[log] pleased to meet you

[lowtohigh]

It isn't easy, planning around Argine's health. Now and then, after all, she simply can't keep an appointment, simply needs to stop and sit, simply stops being a Ten and a mother and becomes a woman struggling against her own mortality. There's a good deal of hoping when it comes to setting dinner dates. A good deal of hoping in general.

But tonight was going to go well. The date had been set a week in advance, and was going to stick. The former Queen has been resting all day, her former Ace hovering and attending with nervous energy. The kitchens had been more than happy to pull together an early meal for three, to drag a table up to Argine's quarters and find a comfortable chair for the woman to rest easy in during an extended conversation. Everything is falling into place. Eileen should be ecstatic.

Is, in some ways. And is also starting to get ridiculously nervous, the way a young person gets when introducing their significant other to their only living parent.

So as the hour draws near, Eileen worries. Frets. Helps her mother pull herself properly into the semblance of the regal woman she used to be and get her settled in at the table. Argine's tsk is soft as she smooths her daughter's cheek, tells her to run along and get ready, not worry so much about an old woman.

She barely sees herself in the mirror as she throws on a bit of makeup, runs her hands through her hair ineffectually and calculates that she doesn't actually have enough time to change out of her usual fare.

Goes to loiter nervously at the door and wait for CJ to arrive. Maybe stealing a kiss before bringing him in will soothe her jangling.

Comments

[lowtohighest.livejournal.com]

Only left to meet his family. And that, thankfully, would take a long time to complete. Certainly enough time to get her mind around the idea of marrying anyone at all.

"Just a few minutes. Promise."

One final kiss. And then a few final moments with her mother, speaking quietly, confirming that yes, she has picked a good one. A keeper. The sort of boy not to let go of, even if he did have to vanish off to Spain for a few years.

And finally a few moments changing into something for her boyfriend (http://cdn3.gossipcenter.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/fullsize_image/images/a/anna-michael-081610-3.JPG) rather than her mother before running to meet him in Town.

Because there are a lot more moments to spend tonight, celebrating.

[jovencitobaston.livejournal.com]

He waited in the diner, somewhere low key where they had a regular booth pretty much, and knew the menu like they knew each others lips. The fact that it was in his price range didn't hurt either. He'd taken off his tie and shoved it in a pocket, now that he didn't have to impress Eileen's mom, anymore tonight.

He had ordered her usual iced tea and his own soda, and was waiting for her when he got a look of her in the window. The table wobbled as he got up to stare, gasping at the shortness of her skirt, because beyond him... she'd changed. Holy crap...

He sagged back into the booth, his jaw on the table as he stared when she walked in, his face flushed "Wow... just wow..." he breathed as he made room for her beside him. "Did your mother let you walk out of the house like that?" She had gorgeous legs he couldn't get enough of but.

Yeah, his heart had stopped. He was pretty sure of it. He was both embarrassed for her parading around like this, and yet also super excited... you know, excited, and yet on the third hand touched she'd wear something like this for him.

"I-- I--"

[lowtohighest.livejournal.com]

Of course she brightens when she sees him through the window. Of course her hand lifts in a tiny wave as she steps inside to make her way over toward him.

It's the look on his face up close that has her faltering slightly, hesitates just a moment before sliding in next to him. She's a good girl, leaves a bit of space between them instead of snuggling up next to him.

"She knows I own this skirt." Had not seen her leave her room wearing it to go meet her boyfriend, true, but had at some point been made aware Eileen owned it. Her fingers fidget slightly to tug it down a hair now that she's seated, edge it closer to her knees. "Is it too much?"

Not that she could do much of anything now. Maybe wrap his jacket around her waist or throw it over her lap, but not much beyond that.

[jovencitobaston.livejournal.com]

He looks down at the displayed part of her upper thigh and swallows, breathing "She does?" before he shook his head, his face scrunching up a little "Maybe... too little?" He blushes, and struggles but manages to peel his eyes away from the succulent display of her thighs.

