Scene #2947:

Owner	Pose
Laisa Samuiko	Laisa wanted to take Veronica somewhere nice for Valentine's day. While she's sure an exchange of chocolates and a pleasant evening in Sarek would have been wonderful, the sculptor wanted to do something special. It's not as if her family wasn't rich. It's not as if she couldn't afford such things. The moment her family learned that their prodigal ice queen daughter was spending money on an Actual Date they started getting happy for her. The implications of such eagerness are... probably best worried about later. Laisa wasn't doing this in order to fulfill whatever weird obligations the Samuiko Clan lived by. She was doing this because she wanted to have a good time with her sweetheart, and also to treat Veronica a bit. When it came to restaurant selection, Laisa came across a lot of French cuisine options, which... might have been good, but might also be something that Veronica is well used to already. Kaiseki is considered to be the haute cuisine of Japan, so there's a higher chance that there's something new there for her. So it was that she invited her ~lovely girlfriend~ to a fine dining experience at Hotel Augusta. Laisa was used to being a mess when she first arrived at Radiant Heart, and while she had put a bit more effort into her looks when she started dating Veronica, she still tried to maintain a kind of rebellious-yet-classy style. Today, however, she is dressed a bit more formerly, as fitting the vibe that she's going for. She wears a dark red kimono with a lovely pink floral print that accents her eyes in one way and her hair, and the braids of her hair are tied into loops that meet in a bun at the back of her head. Her make up carries subtle hints of red hue, carefully balanced to be subtle, but not so much that it can't be noticed if one looks closely. Something about wearing it just makes her feel like she should carry herself a bit more elegantly... at least for a few moments until she forgets and starts being herself. She also carries with her a shimmering gold-colored paper fan with a black clasp, because why not? It felt fun and it completed the look. Someone who didn't know her very well might not recognize her, but it's still her. With a soft smile and a lilt to her voice, Laisa turns to her favorite painter and says, "Well, my dear. This is the place. Our reservation should be ready by now. Shall we go in?"
Veronica Perenna	Veronica was wearing something she had already worn recently at an important event, but she doesn't mind going for a repeat this time: the outfit she is going with doesn't lack at all in a 'wow' factor, and it's not something Laisa has already seen, so Veronica is pretty sure the purple-haired girl would end up liking it. There was no event more important than this, anyway, and so she had worn her off-shoulder backless dress. It too gave its own playful wink at the concept of what could be said to be both symmetrical and non: blue veil earrings with orange pearls and white flowers dangle from the top of her ears on the right side. On the other side of her head however, actually shows her own amused ornate fits. A blue choker of silver crescent moons was mirrored in half, as were the long sleeves that faded from white to azure, with a band of white with orange strings, blue veils and white flowers over the blue and silver of the hem. The bodice is likewise blue, with a giant orange flower on the left, and ripples of fabric at the bottom left and being able to contrast is with similar choices. The light blue skirt similarly presents a white layer on one side only and just like it, one leg is left bare atop white shoes, while the other shimmers with a fading blue. It would be perfectly asimmetrical as well, desire indicating for herself but completely its own thing, as was both of theirs choices. When Laisa had first appeared to Veronica, the brunette had looked at her with shining eyes, followed immediately a hug and a promise to try avoid being distracted by how good it actually looked on her. Turning her gaze to what Laisa has instead pointed towards, Veronica hums appreciatively. "Hotel Augusta? Seems like a great idea to me, my snowsweet", she considers warmly, gently bumping against the other girl with a wide smile. "Let's go in then", she adds excitedly.
