romeoinabox: (by lj user sodamnreckless) ([All dressed up])
[personal profile] romeoinabox
Birthdays really are the best time to celebrate life. Excuses are made for the best food, the finest wine, and one's favorite company. Whether with old friends or new, it really doesn't matter. So long as enjoyment is had by all, the celebration can only be called a win.

They might have been last minute plans, but Red is working just as hard to make this a dinner to remember. A table separate from the others to limit the amount of gossip they have to deal with. A bouquet of peonies and roses for Verity to bring a breath of spring into the cold winter night. And on top of it all, a tuxedo, rather than a suit, to better fit the atmosphere of their dinner destination. He would keep the hat on for now, to ward off the cold and appease his date for the evening, but it clashes terribly with the tux. It'll be coming off the moment they arrive at the restaurant.

He arrives a few minutes early to Verity's... tower residence, and he ponders momentarily on asking if she happens to live at the top or if she makes someone else live up there (because Verity is obviously not a damsel in distress). There doesn't appear to be a regular door, so he knocks carefully on where one should be.

"Yes, hello? Is Verity here? I'm here to escort her to dinner."

Date: 2016-02-12 05:01 am (UTC)
brave_heart_verity: (muffled laugh)
From: [personal profile] brave_heart_verity
He knows he's found the right place when he can hear her laughing, which happens right around when the large slab of crystal in the wall cracks open and moves so he can step inside. "Sorry I forgot to warn you about the door. The joys of living with a wizard: all the modern and magical conveniences, if I don't mind not having electricity."

It's a nice place, if you like stone and green. Very solid, with a fireplace in the living room and a few picture windows. Form follows function, and then there's a reminder that she lives there too. Upholstered furniture, rugs on the floor, a few potted plants in front of a window, some kind of crazy herb garden chandelier. Then, of course, there's her: gone are the fauxhawk and casual clothes, and she suddenly looks like a proper lady with her updo and cut velvet evening gown. If he gets the idea she's just finishing getting ready, it's probably because she's still in the process of putting on her earrings. (The pink druzies look adorable with her hair; her brother's got good taste.)

"You look very nice. I hope it wasn't hard to find the place?"

Date: 2016-02-13 03:58 am (UTC)
brave_heart_verity: (doubt it but I love ya)
From: [personal profile] brave_heart_verity
"It is certainly that. Once it knows you mean well, it'll open for you automatically. And you're welcome to step inside when it does, you don't have to wait out in the cold. It's hard to hear people knocking if I'm upstairs." Not that it happens very often, but people are so resistant to the idea without a good excuse.

"The walk does build up an appetite, doesn't it? Getting groceries home is a great workout." Has he noticed the tattoos yet? Because those are new. New to him, anyway, with this whole 'no bare arms in winter' thing she's been rocking.

The flowers get a smile, as he knew they would. "Thank you! They're beautiful. I'll go put them in water. Would you like a drink or something before we go?"

Date: 2016-02-13 06:16 am (UTC)
brave_heart_verity: (pleased)
From: [personal profile] brave_heart_verity
"Seems fair. And a good way to know if I'm actually at home." Seeing as she goes out so much more than she used to, it's not safe to assume she's sitting around the house these days. Especially not with the unpredictable weather.

"Oh, thank you. No. I've been doing a lot of running and self-defense training. Running on the beach is a lot less fun than it looks on television. I'm just glad I'm not covered in bruises, they would clash with my dress." Because that is, of course, the only downside.

"I don't doubt it." This 'hospitality' thing is still new to her. She'll figure it out. Right now she has flowers to attend; it doesn't take long to trim the stems a bit and put them in water. Then it's time to go. She grabs her long black coat and a scarf, winding the latter around her neck and over her hair before shrugging on the former. Her purse is already waiting by the door. "Ready to brave the cold again?"

Date: 2016-02-13 06:25 pm (UTC)
brave_heart_verity: (flirt)
From: [personal profile] brave_heart_verity
"Oh, I can introduce you, but... well, be careful what you wish for." It's easier to focus on that than the slightly ridiculous compliments. She doesn't train for aesthetic reasons. On the other hand, it's nice someone noticed.

"Oh, for me? How spoiled I am." And how smart, wearing shoes she can keep a brisk pace in. No stilettos in this weather. Kitten heels at best. (Somehow she just couldn't justify sneakers with this dress.) She'll take his arm, but they might be leaning equally on each other through some of the icy parts, and that's perfectly fine with her.

Date: 2016-02-14 05:43 am (UTC)
brave_heart_verity: (surprised)
From: [personal profile] brave_heart_verity
That's one of those tricky gray areas. So long as there's some degree of care, it doesn't ping her. Whether or not philosophers could make hay with it is another matter.

"Definitely spoiled," she warns with a smile. Sticking close together in this weather is just plain good sense. Warm and steady is better than personal space at times like these. He can enjoy having her tucked under his arm like a baby bird; he's too much the gentleman to get handsy and end up in a snowbank.

