shacklebreaker | IC Inbox: cerealia

[By which time Simon had been spending some quality time with Taka, having feared for his dear hawk after the Nexus Code fiasco. When Athena bursts in, though, it startles him out his skin and send Taka flapping and shrieking around the room.]

What the devil are you playing at?! I thought you were out shopping!

[And what is she doing with all that pasta...]

I finished a while ago! I was cooking all of these!

[ she just casually saunter into the apartment and puts the bowl on the dining table. ]

Hmph... You're incorrigible. After everything that's happened, your first thoughts are shopping and food?

[He's still not accustomed to Athena's legendary ability to shrug off hardship like it never happened. As she sets the food down, he does manage to calm Taka down and get him back onto his shoulder, at least.]

[ now washing her hands in the kitchen, she exclaims- ]

Just because something bad happened doesn't mean I'm not going to push through with something I had planned for a while now!

[ uh oh, she sounds mad. ]

But sorry for surprising you! I was hurrying since I didn't want you to see the flowers while the food wasn't ready yet.

Oh, stuff and nonsense. [He sets Taka down, giving him one final rub on the head before turning to Athena.] Flowers look just the same, with or without a meal.

[At least one of them is pragmatic about it? At any rate, he'll help her out by going to the kitchen to start setting the table. When he passes by her, though, he'll stop to embrace her from behind.]

Truly... I'm glad you're all right.

[ it's a surprise, albeit a pleasant one when athena feels the warmth around her. it's even better that none of them phase through each other. and she chokes back a sob, just remembering what had happened the night (?) before and just how terrifying it was. she hardly ever feels dread, and there it was then. she's not the only one who's glad to be standing here and now, but she's more overjoyed over the fact that they're both here now.

she turns to face him and return the embrace, and no!!! she's not crying. screw you!!!!! ]

I'm so glad... Everything's fine now. I'm so glad that you're here...

[He holds Athena close, reaching up to stroke her hair. He'd been convinced for certain that they'd meet the same fate as Apollo and the others, and he'd been ready to accept it instead of struggling pointlessly against the inevitable. But as usual, this place has a way of surprising him, restoring them here as though it was all some horrible dream.]

Unless they have a good explanation for this latest mishap, it's yet another thing to add to the list of CERES' abuses against us. They will pay for it.

We should go ask them, [ she mumbles, trying to bury her face on simon's chest. ] I have an idea.

[ but that's serious talk, and right now, all she just wants it to celebrate being here and being alive. so she pulls away a bit to wipe her tears, and she gives simon a grin. ]

Can we talk about it later?

[An idea? Simon's curious to hear it, but he nods in agreement; there will be plenty of time to get back at CERES in future.]

For your sake, I'll cast all thought of it from my mind. [He doesn't smile back, but that smile of hers does wonders for quelling his anger. He takes her hand, giving a reassuring squeeze.] We'll not let them spoil today.

Yeah! Today's... [ she hesitates saying it, but she does, anyway. ] Today's Valentine's day! And we should be celebrating.

[ she tip-toes to give him a peck on the cheek. why so tall, simon? ]

[He'll at least try to crane his neck down to accommodate her. Why so short, Athena? After that he'll let go of her hand, moving to finish setting up the table before the food gets cold.]

I must admit, I care little for the commercialism of this holiday back on our world, but the original legend behind it is rather interesting. Have you heard it?

[Tell him to shut up, Athena. He's talking about it in the same tone of voice as he would a Tale from the Clink, which means it can only be depressing.]

[ yes... she definitely knows what's coming. ]

You don't have to say it. I'm not curious.

But it's quite the riveting tale. There are multiple versions, but in all of them, Valentinus was a martyr who was executed for his unwavering dedication to love.

[this is the worst story ever???]

[ is valentinus your idol, simon? is that why you're such a wannabe martyr? ]

I said I wasn't curious! [ but whatever!!! he's told a part of the story anyway!! she heads to the sink to finally wash her hands and stomps to the dinner table to take a seat. ]

But who was he in love with?

[ may as well humour the old man now that he's begun his dumb story. ]

[He fetches a bottle of wine he'd been keeping aside for a special occasion, pouring a glass for Athena and himself. Then he joins her at the table.]

Well, phrasing it like that might be simplifying things. He was a Roman priest who performed marriages in secret, for couples who were being persecuted by the Emperor. When he was discovered, he was imprisoned and summarily executed.

Another story says that during his time in prison, he performed a miracle that restored the sight of the judge's blind daughter. Sadly, this act did not spare him from his fate... Yet before his execution, he left her a note that simply read, "from your Valentine", thus inspiring the tradition of love letters still followed today.

[ her eyes light up when she sees simon pouring some wine. fancy!!! she's still listening to the story, of course. ]

I like the second one better.

[ and she looks away mischievously, humming in thought. ]

I wonder if my Valentine has a note for me.

Edited 2015-08-18 08:51 (UTC)

That can be arranged.

[Because Simon hadn't gotten time to prepare anything before Athena burst in, he didn't have a note in advance, so he disappears into his room to write something. Then he returns to the table, handing her the note before the ink is even dry -- he'd written it by, surprise surprise, quill pen. (...Hopefully he didn't plan to put that quill in his mouth later.)

The note reads as follows:
Roses are red,
Violets are, in fact, violet;
I rather detest colours,
But I hate yellow slightly less.

- Your Valentine
He'll try not to look too smug about it as she reads it, making a start on the food as if nothing is amiss. It's totally what she asked for, right?]

[ she reads it aloud cheerily as simon eats, and carefully and neatly places the note next to her plate once she's done reading. as unusual of a love note as it is, athena loves it a whole lot. ]

I've never gotten something like this before! Thank you so much!

[ if simon could her emotions, there's an overwhelmin amount of joy eminating from athena right now. ]

[Her reaction makes him half-choke on his pasta. Well, that was entirely different from the reaction he'd expected.]

--You mean you like it?

[Certainly the sentiment behind it was sincere, but it was still meant to poke fun at the whole idea. It's probably too late to tell her that, though.]

Of course, I do. [ she bangs her fists on the table. ] This is from you!

I'm never going to throw this away!

Athena... [She really is serious. Give him a second to pause and surreptitiously drink some wine; he'll need it.]

I suppose I'll never rival the mountain of notes you've given me, but it's a start.

You don't have to write me a note every day.

Or make me a personalised planner like what I did. [ or do you. ] This one's just fine!

Good, because you make your days busy enough without my planning them for you.

[The entries would probably just be dumb things like 'feed Taka at 6', anyway.]

Not my fault I've got lots of work to do.

[ overachiever extraordinaire right here. And as she digs in, she asks- ]

Do you like the food, by the way?

How much you choose to burden yourself with is your own call.

[JUST SAYING. To her question, though, he nods.]

Certainly. Ryuko's fears about your culinary ability appear to be unfounded.

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