@sourcewater: although now reunited, neuvillette realized that he knew very little about vautrin. his likes, dislikes . . . what little trinkets he might have lying around his home. it made him worry that the little surprise he concocted (with the help of the melusines) would be inadequate. what if he found it boring? would it fit with the general ambiance? at sedene's encouragement, neuvillette knocked on the door and once it opened, the iudex just got done smoothing out the wrinkles in his coat.
heavens, his cheeks warmed immediately at the sight of his beloved friend. one whose presence brought him joy in more ways than one. the dragon within purred in delight ā being so close to vautrin simultaneously gave him confidence and swept it all away. "i apologize for the early intrusion, but i believe it to be preferable to notify you at your earliest convenience."
ah ā still endearingly verbose.
"lady furina will be performing at the opera epiclese, and i procured two tickets for you and i to attend." high in the booths, where only they will occupy the small space. where neuvillette can intertwine clawed fingers with vautrin's ā feel the warmth of human skin and the primordial sea. "if you cannot attend, i understand and . . ."
A visit from the Iudex was not something he had expected at this hour (though, really, who else would be knocking upon his door? beyond the melusines, he is still somewhat devoid of connections in this new world) - but it is a very welcome surprise indeed. Primordial eyes widen just a fraction in an automatic response to seeing that distractingly pretty face upon his doorstep, and it takes the former captain a moment to register that he is being spoken to.
When his mind finally catches up, a flood of warmth spreads deep in his chest, and his eyes soften with unrestrained fondness. Oh, how he wishes Neuvillette will never change. It would be a sad day indeed, in his eyes, should the Iudex ever alter the mannerisms of his speech. It is something so wholly Neuvillette that it would be like losing a piece of him entirely.
He knows him well enough to be patient, to wait for the purpose of his visit to be revealed in time. He presumes he is to be expected somewhere, for some as yet determined reason, which he assumes is of an official nature. He is yet to find his position in this new age - perhaps, then, Neuvillette is intending to find him work?
He couldn't be further from the truth.
Tickets to a performance. To attend... together.
There's an instant flush to the man's skin, a slight ripple in the primordial shimmer visible only to certain eyes. Though the quickening of his heart is known only to him, he cannot hide the rather more obvious hitch in his breath. "No-," the word leaps from his lips before he can form a full response.
"That is," he quickly adds, lest Neuvillette think he would dare to decline such an offer, "I am not otherwise engaged." When did his mouth become so dry? Archons, he is acting like some besotted teenager, fawning over the attention of their crush. "I..." A smile makes its way, unhindered, across his features. "I would very much like to attend with you, Neuvillette."