time quicker, more playful. When he pulls back, he's grinning.] What do you say we hit the town? You and me?

[asap]

Like... a date? [She smiles hopefully, wrapping her arms around him and standing on tiptoe to smile up at her.] Are we dating now?

[bluffcheck]

If you'd like.

[Thoster doesn't really know the weight of such a phrase. 'Dating' isn't exactly something he worries much about where he's from.]

Dinner, dancing, a walk under the stars- I thought we'd show London all the fun it's been missing.

[asap]

[She giggles and wraps an arm around him, leaning her head on his shoulder.]

So you're, like, my boyfriend? Ohmigod you'll have to meet my dad and everything!

[bluffcheck]

[He tenses slightly but tries to play it off by shrugging his shoulders (bluff 20 total).]

I'm not exactly the type a girl takes home to meet her family, lass. Perhaps we can keep things a bit more private, hm?

[asap]

[Yeah Andie notices nothing.]

Oh, Dad's cool. And you're a knight! He might be, you know, protective, but he totally just wants me to be happy. [She looks up at him and smiles, pressing her shoulder against his.]

Besides, it's not like that'll be the only date we go on. Just, you know. Someday.

[bluffcheck]

[He steps away in order to get them moving again, walking towards civilization where there will be noise and lights or at least something else to talk about because nope.]

Anything in the city you've been wanting to do? The night is ours, after all.

[asap]

[This is obscenely slow from her perspective, but she doesn't mind. It's nice just being with him.]

I dunno. We could get food? There are a few all-you-can-eat buffet things that haven't banned me yet.

[bluffcheck]

Dinner first. Sounds grand. [Look you don't want Thoster to drive. It will end in horrors. But he will find them something to eat close to the castle property, hopefully. In fact, he's already looking around. But since he's not sure how far they'll need to walk before they find somewhere to stop, he figures it might be best to break some news to her while they're in a semi-private area.]

I've got good news for ya. [He says, because... well it is good, after all.] They finally realized how lucky they were to have someone like me around and made a Knight out of me.

[asap]

Really? [She dashes around in front of him and starts walking backwards because she wants to look him in the face but also wants to keep moving towards food. Luckily, she's got great balance (19).] That's awesome! When's your ceremony? [She is, of course, invited, she assumes.]

[bluffcheck]

Well, that's the thing. Y'see, Wynn recognizes that some of us need a bit of leg room. You've seen a free of them freelancer Knights wandering about, haven't you? That's what he's offered me. But there's not a ceremony like they have for the rest of 'em. [Bluff 23]

Says I can keep my Squire's quarters so long as the room's not needed if I want- and I plan to! Have to keep an eye on you, after all.

[asap]

[AIN'T NO BLUFF CHECK NEEDED WHEN ANDIE BLATANTLY KNOWS THAT'S NOT TRUE. She pulls back and frowns.]

Thoster, I'm legacy. My family's been with the Knights since before my dad was born, and that's saying a lot with aasimars. Why are you lying to me?

[bluffcheck]

[Well... shit.

He wasn't expecting that, so it takes him a second to recover. But only a second. He steps back as well, sighing.]

I don't want to lie to you, lass. [It may be the most genuine look he's given her since they've met.] Ceremony's come and gone.

[asap]

[That's upsetting enough on its own, that it came and went and he didn't invite her, but she's not even touching that yet.]

So why did you lie? And how long did you wait to tell me? How long have you been a knight and not told me?

[bluffcheck]

It's been a few months. I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't.

[asap]

Why not?

[bluffcheck]

I wasn't sure if I was going to take the job. Staying in one place isn't exactly my thing, lass. [Bluff 21] But I changed my mind.

[asap]

[She doesn't look happy to hear it, but she does believe him. Too bad the lie isn't enough to get him back into her good graces.]

And you couldn't tell me any of that? I don't like secrets, Thoster. Or lying. How can I trust you when you don't tell me stuff?

[bluffcheck]

I didn't want to tell you until I was certain. No sense worrying you about whether I'd be around if I wasn't sure, myself. It wasn't just you- Only a few people attended the thing at all. That's what I get for my poor planning.

[asap]

And you didn't think that maybe I'd be able to get there even if I was half a world away? Did you forget that I'm really, really fast?

[bluffcheck]

I'm not a man known best for my thinkin', lass. I've told you know, though, so I hope you might have it in your heart to forgive me.

[And because the dice know that this is meant to be horrible, he crit fails that diplomacy check, so apparently he just seems incredibly insincere or something.]

[asap]

[Yeah, she just looks super offended. But only for a moment. Then she doesn't look anything at all because she's run away and good luck catching her.]