It was early in the morning, the sun had barely started to shine through the windows. Usually Marina would be asleep, right next to Pearl. But this time, she was up and planning something very special. Marina was sitting by the kitchen table, the computers dim light shining on her face as she was typing away, she was checking times aswell. Making sure that this day would go as well as possible, she had been planning this for months now. Marina abruptly stopped typing and sneaked into the bedroom that her and Pearl shared.
As Marina made her way inside said room, she glanced over at her girlfriend, lightly snoring as she was sleeping. Marina smiled at the sight, but she continued to sneak around the bed. Making her way to her side of the bed, sneaking over to the bedside table infront of her. She pulled out the top drawer, revealing a small box. Marina took it and opened it, revealing a pretty ring.
This little ring was the reason for all of this careful planning. Because today, she was going to propose to Pearl. Marina took a deep breath as she walked out of the room and into the kitchen with the ring, putting it in her bag. Marina, in a sort of cheesy way, started recite what she would say.
"Pearl, do you want- no, no that's not right. Pearl, will you marry me-" Marina covered her face and groaned, she felt embarrassed. Right now she wishes that she could have Pearl's straightforwardness.
It felt like someone was watching, a small paranoia grew in Marina. She went to check the bedroom, Pearl was still sleeping. Marina let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding, she walked back into the kitchen.
Marina looked at the clock on the wall, it read 8:12 am. Pearl was going to wake up soon, Marina went and started to make breakfast. In Marina's opinion, Pearl always looked cute when she was surprised and when Marina would surprise her with things such as breakfast. Pearl would make that cute surprised face, eyes wide, eyebrows raised and mouth slightly agape. It was enough to make Marina swoon, Pearl doesn't know it, but she's really pretty.
Marina decided that she would make pancakes, as she was making them she remembered the splatfest. Pancakes vs Waffles, wasn't it? Marina's team, waffles had won and after that Pearl and Marina had waffles for breakfast for a week. Much to Pearl's annoyance, Marina could swear that when the week was over. Pearl almost cried tears of joy, she really didn't like waffles, did she?
As Marina was making the pancakes, she heard some very quiet shuffling coming from the bedroom. Marina smiled to herself, Pearl had absolutely no clue that she was going to get proposed to in a few hours. It made Marina happy but also very nervous. Quiet steps were heard in the hallway as Pearl made her way to the kitchen, yawning.
"Mornin' Rina," Pearl's eyes opened a bit more when she smelled the almost done breakfast.
"Is that- Is that pancakes?" Pearl's eyes lit up in a childish hope, a small smile appearing on her face as she was approaching Marina.
"Oh, good morning Pearl!" Marina turned around a little to see the shorter girl hug her from behind, leaning her head against Marina's back. Pearl mumbled something that Marina couldn't hear. Pearl eventually peeked from Marina's back, seeing the food. Her eyes lit up, making that cute surprised face that Marina loved. The octoling giggled, smiling bashfully at her girlfriend. And hopefully future fiancé.
"You made pancakes?" Pearl asked, now looking up at Marina.
"Yes! Do they look good?" Marina asked, while she didn't get a direct answer. Marina could hear Pearl mumble something, but she couldn't hear what she said. But it was still cute to her.
After the pancakes were done the duo sat down and started to eat, Marina decided to start her months of planning.
"Hey Pearl, would you like to...go on a date? We haven't really gone on any in a while, and we have been on so many tours so I wondered-" Before Marina could finish her sentence Pearl shot up from her chair in excitement.
"Yes, of course!" Pearl said, she then realized that she had interrupted Marina. The taller girl just giggled as Pearl's face got redder and redder by the second.
"It's alright, Princess!" Marina said, noticing how the nickname made Pearl's face even redder. Pearl sat down, putting her hand on her cheek, feeling its warmth. Marina then remembered her plan again.
"Anyhow, I was thinking we could go around the city, eat at a restaurant...and maybe go to Inkopolis's sightseeing tower?" Marina asked, taking a bite out of her pancakes. Pearl looked up at Marina, face still a bit red.
"Yeah, sounds fun!" Pearl replied, still maintaining her chipper nature. Her face had returned to its natural shade, she had a small smile on her face. The two girls finished their food.
After they were done, Pearl and Marina got dressed and went outside their apartment, it was a nice morning. Pearl, in her usual sense would lead Marina around Inkopolis. Visiting different shops, they had stopped at this little general shop. Filled with random vintage items, merchandise and things you would only find in those kind of shops. Pearl particularly stopped by a duo necklace.
"Hey Rina, look at these." Pearl said, showing Marina the necklace. It showed a heart, split in half. Each half was attached to one necklace, Pearl pressed the halfs together. They made a slight clicking sound, attaching to eachother. Pearl took the necklace, turning to Marina, grinning.
"Aren't they cute?" Pearl asked her girlfriend, holding up the jewelry a bit close to Marina's face. The octoling took it, looking at it closely. Smiling at Pearl's enthusiasm. Marina always adored that small thing about Pearl.
