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Sapphire fiddled with her skirt, the very long, very poofy, golden silk feeling heavenly on her hands, which were currently clothed in long, white opera gloves. The royal blue hedgehog, quite a bit taller than an usual hedgehog at 3 foot 7, and more busty too, was waiting for someone who was currently changing within their shared room in the Restoration. Her green eyes flicker upwards slightly and adjusted her golden tiara, which housed within a gem bearing her name, before looking back at the door. It was as close to soundproof as possible, for the sake of both her and her girlfriend, Whisper.
After quite a few minutes, of which the hedgehog patiently waited while Whisper changed, the door opened and Sapphire got to gaze upon her wolf girlfriend.
Whisper looked beautiful, her body accentuated in an emerald green dress, the silk was form-fitting around her large chest until it reached up to an illusion neckline, there was no sleeves to the dress while the skirt that reached down to her ankles was airy enough to allow movement in case of anything dangerous and of course, she kept her boots on just in case. She seemed slightly nervous despite having been on dates before, so Sapphire stepped up to her and flashed a gentle smile at the wolf.
"I know that what I've gotten you is a bit more... exposed than what you're used too but if it helps, I will be here too? If anything goes wrong, we will return home immediately, okay?"
Whisper nodded, letting out a quiet sigh while her fur relaxed. Sapphire then took her hand in hers and started walking towards the front door of the Restoration.
"What are we going to do?"
"Well, I know we've went to restaurants on our previous dates but I'm getting quite a bit bored of that so..." She then turned to her girlfriend, slowing her walk down to make sure Whisper can keep up "I thought we'd go to a library then a diner. After that... maybe you can choose?"
Whisper nodded slightly in response, finding both of those enjoyable enough to do. "That sounds like a good plan." That made her girlfriend blush a little before she focused again on reaching the enterence of the Restoration.
Soon, the two of them reached outside where there was a black limousine with tinted windows parked there. Sapphire approached the limo and Whisper followed slightly hesitantly, but when her girlfriend opened the car door so that Whisper could get in, she decided to go along and entered the limo, sitting down on one of the seats, her skirt shifting slightly underneath. The blue hedgehog then got in afterwards, having to crouch down slightly to fit.
"Yeah, I may have asked Rouge to get a limo for us for the entire date. Feels stupid considering that we're not going anywhere too fancy but still..."
Whisper shaked her head, "It's not stupid, just excessive." Her smile brightened a tiny bit as she got a thought to herself. "It lets us be more affectionate than on your motorcycle."
Sapphire seemed to have gotten the same thought that her girlfriend was thinking of and her own smile went onto her face, "Oh yeah..."
She had to focus again as she opened a small shutter that allowed her to speak to the driver, a forest green llama that seemed slightly big for the limo, wearing a suit and tie. "Please take us to the... Central City public library near Eclipse Street?"
The driver nodded before pulling out of the entranceway and driving through the paved road. Meanwhile, Sapphire moved back over to Whisper and started nuzzling her head against her girlfriend's chest.
"This is nice..." Sapphire let out a quiet sigh as she nuzzled in more while the biscotti wolf started stroking through her quills and hummed a soft melody, one of Whisper's old songs.
After around an hour, the driver had reached the Central City library and was now waiting for the hedgehog and wolf to exit. Whisper, noticing the car had stopped, leaned down slightly and stopped petting her girlfriend's head, "Sapphire? We're here... aren't we going to head inside?"
Sapphire in response let out a small whine but obliged, moving herself off Whisper and over to the door, which she then opened. Whisper stepped out of the limo and looked back at Sapphire, who had pulled opened the shutter again.
"We should be fine but if we're not back here within an hour, you can go try to search for us-" Sapphire's communicating with the driver was cut short though with a quiet and soft laugh from her girlfriend and her hand touching the hedgehog's shoulder.
