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 Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:02 pm
He’d never had much of a sweet tooth but today was his birthday and despite the cold weather Alexandre had decided that since they were out, himself and René, that an evening snack wouldn’t be a bad idea. They’d already spent the whole day out so now he’d decided on the end of the day desert.
Some new place had opened up in the city, he’d heard about it from a few family members, it sold something called bingsu, he knew there was a chance the cold treat would not settle well in his stomach but the pictures on display in the shop's store front window looked amazing. One of the ones in the window really caught his eye as he turned to René before nodding his head and making his way inside. They had a pomegranate and raspberry bingsu and it looked good, even to him, so his mind was made up.
He just hoped they had small sizes and maybe he’d try the matcha one then as well. “René, let's try this, come on.” Looking back to the other he flashed a small smile, nothing too bright and overly dramatic, he didn’t show certain emotions as much as other people did. But when he did smile there was a reason for it - always.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:15 pm
René followed along with the few bags of things he’d purchased while out and about today. He was running a bit warm after everything so something cold sounded really good. “Looks good, I’ll pay.” Shuffling inside with everything, he chose a spot to set it all down and joined Alexandre by the menu board. There was a tiramisu one, whatever bingsu was. It looked kind of like shaved ice with syrups and different things mixed in. “The one with coffee looks good, I could use the caffeine~”
He could already sort of figure out which one they wanted, probably the one with pomegranate. It was one of the flavors in their espresso each morning.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:15 pm
“You’re sure? I don’t mind paying.” He whispered from the others side, taking the time to look over the menu even though he already knew what he wanted. Pointing out the pomegranate and raspberry one he also went for the matcha flavored one, they both sounded too good to turn up, and with them being small enough he figured he’d be fine with having them both. “Alright, we’ll do that. Do you want to grab another one to try? Something sweet?” He asked while ordering the tiramisu one for René, the other liked espresso and coffee just as much as he did, he could appreciate the others taste in this.
Standing at the others side it was a slow, almost unnoticeable movement, but he reached out and took one of the others hands with his own. “I don’t mind paying and treating you to whatever ones you want. It’s something I’ve never tried so perhaps taste testing wouldn’t be a bad idea.” In order to find what flavors they liked the best, and would order again in the future.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:16 pm
“I’m sure, I can cover it. It’s your birthday today isn’t it?” Smiling slyly, he squeezed their hand a bit. “I can try whichever, something fruity. Whatever you recommend?” Speaking to the clerk, he pulled his wallet out and grabbed another hundred from it. He’d leave the change as a tip since he felt bad that people were working on Valentine’s Day.
It had been a nice day so far and everything he’d set up had worked out swimmingly. It had been kind of fast and loose as he planned a lot on the fly in moments between things and just out of the other’s sight. “Let’s sit and wait for everything.”
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:16 pm
“Alright, and I’ll accept your offer to pay.” Who was he to decline it? The other seemed inclined to treat him today and celebrate his birthday in a rather nice manner. He could see couples sitting around, sharing larger sized bingsu, but he was more than ok with smaller ones for them to taste test. Order a mango one, with little bits of cheese cake, for René to try. “I think a fresh fruit one would be good, something refreshing and healthy.”
“Mmm, can we avoid all those couples - too sappy.” It was one reason, among many, that he used to detest this day. Aiden had helped him get better with this day, and enjoying his birthday, but he had never been much for showing all the sorts of emotions people did. He wasn't one who would go kissing someone in public, especially like some people did, or slipping a hand into the other person's back pocket…or anything else. At best he'd hold hands in public. Mason had pushed things in public, a lot, and he’d had to keep himself silent and hold back. He’d learned control for certain.
But he sort of felt like René understood him a bit more and would accept his lack of affection in public, he hadn’t hidden his personality to the other - not really. So he should understand things a bit.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:17 pm
René preferred more sugary sweets but they were right about something refreshing. After the whole day of running around, it sounded good. Scanning the place, he picked a spot nearer to the back corner where there were fewer people. He didn’t mind the couples but he knew Alex wasn’t as open as he was about things in public. He’d be up for more but even just them holding his hand was nice. It was rare but that made it all the more special that they’d done it now.
