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 Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 7:30 pm
It wasn't a surprise that the island had a lot of people clammoring to leave the island on Valentine's day. Those who were single wanted to go to bars to either drown their single misery or to hook up for a quick nighter, while those already married or dating wanted to spend the most romantic day of the year in a more refined and mood-setting environment. For all of those leaving with plans on the fly, Melvin could only laugh at them.
He had planned and made reservations months in advance. He wasn't the type to really care about a day marketed for getting lucky, but when you were dating someone, you didn't want to be "that guy" who just came by with a bag of M&Ms from the vending machine and a origami flower to see if you would be getting any. He had standards, and he expected Rin would have the same. Not only that, but recent events had shown he had been a grade A d**k, and this was the night to help shake off some of the bad marks off his record. That and getting lucky in a nice, romantic place. Hey, even he could appreciate and get excited over his own plans. Fine dining and fine living were all set for the night.
He made sure to tell Rin not to use her portal time this month, and that morning he set a dress and underthings (he checked her sizes ages ago) on the bed, and pulled out the suit and red tie he bought a while ago (taking notes from a particular dashing suit-wearing Sun.)
"I charged your phone." He commented, grabbing his things and a jacket to cover up for before dinner. He hadn't had the chance to even know what the whether was like in London, but he hoped it was warm.
"I'll call a car once we step out of the portal so don't worry about wearing sportier shoes." He informed her, hoping she'd go for something with a nice heel.
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Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 4:04 am
Rin had known Melvin was up to something for some time now. Melvins of the world don't just randomly ask you not to use up portal leave, especially not in the same month that Valentines falls into. She was on high guard and suspicious for days. When she finally happened upon the outfit he had picked out, bright red like her lips, she found herself relieved. No more wondering what he was up to.
She seemed further relieved to find him in a tuxedo. At least her own, somewhat simple gift would not go unused. She pulled out a Red rose and reached for a drawer labeled for sewing items and removed from it a pin. She then carefully pinned the object to his coat. "I grew this myself using an experiment in micropropagation and hydroponics." She shifted it just a bit until it sit on his chest just right. "In other words; it never touched dirt."
Satisfied that he was ready, she turned to ready herself. Shedding her regular garbs and putting on the items he placed out for her. At the mention of shoes, she inspected her closet. Uncertain what would go with such a dress. Much to Melvin's likely delight, the only thing in red sure as hell was not sneakers.
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Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 6:25 am
A grin started to pull at his cheeks as he looked the rose, touching it with a fresh pair of black gloves reserved for special occasions. "You keep talking science like that and that dress isn't going to make it to dinner." He touched a petal before he glanced at his wrist watch. Yes, time. They didn't need to be running late and risk rushing through his plans to just make the dinner reservation.
Taking her hand, he kissed the back. "Let's head out then." He locked his room, and made his way to the portals. By now a few couples were already there, some dressed for a night out in Vegas (or so he presumed from their attire), and a few more mellowed out in their waredrobe choice. Overall, the air of Valentines was still hitting the island, and he assumed someone was cutting paper hearts to post in some depressing cafeteria wall somewhere, sad they hadn't planned ahead. It warmed his heart.
Giving directions for London, England, he set a hand on Rin's waist and helped her into the portal before stepping in behind her. Stepping onto a cobblestone side street, he checked the time, and was glad the weather was clear and warm. A few clouds lingered around, and he narrowed his eyes at them, daring them to so much as turn grey even a little.
Pulling out his phone, he lead Rin out to the main street. "Just me a moment." He told her, holding a finger, and waited for a shuttle service he ordered to pick up. Once he did, he went through is name, glanced at the street names nearby, and hung up. "Our car will be here in a minute."
It didn't take long at all, and he was relieved to not be standing on the streets dressed in such attire when people in sneakers and t-shirts were about, a few smiling at what they whispered were a "cute couple" while a few others sneered and rolled their eyes in what he assumed as bitter jealousy. It was nice being with someone for just these reasons.
In no time, a black, polished Mercedes S class pulled up and a man stepped out to open the door. Melvin went to him to shake hands and then helped Rin to her side before going to his side sitting in. The car soon pulled away and headed out. Melvin checked his watch to make sure they were on time before looking over at her. "You look great, by the way."
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Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 5:34 pm
"Horticulture," Rin purred defiantly before they were suddenly whisked away on an adventure.
She knew he had special things planned. But she chose to just this once tell her mind to shut off just long enough to actually enjoy this evening and allow surprises to happen. She was surprised. Quite pleasantly, in fact. London? She'd certainly never been here before. She gave Melvin a silently questioning look but quickly perished it in the face of simply being.
