"Love-Stricken Stammerings" - A Collection of Moments

[Ever]

Ever: I...I did it...

The thought resonated in the still of the night, just outside the newly discovered raid building, the sound of firing bullets and yelling voices drifting on the soft, cold air. She'd heard the whisper of such a building, and had to look for herself, to see if it really existed. But why she had been so compelled to go was what held her there the most.

It wasn't that she liked killing, opting to do it when necessary above all else. So, why did she go to a raid where the sole objective is to kill anything that stands in your way, thereby obtaining the key cards to keep going up until you've taken out the boss and won?

For Daniel.

On its own, it sounds like a psychotic reason that one would see on a show profiling serial killers. “I did it for him,” she'd heard numerous times before, which always left her a little wary of saying such aloud to anyone. Yet, there was no way around it. She'd done it for him and was proud of herself for achieving her feat. It wasn't that she felt the gangsters and enforcers were threats; Far from it, in fact. But this building, this haven for the vampires to come and test their limits, was a controlled environment...A place where guns blazed, swords clashed, and blood was shed.

A place where she could really, truly get over her fear in a controlled environment. There were no cops to break it up, to shoot at her the moment they caught sight. None of the other vampires cared she were in there, save for Daniel. It was a place to re-acclimate herself with the world, as violent as it was. No, when she heard the sound of gunshots, she didn't jump, barely flinched. She didn't see the cops' guns blazing whenever she closed her eyes.

She didn't feel like she was about to break, that each breath she drew was going to be her last.

Daniel had been coaxing her back into the world after her mental breakdown, had been there through every step of it, had been the rock that held her together. But this she had to do on her own. She had to prove it to herself that she could be the girl he remembered, could be the girl he needed.

And she did. Sure, she didn't make it to the top floor, but she made it. Accomplishment welled up in her, a smile pulling at her lips at the realization that she'd be fine, that she could be a partner for Daniel, and not a detriment.

I did it.

Feeling the urge to celebrate, given this success, she wanted to do something for him, to thank him for getting her back out in the world, for being the strength she so desperately drew from. As he'd wanted to do something with her when she was whole again, when she could handle it, she figured this would be the best time. Careful to keep her thoughts to herself, as she wasn't quite sure how telepathy worked and if her thoughts broadcast as loudly as she thought they did, she started making for the romantic spot she had in mind.

“Daniel, where are you? I miss you,” she sent him on her phone, stopping off into a shop when a few things caught her eye for the plans she had in store.


Daniel: Daniel had decided to try his luck at this “raid” thing he had heard about while he attempted to improve his skill against the other undead. Truth be told Daniel was rather disappointed in himself, in the sheer lack of skill that he had when it came to physical violence. Granted Daniel had never been one for violence to begin with, as he preferred to use his words to settle something rather than his fists. Still, he had thought he was at least somewhat capable of defending himself. Turns out, he could barely do that, and if he could not protect himself, how was he supposed to protect Ever?

Not that he thought that he had to protect her or be one of those guys who did not think his love could not defend herself. It was more, that in this world numbers mattered and he wanted to be able to have Ever’s back if she needed it.

The raid had gone pretty much as he had expected, save that he did manage to surprise himself a bit, so that by the time he had enough he felt a bit better about himself. That done the only thing he wished to do for the evening was to spend it with Ever, so it was with phone in hand that he received her text just as he unlocked his phone.

For a moment he just looked at her name, her messaged and smiled. He had never thought this would happen to him, this being in love thing. Never thought anyone would want to even entertain the idea let alone to actually end up in a relationship. Now, here he was all smiling like a love struck puppy at the text from his girlfriend, because she missed him and it made him feel loved and wanted. The smile was still on his face when he hit send to call her, when he heard her voice the smile got even bigger.

“You know, I had my phone out and was just about to text you when you text me?” he said as he looked down at the ground and scuffed his boot in the loose gravel. “Cause…well, I missed you too…” he said softly. “I’m out in front of some dojo, I can meet you anywhere at all though.”

