Yes. Coins. I could barely even afford rent before I moved into the garrison.
[ And by barely, he does mean that he couldn't afford it at all. Just in case that was unclear.
He moves the necklace around her and clasps it, before coming around in front. It's a long, beaded thing, hanging well below her collar and settling in the centre of her chest. He nods. ]
Perfect. It looks good on you, but I knew it would.
[ She lets her hair down and reaches up to touch the necklace as it settles on her chest. She smiles back up at him before giving him another, tight hug.
Finally she lets him go. If he's paying attention, Koroleva lying curled in her corner may even be glowing a little more. And Alina might be blushing slightly. ]
I love it. It's perfect, d'Artagnan. [ She bounces back and goes for her supply box now, opening it to pull out some of the things. She's digging, but finally she finds what she's looking for and turns back to d'Artagnan.
She holds out the red wine for him before handing him the silver and blue ring she bought for him. ]
I hope you like it. I'm not good at fashion at all... I was just hoping it would work for you.
[ She holds out the wine, and he's already smiling while he reaches for it. The ring is unexpected. He freezes, looking between it and her, and then brings his hand up to touch it. ]
Blue. It's your colour.
[ The smile flickers back. No one has bought him anything like this before. He doesn't own jewellery. But he puts it on now, on the second finger of his right hand. It's tight, so he transfers it to the third one, which is perfect. ]
I love it. Thank you, Alina. I can't believe you did that.
[ That’s another surprise, but it makes him smile, and tip his head towards her.
I’d like that. Selena’s food was all right, but I like home cooking better.
[ He moves back to sit on her bed, beside the cloak he’d laid there, and that’s when he notices Koroleva. She’s very bright. Her glow is eye-catching, and the only reason he’d not seen it sooner was because he had his back to her. He frowns. ]
Is she all right? I’ve not seen her look so blue as that.
no subject
[ And by barely, he does mean that he couldn't afford it at all. Just in case that was unclear.
He moves the necklace around her and clasps it, before coming around in front. It's a long, beaded thing, hanging well below her collar and settling in the centre of her chest. He nods. ]
Perfect. It looks good on you, but I knew it would.
no subject
Finally she lets him go. If he's paying attention, Koroleva lying curled in her corner may even be glowing a little more. And Alina might be blushing slightly. ]
I love it. It's perfect, d'Artagnan. [ She bounces back and goes for her supply box now, opening it to pull out some of the things. She's digging, but finally she finds what she's looking for and turns back to d'Artagnan.
She holds out the red wine for him before handing him the silver and blue ring she bought for him. ]
I hope you like it. I'm not good at fashion at all... I was just hoping it would work for you.
no subject
Blue. It's your colour.
[ The smile flickers back. No one has bought him anything like this before. He doesn't own jewellery. But he puts it on now, on the second finger of his right hand. It's tight, so he transfers it to the third one, which is perfect. ]
I love it. Thank you, Alina. I can't believe you did that.
no subject
And maybe it is her color.
But she turns around and gets out the potatoes. She looks a little chagrinned now. ]
I was going to surprise you one night, but I'm bad with surprises.
I want to cook for you. Stew, like you've been making for me.
no subject
But no, okay. That makes sense. He comes close to her, looking down into the box and seeing the other ingredients there. ]
Bourgignon? Really?
[ He raises the wine bottle she'd given him. ]
Well then, we can share this when you do.
You know you didn't have to do all this.
no subject
I know I didn't have to. I just kept seeing things I wanted for you. [ She shrugs again before looking up at him. ]
Thank you. For your gifts. I really do love them.
no subject
You're welcome.
[ He holds up his hand, turning it to show off his ring. ]
Thank you for yours. You do know I'll never take it off.
no subject
We both got each other something blue. [ She laughs. ] Blue is becoming an obsession, I think. Blue team, blue keftas, blue cloak, blue ring...
no subject
[ He's back in his Green Team uniform today. Things feel back to normal on the ship, even though they'd been on Selena only hours ago.
Despite saying that, though, d'Artagnan, reaches to squeeze her hand. ]
But it's your colour. I'm proud to wear that. I've never had a ring before, that's all. I love it.
no subject
And she leans in to kiss his cheek. ]
I'm glad.
I think I'll try making dinner for you tonight, too. For once.
no subject
I’d like that. Selena’s food was all right, but I like home cooking better.
[ He moves back to sit on her bed, beside the cloak he’d laid there, and that’s when he notices Koroleva. She’s very bright. Her glow is eye-catching, and the only reason he’d not seen it sooner was because he had his back to her. He frowns. ]
Is she all right? I’ve not seen her look so blue as that.
no subject
Then her cheeks burn slightly. ]
Her glowing is tied to her emotions. The stronger the emotion, the brighter the glow.
[ She pauses, wondering if she should tell him the other part. ] She can also feel my emotions.
no subject
[ Well, that's a surprise. D'Artagnan isn't sure what to say at first. Then he looks at Alina, seeing the colour on her cheeks.
He doesn't want her to be embarrassed. So he smiles. ]
Are you telling me she's blushing? You should tell her she has no need. Being shy around me is ridiculous.
[ He nods towards her crate. ]
Do you want me to help? With the cooking.
no subject
She's just going back to working on getting things together and putting them out. ]
Sometimes it's impossible to help around you....
[ Then he offers to help and she smacks his hand away. ]
No!
I said the point was for me to cook for you. It's not me cooking for you if you're helping.
no subject
All right! All right, I'm only offering. Can I at least help you carry everything to the kitchens? I promise not to do any of the actual work.
[ He smiles at her, raising a pair of hopeful eyebrows. Please? ]
no subject
Then he raises and eyebrow and she sighs and nods her head. ]
All right. You can only help with the carrying.
no subject
Okay, good. Load me up.