[ More than happy to push one menu between them when Mal joins her on her side of the booth Aerith steals a sideways glance in the other girl's direction. ]
They have dumplings in every kind of meat and veggie, and as for the rest. Hm, do you like spicy? Do you like meat? Noodles? Stew?
[ Her shoulder brushes against Mal's while she's leaning over the menu, pointing out things as she speaks. ]
Edited (oops! forgot to answer that question) 2022-06-02 02:59 (UTC)
That's the liquor they serve. We can drink to you getting a good meal.
[ Aerith had caught what Mal said earlier, but at the time was uncertain how to respond, now that she's had a second to think, however, she can't help but be happy that things have turned around for her friend.
Without hesitating, Aerith looks up at the person behind the counter. ]
Can we have a bottle of Soju, please? And some dumplings? All kinds. And some Banchanwhile we pick the rest of our food?
[She nods, eagerly, happy to go along with this. She sighs, closing her eyes for a moment, the smells floating to her Jedi senses and combining and swirling and...]
This whole place smells so good.
[She looks back at the menu, shaking her head.]
And such variety, too. And all these pictures look amazing.
[ It shows too. Aerith makes no effort to hide how pleased she is with Mal's reaction to this place. She still would have been grateful for getting sprung out of the bar, but it would have been awful if Mal wasn't. ]
Oh! Here, the Soju, and some banchan.
[ Little plates of various salads, fried things, pickled things, and other things are laid out in front of them, along with a glass bottle of alcohol and two short glasses.
Aerith wastes no time, first grabbing a slice of what might be tofu off one plate with her chopstick and popping it in her mouth before she chews while pouring them both a drink. ]
[She watches the chopsticks for a moment, nodding. Those, at least, she can figure out. They're close enough to how a lot of cultures eat, that she's seen. She mimics Aerith's gesture, thoughtfully chewing the tofu. It's a new taste, and she's not entirely sure what to make of it. Words to describe it simply fail to materialize. Huh.]
[Now, the alcohol, on the other hand, she can find words for. She takes a sniff of the liquor in the glass, swirling it a bit. Then she lifts her glass.]
[ Her answer comes quickly and enthusiastically, looking from Mal to the meal that's being set out in front of them and back to her once more, the smile on her face turning surprisingly bashful in the process. ]
[And she's about to and then...oh, oh there's that smile. It's a moment where it feels like her stomach drops right out of her body. Nobody has any right to look that beautiful. She hides the sudden, massive blush behind her drink. And does a lot less thorough a job than she thinks, in the moment.]
Yeah, it really is. Everything is...perfect.
[In that special way the completely unplanned can be.]
[ Glad for the distraction her drink provides Aerith downs half the contents before she sets the glass aside and ventures a look in Mal's direction.
The smile on the other girl's face makes her own grow wider, and she does what she can to ignore the giddy little flutter in her chest while she nods in agreement. ]
It's been a really long time since I've had a night this nice.
[ In a flash of courage she reaches across and lets her hand rest on Mal's. ]
[Had she ever had a night quite like this? There had been nights of drinking and carousing and furtive, stolen affection when she’d been in the military - but all of that was stealing a march on death. The next day, the next week, there were empty chairs. The Imperials hadn’t cared, and they had done their best to be…alive.]
[But that was a long time ago, or it felt like it - and it had never felt like this. Like a real connection growing, unfolding; and her initial instinct as a result is to pull back, to bolt, but…]
[Tentatively, she laces finger with Aerith, watching her carefully.]
We…really should. I don’t think I’ve had one that felt special…like this…before.
[Oof, urge to kiss the prettiest person she’d met on planet hottie rising. That would surely be a disastrously stupid move, though, right?]
[ Surprised - happily so - when Mal returns the gesture and takes her hand, her cheeks flush, the smile on her face widening into a grin. ]
Special? Well...
[ Trailing off, aware of the way her face felt hotter the longer she watched Mal smiling at her, Aerith shifts in her seat nervously before pressing on, leaning into the feeling of giddiness she can't help but be filled with at this moment. ]
It's a date then! And, I mean, maybe this can be too if you want.
