Lunch. With have_no_mercy.

[dl_greenarrow]

Oliver had arrived at Pastabilities five minutes early, and was waiting for Tess in the lobby area. It had been awhile since he'd been out to lunch, and even longer since he'd been to this particular restaurant, even though it was one of his favorites in Metropolis

Comments

[have_no_mercy]

Tess is late. Which is unTess-like as it is, but when she finally arrives near half an hour after they'd agreed to meet, she appears somewhat harried and a little distracted.

"I'm sorry," she offers immediately. "I hope you weren't too early."

[dl_greenarrow]

He rises to his feet and offers her a smile. "No, nothing to worry about." He studies her for a moment, sensing something is off. "Hungry?"

[have_no_mercy]

She breathes out a bit of a sigh of relief now that she's there and he's taking it in stride - not that she'd really expected him to take it any differently. A small smile is returned, as she nods. "Starving, actually."

[dl_greenarrow]

"Me too," he admits. "Haven't been here in awhile." They're greeted by the maitre'd who guides them to a booth toward the back of the restaurant.

[dl_greenarrow]

"Meaning?" he asks, his voice quiet as he watches her eat.

[have_no_mercy]

Tess takes a sip of water and then grins at him. "She's got you whipped."

[dl_greenarrow]

Oliver can't help but chuckle at that, because it wasn't exactly what he'd been expecting. He gives her a wry smile. "You really are something else lately," he says with amusement.

[have_no_mercy]

"Same old Tess," she shrugs. "Well, same old changed Tess. Whatever." She points at him with more bread. "I'm taking your lack of denial as confirmation, you know."

[have_no_mercy]

"No, I don't remember," she replies quietly. "I want this to be national. Of course, I have to start small, so Kansas is my guinea pig, but eventually, I'd like it to be something in every library in this country. And maybe others."

Tess frowns and finally glances up, looking around. "Where is our waiter?"

[dl_greenarrow]

He smiles at that, not surprised by her ambition. He knows she's always had a passion for books and reading. It's something he's always admired about her.

Oliver glances around as well, spotting the man across the room taking another order. When the younger man looks at them, he nods his head slightly to indicate they're ready to order their lunch.

"What are you having?" he asks curiously.

[have_no_mercy]

For some reason, Tess isn't terribly comfortable talking about it with him and she's not entirely sure why. But the conversation seems to have moved on, so that's good.

"Chicken alfredo," she says, just as the waiter arrives. "With a side caesar. And we need more bread, please."

[dl_greenarrow]

"Make that two," Oliver tells the man with a small smile, who jots down their order and heads away, returning a moment later with the breadsticks.

He glances back at Tess with a smile. "Have to admit, I've missed this place."

[have_no_mercy]

If someone can sip water angrily, Tess does.

"Wrong? Nothing's wrong. What could be wrong with being accused of being completely incompetent?"

She sits back and huffs out an annoyed breath. "And don't give me any 'You were sick, Tess; I was just trying to help' crap, either. You want more responsibility? Fine. Take it."

[dl_greenarrow]

It's all he can do not to roll his eyes at her. Instead of responding, he simply sits back against the booth and arches an eyebrow at her.

[have_no_mercy]

Two can play this game and since Tess is already slouching in her seat, she'll just take her water glass and finish what's left.

[dl_greenarrow]

Oliver simply watches her before picking up his own glass and taking a sip. Then he sets it down once more. "So I'm going out of town for the weekend," he tells her.

[have_no_mercy]

"All right." It's not like she tells him everything. Not even close, as she's sure he knows. "But if there is anything I can do to help, you only need let me know."

[dl_greenarrow]

He studies her for a moment, then nods slightly. "I will." Usually he's the one saying that and it sort of feels like he's been spun around several times and set down on one foot.

[have_no_mercy]

Tess would claim that as a victory if she knew. It's best that she doesn't. "Good."

And there's that silence again.

"But you won't."

[dl_greenarrow]

"I'd say of the two of us, I'm more likely to ask for help than you are," he says quietly.