2019-11-21 - In-thai-regation

The restaurant wasn't too busy at this particular time of evening, which suited Esme just fine. She was settled in a booth, keeping an idle eye on the front door as she browsed the menu. Ironically, there were a lot of tofu options here too - but at least they weren't the only options. Esme loved her mother dearly but, well, she could only handle so much when it came to the woman's cooking.

Her attire was simple, business casual as it usually was on work days. A cream colored sweater paired with black slacks. Her wool was was resting in the empty space beside her. Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail. Every now and then she would glance from the door to her phone. Esme still didn't know what had possessed her to invite Yule to meet her for dinner but, well, she couldn't say she wasn't at least a little curious to learn more about the man in a non-work setting.

In Yule comes, the front door dinging with his arrival. It's a pair of light khaki pants with those black ankle high boots. From there, a white buttoned up shirt has the top couple undone, and a matching suit jacket is draped over him to serve as his means of keeping the faint autumn chill off. It all comes across as business casual, rather than too formal.

It's one of those ghost of a smile, a small curve to his mouth as he spies Esme and heads her way, no rush to his gait, but a warm welcome nonetheless. "You get started without me?" Those words are a light tease, and without a bit of hesitation, down the examiner slides into the booth, settling in directly across from her. It's her phone that he glances towards with it pulled out, and up one dark brow arches, "Think I was going to cancel on you?"

Esme lowers the menu some when she spies Yule come in, offering up a smile as he sits. "Just figuring out what I want." There's a menu already laying on his side to browse if he needs to. "After all, we're both here more of the interrogations than the food." She quips back with a wink. Looking back to her phone when he points it out, there's a touch of a smirk. "Nah, because then you'd have had to deal with the consequences of cancelling on me. Just making sure no emergencies came up." She does slide the phone off the table and set it on her coat though. He gets another quick once over before those dark eyes settle on to his own. "So, what do I do if your sister comes running in, hm? Any special protocols I should prepare for?"

"Yeah? Made up your mind yet? Hard choice, you know. Something that you may not like quite as much, but you can warm up later if you can't take the questions and flee quickly with your food, versus something you love, but gets all mushy and rubbery in the microwave." A low 'hmm' of consideration comes as she mentions his sister, and then his voice picks up after that moment of thought. "I'd definitely start with pulling out your taser. You have one, right? Look, I'd say gun, but I really do love her, and stunning is the better choice to go with." It finally draws a small snort of laughter from him, those brown eyes narrowing a touch to study the detective closely. "I don't pull punches," He offers up as his first and only warning, that light, easy and charming smile curling to the corners of his mouth. "So. Live with your mom. Saving up for a place? She need a bit of extra help?" Yup. Straight for the inquisition, but when it comes to family? That tone is softer, not sharp, true interest in the answer rather than judging the situation. Nor does the man grab a menu, speaking to the fact that he's far more familiar with the menu than he'd probably care for.

"Figured I'll just go with the red curry." Esme mused, laying the menu down and relaxing back into her seat. She chuckles when he talks about his sister. "I'll make sure my taser is at the ready." She winked and chuckled again. A thoughtful noise at him not pulling punches. "I'd be disappointed if you did pull them Duchannes. I'm a big girl. I can take whatever you toss at me." Esme promised. Then the questions started. Good, she hated beating around the bush. "Dad's sick, so I'm helping her out. Working on getting my own place but not in a rush for it." She answers easily enough. "What about you? I've gathered you live in the trailer park. Looking to stay there for the foreseeable future?"

"Dumplings," Comes his own order, just so they know where each one stands on their preferences for Thai food. "Sympathies about your father. It's hard. Yeah. I moved back here primarily for family. It was a trip about a year ago, now. Hard to explain the feeling, but just knew it was time." His elbows settle on the table, leaning forward a touch, "Reason I moved in to the park was to be next to them. They can be a pain, but I love them all." It's a brief pause as the waitress comes over to take their order, and he waits until they both have had their say, the woman heading off before those brown eyes refocus on her. "What are your thoughts on casual sex? And where do you fall on relationships with guys that you don't exactly work with, but kinda do, and that you had a crush on back in high school?" It's the faint smile, the glimmer in his eyes that shows, yes, he absolutely, positively just made that last part up. His own those on those two things? It's all carefully guarded, making sure his own hand isn't spilled unless she wants to return fire on the volley of questions.

