Just an observation (Mako, Nate) 1/4 late evening

[Kino Makoto]

The delivery of roses had been rather unexpected, but heart melting nonetheless. A red flush remained upon Makoto’s cheeks for hours as she caught sight (and smell) of the bouquet each time she entered her office throughout the day. Once she’d completed her tasks for the day, she carefully carried the vase upstairs to her quarters, placing them on her coffee table where she could see them clearly from almost anywhere in her room.

The day couldn’t go by fast enough. She buried herself in her seemingly endless stack of post-NYE paperwork hoping that the business would get time to pass more quickly. Late afternoon finally rolled around, and she decided to calm her nerves by soaking in her garden tub for a while…though not too long. She didn’t want to be all wrinkly and pruned up by the time she was supposed to be at the observatory.

She dressed quickly and simply, deciding to just wear a dressy pair of jeans and a light pink cowl-necked sweater. Her hair had been pulled back into its regular ponytail, mostly because it was just easier that way. She slipped on her shoes and after grabbing her purse and keys, headed for the door. Poking her head out to be sure nobody was hanging out in the sitting area or kitchen, she nodded to herself that the coast was clear and made her way for the elevators that would take her down to the garage.

Having pulled into an empty parking space at the observatory, she checked the clock. 10:57…Three minutes early. She sighed and decided to get out and have a quick walk around. It was a busy area, plenty of people coming and going. She hoped she’d blend in with the crowd… being a part of the Queen’s court had its ups and downs, and drawing attention to who she was definitely fit in the ‘down’ column.

She checked her watch again and wasn’t sure if she should go in or just wait outside. The instructions on the card had only said to meet him here. She figured he knew what he was doing, so she settled for sitting on one of the benches along the front path until he made his presence known.

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

(OOC: Okay, didn't notice then when I quickly read before dashing off to work, but LOVE the title! Brilliant! And I hope it's okay that Nate remembers Mako as being good with plants in the past)

Nathaniel wasn't getting any younger. He knew this. He knew that youth was money in the modeling business, and the holiday season could often have some of the most important opportunities. That didn't stop him from taking several days off, not only from battling the barrier in his mind that left him quite sick leading up to the ball, but even for several days afterward. His career seemed even less important in the wake of his true calling-- to serve as a Shitennou to Prince Endymion-- who by all rights and purposes should be King Endymion. And hopefully will be soon, he told himself, and not just because he will get back together with Serenity.

His agent was not happy with him deciding not to go to any castings, and canceling on the appointments that he had made already. The past few days, Nathaniel had turned off his cellphone, and ignored his voicemail. He wasn't sure how this would work-- Mamoru the civilian had his own job; he had to make his own ends meet. But being a model had always been a means to an end in and of itself-- now it seemed quite remote in the face of his true duties and calling.

Nevertheless, he was still gainfully employed, had plenty in his bank account, and fully intended on spoiling Makoto, beginning with twenty-four long-stemmed lavender roses. He was not an expert on flowers, only knowing that different types meant different things. However, he was not the typical suitor, either, and thought that he best make sure that he was sending the right message, especially to a woman known for her green thumb, at least back in the Silver Millenium. So he felt like a hopeless sap sitting in the florist's for two hours, pouring over pictures of their arrangements and listening to the woman go on for ages about the differences between pastel colored roses and daker roses. At least she helped him settle on a number-- 24, two dozen roses which meant, according to her, that he would think of the recipient every hour of the day. And lavender meant enchantment, the beginning of a great love, and even proceeding carefully. The last meaning didn't sound terribly romantic, even though he found it to be true-- he would be careful with her heart, and her esteem. His second chance would not be squandered.

He dressed casually in dark denim and button-down shirt with a leather jacket tossed over the ensemble. He was on time, and picked his way through the crowd. The Rippongi nightlife was already going full-steam ahead, but he managed to pick her out, sitting on one of the benches.

Nate let an appreciative smile cross his features up catching sight of her. Within moments he was standing there, grinning down. "Hello there, Ponytail. I'm honored that you agreed to my request." He put out his hand to help her to her feet, though she didn't need it, he was sure, it was still polite. And an excuse to get her to hold his hand. "Ready to head in?"

There was something so thrilling about catching her scent on an errant January breeze. His eyes fixed on her face, the bustle of one of Tokyo's liveliest districts fading to a buzz in his mind.

[Kino Makoto]

Makoto smiled as Nathaniel approached and held out his hand to her. She placed her hand in his and rose to her feet. “The invitation I received was more than enough to persuade me to come.” Still smiling brightly, she raised herself up on her toes (oh how wonderful it was to have to stand on tiptoes in the company of a man!) and placed the lightest of kisses upon his cheek. “Thank you for the roses. They’re beautiful and they make my room smell fantastic. I love them.”

