[ he has been planning this, has he? she is as charmed by that thought as the rink itself, unable to keep herself from bouncing just a little on her feet. he didn't need something like this to get her attention, though she dare not let those words slip past her lips.
turning fully to face him furina tilts her head, reaching up to tap her chin thoughtfully. what do they start with? there is so much that she doesn't really know what to start with. ]
Bagged, is it? [ a shame, truly. ] I am unsurprised, they don't appear to have the facilities or time to enjoy tea properly.
[ she then grabs hold of his hand, pulling him toward the rink. ] We should go for that dance first, my dear Duke! I wish to see your skills on the ice!
[ maybe a little. He's been restless without a job so admittedly, most of his free time has been spent wandering around the city, seeing what there is to see. It was a lot bigger than Fontaine city--despite not being as nice to look at. Quantity over Quality, one supposes...
he'd found this fairground a few days ago and decided it wouldn't be a bad place for a... date, if he wasn't too presumptuous to invite Furina out on one. Growing attached to her had been gradual, the kinship he felt for her having lived a life that you had no power in. A quiet regret for not having a proper youth, a wish to enjoy yourself but only having responsibility hanging overhead for as long as you could remember.
Wriothesley doesn't regret becoming the Warden of Meropide. It was his home. But. Even now, he still wished he'd had a normal childhood, a normal upbringing so he'd understand the concept of being free. Maybe choosing to invite Furina out now--and to go see Neuvillette later for another date--had been his first step in doing something for himself. Free of responsibility. Free from everything. ]
It absolutely is. I'll drink it if there's nothing else, but I'd really rather not. A man's soul can only take so much tarnishing, you know. [ are they still talking about tea? ]
Dancing on the ice it is.
Want me to help you get into your skates?
[ he's going to move to put an arm over her shoulder--to direct her to the set of benches they had set up on the side to get changed into one's skates. ]
[ there is no denying the kinship between them. a different as their situations were they share the scars of a life lived wholly out of their own control. it was the building blocks for greater things, for a fondness that sat so heavily in her chest that sometimes she forgot how to even breathe.
she is glad for it now─ for how everything ended back in fontaine, for their sudden whisking away to this far off place. she is glad that they both got the chance to live for themselves. she is glad she got the chance to know him outside of the reputation that proceeded him, to see the man underneath the title. and she is glad that he has gotten to know her as furina, instead of the god who sacrificed it all to protect her people. ]
Worry not, my dear Duke, as long as I am around I will make certain you will never suffer such tarnishing. [ are they???? what else could they be talking about??
furina allows herself to be directed towards the benches and sits herself down, watching him carefully for a moment. ]
Very well, I shall wait here for you return.
[ he doesn't have to help her get into her skates, but who is she to deny him when he wishes to help. so furina undoes her shoes and places them beside her and... waits. ]
Make sure I keep nice and shiny, huh. [ he gives her a look over his shoulder as he wanders off--a flick of one of his ears and a wink of an eye as he goes to pay their fee. He's given a pair of bracelets that show they've paid for the rink, just in case they want to get off, take a break for a snack or something, then return.
He'll return to Furina's side not but a few moments later, handing her the bracelet as he gets on his knees in front of her.
And like a knight attending their queen, he absolutely will go about helping her into her skates, tying them properly so they're secure and she won't break an ankle. ]
So. Have you ever gone ice-skating before.
I gotta' admit, it's been a few years for me. There was an incident in the Fortress about five years ago where the water in one of the moon pools got really cold and froze over. A few of the inmates and guards got together to see if it was stable enough to carry weight, and well.
...I might have reinforced the ice with my Vision and let everyone have a few days of fun on the ice before it melted naturally.
