2020-01-12 - Benefits With Friends

As promised, Ciprian is at Beth's place of residence -- which of course, happens to be the funeral home -- to pick her up. He's probably wearing something he wears to work, but he is looking less 'work-like' and more 'date-like.' Whatever that means. Use your imagination. He rings the bell and waits for her to come down, since he is not seventeen anymore, and now dates require more than the honk of a horn or a text to indicate that he's there.

Beth comes downstairs and to the front door of the Funeral Home less than a minute after he rings the door bell. She is wearing a hunter green sweater dress with boots and thick black tights because it's a date, but it's also January and cold. Her hair is down and blown out as opposed to restrained like she often wears for work, and her winged eyeliner beneath her glasses is on point as usual. "Hi." She says when she opens the door, and she smiles broadly. "I feel like I haven't seen you in forever."

It isn't necessarily that Ciprian hasn't noticed Beth looking good at other times -- but maybe he hasn't allowed himself to notice quite how good she looks at other times. Now he does, and the look he gives her is appreciative as she opens the door. "Hi," he replies. "Sorry it took me so long. I guess I needed more time than I thought." Which might not be the most reassuring thing, but hopefully she knows that it's not her, specifically. He certainly seems happy to be here now, but that's how he is. Once he's decided a thing, he sticks with it. "You look great. Ready to go?"

Beth's smile widens ever so slightly when he apologizes for taking so long. "Twelve days isn't that long." She says reassuringly before she adds, "It's just that we'd usually see each other throughout the week." Before they were dating, she means. "Thanks. You do, too." She turns a little to punch in the code for the alarm to the Funeral Home, and once it is armed she starts down the porch stairs with him.

"Oh wow, was it twelve days?" Ciprian's mouth twists a little bit wryly, but he does let out a laugh, even if it's a bit self-deprecating. "Well, I don't think it'll be necessary to not see each for that long going forward." It's formal, but he makes it excessively formal, so it's probably a joke. He starts them toward the car then, going around to open the door for her before he gets in himself. "So, we're going to Il Pastaio," he says, naming one of the only fancy restaurants around, "because I wanted to do something fancy. I hope that's okay."

"Did the dread of seeing me again make it seem shorter?" Beth asks with a playful little nudge as they walk towards the car. "Oh, well Mr. Darcy I'm so very glad to hear it." She says as she gets into the car after he opens the door, and she must have finally learned her lesson because she reaches for her seatbelt to put it on. "I am never going to stop you from being fancy. I pinky promise." She holds out her hand to offer him her pinky.

Ciprian lets out a huff of amusement, and he shakes his head, but does not dignify that with an answer. Beth. Instead, he reaches out to complete the promise, hooking his pinky with hers. "Thank you," he says, "I appreciate that." He smiles as they start off, and it's a lot more comfortable to be in the front seat of an SUV than in the back of an Uber. "I don't know why I'm feeling as nervous as I am," he admits after a moment. "But I guess it's a good thing I feel comfortable enough to talk to you about it."

"Oh, it's because I'm like super hot." Beth says with grin thrown in his direction before she says more seriously, "No. I'm kind of nervous, too. I think it's because we know we like each other as people. If we had just met on Tinder we wouldn't know that, and if this weren't successful we could just not talk again." She smiles before she adds, "I am obviously doing a good job of convincing you to date me instead of just remaining friends by saying that, aren't I?"

"Well, yeah," Ciprian confirms with another little chuckle, though the humor fades into something more serious when she goes on. "That's probably a big part of it," he admits, reaching up to rub a hand over his forehead. However, at her last words, he continues, "You don't need to convince me of anything. I've already made up my mind. It still may not turn out like we hope, but it won't be for lack of trying." Maybe his pragmatic nature is a good thing for this particular endeavor. "So," he adds. "Tell me something interesting that's happened in the last twelve days."

Beth smiles lightly when he says he's made up his mind, and she leaves it at that. She is also pragmatic. Maybe not as pragmatic as he is, but it's there nonetheless. She is practical by nature. When he asks for something interesting she drags her teeth over her bottom lip before she says, "I went to your sister's meeting. For the Paranormal Society. She mentioned something called The Murphy House. Also apparently there is a Sanatorium in Olalla that is haunted. There are some abandoned buildings in the Firefly forest that she is planning on looking into. I thought maybe they'd have more...beginner knowledge, but they didn't. It's all very ghostbusteresque without the plasma guns."

Ciprian's expression shifts as she speaks into a more thoughtful look. It shifts even further into a frown as she goes on, definitely concerned, though he doesn't interrupt what she's saying. He waits until she's finished, and when she is, he takes a moment to consider. "Hm," he says after that brief pause. "You should speak with her one on one. I think a lot of people in this town forget that some people haven't figured as much stuff out as they have. It can be frustrating. God knows I've been frustrated with her at times." There's a little fond smile when he says this, though.