“Is this okay?” Shuffling all the things over by the wall where the chair he was going to sit in was. It would leave Alexandre’s back to the rest of the people they didn’t want to see. “I mean we are a couple too but I understand.” Teasing just a bit as he sat down across from the other. “So you didn’t tell me it was your birthday today but I kind of figured it out. So are you 22 or 23 now?” Tilting his head as he looked at the blond, it was hard to tell how old they were. All he knew was that they were planning on graduating this year which meant they should be around that old right?
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:17 pm
“Yeah, I used to hate my birthday being today - too many girls in school would harass me over it. I’d get people thinking it was fitting to offer themselves, dating them and other things, as a birthday gift or a valentine's gift.” It had been far more than he’d like to deal with, especially in high school when he was more prudish than he was now. Back then hee was still glaring at couples, and thinking them vulgar for showing their affections for someone else. Now he was more lenient, at least he thought so.
Seating himself he looked over to where orders wer being made, it seemed to be out in the open where people could watch. He wasn’t too interested, not enough to go watch, but it was a curious thing what went into these desserts which had so many people flocking to this place. Though he did notice a large number of asians in the place, but considering it looked like an asian snack. Pointing out one that was being walked over to a table,. By a staff person, he was smiling. “That looks really good. Oh, no…I’m 29 today.” Casual and almost distracted as he was looking at what was arriving at someone else's table.
“How did you find out anyway about my birthday?”
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:18 pm
“Oh how scandalous, though I think I’d be flattered personally. At least in part.” Thinking about the idea of Alexandre wrapped in a bow made him smile a bit as he watched orders come out one by one. They all looked so interesting even if he couldn’t quite tell what most of the flavors were.
Looking where Alexandre was pointing he was about to speak when he choked on his words. “Wait what?” Leaning in close to stare at the other’s face he couldn’t see it, there was no way they were older than him. “What kind of magic keeps you looking that young if you are that old and how do I get it?” Poking their face, just a bit, he knew they didn’t lie but he still couldn’t believe it.
“Oh, I saw your phone blowing up this morning and one of the message bubbles had a cake in it and balloons and that’s not really a Valentine’s Day thing. I didn’t unlock your phone or anything, just noticed it was all.” He knew some people were touchy over their privacy so he didn’t really push things most times.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:18 pm
“I don’t think I could have ever been flattered…not with how some of them worded it - like I should be honored to date them….or more. All because they were some sort of gift they were giving me.” Wrinkling his nose up he couldn’t help but laugh at the others expression before reaching out and poking the others face in return.
“I take care of my skin and I’m vain?” He questioned, well half questioned and half answered, honestly. Pulling his phone out he unlocked it and went through his photos, all the way back, to when he was younger. The photos weren’t the best, camera quality on phones weren’t the best then, but he had younger pictures of himself on his phone. Turning his phone around he showed it to the other. It was his own graduation pictures from high school…2012. He looked a lot younger, softer in features, and there wasn’t that certain…darkness to him. He’d only been involved in the fighting for a year at that point. He’d been a General then but he hadn’t seen as much or lost as much.
“You can, if you ever want, just unlock my phone. I honestly don’t care too much.” Since he didn’t have anything to hide on it anyway. He had a lot of contacts, mostly family, but that was really about it. His search history was innocent enough, at least when compared to René’s phone he was certain.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:19 pm
He could agree with that at least, especially if people were acting like it was an honor to date them and not the other way around. But it really felt a bit unfair about how young they looked. “I still say it’s some sort of magic…” Trailing off as he looked at the photos they were showing him. They looked so different but he couldn’t quite place how at first. Yes, they looked even younger but it was more than that. They didn’t have that same level of sadness, he thought it might be, to them. They weren’t beaten down in the same way as he’d seen just a few weeks ago.
