originallutece | (no subject)

Then at least let me be polite enough to cater to your preferences.

[This is Ardyn, who will definitely stay on the line with her, but that doesn't mean he can't bring up his texts and send one through at the same time, regardless. She should expect it by now, honestly. The text reads: I proposed to Grell.]

Is that better?

[There's a momentary pause as she receives and reads that text, and then a sharply inhaled breath, and all of a sudden she's got a hundred different thoughts racing through her mind, but what they emerge as is a very indignant:]

Ardyn!

[She's happy for him, she really is. But oh my god, Ardyn.]

Bloody hell, you-- when! How, how did you-- Ardyn, why the hell didn't you tell me!

[Don't laugh at her reaction, he tells himself. There is only the sound of his smile in his words, as she berates him for not telling her sooner.]

It's only been a handful of days at most, Rosalind! You're one of the very first to know, I assure you of that.

[He hasn't even told Fynn yet? Let him live.]

And I wouldn't have mentioned it to you before it happened, anyway. It wasn't something that had been planned.

You just-- of course it wasn't, of course not, why would it--

[No, she's being silly. Rosalind takes a deep breath, clamping down on the babbling that wants to slip past her lips, and says very calmly:]

Tell me what happened, start to finish.

This isn't a memory that I've just recalled, you know. There's very little to go over.

[Which isn't true, and he sounds the opposite of annoyed with her. It's just Ardyn being Ardyn.]

And to be completely fair, she's the one who brought it up. Asking about my use of the word "forever" when I said such things to her. Wanting to know what I meant by it, and in what capacity.

And you said . . .?

[STOP TEASING AND JUST TELL HER]

[There were a lot of words. Not all of them spoken very eloquently, and he simultaneously remembers it in fine detail and in some parts, not at all. Such is how the moment went.

But he does his best to parse it down for her.]

I said that I meant it when I said forever, even when it applied outside of the notions of romanticism, and into practicality. And yes, that did imply living together and marriage one day, if she was willing. She said she felt the same way, and eventually it came down to, "Would you like to get married?" and she agreed.

And so we're here now. I didn't even have a ring prepared for her.

But you've gotten one now, I should hope?

[But oh no . . . oh no, this is lovely, and it's lovely because it's not particularly romantic. Or, well, it is, but in a very practical way, which is what she loves most of all. It's reliable and steady and sweet, and it speaks far more of their relationship than any soppy proposal ever could.]

[It is, truly, but don't think that Ardyn still does not want a proposal 2.0 that is slightly soppier regardless. Thus, the ring.]

Yes. But I've not given it to her just yet. I need a second chance at a proposal that isn't so-- [Well.] Inelegant.

And naturally, you need to consult with me. Show me the ring, please, and tell me what you have in mind for your proper proposal.

Of course, these were my thoughts exactly.

[He laughs a little.]

Shall we meet in person?

Come over. I'm settled for the evening and the goblin misses you.

I'll expect you within the hour.

The goblin. At least you're not calling him uncooked chicken any longer.

[It's an improvement, he hopes!

Anyway, he'll be there in just under an hour. His smile is wide, but of course the first thing he says is:]

Well, where is he?

[WHERE THE KITTY AT]

I'm well, thank you, perfectly fine, one of my closest friends just got engaged, but yes, do let's focus on my hideous little cat--

[--who is perched lazily on the cat tree Souji donated, lording over his home. He yells amiably when he sees Ardyn, a bellow that leaves Rosalind grimacing.

He looks very dapper.]

Let me see your ring and you can fuss over him.

Edited (The most important edit ) 2017-10-05 07:57 (UTC)

[He's wearing a sweater. How is Ardyn supposed to focus on anything else at the moment? But to be fair, a part of this is born from the need to tease her, as he's prone to doing. And so, he gives a faux sigh of concession, moving towards taking a seat.]

Over a drink. For the sake of celebration; and then I'll humor you.

[When was the last time they had a drink together, anyway?]

A drink, then.

[It has been too long, it really has. Kawaii-san yells again (more eager for attention than anything) as Rosalind heads to her liquor shelf. Scotch is appropriate, she thinks, and returns with a bottle and two shot glasses. Sitting at her kitchen table, she adds:]

When we're done discussing this-- and we're going to be discussing this for a long while, Ardyn-- remind me to tell you about Noctis and his foolish assumption he could beat me in a drinking game.

[Scotch sounds both appropriate and very appealing, and he just gives Kawaii-san a little grin as he sits down. He watches Rosalind bring the glasses over, and he'll take it upon himself to pour him a drink after she's settled with her own.]

You mean you don't want to talk about that first? It sounds like a riveting tale that ends in tragedy.

[For Noctis.]

Oh, it is.

[And actually, she has one other thing she wants to confess to Ardyn concerning Noctis. But it can wait.]

But you owe me a picture, at the very least, of a ring. And a detailed plan on how you're intending to propose.

Then let's start with one before we get into the details of the other.

[She doesn't need to settle for a picture. Ardyn has it with him, because it was the reason why he was asked over, wasn't it? He reaches into his pocket, unearthing what is quite obviously the little black box for the ring.

He'll lean over just enough to reveal it to her. It's as one might expect from an engagement ring; bright and shining and impressive by way of just existing. The band is white gold, and the diamond itself is a marquise cut.]

[She looks just a little more delighted than she'd like to at the ring, but sue her, she likes love stories. And it's a lovely ring, it really is; not too ostentatious, but hardly plain.]

Very good.

[Like he needed the stamp of approval? But there it is.]

And your proposal?

[He's glad to have her stamp of approval! She's his best bud, after all, so why wouldn't he want it? The smile he gives her is a pleasant one, and indicative of this.]

I'm glad you approve.

[He'll be slipping it back into his pocket while he considers her question.]

Nothing terribly over-the-top. But still a sense of romanticism would be appreciated, I think. I'm considering doing it at the beach, against he backdrop of a brilliant, deep sunset.

That'd be a lovely location. Just don't do it in public-- like at a restaurant, I mean, the beach is perfectly fine. But those stupid public proposals are always an inevitable exercise in narcissism.

[HMM . . . Rosalind drums her fingers on the table, then adds:]

The next full moon is October 5th, then November 4th.

[She has a good reason for knowing that, actually, but--]

If you wanted to do it on the beach, that'd be lovely-- at night, when it's all lit up and it's just you and her.

I hadn't planned on doing it in public. Those sort of displays, while suited to some, aren't exactly how I envisioned it for either of us.

[In other words, sometimes they're eye-roll worthy. Sweet, but eye-roll worthy. Ardyn wanted something a little more elegant than that.

And while he'd like to do it under the cover of night, October's blasted fog is going to get in the way so he's going to end up doing it while the sun is setting, but-! Duly noted, regardless.]

Careful, Rosalind, your hopeless romanticism is showing.

[She pulls a little face at him.]

Don't mix us up. I'm trying to ensure you don't do this so terribly that I'm stuck with you single again.

[Nice try, but he's not believing it.]

They are the suggestions of a hopeless romantic, bar none. I don't think you can argue against that.