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On it’s own, this city was much less flashy than her own. Nearly every street looks the same and Aurora finds herself accidentally reentering the same buildings multiple times. The cobbled roads are hardly distinct and the street names are so nonsensical that it barely does anything to aid her. She laments not just asking Bella to come along with her, despite the fact that it would have completely ruined the purpose of her going around to these places in the first place. It had to be a surprise.
At the very least she was thankful to have the help offered by shopkeepers, even when she felt their patience with her might be wearing thin.
“Something flashy?” the woman asks for the umpteenth time as she leans over the display case.
“Yes! Oh- but…”
“But not too flashy. Right.” She cuts Aurora off before she has a chance to repeat the sentiment that has kept them going in circles for the last twenty minutes. “Have you considered that you might not want to buy jewelry then?”
Aurora furrows her brows in deep consideration. There were certainly other gifts she could give to Bella, though they would all undoubtedly be much shorter-lived than a jewel; undeserving of even being brought to her. And Bella is a star, there is no shortage of men and women who will bombard her off the stage with things such as flowers, even treats from those who are less shameless. Aurora rolls her eyes at the thought that her gift to Bella would be indistinguishable from a mere fan’s.
A heavy silence hangs between the two as Aurora weighs her options; the shopkeeper can only wait for her to either buy something or leave, with no other customers to busy herself with the best she can do is shuffle through different items that she hopes aren’t too flashy.
And Aurora nearly gasps– it’s certainly an overly exaggerated reaction if she has ever known one; influenced by a certain actress’ infectious behavior no doubt. “This one is perfect.” Aurora tilts her head, pointing at the necklace that the shopkeeper has pulled toward the front. ”What of this? Would it make a nice gift for a lover?”
The shopkeeper looks at the piece– unremarkable in her own eyes, but at this point, she’d be willing to sell Aurora a rock if it meant this process would end sooner rather than later. “Absolutely! And if they’re a fan of the theater I’m sure it’ll mean even more to them!” She has already begun boxing the necklace, praying to any god available that Aurora doesn’t change her mind for the umpteenth time.
Aurora is just as thrilled as the shopkeeper to be done with this interaction– returning to the bakery to retrieve her order and purchasing a bouquet on her way to the Golden Rose Theater wouldn’t take much longer; she could only hope she was fortunate enough to sneak into Bella’s suite without being seen.
To say things didn’t go according to Aurora’s plan would be an understatement. She stares into the face of a shorter woman– who seems to have been patrolling the corridor to Bella’s room, and despite Aurora’s blessedly good memory, the stranger doesn’t seem to requite any familiarity.
The awkward standoff finally ends with Bella’s maid gesturing to the items in Aurora’s hands. “It’s always one of you- crazed fans.” Phonograph grumbles as she moves closer to escort Aurora down to the ongoing performance.
“No– I am supposed to be here.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you are Miss. Let’s get you back down to the performance hall.”
In the midst of their little quarrel, neither woman seems to have heard the signs of the performance ending minutes ago, nor do they hear the click of an approaching set of heels until its too late.
“Lady Aurora? What a surprise!” Her hoarse voice doesn’t stop Bella from exclaiming her enthusiasm. “And Phono? I see why you were nowhere to be found now.”
And despite her own surprise, Phonograph doesn’t hesitate to explain herself. “Madame Bella! I apologize- I didn’t realize things were drawing to a close so quickly, and I had gotten distracted by this,” She pauses, sharing a brief but displeased look with Aurora that Bella is none the wiser about. “This lady, Miss Aurora, here.”
Aurora narrowly avoids scoffing at the statement.
“I see! I hope you two were getting along well.” The actress responds softly, not allowing herself to strain her voice any further. The silence that follows after is terse, sharp glances shared between her two companions that she’s too absorbed in her own thoughts of relaxation to notice.
Bella finally quits fiddling with the key in her hands for long enough to look toward her assistant. “Seeing as I am retiring to my suite for the night, I can tend to my own needs, Phono dear.”
Phonograph nods resolutely, and although she regrets having neglected doing her job properly she also wouldn’t dare to argue with her employer. “Of course, Madame Bella. And as for Lady Aurora, would you like me to show her out?” She points toward the woman who stands behind Bella now– and it almost makes her want to laugh when she thinks about how it looks like Aurora is hiding behind someone so much shorter than her.
However, Bella is quick to dismiss the offer. “Lady Aurora is mine to deal with, quell your worries.”
This causes Phonograph to raise her brow with a silent question that neither woman even considers answering. Certainly, she would commit this instance to memory to question Bella about later. “I wish the both of you an easy night.” Her demeanor switches instantly, and she graces them with one last crooked smile before departing.
“Your servant is quite peculiar.” Aurora frowns.
