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[versigny]

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[versigny]

[ her cheeks warm when he tips his chin and his smile widens. it doesn't help that she catches a whiff of his aftershave and it makes her want to lean in to follow it down the length of his neck -

Dick can probably see her pupils dilating at this point, but Margaery doesn't care. she leans in closer too, lips parting even before she speaks. ]

I think so. Maybe you're like me in that way. We both know what we like and don't like. I don't think a lot of people can say the same.

[ unintentionally, her tone has dropped. she could be cute and gently press her forehead against his or move away but she doesn't. instead, they're interrupted by their bartender setting down their ordered drinks (as quietly as he can, to his credit) and she doesn't bother to hold back her laughter, as soft as it is.

serendipity, maybe. a warning from the universe that they still have time.

she straightens up to take a good look at their first choices for the night. ]

Does it take you a few drinks to start getting tipsy?

[farcry]

[ her voice takes on a closer tone, one he imagines she might use to speak to someone she knows intimately. just as he was about to turn the conversation onto her, their drinks arrive and he’s smiling too, pulling away to thank their server and admire the glasses. ]

Yeah, at least a couple, but I don’t drink that often. [ however, he has a fast metabolism and keeps in shape and as happy of a drunk as he is, he can hold his liquor. he reaches for the Negroni and chinks the glass against hers. ]

Cheers. [ the citrus and ice is refreshing and it reminds him to keep a grip on himself. it’s clear they’re both infatuated but he genuinely wants to get to know her. no need to rush anything. ]

Probably not as often as you do. It sounds like you have a lot of cousins to keep up with. Does the family keep you busy?

[versigny]

Cheers.

[ flavors explode on her tongue as they're wont to do when she's having her first drink of the night - the syrup helps keep it sweet, but there's a definite bubbly tang from lemon and champagne. she's still regaining control of her facial expression when she laughs from his question. ]

They do. They really do. If it's not someone's birthday, it's always a life event, like engagement, wedding, graduation, promotion, baby shower... but I really wouldn't change it for the world. I'm glad our family is so tight-knit, even if some of us are on other continents.

[ she offers him a sip of her drink by placing it closer to him; it's very good. so far, the bar is exceeding her expectations. ]

I would invite you to some of our parties, but it can be difficult for new people, I think. Everyone's really nice, but with so many people around, it can be harder to find solid footing. Plus, even if none of them care about eyes as much as I do, you have [ she makes a "look at you" gesture with her other hand, ] all this, so you would generate a lot of interest.

[farcry]

[ he trades his drink with hers, pushing his glass and coaster across before picking hers up. it’s good. bubbly and tart and he smiles at both her expression and the way she describes her family. ]

Oh, [ she gets his smile a touch bashful before he chuckles. ] Well—you’d like that though, wouldn’t you?

[ there’s a thoughtful tip of his head. it’s not lost on him that they’re somehow running the hypothetical of meeting her family. she talks about it so casually he garners that it doesn’t mean for her what it would mean for him. it’s just a party. ]

It sounds like it’d be a lot for me, but you’d have your claim on me already, right?

[ wouldn’t she?

their charcuterie board arrives. an artful arrangement of finger foods stretches across a live edge plank. cheeses, pickles, cold cuts, small little canapés scattered between figs, honey, caviar, bread. Dick gives the waiter an appreciative look before folding a hand out toward it, inviting her to go first. ]

Not like you’d be throwing me to the wolves?

[versigny]

[ the negroni is good - a bit too bitter and strong for her tastes, but she can see why this drink is one of their more popular offerings. at his questions, Margaery's smile is slow to form, but impossible to suppress once it does. and while the charcuterie board does look appetizing, she takes a beat to direct her smile at him. ]

Of course. I like to take care of what's mine.

[ showing up with a plus-one isn't so serious that her family will immediately assume wedding bells, but - it'll be special, in its own way. mostly because she's never felt sentimental enough to bring someone to meet the people most special to her. flings were always perfect as they were, or relationships fizzled out too quickly before she could even seriously consider it (read: she got bored). ]

But don't worry. I promise I won't do that to you anytime soon. I'd like to have you all to myself for a bit before I share the attention.

