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tampered2006-09-24 03:47 pm
hearty-bean.livejournal.com) wrote in tampered2006-09-24 03:47 pm
Log; Completed
When; Back back...right before Wish Day hit
Rating; G for super cute fluffiness
Characters; Rinali, Allen, Timcanpi
Summary; Rinali and Allen have their first date, and it's full of surprises! ♥
Log;
It had been a long day. A full day's worth of yelling at his very disagreeable co-worker over his sexuality was more tiring than it should have been.
But he wasn't going to let it get him down. He had promised to have a great surprise for Rinali, and Allen was never the one to break his promises. Whatever he could do to make Rinali happy, he would go at any lengths to do it. There was something in that delicate smile of hers that made him feel alive again. Even if he wasn't the one she found solace in, he would still feel obligated to fulfill her happiness in any way that he could.
Decked in a handsome white suit with his trademark red ribbon tied immaculately around his neck, Allen arrived half an hour early to Cafe Juliet, and did his best to hide gift bags underneath the flower-shaped tables. Rinali would be arriving any minute now!
...but his spirits sank as he felt a familiar buzz over his head. Timcanpi had surreptiously followed him here!
Rinali had labored through most of the morning trying her hardest to prepare for this moment. This was it, the one thing that she'd been waiting for for what seemed like forever -- and like hell if she was going to let it go even just the tiniest bit wrong!
But for some reason, she felt like she'd already blown it thanks to the misunderstanding concerning what had happened between Allen and Kanda. She really didn't believe that Allen was gay; it was like she'd mentioned before, she just didn't want to think of the two boys in that sort of relationship with one another... especially with tempers like theirs.
She sighed at the memory, gingerly holding the carefully-wrapped box that held the chocolate cake she'd baked as a token of apology. Well, it's not like Allen-kun cancelled our date because of it, so... maybe there's hope! I'll just have to help him take his mind off it, so we can have a wonderful night together.
"I wonder if I'm too early..." Rinali wondered aloud as she wandered down the familiar path to the café; her smile brightened when she spotted Allen's snow-white hair from the distance, not quite registering that Timcanpi had made a surprise appearance just yet. Here goes nothing!
"Go away Timcanpi...!"
Swatting Timcanpi away was no use. Like bees to honey, Timcanpi seemed intent on resting on the favorite part of Allen's head. That, and the menancing teeth of the golem kept him from wanting to risk his hands any further.
"It's no use." Allen let out a sigh and turned to place his coat on the hanger, but dropped it in surprise. Rinali was already here? He blushed, and hoped she didn't catch him in the act of comically trying to swat his golem.
"R-Rinali!"
"Allen-kun!" Rinali's smile grew even more as she race-walked over to where he was, the hem of the black skirt she wore swishing. Ahh, I have to be careful not to drop the box...! "Heh, looks like we both couldn't wait to see each other, huh?"
Setting the wrapped cake on the table, she bent over to help pick up his coat. Then she spotted the little yellow golem out of the corner of her eye and blushed nervously -- Komui still had no clue about their relationship yet, what was he going to do if Timcanpi showed them doing anything that he wouldn't like?
"Err... I didn't know Timcanpi'd be here... but I guess we can cover him with your coat if we don't want him to see?" she offered, before mentally berating herself for suggesting something so dumb.
There she was. In the little swishing skirt that dangerously encroached upon the limits of a miniskirt. Black always seemed to suit Rinali--maybe it was because of her ebony-colored hair. Not to mention the tear-drop earrings seemed to accentuate her beautiful honey eyes...
Allen briefly shook his head and waved back, a bit embarrassed to be lost in his own thoughts again. I have to look good! This is our first and most important date!
"I guess we were both a little excited!" Allen exclaimed with a nervous laughter. "And wow! You made a cake? I can't wait to try it!" His stomach grumbled loudly in unison.
"Maybe if we ask Timcanpi really nicely he won't record anything..," he wondered. Despite having been with the golden golem for some time, he had no idea how it functioned."As long as I don't let it get to Komui-san's hands, it shouldn't matter, right?"
