RP: Some Salsa Dancing

[ericks_folly]

Date: April 3rd, 2011
Characters: Erick Gardner, Charisma Gibbon
Location: Carmen's Cuban Cafe
Status:  Private
Summary: Put your dancing shoes on
Completion: Complete

Comments

[charisma79]

Charisma was very much looking forward to this date. She loved the dress she'd bought at the Affair yesterday, and she couldn't deny that she hoped it would knock Erick off his feet, figuratively speaking, of course. She'd left her hair down in loose waves and pinned back just a little on one side. She wore only a small amount of makeup.

She opened the door herself (she'd reminded Maureen that she'd made sure her and Layla were out of the way for her first date with Piers and wouldn't it be nice to have the favor returned?) and smiled at Erick. He was dressed casually, and she hoped he wouldn't think her overdressed, but he was still incredibly handsome.

"Hello, Erick," she said as she moved through the door, closing it behind her. "I'm ready," she told him. She had a small purse with her ID, some cash (enough for cab fare should the need arise), and her phone. Just the basics.

[ericks_folly]

Erick thought Charisma looked like a vision in blue and he told her so as she answered the door. There didn't seem to be anyone else in the apartment which either meant that Layla and her mother was hiding or they had gone out. Following her down the path to the car, he opened the door of his BMW to let her in.

"It's good to see you again Charisma, I hope you're hungry tonight because there are a lot of Sunday specials at Carmen's" He told her as he started the car.

[charisma79]

"Thank you," Charisma said, giving a little shimmy in her dress. She didn't dress up in dresses and skirts very often, but it was always fun to. She raised an eyebrow at his car. It was very attractive, as most foreign cars were, but her Ford had never let her down. She was most impressed, though, by the way he opened the door for her. Apparently gentlemen still exist in this part of the country, she thought with a smile.

She slid into the car, making sure to keep the skirt of her dress in a position of modesty. She crossed her ankles and pulled on her seat belt as he went around the car. "I am a little hungry," she said, grinning at him.

Since their phone call had been cut short by work, there were things about him he'd mentioned that she was curious about but hadn't had a chance to ask. No time like the present, she thought. "So, you're a pediatrician. What made you choose that rather than a different type of practice?" she asked.

[ericks_folly]

Once they were settled into the car, they headed out to the restaurant, "Hungry is a good thing, this is Texas, don't know a restaurant around that skimps on servings."

Charisma's question caught Erick by surprised. Not many people asked why he picked the specialty that he had and the few dates he had, had since the divorce. "Well, I guess it started in my last couple of years in high school, I was working at camps for the summer as a life guard and counselor. There was an accident and I got to use my skills to save a kid. From then on I was hooked. Broke my grand-dad's heart when I didn't go into the family business, but I'm happy. What about you? What made you go into architecture?"

[charisma79]

Charisma chuckled at Erick's comment. "Well, I don't know if I'm Texas serving size hungry," she said, amused.

Charisma listened, thinking that it was sweet and impressive all at once that he'd discovered what he wanted to do in high school and had actually done it. At his question, she tilted her head. "Well, I grew up in Rochester, New York, and there are some truly beautiful buildings there. And I remember when I was like twelve, my sister and I went wandering the city with a camera, and all I could think was: I want to be the one to create these amazing buildings."

She'd turned in the seat so that she was facing him, and her eyes were bright with the memory. "So after I graduated, I moved to Portland, and I went for it. I don't think I ever considered doing anything else."

[ericks_folly]

"Don't worry you'll work up to that, being a foreigner and all." Erick joked. He listened as she talked about her love with architecture. It was clear by the way she talked about it that it was a complete love affair.

"The best careers create themselves." He told her sagely. "So was it hard to pack up and leave Portland to come here?" She had mentioned her sister, Layla's mother so he guessed that is what lead to the move.

[charisma79]

"Oh, ha ha," Charisma said, but she was grinning and pleased that he felt comfortable and relaxed enough to joke even though this was only their second time meeting.

"Yeah, they really do," she agreed. At his question, she tilted her head. "It really should have been, but it wasn't. Once I'd decided to do it, I didn't look back." It was God's honest truth. "The hardest part was leaving my job. I'd started there as an intern nine years ago, but they were very supportive, and it just felt right."

