2020-07-08 - The Moonlit Proposal

After the wild evening they had together, the muscles in Byron's mildly body ached in a good way. The slight strain and soreness all worked to remind him of the memorable evening they'd shared. When they woke up, the place was still staged for the night's activities, something which made him laugh on realizing just how many toys there were to play with. Even the ones unused. He didn't go to sleep immediately, spending a lot of the evening cuddling with an exploration of hands and such, but when the magic and invigoration of the evening began to take a toll on them, it left him to silently contemplate the whole of their vacation thus far and the news that he had yet to tell her regarding things back home.

Nearing noon, they'd showered and had a lush breakfast before packing things up for their final leg of the trip. It was a short half hour train ride to Monaco, specifically Monte Carlo. Rather than the more casual resort wear that he'd been wearing for the whole vacation, today he wore a light tan suit, dressing to impress. Just like with Nice, rather than staying at a hotel, Byron had rented out a villa with a view. He enjoyed their private times together. They could enjoy a dip in the pool while watching the boats sail by.

"If your birthday was in May, we would have caught the Grand Prix." Byron jokes on their way to unpack and refresh at the villa. Whether Lilith had any interest in car racing, he wasn't sure, but it's one of those things Byron seems intrigued by. "We have today and tomorrow to do what we will here." Perhaps as a light-hearted comment to what they got up to last night, he says with a playful grin, "I have no regrets about dragging you all this way."

"That is too bad. How much money would you have to pay to get me in a Grand Prix racer for a loop or two?" Lilith wonders of Byron with a hint of a grin, knowing she's asking for something pretty hard to get, and that the answer is probably too much. With Byron, though, the way he goes grandeur with doting surprises, there might be no telling. It's a moot inquiry anyway, as it isn't yet May, but isn't it just like Lilith to want to go fast for kicks. She doesn't look like the heathen daredevil she can occasionally be today, wearing a summery designer dress in white with red florals and a cinched navy belt. Her heels are thick for support of walking for travel, but they're still a strappy and sexy number to go with the light and airy off-shoulder dress.

Unlike Byron, Lilith was very sweetly content and exhausted after the full day on the Riviera in the sun, especially after the vigorous way they exhausted each other's bodies. In the morning, when slipping into the shower, the woman takes a moment with tousled bed-hair and leftover cosmetics still on, looking at herself naked in the large bathroom mirror. The finger markings that stuck given how incredible and no-holds-barred the night was, they make warmth in her stomach. She's not aware anything is amiss back home, Gray Harbor is very out of sight, out of mind for her. It's not forgotten really, she just mostly denies thinking about it, and she has a lot of right now to be living in thanks to this birthday trip.

Lilith has been so very unencumbered during almost all of this trip, but then again, it's been nothing but amazing, even with the run-in with her past they had at the first hotel in Paris. She doesn't have the burden of worry and wondering that Byron likely has at the back of his mind, and she's forgotten about Laurent's oddly coincidental journey to their destination they'd been warned of. And like the villa before, Lilith is keen to explore this one room for room to fawn over both the space and the man for arranging it.

Quietly laughing, the brunette tucks a wind-tousled loose piece of hair with smoothing back into her updo while pausing to look at Byron with a few overblown bats of her lashes, "... are you supposed to have regrets about yanking me overseas for a good spoiling?" She knows what he means, though, she's just giving him lighthearted shit before stepping to adjust his suit lapels needlessly, "I must say, though, I was a tiny bit worried you'd find yourself not well-suited for our little game last night. But you certainly seemed to enjoy yourself. Next time, we'll give you the reins, mm?"

She checks the time then on his expensive watch with reach for his wrist and glance down, "Do we have plans for the rest of this day?"

Letting Lilith explore the place, Byron starts to do some unpacking, hanging up some of their clothes in the wardrobe and things of that nature. Just things that they will surely wear this evening, leaving the rest of their attire packed up for their trip home. It's at this point while she's distracted does he reach into his pocket for his phone to check on any messages. The guy he'd sent ahead to secure the place was waiting for Thorne for a brief conference and he'll tend to that before both he and Lilith set off on this Monaco leg of the trip.

