A First Time for Everything

[searchesforhim]

[Continued from the Tag Someone New meme]

Jane had debated for the better part of an hour whether to actually go out with Jack. Yes, their meeting had seemed ideal, and he seemed like a great guy. But appearances could be deceiving.

After talking with Darcy she decided to go through with it - with Darcy's tazer in her purse. She texted him the

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[searchesforhim]

Jack had shown himself to be a gentleman more than once, and in Jane's mind that equated to old-fashioned. She was not complaining about it in the least. He opened doors and paid for meals and her hand disappeared into his like putting on a warm pair of mittens

[jack_flanagan]

[ooc: SO sorry! I had no idea you replied in a new comment. Thought you might have just gotten busy over the holiday weekend. :( I only noticed now by opening a fresh link to the page.]"I hope my choosing will be of equal success. It was nice dressing up and going out though I'm more of a casual creature," he said as they walked. She really had chose a place close to home. It couldn't have been but a few blocks or time was flying because of the fun he was having. Jack loved that Jane never released his hand until they approached her building

[searchesforhim]

The elevator dinged and the doors opened. They stepped inside and she hit the button for her floor

[jack_flanagan]

He nodded in understanding, leaving Jane to decide on what she would do when questioned. Jack was tempted to tell her it was kismet but she knew her neighbors better than he did. They might not have been romantics at heart. ...And maybe he wasn't too sure of how much romance to display just yet.

His eyes glanced around the surroundings in both the elevator and the walk from it. The building was newly renovated or just newer in general. Jack liked--no, loved the older architecture. That was his thing while the stars were hers. He believed they would meet somewere in the middle as time went on. Jane didn't seem too taken by her apartment and he couldn't help but laugh at her explanation

[searchesforhim]

"I know you weren't, but still. Don't even look in that direction." The apartment was very open concept, so there was no door for her to close and hide the mess. Thankfully it was dark enough that it hid the disaster within.

"Thanks. I spent most of the summer living in a tiny trailer, so when I moved here I realized I didn't have enough stuff to fill the space. I've worked really hard to make it comfortable. That's what drew me to this building of all the places I looked. Everything was glass and chrome and industrial pipes. Not my style at all."

She gestured for him to follow her into the kitchen, where she retrieved two plates from the cabinet to put the dessert on. "Do you want coffee, or wine?"

[jack_flanagan]

He playfully raised a hand to blind his eyes from the direction her bed most likely was, giving her a teasing grin while making his way to where Jane directed. As she spoke about the places she looked to live in, Jack wondered what she would think of his place. The architecture was old in and out without being exclusively residential since it had been an old factory

[searchesforhim]

Part of the open concept of the apartment was a breakfast bar that separated the small kitchen from the living space. She set the plates on that, giving him the chance to step around and unpack the cannolis, while she got the coffee started.

"Oh? You can tell I'm a nature girl already?" She was partial to natural beauty over man-made. It came from the hours upon hours she spent camping and hiking with her father growing up. It permeated all aspects of her life - from her choices in furniture and accommodations to the fact that she wore very little makeup, if any.

She popped a filter into the coffee pot, measured out the grounds, then filled the reservoir with water before tapping the 'on' button. The maker started its typical clicking and popping. The mugs were conveniently in the cabinet under the bar, so she turned in his direction and knelt down to get two for them.

"Are you a night owl like me?"

[jack_flanagan]

"Let's say you look a little out of place in the city," he teased lightly through his grin. Jack was caught between two worlds. He loved structures and cities called to him but he equally had a love for the serenity of open fields and clear skies. He had spent an even amount of time in both landscapes and seemed to enjoy his life that way.

Jack washed his hands and started to plate the dessert as Jane busied with the making of coffee. He stood off to a side, leaning against the counter while following her with his eyes. "I'm afraid not." His smile waned slightly into a hesitant look of his eyes. "I sleep about six hours a night but I'm usually out cold come midnight, I'm afraid."

His routine had him up at six in the morning and out for a run or some kind of work out before a shower, breakfast and early to work. Some swore he had spent more time in the military with how scheduled he could be. It was the family trade that had him accustomed to living on a set timetable before his days in her Majesty's army.

