The Third Date [FFXIV Verse]

[viceofvoices]

In a small, charming house on a cliff by the sea, Rrhys Cyraeni finishes setting his humble table by the fire. He's lit candles and oil lamps, and with the crackle of the fire, his home is lit with a soft and hopefully romantic glow. He stops by the round mirror on the wall to check his appearance for the third time, and for the third time he smiles mockingly at himself.

How long has it been since he's been nervous about something social? How long has it been since he wasn't supremely confident he could talk his way into or out of anything? Llyradh makes him tongue tied in ways he's not used to, makes him feel like he's young and fumbling and foolish. It's terrible and wonderful all at once.

Tonight he's dressed simply -- his hair loose and damp from a quick bath, a white Limsa style shirt with lacings and the comfortable, loose cotton pants of a sailor, ending just under his knee. He's bare foot and still agonizes over that. Does he look too casual? But if he wears shoes in his own home, isn't that weird?

Comments

[viceofvoices]

"Any further annoyance from our friend from the casino?" he asks next as he spears leafy greens and morels with his fork.

[easorian]

Llyradh crunches his salad with an unamused look. "Mm, no. Perhaps with luck he's expired from his injuries and will cause me no further grief. I have dreams, you know, and that's one of them."

[viceofvoices]

He swallows his own mouthful and smiles, pouncing on the chance he's been given. "What's another dream of yours?"

[easorian]

Llyradh waves his fork. "Getting out of all this crafter's political nonsense and being somewhere where there aren't people to annoy me. Though having trader vessels by the balls is amusing."

He toys with a precious morel. "You?"

[viceofvoices]

A dimple flashes as he looks down to spear more salad. "A fine vessel on the sea, free from pirates and privateers, freedom to travel any sea I want. No politics or world-shattering events. Just freedom."

[easorian]

"It seems we want the same thing, in our own way," he smiles. Is he wrong in sensing some connection between them? It's frightening and sweet all at once.

[viceofvoices]

"Fortuitous," he murmurs, feeling his chest swell under the onslaught of his smile. He rises up and moves to the oven, fetching thick gloves. "I suppose we're both tired of people after all our dealings with scoundrels, eh?" As he bends to take the fish out of the oven, he tries not to lose himself in a fantasy of himself and Llyradh on their own little boat on the open sea...

[easorian]

"Yes... After them. Not usually. I absolutely adore dealing with the unwashed masses, all clamouring for things they can't have. Like my attention, or Ishgard's latest fashion monstrosity," Llyradh mutters sarcastically. He drops his feet and straights up as the scent of the fish comes to him, bright-eyed.

[viceofvoices]

He laughs as he takes off the cast iron lid of the pot, the bright scent of fish and the earthy scent of mushrooms lifting on the steam. Inside, two portions of fish are trapped in leaves that keep their moisture while the meat cooks -- at least, in theory. This is his first time making it.

"Right, you were definitely a people person before becoming a rogue, I can tell."

[easorian]

"I was eager to do people person things, it's true. Such as talking to ingrates and interacting blindly with complete stranger in the name of social 'connection,'" Llyradh says blandly. "That also smells delicious, by the way."

[viceofvoices]

"Thank you," he murmurs, carefully arranging the leaf-wrapped fish on two plates. "Let's hope it tastes as good as it smells...this is my first time making it. Caught the fish myself to really try and impress you."

[easorian]

Llyradh sets his fork down and laces his fingers under his chin in quiet pleasure. "Well, consider me impressed. One wonders what other talents you will surprise me with..."

[viceofvoices]

"I can juggle," he says immediately, turning around with a plate in each hand. He gives Llyradh a wry smile. "You're insane with lust now, right?" He sets the plates down, then picks up a long knife and slices open the leaf for Llyradh, revealing the tender, flaky fish inside along with mushrooms and herbs.

[easorian]

"Mm, if they're poisoned or flaming daggers, I might feel a twinge or two," he smirks, gazing down at the fish hungrily. A first time, perhaps, but delightful. Llyradh breathes in and leans back, studying Rrhys.

[viceofvoices]

"I'm afraid not," he chuckles, sitting down to his own plate. "Just balls. A lalafell taught me when I was a cabin boy, a long time ago."

[easorian]

"That certainly paints a sweet picture, though I can hardly imagine you as a cabin boy," he replies, too impatient to wait for his host to start before separating the aromatic fishflesh in front of him with a fork.

[viceofvoices]

"I was very tall and lanky," he says, opening up his own fish. "I had to grow into my feet and hands. I also had my hair cut short -- it's a bit traditional for Highlander boys to have braids, but mine were always getting caught in the rigging, so the captain I served took a knife to it one morning."

[easorian]

"I suppose they were looking for a cabin boy, not a flag for their mast," Llyradh smirks, fussily moving a few herbed mushrooms onto the bit of fish he's selected before eating it.

"Mm, I'm rather serious about the Bismarck remark. This is excellent."

[viceofvoices]

He grins around his fork, pleased. It is pretty good! Menphina must be smiling on him tonight. "Thank you. Honestly, though, I don't think cooking for entitled snobs would be half as rewarding as cooking for you."

[easorian]

"That assumes I'm not an entitled snob," he smiles, picking another mushroom off his fork with his teeth. "For all you know, I might have an incandescent tantrum at any moment because there aren't dried berries in the middle of the table."

[viceofvoices]

"After which, I would politely show you to my door and wonder when my judgement went so wrong," he sighs, lifting up his glass of wine for a sip. "Luckily, my judgement is excellent, and so I'm certain I can look forward to a tantrum-free evening."

[easorian]

"I've been found out," Llyradh sighs, snagging Rrhys' glass the moment he sets it down and taking a sip, eyes lidded in mischief.

[viceofvoices]

The vintage is tart but sweet, a deep rich red. He smiles, scarred brow lifted. "Tantrum-free, but not theft-free, I see. Would you like some wine, my dear?"

[easorian]

"A rogue is a rogue," he murmurs sweetly, giving the glass back. "And I would, yes."

He innocently goes back to eviscerating the wonderful dish in front of him, eating slowly and finding that he appreciates it all the more for who had cooked it.

[viceofvoices]

Rrhys chuckles and rises to retrieve another glass, then comes back to set it down before Llyradh. He pops the cork of the wine bottle and pours out half a glass for him, but before he moves away, he brushes his finger along the side of Llyradh's neck, sliding his hair out of the way.

"No necklaces this time, I see..." he rumbles softly, gazing down at him.