[ she takes one of the tiny pieces of toasted bread to start adding her preferred ingredients, aiming for an equal divide between salty and sweet. ]

What about you? What does family time look like for you?

[farcry]

[ thing is, he still can’t decide whether that alluring confidence is hot or dangerous or if he finds it so attractive because it’s both at the same time. if he hadn’t caught a glimpse of her earlier shyness, if they hadn’t discussed what it is to be lonely, he would be so convinced that this is all she is.

now, he just finds it so charming that she easily lays claim to him just the way he suggested. ]

Thank you. For sparing me.

[ he sips the drink he trades back as she starts to assemble her bite. a fondness colours his smile at her question. ]

Well, family time is usually back in Gotham where most of them live. I try to visit pretty often so my brothers don’t start missing me too bad. They come up with enough reasons to give me shit as is.

[ it’s all good natured teasing. he should’ve expected her to turn the topic back onto him, but it’s not really one he wants to get into detail about. ]

What else do you get up to when your family’s not keeping you busy?

[versigny]

[ at the word brothers, she raises her brows at him; it's already a handful when she and her girl cousins get together, but she has an idea of how rowdy boys can be when they're together, thanks to an athletically gifted brother who's constantly surrounded by teammates.

when she's finished creating her perfect bite, she offers it to Dick. ]

You make it sound like I might be the type to get into trouble.

[ Margaery can't resist teasing - but she grins to let him know she's not serious. ]

Despite what my socials look like, I just really like to stay active. I know it's going to sound so cliché because, you know, basic rich white girl hobbies, but it's true. Staying active, and talking to people. I learn a lot from making conversations with people who aren't from the same background as I am. It's one of the best things my grandmother has ever taught me.

[ she's been to private schools all her life, she knows exactly what kind of woman she would've become if Olenna Tyrell hadn't sold her on the importance of volunteering and putting herself in other people's shoes. ]

I can remember this one time, for a whole week, she made me wake up at 4AM and go work with the harvesters in one of our fields. I was in middle school, so I thought I was going to die every single day, but these people... they do it so effortlessly because they've been doing it since they were so young, and they do it every single day during harvest seasons.

And it's poetic. Even when they knew who I was, they just treated me with respect. I picked so many fruits that weren't ripe enough, but instead of scolding me, they just tossed them from the pile. I must've been a nuisance, but they were so kind. I'll remember it forever.

[ her smile turns rueful. ]

Sorry. I guess I'm just used to people waiting for the opportunity to tear me down.

[farcry]

Wow, for me? [ his smile sweetens as he admires the composition between her fingers. gingerly, he takes it, keeping all the ingredients perfectly balanced on it before putting it into his mouth. ]

Mmmm— [ it’s crunchy, savoury, the sweetness layering above the briny flavours of her chosen toppings. the toasted buttery bread acts as a soft base for it all. it’s possibly the most perfect bite he’s ever had off a charcuterie board, and he’s had a lot of various small bites from different functions.

or perhaps it’s her company and her story that captivates him, her own complex flavours emerging as she paints a picture of someone who’s very much aware of her own privileges. he laughs when she says she thought she’d die, but he never thought she was just what her socials displayed: spin class, brunch, yoga, the perfect hair despite it all, that it girl persona. he shakes his head when she apologizes. ]

Your grandma sounds like she knew what was waiting for you. [ people scrutinizing on the sidelines just to find a hairline weakness to pry against. he starts to assemble a bite for her. melba, goat cheese, apricot compote...is that prosciutto? ]

It’s a lot easier to believe the whole world is out to get you, rather than recognizing those small acts of kindness. Good for you. [ he means it and meets her gaze sincerely to take in her expression. ]

Why do you think people do that, though? What do they want to tear you down for?

[versigny]

It's... well. I don't know if you know anything about private schools, but sometimes they cultivate those weird cultures where everything is a competition for the students.