Laisa Samuiko	Laisa is most certainly not the kind of person who worries too much about repeat outfits. If anything she's happy to see such a lovely design in person. She thinks if she let herself get distracted too much, she'd never go in, so she hooks her arm around Veronica's with a smile and leans against her briefly before walking for the front door. The excitement in her girlfriend's response puts Laisa in a pretty good mood. She did also bring her Valentine's Day chocolates, which are safely stored in her bag for now, but her intention is to bring those out later. When they get to the receptionist, they are almost immediately shown to their table. No waiting for them, which is fine by Laisa. They get a small table for two next to a window overlooking the coast, and while the chairs are set up for them to sit across from each other they could most certainly be moved around as needed. The crystal chandeliers above provide a special kind of mood lighting, and the view of the waves outside add to the serenity of the place. There are, of course, some very nice paintings artfully arranged on the walls. Laisa smiles and jokingly says, "If any of those turn out to have relics in them, make sure to invite me along." Since this is a fancy restaurant and they have a reservation, a lot of the food has been ordered ahead of time. The waitstaff gives the couple a moment to settle in at their table, offering glasses of ice water and also pouring each of them a cup of matcha tea. After a minute or two someone places a bowl of simmered taro between the two of them to share. A lot of this is food that one could get elsewhere, technically, but there's a quality beyond normal here. Everything about the presentation, the taste and texture, the freshness of the ingredients and the artfulness of the display is on another level. In addition to that, everything here is calm, the room is acoustically designed to deaden noise, so that the two are isolated even in this shared space. Laisa takes a moment to enjoy the classy atmosphere before looking into Veronica's eyes and saying, "It's lovely to have you here, my kitten. It's been a while since I've eaten like this, I have to admit. What do you think so far?"
Veronica Perenna	They do want to get in at some point, but they will sit at their own places then, so Veronica takes her time with her steps, giving a bright smile to Laisa and an inquisitive look with the corner of her eyes. It's a simple act, the settling of the weight of Laisa's head on her shoulder, and yet the brunette has to hold herself back from sighing contently. A little too soon for expressing joy when her beloved has prepared an evening that is sure to be full of delight. She reaches where Laisa has hooked her arm around her with a hand from the same side, brushing her fingers slowly while they get inside. Her neck curves, spurred by questions and comments, and Veronica takes note of the many paintings in display. Her eyes brighten as she takes in the beauty of the place, and the mood provided by the lighting: the little twinkles that perfectly descend on Laisa. "Did you plan the table too? The chandelier deserves all of my thanks to give me this soaring vision of you, my precious love", she asks, hanging her bag on the chair with a quiet bumping of her phone and a box. At Laisa's comments on the cursed paintings, Veronica gives her a knowing smirk and improvises a curtsy sitting down. "Of course, of course, my dear Miss Laisa. At least if you can stop stealing my breath for a second." She lifts up the glass of ice water and tilts it around, studying deeply the light trapped on the glass surface with deep interest, rotating it by a complete 180°. When the cups of matcha arrive, Veronica briefly snatches Laisa's, kissing the side she would drink from, and immediately gives it back as if nothing happened, making sure it was still facing the right way. She shift a bit in her chair, and leans a bit back, eyes closed to take in the muffled calm, with just the quiet sound of waves at the periphery of her hearing. She opens her eyes against, and looks at Laisa fondly. "I really like it here. The air too is soft, and the silence tickles me just right. There is good care in the presentation of the food too", Veronica replies relaxedly.
Laisa Samuiko	As Laisa starts to settle into the mood, she can feel herself relaxing. Everything is right. Veronica is here. She feels safe and calm. It's a bit of a different atmosphere than what they're used to, but it is a holiday, and Laisa wants to enjoy the moment. On questions regarding her plans, Laisa smiles, "I must admit... I had to reserve it a bit early to even get a seat at all... but yes, I thought this table would be best." After covering her mouth to giggle at the breath stealing comment, Laisa responds, "My love, I would steal every piece of you and hoard it all to myself." Veronica's charm puts her at ease, and the soft smile she gives to her kitten shows it. The Rime Rosary is in her bag, which means it's not close enough to dampen her feelings at all tonight. She used to hold that close to her chest as a defensive ward, but around her girlfriend she feels no such need. Of course, with her guard down, she does not even expect it her favorite phantom thief steals her cup of tea, and then uses it to set up an indirect kiss. Laisa gives her a surprised and confused expression that gradually turns into a pleasant laughter as she realizes what was done. Taking the tea cup into her hands, she makes sure to take a sip on the exact spot where Veronica's lips touched, and gives her kitten a wink while she does so. She places the teacup down on its saucer, making sure to position it carefully so she can remember where Veronica kissed. Kaiseki, being a many-course meal, means that food will be coming and going for the rest of the date. Individual portions are small, but at least 10 courses were promised. That said, menus for such meals tend to not always be very specific, so parts of this meal will be a surprise even for Laisa. She picks up her chopsticks, takes a taro ball between them, and eats it. After savoring the sweet flavor of the appetiser, she looks at her wonderful date and takes another taro ball. Leaning forward, she offers it up to her girlfriend. Around the same time, another plate comes by, sushi made from scallops and softshell crab. The waitstaff wordlessly places it at their table, since the two girls seem to be enjoying each other and they don't want to interrupt.
