I can't imagine where she gets all that energy from. But alright, I'll be over there soon.
[ And soon he does. Normally there would be little urgency when someone asks for a tea get together, but there was no better use of Clive's time than to be spending it with Jill. And so, after gathering together a small bag of pastries he had purchased earlier that morning, the man makes his way to her apartment.
He knocks first, as is customary, but using the key he was given the door easily opens. ]
Jill? [ He'll announce with the sound of a smile in his voice. ]
[Any other time, Jill would have the water set to boil on the hearth, but instead, she spends the time Clive takes to arrive to freshen up. She's in the washroom, splashing water on her face that both serves to clean her and calm her nerves a bit when he calls out and she hurriedly wipes herself dry. In her rush, her bangs remain a bit damp, but there's little Jill can do about that right now if she even notices.
She's a little too nervous over this tea meeting that doesn't involve their regular blend. This special tea has some unique claims and Jill is unsure if those will offend Clive. But they promised each other to be more open in their communication and if there's something she thinks might improve the courting Clive intends on doing, there's no sense in keeping quiet over it.]
Clive...
[She walks over to him, pressing her lips to his briefly for a greeting kiss. It's something Jill's begun to do recently with the first time being a test he didn't complain over; realizing she enjoyed it herself, why not continue doing it?]
[ Clive can hear the movements in the other room and waits for her arrival, only to notice immediately the dampness of her hair. He's made that a point recently- to observe, to be more attentive. He may still be inexperienced as they come, but he would put every ounce of effort into it as he possibly could.
The kiss was well received as he dips his head down to return it, smiling underneath their lips. ]
Thank you for inviting me.
[ Normally it wouldn't have been that strange of a request, yet the more he looked at her did the bridge of his brows begin to pinch together. He studies her face with their close proximity, and with one free hand moves to brush some of the damp strands of hair away that still clung to her face. ]
Is everything alright? [ Clive keeps his face close, his voice lowered, and with every bit of sincerity he could muster. ]
[When he pulls back just enough to speak, Jill noticed the look on his face. He's looking at her with some concern and she wonders what he's thinking. If only mind reading was a magick she could cast as easily as ice.]
Yes...
[Even with her trailing off, she is telling the truth. There's nothing wrong with her, nothing wrong with anything he's done either. In fact, Jill has noticed Clive has been trying more often recently and she appreciates it. Perhaps she should tell him so more often. In fact, she makes a mental note to do that after today. Right now, though, she places the cool palm of her hand on his scarred cheek while giving him a a smile that she hopes comes across as reassuring.]
I just wanted to talk to you about something. Nothing bad, I promise you. I just don't care to have conversations like these over the shellphone.
[Those things just seem too impersonal, unlike the long missives she's used to writing him on parchment and leaving in his chambers for him to read.]
[ The hand against his cheek is always a welcoming one. Although the scar left behind from Tarja’s surgery no longer hurt, as painful of a process as it was, her cooled touch always healed the lingering feelings from the past.
Her touch, along with the reassurance in her voice allows Clive to loosen up just a bit a visible relaxing of his shoulders. ]
That’s alright with me. I would much rather see you in person, anyway. [ He comments, replacing the once concerned frown with a gentle lift of his lips before leaning down and placing another kiss upon her own. ]
Is this something you wanted to ask over tea? I’ve brought some pastries, if you would like.
[ Pulling away just enough to gesture to the bag in his arms. Large scones, it would appear like from the the partially opened though the flavors themselves were still a mystery to the untrained eye. ]
[Jill hums happily through the second kiss, rubbing her thumb across the patch of Clive's cheek where it rests. Call her greedy if one likes, but these little moments of affection are quickly becoming her favorites, especially when the kisses come from peaceful periods and not them saying goodbye to one another at various stages of war.
When he pulls back and asks his question, Jill's expression looks a little sheepish, a little bashful, with the pursing of her lips.]
Actually, it's something about the tea itself.
[But before she explains what she means further, she takes the bag from his grasp and peeks inside of it before looking up at him with appreciative eyes.]
You know you didn't have to. [A pause and then a slightly mischievous grin takes over her features as Jill squeezes the bag shut, holding it close to her chest.] Did you at least get my favorite flavor?
[ Before he could press further about the tea he watches in amusement as the bag is taken from him. There a small laugh- a brighter and heartier one unlike the ones he use to do. There was a peacefulness about this. A place he could slowly let down his guard and just be... himself.
And it would seem Jill has done the same. ]
Your favorite? [ It's almost a playful scoff. ]
For you, my lady, I would have traveled to every known bakery across these lands— [ He steps forward to close any remaining distance between them, and with his now free hands lacing them around her waist. ]
—to procure only the finest apple scones to suit your taste.
[ He leans in, nudging his forehead against her own. His eyes beaming with playfulness. ]
... Thankfully such a place exists close by and my search ended rather quickly.
[Founder, she loves it when he laughs. The way he just finds a moment to let go of everything, all the trauma and the pain, for just a second and lets himself be. Jill wants more moments like this for him. Even if it means two grown adults putting on affectations over something as mundane as pastries, she'll take it as long as Clive's barrier falls and the most vulnerable him shines through. She wants that safety for him. She wants that safety for them.]