[searchesforhim]

"What can I say, I'm partial to plaid shirts." She was a little dismayed to hear she looked out of place in the city. That meant it wasn't just a feeling she had. She told herself if could not be a bad thing, at least in his mind, because she'd been wearing a plaid shirt when they'd met, and here they were, at the tail end of a near-perfect date.

She talked while she gathered the sugar bowl and a container of half and half from the refrigerator. "Given what I do I don't really have a choice but to be up all night and then sleep most of the day. Coffee keeps me going by around 3 am." The amount of coffee she consumed on a daily basis was probably bordering upon unhealthy but she didn't worry about it.

[jack_flanagan]

Her reply made him smile even wider. Jack assumed he had worn a plaid shirt that day since he had a number of them for work. He might have worn a henley since that was his other usual choice. Rarely did he dress in a suit unless there was an administrative meeting. He spent a lot of time on site and it required construction attire. Only now for their date was he in a dress shirt and slacks

[searchesforhim]

Jane would never ask someone to share her crazy hours, not unless they were as dedicated to the research as she is. She'd be pleased if he offered, but wouldn't hold it against him if he fell asleep before the night was over. "I don't exactly have a fear of heights, but I still don't understand how construction workers can stand on scaffolding that's stories and stories in the air. Even with a harness I think I'd be scared. The weird thing is I don't get scared rock climbing and I probably go just as high doing that." Again with being more comfortable with nature than man-made, and she'd never realized it before

[jack_flanagan]

Her preference to nature over man made structures was understandable. His love was equal between them. The night sky was a good memory with his mother and the building of structures was his own escape from his father's wrath as a child. Jack would only be uneasy at bars which he avoided at all costs. He could handle a billiard or bowling alley. That was his limit of social drinking

[searchesforhim]

Jane had limited experience with big cities, and thus big buildings. Given time and an architectural education from the right person, she might grow to love man-made just as much as nature.

"I've heard it makes perfect." She tried hard not to giggle at the remnants left behind on his face after taking his first bite but failed miserably. Tragically without a napkin to give him, she went with her first impulse - which was to make as big of a mess of her own face. She picked up her own cannoli and took a bite, accidentally on purpose smearing the filling on the corner of her mouth. She then proceeded to act like it wasn't there.

"That was all part of my devious plan to get you back here again. I can lure you with the promise of more dessert."

[jack_flanagan]

He could see her amusement but it didn't register that there was food on his face. In fairness, Jack couldn't feel the light cream on his stubble. It was great seeing her smile and he found it adorable that Jane dug into her dessert the way she did. He was still savoring it when she left some filling on the corner of her mouth. "You're a wretched, evil woman."

Jack set down his dessert and used his thumb to reach for the corner of her mouth, gently wiping off the cream then licking it off his finger. His words had been as teasing as hers. His grin had grown wider--he had the advantage of having already finished his bite of dessert. He still was unaware of the cream on his own face as he reached to pick up his coffee and finally take a sip.

[searchesforhim]

"If I'm wretched and evil then what does that say about you for liking me?" She shipped her own coffee and waited for him to set his cup down before she reached over and brushed the crumbs from his beard. The bits of cream stuck, though, and the only solution she could see would be to lick them out. Even after their small kissing-fest in the restaurant, the thought of doing that made her blush slightly.

"You've got a little left there," she said with a crooked grin before focusing on taking a smaller, daintier bite of her dessert.

[jack_flanagan]

"I must be under your spell," he quickly returned. "Don't vampires do that? I am solely yours, my lady." Jack was surprised at Jane reaching for his chin. Pleasantly surprised. He thought she wanted a kiss or some kind of affectionate exchange when her eyes left his and there was a tint to her cheeks. His assumption could have been right though her action after the touch seemed like she rethought the idea.

Only when she spoke, did he understand what Jane had done and then his cheeks were the one with some color. Jack held his own crooked smirk as he used the pad of his thumb to wipe where she had touched him. He didn't give it much effort, knowing he wanted to finish the tasty dessert. She may have taken a smaller bite but he couldn't help himself.

"I'll just have to wash up once it's all gone. It's too good!" Jack said before another bohemoth bite.