The Infinite Consortium, Monday

[deathsmajesty]

"Huh," Liliana said, reaching into the crate and pulling out the ransom note tucked away within. It was written in Ravnican, from letters cut out from magazines and pasted to a ragged piece of paper that smelled strongly of the Smelting Quarter. "Well," Liliana said, picking it up and scanning the lines quickly. "This is rather awkward. Pity about the hostage."

But it wasn't her problem, and so she tossed the note away without a second thought. She had stocking to get to, what with all this new inventory that had probably been intended to get the victim back.

Whoops.

Ah well.

Anyway, new stock!

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[chef_chocobro]

As he'd been doing since starting his class this semester, Ignis had been letting the lesson-of-the-day guide what he would bring over to the Consortium, and today, that meant whipping up a little mango dessert, some ricotta for bruschetta, and some hummus with some fresh vegetables and pita. Certainly quite a bit for as much time as they generally allotted for their shared lunch, but, well, it was a bit easy for him to get carried away in the kitchen.

And it'd all been neatly packed to be pursued whenever that may be as he came into the store, with that slightest pause of consideration to determine what the day may have brought for Liliana, before venturing forth with that usual greeting, searching call of her name.

[deathsmajesty]

And, excitingly for him, that slight pause revealed nothing particularly untoward occurring!

"Hello, my darling," Liliana called from the shelves. "Lunch already? How delightful. Are you coming to me, or am I meeting you at the counter?"

[chef_chocobro]

The pause was a relief, just as the already? was a delight for how it suggested that Liliana had been engaged in something that wouldn't have made that pause more exciting enough to lose track of time. Of course, she could mean it flippantly, or it could still be something to cause him concern, or...

Or, well, it didn't really matter.

"I'll meet you at the counter," he offered, already making his way over, so that he might have the chance to set thing down before going to intercept her in her approach. "Lunch is a bit fussier than my usual Monday fare this week, so it would probably be for the best."

Although, if he had judged the distance of the sound of her voice in the shelves and his own movement, he's still meet her before she got there.

[deathsmajesty]

"I'd ask if you were certain you wouldn't rather eat in the back, then, but our track record for remembering lunch there is even worse than it is out here," Liliana said, voice warm and teasing as she stepped into the center aisle and made her way towards the counter.

Or, well, towards the man already there.

[chef_chocobro]

A man who, by the way he stepped closer to meet Liliana to slip an arm around her now that his hands were free and kiss her, had possibly already forgotten about it. That kiss, at the very least, seemed to suggest it dropped in importance significantly.

"Hello, my love," he then greeted, a good deal later and with no shortage of smugness in his smile. "Busy morning?"

[deathsmajesty]

She adored how he slid that arm around her and used it to pull her in close to him, tucking her body against his before claiming her mouth with his own. Her arms twined around him, completing the circle, holding him to her as tightly as he held her.

"Mmmyes," she murmured, nipping at that smug smile, not that she would change an inch of it. "New stock to shelve and all. But I'm far happier to ignore it and focus on much more important things now that you're here."

Surely she meant things like 'proper nutrition' and 'the importance of regular meals.'

[chef_chocobro]

Those were, after all, easily the most important things about lunchtime.

"Mmm." Ignis met that hum of Liliana's with one of his own, as well as that nip, though the smile did change, albeit only a fraction of an inch, but it had certainly grown. "Well," he said, "one mustn't work too hard, and it sounds as though you've more than earned a well-deserved break."

[deathsmajesty]

"I suppose I must be guided by you in this, my love," Liliana said with a laugh. "And defer to your clear expertise on the matter." She stole another kiss from that smile, how could she not? "And are you feeling more settled, now that you've once more returned to your established routine?"

[chef_chocobro]

"Quite," Ignis answered, and he very slowly started to draw them back, though whether his intention was toward the counter or the back room as their ultimate destination was yet to be determined. "And if I actually make it into the diner tomorrow, then I daresay, the settling will be complete."

[deathsmajesty]

"Well, now I have no choice but to try my hand - and other diverse parts - at keeping you at home instead," Liliana said with another of those glorious laughs he so reveled in. She lightly followed his lead, though from the way she remained pressed against him, there was a clear preference for their ultimate destination being relayed.

[chef_chocobro]

"Then I shall go into tomorrow," Ignis declared, with a note of confidence in his voice that went well with the lift of his chin, "firmly reassured in the sanctity of my schedule, as I do believe you'd have to be up quite early if you have any intention of even considering an attempt, my dear."

And while his guidance had, in fact, lead them to the counter, and quick turn and a deep kiss made it clear that, of what he'd be setting onto it, the food was the least of his interest.

"The early bird," he murmured against her lips...eventually, 'catches the worm, as if were."

[deathsmajesty]

"A saying that perfectly encapsulates my appreciation for mornings," Liliana said, her fingers stroking over his cheeks as she tilted his head up to begin properly feasting upon his throat. "As I have no desire for worms, either. Let me stay asleep, then, and skip mornings, early birds, and worms entirely."

Although, she didn't mind staying up very, very, very late for a good cause...