When she returns to the room, the phone is slipped back into pants pocket just in time for her step in close and straighten his lapels, a fond smile in greeting spread across his lips. Then she brings up last night and their eyes meet and lock for this little exchange with her hands adjusting his suit. "I'm sure that can be arranged." Whatever else he may be thinking is set aside for now, especially when she inquires on his plans for the day.

"Obviously, there's the Casino, but it's not like I co-own one, myself." Byron recalls all of the other activities found here, "We could visit a few of the famous gardens. The Princess Grace rose garden among one of them. There's a good place to visit if you're interested in antique cars," A pause, "As for letting you drive on the Grand Prix track?" He has to laugh about that idea, "I'd have to ask around, but I'm sure it's possible." Taking her hand in his, he continues, "There's the palace. A lot of shopping, but I think I could go for a little drink." He then adds, "I've reserved a table for dinner on one of those large ships. I've hung something up for you to wear this evening."

When Byron conferences with the man ahead of the couple keeping an eye on things, he learns that Laurent hasn't really done anything but had dinner with a woman and checked into a hotel prior to that, which he gives Byron the name of. Any other matters or concerns are no doubt discussed while Lilith is exploring. When she is back in the room and he affirms interest in those kind of future arrangements, the woman's lips slant with smile helplessly.

In listening to the options, at some point Lilith looks a little wary about walking through gardens-- it's an old habit even if she's not actually feeling the fear of withering a whole rose garden on accident away from Gray Harbor. It's a momentary thing, though, and she tilts her head in consideration with the Princess Grace designated gardens before nodding a couple of times. Then she nods at the Palace too, but they'll probably have to do that the next day before it's time to fly out, because she thinks they should get drinks before the gardens to unwind from travel and at least window shop while around town proper. Also, she points out that Byron may own a casino, but this is a Monte Carlo casino! She starts to say something else, but...

It's just sunk in what Byron has arranged for dinner and she stops and thinks about that for a moment before eyeing the wardrobe he's unpacked into. Then she looks back at Byron and in an instant, her arms are thrown around his neck and shoulders, "I'm not going to look until I come back to dress for dinner, I think, so I can anticipate the surprise of it while we're out. And you know, casino could come after dinner, while we're swanky... remember what we did on the roulette table one time?" Of course he does, but Lilith is teasing before she nips against the lobe of his ears while hugging, a grr of noise turning into laughter.

So that's what they do, those things Lilith affirmed of the lot, and window shopping admittedly turns into actual shopping after drinks at a posh bar with patio views in the lovely sunshine. With the packages in the trunk, they go to the gardens and Lilith forgets to be nervous around all the plants, she actually marvels and touches at some of the roses and their variety blossoms of color. After some discussion, they realize they can only fit in so much if they want to ready and change for dinner, so that's the next plan of action, in which Lilith finds her dress, but makes Byron shower and change in another bedroom (rude)! But look, she wants her emergence in the dress he picked to be an utter moment, it's tactical.

Satisfied by the man's news, Byron has one less thing to worry about. He knows that he should ask Alexander about Isabella, that thought entering his mind yet again, but before he's able to tap out a message, he decides against it. They were so close to the end of the vacation, though knowing what he knows, it makes their return home that much more of a dark weight on his shoulders.

During the course of the day, it would be a lie to say that Byron isn't bothered of the eventual. Their flight home. But he'll make the most of the day, having another afternoon of blissful sunshine upon them. He was all dressed up, so a trip to the many shops in town is an adequate decision on Lilith's part. He got to show off his suavity and his near perfect French, which always surprises him, because this was far beyond the conversational French that he'd taken in high school and then college.

Lilith might have reservations about stepping foot anywhere near the lovely rose garden, but Byron's mind is far from any Veil attacks or the wilting of all of the flowers within. It was an enjoyable afternoon, before they took in a cocktail before heading back to the villa to refresh and change.

Not deterred by Lilith's playfulness in wanting to 'surprise' him with the outfit she was wearing, despite him choosing it for her, he doesn't mind giving her this moment to himself. Changing out of the resort suit into a pristine white tux, by the time she's all dolled up, he's standing in front of the mirror, straighten out the bow tie at his collar.

