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 Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2018 7:30 am
Miss Poppie leaned further on her counter, eyes narrowed as she looked the tall former k-pop star up and down. "You're a pretty boy, pretty boys are trouble and a sweetie like Rora doesn't need any trouble." A wrinkled, leathery old hand had lifted and was shaking at the young man. "If you give her trouble, Mr. Willows won't be the only person you'll have to deal with for breaking this sweetheart's heart."
The grandma's voice had dropped into something low and threatening, the likes of which Rory had never heard in her life and she squeezed Akio's hand when she glanced over at him.
"Miss Poppie, please, he's already terrified of Pops and he's good to me, I promise. Like, really, unbelievably good." When she smiled at her boyfriend, her adoration for him was unmistakable.
"Alright, alright, but only because you're asking sweetie." Her demeanor shifted back into that of a sweet old woman when she grinned. "Here for your usual?"
"Please, I've only got the twenty pops gave me..."
"Oh honey, it's your birthday, don't you worry."
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Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2018 11:45 am
The older lady threatened him and Akio offered a humble looking smile in response, though the shift in her tone had him wavering slightly. It came as no surprise that sweet and charming Aurora had other adults defending her honor and innocence, which only brought a bigger smile to his face.
Well... and being called a pretty boy didn't hurt, either.
The exchange between Miss Poppie and his girlfriend was an interesting one. From the way Aurora was acting and the older lady was responding, there seemed to be a bit of a... discount going on with their transaction. Again, not surprising since it involved the most wonderful girl in the entire universe, but...
"I'd be happy to pay for them," he offered as one hand reached towards the wallet in his back pocket. He paused, however, eyeing Aurora and her twenty dollar bill. ".... that is, if Rora will let me."
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Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2018 8:06 am
Miss Poppie's gaze was a sharp thing directed at the young man attempting to pay for Rory's flowers for her mother. With a speed that one wouldn't expect of a woman of her age, she was out from behind the counter, hand lifted and finger waggling in the man's face.
"Listen here son, you don't mess with tradition." Her eyes were narrowed and her voice low and Rory was stiff beside her boyfriend, startled by Miss Poppie's sudden appearance on the other side of the counter.
"Miss Poppie, please."
With the girl's strained request, the woman had backed off and was grinning like the sweet old lady she looked to be. "You're right, sorry sweetie. His money's no good here," her nose wrinkled but she accepted the offered money from Rory. "I'll be back."
With that she disappeared.
The small girl looked over at Akio apologetically. "Sorry Akio," she sighed, tugging him over to her until her arms were wrapping around his waist. "Miss Poppie's been giving me flowers for mama for as long as I can remember, it's tradition and she doesn't like change."
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Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2018 8:31 am
Akio was, to put it bluntly: shook.
He'd seen his fair share of excitable people during his time in Japan and touring around Asia in the various concerts his band put on. There were always screaming girls and angry parents, tired fans and eccentric stalkers. It had been quite some time since he'd been forced to deal with anyone outside of his comfort level but Akio Yoshida was quickly figuring out that sweet, elderly Miss Poppie was definitely outside of his comfort level.
Aurora pulled at him as he watched the old woman shuffle towards the back, no doubt to pull out whatever bouquet of flowers that tradition called for. His movement was stiff and rigid, the tension apparent in his body as her arms moved to squeeze around him.
The smile he offered her was forced, but it was a smile nonetheless.
"I can see that," he murmured softly. "Perhaps... it might be best if I wait out in the car, then? I would hate to upset a friend of yours anymore than I already have."
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Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2018 9:31 am
At his comment Rory felt herself wilt. "Oh. Okay." She could tell that he was uncomfortable and she understood, but she hadn't expected him to not hug her back or to want to go wait outside.
Carefully, she pulled away, fixed her hair and stepped up to the counter without looking at him. Her hands were folded together and her back was straight but her shoulders sagged a little even as she rested her wrists against the edge of counter.
Jade eyes were focused on the entryway that Miss Poppie had disappeared through and she waited to hear the door open behind her and for Akio to shuffle off to where he felt more comfortable.
When the old lady returned, she offered her a smile and accepted the bouquet carefully. "It's beautiful, as always Miss Poppie."
