Lunch Date, Don't Be Late || Closed to Dirk and Jake

[investigatorjane]

Jane's Dad eventually let her off work early on in the night, wishing her a lovely evening as he closed up shop, relieving her duties. The young woman couldn't help but tread home excitedly, unable to hide the wide smile on her face- not that she actually wished to do so. The day had been quite eventful, with the bakery booming and making a new friend, or at least, the potential of a new friend. In her hand, she carried the slip of paper Dirk had given her, excited to read it over and contact the man.

She reached her apartment in record time, unlocking the door and stepping over the threshold. After taking off her jacket, she turned to the lightened interior, excited to tell Jake the news.

"Hey Jake, I'm home! You won't believe what happened today!"

Comments

Welcoming Home Janey

[olli_lolli]

Jake was working on some homework for his archaeology class, classifying and identifying fossils that predated back to the Jurassic Era. It was rough work for him, but it was a passion of his, so he knew he could do it! A smile was present on his face as he worked on his assignment, a low buzz rumbling through him that had become commonplace to him in the time since he'd moved to the town. The darker skinned adventurer was so enveloped in his work, he nearly missed his girlfriend returning from work. Hearing her voice, though, caused a surge in the buzzing as his smile brightened and he exited the room to greet her.

"Hello there, Janey! How was wor- something happened today? I take it from your smile, it was a good thing. Gosh diddly darn, do share the news!"

[investigatorjane]

"Hoo hoo, you bet!" Jane giggled, covering her mouth with a hand. Seeing Jake brightened her day even further as she fought back the urge to jump into the events. However, upon hearing his word that he wanted to know, the young woman launched into an explanation on just why she was so excited.

"He gave me his information! I mean, of course I've had talkative guests, but never anyone that was actually willing to chat afterward! This is so very exciting and I want to contact him straightaway, but I don't want to be overly forward." A blush dusted her cheeks at her own excitement as embarrassment took over. Jane truly hoped she wasn't being too strange about everything. "'He' being a man named Dirk. I don't think he'd ever been to the bakery before, but goodness, he was sweet. He was looking for a few apple-based treats for his brother who wasn't feeling too well. Anyhow, we hit things off rather well and agreed that we should meet for lunch sometime and I'd absolutely love it if you would come, too!" She linked her hands together, batting her eyelashes at her boyfriend as she waited for a response.

Swooning

[olli_lolli]

He always loved how animated his girlfriend became as she spoke of things that excited her. It reminded him why he fell in love with her in the first place. But now was not the time to swoon over her gorgeous batting eyelashes. It was time to respond and show he'd been a good boyfriend and listened to her (Oops. He missed most of what she'd said).

"I am so sorry, Janey, but could you repeat that. I was a little too distracted by the batting of the eyelashes. You mentioned something about a customer and a lunch date? Do I need to be jealous of this person? Are they going to steal you away from me?" he joked as he kissed her cheek and led her into the apartment, going into the kichenette and starting a kettle for tea.

Re: Swooning

[investigatorjane]

Jane simply laughed. Repeating herself wasn't anything new in the presence of Jake, as she usually had to do it multiple times when they spoke. His mind was always on some sort of adventure even if his person wasn't.

As she was lead to the kitchen, she repeated what she had said, albeit much more calmly the second time around. "His name is Dirk and no, of course you don't need to be jealous, Jake! Admittedly, he is quite the looker, but my heart is with you," Jane said with another light laugh. "I want you to accompany me. You always say you want more people to go on adventures with, so perhaps Dirk could be someone like that. I believe you two will hit things off well enough." She shrugged as she held up the slip of paper, finally taking a look at the quickly scrawled handwriting.

"While you're prepping the tea, I'm going to message him," she said, pulling her phone out and quickly typing in Dirk's contact information.

GG: Hello there, Dirk, it's Jane! :B

She quickly pressed send, trying not to overthink her message as she set her phone down, taking a deep breath.

Hal: Be Annoying

[coltblooded]

TT: Hello, Jane.
TT: Jane Crocker.
TT: From the bakery.
TT: It seems you're very eager to talk to me.
TT: Isn't it a little early to call me after our first date?
TT: I thought there was a 3 day rule.

Re: Hal: Be Annoying

[investigatorjane]

Jane's eyebrows furrowed as she took in the message, scoffing softly. Had Dirk really thought that was a date?

GG: I apologize if you thought that was a date, but I am taken.
GG: Even so, I wasn't aware of a three day rule. Why must it be three days?

Hal: Pester Jane

[coltblooded]

TT: Not for long.
TT: Don't know, don't care.
TT: That's just how it is.
TT: Anyway.
TT: What do you want?

