TIME WARP: Hand in Hand (Estelle)

[Estelle Flores]

Estelle smiled at him, wide and crooked with affection. “Thanks.” She said, suddenly very shy. Almost as shy as they had been in the beginning of their relationship, years ago. It was sort of a soft-focused, inexplicable thing, and Estelle didn’t know what to make of it. She could tell Henry was nervous about something. He thought she couldn’t tell, she was sure, but she had learned how to read his face.

“You’re welcome to. It’s a whole universe reboot, but I think Aquaman had a good run of it.” She offered vaguely, still watching his expression carefully. Now she was extra curious about what he was keeping to himself.

But at Henry’s slightly inappropriate grin, Estelle couldn’t help but quirk an eyebrow in an attempt to be flirtatious. Which usually had hilarious results. “You know I will.” She replied.

Estelle tilted her head, watching Henry pick up the plates. Her brows furrowed slightly in concern. She hoped everything was all right. “Sure, go ahead. You can ask me anything.”

[Henry Ballo]

Oh dear. Now suddenly she seemed shy. Had he led on to something? Had he made her think she’d done something wrong? He really hoped not. That was the last thing he would’ve wanted.

“Aquaman?” He looked surprised. He’d always thought that Aquaman was, well, silly. He dressed like a mermaid, and although Henry defined himself as fairly loose in terms of defining masculinity…well…fish scales were pushing it. “Hm. I shall have to try it, then.”

Henry’s grin widened, and he chuckled softly. “Indeed.” He leaned in to kiss her gently before he continued to clean up.

He really hoped he could ask her anything. While his back was turned, he curled his hands into the counter, then released, breathing slowly out. He could do this. “Okay,” he said slowly. He fetched the box out of his pocket and turned to her. He vaguely recalled that Americans liked for this to be done on one knee. He supposed that way he could be eye-to-eye with her for once. So after a moment of hesitation, he did so, and then offered her a faintly sheepish, but sincere smile.

“Ah, Estelle…I…” He cleared his throat, desperately hoping he could make some sense out of this. “I am aware that this is somewhat…corny. But. We have been together for some time, and I…” He shrugged, almost helplessly, but his smile was wider now. “I like you. Actually, I love you. And I would be…truly honored if you would—would agree to be my wife. And we could have…all sorts of food adventures and work in the bookstore and…” He trailed off, watching her somewhat anxiously, then remembered that there was supposed to be a ring involved and fetched the box, opening it to reveal a blue stone set in an intricate gold band that looked rather like a ring from the Lord of the Rings. “And, ah, this would be for you,” he added, quietly. It was not the most eloquent of proposals, but give him some slack. Expressing emotions has never been his strong suit.

[Estelle Flores]

Estelle waited patiently as Henry cleaned up the plates. She would usually offer to help, but Henry clearly needed to take a moment to…tell her something. She didn’t want to consider the options because she always ended up misinterpreting the situation. So she kept her hands in her lap and tried not to look too nervous. What if something was wrong? What if he was breaking up with her? Oh dammit, she was considering all the awful options…

So when Henry got down on one knee, she was completely taken by surprise. Her eyes flew open wide and one hand fluttered to her open mouth.

As Henry stumbled through the most…the most Henry proposal Estelle had ever heard, her vision began to mist over with tears. I like you? Really? For a proposal? It was so ridiculous and charming and awkward that Estelle started to laugh, and then when he showed her the engagement ring, and how it looked so much like Vilya from Lord of the Rings, she started to cry. Frantically, because she just knew Henry would get the wrong idea, she tried to get ahold of herself, nodding frantically through her laughter and tears.

“You ridiculous man.” She laughed, wiping at the tears running down her face. “Of course I will. I would love to. I love you.” She pushed out of her chair and threw her arms around him, almost knocking them both to the floor.

[Henry Ballo]

Crying was the right reaction for this kind of thing, right? He wasn’t sure he knew. She’d cried at the ring, which either meant that she had enjoyed it, or she hated it and she was going to throw him out right then and he had no idea what he’d do--

But she was nodding now, and even though his heart felt like it was lodged somewhere in his throat, he was smiling again because she’d said yes. She’d said yes! He felt like hopping, except that was undignified, and Henry hadn’t quite let himself go that much yet. He started as she leapt off the chair to hug him, barely catching his balance before he wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tightly, but not too tight, because the last thing he wanted, especially now, was to hurt her. But God, this felt…wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.

“I love you too,” he murmured into her ear, still holding her tight to him. He pulled away so he could kiss her—properly this time—then, as they parted, held up the ring with a solemn look, even though his eyes were sparkling.

“May I?”

[Estelle Flores]

Estelle was fighting a losing battle, trying to get her emotions in check. She was just so blissfully, achingly happy. And she hadn't been this happy ever in her life, but it made complete sense that it would be Henry who would make her so happy. "Oh my gosh," Estelle laughed into Henry's shoulder, "we're gonna get married." They would have to start doing some serious planning soon. Who to invite, when it would be, how to afford it...but right now, Estelle was mostly concerned with giving Henry the tightest hug she could muster. She returned his kiss with enthusiasm, unable to keep from smiling even then.

When Henry pulled away and held up the ring, Estelle nodded, laughing and giddy with excitement. "Of course." He took her hand and slid the ring on. It shone from her finger. "It's perfect," Estelle laughed, "everything is perfect."

[ooc: WRAPPED AUGH ILU <3]