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closed.
WHO: wriothesley, various
WHAT: 2024 catchall log
WHERE: around
WHEN: march 2024 onwards
WARNINGS: n/a; will be added in thread headers
WHAT: 2024 catchall log
WHERE: around
WHEN: march 2024 onwards
WARNINGS: n/a; will be added in thread headers
no subject
But he's grateful she doesn't press the subject further, the slight squeeze of his fingers around hers loosening just a smidge after laying out his cards and not having them immediately picked up and tucked away for usage down the road. ]
I'll keep that in mind.
[ Drawled out lazily, like he really is thinking about it for later. Though there's another blink of surprise as she continues barreling straight ahead—and with a question about his love life, no less. Who is she, March?? Alcohol really changes a woman. ]
Are you worried a gaggle of women are going to come out from the shadows and interrogate you?
[ i can't believe you're making me THINK about this....Anyway, he has a question of his own first. ]
You sure you should be drinking this much?
no subject
of course he'd have more experience in this than compared to her.
her corner of her mouth twitches when he asks. ]
Yes? I'll have you know I can down an entire barrel of rum by myself when I was still a sailor. [ a wide smile, like she's proud of herself. ] This isn't enough, in fact. Barkeep! Another one on the rocks, please~
[ please stop her ]
no subject
But clearly, he's made a huge mistake. His eyes go comically wide the moment she raises her voice, hand going slack in hers before his brain kicks back into high gear and he makes his decision. ]
If you're going to drink more—
[ One foot digs into the floor to brace himself as he tugs his hand free. Sorry, the time for handholding is over. But it's okay, because it means he now has two free hands with which to grab onto Ishmael with, specifically by the waist so he can hoist her up and settle her back onto his lap. ]
—then at least pick a seat you won't be in danger of falling off of. [ Oh right, they're fake-engaged. ] Dear.
[ What if she gets piss drunk and then topples out of her chair? Then where will they be?? But since he has to clear the bar that is already underground, he does have the good grace to send her another message. ]
If this is too much, just let me know.
no subject
there's so much movement in those last few seconds. the next thing ishmael knows, she's been relocated on wriothesley's lap, and it's a good thing she's already flushed from the liquor if he ever asks. not even the guys of the pequod would offer to do this for her when she'd gotten drunk back at the portships...
and yet there's no resistance from her. not in this state, anyway. she reads the text and sends it right back to him as she shifts on her newfound seat to make herself comfortable. you know, as most couples do. ]
I'm fine. Thanks.
[ cue the bartender giving them a furtive glance as they slide ishmael's fourth glass of rum over before turning away. everything feels way too warm, no thanks to the shared body heat between them, and she slightly turns her head back at him. ]
...You haven't answered my question.
[ u think she's gonna forget, numbnuts ]
no subject
He doesn't answer right away, too busy taking in all the new sensations that come with having a person nestled up against him for a prolonged period of time. The tickle of hair against his cheek and a voice way too close to his face. The warmth of her body through the fabric of her dress as he repositions one arm so it's looped casually around her waist. A sort of safety belt, if you will.
It's not—unpleasant though. A little bit like their hug from a long time ago, a position that gets more comfortable the longer they sit like this. ]
I haven't. [ Not in any sort of lasting meaningful way, anyway. ] I had a pretty…turbulent adolescence, you could say. There wasn't really time for anything like romance.
[ No room to think about life's finer luxuries when he'd been too focused on just surviving. ]
And then I got busy with [ taking over and running a whole-ass prison, except haha he can't really say that aloud ] work.
[ The (abridged) life and times of Wriothesley Genshin Impact, with most of the interesting parts taken out. They can cover that a later day, maybe. For now, he gives her a small smile. ]
Sorry if you were expecting something more exciting.
no subject
she falls silent at his words. she's too inebriated to form more coherent thoughts, but she dimly recalls how he wasn't close to his family either - hence the lack of hugs on his part. for a very affable guy he's rather lonesome, and is either making up for lost time or just... embraced that part of him.
she downs her drink, the liquor burning in her throat, and slowly shakes her head. ]
I wasn't expecting much. [ in a way, she's kind of glad it was unexciting? don't ask her why. ] I didn't date much either. I just studied all throughout my school years and got into a university just to get a decent paying job. Then figured out that it wasn't worth dying over boredom for.
[ hers is even lamer than his, tbh. it's a little sad, so she won't elaborate further on that. even now, romance just seems so out of reach for someone like her, and perhaps that's for the best. ]
Can I... go back to my seat? It's getting cold.
[ despite the rum and the physical affection setting her on fire. usually she'd have more than four glasses, but tonight she'll hold back. ]
no subject
Being kept busy did lead me to you, so I can't say it was all bad.
[ Is this real? Is this all part of the act?? The world will never know, because he is too busy straightening and loosening his arm from around her waist so she can slide off. If she wants to be free then he will certainly give her her freedom....even though it would definitely be warmer if she just stayed on his lap. But unfortunately Wriothesley drinks his woman-respecting juice every day and will not keep someone where they don't want to be. ]
Only if you're sure you won't fall off your chair. At least take my coat if you're feeling cold.
