WHEN: 2044 AUG 26, afternoon
WHERE: A fancy restaurant downtown
WHO: Dinah and Niles
--
[08:04] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently): The doctor had sent word ahead of time, not by messenger or aether-device but through the blood-bond they still shared and the resulting mental connection. He had informed her he'd be coming by to sweep her away for the afternoon and ensure she had at least something of an appetite but gave no further details. When he arrived he waited in the WISE tower lobby, casually dressed himself to enjoy the last dregs of summer weather with her suncharm present still in his pocket to allow him to soak up the sun through the large glass windows of the building.
[08:09] Dinah (dollihead) 's blood-bond and the mental link was always a reliable barometer, able to tell by the amount of static if it would be worthwhile attempting to bring her out of the tower today. Considered at a safe enough level for clearance, she was walked down to the lobby by her usual flanking security detail who made themselves scarce...or at least distant... when she was safely deposited into the custody of her husband.
"they very nearly didnt let me out again. My 'nannies'" she gestured backwards to them flippantly as she stepped in against his side.
[08:14] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently) chuckled as she was handed over to him, an arm reaching to curl around her waist. Despite the public nature of the lobby he didn't hesitate to lean a kiss to her forehead in greeting before glancing up to take note of the positions of each of her security detail. "Well if they hadn't I would have had to kidnap you, cad that I am," he teased. "You *are* the Windgrace International princess, you know. Every royal has their royal guard." Pivoting, he gestured toward the door with a sweep of the arm that caught the rest of the lobby in its implication. "Besides, you know well enough that it's an absolute bore having to clean up after days when the upstairs is less manageable. Shall we take advantage of the calm?"
[08:17] Dinah (dollihead) stood on her tiptoes to receive the kiss to her brow and grinned as she settled against his side. "Guard is one thing. They *overstep* their limitations, i'm certain that some of it do it simply for sport" she huffed softly, but she nodded. Taking advantage of the calm was almost definitely a good idea.
"Whilst it lasts" she agreed, nodding as she turned with him. "at least it looks nice out there today. I'd begrudge wasting a calm day on terrible weather."
[08:23] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently) was always eager to support her when she leaned up to meet a kiss, fully indulgent of using the vampiric strength lift her up a but one-armed if the need called. Once decided he curled his arm around her waist fully, a finger tapping at the fabric of her shirt as he walked her out of the lobby doors. "Almost as if you're in my head," he said with a laugh as he indicated their matching attire.
Niles paused outside to regard the little gaggle of protestors on the far corner of the building. Signs with verses of scripture decrying corporate greed and worship of false idols were toted by people in plain clothes, one with a megaphone calling at the mostly annoyed passersby. "Hmm. Perhaps a quicker route than walking, nice as it is?" he suggested and turned to take her into a more intimate embrace.
[08:28] Dinah (dollihead) laughed at the tapping of her shirt, grinning. "Old habits, I suppose. I think it suits you better, though" before she turned a curious smile onto the protesters, one that turned somewhat wolfish as she caught sight of their signs. "how long have they been there? I can't hear them from my floor" she turned towards his chest, nodding. "tempting as it is to get into *vigorous* debate with the local proles, lets leave that for later, absolutely. I'm fairly sure I dont want them to eat into our time"
She rested her cheek against his chest, silvery eyes still watching the signs. "...wonder if I ought to mute those megaphones. It'd be funny."
[08:34] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently): "I personally think red looks ravishing on you," he contested, leaning in just a little without actually making enough contact for a kiss. "Especially on that pale skin of yours." Without warning beyond the intention of it in his head he whisked them away in a swirl of black, depositing the two just outside the glass doors of the overhanging restaurant downtown. A little focus on the door itself opened it telekinetically for them, admitting them to the crisp, cool air of the interior.
"Oh they crop up here and there it seems," he mused with no small amount of disdain as he turned to better allow her to walk or stand next to him if she so chose. "The sanctimonious tend to find their voice when people crop up that threaten their narratives and with so many choosing to walk freely as themselves it was bound to happen. Table for two please," he said, the lattermost directed to a host that tapped at his tablet to register them for a table. I fully encourage the megaphone. Or perhaps external loudspeakers. Do unto others, after all hm?"
