the next best thing will do

i can make the badguys good for a weekend

Charlie doesn’t so much react to Jack’s restraint as she treats it like a familiar dance partner; something to spin around, dip dramatically, and never once let lead. His dry drawl lands, and instead of dimming her, it gives her something to play off of, something solid to bounce against such that when he lifts his glass, she mirrors him, only to immediately tip her own back and finish it in one enthusiastic go. The empty glass comes down on the table with a decisive clack, followed by a long, theatrical "Aaaaaaaaaahhh."

Her shoulders relax instantly, fire licking brighter for a second before settling back into a warm, smug glow around her collarbones. Her tail flicks once, then again, the second pass unmistakably impish as it curls suggestively near her hip. She wiggles her brows at him, grin broad and utterly unbothered by his cool composure. "A port town like this absolutely deserves my attention too." Her eyes sparkle as she leans back. "And honestly? I’d be a terrible priestess if I could only work out of a temple. Can you imagine?" Charlie shudders theatrically. "So dull. So contained. No fun at all."

Her gaze slides back to him, warm and mischievous. "Besides," she says sweetly, fingers tapping against her empty glass, "I find the worship much more spontaneous in places like this, so I like to be around when I can."

.