She gave his hand a light tug, motioning toward the entrance. “As ready as I’ll ever be!”

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

Nathaniel's smile grew at her kiss, and he found his hands resting on her shoulders, then smoothing down her back and coming at a rest around her waist. "You're quite welcome. I am glad that they pleased you." Her words made the expenditure entirely worth it; apparently it had had just the effect he intended. Nate could only hope that the rest of the evening would be as grand.

He found himself staring into her eyes, and nodded as she said it was time to go in, reluctantly letting go of her and letting his hand slip into hers, gladly letting her lead him to the entrance. Once there, he greeted the man at the ticket counter and paid the entrance fees. It was one of the more expensive observatories in Tokyo, but it was close to his apartment, and supposedly had a romantic flair to it. He supposed he was about to find out, and opened the door for her.

"Ever been here before? My first time. I've lived in Tokyo for awhile and never made this one a priority." Once inside the building, he punched the elevator button, wanting to head up to the sky deck first.

"How have you been?" Nate found himself asking, turning his full attention, and his gaze, back to Makoto. "I haven't been able to stop thinking of you since the New Year's ball." He kept imagining her in that dress; it had seeped into his dreams. But most of all, it was that time in the gardens, his melding completed, and his love was embracing instead of rejecting him. Even now, the thought made his breath catch. After several days, so much of this seemed too good to be true.

[Kino Makoto]

(OOC: Sorry for the delay. morning sickness is a bitch and a half. :unamused: )

His touch sent a warmth coursing through her veins. It took her a moment to remember that they were in a public venue and that any more of a display of affection would cause too many heads to turn. So she simply smiled broadly back at him and winked lightly as she turned towards the entrance.

Makoto supposed she should have offered to pay her way in, but Nathaniel had pulled out the cash so quickly that she didn’t have a chance to speak up. She also knew that he would have refused, but she still felt a little guilty. Squeezing his hand, she smiled to him again and merely said “Thank you.”

Once inside, she looked around. She was surprised at how many people were here this late at night. It wasn’t a packed house, but there was a pretty good crowd. Then it dawned on her. What other time would people come to an observatory? Certainly not in the daylight. Duh. Nathaniel led her over to an elevator and she watched the numbers above change as the elevator descended past each floor. “No, I’ve never been here at all. I haven’t been to any observatory, actually. So I’m an all around first-timer.”

The elevator doors opened with a ‘ding’, and a small group of people exited. Once they were in with the floor selected and the doors closed, she answered his question. “I’ve been fine, but very busy with post-New Year’s paperwork and whatnot. I’ve barely had a chance to breathe, and frankly I don’t see it letting up for at least another week or so.” She sighed and frowned slightly until he spoke again. Her face turned a bright crimson at his comment. It was true, she’d thought of him regularly as well. Not being able to put scrambling thoughts into coherent words, she maintained her firm grip on his hand and leaned into him, her head resting on his shoulder. “Me too.”

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

Nathaniel directed his smile to her as she squeezed his hand. "You're welcome," he said simply.

Once in the elevator, he also watched the elevator rise, feeling his ears pop slightly at the elevation change. "Observatories in Japan are a bit different from the US. There an observatory is truly connected to astronomy; however, for reasons unknown to me, though I think it may have to do with the city's lights, observatories here don't come with the telescopes and the tour guide, but are really just giant observation decks... and the telescopes aren't designed to see the stars. However, I've generally found that it's still the best place in such a bright and big city-- you can get above some of those lights and get an open view of the sky. Also, it comes with a revolving restaurant," he smirked. "I suppose that's what attracts everyone else, that and the nightclubs."

He nodded in understanding when she talked about post-New Year's paperwork, but in reality, Nate had no concept of it. Though he had homework in school and college, that was the only kind of paperwork he really knew about, save for modeling contracts, and he mostly had his agency's attorney go over that, and signed on the dotted line. What kind of paperwork could a chef possibly have? Accounting and inventory were completely alien words to him; such ideas didn't even cross his mind. "Sound grueling..." He pictured his lovely Makoto at a desk swamped with staggering piles of papers, pulling one stack down, tapping it on the surface of the desk to get the pages straightened out, and then put it on top of the next stack. Wasn't all paperwork just as pointless as his mental image?

Smiling with satisfaction at the reaction that his comment brought, he put a hand about her waist, holding her to him as he walked slowly out of the elevator once it reached the sky deck, pushing open the door to the outside. "All good thoughts I hope?" he teased.