[ Homegirl truly is wearing so little in comparison.....and I didn't even get to take advantage of half of it (tears streaming down my face). ]
I have to say, you chose quite the career jump after that.
[ wtf happened there ]
no subject
I won't, I won't. Give me...
[ she'll take his coat when he offers it, draping it over her shoulders before sliding off his lap and onto the next seat. and normally she'd just hide her head on the bar counter for this, but she decides to lean sideways and lean her head on wriothesley's shoulder instead.
there, much better. ]
Mm, is it...? [ she closes her eyes, shutting out the neon lights and trap music and focusing on the warmth of the man beside her. ] At the time, I didn't really know where I wanted to be in life. And I still don't. But...
[ her hand twitches, letting herself indulge to one tiny sliver of affection by wrapping her pinky around his. ]
I may not have dated before, but I'm glad you're my first.
[ this doesn't make sense, of course. they're supposed to be engaged for starters, and this isn't the first time she'd gone out on dates in neo-tokyo either (thanks hsy) (except not really because they don't really count as dates??)
but in this haze of inebriation, she'll let herself pretend for tonight. ]
no subject
(closes Kia's mouth before she can say anything)
Still, just because it's pretend doesn't mean he can't let himself be deceived into believing (and enjoying) the illusion for one night. Whatever path he might have painstakingly trekked forward one, whatever space he'd carved out for himself is gone now, and once again he's been taken away from all that's familiar and comfortable and forced to start all over again.
Funny how fate works sometimes. But he's older and wiser now, more capable of grabbing his wants in both hands. Or is one pinky in this case?? Stay tuned. ]
Keep that up and you might just make me weak in the knees. [ Good thing he's sitting down huh. ] Any other firsts we should knock off the list while we have the chance?
[ This literally doesn't make any sense, hopefully no one is eavesdropping on their conversation. ]
no subject
she hums thoughtfully, thinking of other ways to really sell it. if she were less drunk she'd just tell him no and call it a night, but we aren't here for that rn dammit. ]
Mmm, let's see... We haven't kissed since coming here, for starters.
[ just says it matter-of-factly ]
No pressure, though. I don't think we need to at this point.
no subject
It's enough to prompt a huff of laughter from him, small but genuine. He's not sure what answer he was expecting but it sure wasn't that. Though he's not complaining. As far as requests go, this one's pretty straightforward. ]
You make it sound as though kissing you is some sort of punishment.
[ Hello??
All things considered, a kiss shouldn't be that big of a deal. But there's been a surprising amount of honesty on display so far these evening and she has had three drinks already. How much of this is what Ishmael actually wants and how much of this is her booze-fueled mind filling out any remaining holes in their story?
He glances down at their entwined pinkies and then links the rest of their fingers together so he can bring their hands up to press a quick kiss onto her knuckles. That's not the real kiss though. ]
You sure? No take-backs.
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moreover, it's wriothesley. she can't deny the fact that they've grown closer these past few months, enough to make her consider him as a friend if asked. but would friends ever go this far? would he continue to treat her as this precious and sacred thing after the clock strikes twelve?
she doesn't know. what she does know is that he won't leave her hanging.
it's a good thing the interior is dim enough to obscure how red her freckled cheeks are when he teases her with a kiss on the hand - a prelude for what's to come. she shifts her head slightly to look at him, eyes half-lidded. she normally isn't one to pay close attention to looks, but... he's rather handsome like this, isn't he? ]
...There's nothing to take back. It's just you.
[ that doesn't make sense at all. none of this does. and maybe that's okay. ]
no subject
Said with any other inflection and it might have come off as insulting or demeaning, but he appreciates the words for what they are: a reassurance of her comfort around him, where once she would have been prickly and standoffish. The booze probably helps too. Well, if Cinderella (Ishmaella??) wants a kiss then her prince for the evening will deliver it to her. They can both indulge in a little bit of fantasy before having to return to cold harsh reality. There's nothing wrong taking hold of one's wants, even in a situation like this.
He lowers their hands and leans forward to press a soft kiss on her lips. Honestly as far as kisses go it's pretty chaste, and the only thing that saves it from being entirely perfunctory is the way his mouth lingers a second too long before he finally pulls back.
No tongue though, sorry. :/ They can save that for next time. ]
Satisfied?
[ Or is she going to make him do it again? ]
no subject
and just like that, it's over. she blinks at him twice once he pulls away, as if she couldn't believe what just happened, and smiles. a wide one that's almost cheeky before she leans her head back on his shoulder and closes her eyes again. clearly she's more comfortable just resting her poor head on his side like this than making out. at least for now. ]
...Whatever's enough for you is enough for me.
[ there's always next time. whatever they have right now... it's all right. and she wouldn't have it any other way. ]