Apartment Above Fina, Tuesday Evening

[hugetractsofland]

So.

There had been a handwavy invitation issued and accepted. Lulu was just pulling the pan of spicy roast potatoes out of the oven, one eye on the clock as the agreed-upon time approached.

Two minutes before her date was scheduled to arrive, she was giving the curry-lime chicken one last stir before pouring in some coconut milk, leaving it to simmer until it was time to serve.

[For one, please!]

Comments

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"I think I could survive that," Price said. "After all, bullets haven't kept me down. Hearty meals are hardly a threat." He chuckled. "You drive a hard bargain."

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

"Comparing my cooking to bullets?" Lulu asked. "Hm. Losing points, Captain. Losing points indeed."

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"You're the one who called me a guinea pig," Price retorted, smiling as he nibbled at the meal. "If I'm going to be experimented on, I deserve at least one quip forgiven."

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

Lulu laughed again. "Very well. One quip forgiven. You'll have to earn them the rest of the night."

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"Fair enough," Price said. "And how exactly does one earn your favor, Lulu?"

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

"Now that, Captain Price, would be telling. Eat your curry."

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"Yes'm," Price said, tucking into his meal. After a bit of thorough chewing and rather impressed noises, he spoke. "Now that is a meal."

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

"One does one's best," Lulu said, chuckling softly. "I'm glad you enjoy it.

"But do make certain to leave room for dessert?"

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

Price nodded, and ate from the meal quite modestly.

"If I might be bold for a moment," he said. "I'm going to find it very hard to top this for our next little rendezvous."

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

Lulu paused for a moment. Considered her next words very carefully.

"Oh," she said. "I'm sure you'll find some way to top me."

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"And what, may I ask, is for dessert?" he asked, carefully wiping the corners of his mouth with his napkin.

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

"And spoil the surprise?" Lulu asked. "You'll just have to wait and see, Captain Price."

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"You know, patience is one virtue I do have," Price said. "It's very important in my... well, former line of work, I suppose."

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

Lulu smirked as they continued eating. "I'd be interested in learning of what other virtues you possess," she said. "Perhaps later? Over... coffee?"

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"A fine time to discuss the matter of virtue," Price said. "Perhaps we can go over a few of my vices before then."

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

"I find myself perhaps inordinately interested in your vices, yes," Lulu said. "We can certainly discuss those as well."

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"Well, if you're looking for a demonstration," Price said, taking a sip of the wine. "I am quite trained in a lot of proper drills, as well."

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

Lulu had to take a moment to consider her response to that.

Briefly, she debated throwing him out for that horrible line.

"Perhaps a demonstration would be in order for later in the evening," she allowed, instead. "But first -- dessert? Are you finished with dinner?"

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"I think I am," Price said, with a nod. And really, forgive him any terrible lines. He's very rusty at all this. He did spend five years in solitary confinement recently.

"You've given it quite a build up. I'm eager to see it."

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

"Just a moment, then," Lulu said, getting up and returning to the kitchen.

And returning with a double-size white chocolate raspberry cheesecake. "It's a new recipe, I admit," she explained. "Not one I've tried before. But it appears to have turned out... satisfactorily."

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"My god," Price said. "I do hope it keeps well."

That was a lot of cheesecake.

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

"Actually," Lulu said, "I thought we might go through... rather a lot of it this evening." She smirked. "If we happen to run out of plates, we can always find... alternate things to eat it off of."

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

Price just sort of paused. "Well, I'll be," he said. "Well, it never hurts to indulge, on the right occasion."

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

"Shall we retire to more comfortable seating, then?" Lulu asked, angling her head towards her bedroom.

Yes, that was a pretty blatantly open invitation.

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

"I'd be happy to," Price said, standing up. "After all, I'd been so uncomfortable where I'd been."

[mistressofblack.livejournal.com]

"Just this way, then," Lulu said, leading the way to the bedroom, trusting Price to follow.

[stayingfrosty.livejournal.com]

He was a soldier. And a good soldier knows when to follow.

Price smoothed out his beard with a hand as he followed, honestly a little nervous even if he wasn't about to let it show.

"A fully thorough tour, after all," he said.