[ she's empty-handed when she arrives at his suite this time; she doesn't think it'll likely take very long, even if she feels almost... silly, for coming to him for something that likely isn't very important. but she still remembers the time from a few months ago, when she'd promised she'd do better about communicating. and, well. this is her communicating.
anyway, she leans up to kiss him hello, and once again marvels briefly at how natural it feels. ]
[ even with the prospect of a talk™ on the horizon, tseng can't help the little smile that tugs at his lips when clorinde leans up to kiss him hello. whatever the topic is, it can't be that bad if she still wants to greet him this way. ]
Hi. [ a break in formality from tseng, who tends towards hello unless he's very comfortable. ] No need, it's... I'm always glad when you're here.
[ he lets the door close behind her and, with a warm hand on her back, guides clorinde toward the living room, although she likely knows the way herself, from having been here so many times before. ]
[ what he says makes her pause, briefly, from following him to the living room, and she has the curious instinctual response to avert her gaze. she doesn't, of course, but it does coax a smile from her—almost pleasantly surprised, even though she really shouldn't be by now. maybe it's the ease with which he says it, just like the ease with which she greets him with a kiss. simple, natural. she can't remember when it happened, just that it did, but she's glad for it all the same.
she does know where it is, the layout of his suite having become as familiar to her as her own. but she likes his hand on her back, and when they sit on the couch, she settles close to him, her leg pressed up against his. ]
No, I'm all right. [ there's another pause as she looks at his closest hand, almost as if debating with herself, before she reaches over to lace their fingers together. she doesn't think there's a better way of saying this aside from the truth, so— ] My boss arrived with the new wave of guests.
[ the press of clorinde's thigh against his feels warm, and tseng leans into it just a little. when she reaches over to take his hand he welcomes it, spreading his fingers a bit and then closing them around hers before drawing her hand into his lap to hold more closely.
the statement, when it comes, isn't what tseng is expecting. well, actually, he's not sure what he was expecting, only that he didn't think it was going to have to do with clorinde's boss. ]
I see. [ tseng's brow furrows briefly, and he glances from their joined hands up to clorinde's face, trying to read her expression. ] Are we happy about this or no?
[ despite how well they know each other by now, they still haven't delved too deeply into the facets of their lives in the worlds they came from before. as pleased as tseng is by the potential opportunity to learn more about clorinde, it seems important that he first confirm that her boss isn't someone he's going to have to go fight. ]
[ if only she knew he was thinking about confirming whether he needs to fight neuvillette or not... alas. but she laughs lightly, squeezing his hand briefly; a sign that it isn't as bad as it sounds. ]
I'm not sure if I'd say I'm happy about it. [ honestly it's a little awkward, in a way. there's a pause while she considers how to explain it, her thumb idly brushing over his knuckles. ] He and I have got along well. We have a good working relationship.
[ so no, tseng does not have to go fight the hydro sovereign. ]
I know it likely doesn't matter here, but... [ her smile turns a little wry as she meets his gaze. ] Old habits are old habits for a reason. And I suppose there's the odd feeling of finally seeing someone you haven't in a while, but knowing they are now confined in this space with you.
[ it's plagued her for a while, honestly, but she hasn't quite addressed it out loud yet. it feels a little like relief, now that she's said it. ]
His name is Neuvillette. I wanted to tell you in case you might run into him later.
[ good news for him, really, because tseng is strong but he's also just a guy. up against the hydro dragon sovereign he probably wouldn't last all that long. ]
I understand, I think. [ tseng brushes his thumb gently over the line of clorinde's, a brief, intimate touch. ] Something like—he comes from a part of your life that feels distant now, and it's difficult to reconcile his presence?
[ it's an assumption that might not be on the mark, but if he's right, then tseng does indeed know the feeling well. after a moment he adds, ] My boss is here, too, so I can hazard a guess.
[ it's a good thing, though, to know the name. and even more than that, to know that clorinde wants him to know, that she trusts him with these little bits of her story. he lifts his free hand to brush her hair back from her face, then leans to kiss her cheek, high on her cheekbone. ]
Mm. Especially in the context of this place, I think.
