A Note Or Two

[thatched]

[sometime in the night, two notes will be found under very specific doors]

Espio lad,
Come and talk with me.
-Thatch


My sweetest lady Grell,
I beg your forgiveness for my borish behavior and general bad attitude regarding your lovely person. Please allow me to have but a moment of your kind indulgence at your earliest convenience. I swear that I shall make it up to you in spades.
Forever Yours,
Thatch

Comments

[thatched]

Marco hinted as much. Reaper or something like that. [he takes a sip of his wine because he really needs it right now. He really should have been more drunk for this but-- this was really the best way]

I'm more experienced with family than death. [though honestly, he's had experience with both, but so much more time with one than with the other]

But you have a family now, aye? And I cant say we'll always see eye to eye and I've no doubt we'll fight, since that's the nature of families. But never doubt for an instant that I will fight for you and if anyone should cross you enough that you wish utter ruin on them, I'll destroy them for your honor, sweet lady.

[redcinemareel]

He has a selective method of saying things he shouldn't. [She's gonna have to talk to him about that.]

I do, yes. We don't often agree with everything, however, I don't mind that. It's more than likely how a family should behave. [She takes a bite of the cake, enjoying the wonderful, fresh taste.] Marvelous~!

[She tilts her head to the side, smiling still.] Do I need a reason to bring ruin to my enemy, or could it be for fun?

[thatched]

[If she doesn't know that Marco tells him near everything by now, he's not going to be the one to inform her--though he does grin at the compliment]

Thanks. It's been a while since I've had a chance to bake, but I'm glad you enjoy it.

[he cuts a fork into his own cake]

While I appreciate your sentiment for fun, my dear, I'd prefer it if it were a reason. We're guests in this place after all, and I'd rather not have the whole world against us.

[redcinemareel]

[SIGHS and takes another piece of her cake onto her fork.] How boring. [She takes the piece into her mouth and hums.] May I ask why you consider yourself a snake? You could be a fox, or a cute rabbit.

[thatched]

[boring is it? He sighs inwardly.]

I'm not, though. At my very core I'm cold hearted and poisonous. [and sometimes he likes to hide in warm places and pretend he isn't]

[redcinemareel]

[She chuckles, leaning an elbow on the table so she could rest her chin upon a hand.]

Now I definitely cannot and REFUSE to believe that!

[thatched]

You're one to believe in people's better natures?

[takes another sip of wine]

[redcinemareel]

Of course not! But anyone who cares this much-- [She sweeps a casual hand to the setting, cake, and wine.] Must not be as they believe~. [She set down her fork to take up the glass of wine.] A snake may shed its skin, but its colors still remain unchanged. Marco will always be able to recognize you, because he knows your patterns. [She takes a sip of the wine, letting the liquid move over her tongue so she could decipher its taste. It went well with the cake.]

[thatched]

[he laughs, oddly touched. Though she is right. Marco will always know his pattern because his own is so similar] Perhaps you're right. What then would you call me?

[redcinemareel]

[Grell sets down her wine and leans forward, looking around before leaning in more, rising from her seat. She beckons him forward with a finger.]

[thatched]

[it's a dangerous gesture, but when you've gone so far, you can only keep going forward, come what may. Thatch leans closer.]

[redcinemareel]

[Grinning, and satisfied that Thatch is close enough, she whispers:]

I'd call you cute~! [WINKS]

[thatched]

[aww. She's secretly adorable! That wink!] And I'd call you stunning, but that is only a small word in comparison to the truth, sweet lady.

[he kisses her cheek and then leans back again]

Marco says you like Shakespeare?

[redcinemareel]

That is very true, but your words are appreciated, nonetheless.

[Thatch being charming is something she could get used to.

She leans back as well, nodding at the question.] I do, but with Time Compression being a thing that happens, I'm lacking in my reading. [She crosses her arms, tapping a finger upon her upper arm.] There are a few authors here that catch my fancy and could sway this lifeless heart of mine, however, but they can't hold a flame to Shakespeare.

[thatched]

[Please. He's always charming. You'll simply fall in love with him that's all.]

Ah, well then... I may have something. If you'll excuse me, sweet lady. [and he bows at the waist before going into his room and coming back out with the complete works of Shakespeare in two volumes, that he sets on the table]

When I first came to Balamb, some gentleman had these. My roommate, actually. [or the only one Thatch could tolerate then] He was compressed away shortly thereafter but he left these behind.

I've devoured them, my dear, and now it is time for someone else to consume.

1/2??? I think!!

[redcinemareel]

[Grell watches him leave the room before he returns with the two volumes. Once she sees and hears what they are, her eyes are wide like saucers and she starts...fondling the books.]

I lied. 2/3

[redcinemareel]

Could mine eyes turn befuddled by such a rare sight?! [She flips through a few pages, finding her beloved story listed in the contents list. She then closes it and looks to Thatch.]

[redcinemareel]

Are you sure?

[thatched]

[he kneels pressing one hand to his chest]

Nothing would please me more, my lady. [he takes her hand and looks up at her]

All I ask is you enjoy them to their fullest and beyond.

[and he lightly kisses her knuckles]

[redcinemareel]

[Getting this sort of attention from someone other that Marco is new. Gifting her with books, serving handmade cake, dishing out wine, and kneeling and kissing her hand... it's enough to make a girl blush.

Which she does.

Grell smiles softly at the gestures before nodding.]

I shall consume them with all of my being, thank you.

[thatched]

[he gives her hand a light squeeze, looking into her eyes]

If you don't stop being charmingly adorable, you'll sweep me right off my feet and then where will I be?

[But he speaks lightly so that she knows he's not in any way serious]

Ah, but love is a hurricane as they say. [he rises and sits again, raising a wine glass to her] and in your case a whirlwind of roses.

[redcinemareel]

You'd be, essentially, swept off your feet. [So obvious.]

I'd hope to be more of a typhoon. [She takes up her own glass and raises it as well.] You seem to be able to weather it, though. [She takes a sip, but sets down her glass quickly.]

Ah, since I'm here, I'd like to ask you something.

[thatched]

It's worth the weathering. [he finishes his wine and rests his chin on his fist] Ask away.

[redcinemareel]

I plan on going on a mission soon. I've been contemplating for a few weeks now, but have come to the conclusion to go on one. It won't involve much combat, but one can never be too sure. I'll need to extract some broadcast signals, so hopefully it'll be as boring as it sounds. I dislike interruptions while I work with technology.

[It really breaks her concentration.]

Would you like to accompany me? I'm sure Marco would like to come, as well. [She hasn't asked him just yet.]

[thatched]

Sure thing. Send me as many details as possible, including location and time.

[since he needs to figure out what monsters might be in the area. Not to mention what people. Though if Marco was going to come along he could always scout the terrain relatively unnoticed while Thatch took point. But if they were going there for something vital, it might help to go early once or twice to do a little reconnaissance to see what was stirring in the area and how safe it might be. Second hand reports were unreliable.]

How clandestine is it? If you don't mind not being secret, Namur can act as a deterrent to the riff-raff. [ie those who were just out for trouble/not serious about stopping Grell wouldn't want to come near a seven foot Fishman that could bite them in half]