protective_logic | Open Post

York isn't the only one whose eyes snap up at the door opening. No, Delta's attention darts for the door as well. Still nothing. He's supposed to be looking for a man with a bouquet of daisies. Nothing in that person's hands. Frustrated, Delta pulls out his datapad. Might as well catch up on some reading while he waits. Better to keep track of the time too.

Omega is so dead.

She's not coming. As York hits the half hour mark past their meeting time, he sighs, finally accepting that he's been stood up. He considers leaving but... hell, he's here. Might as well enjoy the food. He catches the eye of the waiter and orders while ignoring the sympathetic glances she gives him. And maybe if the cute guy in green gets stood up as well, they can bond over rude partners.

But then a few minutes later, the door opens to a man with a small clutch of flowers who scans the room and then makes a beeline for green guy's table.

Flowers. Delta looks up when he sees the man enter with a bouquet. Watches intently. And then sighs.

Roses. At the table behind him a woman springs to her feet and rushes over to meet the man with the bouquet, and they embrace. Right at Delta's side. Really? Can't they do this at their table? It takes a lot not to roll his eyes at the whole thing, but rather to be patient and wait for them to move away to their own table. This time when the waiter shows up at his table, Delta sighs and opens the menu.

"A glass of the house white and the relish platter as an appetizer."

The waiter, the same as York's table, gives this second poor idiot a sympathetic look as well.

"Sorry," the guy says as he jots this down. "It happens sometimes. More than you'd think. I think people get intimidated to have a date set up here."

"I'm sure," Delta agrees. "I'll keep the menu for now. Thank you."

With that the waiter nods and walks off to go get what Delta requested.

Not luck for green guy either. Seems tonight is a night for disappointments in this restaurant. York leans back as he waits for the main course, idly picking the bread to pieces in his fingers and dipping it in the oil when he remembers.

The family that had been eating get up and leave. There are still a number people in the restaurant, most in couples or groups. Luckily there are no large groups, those can get noisy.

Actually, aside from himself, green guy is the only loner.

Well then.

'Hey. Did you know if you get stood up on a date, you might get free desert?'

What? Someone's talking to him? Delta looks up from his miserable phone game and consideration that he was going to chew Omega out by text. He looks around and tries to figure out the source and finds a man. A handsome man. A handsome man sitting alone and looking almost as messed up as Delta is.

"Really?" he asks, a sad smile on his face. "Do they do chocolate lava cake? I adore chocolate."

Oh no, he's even cuter head on. York smiles as the man looks around and meets his gaze. That sad smile only makes York want to help it not be sad anymore. It seems chocolate is at least one way of achieving that.

'I'm sure they've got something chocolatey, if not lava cake,' he says, giving a lopsided grin. 'I'll admit, I didn't get that far in the menu.'

"Neither had I. I'm afraid I won't achieve that much," Delta admits. "Are you also waiting?"

His own menu still waits and he flips it open and considers the dessert section. "Chocolate fudge cookie with vanilla ice cream and fudge poured over it. Looks lovely."

'I think I've given up on the waiting at this point,' he admits with a rueful chuckle. 'But might as well not waste the trip.'

He lets out a low whistle. 'Damn. Sounds delicious. At least you've got that to look forward to.'

"Not really," Delta says. He can't really afford that indulgence when there isn't someone he's entertaining. "Appetizer and if he doesn't show, I go."

Simple as that.

He. York's smile widens just a touch. Is it too early to flirt? Should probably confirm that the man's date isn't showing first. Or he could just...

'Desert on me if he doesn't show?'

Well now you've got a surprised look from Delta. And a very appraising one. He looks at the man more seriously than he had before, and it's not just to appreciate his looks. Is... is this guy flirting? Is this what being hit on is like? Well, it's happened before, yes, but somehow Delta is a bit more aware of it. What should he say? Thankfully he's saved by the return of the waiter who delivers his glass of white wine and the relish tray with lots of lovely olives, small pickles, and the like. Gives him a moment to think.

"Won't your date be jealous?" Delta asks once the waiter walks away.

Well that seemed to get his attention. He watches an interesting mix of emotions flit across the man's face, though by the time he turns back from receiving his appetizer, he seems to have settled again. York's smile is genuine as he shrugs.

'At almost forty five minutes late and no message, I highly doubt she's gonna show up.'

"I'm very sorry," Delta tells the man before returning his attention to his appetizer. Best to get something in his stomach. "Mine is not nearly as late as that."

Yet.

'Thanks. And I hope yours doesn't end up so late.' And actually bothers to show up. Who's making this cute guy wait so long?

"Perhaps a green tie wasn't a unique enough identifier," Delta suggests with a sigh. He wasn't the one who came up with this. At all. Which makes him sigh. Talking at least helps him pass the time. He pops an olive into his mouth and looks to York.

"My brother set this up. I was not the one to plan this mess."

'Well your eyes should have been enough to draw him in,' he returns with a wink. Green eyes that vivid should really be illegal, especially when so nicely framed by those glasses.

'Ah, a blind date? Those can be very hit and miss, I'm sorry it hasn't worked out.'

Really? Delta looks a bit flustered at that. Did the guy just say that? Was this stranger hitting on him? What was he supposed to do about this?

"Thanks," he says, unable to help the light blush high in his cheeks. "My older brother decided I needed to get out more. It was this or clubbing."

He's cute when he blushes and the red in his cheeks only makes his eyes stand out further. If this guy's date doesn't turn up, York might see if he can get him to stick around for a meal.

'Not a fan of crowds and loud music then?' he asks with a grin. 'There are other options besides dates and clubbing.'

"Oh, it's not that," Delta says, even though it's true. "It's just... what would I even wear?"

Sarcasm is just how he manages things that fluster him.

'I'm sure you could pull most things off,' he says.

Okay that was definitely flirting. This guy really was hitting on him.

"Would you believe me if I said I couldn't dance?" Delta suggests, finally smiling at the stranger.

York's smile brightens as one spreads across the man's face. He seems to be growing more at ease and his smile is gorgeous.

'Anyone can dance if they move with the music,' he returns. 'You don't go clubbing for good dance moves.'

"I don't go to clubbing," Delta points out. He looks around to make sure no one is coming through the space between their tables before leaning out of his chair enough to offer a hand to York.

"Delta. How long do you wait before it officially counts as being stood up?"

'Fair enough.' It's not for everyone.

He leans over and takes the offered hand with his own. Delta. That's an interesting name. Nickname? He likes it. 'York. I guess it kind of depends on you. I gave up after half an hour.'

Half an hour. He's approaching that.

"How long have you been waiting?" Delta asks, "That is... if you don't mind me prying?"

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject