Mr. & Mrs Meropide

Chapter Forty: Mysterie

With everyone gone, Wriothesley turned toward Clorinde, a curious glint in his eyes. "I had no idea this is what you do in your free time."

"It's a big passion of mine," she replied, her smile bright and genuine. "You just got a taste of the group's craziness. Will I have the pleasure of having you as one of my more permanent players?"

"As much as the fortress allows," he said with a warm grin. "I had a great time. And speaking of plans, I believe we have some wine drinking lined up?"

Clorinde's smile widened. "I picked up a bottle of white wine and one red. I was thinking we could have some pasta to go with it, and then maybe dessert afterward."

"That sounds delicious," Wriothesley said, taking her bag as they began walking together. "Let's get going. I think we've earned a relaxing evening."

As they made their way to the station, Clorinde noticed him heading toward the aquabus. "You take the aquabus, not a regular boat?" she asked, falling into step beside him.

"Yeah, normally I just jump off with a Cryo slide," he said casually. "It's directly at your place, and it's the shortest way."

"You always change it up," she said, appreciating that about him.

He grinned. "Well, you showed me you were an expert at ice sliding last time."

She chuckled. "Next time, I'm going to take a ramp and land on my feet."

"I'll hold you to it," he teased, leading the way as they hopped onto the aquabus.

"You got any board games at home?" Wriothesley asked, still energized by the momentum of their day.

"I have a few classics," Clorinde replied with a smile. "And a record player. Are you a Genius Invocation TCG player?"

"I've never actually played it," he admitted, a bit sheepishly. "Just never found the time."

"I've got a strong deck," she said confidently. "I'll give you some of my extra cards to get you started."

As the aquabus neared their stop, Wriothesley glanced at her. "It's almost time. Ready for the jump-off?"

"Yes," Clorinde said, standing up. "But let's head to the back of the boat—don't want to terrorize the rest of the passengers."

They made their way to the back of the aquabuss, exchanging a quick, playful glance before leaping off and landing smoothly on the path that ran alongside the water. Wriothesley didn't hesitate, summoning an ice slide beneath their feet, and in an instant, they were gliding through the air, the high ice slide carrying them swiftly toward Clorinde's home.

Laughter filled the night as they sped across the shimmering ice, the city of Fontaine twinkling in the distance. The cool breeze brushed against their faces.

Wriothesley landed smoothly ahead of her, catching Clorinde by the waist as she glided to a stop in her high heels. "I will never understand how you manage to move so well in these shoes," he teased, his voice filled with playful admiration.

"Magic," she replied with a wink, enjoying the moment as she took her bag from him and fished out her keys. Clorinde unlocked the door and stepped inside, the inviting warmth of her home welcoming them both after the cool, exhilarating ride.

They slipped off their shoes as soon as they entered. "I see there's a shoe shelf now," Wriothesley observed, taking in the subtle yet noticeable changes in her home. The boxes were gone, replaced by plants that added warmth and life to the space. It felt more lived-in, more her.