My lord, no one has ever done such a thing for me. I don't know what to say!
[With such little space between them, Jill makes a judgement call and lets go of the bag, letting it be held up by their chests alone so she can wrap her arms around Clive's neck, fingers coming to playfully fiddle with the ear cuff that decorates his lobe.]
Even if you did not need to travel far, I believe you deserve a reward for all your hard work in the Great Apple Scone Hunt. Problem is, I'm unsure what a worthy reward would be.
[Although he still beats her and will forever beat her in girth and raw strength, Jill begins taking advantage of his hands on her waist and leads them into the beginning of a laughable rendition of a waltz towards her dining table. It's a piss poor reenactment of the dance they shared at the masquerade over a moon ago, but who is here to judge them?]
[ He feels it. The easiness that drifts over the air and the playfulness that follows it. It's warm despite the lack of heat source, but comfortable— a space just for the two of them. He wishes to relish in it for as long as possible... to see Jill tease and laugh and dance with him with no audience in sight. To genuinely be happy.
Was it such a selfish thing to ask? ]
I couldn't ask for anything more than this... [ He will allow her to take the lead towards the table, awkward in his movements in order to keep the scones in place. Clive's making due, though— improvising his steps and swaying his own body in some semblance of a two-step. Founder knows he was never quite good with dancing, as his only footwork was with a sword in his hand. Yet that doesn't stop him from trying in his movement, laughter once again filling his lungs as he squeezes her waist and holds her tighter. ]
... Though I may have some suggestions for later. [ He smiles under his scars as they continue to dance in the empty room, free from prying eyes. ] But what better victory from the Great Apple Scone Hunt than to eat them?
[Even though they've both been here for a few moons now, the times they get to be alone, just the two of them, still seem so rare. Never did they get much time alone back at the Hideaway; maybe just a few minutes before a interruption in the form of Gav or another pack of Akashic creatures on the loose. Certainly never long enough for them to waltz around the room to a song only their hearts can hear.
Selfish? To people who have been denied everything they ever desired, perhaps. But in truth, it's what they deserve. To have given up so much only to get nothing close to happiness would just be cruel.]
I would like to hear those suggestions sooner rather than later.
[She feels his feet stumble against hers and Jill can't help the laugh that bubbles up from somewhere deep in her chest. Surely, she's no professional on the dance floor herself, but there's something so charming in the way Clive still tries his best, even if it's just for the few feet it takes them to get from her apartment doorway to the table. He could stomp on every single one of her toes and Jill would still love him for it.]
Ah, speaking about eating them, we would need some tea to go with. But about that...
[They've made it to the table and as a sign of gratitude for obliging her moment of silliness, Jill presses a kiss to his mouth, something that isn't quite as chaste as the ones earlier, before she grabs the top of the bag and ducks out of his hold. Maybe it hints to her next few words instead:]
[ He would never try to deliberately step on her toes, so at least he's being as careful as possible. And although there was no real music in the room, the sound of her laughter was the most beautiful sound to his ears. It was something to be cherished, something that kept him grounded, and he wanted nothing more than to always hear that music bubbling from her chest. Clive wanted nothing more than to strive for her happiness, and these little steps across the room were a small start.
The kisses weren't a terrible addition, either. Every single one, no matter the size, would never be taken for granted. He smiles softly behind each, inwardly elated with the repeat motions before he watches her slip out and move away.
He was going to follow after her too, but her sentence stops Clive in his tracks with an arched brow. ]
... Hmm? [ Sit down? That was a bit of an odd request considering the silliness that had previously occurred, but Clive will comply. He finds the seat closest to him without looking, pulling the chair out and sitting in it sideways to keep his eyes locked on Jill. ]
You sound so serious about this. It's not something I should be worried about, is it?
[Jill sets the bag of pastries down in the middle of the table and looks at Clive with a tilt of her head. Always having been well-versed in reading his body language, she can tell he's a little bit confused at the sudden change in mood, a little bit concerned like he thinks she's about to drop a bomb of information on him and for a moment, Jill stoops down beside him, hands on his knee, and looks up at him, hoping to comfort whatever disturbance he's feeling.]
No. I promised you that it wasn't anything bad and I meant that. It's just that this tea... it's not the usual blend that I buy.
[And with that, she rises up and turns to open a cupboard, pulling down a small box that Jill places in front of Clive on the table when she returns. The box is unlabeled, unremarkable in every way, and unless one presses their nose against the container, they wouldn't be able to really pick up any scent of herbs and leaves. All in all, it looks nothing more than a regular teabox, but Jill's sudden tensing of her shoulders and her next few words gives the pack a certain gravity to it.]
It's a special kind of tea.
[For something that he shouldn't be worried about, Jill is really behaving like he should be. But in truth, she's worried he may take offense to this whole idea of hers once he hears it. This sort of subject is still a delicate thing for her.]
[ If by her hands being placed upon his knee was a comforting sign... it would help if her body language would match it. He, too, has slowly been picking apart what makes Jill "Jill". And although her words spoke of one thing, her shoulders refusing to relax spoke of another.
