Setzer and Daryl - Charm
Title: After the World Was Won
Theme + Number: Charm #3
Claim: Setzer+Daryl
Characters/Pairings included: Setzer, Daryl
Rating: Mature
Summary: An after-game reunion between two jaded lovers.
Chapter Four: Setzer attempts to talk Daryl into a new partnership. Wining, dining, and happy endings ensue.
True to his word, Setzer had indeed reserved a table at one of Nikeah’s waterfront restaurants. Not being one to settle for the merely adequate, he had reserved the entire balcony terrace, from which the staff had cleared all but one table overlooking the waters of bay, which sparkled with the reflected lights of the city. Having more important things to discuss than food, Setzer had waved away the offered menus and left everything to the chef. Daryl, used to Setzer’s excesses, consented to make small talk as the sommelier crossed the patio and presented them with wine.
As his retreating footsteps faded, she remarked, “I see you’ve lost none of your taste for luxury.”
Setzer smiled. “Consider this a conspicuous display of entrepreneurial promise.”
“This company you’ve started has been prospering, then. How sweet this short-term success must seem to you.”
“How you doubt me, oh ye of little faith. Was our former company such a drain on your finances?”
“If I recall correctly, our former company was swallowed by a vast empire with a taste for airships. By the end of it, it was no longer our company, and we were lucky to escape it with our own prototypes. You’ve now set yourself up in the middle of Figaro, another small kingdom that has distinguished itself by its hunger for technology. You must forgive me my qualms concerning your judgment in this matter.”
“A valid point. As perspicacious as ever, I see.” Setzer sighed and brought his wine glass to his lips in acknowledgment of the weight of his former partner’s words. “The difference in the two situations is that, in this case, I happen to be very good friends with the king. For what it’s worth, I can vouch for his character. We did save the world together, after all.”
“And has this royal friend of yours given you the capital to launch your venture?”
Setzer laughed. “I am more than wealthy enough to supply my own capital, my dear. Of course, I was never one to turn down a tax break when offered.”
“That would simply be foolish, wouldn’t it,” Daryl smirked. “Did this offering from your friend happened to be accompanied by a large commission?”
“I have received several large commissions, and I would like to think that I have better uses for petty change.” Setzer leaned forward to refill Daryl’s wine glass. “At the moment, however, I find myself severely short of staff. Perhaps you will lend a sympathetic ear to my predicament when I say that we are in dire need of trained and qualified engineers.”
“That is indeed tragic.”
“I also foresee a future shortage of test pilots.”
“You don’t seriously expect me to fly again.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if you found yourself unable to resist the allure. If you feel you must stay grounded, however, you’ll find that the dashing young king of Figaro is extraordinarily interested in turning his desert into arable land. If you don’t feel that I can reward your research handsomely enough, you can always work directly for the castle.”
“I’m still having trouble accepting that you fought alongside the king in the war.”
“Ah, but I did.”
“So you helped save the world. You.”
“Yes.”
“So you fought monsters with a sword.”
“Fantastic, I know, but true.”
“So you learned to use magic from a rock.”
“I find it hard to believe myself.”
“You didn’t spend the whole time drinking and gambling.”
“There might have been a bit of drinking and gambling, I don’t mind admitting it.”
“Honestly.”
“I also learned to cook, have you heard stories about that?”
“You’re aware that this is becoming increasingly difficult to believe.”
“I assure you that I am completely and utterly serious about my acquisition of culinary skills. Perhaps you would be more likely to believe me if I confessed that I learned in the company of two beautiful young women?”
“Terra and Celes, I presume. What are those two doing these days?”
“One of them is rebuilding a city on the easternmost edge of the southern continent, and the other is helping her. They’ve made quite a nice life for themselves, I understand.”
“You understand. Should I assume that you don’t regularly visit them?”
“Of course I do. What good is an airship if you don’t have anywhere to fly? Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”
“I think I would have more reason to be jealous of the men whose company you shared for two years.”
“Who would spread such a vile and salacious rumor about me?”
“I would find it difficult to list all of the young braves who offer their services in the city’s salons.”
“I am aware, Daryl, that this might be stretching the bounds of credibility, but there are far more people bragging about having once shared my bed than even I have had the leisure to dally with.”
“Because you’re such a catch, obviously.”
“That’s the first sensible thing you’ve said all evening. More wine?”
“Do you think that will help you persuade me to join your business venture?”
“No. I believe I’ve already convinced you of the worthiness of the enterprise. Now I’m simply trying to get you to sleep with me.”
Daryl sighed and took a generous sip from the glass in front of her. “Setzer, I don’t know why I even bother with you anymore.”
