[And lo! Just as she was hoping to spend time with her friends, one knocks on her door. Or maybe it's not a friend--but who cares! She'll befriend anyone today, even if it's a neighbour up to complain about how her oven hums loudly when baking, or something of that semblance.
Luckily, though, it's Marie. And there it is--the small flutter. She hopes he can't hear that one, too.]
Thank you...[He's perceptive enough to figure out it's her birthday, so...yes, she should definitely keep those flutters and the nervousness in check. Because in their line of work...
Stupid. Don't be stupid.] Come in. You can have a big slice since...you're...um.
[That leaves a strange taste in her mouth. Usually, she'd be shouting 'sorry' to the four winds, but right now, she doesn't. Something subtle is stopping her from it.]
I'll make sure they have a big slices, too. They can get Kanda's share, too.
[Cider--hah. Pity she doesn't have that at home. But she has coffee--she always has coffee, ironically. Even if she never needs it--unless she's trying to train, but those attempts are always silly, illogical, and health-threatening--she always has coffee made.]
Coffee, then. There's a table and chairs in the kitchen, if you want to sit.
[ Thus told, he makes his way to a chair. How does he know where to fine one? Well, he'd been there before. And not only when coming to claim his present, panicking in finding no Miranda, and the water going.
Once seated, he waits for her to prepare everything. And, when certain she isn't looking, he takes a small object from his pocket and places it near the center of the table. It's wrapped; he couldn't tell you this, but the paper is silver and glossy, and the ribbon a curling, wild gold.]
[She busies herself with heating the coffee up--she's a traditional woman. Pots and pans and none of that new technology that she could very well ruin if she used it. Coffee still tastes the same way when made in a kettle, even if most people seem to have forgotten that. Once that's done, she moves to the fridge, and takes out the cake, and puts it on the table. Even cutting him a slice is done with her back to him.
But once she's set a teaspoon on the place, she finally--finally--turns around. And stops.]
...oh--you...[There's definitely a flutter now. And her heartbeat rushing, too. And blushing but he'll never see it, and it's okay, because she's being ridiculous.] Is that...you-- [She laughs slightly, a tiny shiver of a laugh, barely there.] Shouldn't have...
[Listening to Miranda bustle around the kitchen is comforting, familiar in an old, old way. It is inexpressibly pleasant, glass chinking gently on the counter, coffee eating in the kettle. It had been cold outside, and here, it is warm.
This rushing heartbeat he notes, now, but again- surprise, the unexpected pleasure at a gift. He smiles, a little subdued, almost shy?]
You shouldn't have made that strudel. But, you did.. and, I wanted to do it.
Thank you...[Remembering she still has a plate in her hands, she puts it on the table before him. And afterwards, she moves to pick up the box, unwrapping it with nimble fingers. Carefully. Because it's not every day she gets presents from him, and they're nicely wrapped and all, and...well. She hasn't had a birthday present in years.
And finally, the box is open. She sucks in a breath sharply, and exhales it shakily, a small sheepish laugh at the end.] This...oh, it's...
[Her fingers brush over the locket, before opening it. A clock!] Thank you...thank you...
[Of note, he did not wrap it. He could have, but he assumed a professional job would look nicer. Marie lifts the fork, tips it toward the cake and waits. Marie's hearing may be superhuman, but he wants to focus on her reaction entirely.
It sounds good. He can't help but grin, hoping the heat in his face isn't too obvious a blush.]
Er-- Happy Birthday. You like it? ... I couldn't ask Kanda, so I took the clerk at her word that it was pretty...
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Luckily, though, it's Marie. And there it is--the small flutter. She hopes he can't hear that one, too.]
You must like cake.
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At her remark, he grins. Play dumb, sure. Her present is tucked well in a pocket.]
Who doesn't? Happy Birthday.
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Stupid. Don't be stupid.] Come in. You can have a big slice since...you're...um.
...big. [And shutting up.]
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[A big slice because he's big? Marie laughs, and walks in still chuckling.]
That's all right. I think Allen and Krory might get more out of big slices.
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[That leaves a strange taste in her mouth. Usually, she'd be shouting 'sorry' to the four winds, but right now, she doesn't. Something subtle is stopping her from it.]
I'll make sure they have a big slices, too. They can get Kanda's share, too.
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[He waits for her to close the door, and to direct him further inside.]
Might as well, since Kanda won't touch it.
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Do you want coffee with it?
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Coffee, tea, cider... whichever is easier for you.
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Coffee, then. There's a table and chairs in the kitchen, if you want to sit.
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[ Thus told, he makes his way to a chair. How does he know where to fine one? Well, he'd been there before. And not only when coming to claim his present, panicking in finding no Miranda, and the water going.
Once seated, he waits for her to prepare everything. And, when certain she isn't looking, he takes a small object from his pocket and places it near the center of the table. It's wrapped; he couldn't tell you this, but the paper is silver and glossy, and the ribbon a curling, wild gold.]
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But once she's set a teaspoon on the place, she finally--finally--turns around. And stops.]
...oh--you...[There's definitely a flutter now. And her heartbeat rushing, too. And blushing but he'll never see it, and it's okay, because she's being ridiculous.] Is that...you-- [She laughs slightly, a tiny shiver of a laugh, barely there.] Shouldn't have...
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This rushing heartbeat he notes, now, but again- surprise, the unexpected pleasure at a gift. He smiles, a little subdued, almost shy?]
You shouldn't have made that strudel. But, you did.. and, I wanted to do it.
[When she opens it? 1, 2]
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And finally, the box is open. She sucks in a breath sharply, and exhales it shakily, a small sheepish laugh at the end.] This...oh, it's...
[Her fingers brush over the locket, before opening it. A clock!] Thank you...thank you...
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It sounds good. He can't help but grin, hoping the heat in his face isn't too obvious a blush.]
Er-- Happy Birthday. You like it? ... I couldn't ask Kanda, so I took the clerk at her word that it was pretty...
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[She laughs again, thrilled, and puts it on with giddy hands.] My last clock turned out to be an important step into the change of my life...
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