All of that? [ His voice is low, dry with fond disbelief. She could have asked for more—extravagant things—some ideas and expectations he would have had to deny. The simplicity of her requests is the hardest thing to say no to. So, like this, Tseng just watches her with a look that slips a little too far to be professional anymore, or even restrained.
She says 'we' like it's the only version of the day she could want; it's intimacy so plainly stated that it leaves no room to pretend it's anything less. Expectation. He should be more careful with that, especially. Now, instead, Tseng lifts her hand slightly and his thumb moves in an idle motion over the back of it. Then he lets go, only to press his palm lightly against the small of her back. No rush, but there's intention in the gesture. A concession not just to her wishes, Tseng knows what else he's allowing. ]
We'll make a detour. For cake. [ Declarative but not so dry, and all for the subtle inflection. At the bakery he sometimes lets her go into, sometimes not. Decisions made without room for sentiment. This time he'll correct that. Still, he doesn't quite show her the faint curve at the corner of his mouth. ]
[ Even if she were the type to consider everything she could ask Tseng for, nothing holds as much appeal for Aerith as just simply getting to spend more time with him. Both times she's given away her heart, it was all she wanted, first from Zack, and now Tseng. She wants him, but separate from duty and the malignant, looming presence of Shinra. Stealing him away for her birthday seems like the best way to achieve that goal, and occupy more hours than she would have by just asking him to take her out somewhere to celebrate.
Just the quiet certainty behind the hand he settles on her back feels like a party to her, or at the very least, a cause for celebration. It shouldn't, but Aerith's never been closer to reconciling how it's okay that it does anyway than she is right now.
For a brief moment her weight pitches forward just enough to settle her chest against his, snuggling into him for a fleeting hug before she's pulling back, looping both of her arms through one of his. ]
Cake it is! Let's go Tseng! [ Cheerfully all-business, she's already moving towards the way out, fully ready to climb into his car and let the birthday festivities begin. ]
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She says 'we' like it's the only version of the day she could want; it's intimacy so plainly stated that it leaves no room to pretend it's anything less. Expectation. He should be more careful with that, especially. Now, instead, Tseng lifts her hand slightly and his thumb moves in an idle motion over the back of it. Then he lets go, only to press his palm lightly against the small of her back. No rush, but there's intention in the gesture. A concession not just to her wishes, Tseng knows what else he's allowing. ]
We'll make a detour. For cake. [ Declarative but not so dry, and all for the subtle inflection. At the bakery he sometimes lets her go into, sometimes not. Decisions made without room for sentiment. This time he'll correct that. Still, he doesn't quite show her the faint curve at the corner of his mouth. ]
no subject
Just the quiet certainty behind the hand he settles on her back feels like a party to her, or at the very least, a cause for celebration. It shouldn't, but Aerith's never been closer to reconciling how it's okay that it does anyway than she is right now.
For a brief moment her weight pitches forward just enough to settle her chest against his, snuggling into him for a fleeting hug before she's pulling back, looping both of her arms through one of his. ]
Cake it is! Let's go Tseng! [ Cheerfully all-business, she's already moving towards the way out, fully ready to climb into his car and let the birthday festivities begin. ]