I think that was going to be my line in a tag or two :P
[Yes, special. Oh, she'd had the occasional partner before, but it was...needs being dealt with, never...never something special. Never someone special. But Aerith's smile hits her like a blast wave, every time - and she knows that's something different.]
[And she's not going to run from it because life doesn't hand you that often. Master Skywalker always told her to believe in herself, believe that she had a better destiny than she herself believed. Stars, she hoped this was part of it.]
[But then Aerith has to go and say...that. And it feels like all the air has been knocked out of her. She wants to say 'why?' because Aerith...could be on a date with anyone she wanted. She had no doubts that Mr. Charmless had been one of many potential suitors. All of them better, part of her wants to say, than a former Imperial assassin who had been rescued, battered and broken, from a terrible fate. Who had limped her way into being a Jedi.]
[She felt unworthy. And like she didn't have butterflies in her stomach so much as a swarm of mynocks having a party. But there was only one possible answer to that.]
Oh, stars, you have no idea how much I'd like that.
[ It's been a long time since Aerith let anyone get as close as Mal now has the potential to be.
The pain of losing Zack held her back from getting into a situation like this, and while it wasn't where she expected to end up with Mal, now that she's here it's difficult not to get caught up in the warmth between them and the look on Mal's face when she tells Aerith that she'd like to call this a date. ]
Really?
[ Aerith's chest tightens, as she covers the top of the hand she's been holding with her free hand, nodding in earnest while she does her best not to think about leaning across the table to kiss Mal. It's clear they both feel the same way about what's happening here, but taking that step is still daunting, even if she's almost sure it would be received well. ]
[Oh, stars, she's blushing, she can feel it. She looks down, free hand drawing idle patterns on the wood grain.]
Pretty much since I met you, if I'm honest. Which, Jedi, kinda supposed to be, so, um. [She clears her throat a little.] You just...opened up to me and gave me friendship when you barely even knew my name. I mean, I was a stranger from another world, and...
[She stops, with a sigh.]
I ramble, sorry. Still not entirely convinced you're not some very pleasant dream, you know?
Why wouldn't I give you friendship? You're sweet, and lots of fun to be around.
[ Aerith can hear the nervousness in her voice and she can certainly feel the way the blush on her face spreads down her neck - a sensation that intensifies after she's compared to a very pleasant dream.
The thought makes her shake her head, a quiet, shaky laugh escaping her, tripping over her own hesitation when it's the last thing she wants to do. ]
Maybe you're the really nice dream, ever think of that?
[ Her cheeks ache from the force of her smile, and Aerith takes a moment to steel her resolve, looking at Mal's face fondly before she leans in to press a kiss to her cheek. ]
Maybe I'll convince you after enough time working on it!
[ Sitting straight in her seat again Aerith tilts her head to the side, flashing a brief wink. ]
[The look on her face for a moment could be placed to the description 'Mal.exe has stopped working.' There's a moment where she just stares, jaw slightly open, and then smiles, blushing beet red.]
I think you could, I really do.
[Oh, goodness, that wink. That wink could melt her any day of the week. And after stuttering for a few moments, pushing back some hair...the heart speaks, quietly but boldly:]
I, um, wouldn't mind if you did that. Again. I'd...like it, a lot. If you're willing.
[If she gets any redder she'll turn into a tomato, she just knows it.]
[ As flustered as Mal's gotten her, it's becoming clear through the course of the other girl's moments of babbling that the feeling goes both ways. ]
Then I guess that means we'll be spending a lot of time together.
[ Aerith gives Mal's hands an affectionate squeeze before she withdraws when the waiter approaches with their meals. Her cheeks are burning red but she manages to smile appreciatively at the gentleman serving them, thanking him before he retreats.
It was a break Aerith didn't know she needed, her heart finally slowing to something more normal. ]
[ Even though she's hungry as well, Aerith looks at the meal as the chance to catch her breath, and hopefully clear her head. Sitting this close to Mal while she's been smiling like she was and saying the things she has was more than enough to muddle Aerith's thoughts.