Ever: Excitement. Anxious nerves.

Those were the two things that Ever felt at the plan she had brewing in her head. Now that she was able to move about in the world without fear that she would instantly get shot, she saw a plethora of options, ways to occupy her time and perhaps make Daniel happy. She wanted to make it up to him, to show him gratitude for everything he'd done.

What better way than a romantic picnic of sorts? Even if they couldn't actually eat, she figured they could still have the set up the same.

Slipping into a general store, she went immediately for the candle section. A vague idea of the set up she wanted, she grabbed every size candle she could find, enlisting the help of one of the workers to carry them all. It was while she was paying for them that her phone went off, nearly causing her to jump. Her eyes widened as a phantom heartbeat moved through her, jumping at the sight of his name before she finally answered.

“Hey,” came her voice, sweet with the sound of a smile in their soft tones. Taking a moment to listen to what he said, she tried to figure out what excuse she could use to get him where she wanted him. “Well, there's something I want to do...But it's a surprise...” A light laugh resounded through the phone as her nerves got the better of her, before she pressed forward. “I need a little time, though...Meet me by the docks in Coastside in an hour? I want it all to be perfect...”

Daniel: Surprise. That word had Daniel's mind wanting to ask a thousand questions, though he held his tongue. "I will grab a shower and stuff to eat up some time. Umm....should I wear anything special? Or....need me to bring anything?" he questioned not sure how such social protocol worked in this situation.

Ever: Her teeth nibbled on her lower lip as she listened to his quiet stammers, almost able to feel the curiosity in their words. Should he wear anything special? she wondered, absentmindedly. Anything he wears looks good...Hmm... “If you want to, bring your favorite book? And...maybe wear something a little nicer, though it's really not necessary, since I love everything you wear...” Ever finally answered, though the blush that crept up into her cheeks didn't go unnoticed, her eyes widening tenfold as a hand idly touched down on the burning skin. “Jeans will be fine...Maybe a button up shirt? I'm not picky.”

Daniel: Daniel nodded, then spoke as he realized that she could not see the nod. "Alright. See you in an hour," the smile in his voice was easy to hear as he waited a moment, then said. "I love you, Ever."

Ever: “I love you too,” she replied, hanging up before she let it slip what the surprise was.

It took ages to get everything back to the docks where she wanted them. As she'd been on the complete opposite side of town, she was lugging bag after bag, arms completely weighed down with the sheer amount of wax and fabric she'd picked up to make their night perfect. Thankfully, along the way she met up with a gentleman who'd offered his assistance, the sight of her carrying all the bags and hobbling along leaving him feeling a bit guilty. And, since she was on a deadline, she gladly accepted.

Once they'd reached the docks with the last of the bags, she set him to work hanging some sheer chiffon from the surrounding trees, creating a see-through canopy of sorts. It continued along the dock, held up by poles added to the abandoned dock. Each piece hung down, the breeze carrying it through, creating a wavy mystique about the place.

While he did that, she added candles along a trail, starting from the road and working toward the dock itself. Though the candles were different sizes, she didn't care; The light they cast flickered off of the surroundings, a soft light to mingle with the harsh light of the moon falling over everything. Flower petals were scattered here or there, though not a great many as there was already natural foliage remnants on the ground, dry leaves fluttering by and about the trail.

And, when the candles reached the dock, they spread out about the edges, these ones encased in glass fixtures so the moving chiffon wouldn't catch. More of them were around so that the light would be bright enough for the potential reading she thought could happen. The only other piece that was on the outer edge was a cd player, light, classical music comprised mainly of violins and pianos, played softly in the background.