It was then Allen realized their proximity. He could smell the perfume of Rinali's hair, flowery like always. Wait, the proper thing to do is hold her hand or pull her into a hug, right? But what if she doesn't want to? He mentally grappled with himself, wishing that he had watched more romantic films and learned from the swoon-worthy heroes.
"Mm~ it's especially for you... I kind of felt guilty after reacting the way I did to what Kanda said, and I wanted you to know that I'd never lose faith in what you tell me. I guess I overreacted," Rinali admitted sheepishly, a small blush forming on her cheeks out of habit. "But let's not think about that now, shall we?"
Wow, he really went all out, didn't he? she wondered, eyeing his outfit with silent adoration. He really looks like a perfect gentleman! The color brings out his eyes so well... and ahh, he's smiling, I've always loved his smile... -- wait, gotta focus. The squishy stuff comes later, I just have to get through this first. ...but the mood just feels RIGHT, and --
Well, no matter. That would all come eventually, she just had to block out her mind and just go with her heart this time! Smiling shyly, she took a few steps closer to him, picking Timcanpi up off his head with her nimble fingers. "I never really thought about just asking him to not do what he's told... do you hear that, Timcanpi? No recording tonight, you're off duty!" Her voice sounded very much like the tone she'd take on when scolding Agito; she laughed a little at herself for that.
Turning her head a bit, Rinali then suddenly found her eyes locked with his -- and she could've sworn her heart skipped a beat. "...Errr... so... what now, Allen-kun?"
"...."
He didn't know how to respond, and gulped at half-words before closing his mouth. True, he had been a little disappointed at her immediate rejection but it was a reaction to be expected from such a harsh accusation. But she took the matter to heart, and Allen felt proud for having such a considerate girlfriend.
Girlfriend... It almost sounded awkward, yet something of pride swelled up in his chest everytime he thought about it.
Timcanpi flapped its wing once before flying off to an obscure corner of the cafe. You'll listen to a pretty girl, but not your main caretaker? thought Allen with a bemused look on his face.
"Heh, Rinali, it's nothing," he gave her one of his saccharine smiles. "We should sit down and order drinks to go with your cake! I can't wait to dig in!"
He pulled the chair out and gestured for Rinali to sit. But as she settled in, ...I just lost the chance to hug her, didn't I?
Rinali gave a little wave to Timcanpi as he flew off, then nodded slightly at the promise of getting something to drink. "Sounds good! I am sort of thirsty from walking all the way over here... that, and rushing about my apartment trying to get ready, and then trying to deal with the guys at the same time... it's kinda hectic."
As she walked right on past Allen to sit down, though, her hand had brushed against his -- his hand's so warm, and so soft, too... -- and for one brief moment, their fingers had intertwined.
Cue Rinali's heartrate skyrocketing through the café roof.
She had to take a small breath to calm herself, for if she let her overwhelming emotions get the best of her she'd wind up looking silly, and she couldn't have THAT! ...Not yet, anyway. Okay, BREATHE. "Ah, so... now that we're... well, actually together on a date like this... what do you suppose will come after that? Like, the future and everything... I don't know, I was just sort of wondering about that." Odd way to try and break the ice, but hey, she was curious...
...and the two of them were seated directly beside one another, so nearly anything was possible -- in the realm of physical contact, that is.
...and he almost had it, but Rinali looked downward as she immediately slumped into her seat, letting go of his hold. Allen sighed inwardly; he might have had good reaction time with akuma, but with girls everything was unpredictable. As he pulled out his own chair, he swore he saw pink tints on her cheeks.
"How does pink lemonade sound?" He asked, digging into the scrumptious-looking cake. She had really made it just for him, making sure the cake was rich with just the right amount of sugar for his interminable appetite.
"Uhh...," Allen stumbled for words for the second time. Future? Marriage? Kids? He mentally hit himself and tried to backtrack modestly on his mind's future. "I think...we'll have to get our relationship through your brother and others, without having them explode or tease us, I suppose."
He immediately continued, noticing the startled look in Rinali's eyes. "It won't be much of a problem! I'm sure they would understand!"
After ordering their drinks, Allen shifted in his seat and his foot bumped into Rinali's. That sent an....unfamiliar feeling throughout his body--something he hadn't felt since they were stuck together. We're...kind of close now, aren't we? The smell of flowers was even stronger in his nose, and he was tempted to brush away that stray lock of hair on her face. Instead, he firmly held her free hand. The warmth was comforting...but not enough.
