"Sure! I'd love to stay!" she smiled. Her pink eyes took in the bleak darkness of the room they were currently in. Maybe there were some other things in his home that were a little more brighter, she hoped. "Oh yes! I love tea!" she chimed, clasping her hands together.
Pitch's jaw worked as he debated showing her the somewhat cheerier and homey part of his lair. She'd never been privy to seeing it and he himself wondered at his sudden kindness. He'd never come close to confessing his feelings for her or letting her in, so why start now? Finally he made his choice. He started walking slowly and gestured over his shoulder. "Please come, less damp and dreary accommodations are this way. There is where we shall have our tea."
She followed Pitch where he led her into a brand new room, and lo and behold there was colour. It was an interesting contrast to the large amounts of grey from the other room she was in. Tooth's eyes darted around the room taking in every new feature of this foreign place. "What kind of tea are we having?" she questioning innocently. "Black, green, white? Ginger, lemon, honey, eletheuro, chai? Earl grey, breakfast, apple, raspberry?" she excitedly named them off.
Pitch couldn't help but chuckle at her excitement as he motioned for her to sit on nearby chair. "Any kind you wish, as I have any and all of those. Make your choice and I shall go prepare it."
"Hmm," she said aloud, pondering which type she would like. There we so many to choose from! "Well, if you have every kind, then I guess I'll pick a honey vanilla white chai,' she smiled, settling with her complicated delicious mixed tea. She slowed down the fluttering of her wings until she lightly touched down onto the floor. She took a few steps around, feeling the ground beneath her feet. "I mean, if that's okay with you?" she turned, asking.
Pitch nodded. "That sounds rather nice, actually. Similar to my favorite. Of course I have it and that's fine." He was steadily warming up to her presence, and he watched her a moment as she took in their surroundings, pleased that she seemed to like how he'd decorated the place. He gestured towards a chair and smiled at her. "Please sit, and I will return shortly." He then turned and strode into the nearby kitchen, filling a teapot and setting it on the stove to heat and then pulling two mugs down from the shelf and placing two tea bags in them. He left them on the counter and returned to the other room, moving to sit on a chair across from her and then crossing his legs. He wasn't quite sure what to talk about with her now, since he'd never actually had her here as a guest and most of their previous encounters had been hostile. "So… how are things at the palace?" He said, somewhat lamely. He couldn't think of anything else to start off their conversation with.
She sat down in an overly plush chair, one that looked too soft for Pitch's home. "Well, things have definitely calmed down since, well, you know," she said, tilting her head towards him. "But things are well. The girls have been extra quick at filing all the teeth, and it's been a lot less stressful since, well, you know," she tilted her head again. "But we are beyond that now," she smiled, folding her hands. "So how are things under the bed?" she smiled, attempting at lifting the mood.
"Hmm…" Yes, he knew, He was glad that she didn't really bring up that particular incident. He was still somewhat resentful about what happened and his resentment flashed across his face a moment before he replaced it with a crooked half smile. "Same as always, I suppose. You would never believe how filthy some people can be. Dust bunnies are something I'm used to, but discarded underpants? No.. I don't like that.. don't like that at all.. and those aren't even the worst things I've found." Pitch shudders slightly at the thought. "Which is why I prefer closets or simply the shadows now.. less filth. Though some closets are rather dirty.. but at least I don't have to lay down in the mess."
"Underpants?" Tooth laughed, covering her mouth with a hand. "Oh my, now that is definitely not something I'd want to be around! Well, dirty ones at least," she teased. "I can't imagine what else you've found. So I do believe closets are better than that. Though there are some children I've visited personally who were in desperate need of a cleanup, or at least in need of doing some laundry! I mean, who doesn't love the smell of freshly clean linen?" she smiled. "Or vanilla, mmm," she mused, closing her eyes and envisioning the scent. "I'd say vanilla is one of my most favourite smells, but I do love the smell of butterfly flowers, oh, and cinnamon! And fresh tea leaves before they're soaked. And freshly baked bread. Now I'm just making myself hungry!" she giggled, hands still innocently hovering over her mouth as she laughed. She kicked up her feet, fitting them comfortably next to her on the plush chair, leaning over the arm rest, her first resting gently on her chin. "But I also love deep lavender, and the smell of the forest, and even deep musky smells," she sighed, letting her imagination of scents go wild. "I'm sure you must have some favourite smells? Or really favourites of anything? Let loose here, Pitchy. Talk to me, tell me about you," she leaned in towards him, eager to listen.
"Well, yes, it would be nice to find a closet smelling of fresh flowers or something sweet, but it doesn't happen near often enough." Pitch's lips curled back from his teeth at the thought. "Closets often smell of must, mold, mothballs, and dirty socks.. and believe me, all that is usually better than the smells that come from under a bed." Though his thoughts were fouled by the memories of those horrid smells and sights, he couldn't help but be cheered by her happy rambling and he found that he didn't mind a bit. He chuckled and nodded. "Yes, all those smells are rather pleasant, though the deep, musky ones you speak of are the ones I most likely prefer. I like the smells of old books, strong coffee, and chocolate. I have quite the weakness for chocolate, especially dark chocolate. The bitterness of it suits me, though the small bit of sweetness that comes with it does as well."