****
Midnight found the pair strolling down the moonlit streets of Nikeah. Setzer had offered Daryl his arm, and she had taken it. The two whispered to each other like conspirators as they approached her townhouse in the university district of the city. Daryl brought them to a halt in front of a stately building surrounded by a small garden and enclosed within a wrought iron fence. Its eaves were adorned with winged fancies carved into the stone.
“Your tastes have grown more bourgeois since we last met,” Setzer remarked.
“Let me say that the bank gave me a deal I couldn’t refuse,” Daryl smiled as she swung open the gate that she hadn’t bothered to lock.
“You’ve kept up your garden quite nicely.”
“Is it open cynicism I detect in your voice, or were you trying to hide it?”
“I thought I was being quite clever.”
“Not as clever as I was in hiring someone to rake over this mess once a week. It wouldn’t do to not keep up appearances.”
“Showing off for the local gentry?” Setzer suggested as Daryl held the door open for him.
“More like not giving them an excuse to bother me.” And indeed, the inside of her house was a mess, with books and papers strewn about between empty bottles and discarded clothing.
“If this is your foyer, I’d hate to see your bedroom.”
“Somehow I doubt that.”
“Is that an invitation?”
When Daryl didn’t respond, Setzer simply followed her as she strode through the room and into a kitchen. She kicked open an icebox and removed a bottle of sparkling wine, popped the cork without fanfare, and turned to find Setzer already holding out two flutes for her.
“It’s the rear garden that’s the real mess,” she said as she poured. She escorted Setzer through the back door and onto a patio threatened on all sides with vegetal overgrowth. Through the tangle, the outlines of statues shone palely in the moonlight. “The previous resident was something of a collector, apparently,” she offered by way of explanation.
“My gods, Daryl, I’m not sure whether I should berate you for your gross negligence of your property or praise you for your obviously single-minded devotion to your work.”
“The latter of which would also be an ill-disguised insult, I’m afraid. Why don’t you simply content yourself to toasting a new partnership?”
“Allow me to do so, then.” Setzer touched the rim of his glass to hers. “Here’s to quitting this bloated city and returning to the open air.”
Daryl drained her glass. “A noble toast.”
Setzer had likewise emptied his glass, and he looked at Daryl askance in the brief silence as the two faced the garden. “Perhaps I should warn you that this is the part where I kiss you and drag you off to bed.”
Daryl laughed. “I thought you were afraid of my bedroom?”
“I can force myself to be brave. I did save the world, after all,” Setzer said, and then he kissed her.
Theme + Number: Charm #3
Claim: Setzer+Daryl
Characters/Pairings included: Setzer, Daryl
Rating: Mature
Summary: An after-game reunion between two jaded lovers.
Chapter Four: Setzer attempts to talk Daryl into a new partnership. Wining, dining, and happy endings ensue.
True to his word, Setzer had indeed reserved a table at one of Nikeah’s waterfront restaurants. Not being one to settle for the merely adequate, he had reserved the entire balcony terrace, from which the staff had cleared all but one table overlooking the waters of bay, which sparkled with the reflected lights of the city. Having more important things to discuss than food, Setzer had waved away the offered menus and left everything to the chef. Daryl, used to Setzer’s excesses, consented to make small talk as the sommelier crossed the patio and presented them with wine.
As his retreating footsteps faded, she remarked, “I see you’ve lost none of your taste for luxury.”
Setzer smiled. “Consider this a conspicuous display of entrepreneurial promise.”
“This company you’ve started has been prospering, then. How sweet this short-term success must seem to you.”
“How you doubt me, oh ye of little faith. Was our former company such a drain on your finances?”
“If I recall correctly, our former company was swallowed by a vast empire with a taste for airships. By the end of it, it was no longer our company, and we were lucky to escape it with our own prototypes. You’ve now set yourself up in the middle of Figaro, another small kingdom that has distinguished itself by its hunger for technology. You must forgive me my qualms concerning your judgment in this matter.”
“A valid point. As perspicacious as ever, I see.” Setzer sighed and brought his wine glass to his lips in acknowledgment of the weight of his former partner’s words. “The difference in the two situations is that, in this case, I happen to be very good friends with the king. For what it’s worth, I can vouch for his character. We did save the world together, after all.”
“And has this royal friend of yours given you the capital to launch your venture?”
Setzer laughed. “I am more than wealthy enough to supply my own capital, my dear. Of course, I was never one to turn down a tax break when offered.”
“That would simply be foolish, wouldn’t it,” Daryl smirked. “Did this offering from your friend happened to be accompanied by a large commission?”
“I have received several large commissions, and I would like to think that I have better uses for petty change.” Setzer leaned forward to refill Daryl’s wine glass. “At the moment, however, I find myself severely short of staff. Perhaps you will lend a sympathetic ear to my predicament when I say that we are in dire need of trained and qualified engineers.”
