thecapitol | and then it's down on one knee

Entry tags:

and then it's down on one knee

Who| Cullen Rutherford and Adella Trevelyan
What| This goober is proposing to his girlfriend.
Where| A fancy restaurant in the Capitol.
When| Not long after the end of the mini-arena.
Warnings/Notes| EXXXXXXTREME SCHMOOP.

If there's one thing Cullen is good at when it comes to his personal life, it's second-guessing himself. It's far too soon to be thinking about this. Even if it wasn't, this isn't the right time or place for it. All of this is true, and yet, and yet.

What's also true is that there might not be a better time to do it. Much as Cullen will insist to anyone who asks that they will find a way home, he knows they might not. He knows they may all die here, as dangerous as this place is, and does he want to die without having done this? Without having at least asked -

The restaurant is one of the more expensive places in the city. Most people have to wait months for a reservation, but when he explained who he was, and what he wanted to do - and that he would be willing to represent them in advertising in exchange - they gave him a private dining room for the evening. The ring he acquired, a strange weight in the pocket of his new suit (both also acquired in exchange for a sponsorship agreement). He's sure he's going about this all the wrong way, and yet -

Well, at this point, it's both something he wants to do, and a kind of necessity. Much as he hates to admit it, gaining public sympathy for his relationship with Adella could mean the difference between life and death for them both. Especially after so many others from their world are continually disappearing. The more public they are, the more the public likes them, the more likely they are to stay alive. Right?

Right.

So he waits for her to arrive, fidgeting a little with the cuffs of his suit. This, at least, fits him well. And they're - more or less - private, here, instead of in a room full of strangers. If nothing else, he needs this night to be special. For her. She deserves nothing less than the best.

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Considering most of their meals lately have consisted of things cooked for themselves, Adella is a little confused by Cullen's invitation out. She's also unsure about him meeting her there, "dressed nice." In the past before money was suddenly and unexpectedly tight, they usually walked together, enjoying the company.

When she arrives at the restaurant her concern mounts a little, the place clearly one where money talked. She's been doing well enough to scrape together funds, and she's dressed in one of the outfits that she received as part of her commission through one sponsor, a blue dress a little more modern than she's used to but she's quickly becoming accustomed to the styles of the Capitol. Cullen, however, she doesn't know how he could be affording a place like this.

That concern just intensifies as she is led, not to a table in the general dining area, but to a private room. Though when her eyes settle on him, dressed up and looking nervous she can't help but smile.

"You always look just a little bit off when you aren't wearing armor."

Edited 2015-08-30 03:13 (UTC)

Even as she arrives, looking amazing (as always), Cullen is wondering if this is the right thing to do - to make their relationship into a kind of public spectacle that they hadn't even had to deal with back home. Even as the Inquisitor, they could still manage to keep their personal affairs private, for the most part, but in order to do this here, it can't be a secret.

Cullen hates inviting comment on his private affairs, but needs must.

Instead of saying any of that, however, he just smiles faintly, and pulls out her chair for her. "And you just look beautiful, like always," he replies, honestly. Nailed it.

"I hope you don't mind me springing all this on you, it's - just an idea I had."

Just.

She exhales through her nose, still smiling as she walks towards him, pausing to give him a kiss hello before moving to sit in the offered chair.

"I don't mind, though I'm curious how you're affording it." Adella isn't always known for her tact, especially where Cullen is concerned.

He relaxes a little, and shrugs at her question as he sits across from her. The nervousness doesn't dissipate, even as a waiter enters, with a bottle of wine and some little appetizers.

"Oh, I agreed to advertise for them," Cullen says. "The restaurant wants more... attention. When in Orlais..."

That makes her raise her eyebrows, and she can't help the slight smirk that touches her lips.

"Really? I didn't expect you to start playing along with this opportunity," she stresses the word, masking the one she'd rather use. In public Adella had been trying to be the picture of someone who was embracing her new life. Despite embarrassing losses in the Arena.

"I suppose a nice night out is a change from what we've been doing. Thank you."

"It's not just about this -" Cullen waves a hand vaguely about the room. "It's about - keeping you safer. Keeping us both safer, in the arenas. With so many people just... not coming back, I -"

Someone had told him something, that he didn't quite know what to make of at the time but he now thinks he's beginning to understand it better - you need to stay relevant.

"I'll do what's necessary to help us survive," he finishes with a gentle shrug.

Her smile softens and she reaches across the table for his hand.

