[ sleeping in again? look, just because she sleeps in until roughly this time every day doesn't mean she's sleeping in! she went to bed early last night! sure, early was roughly around three am but that means nothing!
but yes, she was most definitely asleep and still in bed when the sound of his knock echoes throughout the room followed quickly by his voice. furina groans, curling in on herself. it is tempting to simply pull the blankets around herself even further, drift back into the land of dreams rather than awaken fully. ]
One... moment... [ fine, fine! another groan and she pulls herself out of bed, hair practically sticking this way and that as she shuffles her way over to the door. were it anyone else she might have panicked and scrambled to get dressed, but it is wriothesley and she... well she's found herself comfortable enough around him not to worry about such things.
thus does furina de fontaine, fontaine's brightest star, open her bedroom door in nothing more than a large t-shirt that hangs off one shoulder and a pair of track pants rubbing one eye in an attempt to clean the sleep from it. ]
Wrio- Huh? [ that's a new outfit and is that... a rose? ] What's all this?
[ without job or not, wriothesley has kept a strict schedule of getting up at 6am and being in bed by 10pm. He can't afford to let himself get sloppy, in case he ever returns to the fortress. Bad habits can't breed.
Neuvillette had a job he disappeared to pretty early, which left Wriothesley at home alone until Furina woke up. He never cared what hours she kept--her freedom was her freedom--but today was different. Neuvillette would only be at work for so long, which only gave him so much time to go through with his plan before the three of them met up together later.
He shifts from one foot to the other--and then holds the rose out for Furina to take. An easy smile on his face. ]
A gift, first and foremost. Part one, at least. If you want to get dressed, I have a second one for you.
[ her eyes open wide looking between the rose and wriothesley's face. she has been given many things over the years, gifts from adoring fans to their shining star but there is something about this simple blue rose that blows them all out of the water. after a moment she takes it from him, bringing it up to her nose to breathe in it's scent as he continues. ]
What has brought this is on? It is not my birthday. [ giving him a suspicious look she takes a step back into the room, turning on her heel to collect her clothes. she puts the rose down on a vanity as she disappears behind a privacy screen. ] I dare say this is rather suspicious of you, Duke Wriothesley. Should I be worried?
[ a few moments later she re-emerges dressed, running a hand through her hair in an attempt to tame it, and as she passes the vanity she picks up the rose and tucks it in. ]
It's not your birthday. [ he'll confirm that much. He moves to lean against the wall just outside of her room, to give her privacy. ] But I've been doing a little research after hearing some of the odd holidays in this world.
Today's one of them. A 'Festival of Hearts'. One where you're supposed to show appreciation for those you care about, or who are special to you.
[ Wriothesley has absolutely not a shy goddamn bone in his body. He's not going to be embarrassed about coming out with it all plainly: the worst that could happen is Furina turns it away.
But given when she comes out of the room, dressed in her finery and wearing the rose in her hair...
He seems relaxed that she maybe didn't hate the gift, so far. ]
[ he is bold and brazen, these are things that she knows very well by this point. he does not fluster like some of the people she has known over the long years of her life. even so, it still serves to surprise her as he just... comes right out and says things so plainly. as he just admits, without even blinking an eye, that he cares about her.
not focalors the hydro archon, not lady furina the brightest star in fontaine, but furina.
color dusts her cheeks, mismatched eyes blinking rapidly up at him, mouth parted with words that slip between her fingers before she has a chance to grasp them. 'so that's what i'm doing. should i stop?' ]
No! [ it comes more frantic than she wanted, causing the color dusting her cheeks to deepen with embarrassment. she looks away and clears her throat, trying to gather what pieces of herself she can. ] I mean... no, I would like it if you continued actually.
[ look, he's not exactly practiced at this, but that isn't about to stop him. Inexperience isn't something that'll make him change his mind once he's set himself onto an idea--he'll steel himself and continue forward once she gave him the go-ahead.
He will even do his best not to smirk when she frantically responds, reaching out to take one of her hands, pulling it in to brush the backs of her knuckles with his lips.]