Lilith comes into the space where Byron is finishing dressing and/or grooming with finishing touches, head tilted to affix a chandelier earring as she walks in. She stops short, though, to make a tiny whistle at Byron in his dashing tuxedo, hands going onto her hips, "You are such a fox. I feel somewhere between angelic and foxy." The brunette woman strikes a pose then with leg popped out through hem slitting. Hands removing, she does a walking slow turn with switching movement and slink.

The dress is definitely more foxy than angelic, but it's the white lace mesh overlay that falls long that makes her somewhat think that. Granted, the lower part of the gown skirt is sheer, built in shorter sheath dress beneath that's low cut for cleavage and off the shoulders, riding the curves of the brunette's body. There's sparkly, crystal accented and strappy heels on her feet with glass heel stems, and she's wearing her new jewelry that's made to go with evening wear she got from him in Paris as sparkling accents. Her dark hair is arranged in sleek, long and loose curls, almost vintage in style with the way it's partially smoothed and parted to one side, and her eyes are smoky, glossy lips flushed like a rose from the garden they walked through.

When she's finished modeling for Byron, she comes to straighten the tie needlessly, as he's a damn pro at tying these things, and for a flash, she remembers his red necktie as a choke during sex and... it's momentarily distracting. She smells wonderful in close, of course, but she leans in some to see which cologne he's chosen before making a deliberate purr of noise and pawing at him in feline fashion, "I smell that one and suddenly, your pheromones are soaking into me like an aphrodesiac, I think there's something voodoo in the bottles with a cedarwood base note."

"You realize you can't marry me now, we've already had our honeymoon. I'm having trouble thinking of how you could outdo this one. You just keep shooting yourself in the foot, don't you?" Her hand pause and taps a french-manicured fingernail against the lapel of his tux, "When you're finished telling me how pretty I am, I'm ready for another boat." She suspects this one will be VERY much larger than the last, but she's not sure how much, in truth. But if they're getting served dinner on it, it might be a whole yacht affair, who knows with this guy.

When Lilith reveals herself, while Byron might have a good idea of what she's wearing, just seeing how the outfit clings to her every curve is something that he can more than appreciate. In fact, he does so, not just with his eyes or with a few sexy words whispered into her ear, but by tracing his hands down her sides and over her hips to let her know just how much he appreciated her beauty. His chin lowered, watching as she toys with his already perfectly straightened tie, he remarks with a sly smile, "I had a feeling that this one wasn't going to disappoint." He says of the dress. It was definitely eye-catching, especially on her sensual figure. "Watch you turn all the heads tonight." He punctuates this with a deep and passionate kiss.

Her joke about marriage just has him beaming brightly. "We've been married for years now even when it never crossed our minds." Yes, he's bringing up their childhood nuptials even if that was all in play.

With an arm at her waist, he whisks her off to the awaiting car which takes them to the magnificent vessel on the waters. He owned a floating casino, but that casino was in Gray Freakin' Harbor in Washington state and not in Monaco, so despite their being used to floating things of this nature and seaside views, this was still a special evening.

Settled in at their table with an expansive view of the waters and the boats out in the distance in this summer night sky, Byron puts in an order for a starter glass of wine for them both, before they are presented with a luscious appetizer, their romantic evening aglow by the glow of candle light.

"I was thinking after dinner, we could wander the deck, get an evening drink and just enjoy the evening out together."

Lilith admittedly wears the hell out of that dress and Byron knows her balance of edgy and elegant that only certain people can pull off. She's definitely one of those people. When he comes down for the kiss, she flats her palms on his jacket and kisses back with passion, regardless of how made up she is. She'll just fix her lipstick in the car. The woman can't help but laugh at the marriage comment, though, ceding her agreement with a nod of her head as they go out to the car for transport, "True... I did make us flower crowns out of dandelions, that's how you know it sticks."

Then she comments to his other bit about turning all the heads after delay, waiting until they're cozy in the leather car seating and she's fixing her lipstick, "You command the places you walk into by bearing alone, you deserve something eye catching on the arm. If I turn too many heads, though, just gouge their eyes." Clipping the compact mirror she's using to close, she drops it into her glittery clutch purse before leaning aside to rub thumb at the man's mouth in case there's residual smearing from their kiss, or just because she likes to fawn and touch, "Anyway, you like it when I turn heads, so long as I'm within two feet of you. Might as well show me off before I go expiring with old age, it's just around the corner from thirty."

