thefinaljedi | Appointments

[Luke gave her a small, conciliatory smile. Very well, Ami.]

Ami, would you please keep your hair brown? It's much more attractive that way, and I'd like it very much.

[Is that what you want?]

[Yes. But she shot Luke a teasing smile anyway.]

I'll think about it.

[She's sorry, Luke. It's been awhile since she's gotten to see you. She's going to be a handful for a little while.]

[He flashes her a quick grin before taking a seat on the couch.]

I'm glad you'll take it under advisement.

So. you wanted to talk about something, and I assume it wasn't your hair. Is everything alright?

It wasn't my hair. [She gives him this easily.] It's something I brought with me. I wanted to give it to you.

[It's-]

It's very late, but... please accept it anyway. [She hopes that he will, with or despite that preamble.]

Oh?

[Luke smiles, nodding cheerfully]

Of course I'll accept it, whatever it is, especially if it's from you.

[Oh, it's from her alright; she'd looked up recipes and spent quite a bit of time making it. (There'd been the first few batches that... hadn't worked out, to put it best.)

She's reasonably confident of the ones she's brought with her, though, and as she gives the small package to Luke, they turn out to be hand-made chocolates.]

I wanted to still make them. [The explanation feels a bit odd.]

[Luke opens the package with a smile, giving her his most winning smile.]

You didn't have to. But thank you, they look wonderful. I'm sorry that I don't have anything for Valentine's for you.

[But at least he had the sense to avoid the village while you were away...]

[A little surprised sound comes from Ami, and she has to cover her mouth to hide the beginning of a laugh that comes anyway.]

Luke, I wasn't expecting anything for Valentine's. [It's the girl who gives gifts to the guy! Hold out for White Day.]

No? I thought I was supposed to?

[Confused about Japanese traditions...and remember last year Ami? When he was just sort of mooning after you?]

[She's well aware by now that customs are different in Luke's world, even to the point of knowing what he's learned about Valentine's has been learned in Luceti.]

In Japan, the girls give gifts to the boys they like on this day. [She doesn't say the boys give a return gift, if they like the girl, a month later; it would sound like a hint. And it isn't really necessary. All she ever asks from him, from anyone, is to stay by her.]

Well...if that's tradition...

[He doesn't sound convinced...and she can probably expect a gift soon. Not that he'd ever, ever leave her.]

I'm glad to accept. Thank you, Ami.

[Gifts are nice to receive! Luke can expect a proper return gift.]

You're very welcome. I felt bad for missing it, so... I thought if we did something now, it wouldn't be as bad.

You couldn't help it, dear.

[He pats the couch, hoping she'd sit with him]

And I'd be happy to celebrate Valentine's with you any day. I feel I should've worn something nicer than my robes, though.

[Ami doesn't need to be invited twice, and she sits down beside Luke before reaching over to pluck a chocolate from the package and hold it out to him.]

[Well he doesn't need to be prompted twice, he takes up the candy and takes a bit with a happy smile before offering her one the same way.]

[They're his, but Ami accepts it anyway - just one!

.. She has to admit to herself that she's relieved it tastes alright. This type of cooking has never been her strong point. It's not like just coming home and making a meal.]

Do you like them?

[Luke nods at the question, grinning around the treat. When he's done eating...]

They're fantastic. Thank you. You handmade them, right?

[Ami nods. She decides not to explain that this is considered much better, or at least a much bigger sign of the giver's feelings. The effort possibly speaks for itself.]

I wanted it to be special.

[Luke nods, slipping an arm around her waist]

It is special, and it shows. You're so thoughtful, you know. So thank you.

[He really cannot be more grateful, you're a wonderful part of his life, and probably the only reason he's still able to stay here without going nuts.]

[It's much the same for her. Oh, she's lucky - very lucky - to have a friend from home in Rei, and the other friends she's made here. She knows that. But in a place where people come and go so often and so unpredictably, someone who's been by her side here as long as Luke has... that's different. Special.

And that's what prompts Ami to lean over to give Luke's cheek a tiny kiss. Immediately after she does it, she looks just the slightest bit embarrassed, but she doesn't flush or make excuses.]

[Luke is admittedly a little surprised, given how she'd been when they first kissed. This, if nothing else, showed him just how much he did mean to her. As much as their Christmas encounter.

It only takes him a moment to smile and reach up to brush away some stray hair from her face. And kiss her right back, this time on the lips.]

[It's a soft touch, and she likes that. She doesn't want it to end, and when it does, she quickly leans forward again, as if the most she wants right now is that quick breath of air before plunging right back in to the depths of the kiss.]

[Well, when she leans forward, he takes that as a cue to keep it up. This time, the kiss is deeper, and he reaches up to pull her in close.]

[It's just that she feels like she misses him. She breaks off only reluctantly when the kiss ends.]

This might sound a little strange, but it seems like a long time since I've seen you like this.

[Or it could not be strange at all, but the fact she's essentially been gone for that time.]

[He gently runs a hand down her shoulder before letting it drop, and that is reluctant as well.]

It has been. Nearly a month. That's not strange, at all.

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[Action] I need to schedule a dental appointment.

[Action] I'm not sorry for my part in that. Besides, I need one, too.

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