Veronica Perenna	"Thank you for that, Laisa. The effort was absolutely worth it", Veronica murmurs, taking a bit of the taro that was already available to them. She really has the best ideas, Veronica cannot overstate how much she would be willing to follow her blindly if Laisa asked her that. Even if she couldn't enjoy the warmth of her eyes. But the wait makes the reward all the sweeter. Lifting her chopsticks she makes to take a slice of taro, but a small gap forms between her lips as Laisa beats her to it and offers her first. Catching on quick, she leans forward, taking a small bite directly from the chopsticks and humming. Her eyes widen slightly and she holds back a grin when she gets a sweet taste on her tongue. "Oh, is it for the tea?", she asks, lifting her cup and following it up with a sip of the matcha. "It did look a bit like a sweet potato. Makes sense they would serve it up with matcha." She nibbles at Laisa's taro a bit more and follows that up with a sip again. She stalls on the thought of Laisa stealing and cherishing parts of her, and replies with a mock chiding tone. "I cannot let you do that. I use them for many things, you know? Eyes to admire you, hands to caress your cheeks, legs to walk to you, lips to kiss you... They are irreplacleable to me." The brunette winks to her in turn. Her eyes shine with small numerous sparks, and each shine seems to leap from star to star, multiplying again and again like her joy. That can still only come second to the delight that the purple-haired girl can makes her feel when that pleasant laughter fills the hair between them. She could listen all the time, Veronica thinks, and she just looks fondly as her snowsweet's lips mark that same spot, hiding a smile under the rim of her own cup when she receives a wink, though part of it still peeks above the ceramic. "So you call it kaiseki?", Veronica considers the unknown word curiously. "Is there a specific meaning? We have staggered dishes back home, but we simply call it multi-course. Is it the same thing here?" Watching the arrival of scallop and softshell crab, Veronica's gaze turns amused. "My father changed his tune very quick that time they brought us chicken hearts. I think he swore off surprises from that day on", she shares with a chime. Lifting a piece of crab sushi, she looks at the vegetables mixed with it as if to appraise the quality, and brings it closer to Laisa almost solemnly. "Your turn now, my snowsweet."
Laisa Samuiko	Laisa's heart would be warmed if she knew how much Veronica trusted her. She would hope to prove herself worthy of that trust, not only in terms of sincerity but also reliability. If the food and experience here had somehow failed to live up to expectation, Laisa would have wanted to make up for it somehow, but so far things seem to be going to plan. The two of them are enjoying themselves and all is right in the world. "More or less. Something to whet the appetite," she answers. When Veronica playfully chides her, Laisa giggles. "Well, I agree. Every part of you is quite precious. Your lovely brown hair, your pretty eyes... and all the little kindnesses you do for me, I adore those too." On inquiring about the name, Laisa holds her teacup and considers it for a moment. This is something that she was specifically expected to know, and her mind flashes back to an aunt who gave her a far more detailed history than she wanted to know. She only remembered half of it. The anecdote regarding the chicken heart makes her smile for a moment. "Well... the meaning is... I think it's something that's evolved over time. The kanji for it indicates a stone you keep in a pocket on your bosom, but ''why'' it's called that is something that is something a bit obscure. Some say it has to do with a Zen monks and the kinds of frugal foods they'd eat, but... as you can see it's evolved a bit since then, combining cuisines of tea ceremony, samurai cuisine, Buddhist cuisine and imperial court cuisine." Laisa shrugs, "It's a little bit different than European traditions in terms of food selection, even if it's the same general idea. That said, feel free to leave something on the plate if it doesn't appeal to you. A lot of the time these places will adjust the servings according to what you're enjoying the most, and eating something you don't want might lead to them giving you more of the same." A piece of crab sushi is being offered to her by her kitten, and the sculptor smiles as she leans in to take a bite. It's a large piece of sushi, so it takes her a couple of bites, but as she chews she beams at Veronica with sparkles in her eyes. After a gulp, she coos, "You're always spoiling me, my dear kitten." Of course, Laisa returns the favor, picking up a bit of crab sushi to offer it to Veronica, all too happy to keep spoiling and being spoiled by her. While she's doing this, the next part comes: broth with a mix of vegetables, potato slices, pork and a slice of long onion. She looks down at it and seriously considers if there's a practical way to feed each other that or if they should simply skip that tradition for a course.
