bravenewworld | A perfect balance [Closed]

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A perfect balance [Closed]

Who: Rei Hino and Ami Mizuno
Where: A nice restaurant in the theater district
When: Salvation Week
What: Ami and Rei go out for a romantic dinner
Warnings: Ooey gooey mushy love nonsense
Summary: Ami is going to propose to the person who completely balances her

Ami took a deep breath, the tiny ever so important box in her clutch feeling like an Onyx in her pocket. Any second Rei would figure it all out and not only be annoyed but leave. She took another deep breath and knew if she worked herself into an even bigger tizzy, she was going to need to dive into a lake to calm down. She picked at the sheer fabric of her dress and worried a moment that she might be overdressed. No, no, it should be alright. The restaurant they were going to was used to such sights since it was right by the theater.

She checked at her watch, checked then to make sure that her earrings hadn't fallen out, even if they had backings to keep them in place, and she took a deep breath, eyeing her watch again even though they had thirty minutes for the reservation. She looked up, however, when she heard the sounds of heels on the shrine steps. Rei had likely been giving Yuuna some last minute instructions, though Ami had been very thorough in what she wrote down regarding each pokemon. She also even listed numbers to call should a nasty spirit decide to make itself present. She didn't want anything ruining this evening.

Her worries, well, most of them in any case, did seem to melt away when she saw Rei and she couldn't help but smile, reminded of how absolutely lovely in every way the priestess was.

"You look stunning," she said honestly as she leaned over and kissed Rei quickly.

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Rei had indeed been giving Ami's friend some last minute instructions, primarily on the care and feeding of a very, very particular Litleo but she was just as eager to disengage and get on to the evening at hand. She had gone all out for this, selecting a very, very elaborate dress for the occasion and keeping that hidden from her love for the duration of the time between the request for an evening and tonight. She was good at keeping secrets, and at ferreting them out, but she'd yet to really root out what it was Ami was hiding. It was perplexing, but she wasn't going to go spoiling any surprise by prying too much. She wanted whatever it was to come without spoilers, because it was big, whatever it was.

Her heels clicked on the stone steps as she made her way down delicately, mindful of the hem and of her appearance. She had to look absolutely magical, because she could tell tonight meant a lot to Ami, just by the way she melted into a smile.

When she finally reached the bottom and they embraced, the kiss didn't surprise her at all, and she returned it tenderly, an arm remaining around the other girl's waist. A huge smile fixed itself to her lips and she nodded.

"You do too, love." Reaching up, she brushed Ami's cheek with a hand, along with a stray lock of hair. "And I'm just dying to know what you're up to. Where are we going?"

She leaned into the touch, closing her eyes and enjoying the connection. However, she pulled away, knowing they needed to get to the restaurant.

"Well, thank you," she linked their fingers. "But where we're going is the restaurant we went to on our first date. This time though, I promise we won't have any interruptions."

She had checked the theater schedule as well and started to take Rei towards the theater. It was where they had had their first real date, interrupted or not, and she wanted to have the proposal at the same place. She supposed she could have had it where it all started, but that was more than just an evening, that was an entire trip to the islands.

“Oh!” Rei sounded a little surprised by that, because she hadn’t expected anything so sweet. It was definitely cyclicality going on here, and in a good way. Linking her fingers back, she leaned against Ami ever so slightly, already liking where this was going. There was an intense feeling of satisfaction in that, and in knowing that Haruka and Michiru would be out of their hair.

Not that she didn’t care for the older girls, but she didn’t really want to deal with sly looks from across the restaurant again.

“That sounds lovely,” Rei replied genially, “I rather liked that place. The atmosphere was divine. Just like the company, love.”

Well, Ami was always ones for cycles, weather, water, and everything in between.

"I'm glad you are amiable to it, I quite like that restaurant as well, and more so because I get to share it with you."