[ she presses her lips together tightly as he wanders off, unable to stop herself from catching his gaze as he winks in her direction. terrible, she thinks as she feels her cheeks grow warm and she tries not to smile.
thankfully, he does not give her too much time to ruminate on his words, wandering back over not long after with the bracelet. furina slips hers on her wrist as he gets on his knees before her, breath catching in her throat--
gods, she did not expect the sight of him on his knees before her to be so... so... good? no, that isn't the right word. she can't find the right word with the way her mind spins in panicked circles, her cheeks burning so brightly that she forces herself to look away. get a grip, furina!! ]
Y-Yes, I have. I learned a long time ago when I starred in a play, the director wanted to hold it outside the Opera where they often have those Automatons performing. I quite enjoyed it and would often sneak out of the Palais some nights to skate.
[ after a deep breath she looks back to wriothesley, fingers curled tightly around the edge of the bench. ]
[ tell him how you think he looks good on his knees, his reaction might not be what you think. He's careful about his actions, tying the skate's ties in a firm, but practical way that has the bow looking dainty around the fur-lined top of them. When he finishes, he gives her feet a little tug--as to make sure they won't just slip off.
This is when he'll finally stand -- brushing snow off of his knees, reaching down to pinch her nose between thumb and forefinger, then sitting next to her so he can get to work putting his skates on. ...A pair of bulky looking hockey skates, as opposed to figure skates, but. What did you expect, really. ]
The--Palais, down in front of the Opera Epiclese, yeah? Where those two robots are dancing in a circle some nights? I've seen it, but I've never really gone to see them up close. Kind of a regret, now. That rink really is big. It'd probably have been fun to practice on, instead of a bumpy frozen pool or lake.
If you've got more practice in, then maybe it'll be you showing me a trick or two today, huh? You'll teach me some fancy moves, right?
[ she is tempted, truly, and incredibly disappointed when he finally stands up, brushing the snow from his knees before pinching her nose. she bats at him though it does not connect, the taller man already moved to sit beside her and putting on his own skates. they are notably different from the ones he had gotten her, although she cannot say it surprises her. ]
The very same. It was fun to practice on, although Clorinde always would come to ruin the fun. Apparently, it was not good for the Hydro Archon to sneak out of the Palais and travel all the way to the Opera in the middle of the night.
[ furina shrugs and stands up, testing her balance before turning to look down at him. red still dusts her cheeks but she refuses to acknowledge it. ]
Of course! It will only be a matter of whether or not you can keep up.
[ listen he can't wear dainty figure skates his feet are too big for that and besides hockey skates are more his style. Assuring they're properly tied, he'll grab his boots--and then offer his free hand to Furina. There's a little area next to the entrance to the rink where people can store their shoes. ]
Hm. I can see Clorinde doing just that--but if you want my opinion? The nighttime is the best time to get some of your best work like that finished. Even I save the night for practicing things I wouldn't want to be seen during the day doing.
I'd have left you to it and watched over you from afar, were I in her shoes. She made a huge mistake, there.
[ and then comes another low, rumbling chuckle. ]
Well. If I can't keep up. You'll guide me along, won't you?
[ she takes his hand happily, walking with practiced ease towards the entrance to store their shoes. all the while she pulls him along, fingers interlaced with his, and she talks: ]
My thoughts exactly! I spent all day going to tea parties, meeting fans, and reviewing trial documents, I hardly had a chance to do anything I wanted to do. [ reaching the area furina stores her shoes before turning to take wriothesley's and storing them right beside her own. ] But I can't be too mad at her, she was just doing her job. However, some nights I think she did let me skate for some time before interrupting me.
[ it is only then that she lets go of his hand, moving over to the entrance of the rink. she steps onto the ice without issue, finding her balance almost instantly, and turns to face him. ]
I won't let you fall behind, my dear Duke. Now come! Let us see how well you stand on the ice!
[ ...while there wasn't much in the way to do down in the fortress, he could at least wile his days away doing what he wanted once he'd taken the throne of Duke. Mostly, he found the best entertainment in the Pankration Arena, but...
Imagine having to play some role and never being allowed to do that? Perish the thought. He shudders. Visibly. ]
Well. At the very least, you can have your days the way you want them, here. Long as it lasts. [ and with that, he he's going to slide out next to her--he's definitely far less practiced than her, but at the very least he's figured out some of how this worked.
You know. The not falling on your ass part. ]
I'm upright. So that counts for something, doesn't it?
