chicago ♔ i'd like to be my old self again, but i'm still trying to find it

[socialgraces]

WHO || Francesca & Val'drin Cabot [closed]
WHAT || Immediately following Elena's middle-of-the-night emergency meeting
WHERE || Francesca's hotel room, Chicago, IL
WHEN || July 11/12, 2013 [backdated]
HOW || Actionspam

[ Francesca's smiling again as soon as they're in the hall, pretty determined not to let any amount of awkwardness ruin this moment, or such a romantic gesture, for her. She doesn't say anything as she leads him the fifty feet back to her room, flowers still in hand, and holds the door for him to carry the hourglass in.

It's as the door latches, and she turns to face him, that she finally speaks up: ] I'm so sorry about that. [ She holds the bouquet out in his direction. ] Care to try again?

Comments

[socialgraces]

It might be, a little. I didn't want to bring it up, but... [ she shakes her head ] It doesn't really matter, is what I was getting at. [ and she casually drains the rest of her glass, pausing to look at it in quiet reflection for a moment before moving to get up to pour another ]

[valdrin]

You certainly have nothing to be jealous of there, you know. [ he sounds wryly amused, but also like he's walking on eggshells, like she just told him not to lololol. ] Nothing happened, if it helps.

[socialgraces]

[ that probably does help, some, but she's not going to admit it because she's an adult and she can push down her crazy jealousy for the good of their relationship. for now at least.

she answers from the mini-fridge, still intent on that refill ] It's fine, I promise. She'll just have to get over it. [ she smiles at him, taking a sip of her fresh drink ] And I'll just have to get used to it. The one downside of being with someone ridiculously attractive.

[valdrin]

And here I thought an inability to focus on work for long periods of time may be a second.

[socialgraces]

[ her smile only falters for half a second before easing into a much more casual smirk ] Well, bringing roses to a business meeting provides quite the disadvantage.

[valdrin]

I'll have to remember to bring jewelry next time.

[socialgraces]

[ her expression brightens again at that she's so predictable and she throws in a little lot of charm (67)] As long as you come, I don't care what you bring with you. [ ...phrasing. she slowly makes her way back to him ] Although, I'm not going to turn down jewelry, [ just to make that clear ] but then you know we wouldn't get any work done.

[ she pauses directly in front of him, legs brushing his, and reaches to set her drink down on the bedside table. this may be the other part of that massive diplomacy/charm check: ] Which might be a problem because, if this artifact is genuine, you know we need to destroy it.

[valdrin]

[ his hand moves to her hip as he presses against her, sliding up her side ] Luckily, you make that sound like such a desirable enterprise. An enviable skill of yours.

[socialgraces]

It's easier when it's something I really want, and the prospect of an excuse to spend more time together is certainly desirable, in and of itself.

Besides, it'll give you a chance to show off more of your... unrivaled skill. [ and her arms encircle his neck, pressing impossibly closer ]

[valdrin]

[ he lets out a small sound of desire as he finally just kisses her with clear 'banter time is over' intent. ] Sufficient work progress, if you ask me.

[socialgraces]

[ well this is something she's much more familiar with, and she's perfectly happy to leave the strange awkwardness of that conversation behind them. it's with a surge of confidence that she kisses him back with reckless abandon and... it's pretty clear to see where it's going from there. she definitely plans to make it well worth his trip.

but there is one thing she wants to ask him, some time after they're finished and she's curled up beside him. she has a habit of drowning in uncertainty and she'd rather get this out before he leaves again for who knows how long. it's just difficult to form it into words... ] I don't mind if they know that we're... together. I mean, we don't have to keep it a secret. Unless, of course, you'd prefer to...?

[valdrin]

[ his hand idly brushes at her hair as he smiles down at her with fondness and not a small degree of amusement at her anxiety in asking. ]

Are you saying you're not ashamed of me?

[socialgraces]

[ she smiles back at him, still unsure of why she's so nervous, but relieved that he appears not to be ] Well, that, and that I just want to know we're on the same page. That we want the same things.

[valdrin]

I thought I'd been rather clear about what I want. [ he smirks, glancing at the wall ] And not to undermine the importance of this conversation, but I've a feeling the canny among them have already figured it out.

[socialgraces]

I know, I just don't want to spend whatever limited time you might have here pretending that I'm not ecstatic to see you.

[valdrin]

As exciting as discretion can be, I tend to agree.

[socialgraces]

Well, there'll be plenty of time for discretion when we get back to the castle. [ ... as horrible as that is. unfortunately it doesn't really register as such to her at the moment. ] For now, I suppose we'll just have to find other ways to keep things exciting.

[valdrin]

Well, I vote we don't waste another second when we could continue doing just that.

[socialgraces]

Who's incorrigible now?

[valdrin]

I don't recall ever denying it.

[socialgraces]

Well, you'd have a much harder time denying it than I. [ she can make uncouth innuendos sometimes, too ] Luckily, I rank it among the highest of compliments, at least coming from you.

[valdrin]

I can aim even higher, if you like.

[socialgraces]

[ this is a game she will always lose when it comes to him... ] You can try. [ as she runs her hand slowly down his chest ] I'm always a sucker for compliments.

[valdrin]

None of them are good enough.

[socialgraces]

[ her smile widens affectionately ] I think that's quite the overstatement.