Lilith clearly is making a joke and isn't concerned about how old she is, she believes she was a proper idiot while young, if rather savvy about it. Maybe turning thirty fixes all those things because you learn which mistakes not to make by then. Mostly. Hopefully. Either way, Byron is making sure she rings the new decade in right and when they board the waiting vessel for romantic dinner on the water, she's walking cool about it like she belongs there.

But once they're seated and Byron has ordered the wine, she leans forward to whisper at him over the table, "... this is so fancy, I think I'm developing a posh transcontinental accent by exposure." But then there's their glasses and the appetizer arriving so she sits back straight and plucks one of those glasses into hand. Instead of drinking, though, she holds it, looking perfectly pleased with the man's suggestion for after, "Of course, we'll do just that. But first... a toast before we get toasted, mm?"

Lilith thinks for a beat and vaguely tilts her dark, coiffed head before extending her glass for tink against Byron's decisively, "We leave soon. But everything about this experience together... we'll take with us. You've halved my sorrows and doubled my joys and just when I think I couldn't possibly love you more, you prove me wrong. That said? To us."

What man wouldn't want the woman on their arm to turn all of the heads in a room? Well, a jealous man, to be sure. But whether or not Byron is the jealous sort, he knows how attractive Lilith is and with his own confidence in himself, he won't deny that they make an incredibly striking pair.

Once the orders are put in and Lilith leans, her whisper brings a proud smile to Byron's lips. "Sometimes I wonder if you're trying to tell me to shake things up a bit, so that you're not too comfortable about such a rich lifestyle. If so, we can head on over the McDonald's for our next date." This he teases her with, but they have eaten at, or at least ordered from, less than fancy establishments many times before. Especially local restaurants in Gray Harbor like the Fried Fish Shack.

He's also happy to hear just how taken Lilith has been by this vacation. He wanted her to forget about all of their troubles, even if it pains him that he'll have to expose her to such things soon enough. Debating on when to feed her which bits of information, he doesn't let those thoughts mar his visage, offering up a charmed smile to go along with Lilith's toast, lifting his own glass. "To us. May we never forget the fond memories of my being tied to the bed posts in some villa in France." His glass slowly lowers, his gaze cast across the way to regard her with a smoldering intensity, "Or the way that you look in the moonlight this evening."

The meal itself is a lavish and delicious one, complete with a violinist's performance to help elevate the romantic mood. After a fine meal and several drinks downed, he escorts her to the topmost deck so that they can take in the magnificent night view beneath the moon and stars. Here, he could better marvel the way she looks in that dress beneath the moonlight as well with one hand at the small of her back as they casually stroll along the deck, coming to a stop at a point where the glittering lights of the many villas and establishments on land with lovely mountain views rise up before them.

Leaning against a rail, being propped by one crooked arm, he starts with: "When you threatened to walk out on me and into the darkness to walk home. Alone. Despite my initial anger, it got me thinking." He then hurries in with, "Especially after everything we knew that was going on in town. The disappearances." There's a pause of hesitation there. A rather lengthy pause. "On the first day of our trip, in Paris, Alexander contacted me to let me know that... Isabella was gone. Missing. Lost, I think." His gaze had been on the view ahead of them this whole time, but he slowly turns towards Lilith with a slow, curious look, his head slowly shaking, "I don't want to place you back into that kind of danger again, but I know that we have to go back."

Lilith starts her toast with a subtle, but glowing little smile, an expression that only grows and brightens over the whole of her made up features, first with amusement for the whole bedposts bit. In fact, she looks as if she's going to laugh, then Byron's intense dark eyes are catching her with the addendum. It makes her catch her breath, that leaping heartbeat of moment, the gaze combined with the words he speaks and her blood quickens into rush. She's blushing, though the cosmetics mute it so it's hard to tell, in truth. But with smoky-eyed intensity that draws out the vivid blue of her eyes, she keeps the man's eyes until the food is delivered soon after.

"Oh, Byron..."

