debonairmonk (debonairmonk) wrote in emillion, @ 2014-12-12 09:39:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, !log, arielle chiaro, drake liu |
Who: Drake & Ari
What: Going home to meet the family, take 2!
Where: Ari’s apartment
When: Mid-November sometime
Rating: PG
Status: Complete!
The conversation with Aspel hadn’t gone as well as he’d hoped, but now that he’d opened that particular bag of worms, he couldn’t keep putting off talking to Ari about it. He had hope that Ari would take it better, but just in case, he’d stopped by a baker, grabbed a loaf of bread so fresh it was still warm, and hit the grocer across the way for fruit and cheese. If she asked why the nice food, well, he hadn’t had lunch yet, and he still needed to eat. It seemed like an easy enough lie that even he’d be able to tell it. At least, that was the hope. He knocked on her door and bounced on his toes. Nervous energy. He’d have to get that under control if he was going to be able to try to act casual. Not that he hadn’t gone over about fifty different ways to bring this up, none of which really seemed like a good idea. The best he’d been able to come up with was inviting her on a vacation. To Ordalia. Where his mom lives. And oh, they could totally stay with her, too. But that seemed suspicious no matter which way he tried to swing it in his head. She answered the door wrapped in a robe and looking tousled -- though the look quickly turned to pleasure when she saw who had at last dragged her out of her nest of blankets. "There's a nice way to start the day," she commented, reaching out to pull him inside so that she could kick the door shut and stem the inflow of cold air. Noting his bag of food, she added, "and please don't tell me how many hours ago your day actually began -- it will just depress me. I'm thinking of talking you back into bed where it's warm." Drake laughed and kicked off his shoes. “I’m hungry. You can bring your blankets to the couch. The bread is still warm.” He did kiss the top of her head before moving past her to sit down. “And, you know, there’s nothing wrong with being up at seven in the morning. It means I get a lot of things done by the time you wake up.” "I should give you assignments," she teased. "Because you clearly need more to do." Then a fatalistic sigh. "I suppose since the bread is warm and we're eating it on the couch, I can be persuaded." She grinned, some of the sleepiness already fading, and added, "I'll talk you back into bed later. And you'll do well enough to substitute for my blankets in the meantime." Indeed, once they'd settled on the couch, she simply tucked herself up against his side, pulling one arm over her shoulders and getting cozy before she dug into the bag. She paused a moment later, though and said, “Wait… shouldn’t you be buried in paperwork right now?” When she looked up at him, his expression was too carefully bland, so she knew something was off. “Should I be worrying about you?” “Nope, nothing to worry about,” he said, keeping his voice nice and even. It was a good effort, and he shoved a piece of bread in his mouth before he could saying anything else. If he was going to get through this conversation, then he had to be able to think his words through and not do what he usually did, which was blurt things out. He popped another bite of bread in his mouth, trying to figure out how to start the conversation. “Ordalia is nice this time of year.” Well, that was one way of starting it. Good job, Liu. Her own hunk of bread stopped midway to her mouth. She gave him a Look. “Ordalia’s nice most times of year.” Drake decided then and there that he was just not meant to have these kinds of conversations with the women in his life. Deciding it would be better to come clean than try to salvage it - because he knew he couldn’t - he just shrugged and said, “My mom wants to meet you. And Aspel.” And then he shoved more food into his mouth. Unlike Ari, who suddenly found her appetite for bread greatly diminished. “Does she?” Was it just her, or was her voice a little weak? “Apparently, our mothers have something in common.” Ajora, that was terrifying. And the difference was, she had tried to keep her own mother clear of Drake. But good and proper son Drake Liu, of course, was inviting her to go with him, as though they were… Well, whatever they were. Which they were, just… Faram, even thinking about it was confusing. “Just so I understand,” she said slowly, “you want me to come to Ordalia with you and meet your mother? You want me to meet your mother? That bears repeating.” He shrugged awkwardly. “She just wants to meet you guys, and I figure that’s harmless enough?” It wasn’t like his mother was plotting an ambush wedding. Well, at least he didn’t think she was. “And she’s nice. To people who aren’t me, anyway.” “I would be surprised if she wasn’t,” Ari said. “You’re far too nice for your own good most days; why shouldn’t she be just the same?” Though what that said about her similarities with her own mother…… right, better not to examine that one too closely. “I don’t…. really know what to say to that.” Because to almost anyone else, any other time, she would have said no, but… “My show closes soon,” she offered, and tried not to feel like she was falling into some terrible, terrible trap. “So if that’s what you want -- you, not her -- then…” Drake beamed at her. “I’m not fussed on when we go. She just wants to meet you guys, which is harmless, and I mean, I guess it would be nice for you to meet her?” He just hoped that it was just his mother and stepfather they were meeting. Who knew if any of those other people who’d been around when his grandmother had passed would show up. The guy who’d taken over his grandma’s business sent him messages every so often, which was strange, but also harmless. “Harmless,” Ari repeated. Apparently, she was doomed to do a lot of repeating. And maybe she ought to eat her