2024-01-24: Shield to Sword
- Log: 2024-01-24
- Cast: Alouette Pommier, Sho Tachibana
- Where: Nouvelle Tokyo
- OOC - IC Date: 14 March 0098
- Summary: Having missed Valentine's Day, Sho meets Alouette for White Day to exchange chocolates. Alouette takes it upon herself to discuss up some unspoken anxieties about the nature of their relationship, and they forge a clearer understanding of what's to come.
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
It's the middle of March, which means it's about the time that couples follow up on their exchanges during Valentine's in February. Alouette kind of regretted she didn't really have the opportunity to go all out in February... so this time, borrowing the Orbit Cafe off peak hours, she decided to make her chocolate!
...It's hard to say it's truly amazing chocolate. Alouette treats the process a lot more like a science than an art, and she never really 'understood' what makes sweets and sugary stuff so appealing to people... even if she doesn't hate them anymore.
In the end, though, she tries her best... and following the recipes Rikka sent her helps a lot. (She understands that Rikka must have experience with this already.)
All that's left is to drop it on her intended target, setting a nice park in Nouvelle Tokyo as the meeting spot - even if there's no class, it's right around Jindai, and the beginning cherry blossom season adds a little extra spark to it.
"Geez, the shuttle was extra-long today..." Alouette sighs. "I really hope this thing didn't melt on the way." It's well-packaged at least, in a shiny white box. Well, despite her complaints, she at least tries to play it cool, keeping the box hidden behind her back. Truthfully, she wants to talk about a little more than just chocolate... a lot's happened, after all.
<Pose Tracker> Sho Tachibana has posed.
As Neo Getter's flight leader, Sho has been deeply involved along with Hayato Jin in negotiating NISAR's operational contract with NERV, in the wake of the OCU's withdrawal from the Federation Agreement and the formation of the New United Nations Earth. This, along with the continued hunt for the mysterious aquatic Mechasaur, has left her very busy - allegations that she spent most of Valentine's last month napping are swiftly denied.
This month, though, she's managed to find time for a break around White Day and has made her own batch of chocolate.
... Well, okay, Gai Daido did most of the work there, after the seventh failed batch.
She's waiting in the park, wearing a cordovan-red dress with a knee-length skirt, paired with a black jacket and an artichoke-green sash around her waist. Her boots are the most familiar part of her ensemble - her favourites.
Sho looks up as Alouette approaches, standing up from the bench she's waiting on to greet her with a bright "Lou-chan!" Beaming, she pulls the other girl into a tight hug.
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
It's hard to blame Sho for being so busy, with the Earth Sphere constantly changing by the week. After all, she's the one who disappeared for several months, even if it was to stop something like the King of Ruin.
And when Alouette actually sees Sho waiting for her, there's a sparkle in her eye as she paces herself to meet her. "Tachi-chan!" Alouette waves, and her eyes quickly move to study her outfit. "You look.. stunning, of course," Alouette compliments, desperately trying to keep her cool. Though it's March, Alouette's still dressed for winter, favouring a navy blue jacket tied around her more typical white blouse in a ribbon.
She accepts the hug, letting all those emotions from the past few months out in the course of just a few seconds, and then takes a seat next to the redhead on the bench. "So... I made this," Alouette presents the box of chocolate. "It's the kind of thing I just wouldn't accept if I didn't do it myself." She explains, with a wry smile. "...I don't know how good it is. Mamoru and Hana were suspiciously busy... and I guess Ikumi-kun just wasn't up for taste testing." She shrugs. They're white chocolates to fit the theme... and they're exceptionally okay. They fit the recipe to the tee, but the mix isn't exactly awe-inspiring. "But... I hope you like it anyways. Sweets are complicated, aren't they?"
It's kind of a grand romantic gesture, making sweets on her own... but there's other concerns on her mind, too. "...How've you been? If your status on Valentine's Day is any indication, it's been a mess and a half over at NISAR." She doesn't quite sound upset or anything there - she's been plenty busy herself. "But you better have been getting enough sleep. That kind of thing is important, you know!"