Veronica Perenna	Veronica would have hardly held Laisa to such hard values: even if something didn't turn out right, her sweetheart was offering her such a radiant evening that she would never be able to hold it against her. Rather, she is sure that too would have turned into a smile, be it by a joke or some other surprise. But that is a concern that belongs nowhere in the room they are in, almost as if it's keeping out any negative outcome just as well as the sound it's filtering. The compliment turned on her makes Veronica blush happily. "You are so dear...", she murmurs with a cadence that makes the words trail in the air. "Too bad for the table, or I'd have hugged you already." She settles for putting her fingers to her lips instead, sending an air kiss to Laisa. "A bit of appreciation for your lovely warmth." She listens intently as Laisa explains, looking at her with rapt attention. "That sounds interesting, though I am glad it shaped to include all these cuisines, if food for Zen monks could be compared to stones", Veronica notes, offering another piece of sushi to Laisa. She hums appreciatively at her girlfriend's warning. "It works like that so. Thanks, snowsweet. Would be quite rude of me to waste a consideration they are doing me." It's not really that different. When you get down to it, high-class etiquette is mostly the same everywhere, even if the specific flavour might vary by culture. Veronica takes her time with the piece of sushi that is being returned to her, making sure not to drop even a single grain of rice, tasting it happily, and enjoying both the firmness and deliciousness of it at the same time. "I am only doing what comes natural. You make it so easy to be sweet to you. I have just fallen hopelessly, and I don't want to get out", she pledges, and adds a little meow to keep the vibes lighthearted. She stops in her track as the next course arrives, blocked by the same thought at Laisa. There really isn't a way to feed it to each other, short of something impractical like moving over to the other seat. Even if she simply settled for giving Laisa the pork, it would still drip all over the table, and she doesn't want to make such a mess others would have to clean. "Next dish?", she asks with a lilt.
Laisa Samuiko	The thought of holding Veronica, or being held by her, is almost as blissful as the real thing. With a gentle smile, Laisa says, "Perhaps the next time we eat out, we'll arrange the chairs more conveniently. Though we ''could'' move them a bit closer if you'd prefer. I'm sure no one would mind." Then she blows a kiss back at Veronica, enjoying such affection even at this distance." Regarding the name and its history, Laisa shrugs, "I imagine if it stayed that way, we'd be eating something else. Something a bit more French, maybe." Then she notices the offered sushi and leans in for a bite, making happy noises as she devours what her kitten is offering her. This is shaping up to be one of her better ideas, she thinks. When Veronica meows at her she can't help but be charmed by it. "Ah, but it feels so natural to be good to you as well. I can't help but be smitten by how sweet and cute you are. You really are the best, you know." As Laisa reads Veronica's reaction, she smiles a bit sheepishly and shrugs. "Yeah... next dish." She tries to pick up a piece of pork, holds it over the bowl, watches the broth drip down and just... yeah, any attempt to share this like they did with the other courses would be ill advised, and possibly create a mess for both the waitstaff and also all over their nice clothes. Instead, she simply works her way through the bowl and waits for the next thing. It still tastes nice, at least. The next course that comes out is a plate with more appetizers. Small bite sized things, slices of meat or potato, pieces of vegetable or fish cake. All of it, compared to the soup, is more than dry enough for them to feed each other for as long as they prefer. Empty plates are removed to make room. Laisa says, "Thank you," in the brief moment before the waiter leaves. "Of course," he says, taking the plate and leaving the couple to their meal. Laisa takes the fishcake between her chopsticks and offers it to her kitten. "Do you like fishcake?"