It's a soft exclamation that isn't finished verbally once they reach the topmost deck. Lilith can feel the imagery of it all searing into that place where certain memories stick so vividly, it becomes possible for one to get lost in them, for better or worse. This is certainly one that sticks for the better. Byron's own white tuxedo choice seems to have a luminesce of its own, much like Lilith in her white lace and mesh form-fitted dress, and he's so striking and tall and handsome... majestic really, that bearing and those eyes. It takes the woman a moment to really notice the stars and the glittering lights beyond because there for a moment, Byron is all she quite sees. He's her knight, her prince, her king in shimmering armor... or formal wear, same difference.

Eventually, she catches onto the view too and follows Byron to the rail while somewhat enraptured-- she's had that look more than a few times during this trip, honestly. When Byron leans on the railing and starts to speak, though, she turns with angling that keeps her visual attention on him, her smile turning into a look of attentive curiosity... especially given how he begins. When there's a long pause, she doesn't break it, but she does move her hand to put at his free hand so she can loop pinky fingers with the man in silent, patient encouragement. In Gray Harbor, she'd probably be a bit wary about that pause on the sly. However, Lilith is so light at this point in the trip due to distance from GH and "honeymoon" bliss, she's pretty mild-mannered about most everything, even traffic jams in Paris on the way to the airport.

Byron feels the finger looped around his tighten, though, when he gets to the last part and turns his head to look at her, and her lashes are batting a few times fast. But there's no tempermental offense about not knowing sooner. She looks alarmed and concerned, yes, but she also seems to know she couldn't have possibly done anything had she known, even if they had gone back. After a moment of digesting, Lilith herself looks out at the view and water to let the man watch her in profile, and it seems as if she's trying to work out how to react or what to even say. The dolled-up brunette doesn't stay that way long, though, she meets his eyes again with concern, "... you've known that this whole trip. That must have been extremely stressful to hold and worry about alone."

Her hand lifts his where their fingers are hooked and Lilith kisses at hers and Byron's joined pinky fingers, taking another beat before asking a question.

"... have you heard anything since?"

The linking of pinkies comes as a form of reassurance to Byron, this connection urging him on with what he needed to get off his chest. Despite the fancy restaurant being busy with patrons and the fact that there were other couples or groups meandering about the deck the same as they were, it was easy to tune that background noise out and to feel as if they were the last two people on earth right now. There was the view, the agreeable temperature. And then there was Lilith, just standing there like the beacon of light that he'd known her to be in Gray Harbor. Her inner light shining so brightly and the white of her slinky dress adding a sort of luminescence to that vision of her.

There's a slow nod when she realizes that, yes, this had burdened him the entire time and for now, he turns his gaze back out towards the cityscape to take in the beauty of Monte Carlo. Feeling her gentle kiss on their linked fingers, his eyes lower to watch the sweet gesture, "Alexander hasn't said anything more and, for my part, I was hesitant to inquire further. Though in hindsight that was selfish of me. I just knew that once I started asking questions, checking around to see if anyone else had seen her, the more I'd be drawn away from our time together and I didn't want that."

He continues on after releasing a heavy sigh of relief. Relief that he didn't have Isabella's disappearance bottled up anymore, "I didn't want to ruin our trip, because it was supposed to be... no, it was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. Thanks to you. After last night," He starts, feeling a rise in heat as he's bringing this up right now, "Last night was almost therapeutic in a sense. You know how hard it was for me to give you full control over the situation, something which I tend to struggle with more often than not in my day-to-day. Stemming from childhood trauma or just.." There's a self-deprecating smile on his lips now as he shakes his head, "Just this need to have everything fit a certain way. Like a jigsaw puzzle. It's been easier now that I have far more control in my own life, but I can be uptight about it, especially when little things are out of place."

It's an odd subject switch, but it seems like he's had a lot on his mind since they started this vacation. Probably even before they left Gray Harbor.

Lilith continues to watch Byron after he's turned his gaze to the view once more while talking, features still touched with concern. But there's a certain appreciative softness to her features, despite the context of the words and situation that's just been outed. It feels a little warm to hear the man talk at length about the way things are inside him, he doesn't do it much. But after a moment, her own eyes turn out to the view and she leans forward against the rail with her forearms. In that dress, though, it can't help but look like an ass-out pose in tall heels, especially with the way she pops her leg through the skirt slitting, if Byron wanted heads turn, he'll no doubt get that now if he wasn't before.

