gaiaspoken

[gaiaspoken]

"Hard not to when you're being so secretive, but fine. I'll expect nothing!" As she tries to convince herself of that, it's cut short by him bumping into her as he takes his place sitting at her side. She tries to make room for him, but they end up pretty close together anyway, thanks to him taking up most of the room, essentially cornering her. "Sheesh, ever heard of breathing room or are you about to smother me to death?" she joked.

As for a hint of her own, well...she tapped her chin before settling on something just as vague. "I promise you'll like it. That's all I'll say! And who cares about overlap? Don't you think if we got each other the same thing, that'd just prove we're pretty in sync?"

｢𓆄｣ "Maybe don't set your standards so high!" And when she tapped out, Hawks got up and scooted right on over to sit on Aerith's side of the bench, knocking his waist into her own on purpose.

"Oh, dang, you've got something planned too? Wanna give me a little hint, so our ideas don't overlap?"

[gaiaspoken]

"Oh, so you do want me to anticipate something super special, then!" Unlike Hawks, her stomach wasn't as bottomless, and so after finishing her second piece of pizza, she was tapped out. That doesn't stop her from watching him, though. It was always nice to sit and watch him adoringly.

"I'm putting all this pressure on you, but I need to make sure it's special for you too, y'know. Can't let you carry everything, so just wait! My surprise will be just as good!"

｢𓆄｣ "Nope! Not a soul knows anything about anything!" He leaned over the table to gently punch against Aerith's shoulder...And then nabbed a piece of pepperoni off of a slice of pizza.

"I don't see anything wrong with envisioning it, y'know. It'll help build anticipation, yeah?"

[gaiaspoken]

Everyday, i get closer to painting the perfect Aerith.

[gaiaspoken]

"Darn, and here I was thinking I could hustle around the agency to get some answers..." She's kidding...mostly! Despite how nosy she's being, she's actually content to wait until the moment arrives. You couldn't tell that by the way she puffs her cheeks in protest, but she settles down into deflating, letting the air out.

"You're right, I'll just see when it gets here! Can't wait to see what it is, though. I think I already have an idea!" As she starts on another slice of pizza, she sits back as she mulls it over out loud, "I'm thinkin'...sunset, ferris wheel, flowers, maybe flowers? Wait, envisioning it is taking away from the surprise, let me stop!"

｢𓆄｣ "Nope! I haven't told a soul about this, because I know how you get." Hawks smiled at her lovingly, despite the fact she was fishing for something more, he could stave her off until the time came.

"Where's the art of the surprise! C'mon, now! The adrenaline from a welcomed surprise?"

[gaiaspoken]

"Gonna be great, and you can't wait? Well, geez, how do you expect me to wait until then?!" Maybe she shouldn't have asked for hints if she was going to be this difficult about it afterward...

As he wiped that bit of sauce from her mouth, she leaned forward across the table to give him a quick kiss. "A lot of planning going into it, I assume?" She's fishing, she's really fishing. "Wonder if there's anyone I could ask about it that has an idea..."

｢𓆄｣ "You want a hint...Where's the fun in that?" He hummed to himself in thought. "Fine fine...Let's see."

Carefully, he leaned foward, rubbing his thumb against the corner of her mouth to get rid of any rogue sauce.

"Oh! Oh! Here's one for you: I can't wait! It's gonna be great!"

[gaiaspoken]

"My birthday gift was pretty good, don't know how you're gonna top that." Everything about it had been perfect; it was a high bar to surpass, even if it was the bar that he had set himself.

"Aw, come on!" she says in between bites, "Can't you give me a small hint? I think I deserve that much!" She's not entitled to it, no, but she's going to try her hardest to wriggle something out of him at least. "Gimme a word! Anything!"

｢𓆄｣ He took their waiter's arrival as his own cue to sit back, taking that as his own opportunity to start chowing down.

"Sure do! What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't?" Nonchalantly, he shrugged as he grabbed his own slice of pizza, folding it so the cheese would stay relatively put. "But, if I told you what it was, you'd not have a surprise to look forward to. So: my lips are sealed."

[gaiaspoken]

"Don't be such a dummy!" she knows he's kidding, but she still jabs a finger into the center of his forehead. They would've probably continued on like that had the waiter not arrived with their pizza, clearing their throat to get Aerith's attention. She looks at them and then back at Hawks with a huff. "Don't think we're done, mister!" Finally, she leans back into her own chair so that they can enjoy their meal.

