1558/Workin' on the Night Moves

Workin' on the Night Moves
Date of Scene:	19 July 2017
Location:	Bludhaven
Synopsis:	Dick and Beth go out on a date.
Cast of Characters:	Nightwing, Elizabeth Greene

---

Nightwing has posed:
    Riley's Steak House and Grill is this little place in Bludhaven that's on the edge of the Irish district of the city close to Little Odessa, so at times it's enjoyed a subtle change in the flow of patrons. But the steaks there are pretty fantastic, and the old Mr. Riley still works there after forty years, so the place has gained a reputation as something of a... neutral ground. At times you'll see some young men in track suits enjoying their burgers just a table away from the O'Shannasy party.
    Tonight, however, it had been decided as a decent place for the young man known as Dick Grayson to take a moment to meet up with Ms. Greene. Reservations aren't a thing there, first come first serve and all. But the young ne'er do well had a decent reputation with some of the staff and so when he called he was given the benefit of a corner booth table.
    It was there, well past the crowd of surging people, the singing folks at the bar shrieking some football fight song as that's what's on the television. A happening place with a lot of people. And Dick Grayson, he sort of fits right in even though he's off doing his own thing.
    "You sure you don't want something else to drink, Dicky?"
    "No thanks, Sheila. I'm good. Just killing some time til my date shows up."
    Sheila pops her bubblegum, "Gotta take a hard woman to keep you waiting, Dicky boy." She flashes her smile and starts to walk off.
    "I'll get you some more bread!" She trots off.
    "No really it's..."
    He heaves a small sigh as she gets too far to hear him, but he settles back in his seat and waits.

Elizabeth Greene has posed:
    The place has a great reputation but it isn't one that Beth has visited. Last time, she picked the spot. This time, he chose. Unfortunately, she had agreed to pick up a shift for a fellow detective which means that their evening will be cut short. Maybe that's for the best, even if she doesn't like it. She stops just inside the door, stepping to the right to be out of the line of traffic should someone else enter or exit. It takes a moment to scan the restaurant but she doesn't see him immediately. She walks over to the hostess, tucking her hands in the pockets of her blazer.
    "I'm meeting someone here. Mr. Grayson?" She tilts her head, trying to look at the list on the stand.
    The hostess covers it with her hand. "Dick? You're meeting him"
    Beth hesitates at the incredulous tone. She puts on her best smile, resisting the urge to say something snarky. "Yes, I am."
    She gets a once over from the hostess, taking in her business slacks, her button up white blouse and the blazer over the top. Sighing, she motions. "Table in the back. You can't miss him." Emphasis on the word 'him'.
    "Thank you," Beth says, quickly moving for the back. Upon reaching the table, her smile lights up as she leans in to kiss him before slipping into a seat. "Sorry I'm late."

Nightwing has posed:
    Meanwhile, at the end of the aisle of booths and settled in the corner (that he chose knowing she preferred that booth) is the young man known as Dick Grayson. When he sees he walking down the way he perks up a bit, just that little lift of his eyes and the touch of sitting up straighter. His smile curves lightly and when she draws near he gets out of the booth and steps close enough for a small kiss of greeting. Just a light peck on the cheek and a squeeze of her hand in his.
    "Glad you could make it." His blue eyes meet hers and then he settles back into the booth.
    Once seated opposite her and looking across the way he grins, "Figured you might've gotten an emergency call or something."

Elizabeth Greene has posed:
    "Yes and no," Beth says as she slips into the side of the booth that allows her a better view of the room. She takes a quick glance around again before focusing back on her companion. "One of the black and whites had a traffic stop with a possible warrant so he needed a backup before he made the approach. I was the closest so I went. It just took a couple of minutes for the takedown. Guy didn't want a fight thankfully. You just never know on those things. Some just let you put on the cuffs, others think they should go down in a blaze of glory."
    She shrugs as her grin turns a little sheepish. "Sorry, I'm babbling. I should only babble when the stories are exciting but I tend to do it when I'm nervous. Not sure why I would be doing it now." She tilts her head to the side, noting she is still running off at the mouth. She clears her throat, pastes on her best smile and asks, "So, how're you?"