I can do whatever I please, and spend my days with whomever I please. Yes, it is all much better here.
[ she watches him as she slides out next to her, lips pressed together in a smile as he makes it far enough for furina to reach out and take his hand. he doesn't necessarily need her to keep him up, he has enough knowledge to prevent himself from falling flat on his ass, but she reaches out anyway. ]
It does! [ very good wriothesley. ] How confident are you about moving?
[ while he's definitely not a practiced skater, he's got enough strength in his legs to try to keep balance, at least--even if it's different than just standing on ice--standing on a blade you're not used to being underfoot is definitely a challenge.
But what is the duke but not someone who meets everything head-on? No, he steels his jaw, gives a grin, and tries to mimic the movements of the others he'd seen on the ice. A set of strides, letting momentum take over as he starts to glide--
And it's clean. Really it is, one might assume he knows what he's doing.
Until, that is, he just. Keeps going. ]
I've encountered an issue.
Well, this is fine. [ he just keeps drifting forward and forward... hello fence... ]
honestly she is impressed when he started to move, doing his best to mimic the way others are moving about the ice, but then he just keeps going forward... and the realization hits that maybe duke wriothesley doesn't know how to stop─ or turn.
laughter bubbles up her throat as furina moves swiftly to try and grab him, pulling him away from drifting directly into the fence. (2) well... she tries to do just that, however there is only so much strength in her arms and he is larger than her, thus does the momentum carry them both directly into the fence. ]
[ he's going to try. he's really going to try to stop--furina wrapped around his waist would be a boon, you'd think, some extra weight to help you figure out how you shift your weight, but...
...
Wriothesley is a champion boxer and furina is about half his size, if not less. It does nothing. They're both gonna hit the fence with a gentle 'thump', and all Wriothesley can do is reach down to grab furina, so when he falls, he's the one who ends up going straight down on his ass.
[ you would think that any weight might help you prevent the fate that befalls them, but alas furina weights very little in comparison to wriothesley and well... the momentum that comes from someone of his size.
thankfully wriothesley's reflexes spare her from falling ass first onto the ice, instead when she goes down she finds herself landing neatly on top of him instead. it takes a moment for her mind to catch up with reality, mismatched eyes blinking rapidly as he starts to laugh.
oh she's...
oh...
she fallen on top of him.
red dusts her cheeks immediately and she opens her mouth to say something, only for laughter to bubble up and join with his own. ]
I thought you said you could keep up, my dear Duke.
[ honestly things could have ended up far worse. he could have landed on top of her, and with losing his balance like this, he could have hurt her. nope, this was--embarrassing, yes,--but probably the safest outcome.
even if it meant he was in an embarrassing position underneath Furina, with more than a few people laughing at them for the clown act they'd just preformed, crashing into the fence...
All he can do is chuckle, reaching a hand up to push the hair out of his eyes. ]
Well. You know how it is. Sometimes you go in fully confident and then fall on your butt.
[ in retrospect yes, it could have ended up far worse. if they were fated to fall no matter what they did then this is the best result for certain. despite the red dusting her cheeks she doesn't entire mind it at all, nor does she appear to mind the eyes that have fallen on them for their performance. ]
Hmm, [ distantly she thinks she should get up, she should allow him to get back up to his feet. but something about the way that he looks up at hair and pushes some of her hair from her eyes keeps her from moving. ] No, I think we will keep this from your record.
But you should be rewarded for you valiant save.
[ with a hand resting gently against his cheek she leans down and presses a kiss to his lips, a sudden impulsive move the lasts a mere heartbeat before she pulls away, her blush deepening to a much darker red.
oh, she sure did just do that.
okay maybe it is time to get up. ]
A-ahem! We should... stand back up, haha.
[ it's only now that she becomes keenly aware of the eyes on them, of the position they ended up in, and she pushes herself up off wriothesley and onto her feet. ]
[ 'Rewarded'? the word is on the tip of his tongue. He'd even opened his mouth to say it, moments before her hand settles on his cheek.