However well she dressed to fit in, there are signs that she's not used to places like this: someone taking her coat, for example, is a little surprise. But since Red's going along with it, she will too. Following his lead seems to be the best plan. And the host who leads them to their table, when she's not distracted by all the things to see.

This 'pulling out her chair' thing is another little surprise. What in the world is happening did she trip and fall into one of those old movies V kept wanting to show her? "Oh. Yes, it's charming. Thank you for sharing it with me."

She glances down at her wine glass and rests her fingertips on the foot, moving it gently to swirl the wine. "How did you know I like red?"

Date: 2016-02-15 12:46 am (UTC)
brave_heart_verity: (such a showoff)
From: [personal profile] brave_heart_verity
She leans forward for secret time, an amused little smile on her face before he even starts telling her. It only grows when she hears what it is. "Oh, is that so? Very sneaky."

Her glass is lifted mostly in time with his, and she takes her time enjoying the wine. "Mm, no, it's delicious. You have good taste." An eyebrow flickers at the offer of a whole bottle for herself. There was a time she would have accepted. "No, thank you, I'm quite happy sharing this one. And if we want more later, I'm sure the wine cellar will still be there."

If she knew it was his birthday, she'd offer a toast.

Date: 2016-02-15 02:48 am (UTC)
brave_heart_verity: (wine)
From: [personal profile] brave_heart_verity
Her glass is raised on request, and the toast gets an agreeable smile and nod from her. But the wording hasn't escaped her notice. "To new friends and reasons to celebrate," she agrees. Clink. She sips her wine, studying him over the glass for a moment before her eyes drift shut. It really is delicious and she wants to enjoy it.

"Do you celebrate all your new friends like this?"

Date: 2016-02-15 02:59 am (UTC)
brave_heart_verity: (thinking about it)
From: [personal profile] brave_heart_verity
Her natural inclination is to question him until he tells her or leaves. But her better judgment reminds her she doesn't want him to leave. Patience is not a native virtue, but she's trying to cultivate it.

So. Menu. Hmm. "Famished? I should have kept you at home and fed you, you'd be full by now," she teases. The ice wasn't particularly fun for either of them, but she knows for a fact it won't last forever. Reynard will decamp to cooler climes in the summer, she has no doubt, like he did this past year. "It's tough to decide. I love French onion soup, but I also like escargot. Probably the soup today, to warm up."

Date: 2016-02-15 04:10 am (UTC)
brave_heart_verity: (bad idea)
From: [personal profile] brave_heart_verity
However long he waits, she's going to apologize for not making him a cake, just see if she doesn't.

She lifts an eyebrow at the suggestion before making a show of looking around the restaurant before leaning toward him to ask, "Which old man?" Because clearly, he can't be talking about himself. She can hold the smile in only by biting the inside of her lip, so if he's kind, he won't leave her hanging too long.

Date: 2016-02-15 04:32 am (UTC)
brave_heart_verity: (listening)
From: [personal profile] brave_heart_verity
She maintains she doesn't technically need to sleep every night.

She waits for him to be done with his laugh before pointing out, "There's a space between young and old. When people have some knowledge and a little wisdom and interesting stories to tell, but haven't lost their joie de vivre. Don't sell yourself short."

Date: 2016-02-15 04:54 am (UTC)
brave_heart_verity: (cautiously optimistic)
From: [personal profile] brave_heart_verity
Sleep is for people who don't have the nightmares.

His display gets a pleased little hum from her, and she leans back in her chair with her wine in one hand to study him. She almost wishes she had her sketch pad. Steve must be contagious. (Not just his love of art, like, all of him.)

"Oh, happy birthday! I'm sorry, I would have made you a cake if I'd known. I'll make you a cake next time you come visit. Any kind you like. It doesn't even have to be lemon."

Date: 2016-02-15 05:30 am (UTC)
brave_heart_verity: (holding hands)
From: [personal profile] brave_heart_verity
Her fingers curl comfortably around his, and for that moment, he has all her attention. She accepts what he's saying with a nod, glancing away from him only when the waiter is hovering. They're so quiet here. She idly wonders how Red would like Nana's.

"Okay. Sorry if I'm being... overbearing. I haven't had many friends and I'm still learning how to do this." God, that's embarrassing to admit. Good thing there's wine. Wine and truth; she prefers the truth. "I'm glad I came too. It's nice to enjoy your company. The food and wine are a nice bonus, too." However much humor she may try to use to lighten a situation, it's pretty clear, he's the star of the show tonight.

Date: 2016-02-16 06:59 am (UTC)
brave_heart_verity: (lovable idiot)
From: [personal profile] brave_heart_verity
Red's got the good luck to have discerning tastes where it really matters.

And he's so kind, reassuring her like that. Hers is a grateful smile. Grateful and a little playful. "If this is spoiling you, I really have to wonder what kinds of friends you have back home." Are criminals not good friends to each other? The only example she's really seen before was Loki and Doom, and she's not sure they were friends so much as people who sometimes stop stabbing each other in the back for a little while.

"What is it like, where you're from?" Most people like to talk about that eventually, and she's very curious.

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romeoinabox: (by milliemay1981) (Default)
Raymond "Red" Reddington

March 2018

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