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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Jul 25, 2017 6:11:59 GMT
Normally when one thought of water in a place like Louisiana, their mind immediately went to the swamp or the bayou. While both were beautiful in their own right and had hidden charms, no one in their right mind would ever think to go swimming in them. The waters were stagnant and oftentimes filled with mud, plants and algae. They were also home to any number of hungry mosquitos, dangerous alligators and poisonous snakes.
However, as luck would have it in Bellerouge there was one section of water that was free of these things and, with its clear blue waters and warm sandy shore, served as a swimming hole and gathering place for the city. And it was this place where Ralph had invited Elsa for their second date.
The Giant looked out over the lagoon, happy to see that despite the beauty of the crystal-like waters and the popularity of the place, it was not busy or crowded. The weather forecast had stated rain for that day, and he had worried that he would have to come up with another date plan at the last minute. Thankfully, the weatherman had been wrong and the threatening clouds had broken up overnight, leaving only a few stray clouds and a shining sun.
He took in a deep breath, allowing the pleasant scent of the lagoon to fill his lungs and a few more moments of quite reflection. However, he wouldn't have much longer before Elsa would arrive and he wanted to make sure everything was ready when she did.
He turned and looked away from the lagoon, the only thing on his body a pair of orange swim trunks and a huge red t-shirt. Behind him on a section of the sandy crescent that formed the lagoon rested a large towel, an umbrella staked into the ground, a small portable radio and a rather beat-up cooler. It was a simple setup and not quite as fancy as the French bistro where their first date had been, but the Giant thought that Elsa would like it all the same. |
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Post by Zuyuri on Jul 25, 2017 18:03:44 GMT
A silver car pulled up to meet the other parking areas of Placid Lagoon. It was an elegant ride compared to beat up pickup trucks. The blue mandela swinging in the windshield foreshadowed the chance that the person coming out would be driving.
Elsa checked her face in the mirror one last time. She had found a tinted chapstick, which made her lips look rosy. Her platinum blonde braid was messy as opposed to its usual bedazzled, groomed look she sported in the court or on a regular basis. Humidity didn't exactly help either.
After confirming she was set, the lawyer opened her car door. Her swimsuit was two piece and ghost white. The top was an off the shoulder bandeau while the bottom was a mix of coutoure and classic; briefs that were covered by a half skirt, half train. The lagoon wind picked it up when she walked, making her feel confident.
Ralph was easy to pick out, and not because he was a Giant. He was relaxed with a seat open for her, facing the breaking waves.
"Ralph!"
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Jul 26, 2017 7:45:58 GMT
Ralph was just opening the cooler, checking to make sure he had packed all the food and drinks he had set aside for this trip, when he heard a voice he could recognize in his sleep call out his name.
Already a warm grin was appearing on his face as he stood up and turned, his brown gaze quickly landing on the figure of Elsa looking stunning in a two-piece white swimsuit. As always his heart jumped upon seeing her and he raised his own hand in greeting as she made her way across the sand to where he had set up the space for them.
"Hey Elsa."
As he stepped forward to meet her, he gestured to the surrounding shores of the lagoon and the lack of people.
"You're in luck. Looks like we've got the whole place practically to ourselves today."
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Post by Zuyuri on Jul 26, 2017 19:37:57 GMT
Elsa beamed as he rushed to see her. That was the kind of greeting he preferred. Too many people were afraid to approach out of nervousness. Friendly greetings were what made her day all the more warm.
Well. warmer.
"Well, you say rain in the forecast and people get into prep mode," she said with a little laugh. The lagoon was practically empty, save for their little spot, highlighted by a beat up cooler.
"So, what's in the cooler?"
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Aug 4, 2017 6:07:21 GMT
"Our lunch. Hope you're hungry."
Ralph couldn't help but feel lighter when Elsa laughed. Something about the sound just made the tension leak out of his muscles and his whole frame relax. He gestured at the cooler as he turned and walked over to their space with the beautiful lawyer by his side.
"It's nothing too fancy, just some home-cooked grub that I thought you might like."
The Giant's words were easy, but he had spent quite some time last night trying to think up things he knew how to make that Elsa would like. Thankfully, she wasn't the type of person to turn up her nose at food that wasn't prepared a certain way or wasn't organic or fancy enough. It was just another of the many things he liked about her.
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Post by Zuyuri on Aug 4, 2017 21:17:07 GMT
"Oooh. Finally, something that isn't fancy."
Elsa's stomach gurgled...well, if gurgles could be dainty, hers was that. All week, she had been eating thanks to the combined efforts of Tiana, the new private chef, and Ella. Both of them were spoiling her by making delicious gumbo and shockingly expensive French meals. Now they could eat what they liked.
"Home cooked is always the best kind."
Whatever Ralph had cooked up for them, she'd probably enjoy. Nothing showed hard work than eating a meal someone slaved over a hot stove or oven or, well in a cheating sort of way, a microwave, for. He was beginning to relax bit by bit, and she was feeling at ease herself knowing he was able to let his guard down. Again. Around her.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Aug 14, 2017 4:22:20 GMT
Ralph couldn't help but chuckle slightly when he heard Elsa's stomach give out the smallest of growls. He took her hand in his and gave it the lightest of kisses before stepping up to the cooler and kneeling down beside it. Despite some dents and fading in the paint, it was still a sturdy, good piece that he'd had since he was a teenager.
"Well I've got plenty of that."
He then opened the lid and began to pull out containers of the food he had prepared the previous night. Soon the Giant had a small array of food spread out along the side of the blanket and in the shade of the umbrella. He had brought chicken salad sandwiches, potato salad, biscuits, roasted vegetables on a skewer, some fruit and cheese and a single large jug of lemonade.