"I mean... wow... you know I love your legs but..." its an audible swallow before he leans in to whisper "Wow... I won't be able to stand up for a while now that ... you know, because... geez Eileen, you have gorgeous legs."

He sips his soda and adjusts his collar, suddenly feeling hot, before trying to focus on what he wanted to tell her before she showed up "... you want to just share an order?"

[lowtohighest.livejournal.com]

It's the reaction she wants, of course. Tongue-tied, almost stammering, captivated. The knowledge that there's not a thought in his mind for at least the few minutes that he was staring beyond thoughts of her.

"If you like them, feels wrong not to let you enjoy them," she shrugs slightly. Maybe it's mean. Maybe wearing short skirts that got him excited when they were out in public wasn't the nicest girlfriend thing to do.

But wasn't she always good, at the end of the day, at helping out with exactly that sort of problem?

"Only if you're certain. You didn't eat much." Her fingers lift to pinch his cheek lightly before reaching for her iced tea. "Would splitting be enough for you?"

[jovencitobaston.livejournal.com]

She got exactly what she wanted, he's practically beside himself with reaction at those legs. "Cruel, wonderful girlfriend that you are..." he chuckles, sighing. Somehow, he'd be able to get out of the boot without embarrassing himself. Somehow. And yeah, she was, but she was devious for doing this to him.

He slid his arm along the back of the booth behind her and grinned, kissing her wrist when she pinched his cheek. "I had a soup, and part of a salad and the pie thing. We could share and split dessert. That would fill me up ok. Unless you want your own food, that's cool too. I'm sure I could finish whatever."

His arm reaches to caress her far shoulder and he pulls her closer, wanting to touch her after not being able to touch her at all when he was in their suite. "I missed you, come here."

[lowtohighest.livejournal.com]

It's hard not to scoot closer with his arm around behind her. Much better when he gives a nudge and she can nestle in against him properly. She'll cross her ankles like a good girl, at least, head dropping briefly to rest against his shoulder.

"How on earth could you have missed me?" She understands, really, but it's nice to tease. Nice to be themselves properly again, alone together, rather than caught up in being completely behaved versions of themselves under scrutiny. "I wasn't more than fifteen minutes. Tops."

They don't need menus, but she leans forward slightly to look at the ice cream flavours available for the day. A sundae isn't a particularly healthy way to end the day, but they're luxuriating and being a little naughty now, right?

[jovencitobaston.livejournal.com]

He kisses her hair, and pets the bare part of her neck, murmuring "I missed touching you, today. We couldn't do this at your place." He hadn't had enough, sneaking contact at her door. This is what he lived for, her weight against his, the press of her cheek against his shoulder, her hair. "It was a very long 15 minutes ok? And such a short skirt."

"So share? Own meals? Or maybe just one of those big nacho plates? Anything you want." He closes his eyes, enjoying her scent and body heat, trying not to think about her thighs really really hard and almost managing it.

[lowtohighest.livejournal.com]

There were quite a few things they couldn't do while at dinner with her mother. Or, really, decently and in public places. But here, now, they could at least sit together comfortably like this.

And everyone in the world who walked by could see exactly whose girlfriend she was. Exactly who was allowed to touch the long legs crossed under the table.

They could also, as far as she was concerned, share chaste sorts of kisses in public. With his eyes closed, it's easy to lean back in and sneak a sweet little kiss against his lips.

"Buy me ice cream, nn?"

[jovencitobaston.livejournal.com]

Only his, hands off boys. This one's CJ's. He mms, kissing back softly, stroking her hair. He smiles, murmuring "Just ice cream?"

He bumps noses, whispering "Is that all you want? Nothing else?"

[lowtohighest.livejournal.com]

"I'm fairly certain the other thing I want isn't on the menu, mm?" And, because he was a good, sweet boy, despite the sin she'd been dragging him down into, probably wasn't in the bathroom of the diner either.

