OOM: Date Night

[geeky_agent]

Chris and Jack step out of the bar, into a cold New York City night.

The first big difference from Milliways? All the noise. The sound of horns from the cars on the street, cops blowing their whistles as they direct traffic and someone down the street playing a violin come together to create their own symphony.

She pulls her wrap a little tighter around her shoulders and looks over at Jack with a smile. "Surprise."

Comments

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Jack blinks, the cacophany of urban sound a shock after the relative quiet of Milliways. There are few cities in the country with such recognisable architecture, and it doesn't take long for him to figure out where they are.

It also doesn't take long for him to realize that looking at the larger scale...he's home. Back on earth, in the States. Much as some of the odder patrons in the bar might be those he counts as friends, there's something very comforting about seeing ordinary hominids brushing past them.

For a moment he has a rush of panic--is it safe for him to be wandering around New York when he was supposed to be a dead man?--before he relaxes. It's not for long, and he doubts her plans inculde going through any high-security areas, like an airport. Besides, there is always the benefit of hiding in plain sight.

"New York? This....this is definitely not what I expected. This is wonderful, sweetheart," he says, grinning from ear to ear.

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

Chris beams at him, leaning in to kiss his cheek, still holding onto his arm. "I'm glad you think so, I was a little worried."

She looks around for a moment, the area's familiar and she knows Aureole is around here somewhere...

"There," Chris tilts her head towards the restaurant across the street. "That's where we'll be having dinner."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

He looks where she's pointing; an old brownstone acorss teh street wiht an awning over the door and brightly lit. He can see tables through the large windows.

"Shall we go, then?" he says, with a grin, taking her arm in true gentlemanly fashion. "Just remind me not to ask the bar for anything, or look for a rat when we want to order."

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

Chris laughs, linking her arm through his, "I think if you even mentioned the word rat in a place like this, it would cause a panic."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Probably. Then again, the ones here don't provide such good service," he says, as they cross the street. They walk up the steps of the brownstone, and he holds the door open for her as they enter.

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

"Thank you," she says, gliding through the door. She pauses to wait for him and they are met by the Maitre d'. Something flickers across the man's face when he sees Jack but it's gone in an instant, replaced by the usual professional demeanor.

He guides them to their seats, Chris is glad there's no waiting at the bar, and hands them the wine list.

When he walks away Chris looks the list over. "I don't know why they give you these before you've ordered."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Jack notices the epxression that flashes across the man's face and he tenses, but is careful not to show it.

"Yeah, kind of hard to choose when you're not sure what you're having it with," he says, ostensibly looking at the wine list but also scanning the room, out of habit.

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

"Well, it'll probably be the cheese course to start. Someone will be along with those menus soon."

She notices what he's doing and gives him a small smile. "Looking for someone?"

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

He smiles at her sheepishly. "Sorry. Habit."

As if on cue, their server arrives with real menus.

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

"It's all right," she says, reaching over to take his hand.

"I hope Coco doesn't give Angela too much trouble." Coco was usually a good dog but had a way of finding mischief. Especially if it involved food.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

He gives her hand a gentle squeeze.

"I'm sure she'll be fine. If not, I can use it as a learning experience. 'Coco gave you a rough time? Multiply that by a hundred and that's what it's like having a child.' That should take care of meeting any of my great-grandchildren anytime soon."

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

"Don't be so sure, it is Milliways after all."

The server comes by to take their orders and returns just moments later with two glasses of wine and the cheese course.

"Did Angela tell you much about the future?" Chris asks, after taking a drink of the wine.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Not much, just a few things about her mother, and...and, well, apparently Chloe disappeared when Angie was six. Chase and Kim told her that Chloe had died, but they never told her how," he says, quietly.

That snippet of future knowledge still bothers him. With such slim evidence, he can't believe--or can't accept--that Chloe's actually dead, so he hasn't thought about it much.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Jack looks out the cab window as they pull up in front of Lincoln Center, then turns to Chris, grinning.

"Lincoln Center? So what are we seeing?"

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

She smiles, "How do you feel about interprative dance?"

Yes, she's teasing.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

He stares at her for a microsecond, the wheels in his head turning. "You're teasing. Really, what is it?" he asks, getting out of the cab.

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

She takes Jack's hand as he helps her out of the cab. "Thank you," she says softly, giving him a little kiss.

"And it's the Philharmonic."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Much better. What are they performing?" he asks, taking her arm as they head toward the lobby. He hunches down in his coat a little as a cold wind blows down the back of his neck.

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

Chris shivers and instinctively moves closer to Jack. "Holiday Brass, they'll be performing with the Canadian Brass. I hope you like Christmas music."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

He grins. "This year, yes. My Mom had a Canadian Brass record she used to play all the time during the holidays," he says, holding the door open for her.

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

"At my house it was usually the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Or the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack," she says, stepping through the door.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"I used to watch that special every year when I was a kid--my Mom hated that song, though, 'Christmas Time is Here'. Used to drive her up the wall. Maybe because when I knew she didn't like it, I insisted on humming it often. And off-key, of course."

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

"You sound like a sweet child." Though it's nicer than the obnoxious stunts Chris used to pull.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"A perfect angel, of course. Well, to Mom at least. Mostly."

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

"And around your dad?"