midnightstar

Since graduating from the Academy, life has been..interesting for Alisa, to say the least. She's been kept very busy, since she was upholding her promise to her mother on showing her the proper way to run the company, and it wasn't easy to put in those changes. Though it would have been a lot harder if she didn't have the support of those around her. But because of that, she hadn't been able to get time to get to visit Rean as much as she liked.

Translation: As much as she liked = every day. She did get to visit - or vice versa - at least on the weekend, and she talked to him almost every night thanks to the range on the ARCUS. Just as finished up for the night, she made her way up to the penthouse, glancing around to make sure she was alone (And you never know with Sharon) in order to take out her ARCUS once more and see if she could get a hold of Rean before bed. She was planning on seeing if he was in the area - alternatively, she was sure she could get away for a visit, if he wasn't busy.

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If Rean ever had to face some of those people he...really wouldn't know what to do other than to accept their justified grudge and keep walking forward. That was all he could do really. Sometimes he laughed at his childish naivety when he first enrolled into Thors intending to become a soldier in the army to try and release his adoptive family from his burden. Now he was a soldier and one of the highest profile ones at least on the easter front with Crossbell and Calvard.

He knows the words Alisa says are true but just as she would expect, he did not want to drag all of his wonderful friends down with him. That being said being shown genuine kindness like this was both healing him and hurting him a bit as well.

"I know..." And really maybe just sharing this intimate moment of bliss and comfort would count as leaning on her a bit more. It was obvious he was starved for such a treatment considering he really did not want to let go of Alisa any time soon. Odds were he would keep holding her even if Sharon were to walk into the room as long as she didn't say a word. Even if he did see her.

He says 'I know' but she knows he won't do it. He'd feel the slight sigh more than hear it, but it was as much out of frustration as contentment. If this kind of leaning is what he needed, she was more than happy to provide him all the peace and comfort he could ever want. As much as she could see him anyway. So with that one little gentle sigh, she relaxed her body against his, her hands soothingly brushing against his back. She'll drop the subject .. FOR NOW.

"At least.... at least you have a little time off between..." Well. "I'll bet you haven't rested in days."

And as if sensing the mood in the room shifting a little to one that was more peaceful and affectionate, Sharon quietly poked her head out of the kitchen, to check on the couple. But she didn't interrupt -- yet. She instead smiled fondly, even adoringly at the oblivious heiress, then at Rean before she silently slipped back into the kitchen.

The troll timer is ticking.

He knows that at the very least Alisa should suspect what he's thinking despite teh words he spoke. So he would endlessly appreciate the way she let it slide instead and just relax against him a bit more. The mood lightened imperceptibly after that but Rean felt eyes on him and he peered up just in time to catch the flutter of skirts disappearing behind the door.

"Mmm I guess you ccould say that. Between the tents and the train I can't say either one is particularly comfortable." He admitted with a wry chuckle.

Alisa of course, doesn't notice her family maid spying on them. She tilted her head up to look at him at the sound of the chuckle, a relieved smile playing across her face. It worried her, that he might forget how to smile or laugh with what he's been forced to do. "I thought as much. I feel like I should apologize, since our furniture has to be a lot more comfortable than the train and tents." And yet he'll have to go back to them still!

Though as she looks at him, her gaze lingers a moment, then lets go with one arm to hesitantly reach up and touch his face. There were slight changes from simply growing and maturing, and his eyes were.. different, but it was still Rean. "Your hair's gotten longer too." A little bit longer at least - she reached up to lightly smooth her fingers over his hair.

He has no reason to chuckle or laugh most of the time. So Alisa was likely very needed for him to not forget such a human reaction. "Why apologize for something like that?" Rean asked with a genuinely puzzled look. After all she did offer to let him stay here so really there was hardly any need for an apology.

His confusion only grows more as Alisa focuses on something else all of a sudden. Her hand is now so close he can feel the warmth of if against his cheek before she slides it over to one of his bangs.

"Ah. Well I hadn't really noticed. He usually did cut his hair before it got too long and he was likely to do that again some time soon but there was no denying that this particular length had started to feel most comfortable for him.

Alisa chuckles, "Because the tents and trains are so uncomfortable, but you'd be sleeping on more comfortable furniture here," Like the bed. She glanced awayfrom him briefly, clearing her throat a little, then back to him when it occurs to her that she was absently toying with his hair. That's ... not weird at all right?

"It's nice like this.." She remarked absently. Now SHE can give the head pets! See how HE likes it. She reached up a little more in order to do just that too, gently smoothing her hand over his hair, a dreamy little smile on her face. Someone pinch her, she might actually -BE- dreaming. At least that's how it feels, now that she was with Rean again.

