an airless little laugh squeaks past karlach's lips. it happens despite her best efforts to hold it back. while karlach doesn't want to be the kind of person who would ever laugh at another's feelings, it's already too late. the dam has broken.
her small laugh quickly becomes a big one and then a huge one. karlach laughs hard and raucously. )
Presump-haha-tuous? Hahaha!
( there's no way. this wizard has to be making a joke. he couldn't be serious. or was it modesty? politeness? one of those? )
No—I. What? Haha! Gale, I was this close to just laying on the kitchen table naked with an apple in my mouth.
( like any good hot meal.
she pinches two of her talons together for emphasise. this close! )
[He's not sure anyone has ever been so direct with him in his entire life, even when he considers his popularity during his academy days. He lets out another breathless laugh of his own, certain that his face must be entirely scarlet by now— unbecoming of a grown man, perhaps, but he knows he's in most excellent company and they both possess the ability to laugh at their own expense.
The whole thing really is quite funny, isn't it? Right down to their dancing about the topic at hand.]
Well, one does try to remain a gentleman when able, but—
[He raises an eyebrow at the pinched talons, beyond amused.]
Wouldn't that have been something? Perhaps for the best that we don't have any other housemates at the moment.
Good thing I'm no gentleman, yeah? I would have just told them to go fetch you instead!
( she means that. easy. karlach wouldn't even blink if she had been walked in on by an unsuspecting housemate or even a guest. if anything, she'd take the opportunity to enlist their assistance.
karlach would never let something as small as shame get in the way of something she wants. particularly not something that she wants as badly as this. )
Then when you got there, I'd invite you in for a taste.
( as she says that, karlach begins to close the distance between them. there's a part of her that wants to overthink it, wants to overthink all the logic and consequences, but it's quickly ignored. karlach has already thought enough about it.
the answer is the same.
she reaches out with a gloved hand to take gale's hand in hers, cradling it gently. )
I know what we said before, but what if we try anyway?
[Gale is grateful that some part of him seems to remember that once upon a time, he had been charming and put-together; his days of being one of Blackstaff Academy's most prolific heartbreakers might be behind him, but that past experience certainly serves to help him steel himself now. He wouldn't consider himself to be shy or prudish about matters of this nature, but it's been quite some time since anyone has spoken to him about such things in such a straightforward manner— and even longer since he's had the pleasure of going about such things the mortal way.
He clears his throat, prepared to offer her a witty rejoinder before she takes his hand; her own is warm beneath the glove, and he finds his fingers curling against the inside of her palm as she cradles his hand, any attempt at cleverness now forgotten as the present moment feels equal parts humorous and tender.
His smile softens, and he raises his other hand to rest against her wrist in solidarity, unbothered by the fact that he's something of a haphazard and flour-streaked mess at the moment.]
That's a very interesting 'what if.' I've always been the curious sort.
[He meets her gaze fondly, giving her wrist a gentle squeeze of reassurance.]
I suppose we'll never really know what might be until we do, will we?
( haphazard and flour-streaked messes happen to be exactly what karlach likes. while there were merits to fance and pomp, karlach has always liked the undressing part much more than the dressing up part. making a mess rather than cleaning up.
oh and how she could surely make a mess of gale. )
This is the part where I'd kiss you if it wouldn't burn your face.
( since she can't, karlach hopes that speaking her intention might still be worth something. )
What's to say we put your curiosity to the test and try out whatever you've got cooked up?
( either that or karlach's still willing to fetch her own potion to try. )
[Her intention is as clear as it is well-received, and he cannot help letting out a soft chuckle in response.]
I'm not entirely certain it wouldn't be worth it if you did it regardless.
[He can flirt as readily as she can— and he can feel a bit of that old confidence of his coming back.]
With that in mind— if you'd like to accompany me to my study, I would be happy to show you. I think my little experiment is ready to undergo some— practical trials.
