[ andoral, the horse named after an archdemon. his lips twitch into a faint smile, and he can't even say that the image is an unpleasant one. teia is quite the talented horsewoman, and while viago certainly knows how to ride, he can't say he enjoys it the way that teia does.
it's also difficult to find a steed tall enough for him to ride comfortably, but that is another issue for another day.
he's about to respond in kind when teia's tone changes, her eyes bright as she tilts forward. on purpose, naturally. if viago didn't know better, he would think she was about to spill out of the dress altogether, baring herself to maker knows who may or may not be watching. the image isn't exactly a bad one, but one viago would prefer happen in the privacy of their room. for him, and him alone.
still, his breath catches slightly at the sight, though his tone remains as unfussed as ever. if anything, it shifts a hair lower, his eyes roving her form. devouring her with a glance. ]
I will leave the riding to you, Andarateia.
[ as he sips his wine. riding the horse. or him. both are a pleasant image. the latter, obviously, more so. he sets his glass down delicately, settling back into his chair. his legs are a bit too long to remain seated perfectly while still being comfortable, so he does allow himself to sprawl a bit. after all, it is only teia. and while he gets comfortable, folding his hands neatly in his lap, he adds: ]
Though anything is better than sitting in a carriage for a day.
[ a hot rush of satisfaction washes over her when his eyes dart down and his breath catches. if she were anyone else, she wouldn't have noticed the quiet intake. or how his pupils have widened, starting to eclipse the blue-grey-green of his eyes.
the lower pitch of his voice drags along her spine, near as effective as his bare hands. she feels pinned by his gaze and her composure breaks fractionally as she shifts in her seat, feeling a heated throb between her legs. it's all too easy to remember the last time she'd sat astride his hips, a small hand on his chest to hold him in place as she rocked her weight against him. part of her wishes to shove social etiquette aside and settle into his lap here and now, especially as he settles into his chair some more, his long legs sprawling to bracket hers under the table.
his comment about the carriage brings her back from the memory and observation and she laughs, curls spilling over her shoulder when her head tilts back. ]
Aww, poor Vi, too cooped up. I'll make sure you get plenty of opportunity to stretch your legs.
[ and for exercise, obviously.
thoroughly amused and still a bit flushed, she presses her luck just a bit; her bare ankle brushes against the hem of his trousers, keeping the fabric between their skin for now. it's a tease all the same. ]
[ he notes her shift with satisfaction, though his expression only shows a slight roll of his eyes. cooped up. he, by all accounts, is a hermit. so rarely do other people deign to tolerate his neuroses that he rarely deviates from his set course. the only exception, really, is the woman sitting across from him. rook was no longer in antiva, by viago's last account. and lucanis was dead.
the thought is an odd one, that teia is the only one left who tolerates him long enough to free him from his self-imposed prison of isolation and tinkering. bittersweet, maybe. but here she was, flushed and teasing, nudging at his leg just a bit, her expression coy and playful. the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, he thinks, and probably ever will.
why she puts up with him, viago has no idea. but she does, and always forgives him, even when he doesn't particularly feel he's deserved it. making a mistake with teia never felt terrifying, like it did with everything (and everyone) else. she was a safety net he never knew he needed.
the thought causes his lips to twitch into a faint smile, and he sighs a bit dramatically, turning his gaze to the canal. their food should be here soon, and his mind was already working ahead to what needed to be tested. but he does say: ]
You already have. [ he is, after all, at dinner. ] But the ride here was miserable. I think the only thing that got me through such torture was the promise of fine treasure at the end of it.
[ knowing he was going to see teia was worth an irritating carriage ride, a cure to even his most foul moods. he straightens up enough to reach out to the bottle of wine, turning it slightly to see the vintage. his eyes flicker to teia briefly, offering her a small smile, before returning to the label. ]
[ as she catches his pleased glance–followed shortly by a slightly exasperated roll of his eyes–she shoots him a small smile. and is reminded of something she's been asked before: why Viago? certainly, they're an odd pair; despite her position, Teia tends towards optimism, to looking for the good in people and settling into practicality when it's proven otherwise. to say Viago is the opposite would be stating the obvious too much. he's paranoid, with a constant armor of pessimism wrapped around him as close as his leathers.
the differences have caused them to argue, quite loudly and passionately, in many of their interactions. in the beginning of their working relationship, they could barely get a sentence in before they set each other's tempers off. even though their arguments have become fewer and fewer over the years, many still remember those early days and how their shouting had occasionally echoed down into the casino's lower floors.