"I don't have any other siblings and Spokane's too far to consistently keep driving back and forth. Especially with the job." Esme shrugged a touch. "Look at us, being all loyal and loving and stuff." To their respective families. She put in her order and then blinked a bit at the sudden shift in questioning. A soft laugh escaped. "Right to the chase, huh?" Teasing a little. "Casual sex is like, the only sex I get. I've seen too many marriages and long term relationships deteriorate and fall apart in this line of work. " And Esme did not want to add to that statistic. "Just as many stay fine I guess, but." Esme shrugs, not for her. "So romantic relationships with co-workers, work-adjacent, or other - not happening. Even if I had a crush on them in high school. " She muses with a wink. In other words: Shit would need to play out like a Nicholas Sparks novel, minus the inevitable tear-jerking tragedy, for her to consider an actual relationship with someone.

Her own dark eyes locked on to his again and the waitress dropped off their drinks. "And the angel of the Duchannes family?" Of course she's going to return fire. "With your dumpster fire of ex-girlfriends that you claim to have. What's your take?"

There is a flicker of approval as Esme lays everything out, his head tipping slightly to the side. Not a glance away, nor even an ounce of hesitation. "Was great in college. Don't believe in it now. Don't do casual, Wilkinsen. Feel it's for people not willing to take a risk. Engage my mind and soul, and my body will follow. But fuck, the highs? Are worth the lows. Screw statistics. Make up your own. Not," Yes, she's going to get more than she bargained for, but she'd also offered up those additional insights. "That I feel dating needs to be exclusive. I insist it not to be, these days. Too close a couple of times to want to put that pressure on myself." There is that small but approving smile at the wink she gives, that small maybe-but-not-really admission. "Better be careful. I might become too hard to handle if you keep feeding my ego."

His right hand flickers out, curling around his glass of water, drawing it close, but never once do his eyes pull away. "Kissing. Overrated or underrated?"

Esme's eyes were alight with a curious interest as Yule laid out his own insights into romance. "So, no casual sex, but you'll get involved with multiple people that can come with many more complications and strings?" No judgement just, curious. "Or maybe I'm just assuming. I'd think the more people you add in that regard, the more complicated it could get...what's the most amount of people you dated at once?" Her own sweet tea remains untouched for the moment. "Underrated." She answers without much hesitation. "You can let anyone fuck you, grope you, touch you, whatever but kissing? That's a lot more personal in my opinion. There's a lot of...feelings you can pour into a kiss. It comes across differently then if you try to convey those same feelings through other means."

She took a long sip from her tea now. "PDA - what's the acceptable amount, if any?"

"Yup. I like unraveling complicated. Though," One shoulder lifts, a faint shrug coming at the thought of it all with his admission, "With work, and family, and everything? It's not heaps of people, yeah? My time is an investment, and I don't give it lightly. So I'll invest it in a worthwhile thing. And let's remove the whole, first dates, yeah? Cause they don't count. You don't even know them. Dating dating? Invested? Two. Wouldn't do more than that either." Oh, but her answer about kissing, that draws a broader, approving smile from him, one that lingers. Not that he offers his own insights as she offers up a different question.

"Copious amounts of kissing. I'm too old to give a fuck about what other people think, but once clothes start coming off? I mean, I hear cops can bust you for that." A playful wink comes with those words, his water glass slowly turned, an idle gesture as he considers. "So why did you invite me out to dinner tonight?"

"You seem like the sort that likes unraveling complicated. I guess that sort of comes with your line of work too." Esme's head tilted just a touch. "Makes sense. Time is a commodity. More valuable than money. You don't want to waste it." A nod of agreement. "Of course. First dates don't count, hell second dates don't count. It's not official until the third one." A smile is flashed over her features. "Two. That sounds like a manageable number." Another sip of her tea. "Only if it's in a place public enough for them to catch ya." Esme chuckled. Even though she'd spent her entire life pretty much working up to where she was now - she'd had her fair share of interesting encounters. There's another long sip of tea when he asks her the inevitable question of 'why'. Why is he sitting here tonight across from her.

"Honestly?" Obviously. Esme focused on him again. "Just felt like the thing to do. I think you're interesting, and I enjoy our conversations. Thought it might be nice to talk about non work related things. I'm not disappointed so far. Why'd you agree to come?" Natural follow up question.