[ she looks off into the distance, expression growing more somber. ]

I grew up surrounded by a lot of politician-types. People who've never had to do menial labor or suffer a day in their lives, but talked about becoming leaders all the time. I could've been one of them, really. That's also why it's hard for me not to be careful when it comes to other people.

[ they've all done stupid things when younger, but Margaery is visibly uncomfortable at how close she came to drinking the kool-aid, so to speak. that kind of environment, at the height of when she longed to be accepted the most, could've shaped the rest of her life for the worse. ]

Now that I'm older, I think I was sent to these schools to learn how to develop opinions on my own, without external influences that shouldn't matter to me. At the end of the day, I have my family even if I don't have a high-profile career or marriage to an up-and-coming politician.

[ and the world is not as kind to women, but given his line of work, she thinks Dick might already know that. ]

But I also feel like I'm trying to get the best of both worlds sometimes. A socialite who wants to marry for love and actually be happy? Is that even possible, I wonder.

[farcry]

[ the smile on his mouth tapers to genuine admiration as he observes the way she shifts, that flirtatious edge fading as he finishes assembling her bite and holds it out to her. ]

Why not? [ he doesn’t say it dismissively, but it’s a little provocative, a little tough love. ] I think it’s possible if you make it possible, but it’s definitely not the path of least resistance.

[ it’s a path he knows well, and maybe his answer would sound less like an oversimplification if he explained himself. he starts. ]

I went to private school, too, but I think it exposed me to the world. [ two sides of the same coin. where Bruce thought he was doing Dick a favour by offering structure and education all wrapped in an expensive blazer, but it became a cage where observers would stand and watch like he was Bruce Wayne's charity case, brought home for his guilt points.

he hadn’t planned to share much about himself, but she opens up in a way that takes his walls with her, in a way that makes it feel safe to reveal more. ]

Till then, I was very insulated from all that status bullshit. Thought the whole world was just rainbows and butterflies, you know? [ a quiet hum of a laugh, nothing bitter, just amusement at the thought. ] But then you see the rest of it and you realize...that's the work. It’s work to have things like love and happiness.

Anyway. [ he shrugs, picks up his drink and swirls the liquor across the rocks, stopping himself from the tendency to start lecturing like he does with the kids at the after school programs. this is not that. this is a conversation, not an exercise in persuasion. he doesn’t want her to be that. ] I think once you see it, you can't get away from it. You have to choose it.

[versigny]

[ it really is so easy to talk to him. some people like to dig in deep, to get to where they can point fingers and commiserate together about the harshness of the world. others like to keep it light, always focused on topics like shows, movies, music, and celebrities. both are great, but only so fulfilling after a while. his perspective is real, unapologetic, but not in a way that makes her feel as though she has to shoulder unresolved tension. it is what it is.

Margaery considers all this as she takes his offered bite with a grateful smile and savors the first burst of varied flavor and texture with closed eyes. perfect. she's the picture of contented chewing as she opens her eyes and nods thoughtfully to his words to indicate she's listening.

the thought of Dick not coming from a world of money and having to learn all the entrenched ideologies in real-time makes her admire him all the more. he would've had every excuse to sink into self-pity, but he's the last person who seems like he'd succumb to that sort of thing.

she teases him gently, ] You know, you have a weirdly healthy mindset for someone who went through the hell of private school. But you're not wrong. A lot of people are scared to make their own choices.

[ herself included, if she's being honest. but she's trying! and so far, as she shoots Dick a shy smile, she's not regretting it at all. also, feeding each other off the charcuterie board is fun so Margaery starts assembling him another bite. while she does, he's invited to contemplate: ]

What will you choose above everything else, without fail?