The buildings seemed old and yet so very... classic. With a flair of something brand new here and there to liven things up. She cracked a smile at herself. Already impressed and all she's seen so far was a bunch of buildings. Buildings and a car.
Inside she looked around, just a little bit uncomfortable by the... well... a lot put into this. She buckled herself in and then leaned in towards Melvin once he also sat, placing her hand on his thigh, "You are up to no good, I just know it."
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Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 9:37 pm
He didn't close his legs, but instead set his hand on her own thigh, squeezing it before curling it around the inner leg and glancing up at the rear-view mirror to check that the driver was watching traffic and not his passengers. Then Melvin moved his hand up her leg, pushing the hem of her red dress just a little all the while looking ahead. "If I was really up to no good, I would have rented the car to drive myself, and it would already be pulled out by now." He turned, smiling at her.
He then leaned in to kiss her cheek.
The driver turned and Melvin checked his watch again, still letting his hand feel the soft skin of Rin's leg. "I hope you're not attached to that dress in case anything happens." He teased.
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Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 3:39 am
Rin clamped her legs shut tightly around his hand. If he wanted it back, he was going to have to behave. "I think I am quite attached to this dress, actually." She let up just enough slack for him to retract the hand. "In any case, isn't this just our second date? What kind of girl do you take me for?" She smirked just a fraction at him.
But he also kept checking his watch.
She tried to pretend she wasn't noticing.
She was and soon thoughts began trickling away over what he could possibly be in a hurry for.
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Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 8:39 am
Melvin winced when his hand was shut, not because it hurt, but because he was surprised, and waited for them to part enough to pull his hand out. Rubbing the palm, he shrugged. "Second date then? I guess I'll drop you off at the p -" He paused when he glanced to the driver. "Your door tonight with only a kiss. I'll enjoy the rest of the night's plans then by my lonesome." He looked down at his palm and then back at her. "Wouldn't want you to be out past curfew."
Rin was not, by any means, a little girl fresh to dating. She already admitted to her flings with Rep, and what he experienced intimately with her suggested she wasn't shy about a lot of things that even Melvin was hesitant to do. He hadn't really asked much about her fantasies, mainly due to not wanting to know how many he'd have to check off do as being unable to be done on his part. It wasn't that he was some shy little thing that was hesitant. He just had many restrictions that he didn't like being reminded of or Rin to take notice of too frequently.
But tonight was a way to make up for a lot of that - he hoped.
The car slowed to the curb and the driver stepped out to open the door. Melvin got out, gestured to the driver not to bother walking around, and went over to open the door for Rin, helping her out of the Mercedes and onto the sidewalk. The Tom and Derry building was a bland slab of gray that towered many stories and had a wide entrance to let shoppers come in and out. Walking with Rin, he walked past the main entrance where several shops were open, including a GAP. He ignored these and went to a modest side door that directed them, with a elegant sign, to take the elevator to the roof gardens.
He only smiled and did not look at Rin as he held her waist and directed her into the elevator.
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Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 4:54 pm
Rin held her calm smirk, distantly hopeful he realized it had only been said in jest. She would be furious if he dumped her somewhere at this point. It was something she legitimately worried about as they reached their goal... the building seemed modest and yes - like a re-purposed store of sorts. Not somewhere at all you would take someone on a date. She felt doubt and worry creep up. Making the smile she gave Melvin as he helped her to the stoop appear concerned.
She diminished the negativity as quickly as she realized it was growing. Melvin wasn't stupid. He may have selfish moments, but this was clearly not meant to be one of them. So with a sigh, she gave him her trust, a gesture done in complete silence with no other outward signs. She looked to him as he clearly refused to look at her.
He was up to something.
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Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 9:27 pm
The door dinged at the top and opened showing a hallway with vibrant wall-length pictures on either side depicting various exotic flowers and birds. "The Rooftop Gardens" was written in elegant, discrete script. Melvin didn't say a word, checked his watch, and then guided Rin to the side where a glass-cased room was set that lead up a set of stairs. Taking those, he was then met with the floor that showed "The Babylon" restaurant.
"Wait here a moment." He told her, stepping in only to check on his reservation and also to the proper directions to access the garden explaining he called ahead. After a short direction, he returned and took Rin's hand. A main in a suit opened a set of glass doors where they left the polished tiles and florescent lights to the open sky and small stone path surrounded one either side by various plants.