"Honestly?" Beth turns her head to look at his profile a moment before she admits, "I feel like I would be wasting her time. And I'm sure she has her time wasted a lot. Besides, I have the basics down. I'm not going to go stirring up spirits of people who starved to death at sanatoriums." She lets out a little huff, "Well that's different. She's your sister so she has to help you and not be annoyed. Or be only a little annoyed."

Ciprian shakes his head, a little frown touching his face. "You shouldn't feel like that," he says. "It's literally what her job is, helping people with this sort of thing. Guiding them. Not just people who know a lot. It's her chosen profession. She actually likes to do it. I don't know why, but she does." He says it a little bit jokingly, though it's not actually a joke. "She isn't going to be annoyed. If she didn't want to do it, she wouldn't have made a whole practice dedicated to that."

"Okay, but..." Beth begins, and then she laughs a little at herself. "What if she had a guy she was dating and he was constantly asking you for legal advice?Because I feel like that would get annoying even if you enjoy your job." She leans her head against the backrest of the seat. "I just don't want to annoy your sister. At least not yet." She hesitates a moment before she reaches over to squeeze his forearm briefly and affectionately. It is slightly awkward, but the attempt at touching was made. "So is this place Italian?"

"I don't think you can say that one appointment is constantly asking her for advice," Ciprian points out. However, he doesn't try to convince her further, and instead just says, "It's up to you. I just want you to do what feels best for you. But yes, please don't go stirring up spirits of people who died in sanatoriums." He looks down at her hand on his arm, and when she pulls it back, he reaches to take it with his free hand. "It is," he says. "It's a little cliche, but I think you'll like it. The food is very good, and by the time we've finished a bottle of wine you'll think we're in Italy." Hey, being drunk works wonders!

Beth smiles to herself when he takes her hand, her fingers curling a bit with his, and she glances at his profile again before she looks away because she is trying not to be weird even though she knows she's probably being a bit weird. "So you mean it'll stop sleeting?" She asks with a grin. Then she says, "I've never been out of the country. I've always wanted to go to Europe, but my parents weren't big on vacations because they were always busy with the funeral home, and then I got involved and..." She shrugs. "I feel proud that we own it, but I also wonder on the things I've given up for it."

"Exactly. It will, just you wait." Ciprian doesn't seem to think she's being weird -- at least, if he does, he doesn't mention it. His eyebrows do raise when she goes on, though, and he glances at her briefly before looking back to the road. "Well," he says, "you're an adult now, and you can probably take a little bit of time off if you wanted to. You don't need to take a long vacation to go see the world. I haven't been that many places. Tel Aviv, because we still have family there, and a couple places in Europe. I'd like to see more of the world."

"I am an adult now." Beth says in agreement, and she laughs just a little at the way he says it. "It's more like I could if I really wanted to, but it's like I would have to leave something I have invested a massive amount of my energy into. That's the hard part." She looks forward at the road as well. "What is Tel Aviv like? And where else have you been?"

"Well," Ciprian replies, "it isn't like you'd be leaving it forever. You could leave it for a week and go to Mexico, and then come back, or something like that. Ten days in London. Something." He shrugs, though, as she asks what Tel Aviv is like. "It's sort of strange," he admits after a moment. "It's like...a city, but a village. It does feel like a city, but it's very small. You could walk it if it isn't too hot. There are beautiful beaches there, and a lot of cultural things to do. I like certain things about it." There's a brief pause, before he says, "I've also been to London, and Spain."

He pulls up in front of what's presumably the restaurant then, and turns off the car.

"I guess I never thought of Tel Aviv much as somewhere people go." Beth observes before she adds, "But you just go because you have family there so maybe it isn't?" And then, "Ashira is old enough you could start traveling with her. She's curious. She'd probably like it." She points out with a light smile. She releases his hand when they arrive at the restaurant, and unfastens her seat belt. She opens her door because waiting for him to open it feels strange, but waits for him to actually start getting out before exiting herself.

"It's a relatively large tourist draw for the area," Ciprian says with a shrug. "I don't think anywhere in the Middle East is the biggest attraction, but there's definitely a good amount of tourism that goes through Tel Aviv." But when she mentions traveling with Ashira, his smile softens a little bit, and he nods. "We could," he agrees. "Maybe one of these days."

He gets out then, heading around to the other side of the car, even though she hasn't let him open the door, and offers her his arm.

"You should start talking to her about it. I bet you she'd be super into it." Beth mentions, and the idea of Ashira being into traveling seems to bring some joy to her expression as well. She takes his offered arm and her smile widens ever so slightly. "You are going to be awesome to wear heels with. You will still be taller than me, which never happens. Ever. And you let me hold your arm." She shuts her door and lets him lead her towards the entrance to the restaurant.