[farcry]

[ he watches as she savours the tiny morsel, polishing off his drink as he sees the pleasure bloom across her features. it’s really something, the way she can express it so delicately, say so much with just a look. how she can ask such thought-provoking questions and open him up, gingerly peeling away the layers with no effort at all.

how he can be so aware of it, yet still be so unable to resist. he tips his head as he looks down at the board and picks up a half fig, his hand reaching around hers to layer ingredients at the same time. ]

Above everything else? [ there’s a narrowing of his eyes, as if he doubting the question itself. he turns it over in his mind, tries to parse out a simple answer.

before he formulates his answer, the server arrives with their tartar, and in response to the question if he'd like another drink, he allows Margaery to order first, even lets her order his, or his order is to let the bar to surprise him. ]

Definitely not private school. [ it’s quiet, almost dry. ] I guess—people who mean what they say. Even when they’re scared, or don’t know if it’ll work out.

[ his gaze lifts to hers again, warm and inviting, a bit of humour colouring the edges. ]

Apparently, those people also assemble delicious charcuterie, and I’d never say no to a good snack.

[ a widened smile shows he knows how cheesy he’s being, but they are having charcuterie here (Grayson, please). ]

Okay, here. [ he turns a little more fully to face her, holds out the precariously balanced fig. ] I'm sorry I overloaded it, you're gonna have to just open up and let me feed it to you, alright? I promise it's gonna be worth it.

[versigny]

[ Margaery opts for a Cosmopolitan, and when given free reign - gets Dick an Old Fashioned. the tartare is formidable, heaps of ingredients on top of fluffy brioche bread; it'll take a knife and fork to consume properly in polite company, and suddenly, she's very glad that they've chosen to share both dishes. her charcuterie creation is carefully placed down on her own plate so she can take the initiative to rearrange their plates.

she's listening intently, but she doesn't catch onto his drift until he mentions people who don't know if it'll work out, and then their eyes are meeting again, with Margaery doing her very best to suppress her smile and failing miserably.

her cheeks feel warm, too. possibly from the alcohol but probably because his smile keeps softening her up like a stick of butter left out on a hot summer day.

would she sound too much like a stereotype if she told him, I'm not usually like this? probably. not that she gets the chance to anyway, since she's faced with a truly loaded fig and her laugh is more like a delighted cackle. ]

Oh, Mr. Grayson. You're lucky that I do trust you.

[ she straightens up and faces him too, finishing her French 75 before tipping her head back ever so slightly as she opens her mouth, brows raised. the universal expression for: bring it on. ]

[farcry]

[ the tartare looks impressive and a part of him wonders just how they’ll manage to share it without making a total mess of it. Alfred’s british-accented reminders about proper fork and knife usage come to mind. they’ll come in handy during a date someday, Master Dick.

is that a touch of colour to her cheeks? it’s hard to tell in the dim lighting. that little smile she tries to contain is so alluring, almost bashful before her bright laughter turns to face him. adorable. he grins. ]

Can’t argue against that.

[ the image of her sends a blip in his mind, her head tilted back like that, mouth parted, except she would be on her knees and he would slide something very different into her mouth, to see exactly how those soft lips would look wrapping around—fuck.

his teeth catch his own bottom lip as he pulls his mind out of the gutter and keeps his gaze on the bite, steady hand slipping the fig into her mouth. he’s the image of focus as he ensures nothing catches the corners of her mouth. once the bite is safe, he pulls back and gives her a pleased smile. ]

Good.

[versigny]

[ she doesn't notice anything amiss as she's just focused on working with him to make sure there are no inadvertent casualties - and she most certainly makes it a point not to maintain eye contact in case her thoughts stumble unknowingly into similar territory.

the fig is an unusual choice of delivery that she wouldn't have thought of herself, but she gets why he chose it as she starts chewing and the sweet texture makes for a far more potent enjoyment. her hand instinctively covers her mouth for the first few seconds, although her eyes are curved over her fingers to indicate she's smiling back at him.

he gets a very gentle punch to his arm once she's done swallowing but she's still smiling. ]

Thank you. It was delicious, even if it was a workout for my mouth.

[ their new orders arrive, empty glasses taken away, and she moves to gently clink her cosmo against his drink before picking up a fork. and then freezing for a second when something occurs to her - ]

I just realized I never even asked what kind of drinks you prefer! Have I been getting them correct?