"Sapphire, calm down... I trust you that we'll be fine, okay?" Whisper then gazed at her girlfriend with a soft look, hiding a bit of excitement as she was trying to get the hedgehog to relent and focus on the date.
The hedgehog does quickly relent, letting out a sigh and getting out of the limo as well, closing the door behind her. "Right, sorry..."
Whisper gave Sapphire a more softer look, not wanting her girlfriend to feel sorry but decided to let it go for now and to focus on their location. Above some grey steps stood a white and brown pillared structure that must have been the Central City library. The walls seemed to be a mix of marble with wood panelling and as the duo approached the large doors.
Sapphire and Whisper walked through the entrance, what showed was a large room made of marble with a receptionists desk in the middle. To the side of the desk, staffed by a few men and women, were large steps that lead into the library proper and along the side was comfortable seating and some lifts that lead up to balconies also leading into the library proper and to some toilets.
Sapphire approached one of the receptionists, a soft smile on her face while Whisper followed behind, reflexively checking the area just in case.
"Oh, hello, why have you come to the Central City library today?" One of the receptionists said, a warm yet also tired tone in their voice.
"Yeah uh, I just wanted to ask, where are the romance novels?"
Whisper gazed at Sapphire slightly, her head tilting slightly, before adding, even quieter than how she is usually, "And some poem anthology books..."
The receptionist exchanged a confused look, not hearing Whisper before Sapphire clarified, "And some poem anthology books, she said."
The receptionist nodded with that, pointing in a direction somewhere behind to the left. "Over there would be the romance novels and the poem books, along with memoirs, literary fiction and drama."
Sapphire nodded slightly and glanced at Whisper, who nodded as well, before her gaze returned to the receptionist. "Thank you..." She then proceeded up the staircase, Whisper following behind.
As they were heading to the romance novels and the poem books sections, Whisper spoke up. "Why are we here, Sapphire?"
"Well, I thought it would be fun to just... browse through books and see what we like?"
Whisper responded with a slight hum, thinking that it makes enough sense before moving to be beside Sapphire, "Okay."
After a minute or two, the couple reached the section and Sapphire eagerly started searching through romantic books to either get inspiration from or to see if she should get them later while Whisper took her time. She particularly stopped on a book with a starry cover, which then took it out of its place on the shelf and turned it around to read the synopsis. After a few quiet moments of reading, she put the book back onto the shelf and noticed that Sapphire was gone.
With a small sigh, Whisper headed out of the aisle, listening and smelling for any trace of Sapphire which she quickly got and so she started heading over. When she made her way back over to her hedgehog, she saw her quickly reading a romance book and getting way too invested it. So with a quiet chuckle, she headed over and grasped Sapphire's hand gently so that her girlfriend would focus on her.
"if you like this book then we can buy it sometime later?" Whisper glanced up at Sapphire with a soft smile, which the hedgehog responded with a glad smile back, "Okay." She then handed the book over to Whisper, which turned the book over to read the title and put it presumably back where Sapphire found it.
The wolf then turned her hand over so that it was interlocked with her girlfriend's. "Let's... search for more books then." She then started leading the way to make sure that Sapphire wouldn't get lost throughout this large section, the two pulling out books that seemed interesting, Sapphire reading the synopsis and maybe a page while Whisper scanned the title. Then, Sapphire would tell her girlfriend whether she wanted to have the book, Whisper would log it down in her mind and they would move onto the next book.
After around 30 minutes, Sapphire and Whisper headed back to the limo which Whisper opened the shutter and told to the llama to go to a diner that was closer to the edge of Central City. She then moved back over to Sapphire and the hedgehog moved into her position cuddled up against her girlfriend's green silk-covered chest.
Whisper spent the time traveling to the diner stroking Sapphire's back gently, feeling the gold silk within her hand while making sure this would comfort the hedgehog while said hedgehog was feeling safe cuddled up against the wolf as despite her larger size, she was clearly enjoying this which just brought a soft smile to Whisper's face. This continued, with a small addition of nuzzling chin against head added later as they were getting close to the diner.