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<Pose Tracker> Sho Tachibana has posed.
"You look amazing too," Sho returns the compliment with a grin, reaching up to deftly pluck a sakura petal from Alouette's curls, before sitting back down on the bench and leaning into her.
She takes the box of chocolates, reverently. "Yeah, I bet Mamoru and Hana were busy," she says, with a knowing little grin. She opens the box, smiling at the design of the chocolates, and pops one into her mouth. "I know it's a cliche, but... I like it because you made it." She smiles. "I got you a batch, too, but, um. I guess I'm not great at baking sweets, I had to get Gai's help." When Alouette opens her box, Sho's eyes dart to a misshapen blob of white chocolate tucked away in one corner and she goes scarlet, muttering "I'm gonna kill him" under her breath.
"Ugh, don't remind me." Her blush persists. "I'm sorry I was so useless last month, but the contract negotiations to make sure we could still operate in NUNE territories were exhausting. Gore doesn't care about human politics, he'll strike anywhere, and we need to be able to respond, but we've been dealing with one obstructive blockhead who keeps rattling on about 'foreign weapons on their sovereign soil'. I swear, Captain Jin looked like he was going to throttle him."
She lets out a loud sigh. "We got there in the end, at least, but man, Go was climbing the walls by the end of it."
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
"Merci~" Alouette takes the compliment in stride, relaxing her posture just a little as she leans back into the bench - only to get plucked. "Hey, wait-" She's quick to return the gesture, quickly flicking a petal from Sho's hair. "Guess I didn't think to bring a parasol with me, but oh well..." She laughs.
"Hehe, yeah, I can't blame them." Alouette smiles, about Mamoru and Hana. "Hana-chan seemed really anxious lately... but I wonder if she was just trying to make sure everything's perfect since they were separated for so long." She considers, but doesn't linger on it too long.
Instead, she waits with anticipation as Sho tries one of her very own chocolates... "Are you kidding me? That's super cliche!" She affirms, with a pointing finger. "Maybe that means they aren't so good... but I'm glad I could make you happy anyways." She fidgets one of her legs, settling on a smile.
And it turns out that Sho made some chocolates too - with the help of Gai, of course. "A team effort, is it?" She laughs. "Well, it's better than recruiting Go... I think you'd be down a kitchen." She opens the box, then - and immediately goes for the misshapen piece without a word. "Mmm... it's certainly the intertwining of milk, cocoa powder, and sugar all in one bite." She comments - what is just reciting the ingredients supposed to mean?? "Yep, this is White Day chocolate. It's perfect!"
"Oh, there's no need to apologize." Alouette assures Sho, and then looks down, with a flush of embarrassment herself. "I left you with such awful words... pretending it might be the last time we ever get to spend time together. Being busy is absolutely nothing compared to that." She looks back up, her eyes a touch apologetic. "I promise I won't let that foolish pride get in the way again."
But as for what actually has NISAR... Alouette nods with some understanding. "I don't see why they'd take issue, if you're only using Getter to fight dinosaurs." She brushes her hair back. "Like, you already dropped the Getter Rays in favour of Plasma, so there's no risk in pushing your luck with Cathedra. I suppose people just have a much harder time trusting each other in times like this..." A slight sigh.
"You know, it's similar with GGG, but... it's looking a lot less friendly, when it comes to the NUNE. It's hard to just give up all that OCU funding, right? Add our staff almost doubling with the reinstatement of GGG Green and we might just end up going independent. It's way more complicated than that... but there's the gist." She explains, but hesitates on going into their operational... disagreements with Gendo Ikari, the man at the top.
"It means when I move out, it'll probably be somewhere around here, though! There's still some time, but I think I'm going to start looking soon." She enthuses. "Still... even if we end up in different organizations, I hope things don't just go cold. I'd like to fly with you and your team again, you know."
<Pose Tracker> Sho Tachibana has posed.
"Mm," Sho responds as Alouette voices concern for her colleague. "I hope she's doin' okay now everyone's back from Jupiter."