[There's nothing left to do but to try it for themselves. He raises both eyebrows, inclining his head slightly towards the stairwell leading to the second floor.]
[He clears his throat as he makes an effort to remain as composed as possible; given the situation, he doesn't know that he can count on his own impulse control as much as he'd like.]
Of course— and I'll take care to remind you that with any experiment, rigorous repetition is a necessity.
[He does, in fact, lead the way; it's time to try out a few potions and then see how long they can get away with kissing about it.
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no subject
an airless little laugh squeaks past karlach's lips. it happens despite her best efforts to hold it back. while karlach doesn't want to be the kind of person who would ever laugh at another's feelings, it's already too late. the dam has broken.
her small laugh quickly becomes a big one and then a huge one. karlach laughs hard and raucously. )
Presump-haha-tuous? Hahaha!
( there's no way. this wizard has to be making a joke. he couldn't be serious. or was it modesty? politeness? one of those? )
No—I. What? Haha! Gale, I was this close to just laying on the kitchen table naked with an apple in my mouth.
( like any good hot meal.
she pinches two of her talons together for emphasise. this close! )
no subject
The whole thing really is quite funny, isn't it? Right down to their dancing about the topic at hand.]
Well, one does try to remain a gentleman when able, but—
[He raises an eyebrow at the pinched talons, beyond amused.]
Wouldn't that have been something? Perhaps for the best that we don't have any other housemates at the moment.
[Imagine someone else walking in on that sight.]
no subject
Good thing I'm no gentleman, yeah? I would have just told them to go fetch you instead!
( she means that. easy. karlach wouldn't even blink if she had been walked in on by an unsuspecting housemate or even a guest. if anything, she'd take the opportunity to enlist their assistance.
karlach would never let something as small as shame get in the way of something she wants. particularly not something that she wants as badly as this. )
Then when you got there, I'd invite you in for a taste.
( as she says that, karlach begins to close the distance between them. there's a part of her that wants to overthink it, wants to overthink all the logic and consequences, but it's quickly ignored. karlach has already thought enough about it.
the answer is the same.
she reaches out with a gloved hand to take gale's hand in hers, cradling it gently. )
I know what we said before, but what if we try anyway?
no subject
He clears his throat, prepared to offer her a witty rejoinder before she takes his hand; her own is warm beneath the glove, and he finds his fingers curling against the inside of her palm as she cradles his hand, any attempt at cleverness now forgotten as the present moment feels equal parts humorous and tender.
His smile softens, and he raises his other hand to rest against her wrist in solidarity, unbothered by the fact that he's something of a haphazard and flour-streaked mess at the moment.]
That's a very interesting 'what if.' I've always been the curious sort.
[He meets her gaze fondly, giving her wrist a gentle squeeze of reassurance.]
I suppose we'll never really know what might be until we do, will we?
no subject
oh and how she could surely make a mess of gale. )
This is the part where I'd kiss you if it wouldn't burn your face.
( since she can't, karlach hopes that speaking her intention might still be worth something. )
What's to say we put your curiosity to the test and try out whatever you've got cooked up?
( either that or karlach's still willing to fetch her own potion to try. )
no subject
I'm not entirely certain it wouldn't be worth it if you did it regardless.
[He can flirt as readily as she can— and he can feel a bit of that old confidence of his coming back.]
With that in mind— if you'd like to accompany me to my study, I would be happy to show you. I think my little experiment is ready to undergo some— practical trials.
[There's nothing left to do but to try it for themselves. He raises both eyebrows, inclining his head slightly towards the stairwell leading to the second floor.]
no subject
( impulse control has never once been her strong suit.
then she smiles and releases her hold on gale's hand. instead she makes a sweeping gesture towards the general direction of his study. )
Lead the way!
no subject
Of course— and I'll take care to remind you that with any experiment, rigorous repetition is a necessity.
[He does, in fact, lead the way; it's time to try out a few potions and then see how long they can get away with kissing about it.
What was that about not tempting her?]