In the center of the makeshift room she'd crafted, there were pillows and blankets to lay on and snuggle under. Given the way the wind was blowing and how chilly it felt, the weather going so far as to spit a few snowflakes here or there, she figured it would be safer to have them. Her favorite book lay on one of the pillows, along with a book of poetry, before she checked the time. Thanking the man for his services and giving him some money as a thank you, she led him out, darting into the brush to change into the light green dress she'd bought, changing her shoes as well and fastening her hair up.

Now, all there was to do was wait. Looking about her while she knelt on one of the pillows, she hoped he liked it, beginning to second guess herself. Maybe it's too girly... came a self-defeatist thought. Maybe he won't like it. Maybe I should have done something else...What if he just up and leaves because it's not what he wanted? Maybe I'm putting too much pressure on him with this? Glancing at her phone again, the time showing the hour was up, she looked down the trail, silently praying she'd made the right choice.

Daniel: Daniel grumbled, as he could not check himself in the mirror, his palms rubbed up and down on his pants in the old habit to wipe away the sweat, even if now there was none. “Ok…just a simple date, nothing different now….we have done this before….I really wish that I could actually see myself in the mirror!” he growled as he ran his hands through his short hair for the thousandth time.

Ok…ok…just take a deep breath Daniel and calm down. Last thing she said to you was that she loved you. Calm down. Remember that she loves you and is doing something to surprise you. What if the surprise is her breaking up with me?....Enough of that!

That final mental shake was enough to get him out of the door and heading out to the shop to get something for her. While yes, she had said not to bring anything save for his favorite book that did not stop him from going to the shop and get her something. There was a brief moment of browsing, but then he and his selections were out the door and heading to the dock. The walk there felt so long, Daniel worried that she would not like what he wore of the gifts that he got her. Concerned over the thousand things that he could have done or get to make this night better for her.

As he neared the docks, it was the faint sound of music that caught his attention first, soon followed by the soft flicker of the candles that crafted a path. With an awestruck look he followed, minding his footing as he went, least he be prone to one of his tripping moments. Every which way, he looked Daniel was more and more floored by what she had done, what she had done for him. It was as if he were walking down a path and into another world. A world just for them, it was almost like a fairy tale.

Just like most fairy tales, they had a princess, Daniel thought as he finally landed his eyes on Ever. Kneeling there amongst the pillows in the elegant room that she had crafted, it was nearly as beautiful as her. Nearly.

The smile crept to his lips slowly as he approached, his eyes following her movements as she stood to greet him. When they were at last before one another Daniel could not help but look upon her with all the love and devotion that he had. She was beyond beautiful; she was stunning, she was amazing, breathtaking and several other words that would never do her the justice that she deserved.

“Wow…” he said softly, far less poetic than he would have wished, but at the moment that was all that he could think of.
Then it was a somewhat nervous and shy gesture as he presented her with her first gift. A bouquet of flowers.

Ever: She almost convinced herself that he wasn't going to show, eyes continually looking at her phone for the time. Even if only a few seconds had gone by, it felt like hours. What if he doesn't show up? her mind asked for the hundredth time. What if he's changed his mind about me? What if he doesn't love me anymore? What if I'm not what he was looking for? What if it's taken me too long to be alright again? What i-

Her final thought cut off as her eyes looked up and saw his form breaking through the dark, the candle's gentle glow making him somehow even more handsome than he already was. She rose, hands smoothing over her dress, equal parts nerves gesture and conscious effort to keep her dress from fluttering.

He came, she thought, her smile growing exponentially as he drew closer, using every ounce of effort not to throw herself into his arms when the gap finally closed. His single utterance had that blush creeping into her cheeks, even if not as vibrant as the first time around, eyes widening as her lips parted in surprise. Turning her focus on the flowers to give her mind a break, to get her blush under control, she accepted them, inhaling their sweet scent as her eyes drifted closed for a moment.

“They're gorgeous, Daniel,” she thanked him before allowing her eyes to rove back over him. “Not nearly as gorgeous as you...In the most masculine way possible, not to say that gorgeous isn't a masculine term, because it can be! And you're beautiful! Though, I meant it as...” Letting out a nervous laugh and shaking her head, letting her eyes drop as that blush grew deeper, she focused on his shoes. “This isn't too much, is it? I realized after I set it up that it may be too girly a date...”