Nightwing has posed:
    "No that's fine, I like to hear about the job." He leans forwards and takes her hand in his, giving a faint squeeze as he says. "I went in to Gotham today, met with family and that was kind of nice, but also kind of strange." He waves a hand a little to the side, "Talked to some of the local people and caught up on some things. It was nice to just touch base and see what was going on."
    He reaches for the bread basket that had come initially and offers it to her with a quirked eyebrow should she want a roll. But then he pushes it away. "Argued a little about me doing the police thing, which has me wanting to do it more, but I shouldn't make a big decision like that just because I'm mad."
    He then seems about to say something else when Sheila the waitress walks up.
    "Hey guys, I'll be your waitress for tonight, my name is Sheila." She says pointedly as she /glares/ at Richard, but it turns into a smile as she looks back.
    "What can I get you guys to drink?"
    "I'm good with water, thanks Sheila." Dick smiles to her pleasantly.

Elizabeth Greene has posed:
    She turns her fingers in his, enjoying the simple contact. The offered bread is declined with a shake of her head. After all that pasta she had leftover from their last date, she has to avoid the carbs for a few days more. She starts to ask about the family and their disapproval but pauses as the server approaches.
    The interplay is watched with a hint of humor in her eyes. Something about him and women. She's going to have to get used to it but she doubts that's going to happen either anytime soon. "I'll go with sweet tea if you have it."
    "Unsweet. I can bring you sweetener if you like," Sheila says in polite tone.
    "Nah, I'll go with water instead."
    She watches Sheila go off to get their drinks then turns an amused smile to Dick. "I don't think our server is happy with you. Should I ask?"

Nightwing has posed:
    "Oh," Dick looks after her as she departs and he looks over at Beth. "I sort of... talked to her? I guess?" Yeah, Grayson is a bit clueless at times in certain arenas of the world. "I started to come here now and then before heading out for the evening. And we talked at times at the bar while I had dinner."
    He straightens up in his chair a little, looking at her curiously. "I honestly don't know why she might be unhappy with me." Of course if he realized the lengths Sheila had gone to at times to get his table when he came in, or the times she spent at the bar just talking to him. "I felt bad for her though, it seemed like her friends were always cancelling on her when she wanted to go to events and things."

Elizabeth Greene has posed:
    "It's that thing," Beth says, waving her hand in the air in his direction. "You just ooze it. Makes women crazy. Good looking, seemingly a nice guy who listens and cares about what's going on in their lives, doesn't have that attitude like they are giving a woman a gift by talking to them. 'It'. My guess?" She leans forward on the edge of the table. "Sheila was hoping she would be the one sitting here in the booth across from yuo. She sees with another woman, she's having her dreams dashed on the rocks. So that is why you are being given dirty looks."
    She glances in the direction Sheila went just in time to see the glare aimed at her before the server turns away. Beth looks back to Dick. "And me. But y'know what?" She leans forward and whispers in a stage-aside. "Thems the breaks and she'll just have to learn to live with her disappointment."

Nightwing has posed:
    Shaking his head, Dick looks at her, "You're exaggerating." He squeezes her hand and pointedly doesn't look in Sheila's direction because really, then she would know they're talking about her and that would just be plain mean. "There's no harm in being polite to people and just talking and all."
    Sure Dick is a student of the human condition, and sure he can recognize and profile a felon in a few moments alone with the evidence. But turning that lens on himself and looking in the mirror. It's one of his blind spots, at least in this regard.
    "Though..." He tilts his head at her and smiles, "I was thinking about asking you out before everything went down before. Just, you know, for the record."