[08:41] Dinah (dollihead) leaned up towards the near kiss with a soft laugh "Wrong shade of red" she chuckled, her grip tightening as they were shifted. She wobbled just a little on the other side, her grip remaining tight for a moment longer before relaxing. "one day, i'll get used to that." she murmured, taking his arm.
"they've had *so* long to get used to it and theyre still giving it all that noisy business. their type is going out of fashion, or hadn't they noticed? Decrying corporate greed is all very well and good but I doubt a single one of them has any discernible talent for creating much of anything beyond an annoyance." she smiled. "External loudspeakers, yes. I like that idea. I'd have to decide what to play. something obnoxious enough to bother *them* without bothering *us*" she hummed. "i'll have to give it some thought."
[08:46] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently) nodded at the host and followed along to their table once it was ready. "Oh so long as they have a reason for it they'll seize upon it to victimize themselves," he drawled with a little wave of his free hand. "Martyrdom makes the masses sympathetic, or so they assume." Reaching the table first with a length stride, he beat the host to the act of pulling Dinah's chair out for her, waiting for her to get seated and properly scooted in before taking his own. "Thought and planning. Can't have the bottom floors incapacitated, can we?"
Turning his attention to the host he declined a wine list and nodded to Dinah when it was offered to her. "Only the best for the WISE princess," he said. "Even what might not be listed for the masses." Some places, after all, had special items only available for those that knew to ask.
[08:52] Dinah (dollihead) huffed, pushing her hair from her face. "Let them martyr themselves then. it's been a while since there's been a self-flagellation on callisto, i'd wager. Perhaps I should just play them the Song and have done with it." she tittered, taking her seat. "But that too would most *definitely* incapacitate the bottom layers. perhaps I should just ask the children for something obnoxiously popular and glaringly oversexualised. i'm sure that would please them" she took the wine list between her fingers, humming.
"The WISE princess makes me sound like some...being out of a fairy tale" she smiled playfully. "the wise princess in her tower. does that mean we ought to get a dragon? the Pomeranian is enough, most days"
[09:00] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently) gestured at the other diners in the establishment, a few hurriedly looking way that had been stealing glances at the pair. Dinah was, after all, all over the Aethernet and rather well-known. Niles less so but still distinguishable enough especially in her company. "Aren't you? A mythical creature with quite the following, especially nowadays. And that dog of yours is enough of a beast to count I think," he added with a grimace. "It's a wonder it hasn't yet been trampled underfoot. The cleaning staff would consider it a boon."
He paused to let their host make an inquiry after their intended choice of meal to better inform suggestions. "IF the lady sticks to habit she may insist on something sweet rather than a proper meal," the doctor teased with a tilt of his head and a peer over his spectacles at Dinah.
[09:11] Dinah (dollihead) was quite used to the looks that they just swept over her, though she did flit her gaze around just the once to take stock of the daytime customers before looking back to Niles.
"ever a work in progress. I need to find someone better to handle analytics than the girl I have at the moment." she trailed off, though she laughed at his grimace "oh, don't sulk. he's barely bitten any of them. he's getting better, I think. though he'll pout that he got left behind today" she tapped her fingernail to the menu, smirking a little at the remark of her dining habits.
"something sweet *is* a proper meal" she feigned offense. "I think the oysters though. does that qualify as a 'proper meal'?" she grinned
[09:38] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently) hummed. "What's wrong with your current girl? Not quite doing the job?" he asked, any other teasing remark trailing off when the dog was again brought up in conversation. "Yippy little mutts have no place in a fine dining establishment," he chided as he fluffed out a napkin and put it on his lap. "I'm sure he'd do his best to spoil a lovely afternoon." He waited politely as the host made his recommendations, among which were a Muscadet, a Sherry, and a Chablis. "If you've a taste for dry I'd say a Fino Sherry," he recommended of the selection. "Otherwise you really couldn't go wrong. Fine recommendations," he commended of the young man.
