location: unknown rooftop when: sunday, 14th february with: @kashvis
there are certain social norms when it comes to celebrations. days marked out on the calendar like tokens. the next gift to purchase. the next cheery mass produced greetings card to send. solomon is rarely social, and not exactly what would be considered ‘normal’ - at least in societal terms. which is probably why, when pink love hearts start to grace shop windows, bulbs in trendy eateries switch out to those with a crimson hue and the music which seeps out of the doors of every other venue is a sappy ballad, solomon definitely does - not - swoop by the nearest florist for a bouquet of overpriced blooms.
he’s seen what they do to the roses anyway. de-thorning something exquisite to make it less dangerous... ...it’s an insult to the rose. danger is something that simply adds to desirability. a brutal, beautiful truth.
he is also, however, not so devolved from society that he fails to understand that a - gesture - is expected. especially from those who share certain intimacies.
we should, at this point remember that the truce is well and truly broken. that mere days ago there was a - failed - attempt to steal wars property. that there were still targets painted on each on every one of their backs for vengeance or revenge, and the opportunity to reduce the opposing ranks by a virtue or dominion would certainly be a prize for any eager power in the making. which is why, there is no indulgent meal for two at the forth. there is no decadent stay within the luxurious confines of the ritz. there is...
..a rooftop. an arrangement with building security and a small envelope of cash secures the use of a service elevator. the rooftop itself elevated above most surrounding structures. a clear view of a large chunk of london, lit up with bustling streets and the long distant sounds of celebration. also - within range of a scope for observations ( the plan for erebus stated and set in stone - and... however many misgivings solomon has about the nature of it, he’ll follow those orders in so far as he is able ). so this is simply another facet of that. an opportunity to map a route through city streets to their target destination. and he presents that opportunity to kashvi, wondering if she’s disappointed with the seemingly banal turn of the evening. though it’s unlikely she’d have been surprised... romanticism, after all, wasn’t something solomon was well known for. at least overt expressions of it.
which is why, when the elevator opens and they emerge, he simply gestures off to one side, behind a built up section containing vents and machinery.
“why don’t you set up on the east side... i’ll start over here.”
matter of fact. straight to the point. they had a job to do, after all.
five seconds. maybe seven... until the glow would be visible to her. a string of lights. a small table with glasses and plates and silverware. a wicker hamper, laden with delicacies... simple favourites.
he watches. waits. only briefly breaking the stern facade of his lie.
“i’ve heard champagne is a very good accompaniment to a stakeout...”