Re: Hal: Pester Jane

[investigatorjane]

Jane couldn't believe what she was reading, Dirk had seemed so sweet in the bakery. Had she caught him at a bad time? No, that didn't matter. What mattered was, he was being rude to her when she didn't deserve it. The young woman's face began turning red with frustration as she began typing a response.

GG: I don't appreciate how you're speaking to me, Dirk.
GG: If I had done or said something wrong, the kind thing to do would be letting me know, but I suppose that kind of chivalry is dead.

She was so lost in thought, she completely missed everything Jake said, her being focused on the glowing screen of her phone.

Dirk: mend these bridges

[coltblooded]

TT: Jane?
TT: What are you-
TT:
TT:
TT: I swear to God, Hal, if you had a body I would tear you apart and sell you for scrap metal.
TT: You keep saying that, but you've yet to follow through.
TT:
TT:
TT:
TT: Jane?
TT: Are you still there?

The Cafe

[olli_lolli]

Jake finished his summer class for the day, sighing in relief when it was over. The lecture had been particularly boring and the lab not much better. The man walked out of the college and grabbed his bike, undoing the bike lock and mounting it. Jane wouldn't get out of class for another half hour at least, and he contemplated just heading back to the apartment to wait for her and her car. However, his stomach growled at him, so he decided to just bike to the cafe. He pulled out the map he always kept in his bag and figured his route, taking main roads to get there faster.

Within half an hour and some rigorous pedalling, Jake reached the cafe, panting with a light sheen of sweat covering his body. Thankfully, he was wearing a pair of light cargo shorts and a t-shirt, so he didn't overheat in the scalding weather outside. Locking his bike to a nearby bike rack, the dark-skinned man made his way inside.

"What a quaint little space!" he exclaimed to himself once inside, looking around and admiring the shop. His stomach growled again, reminding him he was hungry. Would Dirk and Jane mind if he grabbed a quick bite before lunch to tide him over? He did eat like a whale normally, so it shouldn't spoil his appetite.

Making up his mind to grab a small snack, he walked to the counter, perusing the menu and finally deciding on a blueberry muffin after confirming there were no peanuts anywhere near the making process of it. It was inconvenient, but having a deathly peanut allergy made things hard. Once receiving his snack, the man found himself a table near the door so he could wave down Jane when she arrived. He hoped she wouldn't be long. He didn't know what Dirk looked like. So with a slight worry that Dirk would show up first, Jake settled himself down and began munching on the muffin, waiting on his girlfriend and possible new friend to arrive.

Dirk: hope no one sees you

[coltblooded]

Dirk started to regret agreeing to lunch at the Corner Cafe almost as soon as he'd agreed to it. While he didn't think Kanaya would kill him on sight, and he no longer had the desire to do so to her, they still weren't exactly on good terms. He'd been avoiding the café for that reason, but he just couldn't bring himself to say no when she'd asked. With a sigh, he parked his car a few blocks away, on the off chance that Kanaya would recognize it. (What did he expect her to do? Break the windows? Not likely, but leaving it parked outside the cafe didn't sit right with him.)

He entered slowly, pushing his shades further up his nose. He did a quick scan of the place, but didn't spot Kanaya. Unfortunately, he didn't see Jane, either, and he didn't know what her boyfriend looked like. He hadn't even gotten the guy's name.

Dirk lingered next to a table near the door, where a dark skinned man was sitting, and pulled out his phone. He'd message Jane and find out more about this boyfriend of hers.

Jake: Notice the Stranger

[olli_lolli]

Jake sat by himself for a good ten minutes before he noticed the door open. A tall, blond man entered with strange looking eyewear. They were so pointy, how did they not catch on anything? The man studied the other for a while, noticing his slight jumpiness and a little bit of a lost look. When he pulled out his phone after scanning the cafe, it finally clicked that this may be the guy Jane spoke with. So Jake, being the gentleman he was, stood to approach the blond stranger.

"Ahem. Um. Pardon me, chap, but are you by any chance here for the lunch date with myself and Jane?" he asked, voice a nice volume that attracted a couple customer eyes without him realizing it.

Dirk: socialize

[coltblooded]

Dirk, of course, noticed the attention they were drawing, but he ignored it. (Or pretended too, anyway.) He shoved his phone back into the pocket of his hoodie and nodded to Jake. (Who the hell talked like that?)

"Yea, I'm Dirk." He answered simply. After a moment of silence, he added, "You must be the boyfriend who wants to kick my ass."