[09:43] Dinah (dollihead) clicked her tongue "she's *fine*, but only fine. I can't imagine her being worth keeping longterm... does everything I ask but nothing beyond that. no incentive" she lowered the menu, folding it closed.
"he isn't a mutt, darling, I made very sure of that. yippy though, yes. he would have absolutely done his best to ruin things, that much I can't deny" she unfurled her own napkin.
"chablis, then. Grand cru if you have it." she pushed the menu towards the waiter. "Sherry is more for evenings, I think. it always reminds me of late nights. what about you, Niles?"
[09:55] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently): "Well, maybe she can be given incentive. Lord knows the next one might be *worse,*" he mused and leaned his chin in his hand. Her defense of the dog put another little wrinkle in his nose though this one was more playful. "I'm sure I could find something biologically wrong with the terrible little thing given the opportunity. But alas."
He sat up straight as Dinah ordered, humming at her slight correction. "Sweeter sherries of course. But the Fino is drier. Still, the Chablis is a good choice. When questioned about his own order Niles pushed his seat back and slid over to the one to Dinah's left, moving it closer to her to lean in and sling an arm around its back. "I have something delectable right here, don't I?" he answered.
[10:05] Dinah (dollihead) wrinkled her nose "Good point" she agreed. "or could be some...fame chasing weirdo. the channel already has one of those, we don't need two" she smirked, laughing gently. "you leave my poor beast alone. Alas indeed, you shall have to go without." she shuffled her own chair closer to his a little as he moved.
"I suppose i should have guessed. I don't imagine oysters will do so much for the taste like the desserts do. The chablis might at least." she grinned, looking out over the balcony.
[10:23] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently) turned his head, his far hand curling a golden lock between its fingers. "Well. More for your brother to keep occupied with when the fire company hasn't stolen his time, I'd say. Or for me, since I'm forbidden from terrorizing your little lapdog." He leaned in to brush his lips against the shell of her ear. "You'd like it, wouldn't you? If I hunted down those hungry little fools barking for your attention?" he murmured. "I think your mood affects your taste much more than what you eat some days."
[10:28] Dinah (dollihead) huffed softly at the notion of dorian's time being shared out by *saving lives*. she tilted her head towards the tangle of his fingers, and she chuckled.
"everyone is forbidden from terrorising my little lapdog" she agreed, shivering at the touch of his lips.
"I suspect you would too, there *are* plenty. at least some of them are likely to come with some degree of skill required in tracking them, perhaps?" she tilted her head with amusement.
"does the...interference affect much? if it does i could imagine some of them are far more preferable than others"
[10:37] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently) gave her earlobe a little nip before pulling back enough to at least pretend at propriety. "Oh I'm well aware there are. You should see the things posted under your hashtag, Liebchen. It's quite the indiscreet sort of misbehavior Dorian I'm sure still expects of me."
He curled a finger and ran its back down the curve of her cheek. "The *interface* affects plenty, mostly in the effect it has on me. Like a drug... or the mix of several. Mind-altering in ways I can't predict." His eyes lowered to linger on the eyes inked into her skin and certainly nothing else that might be in the proximity. "It takes some acclimating, being unable to prepare for something after a life-long habit of planning ahead."
[10:43] Dinah (dollihead) laughed, grinning up towards him "oh, I see them. I see a grand majority of them, at least. Perhaps if nothing else, I should invite some of *that* sort here. bring them for a party." she smiled mischievously. "you *are* very much the king of misbehaviour, dear. im surprised that all of my faults aren't all heaped at your door. I suppose they are by some" she hummed, tilting her cheek towards his touch like a cat.
"I can imagine it is still unpleasant for you to have to tolerate such wanton unpredictability. I wish there was a way that i'd be able to assist, but to me? I don't feel any difference in the nuances, just that theyre there. it's very odd" she nipped towards his finger, not making contact. "I suppose some of them are more predictable than others"
[10:54] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently) tapped at her lip almost chidingly. "Now now. What would we be if we couldn't adapt? The new and the unknown can be exciting prospects after centuries of predictability, you know." He withdrew further as her wine arrived, a bucket of ice and a bottle and glass. The server popped the cork and poured before leaving the bottle stoppered up and chilling. "That's all 'til the oysters I think, thank you," Niles said to dismiss him so they could return to their conversation.
