snowblindrpg | [log] It started out as a feeling [closed]

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[log] It started out as a feeling [closed]

Characters: Flynn Carsen & Nicole Noone
Location: Building 290
Date: Day 368, evening.
Summary: The Librarian reunites with his Guardian. Date night follows.
Warnings: Toothache inducing cuteness.

[ Nicole had missed Flynn greatly, but she also understood the reasons behind their splitting up. This place had a way of altering priorities, and while she wished she and Flynn could have kept traveling together, she was never much of a complainer. Besides, she reasoned they'd meet up with each other again sometime down the road, and that was sufficient for her.

So when it actually came time for them to meet up, she was more than a little excited about it. She wished she had more to bring to this meeting, but the coffee beans she'd traded for were sure to make Flynn happy. And honestly, she didn't care if he came empty handed. Just the sight of him was enough.

It made the trek to the agreed upon meeting place that much more worth it. Time seemed to fly by as she made her way there, and before too long, the building they'd settled on was looming up in front of her.

It was time for date night, Norfinbury-style. On some level, doing this felt like it was incongruous, given the dangers around them, and the deteriorating conditions they were in, but at the same time, it felt like something necessary. Just one night of trying to relax and find some small enjoyment in a bad situation wasn't going to hurt anything, was it?

Nicole didn't think so, as she prepared to enter the building. ]

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[Flynn is more than excited about this meeting and it turns him into a bit of a frantic mess, running up and down and talking (quietly yelling) to himself while he tries to prepare everything for the big evening ahead.

Getting there early means he has some time to make himself presentable and he does everything he can, scrubbing himself raw, taking a cold, cold shower (again, lots of yelling and he sincerely hopes Nicole doesn't arrive before he's done here), attempting an... almost clean shave and brushing his teeth, even sacrificing some of his mouthwash. Alright, that should do.

Next, dinner. There's not much he can prepare but he's trying, making his meager rations as presentable as possible. He takes some of his envelopes, folding some origami flowers and butterflies that decorate the table.

It looks...

Well.

It actually looks like a very sad table with even sadder rations and some folded envelopes. But then again, that's Norfinbury for you.]

[ Nicole has been looking forward to this for quite some time. She'll take any excuse at all to see Flynn, to make sure that he's doing as well as anyone can in this place.

She's already tried to make herself look slightly more presentable, attempting to comb out her hair with her fingers (in the absence of a comb or brush), and trying to brush the grime that comes from traveling away from her clothes. It's more or less a fruitless effort, but as far as she can tell, she doesn't look horrible. She's certainly not spotless, but it's passable.

She walks in to see the table that Flynn's set up, and she smiles at the sight of the butterflies and the flowers. But more importantly, she smiles at the sight of him, her lips turning up into the happiest expression she's worn in quite a few days. ]

Hello, Flynn.

[Flynn looks up when the door opens and, oh.

There's a part of him that still isn't used to her being here, really being here, and his jaw drops stupidly at her smile and why did they ever split up, how did he ever agree to splitting up?]

Nicole!

[He smiles back, nonchalantly leaning against the chair. It topples, and he has to abandon the position, windmilling slightly before straightening up. He pretends it didn't happen.]

Hi. Did you get here alright? ... Well, obviously you did. Right. Let me get your coat.

[This is a date night and he intends everything to be perfect.]

[ "Oh" is right. In Nicole's eyes, Flynn is one of the most handsome men she's ever met. Perhaps not in the traditional sense, or the movie star sense, but it's just in the little things like the slightly too-long hair, or the remnants left over after his attempt at shaving. All of it adds up to handsome in her book, and she's not accepting any arguments on that subject. ]

Hello, handsome.

[ She says again, knowing she's just greeted him twice, but who's counting? ]

I did get here all right. Did you? No mishaps along the way? [ She gives him a not-so-subtle once-over, as if checking for injuries. ] You're such a gentleman, although I didn't expect anything less.

No, it was very uneventful. And cold, as usual. I still hate hiking?

[But his smile widens at her assessment and he makes a small, playful bow.]

Well, I try.