"Well..." Sho frowns. "How do I put it? It's definitely chocolate?" Alouette says much the same about her own disastrous effort and her blush flouresces a little. "... yeah. Exactly. Maybe it's the act of making them that's important?"
"... 'Lou-chan," she starts, as Alouette calls their last date before the Jupiter Mission into question, and leans in to hug her. "Neither of us knew what was coming. For all we knew, it might have been the last time we saw each other." She sighs. "I mean - I trained since I was a kid to be a soldier and a pilot, I know every flight could be my last one. It's just... the hazard of our jobs, you know?"
She moves to take both of Alouette's hands in hers. "What matters is we try and find happiness whenever we can between those life-and-death missions, and any time I get to see you, I'm just..." She bites her lip, words failing her, and decides to explain by leaning in for a kiss.
Pulling apart, she nods about the political situation. "Yeah, it's a mess. I know 3G's looking at the main branch of NERV with a lot of suspicion since the Dummy System got demonstrated - " they all heard about it, it seems - "but I don't plan on letting that change things between us. Even if Captain Jin objects." She grins.
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
"I think so, too." Alouette nods, about the act being important. "Chocolate isn't something I'd ever really go out of my way for... so having it like this is special?" She puts forward. "I guess seeing you blush is special, too~"
Alouette's sing-song-y tone drops back to normal when the topic turns back to something so serious, though. "Mmm. I think in your position, you understand more about all this than I gave you credit for last time." She admits. "It's comforting to be so close to someone who knows what it's like... it's terrifying, too." She pauses and pops another chocolate in her mouth. The idea that all there is is life-and-death has never been something she took lightly.
Her hands, previously tense, relax just a little, feeling the warmth in Sho's. "It is important to prioritize your happiness," Alouette nods, thinking about what she told Ikumi all those months ago. "And it does make me happy to get to see you like this." She continues. "...I thought I was just being selfish letting it keep going like this, but it turns out you're pretty cute when you're selfish too. It's so unfair!" She goes in for the kiss, and then whispers... "So if I may have just one indulgence... let me keep you safe however I can. Even if it just means considering me a good luck charm." She smiles.
And finally pulls away when the topic comes back to politics. "Yes. I can see the merit in the Dummy System, certainly... it offers a reliable trump card against the Angels without forcing anyone to pilot the Evangelions. No, it's the disposability Gendo Ikari displayed before that that I cannot stand for." It's good that it's not something that stands between them, but... "W-Wait! Since when does he have any say?" She pouts.
<Pose Tracker> Sho Tachibana has posed.
"I suppose it's only fair, all the times I've made you blush," Sho fires back with a smile.
Comforting and terrifying... "... It kinda is, huh?" She leans close again. "Exciting, too, though. We really do need to find an excuse to sortie together and fight alongside each other."
"I want to be with you, 'Lou-chan," she reiterates, "Whatever happens, however long we stay together, I want to enjoy every moment we have. If that's selfish, well, I guess that makes me real selfish." She grins, eyes glistening when Alouette leans in to whisper and beg indulgence, and lifts the blonde's hand to her lips. "In that case... if you'll be my shield, then let me be your sword."
"That's the thing - he doesn't," she grins about Hayato. "But he'll think he does because he's my superior officer. Let him complain, I say."
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
"Come on..." Alouette mock-complains, and conveniently, Sho can count yet another time now.
"Exciting, thrilling... I guess those are good words for it." She nods. "Sounds like there's no better time than when our mystery mechasaurus finally decides to show itself." No one's going to say no to a cross-bloc operation, she's sure.
"Mm. I think behind everything I've been saying... that's what I really want, too." She smiles, and it feels really good to just say it. "There's so much I want to do in this life, and I want to do it with you!" She clasps her hands together. "But then... it sounds like we're on the same page, Tachi-chan."
Nothing goes with a shield better than a sword does, right? As the redhead takes Alouette's hand, there's a rustling of trees as the new cherry blossoms fly across the park area. "Then I accept." Alouette firmly nods, with the seriousness such an offer would apply. "Thank you... for fighting for me." Despite the breeze, there's still some warmth in her cheeks.