Jalisa and Merlin greet one another in front of the Oasis Outdoor restaurant located in Oasis Springs.
Voidcritter: *after they are seated* How’s your day been?
Knight: I spent the day feeling relieved to still be here…especially after that last challenge.
Voidcritter: I thought you did fine. Why were you worried?
Knight: I guess I’m not as good with kids as I thought I’d be.
Voidcritter: That was a lot, though. You’d be different with your own kids…that is if you want kids.
Knight: I do…having a family of my own is one of my biggest goals. As long as it’s not six toddlers, *laughs*.
Voidcritter: *chuckles* I agree with you there. Six toddlers are a bit much.
Zoe, the waitress, comes over, introduces herself, and takes their order. Merlin, true to their previous conversation, isn’t very sophisticated with his order. He goes for the cheapest wine and vegetarian meal on the menu.
Knight: I’ll just have a Granite Falls Grappo Blanco and the Tofu Stir Fry.
Jalisa orders the Sizzled Brisket over Sour Clover Salad, a more experimental meal, and a Love Potion #4. The waitress walks away…and they return to their previous conversation.
Voidcritter: How many kids would you want?
Knight: That’s something that we’ll have to decide together. We have our careers to consider. I’m okay with however many you want…I just look forward to making them with you.
Jalisa blushes and has a sudden strong desire to start practicing with Merlin.
Voidcritter: So, what if we did have an intimate relationship…and you aren’t satisfied with it. How would you communicate that?
Knight: Well, unless it’s not happening at all…I’m pretty sure I’ll be satisfied. My job would be to make sure you are too. I’d have to get to know what you like and don’t like, and I’d love for us to feel comfortable enough with each other to express that.
Voidcritter: *more blushing* Okay then…I think I need Zoe to hurry up and bring our drinks.
Knight: *chuckles* Are you okay with talking about this?
Voidcritter: I’m the one that brought it up, so –
Zoe finally arrives with the food.
Zoe: Anything else I can get you?
Jalisa would love to ask for their meal to-go and the address of the nearest hotel, but that’s not about to happen anytime soon…so she settles for thanking her and dismissing her. Time to change the subject…
Voidcritter: So, who should make the biggest decisions of the household?
Knight: Is that still a question nowadays? Shouldn’t it be a team effort?
Voidcritter: You’d think so, but believe it or not, there are still some guys who believe otherwise.
Knight: You’re right…I actually work with a few.
Merlin doesn’t even seem to be interested in his food. He never takes his attention away from Jalisa.
Jalisa has another heavy question for Merlin…
Voidcritter: So if we get married, what would be my role as your wife?
Knight: *thinks for a moment* My mom was fairly traditional…you know, taking care of the house…cooking, cleaning. *pause* But I could tell she was unhappy. I’m sure she had her own dreams, but she put it all aside for us. I don’t want that…I can iron my own damn shirts. I can tell that you’re smart, funny…ambitious. My job is not to dim that, but to support you as your partner, because you shine bright on your own. I’d want you to do the same for me.
Voidcritter: That’s exactly what I’m looking for. It all sounds good. You’ve said all the right things, but I need to know how you really feel about me. I don’t want any doubts…I don’t want to find myself questioning it 10 years down the line.
Knight: I know I’ve held back my feelings…well, more specifically – my affection from you a few times. But, it was out of fear, not lack of love for you. The crazy thing is…I feel like I’ve known you all of my life, but I don’t even know what you physically look like.
Voidcritter: What if…when we finally remove the costumes – you don’t like what you see?
Knight: But I have seen you, from the inside. Not liking what I see on the outside would be like reading the best book I’ve ever read in my life, but in the end, saying I hated it because I don’t like the dustcover. You complete me. You fill in all the parts of me that have been missing all my life. Finally seeing your face will just finalize the puzzle…not make me feel any differently about you.
Deep emotions and love for Merlin fill Jalisa and threaten to spill out. She can feel the tears welling up in her eyes. Although she knows he can’t see them, they still make her feel incredibly vulnerable. They pay for the meal and decide to move over to the couch near the fireplace.
Knight: What are you thinking about?
Voidcritter: You, me…this entire challenge.
Knight: Your next date?
Voidcritter: Yeah…and the last one.
Knight: I can’t imagine how hard this whole thing is for you.
Voidcritter: *holding back tears* I-it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
Knight: Then try not to think about it. Just be here, in the moment…with me.
Voidcritter: But when I do that…my mind goes to places where it shouldn’t be. Not yet…
Knight: What type of places?
Jalisa doesn’t dare say it out loud. She leans in and whispers some of her thoughts and desires into Merlin’s ear.
Knight: You’re not alone in that. I’ve had wet dreams about getting it on with a Voidcritter…that’s a bizarre mixture of being scared and aroused at the same time. But…I liked it a lot more than I care to admit.
Voidcritter: *chuckles loudly*
He places his hand into hers and laughs with her…
Voidcritter: This whole thing is so crazy…
Knight: Crazy…that’s true. But beautiful at the same time.
They get up and walk over to tip the guitar busker, before saying their goodbyes and ending the date.
Knight: You know how I feel about you…at least I hope you do. But I don’t want to make this whole challenge thing any tougher on you than it already is. I want you to pick who makes you happy. I hope that’s me…but if in the end, you decide that it’s not – I want you to be okay with that decision. Promise me that you’ll be okay with it.
Jalisa cannot say it without breaking out into tears, so she just nods. Merlin embraces her, then turns to leave.
~~~Jalisa’s Thoughts~~~
(The Voidcritter) The heart is not made for this type of thing. Mine’s has been prodded, poked, and twisted way outta shape. I’ve had feelings for Merlin since our first date in the park. Was it love from the start? I don’t know…but it was just as strong, I can tell you that. I just can’t put my finger on what it is, because we’re so different in a lot of ways. Even now…I can’t watch him walk away, so what am I supposed to do if I don’t end up with him when this is all over? *soft sobs*
28 Blind Date Summaries | read from the beginning