"I know. I just... didn't entirely expect you to go off making deals without me. I'm proud of you." He might be a surprisingly brilliant strategist, but there had been times when she was very glad that they'd had Josephine at their disposal, when it came to diplomatic matters. Cullen's ideas of 'throw some soldiers at it' didn't always help things.

"I know - I'm not always the best at charming people, I suppose," Cullen admits with a sheepish sort of smile. Except Adella, maybe. But she's different.

"Oh, here we are."

There's no ordering off a menu tonight - the chef made their meal special, some sort of fancy steak thing with a sauce and - other rich foods. Cullen isn't sure about all of it, gourmet dining isn't his area of expertise. There's also nice, crusty bread, and Cullen pours them each a glass of wine.

The smell of all the rich food makes Adella's mouth water, and reminds her how different meals have been since starting to have to fend for herself. Even fare at Haven had been better than some of her attempts at cooking. Before she digs in however she pauses to look at Cullen, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.

"Are you sure this isn't too much? I can't imagine the kind of deal you must have worked out with the restaurant for this."

"I promise, it's fine," Cullen says with a smile, gesturing at the food. "Dig in. Really, I didn't do anything drastic to get this."

Mostly it's the restaurant assuming business will increase just due to the fact that they will be 'the restaurant Cullen chose to propose to Adella in'. The publicity from that alone will likely make up the cost of the dinner. "Tell me how you like it - I'm sure the chef will want to know if you do."

She stares at him for a moment longer, as if trying to figure him out, before the smell and her empty stomach get the best of her and she sighs, shrugging her shoulders.

"All right, then." trying not to look too eager she picks up her utensils and cuts into the steak. She's gone at the first bite, and any reservations she has disappear. "Maker this is good. I almost forgot what decent food tastes like."

He smiles, pleased that she's pleased, frankly. She deserves so much better than the universe keeps giving her. She deserves every good thing imaginable. Unfortunately, all Cullen can do is this, for the moment.

"Good," he says simply, taking his time with his own food. It's - well, he's preoccupied. He knows he should try to make small talk, discuss silly things, but his mind keeps going to the words he's been mulling over for so long. Are they the right words? Will she understand why he's doing this now, instead of waiting for a better, safer moment? What if he says something wrong, or doesn't do it the way she would want?

Maker, he knows he's overthinking this again.

"You, uh, look really nice," he says, rubbing at the back of his neck. "I said that already, didn't I?"

Despite the heavenly food, her gaze keeps shifting to Cullen. She can't quite figure out what's going on his mind, which isn't entirely usual. Over their time together she's gotten better at guessing his intentions, but right now he's acting like he's incredibly nervous about something. Given everything that's happened recently, she's worried it might be something serious.

Giving him a small smile as he nervously compliments her, she inclines her head. "You did. Not that I mind hearing it again, but- Cullen are you sure you're all right? You're acting... Strange."

"I'm fine," Cullen says quickly, almost hastily. "I promise. I just - wanted to do something special for you, because -"

He reaches across the table for her hand. "Bloody hell, this is harder than I thought. I know how bad the timing is, and where we are is far from ideal, but -"

Maker's balls, man, just spit it out!

"Marry me?"

The look on Adella's face is one of frozen bemusement as she attempts to process what Cullen just asked. Of course, she'd thought about it. For the first time since she'd been taken away to the Circle, it was something she wanted. Especially after those dreams they'd shared. Still, to mull it over, and then hear the question actually worded aloud, those were two very different things. So after what likely seems like an impossibly long stretch of silence but is only a few moments she blinks, her mouth moving soundlessly for a moment before she finds her voice.

"I'm... I'm sorry, could you repeat that? I don't think I heard you right."

Fumbling, he pulls the ring out of his pocket - the box is small, enclosed in some velvet-like fabric. The ring inside is much gaudier than he might've gone for, but the jeweler insisted. "I - I don't care where we are. Or how bad the situation gets. We're stronger together, and I'm asking if you'll be my wife, Adella."

She slowly smiles, focused more on his face than the ring in the box. It doesn't particularly matter to her what it looks like, it could have been a scrap of twine for all it mattered. What mattered were the words. I'm asking if you'll be my wife.

"Yes," she replies, without hesitation. "Yes, I will."

That one word - Yes - fills him with a kind of effervescent joy he's rarely experienced. Suddenly, he feels like he could take on the entirety of Panem, and win.