Rinali smiled shyly. "Ah... that sounds good, yeah." Her expression brightened considerably as she watched Allen scarf down the cake -- she knew how great his appetite was, and it never failed to amuse her whenever she'd spot him plow through piles of food with ease. That was one of the reasons why she'd always wanted to perfect her cooking skills, after all.
For a moment, she had to ponder what he'd said... Komui had repeatedly told her that he was only looking out for her, but she was a big girl now; surely he wouldn't mind that she'd finally decided to settle down with possibly one of the nicest boys in the world, right? "I hope you're right about that. I really want Komui and the others to understand... but part of me is still a little nervous about how they'd react. I wouldn't want anyone getting angry or jealous or anything..."
She grinned, picking her glass up as it was set down and taking a small sip from the straw, as to not smudge her lipgloss. "But maybe we should just keep it quiet for a little bit longer, okay? Just until everything concerning the city is calm again, no curses, and they're in a good mood before we break it to them..."
Her thoughts were cut short as she felt his hand on hers. The sudden rush coursed through her nerves, but it was a more pleasant feeling than before... and for some reason, her heart had swelled and she suddenly felt the temptation to let the three words she wanted to say escape her lips. Everything just feels right, I want to say it, but... is this the right moment?
Instead, Rinali experimentally tilted her head towards him, resting it carefully on his shoulder to test the waters.
With surprising ease, Allen finished off the last crumb on his plate. “That was really delicious, Rinali. Your cooking has gotten so much better…,” he left off. The burnt dinner from the last “date” was still fresh on his mind.
"You know, your brother has been a lot more open about things than usual. And," he continued, "I think he understands you can take care of yourself now." That, and I'm here for you too, he thought.
Her hair tickled his chin. Normally, he'd be squeamish when it came to tickling, but Allen decided it was a nice sensation, and slid his hand to Rinali’s side in contentment.
“Oh! I forgot! I brought you some presents!”
"I've been working a lot more at it these days, but now it seems it's more so for you and the other members of the Organization~" Rinali smiled, looking down at Allen's cleared plate. "Though it's not so bad to have someone like you to taste-test it for me."
She went quiet, thinking a little about Komui for a moment; she'd been a little confused about his relationship with Rabi, but it was like she'd told him so many times before -- love was love, no matter what. So, she figured, why couldn't he hold the same truth for her as well?
"...I guess I could talk to him about it sooner or later. I'll make him promise not to hurt you, for both our sakes," she mused, curling closer to him at the feel of his arm around her. She was getting more comfortable, more at ease with what she wanted to say ... but not just yet, wait for it a little more...
She was snapped out of her thoughts at the mention of presents, however. "So was that the surprise you told me about?" she asked playfully, eyebrows raised. "I wanna see~"
Allen scooped off the last bit of cream off his plate and licked the fork in bliss. There was never enough sugar in the world for him, maybe except from Rinali….Oh shoot. That was corny, he thought. “I’m always glad to test out anything edible..,” he said with a nervous laughter.
“I guess with him dating Rabi and all, I think he’s really loosened up,” he remarked insightfully. “And do you notice how he doesn’t try to shield you from everything or go hysterical at the thought of you venturing outside alone? I think he truly does understand you’re a strong, independent woman now.”
“Ah!” This was the time. He had spent the last two days in fervent search of the perfect surprise gifts for Rinali He pulled out a giant shopping bag from under the table, and out popped a huge fluffy bear almost three-quarters of Allen’s height. “Try giving him a hug!”
He then reached behind his back and with a little magic trick that involved flowers bursting into blooms right out of his gloves, he produced a small, velvet-covered purple box. “For you, my princess!”
Allen had really wanted to buy Rinali a beautiful, Victorian-style dress fit for a ball, but in the rush of things, he had forgotten to ask what her size was. Planning ahead was never his forte.
"Funny thing, that... I never really did notice he'd stopped doing that until you mentioned it," she wondered. Her grip on him was tightening a little more, like she was clinging for dear life and didn't ever want to let him go.