"Well I'm sure they'll be happy to heap them at my door when it's much closer to the ground," he said with a laugh. "Which was in part why I absconded with you today aside from sorely missing your company." He gave her the space to take a sip of her drink and tilted his head to study her reaction through the curled fringe of his hair. "I'm shifting the use of the airship for more productive means. Transport, shipping... materials and needs for WISE and its myriad projects. After all, what sort of family man would be so far away from his: wife and... children?"
[11:10] Dinah (dollihead) grinned at the tap to her lip, parting them as if tempted to bite him again "I am nothing if not unpredictable, especially these days. Honestly i would have thought you more averse to it" she nodded towards the waiter, turning her attention back to him.
"heaping them at your door in the air though might prove it's own source of entertainment" she laughed "is it truly absconding with if gone willingly, and with your wife, no less?" she sipped at her wine, peering at him with interest. "you want to be closer to the ground again? Does that mean you will be moving into the tower too?" she asked curiously "you know there is more than enough space, after all, even if it might take some adjustment to some of the other residents. the airship IS lovely though, it would be a waste to use it as a transport vessel"
[11:22] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently) watched the server for a moment to see if he'd soon be returning with the oysters. When it was clear they had a bit more time to themselves, bystanders notwithstanding, he reached to steal her left hand and run his thumb over the wedding band, stopping when he hit the rose on her engagement ring. "It's certainly the norm, isn't it? Sharing a home with your spouse. And a bed," he added after a little pause and a drift of less than proprietary thoughts from his mind to her own. "Though I understand the trepidation. I'm sure work and overseeing the club's activities will keep me away enough to keep the peace." He curled his fingertips up under her wrist before relinquishing her hand so she might have both again for drinking her wine or otherwise.
"Transport of specialty goods requires direct supervision sometimes. I'm sure there'll be means for WISE board members and important personnel to come aboard and conduct thorough investigations from time to time," he reassured her. "Certain spaces can remain intact for those occasions I'm sure."
[11:26] Dinah (dollihead) grinned as he took her hand, splaying her fingers apart for him to get to her ring "The norm, yes. but since when have we adhered to that? Not that I am complaining, darling, far from it." she paused at the sensation of the thoughts with a shiver and a grin. "there'll be plenty of peace, i have no doubt. Some things need to be tolerated, expected even from a married couple. though that *does* mean you will need to tolerate my yappy companion" she teased. She left her hand on the table when he relinquished it, happy enough to use her right hand for her wine.
"What of those you hire on the ship? will they remain? the...residents?" she tilted her head
[11:32] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently) huffed. "Tolerate is a generous term. I do hope you don't let the thing sleep in bed with you." He didn't wait for a reply, waving his hand. "Some of the crew will remain to help navigate the ship and ensure it's working properly of course. Others will likely be assigned to assist with Research below the tower... others still to club duties as applicable. They won't be out of work, I assure you. Thoughtful of you to consider them though, sweet little thing that you are."
He leaned back, languid and relaxed in the wake of the announcement of his move. Keeping an arm slung around the back of her chair he watched diners and workers alike mill about the restaurant, his eyes searching for the young man that would eventually bring her meal. "Will you stand it, do you think? Having yet another nanny so close at hand to titter over your misdeeds?" he asked, light and playful.
[11:37] Dinah (dollihead) laughed "he has his own bed. he doesnt *want* to sleep in bed with me. i would, gladly, but then he squirms, it's a whole ordeal" she feigned a sigh, chuckling as she sipped her wine.
"That crew has been good to you. and we know theyre trustworthy. It'd be a shame to have wasted trustworthy staff, you know how hard they are to find. it's a trait that ought to be cultivated" she lowered her glass, smiling playfully.
