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[airbath]

retired old catch-all post
nsfw warning
please do not post any more prompts here

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[knightscode]

[ He lets out a soft, slightly self-conscious laugh at that and tilts his head playfully. ]

Well, if you're eating that means I can eat cake too without shame. You'd be doing me a favour, really.

[decompile]

[ She gives a smile of her own in return. It's really so difficult to grasp how a man this polite and good looking can be so shy. Yet, she herself - the type one would expect to be as such - and not a hint of it. Interesting.

One glance of her acquaintance and then back to the clerk. ]

The chocolate, please.

[ And as he inevitably either makes his order, pays, or both. ]

It's been quite some time since I've had anyone treat me. I think it's just the distraction I needed.

[knightscode]

[ Lance smiles at her in pleasure, turns back long enough to gesture to the almond one himself and waits for it to be rung up before slipping his card into the reader to pay. ]

Too busy?

[ He glances sideways at her curiously, because he doesn't imagine he can be devoid of offers. The receipt starts to print out and he takes his card back, tucks it into his wallet and declines the scrap of paper before taking their cakes over to a free table -- smiling at the waitress as she follows a moment after to set down their coffee for them. ]

Well, I'm happy to be a distraction if you need it.

[decompile]

[ Q follows him when the business part is taken care of. It's nice to be able to sit down. There's a surprising lack of it in an IT dominate position such as hers. ]

You could say that.

[ Perhaps it is being too busy that causes the lack of offers. Dating within an office where no one is to know your name... She takes a sip of her coffee and already thankful he interrupted her. ]

Thank you, again. [ Q's always been less than wonderful at small talk. She has a feeling if left quiet long enough, he would fill in the silence for her. ] Has work been going well?

[ Oh, yes, very thrilling, Catherine. ]

[knightscode]

[ He smiles again and shrugs a little, picking up his spoon to stir his own coffee idly. ]

Can't complain. I have a few jobs going, enough to keep me afloat.

[ Lance takes a sip of his drink, sets it down and smirks to himself -- remembering something. ]

One place, the owner has this cat -- biggest cat I've ever seen, incredible creature. Not... fond of strangers, I think. Or, not fond me me at least.

[decompile]

[ Gingerly, she places her own cup down. ]

I find that hard to believe.

[ Hm. Even she's not sure about that one. It is the truth. Still, she hadn't expected herself to be flirting so quickly. If that counted as flirting...

They're momentarily interrupted by their cake. It's going to take great will not to immediately devour it. It's only now that she has stopped to dwell on it that she realizes her stomach is empty. ]

[knightscode]

[ Lancelot looks up,eyes widening a fraction, then drops his eyes again self-consciously and smiles a little in pleasure -- tugging his cake toward himself for something to do with his hands. ]

As I find it equally hard to believe that you are being treated as you should, Miss Bell.

[decompile]

Please, call me Catherine.

[ As formal as she could be, this was hardly the time and place. They were no longer client and worker, so why not leave it that.

Ah, how she could definitely enjoy the cake without seeming like a starved animal. It's quite delicious, but that's to be expected. ]

What makes you say that?

[knightscode]

You said you had not been treated in some time.

[ He gestures with his spoon between the cake and coffee, shrugs a little. ]

If it makes you happy, it should be done more often.

[decompile]

[ As if it were so easy for her to find someone to treat her. Amusing. She gives him a smile, as if holding back a soft laugh. ]

I'm afraid my little black book is completely blank.

[ But she could probably find a few thanks to a certain co-worker. She takes another bite of cake between pauses. ]

Do you find yourself treating often?

[ She looks over the rim of her glasses with widely curious green eyes. Q does hate how a part of her wishes he would say no. ]

[knightscode]

Good lord, no.

[ Lance gives a little self-conscious huff, rubs the back of his neck with his free hand. ]

Too busy singing to my grass and watching paint dry.

[ Although the slightly uncomfortable shift as he toys with his cake says it might not just be for lack of time. ]

[decompile]

[ His shyness must be what stops him from landing every skirt he comes across. That's the only explanation. Q herself is already considering making a few bold moves and she's barely said anything to him.

She gives a quiet chuckle as she places her coffee on the saucer. ]

Perhaps you should give your paint a grass a few days off now and again.

[knightscode]

I'd like to. If I had company.