He could tell she was building up to say something, but for the life of him he could not manage to figure it out. Even after the tea was place in front of him did Clive's expression mold even further into the realm of confusion. He even picks it up and idly examines it with the slightest tilt of his head. To him, tea was tea, and never before had he been presented with anything apart from the ordinary. So then why... ]
If you mean to put my mind at ease, I would like to know what's so "special" about it. [ He's not demanding. He's not trying to be forceful. He's patient. It's taken a lot for the both of them to finally express what they want, Jill most of all, so he would never press any answers from her.
Instead he'll ease into it slightly, giving her a supportive smile before gesturing his eyes to the tea. ]
[He's never once lied to her, so Jill wouldn't think he'd suddenly begin to now. So when she hears him tell her it's alright, that gentle push is what she needs to begin explaining this whole situation.]
It's supposed to help with... that.
[No, being coy is not going to work. They promised each other to be more open with one another, to not fear speaking up for what they needed, what they wanted. If she can't be comfortable around Clive while he's courting her, then what is the point?
So Jill takes a deep breath and pulls out the chair across from him, slipping into it without a sound.]
Our lovemaking. [And then suddenly, the dam bursts and Jill can't stop the words from falling from her lips. It's almost laughable how much speed her words pick up.] Not that there's anything wrong with what we have now. I enjoy it. But this is supposed to help us enjoy it more and intensify it and I got a little curious about whether it worked or not so I took some. Though if you're against it, I absolutely understand. I just wished to bring up the topic and give you the choice of whether or not you would partake in it.
[Because if nothing else matters, consent does. They both lived too long without any say in the things they did. With the freedom they have in this place, she wants him to have the ability to say no, to tell her of all people no, if he's against it.]
Clive blinks, more so from the rapid explanation than the subject matter itself. He wasn't embarrassed or uncomfortable when the two were together, and it had been a couple of weeks since the initial conversation of their lovemaking had taken place.
Jill was kind, too kind of a person and her protectiveness of his wellbeing was something to be admired. It was endearing, beyond endearing and for her to make sure an effort to bring it to his attention... how could he possibly ignore the request?
So in an attempt to put her at ease this time, the man leans over and returns the gesture of placing a hand to her knee. His smile is not one of judgment or uncertainty. Simply the look of a man who is completely enamored by the woman sitting across from him.
... Buuuut that doesn't mean he won't let out the tiniest of chuckles. Really, he was trying to hold it in, he really was- ]
Is that what this is about? I feared you meant to poison me. [ Another chuckle, dipping his head down to shake his head. ]
A punishment I was willing to accept should I have done something to upset you. [ He's teasing, of course, but the way she was acting really did have him worried there for a second!! There was an added layer of relief that it was not the case, and Clive seems visibly more relaxed now despite the effort it took for her to finally say it. ]
[Yes, it is that kind of tea. The kind which is why she insisted on it only being her and him at this little meeting, just in case he agreed to her little experiment. They have suffered enough interruptions at the most precious of times.
It's strange how doing the action is far easier for Jill than speaking about it, but to be honest, has anything in this relationship gone the way it usually does? Not that anything in their lives has gone as planned, but they're both just feeling things out blindly. Who's really expecting them to put titles to one another before trading apartment keys?
Jill sighs and pouts a little bit, but it's clear that his reaction does not truly offend her. The way she's trying to fight back the smile that attempts to break past the pout, only to fail and chuckle herself means her shoulders finally lose the tension and every single part of her relaxes.
One day, she won't work herself up so much in her head. She could probably never do anything wrong in his eyes.]
I'd find it much easier a subject to bring up if that were the case.
[Strange, but true. Violence seemed to come much easier than loving in their world, but things are changing. And for the better.
With his head tipped down, it gives her access to reach across the space between them and card her fingers through the messy dark mop he calls his hair, her short nails scratching along his scalp. Sometimes the simple act of touching him calms her, brings her back to a peaceful place, and when she sighs again, this time it's one tinged with contentment.]
You can say no, if you'd like. I won't be angry.
[As if she could ever be angry at him, even if he tried his utter best to enrage her. Jill's just too soft for this scruffed up warrior of a man.]
[ She's right. In Clive's eyes Jill could do no wrong, and by all accounts she never has. She has always been the strong-willed, determined, and loving individual that he knew as a child. Even as she claimed herself a monster, even as fear and doubt and self blame filled her very being, he still never thought of her as incorrect.
To Clive... she was the most beautiful— a perfect being unlike anyone he's ever met before, and to say that he was completely smitten by her was a vast understatement.
Even now hearing her laughter from above filled his stomach with a profound happiness he hasn't experienced in years. Only when he was with her did this type of happiness get brought about. So how could he deny her, something that they both wanted but almost felt too nervous to say out loud?
