"so they keep tellin' me," he says with a wistful sigh that fails to hide the glint of amusement in his eye, "but alas, i cannot stray from my base instincts." his nose twitches in response to her assault, but nothing more.
[break][break]
her next comment has his sharp teeth poking free and past his lips, a delighted, thoughtful smile.
[break][break]
"anything ta me? perhaps we shouldn't go out after all..." but who was he to deny a princess her royal escort? all but shrugging in his leather coat, he closes the door behind them as they make their way down the hall and to the elevator.
[break][break]
"today would be a mighty fine day ta take back this city like ye wanted," he says as the neon number above the metal doors slowly begins to rise, "i'm even dressed the part."

[attr="class","notes"]freya morningstar[break]

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉

she likes his teeth. likes the way his lips curl and his cheeks pinch when he smiles. but not enough for her to acquiesce to his wishes, knowing full well he'd be very content if she suddenly shoved him back through the front door and made true every single one of her threats. that's why they work. she can overcome her base instincts.

"nearly a hundred dragons strong, i'm sure we could," she says wistfully. "but they're all scattered about and working with the league right now." is that partly why she'd done it? 

"when it's time to rain hellfire on sootopolis, you'll know."

for now, they enjoy the simpler things: like being around one more year to celebrate a birthday. 

he lives a decent walk away from anything remotely special, but she doesn't mind it so much. a few minutes in and she even dares to drape her arm over his, stepping closer as a couple should, all without realizing it while they chatter away.

KING WAYLAND

☉

her own influence on him his stronger than he'd admit. at least, going by the easy, almost relaxed smile that softens his typically hard-lined face.
[break][break]
her mention of the league threatens that peace, but his lip only quirks in a small frown, before he sighs wistfully.
[break][break]
"first yer city, next the league as a whole." it's a joke, of course - mostly. his hatred ran deep, and she knew that. but, his priorities had shifted, at least slightly, somewhere along the line.
[break][break]
"mm, at least it's nice taday."

[attr="class","notes"]freya morningstar[break]

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉

"i could care less about that," she replies. "there's corruption in any organization. on the whole, they have the people's interests at heart." the words even sound like lies coming from her mouth. even now, she can't come to terms with their being entirely corrupted. 

she hadn't done much, but she had influenced some of its machinations when she'd been on the council. the a.q.u.a initiative had come from the mouth of abbiati, forcibly demanded via freya's stark demand for emma's absolution. 

"but MATIAS SILPH can burn. and yes, at least it's nice today." she quirks a smile. they come upon the café soon enough and she gets them a table for two.

it's oddly domestic, sitting across from him in a bustling café.

she doesn't open her menu. "mm, order for me."

KING WAYLAND

☉

so much for not getting that pointed scowl from her. as soon as his infuriating pet name for her falls from his lips, her eyes narrow. she resists the urge to kick him under the table. mostly because if she does, he'll only give her a godsawful wink in return or say something crass. 

they could at least pretend to be civilized out in public. 

she crosses her arms and that playful annoyance gives way to skepticism (and a somewhat sheepish flush at his coy performance).

"if i hate it, you may've just ruined my entire birthday," she says with a long drawn out sigh. "i'll be leaving that bottle to you. you know i don't like drinking." a pause. "but one mimosa sounds nice."

she looks him over, smirks, and then says quite plainly, "i like you very much."

KING WAYLAND

☉

his waggling brows and promises of later don't stir very much in her. she's hardly as obsessed with his body as he is with hers, but that's never stopped him from trying to seduce her in the worst ways imaginable. it's funny. it makes her laugh. he makes her laugh. 

but she's not laughing now. still in its infancy, their relationship is still foreign enough she can't read all of the emotions flitting over his face, but her own empathy grants her sight into the mirror. 

fear. inadequacy. self-loathing. 

it's why, when he tries to bury it under his stupid façade, she doesn't let him off the hook. and in the nicest way possible, she laughs and says, 

"no, dumbass. because you woke up early to bake me a cake and took me here to make me happy and would say 'fuck yeah,' no question's asked, if i told you we were abandoning our little date and liberating sootopolis from the most powerful people in hoenn."

the waiter comes back then with the champagne bottle and pitcher of orange juice. upon setting the table and popping the cork, he excuses himself and freya pours for king, pale eyes sharp with humor. 

"and i know it wasn't. because you're saving that for tonight." she picks up the pitcher of orange juice and adds blithely, "mm, but speaking of, perhaps we should have asked for pineapple juice."

KING WAYLAND

☉

he disappears. looking into the mirror like that, she should have known. they're not ready for this. he's not ready for this. and how unfair is that, she thinks as her stomach flips, as frustration makes her fingers curl on the checkered tablecloth. her smile strains and she hurts for him and is frustrated by him all the same. 

this is not an easy fix and all the birthday wishes in the world couldn't mend his scars. 

still, she holds out hope he'll respond in kind. that he won't brush it under the rug and continue with their guise, this ruse they've told themselves is less than what they are. disappointment is the flush in her cheeks, but it could easily be mistaken as sheepishness at his outburst. 

she recovers quickly and then sighs, pursing her lips. 

instead of pursuing the topic and souring his mood, she picks up her glass of champagne and holds it out to his. the turning heads at his outburst swivel back around, minding their own business, and their waiter goes to fulfill his request, though looks annoyed for it. 

"to my birth - the best and the worst thing to happen, depending on who you ask." and after waiting for the clink, before she takes a sip, she asks, "when is your birthday?"

KING WAYLAND

☉

elusive, as always, and she's starting to think his birthday isn't a very happy occasion. so she has a new challenge then; she tucks the idea away for later with a blink of an eye. she'll weasel it out of him easily. all she has to do is strip bare and cross her legs, giving her the perfect bargaining chip. 

how ridiculous, her affections for this simple man. 

except he's not. a shadow passes overhead and her glass pauses, jaw tightening. the pineapple juice is put down on the table before she can drink, so she takes the moment to make herself a proper mimosa. 

"i said depending on who you ask," she argues lightly. "but see, now i know you do care." her eyes glimmer with mischief. 

after a sip, her gaze slides past him and to their waiter. "...is that the big surprise?" 

KING WAYLAND

☉