The walk to the restaurant was a quick one, and they greeted Ami and Rei with absolute delight. They were even taken to the same table as their first date. Waiting at the table was a small bouquet of White Casablancas in the middle of the table in a crystal vase. She inwardly grinned as the restaurant had been kind enough to do as she requested when she sent the flowers over.

Ami gestured for Rei to sit first.

"After you."

At first Rei had only suspected something was going on. But as the staff greeted them and her favorite flowers were sitting on the table, it went from a suspicion to a full blown certainty. No way was this a coincidence, or just something that had been requested casually. Ami had something big in mind, and she was just going to have to sit there and enjoy herself until the plan all came together.

Nice and neat, Ami had to know Rei was working out something, mental gears turning. A trap for a curious mind, from a curious mind. And this sort of thing was what made Ami attractive, more than anything else. How neatly and strategically she played steps ahead of anyone else, including Rei. As if this was a competition...

"Of course." Rei seats herself and bows her head as she does.

"This is even more beautiful than last time, you know. I'd swear you had them change the decor just for us."

"Ah but then, it wouldn't be as you remember it, and I simply couldn't have that. Although, this time they do have a harpist for us to listen to," she took a seat across from Rei and smiled as she tilted her head. They made quite the picture, two elegantly dressed women in sheer and lace, surrounded by white lilies.

A server came by, handing both ladies their menus and another poured water into their glasses and then placed their napkins across their laps.

The server explained that their waiter would be by soon and would explain the specials, but please call upon any of them if they needed something. He asked if there was anything they would like to drink besides water.

Ami gazed at the wine list but said they would make their choice to pair it with their entree.

"I do have a wonderful pink Rosé waiting for dessert."

Edited 2015-12-09 07:52 (UTC)

A harpist? Rei turned briefly to look for it, and smiled when she saw a well dressed young woman sitting on the small stage, preparing to play for the evening. Turning back, she let her face crinkle a little into a happy smile, completely at her ease. Ami had really gone even farther than she’d expected, and that meant that this was something very, very important. Buttering her up for a life changing request? It wasn’t a negative thing, she was completely positive of that, the swirl of emotions around her girlfriend far, far too upbeat for anything like that.

The server was well received, and Rei rubbed at her chin, mulling over the menu a little while sipping her water. She already knew what she wanted, but…may as well use the opportunity to hide her face and think a little harder but there were so many possible answers to the question that she wasn’t going to let herself sit there and obsess. She was going to just let Ami lead, and that would be enough.

“Oh that sounds delightful,” she said in answer to the comments about the wine. Setting down her menu at that, she gazed across the table at that lovely lace dress, those amazing earrings, and those sparkling blue eyes. It was impossible to think of Ami Mizuno as anything but captivating in that outfit, and a part of her wondered if they’d done this in the past, during their previous life. It felt like it might have been fate, those red strings tugging them back together.

“Has your week been getting easier? I know how busy you’ve been, what with it being winter now, and you getting home after I’m in bed most of the time.”

Ami knew her lover was smart enough to realize that she intended for something big, but Ami hoped she hadn't figured out the "what" yet. After all, it wasn't their one year anniversary as a couple, and the one for when they met had passed. However, it was Salvation, so Ami hoped that the timing was perfect for Rei to think of this as just a very romantic dinner, but probably not. She merely smiled as she gazed at the priestess.

Sometimes it was so hard to tear her eyes away from Rei, she was intelligent, beautiful, graceful, and so many things that Ami appreciated. It was why she wanted to be with Rei for as long as possible. She wanted to wake up every morning and face the world with Rei by her side.

Ami smiled at her question.

"Well, flu and cold season is always bad, no matter how much we try to prepare for it, some people are just stubborn about seeing their doctors, some have deep phobias of us or needles. The numbers seem to be less this year, but it's still the beginning of the season. Ah but, these hours should be done soon. Several of our medics got sick as well so I've been taking up their shifts. They should be back soon enough. I'm sorry to be away so much."

Rei had absolutely no idea what Ami had planned, no, because the thought of it hadn't even come close to her brain yet. She figured that she would be the one to propose, after all, given her personality. But that it was Salvation, that was reason enough for the two of them to have a truly romantic evening together.