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Post by Zuyuri on Aug 15, 2017 5:09:47 GMT
"I have to say, if you didn't tell me you made this all from scratch, I would have thought it was takeout!"
Her hand was tingling, and it wasn't from the ice powers. This time, it was tingling in delight from the peck Ralph had planted on the top of her hand. Just thinking of how tender it was compared to the 'make up make out' as she jokingly dubbed it. The spread he lay out was all the simplest of meals, a simple meal that would cost twenty dollars all together and just for the two of them.
The lawyer glanced out at the beach water, thankful there wasn't a cloud in the red sky. Otherwise the mood would have been glummer and darker, which would have made for a bad date.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Aug 16, 2017 7:50:06 GMT
"Nah, all of this comes from the kitchen of yours truly."
Ralph shot Elsa a wide grin as he spoke over his shoulder while removing each dish from the cooler. Once he had removed the lemonade and pushed it into the sand of the lagoon, he turned back towards the pale, winter-like woman and handed her one of two plates he had brought.
"First pick for you. Go ahead and take whatever you like."
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Post by Zuyuri on Aug 18, 2017 4:11:31 GMT
Elsa blushed, murmuring "So charming." When she took the plate, a small little edge of frost had begun gathering. She laughed and began fanning the plate to thaw out the said frost laughing nervously.
"Oops. I know for a fact I don;t like my food that cold."
It was a clumsy quip, but at least she could laugh around him again. Ralph had done so much to win her favor and to just slip away like that would be rude on both of her parts. Once her plate was frost free, she took a few of the roasted vegetables, a biscuit, and a sandwich. The cold touch was applied to the lemonade. Much better.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Aug 18, 2017 10:22:39 GMT
Ralph only gave a brief laugh as Elsa's ice powers cast a light frost over the plate he had handed her. He then waited, watching as she placed food onto her dish and amazed as always that someone like her could have wanted to be with someone like him. Most people would have looked at the two of them and thought that they were exact polar opposites.
Elsa was a beautiful, graceful and intelligent woman, endowed with a power over ice. She was one of the best lawyers to be found in Bellerouge and came from a family with power and wealth attached to the name.
And then there was him. A big, burly and muscle-bound Giant from a poor family with no connections and only a lucky break to elevate him into a better life. A former BPD officer who now spent his days as a P.I. that took on the cases the police department overlooked.
Yes, to most people they would have seemed as different from each other as night and day, as summer from winter. And yet....
Ralph suddenly realized he had been staring nonstop at Elsa for the past few moments and gave his head a little shake before picking up his own plate and putting a bit of everything on it. Hopefully Elsa hadn't noticed his stare.
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Post by Zuyuri on Aug 18, 2017 15:39:17 GMT
Elsa was spooning the fruit and glanced over at her date from the corner of her eye. Some people would find a nine foot table man staring that them intimidating Yes, it was, but something people always overlooked from people looking was body language.
Ralph's body language showed no signs of being a true threat. There was no stiff back, no rigidness in his stance. Even his facial expression was not what someone viewed as something to be afraid of. The Giant had a very at ease expression. She rarely saw it because of the stress of some cases the department was lazy to hand to the Others Unit. Here, he was far different. She dared even find him...looking mushy at him.
Mushy and lovestruck. Those two words never went hand and hand in regards to Ralph LaCouer usually.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Aug 21, 2017 4:10:53 GMT
Ralph kept his focus on the food he was dishing onto his plate, trying to be mindful of the serving sizes he was giving himself but still having portions twice the size of Elsa's. Normally he could have eaten almost all of the food on his own, being a Giant and having the appetite that went with it. However, this meal was meant for her and therefore he reigned in his hunger.
Once his dish was filled, he turned towards the large towel and sat down. He glanced sideways at Elsa, not certain if she would like to sit next to him or still needed some space. Even though they had dated once before, it had ended on such a sour note that he wanted to make sure he was on the same page as her. He didn't want to take things so slowly they stopped altogether or make Elsa feel like he was rushing her.
"Well... bon appetite."
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Post by Zuyuri on Aug 21, 2017 5:44:26 GMT
Elsa managed a small laugh. Ralph was serving himself, and she found it sweet that he was doing his best to keep her company in mind by serving himself minimal sizes. And by minimal, the amount that was usually given at a fast food joint in the medium size. It would be mean spirited just to laugh at him. No, he didn't even deserve to be laughed at. He was being a gentleman in his own way. In lack of better terms, a gentle giant.
She followed his gait to the towels, where he plopped down. The other side sat empty, almost lonely. The material was beginning to fray and some dust had caked onto some folds in the fabric. It was so different from all the high-class materials she sat in. But this was Placid Lagoon, where bird crap getting on it was no big deal. She picked up the train of her bathing suit and sat down, balancing her lemonade in one hand.
"Absolutely," she cooed.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Aug 22, 2017 6:10:09 GMT
Ralph smiled when Elsa joined him on the towel, as always feeling a subtle quickening of his pulse when she was close to him. Other people might think that the air around her was cold, that she always radiated out a chilling aura but the Giant would have argued against all of them. Even when they had first met a few years back, he had never thought of her in that way. No, to a man like him who had often received biased treatment back then, she had seemed far kinder then most people he met. She had seemed warmer.
These memories passed slowly across his mind as he watched the waves from the lagoon lapping at the shoreline. For a time he merely observed this tranquil scene before him, munching on a chicken sandwich or a skewer of vegetables as the warm breeze blew, waves rolled and birds called out across the water.
Soon other people began to appear here and there along the sandy beach. Now that the threat of rain had disappeared, families and couples and friends came to the lagoon and found their own places to sit, relax, eat and play. And yet the shore remained uncrowded and no one encroached upon the place where a Giant and a Ice-gifted woman sat.
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