#jaalmance

Liam looks up from his seat on the couch, feigning ignorance despite the smirk pulling at his mouth, "Alright, Big Guy, what're we up to?"

Much as he normally enjoys the humans presence and considers Liam a close friend, today his faked innocence only makes him scowl. "Liam, I went over the details in the email."

The human allows to smirk to form then, leaning forwards to give him a wicked look, "I know, mate, but I want to hear you say it."

Jaal gives an exasperated sigh, making sure the door is shut firmly before turning back to his frustrating friend, "I need your help to find a ring."

"For...?"

"Aria."

"And the purpose behind this ring is...?" Liam's grin stretches at the growl that escapes the Angara, "Jaal, buddy, c'mon, this is only gonna happen once, humor me. Why do you need the ring?"

"I need your help finding a ring for Aria so that I can propose to her." Jaal rumbles, hoping to appease the human.

Going by the triumphant woop! Liam lets out, it worked.

"There, was that so hard? Now then! I got Aria's ring size from Lexi - not sure why she had that intel, and yeah she probably knows why I asked, but whatever - but I have no idea where to even start looking for a ring. So! I asked our specialist for help!"

Jaal jumps slightly when the door slides open and Vetra steps inside, looking just as done as he feels.

"Liam, really, even I thought that was overkill."

"You got the goods or not?"

Vetra shakes her head, but Jaal can tell she's grinning as she lifts her arm and steps closer, already scrolling through lists as the door clicks shut once more. "For what it's worth, Jaal, I'm happy you're asking. And I swear I won't tell Aria."

That relaxes him somewhat, "Thank you, Vetra."

"Now, what type of ring are we looking for? Standard, giant diamond?"

"No. Aria does not like diamonds." Jaal pauses, frowning, "She likes... blue gems. Nothing, ah... 'gaudy', is that the word?"

"Gotcha. Small and simple, elegant, but unique. Sounds like our Pathfinder."

Vetra brings up list after list, and the three of them end up squished onto Liam's couch, pouring over the choices - sorted so that only proper sized rings with blue stones come up.

"There's... more then I'd expected." Liam admits after a while, but Vetra only shrugs.

"Jewelry's small, light, easy to toss in a personal locker for the trip. I'm not surprised, really."

"Wait." Jaal sits up suddenly, gaze locked on the screen, "That one."

Vetra scrolls back to the ring in question, and she and Liam lean in, squinting at it.

"Definitely unique - blue stones and quartz, but none of the dreaded diamonds."

"Black band - ohhh, black gold, that's neat-"

"Where is it?"

"Let's see... last known location was... well, shit." Vetra scowls, "It's on Aya. Sold to the general merchant a few days ago, in fact."

"How the hell do you know this stuff?"

"I have my ways."

Jaal barely hears their banter; he's standing and dialing a number on his comm. the moment he knows where it is, "Vetra, have Kallo set course for Aya. If Aria asks, I am retrieving an item for my True Mother."

"I take it you have a plan?"

Jaal only shoots Liam a smirk before heading for the tech lab, where he'd hidden the other half of his gift, speaking into his comm. when the channel flickers to life, "Evfra, it's Jaal. I need a favor."

 Aria stands on the balcony of Jaal's apartment - arms crossed on the railing, breeze tugging gently at her hair - and sighs, staring fondly out over the wilder portions of the planet.

She had dutifully returned Tela to Finn only to be informed that their next stop was Aya, as Sahuna had asked Jaal to pick something up for her.

He hadn't specified what, but that was alright; retrieving something for Sahuna meant another visit to Havarl sooner rather than later, and she was more than okay with that.

Maybe she was a little too attached to his family, already... but considering their culture and how welcomed she had been, she didn't think so.

Jaal had been gone by the time she woke up, leaving her an email to say he would call her once he was finished, and to enjoy exploring as she wished.

So that's what she'd done... for a bit.

Aria had stopped into the Resistance Headquarters to check in with Evfra, who... still didn't seem to like her, per say, but there was a degree of respect in his mannerisms, now, and an almost smug sense of knowing that she wasn't sure she liked.

Then she'd checked in with The Moshae, who greeted her quite a bit more fondly then she might have expected.

"I am tired, playing liaison, but... it is fulfilling, rewarding work, such as I have not had in quite some time." the Moshae smiles a little, looking her over, "You have changed, Pathfinder. For the better. You are more like an Angara, now - more open. More in tune with yourself. Jaal has changed, to - you complement each other. I see that now."

"Thank you, Moshae."

In the end, Aria had found herself where she now stands - the balcony of Jaal's little apartment, his so long as he was considered one of Evfra's closest men, a bachelor style layout with a tiny kitchen in one corner, a decent sized bed in the other, and a small bathroom not entirely different from the human variety.

Jaal had shown her where it was and given her access during their last visit to Aya, though he admitted he'd never spent much time there, even before joining the Tempest's Crew - "Just to sleep, occasionally eat - or to think, when a day had been long."

She'd laid down on the bed for a while, enjoying the familiar scent still left faintly on the pillows, before ending up where she now stood, hoping Jaal would call soon.

I want to visit the kids again, Aria sighs, closing her eyes and bending to press her forehead against her arms, I need to learn more of their names. And I want to see Tela and the babies again. Maybe we can just spend a week on Havarl.

