alexis! (celebutante) wrote in valloic, @ 2020-11-08 22:00:00 |
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Entry tags: | !: action/thread/log, ₴ inactive: alexis rose, ₴ inactive: cullen rutherford |
WHO: Alexis & Cullen
WHAT: Dancing and enjoying Cuddles on the Beach mocktails, of course
WHERE: Skyhold, for the wedding reception
WHEN: Saturday night
WARNINGS: Negatory, just PG-rated fluff
STATUS: Complete
Alexis had been to many weddings, it was par the course in Hollywood - of course, starlets got divorced almost as quickly as they got hitched, and a lot of those weddings were over the top and so sparkly you needed to wear shades. She’d even been to a lot of Vegas nuptials, friends who got a wild hair up their butts and needed to tie the knot - those weddings were definitely officiated by an Elvis impersonator in one of those glittery suits, with a gyrating pelvis and a really bad wig. Nothing said ‘forever’ like the glitz and bling of excessive slot machines. But here, in Vallo, the first wedding of two Outlanders and shared with everyone - it was so genuine and just really nice. The stars were so pretty, they burned with what looked like an electric light, and they’d come out slowly in the dark somber sky - now they were perfect, shining down in like a million glimmers; she was appreciative of the outdoor aspect of the reception because it was tons better than being stuffed into some kind of catering hall with neverending buffet lines and a DJ spinning tunes, specifically, terrible ones like the Chicken Dance. She enjoyed the food and the mocktails (considering what a fan of smoothies and infused water Alexis actually was - this was Heaven for her), did some chatting with other guests, and now was eager to hit the dance floor. First she ought to check on her hottie plus one, however - or date? Something? Alexis hadn’t exactly experienced the best luck with that sort of thing since breaking up with Ted and ending up in Vallo - but since they’d come to Satinalia once, and were here now, she figured calling it a date was a safe bet. “So, are you good to dance or do you need to take a break?” she asked, adjusting the pink feathery mask; green eyes popped out from behind it, shining bright - no matter what though, she was happy to be here. And enjoying herself. Cullen was having fun, too - somewhat to his surprise, really. Usually a large social event meant that he would stick to the walls and try to find a little room to breathe, find a conversation in a corner where things weren’t so bloody loud, and then find a way to slip out quietly once he was certain he wouldn’t be missed. It was much easier with Alexis - she was good company, she was beautiful, and she cheerfully shepherded him around so he didn’t find himself standing around awkwardly having no idea where to go or what to do or with whom his presence would be welcome. And as her escort to this event, Cullen felt it was his duty to join her in the dancing. “I can dance...I think?” Cullen leaned slightly to the right to look out at the dance floor, and most of what was being done there looked entirely foreign to him. Dancing in Thedas meant reels and polkas and country dances, at least at his social level. He’d learned to waltz in Orlais and even that had felt rather exotic. Whatever was happening here was something else entirely. “Sorry, what I mean is, I’ll gladly dance with you, but I am certain to embarrass you by having no idea what I’m doing.” “You’re totally fine,” Alexis assured, a sweet spun sugar grin crossing her features - she took both of Cullen’s hands in hers and moved toward the dance floor. It was only a few backward steps before she turned and basically just waltzed right into it; she could literally waltz too, that was fine, it was something she’d learned in various lessons throughout her youth. Singing, acting, dancing - the whole shebang, really. She even twirled a bit playfully, and it was like it released a bit of a cloud of her perfume, jasmine and orange blossom. “See? You’re doing great,” she said. It had been a long week of partying (reminding her of summers in the Hamptons) but for Cullen, who lived here, it was probably just a long week in general. Considering there was still work and day to day life and rehearsals to contend with as well. “It’s nice though,” she added with a sigh. “I mean, seeing people get married. Because trying to actually live here is hard.” So the fact that people were taking the plunge like that, knowing the other could disappear, it was like complete brass balls. That Alexis swept them into a waltz was a relief; this, Cullen knew how to do. He couldn't do anything fancy with it, but he could at least hold a conversation without stepping on his partner's toes. "It still feels like a bizarre fever dream to me, if I think about it too much," Cullen agreed. "It's heartening to see people who've managed to build a life here in spite of the uncertainty. And while I have only known Dan a short time, I'm confident that few people deserve a taste of happiness so much as he does." Alexis kind of did a mish-mosh - she wasn’t sure if her hands were in proper placement for waltzing (she just had her arms draped around Cullen’s shoulders now), but she fell into the dance easily enough and if they simply ended up swaying to the music, that was fine too. His words made her grin, a toothy smile that practically sparkled. “Totally,” she agreed. “How about you, have you ever - been close to getting married? Or were you married, back home?” Hey, she didn’t judge. Mostly she was just curious - she wanted to get to know things about him, and was good at getting the stoic, shy ones to open a little at their own pace. Maybe it was her effervescent personality, or at least, she hoped so. The mere notion of it was so absurd that it startled a low laugh out of Cullen. “Oh, Maker, no,” he said, before realizing that this answer required some explanation. It wasn’t as if he had never wanted that, after all. “I spent half my adult life too much of a mess to be much good to anyone, despite trying a few times. By the time I had my head on straight and