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Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2018 10:07 am
It didn't take a genius to see that he'd responded poorly, judging by Aurora's reaction and quick escape from beside him. She was quiet when she stood at the register, refusing to glance at him as the smile faded from her beautiful face.
Definitely not the kind of start he wanted for her on tonight's date.
He took one step towards the door, assuming he'd been dismissed by the somber teenager, but promptly hesitated and fell into place, right there. Careful eyes watched as Miss Poppie returned, a beautiful arrangement nestled inside paper that soon found its home cradled inside of Aurora's arms. It certainly looked more pricey than what twenty dollars could afford but Akio had a feeling that tradition played a large role in it.
One long arm stretched out to open the door for his beloved, the young man waiting patiently for her to pass through before nodding his head respectfully towards the florist and following after his date. When they cleared themselves of the entrance, long strides caught up with her pace and he moved to open the passenger door to the car, effectively blocking her from slipping in.
"I'm sorry," he blurted, shaking his head, "I wasn't sure what to say... what to do - I felt like I was messing everything up back there."
Stretching out an arm to collect her against him, he offered her a hopeful look. "Please tell me I didn't already mess things up...did I?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2018 10:50 am
"You have a good birthday sweetie." Poppie cooed, gaze flashing up at the man lingering at the door. Without another word, the woman had disappeared into the back once more.
When Rory turned around, she was clearly surprised to see Akio still inside and she swallowed before shrugging. "It's fine." Her response was more curt than she meant it to be and she stepped outside without another word.
He stepped in front of the car and she blinked at him confused, fully intending to walk to the cemetery. She didn't step into his arms, head tilted as she was forced to look up at him.
"I said it was fine." The flowers were pressed more firmly against her chest, Rory nervously playing with the paper wrapped around it. "Can we just go please."
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2018 11:37 am
Akio's hopeful look fell, deflated by Aurora's dismissive comment.
Fine. Nothing was fine when your girlfriend starts to give you a cold shoulder on her birthday - it meant he'd screwed up fast and royally. And poor Akio had absolutely no idea what he could do to remedy the sourness he'd unwittingly unleashed onto their evening thus far.
"Yeah."
The acknowledgement was quiet as he shifted to get out of her way. He wanted to give her another kiss, to reassure her that this was just a hiccup and that the rest of the evening would go splendidly.... but if she wasn't even willing to step in for a brief hug, he knew better and kept his distance.
Frowning, he made his way back around to the driver's seat, stepping in and working his seatbelt before glancing over to make sure she'd been tucked away properly as well. Once her belt was on as well, he turned to look behind them and slowly pulled out of the small parking spot in front of Miss Poppies's store.
The ride to the cemetery was a quiet one, save for the shallow breathing of a very nervous driver as he constantly continued to glance additional times down each road before they turned. With Aurora's guidance, he got them there in one piece, sidling the car alongside one of the path's sides when they neared the spot in question they were looking for.
He wasn't sure if she'd wanted him to go with her but he undid his seat belt all the same and patiently waited for a sign - any sign - that she was alright with him escorting her further.
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2018 1:30 pm
During the car ride she had tucked her legs up against her chest, carefully cradling mama's flowers as she stared out the window, only looking at her phone to tell him where to turn. When they finally stopped Rory looked pensive.
Chewing on her lip she glanced over at her anxious boyfriend and her fingers crinkled the paper the flowers were carefully wrapped in.
"Um." She hesitated, one hand on the handle and the other pushing her hair back before she gathered the flowers back up. "I've never introduced anyone else to mama before."
Truthfully, Rory couldn't remember the last time someone had accompanied her to her mother's grave. Pops was always working and she had school friends but visiting a dead parent's grave was heavy stuff. Too heavy for casual friends.
"But I bet she'd wanna meet you." Her tongue wet her lips and she looked at him nervously. "Unless you don't wanna."
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2018 2:32 pm
His eyes softened as he turned to her, quiet as she explained her nervous, anxious behavior. He knew he'd messed up back at the flower shop but perhaps part of her cold reaction had been founded from her nerves about... this?
One hand reached over to hers, stealing fingers away from the crinkled cellophane paper as he squeezed them gently.
