[SCENE] JA in the city

[xmagma.livejournal.com]

(Hope it's okay I'm posting this, Crys. I'm pretty sure you were right when you said we should have posted this alrrready. hahah)



Amara fingered the scarf around her neck absentmindedly, locks of her hair being blown into her face by a cold, winter breeze as she and Julian walked down a New York City block. He had advised against her trademark walking backwards while they were on the sidewalk, so she took to walking beside him, he leading the way knowingly.


She looked to him with a smile, which he didn’t seem to notice, and she groped for his hand, threading her fingers through his once she found it. “The concert was amazing, Jules,” she moved closer to him as she spoke, body pressed against his as they walked. “Thank you.”

He looked back to her with a crooked smile, squeezing her hand. "Anything for you, princess," he responded, looking back to maneuver them through the thick throng of Times Square.

It wasn't until they'd passed the huge glimmering Planet Hollywood sign that they were able to slow down and breathe in the cold nipping air, Julian's hand untangling from hers to wrap around her waist. Their exhales were cloudy, noses and cheeks red. They exchanged smiles that prompted content flushes, Amara looking to the sidewalk, the corner of her mouth stretching further when he leaned in to kiss her cheek.

"So I was thinking," he started, "do you want something to eat or your other present first?"

One of her eyebrows stretched upward, features looking up to his. "Other present?" she began questioningly. "Jules... you didn't have to get me anything, let alone something else."

He scoffed and pulled her against a store front, its insides still decorated with bright lights and "Happy Holidays!" signs. "Don't be ridiculous, sweetheart," he said with a smirk, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a blue box. Even though the tone of his voice was carefully careless, his eyes were riveted to her face, watching her reaction.

"Jules, you don't be ridiculous," she stared at the box with a pause, eyes blinking up to his. "Whatever it is, I can't accept," she argued, gloved fingers drumming over the glass window she was leaning against.

"Open it," he pushed, ignoring her words. She gave him a look and he offered it again, voice in a sing-song. "I can't take it back now. You might as well enjoy it."

Amara pursed her lips defiantly, but took the small box anyhow, giving him a disbelieving glance before looking to the blue object. She sighed a reserved sigh and tilted the top of the box open, slowly revealing the glitter of gold and diamonds. She couldn't close it back quickly enough before she shoved the box back to him. "No," she started, eyes meeting his. "It's beautiful, but I can't."

His face fell and he held up his hands, the box hitting his chest. "Yes, you can."

"No," she drawled out, the tone sounding silly coming from her lips. "I can't. Give it to charity, use the money it cost you to feed the homeless, something." She paused, pushing the box further to him, and his demeanor didn't falter. "You're crazy, Jules."

He sighed, lips twitching at her suggestions. Then he licked his lips, the wheels in his brain turning before he took the box back and opened it himself, the sparkle of gold and diamonds catching her eye. She pressed her lips together and looked away, up into the tall buildings and dark sky, inhaling sharply. "Come on," he said softly, reaching for her hand, fingers playing with hers. "I picked it out for you. At least put it on..."

She brought her eyes back to his, sighing out a visible breath, and nodded. Satisfied, Julian smirked and took the bracelet between his fingers, closing the box and tucking it under his arm as he did so. He undid the clasp as she held out her arm, eyes still holding his, and he wrapped the piece of jewelry around her wrist. Amara's eyes immediately locked to her wrist once his hands had pulled back, blinking, surprised.

"Like it?" He whispered, stepping closer, one hand reaching to rest on her hip.

Her eyes fluttered and met his, lips pursed. "No," she replied firmly, but still with a reassuring smile.

A grin spread across his face and he leaned in to kiss her soundly, arms wrapping tight around her waist, her body lifted up to her toes. The small box fell and Amara leaned back at the cluttering sound.

"You'll need that when you return it," she said, and Julian spun them around, turning his back to the encasement, his laugh low.

"M'not returning it," he said simply, kissing her again.

Her fingers moved to touch his jaw and she pulled back again, fabric scratching at his skin. "Yes, you are," she retorted and brushed her nose against his while her fingers worked to take off the bracelet, not succeeding quickly.

"No, I'm not," he argued, letting her heels touch the floor, smiling lips brushing against hers. "You like it and I want you to have it."

"You're impossible," she whispered, sighing onto his skin, pressing against him, and her fingers played with his at his sides.

"Thanks," he quipped. He caught her lips with a content sigh before pulling away again.