The woman lets him talk through everything without comment or questioning, head tipping into small nod of understanding at a couple of points. A night summer breeze on the water toys with her hair, separating the curls some into a more free flowing and less perfect, sleekly vintage look, but the tumble of dark bends and waves is gorgeous all the same. Her hand lifts briefly to push some of it away from her face, commenting to Byron quietly, "Sometimes, people say no news is good news, and it makes sense if you think about it... we're fairly helpless for the situation from here, and there isn't much guarantee we could do much anything if we were there."

Lilith exhales a soft sigh and turns her head to look at Byron, though, while propped forward against her arms, speaking a bit slowly at first, "I think you're making the right decision to hold your inquiries, because of just that. If anyone is going to puzzle through any obstacle to see freedom, it's Isabella." She's quiet for a time, as if weighing how much hope she should have in saying so, but she can't say or think much else because... she doesn't want to believe otherwise and is stubbornly refusing to somewhere inside. After the pause she makes her own quiet confession.

"While I hate the idea of you holding that worry on your own, I understand why, I wouldn't want to say anything until utterly necessary either for the sake of letting you breathe freely. It was better for me not to know, which is probably selfish, but... I'll be better equipped to deal with whatever comes next now that I've had this time." Lilith's head tilts then and she straightens to turn and look at Byron directly, stepping in against him to put the tip of her nose against his chest when she's finished speaking, "It was odd perhaps, given everything else I was feeling... but I was proud of you for letting yourself feel all of last night's experience, knowing full well it'd be a challenge."

Her head pulls back up after a moment to speak like she fully means it, even though she might occasionally find hope futile while they're at home and in the thick of all the challenges it presents for them, "I don't think it was selfish of you to delay inquiry, though. I think... it's partially a defense mechanism because we needed this. We did. We needed to shut everything out before it started to eat us up. We needed to heal wounds we never took the time to care for properly. We couldn't do that with so much wrong at every turn. We needed to be reminded... we do have a future anywhere, everywhere we want to be. It's just not that time yet, and that's okay. 'Together' makes all the difference and we'll power through."

Byron is relieved with the reassurance that Lilith gives him that by not reaching out, in their situation anyway, that was the best thing to do. She also didn't seem too upset by the fact that he waited so long to tell her the news. An entire week almost passed with her being oblivious to the fate of the archaeologist. It gave the pair all this time to live their best lives, despite the nagging guilt that chewed at Byron's conscience the whole time. He got to watch Lilith smile through all of this.

One arm hooks around her when she steps in close, feeling her cheek against his chest. He sweeps her up into a slow dance, the music trickling out from inside of the restaurant mixed with the warm breeze that ushers over them both. At first, his eyes wander their surroundings, lit up by the stars, the moon, the various illumination of light coming from not only the large ship they are on, but the various ships anchored nearby, as well as the Monte Carlo backdrop ahead of them.

With her head pressed against his heart, one hand strokes gently down her back as he lifts his chin to view the sky above. "There was a part of me that really thought I was going to lose you that night. If you stepped out of the car. I was filled with a storm of emotions from anger to fear. And grief. It was overwhelming at the time and I didn't know what to do, except I knew that I had to stop you from leaving." His chin then lowers, nestling into the top of Lilith's crown. She can feel his grip tightening around her now, holding her protectively against him, his voice wavering, "I know that I can't protect you. Not in the way that I'd want. Not yet." He repeats something in the same vein as what she'd just spoken. "But how can I bring you back to the Hell that we came from? That birthed us?"

One of his arms loosens from around her and he distances himself briefly to reach into the inner lining of his tuxedo jacket. What he pulls out is a brilliant diamond ring, a simple yet graceful thing that shines brilliantly in the darkness. "We don't have to rush things." He murmurs nervously, "I just need..." He stops himself, but draws in a deep breath. He doesn't come out and ask her in the traditional sense. Remaining upright with her in his arms rather than lowering himself down on one knee. Nor does he ask the magic question that many a girlfriend wait impatiently to hear.

"I want to take the next step in strengthening our bond, to make our relationship and who we are unbreakable." He means this in the sense of all the bullshit that tends to be thrown their way. "I thought I was going to lose you once. I don't want to feel that way ever again."