[farcry]

[ he laughs when she lands that velvet punch against his arm, then clinks their drinks together before he sips the Old Fashioned. at he alarm, he raises his brows before shaking his head with a smile at her question.

I mean, I do prefer sugary, fruity drinks, but I drink these stronger ones for you.

[ the look in his is apologetic for a beat, as if he really means what he says, before a smile breaks loose the facade. ]

No, these are perfect. My go-to is a whiskey on the rocks, so you're not far off. Says something that you can even predict my preferences with alcohol.

[ again, he lets her dive into the tartare first. ]

What do you do for work, Margaery? Are you...secretly an FBI profiler or something?

[versigny]

[ she pauses. her look is vaguely horrified, and apologetic in return because Dick's expression looks so real - and then, just before she's about to make them switch drinks, or ask the server for the sugariest, fruitiest drink they have, he smiles at her and she lets out an exasperated laugh that probably gets people's attention from how loudly relieved it is. ]

You can't do that! I really believed you!

[ she should've guessed, she thinks fondly, from all the brothers he's got, that he can be prone to jokes like that. ]

Well, I really just couldn't see you with something fruity, for some reason.

[ when he gives her space, she starts trying to carve out a small piece with all the ingredients; it's far too messy to try and feed Dick with it while they're having an active conversation, but after the fig masterpiece he's given her, her own mouth is ready to handle anything. ]

FBI profiler? [ she raises her eyebrows at him with genuine surprise. in her opinion, nothing really warrants that kind of prestigious guess. then again... ] Close, I guess. I'm actually in marketing and public relations. Celebrities and public figures that need help getting big call me. But, I should be upfront and say that having a wealthy background means I get to be choosy with my clients.

[farcry]

[ the way she exclaims only widens his grin as he shrugs a shoulder to her protest, as if to say that's on you, not me. she's right, it's banter with his brothers that made him this way, both protective and challenging at the same time, all underlined with his warm, soft heart. ]

Huh.

[ it's an intrigued tone, but also a pleased tone that his guess isn't too far off at all. she makes him think about the board of Wayne Enterprises and the strategists they contract, but also of the facade Bruce displays to the outside world: an airheaded playboy because the public relations are simpler that way, because it subscribes to what the world wants to see from him. Dick himself has never managed to quite buy in that marketing and public relations are of importance at all, past the nostalgia of the Flying Graysons poster rolled up in the back of a closet somewhere. he knows that his own life is the opposite of what the world wants from him: orphaned from a terrible tragedy, an heir to a notorious billionaire, a literal poster-boy with a sob story and a potential redemption, yet he remains here. to the disappointment of the public and the board, he stubbornly grounds himself in his badge, even when he sits and flirts endlessly with a kind of grace that eludes him: her.

he doesn't know how much of his story she knows, whether her curiosity has been enough to lead her down a search or two. surely, with all that she commands at her fingertips, she could know all of it. perhaps, a part of him hopes that she simply see him for what he chooses to show her. it's so contradictory, then, that he would find her so alluring. perhaps it's the little glimpses he gets when she reveals her insides, when he gets peeks of her heart beneath all that polish, and finds that it beats to the same tune as his. he questions, then, which one of them have gone down the right path, if there even is such a thing, and whether their involvement together would lead to corruption or salvation. ]

---

[ the exit of the speakeasy leads them out to an intimate back alley, a journey that layers into the mystery of the establishment, one way in, one way out. string lights criss-cross above them, bathing the both of them in a glow that's only amplified by the fact that they're four drinks and hours in. he paid for dinner before she could protest. it was a casual gesture smoothed over with a promise that she could next time, yet with all the talk of next time, he isn't ready for this time to come to a close.

stepping out into the crisp spring air, hands in his pocket with her arm wound around his, he smiles down at her, where she's tucked close to his side like she's been all night. ]

So. This is where we usually say goodnight, right?

[ his hesitancy to do so is obvious in the way his chocolate gaze lingers on her expression, as if assessing whether he should ask or not, if he should share the possibilities in his mind. ]

I could take you home. I'm not gonna drive, but I can keep you company on a ride.

