(no subject)
Who: Ray Kowalski and Una Persson
What: FIRST DATE. Sort of. They had to use this opportunity to actually have restaurants to go to.
Where: A waterfront restaurant.
When: Saturday night.
Warnings: THERE ARE GOING TO BE VAST AMOUNTS OF AWKWARDNESS. Other than that, no warnings, probably.
Ray spent a lot of his off-Barge time Friday and Saturday trying to find the perfect place to take Una out for dinner. Sure, there was some time he spent with Ardent, trying to convince the Dwarf that humans really aren't all as bad as Ardent thinks they are, but Ardent dislikes being too dependent on Ray, and so when Ray took his leave, telling Ardent to avoid contacting him unless he absolutely had to, Ardent seemed more than happy to let his warden go.
It was a relief to find this place so familiar. From what Ray had heard about ports, he wasn't sure what to expect at all. But Salem, Massachusetts--well, it's not Illinois, but it's close enough. It's not quite right--especially technology seems a lot more advanced; Ray has seen cell phones less than half the size of the one he had back in Chicago--but the basics are the same as home. He knows his way around. It's a start.
The problem with finding a good restaurant in a tourist trap like this is that there's too big a selection. Ray spent most of Saturday afternoon wandering up and down the high street, scanning menus and dodging period reenactors and goth girls in tight corsets. Eventually, though, he came across a place down at the waterfront that seemed appropriate--close to Salem harbor, with a main dining deck that offers a view of the ocean and several old sailing boats docked at the piers. The menu includes traditional New England dishes, mainly sea food and lobster, which fulfills Una's request of local specialties. He's not entirely sure if this is the right place--too swanky? Too romantic for a first date? Too cliché, what with the waterfront location and the boats?--but after some deliberation, he sent Una a message asking her to meet him around quarter to eight down by the piers.
So that's where he's waiting for her now, standing close to the banister and trying to be as visible as possible to make it easier for her to spot him. He's nervous. He realizes he hasn't really done any proper dating since Stella and he split up. He hopes he still remembers at least the basics.
((This is the place he's taking her. IT IS A REAL PLACE. I did research and everything. And he's gonna insist on wanting to pay, since that place looks expensive. If you click on the link, fair warning, the website will talk at you.))
What: FIRST DATE. Sort of. They had to use this opportunity to actually have restaurants to go to.
Where: A waterfront restaurant.
When: Saturday night.
Warnings: THERE ARE GOING TO BE VAST AMOUNTS OF AWKWARDNESS. Other than that, no warnings, probably.
Ray spent a lot of his off-Barge time Friday and Saturday trying to find the perfect place to take Una out for dinner. Sure, there was some time he spent with Ardent, trying to convince the Dwarf that humans really aren't all as bad as Ardent thinks they are, but Ardent dislikes being too dependent on Ray, and so when Ray took his leave, telling Ardent to avoid contacting him unless he absolutely had to, Ardent seemed more than happy to let his warden go.
It was a relief to find this place so familiar. From what Ray had heard about ports, he wasn't sure what to expect at all. But Salem, Massachusetts--well, it's not Illinois, but it's close enough. It's not quite right--especially technology seems a lot more advanced; Ray has seen cell phones less than half the size of the one he had back in Chicago--but the basics are the same as home. He knows his way around. It's a start.
The problem with finding a good restaurant in a tourist trap like this is that there's too big a selection. Ray spent most of Saturday afternoon wandering up and down the high street, scanning menus and dodging period reenactors and goth girls in tight corsets. Eventually, though, he came across a place down at the waterfront that seemed appropriate--close to Salem harbor, with a main dining deck that offers a view of the ocean and several old sailing boats docked at the piers. The menu includes traditional New England dishes, mainly sea food and lobster, which fulfills Una's request of local specialties. He's not entirely sure if this is the right place--too swanky? Too romantic for a first date? Too cliché, what with the waterfront location and the boats?--but after some deliberation, he sent Una a message asking her to meet him around quarter to eight down by the piers.
So that's where he's waiting for her now, standing close to the banister and trying to be as visible as possible to make it easier for her to spot him. He's nervous. He realizes he hasn't really done any proper dating since Stella and he split up. He hopes he still remembers at least the basics.
((This is the place he's taking her. IT IS A REAL PLACE. I did research and everything. And he's gonna insist on wanting to pay, since that place looks expensive. If you click on the link, fair warning, the website will talk at you.))