so, when she had finally indulged in the magnetic pull between them, it was only natural those around her had questioned why. for a while, she hadn't been willing to give much of a straight answer. just that there was something there and each of their arguments got her closer and closer to the truth.
now, though, she knows how to answer without divulging too much about his character. because if there's one thing that always catches her eye and then keeps her interested, it's a sense of courage. Viago is brave in a way that very few have ever shown her over the years. it isn't just in how he handles their enemies or even the inner politics of the Crows or even the crown. no, she knows how difficult it has been for him to shed the armor and let someone inside. how every time he reaches for her hand, even if it's fully encased in leather, he's pushing aside his learned inclination to yank it away.
he is brave and he is kind, acerbic tongue and all. because he drops little gems into her palm, as he does now, eyes soft around the edges as he likens her to a treasure. ]
The Diamond really is something else. [ she teases, knowing exactly that he wasn't referring to the casino. her ankle nudges against his again, a silent acknowledgment of the compliment. ]
Bold, complex, yet goes down with surprising smoothness. You've picked well, as usual, signore.
[ not that she would have doubted. Viago may not be much of a drinker, but he understands the chemistry of such in a way she never will.
their waiter re-appears, then, to drop off their entrees, having given them just the perfect amount of time to sip their wine and chat. the timing is the reason they've come back here again and again; it's dependable. Teia makes no move to fuss with her food until she knows Viago is satisfied with his tests. doing so otherwise would only spark an argument. ]
[ the nudge to his ankle prevents a customary roll of the eyes at her purposeful obtuseness, but viago does seem pleasantly relaxed (for him) as the food is set down. for a moment, anyway. his eyes track every movement of the plate, mentally planning out what needs to be done. the waiter asks if they have need of anything else; viago ignores it, trusting that teia would play the role of polite socialite while viago fixates on the work.
he tries not to think about all of the meals teia eats without him. how many chances people have to kill her when he isn't here to test everything she eats. she shows great patience in allowing him to do this now, a silent compromise in tasteless liquids dropped on odd portions of the plate. a separate concoction for pork, salt, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, the butter and oil...
it takes roughly two minutes to finish his tests, quietly lamenting that teia ordered something complicated. he still has not touched his food. that will take another minute to test his own, practiced and easy. perhaps another minute or two to work up the nerve to actually eat it. but, for now: ]
Looks good.
[ the reward is worth it, he reminds himself steadily as he settles back into his chair, staring at his plate as if it were one of his precious vipers, curled up and poised to strike. the reward being teia not looking disappointed. it was worse than her being furious. he would rather she yell.
so, steadily, he picks up his fork to gently stir the pasta, ignoring the thrum of anxiety building in his jaw. he has to remind himself not to clench his teeth. he searches for something, anything, to talk about, and settles on something that he knows teia absolutely loves. ]
You really have no idea why Caterina called me here?
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no subject
it's also difficult to find a steed tall enough for him to ride comfortably, but that is another issue for another day.
he's about to respond in kind when teia's tone changes, her eyes bright as she tilts forward. on purpose, naturally. if viago didn't know better, he would think she was about to spill out of the dress altogether, baring herself to maker knows who may or may not be watching. the image isn't exactly a bad one, but one viago would prefer happen in the privacy of their room. for him, and him alone.
still, his breath catches slightly at the sight, though his tone remains as unfussed as ever. if anything, it shifts a hair lower, his eyes roving her form. devouring her with a glance. ]
I will leave the riding to you, Andarateia.
[ as he sips his wine. riding the horse. or him. both are a pleasant image. the latter, obviously, more so. he sets his glass down delicately, settling back into his chair. his legs are a bit too long to remain seated perfectly while still being comfortable, so he does allow himself to sprawl a bit. after all, it is only teia. and while he gets comfortable, folding his hands neatly in his lap, he adds: ]
Though anything is better than sitting in a carriage for a day.
[ a tragedy. ]
no subject
the lower pitch of his voice drags along her spine, near as effective as his bare hands. she feels pinned by his gaze and her composure breaks fractionally as she shifts in her seat, feeling a heated throb between her legs. it's all too easy to remember the last time she'd sat astride his hips, a small hand on his chest to hold him in place as she rocked her weight against him. part of her wishes to shove social etiquette aside and settle into his lap here and now, especially as he settles into his chair some more, his long legs sprawling to bracket hers under the table.
his comment about the carriage brings her back from the memory and observation and she laughs, curls spilling over her shoulder when her head tilts back. ]
Aww, poor Vi, too cooped up. I'll make sure you get plenty of opportunity to stretch your legs.