[ he doesn't know how she got here or where she lives. there's a beat, a hint of uncertainty, and he shakes his head at himself with a breath of laughter. ]

Or ... no pressure, alright, but my place isn't far from here. Ten minute walk? There's a rooftop terrace that's pretty quiet this time of night. Just us. And some stars?

[versigny]

[ Margaery's pleasantly buzzed by the time they step out, and yes - even if she's not soused enough to lose her balance, she's found herself to be very comfortable tucked against Dick's side and she's not willing to give it up just yet. him paying hadn't been expected, which makes it a pleasant surprise, as well as the promise of next time.

maybe she's really overthought all of this. maybe it's as simple as meeting up and spending time together and agreeing to do it again, over and over until it becomes more comfortable to be together than to be apart. maybe it really is that easy. she's already thinking about what they could do for their next date, since it's only fair she plans it.

their eyes meet, her expression intent with how she's listening, and softening to beam an encouraging smile at him when he seems to be holding back. her cheeks hurt from how much smiling she's done up until now, but - ]

I was hoping we wouldn't have to say goodnight. [ a confession shyly offered, thanks to the four drinks that are making her feel extra warm and fuzzy and light-headed, on top of his presence. ] So yes. Just us with some stars for company sounds amazing. And a walk too, really.

[ she can feel the jittery energy that comes from being so happy at the start of something so promising. the hand tucked into his inner elbow skates down his forearm so she can thread her fingers through his; it stays there as they walk, and she winds up telling him about what it was like to try and teach her horse to cripwalk after seeing the viral videos on social media, her love-and-hate relationship with marathons, and for some reason, her idea to try and see if she can pull off a recognizable Lola Bunny costume for Halloween. ]

[farcry]

[ her hand in his is enough to make him feel lighter, steadier somehow, even after all those drinks and a night full of a new, unexpected closeness. their walk is easy and punctuated by laughter, by the way she tells stories with her whole face and expressions, a presence that's used to carrying a conversation on so easily. he admires it, so comfortable in the lull of it. by the time they reach his building, he’s already memorized the cadence of her voice, already halfway to knowing the names of all the horses she’s ever loved.

the elevator ride is quiet but not awkward—comfortably close, her shoulder brushing his once, then twice, and he doesn’t step away. his place sits near the top of a mid-rise, sleek and thoughtfully designed. the door clicks open to warm lighting and an open plan. the apartment doesn’t scream billionaire’s kid or Gotham elite; it’s subtle. clean lines, matte finishes, soft grey tones layered with worn wood and old books stacked on shelves that are tidy but clearly used. a few framed photos scatter along the shelves—one of a circus poster, another of himself and two younger boys, arms slung around each other, grinning. it's personal, modern, and surprisingly cozy. ]

Make yourself at home. [ he toes off his boots by the door and glances over at her with a smile that’s half playful, half something else that lingers warm in his eyes. ] You can see the rooftop better from the kitchen—come on.

[ he leads her to the kitchen, and low lights flicker on with the motion, bathing the floor and counters with a wash of warmth. the place smells faintly like cedar and clean linen. he's always found something soothing about the way the city hums quietly through the floor-to-ceiling windows. he’s rolled up the sleeves of his button-down to his forearms as he pulls open a cabinet to pluck out two glasses. ]

I figured we could toast to, I don’t know… your horse’s future dance career. Or the fact that I now know you own sequins for Halloween purposes.

[ he smiles, then he nods toward the stairs that lead to the rooftop. ] That way to the stars, but--can I get you something to drink? Wine? Something smoother? [ a beat as he thinks, turning to look at the kitchen in thought. there's a newness to the way this feels. he's not used to this--to having someone like her in his space. ]

Something warm? Tea?

