"you may not call him a puff of fart over dinner," she chides. her gaze is stern, though king is about the only person able to pull a smile from her when she's trying to be serious. still, the last thing she wants to bring up while he's here is how dead he's been for over a year. 

freya's fingers trail over king's arm. she pinches the small of his back teasingly, admiring - not for the first time - the way his shirt tapers nicely at his hips. 

the doorbell rings. king shrugs and says they'll be fine, and she appreciates him with a kiss on his cheek, before ghosting down the stairs to get alex. 

he's greeted with a freya not seen in a very long time - her braids are simple, allowing more of her starlit hair to tumble over her shoulders. her family's choker with lyune's ball resting inside it is not around her neck; in its place the collared neckline of her sleeveless cream dress. 

there's a brown belt cinched around her waist, its front an intricate leatherwork of dragons' wings. the dress falls neatly around the curves of her hips, stretching just a few inches above her knees. she wears simple sandals and just a touch of make-up around her eyes. their pale gold appears darker against the black eyeliner. 

her smile is radiant, all of her nervousness melting away, as she greets her friend. her eyes drop to the wine, but she doesn't move to take it. she envelops him in a hug instead, gives him a squeeze, and then beckons him to follow her up the stairs. 

"i hope you didn't try to go through the bar first. i forgot to mention the front door." their other entrance through nameless is what she uses most often, as king's usually working the place when he's not out training. 

"king's trying his hand at kalosian food." her lips quirk. as they enter the kitchen, a shiny dratini lounging above the cupboards pokes her head out, tongue forking. curiosity brims in its eyes. 

"king," she says, gesturing, "meet alex. alex, king." and after a moment, "let me get this bottle open..."

KING WAYLAND ALEXANDER STONE
vibes

☉

she's stooped over the counter, two drawers pulled. did they bring the wine opener down to the bar again? her gaze flickers up to see the two with clasped hands and she pauses. feels a lump in her throat and swallows past it, returning to the task at hand. 

but king plucks the bottle from her when her search reaches no fruition. her nose wrinkles as he finds the damn thing easily. 

alex drifts over to the dining table, affording them the means to chat without getting in king's way. she skirts around king while he tends to the stovetop, fingers brushing his back to show she's behind him as she reaches around him for three wine glasses.

at alex's question, she smiles teasingly at king. "i may have talked you up a bit, by the way." 

KING WAYLAND ALEXANDER STONE

☉

king goes about setting the table and getting the plates together. freya takes it upon herself to reach for the bottle and start pouring their glasses. she sets alex's glass in front of him and does a small toast with her own, smiling gratefully as he makes casual conversation. 

he's uncomfortable. that much she can sense. but he's trying. 

it's by all means a fair question, but she wishes he hadn't asked it while she were taking a sip. the wine catches, sputters, and she coughs into the back of her hand as she hastily sets the glass back down. 

her cheeks redden. she wonders, briefly, if king remembers his rough, unwarranted kiss after he called her pathetic. certainly he remembers punching her hard enough in the head to knock her out. 

she tries to say in a fighting ring, right here at nameless, but the dry red and the cough make the sentence come out an awkward croak instead. she reaches for her water and looks to king.

KING WAYLAND ALEXANDER STONE

☉

if alex knew, he'd have far more objections about the kiss. king's doctored version of the night is mostly accurate, save she could have sworn she got a punch or two in that night as well. 

"i had my reasons," she says with a huff, forking a modest bit of pasta into her mouth and pointedly ignoring king's jape by offering her more wine. he hit me so hard, tapu fini's mist got knocked out of me, isn't something she really wants to say, even if it's true. her actions under fernando's influence aren't fit for casual dinner talk.

"and there was no grand confession." she waves her fork. "i wanted someone to teach me how to fight in close quarters and heard about king wayland being a real piece of work." her lips quirk.

she looks to king. "what did i call you? repugnant?"

ALEXANDER STONE KING WAYLAND

☉