[center][h3][color=gold]Alexander[/color] and [color=D0B4EC]Charlotte[/color] Part 3[/h3][/center] [color=lightgray] [color=D0B4EC]Time:[/color] 11:30am Sola 28 [color=gold] Location: [/color] Art gallery [color=gold] Interactions: [/color] [@ReusableSword] Roman [@Tpartywithzombi] Violet [hr] They were greeted by a symphony of lively chatter and the soft clinking of glasses when they stepped inside. Like the entrance hall, the ceiling was high and adorned with intricate detail and a grand chandelier. Cream-colored sofas and cushioned stools dotted the polished marble floor in an artful arrangement, inviting guests to comfortably relax. As they ventured further into the room, the delicate notes of the pianist's melody reached their ears. A well-dressed staff member in a tailored suit approached, balancing a tray of sparkling wine glasses, each filled with a deep crimson or pale golden hue. Close behind, another server followed, presenting an elegant display of smoked salmon crostini. Each golden, toasted round was adorned with a ribbon of salmon, nestled atop a velvety swirl of dill-flecked cream. [Color=gold]“Thanks for this, Charlotte. This is indeed a better change of scenery for us.”[/color] Alexander said softly from over her shoulder. [Color=gold]“Red for me, and white for Lady Vikena, please.”[/color] Alexander forwardly requested for them both. Charlotte’s fingers grazed the stem of the offered glass, but instead of lifting it right away, she hesitated. A flicker of irritation passed through her, subtle but undeniable. Why, exactly, had he taken it upon himself to decide for her? [Color=D0B4EC]“Much appreciated,”[/color] she said curtly before plucking a delicate salmon crostini from the tray, and setting it neatly onto a napkin. With wine in one hand and her small indulgence in the other, she moved to one of the plush couches, sinking into its comfort. Her gaze flickered upward, quietly studying Alexander. For someone so practiced in restraint, something was simmering beneath her skin that she made no move to stop from rising. [Color=D0B4EC][i]What is it about men that makes them believe a woman’s choices are theirs to make?[/i][/color] She crossed her legs, lifting her glass before finally speaking up despite the logical side of her brain advising her to pay the event no mind. The moment Alexander sat comfortably beside her on the couch with only a glass of red wine in hand, she spoke. [Color=D0B4EC]“A bold assumption.”[/color] She took a sip before adding, [Color=D0B4EC]“For all you knew, I might have preferred red.”[/color] On the surface, it was only guesswork by him. In truth, Alexander was testing her temperament. There was resistance but also acceptance as she indulged in his selection. [Color=gold]“You didn't like that.”[/color] Alexander said simply before taking a short sip from his glass. [Color=gold]“I just thought of myself as a good judge for what you might favor. White is sweeter to the tongue and wouldn't stain your lips.”[/color] He continued. [Color=gold]“Choosing what's best for someone is just a form of generosity. I meant no harm, Charlotte.”[/color] He shifted himself closer to her and raised his glass toward hers while resting his arm over the backrest of the couch, his hand, the closest it's ever been to her ribbon. Her brows knit together in thought before a smile crept across her face. [Color=D0B4EC]“Oh…Of course. How silly of me and how kind of you to choose what’s best for me.”[/color] [Color=gold]“You don't do the same? You seem like the type. I mean not out of ill will or control. Just as a means to protect others or perform a kind gesture… I can give you another demonstration. You might not like it, but I think you'll come to appreciate it in time.”[/color] Alexander gave Charlotte a smirk. He truly enjoyed this little dance of theirs. A duller man would miss her falseness. She lacked naivety, despite her soft appearance. One would think she was timid. And thinking that is exactly something she watched for. [Color=D0B4EC]“I do tend to ask others their preference in the scenario that just occurred. …However, I do understand your intentions now.”[/color] She raised her glass toward him, [Color=D0B4EC]“A toast then, to kind gestures.”[/color] [Color=gold]“And new beginnings.”[/color] He added before their glasses clinked together. It was at this moment when their glasses touched and their eyes locked did he skillfully use his hand delicately untie Charlotte's hair ribbon. He snatched the ribbon away from her while taking another sip from his glass while watching the effect of his action. Charlotte’s thick black waves unraveled, cascading down her back and contrasting against the pale blue of her dress, yet she took no notice. Instead, she set her glass down and turned to Alexander with a composed smile. He returned the smile but was prepared to perform his second act upon the ribbon. [Color=Violet][I]Wait! Just keep it. We'll need it for later my good obedient boy.[/I][/color] [Color=gold][I]I'd complain but I'd rather avoid tearing it in front of her.[/I][/color] [Color=gold]“Feeling better, Charlotte? You look better.”[/color] [Color=D0B4EC]“Indeed, Alexander.”[/color] She said and leaned back to pick up her crostini. Though the motion stirred a flicker of thought within her, she gave no outward sign of it. Charlotte simply moved to take a neat bite of her food. [Color=gold]“So we agree then.”[/color] Alexander retracted his hand holding the blue hair ribbon. [Color=gold]“This is the other demonstration I hinted at.”