So when he feels the fingers run across his head and the sensation of her nails against his scalp, Clive practically melts into the touch. He remains still for a moment to soak in the sensation before lifting up his chin, allowing her hand to lower and slide down until it falls in front of his face. There he'll leave several small kisses against her palm, smiling behind her appendages. ]
[The nerves will remain there for some time. After all, what they both suffered through lasted more than one night. The after effects won't disappear just as quickly either. They are two adults feeling their way through a new life in a new world, full of unlimited freedom, and soon enough, they'll get to a place where they will no longer have to second guess every single desire they have.
She sees the smile twinkling in his eyes before she catches it in the curve his lips and Jill wants nothing more right now than to give Clive more reasons to smile, whether in the bedroom or not. There so much she wants to give him, so much she wants to know of his desires, to ask him that question he once asked her: now that everything is over, how does he envision their life together? Does he secretly dream of starting a family with her or is he fully content with it just being the two of them? Or does he ever consider making a proper woman out of her, giving her the opportunity to take his last name as hers? So many questions, but not the right moment to bring them up. All in due time, though. All in due time.]
We shall. [She pulls her hand away to grab the tea off the table, but doesn't immediately get up from her seat. Instead, Jill brings her face closer, pressing her forehead against his, breathing deep of his scent of ocean salt and leather.] Together. Like we always do.
[But as much as she hates to have to do it, she shifts away and onto her feet, making her way to the hearth to pick up the kettle. The tea can't make itself no matter what its effects are.]
[ They were taking steps- baby steps- but steps nonetheless. No longer were the forced to standstill, unable to escape the cruel fate that had been bestowed upon them. The fate that had left Clive stranded on that beach and staring up at the moon, wondering if Jill could possibly see the same glistening moonlight. Whatever his outcome may have been upon those sandy shores no longer mattered... what mattered now was that he was here and he would waste no more time with the "what ifs".
They would finally take those baby steps hand in hand. Together. ]
Of course. [ He answers, already feeling rather lightheaded from just how breathless she made him. He wanted to stay like that forever, with her head pressed against his own, but there was certainly more time for that in their future. So while it will take him a moment to move from his spot, eventually the man will pick himself off from seat, ignoring the sudden weightlessness he felt in order to successfully cross the room to the hearth.
Producing a flame well enough to light the fireplace underneath was easy enough- a routine he would partially do in his sleep. Yet he was unsure whether the heat that clung to his cheeks was due to his proximity of the rising flames or something else entirely. It certainly didn't help he had a difficult time looking away from Jill as they worked together to prepare the tea. ]
I'm curious as to how you procured such an item. Fancied a trip to Naughtilust, perhaps? [ He'll question playfully before picking himself up in order to set out the plates on the table, all the while watching her with an ounce of curiosity. ]
[She's been around Clive long enough to know when he's watching her. It never feels creepy when Jill feels his eyes on her, and if she were to be asked, she welcomes it. For a man of gruff words, actions speak so much louder. His intense gaze protects her, reminds her that he finds something in her he can't tear his eyes away from. As she pours water into the kettle, all this puts a thought in Jill's mind, a quotes from a novel she recently finished from a scene where one character is advising the other in methods of temptation.
If they're going to look, give 'em something to look at.
Thus if there's a little extra curve of her hips as she makes her way over to the fire, then no one would blame Clive for taking notice of it.]
No, it's not from there. There was a mention of it on the board and it had people talking. Most of them had plans on selling the tea. Apparently it can fetch quite the hefty price.
[With the kettle filled, she bends over the hearth and places it down to boil. It's a quick movement, yet Jill remains bent at the waist for a few seconds longer. If one looks closely, there's a hint of something flirtatious in her eyes as she looks back at Clive. Easy for someone to overlook it for sure, but with her particular position, it seems almost she means to it to be caught.
[ If Clive meant to look away, even for half a second, the sight playing out before him would never allow him the moment.
Every time he would look at Jill it was as if he was looking at her for the first time. There was always something new (her new scent— still smelling of flowers and a crisp winter's evening, but now a mixture of tea leaves and the sun), some little detail that he never caught on before (was her hair getting longer? did her eyes sparkle a little brighter?), and now this? This he knew was different.
Though he was indeed a man of little words the surprised lift of his brows when he noticed her ever so particular walk, or how she leaned over the hearth... Clive had to open his lips in order to make sure he was breathing.
He was so utterly captivated, he almost didn't want to wait for the tea to be fully brewed... ]
Hopefully it wasn't too much trouble, then.
[ Was it improper to stare? He does try to avert his gaze briefly with an almost sheepish chuckle, but through his messy bangs only peers back like a magnet. Forgive him, he's having a hard time trying to hide his smile. ]
[That's not quite true. She ran into many a prying eye and just as many questions, but Jill isn't about to bring those people into a room she wants to keep to her and Clive only.
Speaking of eyes, it seems like following the book's advice is working in Jill's favor. She stands up straight moving to lean against the wall next to the hearth, leaving plenty of space between them. This is purposefully done because Jill doesn't trust herself to wait for the tea if she gets any closer to him.]
You're staring.
[But much like he teased her earlier, she returns the favor to him. The smirk playing at her lips says as much and says many more things like how she does not mind having his gaze trapped on her. If anything, he is the only man she ever wants looking at her. Like this. Like in any way. Forever.