[ she's never entertained the notion of becoming intimate with anyone, least of all neuvillette himself. and given his own situation, she doesn't believe he has either. but, really, who knows how things will turn out in the resort?
she tips her face into the kiss and lifts her free hand to cup tseng's jaw before he pulls away, pressing her lips to his briefly. ]
I wanted you to know. [ which she thinks he already knows, but it bears repeating anyway. she laughs quietly— ] Thank you for receiving me. I hope things with your boss aren't... [ she pauses, trying to think of the right word. ] Difficult for you, now that they're here.
[ it is indeed something tseng already knows, but he appreciates the reassurance anyway. it makes him smile slightly, squeezing her fingers where they're wrapped in his own. ]
It was more difficult at the start, [ tseng admits with a wry expression. ] Rufus and I... The President and I have a complicated relationship to begin with.
[ he pauses, not like he's done speaking but like he's mulling over how to phrase the things he wants to say. tseng has never spoken of rufus to anyone here, and he isn't entirely sure how to encapsulate all the things he wants to express. ]
Maybe it's strange, [ is what he finally settles on, ] but in some ways I feel that being away from home made things easier. I hope that will be the case for you and Neuvilette as well.
[ given the kind of person she's come to understand tseng as, and the kind of people they both are, she doesn't think it's something he's talked about very much. it's already strange enough to be stuck here with their superior to begin with, much less talk about them to other people they're involved with. she may not understand the complexities of tseng's relationship with rufus, but she does understand what he means. were they still in fontaine, neuvillette would still remain where he is: high on his altar, impassive and objective. they each have always had a role to play. ]
I understand what you mean. I'd like to think that it would be, with him and I. There's... less expectations here for us to follow.
[ speaking of rufus, though— ]
I met him once, your President. We were paired up in the same cooking class at the university some months ago.
Exactly. [ it doesn't surprise tseng that she understands what he means—clorinde has always been so good at reading him. ] Take away the framework, and...
[ he shrugs, and with his free hand gestures in a way that tries to encompass the entire nature of a relationship and the things that define it. ]
It's hard to stay boss and subordinate when there's nothing here to be the boss of.
[ here, outside of fontaine, where there's no court system for neuvillette to rule over and no law for clorinde to uphold, maybe they can stop being iudex and champion duelist and just be friends.
he does lift an eyebrow at the mention of rufus in a cooking class, though. it's hard for tseng to imagine, if only because he's known rufus for so long and has never really known the other man to be interested in the kitchen—but then again, it wouldn't be like rufus to not want to be good at everything, so in a way it also makes sense. ]
You were? [ he makes a noise of amusement. ] I hope he wasn't hard to get along with. He's a good man, but difficult to get to know.
I know him and I are both aware of it. It's easy to fall back into that familiar framework, but it's something we'll have to navigate together.
[ she knows they'll figure it out. neuvillette has never abused his position and power in all his centuries of existence, and she knows he cares about fontaine and her citizens.
but anyway. humor colors her expression, a little wry as she shakes her head. ]
I once served as the bodyguard to our nation's Archon. I'm used to it. [ not that furina and rufus are exactly the same, but they're somewhat aligned. sort of. ] We were making brownies that day and he asked me to gather the ingredients. Of course, our work station was situated on the opposite end of the classroom, which meant that I had to wade through an orgy to get to the eggs.
You did? [ lore drop! tseng has gleaned many things about clorinde from their time together, but there are still gaps in his understanding. he knows that she's a wonderful swordsman, but has never completely understood how exactly she won those skills. ] That doesn't surprise me, you have the skills for it.
[ by now a little more relaxed, tseng leans against the back of the couch, turning his body so he can face her more fully. he draws one knee up, tucks his foot under the opposite knee. ]
An—an orgy? [ tseng laughs, disbelieving. ] I had no idea that baking was so exciting for some people.
[ he has to agree, though, better clorinde than rufus... if only because he'd probably start making acerbic commentary about the orgy participants' form, while at least clorinde can focus enough to get a job done. ]
Mm. My master raised me with those skills since I was very young. Not specifically for the purpose of becoming a bodyguard, I don't think, but... perhaps she knew that it would be a path that I'd eventually take.