[ and for exercise, obviously.
thoroughly amused and still a bit flushed, she presses her luck just a bit; her bare ankle brushes against the hem of his trousers, keeping the fabric between their skin for now. it's a tease all the same. ]
no subject
the thought is an odd one, that teia is the only one left who tolerates him long enough to free him from his self-imposed prison of isolation and tinkering. bittersweet, maybe. but here she was, flushed and teasing, nudging at his leg just a bit, her expression coy and playful. the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, he thinks, and probably ever will.
why she puts up with him, viago has no idea. but she does, and always forgives him, even when he doesn't particularly feel he's deserved it. making a mistake with teia never felt terrifying, like it did with everything (and everyone) else. she was a safety net he never knew he needed.
the thought causes his lips to twitch into a faint smile, and he sighs a bit dramatically, turning his gaze to the canal. their food should be here soon, and his mind was already working ahead to what needed to be tested. but he does say: ]
You already have. [ he is, after all, at dinner. ] But the ride here was miserable. I think the only thing that got me through such torture was the promise of fine treasure at the end of it.
[ knowing he was going to see teia was worth an irritating carriage ride, a cure to even his most foul moods. he straightens up enough to reach out to the bottle of wine, turning it slightly to see the vintage. his eyes flicker to teia briefly, offering her a small smile, before returning to the label. ]
How is your wine?
no subject
the differences have caused them to argue, quite loudly and passionately, in many of their interactions. in the beginning of their working relationship, they could barely get a sentence in before they set each other's tempers off. even though their arguments have become fewer and fewer over the years, many still remember those early days and how their shouting had occasionally echoed down into the casino's lower floors.
so, when she had finally indulged in the magnetic pull between them, it was only natural those around her had questioned why. for a while, she hadn't been willing to give much of a straight answer. just that there was something there and each of their arguments got her closer and closer to the truth.
now, though, she knows how to answer without divulging too much about his character. because if there's one thing that always catches her eye and then keeps her interested, it's a sense of courage. Viago is brave in a way that very few have ever shown her over the years. it isn't just in how he handles their enemies or even the inner politics of the Crows or even the crown. no, she knows how difficult it has been for him to shed the armor and let someone inside. how every time he reaches for her hand, even if it's fully encased in leather, he's pushing aside his learned inclination to yank it away.
he is brave and he is kind, acerbic tongue and all. because he drops little gems into her palm, as he does now, eyes soft around the edges as he likens her to a treasure. ]
The Diamond really is something else. [ she teases, knowing exactly that he wasn't referring to the casino. her ankle nudges against his again, a silent acknowledgment of the compliment. ]
Bold, complex, yet goes down with surprising smoothness. You've picked well, as usual, signore.
[ not that she would have doubted. Viago may not be much of a drinker, but he understands the chemistry of such in a way she never will.
their waiter re-appears, then, to drop off their entrees, having given them just the perfect amount of time to sip their wine and chat. the timing is the reason they've come back here again and again; it's dependable. Teia makes no move to fuss with her food until she knows Viago is satisfied with his tests. doing so otherwise would only spark an argument. ]
no subject
he tries not to think about all of the meals teia eats without him. how many chances people have to kill her when he isn't here to test everything she eats. she shows great patience in allowing him to do this now, a silent compromise in tasteless liquids dropped on odd portions of the plate. a separate concoction for pork, salt, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, the butter and oil...
it takes roughly two minutes to finish his tests, quietly lamenting that teia ordered something complicated. he still has not touched his food. that will take another minute to test his own, practiced and easy. perhaps another minute or two to work up the nerve to actually eat it. but, for now: ]
Looks good.
[ the reward is worth it, he reminds himself steadily as he settles back into his chair, staring at his plate as if it were one of his precious vipers, curled up and poised to strike. the reward being teia not looking disappointed. it was worse than her being furious. he would rather she yell.
so, steadily, he picks up his fork to gently stir the pasta, ignoring the thrum of anxiety building in his jaw. he has to remind himself not to clench his teeth. he searches for something, anything, to talk about, and settles on something that he knows teia absolutely loves. ]
You really have no idea why Caterina called me here?
[ gossip. ]