bread while she contemplated exactly how to voice her thoughts (concerns) on this subject. Eating bought her at least a few seconds of time to formulate a question for the beaming, giddily relieved Drake (she had to wonder how Aspel had reacted, to have him be so relieved at her reluctant agreement): “I have to ask, is there anything in particular your mother is…. expecting from me?” That was delicate enough, but hopefully not unclear. After a moment, she swallowed back panic and added, “Or… you, for that matter?” Because obviously, since Aspel was part of the conversation, everything was already pretty non-standard, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be worried about his intentions, anyway. It wasn’t that she wasn’t committed to him, in her way, just…… “Nothing?” He tore off a piece of cheese and popped it in his mouth. “I mean, she just wants to meet you. I guess she’d expect you to talk? But she’s not planning on marrying me off, if that’s what you’re worried about.” As for what he was expecting of Ari…. “As for me,” he started, totally casual. “Well, you still haven’t said it.” “Said what, that I’d meet your mother?” She gave him an incredulous look. “I’m fairly sure I implied it strongly. If you want me to, I’ll go.” And if that wasn’t a sign of her love, then what was? Drake laughed. “Not that. Those three words that you still haven’t said. You know, I love you?” His grin was huge; he knew that she felt the same, in her own way, but her stubborn refusal to actually say the words was amusing. And exasperating. He didn’t like to push, but if he didn’t tease her now and then, it just wouldn’t be right. Besides, this was really the only way he could tease her. “Yes, I know you do.” Naturally, she was going to be difficult about it. After all, the only reason he’d said it was because he’d thought he was about to die. She was definitely not in mortal peril, and those words would get stuck on her tongue if she tried and anyway, why did it matter when he knew already? So she leaned in, placed a kiss on his cheek, and told him, “I’ll even say, I’m glad.” He shook his head. “I think you’re scared of saying it. Which is funny because normally you never have a problem saying what’s on your mind.” His grin widened. “Can you even say those three words, Ari?” She pouted. “I’m not scared.” Yes, she was. “I could say them. On the brink of imminent death, maybe. That’s the only reason you ever did.” She stuck her tongue out at him, fully intending to be childish about it. “Besides, you already know.” “I only assume,” he corrected. “I can’t know something if you don’t say it, you know. And you never know, with all the trouble in the city, I could totally get myself killed. Again.” That wasn’t the most pleasant thought, actually. “Wouldn’t you be sad if you couldn’t tell me before some big monster crushes my very pretty head?” The look she gave him at that was unamused, and her hand, which had been resting on his leg, gripped rather tightly. “That is not funny, considering the circumstances,” she told him. “Don’t you dare die on me, Drake. Don’t you dare.” She sounded perhaps a bit more forceful than one might have expected, but… it had not been a particularly good year in this regard, and she was demonstrably not entirely all right after all of it, for all that she pretended quite well. “I don’t know what I would -- just don’t.” Well, that had clearly been a mistake. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “I’m not planning on dying, Ari,” he reassured her. “I was just joking, okay?” At least, he didn’t have any plans to die anytime soon, but who knew what would happen in the future? If the city kept being attacked, then really, wasn’t it just a matter of time? “Your sense of humor has become questionable,” she mumbled against his shirt. “That would only be funny if it was unlikely.” And with the city the way it was… Well, even she was considering the benefits of living elsewhere. But of course, one of her chief reasons to stay was right here on this very couch. She stayed there a few moments, letting herself be comforted, before murmuring, “You know, I -- the words get stuck. I’m beginning to think that I wouldn’t mind telling you -- too much -- but for now, you’re just going to have to assume. Only it’s not an assumption, because you know. I’m terrible at this, but I am trying. I wouldn’t make an effort if I didn’t… care.” He pulled her closer. “I know. I’m sorry.” In retrospect, it really had been a tasteless joke. Especially considering the city seemed to be attacked every other day. Maybe getting out of the city for a while would do the three of them good. “Let me know when you’re free, and I’ll see when I can make arrangements. Aspel suggested Faram’s Mass.” Which was a completely different issue - he wasn’t sure how his mother would interpret things if he brought them home for a holiday. She can’t marry me off, at least, he told himself. She looked up at him with slight incredulity. “Faram’s Mass,” she repeated. “Well, considering I’m agreeing to go home for the holidays with you -- that’s somewhat terrified agreement, by the way -- I would say that was the only proof you ever needed. If that works for you, I actually don’t have a show, so -- all right.” At least she’d be allowed to drink again by then. “I think we should eat,” she announced. “Too much heavy conversation is bad for digestion. Or something. So just….. tell me what ticket to buy and when, and we’ll… eat bread. For now.” He nodded. Somehow, he’d just decided to bring both of his girlfriends home for Faram’s Mass. Drake reached for the bread and tore a piece off. “I’ll let you know.” He’d have to talk to his mom. It was times like this he wished he drank. Instead, he popped the bread in his mouth and chewed. No sense in worrying about the future. Whatever would happen would happen. He was zen. How many days until Faram’s Mass again? Faram help him. |