"I'd love to meet her. Anyone who is this special to you, beautiful, is special to me as well."
Bringing her hand to his mouth, he pressed a soft kiss on the top of her knuckles.
Death wasn't something that Akio was terribly familiar with and he couldn't say that he wouldn't be doing the same thing as his girlfriend if put in the same situation. God only knew how much a young girl must miss her mother - especially in times of celebration.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to come with you."
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2018 7:33 am
She smiled weakly at him, nerves still a little frayed by earlier and their upcoming venture. Visiting mama was always hard, part of another reason she usually came alone, especially when she considered the fact that she never got to meet her mother proper, the woman having died during childbirth with Rory.
"I think she'd like you." She sounded more certain of that than anything else that'd been happening. She fidgeted one more time before she nodded her head. "Please," her voice was quiet, like it might crack and shatter if he changed his mind or didn't come with her.
"Please come with me," she said again, a little steadier this time when she shifted to lean across the center console and pull her boyfriend's mouth towards her for a kiss. "I need you." Rory mumbled against his lips when she pressed her forehead against his.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2018 10:03 am
There was no resistance to her pull, Akio holding back his own eagerness when they kissed. It was a somber moment and needed to be treated as one - she didn't need his desperation for her affection, not when she was dealing with the loss of her mother.
"I'm all yours, beautiful."
His nose rubbed lightly against hers before he finally pulled back, opening the car door. In a matter of moments, long legs had traveled their way around the car and he was opening her door, ready and more than willing to assist his favorite person as she exited the vehicle.
Offering her both a smile and his hand, he admitted quietly, "From the way you talk about her, I think I'd love her too."
He could only imagine the wonderful person Briar Willows must have been to produce the amazing daughter she had.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2018 1:06 pm
It was a little easier for her to breathe after the kiss, after he had come around and opened the door to help her out of the vehicle. While her nerves were still persistent, she felt more comfortable and allowed herself to press against him as she led them both to the stone that read:
Briar Willows.
"I...never really got to know mama, since she died after giving birth but Pops talks about her a lot." It was easy for the young woman to see how much her father missed her mother.
Pops was good at putting up a front, but Rory knew better.
Still, she tugged her boyfriend along with her and only separated from him long enough to gently set the flowers beside her gravestone. "Hi mama." Her voice cracked and she seemed to sway like she might collapse. "It's my eighteenth birthday and um, a lot has happened since last year."
She reached back behind her for Akio's hand.
"This...this is Akio. He's my boyfriend. Um. I think you'd like him."
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2018 6:03 pm
Her hand outstretched itself and he took his cue, fingers tangling with hers as he took a step forward and approached the granite slab that represented the final resting place of a woman Aurora Willows never got to know. The same woman she had to thank for her entrance into the world - for her looks, for her sweet demeanor, he was almost certain of (especially compared to the stern Mister Willows, in comparison).
"Ma'am."
His head nodded respectfully towards the headstone, just as he'd nodded to Ms. Poppie and every other person he'd been introduced to by his petite girlfriend. It felt odd talking to an inanimate object but he liked to imagine that had her mother been standing there, that she'd be smiling much like her own daughter did when she found something to take delight in.
"Your daughter is the loveliest woman I've ever had the pleasure of getting to know," he offered softly, trying to keep his voice steady as his gaze avoided that of Aurora's. "I'm very grateful that she's given me the opportunity to have a place in her world."
With that, his fingers gently squeezed hers.
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2018 9:15 am
They stayed at her mother's grave for a bit, Rory using Akio to support her as she found herself melancholy. Most of it was just them standing in silence but she spoke of how they met, how long she and Akio had been dating and gave little updates about her cats and her father before she was finally ready to say goodbye.
"Love you mama," she mumbled, surprised by the fact she'd kept her tears at bay. "I'll come visit soon," she promised before she turned her attention to the sweet boy who accompanied her.
"C'mon handsome," Rory said, tugging him along with her back towards the car. Once she couldn't see the headstone she pulled him towards her for a kiss. "Thanks for coming with me," she told him, lips against his when she stole another kiss.
"Mama woulda loved you, you know. Just like I do."
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