[/color] He smiled warmly, though something about this different look only allured him more than before. [Color=gold][I]Is this what I imagine her to appear if I bed her? No. When I bed her?[/I][/color] Her lips parted as a flicker of realization crossed her face. She set the wine glass on the table as well as the crostini, returning to its place on a napkin. Slowly, she reached back, fingers grazing the now-loosened waves of her hair. Her gaze lifted to meet his, confusion flickering in her eyes. [color=D0B4EC]“Now, what exactly was that meant to demonstrate?”[/color] she asked, her voice steady but edged with scrutiny. Without hesitation, she extended her hand toward him, palm open, expectant. [Color=gold]“Charlotte, keep up, darling. It's to show that sometimes, I know what may be best for you,”[/color] He looked down at her open hand, his grin widening. [Color=gold]“Even if you might not like it.”[/color] He set his drink down and proceeded to nearly fold the ribbon. [Color=gold]“And why not give me something that will allow me to remember this wonderful time between us. I'll keep it safe. Promise.”[/color] Charlotte’s hand remained extended, but a flicker of something sharper danced in her gaze as she met Alexander’s eyes. [color=D0B4EC]“If you insist on keeping it,”[/color] she said after a moment, [color=D0B4EC]“then I shall have to take something of yours in return. That’s only fair, wouldn’t you agree?”[/color] [Color=Violet][I]BAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I love her! Take all of his buttons, Charlotte! Or take his belt so he has to walk funny![/I][/color] [Color=gold]“Of course Charlotte. I'd be disappointed if you had failed to make such a proposal. Go on. Take.”[/color] Charlotte’s fingers twitched faintly as she lowered her arm, her posture still despite the storm that had been brewing in her mind. Every instinct screamed at her to retreat, to leave before she wandered too far into waters she couldn’t navigate. But then, she thought of Anya Petrova, the heroine from one of her favorite books who had faced her enemies with nothing but her wit. Her heart drummed against her ribs, her mind reeling, but she forced herself to stay steady. She had no choice. This was a game she had to play. [i]For her friends. For Lorenzo.[/i] Her gaze flickered to the ribbon in Alexander’s hand, her chest tightening at the sight of it. It was a piece of herself that had been so easily taken. The urge to snatch it back burned at her fingertips, but she knew better. Instead, she willed her smile to remain, her lashes lowering just slightly as she met his gaze. [i][color=D0B4EC]Anya Petrova never let them see her falter.[/color][/i] Charlotte hesitated for only a moment before she shifted closer, closing the space between them on the couch. Her gown brushed against him as she moved. Subsequently, her hand extended once more and her fingers hovered just above Alexander’s vest, her eyes flicking to the coffin-shaped pendant resting against his chest [i][color=D0B4EC]Fear is power in the wrong hands.[/color][/i] Her hand rose higher, her fingertips lightly grazing the cool metal. The pendant was ominous yet oddly beautiful, and as she traced its edges, her touch lingered a moment too long. She let her fingers brush against the fabric of his collar, grazing the barest hint of his skin. Then her hand began to drift downward, her fingers gliding along the length of his arm, tracing the edge of his sleeve until they reached his hand. There, she paused, looking up at him through her lashes as her fingertips hovered over the ring on his finger. Her pulse quickened as she let her fingers toy with the ring briefly, lightly twisting it as if testing the waters. Then, Charlotte began to slide the ring from his finger. Alexander's lips parted to let out any type of argument against her choice but once the bronze ring left his hand, any contention went along with it. She pulled off his mask, making him vulnerable yet free. [color=D0B4EC]“Since you insist on keeping a piece of me, Alexander…” [/color] Charlotte murmured, her blue eyes locking onto his. [color=D0B4EC]“…I’ll be taking a piece of you, too.”[/color] A soft smile curled at her lips as she cradled the ring in her palm, her fingers curling around it as if it were a cherished item she wasn’t ready to part with. Her smile held its usual sweetness, but something else was there now too—Something bold. [Color=gold]“Good.”[/color] Alexander commented while slipping the ribbon into his inner breast pocket. [Color=gold]“That was probably the best choice you could have made, Charlotte.”[/color] His hands cradled around hers that held his ring, his eyes locked on hers. [Color=gold]“But…”[/color] Something about his smile changed. The natural charm was replaced by something darker yet tempting. A guilty pleasure that couldn't be pushed aside. A craving never to be satisfied. A thirst would fail to be quenched. Charlotte could not force herself to look away as the setting around them blurred into insignificance and she became lost in his very eyes. Then from the contact with his hands, a soothing warmth washed over her entire body. [Color=gold]“I need you to do something for me Charlotte. Will you? For me?”[/color] Charlotte’s breath caught in her throat as she felt the heat of his hands around hers. She opened her mouth to speak, but her words faltered as his gaze anchored her in place, drawing her in like a gravitational force. The intensity in his eyes made her pulse quicken as she stammered, [color=D0B4EC]“Y-yes…” [/color] [Color=gold]“Good, Charlotte. Good.”