I want to rob lumber mills and hospitals with you

[controlledvariable]

Who: Steph and Kate!
What: A first date!
Where: Kate's place -> a restaurant in Spit Hearth -> TMU. They are busy girls
When: Sukkardi afternoon/night
Notes: Girlfriendsssssss
Warnings: None for now!

Tonight is date night. It's been a while since Steph has had a real date - she doesn't feel like the ones she set up here really count, they were nice, but they were more like spending time with a friend than a real date. This is a real date, her and Kate are somehow officially a couple, despite the fact this is their first date. Of course, the fact there already a couple mitigates some of the usual worries that are associated with a first date - all the questions will she like me, what if we have nothing to talk about, and what's going to be expected at the end of the night are already answered. Steph knows that Kate likes her, she knows they get along well and have plenty to talk about, and she knows at the end of the night they'll go home together because it's where they both live. They're taking things slow, working it out as they go and gently testing the boundaries of what each of them is comfortable with, so a real date is a good place to start feeling out this relationship and deciding exactly how it's going to work. Maybe that's why Steph is still a little nervous, or maybe it's just because it's been labeled a date and she's concerned that's somehow going to make it awkward between them.

Still, that doesn't put a damper on her excitement. She's picked out a nice restaurant (she owes Angela big time, her app was so helpful), she's got plans for after dinner that she hasn't told Kate about, and she spent the last three days repairing a dress she'd bought cheap because it was slightly damaged; she might not have her sewing machine, but it was easy to buy the basics to hand sew. The restaurant is in Spit Hearth, and the booking is for 7:30pm, so Steph plans to be out of the apartment an hour before then, giving them plenty of time to get there. Kate's been informed of this part of the plan, so she's home by the time Steph gets there at a little after 5:30, having come home from work. Steph says a quick hello before slipping into the shower; she lingers there a little longer than she should, hands on her scars as she reminds herself that a) there's going to be no nudity involved tonight, b) Kate's already seen most of her scars and c) even if she hadn't, it wouldn't bother her. Steph's never really been self conscious of her body, gymnastics kept her fit when she was younger, then vigilante training did the same, but the scars are something different. They look so awful, and she gets scared that someone's going to pull away because of them. Eventually she forces herself to stop thinking about, rinses the conditioner out of her hair, and gets out of the shower. It doesn't take her long to dry off, and then she puts on a bathrobe before heading out to the bedroom, figuring she can get dressed out there and free up the bathroom for Kate.

Comments

[joiedeviolet]

"Well, take out reminds me of home." But Kate's defense is to empty air because Steph is a terrible girlfriend who never wants to face the music. And that's okay because while Steph is too busy running, Kate disappears because she is the night--okay, no, she just steps off to the side of the station, behind a column, where a middle-aged lady with feathers for eyelashes is selling flowers from a little pushcart.

For all Steph probably knows, Kate has run away, never to be seen again. Or until tonight whenever she gets home.

[controlledvariable]

It takes her a moment to notice the lack of Kate because Steph naturally assumed she would follow. About twenty feet away from the column Kate ducked behind, Steph stops and turns around in a slow circle.

She doesn't understand the point of this exercise, but she can guess it's a joke, "I was trained by the World's Greatest Detective, you know. I can find you."

Yeah, she just called that out on the train platform. What of it?

[joiedeviolet]

There's a point to it, one Kate only knows for the moment and Steph shouting that out in the middle of a public area isn't quite helping it, though. Handing some money over to the lady in exchange for a rather unique looking corsage of Baedal specific flowers, Kate reemerges from the column, trying her best to keep a rather unimpressed look on her face. Steph looking so indignant makes it hard, though, so a smile is just barely peeking through.

"And who is the World's Greatest Detective?"

[controlledvariable]

When she spots Kate, Steph narrows her eyes trying to keep a stern, annoyed expression. But, like Kate, it gets interrupted by a smile and something that's more like a pout than anything.

"It's a secret," Well, it's a secret now that she's just realize they're in public and she really shouldn't be saying things like Batman right now.

[joiedeviolet]

"Riiiight. That's what they all say," Kate replies as she comes close to wordlessly slip the corsage on Steph's wrist, pulling and tugging gently to make sure it sits right. After a second of inspection, it passed her approval and Kate letss go of her wrist.

"I didn't know if you had a favorite, so I figured I couldn't go wrong with purple.

[controlledvariable]

Her eyebrows go up when she sees the corsage, but she let's Kate put it on her wrist without making a comment and still trying to stifle her smile. When Kate lets go of her wrist, Steph catches her hand and gives a light squeeze.

"The truest thing you've ever said," You can never go wrong with purple when Steph is involved.

[joiedeviolet]

"Of course. I went through your stuff late at night. It wasn't even a guess."

Kate's stomach growls loud enough to be heard even in the train station and she sheepishly glances down at it, willing it to stop embarrassing her. "Let's go eat before the animal in my stomach bursts through like that Alien movie."

[controlledvariable]

"I'm impressed," No, really, she is. Steph will make a Bat out of you yet, Kate. First step: going through your girlfriend's stuff. Second step: breaking and entering.

"If you have an alien chest baby I'm breaking up with you," Important clarifications. But she keeps hold Kate's hand and starts walking towards the station's exit.

