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 Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:39 am
Prince shrugs a little when the conversation turned a little more serious and smiles. "Not really, I guess. He says he works and goes to school a lot. So he's gone all morning and most of the afternoon. And in the evening he comes back - and aside from going to get dinner - stays in the room for most of the rest of the evening. And I don't see him smile that much. So this is nice for me, to see him this happy."
He didn't really see a problem. It wasn't really like he had his hands on her hip or below, but then again they were still different people. It was just a comfortable curve to rest his hands in so he could easily continue to hold her. "I'm glad, Serenity. Because I really was hoping that nobody would try to get in our way. Even if we had to sneak out and meet somewhere secret, I would still want to see you."
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:47 am
Ian nodded in understanding. "Mom doesn't usually smile very much at school either," he agreed, "but when she comes home at night she's always happy to be home. Not the same as this happy, but still, at least kind of happy."
He was rather liking the way she looked right now. She seemed happier than he had ever seen her before.
"Hey," he blinked suddenly, turning to Prince once more, "if they're all huggy and stuff, does that mean this is a date now?"
Serenity laughed softly and put both arms around Gaunt once more, hugging him tightly to herself.
"No one would ever get in our way," she assured him warmly. "Mama's family originally tried to stop her from doing what her heart truly desired, and she says she would never stop someone because of that."
Granted she was a little worried about what her parents would say when they learned that Gaunt was a real human, and not a Second, but she didn't particularly care. And she didn't think it would be too worrisome.
She let go of him again, then took his hands from her back and held them warmly in her own. "Why don't we see what the boys are up to?" she smiled warmly at him. "Ian's probably hungry, it's got to be close to one o'clock already."
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:02 am
Prince smiles softly and he tilts his head a little bit. "Then I guess we're both seeing something we like." He blinks when Ian brings up the date and he looks at Ian thoughtfully. Then he nods firmly. "Yeah! I think this is now a date! We did it!" He laughs as he throws himself at Ian. Of course, they probably had little to do with Gaunt and Serenity getting together, but it was hard to tell them otherwise.
He smiles when she returns his grasp on her and he looks warmly at her. Then he nods when she let go and took his hands from her. He smiles as he walks with her toward the two Surprises. "Well, I'm glad that nobody should be standing in our way. I really do hope that your family will think well of me. That will make things so much easier."
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:05 pm
Ian cheered and fell over when Prince threw himself at him, squealing with laughter. "We did it!" he cheered. "We did it! We're the best! Woohoo!"
He held one hand up and grinned at Prince. "High five!"
Serenity smiled at Gaunt reassuringly. "I'm sure my family will love you," she murmured. "I'll have to ask them about a time for you to meet them ... maybe you could visit us, I would have to take you of course, since the portal to the main house is hidden ..."
She was already nervous about introducing Gaunt to her parents, though she knew everything would go fine. Maybe it was just that she was worried about their questions afterward - like about how suddenly this had come up, especially when she had always said she wasn't interested in looking for a boyfriend. Still, those were questions she wouldn't mind answering.
"And maybe someday I could meet your parents as well," she smiled. "What are they like?"
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:43 pm
Prince laughed and high-fived Ian. "Yeah! We ARE the best!" He grinned. "And what's better, is that since Gaunt and Serenity are dating, we get to hang out with each other more! So now we have to make sure they stay together!"
Gaunt smiles softly and he tilts his head a bit. "Ooh, its hidden, huh? Sometimes I'd like to have a place like that. Where I can just hole myself away and let myself not be found if I didn't want to be found. It sounds really peaceful to be able to have a place like that."
Perhaps there was some truth to the saying that went something like 'You usually don't find love until you're not looking.' And he was nervous but fine with meeting her parents. She was describing her family like they were generally really nice people, so that helped the nervousness a little, but it was still there.
