Ari/Drake | evening | complete
“Embarrassing, isn’t it?” Ari said ruefully. “All my so-called charms are as nothing.” A dramatic sigh. It wasn’t quite true, but it was close enough for the sort of bare-bones explanation she was giving.
At his question, she paused before questioning back: “Would you ask? Why open that Pandora’s box, especially if there is nothing there?” Aspel spooked easily enough and Ari didn’t think she wanted to scare her away. As for what she actually did want…
That wasn’t as simple as it should have been, either.
Drake mulled the question over for a moment before shrugging. “Probably,” he admitted. “I like to know if the effort I’m putting in is being wasted and I should focus on just being friends.” Not that he wasn’t friends with the people he slept with; it actually made it easier if they were friends first. It was why he was at such a loss with Aspel and Zacheus. They hadn’t been friends - not the way that he was friends with, say, Ari - and now there was this sort of ambiguous relationship thing that he didn’t understand.
“And your charms are very charming,” he said reassuringly. “I’d be happy to show you how charming later.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“Oh, we’ve worked that one out already,” she said with a grimace. “When I tried simply being friends she practically jumped down my throat. It’s… and you know what, actually, never mind.” She grimaced. “This is depressing, and today is meant to be fun. That is the end of the serious conversation for tonight -- I decree it. I’d like to just enjoy your company. Forget Aspel for now.” She leaned forward, placed a kiss on his lips before pulling back with a smile.
“So,” she said, “just how charming are my charms, Councilor? I simply have to know.”
The topic dropped and Drake was content to let it lie. There was no point in continuing to discuss it at the moment, anyway; there weren’t any answers, and Ari just seemed to get agitated when she talked about it. Instead, he pulled her into his lap when she kissed him and he slid his hands up her side.
“Well,” he said, leaning back and letting his gaze trail down her body. “I’d have to say that is a conversation we should have in private. After all,” he added seriously, though there was still the hint of a smile pulling at his lips, “sometimes it’s better to show someone than tell them. Don’t you think, Miss Chiaro?”
“Oh, well in that case.” She settled more comfortably in his lap, wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “I do believe your place is closer.”