Red Devil Part 6
Sep. 11th, 2011 03:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
OK,
anteros_lmc, I did 400+ words as a reward for watching the rugger. K? :)
The Tapas bar was good and the—comfort style—food was better than expected. Chicken in some sort of spicy marinade, sweet potato fries, salad, something small and fishy and tasty. Just what the doctor ordered. The finger food, and the lack of loud music, was conducive to talking, the sort of all-embracing, entirely superficial small talk of a first date.
So is this a date? Horatio wasn’t sure. It felt like more than just a bite to eat with a friend; somewhere, crackling between them was the electricity of mutual attraction. The eye contact, held just a touch too long, the space between them just a touch too close, the smiles and laughter. All of it smacked of the run up to, “Your place or mine?” Shame that he was too tired to be able to take advantage of any proposition that got made. Still, there was time; two whole weeks of it, and maybe they could manoeuvre some opportunities.
“Do you dive?” Archie gesticulated with a sweet potato fry, in imitation of a figure broaching the waves.
“I have done, when I was younger. Why?”
“I’ve planned to spend Sunday doing some—got some investigation to do for my thesis and my diving buddy’s looking like he might have to pull out. I was hoping you’d be available for backup. I’d provide the equipment.” Archie grinned. “I promise I won’t make you touch any disgusting little creepy crawlies.”
“I’m not sure how much help I’d be, although I think I could act as backup, assuming I’m over my jetlag.” Horatio thought for a moment. “Maybe next weekend would be better?”
“No,” Archie said, then, “no,” again, less sharply. “Next weekend doesn’t quite work out.”
“Oh, right. Then it looks like I’ll have to tag along.” Horatio smiled. “And if your buddy pulls out I’ll do the honours.”
“Splendid.” They finished the last of the food, making the mundane, yet exciting, arrangements of where and when to meet. Horatio had got beyond being able to stifle his yawns by the time they got to paying the bill, conserving just enough energy for the trip back to the airport hotel.
“See you Sunday.” They parted at Aquarium station, a brief handshake as a sort of deposit on—maybe—more exciting things to come. Horatio was asleep not two minutes after his head hit the pillow, dreaming of huge pools of sea water, full of strange fish, and Archie among them, a veritable merman.
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The Tapas bar was good and the—comfort style—food was better than expected. Chicken in some sort of spicy marinade, sweet potato fries, salad, something small and fishy and tasty. Just what the doctor ordered. The finger food, and the lack of loud music, was conducive to talking, the sort of all-embracing, entirely superficial small talk of a first date.
So is this a date? Horatio wasn’t sure. It felt like more than just a bite to eat with a friend; somewhere, crackling between them was the electricity of mutual attraction. The eye contact, held just a touch too long, the space between them just a touch too close, the smiles and laughter. All of it smacked of the run up to, “Your place or mine?” Shame that he was too tired to be able to take advantage of any proposition that got made. Still, there was time; two whole weeks of it, and maybe they could manoeuvre some opportunities.
“Do you dive?” Archie gesticulated with a sweet potato fry, in imitation of a figure broaching the waves.
“I have done, when I was younger. Why?”
“I’ve planned to spend Sunday doing some—got some investigation to do for my thesis and my diving buddy’s looking like he might have to pull out. I was hoping you’d be available for backup. I’d provide the equipment.” Archie grinned. “I promise I won’t make you touch any disgusting little creepy crawlies.”
“I’m not sure how much help I’d be, although I think I could act as backup, assuming I’m over my jetlag.” Horatio thought for a moment. “Maybe next weekend would be better?”
“No,” Archie said, then, “no,” again, less sharply. “Next weekend doesn’t quite work out.”
“Oh, right. Then it looks like I’ll have to tag along.” Horatio smiled. “And if your buddy pulls out I’ll do the honours.”
“Splendid.” They finished the last of the food, making the mundane, yet exciting, arrangements of where and when to meet. Horatio had got beyond being able to stifle his yawns by the time they got to paying the bill, conserving just enough energy for the trip back to the airport hotel.
“See you Sunday.” They parted at Aquarium station, a brief handshake as a sort of deposit on—maybe—more exciting things to come. Horatio was asleep not two minutes after his head hit the pillow, dreaming of huge pools of sea water, full of strange fish, and Archie among them, a veritable merman.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-09-11 04:02 pm (UTC)That little line came to me in the bathroom; I get all my best lins there!
Okay, that's probably too much information!
(no subject)
Date: 2011-09-11 04:08 pm (UTC):)
(no subject)
Date: 2011-09-11 04:37 pm (UTC)Oh go on then, you're a hard woman though! *grumble grumble grumble* ;P
(no subject)
Date: 2011-09-12 03:52 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-09-12 04:08 am (UTC)