[versigny]

[ she's not sure what to expect, but Dick's home is more than anything she could've conjured up in her own imagination. he has taste, and not in the way most people in their wealth bracket do (paying top dollar to take credit for someone else's vision and creativity) - she can tell by the way it looks way more cozy and lived-in than a spread on an architectural magazine celebrating minimalism. there's love, too. and pride for his roots.

his invitation is eagerly accepted; once she takes off her shoes and lines them up out of the way, she's drawn to the framed photos, and the books with cracked spines. the titles make her smile to herself. tabloids occasionally nab a more recent picture of Dick and try to spin his life like he's Patrick Bateman, probably because they have nothing better to do and Bruce Wayne's name will always catch people's attention. it makes her happy to know that Dick trusts her with the truth. ]

You have a beautiful place. [ she says in awe, as she follows him into the kitchen. the large windows create a perfect ambiance and she's willing to suspect that it's true no matter what time of day it is or what kind of weather there is. but her eyes find him again soon enough, gaze lingering just a second too long on his exposed forearms to be anything other than appreciation.

if she takes a second too long to answer, it's just because she's considering her options! and also tucking her hair behind her ear as she gauges how warm she is. ]

Wine sounds like fun, but I should be responsible and say water.

[ four drinks and Dick Grayson's presence already has her feeling like a lightweight. it's best not to push past boundaries too fast on their first date, especially if she plans to stay up with him and fully appreciate the moment. her smile is suppressed from forming fully, which is a definite clue that she's about to flirt, but her expression lands somewhere on hopeful. ]

You'll be able to keep me warm, right?

wow what a flirt

[farcry]

[ he thinks she knows how to be polite when she steps into a person’s home, she does the thing where she lines her shoes up neatly beside his and compliments the space, but the curiosity in her eyes when she wanders toward his bookshelves seems too real to be routine. there’s no rehearsed tone when she speaks, just wonder, like she actually means that she finds what she sees beautiful, like she’s seeing him when she looks over the parts of his home that most represents him, like she sees him, not just the apartment.

and then that smile turns to him, the one she tucks behind a teasing press of lips, and it makes him aware of things that didn’t even cross his mind a moment ago, like the slow, absentminded way he’s been tugging his cuffs up his arms. it wasn’t much of anything, but it has her attention, and it makes him think too vividly about her helping him unroll them instead, about her hands on him in that same, deliberate way.

without the music or the soft din of the street around them, he notices how quiet the apartment is. how close they are. how much warmer it feels in here with her presence stretching across the space like she belongs here. there’s just something to her that’s so magnetic, the way she occupies and takes up space so graciously when she’s in one. her blue eyes catch the low light like sea glass, something bright and rare.

her suggestion for water is a fair one, and, honestly, smart considering he’d like her to stay for a while, not just for this time. he already has the fridge open to pull out a glass bottle, but then she smiles and asks a question that makes his motion pause, the corner of his mouth tipping up with a soft, indulgent tone humming in his chest.

the bottle of water (italian, spring source) is set on the counter with no rush. his luxury peeks out in details only recognizable to those who knows them. ]

Hmm.

[ he rounds the island to where she stands and gently picks up both her hands to pull her close, to drape her arms around his shoulders. his gaze settles steadily on her, warm and weighted the same way his touch feels looping around her waist and landing at the small of her back. she’s slim in his embrace, dainty and soft and so feminine. ]

That part’s easy. I like having you close.

i love how U say this to ME as dick pulls the smoothest move of all time wow!!

[versigny]

[ Dick continually surprises her. and it's one of the many things about him she's finding she unexpectedly really likes. the solution Margaery's applied to much of her life has been control, but with him, she's re-discovering why she should let it go; whatever she might assume will be his reaction, he gives her so much more.

she's not smiling, not quite, when he takes her hands and pulls her closer. her expression is more of that awe, but with the natural addition of bashful hope when intimacy comes so easily, steadying her feelings even as butterflies skim their wings against her heartbeat with excitement. they haven't even kissed yet, but the look in his eyes gives her the same sort of feeling - rich emotions threading the courage for her to admit she knows exactly what she wants.

and he's so warm, so solid. even taller now that she's got her shoes off, which makes her lean into him all the more as her hands delicately link around the back of his neck. when Margaery finally smiles again, it's a full one - less crooked with her teeth showing. she's been told it makes her look much younger - which is why she rarely smiles so fully - but at a time like this, it feels right. ]

I like having you close too, especially just like this. And... I'd like a kiss, if that's okay.

