"Fun."

"I can be back tomorrow evening to collect you, if that's okay? I'd like to get a place set up for my girlfriend ahead of time..."

"That's plenty of time."

"And - if your weird foreign magic includes memory modification... I don't want to permanently forget consenting and then taking my leave, but I wouldn't object if you wanted to suppress the memory of this conversation. For a bit of extra fun."

"The reversible kind would undo itself after a few days and might be less sticky on a demigod, but that does exist, yes. I'll knock you out and ask my girlfriend what she thinks before waking you, how about."

She nods. "She's lucky to have you."

Grin. "I'll leave you to your dinner, then...?"

"Only if you're in a rush to get out - I don't mind feeding you, and it'd be nice to use up some of my perishables."

"Then I'll stick around - Eliese isn't expecting me back for a few hours, and... I'd like to get to know you."

She grins. "Same."

And, after a rather lovely dinner and a light conversation about favorite art styles (apparently a bit of a universal obsession in this world), Acererak returns to their ship, humming happily and going to find Eliese to flop on.

"Was your errand successful?"

"Very much so." Kiss.

Kiss.

"Good."

Snuggle.

She swings from jittery to very excited over the next day, flirting with Eliese a lot, thinking some... Mostly planning the finishing touches on Eliese's birthday, but also still mulling over the love question in the back of her head.

Eliese believes Acererak to be Planning Something. She doesn't want to spoil the surprise for herself, however, and so will politely restrain her curiosity.

She vanishes after dinner the day before Eliese's birthday, only slipping back just before Eliese normally gets up for the day.

When Eliese does get up, there's a small feast of her favorites for breakfast and a grinning Acererak.

Something is definitely Up.

"Good morning, sweetheart."

"Good morning, darling. Happy birthday."

Eliese beams at her.

"Why, thank you."

She pulls out a seat for her girlfriend, and then with a totally innocent expression on her face doesn't mention a single thing that might be Up the entire breakfast.

So it's a challenge, then.

Very well, Eliese will contain herself until Acererak decides to reveal whatever it is she has to reveal.

Acererak has not obtained any more patience in the last forty eight hours, alas. She's squirming before Eliese is.

Once they've eaten: "Can the ship handle itself for a little bit?"

"How long would a little bit be?"

"Perhaps... Until sometime tomorrow?"

"Hmm... We might want to feed and water the pets, but I think it should be fine."

"We can leave them with full bowls."