Daniel: Daniel shook his head, his hand coming up to guide her eyes back up to his own. "It is perfect," the hand moved from his chin to brush back a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Just like you," he whispered to her with complete confidence and sincerity. He smiled and hand waiting there along the side of her face, staring into her eyes as he could think of nothing else he would rather do at the moment. Well, there was one thing. Slowly he leaned down, noting the change in height do to her heels, which made a small smile twinge at the corners of his mouth, before his lips pressed lightly against her own. His eyes fluttered closed when contact was made, as he wished to savor this moment.

Ever: His words were almost too sweet, the touch of his hand only heightening the weight of the words in her heart. He was always so gentle, so touching, knowing just what to say even if some may have seen it as corny. Gaze locked onto his own, her breath hitched as he leaned in, feeling her eyes naturally drifting shut the closer he got and then...heaven.

Each kiss they shared was sweeter than the last. The hand that had been holding the flowers, lightly dropped them onto a pillow somewhere near her so that she could feel him. Hands sliding up his chest, she braced there, and swearing she felt her heart beat for a split second. Her foot slowly floated away, like the rest of her threatened to as she continued to kiss him back, enjoying the moment, the romantic way it unfolded, almost wishing it'd not stop.

You don't want him to think you're only after one thing, she reminded herself, the chaste slipping in unwanted in the back of her mind. If you're constantly trying to get more, he'll think you some sort of slut...or worse...a Nymphomaniac. Cool it...

With a bit of a mental sigh, she forced herself to pull back to look at him again, hovering just over his lips with her own for a long, drawn out delicious moment. Her smile had faded a bit to a more faint one, one that told of the momentary battle she'd just fought in her head, even if it remained genuine, though it retained a more Mona Lisa-like quality. “I'm glad you like it,” she whispered, almost afraid to break the moment more than she already have. “Do you want to...to sit?”

Daniel: As whenever their lips met, he felt that urge and desire for more. To taste, touch and feel every ounce of her body. His free hand wrapped about her waist to hold her against him, while the kiss deepened. Just as a moan began to creep from his lips, his inner self kicked in to stop him from taking it too far. Easy there…easy….don’t want her to think that is all that you want...Every time you two kiss it always turns into more or at least the thought of more. Even if it has been some time, that is not an excuse to just do that the first chance you get. Take it slow, show her you enjoy her company as much as we know that you do. Don’t want to be that guy.

With reluctance Daniel pulled back from the kiss, though like her he lingered in that delicious closeness that just the barest movement back toward her and the kiss would begin again.
Did he want to sit? He asked himself for a moment, as he tried to not think about the lingering sensation of her lips against his own.

“Yeah…I would like to sit…” his tone a bit more breathy than he had wished for it to sound.

Ever: His breathless tone just made her want to dive back into the kiss, to throw caution to the wind and take his lips with her own once more. But she refrained, even if everything in her body was screaming for her to kiss him, to take that next step. Glancing down at the floor, and then back up at him, she smiled a small, hesitant smile before she stepped back, allowing her hands to drop.

Lowering herself to the floor was a slow task, given she had to make sure her dress remained as it needed to, ankles crossed, moving the flowers to the side so she could get situated on a pillow. “So...” she started, trying to change the topic so that she could focus once he sat down. “What book did you bring?”

Daniel: Daniel’s eyes could not be dragged from her, as he watched her lower herself back to the ground. With far less grace and more of a hurried action, Daniel lowered himself down onto the blankets and pillows beside her. There he sat like a deer in headlights, practically awestruck by her beauty and how much effort she had put into this for him. This made him a bit slow to respond when she asked him about the book.