"I never heard of a Rooftop garden, so I'm hoping you haven't been to one." He told her, hoping with some uncertainty that she wasn't bored my his constant fallback of plants. He knew she liked them, but sometimes he worried she might think he was playing the same tune. "if you have, then...well, there is another garden that isn't far that is actually larger but it doesn't serve dinner." He explained, some of his previous confidence melting in the face of uncertain judgement. In the end, the only way his date could be graded as a success was reliant on Rin's approval entirely. Just in case, he decided to add, "They have flamingos." in case that helped. Did Rin even like birds?
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Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 11:00 am
Rin slowly but surely turned her head to stare rather suspiciously at Melvin. She was squinting as they passed the pictures and even harder at the writing that gave away exactly his plans. She gave his hand a tighter squeeze as a smirk crept forth from her crimson red lips. "You clever little sh--" He disappeared inside some strange place that certainly did not look like a garden. Fooled again? This is why you're not allowed to think too hard about what's - Yssssssss.
The second her shoes met stone and dirt, the look on her face melted away into ... vacant. She almost looked like a serene zombie as she quietly wandered onward. Silently admiring their plant choices and arrangements and -- is that a flamingo?! Her eyes lit up as she began to almost drag Melvin along for a closer look. She kept hunkered a bit, almost as if she was fearful of scaring them off.
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Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 11:20 am
He was glad for the smirk, relieved as he smiled in turn and gave him a mental point on his score card for the night. So far, so good. In the end, he was more worried about his own conduct and what he might say that would ruin the night as - well, that's how he usually ruined most things. He decided he'd try and keep the conversation to simple things and if Rin wanted to talk about anything, he'd let her lead the conversation for once (even if it would kill him).
Dragged along, he hunkered down and suddenly felt very stupid for doing so. He stood up again. "Rin, they're domesticated. If they were wild, they would fly off this roof and into a airplane or skyscraper." He told her. "Or on some cafe table." He said with a smile.
He tapped her head. "They are used to visitors. You can get a little closer. Here." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a slim digital camera he borrowed for the night (of course, at some cost). "Take some pictures."
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Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 2:45 pm
Rin pouted at Melvin and released his hand to gesture very slowly and carefully in the direction of the bird that just stood there staring at them curiously, "it looks pretty wild to me."
She took the camera without too much fuss anyway, distracted by the prospect of being a photographer (even if temporarily). She hunkered down again, completely ignoring Melvin's advice to get right up on the bird for choice pictures. The bird just continued to watch her blankly.
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Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 2:52 pm
He sighed, look around, and was glad he had picked to stay on schedule. He was sure that once dinner time rolled closer, the couples for the Valentine's day lunch would want to check the garden before sitting down. This way, Rin could see the garden before it got crowded in any sort of way, and take as many pictures she wanted.
Looking down at her, a camera in hand and crouched down, he had to smile. "You look as if you should have a Safari hat instead of that dress." It looked comical to say the least. Since she seemed set to kneel down, he slowly knelt down too, looking around and glad that with all the trees, the restaurant staff couldn't look out their window and wonder what the two crazy people were doing in the garden.
He watched the bird and then Rin and then at the bird again. He glanced at her when it became a bit too quiet (okay, maybe he'd lead the conversation a little). "Do you...like birds?" He felt ridiculous! Here he was sleeping with Rin and he started to get this terrible feeling he barely knew her. Then again, he probably didn't. They had been friends as much as he allowed for company, then they hooked up and he really didn't know too much about her. All their times talking were arguments or work or what fabric softener she liked while doing laundry. Then again, he really hadn't bothered to ask her more simple questions. To get to know her too much. Not until recently.
It was so much easier to be confident with people you only wanted to have a one-nighter with. He felt silly just asking dumb questions like this.
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Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 4:23 pm
Rin had successfully snapped a few pictures of the bird before Melvin's voice seemed to startle her out of her excited daze. She looked at him. Saw that he was crouching too and snapped a few pictures of him too before rewarding him with a smile.
"You make a nice adventurer yourself," she turned back to the bird and pretended she didn't just photograph him. "Birds are my favorite animal," she confessed distantly before lining up for another shot. "Hey Melvin," she spoke as the camera clicked away. "Do you remember when we went to that Halloween thing in golems?"
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Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 4:27 pm
He turned when she had already snapped and picture, and frowned for the others, not the type to poise or make cute faces for a camera. He tended not to like taking pictures, and whenever he was told to smile for friends, he felt his cheeks hurt from strained, forced smiles. He did those type of smiles for others, but he never liked it. At least the quick pictures that caught him off guard were genuine.
As he watched the birds with her and tried to keep his balance and not fall back and dirty his suit, he looked back at her. "Um...vaguely. Why do you ask?" It had been a long time since then.
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