Well then. I'll continue, then.
I don't have any sort of Chariot, but. I hope my motorcycle will suffice. Here--
[ and that's when he'll cross the room to the kitchen, where a dusty white and blue gift-wrapped box lays. ]
[ it isn't as if she is practiced at any of this either! she knows the steps, she has spent the last five hundred years observing as the people around her went about it, but that does not mean she knows how to perform the dance. this is... it is all very new. terrifying and exciting all at the same time.
her blush deepens as he takes her hand and brings it up to him, lips brushing the back of her knuckles lightly. her pulse quickens, breath caught in her throat, and she has to blink a couple of times before she finds herself back inside her own body. ]
Another gift? [ gods above, must her voice sound like that?! as though a simple motion all but took her breath away?!
furina follows him into the kitchen to where the box lays, gingerly removing the lid to unveil the skates inside. she looks to wriothesley then to the skates again, smiling as she lifts one from the box to get a better look at it. ]
They're beautiful. [ a beat. ] So you are taking me skating, my dear Duke. Will I be seeing your skills upon the ice?
[ yolo who needs practice when you are used to just winging most things and are confident enough in your own skills and quick wit to get you through to the end? that's what he's doing here and so long as he remains calm and cool about the whole thing, the worst that'll happen is Furina laughing at him.
He relaxes by inches as she opens the gift and her reaction is a good one. One of his hands moving to settle on his hip, the other gesturing a little at a pair of his own ice skates hanging in the porch a little ways away. ]
That was the plan. I know you're a brilliant dancer, but I can't remember if I've ever seen you on the ice in winter.
I only learned how to do it in this world, given there's pray little ice down in Meropide. So.
Wanna go dance with me? I'll catch ya if you fall.
[ the vaunted duke of meropide ice skating? that is certainly not something one gets to see every day and she finds she likes the idea very much. because it is something she has not done in a long time and is excited to do again, of course! not at all because the she looks forward to spending her time with him and looks for any excuse to have him at her side, hahaha.
she hasn't felt this way about someone in quite sometime, not since neuvillette in truth. ]
You will catch me? My dear Wriothesley if anyone will be falling upon the ice it will not be me. You, on the other hand, [ the smile that finds her is confident, bright, and maybe just a little flirtatious. ] I will be sure to catch you if you fall.
[ tying the skates laces together furina brushes past him, moving toward the exit of their apartment. ]
[ the smile that spreads across his face is most certainly an amused one. He can't help the laugh that follows, a warm sound that rattles in his ribcage as he follows along behind her.
It'd be a hot day in Meropide when he thought he'd be inviting someone out for 'fun', but. Then again. That was before, when he spent most of his time in an underground fortress by himself. Being aboveground really gave you a different perspective. ...especially when you spent so much more time in the close vicinity to two of the people you worked alongside back home. ...At arm's length. Hm. ]
Ah, is that how it is. It's always good to have back up, you never know when something unexpected would happen. Catch me when I fall, then.
[ he's smirking, playfully, as she holds her back to him, prancing off towards the apartment's exit. ]
[ freedom gives you a different perspective, one that she learns something new from each and every day. she never thought she'd ever be free to pursue her own desires; to sleep until noon, to accept an invitation from someone she cares for, to truly enjoy herself without the fear of the next day's schedule. every day she finds herself appreciating this city and the opportunities that it has granted her, that it has granted them.
--
she cannot say what exactly expected of the place he brought her too, with all the bright lights and pink decorations surrounding a small fenced off area. maybe she expected him to take her to the park, to that lake that had been so dangerously close to her labyrinth. but this? this was far exceeding her expectations. furina practically bounces off the motorbike once they come to a full stop, laughter bubbling past her lips as she sprints towards the fenced off area.
she pays little attention to the nearby fairgrounds, or the people milling about, her mismatched gaze focused purely on the ice itself. how long had it been since she skated? months? years? not for some time, certainly, especially not after she had been caught sneaking out of the palais in the middle of the night and attempting to take an aquabus to the opera. clorinde was not happy with her that night. ]
Wriothesley! [ turning she looks back toward him the smile on her face most likely the brightest he has ever seen on her to date. ] This is wonderful!