[Kino Makoto]

(OOC: ZOMG I'm not dead! Thanks for being patient! )

Makoto listened as Nathaniel explained the details of this observatory. She lightly blushed at her mistake in thinking they were heading to a room filled with telescopes and other astronomical gadgets. Still, an observation ‘deck’ sounded rather nice. She did have some fantastic views from the higher floors in the palace, but perhaps actually being outside with the sights and smells of the city would make it even more enjoyable.

She smiled at his comment about the intensity of her work. “It can be. Trust me, I’d much rather be in the kitchen working on the line in the middle of a dinner rush than stuck at that desk under a mound of papers. But it’s all part of the job, and someone has to do it. Once it’s done though, everything will be back to normal and I’ll get more ‘hands-on’ time in the kitchen again.”

Though it never really took much, she found herself blushing from his touch yet again. Attempting to clear her mind from all the memories and feelings that always came flooding back when he touched her, she coolly strolled through the door that was now being held open for her. His next question, however, brought all those thoughts back to the forefront of her mind. Within milliseconds she recalled all the things she’d been thinking of since she’d last seen him. Some were quite pleasant; several were much more taboo; and still others sadly terrifying. As quickly as she remembered everything, it was all pushed aside once again…sort of…and Makoto tilted her head up to meet his gaze and coyly winked. “Mostly…”

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

"Yes," Nathaniel mused. "I do hope you won't slap me for saying this, but you seemed to be the type for more... ahem... action." He attempted to give her a charming grin. "I don't know any other way to say it, you're not the paperwork type. You do things, create. That's how I think of you. And other types of action as well," he muttered, rubbing his jaw at the faint memory of her fist connecting with it that one time.

Nate raised an eyebrow at her response. Resting a hand on the rail of the deck, he leaned closer to her, eyes peering intensely into hers. "...mostly? What are these not good thoughts? I don't want you to have any misimpressions of me knocking around up there. I'm a good guy, promise." His easy grin belied the sudden inner pang at those word, meant in jest and yet accurate in bitter way.

[Kino Makoto]

She quirked an eyebrow as Nathaniel began to speak. "Why would I slap..." Makoto trailed off as he started to explain. She chuckled as he rubbed his chin, immediately knowing exactly which 'action' he was referring to. "You totally deserved that." Laughing, she continued, "Wandering the streets of Tokyo, accosting young women... What were you thinking?" Makoto lightly tapped the same place on his jaw and winked. "Next time, I won't go so easy on you."

She gazed back at him just as fiercely, yet a sly grin played upon her lips. "The gentleman doth protest too much, methinks." Misimpressions...no, that wasn't the problem. It was truth, the horrible, ugly truth of their past which haunted her. Once again, those thoughts were brushed aside...stuffed back into the deep corner from whence they'd come. It was too soon to deal with the demons of the past. Later. She'd handle it later.

Feeling a light tension in the air at her long pause in conversation, Makoto decided to move along to another section of the deck. Get another angle of the city view. She felt a twinge of guilt at simply walking away without having said anything, but she hoped her movement would come across as innocent as it was intended. Stopping at another section of railing, she rested her arms on it and leaned forward slightly, taking in the view of the city below. "It's beautiful..."

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

Nate smirked. "If you want an honest answer... I wasn't thinking. I wasn't sober. I was just going with my gut. I think it turned out for me... despite the bruise," he teased her. "In fact, I was rather impressed by how polite you were over the whole thing. At least you only punched my jaw, I'm not sure my pride or profession could have dealt with a broken nose."

He held his smile at her words, but the moment Makoto stepped away, Nathaniel let it falter. There was so much attraction, and yet so much tension. These little nothings and teasings were pleasant enough, but ultimately meaningless. He let her walk away from a moment, before something boiled in him and he followed her, nodding as she said the view was beautiful.

"It is," he agreed, but he was looking at her.

"Maybe I protest too much... or maybe I'm simply being honest." He spread his arms, resting his hands on the rail and leaning out, the twinkling lights looming before his vision. "It's not just empty words, though." Nate glanced back at her. "I'll prove it to you, even if that takes time." No, he was not a patient man, but he was a committed one, a stubborn one.

Letting out a sigh, Nate returned his gaze to the city. It seemed to stretch out forever in the night. "Makoto,.. I've fought too hard to find my past to run from it now. It's complicated, and ultimately tragic, but it's done. I won't ignore it, or pretend it didn't happen." Closing his eyes briefly, he exhaled and raised them to her own. "Or hide it," he continued quietly. "From you."