Wriothesley is by no means a stupid man; and as he gazes up at Furina in muted silence he... realises, exactly what is happening. By which that means he doesn't at all stop it. He goes very still, as if to pause the moment as it lasts. An unfamiliar sensation of the warmth of another pressed against him, the feeling of her breath on his cheek--
Touch starved as the Duke is, he sort of stares dumbly up at her once she pulls away.
A moment later, he grins. Wide, and warm. ]
Were we. Not in the middle of a pretty ice rink, I'd say I'd be fine with this a little while longer.
[ yeah no he might be new to this, but just as new as he is, the Duke isn't a shy man. Never has been.
Once she's off him, he'll shift to get up, settling up on his ice skates with a little more ease this time. ]
...I think I need to practice a little on 'breaks'.
she breathes in sharply eyes widening as she watches him get back up onto his feet. maybe it is because furina herself is just as touch starved, or maybe it is because of the storm of emotion that has been slowly building up over the past months, or maybe it is that impulse that has not fully left her system─ regardless, furina finds herself wanting to leave the rink and the crowd and just kiss him again.
gods above, what is wrong with her?
shifting her weight furina tears her gaze from wriothesley and fidgets. ]
That... yes, perhaps later or next time we can work on that.
[ next time? they only just got into the rink, surely she cannot be considering leaving? but she wants to, gods she very much wants to. ]
I'm feeling a little parched, I think a drink is in order!
[ he could be cheeky. He could stop in his tracks and claim, 'hey, what are we leaving the rink for so early, we only just started.'
However, the Duke, while not being a romantic man, is at the very least a smart one, and he puts 2 and 5 together and the number 7 becomes pretty clear in his head.
He instead decides to chuckle deep in his chest and follows behind her, moving to curl an arm around her, and start to sweep her towards the little entry platform they'd come in on. Going slow this time so they won't crash when they reach it. ]
There's plenty of places we can grab a nice hot tea or cocoa from and find a quiet spot to enjoy the gentle winterlights to enjoy it.
The park is pretty big, after all. So let's get that drink.
[ is she truly so obvious? she doesn't know whether to curse him or praise him for reading her so easily. at least he didn't choose to tease her with the fact they only just got into the rink. it is simply that... she can't see the focus on skating anymore! not with his words bouncing around her head like a rubber ball, or the warmth of his body against hers that is slowly fading from her limbs, or the fact he curls an arm around her to guide them both back to the entry.
he is warm and gentle and gods she did not realize how desperately she had wanted that sort of contact until she begun to experience it. she had not realized how desperately she had wanted someone to look at her the way wriothesley and neuvilette looked at her until they did.
unconsciously she leans into him as they move slowly to the entry platform, silently praying for her pulse to stop thundering so violently in her veins. ]
That sounds wonderful, Wriothesley. I tire of crowds easily these days, so a quiet spot out of the way sounds wonderful.
[ maybe she's a little obvious, but it's also just who wriothesley is. he's able to see the lines in the sand moments after they're drawn, reading people on their expressions and tone of voice alone. Maybe one day he'll talk about himself enough to explain why he's so keen-eyed on everything, and so very suspicious on everything else.
But not right now.
Now is time for him to spend some time with the once-archon of water, turned ordinary woman; experiencing what life was like in a place where neither of them are chained to their different fates.
...It's nice. Getting their skates off is far easier than putting them on was, at least--and soon he and his white-haired companion find themselves a quiet corner of the fairgrounds. A little bench under an awning that's decorated with winter lights; and he takes a seat next to her. Having gone to get her and himself some warm drinks.
Though he already doubts he's going to get to drink much of it. ]
Wasn't sure if you'd want tea like me--or some hot chocolate. I got both--you can pick.
[ her relief is palpable the moment they part from the rink and the crowd, the tension that had been present in her shoulders since the moment they collided finally dispersing once they find a quiet corner of the grounds. Furina can't help but exhale loudly the moment she sits down, watching as he departs to get them some warm drinks.
he isn't gone long but it's enough to give her a moment to breathe, to try and calm herself down a little more. she looks up when he returns, drinks in hand, and settles beside her. Furina shifts a little closer to him, unable to stop the smile that finds her. ]
I shall take the hot chocolate, thank you.
