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As the waiter brought out the plates, Lorna sat back in her seat. Her eyebrows lifted as she watched the rather decorated plates come out. Another waiter rolled out a cart with a large wheel of cheese. The pasta was set into the hollowed out cheese wheel, truffle oil was spooned into it, and then with a flare, set on fire.
More truffles, thinly sliced were added and then the decorative plates were loaded up and served before Julian and herself.
"Oh wow. I've never had something like that before. How cool." She flashed a grin toward the young mutant and settled her napkin on her lap.
*
There's a much more blase appearance to Julian. He almost seems impatient for the 'show' portion of preparing the meal to be over, hand hovering over the fork but not yet picking it up. That's poor etiquette; he knows it well enough to skirt the line. "Is it?" he murmurs, obviously trying to reflect on whether someone of mundane origins might think so. "I guess…" He takes a mouthful, not appearing to bother savoring. "Normally I get catering takeout, so this kinda thing is rare for me." He wisely doesn't mention the exception being dates like this, of course.
*
Another grin and Lorna claps politely at the server thanking him as he slid the plate before her. She was clearly amused and entertained. "It's totally groovy Julian. Thanks for taking me out." She turned those green eyes to him and beamed.
"Like I said before. I've never come to a place like this. It's really nice. I'm sorry it's expensive though.." She trailed off, looking guiltily down at her plate. "Gosh, I've never even had truffles. I know they're super pricey though.." She made a face.
*
"Hmm." Julian comments, spooning another mouthful carefully. He may eat quickly, but he's remarkably clean about it. "This? The price is nothing to me. I carry around pocket change sufficient for this dinner… My family's as rich as the Worthingtons or the Starks." He does waggle his brows after. "So don't go after me just for my money!" Leaning back, he dabs his mouth with a white cloth. "You seem to have relaxed a bit, though… that's good."
*
A blink, and Lorna nibbles at her food. "I met Tony Stark, I told you that right? And Warren Worthington." She smirked, "So, can't say that I've not met other wealthy guys." She pointed in his direction with her fork.
She was much slower at eating. "But still, I worked all summer to save up for college and likely couldn't afford this plate on my own. So thanks. And I mean it."
*
"Wow. In person? Huh. That's… kind of impressive. But you are cute, and both are known womanizers…" He sticks his tongue out at that, taking another drink of his wineglass. Juuuuust on the edge of starting to get tipsy. "Really? For college? Heck, if you want free tutelage, just ask. My parents love donating grants and scholarships. I can come up with some stupid reason. To them, they'd prefer to just say yes than argue over a few tens of thousands…" Grimace.
*
A laugh, "Oh yeah, well Mister Stark was in his iron-man suit. He landed up at the Xavier Institute in Westchester, all drunk. So I helped him stand." She flashed a grin, "And I'm pretty sure he was trying to flirt. But it wasn't that impressive. Also my father lives there. He thought Professor Xavier was my father. Pretty sure that stopped it." She shrugged and scouped more food into her mouth and chewed thoughtfully.
"And then Warren was out volunteering supplies and helping out and I met him when I was helping pass out supplies." She shrugged, "He was just rather nice."
At the offer of grants she shook her head, "Miss Frost and the Frost Institute has given me a full ride. I don't need the help. It's why I was able to go to school though. No one else was willing to accept me to their science program."
*
"Huh." Julian comments, sounding… not incredibly surprised at the mention of Tony. "Warren's a good guy. I respect him. Tony's who I'd turn into in another 15 years if I was in my brother's position as heir." He finishes off the third glass of wine and takes another heaping forkful of noodle. "…That's inspiration not to do that, by the way. I can't… really help people that much. Just with money. Money, money, money. I always forget how those little numbers can really affect people's life so much… like you." A blink follows. "No offense. I mean… struggling, saving up, that kind of crap…"
*
Her smile warmed as Julain mentioned how the money could actually have an impact on people's lives. "See? Told you. You could do tons with money and leave an impact on people's lives. I mean, I don't have money but I help out in Mutant Town. I deliver supplies and help out where I can. They needed it after that attack." Her expression crumbled slightly.
"They definitely need it still."
*
Fingers scratch and scratch at Julian's chin, thoroughly contemplative. "I tried." he finally offers. "My family doesn't want to get it's named attached to the… 'budding Mutant political scene'. Even though I am one…" He sighs slowly in annoyance. "I could get some money, maybe, but I'd have to donate it off the record, and I'm not sure to who…"
*
Lorna sat up, "I'm working through the proper channels at the Frost Institute! Why don't you donate there? Miss Frost has everything looking really proper and everything. You know, you've met her." She wiggled her fingers as she spoke, finishing off her plate finally.
"And your parents would never know where it ultimately went. Other than volunteer organizations through the school. And hey, there's lots of others that can use it too. No harm done there."
