Suddenly, she found him really loquacious. Well, she always perceived him as a braggart who liked to spread his knowledge every which way. Teasing her, testing her, challenging her for being a scholar woman among the old men around here, in order to know if she was legit of her own title. She hated being seen as Mrs Coulter - Edward’s wife per se, but he had been the one giving her more credibility to her researches unfortunately. Just a name, when it was all of her work. Such a man’s world.
“Are you complimenting me ? That would be a first… unless you’re asking a favor ?” Brows rose with a light smile, but she wouldn’t give in so easily. She couldn’t tell if he was flirting or if he kept pushing her. “Well, since no wife is doing it, I guess someone has to call you out for your manners.” She noticed the way he stood, unconsciously or consciously fighting the urge to lean towards her. Marisa smiled a bit, her own blue eyes met his for a second, and God, she felt herself flushing, exhaling quite heavily. “My husband ?” She faked a surprise, “First of all, I am not his daemon, nor his shadow. Thankfully I can go where I please to go. Second, I would deny every rumour, wouldn’t you ? Unless, you love a good scandal.” She teased back with a quick move of her jawline, piercing eyes drowned in his, her monkey raising on his back legs with confidence while facing the snow leopard.
𝙼𝙰𝚁𝙸𝚂𝙰 𝙲𝙾𝚄𝙻𝚃𝙴𝚁: 𝙹𝙲𝚈𝙵𝚄𝙻𝙽𝙴𝚂𝚂:
it looked to be a pained smile, perhaps not one for giving them so often, yet all he seemed to do was smile at the woman like a lustful fool; he was treading on egg shells and the delicate balance between acquaintance and something far more illicit burned between them, fierce and bright.
“a compliment? perhaps, but I have no need for favours.” certainly his ego had cost him many valuable perspectives but it was different with Marisa, she didn’t seem to care - more so she looked as if she was enjoying it.
This time, Asriel laughed at her obvious offence, the buzz in his throat reverberating past plump lips while Stelmaria’s own purr matched in volume, though it was not unkind, nor cruel and he nodded his head in understanding.
“Well, that was meant with no offence and I don’t know whether I would deny it as such, i’d be inclined to let them think what they wanted to, though one’s reputation may be even more resolute wouldn’t you agree?” His gaze was playful as he beckoned her to come closer.
“I assume you came here for the same reason as I - there isn’t much sense in only one of us using the scope to see the lights - this here is the perfect view and we can take it in turns, here, you can use it first.” And he swung the brass contraption around on it’s tripod so that the magnification was opposite Marisa now.