Rinali's eyes widened with amazement at the sight of the bear. "Awww... it's so cute!" She promptly gave the stuffed toy a big hug, like Allen had said, and her face lit up in delight. "Aaah, it talks, too! That's so adorable~ thank you, thank you~!"
Her surprise, however, kept growing as Allen performed his magic trick for her -- he's so much fun, so charming~ such lovely flowers, too... Taking the flowers and setting them gently on her lap, she carefully took the box and popped it open.
"...Allen-kun... this is beautiful! Where did you find this?" Rinali gasped, the silly grin and the bright pink blush near-permanent on her face as she gazed upon the contents; inside was a ring with an oddly-colored stone set right in the middle of it.
"They're mood rings!" He held up the pair between his fingers. "But with a twist. The colors change in response to what the other ring user is feeling."
Allen got on one knee and held out his hand for Rinali's. It's as if...I'm proposing to her, he suddenly realized. Rinali seemed to have gotten the hint too, and she offered him her left hand. In haste and confusion, he gingerly slid the ring on her middle finger. It was the best choice, especially knowing never to doubt Komui's sharp eyes.
"And now," he announced, standing straight up, "is your third surprise." Allen could feel his face burn, but his determination overcame the butterflies in his stomach. Pulling Rinali into a embrace, he placed his lip on hers and closed his eyes. It was jerky and sudden, and the surprise contact had left them both a little open-mouthed, so he took the advantage to taste her lips. It tasted like pink lemonade and cake.
If the ring didn't take her by surprise, then this certainly did. Rinali had gone from marveling over her new ring to being kissed so suddenly -- leaving her suitably wide-eyed and pink in the cheeks -- but really... she wasn't complaining a bit.
I can't believe it -- it's actually my first real kiss... no curses, no drinking or anything! she'd thought, but decided to curtail any further thought for the moment. He was surprisingly good at this... there was nothing else that she wanted more to do than to enjoy it, to stay here with him.
Threading her fingers through his hair, she instinctively closed her eyed pressed deeper into the kiss; her face was still blushing brightly, and she wasn't too used to the idea of using her tongue just yet... but the moment felt right, she was with her favorite person and in her head, that was all that mattered.
Rating; G for super cute fluffiness
Characters; Rinali, Allen, Timcanpi
Summary; Rinali and Allen have their first date, and it's full of surprises! ♥
Log;
It had been a long day. A full day's worth of yelling at his very disagreeable co-worker over his sexuality was more tiring than it should have been.
But he wasn't going to let it get him down. He had promised to have a great surprise for Rinali, and Allen was never the one to break his promises. Whatever he could do to make Rinali happy, he would go at any lengths to do it. There was something in that delicate smile of hers that made him feel alive again. Even if he wasn't the one she found solace in, he would still feel obligated to fulfill her happiness in any way that he could.
Decked in a handsome white suit with his trademark red ribbon tied immaculately around his neck, Allen arrived half an hour early to Cafe Juliet, and did his best to hide gift bags underneath the flower-shaped tables. Rinali would be arriving any minute now!
...but his spirits sank as he felt a familiar buzz over his head. Timcanpi had surreptiously followed him here!
Rinali had labored through most of the morning trying her hardest to prepare for this moment. This was it, the one thing that she'd been waiting for for what seemed like forever -- and like hell if she was going to let it go even just the tiniest bit wrong!
But for some reason, she felt like she'd already blown it thanks to the misunderstanding concerning what had happened between Allen and Kanda. She really didn't believe that Allen was gay; it was like she'd mentioned before, she just didn't want to think of the two boys in that sort of relationship with one another... especially with tempers like theirs.
She sighed at the memory, gingerly holding the carefully-wrapped box that held the chocolate cake she'd baked as a token of apology. Well, it's not like Allen-kun cancelled our date because of it, so... maybe there's hope! I'll just have to help him take his mind off it, so we can have a wonderful night together.
"I wonder if I'm too early..." Rinali wondered aloud as she wandered down the familiar path to the café; her smile brightened when she spotted Allen's snow-white hair from the distance, not quite registering that Timcanpi had made a surprise appearance just yet. Here goes nothing!
"Go away Timcanpi...!"
