Once More With Feeling [Bishop]

[Bishop Santos]

Bishop gave a sheepish grin at her disbelief, nodding, "When the rumors started, it felt like you were avoiding me, so I thought you didn't want that kind of thing being said, so I assumed you didn't feel that way," he admitted, ducking his head a little. When she switched tone, and he heard that catch in her voice, his grip tightened just a little. Since they'd talked in the infirmary, the amount of guilt he felt at not trying to at least reach out to her had grown exponentially. He'd thought he was doing her a favor, that he'd been so disastrous and had left his siblings in her care when her world had come apart...

As the light came back to her laughter, he eased a little, like she'd resumed time on the moment they were having. He chuckled at her calling out the cheesiness of what he'd said, though he smirked at her joke in return, perhaps deciding to fluster her just a little by saying, "I mean, I wouldn't object, though only if I get more," with a wink.

"I feel like I still have a lot to make up for, though, and you can argue about me not needing to, but I will anyways, and I will gladly work to give you even better things," he gave a wry smirk with that, "I'll try to be more clear, though, that way we can bypass the confusion and me being an idiot."

[Tatiana Beautero]

The blush that crept up Tati's neck and flooded her cheeks was immediate and unmistakable, her fair complexion betraying every bit of the effect his words had on her. Her lips parted in surprise at his boldness—the wink, the implication, the playful confidence that was so distinctly him when he let his guard down. "Bishop Santos," she breathed, half-scandalized, half-delighted, her eyes sparkling with warmth and amusement. "Are you flirting with me?"

But even as she said it, she was already rising up on her toes again, unable to resist the pull between them. Her hands slid up to frame his face as she closed the distance and kissed him once more; softer this time, sweeter, but no less meaningful. A kiss that said yes and finally and I've been waiting for this my whole life all at once. When they finally broke apart, she stayed close, her nose nearly brushing his as she smiled against his lips. "You'll always be my idiot," she murmured affectionately, her voice warm with teasing fondness. "And I wouldn't have you any other way."

For a moment, she just stayed there in the perfect warmth of his arms, the bubble of their little world on the balcony. But then reality intruded in the form of a shiver that ran through her, one she couldn't quite suppress this time. The cold was finally catching up with her, seeping through the fabric of her dress despite how thoroughly Bishop's presence had distracted her from it. "As much as I would love to stay out here with you all night," she said reluctantly, pulling back just enough to meet his eyes, "I think I'm actually starting to freeze now. My toes have gone completely numb, and I'm pretty sure if we stay out here much longer, you'll have to carry me back inside because I won't be able to walk."

She gave him an apologetic smile, though her eyes were still dancing with happiness. "Maybe we should head back in? We can find somewhere warm, and..." She paused, biting her lip as another thought occurred to her, hope flickering across her features. "And maybe continue this conversation somewhere a bit more comfortable?"

[Bishop Santos]

Bishop couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction to his actions before nodding his head side to side, "It was what I was trying to do, yes," he smirked before leaning in and asking in a whisper, "Is it working?" But then she was kissing him again, so he could take that as a yes. His hand that had been on her side while they were dancing was now firmly at her lower back, holding her close, and his other hand went to her cheek as he returned the gentler, sweeter kiss. When she called him her idiot, he chuckled lightly again, shaking his head.

When she shivered, he didn't hesitate. He stepped back enough to take his coat off, putting it over her shoulders, hoping some of the warmth from inside it would warm her back up some, before putting his hand lightly on her back again, "I certainly wouldn't mind, as long as you won't get mad at me for using my shoulder like that," he chuckled lightly.

However, his eyes didn't miss that lip bite and the look in her eyes, "I'm at your mercy, Beau," he murmured, "You could tell me to just about anything right now, and I'll do it without a single bit of persuasion," he smirked, even though he was serious. After everything they'd gone through just to have this moment, he'd never let her slip through his fingers again, no matter what it cost him.

[Tatiana Beautero]

The warmth of his jacket settling over her shoulders was immediate and comforting, carrying with it the scent of him; familiar and grounding in a way that made her heart squeeze. But even as she pulled it closer around herself, the healer in her couldn't help but protest. "Bishop, you're going to freeze," she said, even as her fingers clutched the lapels of his jacket, betraying how much she appreciated the gesture. "And you're already dealing with your shoulder. The last thing you need is to add 'caught a cold on a freezing balcony' to your list of ailments."

Her expression softened as she looked up at him, touched beyond words but practical enough to know they both needed to get somewhere warm. "So yes, we're definitely going inside. Somewhere with a fire, preferably, where neither of us will turn into icicles." Finally addressing his whispered question about whether the flirting was working, she couldn't help the bright laugh that escaped her, her eyes dancing with mischief. "Oh, it's definitely working," she confirmed, her voice warm with teasing affection. "Though I have to say, you've gotten significantly better at it since we were kids. Back then you could barely string two words together without blushing."

She shifted slightly, stepping out of his hold just enough to slip her hand into his, their fingers intertwining naturally like they'd done this a thousand times before. The gesture was deliberate, reassuring; a silent promise that she wasn't pulling away, just redirecting them toward comfort and warmth. "As for where..." She glanced toward the doors leading back into the castle, then back to him with a soft smile. "I don't particularly care, honestly. The common room, the library if it's still open, even just finding a quiet corner somewhere with a fireplace. I just want to be somewhere we can both be comfortable and..."

She paused, squeezing his hand gently as her smile turned more tender. "And where we can keep talking. Because I have about a decade's worth of things I've wanted to say to you, and I'm not about to let either of us turn into human popsicles before I get the chance." Her thumb brushed against his knuckles, a gentle, unconscious gesture of affection. "So lead the way. Wherever you want to go, I'll follow."