"You will," he hears himself say, in a small and awed sort of tone. This - amazing, remarkable, wondrous woman, who is so kind, patient, caring, funny - she loves him, and she will be his wife.

His smile gets wider as he reaches for her hand again, giving it a squeeze. "You will."

She lets out a laugh, squeezing his hand back and reaching with her other hand to touch his face, delivering a light swat to his cheek before soothing it with her palm.

"Of course I will. You bring out the best in me, and after that dream? There's nothing I want more in any world." It was a little terrifying a thought, to go beyond mere want and almost edging into needing someone else. Fortunately she's had time to come to peace with that. He's worth it, in her mind.

That dream. It had really put this in mind for him, too. What his life has become, what he wants now, as different as it is from what he wanted as a child, from what he thought his life would be.

But he also never imagined he would meet anyone like Adella. Ever. Everything is worth it, for her.

"It was a nice dream," he points out, still grinning absurdly at her from across the table.

She drops her hand from his cheek, to grasp his hand with both of hers, her smile widening.

"You know how we live in the Circle. You know I never expected..." she lets out a small breath, shrugging her shoulders. "But it's something worth fighting for. I realize that, now."

"Neither did I," he admits with a faint smile. He knows it's not the same for him as for her - but it's still true. A wife, a future with someone he loves - for the longest time he simply didn't think himself capable, or deserving.

Part of him still doesn't, but that doesn't mean he won't try.

"You are worth - everything I can give, and more," he says.

It's probably a small thing to some people, that another considers them worthwhile but for Adella it means so much. Most of her life was built around pushing others away because she'd been tossed out like garbage when she'd been deemed not good enough to be part of the Trevelyan family. Cullen was-is everything she needed that she never knew she wanted.

Not being able to resist the urge she stands from her seat and moves around the table to slide into his lap. Before she's even fully situated herself she presses her mouth to his, kissing him firmly.

"I love you," she whispers against his lips after breaking away.

"I love you, too," he murmurs, his arms going around her tightly. He doesn't even care that the staff can spy on them - this moment is theirs, just for them. In a few days, everyone in the Capitol will know, and no doubt it'll be bedlam at that point, but for right now, it's just this. Just her.

"I guess that means I did it right?" he says, smiling faintly against her lips.

"You could have proposed in the kitchens with a bit of rope tied in a hoop and I would have said yes," she replies, her smile widening as she shifts to lean her forehead against his, stroking her fingers along his cheeks. "This is wonderful, though."

"You deserve something special," he says immediately. "You deserve - everything."

As happy as she's made him, if he can make her even the tiniest bit happy in return, he's going to try.

She rarely feels like she's actually deserving of the praise and affection that Cullen gives. He's a remarkable man and she spends a good deal of time wondering how it is she got so lucky, to find someone so good. Tonight, though, it doesn't matter to her. Because he asked her to marry him. He's made it very clear she's the one he wants, forever.

"So, I'm not an expert at this, but I do believe you're supposed to put the ring on my finger at some point." She hadn't actually given the ring much of a look, but she's realizing that he likely had to drum up a lot of Sponsorly support to put together this evening, so they might be expecting a bit of a show. "No rush, though."

"Am I?" Cullen smiles, gently taking her hand and kissing her palm. Then he slips the ring on her finger. "How's that? Acceptable?"

This place isn't ideal, but he wants her to know that she - she is perfect. She is everything he wants, for the rest of his life, no matter what world they're in.

The smile that spreads across her face as he slides the ring onto her finger has less to do with the jewelry itself than it does the man doing it. She holds tight to his hand, leaning in to kiss him again.

"Perfect. Though I think it'll be considered a weapon in the Arena."

"I wouldn't want you taking it into the arena, anyway," he points out between kisses. "Best leave it here, somewhere safe."

It's not even the expense, it's just the symbol of it. He wouldn't want her to lose it. His arms wrap tightly around her, as though if he just holds her close enough, he can keep her safe.

"Though, a ring that doubles as a weapon might not be such a bad idea."

"I think that would be considered an unfair advantage," she replies gently, the slightest amusement in her tone. Really the idea that they have any kind of even playing field seems a myth. She would likely only consider herself Cullen's equal in combat if she had full use of her magic, and that went for many of the other warriors as well.

"I have my coin, though. I wouldn't want to leave that behind."

Cullen nods, breathing in her scent, as familiar as ever even in this strange place. "I'm not sure it's been doing you much good here, but I wouldn't want you to lose that, either."

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and then it's down on one knee

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