[ and it takes every inch of her willpower not to change into her skates right here and now. ]
[ it's no fontaine, that's for sure--the city a little more industrial, missing a lot of charm that their home had, but there was still something beautiful about the way the lights shone along the slick, man-made ice rink. the bustle of people wandering around the little fair, eating food on sticks and drinking from cardboard cups.
Wriothesley shoots Furina a grin as the actress takes in the sight and is, as he'd hoped, entirely charmed by it. He moves to stand next to her, arms coming out from their usual cross over his chest to settle against his hips instead. ]
Scoped it out about a week back, figured it'd be fun enough to get your attention. Good to know I was right on the money. You look perfectly in-place here.
[ bright as the ice itself, or something like that. ]
So. What do you want to do first? Go for a dance on the ice, stop by one of the little set-ups for a snack. It's been ages since I had hot cocoa--the. Type of tea they sell here is kind of disappointing. Truth be told. [ bagged.... tea.... ]
[ 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. ]
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but yes, she was most definitely asleep and still in bed when the sound of his knock echoes throughout the room followed quickly by his voice. furina groans, curling in on herself. it is tempting to simply pull the blankets around herself even further, drift back into the land of dreams rather than awaken fully. ]
One... moment... [ fine, fine! another groan and she pulls herself out of bed, hair practically sticking this way and that as she shuffles her way over to the door. were it anyone else she might have panicked and scrambled to get dressed, but it is wriothesley and she... well she's found herself comfortable enough around him not to worry about such things.
thus does furina de fontaine, fontaine's brightest star, open her bedroom door in nothing more than a large t-shirt that hangs off one shoulder and a pair of track pants rubbing one eye in an attempt to clean the sleep from it. ]
Wrio- Huh? [ that's a new outfit and is that... a rose? ] What's all this?
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Neuvillette had a job he disappeared to pretty early, which left Wriothesley at home alone until Furina woke up.
He never cared what hours she kept--her freedom was her freedom--but today was different. Neuvillette would only be at work for so long, which only gave him so much time to go through with his plan before the three of them met up together later.
He shifts from one foot to the other--and then holds the rose out for Furina to take. An easy smile on his face. ]
A gift, first and foremost.
Part one, at least.
If you want to get dressed, I have a second one for you.
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[ her eyes open wide looking between the rose and wriothesley's face. she has been given many things over the years, gifts from adoring fans to their shining star but there is something about this simple blue rose that blows them all out of the water. after a moment she takes it from him, bringing it up to her nose to breathe in it's scent as he continues. ]
What has brought this is on? It is not my birthday. [ giving him a suspicious look she takes a step back into the room, turning on her heel to collect her clothes. she puts the rose down on a vanity as she disappears behind a privacy screen. ] I dare say this is rather suspicious of you, Duke Wriothesley. Should I be worried?
[ a few moments later she re-emerges dressed, running a hand through her hair in an attempt to tame it, and as she passes the vanity she picks up the rose and tucks it in. ]
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Today's one of them. A 'Festival of Hearts'. One where you're supposed to show appreciation for those you care about, or who are special to you.
[ Wriothesley has absolutely not a shy goddamn bone in his body. He's not going to be embarrassed about coming out with it all plainly: the worst that could happen is Furina turns it away.
But given when she comes out of the room, dressed in her finery and wearing the rose in her hair...
He seems relaxed that she maybe didn't hate the gift, so far. ]
So that's what I'm doing.
Should I stop?
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not focalors the hydro archon, not lady furina the brightest star in fontaine, but furina.
color dusts her cheeks, mismatched eyes blinking rapidly up at him, mouth parted with words that slip between her fingers before she has a chance to grasp them. 'so that's what i'm doing. should i stop?' ]
No! [ it comes more frantic than she wanted, causing the color dusting her cheeks to deepen with embarrassment. she looks away and clears her throat, trying to gather what pieces of herself she can. ] I mean... no, I would like it if you continued actually.