"So..." she starts, grabbing a slice, "You do have something planned?" Not that she's surprised, but she didn't wanna get her hopes up either.

｢𓆄｣ "I don't think it's a bad thing, no. Just, different...But, I think that's what this city's all about!" It wasn't that deep, but Hawks was pretty good at gleaning lessons from things like that, all things considered.

"No? Nothing at all?...Hold on, I'm getting a call." Quickly he put his phone to his face, "Cancel it all, she doesn't wanna do anything. I know right?" He's so bad!!!

[gaiaspoken]

"Is that a good or bad thing?" As he leans forward, she takes the opportunity to meet him halfway--maybe a little over that, considering she's one move away from being out of her seat, but she's trying to be flirty, so whatever. "Oh, not feeling anything in particular, no."

"Totally not thinking that we should do something special."

｢𓆄｣ "Oh, right the solstice was a couple of days ago, right? The longest day of the year!"

"We've still got a bit more to go until July hits...But, yeah, maybe! Probably? Never was particularly a sentimental or nostalgic guy until recently. You're doing things to me, birdie." In an amused manner, he leaned forward on the table, the joy written clear as day on his face.

"What about you, though? Feelin' anything in particular?"

[gaiaspoken]

"The chicken doesn't surprise me, but the onions are kinda throwing me off!" chin in hand, she scrunched her nose up at the thought. To each's own, but she'd rather just stick to the basics! "Probably something plain...I'm thinkin' pepperoni. Maybe some veggies."

Before she can keep mulling over more unnecessary options, they put in their order and are left by themselves as they wait for it to come out. "Y'know...Summer's here. Gettin' awfully close to when we first met. Does the barbecue vibe have anything to do with that?" She leans forward on her hand, smiling at him expectantly.

｢𓆄｣ Once they're seated, Hawks is quick to start shrugging off his outer layers and peeling off any accessories like his visor and headphones. It was too hot for any of this!

"Hmmm...I was thinking maybe chicken and onions? That sounds like a good combo, don'tcha think?" It had BBQ vibes if you asked him. "What about you, I can be swayed!"

[gaiaspoken]

"Patio's fine! Gives us a good opportunity to enjoy the sunny weather. Feel like I haven't had the time to just stop and sit lately..." That's how it always was during June. So much to do, so little time.

After some more playful back-and-forth, they arrive and get seated appropriately, like Hawks suggested. It's a pretty nice view of the street, with plenty of opportunity to people-watch. "What're you getting on your half? Keeping it simple or going all out? Or should I just get my own instead?"

｢𓆄｣ "No! No! I like it, it's just a first I'm hearing of it! Caught me off guard is all!"

"I'd argue more important." He pressed his shoulder against her own, teasing right back. "Pizza sounds good! It's a nice day too...How did you feel about patio seating?"

[gaiaspoken]

"Got it from my mind. Why, you don't like it?" It's different, but cute. It rolled off the tongue pretty well, but she could dial it back if need be.

"Hm...I guess so! Only if I'm still just as important as a main quest. Not temporary." The teasing continued. "But anyway...I heard about this really good pizza place. Wanna swing by there? Could get it to go, too, if you didn't feel like sitting."

｢𓆄｣ "Hawksie? Did you come up with that one on your own, or did you hear it from someone?" Regardless, it amused him!

"Given the time of day and what I'm actually supposed to be doing: yeah. But that's ok, right? I think it's well worth it." As he said this, he swung both of their arms up, and then back, really being obnoxious about their public displays.

"Hmmmm...We'll see~! Depends on how I'm feeling, birdie."

[gaiaspoken]

"Of course, I do! I'm just playing hard to get, Hawksie."

"Huh, I'm a sidequest now?" She doesn't mind the choice of wording; she's just teasing. That's made more evident as she leans her weight against him as they walk, head resting on his shoulder. "Firefly, but don't give her a hard time, yeah? I'm kinda hard to say no to when I come mousing around."

｢𓆄｣ "Wha'd'ya mean it depends on me? C'mon, you agree, riiiight?"

"What? Is a guy not allowed to have some lax patrols? I haven't slowed down, if that's what you're thinking. But, I don't mind taking a sidequest if it means getting to enjoy the view." And he meant Aerith, by that! "Which bug is in your ear, though? I can't let all my secrets out..."

[gaiaspoken]

"Could be true, it depends on you." Aerith pushes back against his nose on her cheek, only to end up peppering his cheek with kisses instead.