"Yeah, they really are!." Marina replied, she handed the necklace back to Pearl. "Do you want to buy them?" Marina asked, Pearl smiled nodding. After they bought the necklace from the noticably nervous cashier they headed outside. Some time had passed, which meant that more people had gone outside. That also meant that more fans would show up to ask for selfies, pictures or signatures. It would take a while to get through streets for the duo, after getting through a giant wave of fans Marina lead Pearl away to an alleyway so they could chat for a little bit without getting interrupted.
"Ah...sometimes I forget we're famous." Marina said, almost groaning, taking a breath while leaning against the wall. Pearl sat down by the wall.
"Same here...but that's what happens when you're Inkopolis's news hosts!" Pearl said, giggling. The two idols decided to just wait there for a little while.
Some time had passed, Marina checked so they could quickly pass the corner. They headed to a small restaurant that Marina had booked earlier, they got to sit in a small, secluded spot in the restaurant. They ordered their food, and waited.
"Hey, have you planned this?" Pearl said after a small bit of comfortable silence, slightly leaning forward as if she couldn't be heard. Marina panicked slightly, terrified that Pearl would find out about her months of planning.
"Uh...why do you ask?" Marina asked, nervous about Pearl's answer.
"I dunno, just feels like you have planned this." Pearl answered, she then grinned. "But I'm not complaining if you have." Pearl continued, still holding a small grin on her face. Marina laughed a bit in relief, she was grateful that the day was successful so far. She then realized that Pearl wouldn't have found out, why was she so nervous? After a small bit of waiting, the food came. Pearl and Marina spent hours chatting about anything that came to mind. During some sections of their conversation the food would barely be touched.
After eating, they headed out of the restaurant, Marina grabbed Pearl's hand. Giving it a slightly nervous squeeze.
"Hey Pearl, do you want to go to the sightseeing tower?" Marina asked, her nervous feeling from earlier that day had returned. She considered closing her eyes, as a way to avoid Pearl's gaze. But thankfully, Pearl just smiled back at her.
"That tower you suggested earlier?" Pearl asked. They had already started walking in the tower's direction. It was a silent but effective answer. The sun starting to set, some stars were beginning to appear across the sky, it looked beautiful.
Eventually the two made it to the tower, it was incredibly tall. Rivaling some of the other buildings around it. The tower didn't have an elevator, instead it had stairs. Pearl turned to Marina oppon seeing the stairs.
"Hey 'Rina, wanna race up?" Pearl asked, a playful grin on her face. Marina looked at her girlfriend, she gave Pearl a small smile. "Sure, you're on." Marina said before taking off to the stairs, Pearl quickly followed after. Catching up to Marina eventually, as they were running they almost tripped a couple of times. As Marina made her way up to the stairs, she saw Pearl standing on top of the stairs. She had a proud smile on her face, Marina smiled at the sight. Then she remembered why she was there, to propose.
"Haha, I won!" Pearl cheered, as she laid her eyes on Marina, standing on the second last step. Pearl laughed, reaching out to Marina. The octoling took her hand, getting lead up by Pearl. As the two were looking around the sightseeing tower, they noticed that nobody was there.
"Perfect." Marina thought to herself, she was happy that nobody was there. She could propose to Pearl in peace, well, almost. if she wasn't so nervous. Marina took a deep breath as her and Pearl were walking around the tower. Looking at the city and sky.
As the two were walking around, Marina was slowly building up her courage. It was hard to pay attention to anything else, but finally. She told herself that she was here now, she was with Pearl, about to propose to her and there's no going back now.
"Um...hey Pearl." Marina said, Pearl turned to Marina when hearing her. The dim moonlight shining on her, making her eyes slightly shine, Pearl looked really pretty like this. Well, in Marina's eyes she always looked pretty. Marina took a deep breath, she took Pearl's hands in hers.
"I just...today is our anniversary. Y'know, when we first met." Marina said, Pearl had a small but noticeable blush on her face. Both of them still remembered that day.
"Yeah, I know...is that why you asked us to have a date today?" Pearl asked, tilting her head a little bit. Raising her eyebrow. Marina just nodded, smiling.
"Which is why...I wanted to ask you this." Marina said before she went down on one knee, hearing Pearl gasp a little. Marina reached into her bag, pulling out the small box. Reaching it out to Pearl while opening it, the ring shining in the light.
"Pearl, will you marry me?" Marina asked, looking at Pearl. Her heart was beating, Pearl was covering her mouth with her hands in shock. Eyes wide, eyebrows raised, mouth probably agape.
There was a small silence, Marina was worried that Pearl could her heartbeat. Pearl had some tears trickling by her eyes, she suddenly jumped forward. Hugging Marina tightly, her normally brash and loud voice was silenced at this moment.
"Yes! Yes I- Yes I will!" Pearl said. Marina just hugged her back, all of her worries had been erased. Now it was just them, and the stars. The duo were sitting on the floor. As they got up, both of the girls had tears trickling down their faces. Pearl's was more noticeable. Marina's had just started, they decided home, hugging and holding hands the entire way.
After a while, they got home. Having changed, showered and finally climbed in bed. Marina was asleep, having been up for many hours, but Pearl was cuddling Marina. She could finally, after many years call the woman she loved her fiancé and one day, she would get the honour to call that woman her wife. Pearl sighed, just happy and content with the situation and day. She held Marina closer, before finally drifting off to sleep.