[Flynn steps over to meet her. Part of him actually wants to be very non-gentlemanly and pull her in for an impulsive kiss but - date night! Date night has rules.

So for now he will just attempt to get the heavy bundle of layers off her in one fluid, suave movement. Unfortunately they're quite heavy and covered in very cold snow, so they slip right through his arms and plop soundly on the floor. Oh no.]

Sorry! [Flynn quickly bends down and hurriedly scoops them up into his arms again.] Sorry. Got 'em.

After all of this, I'm not very fond of it either.

[ At his admission that it was cold, she has the sudden urge to just pull him into the biggest hug ever, all in the name of warming him up. He might not be actively complaining of the cold now, but it's not as though the buildings are equipped with powerful heaters or anything like that.

But he's pulling at her coat, and the other layers she's put on as counter-measures for said cold, so hugging is out for the time being. When they fall to the ground with a plop, she chuckles. ]

They're only coats, Flynn. But thank you for getting them.

[ She just leans in to give him a fond peck on the cheek, because no coats are going to get in her way. ]

So, you've been busy, haven't you?

[ Referring to the lengths he went to make this place look nice. ]

[At the peck he almost drops the bundle again, his eyes lighting up.]

Oh, well, you know. A little? Of course there's still a few things missing, you know, like cutlery and actual plates and glasses and napkins and candles and champagne and... [His voice trails off with a small chuckle.] I should probably stop.

[Putting the clothes aside his smile takes on a slightly mischievous hint.]

I mean, they can't all be Mongolian hotel rooms...

[ That just makes her smile widen. What is it about this man that thrills her with just the smallest of things? She's asked herself that many times before, and she probably will continue doing so. ]

Yes, of course. But this isn't Mongolia, and it certainly isn't a hotel room. Someone really should have a word with whoever's running things here. [ It's said in jest, naturally, because clearly making the accommodations better is not on anyone's priority list.

Still, she figures she has something that might make him feel slightly better. ]

Well, it isn't champagne or candles, but I did find something I think you'll like.

We are very good at make do, though, aren't we.

[His voice takes on an overly flirty tone.]

Do you now? You've always been full of surprises. Then again, I see plenty I like already...

[Flynn, no.]

We are, aren't we? And of course, this is a shining example of that.

[ That tone makes her want to laugh, but she doesn't want to embarrass or fluster him either, so she keeps a straight face. ]

At least one of us does.

[ She just sees herself as not looking so attractive, thanks to her time spent here, but if he can see something he likes, more power to him.

But she's going to reveal her surprise now, so she reaches for her bag and pulls out a can of coffee beans. ]

I hope you still like coffee.

Well, I wouldn't mind to see more...

[Flynn wags his eyebrows, leaning against the wall in his best awful impression of a dapper man.

But his bad flirting and suave expression are comically cut short when Nicole reveals the coffee beans. His elbow slips off the wall and his jaw goes slack in surprise, eyes widening in disbelief.]

What? Oh, no way!

[ Now it's her tone to adopt the flirty tone and even flirtier grin in response to his oh-so-dapper pose. ]

Play your cards right tonight, and perhaps you will see more.

[ It's just a tease. She's not going to play difficult with him, not now.

Pleased with his response, she hands the can over to him. ]

I thought it was quite the lucky find.

[ Or lucky trade. ]

Wow.

[He points down at the beans.]

That-- wow.

[Flynn really is at a loss for words here. He feels like he can't even remember what coffee tastes like anymore and now it's here, ready for the making and his face lights up with excitement.] That's amazing! And we even have a kitchen to make it!

[ He's reacting just how she hoped he would. All according to plan. ]

I remember how you kept talking about mochaccinos, and I know this is just plain coffee, but- Well, we were just talking about being good at making do.

[ She glances around the room before looking back at him. ]

So, what would you like to do first?

We should have it after dinner, as a treat. And for breakfast! We have to grind the beans but I can do that, I collected some snow too, so we already have water and...

[Right. Getting carried away.]

Well, dinner's more or less served, so...

[A small bow towards the table.] Can I get the chair for you?

