𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐒

XX

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"I just realized, Jimin... I've been here for-well-more than a week now, and there's so little I know about you..." Rosé lifted her eyes from her plate of fragrant, thinly sliced steak, a hearty helping of vegetables taking up half the space on the square porcelain, and laid down her knife and fork, placing her elbows on the table, propping up her chin in her hands; she lifted her eyes to face the man sitting across from her at the small square table, his knees nearly knocking against hers underneath the smooth dark wood.
Jimin swallowed the small bite of asparagus and laid down his knife and flicked his eyes up to her-

-where he'd tried not to look as soon as he'd seen her in the doorway. Looking up at him. Blooming. Cheeks pink. Hair flowing around her face. A vision. All soft-looking skin and collarbones framing that perfect neck-

He'd uncharacteristically found himself at a loss for words. Dry-mouthed. Like some amateur, hands shaking in his pockets as she'd given him a seraphic smile. Eyes half-lidded. Seeming to see right through him.

And he'd been silent throughout the soup and salad courses, her leg pressing against his under the table wrecking his fragmented concentration. Not daring to say anything, not attempting to make conversation, however light, however tangential to anything-what if she thinks I'm an idiot?
Although I don't suppose that's my main problem right now-
"Ah-well. There's not really that much to know about me, Miss Rosé. As you well know by now, I'm the CEO of the Park Corporation, where I design high-grade military weapons for various clients and world governments. I don't suppose you'd find that interesting..."

Everything I say is utterly asinine-

Rosé licked her lips quickly, taking a sip of wine from the glass by her plate-her first. Her only, if Jimin had anything to say about it...

"I see." She looked back at him and smiled almost beguilingly. "I mean... is it interesting?"

Come on, you fool, give me something to work with-

Jimin speared a piece of steak into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed, finding it increasingly difficult to meet her gaze.

"It's fairly intellectually stimulating, though hardly taxing..." Creating the right heat-seeking capabilities for the newest brand of missile... the armored tanks that still had to be light enough to move at a fairly fast clip... not exactly exciting, but work is work.

This line of questioning is getting me nowhere. "Well-hmm.... Where did you grow up, Jimin?"

Jimin bristled subtly, his mouth pulling into a scowl. "I'd rather not discuss my childhood, Miss. Is that understood?" Of all the things to discuss at dinner-

-of course, she'd have no way of knowing-

Rosé fought back a pout, the mixture of emotions playing across her features nonetheless attractive. She lowered her eyes back to her plate, cut herself a piece of steak, and placed it between her lips. Chewing and swallowing with gusto. Licking her lips after she was done.

Him staring at her all the while.

"Well then-what about your hobbies-the things you like to do with your free time?"

Jimin almost smiled, eyes growing bright. "I don't have much time for hobbies, Miss Rosé. Jimin gulped quietly, wetting his lips before speaking. "Well, what about you-I mean, suffice it to say that you and I are relative strangers to one another-what ought I to know about you?"

Rosé laid down her knife and fork. Pretending to ponder. "Hmm. I mean, you saw my reaction to your wonderful gift this morning, Jimin-I'm a bit of an art nerd..." Though the gesture was surprisingly kind of him-