When the limo reached the diner, Whisper left out a small sigh before looking down at her girlfriend, "We're here..." Sapphire whined but got off Whisper anyway. She glanced over at the shutter, thinking if she should tell the driver about what to do but a touch of her hand from an exiting Whisper convinced the hedgehog to exit as well.
As they stepped outside, it was now evening with the sky being a mix of pink, orange and blue. Whisper led the way into the diner now, called 'Pete's Delight', with her hold on Sapphire's hand not diminishing. Inside, the diner was quiet and filled with a few people who were more focused on their own food or conversations rather than focusing on the two off-duty Restoration members who currently looks more at place at a fancy restaurant than at the diner, which had a green, blue and white design all around.
The wolf and the hedgehog headed over to the diner bar. The hedgehog browsed up at the menu up above the counter with a slight hum, filled with a mix from salads to fish and chips to tea before looking at her girlfriend, "Do you want to order, Whisper, or will I?"
"I can handle the order. You get a table..."
"Okay, I'll think I'll have some pancakes and... a banana milkshake, okay?" She then pressed a kiss to the wolf's forehead and headed off to the far side of the diner. Whisper blushed slightly at the affection before focusing again and looking at one of the waitresses.
"I'll have a plain burger with no cheese, and get pancakes with a banana milkshake that's not too thick."
The waitress nodded with a smile that doesn't fully reach the eyes, putting all of that down on the list. "Anything else?"
"No." Whisper reached down and pulled a bank card out of her boot while the waitress brought forth a card reader, which the wolf then put her card in and put in her PIN and when the card was accepted, she took it out and put it back in the boot. She then scanned the diner and spotted Sapphire's waving hand over the edge of one of the booths before her gaze returned back to the waitress.
"When you are done, bring the food there." Whisper pointed over at Sapphire's booth with a tilt of her head and the waitress nodded. The waitress then turned around to send the order over while the wolf headed over to her girlfriend. When reaching the booth, she refused the temptation to sit on the same side of her girlfriend and instead sat on the opposite side so she can spot if anyone enters or the food is being brought over.
"So... what did you get, Whisper?"
"Just a burger. Did you want more than the pancakes and milkshake?"
"No, no, I didn't..." Sapphire waved her hands apologetically, "I was just curious."
Whisper nodded slightly before leaning back slightly so she can get a better view of the area. A comfortable silence was over the booth, with Sapphire fidgeting with her hands while Whisper watched over her and the rest of the diner. After around 15 minutes, the hedgehog spoke up, "I'm surprised you wanted to go on this date to be honest..."
"Hm?" Whisper turned her head slightly towards her girlfriend.
Sapphire quickly looked out to the window in embarrassment but continued, "Well... it's just that with everything between us and that dress..." Her cheeks flushed with more blue, "I would've thought you would've declined."
The wolf reached forward and put her hands on her girlfriend's fidgeting hands gently, with said girlfriend turning back to face her. "Sapphire, I decided to go because I love you. I don't mind the dress that much."
The hedgehog blushed even more but still tried to dispel it with words that Whisper's just saying that to be nice, her self-doubt on display, but the wolf just gazed at her girlfriend lovingly and all words went quiet. Sapphire's gaze eventually softened as it seemed like she believed Whisper.
"Alright..." Sapphire reached forward slightly to kiss Whisper's nose before recoiling in slight embarrassment and love while her girlfriend blushed. Whisper buried her face slightly into her neck at the affection that should've been expected by now while it was Sapphire's turn to laugh softly at her girlfriend acting so adorable. Both of their hands kept grasping each other, assuring that the owners of said hands were still alive before the wolf started trying to focus on the diner again. Sapphire meanwhile went to a new state of gazing at Whisper lovingly while fidgeting slightly with her girlfriend's hands until the food arrived.
