Welcome to Gaia! ::

Adam


The fact that Katia was ethnically Russian was not lost on Adam. One of the grain-of-truth stereotypes of Russian people was that they could hold their liquor better than most, and may probably find enjoyment competing in drinking contests with those like the Irish or the Germans—last person to pass out wins. As for Katia herself, he remembered she'd once told him in passing that she'd had her share of the bottle; "alco-laws" in her homeland were different than in the schizophrenic US, namely, the minimum drinking age was 16 as opposed to 21.

As Adam placed the full plates on the table, he assuaged her tongue-in-cheek concern over him deliberately getting her drunk by laughing with her. "No, no, I would never give you anything you couldn't handle." Looking back at the dish, a new thought occurred to him, and recalled another liquor-related factoid he'd heard growing up. His mother's side of the family had roots in Italy, hence their love for pasta; Italy was a country in the warm Mediterranean Sea region; Mediterranean countries were also renowned for their large, beautiful vineyards; many of their people were thus wine connoisseurs, and it followed that their attitudes toward drinking differed than those from colder, drearier countries.

In other words, they were typically considered "happy drinkers", whose consumption of alcohol was simply a part of their enjoyment of life; whereas others elsewhere might be considered "unhappy", whose consumption was a way to drown their sorrows and forget their trials and tribulations. This was not, however, an indictment on Katia or anyone else—stereotypes such as those were merely exaggerations of sporadic individual truths. Katia, from what Adam had understood, was never the worse for wear after imbibing, and she probably considered herself a happy drinker anyway.

In any case, he decided it was best that they not drink tonight. "We'll wait until another time to drink together, probably when I introduce you to my parents for the holidays in a couple of months. I know my mom would love you."

The couple then finally sat down at the table to eat... with the steam from the sauce and noodles tantalizing their noses, it was about time.

Adam


Katia had looked somewhat apprehensive when she registered the meaning of meeting Adam's parents. Perhaps her former status as the heir apparent to her father's business empire, as well as different cultural norms, would have disallowed that possibility for her. Either way, she was now living here in America, and her progress with English under her beloved's tutelage was still going well.

Adam was also pleased to see his princess enjoying his family's specialty dish, so much so she'd exclaimed praise for it in her native tongue. He wasn't nearly as versed in Russian as he probably should have been, but her tone and expression spoke volumes. Later tonight, he wanted to see that same ecstatic look on her face for a different reason...

"I know meeting my parents seems like a big step," said Adam, sipping his own glass of tea. "But it's not like we're meeting them tomorrow. We still have plenty of time for you to settle in here with me and be comfortable enough. We'll continue your English lessons for as long as you feel you need them, but my parents shouldn't really care that you're not a native speaker, as long as you can get your main points across to them. And if you make any mistakes, it's not a big deal, I'll be right beside you with my arm around your waist. Just be sure to relaaaaax, and not put so much pressure on yourself, okay?"

When it came to introducing a girl to his parents, Adam took the notion seriously. He wouldn't introduce someone to them whom he didn't believe would have a future with him.

Adam


For one to meet another's parents was a big deal no matter how it was sliced. You were important enough to someone that you had the privilege to be introduced to the two people who gave them life. It was a key step in solidifying your deep, lifelong bond with that special someone.

It was no secret to Adam that Katia could be serious and focused on things, sometimes to a fault. She knew nothing of life outside her world of wealth, which sheltered her from the brutal, harsh real world. As a result, she doubled her efforts to make herself understand, and learn what she could learn. Adam knew what it was like to feel compelled to learn something quickly, as opposed to learning for its own wonderful sake. He knew the pressure that such a focus would put one under, which made it easy for him to relate to her.

Also, as an artist, it was kind of a prerequisite to be in touch with one's emotions, in order to effect brilliant creations, in order to elicit the same response from the potential audience. As a result, his words had a way of reaching her, speaking to her heart and soothing her troubles. Grateful for his presence, she'd raised her glass for a toast, to their new life and to themselves. Adam raised his own glass; it didn't have wine, but it didn't matter. "To us... and to our future together." he replied, clinking his glass with hers.

The rest of their dinner passed by peacefully, with some small talk peppered here and there. Once the couple finished, he took their plates and rinsed them in the sink for one of them to wash later. He then decided to toss suggestions to her as to what they would do now. "Do you want to watch a movie with me? We have a choice between action, comedy, horror, romance, suspense, or a historical period piece."

Adam


It didn't surprise Adam that Katia had chosen a romance as their movie of choice tonight. In fact, he was glad she did. With the genre picked out, now he had to pick the title; either a romantic comedy (of which he had only one, Julia Roberts' star-making Pretty Woman), or something largely dramatic and serious. Tracing his index finger through the DVD boxes on the shelf, he made his decision. "This one's called A Walk to Remember," he said, holding up the box so Katia could see it; the cover depicted Mandy Moore in a happy embrace with her co-star Shane West. "This is actually one of my favorite movies, and because of it, I used to have a big crush on Mandy Moore when I was a kid. But don't worry though, a crush is one thing, real love between two people—what we have— is something else entirely."

With their bellies full, there was no real need to munch on snacks during the movie. So, Adam went to get themselves a cozy fleece blanket they could snuggle in. Then, he popped the disc into the DVD player and began the movie. Finally (most importantly), the pair set themselves onto the couch and covered up under the blanket. As a finishing touch, Adam made small ministrations toward Katia such as wrapping his arm behind her back, taking her right hand in his, and lacing their fingers together.

The movie's title card came up, and they stayed that way for the next hour and a half.

Adam


Their shared experience of watching a movie in the comfort of a couch and the transfer of their body heat was yet another that Adam would cherish to his very last breath, and he was sure Katia would cherish it too. While he himself had never been a "bad" boy like West's character Landon, he knew all too well the pain of being aimless and without purpose, and his paintings could only do so much to allay it without enabling it. Only after meeting Katia did he feel spiritually whole... in a sense, she saved his life just like Jamie saved Landon. "It's okay to cry," he told his princess. "You loved the movie as much as I have, and it moved you like it did me. That's the driving purpose of art, to make someone feel, whether happy, sad, or what have you. Even your dancing is an art, eliciting in your audience whichever feeling you are feeling through your motions and gestures. No matter what anyone says, it's not shameful to cry."

After dinner and the movie, night had fallen, and their fellow students would be inside their own dorms doing their own business. As for Adam and Katia's business tonight... the time had come, he decided. The gaze from his ocean-blue eyes held upon her tear-stained ice-blue eyes. "There's no reason to feel embarrassed or ashamed of your feelings around me. In the privacy of our dorm, you are free to bare your entire heart, body, and soul to me, and I will bare mine to you. This is our love, and I can't live without it."

Slowly, Adam drew his face close to hers, and their lips met.