Who Needs Roses When We Have Happy Hour

[needsteaplz]

Who: Saori Nakagawa and anyone else [open]
Where: Aqures Ixen - The Space Saloon
When: February 14, 2017
Summary: Thankfully there is no Date Auction this year, but it wouldn't be right to dismiss Valentine's Day outright. So why not an All Day Happy Hour? If anyone would like to use the Space Saloon as the backdrop for their date, feel free to use this log.
Warnings: None for now.

It's no surprise Valentine's Day can be rather polarizing for a holiday. However, both Saori and her moogle for once agreed they couldn't outright ignore it. After all, if Barkeep was still around, he would've gone all out. Rather than have the entire place over saturated with hearts and other decorations, she decided to keep it minimal and focused more on the menu.

For the past week, Brigid managed to tack on fliers for the Saloon all over Aqures Ixen. "All Day Valentine's Day Special!" was boldly written. It also mentioned a special menu along with reduced prices across the menu including the drinks.

As patrons entered, there were several red and pink streamers hanging from the ceiling. Saori, dressed in a traditional bartender's clothes, could be seen manning the bar. Despite the constant flow of orders, she handles them all with ease only to take a break to make sure the kitchen staff was alright. Customers might see Brigid writing in a book of some sort with much fervor either up on the highest shelf of the back bar or on the rafters. Let's just hope that bottle of ink she has doesn't fall anytime soon.

Comments

[damn_juicebox]

What just happened.

One moment she was admiring the adorable Moogles and their grand efforts at crafting the biggest romantic scenario she could have ever imagined. The next she was being spirited off in Jade's arms.

And here they were, at a bar, with Rukia's hair sticking up in several directions thanks to the Flash step.

Did Jade just dislike trumpets that much? Was it an elaborate trap? She held to his sleeve for support as he set her down, still too stunned to keep her balance for a few moments. Once she was steady, she ran her hands over her wild black hair. "Isn't that a little dramatic?" she tsked, frowning up at Jade with one with one brow cocked. Honestly!

But a date was a date, and she was pleased simply to be spending leisure time together, especially given how precious little of it they seemed to have, especially considering their varying schedules.

Rukia hoisted herself up onto a barstool and picked up the menu, very much interested in the holiday specials. Perhaps the food would be heart-shaped!

[jadethenecromancer]

"All that spectacle and you think I'm being dramatic?" Jade responded dryly. Despite the mock annoyance, he reached over to brush back some of the erratic strands from Rukia's face by way of apology. Moogle carriages might be too much but that didn't mean he wanted to leave her displeased.

At the very least it seemed that Saori hadn't gone overboard with decorations. Indulging Rukia's desire for romance shouldn't be much of an issue, even for someone like him.

He followed her to the bar and sat down, tilting his head with a small smile. "See anything you like? My treat."

[damn_juicebox]

Rukia relaxed at his touch, her smile sentimental as she turned ever so faintly toward his fingertips. For someone who was so unaccustomed to physical touch, Jade had improved significantly, and she appreciated his efforts to adapt to someone like her. Her fingers caught his to give his hand a brief squeeze, indicating that all was well. She might have enjoyed the shenanigans of the Moogles, but she would equally enjoy a night out together. The company was really the only element that mattered to her.

"Oh? That's kind of you," she grinned. When it came to food, there was very little that Rukia disliked. She had yet to find a single dish, so long as it was prepared correctly. It didn't hurt that all of her friends (save for Flynn) were excellent cooks.

"The sushi special, I think," she decided, laying down her menu. Most vegetables weren't that good this time of year, but fish seemed as if they were always plentiful and in fresh supply. Plus there was the chance that she might get a cucumber roll, or tamago nigiri.

"I confess I'm not much of a romantic, so I'm hardly one to judge. Still, I'm surprised," she smirked, lacing her hands together beneath her chin. "I suppose the fanfare and flowers didn't match your own ideals? What does, I wonder?" Because she was genuinely curious to know what Jade found to be 'romantic.'

[jadethenecromancer]

Jade nodded and ordered for the both of them. Sushi was a good choice since he liked it as well and thus didn't need to spend time thinking about what to order for himself.

He considered Rukia's question. "I've never really given it much thought until now." That was true. As often as he'd seen it happen to others, romantic love had never really factored in in anything he did. Circumstances might have explained that, but Jade strongly suspected it was simply a part of who he was.

It said something about Rukia that she'd still been able to stir these sort of unfamiliar feelings within him. She really was a fascinating woman.

"I suppose I'll always prefer stimulating conversation over grand proclamations of eternal love. Can't be having too many shenanigans at my age, hm?"

[damn_juicebox]

Rukia smiled. "It seems neither one of us is prone to dramatics." At least, as far as relationships went. The jury was still out on Rukia's more vehement reactions when dealing with friends who piqued her ire.

Once their menus were taken and they were left to wait, Rukia saw no reason not to let her hand edge into his. Her fingertips brushed up the length of his slim fingers before sliding between them, palms secured warmly together. A little public affection didn't hurt anyone, and it was a good way of letting him know that she was happy and content despite her initial chiding.

"...I want to thank you, for all of this." Rukia was certain he was still aware of her shadow's plaintive cries. The letters they'd exchanged afterward had been awkward, but led to a better understanding. They were close, and it was a feeling she deeply cherished. "I'm aware that you've been pushed out of your comfort zone, and have continued to do so for my sake." Her thumb brushed over his as she smiled quietly up at him. "You needn't try too hard. You've already brought me great happiness."

[jadethenecromancer]

Jade hesitated for only a moment before allowing their fingers to become entwined. The fact they were in public wasn't a problem as such. It wasn't as though he was too concerned about what strangers thought of him. He just wasn't accustomed to holding hands, even after two months of dating.

He couldn't say it was uncomfortable, though. Rukia did have nice hands. Deceptively small and slender, yet calloused from hardship and battle. Knowing they could deliver a mean right hook was strangely appealing, too.

"I don't mind. I wouldn't be a very good scientist if I didn't test my limits every now and then." A pause, and he grinned. "Besides, it has been fun for me, too."

Shockingly so. Jade would have never thought repeated dates could maintain his interest for very long, and here he was, enjoying another one. There was always something to tease each other about, or someone else to tease together, or some new detail to learn about one another. It never got tiring.

[damn_juicebox]

Rukia chuckled. "A pragmatic response if I ever heard one." But honest, and the light-hearted sincerity broadened her smile. She was very much enjoying the new experiences, even if they did make her face redden on occasion. It just felt good to move ahead with a partner on her side that she cared about and trusted.

Studying the countertop, she pressed her thumb against the corner of her mouth in thought as her expression grew pensive. "I wonder what you would think of Soul Society. The living do not ordinarily visit such places, but current circumstances have led to more leniency."

Her brow furrowed. If they were both granted full access to their own worlds after the final battle, seeing one another on a regular basis would certainly prove difficult.

"Perhaps...I should request a hiatus from my duties, so I might assist you with yours."

Rukia, after all, wouldn't age a day on account of already being dead. But Jade's time in the mortal sphere was limited. She wanted to make sure she didn't miss the days that remained to him.