Jay had the biggest smile on his face as he soared above the multitude of green foliage below. The girl he loved held steadfast to his waist, her grip unrelenting. Her cherry breath wafting into his nose occasionally giving him butterflies.
A feeling he couldn't contain for much longer. Jay turned his head to the side and kissed her. A deep meaningful kiss and so full of passion, that his dragon almost faltered underneath them. "Haa uhm s-sorry Nya, got caught up in the moment." Jay blushed and veered to the right towards the Mountains of Impossible height, the rough direction of Jamanakai village, the solitary village built into the mountains.
"Aww Jay the views of Jamanakai are beautiful from up here." Nya sighed at the differing shades of blossom trees, it was still spring in the land of Ninjago. The summer solstice was almost here, only evident from the falling blossoms as they formed their own flowered clouds with the flapping motion from the lightning energy dragon. It soared directly over the low lying trees and the sight behind was just billows of pink and white petals like the twin tunnels from a jet aircraft.
'Confetti almost…' Nya smiled and hugged Jay close. 'A clue perhaps as to why we're both dressed up.'
"The views are spectacular this time of year, because of all this." He gestured with his free hand, he dared not to look behind because of whom he was carrying.
All Jay could see in front was a large expanse of green trees with the odd blossoming mock cherry, red maple with white blossom or the odd fruit tree with its spindly branches reaching up to the sky like it was trying to grasp the sun. Yes it was certainly a sight to behold.
"It is beautiful, but we're not going to Jamanakai…." Jay smiled, the butterflies in his stomach still there, doing literal somersaults and back flips. He had to fly around the mountain of impossible height to get to the foothills, as was their destination.
She got so close to him she could smell his musk, "Won't you tell me where we are going?" She whined gently.
He chuckled, "Nope sorry Nya but….I hope you'll forgive me for doing this." Jay teased. "Besides patience is a virtue…" He laughed, and she poked him in the ribs.
Within a few minutes they were approaching the foothills, but Nya was still none the wiser, She knew this area was relatively quiet and peaceful. No big impending skyscrapers like Ninjago city, the only humongous thing nearby was the mountain.
Most of the precipice couldn't even be seen as a sheer amount of cloud covered it like Mount Olympus, the top seemed to be completely shrouded in mystery. The mountains of impossible height gazed down on the folly of urban hectic life. The more things were changing in the valleys surrounding the mountains the more Jamanakai village and the adjoining mountain stayed the same.
The village itself was perched on a hilltop, a bastion of civilised style in a world intent on going to Hell.
Jay had always loved Jamanakai, such a complete contrast to the Sea of Sand and the unending dry heat where nothing ever grew save for the odd cactus here and there. Even the critters in the desert were nasty little blighters.
"You Jay Walker-Gordon are a tease and I might just do the same to you too." She fussed at his neck and ruffled his hair slightly.
'But it's okay because I bought my comb….so all bases covered at least, ring check, wallet check, reservation check, flowers check.'
He looked to the front, seeing a large new purpose built structure, standing proud, looking like it fit right in with its surroundings. The front pillars had been carved out of the nearby rocks, the signage read 'La Roche' simply meaning 'the rock' which was appropriate considering the surrounding environment of harsh landscape. "Hold on tight Nya we're coming in to land." He warned and felt her tighten her grasp.
Once the dragon had touched down he helped her down first before making his dragon disappear in a blue haze. He offered his hand and led her in to the restaurant, being gallant and opening the door for her to pass through first. "Will you join me for lunch?" He asked timidly hoping she would say 'yes,' not relishing the thought of her saying 'no.'
A flood of relief when she willingly took his hand, Jay led her forwards surprised that his legs were still working, he felt like they would buckle underneath him at any given moment. He stealthily took the small black box and his wallet from his interior pocket and slipped both into his trousers.
Nya looked around herself in amazement as the maître d' took her organza shrug from her gently, followed by Jay's suit jacket.
He wore a simple black suit with an impeccably white shirt and a stylish white tie with the insignia 'L.R' proudly embroidered off centre in a gold hue. "You have a reservation Sir?" The well-spoken man said clearly, his vocal intonation rising.
The restaurant as Jay had been led to believe was frequented by the likes of business men, bankers and stock brokers. They all seemed to have convened on the ground floor, talking in great depth about stocks and shares and the fall and rise of certain large companies, almost as if telling a fairy tale with a sick twist. They were gloating at the profits and losses and laughing at the redundancies their lower class managers would have to make as if the concept of human misery was below them.
Such close proximity made Jay's skin crawl and he rolled his eyes. He was hoping for a quiet table and as far away from these as possible. He looked back at the maître d' who was evidently still waiting for an answer.
Nodding eagerly and smiling in response. "Jay Walker-Gordon, table for two, preferably near the window." He added and pointed upstairs at the otherwise empty balcony.
"As you wish sir, please follow me." He said and scooped up two hard backed menu's and a wine list, walking out of the main seating area.
Jay and Nya followed as the maître d' traversed a walnut spiral staircase that led up to the balcony and tables on the upper deck. No one was up there, all the business men appeared to be downstairs, boasting none too quietly about their most recent investments.
The maître d' found a table near the large floor to ceiling window and motioned for them to sit. He carefully pulled out Nya's seat and pushed her in, he did the same for Jay and then left them briefly to peruse their menus.
Upon closer inspection, the restaurant on the inside was spectacular, the décor however was all harsh lines. Cream leather bound chairs with contrasting dark walnut wood tables, stretching across a harsh black slate floor. The walls were a simple magnolia and the supporting columns were wooden, showing exquisite fine French woodworking at its finest.