(That's it, Dirk, perfect first conversation with someone.)

Jake: Be Surprised

[olli_lolli]

At first, when the man addressed him, Jake thought everything would go well. Then, he mentioned something about Jake's desire to kick his ass, leaving the dark skinned man blinking rapidly in surprise at his frankness. That didn't last long before the man burst into laughter, slapping his knee and clapping Dirk on the shoulder.

"Well, Dirk, I wouldn't say I want to kick your ass, but I sure as fire wouldn't mind a bout of fisticuffs. But that is neither here nor there. Come and sit, fellow! We just need to await Janey's arrival and then we can begin this shindig," he stated, leading the blond to the table his small plate sat upon, resuming his seat and growing quiet. Were they supposed to talk more without Jane there or wait for her? Would she be much longer? Now that he was alone with Dirk, Jake found that he didn't quite know what to do.

[investigatorjane]

Jane let out a small huff as she got back into her car. It completely figured Jake would head out to the cafe without letting her know. She had grown used to him doing things without actually telling her, but they were supposed to go together. Jane only hoped he wasn't being too much of a nuisance toward Dirk, at least, if they had figured who the other was.

She drove quickly, though carefully, refusing to break any laws in her haste to arrive at the cafe before Jake caused too much damage. Not to mention the fact that he was going to receive quite the ear-full from her.

Once she arrived, she walked inside quickly, her stomach rumbling as she hadn't gotten to eat breakfast, which was nearly a sin in her world. Honestly, what would her father say?

Her blue eyes quickly caught sight of Jake and Dirk sitting together at a table, both looking more than a little uncomfortable. With a roll of her eyes, she walked up to them.

"Hello, Dirk! Jake. I see you two found one another," she said, offering up a smile, though it fell quickly when she turned her attention to her boyfriend. "I really don't want to chew your ear off in front of Dirk here, so just know that you and I are going to have a little chat when we get home."

Dirk: socialize better this time

[coltblooded]

Fisticuffs. Shindig. Was Jake even a real person?

Dirk sat across from Jake, sitting up straight and tense. The other man seemed nice enough, but Dirk didn't get the same feeling of comfort and ease that he did from Jane. He cleared his throat, but didn't say anything. Small talk was not his best skill.

Fortunately, Jane arrived quickly and saved them. He managed a small smile for her.

"Hey, Jane." He greeted, once again not sure what else to say. He fell silent as she turned to scold Jake, wondering what he'd done to deserve that.

Jake: Be Reprimanded

[olli_lolli]

The two men sat in silence for several minutes while awaiting Jane's arrival. Jake wanted to start talking to him, but for once wasn't sure what to do. He usually was able to decide and follow through with said decision, but when it came to socializing, he quickly figured out that he needed Jane's help. It was a wonder he even spoke with her when they first met and charmed her enough to agree to becoming his girlfriend. The black-haired man was socially stupid.

However, he was saved from the awkward silence and possible socialization by Jane's entrance. Although, when she spoke, he quickly remembered the thing he'd forgotten to do before coming to the cafe: let Jane know he was going ahead of her. He bowed his head as his cheeks flushed slightly at the chastisement and threat of a talk afterward. He did greet her, even if not as vibrantly as usual.

"Hello there, Janey. I'm sorry I didn't let you know I was coming first... But Dirk and I found each other with little problem." He tried placating her slightly by letting her know he and Dirk at least hadn't fought. When her look didn't change, he changed the topic. "Shall we get lunch? I'm famished."

[investigatorjane]

"That's really sweet of you," Jane said to Dirk with a smile. If she had had a younger brother, she could imagine doing the same thing for him. In that moment, her opinion of Dirk sky-rocketed as she smiled at him. In her mind, he wasn't one for conversation, though it didn't dawn on her that he simply didn't want to be the center of attention. Jane knew what it was like to be shy, though she was trying her hardest to grow past it.

Before she could ask anymore questions, Jake sat down at the table, setting everyone's food in front of them. Jane quickly pocketed the money Dirk had given her, not wanting Jake to see it and cause a fuss- as he usually did- over people not taking free food.

"You didn't miss much, Jake," she responded, offering her boyfriend a smile as she tried thinking of more questions to ask Dirk. The cogs in her head turned as she thought, before finally, "Okay, Dirk, so what are your interests? You and I didn't get to speak much in the cafe and I'm curious to know more about you, unless I'm doing this friend business wrong and you're supposed to remain a complete mystery to me!"

As she waited for an answer, her blue eyes drifted over to Jake, whose right cheek had been graced with mustard from his sandwich. Without a word, she took her finger and removed the sauce, wiping it on a napkin with a roll of her eyes.