Ami's answer warmed Rei's heart even more, though, and made her laugh a little bit.

"I understand, Ami, really. You bore with me during my busy season, I can survive yours." Her own being Soulfasting, when she had to run from district to district. "It's a bit of a pity we can't cure diseases the way Pokemon can. Even Enlightened still have trouble with something so ordinary. But I guess that's part of what makes us still human."

Ami was too afraid of losing Rei, of being abandoned like her father had to not consider it, or at least, to be the first consider it. Perhaps, it was a selfishness of sort, to want Rei and she to be married so that it would seem harder for Rei to leave her... though Ami knew better than anyone marriage was not something so sacred as to never be broken.

But she tried not to dwell on such dark emotions, in truth, she couldn't. Her mood was too bright, her evening going too well. Even her shift at the hospital had gone surprisingly well! It was like the gods and the savior were amiable to what Ami had planned and sought to make the day a great one.

"It'll be over in a month, I promise. So long as the winter isn't too harsh, it'll be fine until the pollen acts up in spring. And yes, it is a pity, though it's nice that we can't catch everything they have either."

The waiter came by, explaining the specials and then asking if the ladies were ready to place their order. Ami glanced to Rei and nodded, placing her order for her food before the waiter turned to Rei and asked for hers. Ami then asked if the sommelier could come to the table and recommend a wine to go with what they ordered.

Rei nodded to the server and ordered ostensibly what she had the first time they'd come. Cyclicality was the nature of tonight clearly, and she fondly recalled the meal. Poached basculin with a salad of sorts.

"I'm sure that the weather will be lighter this year. There's only a feel of snow, and not that heavy pall over everything like last Salvation." Rei finally answered.

"It's going to be a good year, I just know it."

And hopefully, the year would only get better... She ordered a Corphish Bisque and a miso grilled remoraid. She smiled as she heard Rei order what she had last time.

"I hope that doesn't mean a harsh summer, though. Light snow always means dry summers."

"Well even if it does, that just gives you more chances to cool me down, doesn't it?" Rei couldn't help but flash a warm smile, playfully twirling a finger through her hair.

"And if it gets too bad, we can always do like we did a few years ago during that nasty drought and have the local pokemon Rain Dance a little."

"Well, that means I have to not let you melt me first," she teased as she reached across the table to Rei's hand currently not in her hair. She pressed a quick kiss to her knuckles. "You're really very good at that."

Changing the topic, however, she smiled as if she hadn't just hinted at what went on in their bedroom.

"Or even visit the island we went to. Wouldn't that be a fun little vacation in the summer? Maybe even head up to Glacier."

Rei winked back, not commenting for the sake of propriety, but it warmed her all the same. They really were a perfect balance, in and out of the bedroom. Her fingers gently squeezed back, echoed by a little laugh.

"It would be a lovely vacation, definitely. Getting back to our roots, as it were. To be honest we could do either and both, though. I'd be more than willing. They're both a deal more picturesque than the East."

"And this time, there's no way for you to make me evolve again," she teased with a very content smile. Not that she minded how she ended up evolving by any means. "A nice little trip to both, I'm eager to see what other pokemon are up in Glacier as well. Mercury is such a little sweetheart."

Their soup and salad came not too much later, and the two women were treated with the utmost care by the wait staff. While Ami didn't let it show, the ring became like an itch. She wanted to bring the ring into play after things one of them might have said. Rei even mentioned something and Ami almost worried she had finally figured out what it was this was all for.

But Rei didn't seem to catch on about what this was all really about, even up to dessert.

Rather than bring Rei a menu for dessert, Ami had asked that Rei's favorite be prepared with an edible white casablanca sugar flower with a small non-edible pillow for the ring. Ami had excused herself but rather head to the restroom, she stepped out of view by the kitchen and placed the ring on the pillow. She took a deep breath and wondered if this was a bit much... but still. She told the waiter to give her five minutes before bringing it over.