"I think of all the people that *ought* to be keeping an eye on my misdeeds, you are one of the highest on the list, you know." she smiled impishly. "though I cannot pretend it will not be quite something for me to adjust to having someone in such close proximity at all times. the guards know better than to getting as close as you do, and rightfully so"
[11:48] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently) laughed outright. "Well good. He ought to squirm, nasty little thing. You'd wake up to him doing something indecent with your leg if he could hop high enough to make it to the bed without assistance, I'm sure." He drummed his fingers on the back of her chair idly. "The crew will have their due for their loyalty and good service, I'll be certain of that. You're absolutely right about keeping the good ones and I know well enough how hard they are to replace."
He flashed a smile when he finally spotted their server approaching with the oysters. "You sound awfully like you're concerned," he said with a quiet laugh. Turning back to her he reached to untangle a stray strand from the harness she wore, letting the tip of his finger linger on the ring that joined all its thing straps. "I like to think I can handle the brunt of your misdeeds better than your security staff. After all, I'm rather stubborn about staying dead."
[11:56] Dinah (dollihead) laughed again and shook her head "oh, my bed is very low to the floor. I need it that way sometimes, on *intoxicant heavy* days" she grinned. "We have an arrangement, he and I. he's very well behaved for me. it's everyone *else* he savages little chunks out of." she remained silent as the server set the plate down, bowing her head, and she gave Niles an impish smile.
"you are very good at not dying. definitely better than most. I wouldn't say I am *concerned*, I am just not used to having people permanently in my space. it will take a little adjusting, I suspect" she admitted. picking up a half-shell, she tapped her finger against the shell. "certainly better than they are. you wouldn't beliieve what we have to pay them now after they started asking about the high turnover rate"
[12:05] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently) tsk'd and leaned in, his right hand moving to grasp gingerly at her chin to gently urge her to turn toward him. "An arrangement sounds dangerously like a pact. Or contract. You'd best be careful, my love... entangling yourself in such things with that miserable creature."
Blood welled beneath the skin of his thumb before slicing its way slowly through, wetting the pad of it for him to slide it across her lips and press forward in an attempt to slip it past them. "You are quite spoken for. And certainly not for the fae," he said quietly, the tone of his voice taking a dangerous edge.
[12:11] Dinah (dollihead) smiled as he held her chin, lifting it a little. "that is one lesson I *have* learned." she said quietly. "I uphold the one promise I made to him. I never promised him *opposable thumbs*. or protection from being surgically neutered"
her breath caught in her throat a little at the sudden strong scent of blood, and then the taste, closing her lips around his thumb with a soft chuckle.
"Quite spoken for" she agreed, brushing her lips with his bloody thumb, smudging a little at the similarly coloured makeup already present. "he has his place in my life, love, but it shan't be much more than in my purse" her tongue flicked out again across his skin.
[12:17] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently) healed quickly enough that it took effort to keep the cut open. Only after she confirmed the dog-bound fae's place did he pull away and allow the wound to seal itself shut again. "Good. I would hate to upset you by having to eviscerate your pet," he said, focusing himself by deftly separating oyster from shell with little telekinetic movements and a weighted stare. "But, as you are safe and more than capable of handling yourself I shall have to settle for threats and dirty stares when the thing decides it wants to risk being nearby." He hummed, pursing his lips. "Perhaps a light kick."
[12:23] Dinah (dollihead) pushed her lip out in a dramatic pout as he withdrew his thumb, but she chuckled again, touching her tongue to her lower lip.
"I would prefer you didnt eviscerate my dog" she agreed. "you are more than capable of making threats, i am sure. and i'm not too sure that dirty stares will do too welll when you're facing down something that looks like a bad tempered cotton ball" she took the oyster from the air again, then laughed.
"no kicking him either~" she feigned another pout "you're so mean to my poor little pompom. he is a tiny sweetheart, and he looks so *cute* in his little costumes. Hes very popular in japan" she grinned
[12:36] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently) sagged back in his chair, tilting his head backwards in a dramatic tableau of a man shot through the heart. "Ugh. Denied the simple joys in life. They do say this tends to happen in marriage, don't they?" he lamented before looking at her with a cheeky grin. "Would it make you happy if I were friendly with the little beast? I suppose I could *try*... buy it ridiculous, humiliating little outfits for the dozens that think its angry little face is adorable." His eyes turned to focus on the bottle and it lifted from the ice to carefully refill her glass. "A happy wife, as they say."