"My parents, huh?" He laughs a bit and he shrugs. "What is there to say.. Well, my mom is the book-keeper of the house. She controls the flow of money. Which is good, since she also works at a bank so she understands financial things. But when she gets home from work she just wants to relax, so it can be hard to go out and do things with her. And my dad is the worker. He's kind but fairly stern. Kind of the taskmaster of the family." He blushes lightly as it dawns on him that he was the one rambling now. "Ah. I'm sorry if I'm giving you too much information."
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:26 pm
Ian giggled and sat up again. "I bet we can do that just fine," he grinned. "'Less you got ideas for how we can do that ..."
Serenity giggled and squeezed Gaunt's hand lightly. "It's not too much information," she assured him with a warm smile. "I think they sound wonderful."
She wondered if she might meet them someday, but if as Gaunt said they lived very far away, then perhaps it might not work out so well.
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:30 pm
Prince tapped his chin, and he shakes his head a little bit. "Maybe I can help Gaunt pick out flowers! I bet she really likes flowers!"
Gaunt smiles softly as he gently squeezes her hand in return. "They are. And they cover the difference between my tuition and the loans and grants I get to go to school. I'm really grateful to them." He smiles and he glances at her. "If you're up to driving with me, perhaps some day I can drive you over there and you can meet them." He paused as he looked at the two Seconds. They had been caught up in their conversation, and he had forgotten their origional intention. "Alright!" He called out. "Who wants some lunch?"
Prince stopped conniving with Ian and raised his hand, calling out. "Meeeeee!"
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:39 pm
Ian nodded excitedly. "She does!" he exclaimed. "Especially sak'ra flowers! I don't know what they're called in English but they're real pretty!"
Serenity blushed faintly. How had he been able to read her thoughts?
"I'd like that," she admitted. "And perhaps Prince could spend the day with Ian at my house ... I'm sure they would love the time alone ..."
And it would of course also ensure that the two of them would be spending a lot of time alone. Though ... Prince was so new ... what if Gaunt's parents hadn't met him yet? Then he should go with as well, and Ian wouldn't stand for being left behind ...
At Gaunt's question, Ian jumped to his feet, his exhaustion very close to being forgotten. "Me! Me!" he exclaimed eagerly. "I'm hungry!"
And sleepy, he could have added - but he was interrupted by a yawn that seemed to come out of nowhere.
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:46 pm
Gaunt nods and he smiles softly. The prospect of Ian and Prince spending a day or two together was kind of nice. They'd get to leave the Surprises in each others' company and get to spend some time with just them. Them and his parents, but it would be easier to get private moments if they weren't also having to look after this mischievous duo. "I'd like that too."
Gaunt smiles as he crouches down next to the bag that he brought. He pulled out the two eight-packs of California rolls, as well as a couple six-packs of juice. One was apple, the other grape. He blinks a few times, then with a small blush, he turned toward Serenity. "Ah. Hey, Serenity? Did you bring a blanket or something to put this on?" He turns and he grins lightly at Ian. "And after we're done, maybe we can all lay out in the sun together and let our bodies handle the food. Does that sound like a good idea?"
"Yeah!" Exclaimed Prince. Not only did it sound like a good idea to eat then bask in the sun, but he was aware - from earlier - that Ian was puttering out. So he was trying to look out for Ian, as well.
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:17 pm
Serenity smiled widely at Gaunt's words, and as Gaunt crouched next to his bag and began to pull things out of it, she headed over to the bench where she had left her own bag and picked it up.
"I brought a picnic blanket," she admitted with a faint blush. "And lots of food as well, though I did forget to bring drinks."
She knelt next to Gaunt and pulled out the cliche red and white checked blanket, then spread it out, smoothing it carefully before sitting on one of the corners.
Ian smiled sheepishly. "I think that sounds like a really good idea," he grinned at Gaunt. "You're real smart. I'm glad Mom likes you."
He wandered onto the blanket as soon as it was laid down and plopped himself next to Serenity. "I'm soooo hungry," he murmured, wrapping his arms around his stomach.
