Chaosfay Plays in Thedas

Tea Lesson

Lucanis was happy Spite seemed preoccupied with what ever Manfred was doing at the kitchen table, allowing him all his attention to focus on what Emmrich was showing him.

“So you do not add the milk into the cup first?” He asked as he watched Emmrich prepare the expensive black tea blend Rook loved so much, that he’d made sure she always had a supply of now.

“Oh no. The milk should be poured into a little jug and left to breath for a bit – to warm up so it doesn’t cool the tea down too much when poured in.” Emmrich did as he'd just described, adding the milk to a little porcelain jug that sat on the tray next to Rook’s preferred cup. “This also allows each person the choice to add as much or little as they prefer.”

Lucanis watched carefully, making clear mental notes of each step. He’d asked Emmrich to show him how best to prepare the tea Rook loved so much as he wanted to get it right and bring it to her before got up- along with some pastries he’d made that morning. She normally always made the tea herself, even if she was exhausted and he hated seeing her push through – as he knew the feeling too well. If he could allow her just to relax for a bit after she’d just woken, then it was a gift he could give. “Ah, that makes sense. So how hot should the water be?”

Emmrich smiled just as the kettle came to a boil on the stove, gently whistling away as if the Lighthouse had been waiting for the question. “It needs to be boiled, but then left a second or two until the water stills before pouring it into the teapot. This prevents it spluttering as it’s poured in and stops the water scalding the tea leaves.” He took the kettle and showed Lucanis, which the assassin studied with intent, his nose flaring as the scent of the tea filled the kitchen area. He had to admit it was pleasant in a refreshing sort of way. How had Rook described it in the cafe?

An inviting start, with hidden depths...

“Smells Like Wet Leaves and Rook.” Spite added with glee, his manifestation taking long deep breaths as he plunged his face into the steam coming from the teapot.

The scent of tea was something Lucanis was also beginning to associate with Rook, especially this blend that had floral elements similar to the perfume she had started to wear, that also had strong notes of lavender and creamy vanilla...

Just as he’d described a first kiss during the evening out…

His eyes widened as he realised Rook might not have been talking about the tea back then, and he bit back a smile, knowing his demon could hear every thought.

As if on queue Spite turned his head and rolled his eyes at Lucanis “Of Course! Lucanis IS SO Slow. Rook Wants A Kiss.”

Emmrich pursed his lips, holding back his own knowing smile and placed the teapot on the tray with the cup and milk. Manfred who’d been busy separating the brown sugar cubes from the pot of mixed ones and popping them into a dish, came over and handed it over with a pleased hiss which Emmrich took with a beaming smile.

“Ah thank you Manfred, I was just about to look for these... Oh I didn’t know Rook preferred brown to white sugar? I suppose they would go better with this blend. Excellent choice, it will give it a honey richness without the heaviness.” He placed the dish on the tray and stood back, not noticing Lucanis was side eyeing his demon grinning by the mage’s side. “By the time you hand this tea to Rook, it should have steeped perfectly. I think she will appreciate it greatly.”

“Thank you Emmrich, I appreciate it too.”

Emmrich tilted his head in thanks and gestured for Manfred to join him as they went back to their own tea preparations, leaving Lucanis to add a freshly baked pastry to the tray. He carried it all effortlessly up to Rook’s room, where he lightly knocked on her door, waiting for an answer. A moment later he heard her voice - a mumbled “come in” to which the door opened of it’s own accord and he walked in to see her back to the door. She was stretching as she turned to look who was visiting her and the moment her eyes caught his, they lit up.

He would never get bored of that look. No matter how tired she was, her eyes sparkled when she paid him attention as if she had reserves held back just to look at him that way. He stood there for a moment, lost in her gaze until her eyes drifted to the tray he was holding, making her inhale slowly and grin.

“Is that my tea?”

Lucanis blinked as if coming out of a spell and looked down at the tray, remembering why he’d come to see Rook. It was as if she had bewitched him, and he could not be happier at that idea.

“It is. I thought you might like some to go with those pastries you talked about.” He glanced down to the little soft swirl of flaky pastry topped with a dollop of custard and half an apricot on top that he’d spent the morning making. A Southern Free Marches sweet she’d told him that she’d wanted to try after the Inquisitor had mentioned them to her.

“You made Ostwick spandauers?” Rook stood up excitedly and pulled the table she normally had in front of her chaise a little closer and then patted the chair for him to come sit next to her. He paused a second, not knowing if he should but his feet seemed to move of their own accord until he’d placed the tray down on the table and sat next to her.