[joiedeviolet]

"I said stomach, not chest, and it seems you'll just dump me over anything. Why won't you accept me the way I am?" Kate's a terrible actress but that doesn't stop her from throwing few dramatics Steph's way, going as far as to hold Steph's hand in a pleading embrace. "I just want us to be a family. You, me, and growly alien baby."

[controlledvariable]

"I'm a fickle woman," Her smile is something between being cheeky and smug, "If I didn't keep my own kid, what makes you think I'm gonna wanna keep yours?"

It's a joke she would make with - no one else but Kate, probably. Which says a lot for how Steph feels about her.

[joiedeviolet]

For a hot second, Kate's grin falls when Steph mentions her real kid, but Steph still has a smile on her face. Kate quietly breathes a sigh of relief that she didn't overstep a boundary or two by forgetting that bit of Stephanie Brown's life.

"Well, now that I know that, maybe I'll dump you first and find somebody else who will appreciate me and the mini alien." The grin returns to her own face, sharp and mischievous.

[controlledvariable]

"I'd say you wouldn't have much luck with that, but considering the city we're in..." Kate could probably find someone in Baedal who would want to raise a growly alien baby with her.

There's a pause as they walk for a moment, as Steph tries to remember which way to go, and then she takes them right. They're not too far from the restaurant now.

[joiedeviolet]

"Exactly," Kate replies as smugly and pleased as she possibly can. "So maybe if you behave, I might stick around." This is Baedal, after all. Not only can Kate find somebody to raise a growly alien baby with her, she can find somebody to father... or mother it too.

She doesn't want to think about this particular detail of the issue. Kate just got used to kissing another girl.

"Hey, after we eat, what are we doing? Going home?" Seems pretty anti-climatic for a first date, especially since there's not much in the way of a movie theater or anything else here. Maybe Kate should have asked this when she asked Steph out.

[controlledvariable]

"Alright," there's a hint of sing-song teasing in her voice, which should give Kate slight warning for what's coming next, which is Steph looking up at Kate through her eyelashes and adding in a suggestive tone, "I'll be a good girl."

It serves the purpose of both teasing Kate, and as a way to avoid the question. What they're doing after is a secret, and Steph is nothing if not sneaky.

[joiedeviolet]

Who does Steph think she's dealing with here? Kate is far too sharp to let somebody dance right around a direct question.

"Don't look at me like that when you don't answer my question." Kate is sneaky too; it's why Steph isn't about to get away with being it too.

[controlledvariable]

"You're no fun at all," Declared as if this is a universal truth, with a huff at the end of the sentence, "I'm gonna have to up my game."

Still not an answer.

[joiedeviolet]

"I'm here to ruin all your fun because you don't answer questions."

It's a promise and a threat rolled into one. Kate's serious about what Steph's up to. No good, obviously, but what no good?

[controlledvariable]

"It's a secret. But I will tell you not to overeat, we might have to make a quick getaway at some point."

That is probably not reassuring at all, but Steph is saved momentarily from any scolding since they've reached the restaurant and the next few minutes are taken up with them getting seated and being given menus.

It's a nice, mid-range restaurant, with a bit of a French-mixed-with-Baedal feel and the table they get directed to is in the more private part of the restaurant (Steph told them it was a first date).

[joiedeviolet]

Kate narrows her eyes and opens her mouth to protest whatever this plan is, but she's interrupted by fussing from a waitress, a quick moment of blushing from the hostess winking at them when Steph checked in, and the menu being slipped into her hand. Once drinks are ordered and everything settles down, Kate turns her attention back on Steph. Time to turn up the heat.

She holds up the menu, closed and waved menacingly in her hand. "Don't think I won't hit you with this. I don't like secrets."

[controlledvariable]

Steph, on the other hand, leans back in her seat, perusing the menu without any hint of concern, "You won't." Well, she might, but it won't be a real hit.

"Completely unrelated to the topic of what we're doing afterwards; I hope you're not too out of practice on the cello," It is not unrelated at all, but it's more fun to pretend it is.

[joiedeviolet]

"I'm not answering you until you answer me."

No, Kate wouldn't hit Steph ever, not out of frustration or anger anyway. But she will play stubborn too for as long as it needs to last. She just opens her own menu and starts looking at the appetizers, wondering how long either one of them will hold out.

Kate is patient. It's one of her strengths.

[controlledvariable]

"I don't need an answer," There's a good-natured teasing in her voice as she raises an eyebrow at Kate in silent challenge.

Both of them are stuboorn, but Kate might have a slight advantage in that Steph doesn't want to actually annoy her.

"Any chance you'll just trust me and see where the nigh takes us?"

[joiedeviolet]

It'll take a lot more to actually annoy Kate. No, she's just playing this game well knowing that Steph wouldn't actually lead her into trouble... much.

She doesn't answer immediately, letting the question hang between them like the white roses in the vase and the candles between them, before glancing over the corner of the menu. "Any chance you'll at least give me a clue?"

[controlledvariable]

It takes a bit of effort not to fidget too much while she waits for a response, but she manages to keep herself mostly still.

"That sort of behaviour shouldn't be encouraged in me," Considering her dad's propensity for the same thing, but Steph is smiling, "And anyway, I've already given you two."

Quick getaways and cellos. It should be obvious, really (no).

[joiedeviolet]

"You mentioned quick getaways and asked me about my cello. What? Do you plan on dragging me along on a flash mob jam session?" Somehow, Kate doesn't put that too far from Steph to do. In fact, she thinks she might have even given Steph another idea.

Steph definitely does not need to be encouraged.