She took a step back, fingers still holding his. "That wasn't a compliment, Jules." Amara grinned and took a step back to him, coming closer, whispering. "Now can you work your magic and get this off my wrist? The clasp doesn't like cooperating." She raised her eyebrows, smiling lips pressing to his cheek.

"Only if you promise me you'll keep it." He bumped his nose against hers, wrapping his arms around her, their clasped hands touching against her back.

Narrowed eyes stared into his, a corner of her mouth upturning. "Fine, okay, I promise," she assured him.

"You swear?" He teased.

"Maybe."

He tipped his chin down, cyan eyes dancing. "Swear it."

She raised an eyebrow and frowned jokingly. "I said 'maybe'. That should be good enough for you; it's better than a 'no'."

"A 'yes' is better than a 'maybe', though, beautiful," he nodded knowingly, still smiling. He breathed in and freed her hands, one of his own resting between her shoulders and the other moving to brush a few windswept strands from her face. "I'm not asking you to wear it every day. Just to keep it," he said softly, simper growing. "And wear it sometimes."

"Hm." She pursed her lips again and watched him, fingers playing between them with the bottom of his coat. "Okay, I swear," she promised, not quite smiling.

"Why don't you want to keep it?" He asked, voice grudging, thumb smoothing the line of her dropping smile.

"You know why, Julian," she replied, voice still only a whisper, and she looked between them fleetingly, eyes again catching the gold.

His reply caught in his throat and he cleared it, eyes dropping between them for a moment before flicking his gaze back to hers. "It really wasn't that much," he said ruefully. "And I thought..." He trailed off, the red in his cheeks only partly because of the cold. "I wanted to get you something that..." He sighed and let out a small chuckle; Amara never thought she had witnessed him so inarticulate, so nervous. "...just something that let you know how serious I am about you. Because of... everything."

Her brows bunched a bit. "You don't have to buy me, Julian," she stated incredulously, continuing, "which is what everyone will think."

"I'm not trying to buy you," he said hastily, pinching his lips together, shifting slightly, eyes suddenly troubled. "I know I have you... I don't care what anyone else thinks just because I bought you a bracelet."

"Well I do," she started harshly, "and this isn't just a bracelet. This is a very expensive, diamond bracelet, Julian," her voice softened a little. "It's just not going to look well."

He let out an annoyed sound and looked off to the side, his jaw tightening. "Why do you care so much about what everyone else thinks? I get--" He sighed. "I get keeping us under the radar right now because it's nobody else's business." He looked back to her, cyan eyes probing. "What I give you and why I give it to you is none of their business, either."

"You don't think," she began questioningly and paused when a brisk wind blew across them and the other passing pedestrians. "You don't think that it will look bad? You don't care if people say -- just... if they say terrible things about us, you won't care?" Her words were frustrated, but her eyes were kind, and one of her hands moved to rest on one of his arms.

"No," he said, the word firm and blunt. "I don't care."

"Why not?" she pressed. "You're aware of what they're already saying about me -- us. Just imagine what they'll say if they hear that I have a piece of jewelry that looks like this from you," she dragged her wrist upward, gesturing toward the bracelet.

"I know what they'll say," he scowled. "And I don't care because they're wrong, Amara. I know why I gave that to you and you know why I gave it to you. That's all that counts."

Her features softened further, hands dropping to his, sighing out a breath softly. "Okay," she agreed. "I want to keep it," she paused, her eyes thoroughly searching his gaze. "I swear, Jules."

His defensive stance hesitated and he blinked, brows furrowing. After a short moment his lips tugged in an almost-smile and he pulled her closer. "Okay," he conceded, forehead resting against hers.

She leaned against him completely, weight pressing into him, and her upturned lips met his, tongue searching for his as her hands moved up to rest on both sides of his jaw. Amara pulled back after another moment and he craned his neck toward her as she did, her words interrupting him, glove-encased fingers testing his skin. "I love you."

He paused, pressing his lips together as a grin threatened to touch them. "I love you too," he murmured, and then closed the space between them.

Julian wrapped his arms around her waist and one of her hands traveled behind his neck before she pulled back, her other set of fingers running her thumb across his jawline. "So, you said something about getting something to eat?" she asked, her forehead pressing against his.

"Yeah," he smiled. "What are you in the mood for?"

"Um," she hummed, contemplating aimlessly before continuing enthusiastically, "pizza."

He laughed and took her hand, merging with the walking New Yorkers and tourists. "Okay, let's have pizza."

---
And I figured I'd include the picture of the bracelet that Crystal showed me that Julian'd be giving...