Jade Curtiss (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jadethenecromancer) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
melodiesoflife2016-12-11 06:28 pm
jadethenecromancer) wrote in melodiesoflife2016-12-11 06:28 pm
Entry tags:
It was bound to happen sooner or later
Characters: Jade and Rukia
Where: Aqures Ixen
When: December 11
Summary: This isn't a date. It's an experiment.
Warnings: Things may or may not get disgustingly cute.
They had picked the right day for outdoors activity, it seemed. The skies were clear and the snow looked particularly bright in the sunlight. It was the kind of weather that coaxed people to go outside in spite of the subzero temperatures. You could almost forget about the end of the world approaching.
Luckily the ice skating rink wasn't too crowded. A few families were already leaving to take their children home for lunch. There would be plenty of space to practice.
Jade was fascinated to find his pulse picking up while he waited under a tree near the rink. Was he actually getting nervous? The realization was both humorous and a little exasperating. There was nothing to be worried about -- and yet he couldn't shake the feeling that in some way, a line was about to be crossed. Certainly, things were going to be different after today.
Still, he had thought this through carefully. As much as he had initially tried to dismiss it, he had found himself turning the idea around in his head, assessing it from every angle, weighing the pros and cons... And at the end of the day, he had to admit there weren't any real cons to be had when it came to Rukia. There was little fear of drama or excessive clinginess. Neither of them would ever ask the other to compromise their duties. Even if this didn't end up working out, they had a solid friendship to fall back on. The only downside that he could see was the inevitable goodbye, and frankly, that wasn't reason enough to hold back. They might not even have more than a few months left to live. Why worry about the afterward?
And as for the pros... He did like her. Very much so. They were similar enough to understand one another, while still being different enough to maintain mutual interest. There was still a lot about her he wanted to learn, and if he could give her a reason to smile while doing so... Well, she was most definitely worth the effort.
He would probably never fully understand what she saw in him, but perhaps that was just another mystery for him to solve along the way. It would keep him occupied.
Regardless, Jade was too much of a scientist to rush head first into unknown territory. Yes, he had reason to believe Rukia had very warm feelings for him, but every hypothesis had to be thoroughly tested. That was why he had invited her to go ice skating. They had spent plenty of time together in the past, but never with any romantic intentions behind their actions. How different would this outing be now that these thoughts were at the forefront of their minds? While Jade couldn't claim to have much skill in this kind of situation, he felt confident that something would change. Once it did, he would know for sure what he wanted to do.
A few minutes passed. Soon he spotted a familiar figure approaching, and waved a hand to catch her attention. "Over here, Rukia."
Where: Aqures Ixen
When: December 11
Summary: This isn't a date. It's an experiment.
Warnings: Things may or may not get disgustingly cute.
They had picked the right day for outdoors activity, it seemed. The skies were clear and the snow looked particularly bright in the sunlight. It was the kind of weather that coaxed people to go outside in spite of the subzero temperatures. You could almost forget about the end of the world approaching.
Luckily the ice skating rink wasn't too crowded. A few families were already leaving to take their children home for lunch. There would be plenty of space to practice.
Jade was fascinated to find his pulse picking up while he waited under a tree near the rink. Was he actually getting nervous? The realization was both humorous and a little exasperating. There was nothing to be worried about -- and yet he couldn't shake the feeling that in some way, a line was about to be crossed. Certainly, things were going to be different after today.
Still, he had thought this through carefully. As much as he had initially tried to dismiss it, he had found himself turning the idea around in his head, assessing it from every angle, weighing the pros and cons... And at the end of the day, he had to admit there weren't any real cons to be had when it came to Rukia. There was little fear of drama or excessive clinginess. Neither of them would ever ask the other to compromise their duties. Even if this didn't end up working out, they had a solid friendship to fall back on. The only downside that he could see was the inevitable goodbye, and frankly, that wasn't reason enough to hold back. They might not even have more than a few months left to live. Why worry about the afterward?