Sounds like a plan, then. I'm sure grinding the beans won't be difficult.

[ And she's just been reminded that she's hungry. Even if it's just rations, food is food. ]

Why, yes, you can. Thank you, Flynn.

[ She's not the curtsying type, and curtsying is strange when not wearing a dress, or something with a skirt, but she attempts it anyway. All in the name of making this evening seem like a proper night out. ]

You're very welcome.

[Something warm and happy fills his soul at her curtsy, at this little game they're playing and he smiles as he pulls back the chair, leaning in close to her ear as he helps her sit down.]

You look beautiful tonight.

And you look extraordinarily handsome.

[ In her eyes, he'll always appear that way. Nothing's going to change that for her. ]

So, what's on the menu for tonight?

Thank you. [Flynn stays, hovering behind the chair, lingering, just for a moment and he wants to lean down and kiss her neck so bad but it's a date night still and there are rules.

Even if they're ridiculous rules that go back to nothing in the real world but from reading too many romance novels. It's how he makes sense of the real world, it's how he makes sense of tonight.]

For starters, we have stale vending machine snacks. Main course will include actual bread with random selections of convenience store side dishes.

[He leans in, his cheek almost brushing hers.] I do have a surprise for dessert.

Sounds like the best dinner a girl could ask for. Didn't you know that I am very fond of stale vending machine snacks? And of course, I never pass up the chance for bread.

[ What? She's determined to make the best of this. ]

I do love surprises, especially when you're the one behind them.

I hear this place has an excellent selection. We'll see if the chef lives up to his reputation.

[Flynn chuckles and moves over to take his seat opposite of her.]

You do, huh? Maybe I should come up with them more often.

Yes, I'm told that this place has garnered quite a reputation. I'm looking forward to finding that out for myself.

[ She grins at him as they both take their seats. ]

But only when they're coming from you. Anyone else, and it is more of an unwelcome annoyance.

[ And usually results in the unfortunate individual getting hurt somehow. ]

For starters we have – dried fruit. Packaged in an air-tight bag surviving the centuries that makes you think twice about the non-decomposing nature of plastic. Take this, Greenpeace.

[He rips the bag open, pouring out the pieces of fruit for them.]

Don't I know the feeling. My mother used to throw these surprise parties for me. It was awful.

Fancy. I do enjoy dried fruit.

[ She grins at his jab at Greenpeace. ]

Oh, I think you may have mentioned that. It was mainly an attempt to find you a date, wasn't it?

[ She shakes her head. Poor Flynn. ]

And then you met me.

As long as we can agree that raisins are exempt from deserving our love.

[Because ew raisins.

Flynn chuckles at her observation, his eyes turning a little wistful. He misses home and his mom. He misses Nicole. He can't imagine going back without her, losing her again, after everything they've been through here.]

'Mainly' is maybe a bit too generous still. She'd talk to random girls on the street and try to fix me up? God, it was so...

[He shakes his head.]

And then I met you. She was blown away by you, by the way. [A smile.] As she should have been.

Oh, yes, that is something we can absolutely agree on.

[ Ew raisins indeed.

And as for that last bit, being here with Flynn has made Nicole determined to somehow right the future he told her about. She doesn't know how, but there's no way she's just going to take it lying down. ]

Your mother... I suppose it's a bit trite to say she meant well, but even so, that was all a little bit much.

Of course, she's very nice, and I like her. Don't think I don't.

[ She knows he'll understand. It's possible to like someone and still be mildly exasperated by them. ]

I suppose my entrance was meant to do that. Or do you think the whole driving a motorcycle over a hedge is too much?

[ She's teasing. She'd do that again in a heartbeat. ]

Tell me about it. I love her but sometimes it's just a bit, oof...

[He holds up his hands and puffs his cheek with a fake exploding sound. Overwhelming. Overbearing.

But at the mentioning of Nicole's grand motorcycle entrance he chuckles, his eyes lighting up.]

Are you kidding me? That was the greatest thing ever!

[And he has the smug proud 'this is my girlfriend' look to prove it.]

And nobody does it quite like you.

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[log] It started out as a feeling [closed]

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