A snort of laughter comes as she points out the shades of public one can dwell in, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Yeah. And it isn't some weird, mixed together shit. When I spend time with someone? My full focus and time is on them. Which doesn't preclude something from becoming exclusive at some point, yeah? But, fuck that pressure, that expectation out of the start." That talk of her reasons why has him quiet, listening. "Yeah? That the whole reason?" Not that it stops him from diving right in. "Your witty. Sharp on your toes. Have a sense of humor to you, but you also respect the work, the job. Didn't hesitate in going into the zoo, yeah? It's the job, sure, but you didn't hesitate. You are comfortable in your skin. Knitting? Living with your mom? Yeah. I respect that."

"Your easy on the eyes, too. But to be clear? That's secondary. Icing on the cake. And? I didn't have to prod you for the invitation. Feel like that should be rewarded." A faint smile curls to the corners of his mouth, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes, but it fades back to seriousness. "Not sure what's up with your dad. Or if you want to talk about it. But you think you'll be sticking around for a long while?"

"It is a lot of pressure. Exclusiveness. I haven't dated often or anything but the couple times I've given it a shot it didn't work out for various reasons that, well if I think about it now in this moment, might've been prevented or at least eased some if things were a little less exclusive." Esme tapped her chin, thinking on it a moment. She couldn't help a smile as he listed off the reasons he came, though it's clear that she doesn't hear stuff like that too often.

"Well, I appreciate not being left high and dry then." She mused. "He's just getting up there in age. Liver issues, kidney." Esme offers up. "I'll be around for a while. Don't worry, you won't have to pine after me when I'm gone." She smiles a little more. "You're pretty easy on the eyes too. That's another tiny part of the reason." Esme relented, brushing a few strands of hair back from her eyes. "You're just...easy to converse with. Intense, yes. Direct - very much so...but I like all those things." A little shrug.

"More worried about you jumping bail while you still owe me a trip to New York City." It's a beat of a pause at that, one dark eyebrow arched upwards in clear expectation that he isn't going to let that thread go anytime soon, but in all the best ways. "It's hard. Not sure if you remember, but we lost dad when I as still in High School. Was in my second year of college when mom passed to breast cancer. Nat took over running the trailer park." It's a far more pleased response as those other little confessions are laid out, and up his glass is lifted, finally taking a small drink from it.

"Sounds like," Not an ounce of regret for pointing it out, his head tipping slightly to the side to better study the detective. "That your reasons for not dating are bullshit. Just an excuse for you to say no. You could say it's because your family needs you. It's hard to make the time between that and work. It'd make sense. But instead? It's all about statistics. Divorces. Thought of getting attached and having it all go wrong scare you? Or is it that you think the job is going to cause a situation that will break whosever heart it is you are seeing?"

Esme flashed a grin. "I'm curious what you're going to do when I actually hand you a pair of tickets to New York." When, not if. Her expression softened a bit when he spoke about his parents. "I do remember that a little. Mostly remember mom talking about it with some of the other neighborhood ladies. Trying to come up with ways that could help out your mom." Because her mother, while always wanting to be in everyone's business, had the best of intentions usually. "Well the place isn't on fire yeah? So seems like Nat's doing a good job with it." Her gaze travels just a bit, studying the curve of his jaw, the bob of the Adam's apple when he swallows.

Then she looks back up as he calls her out. She opened her mouth and then their food came out, so whatever she was going to say turned into a thank you instead. At least it gave a couple more seconds for Esme to formulate her response. When they were alone again, "Of course it's scary. Getting so wrapped up with someone and then it just ends. It's not like I've never dated before on the job. I haven't dated since i made Detective. I haven't always just worked homicide. I've done undercover work for narcotics, vice, I've dabbled in a little of everything. It's just. Dangerous." She decided, taking a bite of her curry.

"Hm, not bad." Murmured more to herself before she elaborated. "But ultimately, now? I don't know. Maybe it's a little scary. Why do I want to put my heart on my sleeve for someone who will just walk away?" There it is. Assuming everything is over before it ever even gets started.

"I'm going to get on a plane with you, and show you places you'd never believe." Comes that calm quip back, not even needing a pause to think about it. Yule isn't the sort to swerve away first, it seems. "Yeah? That was nice of her. Sure mom appreciated it. Nat too. She's become mother for Noelle, Ellis... even Snow, as much as she is sister. Proof you can make shit work well, Nat is." There is a clear fondness in his voice for that family, but his voice falls silent when their food comes out, his dumplings put down before him as he takes up his own eating utensils.