might have been worth marrying, I was throwing myself into my work and had little time left for meeting people or courting.” “Courting,” that made Alexis let one of those giggles, stardust and confetti, because it was such an adorably old-timey world. She was making friends with a lot of old-timey folks here in Vallo, and it was so cool. What was the world like when you couldn’t just go on a jog with your earbuds in, then stop at the local café for a refreshing smoothie afterwards? She honestly couldn’t fathom it - especially in Cullen’s world, which seemed like it was always on fire. She twirled a little more, under his arm to be playful, and then anchored herself back in closer. “Me either. I mean, I’ve never been married. Came close once, like, it was a little bit of a rollercoaster - I wasn’t really ready for that sort of thing, and wasn’t great, but then I decided I was going to be better. When it didn’t work out it was just because we both wanted different things in life and I guess...sometimes love isn’t always enough?” Wow, she didn’t mean to get super philosophical there. “It isn’t, much as we might like it to be,” Cullen replied, unbothered by the touch of philosophy or the fact that Alexis had tucked herself in a little closer. She was closer than would be considered appropriate in his world, but Cullen trusted her perception of what was appropriate in this place than he trusted his own. Besides, it felt nice and she smelled good - as one might expect for an apothecary, he supposed. He resettled his hands at her waist and focused on the conversation rather than any of the places his mind was tempted to wander. “Bards and books make love sound like an all-conquering force, and I suppose in some ways it is...but when it comes to actually making a relationship work, practical concerns get involved. For instance, both of you need to want to live in the same country,” he said with a wry smile. Alexis certainly wasn’t going to complain about the closeness either - sure, she’d initiated it, though if her companion wasn’t comfortable with it naturally she’d give more space. But it seemed like all systems were go, so, cool. “Right? Exactly,” she chimed, because living thousands of miles apart had kind of been the deal-breaker for her and Ted. She probably would always love him, in a way, but it clearly wasn’t going to work between them. “That’s what happened - he had this job opportunity in the Galápagos , which is like this exotic island with all sorts of animal research he could be doing and it just wasn’t my thing?” It was too hot, rainy, and too much sunburn. Not enough creature comforts, and also too much pegging down a flapping tent in the wind or whatever. Alexis may have joined Ted for those few months, but when it turned into a stretch of time she wasn’t comfortable with, that’s when she knew they had to part ways. “I couldn’t hold him back from his dream though,” she added. “Was that what happened with you? You were in separate countries?” "More or less," Cullen replied. "The Inquisition brought people together from all over Thedas. When the war with Corypheus ended, she returned to her home and family in Starkhaven, and I remained with the army in Ferelden." There was no bitterness in Cullen's tone, or even sadness. At this point, Siobhan had been out of his life for four years, and there were no hard feelings. "A similar situation to yours, from what it sounds like. We each had our own needs and obligations, and they didn't match anymore." “Well - I guess I’ve learned that sometimes that sort of thing just happens,” Alexis said thoughtfully, her sway to the music turning a bit more dreamy, leeeeeisurely, like honey just rolling on downhill. “It doesn’t mean anything bad. And also - you never know what could happen here too,” she pointed out. She sort of had been shopping around (okay, not shopping, that sounded awful - more like exploring her options) in Vallo, not getting serious about anyone but dating here and there. Maybe because she just hadn’t really felt that spark with anyone yet? That connection? But she definitely liked her Prince, however. The day Cullen volunteered to take the role after Jaskier disappeared was basically a beam of light parting the clouds, hallelujah. Cullen hadn't particularly been looking for anyone, at home or here in Vallo. At home, there had been so much work to do, and he'd put all his emotional energy into helping the people at the Sanctuary. Here, he'd been busy figuring out how to live in an entirely different world in his free time. Volunteering to join the cast of the play had mostly been a way to throw himself into getting acclimated, and it was working surprisingly well. It filled up any hours he might otherwise spend on an existential crisis and forced him to meet people. And now here he was, dancing with one of them and talking as easily as if he'd known her for years. That didn't happen often for him. "Clearly, given that we are dancing at the wedding of two people from entirely different universes," he said, a tilted.smile appearing below his mask. "Perhaps we shall find ourselves luckier here than where we came from." Even with a mask, the smile looked nice - Alexis appreciated it, because Cullen Rutherford was one handsome-looking guy. She couldn’t stop herself from returning the smile, jade eyes so pleased and sparkling out beyond the mask she wore too. “Perhaps,” she agreed, tone a bit coy - and flirtatious, but that couldn’t be helped either. The song ended and she executed a playful little curtsy, a grand swoop. “Thanks for dancing - if you want to grab another mocktail I can show you what a Cuddles on the Beach drink is?” The boozy counterpart was Sex on the Beach, but you know. They didn’t have to go that route. Was she flirting? Cullen thought maybe she was, and if she was, that was quite all right - she was a charming woman, and possibly the prettiest he’d ever laid eyes on. He never liked to assume he was being flirted with, though, especially not on so short an acquaintance. It felt always felt a bit arrogant, or it gave him something to be self-conscious about, and of