It seemed like they were on the same page, and that gave Aerith a fair bit of hope, making her dig into the food set in front of her with gusto, but she still didn't want to bungle anything and risk losing a friend. ]
So does that mean you want to keep hanging out after food too?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ More than happy to push one menu between them when Mal joins her on her side of the booth Aerith steals a sideways glance in the other girl's direction. ]
They have dumplings in every kind of meat and veggie, and as for the rest. Hm, do you like spicy? Do you like meat? Noodles? Stew?
[ Her shoulder brushes against Mal's while she's leaning over the menu, pointing out things as she speaks. ]
no subject
Once upon a time, I was happy just for food. But everything there sounds delicious...but I think I'm feeling spicy tonight.
[She smiled, looking at each of those things in turn.]
Is there a proper order of things to get? Like, start with noodles, or...?
no subject
I'd say you're definitely feeling spicy.
[ Shaking her head at the question she looked back at the menu and hummed thoughtfully, aware she'd been looking at Mal for a little too long. ]
I just start with dumplings and eat my way from there! You might like Jeyuk Bokum if you want to try something hot.
no subject
You were going to make an exit, so I got some at the corner store on the way. But that sounds like a plan.
With some...Soju? [Said, pointing at the unfamiliar word on the menu, hoping she got the pronunciation right.]
no subject
[ Aerith had caught what Mal said earlier, but at the time was uncertain how to respond, now that she's had a second to think, however, she can't help but be happy that things have turned around for her friend.
Without hesitating, Aerith looks up at the person behind the counter. ]
Can we have a bottle of Soju, please? And some dumplings? All kinds. And some Banchanwhile we pick the rest of our food?
[ Aerith turns back to Mal, hoping she approves ]
no subject
This whole place smells so good.
[She looks back at the menu, shaking her head.]
And such variety, too. And all these pictures look amazing.
no subject
[ It shows too. Aerith makes no effort to hide how pleased she is with Mal's reaction to this place. She still would have been grateful for getting sprung out of the bar, but it would have been awful if Mal wasn't. ]
Oh! Here, the Soju, and some banchan.
[ Little plates of various salads, fried things, pickled things, and other things are laid out in front of them, along with a glass bottle of alcohol and two short glasses.
Aerith wastes no time, first grabbing a slice of what might be tofu off one plate with her chopstick and popping it in her mouth before she chews while pouring them both a drink. ]
no subject
[Now, the alcohol, on the other hand, she can find words for. She takes a sniff of the liquor in the glass, swirling it a bit. Then she lifts her glass.]
Do we toast?
no subject
[ Her answer comes quickly and enthusiastically, looking from Mal to the meal that's being set out in front of them and back to her once more, the smile on her face turning surprisingly bashful in the process. ]
It's a really nice night.
no subject
[And she's about to and then...oh, oh there's that smile. It's a moment where it feels like her stomach drops right out of her body. Nobody has any right to look that beautiful. She hides the sudden, massive blush behind her drink. And does a lot less thorough a job than she thinks, in the moment.]
Yeah, it really is. Everything is...perfect.
[In that special way the completely unplanned can be.]
no subject
[ It's Aerith's turn to flush bashfully at the compliment, taking a moment to glance over towards the table. ]
But the food isn't even here yet.
[ Laughing quietly to herself she takes a deep breath before lifting her little glass to tink it against Mal's. ]
Okay, to both of us.
no subject
To both of us. And yes...[A little cough] perfect. Just...fun out of nowhere. I'm loving every minute of it, and that's...rare.
[She leaned her head on her hand, smiling absently.]
It's the best night out I've ever had, and I can't see the food making it worse.
no subject
The smile on the other girl's face makes her own grow wider, and she does what she can to ignore the giddy little flutter in her chest while she nods in agreement. ]
It's been a really long time since I've had a night this nice.
[ In a flash of courage she reaches across and lets her hand rest on Mal's. ]
We should do this again sometime.
no subject
[But that was a long time ago, or it felt like it - and it had never felt like this. Like a real connection growing, unfolding; and her initial instinct as a result is to pull back, to bolt, but…]
[Tentatively, she laces finger with Aerith, watching her carefully.]
We…really should. I don’t think I’ve had one that felt special…like this…before.
