Insomnia and night shift makes a surprisingly good combination. Nathalie always had trouble sleeping, and James had been working past midnight in those days. Chance encounter on Bumble led to an impulsive drive to Portsmouth at 3AM. Somehow it worked out—spontaneous, imperfect, and all falling in line to how these two would work together from then on.

After weekly visits driving between Virginia Beach and Portsmouth, they finally got their own apartment in Norfolk! It was terrible. Landlord special dictates that every cabinet be doused in at least three layers of paint. Gas heating was convenient during the winter, but the lack of AC left the place sweltering in the summer. There was just, a whole water heater in the corner of the kitchen. Still it was a start, and along with the hurdle of living in a shithole, they also had the hurdle of living with each other. Things are easier when there’s at least an escape to your own respective home. And the first year was hard. Dreadfully hard. And they made it nonetheless. The wedding hasn’t even begun, and they’ve already lived past their own honeymoon phase. And now they can navigate domesticity together. Sweet and boring, where moments don’t have to be big, they just need to be enjoyed.

Admittedly, marriage was always mentioned offhandedly. But the official proposal came in the form of a long drive home. Halloween and Nekocon coincided, and they decided it was easier to double dip and go straight from the convention in the cosplays to a Halloween party afterwards. And the drive home—with sore feet, and costumes that desperately needed a wash, Nathalie asked if they wanted to get married. Actually married. Plan for a wedding and get their taxes done jointly the next year. And James said yes.