[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]a soft hum of approval escapes.

cider does sound good too...

god, she hates making decisions.

"i thiiiink... i'll do a spiked peppermint mocha."

'tis the season, right?

she turns toward him, then, with a bright smile curling into her cheeks. in the warm glow of the cozy ambiance, her red sweater looks a little brighter.

"can i try yours, though?"

her hand begins to reach for his subconsciously.

Felix Gallagher

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]"okay."

a subtle sort of preening follows the soft peck on her head, as if she flourishes with a little affection.

and when he drifts away to grab their drinks, she directs her attention to finding a table. it's crowded in the way a popular establishment would be, full of soft chitchat and smiles. the sound of chairs scuffing rises and fades as quickly as it comes, white noise as she weighs the pros and cons of a regular table versus a booth...

felix returns, drinks in hand, a few minutes later. she's still stuck between the two choices, a decision yet to be made.

"thank you."

her smile is warm, fuzzy with the ambient lighting, as she gently takes her drink off his hands.

"table or booth?"

out of the two, felix is the decision maker.

Felix Gallagher

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]booth: an acceptable answer.

he slides in first, settling with his arm outstretched. she follows after a moment. her own drink settles onto the table next to his and she squishes herself into his side a little as his arm settles around her shoulders. and despite herself, her heart matches the rhythmic trill of his own.

"busy..."

it comes with a puff of the cheeks, as if the mere thought of work is exhausting. and in a way, it is. things had been busy before but with numerous rifts open now? it's hell.

"has work been good for you?"

the default question is reflected back with a slight of hand and the resting of her head on his shoulder. her drink is left untouched for the moment.

Felix Gallagher

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]"they are."

agreeance comes softly, distracted. circles drawn into skin take the mind elsewhere for a moment. she has to guide it back with hasty fingers.

"i want to close them."

it's a lofty statement. she knows as such but... there's a sense of duty held in the concept.

one of her hands reaches, then, to pluck her drink up from the tabletop and take a sip. it's cold yet warm, contradicting in the way it tastes. she returns it and licks a stray dollop of whipped cream off her thumb afterward.

"have you been to any yet?"

Felix Gallagher

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]she hums.

"if you do, let me know."

her smile is warm in the way a child's is when they want something.

"i'd like as much information on them as i can get."

it's the only way to begin formulating a plan...

and despite the absolute impossibility of her goal, he places a belief in it all the same. it leaves her fuzzy, warm against his side.

"i think it'll require all the help i can find."

Felix Gallagher

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]"i--"

she finds it hard to concentrate. his thumb traces across skin and she has to force words to work together in a cohesive sentence.

"i'm not sure yet."

her eyes follow the tracing pattern for a moment. when they return to meet his, there's a spark to them. it's familiar, perhaps.

"did any interest you?"

Felix Gallagher