[ but who can really say? petronilla had left her life years ago and clorinde can now only speculate as to her reasons why. maybe she'll never know, but that's fine. in some ways, it may be for the better. her purpose remains unchanged, despite her time in the resort. ]
If I were to guess, it may have been less about the baking for them and more for the appeal of doing so in that setting. [ now that her and tseng have fucked in his office, she kind of understands. ] But they were fine. The recipe was simple, and we didn't have much difficulty aside from obtaining the ingredients.
I understand. I've told you before that I'm a bodyguard of sorts myself, haven't I?
[ another point they have in common: tseng, too, was trained into this role by someone who is no longer part of his life. well, clorinde saw how that ended, didn't she, in blood and brains on the ground when tseng chose his turks over his loyalty to his mentor. the memory is a sour one, but it's easier to endure in the company of someone who both knows the stakes and understands why tseng had to do what he did. ]
I suppose I can understand that. [ tseng, too, now thinking fondly of fucking clorinde in "his" office. ] I'm glad they turned out well, though. Does this mean you'll make them for me one day?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
@GM / text
@tseng / text
no subject
[ she's empty-handed when she arrives at his suite this time; she doesn't think it'll likely take very long, even if she feels almost... silly, for coming to him for something that likely isn't very important. but she still remembers the time from a few months ago, when she'd promised she'd do better about communicating. and, well. this is her communicating.
anyway, she leans up to kiss him hello, and once again marvels briefly at how natural it feels. ]
Hi. Thank you for having me.
no subject
Hi. [ a break in formality from tseng, who tends towards hello unless he's very comfortable. ] No need, it's... I'm always glad when you're here.
[ he lets the door close behind her and, with a warm hand on her back, guides clorinde toward the living room, although she likely knows the way herself, from having been here so many times before. ]
Do you want anything to drink?
no subject
she does know where it is, the layout of his suite having become as familiar to her as her own. but she likes his hand on her back, and when they sit on the couch, she settles close to him, her leg pressed up against his. ]
No, I'm all right. [ there's another pause as she looks at his closest hand, almost as if debating with herself, before she reaches over to lace their fingers together. she doesn't think there's a better way of saying this aside from the truth, so— ] My boss arrived with the new wave of guests.
no subject
the statement, when it comes, isn't what tseng is expecting. well, actually, he's not sure what he was expecting, only that he didn't think it was going to have to do with clorinde's boss. ]
I see. [ tseng's brow furrows briefly, and he glances from their joined hands up to clorinde's face, trying to read her expression. ] Are we happy about this or no?
[ despite how well they know each other by now, they still haven't delved too deeply into the facets of their lives in the worlds they came from before. as pleased as tseng is by the potential opportunity to learn more about clorinde, it seems important that he first confirm that her boss isn't someone he's going to have to go fight. ]
no subject
I'm not sure if I'd say I'm happy about it. [ honestly it's a little awkward, in a way. there's a pause while she considers how to explain it, her thumb idly brushing over his knuckles. ] He and I have got along well. We have a good working relationship.
[ so no, tseng does not have to go fight the hydro sovereign. ]
I know it likely doesn't matter here, but... [ her smile turns a little wry as she meets his gaze. ] Old habits are old habits for a reason. And I suppose there's the odd feeling of finally seeing someone you haven't in a while, but knowing they are now confined in this space with you.
[ it's plagued her for a while, honestly, but she hasn't quite addressed it out loud yet. it feels a little like relief, now that she's said it. ]
His name is Neuvillette. I wanted to tell you in case you might run into him later.
no subject
I understand, I think. [ tseng brushes his thumb gently over the line of clorinde's, a brief, intimate touch. ] Something like—he comes from a part of your life that feels distant now, and it's difficult to reconcile his presence?
[ it's an assumption that might not be on the mark, but if he's right, then tseng does indeed know the feeling well. after a moment he adds, ] My boss is here, too, so I can hazard a guess.
