She smiled at the compliment, although she wasn’t sure the second part was a compliment at all. At least, it wasn’t a particularly good one.

“If your wine is becoming chatty, perhaps you should lay off it.” She teased, eyes bright. She smiled as she watched him use his fancy new bottle opener and blushed when he looked at the hand she’d placed on top of his. It hadn’t been to make him uncomfortable, but rather a reassurance that she was there for him, but in that look she wasn’t certain it really was appropriate. Something about the lingering look tempted the release of her hand. The eye contact also caused the magic keeping her appearance as it was faltered, reddening her eyes before she shut them to recompose herself. It wasn’t necessary, but there was something vulnerable about looking as she had before. She trusted Arthur with it, but tonight didn’t seem the sort of engagement for that.

When the glasses were finally filled, it was an easy excuse to stop the awkward, albeit nice, moment, and Ciara quickly reached for the crystal and lifted it in a toast. “To a worry-free evening,” she proposed, hoping to lighten the atmosphere before taking a long sip.

“Well, I could tell you how fascinating it is wandering around a crowd,” she replied to his suggested speaking points. “but I think between that and the wine, we might both fall asleep far earlier that company should allow.” She chuckled and drank, relaxing. “How about, you tell me about the nuttiest requests while I beat you soundly?”

She wanted to catch up with him; it had been too long. She also knew that catching up was much easier when there was booze and gambling and fun rather than forced conversation. “We can play it by ear after that?”