[coltblooded]

Not for the first time, Dirk was grateful that his shades hid his eyes. He didn't want Jake or Jane to see that he was uncomfortable here. He was trying to be more social, but he was out of his depth here.

"Sorry, Jane," He teased, though he wasn't smiling. "I'm destined to be an enigma forever."

He watched curiously as Jane wiped the mustard off Jake's face, feeling a tiny spark of jealousy at the interaction. He quickly stomped on it, and turned his attention back to Jane.

"Tell me about yourself." He told her, softening his expression into an almost smile.

[olli_lolli]

Jake swallowed the bite of his sandwich before turning to Jane and giving her a sheepish smile. "Thanks, Janey. You know I always eat with a little too much gusto." He laughed and turned to Dirk as he spoke.

"Yes, Jane, do share with him about yourself!" He directed the next part at Dirk. "She's quite the amazing and very smart woman, Dirk." Jake, for as oblivious as he was, was starting to pick up a little on the fact that Dirk was rarely addressing him when he spoke or asked questions, and the black-haired man couldn't help but to wonder if he did come on too strong like Jane always said he did. Maybe he needed to back off some? He took another bite of his sandwich as he awaited Jane to talk about herself and pondered how to make Dirk more comfortable with him.

[investigatorjane]

Jane froze up slightly when the conversation suddenly turned to her. She'd never really been the best at talking about herself, but she didn't want to leave Dirk hanging. "Well, you know that I work at the bakery- I go there whenever I'm free to help my Dad. However, I'm also studying forensics at Crocker University. I enjoy anything and everything about detectives and what they do, and- well, that's it, really!" she smiled.

The woman felt as if her life was boring compared to Jake, who was always going on an adventure. She didn't know Dirk well enough to pass that kind of judgement, though she could only guess that his life was pretty action-packed based on his looks alone. Her blue eyes wandered the man's face before turning back to Jake.

[coltblooded]

It sounded like Jane had the most normal life of anyone he'd ever met, and he envied her for that. She went to school and worked at a family business, with a father whom she didn't sound like she hated. Jake may seem unreal to him because of his mannerisms, but Jane's life sounded to Dirk like it belonged on a TV series. He'd bet she even had a white picket fence growing up.

"And you, Jake?" He asked, turning to the other man, trying to keep the attention off himself for now. What could he even say if they asked again? Normally I sew fetish toys and sell them on the internet, but lately I've been fighting monsters, and my little brother hasn't spoken in a week since one of his friends died and I almost killed him!

Jake: Munch on Sandwich

[olli_lolli]

As Jane talked about herself, Jake happily munched on his sandwich. He loved hearing about her and her life. It was so simple, but yet, she had so many adventures of her own, which was wonderful to him. He wondered what it would have been like to stay in one place growing up, and he simply couldn't fathom it, but it seemed like the perfect life for his girlfriend. He hoped he could give her some sort of life like that in the future.

Then, once she was finished, Dirk actually turned to him and asked about his life. He nearly choked on his sandwich!

"Oh me? Well, I grew up all over the world, traveling with my Grandma. We went everywhere! And occasionally would meet up with my cousin, Jade, to explore various caverns and tombs and the like. It's why I finally settled here for a little while to get a degree in Archaeology and do it professionally," he explained. "Other than that, my life is pretty normal with my Grandma teaching me how to hunt and fighting in the wilderness and whatnot."

[investigatorjane]

As Jake filled Dirk in on his life, Jane munched on her food quietly, paying attention to the conversation at hand. She couldn't stop her mind from wandering to the fact that she was pleased to have found another friend in Dirk. Of course, she wasn't sure if he felt the same and he didn't seem the type to admit such feelings, but Jane contented herself to thinking it was what he thought as well.

Shaking her head slightly to clear her mind and move her thoughts back to the conversation at hand, Jane chuckled. "Jake has gotten into his fair share of accidents, though. He certainly likes getting hurt and worrying me to no end!"

[coltblooded]

Dirk stared at Jake for a long moment, until the silence bordered on uncomfortable. The tavelling, hunting and fighting all sounded normal to him, after all, that's how he and Dave had grown up as well, but Jake actually sounded happy about it. Was he supposed to have enjoyed all that stuff? Maybe he would have, if it hadn't involved Dave getting hurt so often... His brow furrowed, but Jane interrupted before he could get lost in his thoughts.

Dirk snorted softly, Jane's fond expression making him smile as well. "Sounds a bit like my little brother. Kid is gonna give me a heart attack one day."