Surprises Let Me Know She Cares [Closed]

[Nicolette O'Hara]

[[OOC: 11th Firstfall, afternoon]] @Celeste Monroe

An up-to-date atlas, gorgeously illustrated with detailed sections on each country, has been placed on the desk in Celeste's quarters. A short note sits on top of it.

Celeste, I found this in a bookshop in Hightown. I imagine you likely already know the coastlines like the back of your hand, but this is beautiful and I thought you might like it. Enjoy, cherie!

-Nicolette

 

[Celeste Monroe]

((15 Firstfall, afternoon))

Celeste slipped into Nicolette's cabin while the minstrel was off plying her trade. She'd been at a bit of a loss as to a gift in return for the atlas (which had to have set the minstrel back no small amount; the illustrations were exquisite and the maps precisely scaled) until the memory of moonlight dancing in golden eyes had suggested a possibility.

She lay it carefully on the pillow: a polished piece of amber about the diameter of a sovereign, in a delicate silver setting with a matching chain. She tucked the note beneath it:

Saw this and it reminded me of your eyes. Thanks for the atlas. - C.

She was a bullshitter, not a poet, after all. Turning, she did a quick check to be sure The Thing hadn't sneaked in behind her before slipping back out.

 

[Nicolette O'Hara]

[[16th Firstfall, late morning]]

Nicolette had yet to take off the amber necklace that Celeste had given her. It was beautiful, and well made, and a decidedly better choice of gift than the one that was to follow it. Nonetheless, Nicolette suspected Celeste would find it funny.

She had spotted the shop with the heavy red curtain across its entrance before, but had only recently stepped inside. Judging by the furtive nature of the patrons she had seen leaving its premises, she had guessed at its trade and been proven correct the moment she crossed the threshold. It was dedicated to particular flights of fancy and many of the books and items on display were probably not of the variety that Lucien and Alcine would stock. Nicolette had browsed idly for a few moments until she came across a device that the grinning dwarven proprietor had informed her was based a design known in Qunlat as a saartoh nehrappen.

This raised many questions as to how often such a thing was used amongst qunari themselves. This particular one was constructed of well made leather with a supple feeling to it, and while it was not the first time Nicolette had come across something similar it was probably one of the best examples she had seen of it. It was also surprisingly not expensive, after Nicolette wrote out a few of her racier stories for the store owner to have printed up.

Celeste was away on some business or another, which suited Nicolette. She left the device sitting on Celeste’s desk, with another note.

I thought this might amuse you. If you can think of no particular use for it, I am sure you could mount it to the wall and use it as a novelty coat-hanger.

- Nico
She thought Celeste could likely think of a use for it, but if it did not interest her it would certainly be a conversation starter (or stopper) for her to keep around.

 

[Celeste Monroe]

((21 Firstfall, Mid-day))

It hadn't been the first strap-on that Celeste had seen, but it was definitely one of the more impressive models, in quality of construction, as well as size. She'd used them before with Daniel and a few other partners, variety being the spice of life, after all, but never with Nicolette. The diffident wording of the note - along with the fact that she'd not mentioned it since (though admittedly, there had been some distractions) - suggested that the minstrel had thought that her gift might cause offense ... proof positive that they still had a fair amount to learn about each other. And not just in the sack. It was a realization that kindled an oddly pleasant sense of anticipation in her chest.

She'd already purchased a gift for her lover, but she set it aside for the moment in favor of something that might at once assure Nico that her present had been well received and set up a bit of fun. She lay the black silk blindfold out on the minstrel's pillow in her cabin, coiling the silken restraints on top of it. They were broader than the rope they'd used to escape the Chantry, soft but still strong enough to hold firmly without marking the skin beneath. Celeste had little interest in hard-core bondage; she didn't get off on giving pain, and she damn sure didn't get off receiving it, but certain toys could definitely add to the fun, if a lover was willing. The short note was laid atop the lot.

All sorts of ways to be amused, yes?

C.