Ami returned, her hands for the first time on their own feeling a bit hot. What if Rei said no? What if she thought they weren't ready for such a thing?

She took a deep breath and smiled at Rei.

"I hope you're ready for dessert, I have something special planned. Actually, I'm sure you of all people have noticed that this whole evening has been... well, extravagant?" she gave a small nervous laugh. She could do this. She just needed to move all the right pieces into play. She reached out and took Rei's hand into her own, linking their fingers, trying to hide her shaking hands.

"But there is a reason for that," she took another deep breath. "Rei... the reason for... well, all of this, is because- you just... you make me so incredibly happy. I've never known as much happiness when I'm with you, and as deep a fear as when I think about what might happen when we're apart. You are my equal, not just in element, but in everything. You... balance me. You remind me not to be so serious, to allow myself to be more passionate and that it's alright to be more open about things. You're absolutely brilliant, savior, your brain," she took a deep breath, trying to stay on task.

"That is... there's so much about you I love and my life has been so different with you in it, brighter, richer. I mean, you became my friend after one of the most embarrassing introductions in my life!" She watched the waiter come towards them. "And despite that, you've been someone who has supported me and fought beside me. I don't know what is to come in the future, but I do know, I never want to know what it will mean to not have you in my life. What I'm trying to say... what I'm trying to ask is..."

The waiter set down the dessert in front of Rei, the ring sitting brightly on the pillow in the center of the sugar flower.

"Rei Hino, will you continue making my life as bright and passionate as it could possibly be? Will you- w-w-will you marry me?" her face was vibrant purple and she felt like she was going to faint if not shake right out of the chair as her breath held and she was actually- oh sweet savior, what if she Rei said no? Was the speech bad?

The longer the dinner went on, the more and more certain Rei became that Ami was saving up for something. It was just a little bit too much, she was just a little bit too on edge, and she was just a little bit too fidgety for it to be a simple request like going out or for it to be a Salvation dinner. Ami wasn't one for such grand gestures for those kinds of things, and as the food and wine settled in Rei began to look inward for an aswer. What could it be that had Ami so unbalanced?

She puzzled on that while Ami had excused herself, drumming her fingers on the tabletop as she tried to work out the possibilities. She had a short list of things in mind by the time Ami came back, several of them quite fanciful and one bordering on outright absurd. And when the other woman returned and took her hand, Rei continued to listen silently, sweating bullets of her own. Savior why is she shaking? What's going on? her mind raced along, thinking a mile a minute, trying to keep up with the pieces Ami was laying on the board.

And nothing she'd come up with came close to what Ami had actually planned though. When the ring appeared in front of her and the Queen came into play every single strategy Rei had for chess, life, and otherwise came apart at the seams. Her eyes shot open, her hand flew up to her mouth and she sat there in awestruck silence. A marriage proposal was perhaps the last thing she'd ever expected to come from her partner, and one so perfectly executed left her completely and utterly speechless.

Somewhere, deep in the back of her mind, she heard Ami's voice, the inner voice she always associated with her lover's thoughts. The strong, confident, amazing voice of the woman she fell in love with instead of the breathless, purple faced person anxiously awaiting an answer. The inner Ami only said one word, and in the span of two heartbeats Rei had her answer. She knew what she was going to say, because what else could she say? She'd been set up, she'd walked right into Ami's hands, and she knew that no other proposal could ever be quite so perfect for Rei. It hit every single positive note, and that inner voice had gotten it right.

Checkmate

Slowly, Rei lowered her hand to the ring, fingers trembling. Her forefinger brushed across the polished stone, feeling the cool latticework beneath her finger tip. And she took a deep breath, looked right into Ami's eyes with too wide ones of her own, and smiled. Her heartbeat finally slowed, time seeming to returned to normal, and she relaxed visibly. All that tension, all that wondering, and that perfect meal. She poured soothing thoughts out of her head, shoving every ounce of psychic affection she could at her partner, her...fiancée.