And as for the pros... He did like her. Very much so. They were similar enough to understand one another, while still being different enough to maintain mutual interest. There was still a lot about her he wanted to learn, and if he could give her a reason to smile while doing so... Well, she was most definitely worth the effort.
He would probably never fully understand what she saw in him, but perhaps that was just another mystery for him to solve along the way. It would keep him occupied.
Regardless, Jade was too much of a scientist to rush head first into unknown territory. Yes, he had reason to believe Rukia had very warm feelings for him, but every hypothesis had to be thoroughly tested. That was why he had invited her to go ice skating. They had spent plenty of time together in the past, but never with any romantic intentions behind their actions. How different would this outing be now that these thoughts were at the forefront of their minds? While Jade couldn't claim to have much skill in this kind of situation, he felt confident that something would change. Once it did, he would know for sure what he wanted to do.
A few minutes passed. Soon he spotted a familiar figure approaching, and waved a hand to catch her attention. "Over here, Rukia."
no subject
It really was charming, the way her composure gave away the moment bunnies were involved. It reminded him a little of Tear, except Rukia made no effort to hide her adoration.
With both presents safely secured in pockets, it was time to proceed to the task at hand. "This way." Jade stepped away from the tree and briefly touched her upper back to steer her in the right direction. There was a large stall set up a little further along the snowy path, manned by two natives. A long bench stood near the edge of the rink for people to put on their skates, with a Moogle hovering nearby to look after their shoes while they were on the ice.
"Good afternoon," said the kindly older woman at the stall. "Skates for you and your young lady, yes?"
"Indeed." Jade took some amusement from the fact the woman seemed to mistake them both for being much younger than they actually were, when in fact they might be older than her. It was tough being eternally beautiful.
He made no comment about the 'your young lady' bit yet. Rukia was free to deny it or let it slide -- whichever she was more comfortable with.
no subject
Why spoil that? She was tickled, both at the comment about her age and the fact that she was Jade's young lady. She slanted a little grin up at him before requesting her size. If she was really lucky, then they might have it in the adult section and not the kids rentals.
All in all, she was starting to feel more secure in her conviction that this actually was a date, which meant she didn't have to worry that Jade would laugh at her for making the assumption.
Thanking the woman, Rukia made her way to the bench to slip off her shoes in favor of the skates, lacing them up tightly. So far, so good, and there didn't seem to be anything special she needed to keep in mind just yet. The Moogle fluttered by to retrieve their shoes rather than making them wobble their way back to the stand, which meant the next step was standing up.
Rukia started to rise, but one skate wanted to travel forward as she did, and immediately her hand shot out to grasp Jade's shoulder to steady herself. "How is this done?" The standing part, she meant. A glance at the rink itself gave her no hints as to how she was even going to move on the ice once she got herself upright and stable.
no subject
The Professor would have been greatly amused to know that this would end up helping him on a first date.
He returned to Rukia's side just in time for her to grab his shoulder. In this case, the touch didn't bother him -- it was pretty much what he'd expected to happen.
"First, by walking. Most of the basics consist of training your balance." He took Rukia by the elbow to support her. "Try to stay relaxed and keep your legs steady. It won't come naturally at first, but your body will begin to adjust to the skates little by little."
There was really no way to look dignified when trying it for the first time. Still, he could at least make sure she didn't fall flat on her face when she stepped on the ice.
no subject
Her dark eyes flicked once toward his face with a little smile of triumph, but it quickly disappeared as her feet tried to shoot in two different directions. Her grasp on his arm turned into a desperate embrace, just before her expression grew sullen. These accursed skates! She had to figure out a way to master them.
"You make it look so easy," she said, and there was no hiding the genuine awe in her voice. Her compliment was well-meant, for he seemed to take to it so effortlessly, and with such perfect grace.
Rukia took a breath and held it, glancing to his feet to study his stance intently as she struggled to mirror it. Her knees wobbled, but her death grip eased somewhat. The metal blades of her skates tapped and clacked upon the smooth sheet of ice as she shambled forward. It was...not exactly great, but it was progress nonetheless. "Ho ho, I'm beginning to see how this is done!"
Sort of.