"Probably," Ciprian agrees with a little smile, and while it's a bit wry, it's not too much so. Traveling with one's daughter is probably not a terrible prospect. Considering he does love his daughter. A laugh escapes him, though, when she goes on. "I'm happy to be of service," he continues. "I always hoped I'd be tall enough for anyone I'm dating to wear heels with and not tower over me." He starts them toward the door -- quickly -- opening it for her and letting her precede him inside.

Beth looks supremely amused at his last words. "I am going to take that at face value and just pretend you've spent your whole life waiting for a tall awkward woman who likes wearing heels without dwarfing her date." She says, and then she steps through the door. Her gaze goes about the entryway, drinking it in.

It is a pretty nice restaurant -- fancy-ish, but not too fancy, which of course makes sense since this is Gray Harbor. Just kidding, Gray Harbor, you're fine. "No need to take it at face value," Ciprian says with a laugh as he starts them toward the hostess' station, once she's ready. "Hi," he says, "we have a reservation for 7:45." The hostess nods, smiling pleasantly, and leads them to a table that has some nice mood lighting going on. Of course, so does the whole restaurant, but particularly this one.

There aren't many fancy restaurants in Gray Harbor. A few but it's not exactly an oversaturated market. Beth looks sufficiently pleased with the place, More pleased that she's here with him which is probably for the best. When they arrive at the table she takes off her coat and puts it on the back of her chair before putting her purse down on the floor. Their waterglasses are filled. She opens her menu and begins looking over it. She lowers it to look at him from across the table and smiles, "You know I think this is harder in a way because if I didn't know you I could start asking those dumb icebreaker questions."

Ciprian settles in as well, taking the menu and perusing it, and while he seems perfectly content to sit quietly with her, he does have to let out another laugh as he looks up. "It might not be a good sign that you're already struggling for topics," he remarks, though there's some amusement in his tone at that. He sets aside the menu, leaning slightly forward. "But you can ask a dumb icebreaker question if you want."

"Yeah we should totally decide to just be friends after dinner." Beth jokes and when he gives her permission to ask him those dumb icebreaker questions she goes, "Oh! Oh you're in for a treat. I have been on so many dates and have asked so many dumb icebreaker questions. If we don't work out silver lining is you are going to learn how to date again." Her smile widens into a grin and she also leans forward slightly, "Okay first one. Who is the most interesting person you've ever met?"

"Well, at least we didn't get too far into it," Ciprian replies in a lamenting tone, though there's a little smile still on his face to indicate he's not being serious. The dumb question -- that is not actually a dumb question -- gives him pause, though. "Oh, wow," he says, sitting back as he considers it. "The most interesting person I've ever met." He takes another few moments, his head tipping to the side, before he replies. "One of my law professors at Harvard. She was legitimately just...interesting. It wasn't even the stories she told or anything specific about her life, though she had an interesting life. She just had this...strange magnetism. Like you couldn't help but listen to her when she talked. It was intense." He reaches for the water that's just been brought to him, before he asks, "You?"

"Right? Would be terrible if we were invested in this." Beth retorts with a little half-smile. She puts down her menu to listen to him. When he finishes she says, "No, I've met people like that. The strange magnetism sort, I mean. It's like some people are just born appealing? What did she teach?" She blows out a little breath and her eyes roll upwards thoughtfully, "For maybe two years this guy who designed pinball machines for a living moved in next door when I was in middle school. That poor man...I think Ricky and I were trying to go over there every chance we got."

"Yes, exactly," Ciprian confirms, his smile widening, pleased that she's understood what he means. "She actually taught tort law. I thought it was going to be the most boring thing I'd ever been in, but it ended up being my most interesting class. I wished she'd've taught other things, but she was pretty close to retirement at that point and spent most of her time on beaches in one place or another. Something else interesting about her, I guess."

Her answer has his eyebrows raising, and a little laugh escapes him. "Pinball machines, huh? I could see that being really cool. I remember we used to hang out at the movie theater when I was younger and they had some in the arcade. They always seemed kind of...I don't know. Weirdly sinister. You know? How analog they were compared to the other games. Like animatronics, I guess. Very mechanical." He doesn't seem to think he's explaining himself well, because he shrugs, smiling wryly. "What was the best day you ever had?"

"Oh. Well..." Beth gives Ciprian a sheepish look before she admits, "I um actually know what tort law is. I mean I had a law class in college, but it all pertained to don't do this with a corpse or you will be sued or go to prison?" She lets out a low little huff of breath when he says his professor spent most of her time on beaches, "After all of this winter I would like to be on a beach sometime."