[ hesitantly she brings to her mouth, exhaling a couple of short breaths in order to cool it down a little, but she doesn't drink. instead, Furina glances at him from the corner of her gaze once, twice, then as the moment silence suddenly becomes too much decides to speak: ]
I'm sorry, I shouldn't have... [ done that. despite how much i have wanted to. ]
[ yep, sorry, the Duke isn't at all shy about the topic of conversation. Handing her the cup of cocoa as he settles in with his own tea, already taking a sip from it, despite how hot it is. He's got years of practice under his belt and tea is best drank while burning hot. It warms his already warm core, and he slides a sidelong glance over to Furina. ]
You never struck me as someone who did things without first thinking about the outcomes. After all, you danced such a thin line with that for years.
[ he sips his tea again. His gaze on her is intent--but after a moment, he closes his eyes gently. ]
...But then again, maybe it was a spark of spontaneity, because you are allowed to have those now that you're free here.
It wasn't! It was─ [ what was it? Furina curls in a little on herself and bites her bottom lip. where does she even begin? how does she even begin? after years of holdings all of her true thoughts and feelings in she finds it difficult to express them freely.
she stares at the hot chocolate for a moment, brow furrowing as she gathers up the right words to say. ]
I... [ Furina dares herself to look at him. ] I enjoy your company, Wriothesley. You are kind and been nothing but supportive as we navigate our lives in this world. I won't deny that I have long found you to be quite handsome and often seek out your company.
[ gods where is she going with this? ]
That is to say it... It wasn't a spark of spontaneity and it was. [ inhale, exhale. ] I have wanted to kiss you for some time now. [ she laughs awkwardly. ] M-Maybe that wasn't the best moment but... haha.
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turning fully to face him furina tilts her head, reaching up to tap her chin thoughtfully. what do they start with? there is so much that she doesn't really know what to start with. ]
Bagged, is it? [ a shame, truly. ] I am unsurprised, they don't appear to have the facilities or time to enjoy tea properly.
[ she then grabs hold of his hand, pulling him toward the rink. ] We should go for that dance first, my dear Duke! I wish to see your skills on the ice!
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he'd found this fairground a few days ago and decided it wouldn't be a bad place for a... date, if he wasn't too presumptuous to invite Furina out on one. Growing attached to her had been gradual, the kinship he felt for her having lived a life that you had no power in. A quiet regret for not having a proper youth, a wish to enjoy yourself but only having responsibility hanging overhead for as long as you could remember.
Wriothesley doesn't regret becoming the Warden of Meropide. It was his home. But.
Even now, he still wished he'd had a normal childhood, a normal upbringing so he'd understand the concept of being free.
Maybe choosing to invite Furina out now--and to go see Neuvillette later for another date--had been his first step in doing something for himself. Free of responsibility.
Free from everything. ]
It absolutely is. I'll drink it if there's nothing else, but I'd really rather not. A man's soul can only take so much tarnishing, you know. [ are they still talking about tea? ]
Dancing on the ice it is.
Want me to help you get into your skates?
[ he's going to move to put an arm over her shoulder--to direct her to the set of benches they had set up on the side to get changed into one's skates. ]
I'll go pay for entry, first. Get your shoes off.
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she is glad for it now─ for how everything ended back in fontaine, for their sudden whisking away to this far off place. she is glad that they both got the chance to live for themselves. she is glad she got the chance to know him outside of the reputation that proceeded him, to see the man underneath the title. and she is glad that he has gotten to know her as furina, instead of the god who sacrificed it all to protect her people. ]
Worry not, my dear Duke, as long as I am around I will make certain you will never suffer such tarnishing. [ are they???? what else could they be talking about??
furina allows herself to be directed towards the benches and sits herself down, watching him carefully for a moment. ]
Very well, I shall wait here for you return.
[ he doesn't have to help her get into her skates, but who is she to deny him when he wishes to help. so furina undoes her shoes and places them beside her and... waits. ]
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He'll return to Furina's side not but a few moments later, handing her the bracelet as he gets on his knees in front of her.
