[Speed Dating, Round One]

[callofkaren]

This wasn't the first time Karen had run speed dating, and she had everything down to practically a science by now. She was going to miss watching what sorts of trouble Tony could get himself in, but there were a decent amount of people signed up, enough so that she had to split them down the middle so nobody would be overwhelmed

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[shewaswarned]

She hasn't been in a serious relationship since David. Even Wes was something more of casual, someone she never allowed herself to get too close to beyond the physical. It's difficult for her even now to comprehend a close relationship with anyone, especially after the mantra she reminds herself of every day, the one Patty seems to have indirectly ingrained in her being: trust no one.

Tonight is harmless, though. Ellen can handle this much, and she doesn't want to become a recluse. She doesn't have her job to distract her, to tie her down, to overwhelm her with commitment and to detract from her personal life. She unconsciously straightens her posture and shifts in her chair, smiling as her first date sits and holding out a hand with a smile. "Hi."

[shewaswarned]

"It's good to see you too," Ellen answers, both her voice and her expression noticeably brightening. She isn't going to ignore the fact that their first conversation - or the one after that - had both been prefaced by interesting events, but this seems somewhat normal in comparison - and hopefully not boring, by default.

"It's going," she admits. "It's been a long time since I've done anything like this." Dated is what goes unsaid.

[wingerguarantee]

"Yeah, speed dating isn't usually my thing," he replied. In fact, it was his first time ever, now that he thought about it. He didn't usually have to rely on this kind of event to meet pretty women. Cocking an eyebrow, he added, "I was glad to see your name on my list, though."

[shewaswarned]

"Oh? So why the sudden appearance?" Ellen replies, raising an eyebrow challengingly. It's not meant to be serious, merely a playful gesture, but something tells her he'll perceive it that way too.

"Well, I do what I can."

[likedtheodds]

"Hello, gorgeous," Gwaine greets her brightly with a shake of her hand, offering her a single pink flower as he sits. He'd had to pop outside and find one, but it's the very least he can do. Most women don't go for lines alone, so he needs to have a little extra firepower tucked away.

He'll start with the flower and move from there.

[shewaswarned]

"Oh," Ellen exclaims, more of a soft sound of surprise as she looks down at the flower she's just been handed. Her eyes find his face again and she smiles thankfully, moving to tuck the flower just so into the lapel of her dress jacket.

"Thank you, that was - very sweet. Thank you," she replies, nodding once. He looks a little rugged around the edges, but he's definitely made an impression.

[likedtheodds]

"It's the least I can do." Even if he has stolen it from someone else. It's not like anyone's in dire need of flowers, though. There's certainly no shortage of them, so he doesn't have to feel bad about plucking it in hand and running away with it. "I'd like to hope, at the very least, that a flower earns me a name learned."

[shewaswarned]

"Ellen," she says, double-checking to make sure the flower is in no danger of slipping before her gaze rises again and she smiles sincerely.

"And you are?"

[likedtheodds]

"Gwaine," he replies, enjoying the pleasantries of introductions more than he can say. Maybe it's a strange thing, but he loves this part where he's just getting to know someone. "And Ellen sounds far too pedestrian. It's hardly a name for someone as beautiful as you. I'd have expected a queenly name."

[cibosity]

There's no doubt that she looks a bit older than when he remembers last seeing her grace the silver screen, but Rose Byrne's face isn't one that he's likely to miss. Sawyer takes her hand, trying to keep his mind centered on thoughts like these, about her appearance rather than the fact that he's currently seated in a room with women from two of his former relationships (one legitimate, the other perhaps nothing more than a tryst), and intensely aware of where the both of them are.

"Well, hello, Dormé," he greets, admittedly curious. The way she dresses, you'd think she's probably from Earth, maybe even from the same world he's from. But wearing Rose Byrne's face, who knows- maybe she's from a different dimension. Maybe someone else has taken up the role of handmaiden in the film. "Pleasure to meet you."

[shewaswarned]

"I'm sorry, Dor - what?" Ellen replies, trying not to look as confused as she sounds. There's no question that he seems familiar with her, for whatever reason - the way he settles into the chair across from her would suggest that much, and she wracks her brain for any memory that might dredge up the knowledge of who he is, effectively coming up with nothing after only a short time of trying to remember.

"I don't think - you must have me confused with someone else," she finally adds, smiling apologetically. It seems like the thing to do in moments like this. "I'm Ellen."

[cibosity]

"Not a Star Wars fan, I take it," Sawyer replies in turn, feeling himeslf endeared by the momentary look of confusion that crosses her features, though he makes no move to mention any of it. It's probably for the best, in the end, that she isn't familiar with the film franchise, or at least not enough so that she'd be able to remember the names of all of the tertiary characters involved. If she ever got her hands on a Star Wars reel in the rec room and decided to look for the handmaiden, well. Then things would get sticky.

(If he was honest with himself, though, Sawyer himself would have been plenty tickled to see himself in a work of art, fiction, or television. As someone other than himself, at least. He wasn't quite prepared to imagine himself as a work of someone's imagination.)

Holding out an easy hand and allowing himself a small smile, he nodded. "Sawyer. Sorry for the confusion," he grinned.

[shewaswarned]

"I can't say I'm all too familiar, at least beyond the original trilogy," Ellen replies, a slight quirk in her brow and at the corner of her mouth, reaching for her drink to punctuate the comment with a sip. She doesn't really know what the movies would have to do with his mistaking her for someone else, but she isn't going to dwell on it for very long if it doesn't seem too important to him, either.

She takes the hand in her own and squeezes it firmly, briefly before releasing her hold. "Not a problem. It happens from time to time. Am I wrong, or have I seen several people who look like each other walking around on the island?"

[cibosity]

"The original trilogy's the best, so I can't blame ya there," he grins, taking her hand, appreciating the firm shake. Not exactly the first thing he'd expect from a woman who looks like her, but making too many assumptions based on appearance is a slippery slope he shouldn't be climbing, anyway. "You just reminded me of a face I spotted in the new series. Then again, considerin' I haven't watched 'em all that much..." He offers a lazy shrug, leaning back against his chair.

Talk of doppelgangers unnerves him more than he's pretty sure anyone knows, but he resolves to push through it regardless, as best he can.

"I've seen a few clones walkin' round, sure," he nods, brow furrowing briefly in thought. "Can't say I'd mind havin' one of my own. So long as he don't cut his hair too short. Man's still gotta have a decent sense of style."

[cpt_invincible]

Except for that one girl that he's still not convinced isn't a mental, Nathan's gotta say that the selection here's not half bad. And there's a pretty equal ratio of girls to blokes, so just about everyone should come out of this okay, if he's done the maths right.

When Nathan sits down, he studies her for a second before taking her hand to shake, and even then, holds the handshake for maybe just a bit longer than is strictly necessary.

"So, this is how I see it," Nathan starts, "maybe there's a bit of an age difference here. But I don't have a problem with it if you don't, and besides, what does age matter anyway when we're probably not even from the same dimension? It's called 'breaking down boundaries'."

[shewaswarned]

It's likely that she's had a little more of her martini by this point than she should, or maybe it's the combination of the alcohol and his admirable forwardness. He looks like he's almost half her age, and yet somehow that isn't stopping him. Ellen's tempted to commend him for his confidence, though she gently takes her hand away. Her laugh is what surprises her, something of a girlish sound, and she can feel where the comment and the drink have left her cheeks hot.

"You're very direct," she replies, taking a sip of water this time. "Which some people consider a good thing."