Swatting Timcanpi away was no use. Like bees to honey, Timcanpi seemed intent on resting on the favorite part of Allen's head. That, and the menancing teeth of the golem kept him from wanting to risk his hands any further.
"It's no use." Allen let out a sigh and turned to place his coat on the hanger, but dropped it in surprise. Rinali was already here? He blushed, and hoped she didn't catch him in the act of comically trying to swat his golem.
"R-Rinali!"
"Allen-kun!" Rinali's smile grew even more as she race-walked over to where he was, the hem of the black skirt she wore swishing. Ahh, I have to be careful not to drop the box...! "Heh, looks like we both couldn't wait to see each other, huh?"
Setting the wrapped cake on the table, she bent over to help pick up his coat. Then she spotted the little yellow golem out of the corner of her eye and blushed nervously -- Komui still had no clue about their relationship yet, what was he going to do if Timcanpi showed them doing anything that he wouldn't like?
"Err... I didn't know Timcanpi'd be here... but I guess we can cover him with your coat if we don't want him to see?" she offered, before mentally berating herself for suggesting something so dumb.
There she was. In the little swishing skirt that dangerously encroached upon the limits of a miniskirt. Black always seemed to suit Rinali--maybe it was because of her ebony-colored hair. Not to mention the tear-drop earrings seemed to accentuate her beautiful honey eyes...
Allen briefly shook his head and waved back, a bit embarrassed to be lost in his own thoughts again. I have to look good! This is our first and most important date!
"I guess we were both a little excited!" Allen exclaimed with a nervous laughter. "And wow! You made a cake? I can't wait to try it!" His stomach grumbled loudly in unison.
"Maybe if we ask Timcanpi really nicely he won't record anything..," he wondered. Despite having been with the golden golem for some time, he had no idea how it functioned."As long as I don't let it get to Komui-san's hands, it shouldn't matter, right?"
It was then Allen realized their proximity. He could smell the perfume of Rinali's hair, flowery like always. Wait, the proper thing to do is hold her hand or pull her into a hug, right? But what if she doesn't want to? He mentally grappled with himself, wishing that he had watched more romantic films and learned from the swoon-worthy heroes.
"Mm~ it's especially for you... I kind of felt guilty after reacting the way I did to what Kanda said, and I wanted you to know that I'd never lose faith in what you tell me. I guess I overreacted," Rinali admitted sheepishly, a small blush forming on her cheeks out of habit. "But let's not think about that now, shall we?"
Wow, he really went all out, didn't he? she wondered, eyeing his outfit with silent adoration. He really looks like a perfect gentleman! The color brings out his eyes so well... and ahh, he's smiling, I've always loved his smile... -- wait, gotta focus. The squishy stuff comes later, I just have to get through this first. ...but the mood just feels RIGHT, and --
Well, no matter. That would all come eventually, she just had to block out her mind and just go with her heart this time! Smiling shyly, she took a few steps closer to him, picking Timcanpi up off his head with her nimble fingers. "I never really thought about just asking him to not do what he's told... do you hear that, Timcanpi? No recording tonight, you're off duty!" Her voice sounded very much like the tone she'd take on when scolding Agito; she laughed a little at herself for that.
Turning her head a bit, Rinali then suddenly found her eyes locked with his -- and she could've sworn her heart skipped a beat. "...Errr... so... what now, Allen-kun?"
"...."
He didn't know how to respond, and gulped at half-words before closing his mouth. True, he had been a little disappointed at her immediate rejection but it was a reaction to be expected from such a harsh accusation. But she took the matter to heart, and Allen felt proud for having such a considerate girlfriend.
Girlfriend... It almost sounded awkward, yet something of pride swelled up in his chest everytime he thought about it.
Timcanpi flapped its wing once before flying off to an obscure corner of the cafe. You'll listen to a pretty girl, but not your main caretaker? thought Allen with a bemused look on his face.
"Heh, Rinali, it's nothing," he gave her one of his saccharine smiles. "We should sit down and order drinks to go with your cake! I can't wait to dig in!"
He pulled the chair out and gestured for Rinali to sit. But as she settled in, ...I just lost the chance to hug her, didn't I?