Fuck, when is Jill's baby due? Pretty soon. We can work on settling Meridian a bit more while Gil's on leave - oh, maybe we could spend a couple of months with Jaals family, then. I want to learn more about their culture, their family - but I don't want another Engineer on the Tempest while Gil's gone, should we ground it for a bit?

Hey everyone, holiday time, but we can't use the Tempest! Gaaaah, gotta figure that out-

A familiar beeping from her omnitool snaps Aria out of her thoughts, smiling a little as she lifts her head and opens the channel, "Hey, Jaal, all done?"

"Not quite yet." Jaal chuckles, "Do you remember the Waterfall, Aria?"

How could I forget? she wonders, cheeks turning pink at the mere memory of their time there.

"Of course I do."

"Good. Come, meet me here. I have something for you."

Aria lifts a brow, "Do I get any clues?"

Jaal only laughs, "It's a surprise."

"Alright, I'll be there soon."

Aria's out the door the moment the channel closes, trying not to look to frantic as she makes her way through Aya's streets, headed for that back pathway Jaal had led her down before.

She spots him the moment she steps out of the foliage - standing near the edge of the water, back facing her, looking as though he's holding something in front of his chest - and takes a moment to collect herself before striding forwards, grinning fondly at the familiar place.

"Okay, Jaal, I'm insanely curious now. What's going on?"

"I wanted to bring you back here. To where I first confessed my love." Jaal turns, smiling softly, the bundle in his arms catching her attention, "And where you reciprocated, and gave yourself to me. I was - and am - humbled by your love, Aria. And I have a gift for you."

He shakes the bundle out then, and Aria gasps a little, feeling giddy.

It's a Rofjinn, the same colours as his but with a little Pathfinder emblem sewn onto the right shoulder, smaller then his, built for human shoulders-

"You made me a Rofjinn." she breathes, feeling suddenly shy as he steps closer and hooks it around her shoulders, settling the material so easily that it's like it's always been there.

"You may recall, quite some time ago, when I mentioned making gifts for everyone," Jaal's voice is soft, full of affection, as he secures the clasp, examining his handiwork proudly, "And, finally, I was able to finish yours. Do you like it?"

"I love it." Aria pauses as a memory strikes, something he'd said recently, something that seemed to fit with the sudden trip to Aya, the special meeting place -

"How do Angara propose?"

"We ask. And offer a token of affection, in most cases. It can be a piece of clothing, jewelry, or a handcrafted instrument, to name a few."

Oh. Oh.

"Jaal-?"

Jaal's already sinking to one knee as her brain catches up, and her breath hitches, staring down at him with a frantic sort of hope.

Is that Angara tradition? Did someone teach him? Is this real? Is he really-?

"Aria," he says, pulling something from his pocket, face so anxiously affectionate and hopeful it can't be anything else, "Darling One. Will you-?"

"Yes!" she can't help it; the second she'd seen it was a ring her heart had burst with joy, laughing and flinging herself at him, practically tackling him and wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, kissing him joyfully, "Yes, yes, yes!"

"Aria!" Jaal is laughing even as he pushes her back slightly, manoeuvring into a sitting position with her in his lap, shaking his head at her, "Beloved, much as I appreciate your enthusiasm..."

"Yes?" she asks, tilting her head.

Jaal does his best to look serious, "You did not let me ask."

That just makes her start giggling, "I'm sorry. Go ahead."

Jaal's grip on her waist tightens, his expression shifting into one of obvious affection, "Aria Ryder. Pathfinder. Darling One. Temptress. Beloved." he pauses, lifting her left hand between them, "Marry me."

Aria blinks back tears, smiling widely, "Yes, Jaal."

Jaal's smile is blinding as he slips the ring on her finger, giving her no time to inspect it before he's nearly crushing her against his chest and kissing her soundly.

Then he's lifting her and standing and spinning her around, laughter ringing out into the air, the two of them together as they should be.

It's only after several more kisses and spins around the clearing that they head back to the Tempest, hands clasped, the looks they gather from the Angara they pass telling her the Rofjinn is not going unnoticed.

Likewise, the knowing looks of her Crew before they burst out in congratulations tells her they were in on it, too.

They set course for Havarl - Jaal had actually acquired a specific fruit for Sahuna from Aya, though the main reason had been for the proposal - and Aria only gets the chance to examine the ring after a few hours of 'private celebrations' in their rooms.

Aria lies in bed with her hand held out above her head, Jaal tucked against her side, an arm over her belly and body pressed right up against her.

"It's beautiful." she breathes, loving the uniqueness of it - a black band with two strips of stones, one set pale blue and one clear quartz - before tucking her hand against her chest and turning to snuggle into Jaal's chest, content, "Thank you."

"Only the best for my fiancée." Jaal purrs, touch turning a tad possessive, and Aria loves the shiver the word sends through her.

They arrive on Havarl and have barely stepped into the compound when Sahuna appears and spots the ring and Rofjinn, her shouts bringing the rest of the family to them.

They're surrounded by his family, welcomed and congratulated, Tela attached to her, Sahuna wondering about human wedding ceremonies, Etta not-so-quietly mentioning growing their family-