Watching him as intently as he's watching her, she can see him waging that internal battle of whether to look away or not. Politeness may have won out for a second, but it falls back in the face of Clive and that boyish smile of his, the one that makes her heart skip a beat every time.]
[ ... Oh Founder. He had never prayed before, but if there was one small prayer that passed through his mind in that moment, it was that the tea would magically brew itself.
Clive's body reacts at the command— a sudden stiffness in his limbs as his shoulders straightened and chin lifting to fully match her gaze. But he's smiling. That same boyish smile that no one had witnessed in many years. He was content, warm, and happy with Jill's sudden assertiveness and it made the churning in his stomach unstoppable.
The space between them was beginning to become unbearable. ]
Of course, my lady. [ The playfulness in his tone remained, and Clive had to preoccupy his hands placing them over his thighs in order to prevent himself from moving. ] Would that I never have to look away from you again.
[Jill believes in fate and the universe enough to pray for the both of them and she'd be a liar if the thought of imploring the gods for a way to make the water boil faster didn't just cross her mind.
With Clive being a man of few words sometimes, she's learned to read his body language as well as she's learned to devour her romance novels. The way his shoulders straighten up and he poses to fly right tells Jill that this is a man who would not only do anything for her, but would do anything she told him to. The idea of having Clive at her beck and call, at their most intimate and private moments, spins a shiver down her spine.
Something to be explored sooner rather than later, perhaps.]
That sounds quite the lofty goal, my lord. Surely other things would demand your attention.
[And if those things know what's good for them, they'll be just fine with being ignored until the both of them are done with each other in whatever ways that may be.]
Certainly not at this moment, no. [ He seconds this with a shake of his head, but goodness was the air in the room almost making him become lightheaded.
To ease this, as well as a few other things, the man couldn't help but force himself upward and out of his seat. He nears the hearth slowly, all while never taking his eyes off of her. You know... to observe in this all to easy process of tea making.
Yet, at this very moment, it seemed like a two person job. He certainly couldn't sit around and let her do all the work, now could he? ]
Nor any other moment, for that matter. [ Perhaps there was something they could do in the meantime rather than twiddle their thumbs and let the tension raise? He couldn't help it, not with all the staring and teasing and Clive was never one to sit back and allow something to happen.
So with a gentle hand he'll raise it up to her cheek, quietly stroking the bangs out of her face before leaning down and delivering a single kiss to her lips. A sensation sweeter than any other treat accompanied by the tea, he thought. ]
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[ And soon he does. Normally there would be little urgency when someone asks for a tea get together, but there was no better use of Clive's time than to be spending it with Jill. And so, after gathering together a small bag of pastries he had purchased earlier that morning, the man makes his way to her apartment.
He knocks first, as is customary, but using the key he was given the door easily opens. ]
Jill? [ He'll announce with the sound of a smile in his voice. ]
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She's a little too nervous over this tea meeting that doesn't involve their regular blend. This special tea has some unique claims and Jill is unsure if those will offend Clive. But they promised each other to be more open in their communication and if there's something she thinks might improve the courting Clive intends on doing, there's no sense in keeping quiet over it.]
Clive...
[She walks over to him, pressing her lips to his briefly for a greeting kiss. It's something Jill's begun to do recently with the first time being a test he didn't complain over; realizing she enjoyed it herself, why not continue doing it?]
Thank you for coming.
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The kiss was well received as he dips his head down to return it, smiling underneath their lips. ]
Thank you for inviting me.
[ Normally it wouldn't have been that strange of a request, yet the more he looked at her did the bridge of his brows begin to pinch together. He studies her face with their close proximity, and with one free hand moves to brush some of the damp strands of hair away that still clung to her face. ]
Is everything alright? [ Clive keeps his face close, his voice lowered, and with every bit of sincerity he could muster. ]
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Yes...
[Even with her trailing off, she is telling the truth. There's nothing wrong with her, nothing wrong with anything he's done either. In fact, Jill has noticed Clive has been trying more often recently and she appreciates it. Perhaps she should tell him so more often. In fact, she makes a mental note to do that after today. Right now, though, she places the cool palm of her hand on his scarred cheek while giving him a a smile that she hopes comes across as reassuring.]
I just wanted to talk to you about something. Nothing bad, I promise you. I just don't care to have conversations like these over the shellphone.
[Those things just seem too impersonal, unlike the long missives she's used to writing him on parchment and leaving in his chambers for him to read.]
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Her touch, along with the reassurance in her voice allows Clive to loosen up just a bit a visible relaxing of his shoulders. ]
That’s alright with me. I would much rather see you in person, anyway. [ He comments, replacing the once concerned frown with a gentle lift of his lips before leaning down and placing another kiss upon her own. ]
Is this something you wanted to ask over tea? I’ve brought some pastries, if you would like.
[ Pulling away just enough to gesture to the bag in his arms. Large scones, it would appear like from the the partially opened though the flavors themselves were still a mystery to the untrained eye. ]
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When he pulls back and asks his question, Jill's expression looks a little sheepish, a little bashful, with the pursing of her lips.]
Actually, it's something about the tea itself.