“What…book?” he asked confusion on his face before realization hit and he began to fumble with his inside jacket pockets. “I brought….I brought….hold on…I know that I put it in here somewhere…” In the nervous and jerky motions of his actions, he caused a small gift box to tumble free from his pocket and onto the blankets between them. If he could have he would have blushed a bright red, but instead he just looked up from the box to her and then back to the box.

“I um…well….I had wanted to give this to you in a more romantic fashion, but it makes no point to put it up. I mean you have already seen it, so to put it up now would just seem silly and ruin when I took it out later, it would be like some unspoken weight between us. And I would be constantly thinking about it and would not be able to focus on everything else that you have done or how amazing you look or….”Daniel sighed as he picked up the box.

“I saw this today and thought of you…,” he said softly as he opened the box, and held it out for her to see.

Ever: His almost jerky movements had a giggle welling up in her throat, though she was able to bite it back, not wanting him to think she was making fun of him. As he fumbled for his book, a box fell free of his pocket, her eyes immediately falling to it. For what felt like a long, awkward moment, they just stared at the box, a sort of silence descending on them, despite the music playing in the background.

Even as he started to ramble in that cute way he always did, she could have waited to find out what it was; It wouldn't have mattered to her, as she was patient, and truly didn't think she was deserving of such kindness and thoughtful gifts. Taking the box from him with a curious look, she opened it and her mouth instantly dropped open, eyes widening as her head declined a bit in pure shock. Looking back up at him and then back down at it, she gaped. “I...Daniel it's...” She couldn't even manage a full sentence, leaning in to give him a long, sweet, soft kiss. Had it not been for her previous thoughts about how she didn't want to appear slutty, she'd have kept it going.

Forcing herself to pull away, she cleared her throat, eyes dropping again before holding it up to him. “Would you mind...helping me put it on?” Her voice was breathless, but she didn't care. All that mattered right then was him.

Daniel: The look on her face, spoke volumes to him and then she was leaning in and kissing him. Another kiss that had Daniel wanting more, his arms wrapping about her to hold her against him as a small moan managed to slip by before she broke the embrace. Daniel, found himself leaning toward her in an effort to prolong it for as long as possible. The breathless tone she had would have certainly matched his own had he the voice to speak. As it was he merely nodded and took the necklace from the box. When she turned her back to him he carefully draped it over her and fastened it at her neck, his fingers lightly dancing across her shoulders before he withdrew them.

Ever: Had she not needed to turn around for him to help her with the necklace, she'd have leaned back into him, would have picked the kiss back up and willed it to continue for as long as possible. But, as she now had the opportunity to look away from him, to focus pointedly on other areas, she could breathe a little easier. His touch skimming across her shoulders drew a shiver up her spine, goosebumps forming along her skin as she looked back at him with a shy smile. As if on cue, her body turned around without her consent, fingers feeling at the cool of the necklace now adorning her neck.

“How does it look?” Ever asked, eyes looking down at it before hesitantly back up at him, teeth pulling at the inner of her lower lip nervously. “Does it look alright?”

Daniel: Daniel had been looking at her eyes, studying her face, lingering on her lips and how much he wanted to kiss them again. The question again was slow to sink in as he forced himself to drag away from her lips and focus on her necklace instead. Though that did not really help, as his eyes focus on the slow rise and fall of her chest, how the fabric of the material caught at her body with each breath. How the necklace dipped so perfectly, right down her....

Daniel was quick to look away as he began to stammer, "I um...you uh...it looks beautiful. Really accentuates your body, though your does not need it, not that I was staring at you or anything. I don't want to do that," his eyes wide his face snapped back to look into her eyes. "Not THAT I DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT YOU! Or that I don't want you, because I do! I really do! Though that is not all that I want from you!" he took a slow calming breath. "Oh god...kill me now...." he muttered under his breath as he looked down at his hands.