Veronica Perenna	Veronica's smile blooms brightly, almost competing with the chandelier, at the notion of rearranging the chairs to be close to each other. "I don't mind at all if we engineer a hug-friendly table" she murmurs playfully, winking at Laisa. Truth be told, she doesn't want to spoil the conversation either, and she is in no hurry to get Laisa to move: being able to share thoughts and feelings is just rewarding. "You make everything taste better," she admits, unabashed. "The way you look when you try it, the fun your words bring out: you are just a delight to spend the time with, no matter if we hug or not... or something else", she says, and tilts her head with a slightly mischievous shine to her eyes. "You are just so good at charming me no matter what you ." "Would you like that?", Veronica asks with twinkling eyes at the turn to different cooking styles. "I have experienced French cuisine many times. I am sure I can find a place that will offer you its best." That would make it her turn to splurge, and her turn to spoil Laisa. Memories as pleasant as these, taking the place of suffocation and rigidity: that's only a fitting end for it all, she thinks with a smile. Her heart flutters: she really is finding herself lovingly caught in this dinner, and the space around them is fostering the conversation in a way that she would never want to forget, she thinks, watching Laisa take care of thanking the waiter for both of them. "Am I really the cute one?", she says, caressing Laisa's cheek, and doing the same with her ear. Her dress's wide sleeves is a big perk, Veronica considers as her fingers softly touch Laisa's ear. A sleight of hand, and she retreats with a rose as red as Laisa's eyes between her fingers. "You are so pretty you have roses growing off of you", she comments warmly, offering the flower to her. "Yes, I do like fish cakes" Veronica replies at once, taking a gentle bite from the offered treat. "The taste is perfectly salty and there is just something faintly sweet there. But the best part is the crispness." She tilts her head, eyes half-closed with affection. "What about you? Do you prefer the meat, the fish, or the potato?", she asks, and swiftly picks up anything her snowsweet states a preference for, offering it to her lips.
Laisa Samuiko	Laisa hums as she thinks about it. As much as she loves being in Veronica's arms, there's also a certain charm to the current mood and situation. She has no doubt they'll have plenty of time to hold each other later, and it's nice to be able to talk, too. The moment they start getting close then Laisa suspects they'll attach like two magnets brought together, and while she would certainly never ''complain'' about that it might overpower everything else they're doing. "Perhaps for dessert," says Laisa with a wink. "We can move closer then, unless we decide we simply can't be apart any longer.." The sculptor is teasing, and she knows, but teasing and waiting can be fun, and it can make it even better when they eventually get to embrace. Upon being told she makes everything taste better, she blinks and then chuckles. It's a flattering thing to hear, but also when she thinks about it she feels the same way. "Honestly, and I'm being very real, your company certainly makes every meal better for me, too. I likely wouldn't be at this table if I wasn't bringing you." The mischievous shine in Veronica's eyes brings a twinkle to Laisa's own. "I truly do enjoy your company. Thank you for letting me have so much of it." As Laisa considers Veronica's offer for a moment, she thinks it over. Her own feelings on the stiffness and rigidity of such places are much the same as her girlfriend's, but she wasn't kidding when she said Veronica makes everything better. Laisa would be lying if she said she wasn't curious about what her girlfriend wants to show her. "I would like that very much. We should do that sometime." Laisa's cheek flushes a little as Veronica touches it. She's not expecting the sleight of hand, which is part of why it's so effective. She playfully gasps and then giggles at the surprise rose, and the compliment along with it. "Ah, I'm going to have to remember that one, you really are so sweet to me." She accepts the rose with a smile, and puts it over her ear like a decoration. "It's very pretty, thank you." Next, Veronica is offering to feed her, and of course Laisa doesn't deny her. "Hm. How about the meat?" she chooses, then leans forward to bite it off of her girlfriend's chopsticks. The next course comes, because of course it does, in the middle of Laisa chewing her food. It's a plate of sashimi with sides of soy sauce and wasabi, all artfully arranged around a square glass plate. There are slices of spanish mackerel and yellowtail fish on the table covered in thinly sliced scallions, as well as a small cluster of soba seeds. Each of the girls gets their own saucer too. Laisa takes hers and puts a bit of sauce in it, then starts mixing in a little wasabi and a bit of the seeds. "Have you tried these before? They taste a lot like the noodles." After a bit of mixing together, she asks, "Ah, I should ask you what your feelings are on wasabi, or spicy foods in general." She pinches a few of the seeds between her chopsticks, shakes them a bit to make sure that they don't drip, and then offers them to Veronica while holding a napkin underneath them (just in case). "Would you like some?"