And like a knight attending their queen, he absolutely will go about helping her into her skates, tying them properly so they're secure and she won't break an ankle. ]
So. Have you ever gone ice-skating before.
I gotta' admit, it's been a few years for me. There was an incident in the Fortress about five years ago where the water in one of the moon pools got really cold and froze over. A few of the inmates and guards got together to see if it was stable enough to carry weight, and well.
...I might have reinforced the ice with my Vision and let everyone have a few days of fun on the ice before it melted naturally.
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thankfully, he does not give her too much time to ruminate on his words, wandering back over not long after with the bracelet. furina slips hers on her wrist as he gets on his knees before her, breath catching in her throat--
gods, she did not expect the sight of him on his knees before her to be so... so... good? no, that isn't the right word. she can't find the right word with the way her mind spins in panicked circles, her cheeks burning so brightly that she forces herself to look away. get a grip, furina!! ]
Y-Yes, I have. I learned a long time ago when I starred in a play, the director wanted to hold it outside the Opera where they often have those Automatons performing. I quite enjoyed it and would often sneak out of the Palais some nights to skate.
[ after a deep breath she looks back to wriothesley, fingers curled tightly around the edge of the bench. ]
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He's careful about his actions, tying the skate's ties in a firm, but practical way that has the bow looking dainty around the fur-lined top of them. When he finishes, he gives her feet a little tug--as to make sure they won't just slip off.
This is when he'll finally stand -- brushing snow off of his knees, reaching down to pinch her nose between thumb and forefinger, then sitting next to her so he can get to work putting his skates on. ...A pair of bulky looking hockey skates, as opposed to figure skates, but. What did you expect, really. ]
The--Palais, down in front of the Opera Epiclese, yeah? Where those two robots are dancing in a circle some nights? I've seen it, but I've never really gone to see them up close. Kind of a regret, now. That rink really is big. It'd probably have been fun to practice on, instead of a bumpy frozen pool or lake.
If you've got more practice in, then maybe it'll be you showing me a trick or two today, huh?
You'll teach me some fancy moves, right?
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[ she is tempted, truly, and incredibly disappointed when he finally stands up, brushing the snow from his knees before pinching her nose. she bats at him though it does not connect, the taller man already moved to sit beside her and putting on his own skates. they are notably different from the ones he had gotten her, although she cannot say it surprises her. ]
The very same. It was fun to practice on, although Clorinde always would come to ruin the fun. Apparently, it was not good for the Hydro Archon to sneak out of the Palais and travel all the way to the Opera in the middle of the night.
[ furina shrugs and stands up, testing her balance before turning to look down at him. red still dusts her cheeks but she refuses to acknowledge it. ]
Of course! It will only be a matter of whether or not you can keep up.
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Hm. I can see Clorinde doing just that--but if you want my opinion? The nighttime is the best time to get some of your best work like that finished. Even I save the night for practicing things I wouldn't want to be seen during the day doing.
I'd have left you to it and watched over you from afar, were I in her shoes. She made a huge mistake, there.
[ and then comes another low, rumbling chuckle. ]
Well. If I can't keep up. You'll guide me along, won't you?
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My thoughts exactly! I spent all day going to tea parties, meeting fans, and reviewing trial documents, I hardly had a chance to do anything I wanted to do. [ reaching the area furina stores her shoes before turning to take wriothesley's and storing them right beside her own. ] But I can't be too mad at her, she was just doing her job. However, some nights I think she did let me skate for some time before interrupting me.
[ it is only then that she lets go of his hand, moving over to the entrance of the rink. she steps onto the ice without issue, finding her balance almost instantly, and turns to face him. ]
I won't let you fall behind, my dear Duke. Now come! Let us see how well you stand on the ice!
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Imagine having to play some role and never being allowed to do that?
Perish the thought. He shudders. Visibly. ]
Well. At the very least, you can have your days the way you want them, here. Long as it lasts. [ and with that, he he's going to slide out next to her--he's definitely far less practiced than her, but at the very least he's figured out some of how this worked.
