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Rook decided to join today's Book Club meeting, sipping on an Antivan Port while Bellara, Neve, Harding, Emmrich and Lucanis were in a deep, somewhat heated conversation about Lucanis’s book of choice – The Wyvern’s Prince by Deborahvine Cookeback. Rook’s been tuning in and out of the conversation in front of her as the wine was giving her a good buzz.
It's always nice to unwind after a day of running around helping factions with their problems.
“Well Lucanis, not the exact genre I was expecting you to pick. Didn’t expect you to be the type to read about saving princesses.”
“Mierda, I didn’t actually pick the book, Spite did. I only read it because Spite forced me to.”
“WE LIKE, WYVERNS. WANT TO TURN INTO A WYVERN.” Spite adds. “Spite, no, you cannot turn into a Wyvern, I cannot turn into a Wyvern.” Lucanis huffs.
“Lucanis is right, Spite. Shapeshifting magic is very complicated and requires years of rigorous training to cast correctly. If done incorrectly can cause irreversible damage.”
“What is up with these romance serials and unrealistic archery scenes anyway? Do I need to show these writers how archers really make their shots?” Harding whined as she prepared to get up to grab her bow. Rook reached out and sat Harding down immediately.
“Please don’t, the Caretaker was not happy about the broken lamps from the last Book Club meeting. They said they won’t replace the lamps if we start shooting at them again.” Harding huffs and sat back down as Bellara started raving about the romance scenes in the book and how sweet the main characters were for one another.
Just as Rook relaxed back into the sofa, she hears a happy hiss right next to her, turning, she sees Manfred holding a rather large box, tied with a pink bow. Manfred thrusts the box into Rook’s face.
“Oh yes, during one of our trips to Treviso, Manfred wandered off on his own and returned with a box, he said he wanted to get you a gift, I am not quite sure what is in the box since he would not tell me.” Emmrich explained. Manfred thrusts the box into Rook’s face once more, making a hiss that sounded.. insistent ?
“Alright, alright, well that’s really sweet of you Manfred. Thank you.” Rook smiled as she leaned over to give Manfred a peck on his skull. Manfred let out a happy hiss and started vibrating on the spot as Rook opened the gift.
Inside the box was a long piece of lilac cloth resting gently on top of the paper lining, the silky looking fabric catching the light with a delicate sheen. The material itself was a soft, muted shade of lavender, fading into subtle gradients of deeper purple towards the end, giving it a slight ombre effect. Alongside the cloth was a dark burgundy brown leather belt with bronze accents. Rook gasped at the gift. “Oh my Manfred, this is all very lovely!”
Manfred put his hands up, waving slightly, then pointed at Emmrich and gestured to his waist. The group stared at Manfred’s gesturing and then back at Emmrich. Bellara chipped in, “Is it supposed to be a waist sash?” Manfred nodded eagerly. “Oh! Just like the Professor’s!” She pointed out.
Neve, Lucanis and Harding started to snicker as Emmrich’s face turned beet red. “Yes Manfred, great job picking out such a lovely piece for Rook, it really, er, compliments her complexion .” Emmrich adds, while trying to keep a straight face.
“Why don’t you try it on for us Rook? We wouldn’t want to keep Fred waiting now do we?” Neve chortled as Rook got up to start wrapping the sash around her waist. Rook, focused on the task at hand, mumbled, “Well, I’ve only really used belts, not waist sashes, so I am not quite sure how this works..”
“Allow me, my dear.” Rook looked up and found Emmrich standing in front of her, he picked the sash right out of Rook’s hands and pressed the fabric across her stomach, taking the two ends and crossing them behind her back before wrapping it back around her front.
As he started working on the sash, Emmrich’s thought wistfully, What a delicate waist, I can’t believe she’s letting me do this, what was Manfred thinking?!? Oh, but lilac really does look good on her.. No, this isn’t proper, I need to stop thinking about her like this.
His hands shook slightly, tugging the ends a little too hard and Rook let out a slight gasp, the sound snapping Emmrich out of his thoughts.
“Oh apologies Rook, a little too tight?” He quickly loosened the sash, finishing it off with a knot that rested on her right hip and throwing on the belt. “There, all done.” Emmrich took a step back after he was satisfied with his handiwork.