[ which could so effortlessly escalate with the tension they're both carrying with each other, but she's made up her mind and she can only hope that he's be on the same page with her. ]

Normally, I would try get everything that I can out of this one experience, with the expectation that it'll end sooner or later. But I already know that I want to see you again, which is why I'm going to behave tonight. I want to fully enjoy my time with you, and just see where things go without trying to rush what should come next.

[ her eyes dip temporarily as she tries to figure out if she's expressing everything she wants to. it's been so long since she's had to. oh, right - ]

That is... if you feel the same way.

pfft, hes just stepping up to the challenge😏

[farcry]

(( ooc: i can transition us to the rooftop next tag!! ))

[ once again, her boldness surprises him, in a way that makes his smile taper thoughtfully, in a way that disarms him from how transparent it feels for her to say something like that. so vulnerable for their first time spending moments like this together.

it's so refreshing. everything about her feels so right, like what he's been looking for, like what he needs.

belatedly, something inside him realizes how insane these thoughts are. he barely knows her, yet in this moment, he doesn't ever want to leave her. like he said before, there's no way he could ever deny her anything. it's crazy, yet for once, it doesn't make him want to bolt before he can fuck it up because with her words, he recognizes something inside her that's so much like him. the expectation that it'll end sooner or later. his smile softens and Christ, the way she's looking at him, that smile so radiant he almost wants to squint against it. he doesn't know how he's waited this long to kiss her. ]

Yeah. I do.

[ he does feel the same way. he wants to be here with her, too. here, not in the future predicting an unavoidable end, time-travelling away from the moment. the words are breathed out close to her lips as he tips their foreheads together then kisses her. gentle, slow, reverent, his eyes falling shut as he pulls her just that much closer and he feels the warm, soft shape of her body press against the length of his.

thankfully, she's already drawn the line, and he can admire her for how much more self-control she has than him as he tries to hold himself away from how easily he could let that feeling heat him up. when he pulls away, his lips linger against hers and reflect her words, that promise that there will be more. ]

Thank you. For saying that. That's the sweetest thing anyone has said to me in a while.

[ because for all the unknowns in this world, he's someone who thrives on finding out certainties, whether it's in his own life or in a case, and to have her be so clear with her intentions feels good. he opens his eyes with a smile, lifts a hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, brushing against her cheek with a sweep of his thumb. ]

I'm not going anywhere, Margaery. So take your time. We have plenty.

this is why they're such a good match 🙂‍↔️ also ty!!

[versigny]

[ as far as Margaery knows, there's no word that captures the nearly-magical feeling of hope mixed with knowledge that things will unfold exactly the way she wants them to. the closest she can think of is serendipity, but even then, it doesn't quite capture the way it feels when he's so close, treating her so respectfully with so much soft affection - the sort of way that she's always wanted to be treated.

and that's even before he kisses her.

the moment their lips meet, she distantly wonders if she's always been a hidden romantic all along. that has to explain the sweet flutter of happiness that immediately shoots through every cell in her body. oh, she thinks, dazed and pliant as she smiles with her eyes still closed, savoring the lingering warmth and the languid way he stays close after it ends. maybe this is what Snow White felt when the Prince kissed her and effectively brought her back to life.

she sneaks another chaste kiss before opening her eyes and leaning into his hand. ]

You're welcome. Thank you for making me feel safe enough to be honest with you.

[ she could thank him for more, such as letting her feel comfortable enough to be herself and not what most people expect. or knowing better than to believe the gossip magazines that love to run outrageous rumor mills about her life, and letting himself discover who she is on his own. but there are stars to gaze at, and she really, really can't wait to keep talking to him.

so instead, she drops a kiss to palm of his hand and gives him an exaggerated wink. ]

Just a warning that if you do stick around, your threshold for sweet will get much higher.