Genderswitch AU

[ay_my_lord]

*by this point, Horatio, Reina, and Anticleia have a house--a nice, one-and-a-half-story place with a bit of a yard and a trellis with roses just beginning to climb it. things have begun to settle; there are still awkward moments at times, still little jealousies and conflicts over space, but even those are only small and quickly resolved.

it's nearly evening. Horatio is sitting on the couch in their front room, fingering the hem of his sweater, waiting for Reina to come home*

Comments

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

*squeezes his hand in return* And you're terribly handsome -- I don't say it enough.

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

*coloring just a little* Thank you. *then brings her hand up to kiss, and leads her out and to the bus stop at the end of the street (stopping only to pick a rose and tuck it into her hair)*

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

*blushes a bit, herself, and rests her head upon his arm as they walk*

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

*^______^ after the bus ride, they'll reach a nice Italian restaurant--not the sort of place to which one should wear one's most elegant attire, but certainly nice enough to require reservations. the host takes them to their table and offers them menus*

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

*but it's so rare that she goes out to eat, nevertheless at a place that requires reservations, and menu full of foods with Italian names that aren't even horribly mangled -- she smiles a touch nervously --* Did something important happen today?

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

Not so far. *sillylittlesmile* It's nice, though, isn't it?

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

It is -- it's very nice. I was wondering if we were celebrating something, and I'd forgotten it.

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

You haven't forgotten anything important. Promise. *the waitress comes, and he orders a glass of wine--he likes the occasional opportunity for wine, since he doesn't have much at home*

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

*smiles, then -- she can relax, and it's good to relax with him; after she's ordered the same* I'm happy you brought me here.

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

*he fiddles with his silverware, smiling down at his plate because he can't quite relax when he's got an important question stirring in him. he takes her hands, more to still his own than anything else*

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

*raises his hands to her lips to kiss -- just sweetly, discreetly, not wanting to embarrass him* Is everything all right, love?

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

*quiet, heart pounding at that soft kiss, the only words that he can bring to mind the ones he'd asked her here so that he could say* Reina ... would you marry me?

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

Oh -- *her eyes go wide, her own heart skipping --* Truly?

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

*littlesmile* If you want ...

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

I do -- I do.

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

*squeezes her hands, and beams, and can't find any words at all except* Oh, good--

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

*a little, breathless laugh* I'm either going to cry or kiss you --

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

*silly* Don't cry?

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

*smiling* Then I'll have to kiss you. Lean forward.

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

*he does, then, beaming still--closing his eyes to be kissed*

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

*kisses his lips, gentle and loving and soverygrateful*

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

Oh-- *when they break* I almost forgot. *slight pocket-shufflage* I'd gotten this, in case you said yes ... *and he hands her a little black velvet box, so very traditional*

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

*wordless as she opens it, as though there were something sacred in it, in the accepting*

[ay-my-lord.livejournal.com]

*perhaps there is--but honestly, it's only a plain little ring, so unassuming that it's practically ashamed to be so reverenced*

[carpoftruth.livejournal.com]

*but it's beautiful, beautiful -- and Reina's laughing so softly it's almost crying, trying to blink back the tears in her eyes* -- Oh --