‘Hurry up…’ He heard Spite grumble across from him, and he shook his head, not wishing to give the demon satisfaction that he was in fact thankful he’d acted for him.

“They sounded easy enough to make and you wanted to try them.” He smiled as he took a deep breath to concentrate, taking the teapot and carefully pouring out the brew into the cup, before adding two sugar cubes and a small amount of milk – just as he’d watched her do time and time again. He then handed it to Rook who took it with such a warm smile that showed off how pink her cheeks were.

“Lucanis…” She murmured as she lifted the cup to her nose to inhale the scent that now wafted around the room. “Thank you. I was psyching myself up to get dressed and come down for breakfast, but you bringing me breakfast in bed...That’s so sweet.” She slowly took a sip, sighing deeply in appreciation as the warmth of the tea slid into her belly.

Lucanis swallowed hard, watching it’s passage as her throat bobbed, realising Rook was next to him in just her dressing gown and nothing else. The robe was open a little on her chest and one thigh, showing off the delicate décolletage and expanse of bare skin on her upper leg – the paleness emphasised by the cool light tones coming from the aquarium. She looked divine, even more than usual.

“It’s the least I could do. You hold this team together Rook.” The way she gently rolled her eyes, he was sure she didn’t believe him, but it was true. She was the glue that kept the team together. In fact, she was the glue that kept him from falling apart. Maybe this gesture was his way of thanking her for that.

He watched her contentedly as she took another sip, then put the cup down to pick up the pastry. She examined it for a moment, smiling the whole time before taking a small bite and loudly moaning in pleasure as she chewed.

“Maker’s breath Lucanis,” She mumbled, deftly swallowing what she’d chewed so she could speak clearer, though her enthusiasm only made him smile. “this is amazing! Better than how the Inquisitor described them.” She went to take another bite and a bit of the flaky, buttery pastry fell, dropping to land upon her chest.

Lucanis watched the piece land deftly just as Rook cursed, placing the pastry down. She almost went to retrieve it with her fingers when she suddenly realised what she was about to do and started laughing, her blush growing on her cheeks.

“I swear these things are magnetic to any crumb that dares to fall. Sorry just let me...” She quickly turned from him and he watched disappointed as her hand reached to pull out the offending large flake, placing it on the tray when she’d found it. She turned back to see he hadn’t taken his eyes off of her and his hand had raised as if he had wanted to pluck the offending item from her skin.

Lucanis quickly dropped his hand, wondering for a moment if he’d reached for her or if Spite had as he couldn’t quite decide. “No... it’s quite alright, I should... have brought a napkin for you. The pastry is very... flaky.” What he’d meant to say was, I would have got it for you if you’d asked and Spite cackled in his head upon hearing his thoughts.

Rook must have caught something in his expression as she sat forward, the fabric of the robe she wore, pulling just a little back to expose more of her milky thigh and he swallowed again. She reached out and took the flake of pastry, placing it back upon her breast. “You just had to ask you know. I would have found it gallant of you to offer to remove the offending item from my person.”

Lucanis was lost for words though not purpose and he slowly reached out and ever so carefully picked the flake from her skin, leaning across to put it down on the tray, though he realised he’d moved closer to Rook in the process. He glanced up seeing her grinning at him and in the next second she had leant forward too, her hand coming to his face to place against his cheek.

“I’d like to say thank you properly if you don’t mind. May I?”

“I’d actually... like that.” He responded almost in a whisper as he watched her close the distance till her lips were upon his. The faint sweetness of the pastry mingled with the lavender and honey notes in the tea on her breath instantly reminded him of his words at Café Pietra, and he unbiddenly smiled into the kiss, making her join him - her hand gently stroking across his beard and making him and his demon shudder in appreciation.

When she broke the kiss, her eyes were sparkling with that warmth she seemed to only reserve for him and he got lost in them, not wishing the break the spell she had over him.

“Tastes Like Wishes and Rook!” Spite exclaimed instead, making Lucanis shake his head minutely as he chuckled softly, his own hand reaching up to stroke across Rook’s soft cheek that was plump from her satisfied smile.

How he marvelled at her cunning – that perhaps she had engineered this exact moment in order to fulfil his wish. If not, then perhaps the Maker himself had taken pity upon him and granted his desire. Either way he was just happy it had finally happened.

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