Ever: She hadn't even thought of where she was asking him to look, of what she was asking of him, but the way his eyes slipped down from her lips to her chest, and his instant stammering, she felt embarrassed. How did I not think of that?! Ever thought, angrily berating herself. You're trying not to come off as a slut and you're asking him to stare at your chest! But, the way he reacted, it had a burning taking hold of her, had her breath become nonexistent as she held that breath she'd only just inhaled.

“Don't even joke,” Ever quietly replied, finding her eyes back on his as they'd slipped in her discomfort. “I know you want to look at me...just like I do you...I always want to look at you, and you looking at me makes me feel...beautiful. Like I'm the most beautiful girl in the world...” A small smile returned to her lips, faint in her embarrassment, but still there, her hand creeping toward his face as her fingers brushed lightly across his cheek. “And I know you don't just want...that from me...but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want that from you...I want that from you nearly constantly...I want you, Daniel...”

Taking his hand, she pulled it toward her, resting it against her chest, where her heart would have been, not even thinking of how she had him holding her. “If my heart still beat, you'd feel it jumping every time you were near me, every time you kissed me...looked at me...and when you touch me...It'd beat out of my chest...You don't need to be embarrassed about admitting it...Even if I'm a little embarrassed myself, but I...I love hearing that from you. I love hearing you stammering when you get nervous; I love the way your eyes glimmer with that nervous excitement. I love the way I can envision the blush that would creep into your cheeks when you're being candid...I just love you, Daniel; There's no need to hide anything from me... My heart, my mind, my body...it's yours as long as you'll have me.”

Daniel: Daniel could not even begin to express the feelings that she was causing within him. Never before in his life, had he ever had someone care for him the way that Ever did. Hearing her proclaim that she love him and she was for as long as he would have her, there were no words that could even begin to express how he was feeling at this moment.

Tears began to well in his eyes only to roll down his cheeks, as he looked into her eyes. “Ever…I …I don’t know…what to say…” he began in his usual bit to stammer. “I love you just does not seem enough. Even if I shouted it from the tallest building that I could find it would not seem enough to convey how I feel about you,” the more he spoke of her, the greater his confidence grew. Even to the point where he did not, notice the tears that were rolling steadily down his face, though a smile remained fixed on his lips.

“I love you so much Ever and to me you are the most beautiful girl in the world. There are none that can even come close to comparing to how beautiful you are to me and I am not just speaking of looks. I do not know for sure if I have a soul anymore, or if any of the other vampires do, but I do know that you have one. You have one of the kindness and most caring souls that I think could ever exist. You saved me that night when I first woke up in this world. Kept me from losing my mind, kept me from trying to take my own life, you showed me that if this world could have you in it. Someone so pure of heart and kindness, then maybe…just maybe it was worth living.”

At the end of his little speech, he lowered his face, removing a kerchief from his pocket to wipe at the tears. “And here I am crying and stuff…,” he smiled as he said it. “Hope you don’t think less of me for this, your words just meant a lot to me…” he shrugged and continued to wipe his face.

Ever:T-Tears? He's...crying? Maybe I shouldn't have opened my mouth... Ever thought dejectedly as the huge droplets started rolling down his cheeks. Though, as the moment continued, she didn't regret what she said. He seemed happy, genuinely happy with what she said, and all her fears were alleviated. Where there had been doubt, she felt relief and joy, her own eyes watering at his speech, a few spilling over.

“Think less of you?” she finally choked out over the lump in her throat that had inconveniently logged in her flood of emotion. “I think more of you...” A hand reached up to take the kerchief from his hand, wiping the tears away for him, a light caress. “A man who can actually show emotion, who can admit when he's moved and not hold something so beautiful inside...I could never think less of you for that...”

Leaning in, her own tears forgotten, she kissed away one of his, a tear that had managed to almost escape the cloth before trailing a few more soft ones toward his lips. Hovering a breath away from his a moment longer, her eyes locked on his, the smile still capturing her features and glowing in their depths, savoring that moment of closeness before she couldn't hold it any longer and closed the gap between them.