Veronica Perenna	Veronica's laugh is a soft little bell that seems to hang in the air for several second. The suggestion of saving a closer embrace for dessert makes her eyes light up all over again. "Perhaps," she whispers, conspiratorial and amused. "Or perhaps our chairs will conspire to move themselves first. That works just as well if you ask me." She passes her finger round the rim of her glass, releasing notes in the air as if to punctuate the joke with a small musical ceremony. Even if they started cuddling right there and then, head against head and hand in hand, she would never complain either. "That's good, because I am having so much fun that I wanted to be at this table with you, snowsweet", Veronica confesses. "This is a new experience for me too, and I can only enjoy how you keep enriching my life with new things." She looks deeply in her crimson essence in Laisa's eyes, that seems to duplicate itself on Veronica's face as she studies the twinkle like a beautiful work of art. Veronica's gaze stares at Laisa with affection and love that radiates off of her face like a source of light on its own, and her stomach does a little flip when the sculptor puts the rose above her ear. Good thing that's not enough to upset the food she ate, but she can only be thankful of how bright Laisa looks and how that's a sight she gets to admire directly. She almost forgets the offer she gave Laisa, standing there frozen in space, and when the purple-haired girl brings her back to reality, she blushes deeply, a bit embarassed that she fell into that deep a trance. "Well, have as much as you would like", she says with a small smile, lifting the chopsticks so Laisa has a better angle to eat from .A warm satisfaction loosens inside her chest: seeing Laisa enjoy something offered by her hands is as sweet as the food itself. "You look very good when you try it" she murmurs, watching her with deep admiration, and trying to ignore the heat that still hasn't left her cheeks. At the question about wasabi, Veronica tilts her chin in thought before she reaches for Laisa's offered seeds. She accepts them with an elegant little bow of thanks, and gives a little bite safe in the napkin Laisa has setup to catch any spill. "I know the thing about wasabi," she says, soft and amused. "A whisper of it is lovely, but too much and my mouth forgets how to get along with it." She finishes the offered portion in small bites, and licks the sauce off her lips to finish it off. "Thank you very much, my love."
Laisa Samuiko	Laisa laughs as Veronica mentions that their chairs may move on their own. It's hard not to feel pleasant when her girlfriend is so musical, both in her laughter and in the way she plays with the glass. In truth, they might not last the rest of the meal like this. "Who knows? We keep reaching across the table to each other, so it's only natural our chairs would move as well." She reaches across the table, offering her hand to hold should Veronica take it. It's a good thing that chopsticks are one-handed utensils. Veronica's words are so sweet, and Laisa can't help but be so happy she's here. They really are happy together, and she wouldn't have it any other way. "I'm glad things have gone the way that they have. Especially between us. I'm really lucky we found each other." With a soft smile she adds, "I'm having a lot of fun, too. Being here with you." When she sees Veronica's reaction to her placement of the rose, Laisa isn't sure what it means at first, but as she keep staring back into Veronica's blue eyes she starts getting the feeling that she's being admired. She winks at her girlfriend again as if saying, 'I'm admiring you, as well.' Veronica's compliment during her chewing brings a flush feeling to Laisa's cheeks. She doubts that she will ever hit a point where Veronica's adoration of her stops being sweet and exciting. After she swallows, or more like gulps, she giggles and says, "Oh? You like watching me eat? Honestly... things like that are why I say you're so cute." "I'll try to keep the wasabi at a whisper, then. It's a careful balance, but this is an evening for delicate touches," says Laisa with a soft smile. The next course is wagyu beef with a raw egg in a small bowl to the side. Laisa looks at it for a moment before considering. "''This''... is something that might be difficult, if you haven't acquired the taste for it. Have you had raw egg before?" She cracks the egg, empties its contents into the bowl, and then takes a new pair of chopsticks (in case Veronica doesn't like it) and starts mixing the yolk with the white. When she's done she takes a bit of the beef, dips it into the egg like a sauce, waits for the dripping to slow and then eats it. She slides the bowl closer to Veronica and says, "This might also be too messy to feed each other with. You can try it if you like, but if it doesn't appeal don't worry about it. A lot of westerners don't seem to like this, and the beef is just fine on its own." She seems curious about how much Veronica's time in Japan has influenced her tastes, but she really doesn't want her to feel pressured or forced into something that seems too weird. The standards for food quality regarding eggs is a bit higher in Japan than elsewhere, so Laisa's confident in its safety, but she values her girlfriend's comfort levels as well.
