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?

Jake: Be Worried

[olli_lolli]

Jake watched as Jave progressively grew more and more frustrated with her phone. He saw her face turn red as she angrily typed away. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder, brows furrowed with worry.

"Jane? Are you alright? What's he saying, Janey?"

What?

[investigatorjane]

Jane stared at her phone, confusion clear as day on her face. What in the world was going on?

GG: ...
GG: I am feeling quite confused right now, Dirk. Could you please explain what's happening?
GG: Is this a prank? If it is, I do commend you for achieving your goal, but the rudeness still wasn't too appreciated.

At the feel of Jake's hand on her shoulder, Jane jumped slightly, looking back at her boyfriend. She rolled her blue eyes before huffing. "Dirk was being rude, though I think he was just pulling a prank- kind of like I do, but it seemed he had malicious intent. I just asked him for clarification. Don't worry about it, Jake." She sent a smile his way before turning her attention back to her phone.

[coltblooded]

TT: No, it wasn't a prank.
TT: Long story short, my piece of shit AI thinks it's fun to pretend to be me and be a belligerent dick to anyone who talks to him.
TT: That ain't how I hoped our second conversation would go.

[investigatorjane]

GG: Oh.
GG: Admittedly I'm still confused, but I'm sure I'll get over it. To be honest with you, I was starting to grow a little angry.
GG: I certainly wasn't expecting such a second conversation either, but perhaps we could straighten things out?
GG: How are you, Dirk?

[coltblooded]

TT: I'm fine.
TT: Thanks again for the sweets.
TT: My brother perked right up when he saw them.
TT: He might make himself sick eating them all.

TT: For the record, I didn't think we were on a date.
TT: And I'm not interested in you that way.

TT: How are you, Jane?

[investigatorjane]

GG: Oh, it's no problem! :B
GG: I do hope he gets well soon.

GG: I am relieved you didn't think that was a date. I was a tad bit confused when your... AI? spoke about it being one.
GG: Admittedly I'm not into you in that way, either. Strictly friends.

GG: I suppose I'm alright! My boyfriend isn't too happy with your AI however, I suppose it's understandable.

[coltblooded]

TT: Believe me, if Hal had an ass, I'd let your boyfriend kick it.
TT: I can't promise he won't contact you again.
TT: He gets bored easily.
TT: If you ignore him, he should leave you alone.

TT: Just friends.
TT: Are we still on for lunch?

[investigatorjane]

GG: Well, if he does I'll be able to handle him. Don't worry about me.
GG: Though ignoring him would also be a wise decision, so I might just go with that route.
GG: I still don't appreciate how rude he is.

GG: Of course we're still on for lunch!
GG: Would it be okay if I brought my boyfriend along? I believe you two would hit things off splendidly!

[coltblooded]

TT: No one does.

TT: Sure.
TT: He can kick my ass in place of Hal's.

TT: When are you free?

Re: What?

[olli_lolli]

"He was pulling a prank on you? With malicious intent? Well, let me at him, Janey. I'll show that talley-whacker what's what when dealing with my girlfriend!" Jake got fired up with protective energy when he heard what this fellow was doing, playing around with Jane like that. No one was allowed to do that. No one, you hear?!

Calm Down

[investigatorjane]

Jane turned to Jake quickly. "No, no. It's really okay! He says it was his AI speaking. I'm not too sure what that means exactly, but it sounds like it wasn't him. In fact, he's quite apologetic. I am hoping I'll receive more answers, but I am able to handle my own, Jake, please don't forget that." She couldn't help but roll her eyes at the man's behavior.

There were times his overprotective nature flattered her and others where it simply grew to be too annoying. Jane decided to change the subject, knowing it would be hard for Jake to actually let the situation go.

"How's the tea coming?"

Re: Calm Down

[olli_lolli]

"Ah! Terribly sorry then, Jane. I didn't mean to downtrod on your ability to handle your own. You just know how I get sometimes. Heck! I'd take a sword to the chest for you, and you know it!" he stated, giving his girlfriend a very wide smile before continuing.

"I'm thrilled he seems to be of a better constitution now and is treating you properly. Also, your tea has been ready for the past five or so minutes while you've been typing away, silly gumshoe." He gestured to the cooling cup of soothing liquid in front of her, moving back over to the refrigerator to start getting things ready for supper.

"Do you want venison or fish for supper, Janey?" he asked, letting her handle her own with Dirk and giving her the space he knew she needed.

[investigatorjane]

Jane couldn't help but feel a little bad for snapping at Jake the way she did. She knew of all the things he would do for her and appreciated it more than he would ever know.

She looked down at the cooling cup of tea sitting in front of her before letting out a light laugh, a blush crawling to her face. "I apologize, I got so lost in the conversation I didn't realize you had set it in front of me." Jane lifted the cup to her lips, taking a few sips and smiling as the warmth moved down her throat, automatically relaxing her.

"Fish sounds perfectly fine with me!" she responded, picking up her phone once more. Once again, she felt apologetic, almost as if she were ignoring Jake, however it had been so long since she'd had a friend she could speak to.

Making Supper

[olli_lolli]

Jake smiled and pulled out the fish he'd caught the other day down by the harbor. As his girlfriend continued to chat with her newfound friend, the dark-skinned man quickly set about preparing the fish to cook, deciding to go with fish and chips for dinner, a classic.

As he worked, a calm, contented silence fell upon the two until he finished breading the fish and set it in a pan of oil to fry it.

"Say, Jane. How's that conversation of yours going? I can barely hide my own excitement at the prospect of a new friend now that he's not being a total dick full of cockameemie. Has a lunch date been set yet? And he is aware that I'll be there, correct?"

Re: Making Supper

[investigatorjane]

Jane looked up at Jake with a smile. "Things are going well, actually! He's saying you're more than welcome to kick his ass if you'd like." Of course, she knew those weren't Dirk's exact words, but what was a harmless little prank? After all, Jane knew fisticuffs was a passion of Jake's and Dirk seemed tough enough.

"I just asked him about tomorrow at around one. I'll be finished with my classes around then and I believe you said you don't go into work until four or five," Jane responded, resting her hand on her chin as she took another sip of her tea.

Re: Making Supper

[olli_lolli]

He nodded, taking the fish and chips out and placing them on plates for the both of them, grabbing out condiments for the meal, and placing everything on the table. He took a seat across from Jane this time and handed her a fork and napkin.

"Huzzah! I'll gladly get into a bout of fisticuffs with the chap. Not only can I let off a little steam, but I'll be able to gauge his strength. Can he truly match up to the English man?" Jake stood, striking a victorious pose, before laughing and sitting himself back down.

"Tomorrow around one will be perfect. I finish class at noon tomorrow anyway, so I'll be ready to go by one. Where are we meeting?" he questioned, digging into his fish and nearly moaning at delectable taste.