“Petit ange…” it slipped out as he looked between the phone and Alexandre. It really was unfair considering he’d already had to pluck a few gray hairs here and there. “I wouldn’t want to poke into your business like that but I’ll remember that in case there’s an emergency.”
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:27 pm
“If it’s magic I wish I knew so I could charge people.” He stated, bright eyed and silent laughter in his smile, he would indeed make money off it if he knew how he kept his younger appearance so well. He honestly just figured he took good care of himself, and outside of the war and fighting he didn’t have a lot of stress in his life. Drama yes…but stress? Not too much really. Not overall anyway.
Turning quickly, as food arrived, he thanked the person with a smile and a nodding of his head. Two bingsu for each of them were put down and as the female walked off, leaving them instructions to pour their own condensed milk, Alex was quick to sit himself up better. One leg tucked itself up and under himself, because he never sat at a good height when he went out to eat, places weren’t made for his size, and it was always awkward with the angle of things. His other foot however stretched out and rested on the seat across from him - René’s chair.
Reaching for a spoon and grabbing the pomegranate and raspberry bingsu he went to taking the first bite, ignoring where his foot was.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:27 pm
“Or you could share it with me? Teach me the ways of everlasting youth~ I’m tired of grays.” Frowning a bit, he couldn’t hold it for long before he started to laugh.
René thanked the worker as well and looked over the bingsu for a second before he felt something between his thighs on the chair. Oh well, that was pretty forward. Leaning forward a bit he started on the tiramisu one, it was pretty good even if it took him a few tries to get the right balance of condensed milk with it.
“It’s good, you should try this one too.” Offering a bit on his spoon over to the other, he pressed against their foot with a sly smile.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:28 pm
“I don’t even know if I have grey hairs, it would be hard to tell honestly.” Considering his hair naturally had a greyish undertone to it anyway. Being that he was an ash blond it couldn’t be helped really. “Also, this is good as well - really good.” Pointing, with his spoon, the one one he’d just taken a bite of. He’d be coming back, for certain, for this treat especially come summer time when it got hot in the city.
“Mmmm, should I?” He didn’t mind coffee flavored things really. That in mind he did go for a try on the others bingsu, all while moving his foot under the table. Though really most of it wasn't intentional….or it was bit not meant in the way it likely was coming off for René. He knew where his foot was though, but he needed the balance since his other foot was tucked up and under himself for some needed height.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:29 pm
“That’s so unfair.” Every time he had one, it stuck out really bad against his dark hair. It made it easier to find them and pluck though but he still didn’t like it. It wasn’t a daily occurrence though but it was happening more frequently than he’d like to admit.
René watched Alexandre as he felt their foot moving against him. “It’s good yea? I’ll try it in a bit.” It was a bit hard to focus on the dessert as they went along and he took another mouthful of the tiramisu one to avoid making a sound. Scooting back in his seat a bit he nudged their leg with his knee. “Tease.”
Looking at the fruit one next, he tried it out and it wasn’t bad either. It was sweet and a bit tangy but really good. He’d never had mango or anything like it before really. It was odd though, after a few bites of it there was an itchy feeling on his skin.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:30 pm
Raising a brow the blond offered a spoonful of his own pomegranate one, something the other should feel somewhat honored for, before deciding to try a bite of the mango one. It wasn't bad, not his favorite though, he had a favorite though the tiramisu one but also the matcha one was good, René’s was better than the matcha and the mango came last of the four.
“I do admit I’m not attempting to tease you, just trying to keep balanced, but I can be a tease.” Mischief in his eyes as the smaller of the two decided to actually tease the other under the table while he ate his own bingsu, and took nibbles here and there of René’s two.
“Mango one isn’t bad, not the best though but it’s good. What do you think? And of the others as well?” Since it was obvious the tiramisu one seemed to be René’s favorite. “How would you rank the four?”
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