While the merry bells keep ringing, may your every wish come true...

[sand_hawkins]

When the idea came up for a couple's night out, Sand knew exactly where to take them, especially when Tara said she's ready to eat at "any old diner".

Jerry Lee's, the place in Metropolis that Sand and Corrine discovered, sounded absolutely perfect.

It was as Sand remembered it - only far more festive.  It's Christmastime, you know.

The restaurant

Comments

[blind_will]

Travis has all sorts of ways to be impressed. He can smell the food - even now that he knows where he's sleeping nights, knows where his next meal is coming from, and so on, the smell of good food still gets to him every time with the appreciation only those who've nearly starved several times over can really understand.

He can hear the music - he likes jazz and blues. He's fallen asleep to street corner musicians and jazz festivals in the park enough times that it still has a soothing effect.

And, of course, there's the company. The feel of Tara's hand. Her scent - a light perfume mixed with perspiration mixed with lightly scented shampoos mixed with medical grade sanitizing soap. He's recognize it anywhere by now. The sound of her voice intermingled with background murmur intermingled with Ella. He turns off the ring's sensors and lets her guide him, just so he can make sure to fully appreciate the moment his way.

As for Travis himself - as usual he's dressed in black. Makes coordination so much easier. Black jeans, imitation Doc Martens (even with a paycheck, he can't bring himself to pay for brand shoe prices), a black t-shirt bearing the No Fear logo on one breast, and, in a nod to something different, he does wear a brown leather jacket. To better mix and mingle without standing out, he's wearing his glasses, and has a cane, though he doesn't use it much, letting Tara lead him.

"Mmm, fresh cream, they must make their own ice cream in the back even. Nice touch."

[damage_girl]

It's December, which is the same as Christmas, really. At least if you ask Corrine.

"Festive" doesn't begin to cover the outfit. She's been wearing the Santa hat for about two days now, and the red turtleneck fits with the black jeans.

And, yes, the prospect of more root beer floats has her vibrating. "Ice cream!!!" is the only thing she really has to contribute at this point. Anything more requires standing still for half a second.

[sand_hawkins]

Sand gently puts his arm around Corrine's back and gives her a gentle squeeze. She's a dork sometimes, Sand thinks to himself, but she's *MY* dork..

For his part, Sand's the most dressed up of the crew. Checked button down shirt over a shirt with (of all things) a Superman logo on the chest. Nicely tailored jeans.

And a smile wide as Texas.

A waitress walks up. She's barely out of high school. "How many tonight?"

"Four." Sand replies.

"Restaurant, Diner, Canteen or Sock Hop?"

Joy, each area has a name now. He looks to his comrades. "Any preference?"

[green_shield]

Yup. ALL his. And no more of that weird broody stuff when he's around. Rock on.

"Anything but the canteen, Sand. I see enough of bar stuff visiting Travis." says Tara. Not like she's a drinker and it takes pressure off Corrine from saying it.

[blind_will]

"How about not the sock hop either. I'd prefer to be able to hear the people at my table, and dancing and dance floor effects are kind of lost on me. Diner or restaurant are fine though."

[damage_girl]

"And restaurants are just places where they want you to keep your elbows off the table. Something about the chatter of a diner..."

Somewhere in there, there's a muted but appreciative glance in Tara's direction. Corrine's determined to be festive. Brooding, in more ways than one, is so last year. "Plus, paper napkins means maybe I can finally accomplish a reindeer."

[sand_hawkins]

"Diner sounds fabulous then." Sand says.

"OK, follow me." The teen walks them over to a booth, complete with overstuffed red benches and a mini-jukebox on the wall. "Jukebox is only for show while there's music in the two dance areas, I'm afraid." She whips out a pad of paper. "Will this be separate checks?"

"No, ma'am." He smiles at the other three involved. "It's on me tonight."

[blind_will]

Travis gives Sand a grateful nod. "Much appreciated. Will return the favor sometime." he adds, feeling his way into the booth.

[green_shield]

Tara notes the glance bit does nothing to show it. Corrine needs no reminders. Besides, she'll take bubbly Corrine or "okay, you die now," Corrine any old day.

She takes time on the walk to lead Travis and stick closer to him then is strictly necessary. His warmth and presence is heavenly and she knows full well his sense of touch and pressure is better than anyone's. It's some pretty direct flirting without saying a word or looking clingy in front of their companions.

"Wow, thanks boss." She's still in college. She'll take the meal. Then she looks up and laughs to the point where all she can do is point.

Above their booth, definably retro, probably unlicensed, there are some "chibi before chibi," JSA Christmas ornaments. Sandman, Green Lantern, Fury, and Charles McKnighter are overseeing their date.

[damage_girl]

Close quarters of a booth with other people, and you're not supposed to say stupid stuff. The ornaments are a nice distraction. Corrine's head tilts up as she slides into the booth.

There's a raised brow and she tilts the Santa hat back a bit before remembering to take it off at the table. "Wow," she says softly with a crack of a smile. Her elbow nudges Sand's ribs a bit. "That is wonderfully festive, strange and adorable."

[green_shield]

"Oh, no," she says though chuckles, "Better than that. Travis, what I am looking at is The Terror that Haunts Evildoer's Dreams, The Emerald Avenger, The Female Spirit Divine Vengeance, and...Well...Doctor Freak'n Mid-Nite."

She chucks a thumb that way and asks Sand. "Wanna call that one a sign?"

[sand_hawkins]

"Maybe a sign that we should have looked into copyrights early in the JSA's careers. But with the war at the time, no one really cared." He looks curiously. "I had such a crush on Fury back in the day. Most men did - she was what Wonder Woman is today to a lot of fanboys, more so than Polly back in the day. She was more...matronly regal, attracted some of the older guys in their 20, 30's." He grins sheepishly. "The teenagers, however, were into Fury."

[damage_girl]

Corrine's eyes glide over at Sand, then up at the ornaments. Fury. She stops and rolls that around in her head, trying to make something familiar arise. Nothing. Well, that's embarassing.

"I don't know her," she says with a shake of her head and still looking at the ornaments. "Probably should read more. Who was she? What happened to her?"

[sand_hawkins]

"Her name was Helena Kosmatos, she was a Greek national that served with the All-Star Squadron in the war. She's also the birth mother of Hector Hall's wife Lyta."

[damage_girl]

Lyta. A name she tries to avoid. "Guess she was pretty. Lyta is," she says, unfolding her napkin absent-mindedly. "I miss Alan. I met his son, a while back... really quick. Todd. He seems nice."

She gives a quick look around at them. "We should send him something nice. Call him. S'the holidays."

[blind_will]

Travis leans back, taking in everyone else's admiration of the ornaments. Without a real sense of color, their 3-D images would lose something, but he can enjoy the display vicariously certainly.
"I've gotten to hear the stories from some of the Warrior's people, a lot about Alan especially. Some of the others I don't know much about."