And then out a foot comes, seeking to hook his to just behind her ankle in an easy, casual touch, even while he watches to see how she responds. "That part of why you let me tag along on things? Bit easier to convince yourself I'm on the job, rather than not? Only one of us here has a badge, after all." It's a push, all to see how she responds, doing just as he promised in not pulling those punches. One of those dumplings is lifted, a deep breath taken in even as he watches her. "Because it can make your life richer. Fuller. Laughter and warmth. Ups and downs, yeah. And who the fuck knows. Might all end in a big dumpster fire," A soft snort comes as he mentions that again, giving a playful wink, "But it's cause the journey? Is so much better than whatever the destination might be."

"Placed I'd never believe? That's a tall order." Esme lightly tapped a nail against her glass. "We'll see." There's another bit of a smile as he talks about his siblings. "I wish I had a sibling or two but they stopped with me." While her facial expression doesn't change totally, there's a bit of 'deer in the headlights' that goes on in her eyes when he foot hooks her ankle.

Esme picked up her fork, like she was going to take another bite of her own food, but instead reached over to pierce one of his dumplings. Was she really playing footsie with the ME right now? Her foot shifted, ankle pressed back against his foot in a light nudge of her own. Apparently.

"I mean, technically you have a hospital badge." Esme's lips quirked in a smirk. Her brain was firing off all kinds of conflicting information at her. Not quite answering his question, but maybe answering it perfectly clearly all the same? "Like that Miley Cyrus song huh? All about the climb?" Her gaze lowered just a bit, taking a bite out of the stolen dumpling. Esme chewed thoughtfully as she tried to figure out the best way to say what was to next come out of her mouth.

Those dark eyes lifted again to settle on to Yule's. There was a hint of uncertainly lingering there, on the edges. "So what you're saying is, essentially, I need to stop being a pussy and get my climbing gear ready."

"I'm the king of impossible challenges." He promises about that tall order and with more than a touch of ego expressed in that voice. In his dumpling goes, a bite taken and chewed on. He focuses on eating while she speaks, working through it all, even as his foot curls in a touch tighter to encourage that connection beneath the table.

"A hospital badge? That's your excuse? I'll see how well it works for us next time we are questioning someone, yeah? Pull my jacket back a bit so they can catch the glint of my stethoscope too. They'll be quivering in their boots." That stolen dumpling is allowed, not a hint of protest coming from him as as his teeth curl around the tines of the fork and pull the rest of the food off. He waits until he swallows to let a small snort of laughter come from him. "All about the climb," He agrees.

"Yeah. I'm not gunna put up with bullshit excuses. So either start packing or find a real reason to tell me no." Further forward Yule leans, his fork sweeping along her plate, looking for a bit that seems to appeal, those his brown eyes linger on her own. "So, while you are over there thinking how many of your rules you are going to break for me - the answer, by the way? All of them - I have something else you should take into consideration."

Esme didn't know weather to be insulted, thrilled, or amazed at Yule's audacity. Maybe a little of everything. "Scariest ME in town. I'll back it up. Threaten them with your scalpel and shit." Esme nodded matter-of-factly, finishing off the dumpling as he starts to steal some of her own food. Which she also doesn't object. "I mostly just get a feeling you're the sort that doesn't often take no for an answer in most situations." She nudged her plate forward so he had easier access to the plate.

"I'm considering if I'm going to start opening up the suitcase." Esme offered up before taking a sip of tea. "So, go on. Tell me what else I need to consider."

His laughter is a touch longer this time, delight apparent in his look cast towards the detective for that wit, before Yule lifts his shoulders up in a hapless shrug at her surmise as to if he takes no or not. "Guess you'll just have to find out." Even when that nudge comes, however, he doesn't look down, just as picky in figuring out what he's going to steal from that plate. But it's his other hand that truly gets up to no good.

Those fingers unfurl, brushing back a few of those locks of hair behind her ear if Esme allows, before a finger hooks behind her jaw, seeking to draw her in to meet him halfway. It's a light but warm kiss, a promise of smolder there, all without a bit of hesitation or shame as he seeks to claim it. He'll let it last a few seconds, enough for her to respond or not to, and then? Relief. Back Yule settles into his seat, his hand falling away as that fork plucks up something from her plate, hauling it back over towards his side.