When the food did arrive, the wolf's hands separated with the hedgehog's, of which the hedgehog barely held back a whine of sadness. Instead, she managed to let out a happy whine when the wolf set down a tray that had both some plain fluffy pancakes and her banana milkshake. Whisper then took the other tray out of the waitresses' hand, which featured one single burger in the middle. With both of the orders fulfilled, the waitress went back behind the diner bar while Sapphire dug into her meal. Whisper more so hesitated, taking a small bite of her burger because she didn't want this moment to end.
After more minutes, Sapphire paused in her eating and drinking, most of her pancakes being finished and her milkshake half way through to focus on Whisper again. Whisper in response ate another bit of her burger to assure her girlfriend that she was eating but Sapphire still scooted a bit closer to the table and to Whisper in response. Even more minutes passed and the wolf gazed up at her girlfriend to assure she was okay before taking another bite of her burger. The hedgehog's tray was more empty now, with the pancakes having been fully eaten and the banana milkshake being close to fully drunk so Sapphire occupied her time more with fidgeting with her hands again, though with an added brushing of her dress, both to get rid of any crumbs that may have come from the pancakes and to feel the wonderful silk.
The sky outside was closer to a dark and muted blue as Sapphire finished her milkshake and focused more on the feel of her dress while Whisper sped up her burger eating, having finished three quarters and moving onto the last quarter. During this time, Sapphire decided to speak up again. "So... if I may ask, where are we going after this? You know, considering that... you are going to be choosing."
Whisper took a bit to respond, eating another bit of her burger before glancing up at her girlfriend. "We're going to go stargazing. If you don't like how dark it'll be, we can go somewhere else."
Sapphire's smile brightened a bit, appreciating how her girlfriend still took the time to care for her before nodding slightly. "Well that sounds fun... Maybe you'll even howl there if the moon is full." Sapphire chuckled slightly while Whisper's fur was tinted slightly red at the thought. "I don't do that..."
"I know you don't, my good girl, but it's still fun to think about." Sapphire chuckled lightly again while Whisper sped up eating her burger more because if her girlfriend is going to be playful like this, she'd rather be somewhere private where it feels like no-one would judge her for being so flustered by this.
The sun had clearly set by at least 30 minutes by the time Whisper finished her burger. "I'm done." Sapphire perked up with that and nodded slightly, leaping out of her seat while Whisper exited her seat. Sapphire then brushed Whisper's lap down, not wanting any of the burger to get stuck on Whisper's dress before taking her hand and leading her out of the diner. The two got in the limo with Sapphire hanging back on one of the seats while Whisper went up to the shutter and pulled it open.
"Take us to a hill far enough away from pollution." Whisper said, which the llama driver nodded slightly before the wolf closed the shutter. She then went back over to Sapphire who pulled her close and started petting her gently. Whisper relaxed almost instantly, even cuddling slightly into her girlfriend's chest while the hedgehog stroked her head and her back, feeling the silk and how content the wolf was.
The two stayed comfortable in that position, Whisper being almost unusually relaxed and at ease while Sapphire doted over her like a mother or an owner, wanting to keep her safe for as long as it takes and for even more past that. She also kept the quiet wolf pressed against her chest, letting her feel the golden silk and just sink into her body because Whisper deserved it. This cuddling and petting continued for quite a bit as the limo drove out of Central City and over to some public use land, where it went up to a lover's spot that was indeed atop a hill.
When the limo stopped, Whisper was the one to whine this time while her cheeks tinted with a slight red while Sapphire gazed down at her good girl. "Hey, it's okay... It's okay Whisper. We can get to go see the stars like you want."
The hedgehog, knowing that the wolf would not like being unhooked from her at all, kept hold of Whisper. Instead, she got up... as much as she could considering the limo height and with one arm wrapped around Whisper's front, she went over to the shutter and opened it.
"Hey, would it be okay if... me and Whisper were able to get up on the hood?"
The llama limo driver shook their head which Sapphire took as it was okay before nodding, "Okay, we won't... Well uh... we'll be outside?"