Veronica Perenna	The freezing and sudden embarassment quickly disappear under the light of the joyous atmosphere, and Veronica is quick to take the offered hand, smiling widely as she intertwines her fingers with Laisa's. They really are bad at being normal around each other, but Veronica enjoys being open around her beloved, and showing everything she feels deeply, at least when she isn't forgetting to keep trading her the little bites like they have been doing so far. What does it say about her that the situation has become so mesmerising that she had to be brought back to reality? "Give yourself more credit, my dear", Veronica whispers softly. "''You'' found me, and it's still the most precious thing to happen to me." She stares at her with half-lidded eyes, pressing her hand a little bit more closely, and her heart starts fluttering a lot more rapidly when Laisa responda with that wink of mutual admiration. "I am only being honest. If that makes me cute, then I happily accept the compliment. I would accept anything you want to give me, because nobody makes me feel as happy as you do." She stares closely, and indeed, she starts moving closer to Laisa, chair and all, quietly pressing her face cheek against cheek with a happy hum. Veronica looks interested when Laisa starts preparing the next part of the meal. She has been trying a lot of things ever since she got to Japan, and she has definitely expanded her tastes ever since she got here, but she has never had tried dipping beef in egg. But even back home she has heard of people drinking it raw, from the shell too, so it's high time she tried it out. The smell of raw egg and beef don't seem to be at a disagreement to her nose, at least, and she does want to see where it would lead her. Veronica carefully lifts the beef with her chopsticks, and dips it in the bowl Laisa has prepared, waiting patiently for the dripping to settle, listening patiently to each little plop, and once it has all crawled to a stop, she lifts it into her mouth, and starts chewing. She takes her time with it, pushing it here and there, but it feels amenable to her. The brunette finally swallows and looks happily at Laisa. "It's nice, I like it. Thank you for showing me, Laisa."
Laisa Samuiko	Any time Veronica is mesmerized or placed in any sort of blissful state, Laisa considers that a victory. It's nice knowing that she can make her beloved happy. As they hold hands, Laisa squeezes Veronica's. While it's true that they aren't always able to keep their calm around each other, she can't help but feel it's only because they're so good to each other. A healthy relationship is nothing to be ashamed of. Laisa playfully giggles and says, "Well, I may have made the first move, but you were always charming my dear. I can't think of a single time in which you weren't at least being heroic or kind." When she notices her girlfriend's half-lidded eyes, she starts to get butterflies in her stomach. Of course, the whole plan was to share a good meal with Veronica, so Laisa can't really say she's ''surprised'' that it's going as well as it is, but in some ways its a bit reassuring. Even if they've both had haute cuisine in some form or other, this is a new thing for them to do as a couple and a bit of a far cry from the dates they've had before. Even if some things are the same, such as the way they share food. "If being honest makes you cute, then that just means you are actually as adorable as you seem. In fact, I know you are." Then Veronica starts moving, and well... Laisa can't help but feel a bit of anticipation from that, too. Now they are sitting side by side, and she leans against Veronica. Just like she thought, Laisa can't resist her girlfriend's attraction. "You make me happy, too. In ways that no one else can." Laisa watches Veronica eat the beef and egg in suspense, hoping that her girlfriend would like it. Veronica trusts her so much, and the last thing Laisa would want to do is betray it even on accident. Fortunately it seems to go well, and Laisa smiles at her kitten. "I'm glad you do. I'm really happy you came here with me, and that I could share this with you." The next dish comes out, and it's a plate of grilled tempura with lime and salt to the side. "Ah, here we go. The promised shrimp." Laisa takes the lime slice and squeezes it over the pile of salt, then takes one of the tempura between her chopsticks and dips it into the mixture. Offering up to her beloved, who is now sitting much closer, the sculptor coos, "Care for some shrimp, my dear?"
Veronica Perenna	Veronica's matching giggle comes soon after Laisa's, and she leans closely, savouring their proximity rather than the food. She has been trying her best, and she wants it to last as long as she can. Hopefully forever, if she can fix everything without the situation exploding. She doesn't want to be anyone other than the heroic and kind companion Laisa sees, and it's not too much longer now, when she will able to deserve both Laisa and the friends she has made here. "Thank you, Laisa, that means a lot to me", she replies quietly, lifting their intertwined hands to kiss Laisa's palm. But she stops thinking about that. This date is so blissful, she doesn't have to dwell on anything else, only on the affection Laisa is showing her, and the little flutters her heart makes at her beloved's presence. She sighs happily when Laisa leans on her, and there is a bit of a quiet rumble around her heart and rising up her throat accompanying the spreading beats. "I wouldn't want to make you unhappy for anything in the world. You are my winter wonderland, if you allow me the cheesiness." She looks happily at the next dish, and repeats in agreement. "The promised shrimp. Easily the best part. The seafood taste, the lime, and the crunchiness... I can't think of a better combination." She hums and opens her mouth carefully around the shrimp Laisa is offering her, biting half of it off and swallowing happily. Instead of taking her own however to offer her girlfriend, she goes back for the other half, and traps it between her lips, turning her head to her beloved and giving her a peck on the lips to let her take it.