"It means that you still haven't told me what you were doing here either! You know why I was here, but what about you? A little bug told me that patrols have been lax lately, so I assume you just wanted to stretch your wings, huh?"

｢𓆄｣ "Yeah! I decided this...Like...Just now!"

"And guess what. You don't deny it, so it must be true." And as she pulled the both of them away, he was pressing the tip of his nose against her cheek, as a way to coo and dote on her.

"When it comes to food I typically pick...So...Why don't you pick this time!" And he wasn't going to turn down an opportunity for her to take charge! "I don't think either of us are, really."

"But, luck would just so have it, we were both here...Uncoordinated! That's gotta mean something, right?"

[gaiaspoken]

"Ooh, we're an item now? First I'm hearing of it!" she joked. The playful, flirty banter was starting, and once it started, it was hard to tell if and when it'd ever stop.

"I think we just need to find a dress that suits your shape. You've got that..sleeper build, as you keep proudly saying!" She uses her hands, one of which is still being held in his hand, to make a funny shape that's supposed to be a body before laughing again. "Guess we've gotta find an opportunity to dress up then, huh?" Aerith begins to pull him away from the shop window, and they begin to walk together hand in hand.

"What're you feeling anyway? Or is it my choice this time? I know a couple of places here in Golden...but I'm not here a whole lot these days."

｢𓆄｣ "I thought you liked when people talked about us. Made us feel like a real item, yeah?"

"No. No...We'd run into the blob problem again. That'd be too much red!" Her laugh did earn a chuckle from him! Conversation saved!...Maybe! "I think a pastel yellow'd look nice."

"You on the other hand, would look really good in red. And I'm not just saying that 'cause I've already seen you in red!"

[gaiaspoken]

"Hm...better be careful being around an A-lister like me!" It's easy to talk about something else; it's better to steer the conversation elsewhere to lighten the mood. "What'll the people say if they see us together, huh?"

As they continue to joke, she snorts upon noticing his reflection now wearing a pretty, elaborate blue ball gown. "I think it looks good on you! Maybe even better than me. Not sure if blue's your thing, though. I'm thinkin' maybe...something more passionate! Like red."

｢𓆄｣ "Back from a job, huuuh? Yeah, makes sense." As she asked what was a rhetorical question, he would assume, it finally drew his attention to the passing windows. If he said anything now he'd potentially open some where conversation or upset her just trying to steer the conversation another way. So, the most he can do is just give a rather noncommital 'mm' in response.

But, all he could think was: I need you to hold on just a bit longer.

"Really! You'd pencil in lil old me? How'd I get so lucky, in the presence of an A-lister, and all?" Satisfied with her acceptance to go out to lunch, the winged hero finally landed beside her, scooping her hand into his.

He could turn this interaction playful...Maybe! "Y'know I dont think this ballgown is doing me any favors. It gives me a real blobby silhouette, don'tcha think?" Hawks pointed at the gown that was comically dressing his reflection. "But: what do you think?"

[gaiaspoken]

A nice long walk back to the shop wasn't out of her usual after a job. It was always June that became the busiest month, and for good reason: lots and lots of weddings. As a florist, she found herself decorating for plenty of venues, but these past few weeks, she'd been busy helping brides in particular.

It was fun, of course, and she'd been nothing but smiles and given multiple congratulations. When all was said and done, and she found herself either looking at the happy couples or a store window full of wedding dresses, Aerith couldn't help but feel a tinge of envy. She lingers longer than she should, sighing wistfully all the while.

"Pffft, hookie? More like just coming back from a job!" his voice breaks the beginning of what was turning into a strange mood, turns her back to normal. "Besides, looking at these would be kinda silly, wouldn't it?" Even though she brushes it off like it's nothing, it's not nothing. She smiled at him over her shoulder as they continued to look, their reflections taking up most of the window now.

"I've still got a couple of things to do, but I think I can fit you into my schedule!"

｢𓆄｣ It was so easy to fall back into the routine of venturing out in the city, their mornings often spent together, would often depart at the train station to go their separate ways for work. Only to meet up back at home.

So, when he happened upon Aerith in a ward neither of them really frequented, he'd consider that a lucky accident.

"Doing a little window shopping and playing hookie?" His tone ever so playful as he fluttered up behind her, placing his chin on her shoulder, not even drawing his own attention to what she could possibly be shopping for.

"Fancy meeting up with you here, though, maybe we could grab a bite on my lunch break? My treeeaat."

@gaiaspoken caught red handed....

[gaiaspoken]

Wakeywakey