More than half of what she wanted, of course, was just to be curled up against him like this, to steal little kisses like this and just bask in being close together again.

"But ice cream would be a good start."

ugh F-icons forever... grinny face for live E-side! o9 LJ is broke.

[jovencitobaston.livejournal.com]

"Oh yeah?" pulling her hair back he ran his fingers along the edge of her ear. Not on the menu, but definitely available to her if she asked for it. "Ok, ice cream. Maybe I can get some chili fries..."

After that bland meal, he just wanted flavor in his mouth. "You mind if I have chili fries?" And something greasy probably. "And maybe a little of your ice cream?"

I have no idea what that means. \o/

[lowtohighest.livejournal.com]

After some chili fries and ice cream. After a little bit of snuggling up again, of breathing while curled against each other.

"I'll share if you share," she agrees, lifting a hand to flag down the waitress. The woman can likely guess from their faces what they'd like to order. "That's a good deal, isn't it?"

Any time together had to be a good deal, really.

[jovencitobaston.livejournal.com]

That was an awesome way to end a great success.

The waitress came over and said hi, with a little mindless chatter, because they all saw each other somewhat regularly. He held on to her, without caressing her too obviously, a little embarrassed to have people watch them being tender. Even people who knew they were a couple.

He ordered the fries for himself, and the ice cream for her, and thanked her before he wandered off to fill the order. "That's a great deal, I'll take it."

[lowtohighest.livejournal.com]

It's good to chat, to be comfortable and relaxed together. To be out where people could see them.

Or, perhaps, that wasn't as much a positive for him as it was for her. She's going to be an Ace, after all. The mild discomfort and faint embarrassment will have to filter through some time or other.

"Perfect." Her fingers lift lightly to catch his hand on her shoulder. "Everything's okay, right?"

[jovencitobaston.livejournal.com]

He wasn't uncomfortable being with her, just doing PDA in public. Having her hand in his, soft kisses, cuddling together was perfect, that was fine. But the things he wanted to do beyond that, like touch her ear, kiss her neck, rest his hand on her thighs... they weren't super chaste. Which he didn't mind, but he respected her, and knew he had this political career before her.

Being seen as a teenager, groping each other in public, when they both knew she wanted this, was working towards it. It wasn't really smart. And it just made him feel a little weird to do it where people could see it, anyway. That was just theirs, private, no one else had to see that. At least not on the deck. In Spain was a completely different story.

He hooked his fingers into hers and beamed "Everything is perfect. Your mom likes me, and that's a weight off my shoulders. And chili fries, who could complain?"

[lowtohighest.livejournal.com]

The reassurance is nice, at least. The squeeze of his fingers around hers, the warms of his arm on her shoulder, the bright smile on his face.

She shifts contentedly against him, gets her legs pressed slightly against his as she tilts her head away from his with a brow arched.

"Is it really that simple? Chili fries?"

Of course it is. He'd always been so good about that--making the world simple. Manageable. Had been telling her since they were children that she made things too complicated.

thank god for lazarus, or Id have to retype by hand every other post.

[jovencitobaston.livejournal.com]

It's a soft laugh he emits while looking at that cute face she makes when she doesn't quite believe something, murmuring "Probably. Then again, with you cuddled up against me I'd be happy eating worms." Life is simple. Find something you love, and hold on. Hold on no matter what. Find joy in little things, every day things, don't let unnecessary stress bog you down.

Spend time with the people you love, your family, eat things that taste good, and things that aren't your favorite too. Take naps on sundays, rest on the day of rest the lord has given you. Pray in thanks, not just when you are troubled. Simple. It could always get more complicated if you went further out than that, but why? Follow the basic rule: make others happy the way you wish they made you happy.

Everything else worked itself out.

"Aren't you happy too? Sitting here with me, your mom liking me, getting ice cream for dinner? Isn't that all we really need? Each other, something yummy, the love of our parents?"

