Gathering Post

[lcrpg_npc]

The Queen's official birthday celebrations might wait for the better, brighter weather of June, instead of the actual date just passed, but there was no lack of things to do in London this week, even if it was cooler and damper than the week before. St. George's day festivities were scattered throughout the city, competing with celebrations of the four hundredth anniversary of Shakespeare's death. Getting around the city could be even more difficult than usual on Sunday, with multiple streets closed off for the London marathon.

There were exhibits - everything from graphic design to a survey of Sicilian history to the influence of underwear. And the same level of diversity could be found whether you were in the mood for music, theatre, good food, or late night fun. There was something for everyone, and no matter your plans - or lack of plans - you never quite knew what you were going to find, or who might find you.



[Week long gp! Tag in, tag others, and check in daily to see who's joined in.]

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[thenorthman]

Eric's smile stretched slightly. "What are you in the mood for now, then, Clarice?"

[codenamemilady]

"Drinks or dessert are fairly traditional," she answered, just enough twist on the word to suggest she was not. "As I've already blown off the plans I had for the evening, I suppose that leaves me at your disposal."

[thenorthman]

Eric held her gaze for a beat, clearly not in the least bit self-conscious about the silence that stretched as he made up his mind. Skipping drinks or dessert worked just fine for him; it wasn't as if he could partake in either. Not that sort of drink, anyway. "Come on, then," he stated, as he stood.

At his disposal. That sounded lovely. She was lovely.

[codenamemilady]

Milady didn't doubt her ability to get out of any trouble she didn't want to be in, so she lost nothing by letting him lead. For now. And she was curious what he might have in mind. Beyond the obvious almost all men had when it came to her.

She stood, giving him a tiny nod of her head in acceptance. The evening was only getting better.

[thenorthman]

They hit the night air, and Eric led her further away. "Let's grab a cab." Once they had, he gave the driver the address to the the Roof Gardens. There was drinks, and there was drinks, and she wanted to be spoiled.

[codenamemilady]

Milady had suggested he should spoil her, and the address he gave said he planned to continue doing so. It had been some time since she'd been there - on a mission, getting close to an MP's aide who'd been less useful than she'd hoped, but who'd wanted to impress the young widow.

"You've told me so little about yourself, Eric. Impeccable style, excellent taste," in what she didn't say, "With an easy, and deserved, confidence, but those are all things anyone could see."

[thenorthman]

"What would you like to know?" Eric asked, settling back in his seat and looking over at her openly.

[codenamemilady]

"Hmm..." Milady let him look, posture that invited men's gaze so engrained after years of practice it was as easy and subconscious as breathing. "What do you enjoy, other than rescuing women from an evening of boredom?"

[thenorthman]

"I enjoy rescuing myself from boredom even more," Eric replied, with a hint of a smile that somehow made it a compliment.

[codenamemilady]

"It's no surprise this is a mutually beneficial arrangement, if only for an evening." Those were, by far, the best in most cases. Otherwise why would they bother?

[thenorthman]

"What is it you do, Clarice?" Eric asked curiously.

[codenamemilady]

"I'm a widow," she stated simply, but the flash of cat-eyes suggested she knew it both was and wasn't an answer to his question. And to an extent it was true. Clarice Winters was a widow, and she did the things one might expect of a peer's widow who had no need to work.

[thenorthman]

"Then how do you fill your days?" Eric answered, clearly not going to take that for an answer.

[codenamemilady]

Milady laughed, somewhere between charmed and charming. "Oh, the usual. I shop. I lunch. At times, I travel. I meet intriguing people and get to know them. I suffer boring people and imagine more and more interesting ways to remove them from my life. My days can be rather mundane. I prefer the night."

[thenorthman]

Eric ducked his head in a nod that agreed to asking the right question, a small smile on his lips, and then went ahead and asked, holding her gaze, "How do you fill your nights?"

[codenamemilady]

Milady's breasts rose and fell on a slow, deliberate breath, and her eyes never left his. "However I want."

[thenorthman]

Eric's smile stretched lightly; Pam would love her. "You've put yourself in my hands, tonight."

[codenamemilady]

"I have," she agreed, following on both their statements. "I've wagered your hands will be worth my time."

[thenorthman]

Eric's smile did not waver, but the cab stopping at their destination prevented him from answering her. He quickly paid the driver, then joined her outside and led her inside the building. As they walked into the elevator, and the doors closed on them, he asked, almost conversationally, but not quite, "My hands only?"

[codenamemilady]

"That could be an interesting challenge," she mused. "But I doubt either of us care to limit ourselves that way. Especially when we've only just met."

[thenorthman]

That was definitely the kind of answer Eric approved of. He ignored the elevator operator - he hasdno doubt he'd seen much worse - and took her hand, then turned into her, trapping her before the elevator wall and his own body. She had more than enough time to stop him if she didn't want him to, as he leaned in to kiss her, something deep, complicated, and promising, meant to leave her breathless by the time they reached the Roof Gardens.

[codenamemilady]

Milady had no intention of stopping him. She'd invited the kiss, and the promise in it. At his disposal and in his hands didn't mean she was some delicate flower, though, wilting when plucked and falling apart when crushed. She was spring steel, giving and bending when pushed the right ways, but strong enough to push back and return to herself, and she let Eric feel that as she gave into the kiss, and found herself quite breathless when the elevator and the kiss stopped.

[thenorthman]

She was exquisite, and Eric smiled against her lips when the kiss stopped, a hand on her hips, the other still holding hers. He took his sweet time straightening up, then smiled at the elevator boy and offered her his arm before stepping out.

[codenamemilady]

Milady took the offered arm as though it was hers by right – tonight it was – and allowed him to lead her out of the elevator without a second thought for the operator or what he might think of them. It had only been a kiss, after all. Her subtle smile was for Eric.

[thenorthman]

"The gardens, or some privacy?" Eric asked conversationally as they headed for the bar. There was a VIP area he could easily get them into, or they could have a walk outside. Of course, there was a third option.