"You...really like it?" Rean asked as he turned his eyes up to Alisa's hand before he held her gaze once more. Funny how he felt he could look in those eyes for hours. Just retreat in the warmth of that gaze if it was allowed of him. But then she just had to give him a taste of his own medicine only it's not really a patting on the head as much as a slow affectionate rubbing that makes his breathing catch in his throat.

"I...guess I can keep it this long then if you like it that much..."

Alisa caught his gaze and her hand went still, a small blush dusting her cheeks. "Really?" Funny how he was thinking he could look into her eyes forever because she was pretty sure she could do the same and just stare at him for an eternity. She smiled faintly, "As long as it doesn't get in your way.." she would easily find it enjoyable to run her fingers through his hair for hours at a time, gazing into his eyes and his face is much closer now ..

Probably because Alisa was starting to lean up to him, and it's pretty obvious what her goal is from the almost shy, though adoring look on her face. A little closer, a little nervous and -- well Rean should know his luck is rarely this good. Especially with a troll in the house.

"It won't." After all he was not exactly in a rush to cut it even before he learned this new little bit of information. Rean could see her blush and the temptation to just brush his hand against that part of her cheeks or perhaps even kiss her there, was quickly gaining ground in his tired timnd.

So he leaned along with Alisa at the same time, his lips growing closer and closer until he could already feel the warmth of her body along with that definite scent of perfume.

Her blush only grew when he leaned in at the same time, anticipating that moment of bliss like the first time they kissed. Just a little closer and -

- a delicate throat clearing.

- Alisa froze.

"Oh my, I came out to let you know dinner was served, but perhaps my timing was off. Should I come back later?" Sharon asked, smiling sweetly, her hands folded before her like a proper maid.

Alisa... practically TELEPORTED to the other side of the couch, her face beet read, "Sh.. Sharon..!" Protest and.. maybe a little irked that the perfect maid picked the "perfect" time to interrupt.

Sharon knew exactly what she was doing - that grin said it all.

And just like the strike of midnight for cinderella, the spell was shattered by the cheshire cat like maid. Wait that was mixing up the fairy tales wasn't it? Oh to hell with it. Bottom line was Alisa had detached herself from his proximity so fast he almost had to wonder if she hadn't instinctively used an art to pull it off.

Rean cleared his throat with a cough in his fist before he stood up and rolled his shoulder a bit. Anything to distract him from that faint frustration in his heart at being interrupted at the best moment.

Another thing to ponder - how the heck did Sharon set the table and put the food out WITHOUT THEM NOTICING. They must have really been caught up in the vortex of their conversation and feelings.

"Please have a seat Master Rean, my lady." Sharon didn't even miss a beat, pulling out a chair for the latter, who still hadn't regained her normal coloration. "I made plenty for the both of you. It's been quite since time since you've had my cooking, Master Rean. I'm sure you're starving."

Starving for attention maybe, and that was definitely an unsubtle glance at Alisa for Rean to see too. Being that Sharon was behind Alisa at the time, the blonde missed it completely. "Allow me to fetch the drinks."

That was actually a very very good point. How on earth did she achieve such a feat?! Sharon's skills were legendary but this just deffied all conceivable reason. It wasn't even a simple meal that had been prepared. It was a full course feast for two!

"ahahah yes you would be right. Thank you Sharon!" rean answered with a nod just as he took his seat close to Alisa's side. More exactly close enough for her to start feeding him herself if she pushed through her own shyness.

Sharon was too good. And the food smelled marvelous.

Alisa's smile warmed when Rean sat closer to her, glancing at him for a moment before turning her attention to the table.

There was a silver bowl with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers and small perfectly cut pieces of grilled chicken at the center of the table and several plates that surrounded it, each covering multiple types of food - a fish dish grilled to a crisp golden brown on a leaf of lettuce with a slice of lemon on the side, another plate with a thick juicy sirloin steak, some small cups of gravy, a steaming bowl of long noodles with thin cuts of beef mixed in.

"Sharon... how did you make all of this in such a short time? Weren't you supposed to bring those reports to Mother?" Alisa asked, stunned at the feast before them.

"Already done, my lady~!" Sharon beamed.

" Everything looks so good it almost feels like it would be a shame to start eating it!" Rean praised the feast laid out before himself and Alisa. Of course his praise idnd't feel as genuine since the next moment a very incriminating growl rumbled out of his stomach. Rean was understandably every very hungry indeed eeing as he had been intending to eat on the train before thing had culminated into this singular moment.