LJ o999

[lowtohighest.livejournal.com]

That... requires actual thought. She doesn't mean for her smile to fade or her nose to wrinkle slightly in concentration.

But she's not certain. She is happy, really, with this. She's got her health, a good man who adores her beyond belief, a comfortable position in her Suit and, for the moment, her mother--and her mother's approval of everything she was.

What else could there be?

"...I'm happy," she decides after a few beats, settling back more properly against his shoulder. "But..."

But she needed to be Ace again. She needed to accomplish something, be known for herself and not for what her parents had done in her childhood.

He understood that, didn't he?

[jovencitobaston.livejournal.com]

She was thinking again, that little wrinkle in her nose. That adorable little wrinkle that meant she was over-complicating things again. It made him smile, the little fold of skin. It made her adorable. He loved that about her.

Pulling her close, kisses her forehead gently, and squeezes "You'll get it back, and maybe then you'll want for nothing else. I'll be there to make sure you have all the other things that make you happy. At least, that's what I'm hoping."

"And every step from here to there, too. Be happy Eide, I want to fill your life with joy."

[lowtohighest.livejournal.com]

It's not so bad to get tangled up in thoughts when she's got him at her side to kiss at her forehead when her brow sets to furrowing. It's impossible, after all, to keep the expression in place with the warmth of his lips against her skin. Completely soothing to have him so close, looking after her, keeping her grounded.

Her brow is clear as she leans back, smiles quietly back at him and lifts one hand to smooth back his hair just briefly. Just for a bit of contact.

"It is. Mostly. The bits with you in it, anyway." Her sigh is soft, not unhappy. "It's going to be a long road, you know, CJ. A lot more stress."

[jovencitobaston.livejournal.com]

"Then I'll be in as many bits as possible, if that's all it takes." His other arm reaches out her to give her a proper hug, to envelop her and keep her safe, even just in spirit for those long years ahead.

"Just remember, every time you feel stressed, that you're working towards something. And the journey is what shapes you, and what makes it worth it. Like those models. The paper ones? Mine aren't perfect. Bad folds, too much glue, too little glue, crooked walls. A lot of time and effort going into them to build them. But it's the imperfections that make them mine, make them unique, make them important to me, make me love the finished product. You taught me that when we were little, remember? When we built that boat together."

He gives her a soft squeeze, brushing his lips against her ear "This is the same. Remember the journey, the mistakes. They're what help you learn, how you improve, what will make you appreciate finally getting there, the most. And I'll be right beside you when I can, helping you fold, singing songs to you, applying glue, reminding you that it's ok to smile."

/magic hands

[lowtohighest.livejournal.com]

She fits in his arms so snugly. His words hit her core so precisely. There's not much more in the world she'll ever need but this to keep her sane when the world starts to turn upside down all over again.

Without that first boat to glue them together for the rest of their lives.

"What would I do without you, mm?" She swivels for a careful kiss against his lips. "Yo sería totalmente perdida. I'd be a completely different person, I'm sure."

A much angrier person. A colder person. A person actually teetering on the edge of breaking.

/applause!

[jovencitobaston.livejournal.com]

She started it, he's just repaying the favor. She said the same thing to him when they were little, just with children's words. Almost. She was never, sadly, quite a child.

"No se... algo. But I'm here, and you're here, and that's what matters. You're you now, and we will never know. But I love this you, because you're wonderful." he kisses back, caressing her cheek.

And then the food comes, and ruins the moment, almost. But he kisses her cheek and thanks the waitress again, keeping her close. He grabs a fork and stabs some saucy, cheesy fries, murmuring "Ice cream first? or fries?" wiggling the fork as he looks at her. "Ladies first"

[lowtohighest.livejournal.com]

No moment ruined. Not really. Because at the end of every moment, they're still sitting next to each other, just like this. This moment, the next moment, all the moments after this.

Her own fingers catch at the spoon, lift a scoop of ice cream toward him. "Trade you."

And open goes her mouth, expectant and trusting.