[12:40] Dinah (dollihead) ate her oyster with a grin. "I wouldn't expect you to be *friendly* with him, darling. but there is at least somewhere between 'best of friends' and 'making him into a hat'. Though he would be quite a splendid little hat. speaking of which, I have a beret for him at some point" she grinned. "he looks *adorable* in his ridiculous little outfits. I even had someone asking me if I were to make merchandise of him after we recorded him at his 'spa day'" she tilted her glass towards him. "I should think he will be happy like that. He's *beloved*, and oh-so teeny tiny, he can easily be snuggled. and he's far more famous now than he ever would be" she giggled. "he should be *thanking* me. do you know how hard others have to work for that kind of exposure?"
[12:45] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently) let out a hearty laugh, one hand reaching up to wipe at and readjust his glasses despite not actually needing them to see. "A *beret* of all things. You sweet sentimental girl," he said with a sigh. "I'm sure he's found some way to lament his condition. At least he does a good job of pretending to so he can take it out on everyone in your vicinity." He hummed and tilted his head. "I'll have little collars and baubles made for him. I'm sure they'll be eye-catching in your videos."
[12:49] Dinah (dollihead) curled her fingers around her wine glass. "you only need to read some of the comments to know how enviable his position is. how many of the rest of *them* would gladly take being a cute little doggy if it meant they were carried at cleavage height?" she snickered. "oh, he would look *darling*. We can have a whole little fashion shoot for him. you'd almost certainly recoup whatever was spent on them" she lifted another oyster. "I can't promise he wont try to savage your fingers if you tried to put them on him though"
[13:00] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently) narrowed his eyes ever so slightly before replacing the expression with an amused smile. "I'm not surprised by how much of the aethernet would love to spend its time buried in your bosom, Liebchen. It's lucky your twin isn't so keen on technology or half the populace would find themselves on the receiving end of his fist."
He waved a hand, looking back toward the restaurant as she mentioned cost. "Oh, this is the era of magic and myth. Not a dime need be spent," he said with more of a smirk than a smile. "With all she's capable off, a few collars and little bells would be no problem for Pet."
[13:05] Dinah (dollihead) tittered. "you said you'd seen the comments yourself, you'd not need to be surprised. you should see some of the remarks on the livestreams. some of the requests are so terribly *niche*, it's fascinating" she laughed. "perhaps i'll show him sometime. but then he'll go trekking halfway across the world trying to figure out how to track them" she mused.
The mention of Pet made her wrinkle her nose a little. "What will you be doing with *her* when you come back down to terra firma?" she asked thoughtfully.
[13:13] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently) chuckled and crossed his arms as he leaned against the back of his own chair. "Niche is certainly *a* word for it. I'd say you're a natural at entertaining the masses, you know. It's a wonder you never took to the stage all those years ago." He licked his lips, smiling when she mentioned showing Dorian the sordid side of her fanbase. He leaned on the elbow closest to her and lowered his voice below the hearing range of those at the other tables. "Oh but you'd enjoy that too if it didn't take him from your side, wouldn't you? Tsk, tsk. Your habit of poking at us is going to get you into trouble one day. We'll see fit to tie you down and never let you out of our sight again."
Straightening up, he shrugged and gestured vaguely in the direction of the city. "Well I certainly won't impose upon you to have her at the tower, though... she's a far more pleasant creature to deal with than that dog of yours. I'm sure I can find arrangements. There's a hotel downtown. I imagine it won't be terribly different from boarding."
[13:21] Dinah (dollihead) shrugged a shoulder. "i do wonder how different things would have been if i had. though certainly i would be probably jaded of it by now." she finished another oyster, dropping the shell, leaning closer with a playful smile at his leaning closer.