[ He darts his eyes up, gives a faint smile. ]

If I could, perhaps, pry you away from your computers for a while.

[decompile]

[ Well. She knew that it would come sooner or later. Wasn't expecting it quite so soon. She thinks for a moment, taking a sip of her tea. ]

I would like to, but...

[ Poor thing. He's probably expecting a polite decline. Q's willing to give him a shot. At least something friendly. ]

My job, as you probably noticed, is very demanding. We'd have to plan carefully.

[knightscode]

[ He dims a little, ruefully resigned to rejection, but then the last thing she says makes him brighten a little once more. ]

Of course, I'm happy to. I know you're busy and work can be tiring, please -- don't feel you need to make some momentous effort. I will be content if you would come drink coffee with me again.

[decompile]

[ Lancelot is so brightly eager it's difficult not to find happiness in his reaction. She dips her head, hiding it with another bite of cake as he speaks. ]

As long as you don't get discouraged if I have to turn you down more than once... or twice.

[knightscode]

[ He is so happy though, you do not understand. ]

No, no not at all! You are not to blame if work pulls you away. So long as we can reschedule I am content to wait as long as is needed.

[decompile]

[ She can sort of see it. It's like she's given a dog a treat. It's an infectious happiness she finds herself reflecting to a lesser degree. ]

Thank you for understanding. It's caused problems before...

[ A pause, a shift in her glance that's excused with another drink of coffee. ]

When I get home, I can check my schedule and text you?

[knightscode]

That would be perfect -- if you are not too tired. There is no hurry. Do you still have my number?

[ She might not, after all. He was just a contract worker doing some painting. Lance is just pleased she is even considering it, if he's honest. He tries to stop himself from grinning too much by feeding himself some cake. Being overeager is unattractive, he thinks, and also probably childish. ]

[decompile]

Only your work number...

[ She still has the paperwork lying around waiting to be filed away. No matter how flirtatious he was, she liked his work. Plus it seems to be paying off to have kept it. He's eager, but she almost can't remember the last time someone was eager to be around her.

She moves to her laptop bag to look for a pen. ]

You should have mine, as well.

[knightscode]

Oh, I -- only have the one phone. It's work and personal.

[ He digs out his Nokia phone, fidgets with it to unlock the keypad and bring up his contacts list before giving a tiny shrug. ]

It's sturdy.

[ He knows it isn't cool. He doesn't really care. ]

[decompile]

[ She.. blinks at it with wide eyes. Only to then realize she's being incredibly rude and tries to play it off as passive. Q spends her entire life surrounded by advanced technology. She's a bit of a gadget buff herself. Seeing a phone like this when surrounded by advanced programs, touch screens, apps...

Well, her parents had phones more advanced than this. ]

Excellent. Then I do have your number.

[ So, yes. Time to finish up the cake or coffee. She doesn't want to seem ungrateful. ]

Perhaps we could meet again for coffee? My treat, this time.

[knightscode]

[ Lance just smirks at that, jerks an eyebrow at Q. ]

I know it's not exactly glamorous.

[ The phone. He shrugs again and sets it down on the table, going back to sipping his coffee. ]

I'd like that, though. If you have the time.

[decompile]

[ She will refrain from comment on the phone. Not everyone, as she well knows, is as obsessed about these sorts of things.

The other matter, however, definitely will get a final word. ]

I think I will make time, Lancelot.

[ And wasn't that telling? She offers an apologetic smile and begins to excuse herself. ]

I should head home at last. It was a pleasure running into you again.

[knightscode]

And you, Catherine.

[ He gives her a small nod, curling his cup of coffee toward himself as he watches her gather her things and leave.

Lance feels a bit like an over-excited puppy. A very... docile over-excited puppy.

By the time she finally frees herself up enough for a date Lance is filled with a peculiar jangle of nerves. The park, she suggested, with coffee of course -- and Lance likes the park but suddenly he finds himself wondering what people do in the park. The weather is dry, at least, which is something just short of a miracle. Dog walkers skitter across the grass every so often with enthusiastic animal friends and Lance smiles absently to himself as he watches them. ]

Have you ever thought about having a pet? For company, I mean. It must be difficult when you work long hours, I understand, but cats are supposed to be reasonably independent and resilient. Even if they seem to have an objection to me.