[/color] Alexander whispered while leaning in closer to her. [Color=gold]“This ring is very special to me. And I shall allow you to have it but it is for your hands only and yours alone until you return it to me.”[/color] He reached past her face, moving some of her hair back to reveal the side of her neck. He couldn't help but to briefly tuck lips at the sight. [Color=gold]“Now, to finalize our little deal.”[/color] Alexander smirked wickedly. [Color=gold]“A kiss will do.”[/color] He said just because he knew he had her wrapped around his finger. The power over her was satiable but still not enough. With a turn of his face, he exposed his cheek. [Color=gold]“Here. It's innocent, don't you think, [I]Charlotte[/I]?”[/color] As he had leaned in closer, Charlotte’s breath caught in her throat. She then found herself nodding to the request regarding his ring despite the fact her mind felt oddly blank. As he had made his final behest, Alexander’s warmth settled over her, coaxing her forward. Her gaze flickered to his cheek, the invitation lingering in the air between them. It was innocent enough, wasn’t it? A harmless exchange, a mere gesture to seal their little game. Slowly, as if drawn by an invisible thread, she leaned in until her lips hovered just above his skin. But then—something snapped. A sudden awareness crashed over her, dispersing the fog that had momentarily dulled her senses. [color=D0B4EC][i]What am I doing?[/i][/color] Her lips just barely brushed against his cheek before she pulled back abruptly, her body stiffening as realization set in. [i][color=D0B4EC]No, no, no—[/color][/i] [color=D0B4EC]“P—please excuse me,” [/color] she stammered, voice barely above a whisper. Without waiting for a response, she rose from her seat. [Color=gold][I]Silly me. I must have taken my eyes off her for too long a time.[/I][/color] Still he chuckled lightly before his hand caught one of hers just as she was preparing to stride off. [Color=Gold]“Charlotte, sit. I was merely joking. Sit down and finish your crostini. I have something else in mind anyway.”[/color] Charlotte’s body locked up the moment he caught her hand. [color=D0B4EC]“…A joke, then?”[/color] Her voice was breathy, but the sharpness beneath it betrayed her. She lifted her chin, her gaze steady as she plucked her crostini once more. Charlotte did not move to sit just yet as she peered down at him, [color=D0B4EC]“Then go on, Alexander.”[/color] she said softly. [color=D0B4EC]“Enlighten me.”[/color] [Color=gold]“Sit first. No kisses. I promise.”[/color] Alexander stifled a chuckle. [Color=gold]“And we should make the agreement on equal footing… unless you’d like me to stand with you?”[/color] Alexander released her hand and leaned back into the couch while grabbing and sipping his wine. Charlotte hesitated, shifting her weight from foot to foot briefly, the mask she had worn beginning to slip at the edges. She felt lost, as if she had wandered too deep into unfamiliar territory, and now she wasn’t sure how to find her way back. Slowly, she lowered herself back onto the couch, but not as close as before. [Color=gold]“And the dove is back to her perch.”[/color] Alexander drank the rest of his wine and set the empty glass onto the table. [Color=gold]“Now, let's set the conditions. That ring, as you know now, is very important, Charlotte.”[/color] He hammered the point yet again while digging into his breast-pocket. [Color=gold]“So, I’d like you to keep it on you. Obviously, you can't wear it on your fingers but…”[/color] He pulled out his pocket watch and her ribbon and used the space between them to set them both down. [Color=gold]“But you could wear it around your neck. No one has to see it and I think that's for the best considering someone around you is compromised.”[/color] He frowned slightly. [Color=gold]“I can keep your ribbon, I'll tie like so…”[/color] He began tying the ribbon to the chain of the pocket watch. [Color=gold]“And keep it secured in my breast-pocket.”[/color] Placing both items back inside the pocket he smiled. [Color=gold]“Also, whenever you'd like to speak in private or to simply see if I still have your precious ribbon, just tell me you wish to see it. I'll oblige but… the same also goes for you. Understood? Do we have a deal?”[/color] He reached his hand out to initiate a handshake. Charlotte let out a quiet breath, glancing at the ring in her palm before taking his hand after a hesitation. They shook on it. [color=D0B4EC]“Yes. Very well… We have a deal."[/color] Her attention lowered, carefully threading the ring onto the silver heart that hung over the base of her throat. Though she had considered her locket, which hung below her bodice out of sight, she wasn’t eager to show Alexander something so precious to her. His eyes gleaned at the locket, curious of what it held within but something much more pressing breached his peripherals. Turning his head slowly, he caught the full view of Violet and Roman entering the lounge area. He had knowledge they were present but seeing them together struck deeper. His lips spread into a smile, an initial greeting from afar before he faced Charlotte. [Color=gold]“Violet Damien. I should have figured my assistant would make her way to this event. You must be rather close to her considering the close relationship between your fathers. And you both seem to have plenty in common based on my experience with you too. But you're very different women. It's an interesting and beautiful thing.”[/color] Charlotte’s gaze followed his, her pupils widening as the words settled in. [b][color=D0B4EC][i]“... Assistant?”[/i][/color][/b] [/color]