[But before she explains what she means further, she takes the bag from his grasp and peeks inside of it before looking up at him with appreciative eyes.]
You know you didn't have to. [A pause and then a slightly mischievous grin takes over her features as Jill squeezes the bag shut, holding it close to her chest.] Did you at least get my favorite flavor?
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And it would seem Jill has done the same. ]
Your favorite? [ It's almost a playful scoff. ]
For you, my lady, I would have traveled to every known bakery across these lands— [ He steps forward to close any remaining distance between them, and with his now free hands lacing them around her waist. ]
—to procure only the finest apple scones to suit your taste.
[ He leans in, nudging his forehead against her own. His eyes beaming with playfulness. ]
... Thankfully such a place exists close by and my search ended rather quickly.
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My lord, no one has ever done such a thing for me. I don't know what to say!
[With such little space between them, Jill makes a judgement call and lets go of the bag, letting it be held up by their chests alone so she can wrap her arms around Clive's neck, fingers coming to playfully fiddle with the ear cuff that decorates his lobe.]
Even if you did not need to travel far, I believe you deserve a reward for all your hard work in the Great Apple Scone Hunt. Problem is, I'm unsure what a worthy reward would be.
[Although he still beats her and will forever beat her in girth and raw strength, Jill begins taking advantage of his hands on her waist and leads them into the beginning of a laughable rendition of a waltz towards her dining table. It's a piss poor reenactment of the dance they shared at the masquerade over a moon ago, but who is here to judge them?]
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Was it such a selfish thing to ask? ]
I couldn't ask for anything more than this... [ He will allow her to take the lead towards the table, awkward in his movements in order to keep the scones in place. Clive's making due, though— improvising his steps and swaying his own body in some semblance of a two-step. Founder knows he was never quite good with dancing, as his only footwork was with a sword in his hand. Yet that doesn't stop him from trying in his movement, laughter once again filling his lungs as he squeezes her waist and holds her tighter. ]
... Though I may have some suggestions for later. [ He smiles under his scars as they continue to dance in the empty room, free from prying eyes. ] But what better victory from the Great Apple Scone Hunt than to eat them?
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Selfish? To people who have been denied everything they ever desired, perhaps. But in truth, it's what they deserve. To have given up so much only to get nothing close to happiness would just be cruel.]
I would like to hear those suggestions sooner rather than later.
[She feels his feet stumble against hers and Jill can't help the laugh that bubbles up from somewhere deep in her chest. Surely, she's no professional on the dance floor herself, but there's something so charming in the way Clive still tries his best, even if it's just for the few feet it takes them to get from her apartment doorway to the table. He could stomp on every single one of her toes and Jill would still love him for it.]
Ah, speaking about eating them, we would need some tea to go with. But about that...
[They've made it to the table and as a sign of gratitude for obliging her moment of silliness, Jill presses a kiss to his mouth, something that isn't quite as chaste as the ones earlier, before she grabs the top of the bag and ducks out of his hold. Maybe it hints to her next few words instead:]
Maybe you should sit down for this.
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The kisses weren't a terrible addition, either. Every single one, no matter the size, would never be taken for granted. He smiles softly behind each, inwardly elated with the repeat motions before he watches her slip out and move away.
He was going to follow after her too, but her sentence stops Clive in his tracks with an arched brow. ]
... Hmm? [ Sit down? That was a bit of an odd request considering the silliness that had previously occurred, but Clive will comply. He finds the seat closest to him without looking, pulling the chair out and sitting in it sideways to keep his eyes locked on Jill. ]
You sound so serious about this. It's not something I should be worried about, is it?
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No. I promised you that it wasn't anything bad and I meant that. It's just that this tea... it's not the usual blend that I buy.
[And with that, she rises up and turns to open a cupboard, pulling down a small box that Jill places in front of Clive on the table when she returns. The box is unlabeled, unremarkable in every way, and unless one presses their nose against the container, they wouldn't be able to really pick up any scent of herbs and leaves. All in all, it looks nothing more than a regular teabox, but Jill's sudden tensing of her shoulders and her next few words gives the pack a certain gravity to it.]
It's a special kind of tea.
[For something that he shouldn't be worried about, Jill is really behaving like he should be. But in truth, she's worried he may take offense to this whole idea of hers once he hears it. This sort of subject is still a delicate thing for her.]
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He could tell she was building up to say something, but for the life of him he could not manage to figure it out. Even after the tea was place in front of him did Clive's expression mold even further into the realm of confusion. He even picks it up and idly examines it with the slightest tilt of his head. To him, tea was tea, and never before had he been presented with anything apart from the ordinary. So then why... ]
If you mean to put my mind at ease, I would like to know what's so "special" about it. [ He's not demanding. He's not trying to be forceful. He's patient. It's taken a lot for the both of them to finally express what they want, Jill most of all, so he would never press any answers from her.
Instead he'll ease into it slightly, giving her a supportive smile before gesturing his eyes to the tea. ]
Please, Jill. It's alright.
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It's supposed to help with... that.
[No, being coy is not going to work. They promised each other to be more open with one another, to not fear speaking up for what they needed, what they wanted. If she can't be comfortable around Clive while he's courting her, then what is the point?