Bella simply shrugs, unoffended by her directness– Aurora wasn’t wrong. “She has always been that way.” She replies in turn as she finally opens the door to her suite and welcomes Aurora inside. Aurora’s first impression of the room is that it looks as if a miniature tornado had swept through and thrown things askew. Her second impression is that it is a rather accurate depiction of the woman she has grown to know.
“She has been by my side for a rather… extensive amount of time. She has her quirks that not even I can understand after all this time.” Bella admits while occupying herself with tidying the chaise to give her partner a place to rest. “Enough of Phonograph though, you seem to have become quite the attraction even in our city,” the actress’ tone is flat as she motions to the items that Aurora holds. “Gifts from admirers?”
Aurora hasn’t moved from standing idly in the center of the room despite the fact Bella has cleared space for her to do so, but this comment from her partner finally motivates her to. “Never such a case. I am more prone to cause a headache for your people,” her fans whirr in embarrassment, recalling the amount of trouble she caused the jeweler.
The actress foregoes any extra carefulness now that she has quenched the slight husk in her voice with a drink of water– in fact, she is rather quick to laugh at the telltale signs of Aurora’s embarrassment. The admission also causes her to perk up with curiosity. “Is that so? I wonder how many shop owners I should go apologize to in your stead.”
Too many. Aside from the hard time she gave the jeweler, she had to explain what sort of order she wanted at the bakery and her lack of experience with food didn’t make that process much easier, in the end her order was put simply as “sweet and heart-shaped”. The only easy stop she had was with the roadside florist, the chosen bouquet stood out to her immediately, an effortless beauty that reminded Aurora of her dear star.
And it’d do well if she forgot the countless other shops she left from emptyhanded…
She sets the box of baked sweets onto the center of the chaise, silently beckoning Bella over to join her. She has a way of asking with her eyes, a silent plea that could rival a puppy begging for food, one that Bella couldn’t deny no matter how hard she tried. Not that she was trying particularly hard now anyway.
“I have heard that it is customary to celebrate this day by exchanging gifts with a loved one, but I have never had the need to do something like this.” Aurora’s synthetic skin radiates an embarrassing warmth, watching with unrestrained hope as Bella opens the first box containing little heart-shaped desserts. “And I do not have adequate experience with treats to know what you would like best, I just know you have an affinity for sweet things…” The robot could have continued to ramble away her thought process of everything if not for the sudden noise coming from her partner— sniffling.
It only took seconds for the sniffles to turn into tears, accompanied by a smile, but crying nonetheless.
“Aurora–”
“Bella?!”
They speak over each other in unison. Aurora’s tone is worried, fretting over the odd and overwhelming display of emotions while Bella’s is full of love and gratitude. She is quick to put her last two gifts aside in favor of cradling Bella’s face in her palms, wiping away the tears that have already begun to ruin her makeup.
“The gifts– are they no good? Is it too much?” Aurora’s brows crease in concern.
“Of course not; everything is perfect, Lady Aurora.” Her words still come out shakily, yet Aurora is more prone to believe her now that the tears have stopped. “I had not anticipated your arrival, ma chérie. How will I make this up to you?” Bella laments her own carelessness. She couldn't have known to expect Aurora to make a trip all the way from Metropolis over a holiday that neither of them had discussed, but she always had to expect the unexpected with her.
“Think of it another time, Bella Donna. Today is not a day for you to worry.” Aurora’s tone has dropped to a monotone one, and even though her face remains just as impassive, the purr rumbling from her system denotes her happiness. “Allow me to show you the most special one?”
This sentiment causes Bella to perk up significantly, beaming an uncontained excitement. If it managed to get any better than these adorable sweets that she had admittedly already begun tasting, she couldn't wait. Aurora was just as impatient to show off the fruits of her labor, presenting the little box with her own shy smile.
Bella is gentle when opening it, as if the box itself were special just because it came from Aurora– it was. “Lady Aurora…” she barely manages to compose herself from bursting into tears once again. The design was simple but no less beautiful, the pendant of a gold rose dangling from a golden chain. Bella is quick to request Aurora’s assistance in putting it on and she is even quicker to lend it to her.
“Just as I thought; you are beautiful, Lady Bella.”
“Surely you flatter me.” Bella replies shyly, holding the pendant up in awe. She closes the distance between them to press a gentle kiss on her companion’s cheek, leaving a lipstick stain in her wake in a color that rivals the blush blossoming on her own cheeks. “Thank you, Aurora.”
Bella sets the white bouquet aside to be safe on her vanity before rejoining her lover, she is practically curled up on top of her with how little room there is for them to share the seat– neither of them minds laying this close. She can feel the hardened steel underneath her synthetic skin this way, see the easily missable lines in her skin where panels lift to reveal her robotic inside. See how Aurora mimics the pattern in which Bella breathes even when she doesn't have to, because learning from her is the highest compliment the actress feels that she could receive.
“The show has worn me out far too much tonight… Allow me to show you around the city tomorrow, Aurora?”
“I’d be delighted to be in your company so long as we avoid any jewelry shops.”