She cringed at the mention of those most unpleasant odors, but smiled when he mentioned his own personal favourites. "I love the smell of old books! But I think I love the smell of new books better, thought I'm not sure why. Chocolate you say? I like chocolate, too, but I'm more of a milky chocolate fan myself. I'm more into fruity sweets than chocolates, and I know Bunnymund would be on my case comparing sweets to chocolates, you know how he is," she laughed. She rolled over onto her back, propping her head up on the arm rest and dangling her legs over the other arm rest. "Is the tea ready yet? I like mine sweetened!" she smiled brightly.
Pitch was just about to reply when the whistle of the tea kettle sounded in the kitchen. "Ah, now it is! I will bring the container of sugar out for you so you can measure out the amount yourself. I don't take any in mine myself, so I am not sure how much would be suitable to your tastes. I will return shortly."
He stood, then quickly strode into the kitchen. He poured the steaming tea from the kettle into each of their cups and placed them on a tray along with the sugar and some cookies he had set aside for guests. His mood had brightened considerably since her arrival and he strode back into the room with a smile on his face and the tray in his hands. He set it down in front of her with a flourish and picked up his own cup, blowing on it a bit to cool it as he sat back down. "There you go. Is there anything else you would like with your tea?"
"Thank you very much," she smiled, taking the warm cup in her hands. "Nope, I think this should be good. I take milk in my black tea, but I only sweeten my chais." She took the small silver spoon and scooped two spoonfuls of sugar in her tea before stirring it around mixing then contents together. She placed the spoon back on to the tray then lifted the cup to her lips. She sipped quietly, closing her eyes as the liquid splashed her tongue. "This tea is wonderful, Pitch!" Her wings started to a flutter a bit in her excitement. "I must admit, you are an excellent tea maker!" She reached over and grabbed a cookie, shoving it into her mouth.
Pitch chuckled softly and took a sip of his own tea. "Thank you, even though tea isn't very hard to make in the slightest." He sighed with contentment and leaned back. Drinking tea always soothed him and made him feel more at ease. "Hmm…." He sat there quietly for a moment, staring into his tea cup as his thoughts began to wander. Then he realized that he was being rude and returned his gaze to his guest, a smile gracing his features once again. He still was having a hard time thinking of pleasant conversation topics. This situation was still odd for him, having a pleasant encounter with any of the guardians besides Jack. She was actually one of the first who actually had talked to him in quite some time besides the winter spirit. "So.. how are the other guardians faring?"
"It may be quick and simple to make, but you would be surprised at how many can make it badly," she raised her cup, taking in the sweet aroma before sipping again. "Ah, the other Guardians?" she said a little hesitantly. She was unsure of how much trust she could put in him. After all, his nature was very cunning and sly. "Well, Sandy and I are pretty busy on a daily basis, you know, same old same old. North has been preparing for Christmas, as is Bunny to Easter. This year Bunny is trying to outdo North. It's quite funny, actually. I'm not quite sure who is going to win. Either way, North wouldn't admit defeat to a Pooka. Jack's been, well, Jack. Freezing things and causing glorious mayhem," she finished with another sip and swallow of her tea. "What have you been doing since, well, uhm, you know?"
Pitch scoffed and shook his head, a smirk quirking at his lips. He'd been making tea for so long, he couldn't imagine how anyone could mess it up unless they were using one of the more complicated tea preparation methods, and even those weren't difficult in the least.
He noted her hesitance and wasn't surprised by it. The fact that she was even spending time with his in this moment still caused him a small bit of wonder, especially considering their past and what he'd done. He nodded and leaned forward slightly, listening intently. "Yes, of course. Same old same old."His face fell slightly at her last question, for he'd actually been having quite a bit of a hard time. His Nightmares had been much fewer in number since his fall, which made things much harder in him. He'd slowly been replenishing their numbers, but the process was both a tedious and a long one.
He didn't want to admit to weakness in front of her. Instead, he waved his hand in the air nonchalantly and hoped she hadn't his fleeting expression. "Same as usual, as with everyone else. Not much has changed."
"Ah, well at least there's been no more break ins to my Palace," she smirked. She looked around at the room again. There was such an air of mystery about his lair. Part of her wanted to ask about everything, so explore through his other hidden chambers and see what other surprises hid behind each door. But it was enough that she had even been invited in by him. She wanted to trust him, as she had seen back into the memories of his teeth, but there was still a frenzied air of corruption that she didn't think he was able to ever break from. But this relaxed, mannerable Pitch she liked. She ran her finger down the plush armchair she sat in, its colour drastically contrasting to her own.
Pitch breathed a silent sigh of relief when she hadn't noticed his partial lie nor his slight discomfort. A small smile returned to his lips at her reference but otherwise said nothing about it. Now was time to leave such things in the past.
He watched her closely, wondering what she was thinking as she looked around the room. She did seem to enjoy his furnishings quite a bit. Perhaps he could show he more of his home. He wondered a bit at his sudden hospitality, though it wasn't too uncommon.. he did try to be a good host whenever he could. "Would.. would you like me to show you around?" He offered, somewhat hesitantly.