InsaneJournal

Who: Vala and Merlin
When: Early week beginning 8th July
Where: Coffee shop
What: Planning a proposal
Rating/Warning: Low/None
Status: Complete



Merlin had arranged to meet Vala at a coffee shop not too far from the bakery so that should their meeting end late he’d be close enough to still walk Audrey home from work. He was excited, very excited to be planning his proposal and couldn’t wait to start throwing ideas at Vala and see what they could come up with. He knew Audrey wouldn’t want it to be too big but he also knew it would, hopefully, be the only time she was ever proposed to so he wanted it to be special.

Pushing open the door he looked around for Vala.

Vala was sat next to the window, nursing a cappuccino as she waited for Merlin to arrive. The boy was so excited about this proposal and she could only hope to make it happen for him.

He spotted her by the window and came over, “Hi Vala?” he said, “I’m Merlin, it’s nice to meet you” he held out his hand politely.

“Merlin,” Vala stood with a smile and took his hand to shake it. “And you,” she sat and indicated to the seat next to her for him to sit down. “So how can I help you?”

“Well like I said I’d really like to propose to Audrey during the gala for the bakery and I don’t really know what she’s planned so I was hoping you’d be able to help me so I can plan my proposal around that” Merlin explained sitting down.

“Ok, well basically it’s going to be fairly lowkey,” Vala explained. “We’re looking at encouraging local residents and businesses into the bakery and drum up some more business. How’s that sound?”

Merlin nodded, “I thought it might be something like that. I was thinking dancers in cupcake costumes but that’s probably not really in keeping is it?” he grinned.

Vala laughed heartily at that. “I’d say it’s a little over-the-top,” she commented. “You might want to scale it back a bit,” she winked.

“One dancing cupcake?” Merlin smirked, okay he might be teasing just a little but it was fun and he was excited.

“A little bit more,” Vala teased with a wink, sipping at her cappuccino.

“Okay so no dancing cupcakes” Merlin looked mock upset before smiling again, “I think I want to use the stage for definite. I’d like everybody to share the moment with us” Audrey was popular and he knew people would be happy for her, for them both.

“Now that is do-able,” Vala grinned, pointing at the boy then pressing her finger against his chest briefly. She turned and took out her tablet from her bag and placed it on the table so she could take notes. “Right, so...you want to use the stage. Do you just want to get up there and announce it? Or have you got an idea for that?”

“I think I’ll know the right moment, does that make sense?” he asked, “So if I can just grab the microphone and start talking I’m hoping it’ll all flow from there”

“Ok, well we have two acts who will be performing at the gala, a wonderful singer called Draco Malfoy and a pianist called Robert Frobisher, have you heard of them?” Vala asked.

Merlin nodded, “Audrey was really impressed with them both” he replied, recalling her talking about them, “I’ve never met them personally though”

“Well they’re fabulous,” Vala told him. “Would you want to see if they could do a request for you?” she suggested, hoping it might be a reasonable compromise between a boring proposal and singing and dancing cupcakes.

“Oh you might be onto something there” Merlin nodded, “Audrey would love it I’m sure” She had gone on about the boys a lot, he’d actually been looking forward to hearing them.

"Do you know their work? I can contact them and ask them to be ready for them," Vala told him. "Or should I tell them to expect you to come up on stage at some point in the evening?"

“Like I said I’ve never met or seen them personally” Merlin told her, “But I can contact them before so we can work out a song that is good for us all.”

“Sorry, I get a little swept up in things like this sometimes,” Vala grinned. “That would be great, then you guys are all on the same page. You can just give me a nod on the evening and I can make sure that Audrey’s not distracted by any clients,” she winked.

Merlin nodded, “Great, thank you. I knew it would be okay but I guess I kind of just needed that extra reassurance you know and since you know all about the event...” he trailed off with a smile.

Vala chuckled, "Of course, anytime. So you going to be all dressed up too? Shirt and tails?"

“I think that might give the game away a little” Merlin laughed, “But I’ll wear a good shirt at least. I’ve already got my mum to send over my gran’s ring for her”

"Ooh my god," Vala put a hand to her chest as a sappy look came over her fave. "That's so sweet!"

Merlin blushed, “Thanks” he said, “Just seems right to give it to Audrey and my mum was dead chuffed”

“I bet she was,” Vala grinned. “I assume she’ll be coming over for the service,” Vala said as she sipped her coffee.

“Oh yes” he nodded, “She wouldn’t miss it for the world” he smiled, “I can’t wait for her to meet Audrey”

“I’m sure she’ll love her,” Vala sighed. Ahh...young love, not something she’d ever really gotten along with to be honest, but it worked for some people. “So should I make sure there’s plenty of champagne behind the counter?” she winked.

“Oh so am I” Merlin replied, “I don’t think anybody can meet Audrey and not love her” It was true, his girlfriend was a truly lovely and charming woman. “That’s a good idea” he added, “Might be nice for everybody to celebrate with us with a glass of bubbly”

“Yeah, she’s pretty wonderful,” Vala agreed, Audrey was a lovely girl and she was really happy to be part of this adventure for them both. “Yep, I can hit up my friend and get a few bottles of the nice stuff,” she winked. “Is there anything else you’d like there to be? Flowers?”

“That would be great, thank you” Merlin said, “Oh well actually I was going to ask Audrey’s roommate to help me with flower petals in her room and then I’m having roses delivered once we’ve been engaged a week so I’m covered there” Merlin may have thought about this a lot.

“You are one very well prepared young man,” Vala observed with a smile and a nod. “Ok, so we have the proposal in hand, music, celebratory drinks, flowers, obviously there’ll be food there, umm...I can’t really think of anything else,” she smiled. “Can you?”

Merlin shook his head, feeling a lot more calmer about the whole thing now, "Nope, thank you. You've been really great"

“Great,” Vala smiled brightly at him and stood from her seat. “I’ll get started on all that then and I will see you on saturday,” she packed away her tablet and waited for him to stand.

Merlin stood, "See you on Saturday" he said, "It was nice meeting you Vala"

"You too Merlin," Vala told him, grabbing the boy in a hug before he got away. "Good luck and congratulations!"