Elizabeth Greene has posed:
    Her amusement increases. "No, there is no harm in being polite." How he can be so naive, she has no idea. Beth is not going to complain. It's rather charming. Too many men that look like him, with women throwing themselves at him, go to the opposite extreme. It surprises her that they can fit in a room with their egos. They often become players, going through women like they are consumables. Dick is so very opposite all that. It's hard to believe he's real.
    "At the gym?" she asks, surprise showing. "I didn't even think you'd noticed me. I know you weren't looking because..." Foot inserted firmly in mouth. She can try to change what she was saying or just continue with her blunder. "Because I was staring at you. A lot." She tries to cover her embarassment with humor. "And drooling, I think. It's why I kept the towel with me."

Nightwing has posed:
    A small laugh comes from him and he shakes his head. "Well," A small squeeze again as he tells her, "I have no regrets about how things worked out." He finally pulls one of the menus over and opens it between them across the middle of the table so they can both look at the same time if she wants. Since, for some reason, it's more fun to look together.
    "I was thinking of the steak tips." He points it out with a fingertip even as he leans forwards. A sip of his water is taken and he looks up at her, "Though you're going on shift, hm. Maybe something light." His lip twitches as he adds, "With less garlic."

Elizabeth Greene has posed:
    "If I'm going to be dealing with criminals and drunks all night, extra garlic might be better," she says in a teasing tone. She looks at the menu propped between them, finding it amusing. Probably would've been easier if they were on the same side of the booth. She'll remember that for next time. Glancing over the listings, she points with her free hand. "New York Strip. Salad on the side. Which brings up a very important question." She looks over at him but it's clear the question isn't going to be that important by the laughter in her eyes and the smirk on her face.
    "Please tell me you don't eat your steaks well done. Because if you do, I might cry seeing beef mistreated in such a way. I can maybe live with medium. Medium rare and you're golden."

Nightwing has posed:
    "Nice of you to at least offer the possibility that it wouldn't be an immediate relationship ending event. I could offer you no such promises." Dick grins a bit and says as he nods, "Medium rare for me." He seems about to say something else and, of course, that's when Sheila returns with the drinks that are set down with glassy clinks, small droplets of condensation spattering the table.
    "Alright guys, what can I get you?"
    Dick waits for Beth to place her order, then he'll answer. "I'd like the steak tips please, medium rare."
    "Coming right up," Sheila smiles to them both again, at least being fairly professional about things. She heads off.
    "So..." Dick looks away, then back to her and says. "I don't want to be that guy. And I don't want you to think badly of me. But... would you like to do something for the weekend?"

Elizabeth Greene has posed:
    Taking a sip of her water, she waits as he opens with one of those lines that always means something bad is coming. The question catches her off guard, being not as bad as she had expected. She grins as she puts her glass down. "Okay, first, I've got to know why asking me to do something for the weekend would make you 'that guy' or cause me to think badly of you? That doesn't strike me as a bad sort of question. Now if this was our first date and we didn't have a history together, then I could see it being a little improper. That isn't the case here."
    She squeezes his hand gently, still not willing to give it up until they absolutely have to. "I'd have to arrange withe one of the other detectives to take my on-call for Saturday but considering I'm covering him tonight, it shouldn't be a problem. What'd you have in mind?"

Nightwing has posed:
    "Well, I mean." Dick rubs the back of his neck awkwardly as he looks towards her, away, then back again. "The guy who meets a gal and is into her so much that he wants to spend a ton of time with her." He smiles a bit as he reaches finally for one of those rolls, tearing it in half as he speaks.
    "We just met last week and all. And I just wouldn't want you to think I was taking things too seriously..." Then there's a pause, "Or too easily?" Dick smiles and gives a shrug as if that weren't the most confusing thing to say in this case.
    "But I was just thinking of taking a drive. Maybe a bed and breakfast." He scritches his chin, "But is that... us?"