"I know," Alisa agreed, "Everything looks so good - you've really outdone yourself Sharon."

"It is the least I could do to celebrate seeing Master Rean after so long." Sharon beamed, pleased by the priase, only to chuckle at the sound of the hungry growl from Rean's poor ignored tummy. "There is plenty there, if you would like seconds. Please help yourselves!~"

"Thank you, Sharon." Alisa seemed to have forgotten the embarrassment rather quickly with the sight of this minibanquet. She picks up her plate and starts filling it with little bits of everything, while Sharon turned as she had said, to fetch the drinks. She won't be long~!

"Thank you very much Sharon." Rean nodded with a genuine smile this time. Such a simple affair was sso utterly relaxing. A glimpse of simpler days. Only way it could be any more perfect would be if the rest of the class were there as well.

Still he couldn't complain really when he had Alisa by his side like this. He quickly followed her example though, stuffing his plate wiht a wide variety of foods before starting to tuck in outright. Turned out he was much hungrier than he had initially realized too.

The way he was loading his plate up it seemed like he hasn't eaten in weeks! Alisa watched Rean for a few minutes, wondering if he was even feeding himself properly back in Trista, with all the stress and battles he's been involved in.

Before she could say anything, though, Sharon emerged again, this time with a fresh pot of coffee, which she poured for Rean, then placed another cup of tea for Alisa. "There. Now I'll go and run a nice hot bath for you, Master Rean. I'm sure you'd like to wash off all of that travel dirt. I'll clean up your clothes as well." There may be a trap in her dialogue somewhere. Maybe.

Well Alisa would do well to remember the kind of food the imperial army served. Compared to that spartan level of cuisine, the meal Sharon had prepared was nothing short of a king's feast.

He barely even registered what Sharon told him after that. Something about a bath. Still he nodded in acknowledgement before focusing entirely on filling his poor mistreated stomach. Not to say he forgot his table manners despite his hunger but the food was disappearing at a very quick pace from his place.

.. fair point. Alisa would like to never have to taste food so bland and dry and ... ugh. Ever. Again. How Major Neithardt managed to choke that stuff down she never knew. He was a strong man, for sure.

Unfortunately for Rean, Alisa missed Sharon's comment as well, eating her own meal with gusto- even though she was treated to Sharon's cooking regularly (more or less anyway), she would never pass up a fresh cooked meal. She was also careful not to mention anything about the product that she was going to show Rean - that she wanted to be a surprise.

Sharon, pleased at the healthy appetites from the couple, turned and silently stepped away to prepare the bath as she had said. Tum de tum~ ♥

Honestly providing the ingredients were available, Rean would often cook his own meals. After all his time with his class had turned him into a fairly decent cook. Even then though he was still absolutely no match for Sharon's cooking skills so it was easy for him to get completely absorbed in feasting himself on such fine cuisine.

It was a good thing that Alisa still remembered the product since that part of the reason she had even invited him had completely left his mind due to the joy of being reunited with his beloveed Alisa. Really he could be forgiven for allowing that vague detail to just slip his mind completely.

Hopefully shenanigans with the maid's trolling don't interrupt her plans to reveal said new product - because being with Rean was more than enough reason to forget everything else going on in the world for a short while.

"Mmm, Sharon's cooking gets better and better everytime I taste it," Alisa admitted, picking up her cup of tea to slow her suddenly voracious appetite. She felt like she was getting fat just LOOKING at everything.

It was probably best to not get her hopes up about a peaceful evening free of trolling. Frankly though Rean would stil be happy for anything with Alisa even if teasing came before or after it. That kind of normalcy was like healing balm's to his heart and soul and only now did he even begin to realise how much he'd yearned for this kind of moments. Hopefully this wouldn't end up coming back to bite him in the future since it was hardly like he could stop by whenever he wanted. He could never imposse like that. This impromptu pit stop had been just a series of fortunate circumstances after all.

"I believe you. If only my cooking could be half as good as hers." He agreed with a nod taking a moment to breathe before he returned to the latter part of his personal feast.

"Haha, I know, I feel the same way. Although ... I think my cooking has gotten a -little- better recently..." Imagining cooking for Rean when no one was around was a GREAT motivator. After all Sharon was going to end up heading back to check on her mother eventually, and that would give them a few hours to...

erm. Eat.

Cooking.

"Really? Maybe you can show me sometime then." Curse him and his ability to speak of such personal things without so much as blinking while keeping the heavier feeling in his heard chained up and sealed away from anyone else but himself.

Too late now and not like he would want to take back those words anyway so oh well.