Rook smiled brightly at the sash around her waist. “Thank you Emmrich.” Rook leaned in to give Emmrich a chaste peck on his cheek.
At that moment, the relaxed smile on Emmrich’s face tightens into a tense expression, muscles straining to keep his cheeks lifted as it flushes into a deep crimson. His eyes widened slightly, pupils dilating because of Rook’s close proximity, her eyes, her scent. He feels beads of sweat beginning to form on his forehead as a tremor runs from his cheek down to his spine. Emmrich lets out a soft sigh and shudders as he tries to keep his expression neutral. His face was so tense he looked like a terrified Nug.
“Are you alright Emmrich? You don’t look too good.” Rook leaned in to inspect his flushed face and Emmrich took a step back, bumping into the coffee table and falling back onto the chair behind him with as much grace as a baby Halla. Harding let out a loud snort as Neve, Lucanis and Bellara stifled their laughter.
Wiping away the tears in her eyes, Harding quips, “Well it really does look good on you Rook, you, why don’t you give us a little spin?” Rook obliges and does a spin around, the sash swaying as she turns. Neve whistles as Rook lets out a laugh. “PRETTY, LIKE WYVERN SCALES” Spite adds. The rest of the group nods in agreement as Manfred claps his hands eagerly.
Emmrich took a deep breath and picked up his wine glass, hoping that a drink would soothe his nerves. Maker’s bloody balls, she’s going to be the death of me. He thought while eying the group as Rook continued to spin, the swaying sash accentuating her waist and lining her hips.
Fuck. He mentally cursed.
Emmrich looks over to Manfred, who looks back and gives an inquisitive hiss. Emmrich sighed softly, “Yes Manfred, you did great, lilac does look good on Rook. Although, I hope you did not spend too much of your savings.”
Hissss.
“HOW MUCH?” Emmrich whispers back. The sash Manfred purchased, made from Orlesian Silk - Soft, lightweight and hand dyed. The belt, made from Dragon hide - tough to handle and process but once processed makes for a very durable belt. Manfred traded in the jeweled lizard brooch and spent half his savings on this gift.
A more indignant hiss came out of Manfred at Emmrich’s reaction.
“ Alright , yes Manfred, you are capable of handling your finances.” Emmrich muttered as he took a sip of his wine. Manfred clapped his hands once more and walked away, heading out of the main area into the courtyard. Presumably to go look for Assan.
The next morning, Emmrich was in the central area checking over his belongings once more before they headed out through the Eluvian. Looking up at the sound of footsteps, he spotted Rook chatting with Taash as they walked down the steps. His eyes widened when he noticed that Rook had traded in the usual purple belt on her dextrous leathers for the lavender sash and burgundy belt that Manfred had purchased for her.
Rook gave Emmrich a knowing look and winked while he directed his eyes elsewhere.
Taash eyes Rook’s sash, noticing the change in accessory, “Nice new sash, Rook”
“Thank you! Manfred got it for me as a gift, I don't know what I have done to deserve something so nice.” Rook beams.
Taash eyes go between the sash on Rook’s waist, then the one on Emmrich’s waist and chuckles lightly. “You sure it’s not because Manfred wanted you to play Mommy and Daddy with Emmrich? Look at this, Vashedan , you two look like you are married.” Taash laughs. Rook’s cheeks flushed at Taash’s comment while Emmrich mouth hung wide open, his cheeks also beginning to flush.
“Taash! That’s just improper! Nevarran marriage practices are very complicated and involve more than offering a lady a sas-” Emmrich began to chastise and then caught himself before he said too much.
“Whatever you say grandpa.” Taash snorted and rolled their eyes, then headed down towards the Eluvian.
“Well I can change out of it if it bothers you.” Rook mumbled just loud enough for Emmrich to hear while thumbing at the fabric around her waist. Emmrich turns towards Rook quickly. “No! You don’t have to if you don’t want to, my dear. The sash does look good on you.” Emmrich assured.
“Besides, now we can match.” Emmrich whispered. Rook let out a soft giggle and reached out to pull him towards the Eluvian with her.