[ it's a good thing, though, to know the name. and even more than that, to know that clorinde wants him to know, that she trusts him with these little bits of her story. he lifts his free hand to brush her hair back from her face, then leans to kiss her cheek, high on her cheekbone. ]
Thank you for telling me.
no subject
[ she's never entertained the notion of becoming intimate with anyone, least of all neuvillette himself. and given his own situation, she doesn't believe he has either. but, really, who knows how things will turn out in the resort?
she tips her face into the kiss and lifts her free hand to cup tseng's jaw before he pulls away, pressing her lips to his briefly. ]
I wanted you to know. [ which she thinks he already knows, but it bears repeating anyway. she laughs quietly— ] Thank you for receiving me. I hope things with your boss aren't... [ she pauses, trying to think of the right word. ] Difficult for you, now that they're here.
no subject
It was more difficult at the start, [ tseng admits with a wry expression. ] Rufus and I... The President and I have a complicated relationship to begin with.
[ he pauses, not like he's done speaking but like he's mulling over how to phrase the things he wants to say. tseng has never spoken of rufus to anyone here, and he isn't entirely sure how to encapsulate all the things he wants to express. ]
Maybe it's strange, [ is what he finally settles on, ] but in some ways I feel that being away from home made things easier. I hope that will be the case for you and Neuvilette as well.
no subject
I understand what you mean. I'd like to think that it would be, with him and I. There's... less expectations here for us to follow.
[ speaking of rufus, though— ]
I met him once, your President. We were paired up in the same cooking class at the university some months ago.
no subject
[ he shrugs, and with his free hand gestures in a way that tries to encompass the entire nature of a relationship and the things that define it. ]
It's hard to stay boss and subordinate when there's nothing here to be the boss of.
[ here, outside of fontaine, where there's no court system for neuvillette to rule over and no law for clorinde to uphold, maybe they can stop being iudex and champion duelist and just be friends.
he does lift an eyebrow at the mention of rufus in a cooking class, though. it's hard for tseng to imagine, if only because he's known rufus for so long and has never really known the other man to be interested in the kitchen—but then again, it wouldn't be like rufus to not want to be good at everything, so in a way it also makes sense. ]
You were? [ he makes a noise of amusement. ] I hope he wasn't hard to get along with. He's a good man, but difficult to get to know.
no subject
[ she knows they'll figure it out. neuvillette has never abused his position and power in all his centuries of existence, and she knows he cares about fontaine and her citizens.
but anyway. humor colors her expression, a little wry as she shakes her head. ]
I once served as the bodyguard to our nation's Archon. I'm used to it. [ not that furina and rufus are exactly the same, but they're somewhat aligned. sort of. ] We were making brownies that day and he asked me to gather the ingredients. Of course, our work station was situated on the opposite end of the classroom, which meant that I had to wade through an orgy to get to the eggs.
[ honestly, better she did than rufus. ]
no subject
[ by now a little more relaxed, tseng leans against the back of the couch, turning his body so he can face her more fully. he draws one knee up, tucks his foot under the opposite knee. ]
An—an orgy? [ tseng laughs, disbelieving. ] I had no idea that baking was so exciting for some people.
[ he has to agree, though, better clorinde than rufus... if only because he'd probably start making acerbic commentary about the orgy participants' form, while at least clorinde can focus enough to get a job done. ]
Did they turn out? The brownies.
no subject
[ but who can really say? petronilla had left her life years ago and clorinde can now only speculate as to her reasons why. maybe she'll never know, but that's fine. in some ways, it may be for the better. her purpose remains unchanged, despite her time in the resort. ]
If I were to guess, it may have been less about the baking for them and more for the appeal of doing so in that setting. [ now that her and tseng have fucked in his office, she kind of understands. ] But they were fine. The recipe was simple, and we didn't have much difficulty aside from obtaining the ingredients.
no subject
[ another point they have in common: tseng, too, was trained into this role by someone who is no longer part of his life. well, clorinde saw how that ended, didn't she, in blood and brains on the ground when tseng chose his turks over his loyalty to his mentor. the memory is a sour one, but it's easier to endure in the company of someone who both knows the stakes and understands why tseng had to do what he did. ]
I suppose I can understand that. [ tseng, too, now thinking fondly of fucking clorinde in "his" office. ] I'm glad they turned out well, though. Does this mean you'll make them for me one day?