"Have any other questions you want to ask, detective?" A flutter of innocence shot her way, and then in that food goes to be tasted, savored and swallowed.

Esme could practically see it happening even as Yule reaches over to tuck back her hair. Because the thought had crossed her mind merely seconds beforehand. She should just put on the brakes. Tell him this was a mistake and run out. But it wasn't a mistake, and he knew where she worked. Hadn't she at least been curious? His lips set to hers in that soft manner and she leaned into. A simmering sort of heat to match his own smolder. He was trouble with a capital T. (Un)fortunately for Esme, that was her favorite kind. Then the kiss is ending and Esme settles back into her seat. There's a light flush to her cheeks.

"One question." She nods, but first takes another sip of tea to clear her head a bit. "Is this considered date one?" Esme was a touch wary of this whole thing. She was certain nothing good could come of it. Well, that wasn't true. Plenty of good things would probably come of it if she saw this through. It was just that mild fear of it inevitably being a 'dumpster fire'.

It's that light flush that has a touch of pleasure creasing Yule's features as he enjoys that taste of her food, before he goes down to stab another dumpling. "I feel like you have two options. One? You don't think about it as dates. It's us, enjoying each others time. Or," While there is a hint of playfulness, the man is equally serious, giving her those options of the best way to process it all, "we have to count this as date two. You wouldn't really just sweep under the rug our lovely stroll the the gravestones, would you? And the way you looked in my eyes when the music played?"

It's his foot that gives a gentle bump against her own, that charming smile lingering on his features as he looks over that dumpling. "Does this mean I'm going to have better luck convincing you to borrow your backup piece when somehow, inevitably, we get trapped in a shoot out?" A beat of a pause, those brown eyes narrowing, "Likely caused by Detective Hollywood, I'm guessing."

Esme made a thoughtful noise as the options were presented, and then promptly laughed about his depiction of the graveyard walk. "How could I forget? Looking at you like you were utterly crazy because that song is ridiculous." Her other foot moved somewhat cautiously to nudge him in return. A smirk on her lips when he asked about the sidearm. "Only if it is absolutely the best option. You might end up locked in an interrogation room instead." A beat of pause. "But you're right, she totally will have somehow had to do with causing it." There's a bit of a giggle.

She busies herself with her food for a moment or two. Then finally, "Enjoying each other's time. For now. We'll see how it goes." Not completely willing to totally let go of that distance, no matter how small it is. Not yet anyway. She rests her head in her hand, studying him for another moment. "You're going to give me a run for my money. I can already tell."

"I rather like it," Comes his retort back,a ghost of a smile curling towards the corners of his mouth at that. "And what could possibly go wrong?" A deep breath is drawn in, before one hand lifts to stop that thought before it is expressed, "Don't answer that. Probably best /not/ to give it to me. Went to the shooting range once. No clue how I did, cause none of the bullets actually hit the paper outline." Up his eyes lift towards the heavens, already picturing quite well just how that might all play out with that other pair of detectives.

"Course I am. It's why you like me, and are breaking those rules of yours, yeah?" There is a certainty to that voice, and it's another couple of dumplings before his fork is put down, resting on his place. "It's gone pretty well so far. Now? You just need to tell me what you do in your spare time. Besides knitting people ugly sweaters, that is. And by the way? I already have something picked out for you."

"If you didn't hit the paper, it means you did pretty terrible." Esme laughed. "But, I mean, if you wanted some time, I'd be happy to go to the range with you - show you a few things." She offered, sitting up straighter again. "I don't even know if 'rules' is the right word. Just...cautions. Guidelines even." She shrugged and then lifted a brow. "Already? You work fast." She doesn't lean one way or the other on if she's got something picked out for him yet though.

"As for my spare time? Mm. I do enjoy looking into unsolved cases. Reading about them, investigating a little. Swimming, hiking. I even enjoy long drives to no where. Though with the winter coming up, most of that is out of the question. I bake occasionally, curl up and read a book in front of the fire. " There's another hint of read. "I'm pretty boring. Work eats up a lot of time usually you know? So I don't really get to get out and do a lot. I'm open to trying stuff though..what do you do? When you have free time?"

"Yeah? Might take you up on that. And of course already. I don't work at half speed... you are going to have to keep up." A playful wink accompanies that, though his head tips one way and then the other, considering. "I always was better with my fists. Always a scrap or two in the trailer park, you know? Never one I started, of course." His voice murmurs, a flicker of a memory there before he is drawn back to listen to those hobbies.

