Table for Two (Closed RP, River/A, possible NSFW)

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

Another day well-spent studying, exploring, and playing with cats and a very solemn tarsier was coming to a close when River noticed a note left for her on her desk. It was an invitation from A to join him for dinner (and so sweetly formal it was, too) and obviously an offer she wouldn't dream of refusing.

She was about to turn around and leave immediately, but paused. Wouldn't be such a bother to wear something nicer than Hogwarts-brand salvation army Room of Requirement stuff. So she raided her closet, found something a bit nicer (probably left behind by another student, or the her that had been here before, considering the fit) and then set on her way, quite content.


_{((OOC: NSFW? In MY River and A thread? Moar likely than you think!))}

Comments

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A was nervous, terribly nervous, but there was a strong component of pleasant excitement and even eager anticipation to it. Kurama had seemed to think River would like the idea of, well, contact. And because it was rather a major question, it seemed to merit a nice and private meal. Even if she did say no, they'd have a lovely dinner together.

A, too, was dressed rather formally, in the green robe the Baron had had made for him; he had considered the kimono he'd gotten from Yukimura but in a fit of optimism had decided that its usually comforting layers would be too restrictive.

When he heard River's knock, he opened the door with a broad smile. "I, oh, I am so glad you came!" he told her, taking her hand and squeezing it lightly.

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

"Why," she grinned, teasing, "did you think I wouldn't?" She kissed his hand, coming into the room with him. "You look very handsome, I add."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"And you, oh, you look lovely," he said, all but twirling her. The somewhat slinky black halter dress she wore was, in his opinion, breathtaking. He nudged the door closed with his foot.

"I wanted us to have a nice dinner. I cooked for just us."

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

River flushed the littlest bit, but didn't lose her wide grin, and hooked her arm around A's.

He'd set up a small table, laden with delicious-smelling food and decorated with a lovely candelabra. Upon closer inspection, she discovered that A had really gone all-out with the cooking: Salmon and green beans (she assumed fresh from his garden) with little almonds and fettuccine... a spread fit for royalty, in her opinion.

She covered a little laugh, noticing Schroedinger and Einstein sitting off to the side, looking with dejected, pitiful faces at the table. "Oh, it, A, it's so lovely!" And just for them. As much as she loved when they cooked together to share, this was a special, wonderful treat.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"It is now that you're here," A said, and meant it. He gave River a fond kiss on the cheek and pulled out her chair for her. "Without you it was just waiting. Now it is my special dinner with River."

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

She took her seat gracefully, spreading out he skirts as she vaguely remembered to do, and reached for A's hand again. "Our special dinner together," she murmured. Whatever the occasion was, whatever the reason, it was good just by virtue of it being them, and being together.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

He bent over her hand and kissed it, then pressed it to his cheek, before taking his seat.

"A dinner with you is always special," he insisted, "But I wanted to make this special for you." He filled her glass from a carafe that might have held wine but in actuality held sparkling ginger lemonade. "You must, oh, you must always tell me," he said very seriously, "If I am not showing you enough specialness."

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

"I doubt that will ever be the case," she said, quite seriously, "but I promise I will tell you. But, even the littlest of things are special with you." After all, A was so different from everyone else, and they knew each other so well.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A flushed at the praise, and grinned. "I will keep trying to find new ways to be special," he promised. "A dinner for just us is a small specialness, but I hope it is a nice one. All the cookbooks say that salmon is a nice fish."

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

"I think it is nice," She agreed, lifting her glass to him. "I think it is a greater specialness than you give it credit for, because it is between us, and because you made it wonderfully."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A raised his glass to her. "To us, then, and specialnesses small and great, to gardens and lakes and kitchens and cats."

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

"And to everything else in between." She ducked her head a little. "But, especially to us."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A took a sip to signify his approval of her addition, and echoed, "Especially to us," watching her face closely. In the candlelight it seemed to have new planes and curves, flickering and changing and each time revealing a new shape of River.

It was beautiful.

"Don't let your fish get cold," he suggested softly.

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

River flushed slightly under the scrutiny, but not out of discomfort. The way A looked at her... it was a different look. Surprising, strange, but thoroughly welcome.

And, of course, there was the added interest that A looked devastatingly handsome in the candle light.

She smiled, though, and took the first bite. She had to pause, and savor the magnificent taste. "Aah, it's so good!"

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"It's the dill," he said. "Dill goes well with salmon, and it's good fresh dill." Not quite bragging, but no false modesty either.

It was hard to make out a blush in candlelight, but he could certainly see River's expression. There was something almost speculative about it, and he hoped he would have a welcome answer to whatever unspoken question was in her eyes.

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

A had every right to be proud of himself, in River's opinion. Of course, she was also of a mind that the food was good partially by virtue of being made by A. She reached her free hand across the table for his.

"It's good because it is made and grown with love," she said, taking another bite. "And because we're sharing it."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"Love is for sharing," he said fondly, taking a bite of his own fish while stroking the back of her hand with his fingertips. "Sharing between us, like a beautiful secret. Like watching a sunrise."

Not that he wouldn't prefer River's smile to a sunrise any day.

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

It was beautiful, wasn't it? She smiled, turning her hand to squeeze his fingers. "Our secret, just being happy. So simple, and so us."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"It's very important to me, that you be happy," he told her. "It makes me feel warm and joyful when you smile and it is because of me. It is like making a beautiful flower grow."

They ate their dinner trading similar gentle flattery, and when they pushed their plates away, A gave River a sneaky little grin.

"I have a special dessert," he told her, taking ramekins of creamy custard from a basket behind the table. "Well, it is about to be special."

He held his wand over the custards and drew his wand, focusing carefully. This spell needed to be tightly controlled.

"Incendio!"

A tight burst of flame and...

...viola! Creme brulee!

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

River watched carefully as he prepared and then laughed in delight, clapping her hands when the spell had finished and the dessert was complete. "Oh, that's wonderful! A, they're so lovely!"

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"It's, it, it's usually done with a blowtorch," he explained. "But here, a spell is more convenient. It wouldn't be a special dinner without a special dessert." He was delighted in turn by her reaction. He'd practiced the trick in advance first, of course, and knew it would leave a nicely caramelized crust; as delicious as it was showy.

"I want you to enjoy dessert," he said. "And then I, I, I have something to ask you. It's not, oh, I hope you don't think it's a bad thing."

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

River stood, picked up her chair, and moved it so they sat completely side-by-side, taking his hand and kissing his cheek.

"I don't think anything you'd ask me would be a bad thing," she said, quite sure about the fact. Whatever he did ask (and she had a vague idea, but, like most of the time, only got small, uncoordinated impressions from A's thoughts) she would trust that she could answer.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A leaned against her, kissing her cheek in return. "I think, I, I think it would only be bad if I wasn't going to accept your answer no matter what it was, and still love you and want to make you happy."

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

"I know you will, and you do," she said, squeezing his hand. "Would you like to ask now, or wait a little?" There was still dessert, and he was so sweetly proud of that surprise, she didn't want it to go to waste.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

He did want to ask, wanted to get the fluttery anxiety out of the way and know her answer, but he had promised himself that they would have a nice dinner first, a lovely dinner that could be remembered as beautiful no matter what.

Leaning closer, he reached out and turned her face toward him, and kissed her gently.

"Dessert first," he said, hoping he didn't sound as shaky as he felt. "Then I will ask."