"Ami Mizuno. You are the light of my life, my perfect counterpart, and the most amazing person I've ever met." She slipped her hand around the ring and plucked it free of the pillow. Slowly, she lowered it onto her finger and nodded with an air of finality.

"Yes. I would be honored to marry you."

Edited 2015-12-11 23:44 (UTC)

Ami caught Rei's hand before she let the ring slide down all the way, far too happy to really let her polite tendencies interrupt her. She finished putting the ring on Rei's finger, kissing her and then kissing her fingers. She could cry, she might be crying. Was she crying? She might be.

Checkmate, indeed. Her hands were still shaking but she was smiling so wide.

"Rei! Rei you've made me so happy!" she wiped at her eyes before pressing another kiss to Rei's lips. Several of the waiters and patrons clapped for the young couple but they were Ami's peripheral.

"I love you."

Rei shook as Ami took her hand and helped her with the ring, her whole body ablaze with delight. And then they were kissing, and nothing else mattered. The people watching them, the applause of the staff and diners, the gods and spirits and threats to Union's safety? None of that mattered.

There was only one thing on her mind, now. And it was right there, right on front of her. She kissed Ami back, pulling away to rest her head against the other's.

"And you've made me happier than I've ever been. In my entire life, I never dreamed..." she laughed as she trailed off, happily kissing Ami once more. "I never dreamed I'd love anyone as much as I love you."

Taking a breath, she had to add, "And that proposal was masterfully done. How long have you planned it?"

She kept hugging and holding Rei, pressing her forehead to the Rei's and closing her eyes. Everything had come together, the perfect game. She smiled, though, when Rei asked how long she had been planning this.

"Well, you remember your missing ring? And how this one fits you perfectly?" she ran a light finger along the band of the ring. "Although I started thinking about it back in Glacier. Seeing you fly away on Olympus, I was terrified by the idea of never seeing you again. I've been planning and arranging since then."

Rei started piecing it all together, kissing Ami once more, this time with a bit more heat. "You...really are amazing. That long. You've been thinking this far ahead of me for months. I hadn't...really even more than daydreamed about asking you to marry me."

Another kiss, this time on the cheek.

"But I'm so, so ready."

"Well, a difficult game takes the utmost planning and care," she whispered softly in Rei's ear.

"And you are quite the opponent to play against," she smiled. "Your dessert is getting cold."

"I take it that means you're the one that took my ring, hmmm?" Rei whispered back with a sly grin before sitting and starting to slice the dessert in half.

"And my dessert? We're sharing. Like we do everything now."

"I palmed it at Soulfasting." She gave a small smile. "As a medic, I have to have fast and gentle hands. It came in handy when I needed it, but it's not something I'm going to be practicing and becoming more adept at." She laughed, having put the ring back in Rei's jewelry box.

"As for the dessert, the sugar flower is all yours, but I will share the rest."

"Oh you are a devil," Rei smirked as she sat back down, ready for the dessert, though nothing quite could taste as sweet as Ami's lips the moment she'd said yes. Honestly, she's not sure anything ever will.

"Thank you, love. For all of this. You...certainly know how to make me feel loved."

"Only when needed, I should think Yuuna's warning about what I was like as a tutor would have been a hint to that." She was notorious as the deadly tutor to all her students, but you never got better scores in your life then with her.

"Well, I love you so much, so it was just a matter of finding a proper way to show it."

"Well, I'd say you succeeded." Rei leaned forward again and planted a kiss on Ami's fingertips.

"I'll just have to properly show you how much I love you, too."

"Well, now that the hardest and scariest part is over, it should be much easier from here out. Though I can't say I've ever planned a wedding before, I'm sure I can read up on it."

"I can't say I'm experienced with it either but..." She laughed. "We'll figure it out. It'll be perfect."

"We'll talk details another day, for now, this is all I care about." She pressed a kiss to Rei's lips and another to her forehead.

"Same..." Rei answered. "Gods I love you."

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A perfect balance [Closed]

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