"I do a lot of drives. Just out in the middle of nowhere, take my mind off of the job. Do jogging... swimming? Sounds good, though always too damn cold. Reading. Enjoying scotch at night. Can't really do things that take dedicated time, because... well, you know the routine, yeah? Work often calls." Yule reaches down and into his pants, tugging free his wallet. It's a few bills he pulls out, enough to cover the cost of both their meals plus food. "Really been getting more into music lately, too. Sorta... odd, readjusting to here, in that way. NYC? I'd go out and visit the weird, niche museums, exhibits, things like that."

"Yeah I get that. I was never really one for fighting but you learn a thing or two at Academy and then on the job and stuff. I swear some of those late night binges of Law & Order taught me some useful moves." Esme laughed. She nodded in understanding. Work was work and, in their line of work ,it had to take priority. "Maybe one of these days we can take a drive up to Seattle, Portland even. They've got some neat thing. Especially Portland. You know, keep you entertained while I save for New York." She flashes him a smile.

She watches him lay the money as she finishes off her tea, not objecting. "Thanks Yule." She nodded when he talked about music. "See just hanging out, listening to music, maybe a drink or two. That sounds like a good night to me." She briefly checks her phone laying on her coat beside her to make sure the world hasn't decided to explode yet, and then slips it into her coat pocket and relaxes back in the seat. "What kind of music are you into? Or do I have to wait and listen for myself?" Quirking a brow.

There is a long watch of the woman, those eyes rolling upwards to the heaven's with a touch of pleasure when she mentions those late night binges. "Yeah? That's what made you decide to go and be a cop? For me? It was my ticket out of here, ya know? Studied hard, got the scholarship. Mom wanted me to make something of myself." Up one brow arches as she mentions a trip to Portland, "Yeah? Planning our romantic excursions already? I'm game. In fact?" There is a hint of a smile, a slyness there before he concludes, "Yeah. I'll take care of Portland. Leave it to me."

And then he is slipping from his side of the booth, even as she seems to be settling in. Not that he, apparently, plans to let her off that easy. Down a hand comes, trying to snag hers and coax her out of it, arm wrapping lazily about her if she'll slip out to join him on that stroll towards the door. "Music? Depends, yeah? Way home from work, normally blues. Listening other times? It's 80s, into the 90s. Lately, though, I've been introduced more to pop and modern stuff. You?"

"Actually, I got caught shoplifting and my parents let me spend the night in the holding cell at the Police Department." Esme grinned. "I realized, watching all the officers and stuff, that I wanted to do what they were doing. I started watching those shows after that. " She looks curious when he says that he'll take care of Portland. "Oh really? Well, I suppose I can relinquish travel duties to you for Portland. I believe it just might be a good time." She watches as he stands, coming over to her side. That arm slides around her and she can feel that heat on her cheeks again. What the hell. She is a grown woman! Why is she blushing so easily as this totally normally thing?! She stands though, with him and as they start to walk she'll even be so bold as to slide an arm around his waist.

"Always been more of an older rock kind of girl. Dad was into it, so I was too. Beatles, Rolling Stones, that sort of stuff. But I'm into a little of everything. Pop, country, rap. The only stuff I don't like is where they're like...screaming words to the point you can't understand what they're saying." Esme explains. "I like singing with my music."

"Shoplifting? And what is it you were trying to get for yourself? Guess that's a good way to get on the job experience." It's an easy enough laze into her arm as it wraps about him in return, and those brown eyes drift down to watch her speak as those words come, catching that flush once more. "Looking a bit hot under the collar, detective. You didn't pocket the salt shaker, did you?" The door is pushed open, angled so they both can slip out, before a snort of laughter comes as she clarifies the one type of music she won't listen to. "Yeah. I'm picky. Tend to like it to match my mood. And a bit of nostalgia."

Around the building they go, up and until they get past the windows, and then it's a spin to bring Esme around until her back finds the wall, and Yule steps in. This time his hand lifts to cup against her neck, thumb fitting beneath her chin to guide it up. When his head descends, it pauses just a feathers kiss away from hers, letting that anticipation build a moment as noses nuzzle, and then he broaches that small sliver of space, melding his mouth fully against her own.