So Jill takes a deep breath and pulls out the chair across from him, slipping into it without a sound.]
Our lovemaking. [And then suddenly, the dam bursts and Jill can't stop the words from falling from her lips. It's almost laughable how much speed her words pick up.] Not that there's anything wrong with what we have now. I enjoy it. But this is supposed to help us enjoy it more and intensify it and I got a little curious about whether it worked or not so I took some. Though if you're against it, I absolutely understand. I just wished to bring up the topic and give you the choice of whether or not you would partake in it.
[Because if nothing else matters, consent does. They both lived too long without any say in the things they did. With the freedom they have in this place, she wants him to have the ability to say no, to tell her of all people no, if he's against it.]
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Oh.
So it was that kind of tea.
Clive blinks, more so from the rapid explanation than the subject matter itself. He wasn't embarrassed or uncomfortable when the two were together, and it had been a couple of weeks since the initial conversation of their lovemaking had taken place.
Jill was kind, too kind of a person and her protectiveness of his wellbeing was something to be admired. It was endearing, beyond endearing and for her to make sure an effort to bring it to his attention... how could he possibly ignore the request?
So in an attempt to put her at ease this time, the man leans over and returns the gesture of placing a hand to her knee. His smile is not one of judgment or uncertainty. Simply the look of a man who is completely enamored by the woman sitting across from him.
... Buuuut that doesn't mean he won't let out the tiniest of chuckles. Really, he was trying to hold it in, he really was- ]
Is that what this is about? I feared you meant to poison me. [ Another chuckle, dipping his head down to shake his head. ]
A punishment I was willing to accept should I have done something to upset you. [ He's teasing, of course, but the way she was acting really did have him worried there for a second!! There was an added layer of relief that it was not the case, and Clive seems visibly more relaxed now despite the effort it took for her to finally say it. ]
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It's strange how doing the action is far easier for Jill than speaking about it, but to be honest, has anything in this relationship gone the way it usually does? Not that anything in their lives has gone as planned, but they're both just feeling things out blindly. Who's really expecting them to put titles to one another before trading apartment keys?
Jill sighs and pouts a little bit, but it's clear that his reaction does not truly offend her. The way she's trying to fight back the smile that attempts to break past the pout, only to fail and chuckle herself means her shoulders finally lose the tension and every single part of her relaxes.
One day, she won't work herself up so much in her head. She could probably never do anything wrong in his eyes.]
I'd find it much easier a subject to bring up if that were the case.
[Strange, but true. Violence seemed to come much easier than loving in their world, but things are changing. And for the better.
With his head tipped down, it gives her access to reach across the space between them and card her fingers through the messy dark mop he calls his hair, her short nails scratching along his scalp. Sometimes the simple act of touching him calms her, brings her back to a peaceful place, and when she sighs again, this time it's one tinged with contentment.]
You can say no, if you'd like. I won't be angry.
[As if she could ever be angry at him, even if he tried his utter best to enrage her. Jill's just too soft for this scruffed up warrior of a man.]
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To Clive... she was the most beautiful— a perfect being unlike anyone he's ever met before, and to say that he was completely smitten by her was a vast understatement.
Even now hearing her laughter from above filled his stomach with a profound happiness he hasn't experienced in years. Only when he was with her did this type of happiness get brought about. So how could he deny her, something that they both wanted but almost felt too nervous to say out loud?
So when he feels the fingers run across his head and the sensation of her nails against his scalp, Clive practically melts into the touch. He remains still for a moment to soak in the sensation before lifting up his chin, allowing her hand to lower and slide down until it falls in front of his face. There he'll leave several small kisses against her palm, smiling behind her appendages. ]
... I'm feeling a little thirsty. Shall we?
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She sees the smile twinkling in his eyes before she catches it in the curve his lips and Jill wants nothing more right now than to give Clive more reasons to smile, whether in the bedroom or not. There so much she wants to give him, so much she wants to know of his desires, to ask him that question he once asked her: now that everything is over, how does he envision their life together? Does he secretly dream of starting a family with her or is he fully content with it just being the two of them? Or does he ever consider making a proper woman out of her, giving her the opportunity to take his last name as hers? So many questions, but not the right moment to bring them up. All in due time, though. All in due time.]
We shall. [She pulls her hand away to grab the tea off the table, but doesn't immediately get up from her seat. Instead, Jill brings her face closer, pressing her forehead against his, breathing deep of his scent of ocean salt and leather.] Together. Like we always do.
[But as much as she hates to have to do it, she shifts away and onto her feet, making her way to the hearth to pick up the kettle. The tea can't make itself no matter what its effects are.]
Would you care to light the fire for me?
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[ They were taking steps- baby steps- but steps nonetheless. No longer were the forced to standstill, unable to escape the cruel fate that had been bestowed upon them. The fate that had left Clive stranded on that beach and staring up at the moon, wondering if Jill could possibly see the same glistening moonlight. Whatever his outcome may have been upon those sandy shores no longer mattered... what mattered now was that he was here and he would waste no more time with the "what ifs".