[Oof, urge to kiss the prettiest person she’d met on planet hottie rising. That would surely be a disastrously stupid move, though, right?]
help they're so cute
Special? Well...
[ Trailing off, aware of the way her face felt hotter the longer she watched Mal smiling at her, Aerith shifts in her seat nervously before pressing on, leaning into the feeling of giddiness she can't help but be filled with at this moment. ]
It's a date then! And, I mean, maybe this can be too if you want.
I think that was going to be my line in a tag or two :P
[And she's not going to run from it because life doesn't hand you that often. Master Skywalker always told her to believe in herself, believe that she had a better destiny than she herself believed. Stars, she hoped this was part of it.]
[But then Aerith has to go and say...that. And it feels like all the air has been knocked out of her. She wants to say 'why?' because Aerith...could be on a date with anyone she wanted. She had no doubts that Mr. Charmless had been one of many potential suitors. All of them better, part of her wants to say, than a former Imperial assassin who had been rescued, battered and broken, from a terrible fate. Who had limped her way into being a Jedi.]
[She felt unworthy. And like she didn't have butterflies in her stomach so much as a swarm of mynocks having a party. But there was only one possible answer to that.]
Oh, stars, you have no idea how much I'd like that.
sorry about that!
The pain of losing Zack held her back from getting into a situation like this, and while it wasn't where she expected to end up with Mal, now that she's here it's difficult not to get caught up in the warmth between them and the look on Mal's face when she tells Aerith that she'd like to call this a date. ]
Really?
[ Aerith's chest tightens, as she covers the top of the hand she's been holding with her free hand, nodding in earnest while she does her best not to think about leaning across the table to kiss Mal. It's clear they both feel the same way about what's happening here, but taking that step is still daunting, even if she's almost sure it would be received well. ]
No worries, Cat Editing is a thing :P
[Oh, stars, she's blushing, she can feel it. She looks down, free hand drawing idle patterns on the wood grain.]
Pretty much since I met you, if I'm honest. Which, Jedi, kinda supposed to be, so, um. [She clears her throat a little.] You just...opened up to me and gave me friendship when you barely even knew my name. I mean, I was a stranger from another world, and...
[She stops, with a sigh.]
I ramble, sorry. Still not entirely convinced you're not some very pleasant dream, you know?
no subject
[ Aerith can hear the nervousness in her voice and she can certainly feel the way the blush on her face spreads down her neck - a sensation that intensifies after she's compared to a very pleasant dream.
The thought makes her shake her head, a quiet, shaky laugh escaping her, tripping over her own hesitation when it's the last thing she wants to do. ]
Maybe you're the really nice dream, ever think of that?
no subject
[She keeps that thought internal, a small smile on her face, looking at Aerith who is somehow the one blushing right now.]
I'm sure I'm not but...if you think so, I'll happily go along with it.
no subject
Maybe I'll convince you after enough time working on it!
[ Sitting straight in her seat again Aerith tilts her head to the side, flashing a brief wink. ]
no subject
I think you could, I really do.
[Oh, goodness, that wink. That wink could melt her any day of the week. And after stuttering for a few moments, pushing back some hair...the heart speaks, quietly but boldly:]
I, um, wouldn't mind if you did that. Again. I'd...like it, a lot. If you're willing.
[If she gets any redder she'll turn into a tomato, she just knows it.]
no subject
Then I guess that means we'll be spending a lot of time together.
[ Aerith gives Mal's hands an affectionate squeeze before she withdraws when the waiter approaches with their meals. Her cheeks are burning red but she manages to smile appreciatively at the gentleman serving them, thanking him before he retreats.
It was a break Aerith didn't know she needed, her heart finally slowing to something more normal. ]
What do you like to do? I want to do it with you.
no subject
I sure hope so.
[And then the food comes, and she looks it over after saying her own thank yous, before looking back to Aerith.]
Well, right now, I am starving, and this smells amazing. After that...we can circle back.
no subject
It seemed like they were on the same page, and that gave Aerith a fair bit of hope, making her dig into the food set in front of her with gusto, but she still didn't want to bungle anything and risk losing a friend. ]
So does that mean you want to keep hanging out after food too?
(no subject)