Sapphire then closed the shutter again and opened the door, despite the difficulty thanks to holding onto Whisper, then she exited the limo and closed it behind her. Now outside, she hesitantly tried setting down her girlfriend and despite a brief whine, Whisper did untangle from Sapphire and stood up, looking away out of embarrassment. With a brief and affectionate chuckle, Sapphire took Whisper's hand and started leading her forward.
"So where did you want to see the stars from? It's a hill after all so... anywhere is good."
Whisper hummed for a second, quickly focusing while doing so to not immediately cling back to her girlfriend before pointing at a spot that was still in view of the limo but far enough away from any foliage that the night sky was able to be seen clearly. "There."
Sapphire nodded slightly and moved both of them over to that spot then the next instruction from Whisper came, "Lay down."
"Lay down?" Sapphire looked at the ground, she knew she could just move water away if any droplets stained either her or Whisper's dresses but there could be a multitude of other things down there.
Whisper nodded with Sapphire's question, going forward to prompt her to lay down which the hedgehog did oblige to. The wolf then joined her, joining hand with hand as her girlfriend tried to acclimate to this view. It was quiet for a bit, before Sapphire spoke up again, trying to fill the space and to not let the darkness get to her, even if it was a bright moon.
"...Okay, maybe I don't look at the night sky as much as I should. Is this what you do?" Sapphire turned her head over to Whisper's face.
"Yes, sometimes. It is calming."
"That makes sense..."
A bit more time passed before Sapphire pointed up at a constellation. "Hey, I remember that constellation being over there a few millennia ago." Sapphire pointed at a slightly different area than where the constellation currently was.
Whisper turned her head to look at Sapphire before remembering that yeah, despite her appearance and mental state, Sapphire is still very old. She then focused again to look up at the night sky, "Really?"
"Yeah." Sapphire said with a smile before sitting up, pointing at more stars and constellations, pointing out where they were thousands of years ago, "And that star was over there when-" Sapphire suddenly paused, Whisper knowing the reason why and gently tapping her on the shoulder to coax her back down to be laying down. Sapphire took Whisper's hand again while the wolf spoke up, "They would be happy to see you still here, Sapphire."
Sapphire looked at her girlfriend again, getting that look that said that she was going back into her self-doubtful habits again. "You sure? would even remember me if they were still here?"
"I'm sure." Whisper gazed at her girlfriend, hoping she would believe her and again, Sapphire seemed to have done so as she had looked back up at the night sky. It was quiet again as Whisper turned her own head back to gaze upwards before a content sigh came from Sapphire.
"I haven't paid attention to these skies in so long... It was a better view up there, no smog, but... it was also what took my attention for all those years at night, just counting stars in the night sky. After all, there were few invaders or enemies up there and everything that was hostile was things actually up on there. It also felt so right seeing the little faces of my kin asleep, knowing they were safe from harm..." A smile came onto Sapphire's face. "Up there was absolutely beautiful, even if it got lonely, I still had my fellow... descendents of my family to protect, to watch over and love. Life was simple back then..." Sapphire then turned her head and spotted Whisper staring at her with rapt attention, which caused the hedgehog to blush.
"Were you staring?"
It was now Whisper's time to blush with that accusation but she nodded anyway, fully accepting what may happen. Sapphire in response smiled warmly and moved closer to Whisper, cuddling her again while her hand stroked over the silk of Whisper's dress. "Don't be embarrassed, Whisper... You know, I'm glad you took me out here."
Whisper cuddled slightly back, relaxing again, though less so than in the limo and sighed out of contentment. "Of course. I wanted to share this with you."
The hedgehog let out a happy and adorable whine, pressing closer until the wolf was comforted by her body. "Still... I love you Whisper."
The wolf blushed a bit more at the closeness of her girlfriend's body and that declaration. "I love you too." The two then cuddled up together on that quiet hill, illuminated with the stars and the moon.