Rinali gave a little wave to Timcanpi as he flew off, then nodded slightly at the promise of getting something to drink. "Sounds good! I am sort of thirsty from walking all the way over here... that, and rushing about my apartment trying to get ready, and then trying to deal with the guys at the same time... it's kinda hectic."
As she walked right on past Allen to sit down, though, her hand had brushed against his -- his hand's so warm, and so soft, too... -- and for one brief moment, their fingers had intertwined.
Cue Rinali's heartrate skyrocketing through the café roof.
She had to take a small breath to calm herself, for if she let her overwhelming emotions get the best of her she'd wind up looking silly, and she couldn't have THAT! ...Not yet, anyway. Okay, BREATHE. "Ah, so... now that we're... well, actually together on a date like this... what do you suppose will come after that? Like, the future and everything... I don't know, I was just sort of wondering about that." Odd way to try and break the ice, but hey, she was curious...
...and the two of them were seated directly beside one another, so nearly anything was possible -- in the realm of physical contact, that is.
...and he almost had it, but Rinali looked downward as she immediately slumped into her seat, letting go of his hold. Allen sighed inwardly; he might have had good reaction time with akuma, but with girls everything was unpredictable. As he pulled out his own chair, he swore he saw pink tints on her cheeks.
"How does pink lemonade sound?" He asked, digging into the scrumptious-looking cake. She had really made it just for him, making sure the cake was rich with just the right amount of sugar for his interminable appetite.
"Uhh...," Allen stumbled for words for the second time. Future? Marriage? Kids? He mentally hit himself and tried to backtrack modestly on his mind's future. "I think...we'll have to get our relationship through your brother and others, without having them explode or tease us, I suppose."
He immediately continued, noticing the startled look in Rinali's eyes. "It won't be much of a problem! I'm sure they would understand!"
After ordering their drinks, Allen shifted in his seat and his foot bumped into Rinali's. That sent an....unfamiliar feeling throughout his body--something he hadn't felt since they were stuck together. We're...kind of close now, aren't we? The smell of flowers was even stronger in his nose, and he was tempted to brush away that stray lock of hair on her face. Instead, he firmly held her free hand. The warmth was comforting...but not enough.
Rinali smiled shyly. "Ah... that sounds good, yeah." Her expression brightened considerably as she watched Allen scarf down the cake -- she knew how great his appetite was, and it never failed to amuse her whenever she'd spot him plow through piles of food with ease. That was one of the reasons why she'd always wanted to perfect her cooking skills, after all.
For a moment, she had to ponder what he'd said... Komui had repeatedly told her that he was only looking out for her, but she was a big girl now; surely he wouldn't mind that she'd finally decided to settle down with possibly one of the nicest boys in the world, right? "I hope you're right about that. I really want Komui and the others to understand... but part of me is still a little nervous about how they'd react. I wouldn't want anyone getting angry or jealous or anything..."
She grinned, picking her glass up as it was set down and taking a small sip from the straw, as to not smudge her lipgloss. "But maybe we should just keep it quiet for a little bit longer, okay? Just until everything concerning the city is calm again, no curses, and they're in a good mood before we break it to them..."
Her thoughts were cut short as she felt his hand on hers. The sudden rush coursed through her nerves, but it was a more pleasant feeling than before... and for some reason, her heart had swelled and she suddenly felt the temptation to let the three words she wanted to say escape her lips. Everything just feels right, I want to say it, but... is this the right moment?
Instead, Rinali experimentally tilted her head towards him, resting it carefully on his shoulder to test the waters.
With surprising ease, Allen finished off the last crumb on his plate. “That was really delicious, Rinali. Your cooking has gotten so much better…,” he left off. The burnt dinner from the last “date” was still fresh on his mind.
"You know, your brother has been a lot more open about things than usual. And," he continued, "I think he understands you can take care of yourself now." That, and I'm here for you too, he thought.
Her hair tickled his chin. Normally, he'd be squeamish when it came to tickling, but Allen decided it was a nice sensation, and slid his hand to Rinali’s side in contentment.
“Oh! I forgot! I brought you some presents!”
