Voicemail.

[chef_chocobro]

"You have reached the voicemail of Ingis Scientia. I am unavailable to take your call at this moment, but if you would please leave a message, I will assuredly get back to you as soon as possible."

**BEEEEEEP**

___________________
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Comments

[deathsmajesty]

Another day of boring inventory, another phone call to the paramour, asking him questions he (probably?) rather not answer.

But this was what happened when Liliana was allowed to get bored.

And who knew! Perhaps it would be fine!

Ring ring!

[chef_chocobro]

"Hello, Liliana," said Ignis, answering the phone with perhaps a touch of concern for what might possibly befall him next. "I don't suppose you're calling to ask me to put some champagne on ice because you've managed to already categorize and organize your entire inventory already, are you?"

[deathsmajesty]

Oh good, he was learning.

"Of course not my darling," Liliana declared. "I'm assuming you put some on ice already to celebrate that I have now, two weeks in a row, gone to my shop on an off-day to work."

A far more noteworthy feat, considering how little she actually cared for the shop or the dragon who owned it.

"You wouldn't happen to be alone, my darling, would you?"

[chef_chocobro]

There was a moment, for the mun to decide exactly what he was actually doing at that moment for Ignis to lower his coffee and listen for any sign of the steward about, and now he was uncertain as to whether or not it was dread or something else entirely he should now be feeling.

"Quite," he reported, and then, his tone now reflecting the curiosity that tilted his head, "Why do you ask?"

[deathsmajesty]

Bit of both, really. It all depended upon his reaction to certain questions.

"Because inventory is fairly tedious and requires remarkably little attention so long as you are capable of multitasking," Liliana said with a sigh. "Which gave me plenty of time to think. And that thinking gave me plenty of questions."

Which might be a good indication for dread? Who knew?

"So, I've been assuming that our conversation about unfortunate nicknames means that you have enjoyed the intimate company of gentlemen," she continued glibly. Which, she'd assumed, because why limit yourself when pretty was hardly confined to gender, but it was always nice to have confirmation. "While I do not naturally have certain aspects of anatomy that many gentlemen come equipped with, there is plenty of equipment that can circumvent that lack. Would you at all be interested in me obtaining some?"

Her voice lowered, took on a sultry drawl as she added, "I assure you, 'Nys, I'm quite skilled."

[chef_chocobro]

Ah. Well. Liliana's bid for discretion certainly became all the more evident now, and it was greatly appreciated. He feared he might just inflict a heatwave on the entire eastern seaboard with that rush of blood to his face, a threat that only continued to increase in severity the more consideration given to the question.

But that lowered, sultry reassurance, paired with the softness of his nickname, brought up a grin to cut through it all, and a soft breath of a laugh, and the ability to cloak his answer in all its usual, comfortable trapping.

"Oh," he said, responding in kind with his own lowered drawl, "there isn't a single doubt in my mind about that, 'iana. But there's really only one way to find out for certain, isn't there?"

[deathsmajesty]

She might not have been entirely sure of his reaction to her question, but she certainly knew him well enough to know that discretion was key. Liliana's own concern for such things was lower - sometimes even non-existent - but that just means that his mattered all the more.

"Mmm, I hoped you'd say something like that," she said, with a dark chuckle rich in promise. "You see, I've spent awhile already picturing it. Laying you down...kissing my way long your neck...your back...keeping you balanced between relaxed and on edge...hearing you groan...watching you arch...whispering in your ear how simply gorgeous you are, my 'Nys, how much I love to watch you respond..." She shivered a little, not unaffected by her own words.

"Do you have...preferences, my darling? That I should keep in mind? Unless, of course, you would prefer to go looking together."

[chef_chocobro]

The threat of inclement weather was back on in full force.

And it was a good testament to the effectiveness of this line of questioning that Ignis' immediate response wasn't some smart-ass comment pointing out that going to go look together would, unfortunately, become a task that would be terribly unbalanced toward her doing all the work.

Instead, it was a low, guttural sound of approval. "My, but you have had an awful lot of time to let your mind wander, haven't you?" he asked, and he wasn't entirely certain what he was finding more of a thrill just then: the vibrant picture Lliana's description was painting for him, or merely the fact that, when left to wander, those thoughts found him.

"No strong preferences," he then added. "Or, rather, I wouldn't want to narrow down the vast field of opportunity in one particular direction or another. Besides...you clearly have plenty of ideas all your own."

Ideas that he hoped the faintly growling timber of his voice made clear a certain anticipation of what those idea might entail.

"Pity," he then added, almost like an afterthought, "Dite's is so inconveniently placed for the both of us, at the current moment."

Although if there was anything to remind Ignis of just how little of a jaunt a trip to the shop would be right now...

"I remember them having an...exceptional selection."

[deathsmajesty]

Had Liliana ever given the idea that she enjoyed winter? A heatwave sounded lovely.

And here, she'd used 'looking' quite deliberately, assuming he'd call her out on it--she'd had a follow up prepared about her providing descriptions while watching his hands work over each option.

She did so adore watching him use his hands.

But that was good data, too. What kinds of language could get him to ignore others.

"But," she said, and how that growl had her already shifting with anticipation of her own, "if we decided we wished to go, you could come meet me at the store and we could head over together..."

You know. Assuming she didn't just drag him in here first for a brief ("brief") interlude.

"We can decide on the way whether we want our shopping jaunt to be, hmm, a quick in-and-out, too impatient to wait long...Or if we'd rather linger over the experience. Slow. Thorough. Exploratory."

[chef_chocobro]

And so it would seem, for his own sake, skipping the pedantry for once did have its benefits after all, as unfortunate as it was for those details to not have had their chance to grace the world.

It was a bit funny, as well, that Ignis' mind seemed to also have leaped immediately to thoughts of interlude and perhaps back rooms or storage closets and with all that inventory she'd been doing, surely there had to be something that could be utilized to a....creative effect, if not quite for their exact current intentions.

"Well, then," he said, already moving from his chair, coffee...well, not forgotten, he wasn't going to let excellent coffee go to waste, but he had quickly chugged down the last of on his way out of his chair to go fetch his coat, "I believe I shall be on my way. Unless, of course, you still have more work at hand?"

[deathsmajesty]

"Oh, I do believe I've got the most pressing needs well in hand, indeed," Liliana replied, and he could certainly hear her diligently moving things around.

Finishing up the last of the inventory, no doubt.

"Just come right in when you arrive, you can help me finish."

Still absolutely talking about inventory, yup.

"Oh and, 'Nys, darling?" She smiled, slow and curling. "Do hurry."