Per Jenny's demands, Aelia went home and took it easy with a nice soak in the tub and the interesting ritual sims went through with thin masks and cucumbers.
She wasn't entirely sure the purpose of such things, but it felt nice and perhaps that's all that mattered.
The next day, Pascal arrived at Aelia's house to check up on her, looking rather anxious.
"Oh, thank the Watcher... how are you feeling?" Pascal asked as soon as Aelia opened the door.
"Oh! my physical health is at nominal levels, you have my gratitude." She smiled, gesturing further into her home, "Come in!"
Once inside, Pascal snagged her into a hug, she had always just assumed that was an oddity of Jenny but come to find out sims were just very 'huggy' individuals... and she quite enjoyed that about them.
"So are you sure you're fine?" Pascal questioned again.
"I am, do not worry." Aelia assured.
"Don't worry?! I -" Pascal gulped and averted his gaze, "...It was just scary, seeing you collapse... what sort of horrible thing is down there?"
Aelia grimaced, "I am not sure. But the mother, I do not think she is 'horrible' she is in captivity."
Pascal pursed his lips, "The one creating all the plants? Watcher... what are the Beakers up to?" He shook his head with a sigh, "But, Jenny told you to relax today, right?" Pascal exclaimed, "You should take it easy, just in case... no going off to the lab today."
Aelia chuckled softly, "I will not go to the lab, Jenny has not acquired the hazmat suit yet."
At Pascal's look she added with another laugh, "I wasn't going to even if I had it!"
Pascal squinted at her but broke into a smile, "Good."
"Oh! What did you call me for yesterday? Do you require help with lab work?" Aelia questioned.
Pascal's face heated up and he shrugged sheepishly, "I uhm, was actually going to...ask if you wanted to go out to eat. With me. Together."
Aelia's own cheeks reddened. which was a lot better than her whole body glowing. "I would enjoy that." She replies with a smile.
Pascal took her too a quaint little diner down by the water.
"This place has the best root beer floats." Pascal grinned and Aelia's eyes lit up, "Floating beverages? That sounds amazing!"
Pascal's cheeks coloured and he stifled a twitterpated chuckle, "Yeah... they're pretty great." He replied with a dreamy smile. "It's uh, not actually floating, it's just soda with ice cream floating in it, hence the name."
Aelia nods with interest, "Iced cream... yes, of course."
"It's a- you know, it'll be easier to explain when you see it."
Meanwhile, not too far away...
Circe Beaker peered around the wall, a listening device trained on the two lovebirds. She knew they were up to something, she just had to find out what.
Unfortunately for Circe, Aelia was on strict orders from Jenny not to think about the strange mystery for the day.
"Oh, it's cold!" Aelia chirped with wide eyes, "It's so sweet!"
Pascal forgot his meal for the moment, watching Aelia try a root beer float for the first time with a dopey smile on his face. "Is it good?"
"It's marvelous! We should go here more often." Aelia smiled happily.
"You'd like to go on more dates?" Pascal asked hopefully.
"This is a date?" Aelia paused momentarily, he could not have meant the dried fruit so he must have meant... "A romantic outing?"
The state of Pascal's reddened face told Aeila that she had said that last part aloud. "Uhm! Yes, if- If you want it to be."
"Of course!" Aelia replied quickly, her own cheeks gaining colour and she tried to take a few breaths to keep the glow to just her face. "I'd like that, very much."
"Well, after we eat, the theatre is right next door..." Pascal suggested, trailing off.
"I have never been to the theatre, lets go!" Aelia chimed.
After they ate, the two headed down to the local theatre, an old black and white western was playing and it seemed as though they were the only ones going to see that particular film.
Aelia seemed intrigued by the film and every so often would have quiet questions, "There is no colour, why is this?"
"This is an old movie, they didn't have coloured film back then."
"Is this an autobiography?"
"Huh? No, no, this is fiction, it's just a story."
"Why is that man wearing a very tall hat?"
"He's a chef and- you know, I don't know why they wear those hats."
Halfway through the film, Pascal decided to take his brother Lazlo's advice, feigning a yawn, he stretched out beside Aelia who gave him a questioning smile,
"Are your energy reserves running low?"
"No, uh, I Just wanted to..." Pascal stumbled out his words as Aelia slid her gaze towards his hand on her shoulder.
"Embrace me?"
"Hah.. something like that."
"Sorry if I was too forward-" Pascal starts but Aelia's smile grew.
"No, I enjoy this, and I enjoy spending time with you."
The movie was almost forgotten as the two looked longingly into each others eyes and all too soon the lights started to come on, indicating the credits had started rolling.
"Hey, I have one more place I want to take you tonight." Pascal murmured, leading Aelia out of the theatre.
"It's really pretty down here by the water, I wanted you to see it at night." Pascal admitted, leading Aelia down by the beach.
"It's beautiful..." Aelia agreed with a smile.
Being a small city, the lights started going out and soon they were left in mostly darkness, save for some street lights. Pascal led Aelia over to a patch of dry sand and the two looked up at the stars.
"The galaxy is amazing, isn't it?" Pascal smiled, "I would love to get up there someday."
Aelia glanced over at him, holding back what she wanted to say and instead nodded in agreement.
The two stayed like that for what seemed like hours, Aelia and Pascal pointing out different constellations but soon Aelia was pointing out planets that Pascal had never even heard of.
"This was just what I needed." Aelia sighed once they stood back up, "Thank you for this."
"Anytime, I wanted you to have at least one nice day this week." Pascal joked softly.
"Pascal... there's something I've been wanting to do."
"Yes?"
Aelia leaned in and captured Pascal's lips in a kiss.
It wasn't the best kiss, by far, neither had ever kissed before and while Pascal had certainly seen it done before, Aelia was mostly going in blind. It was clumsy and shy, but that didn't matter.
At that moment the rest of the world melted away and only the two of them mattered.
Aelia broke away after a few moments, suddenly feeling anxious.
"Was that too much? I apologize."
"No, no that was... amazing." Pascal murmured.
Pascal pulled Aelia into a hug, the two stayed like that for a few more moments, just taking in each other's heart beat- or in Aelia's case, two beats.
Comments