“That is indeed tragic.”
“I also foresee a future shortage of test pilots.”
“You don’t seriously expect me to fly again.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if you found yourself unable to resist the allure. If you feel you must stay grounded, however, you’ll find that the dashing young king of Figaro is extraordinarily interested in turning his desert into arable land. If you don’t feel that I can reward your research handsomely enough, you can always work directly for the castle.”
“I’m still having trouble accepting that you fought alongside the king in the war.”
“Ah, but I did.”
“So you helped save the world. You.”
“Yes.”
“So you fought monsters with a sword.”
“Fantastic, I know, but true.”
“So you learned to use magic from a rock.”
“I find it hard to believe myself.”
“You didn’t spend the whole time drinking and gambling.”
“There might have been a bit of drinking and gambling, I don’t mind admitting it.”
“Honestly.”
“I also learned to cook, have you heard stories about that?”
“You’re aware that this is becoming increasingly difficult to believe.”
“I assure you that I am completely and utterly serious about my acquisition of culinary skills. Perhaps you would be more likely to believe me if I confessed that I learned in the company of two beautiful young women?”
“Terra and Celes, I presume. What are those two doing these days?”
“One of them is rebuilding a city on the easternmost edge of the southern continent, and the other is helping her. They’ve made quite a nice life for themselves, I understand.”
“You understand. Should I assume that you don’t regularly visit them?”
“Of course I do. What good is an airship if you don’t have anywhere to fly? Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”
“I think I would have more reason to be jealous of the men whose company you shared for two years.”
“Who would spread such a vile and salacious rumor about me?”
“I would find it difficult to list all of the young braves who offer their services in the city’s salons.”
“I am aware, Daryl, that this might be stretching the bounds of credibility, but there are far more people bragging about having once shared my bed than even I have had the leisure to dally with.”
“Because you’re such a catch, obviously.”
“That’s the first sensible thing you’ve said all evening. More wine?”
“Do you think that will help you persuade me to join your business venture?”
“No. I believe I’ve already convinced you of the worthiness of the enterprise. Now I’m simply trying to get you to sleep with me.”
Daryl sighed and took a generous sip from the glass in front of her. “Setzer, I don’t know why I even bother with you anymore.”
****
Midnight found the pair strolling down the moonlit streets of Nikeah. Setzer had offered Daryl his arm, and she had taken it. The two whispered to each other like conspirators as they approached her townhouse in the university district of the city. Daryl brought them to a halt in front of a stately building surrounded by a small garden and enclosed within a wrought iron fence. Its eaves were adorned with winged fancies carved into the stone.
“Your tastes have grown more bourgeois since we last met,” Setzer remarked.
“Let me say that the bank gave me a deal I couldn’t refuse,” Daryl smiled as she swung open the gate that she hadn’t bothered to lock.
“You’ve kept up your garden quite nicely.”
“Is it open cynicism I detect in your voice, or were you trying to hide it?”
“I thought I was being quite clever.”
“Not as clever as I was in hiring someone to rake over this mess once a week. It wouldn’t do to not keep up appearances.”
“Showing off for the local gentry?” Setzer suggested as Daryl held the door open for him.
“More like not giving them an excuse to bother me.” And indeed, the inside of her house was a mess, with books and papers strewn about between empty bottles and discarded clothing.
“If this is your foyer, I’d hate to see your bedroom.”
“Somehow I doubt that.”
“Is that an invitation?”
When Daryl didn’t respond, Setzer simply followed her as she strode through the room and into a kitchen. She kicked open an icebox and removed a bottle of sparkling wine, popped the cork without fanfare, and turned to find Setzer already holding out two flutes for her.
“It’s the rear garden that’s the real mess,” she said as she poured. She escorted Setzer through the back door and onto a patio threatened on all sides with vegetal overgrowth. Through the tangle, the outlines of statues shone palely in the moonlight. “The previous resident was something of a collector, apparently,” she offered by way of explanation.
“My gods, Daryl, I’m not sure whether I should berate you for your gross negligence of your property or praise you for your obviously single-minded devotion to your work.”
“The latter of which would also be an ill-disguised insult, I’m afraid. Why don’t you simply content yourself to toasting a new partnership?”
“Allow me to do so, then.” Setzer touched the rim of his glass to hers. “Here’s to quitting this bloated city and returning to the open air.”
Daryl drained her glass. “A noble toast.”
Setzer had likewise emptied his glass, and he looked at Daryl askance in the brief silence as the two faced the garden. “Perhaps I should warn you that this is the part where I kiss you and drag you off to bed.”
Daryl laughed. “I thought you were afraid of my bedroom?”
“I can force myself to be brave. I did save the world, after all,” Setzer said, and then he kissed her.