Elizabeth Greene has posed:
    The explanation sobers her a little as she considers. It's true, they have known each other for a week. It's been an intense week but going by the numbers, perhaps it is a little early in things to go off for a weekend together. Her eyes meet his as he continues, weighing everything carefully before she speaks.
    "Dick, I'm not going to have any illusions here. Things have moved rather quickly between us. And while I know in my head that I should be playing things slow and easy, that isn't what I want to do. I'm enjoying the ride, so to speak. The time spent with you has been amazing. So, not basing anything on the number of days or even whether it is too fast or too easy, I am going to continue enjoying for as long as we can. If that's a week, it'll be a great week. If it's a month, even better. Longer? Who knows." She shrugs a little. "I figure I should have fun while we can. No pressure from my side of things and hopefully that made some sort of sense."
    She continues in a lighter tone. "I have never stayed at a bed and breakfast. It'd be a new experience and I don't know if it's us at all. Probably with us, I'd expect base jumping or rock climbing. But if you can find one near a historical site, I'd probably be all over it too. Never was a good student but I love places with some sort of historical significance."

Nightwing has posed:
    "Alright then, let's do it."
    And with that Dick Grayson leans forwards to give her a small kiss on the cheek, just a gentle thing before...
    Sheila steps up and says, "Alright here you go, steak tips." She /shoves/ the plate in between them and then slides it towards Dick as she eyes him with that ole stink eye that is reserved for such betrayal.
    Then she sets a plate down in front of Beth, "And here's yours." Nothing more than that, just here. She then mumbles, 'bon app a bitch.'
    Dick looks up at her and blinks a few times."
    "I mean bon app a tit." She says, mispronouncing it and then turning away to stomp off back down the aisle.

Elizabeth Greene has posed:
    Up until now, the entire thing has been kind of amusing. The server had her eyes on Dick. Dick was clueless. All well and good albeit disappointing for the woman.
    But when the 'B' word gets dropped, things just got real.
    Beth's eyebrows go up and she has to bite her tongue. Literally. It's the only way to keep from saying something impolite. With her choice of career, she has to be careful not to let her temper get the better of her. Dick will feel her stiffen since their hands are still together. She watches Sheila go, a frown appearing on her face before she looks at her plate.
    "I don't know about you but I think I just lost my appetite. There is no way I'm touching that." She doesn't trust it now, not with that level of venom. Then she looks to Dick's face, eyes meeting his as she smirks slightly. "You sure you just talked?"

Nightwing has posed:
    At her trepidation, Dick looks kind of down as he considers what possible bodily fluids might have been integrated into his meal. He frowns, as really there's no going back on that image when something like that's happened. He takes a deep breath, sighs, nods a bit as he looks towards her. "Yeah, I don't blame you."
    Dick reaches in his back pocket for his wallet and says, "I'll take care of the bill and..." But then she makes her comment about just talking and he looks at her with eyes widened.
    "I swear." He holds up his hands, "I mean other than you I've only dated thr..." He stops for a moment and bites his lower lip. "I haven't really dated a lot."
    He heaves another sigh, "I'll take care of this, and we can get going. Maybe grab something at the Krispy Burger?" A small smile is given back to her, rueful.

Elizabeth Greene has posed:
    While she doesn't like that she embarassed him, that little bite of his lip and change of sentence endears him to her all over again. It makes up for the moment that just happened and the ruined meal. She is going to wake up any minute now and this will be a dream. In which case if it's a dream, it's safe to eat the steak. Nope. Not chancing that one, even in a dream.
    "Krispy Burger sounds great." She mentally adds another hour to her workout tomorrow just thinking of the place. Two hours if she wants to work off actually eating something from their menu. "Their fries are the best thing on the planet, I think. Well, second best. Right after waffles. Oh wait, and chocolate. Their fries are great. We'll leave it at that." She slides out of the booth, straightening her jacket as she does so.
    Seeing them moving to leave, Sheila is forced to return with the check which is just tossed upon the table before she flounces off again.

Nightwing has posed:
    Looking a little sad, Dick looks after the displeased young woman but then looks back towards Beth and gives a small shrug. He pulls a few bills from his wallet and leaves them on the table, not bothering to wait for change. He gives a nod to Elizabeth and then starts to walk down the aisle, his hand lightly taking hers, not out of any need to help her, but perhaps just to make it clear they're together.
    He walks to the door, and if everything passes alright, he'll open it and let Beth precede him out. A moment later and he'll follow her.