"I would. I shan't pretend I dont. I think it's already that way, isnt it? my charming little... meditation closet" she pulled a face. "wretched bloody thing. it's so *dull*" she sighed, drinking her wine as she followed his hand out towards the city.
"The tower would be ill advised" she agreed. "I cannot pretend I would constantly be... reasonable at her presence. Even on my better days" she admitted. "she'd be slightly worse at hiding in tiny spots than my little pompom, i'd wager."
[13:35] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently): "Many performers are. The attention is only entertaining for so long... dealing with the eventual invasion of privacy even moreso," he added with a nod at a sneaky figure in the bushes evidently attempting to sneak a photo of the two of them. A little narrowing of his eyes and some of the thicker bits of foliage bent forward under unseen hands before swinging back into his face.
He turned back to her at the mention of her tidy warded box and hummed, lacing his fingers to rest his chin atop them. "I imagine it's terribly droll. Perhaps we should arrange for some entertainment for you while inside? Though you are a formidable force, you know. Under *their* influence giving you anything to manipulate could be the whole tower's undoing. We'll think of something. There is enough ability and brain amongst us that I'm positive we can make it a more pleasant experience for you."
Niles stretched his neck and shoulders and let out a little chuckle at her critique of the Qilin. "Hooves are far less quiet than paws, true... but you needn't worry so much about what amounts to a golden goose, darling. Especially considering the many things of value she can provide."
[13:42] Dinah (dollihead) followed his gaze to the bush, smiling faintly "oh, that one doesnt even have a good zoom lens. the images would be terrible. amateur" she chuckled. "I think i've stopped noticing the majority of them now. At least most of them seem to be learning to not stand in my way when i'm walking" she shrugged, finishing her glass of chablis and setting it down.
"I had considered someone standing outside with a book, but then if they didnt turn the pages fast enough, or too fast, I would likely get frustrated and it'd be twice as irritating." she sighed gently. "anything close enough that I could manipulate it myself would be risky. And leaving it in the hands of others means they are at risk too." she shrugged. "I suppose i would be out of the discussion regarding the..enrichment. In case I subtly influence something to be a little easier to get out" she tittered.
"I am not *Worried* about your golden goose, darling. But I am not too insecure to admit I can sometimes be...less than reasonable, I know that"
[13:50] Niles Roesler (ohsoincoherently): "Amateur indeed," he repeated as he watched the man scrambling away. "I think you and your elder brother have enough of a reputation when dealing with things you dislike for most of them to know not to directly annoy you. Fear and envy - it keeps the masses both entranced and too wary to pass a line. Most of the time." He lifted his hand, her empty glass coming to it so he could take in the aroma that rose from the lingering drops of wine. "Perhaps I'll have to do my best to entertain you," he said with a tip of the glass in her direction. "It's a rare treat to have you utterly at my mercy."
Setting the glass down, he signaled the server to get the bill sorted out. He stood and met the man by the table, exchanging a card and instruction that they'd be purchasing the rest of the bottle to bring back to the tower. Once finished her stepped around to stand behind Dinah's chair, his hands resting on her shoulders before sliding down to cross over her chest. "Mein liebe, you should know what a special and very unique place you hold in this heart of mine," he said as he pressed a kiss to one temple. "There's no need to be insecure." He dipped his head lower and brushed his lips over her carotid artery. "In fact if you'll allow it, I've a mind to show you just how often and in what manner you constantly occupy my thoughts."
[13:59] Dinah (dollihead) laughed and waved her hand "and yet some people go out of their way to antagonise us on purpose. you'd really think some people would know better" she cocked a brow at his words "half sedated and restrained in a glass box? it might be a little roulette, though, depending on who was riding. Some of them seem to be quite adept at waiting".
She leaned back against his touch, tilting her head back to look up towards his face.
"it's not *all* just insecurity, love" she closed her eyes at his kiss, smiling as his mouth ghosted her throat. "Most of the time, at least. but I shan't pretend I am still any good at sharing" she lifted her hand towards him, curling her fingers in his hair before releasing him again.
"please do~" she whispered, snagging his glasses to place them on her own face.