[ericks_folly]

"That's good, perhaps it was a sign that it was time for a new chapter in your life." Personally Erick couldn't imagine picking up and leaving his home. Other than a short stint in Florida he had never lived anywhere else.

"Your new firm though, what's it like compared to the old one?"

[charisma79]

"I think it was," Charisma agreed. "Other than my career and Grams, I just didn't have anything to stay for, and Grams insisted that it was going to be a good move for me." She grinned, glancing over at him. "So far, it's going pretty well."

She considered his question for a moment before answering. "The differences are more abstract, really. The people are different here; no less nice, just different. And of course, the land and styles of buildings are different, which is a challenge when you've been working in a very different part of the country for almost a decade."

She was aging herself a bit, but it didn't bother her. She was 31 and not ashamed of that fact. "But tell me something about you," she said, hoping that she wouldn't be just talking about herself the whole night. She wanted to know more about him.

[ericks_folly]

"Good to hear, we do try to be nice around these part. Southern hospitality and all that." Erick told her with a smile. He imagined that there was no where on earth that was like Texas considering it's size and variety.

"About me humm? That's a good question. Well, you already know I'm a doctor. I am the third and youngest Gardner son. I have two older brothers who are twins and work for the family's oil business. Other than gran we've all been in Texas since before the state actually existed or so I'm told."

Erick pulled into a small parking lot that was full of cars and he was very grateful he had decided to bring the small car rather than the truck as he pulled into an awkward spot. "And here we are, Carmen's Cuban cafe." From outside he could already hear the band warming up.

[charisma79]

Charisma listened with a small grin. It was interesting that he was the youngest in his family, too, and she didn't miss the fact that his family is in the oil business, though she wasn't sure what all that entailed. "So that's you in a nutshell, hmm?" she asked, chuckling softly.

Charisma climbed out of the small car, a little awkwardly due to the dress, but she managed. "A live band and everything," she commented. "Now that's the way to enjoy Salsa."

[ericks_folly]

Erick, shrugged, "Well probably not all of me and I doubt I would actually fit in a nut shell, but I'd say it's a good starting point." He told her with a smile as he opened the door for Charisma. They were led to a table away from the music in the dining room.

"This is the best salsa place you'll find in the city even if it's not Mexican food." The waitress brought them their menus and he went a head and ordered a pitcher of Sangria. "I hope you don't mind me being presumptuous."

[charisma79]

Charisma's eyes trailed over him, and she smirked. "No, somehow I doubt you would," she said cheekily.

She glanced at the menu as he ordered a pitcher of Sangria. "Not at all, I like it," she told him. "The drink, I mean," she added with a laugh. Now if he were to choose her food for her, that would be a little weird. "The rest, well, it just depends on what you're being presumptuous about," she said, flirting lightly.

When the waitress came back with the pitcher and glasses, asking to if they were ready to order, Charisma glanced at Erick. "I'm ready," she told him. Then, turning to the waitress, she said, "I'll have the Ropa Vieja." She folded the menu back up and handed it to the waitress.

[ericks_folly]

He was pleased that Charisma hadn't taken offense to her ordering the drinks and promised her that it would be the best Sangria she had ever had.

After Charisma ordered her dinner, Erick ordered the seafood paella. "The Ropa is delicious by the way good choice. As for other presumptions well I suppose I like to see where things go on their own naturally. If that makes sense."

[charisma79]

"That's a pretty confident statement," Charisma teased, wondering if the Sangria could possibly be that good.

"Mmm, it sounded delicious," she said with a grin. At his next comment, her eyebrow rose and she said, "It does. A natural progression tends to have a much more pleasurable outcome than if you try to force something."

She poured the Sangria in their glasses, then took a sip. She hummed, her eyes slipping closed briefly. "Oh, this is good," she admitted.

[ericks_folly]

"Just wait and see." Erick promised with a smirk. He already knew how good this Sangria was but he wanted to see her reaction. Thankfully Charisma seemed agreeable to just seeing where things went rather than taking a predetermined course.

The reaction had been worth waiting for."You should try her summer blend made with white wine and peaches. I have offered to pay cash for the recipe or even just a hint to the wine they use but they only laugh at me."