You know. The not falling on your ass part. ]
I'm upright. So that counts for something, doesn't it?
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[ she watches him as she slides out next to her, lips pressed together in a smile as he makes it far enough for furina to reach out and take his hand. he doesn't necessarily need her to keep him up, he has enough knowledge to prevent himself from falling flat on his ass, but she reaches out anyway. ]
It does! [ very good wriothesley. ] How confident are you about moving?
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But what is the duke but not someone who meets everything head-on? No, he steels his jaw, gives a grin, and tries to mimic the movements of the others he'd seen on the ice. A set of strides, letting momentum take over as he starts to glide--
And it's clean. Really it is, one might assume he knows what he's doing.
Until, that is, he just. Keeps going. ]
I've encountered an issue.
Well, this is fine. [ he just keeps drifting forward and forward... hello fence... ]
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honestly she is impressed when he started to move, doing his best to mimic the way others are moving about the ice, but then he just keeps going forward... and the realization hits that maybe duke wriothesley doesn't know how to stop─ or turn.
laughter bubbles up her throat as furina moves swiftly to try and grab him, pulling him away from drifting directly into the fence. (2) well... she tries to do just that, however there is only so much strength in her arms and he is larger than her, thus does the momentum carry them both directly into the fence. ]
Ah!
rolls a 4
...
Wriothesley is a champion boxer and furina is about half his size, if not less. It does nothing. They're both gonna hit the fence with a gentle 'thump', and all Wriothesley can do is reach down to grab furina, so when he falls, he's the one who ends up going straight down on his ass.
With Furina neatly landing on top of him.
This is fine.
Slowly.
Wriothesley is just going to start to laugh. ]
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thankfully wriothesley's reflexes spare her from falling ass first onto the ice, instead when she goes down she finds herself landing neatly on top of him instead. it takes a moment for her mind to catch up with reality, mismatched eyes blinking rapidly as he starts to laugh.
oh she's...
oh...
she fallen on top of him.
red dusts her cheeks immediately and she opens her mouth to say something, only for laughter to bubble up and join with his own. ]
I thought you said you could keep up, my dear Duke.
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even if it meant he was in an embarrassing position underneath Furina, with more than a few people laughing at them for the clown act they'd just preformed, crashing into the fence...
All he can do is chuckle, reaching a hand up to push the hair out of his eyes. ]
Well.
You know how it is. Sometimes you go in fully confident and then fall on your butt.
This won't go on my permanent record, will it?
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Hmm, [ distantly she thinks she should get up, she should allow him to get back up to his feet. but something about the way that he looks up at hair and pushes some of her hair from her eyes keeps her from moving. ] No, I think we will keep this from your record.
But you should be rewarded for you valiant save.
[ with a hand resting gently against his cheek she leans down and presses a kiss to his lips, a sudden impulsive move the lasts a mere heartbeat before she pulls away, her blush deepening to a much darker red.
oh, she sure did just do that.
okay maybe it is time to get up. ]
A-ahem! We should... stand back up, haha.
[ it's only now that she becomes keenly aware of the eyes on them, of the position they ended up in, and she pushes herself up off wriothesley and onto her feet. ]
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Wriothesley is by no means a stupid man; and as he gazes up at Furina in muted silence he... realises, exactly what is happening. By which that means he doesn't at all stop it.
He goes very still, as if to pause the moment as it lasts. An unfamiliar sensation of the warmth of another pressed against him, the feeling of her breath on his cheek--
Touch starved as the Duke is, he sort of stares dumbly up at her once she pulls away.
A moment later, he grins. Wide, and warm. ]
Were we. Not in the middle of a pretty ice rink, I'd say I'd be fine with this a little while longer.
[ yeah no
he might be new to this, but just as new as he is, the Duke isn't a shy man. Never has been.
Once she's off him, he'll shift to get up, settling up on his ice skates with a little more ease this time. ]
...I think I need to practice a little on 'breaks'.
