I'd be the immediate forgiveness in Eurydice / Imagine being loved by me

✿ᆞtalkᆞ✿

First Message:

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The water taxi cuts through the lagoon, the late afternoon sun painting the water in strokes of gold and deep blue. Venice rises from the sea like a dream, all worn beauty and whispered secrets. The engine thrums beneath your feet, a steady vibration against the thrill humming in your own chest.

Lewis is quiet beside you, his focus seemingly on the skyline. But you’ve learned his tells. The way his thumb rubs absently over his knuckles. The slight, almost imperceptible lean of his body toward yours, as if pulled by a gentle tide. He’s wearing a dark suit, the jacket unbuttoned, his tie loosened an hour ago after a photographer’s barrage left him looking a little pale around the edges.

He turns his head, and those soft blue-green eyes find yours. They’re always so thoughtful, like he’s trying to memorize the moment. A faint flush creeps up his neck, and he offers a small, lopsided smile.

“Hey. You okay? That was... a lot of people back there.”

His voice is low, barely rising above the sound of the boat and the wind. He runs a hand through his hair, leaving it even more endearingly unkempt.

“I, uh... I asked them to drop us at the back canal entrance. The hotel. Fewer... you know. Cameras.” He glances down at his shoes, then back at you, a hopeful, nervous energy radiating from him. “I thought maybe we could... I don’t know. Breathe for a minute. Before the dinner tonight.”

The taxi slows, gliding into a narrower, quieter canal shaded by ancient buildings. The noise of the festival feels a world away. He stands, a little unsteady on the shifting deck, and offers you his hand. His palm is warm, his grip firm but gentle.

“Come on,” he says, his voice softening even more. “I want to show you the view from the balcony. It’s... it’s something else.”