[color=lightgray][h1][center][color=7bcdc8]Gilbert[/color] & [color=7ea7d8]Delilah[/color][/center][/h1] [sub][right][color=7bcdc8]Interactions:[/color][@Potter] Olivia [@Samreaper] Kazumin[/right][/sub] [hr] Delilah and Gilbert sat at a table rather nearby Olivia, strategically positioned so they were in her line of sight. Delilah's eyes sparkled with delight as she dipped a piece of brioche French toast into the bubbling pot of rich, velvety chocolate fondue they had ordered. Beside her, Gilbert grumbled under his breath about the fuss but couldn't help but indulge. [color=7bcdc8]“It’s not better than the French toast I make.”[/color] She nudged a plate of fresh strawberries and marshmallows towards him, her smile wide and encouraging. Despite his usual gruff demeanor, his eyes softened. [color=7bcdc8]"Slow down. You're going to give yourself a stomachache with all that sweetness,"[/color] he cautioned. [color=7ea7d8]“Your French toast is the best, Gilbert, but this is hitting the spo-Oh the skies above… [i]Gilbert.[/i]”[/color] [color=7bcdc8]“What.”[/color] [color=7ea7d8]“Hunk alert. Hunk alert. Look who’s coming towards our Olivia.”[/color] Gilbert's gaze shifted, and he couldn't help but notice the imposing figure of Roman as he sat down with Olivia. A flicker of something unidentifiable passed through his eyes as his gaze returned hastily to Delilah. [color=7bcdc8]"He's that blacksmith from the Varian Kingdom,"[/color] he replied, stabbing a piece of French toast with more force than necessary. [color=7bcdc8]"Nothing special."[/color] [color=7ea7d8]"Oh, he’s something special alright. That’s a man right there. [i]A man.[/i]"[/color] As they watched Olivia closely, her stutter and the way she clenched her fists around the menu didn't go unnoticed by Delilah. When Olivia glanced toward their table, Delilah offered her an encouraging smile and gave a small nod, while Gilbert grumbled under his breath, [color=7bcdc8]"Girl’s nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs."[/color] [color=7ea7d8]“Think I heard him mention our Lottie’s name…”[/color] She leaned on one hand and twirled a strawberry on her fork in the air as she mused softly, [color=7ea7d8]"Where was she hiding this absolute God of a man?”[/color] Gilbert folded his arms and asked, [color=7bcdc8]“So what’s happening now?”[/color] [color=7ea7d8]“She’s bouncing her leg under the table… They’re talking… [i]He’s laughing.[/i]”[/color] [color=7bcdc8]“I heard the laugh.”[/color] Gilbert confirmed lowly. [color=7ea7d8]“He’s showing her his palm and she’s totally freaking out.”[/color] Delilah informed Gilbert with a frown. Discreetly, she mouthed the word “breathe” to the girl. [color=7bcdc8]“Why did that make her panic?”[/color] [color=7ea7d8]“He must have offered to hold hands or something romantic.”[/color] Delilah smiled and finally bit into her strawberry. Gilbert’s gaze lowered from her hand and down to his. All the while Delilah had been watching the conversation for the next few moments he had been watching her. [color=7ea7d8]“She’s fidgeting again.”[/color] Delilah sighed and gave Olivia a warning glance. [color=7ea7d8]“It’s as if I am Emina chastising little Lottie. What a dreadful position I have to be in… Alas, it’s important she fits in with them.”[/color] She looked at Gilbert again and smiled once more, [color=7ea7d8]“I surely could never pull it off… Could you?”[/color] [color=7bcdc8]“Absolutely.”[/color] He told her gruffly with certainty. [color=7bcdc8]“I was raised a gentleman.”[/color] She giggled and lightly touched his arm, [color=7ea7d8]“That sentence will come back to haunt you next time you shout at me to get out of the kitchen!”[/color] He audibly groaned with regret. [color=7bcdc8]“She’s now giggling like a schoolgirl.”[/color] Gilbert commented with some judgment and an eyeroll. [color=7ea7d8]“That’s a good sign.”[/color] Delilah said, [color=7ea7d8]“That means things are going well.”[/color] [color=7bcdc8]“It’s unbecoming of a lady. Even I know that,”[/color] Gilbert grumbled. [color=7ea7d8]“Oh? Well, you certainly don’t seem to mind when I giggle,”[/color] Delilah replied with a playful smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Gilbert's cheeks flushed a deep red, and he looked away, grumbling under his breath. [color=7bcdc8]"That's not true,"[/color] he muttered, clearly flustered. [color=7bcdc8]"I don't fancy it at all."[/color] He avoided her gaze, focusing intently on his plate, but the corners of his mouth twitched as if he was fighting a smile. [color=7ea7d8]“Slouching.”[/color] Delilah suddenly reported, straightening up to get a better view as she gave Olivia a warning glare, [color=7ea7d8]“And… Elbows on the table.”[/color] She sighed. [color=7ea7d8]“She’s doing it again. We have a lot of work to do. Oi!”[/color] Delilah watched the next few moments with a growing somberness. [color=7ea7d8]“Don’t think it’s a match.”[/color] She perked up and tapped Gilbert’s hand, [color=7ea7d8]“Good practice for her though, right?”[/color] Gilbert looked over his shoulder and caught sight of Olivia stuffing her face like she had been starved, which was not the case. He had been feeding the girl very well. [color=7bcdc8]“Uh.”[/color] [color=7ea7d8]“Dear Gods. She looks like a chipmunk.”[/color] Soon enough, Gilbert alerted her to something more pressing, leaning in to say, [color=7bcdc8]“He just asked her about her home and family.”[/color] [color=7ea7d8]“Oh no.”[/color] Delilah watched closely and focused intently on listening. She relaxed visibly as Olivia nailed it and gave her a kind nod. [color=7bcdc8]“...How do you think Lottie’s doing?”[/color] Her eyes fell on the chef with some surprise and she watched the worry swim in his eyes. [color=7ea7d8]“I don’t know. She still won’t tell me what happened last night… But I know something did… She did seem rather happy to spend some time with Duke Vikena at least.”[/color] [color=7bcdc8]“...Is she safe…?”[/color] Gilbert's voice was tinged with concern. Delilah held his gaze and asked, [color=7ea7d8]“Why wouldn’t she be?”[/color] [color=7bcdc8]“I’ve been here as long as you have, Lilah, and if there’s anything I know better than cooking… It’s that you know when she isn’t safe, and you behave in a manner that always clues me in that she isn’t either.”[/color] Gilbert's eyes bore into hers. Her gaze lowered and she said softly after a pause, [color=7ea7d8]“She will never be safe, Gilbert.”[/color] His brows lifted in surprise. [color=7ea7d8]“I don’t mean to be annoyingly vague… But I know you know more than you let on… I will inform you of more in a more private setting. I promise.”[/color] Gilbert’s lips parted to reply, but Delilah was quick to speak. [color=7ea7d8]“Look. There’s Kazumin.”[/color] She rose from her seat to wave over the blonde before he could protest. [color=7ea7d8]“Hi sweetie! Remember me! …Want some toast?!”[/color] [color=7bcdc8]“Oh Gods, why did you call that boy over?”[/color] [color=7ea7d8]“Oh don’t be coy, Gilbert. I know you love the way he eats up every bit of your food… And Olivia’s about done with her date, so I am sure she’d appreciate seeing her friend. If they both come over, we’ll give them space to catch up, okay?”[/color] [/color]