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!))}

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[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."

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"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."

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

She smiled softly, and kissed his nose. She was starting to get a more solid idea, more than just an inkling of the question, and it made her feel a little giddy. But it was best to wait a little, and share the wonderful dessert.

She took up her spoon, and then, after a moment's consideration, filled it with a chunk of the creme brulee, offering to A to eat with a grin.

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

A half-closed his eyes as he leaned in to lap the creme brulee off the spoon. He opened his eyes as he licked his lips clean, then scooped up a spoonful and held it up to her lips.

"Not as sweet as you," he said affectionately.

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

She laughed, but took her bite as well. "I don't know, unless you think I'm very sweet indeed," she said, after savoring the taste. And even after that, it was all either of them could do to not lick the little cups clean after they'd finished. And when it was done, she held his hands again, expectant, but not pushing.

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

He squeezed her hands and took a shaky breath. If he put it off much longer he wouldn't be able to ask; he'd worked up his nerve and he couldn't back down now.

"River," A began, stroking her fingers with his thumbs. "What I am going to ask... however you answer, that is all right. If you change your mind either way after you answer, that is all right. If you want to think about it before you decide, it is all right."

Taking another deep breath, he raised a hand to stroke her cheek. She looked so beautiful tonight, it was amazing just being near her.

"I, I, I would like. Only if you want to, too. To, uh, to... to touch you. In ways that will make you feel good... or that will once I learn how." He laughed weakly. "And for, for you to touch me. But I, I only want it if you want it."

Bravery exhausted, he studied her face, hoping she wouldn't be upset.

[biblerewrite.livejournal.com]

This had been pretty much what she'd expected, but anticipating something and that thing actually happening were horses of different color. It was... kind of embarrassing, kind of scary, but so sweet that he asked, that he didn't expect it the way the thoughts of other boys and men did, this new thing he wanted to share.

She was pretty sure her face was beet-red, but she didn't let that stop her from bringing A's hands up to rest over her heart.

"I," her voice squeaked a little bit and she cleared her throat before trying again. "I'd like that. I want to..." she squeezed his hands, "Yes, I want to touch you, too."