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He will even do his best not to smirk when she frantically responds, reaching out to take one of her hands, pulling it in to brush the backs of her knuckles with his lips.]
Well then. I'll continue, then.
I don't have any sort of Chariot, but. I hope my motorcycle will suffice. Here--
[ and that's when he'll cross the room to the kitchen, where a dusty white and blue gift-wrapped box lays. ]
--Hopefully they fit.
[ inside the box are a pair of blue figure skates, lined with soft white-grey fur. ]
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her blush deepens as he takes her hand and brings it up to him, lips brushing the back of her knuckles lightly. her pulse quickens, breath caught in her throat, and she has to blink a couple of times before she finds herself back inside her own body. ]
Another gift? [ gods above, must her voice sound like that?! as though a simple motion all but took her breath away?!
furina follows him into the kitchen to where the box lays, gingerly removing the lid to unveil the skates inside. she looks to wriothesley then to the skates again, smiling as she lifts one from the box to get a better look at it. ]
They're beautiful. [ a beat. ] So you are taking me skating, my dear Duke. Will I be seeing your skills upon the ice?
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He relaxes by inches as she opens the gift and her reaction is a good one. One of his hands moving to settle on his hip, the other gesturing a little at a pair of his own ice skates hanging in the porch a little ways away. ]
That was the plan. I know you're a brilliant dancer, but I can't remember if I've ever seen you on the ice in winter.
I only learned how to do it in this world, given there's pray little ice down in Meropide.
So.
Wanna go dance with me? I'll catch ya if you fall.
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she hasn't felt this way about someone in quite sometime, not since neuvillette in truth. ]
You will catch me? My dear Wriothesley if anyone will be falling upon the ice it will not be me. You, on the other hand, [ the smile that finds her is confident, bright, and maybe just a little flirtatious. ] I will be sure to catch you if you fall.
[ tying the skates laces together furina brushes past him, moving toward the exit of their apartment. ]
Let us go.
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It'd be a hot day in Meropide when he thought he'd be inviting someone out for 'fun', but. Then again. That was before, when he spent most of his time in an underground fortress by himself.
Being aboveground really gave you a different perspective.
...especially when you spent so much more time in the close vicinity to two of the people you worked alongside back home. ...At arm's length. Hm. ]
Ah, is that how it is. It's always good to have back up, you never know when something unexpected would happen.
Catch me when I fall, then.
[ he's smirking, playfully, as she holds her back to him, prancing off towards the apartment's exit. ]
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--
she cannot say what exactly expected of the place he brought her too, with all the bright lights and pink decorations surrounding a small fenced off area. maybe she expected him to take her to the park, to that lake that had been so dangerously close to her labyrinth. but this? this was far exceeding her expectations. furina practically bounces off the motorbike once they come to a full stop, laughter bubbling past her lips as she sprints towards the fenced off area.
she pays little attention to the nearby fairgrounds, or the people milling about, her mismatched gaze focused purely on the ice itself. how long had it been since she skated? months? years? not for some time, certainly, especially not after she had been caught sneaking out of the palais in the middle of the night and attempting to take an aquabus to the opera. clorinde was not happy with her that night. ]
Wriothesley! [ turning she looks back toward him the smile on her face most likely the brightest he has ever seen on her to date. ] This is wonderful!
[ and it takes every inch of her willpower not to change into her skates right here and now. ]
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Wriothesley shoots Furina a grin as the actress takes in the sight and is, as he'd hoped, entirely charmed by it. He moves to stand next to her, arms coming out from their usual cross over his chest to settle against his hips instead. ]
Scoped it out about a week back, figured it'd be fun enough to get your attention. Good to know I was right on the money. You look perfectly in-place here.
[ bright as the ice itself, or something like that. ]
So. What do you want to do first? Go for a dance on the ice, stop by one of the little set-ups for a snack. It's been ages since I had hot cocoa--the. Type of tea they sell here is kind of disappointing. Truth be told. [ bagged.... tea.... ]
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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!
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