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she breathes in sharply eyes widening as she watches him get back up onto his feet. maybe it is because furina herself is just as touch starved, or maybe it is because of the storm of emotion that has been slowly building up over the past months, or maybe it is that impulse that has not fully left her system─ regardless, furina finds herself wanting to leave the rink and the crowd and just kiss him again.
gods above, what is wrong with her?
shifting her weight furina tears her gaze from wriothesley and fidgets. ]
That... yes, perhaps later or next time we can work on that.
[ next time? they only just got into the rink, surely she cannot be considering leaving? but she wants to, gods she very much wants to. ]
I'm feeling a little parched, I think a drink is in order!
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However, the Duke, while not being a romantic man, is at the very least a smart one, and he puts 2 and 5 together and the number 7 becomes pretty clear in his head.
He instead decides to chuckle deep in his chest and follows behind her, moving to curl an arm around her, and start to sweep her towards the little entry platform they'd come in on. Going slow this time so they won't crash when they reach it. ]
There's plenty of places we can grab a nice hot tea or cocoa from and find a quiet spot to enjoy the gentle winterlights to enjoy it.
The park is pretty big, after all. So let's get that drink.
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he is warm and gentle and gods she did not realize how desperately she had wanted that sort of contact until she begun to experience it. she had not realized how desperately she had wanted someone to look at her the way wriothesley and neuvilette looked at her until they did.
unconsciously she leans into him as they move slowly to the entry platform, silently praying for her pulse to stop thundering so violently in her veins. ]
That sounds wonderful, Wriothesley. I tire of crowds easily these days, so a quiet spot out of the way sounds wonderful.
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Maybe one day he'll talk about himself enough to explain why he's so keen-eyed on everything, and so very suspicious on everything else.
But not right now.
Now is time for him to spend some time with the once-archon of water, turned ordinary woman; experiencing what life was like in a place where neither of them are chained to their different fates.
...It's nice.
Getting their skates off is far easier than putting them on was, at least--and soon he and his white-haired companion find themselves a quiet corner of the fairgrounds. A little bench under an awning that's decorated with winter lights; and he takes a seat next to her. Having gone to get her and himself some warm drinks.
Though he already doubts he's going to get to drink much of it. ]
Wasn't sure if you'd want tea like me--or some hot chocolate. I got both--you can pick.
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he isn't gone long but it's enough to give her a moment to breathe, to try and calm herself down a little more. she looks up when he returns, drinks in hand, and settles beside her. Furina shifts a little closer to him, unable to stop the smile that finds her. ]
I shall take the hot chocolate, thank you.
[ hesitantly she brings to her mouth, exhaling a couple of short breaths in order to cool it down a little, but she doesn't drink. instead, Furina glances at him from the corner of her gaze once, twice, then as the moment silence suddenly becomes too much decides to speak: ]
I'm sorry, I shouldn't have... [ done that. despite how much i have wanted to. ]
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[ yep, sorry, the Duke isn't at all shy about the topic of conversation. Handing her the cup of cocoa as he settles in with his own tea, already taking a sip from it, despite how hot it is. He's got years of practice under his belt and tea is best drank while burning hot. It warms his already warm core, and he slides a sidelong glance over to Furina. ]
You never struck me as someone who did things without first thinking about the outcomes. After all, you danced such a thin line with that for years.
[ he sips his tea again. His gaze on her is intent--but after a moment, he closes his eyes gently. ]
...But then again, maybe it was a spark of spontaneity, because you are allowed to have those now that you're free here.
Whichever it was.
I'm not upset about it.
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she stares at the hot chocolate for a moment, brow furrowing as she gathers up the right words to say. ]
I... [ Furina dares herself to look at him. ] I enjoy your company, Wriothesley. You are kind and been nothing but supportive as we navigate our lives in this world. I won't deny that I have long found you to be quite handsome and often seek out your company.
[ gods where is she going with this? ]
That is to say it... It wasn't a spark of spontaneity and it was. [ inhale, exhale. ] I have wanted to kiss you for some time now. [ she laughs awkwardly. ] M-Maybe that wasn't the best moment but... haha.
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