*
"My parents know the Institute is for mutants. It is why they sent me there… they found out through the—" He isn't sure if he should mention the Hellfire Club, so decides not to. "Through some channels. They are afraid of donating to it, then it being outed as a haven for our kind. Tch." He spits to the side in annoyance. Rude! Now someone has to clean that up. "Ugh… I'll figure something out. They don't trust me, is the problem. I'm the problem child. If they give me a few million, of course I'll squander it and embarrass them."
*
A grimace and Lorna deflated, folding her hands beneath her chin. "Oh! I.. I hadn't thought about that part.." She frowned, her lips pursing together.
"Sorry Julian. That's.." Rough for you? Getting a few million was so beyond her dreams that Lorna still couldn't comprehend it. 'Rough', perhaps, wasn't the best word.
"Maybe we can think of something. We were talking about it earlier. So.. yeah.." She finished lamely, "I'm sure we can do something."
An exhale. It was growing more difficult for her to not chat his ear off about Crystal. She was sure that the young mutant could learn from her.
*
"Don't worry about it for now. I'll give it some thought." The food is gone, now; and Julian's had a lot of wine. In one of his normal dates he'd be waggling his brows, talking about the hot tub in his estate, and trying to make a bet on how fast his hotrod could get to said hot tub. Instead he stretches his arms in a shocking breech of etiquette, dabbing at his mouth with a white cloth. "Well, thanks for coming out with me to eat." he offers, motioning the waiter over. He doesn't bring a bill; instead Julian simply tells him it's for the Keller account, and he nods before leaving. "I don't… uh. Date often. I—erm. Yeah." He tries to think for a term for it and decides it's a good idea to just leave it at that. "Never really sat down and talked with someone in my… situation." He waggles his fingers in the air, probably implying the whole Mutant thing. "You need a ride home?"
*
Lorna smiled, even as she waited for the bill and dreaded the thought of how much he'd spent on dinner. Yet as no check comes she squirms. Any further comment though, dies on her lips as he mentions how little he goes out on dates.
"Well, yes, since you drove me here. I mean.. you're… are you okay to drive?" She arched a brow, biting her lower lip.
"I mean… if you don't want to it's okay.. I can get home."
*
Poor Julian doesn't really consider his phrasing. He doesn't go on /dates/, he goes through a well-scripted flirtation event with a mutually desired ending. But those never result in a second, which does put him in an awkward position. Is this…? Huh. Is this really the first time he just sat down with a girl and just chatted without anything ulterior? Aolani he heavily flirted with, most certainly. Hmm. He's still holding his empty glass of wine, glancing back to Lorna. "Of course I am. Don't worry." He gives a dazzling grin and thumb's up, before pushing to his feet with enough effort to make any sane person nervous. "Even if I wreck, we'd both survive, right? Hahaha! …I shouldn't have said that." Eyeshift.
*
What luck that Lorna's father had taught her how to steer cars via her powers. She rose, and went to his side to offer a hand.
"Let's take it easy, hmm? And thanks for taking me out. I mean it. It was nice." She smiled, her expression warm.
*
"Yeah." Julian agrees, scratching the back of his head with a grin. "It was." He stands around for a few moments, before looking back and forth and heading towards the door. "Well, c'mon! Where do you live? Alone, or with your dad, or…?" Hands enter his pockets, and he resumes the youthful swagger that hardly fits with the high class environment.
*
A laugh, and she shook her head. "At my dorm, you goof. You picked me up there." She rolled her eyes, "Back on campus, where we go to school, remember?"
She walked along side him, watching his drunken swagger with concern.
"Are you sure that you're OK to drive?"
*
"Uhhh. Oh. Yeah?" Julian tries to burn through the fog of his mind. He honestly wasn't sure if he was picking her up there or she lived there. Makes sense, though. He pushes open the door, holding it for Lorna before heading to his sleek vehicle. He's not /drunk/-drunk, but he's more tipsy than not. "I do it all the time!" he assures, opening the passenger door and flourishing inwards with a gesture.
*
"Oooh okay, if you say so." She murmured, green eyes focused on him as he opened the car door for her. She arched a brow, then turned and slipped inside the car. The driver side door would pop open for him and Lorna shot him a grin.
"Well you're also with a magnokinetic." She waved her hand and the car turned over without the need for the key.
*
Slipping around the front of the car and settling into the driver's side, Julian pulls the door closed and turns on the vehicle. As before he doesn't bother with a seatbelt, not that such is remotely uncommon in this era. Revving the engine more times than needed, he quickly takes off, heading back in the direction of the school. After a few moments, "So…"
*
"So?" Lorna echoed him, a giggle following and she sighed, leaning back in her seat as she folded her hands on her lap.
"Sorry, Julian. I couldn't help myself. So, what?"
*
The drive is fast and reckless, but never close enough to cause more than a full-body clench and momentary grasp of something near. "So!" he repeats, in a more playful tone.
