#naz and jessy gave the long starter bug

[rviner]

@ofwrxth ines x jakob - grand gala

Ines knows Jakob is here, somewhere among the glittering grand gala. It's like a current beneath the surface, a pull she can't quite resist, though she tries to keep her gaze from constantly seeking him out. Despite her efforts, her eyes find him time and again, as if drawn by some invisible force they've both found themselves navigating. It's strange, this silent magnetism between them, something neither of them can fully explain. There's no obvious barrier keeping them apart, but an unspoken hesitation lingers. Her father's voice echoes in her mind, a warning that came without much explanation: "Be careful around the Ranstroms. They're not to be trusted." Why, exactly, she isn't sure, but the words replay over this undefined thing between her and Jakob.

But then there's a moment, another meeting of their eyes across the room, and she decides that wanting to speak to him is enough of a reason as any. With a subtle nod towards the doors, she signals her intention to step outside. Smoking is a habit she picks up and drops, her training and competitions usually keeping the temptations in check. But ever since returning home and discovering the existence of her newborn half-brother, she figures a little indulgence is the least she deserves.

As she slips out and Jakob falls into step beside her, a slight grin tugs at her lips. She glances up at him, her gaze lingering longer than she intends, tracing the lines of his features, memorizing them in a way that feels almost wrong to. "Have you won anything yet? Or even bet on something?" she asks, but the small talk is only a filler until they're outside and have escaped the bustle of the gala. "My dad didn't make them do garlic mussels this year and I'm actually so bummed, you have no idea." she laughs, the sound freer now they're alone. "Have you been to this thing before? They're amazing. It's like my cousins recipe but he does this twist to it, won't tell me what it is either. Maybe they're not even mussels." she chuckles, slipping her cigarettes from her clutch. "I like...this." Ines hesitantly gestures to him, clearing her throat at how the compliment almost leaves her so easily and trips her up in the process. "It's kinda pointy, like cat ears but for guys." she adds, hoping she clarifies that it's about his bow tie. And not well...all of him.