"A bracelet. You see, I'd gotten much too cocky. Thought I could get away with anything by that time...because I'd successfully shoplifted like one other time. A bottle of nail polish." Esme laughed. He called her out and she gave his side a little bit of a squeeze. "The pepper shaker actually." Teasing of course as the cool air hits her. "Mood music. Hmm" She does a quick sweep to see where he's leading her. Not towards the cars, no. Past the building...the side. "And I wonder what song-" She momentarily interrupted by him spinning her around and pressing her up against the wall of building. "...you'd pick for now." Breathed out as he's so close to her. She can feel her heart beat increase a tick.

Christ on a cracker. This was ridiculous.

Then his lips are on hers again and Esme felt like she might just melt into the kiss. Her hand slid up into his hair, gripping it lightly. Her other arm stays around his waist, pulling him in just a little closer as she presses the kiss deeper. It may or may not have been a minute since she's been in this particular kind of position with anyone. Kissing. Somewhere in the back of her mind Esme is telling herself not to act over-eager but other other hand...

It's a warm melding of mouths, his working slowly, letting his tongue dip out just enough to trace over her lower. Those fingers squeeze just a touch, enough to feel her pulse, to know just how quickly it was or wasn't racing, while his other hand simply came to nestle against her waist. Teeth curled in against her lower lip as he finally began to pull back, letting it pluck out. "Tiffany. I think we're alone now." Comes his answer about just what song he'd pick, his eyes scanning the features of her face for a response to it.

He sticks close, but there isn't another kiss to come, instead a faint smile. "I'd love to stand here all night and see what it'd take to get us arrested for PDA," A deep breath is drawn in, savored, and he? He smells of white musk and citron, lime and lilac. "Think it would be best to end here, yeah? A lot to take in and think about. And like I said... it's all about engaging the mind and soul. Not just the body, Esme."

Her heart was indeed racing, about a mile a minute it felt like. A soft. pleased noise as he tugged on her lower lip and then released. Her face was flushed still, and she smiled, "There doesn't seem to be anyone around." She agrees, though her words were a touch more sing songy. It was a good song though. "Hmm." She relaxes against the wall, eyeing him. "I've a feeling will get plenty of opportunities to test it. Maybe in Portland, where no one knows us. So it'll really be fun." She wiggled her eyebrows a bit and laughed.

Esme's scent tonight seemed to primarily consist of vanilla and cinnamon. Which ,for her, conjured images of sitting around a fire, drinking eggnogg, reading. And Yule's scent? She placed a light kiss on his neck just as an excuse to get a second whiff. It reminds her of a sunny summer day. Head tilting to look up at him a bit. "I agree." Albeit somewhat reluctantly. "Besides. Can't give it all away at once right? There needs to be some air of mystery left." Her hand slides down from his hair to his shoulder, a little down his upper arm until she lets her hand fall away from him completely.

"A meaningful engagement leads to a more fulfilling intimacy. Right?"

"Yeah?" It's a moment of pause, and then his head tilts, considering something. "You want to keep this quiet round the precinct? I'm fine with that, for the record. I can behave myself," A beat o fa pause as a faint smile touches to the corners of his mouth, "Well. To my normal extent. Else people would really get suspicious." Those fingers squeezed against her waist, even as his other hand lifted, raking through her hair, tucking a few more of those strands behind an ear that just didn't want to stay put.

In his body sways against that kiss she places there, as if to encourage such thoughts, before a small burst of laughter comes from him, bright and rich. "Exactly. Glad you got the courage up to ask me to dinner. Still haven't decided if you knew deep down what you were inviting in or not." Finally there he takes a step back, letting that space begin to separate them. "I'm sure I'll hear from you soon. And if I find any more out? I'll let you know. Be safe."

Esme thought about that. It was a good question, but ultimately she gave a little shrug. "I don't really go blabbing about my personal life in general at work. But I don't care if people know we're enjoying each other's company." She makes another little noise as he squeezed her. He was making this 'let's just end it here for tonight' thing rather difficult! Jerk. But then he's laughing and stepping back and she smiled again. "I still haven't decided either." Esme offered with a shrug. "But...I can't say I'm not happy with the outcome thus far." Her gaze lingers on him for a longer moment and then she nodded. "Likewise. The sooner we get information the better I'll feel." She doesn't make any moves to get to car yet. Seeming inclined to just linger against the wall for now. The fresh air was good for her mental processing.

"You be safe too. Tonight was nice. I'm looking forward to next time."