*
Lorna's need to make sure that they didn't crash fed into her powers so wholly that for most of the ride, she was so intently focused on steering the car that besides a few heart stopping seconds, she was fine and focused. She heaved a sigh at another near miss, her eyes squeezing shut as she leaned back against the chair. "Oh my gosh, Julian. Just tell me, so what?"
A brow arched upwards as she considered him, head tilted to the side. A wave of her hand and the radio came on. A soft song playing in the back ground. "See? My powers are totally useful."
*
"No way. This is all me." Mostly true. Technically if Lorna wasn't helping, he still wouldn't have crashed yet, but he skirts the line more than any sane person would. He appears to know his limit, but unlike most, rides it up to the line instead of staying safely below it. "I dunno!" he mumbles. "How do you end a date? Do we like, shake hands or something? WAS this a date? I mean, I joked about us having one, but… y'know, if you just wanna be friends, that's cool. I'll always be able to beat you in tag if nothing else!"
*
A blink, "I'm pretty sure when a boy takes a girl out and pays for an expensive dinner that it's a date." She turned red and she shrugged weakly, reaching up a hand to push her hair back behind an ear.
"But I haven't been on many dates either." She nudged the car better into the lines on the road, perfectly subtle.
"You've probably been on more dates than me."
*
"Uh." Julian mumbles, distracted enough he inadvertantly drives in a more sane and safe manner. "Let's see. If this is a date, then there's two options. When I drop you off, we have an awkward pause, you kiss my cheek, and we go out again. Option two, you slowly back away while mumbling excuses to get back to your dorm and whenever we see each other again it's slightly awkward. Don't spoil it, surprise me!"
*
A pause, and a tilt of her head. "If we go on a second date, then I get to choose where." She murmured, "And you don't get to pay for things. Got it?" She glanced back toward him, arching a brow as she shifted in her seat.
"And I'm driving next time too." She added, a teasing smile pulled at the corners of her lips.
"Of course if my nephews hear or my sister hears, I'll never hear the end of it." Her cheeks turned pink and she shrugged.
*
"I'm paying." Julian says, flatly. He almost seems offended by it. "You don't need to prove anything to me by sharing the load. It's nothing to me. You deserve to keep your money for yourself. …all the rest is fine." How dare she. This is the 60's! Girls don't pay for dates! "…but I dunno. I think we just had our first major issue." His expression turns somber, sinking down as he drives in a more listless fashion. "Maybe… this is a bad idea…"
*
A huff and Lorna brought her chin up, "The point is to not use money at all Julian. You can take me out and pay for things, sure. I won't argue with you on it." She crossed her arms over her middle and heaved a sigh.
"We can go out on dates and not spend money you know. Like go for a drive out into the country and have a picnic—which you would not be buying the food. Sandwiches are just fine." She added, arching a brow as she glanced over him.
"Or when the weather is nicer, going out for a swim. Or a hike."
*
"Swim." Julian immediately states, with a disturbing lack of hesitation. "…but you're ignoring the problem. I TOLD you to surprise me when I dropped you off. You ruined it." He shakes his head slowly. "Can we really build a foundation on this kind of flagrant distrust?"
*
A pout crosses her lips as she eyed him, arms crossing a she leaned back in her chair. "You sounded so incredibly sad I couldn't help but want to cheer you up. Is that so terrible?" Her brows furrowed as she eyed him.
"And you didn't exactly say anything about not telling you in regards to what I'm planning. Just gave me two options you know.."
*
"I TOTALLY said to surprise me!" Julian remarks, taking a playful tone of argument. "I am 70 percent sure!" Did he say that? He knows he thought it! Ugh, tipsy. "Oh my god. Our first fight!! We're progressing so fast!" Abruptly the car slows down, and he pulls to the side of the street beside the school. "Well, here we are."
*
A brow arched and Lorna sighed, her mood easing as she realized he was mostly joking. A smile tugged at her lips and she unhooked her seat belt, the door beside her popped open with a wave of her hand. "Thank you Julian." She smiled, and then with a quick lean forward, made to press a kiss against his cheek.
Her cheeks stained red as she did so and tried to duck away just as quickly. "Good night."
*
Julian eases back, hand on the steering wheel. And then, the moment she leans forward, he snaps his head to the side. She'd end up lip to lip, although the kiss would be no less chaste and quick. "Hah! Got you!" He looks far too smug with himself, all things considered. "Good night, eh? Don't do anything I wouldn't do. So, free pass for the evening."
*
A squeak and Lorna presses a hand against her lips, her face beat red as she blinks up at him. Struggling to hide the twitch at the corner of her lips. "Good night," She mumbled, and got out of the car with a soft padding of her feet. The door clicking shut gently behind her as another usage of her powers.
*
Julian blows a last kiss out the closed window, then his car revs to life, and in a heartbeat his souped up car is down the street and around a corner. He's still not sure how to digest all this. It was… new. And not bad. Well, first time for trying everything, right…?