icarusalsoflew | 003. and in every raindrop... // open post.

SENT: 07:43 PM
see you soon. am up on the top floor.
will step out for a smoke until you get here.

[ He's sending that off and walking towards the Starbucks at that point, grabbing himself a coffee and then making his way out the side door and towards what looks like the open air roofdeck.

When you finally come around he'll be seated at one of the tables, eyes turned towards the light of the city. ]

[And after he's parked, after he's come around and stepped out and spotted you, he has to pause just a moment to soak the sight of you in. Everything and everyone else? No, none of that matters.

That much becomes obvious when he comes around, and greets you not with words, but a kiss right on the mouth, slow and gentle.

Happy Blue Day/Black Day/Day of the Dragon, indeed.]

[ Yeah, he was going to say 'hi,' but then you did that and now he's thinking about nothing else but your lips on his and the fact that the date? The one you two were talking about back in Ireland -- it's falling into place without interruption.

When you two do break apart, he's unconsciously chasing the taste of you with his tongue and smiling up at you like you're the best thing he's seen all day.

( You kind of are. The rest was also great, but. This is kind of you. ) ]

Hey.

Hey yourself.

[Unabashedly giving you a once over, with that sort of smile and lifted eyebrows that hint at 100% approval. He is going to have to buy Gabriel and Jessie drinks for teaching you how to be fashionable.

Anyway.

Sliding into the seat across of yours now, and bringing out his cigarettes.]

This place hasn't changed all that much.

Since 2012? [ He's killing the one he's smoked to a stub on the ash tray and lighting a fresh one up. He knows that it's perhaps no one just likes to talk about the Darkest Vigil as an unspoken rule, but most of the vets he's spoken to speak of "hasn't changed much" or similar phrases in reference to before the Veil broke. ]

Did you come here a lot?

I had the tendency to go everywhere in the Philippines, especially if it had nice restaurants and a decent place to smoke.

[Like so.]

The Fort was my usual haunt, though, beyond anywhere else. But you probably guessed at that already.

[ That earns you a smile. Because, yes, he knows.

Taking a leisurely drag from his cigarette now. ]

Are we ever going to go back there?

[ Because you know, he wants to. ]

Of course. There's a lot more to see, and a lot of places to eat at or party in.

[Like... a lot...]

We've got the time, don't we? And if we don't, we can make some.

Yeah, we do.

[ He falls quiet then, eyes turning back to the distant glow beyond the ledge of the deck. ]

So. I guess it's safe to say that you've already eaten at the place I picked.

Is it an old place, or a new one? Because if we're talking "old", probably.

[The look on his face, though, ought to tell you that he's fine with it. Repetition is something the Blade King enjoys about as much as he loves discovery and new experiences.]

Old. [ He gives you a smile with a look of Really. Do you remember who you are talking to, Mr. Shinta? ]

Watami. Website said they've been around since late 2012. The branch here's been around 2014 though.

[Oho.

Yes, his face is lighting up. He loves it there.]

Getting classy, huh, LaRue?

[And he is so okay with this, he can't even.]

[ He's not even going to hide how pleased he is that he got this right. ]

Finish one more stick and then let's go grab dinner?

[ Playing it casual now. Night's only beginning, and he'd checked before texting earlier that everything he'd asked Kaz's sister's florist friend was in place. ]

Sure.

[You'll have to excuse him for wondering if there are other plans after this meal. A reservation is pretty fancy, as far as dates go for the Blade King. Not a lot of the other people he had decided to be with did that sort of thing.]

[ Oh, there are plans -- but he wants to put off the surprise for when you actually get there: one, precisely because it's better there at the private area he'd requested for when he'd placed the reservation, and two, well... this sort of counts as your first official date. He's got the jitters. Just a bit. ]

How'd the rest of today go?

A little busier than my usual. This day's significant to two of the conspiracies that I belong to, and one that I lead.

[From the way he looks and the way he's talking, though, he doesn't appear to mind at all.]

What about you? What did you end up doing?

Just hung out at home.

[ That was nice. He'd given his mother the roses he'd bought and they'd had an opportunity to catch up. ]

Helped out some.

That's good. Your mother and Hunter Leitman seemed pretty busy down there.

[Them and a notable number of other operatives. There was always a sizable group that dedicated themselves, every August 18, to helping everyone else do what mattered the most.]

[ He's running his hand through his hair as he smiles your way. ]

Yeah, it was pretty amazing to watch. [ And then help out some. ] Cindy was upstairs manning J's network for a bit while J and Dad were out back helping out with the bikes. [ His father at work was always a treat. That his health was way better now than he and his sister could have ever hoped for made it much more of a pleasure to watch. ] Mom commandeered the kitchen.

But you've tried her cooking.

I have. Now I know where you get your amazing skills from.

[Among other things.

Yes, he's letting that thought come out, in a way, in the look on his face. The one that tells you that he's thinking about something, making connections, and amusing himself with them.]

What? [ He cants his head in response, brows lifting just a bit as he leans over.

He knows that look. And he knows that smile. ]

[He'll just put out his cigarette now, and stand up.]

Shall we?

[Heh.]

[ You're terrible. But he loves you anyway.

Josh kills his cigarette at that, before leaning over to land a kiss on your mouth. ] Let's go.

[ Watami's on the sixth floor, and you'll note that when you get there, all Josh has to do is smile at the girl up front and she ends up greeting him by name and adding that your table is ready at the back. ]

[...Okay yeah, he is definitely noting that down. Cue him giving you a look at that, excited and curious and touched and approving all at once.]

You really know how to make a boy feel special.

[Murmuring that as you're both heading into the restaurant. It's been ages since anyone's done something like this for him.]

[ Forget holding your hand, that's his arm.coming around your waist as he sneaks a kiss by your ear when he leads you inside. ]

You have no idea how relieved I am to hear you say that. [ He's saying that with a soft look your way. You'll also be able to tell that with each step closer to the area reserved just for the two of you, this one's looking a little bit more nervous.

Once the girl leaves you both, Josh quietly guides you inside and this is what you see:

The private room is simple and sparse with the exception of the long, low table capable of fitting a group of ten. Either side shows only a cushion each, however, leaving space for the ikebana arrangements that you would distinctly know, since you have been here before, are not a thing at this restaurant.

There is higanbana arranged among bare branches, and large fishbowls with tiny blue flowers floating amongst lavender scented-candles.

As for your boy, he's watching you with quiet and waiting eyes as he closes the door behind him.

He might also sound like a kid on his first date -- which this kind of is? ] I wasn't sure when we'd actually get time out like today again -- so I just -- I wanted to make our first date special--

[ --yeah, he's so nervous, and yes, he's stammering a little. Dear God, he really hopes that you like it??? ]

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