course what if he’d misread it entirely and caused offense by assuming? Best to stay within the lines of propriety and not make any of his invariably awkward attempts at flirting back. Cullen returned her curtsy with a very proper bow - he might have been raised on a farm, but he’d learned decent manners over the years since. Accordingly, he offered Alexis his arm to proceed to the bar. “You’ve yet to steer me wrong on drinks thus far,” he agreed. “The pumpkin spice latte I had the first time we met was excellent.” It was true, the autumn-friendly PSL was amazing and Alexis was always happy to introduce newcomers from medieval times to its wonder. And just iced coffee in general, because that was truly one of the best things about being dropped into a weirdo dimension. The iced coffee available at one of the million java shops in the city, bless it all. “Cool!” she grinned, taking Cullen’s arm and tucking her hand in the crook of his elbow. “I do know what I’m talking about, so it’s smart of you to put your trust in me. I won’t let you down.” That was a gold-stamped Alexis Claire Rose promise too, let it be known. Cuddles on the Beach was delicious - it was basically cranberry, pink grapefruit juice, peach nectar, and a bit of ginger ale and grenadine. This one even came with a little paper umbrella, so she handed over his beverage and took her own. So tropical. “Cheers, to you being an excellent date,” she said, clinking her glass gently against his. “And if you want to like - go on another date? With me? I’m pretty sure I can clear my schedule.” She was teasing. And also flirting, so maybe asking him out officially would be one-hundred percent confirmation. It would have been, at least, had Cullen not been frantically trying to figure out what the word “date” meant in this context. He knew dates, as in dates on a calendar, and dates as in the fruit of the date palm tree, but he was very sure he was missing some nuance in the way Alexis was using the term. He was a date, but a date was also...an event? He tried to work it out quickly enough to give an answer, but it wasn’t working, and he was fairly sure the confusion was showing on his face, so at last he broke down and asked. “I’m sorry, I’ve lost the thread again,” Cullen admitted, grimacing at finding himself lost once more. “When you say ‘date,’ what does that mean?” Oh, god, Alexis almost choked on her drink. Partly because she was embarrassed, partly because Cullen was asking what a date was and that was just so cute - she should have known, really. Medieval times didn’t have dates. They had - well, okay, what did they have? Wooing. Courting. Bride prices. Ew. “It’s just like - where you spend time with someone one-on-one to get to know them better, for the potential of entering in a relationship at some point?” she said, taking the little paper umbrella from her drink and finding a spot for it in her hair, kind of tucked behind her ear amidst golden waves. “Dinner or watching a film or taking a walk or something - and there’s kissing. Sometimes. If both people want to.” In some cases more than that too, but she didn’t want to frighten the guy or come on too strong. “Oh!” Ugh, and now he looked like an idiot, because she had been asking if he’d like to go on an outing with her and get to know each other, and she had definitely been flirting, and he had responded like a confused goat. Maker’s breath. But she hadn’t said nevermind, I don’t enjoy dates with fools, so maybe he hadn’t managed to ruin this entirely. Which made sense, really - Alexis had consistently been very understanding about the many aspects of modern life that he didn’t know much about. “I’m sorry, that was a stupid response. What I meant to say was that yes, I would like to do that. Er, to go on a date with you. And that the little paper parasol looks nice in your hair.” “Thank you,” Alexis laughed, gently patting at the umbrella in her hair; the delight in her expression was obvious, even with the mask on. It was plenty obvious in her tone. “I totally want to go on a date with you too,” she confirmed, in case it wasn’t obvious - given that she’d asked and all. She would happily explain any aspect of modern life that seemed confusing - just consider her a tour de force of that, or whatever. Mostly she was like, super good at it was the point. Drink held fashionably in one hand (the pink in it even matched her dress, amazing), she looped her opposite arm around Cullen’s. “We can pick what we want to do and it’ll be way fun. But first we’ll take another lap around the courtyard, looking chic.” They were basically the hottest couple there, besides the bride and groom, so. Showing off was necessary. "Speaking of that, I should thank you again for helping me out with what to wear," Cullen said, relaxing visibly as they fell into step. This, at least, was a courting activity he knew well. Taking a walk about in full view of other people was the sort of thing one could do early on without raising the eyebrows of even the most prim and proper. "It's much more comfortable than the last time I was ordered into a formal jacket. Though I suspect Josephine had that one cut too tight across the shoulders on purpose, just to torment me." Alexis was fond of taking laps too, around the perimeter of the party. It was important to be seen - though probably less important here, but anyway. Still fun. “No problem,” she said cheerily. “You look très magnifique, which means très magnificent in French.” And not to toot her own horn, but Alexis knew her stuff when it came to dressing the menfolk. Or the womenfolk - both, really. She just had an eye for fashion in general. “Anytime you need advice about what to wear, you just let me know.” Hey, it was the least she could do for her Prince - who was basically just a really good dude overall, and she liked him. She was loving her time at the wedding reception and knew she’d also have a good time on a future date. Or dates. Maybe he was right. Maybe they really would have better luck in Vallo after all, compared to where they came from. And that didn’t seem like a bad thing in the slightest. |