A Train Bound for Nowhere [Active]

[notquitedracula.livejournal.com]

Character(s): Soma Cruz, Mina Hakuba
Content: Departure
Setting: Paixao Central Station
Time: Mid evening
Warnings: None

As they stood waiting for the train, Soma reflected that the hostess of the hotel he had been staying in could have been more helpful. Apparently, for whatever reason, there had not been another room they could rent to Mina that was in any way near to Soma's own; rather than argue, they had decided to try their luck elsewhere.

And so they stood, waiting for that train. They didn't know where they would start looking, or even if they would opt for hotel rooms or an apartment. But the parting words from the clerk in charge of the hotel had been less than nice, and it was only Mina's presence that kept Soma from making a new door to walk out through. That would have been a mistake.

"I wonder how Hammer and Arikado are doing, back home..." he wondered aloud, glancing toward Mina. "You think they'd like it here?"

Comments

[owns-soma.livejournal.com]

Mina hadn't minded the hostess and the manager being difficult-- that was their job, after all. She'd thought of her earlier comparison of the city to a machine, then let things happen as they were going to happen. Soma had been more than angry enough for the both of them.

There were other hotels. One of them was bound to have two rooms together-- at least on the same floor.

"Wha-?" The question brought her out of her reverie. "Oh... Mister Hammer is tough, he'll have managed without us-- though with you not around, he's probably had no one to talk about weapons with," she answered. "Arikado... he keeps himself to himself. That's the way he does things."

Abruptly, she turned her head, and a second later the approaching rumble of a train became audible.

[notquitedracula.livejournal.com]

Soma glanced in the direction of the approaching train. "Yeah, I know. I can't help wondering though. And... Well, I kind of miss them." He had been here for almost a year, and for the majority of it, he had been alone. Mina's arrival and departure the first time had been a curse hidden in a blessing... but this time, it was different. He didn't know how, exactly, but...

"Mina... I've been thinking," he said after a few moments more, as the train pulled into the station. "We've been friends as long as I can remember. Have you ever considered..." At about that point, the train's rumble was too loud for further words; the pause in his flow gave Soma one last moment to consider his thoughts, and his words. He had faced down demons without blinking... but one question, it seemed, was enough to give him the shakes.

It didn't take long for the train to quiet down enough for the rest, and when it did, Soma closed his eyes and muttered a quick prayer for strength. Kneeling, he looked up at Mina with one hand behind his back. "Mina Hakuba, it's taken me a long time... but... I love you. Will you marry me?" That said, he presented the ring he had bought only a day before. It seemed to be made of pure crystal, a remarkably clear and bright gem. Even in this city of magpies, it had set him back a small fortune. The shopkeeper had told him a few things about it that made it all the more precious; it was bound with a powerful protective charm. He didn't intend for her ever to -need- it, but... better safe than sorry. That curse could come back to haunt them at any time.

[owns-soma.livejournal.com]

This was... a surprise. To put it mildly. Mina opened and closed her mouth a few times without anything to say. Were this a movie or one of the romantic novels that girls her age loved to read, she would have shouted something like "Yes of course!" and jumped on him in excitement, but the most she could manage was a squeaked "... hai?!"

She didn't miss the ring, of course-- she could feel the protective charm on it, even stronger than the talisman she'd given Soma. Even dreamy little Paixao hadn't taken the paranoid edge off of their friendship-turned-romance, and Mina hoped that whatever else the future held didn't, either. It was too important. He was too important.

"Hai," she said again, then remembered her English. "Yes. Yes, I will marry you." She fought the urge to blush and lost, right as the train doors opened and half a dozen passengers, who had seen Soma kneel and guessed what was going on, cheered.

[notquitedracula.livejournal.com]

Soma didn't bother fighting his own blush, but he was smiling as he slipped the ring onto Mina's finger. "Chances are we're both going to have to go through quite a bit more before it's all said and done. I've already been through hell and back twice for the love of you... And I'd do it all again."

Standing, he gave Mina that familiar smile. "I have no idea what to do beyond this. It's about as far as I've ever gotten in my wildest dreams," he admitted. "But, I'm glad that whatever it is, we'll face it together."

[owns-soma.livejournal.com]

Mina grinned sheepishly back and held onto Soma's hand. "I hope you don't have to do any going through hell again," she said. "And... I don't really know what to do either, but I do think boarding the train would be a good start. Shall we?"

[notquitedracula.livejournal.com]

Hand in hand - and both likely blushing like mad - they boarded the train, with Soma playing the part of the gentleman to perfection.

All along the way, Soma wondered what the others would think, if they knew. Did they know? -Could- they know? He suspected they might.