Laisa Samuiko	With things such as they are, Laisa really can't see anything going wrong. Rough times might come and go, but right now she's with her kitten and she can't possibly imagine wanting to be anywhere else. The distance between them has closed, and while it certainly changes the nature of the situation she pretty much already knew that sitting across from each other wasn't going to last. Maybe next time she'll have them arrange it so that they're side by side from the start. It feels nice to have her palm kissed by Veronica. It's almost regal in a way, which suits the elegant atmosphere around them. Laisa sits up straight to kiss the temple of Veronica's head before nuzzling against her cheek. "Ah, your cheesiness is encouraged here my kitten. I love that part of you too. I wouldn't want to upset or displease you, either. You're the brightest star in my sky." Then, with a smile, she adds, "If you'll allow me to be cheesy as well." Laisa watches with no small amount of bliss as Veronica eats half the shrimp, enjoying the meal almost vicariously through seeing her beloved enjoy it. Then when her girlfriend holds it between her lips and draws closer, Laisa happily parts her own lips and accepts the kiss. She holds it for a moment before drawing it in and chewing it. It's good that such places are typically designed to provide each table with a certain amount of privacy. It adds to the cozy atmosphere and the general romantic mood that they have going on right now. Once she's done with the shrimp she giggles and says, "Ah, you have some of the best ideas. Especially when you're in a cuddly mood. Well, all the time really, but ''especially'' now." The next course is meant to be a palette cleanser. Various vegetables and roots soaked in vinegar. The meal is about two thirds through, with only a few courses remaining, which is just as well since it seems like the girls might be getting distracted by each other's affections. Laisa takes a bit of celery and nibbles a bit, then holds it between her teeth as an offering to Veronica. The corners of her lips curl into a smile, because of course she's having a good time right now.
Veronica Perenna	Veronica sneaks a glance at Laisa as she eats her half of the shrimp. With the chairs no longer pretending to keep them apart, she settles into the new closeness as though it had always been the intended arrangement. Maybe it will start this way next time, maybe it won't, but both gradually closing in the distance and starting out close offer great appeal to Veronica's spirit, so there is nothing that could ever make her dissatisfied. There is a subtle shift in her posture now: less composed, more inclined, more conspiratorial. Laisa's nuzzle earns a soft intake of breath and a pleased hum, and Veronica tilts her head enough to make the temple kiss easier to grant, gently caressing the back of her beloved's head at the same time. She starts nuzzling too, matching her tempo with that of Laisa, taking in gentleness of the gesture like the most precious treasure. "You make it very easy to be in a cuddly mood", Veronica comments joyfully. "You inspire all the best parts of my life, and I love nobody as much as you." The brightest star in Laisa's sky... She certainly likes that, and she wants to keep shining at Laisa, and gift her with all the warmth this star has to offer. "The sky is terribly fortunate, then" she replies, voice low and luminous, fingers smoothing lightly along Laisa's wrist before settling again unhurried. "To be witness to our love, is there any greater privilege?" Her eyes sparkle with the jest, and she leans in to kiss Laisa's cheek this time. "And you may be as indulgently cheesy as you wish. Giving or receiving, I have a taste for it." The shared shrimp lingers as a warmth rather than a flavor now: the kiss that delivered it has eclipsed everything else. Veronica's lashes lower for a heartbeat longer than necessary when Laisa accepts it, savoring the quiet boldness of the gesture. "Perfect dining technique", she gently utters when Laisa repeats the gesture with the celery, and nibbles it all the way to Laisa's kiss, slowly, deliberately holding back to nurture the anticipation of the moment. When she finally reaches the end, she closes her her eyes and holds the kiss, her free hand holding onto Laisa's chair to maintain the balance.