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:31 pm
He nods and he grins as she remembers a picnic blanket. It was worried there for a moment, because he was afraid that they were going to be having to set the open food on the ground. There was no telling what was going to try to crawl into their food with the blanket out. The chances were only greater if the food was sitting directly on the ground. He chuckles as he places the single-serving-sized fruit bottles in with the rest of the food, as well as the sushi - after he's broken the seal and removed the clear plastic top. He glanced at Serenity and tilted his head a little bit. "Ah. Do you usually do anything before you eat? I don't wanna say 'dig in' before all the formalities are done." He chuckles softly and he tilts his head, honestly curious about what little small rituals her family might have that have.
"Yeah! I'm hungry too!" Commented Prince. He looked more than ready to pounce on the food, but at Gaunt's question, decided now was not the right time to attack the spread. Though he looked at Serenity with eager eyes, silently hoping that Serenity said there was nothing more and that they could eat.
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:49 pm
Serenity had to stop and think about that for a moment. Really, it depended on where they were and who they were eating with ... In Arda, with her great-grandparents, they would wait until everyone was seated, then they would be served. With her aunt and uncle, they would eat as soon as everyone was sitting down ... at home things were a bit different. With her parents it was similar, but Shiro and Kaito always said something before eating ...
"I don't think we have anything formal," she admitted, "other than waiting until all of the food is on the table and everyone is sitting and ready to eat. Which ... I suppose means that I should start unpacking the food that I brought, too."
She blushed faintly and reached for her bag once more, and pulled out several containers: potato salad, sandwiches, apples, and even a whole cake (cinnamon flavoured). She also pulled out some dishes - plates, forks, knives - and a package of napkins.
"I think I might have overprepared," she blushed hotly as she lay everything out.
Ian's eyes grew wide as saucers as he took in the sight of all the food that had appeared from Gaunt's and Serenity's bags.
"Were you expectin' the whole country or something?" he gawked. "Seriously! There's more food there than ... than ... than I could eat in a whole lifetime!"
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:57 pm
He nods and he laughs softly. "Alright, I was just checking. I know some families like to pray before they eat, if they're religious. And I know that the Japanese here like to say 'Itadakimasu' before they eat and 'Gochisosama' after they're done. I just didn't want to step on anyone's toes." He smiles softly as he watches her unpack, and he smiles warmly at her blushing. "Hey, there's no such thing as over preparing, Serenity. I like to think of it as anticipating the worst." He gently teased her, but kept his expression warm and kind.
Prince also gawked at all the food, and he laughed softly. "At least we know that we won't be walking away hungry, huh Ian?" He grins at him, still waiting to get permission to leap at all the food.
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:19 pm
Serenity snapped her fingers, eyes wide as she suddenly remembered.
"That's the word!" she exclaimed brightly. "I can never remember it, it's so long and I don't know Japanese, but two of my brothers do, they sort of raised themselves Japanese, and they say that before every meal!"
Of course she didn't eat with them often, so it was no wonder that she couldn't remember it.
"At any rate," she grinned, "I don't have any sort of rituals ... so unless you do ... I guess we can ... 'dig in'?" She giggled softly.
Ian didn't need a second invitation. The moment Serenity opened her mouth to say "dig in", he was on his feet and running across the blanket towards the apples.
"MINE!" he cried gleefully, tackling one of them and taking what was for him a huge bite out of it - though it amounted to little more than the size of Serenity's pinky fingernail.
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:25 pm
Gaunt laughs softly. "I like watching anime, so I catch Japanese phrases and ideas from time to time. So I'm not really that smart, just after hearing things in certain situations enough times, you start to learn what they mean." He smiles softly as he watches the two Surprises take off. It was fun to just watch them for now. So much energy, and so much of it had to be replaced by food. He woudln't be surprised, for some reason, if they ended up eating their body weight in food during this meal.
Prince had a harder time deciding. There was so much to choose from, and since he was new to this world, he really hadn't had time to develop favorites like Ian had. He ended up taking off after the sandwiches, wrapping his hand around the end of one of the triangles and hauling it out of the container, sitting atop it once it was out and tearing a big piece off and shoving it into his mouth. "Mmmm!"
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