They would finally take those baby steps hand in hand. Together. ]
Of course. [ He answers, already feeling rather lightheaded from just how breathless she made him. He wanted to stay like that forever, with her head pressed against his own, but there was certainly more time for that in their future. So while it will take him a moment to move from his spot, eventually the man will pick himself off from seat, ignoring the sudden weightlessness he felt in order to successfully cross the room to the hearth.
Producing a flame well enough to light the fireplace underneath was easy enough- a routine he would partially do in his sleep. Yet he was unsure whether the heat that clung to his cheeks was due to his proximity of the rising flames or something else entirely. It certainly didn't help he had a difficult time looking away from Jill as they worked together to prepare the tea. ]
I'm curious as to how you procured such an item. Fancied a trip to Naughtilust, perhaps? [ He'll question playfully before picking himself up in order to set out the plates on the table, all the while watching her with an ounce of curiosity. ]
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If they're going to look, give 'em something to look at.
Thus if there's a little extra curve of her hips as she makes her way over to the fire, then no one would blame Clive for taking notice of it.]
No, it's not from there. There was a mention of it on the board and it had people talking. Most of them had plans on selling the tea. Apparently it can fetch quite the hefty price.
[With the kettle filled, she bends over the hearth and places it down to boil. It's a quick movement, yet Jill remains bent at the waist for a few seconds longer. If one looks closely, there's a hint of something flirtatious in her eyes as she looks back at Clive. Easy for someone to overlook it for sure, but with her particular position, it seems almost she means to it to be caught.
And she does.]
That was not where my intentions lied.
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Every time he would look at Jill it was as if he was looking at her for the first time. There was always something new (her new scent— still smelling of flowers and a crisp winter's evening, but now a mixture of tea leaves and the sun), some little detail that he never caught on before (was her hair getting longer? did her eyes sparkle a little brighter?), and now this? This he knew was different.
Though he was indeed a man of little words the surprised lift of his brows when he noticed her ever so particular walk, or how she leaned over the hearth... Clive had to open his lips in order to make sure he was breathing.
He was so utterly captivated, he almost didn't want to wait for the tea to be fully brewed... ]
Hopefully it wasn't too much trouble, then.
[ Was it improper to stare? He does try to avert his gaze briefly with an almost sheepish chuckle, but through his messy bangs only peers back like a magnet. Forgive him, he's having a hard time trying to hide his smile. ]
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[That's not quite true. She ran into many a prying eye and just as many questions, but Jill isn't about to bring those people into a room she wants to keep to her and Clive only.
Speaking of eyes, it seems like following the book's advice is working in Jill's favor. She stands up straight moving to lean against the wall next to the hearth, leaving plenty of space between them. This is purposefully done because Jill doesn't trust herself to wait for the tea if she gets any closer to him.]
You're staring.
[But much like he teased her earlier, she returns the favor to him. The smirk playing at her lips says as much and says many more things like how she does not mind having his gaze trapped on her. If anything, he is the only man she ever wants looking at her. Like this. Like in any way. Forever.
Watching him as intently as he's watching her, she can see him waging that internal battle of whether to look away or not. Politeness may have won out for a second, but it falls back in the face of Clive and that boyish smile of his, the one that makes her heart skip a beat every time.]
I didn't say to stop.
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Clive's body reacts at the command— a sudden stiffness in his limbs as his shoulders straightened and chin lifting to fully match her gaze. But he's smiling. That same boyish smile that no one had witnessed in many years. He was content, warm, and happy with Jill's sudden assertiveness and it made the churning in his stomach unstoppable.
The space between them was beginning to become unbearable. ]
Of course, my lady. [ The playfulness in his tone remained, and Clive had to preoccupy his hands placing them over his thighs in order to prevent himself from moving. ] Would that I never have to look away from you again.
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With Clive being a man of few words sometimes, she's learned to read his body language as well as she's learned to devour her romance novels. The way his shoulders straighten up and he poses to fly right tells Jill that this is a man who would not only do anything for her, but would do anything she told him to. The idea of having Clive at her beck and call, at their most intimate and private moments, spins a shiver down her spine.
Something to be explored sooner rather than later, perhaps.]
That sounds quite the lofty goal, my lord. Surely other things would demand your attention.
[And if those things know what's good for them, they'll be just fine with being ignored until the both of them are done with each other in whatever ways that may be.]
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To ease this, as well as a few other things, the man couldn't help but force himself upward and out of his seat. He nears the hearth slowly, all while never taking his eyes off of her. You know... to observe in this all to easy process of tea making.
Yet, at this very moment, it seemed like a two person job. He certainly couldn't sit around and let her do all the work, now could he? ]
Nor any other moment, for that matter. [ Perhaps there was something they could do in the meantime rather than twiddle their thumbs and let the tension raise? He couldn't help it, not with all the staring and teasing and Clive was never one to sit back and allow something to happen.
So with a gentle hand he'll raise it up to her cheek, quietly stroking the bangs out of her face before leaning down and delivering a single kiss to her lips. A sensation sweeter than any other treat accompanied by the tea, he thought. ]
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