The menu, it seemed, was a majority of seafood, pasta and nouvelle cuisine. Dishes that were so small but incredibly rich in taste. The wine list was certainly extensive too, luckily Jay had a credit card as a back-up, especially once he realised that the cheapest bottle of wine was $50 on its own. The champagne was extortionate.
"What are you planning Jay, why have you bought me here hmm?" She asked her hand reaching across the table, he grasped it and held it gently in his own.
The maître d' quickly returned to take the drinks order, disturbing the cute couple in the process. He had also bought a selection of bottles for them to sample. He asked Jay, as was the done thing. "Your wine choice sir? We have a full and extensive variety. All sourced from the finest vineyards." He poured a few different samples and let Jay taste them individually.
After listening to him drone on about the palates and qualities of each fine wine, and having tested five different varieties of burgundy and blanc, Jay finally chose. "The house white please."
"An excellent choice sir," came the sycophantic response, the kind you would get from someone who was expecting a good tip but likely didn't need it.
"Have you chosen your food? May I suggest the house specials today!" He suggested helpfully and pinpointed both seated guests to the food he was so eloquently describing. He gushed about the food so much it was almost as if he had cooked the food himself or had raised if from the ground and nurtured it.
Nya undeterred, chose her starter, a French onion soup, followed by a main course that was simply known as a Lobster Napoleon with potato tuiles. It was nouvelle cuisine as the dish was petite, even if the menu further explained that it was a 'stacked ensemble of fine tastes culminating in an explosion of flavour.'
Jay chose both of his, opting for something different, he chose lobster bisque soup with a tuna nicoise salad to accompany. His main course was confit duck and he was drooling in anticipation, his chattering and goofiness hid the rumbling sounds his now empty stomach was making.
A good wine choice too, although the maître d' still tried to get Jay to choose another red wine to go with his red meat dish he had ordered but he had refused.
He double checked the wine list happy with the choice and continued to stare at his female companion. She was subconsciously twiddling with her napkin, her hands occasionally fumbling with the embroidered clasps holding the neckline of her dress together. "I'm sorry for keeping this from you Nya, but it was done for the best reasons." He whispered and reached across the table for her hands.
She saw him reaching for her and took his trembling hands into her own. Her dark brown orbs were searching for any other clues as to what he had planned. "Best intentions you mean? Jay, I don't mind really…and I think this is lovely." She swooned feeling his nerves lessen.
He looked at her, he knew she was trying to figure him out. But he wasn't exactly making it hard for her. His body language alone was betraying him in the sickliest way, it should have given all the clues she needed.
He was stumbling with his words one moment and exceptionally quiet the next. To make matters worse his hands were becoming clammy in her gentle hold. "Jay, is there something you want to tell me?" She whispered quietly across the little round table, their knees touching gently.
His eyes were glazed over, as he stared out of the window, knowing that the flowers he had ordered would be soon to make their appearance. His heart rate quickened causing the most inopportune thing to happen. A bout of hiccups took him by surprise and Nya chuckled at him as he blushed. Her hands shooting up to her face to stifle her laughter as Jay let out the unexpected squeak, quickly followed by another.
The waiter had eventually brought him a jug of water, direct from source from the mineral spas at the foothills of the vast mountainous range they were in. Jay took a glass full, eagerly gulping it down.
'Urgh how can *hic* I propose to her with *hic* hiccups? Simple answer I can't *hic*…urgh just focus Jay everything will be okay.'
'….Just *hic* focus…'
Once his diaphragm stopped betraying him, along with his body in general he could try again to woo Nya. She was still laughing at him albeit mocking in a cute but annoying way. Even after the food had come and gone she was still chuckling at him and he too eventually found it funny. Somehow a hysterical laughing fit seemed highly inappropriate in a restaurant of such standing, the clientele were appalled at the outburst and had made a complaint to the management.
Jay was in no uncertain terms, reprimanded for Nya's loud outburst. A warning was issued to say that in no uncertain terms that, "If you cannot control yourself and your companion, I'm afraid I will have to ask you to leave." It was whispered into his ear.
It was like a vein had popped in his temple, his jaw stiffened and his teeth clenched in anger. At that moment all Jay wanted to do was stand up and shove the pompous waiters white serviette down his throat. But he thought better of it, opting to give a basic 10% tip.
'The audacity and impudence of this arrogant man, what the heck man, I'm trying to woo her and you're just ruining it.'
But now he wasn't in the right mood to propose, he was annoyed at being spoken to like that, especially by a front of house sycophantic nobody….who was still expecting a large tip but wouldn't be getting one.
The florist, as if by magic, arrived on cue. Her presence brought a welcome distraction to the hideous thick tension in the upstairs room. It seemed that the maître d' was now watching their table like a hawk, rather than watching the front of house as was his sole purpose.
Every other patron was a regular visitor of this exclusive restaurant and as such were now accustomed to the formal etiquette of the venue. Jay and Nya not so much, for them it was just a romantic meal out with fine wine, rich food and snobby service.
Jay turned his head to the annoying staff member, his head tilted forwards. If his body language could have said anything it would have been along the lines of…'uhm a little privacy wouldn't go amiss.' Mixed in with other choice curse words that would likely get him thrown out.
His confidence returned as soon as the florist hand delivered the flowers to him and got him to sign for them before leaving. "Ahem, can you give us some privacy please!" He said clearly with a hint of exasperation present. The pompous maître d' eventually obliged and stalked off down stairs with a huff.
Jay held her hands in his own, his voice wavering slightly. "Uhm, Nya can I ask you a question?"
She looked into his sapphire blue depths. "You just did…" She smiled and stroked the side of his face.