Lilith closes her eyes as Byron wraps arms around her, guiding her into slow dance and she spends the next few seconds drinking in the smell of him, the way he feels against her, so solid and right. She relishes the thumping of his heart, then with her cheek at rest against his chest, her eyes open to look at the perfection of the night on the water, the twinkling lights and stars. His hand stroking down through her hair gives her a brief spreading flash of goosebumps, and despite what she's just been told a few minutes before, she can't help the warmth that comes with the sensation.

When he starts to speak again, though, she listens and gradually looks up to meet his eyes with her own. Her sapphire gaze is steady, despite the helpless breaks in her words that display her own distress in making him feel that way. She wants to hear these things, though, even with the unpleasant recollection, retrospect is sometimes very important, "I wasn't leaving you, but I-- I know what you mean. It was dangerous. I don't know what I was thinking, that was the worst possible timing to... I'm sorry for giving you a scare." His arms are tight around her, protecting and safe despite his claims of being unable to fully protect her. Her own come around with looping, one at his back, one at his shoulder to draw herself in snug cling of return.

She doesn't have an answer for his questions, though. Some things just are. But he may not expect an answer, knowing the difficulty of painting it in a brighter light, the sentiment behind it is more important to Lilith. As he gradually puts space between them to dig for the ring, the hand on his shoulder comes to caress lovingly at his bristled jaw, knuckles trailing with turn to follow the strong line. She doesn't notice the ring initially because of that, enamored with his face and the gesture, but once she picks up on his nervousness in combination with what he's starting to say... she sees the ring between his fingers.

Her hand stills to rest near Byron's collar, breathing picking up to that shallower, quicker bid for air, but other than that, she doesn't squeal like a girl or jump around or start crying. She just patiently listens to him through her secretly stunned surprise, and it helps that she's not sure how to react in this case. But she knows what she feels. Her hand drags free from behind the man's back to touch her fingertip against the cool diamond faceting, delicate of touch, admiring and indicative. And when she speaks, it's quiet and earnest.

"I've always been yours, even when we were apart. And I always will be."

After touching the diamond ring and speaking softly, Lilith looks down and slides Byron's ring onto her slim ring finger. Then she looks back up to meet his eyes so she can see his reaction.

Beneath the suit, the slick hairstyle and dashing good looks, despite the natural confidence which he may exude, Byron was still just a man. Asking for a woman's hand was no easy feat for anyone. Maybe that's why he did it in this way rather than something more traditional. Or it could be that the way in which they'd lived their lives and the dangers which they faced, all of that is what brought about what some might consider a casual proposal, though in Byron's shoes, he just relayed to the woman he loved, despite the few secrets that remain, all about his fears and worries when it came to losing her. Those words are sometimes difficult to get out, but he learned his lesson that evening not so long ago.

He didn't want to pressure her into this or thinking that she was being rushed, which is why he mentioned the fact that there was no rush to the altar. They could take as long as they wanted, but in this way, there was a physical attachment between the both of them now in the form of that ring. When he notices her surprise all that he can do is smile quietly, eyes studying her features, especially her own bright and beautiful blues. Perhaps it was a good thing that she didn't break down or lose it when proposed to. Though this was a happy occasion, they were both still scarred by the place in which they still needed to return.

Her words light a fire within him, filling him with this relieving heat, one which makes him glow with pride in this evening sky. He helps to slip the ring upon her dainty finger, strengthening their bond to complete this task together. "I never thought or.. I didn't know, after all these years, since high school. College. That we'd ever be at this point together. I never knew whether we'd ever see each other again. But when we did because you returned back to Gray Harbor, that's when I knew. One of the few good things that the town provided us." These last words spoken in wry amusement. Once the ring is on her finger, he tilts her chin up with a hand, hovering his face so close to hers. "I really am the luckiest man in the world." A paused breath, "I love you, Lily." Taking her mouth with a burning passion, a mixture of his own ecstasy in this moment and the worry and fear that still lingers in his mind about their return home, he knew that they were moving onto the next chapter in their lives together. Before Gray Harbor, however, they still had one full day to bask in the beauty of their engagement.