"I've been working a lot more at it these days, but now it seems it's more so for you and the other members of the Organization~" Rinali smiled, looking down at Allen's cleared plate. "Though it's not so bad to have someone like you to taste-test it for me."
She went quiet, thinking a little about Komui for a moment; she'd been a little confused about his relationship with Rabi, but it was like she'd told him so many times before -- love was love, no matter what. So, she figured, why couldn't he hold the same truth for her as well?
"...I guess I could talk to him about it sooner or later. I'll make him promise not to hurt you, for both our sakes," she mused, curling closer to him at the feel of his arm around her. She was getting more comfortable, more at ease with what she wanted to say ... but not just yet, wait for it a little more...
She was snapped out of her thoughts at the mention of presents, however. "So was that the surprise you told me about?" she asked playfully, eyebrows raised. "I wanna see~"
Allen scooped off the last bit of cream off his plate and licked the fork in bliss. There was never enough sugar in the world for him, maybe except from Rinali….Oh shoot. That was corny, he thought. “I’m always glad to test out anything edible..,” he said with a nervous laughter.
“I guess with him dating Rabi and all, I think he’s really loosened up,” he remarked insightfully. “And do you notice how he doesn’t try to shield you from everything or go hysterical at the thought of you venturing outside alone? I think he truly does understand you’re a strong, independent woman now.”
“Ah!” This was the time. He had spent the last two days in fervent search of the perfect surprise gifts for Rinali He pulled out a giant shopping bag from under the table, and out popped a huge fluffy bear almost three-quarters of Allen’s height. “Try giving him a hug!”
He then reached behind his back and with a little magic trick that involved flowers bursting into blooms right out of his gloves, he produced a small, velvet-covered purple box. “For you, my princess!”
Allen had really wanted to buy Rinali a beautiful, Victorian-style dress fit for a ball, but in the rush of things, he had forgotten to ask what her size was. Planning ahead was never his forte.
"Funny thing, that... I never really did notice he'd stopped doing that until you mentioned it," she wondered. Her grip on him was tightening a little more, like she was clinging for dear life and didn't ever want to let him go.
Rinali's eyes widened with amazement at the sight of the bear. "Awww... it's so cute!" She promptly gave the stuffed toy a big hug, like Allen had said, and her face lit up in delight. "Aaah, it talks, too! That's so adorable~ thank you, thank you~!"
Her surprise, however, kept growing as Allen performed his magic trick for her -- he's so much fun, so charming~ such lovely flowers, too... Taking the flowers and setting them gently on her lap, she carefully took the box and popped it open.
"...Allen-kun... this is beautiful! Where did you find this?" Rinali gasped, the silly grin and the bright pink blush near-permanent on her face as she gazed upon the contents; inside was a ring with an oddly-colored stone set right in the middle of it.
"They're mood rings!" He held up the pair between his fingers. "But with a twist. The colors change in response to what the other ring user is feeling."
Allen got on one knee and held out his hand for Rinali's. It's as if...I'm proposing to her, he suddenly realized. Rinali seemed to have gotten the hint too, and she offered him her left hand. In haste and confusion, he gingerly slid the ring on her middle finger. It was the best choice, especially knowing never to doubt Komui's sharp eyes.
"And now," he announced, standing straight up, "is your third surprise." Allen could feel his face burn, but his determination overcame the butterflies in his stomach. Pulling Rinali into a embrace, he placed his lip on hers and closed his eyes. It was jerky and sudden, and the surprise contact had left them both a little open-mouthed, so he took the advantage to taste her lips. It tasted like pink lemonade and cake.
If the ring didn't take her by surprise, then this certainly did. Rinali had gone from marveling over her new ring to being kissed so suddenly -- leaving her suitably wide-eyed and pink in the cheeks -- but really... she wasn't complaining a bit.
I can't believe it -- it's actually my first real kiss... no curses, no drinking or anything! she'd thought, but decided to curtail any further thought for the moment. He was surprisingly good at this... there was nothing else that she wanted more to do than to enjoy it, to stay here with him.
Threading her fingers through his hair, she instinctively closed her eyed pressed deeper into the kiss; her face was still blushing brightly, and she wasn't too used to the idea of using her tongue just yet... but the moment felt right, she was with her favorite person and in her head, that was all that mattered.