__ You Madly

[man_nav_naudas]

WHO: Thera y Raivis
WHEN: Monday afternoon, Nov. 8th
WHERE: 2 pm lunch hour
WHAT: The ornaments look pretty but they're pulling down the branches on the tree...

Comments

[santorinithera]

The smile Raivis received was astounding. Broad, beautiful, pearly white teeth framed by perfectly painted lips. Well practiced, alluring, somewhat warm.

What in god's name was Raivis doing here?

Nails, painted a deep burgundy that complimented the golden tone of her skin, brushed at a strand of curly black hair, and the scarf that had been neatly wrapped around head and neck was lowered to her shoulders. "So kind of you to come," her voice was equally as astounding. She presented her hand to Raivis- whether to kiss or to shake, he couldn't be certain. "Please, darling. 'Thera' will do fine."

[man_nav_naudas]

Thera Minoa. He'd heard the first name before. Somewhere, somehow. Taking the procured hand in his own, he shook it carefully. "Ah, well, I-" He bit back his reservations, pulling on every bit of his secretarial ego to follow through with a casual, easy save. "Couldn't say no to such a kind invitation. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company, Miss Minoa?"

Grin and bear it, grin and bear it.

[santorinithera]

"Thera, dear." She corrected, taking her hand back. "And I prefer not to get straight to business." A finger lifted, and instantly, an eager waiter was at their side. Thera listed off a particular wine that she desired, and turning to Raivis asked, "and what would you like to drink?"

[man_nav_naudas]

His mouth twitched. "Vodk- Water, please." The boy gave her a hesitant once over, speaking a little more quietly, "I'm afraid I've only got a limited amount of time, miss. I'm on the clock, you see. It's not that I want to rush you only that I worry we may not be able to speak of-"

What? "Whatever it is that inspired you to call me."

[santorinithera]

"He'll take vodka," Thera murmured sideways to the waiter, and the individual was gone. Hands folded in her lap and legs shifted to cross so that her toe pointed towards Raivis. She leaned forward, smiling. "Dear Raivis, is there anything wrong with wishing to call upon her neighbor for a friendly outing?" Well, she had something there. "It's just, I've been living in Liberty for several months now, and it has occurred to me that I have yet to meet the citizens of this lovely city. You seem very nice, Raivis. Sociable, kind. I hoped for some pleasant conversation while I lunch."

[man_nav_naudas]

"Of course-" He murmured faintly, clutching at his failing reserve as he tried to ignore the subtle indications that a far more sinister purpose was inspiring those saccharine words. "But if you don't mind my saying, Thera..."

Raivis swallowed air. "I'm just a little surprised. My apologies, I mean I've...never really heard of you until now. So to be honest, I am just a little confused as to why I-" A vague gesture to himself. "Why not someone with more standing in the city's social circles?"

It was a curious, entertaining sight to Thera, watching the young man's face light with a vibrant, rosy hue all over. He looked as though he might explode if he did as much as tremble though tremble he did, attempting to maintain his composure while he added quickly, "Piedodiet...I'm so sorry, that was rude..."

[santorinithera]

"Piedodiet- and what language is that?" A hand folded neatly under her chin. She nodded a 'thank you' to the waiter as he set their poison of choice (with a side of water for Raivis) before them.

[man_nav_naudas]

Refusing to answer and Raivis was still too much of a gentleman to call her on it. The flush worsened, he took a swig of vodka guiltily. "Latvian. It's just habit to lapse into it sometimes."

The woman was an enigma, a face with a title and little else. What did she want? Why was she here? Questions, questions, questions and no answers. "There are lots of people with English as their second language in Liberty. Perhaps you as well-?"

[santorinithera]

"Oh yes," her laugh was melodic and polite. Something about all of this felt staged, but Raivis couldn't place the motive. What would a woman like Thera want with a little person like Raivis? "I'm Grecian, though I learned English along side my native language." Fingertips touched down upon the stem of her wine glass. She lifted it to lips. "And your husband, Peter," she murmured over the rim, "He's not Latvian is he?"

[man_nav_naudas]

So then she was acquainted with Peter. What of it? How? Where, when, why? Always the 'why' never voiced. He inclined his head, dutifully showing his interest as he tried to file each bit of data away. Mulled them over. "Sealander-" Came out automatically, mended with, "Well, English, really. You know him?"

[santorinithera]

"In passing. Oh, I hope you don't mind that I ordered ahead for us." Thera gestured in the air. "The sampler here features a range of excellent foods. Surely you'll find something to your taste. Does Peter have family here other than you?" Smile.

[man_nav_naudas]

Raivis matched the pleasantry with his own restrained grin, busying himself with another slow draw of his drink. "Yes, ma'am. A large one."

Their reflections warped in the surface of his glass. He stared through them to the pristine vision of the sphinx in her gilded chair. "And they're all very strong personalities, just like him."

[santorinithera]

"Oh really?" This seemed to be genuinely interesting to Thera. Her hand folded neatly under her chin as she addressed Raivis. "Tell me about him."

[man_nav_naudas]

He shouldn't have. He really, really shouldn't have fallen for what was so obviously a set up. A trap. "Peter is-"

But Raivis was loyal, he was a romantic, and his love for his husband easily overrode all natural inclination toward self preservation. "Wonderful."

The cheerful glow now infusing his features made him appear almost feverishly red. "He's always been very headstrong- I think all of them are- but Peter, it's different with him. He's brave. It never mattered what the opposition- he'd do everything to protect those in need. And I really mean that. He's stubborn, but he's pure at heart. It's that honest naivety that...that really makes him special."

A wistful sigh stirred the surface of the liquid settling in his glass. "He might seem childish but he's capable of so much. So much potential. So much creativity. He's always been good with his hands."

[santorinithera]

Her eyebrow arched perfectly in time with the upward tilt of one corner of her lips. The expression was almost...devious. "Just his hands?"

[man_nav_naudas]

Pause.

Long pause.

Longer pause.

Longest pause in the history of Raivis Galante's polite over-meal conversations as he desperately endeavored to discern how he could be choking on absolutely nothing. "Wh-" The vibrancy of his blush burned so intensely, Thera may have wondered how the skin wasn't melting from his neck and face. "N-no, of course not. Peter's very versatile..."