Lilith kisses Byron back breathlessly after he leans in with those endearing words, arms making a slow slide of wrapping about his neck and shoulders. The rest of the ship might as well not exist, the woman forgets all about that and even the scenery while sinking into the reality of what just happened between them. In the middle of the kiss, there's a murmur against the man's lips, "I never expected, but when we locked eyes that first time on my return, I-- when I felt the way you held me at Tobin's after so long, I couldn't help but have hope and imagine... what if?"

Her breath trembles with intensity and maybe some choking up despite her relative grace in accepting the proposal, "I love you, Byron. You make me feel like a princess... no, your goddess and queen." After she's made her murmur of return words, she's back to kissing, no real care for what's acceptable PDA in such a fancy setting. Her arms around him cling so tight, it's close to lifting herself off of those semi-Cinderella glass stem heels.

The woman feels like Cinderella right now, pulled from the cinders and ashes of her very life to be loved and treated like some semblance of true royalty. What may seem like a casual proposal from Byron given all the fanfare he usually provides with surprises, it's not that way for Lilith. Byron is taking the time to release the things inside, to speak from the heart without typical reserve, she noticed it even before the proposal. She's known him since they were children, they bonded in the face of their difficult lives then and now, took care of each other, she knows the significance of such openness. And honestly, she prefers it this way, she doesn't need fanfare and tradition, as much as she graciously enjoys the man's doting and what he provides.

This is far more intimate, as such things should be. Lilith feels that intimacy through and through, and somewhere through the kiss, she can't help but smile against the man's lips and murmur, "Isn't it so tempting to consummate this on that railing?" They probably should not do that, but in this case, it might be the memory of last time they were on vacation perched on a balcony railing high above, "It all started with a ring the second time around, didn't it?" Despite it being a cursed ring, she seems to appreciate the coincidental tie. Her hands around his neck loosen, one sliding behind his back as she starts to rock and sway again with dance.

The other hand, though... she breaks just enough from the man's lips after a nuzzle of noses to really look at her finger with the diamond sparkling, full of devotion of promise. And after a press of Lilith's lips flat, she can't help the little bounce that happens and the excitable, if muted noise in her throat, seeing the reality of it. It's totally her version of a squeal while trying not to squeal, "... and there I was making engagement jokes. Oh, the irony, I'm not sure how you contained that."

"When you contacted me that first time," Byron says as the edges of his lips lift into a rather pleased smile, "I wasn't sure what to expect. Whether it was a joke, a prank. Even though you relayed some things which should have put to bed any doubts. It did stir up hope in me, that you were back in town and that I'd be able to see you again." Here, he has to laugh, "There was a point where I thought I might have been imagining see you around town. Catching glimpses of a ghost from my past out in the pouring rain, then losing sight of you altogether. I have to wonder if that was really you now, as you were really back in town, rather than my imagination going wild."

It's quite amusing and pride-inducing when she tells him just how he makes her feel. A princess. A queen. A goddess. All wrapped up in one. He really was always trying to be her knight.

While they may feel like the only two people alive in their tiny bubble, there were other fancily dressed restaurant patrons as well, all taking in an evening stroll after dinner. In fact, at least one group took notice of the proposal, a nosy young blonde stopping her mixed group of friends to point the couple out. There's some clapping and cheering to go along with this of course and at least one woman teasing her boyfriend about when he was planning on proposing to her.

Thus taking Lilith up against and/or on the ship's rail would be, while not an impossible task, a very indecent and public event. If anything, Byron has to laugh at the suggestion, his eyes wandering over to where that cheering group still stands before they eventually wander off. She then brings up the ring and for the both of them, those were one of the low points in their lives. There have been others, but that truly stands out.

Yes. Yes, he was listening to all of Lilith's engagement jokes. His dark eyes glance at the dazzling diamond for a brief second. While beautiful, the ring itself pales to what his gaze settles in on as he watches Lilith with a warm fondness. "I almost had cold feet because of the jokes. But there was never a point where I thought I was making a mistake and... I needed to say these things, all of it, before we returned home."

He'll pull her into his arms for one final dance on the ship, before escorting her from the docks to the beach, while they are still dressed all fancy, just so they can wander on the moonlit sands one last time before catching the flight out the next evening.