"Pinball machines. Dude was cool, though. He had all of these prototypes in his house." She laughs and shakes her head, "Weirdly sinister. Okay I think I get that because I feel that way towards Atari. It's just so blocky and gross. And animatronics are scary I was terrified of Chuck-E-Cheese when I was a kid and my sister Angela loved it. So we'd have to go to the one in Tacoma every damn year for her birthday." His question makes her smile, maybe a little sadly, and she answers without hesitation, "The last Thanksgiving before my little brother died. He was really struggling with addiction and depression and other things and he was clean and we had a wonderful time and my parents were happy." She smiles and presses her lips together briefly before she asks, "And yours?"

Her first admission has Ciprian laughing in earnest, and he shakes his head, replying, "How dare you." He takes a brief moment to order some wine when the waitress comes, as well as a couple of appetizers, before turning back to Beth. "A tort is a civil claim. So, basically anything you can sue someone for in civil court. So I guess some of them aren't boring." He has to nod at the thought of spending time on the beach, though, and he reaches for his water, taking a sip from it as she replies.

His smile fades a little bit at the answer, and he looks a little bit guilty for a moment that he'd even asked, but there are going to be missteps in a relationship, so...he's apparently had one right now. "That's nice," he says after a moment, and while it might be a little bit lame to say, it's clear he means it. "Mine...I don't know. I feel like I should say it was when Ashira was born, and it was, but it also actually wasn't that good of a day. I guess it was probably her first birthday. It was just fun, and the whole family was together."

Beth picks up her water glass and has a sip, listening to his explanation of what tort law is, before her eyes widen slightly in understanding. "Why do they call it tort?" When the waitress drops off the bread basket with the little plate of oil and herbs she takes a piece out and puts it on her bread plate before tearing it in half and smearing it through the oil.

She is still chewing on her bread when he gives her that awkward answer and she shakes her head a little. "It's okay. My job requires me to be better at dealing with grief than other people. I should have known it's not normal to bring up my dead brother on a first date." She gives him an apologetic little smile that widens into something more happy. "I love baby birthday parties. That's a good one." She thinks for a moment before she asks, "What do you really like but you are embarrassed about liking?"

"It's from Latin," Ciprian replies. "Tortus, which means 'wrong.' So, a wrongful act." He takes a piece of bread, too, and does the same -- since that is the best part of fancy Italian restaurants, clearly. As for being not great first date conversation, he shrugs. "I think we've sort of surpassed the regular first date things anyway," he admits. "So I won't hold it against you." He smiles, too, at the memory of the birthday party. "Yeah, they're fun. I have some great pictures of her with cake on her face. You know the kind."

He grows more thoughtful at her next question, before he says, "I don't know if I'm really embarrassed about liking them, because I don't think I'd mind people knowing. It just doesn't come up that much in conversation. But I love dance movies. How about you?"

"Do you have to learn a whole bunch of Latin to be a lawyer?" Beth wonders aloud before she confesses, "A lot of my education was practical and schools that offer mortuary sciences aren't usually elite. I feel like I missed out on being fancily educated." She nods her head a little in agreement. "Have I ever told you about him?" She asks, her brow furrowing as she thinks before she says, "Well, surprise, if you didn't know I had a brother." She smiles and nods her head. "She was probably a super cute baby."

"Of course you don't mind. We've established this about you. You don't care if anyone knows what you like and that's one of the cool things about you." She sips from her water again. "I like..." She cringes a little, laughs, and then continues, "I like bad reality tv. Like Jersey Shore or Married At First Sight bad. Like Keeping Up With The Kardashians bad."

"Well," Ciprian says with another little laugh, this one slightly self-deprecating, but only slightly, since as was pointed out, he's not truly embarrassed about it and she already knows he's a huge nerd, "I actually already knew Latin pretty well. Don't ask me why I wanted to learn a dead language because I really couldn't tell you." He nods then, though, the laugh fading as he continues, "I knew. Well, not anything detailed. But you did tell me. I remember him a little bit, I think, from when you were little."

He reaches for the glass of wine that has just come, taking a sip from it, before he nods. "I don't know if it's cool or not, but it's a lot easier than caring whether I seem cool or not." His smile widens at her admission then, though. "I don't think I can judge you for that," he admits. "I've watched my share of bad TV. I don't really watch those shows, but I can see the appeal."

Beth's smile widens when he says he already knew Latin. "So you taught yourself in high school or during pre-law?" A pause as she considers, "Did you do pre-law? Did you always want to be a lawyer?" She nods her head softly when he says she told him. "I couldn't remember if I had mentioned him. And I didn't know you remembered me when I was a kid."

She also takes up her wine, sips, and her smile widens a touch at the taste. "Besides for dance movies what bad tv have you watched? I watch way too much I think. It's kind of my leisure thing when I'm done with work?" She almost seems embarrassed about it. Which makes sense.

"I mean, I always liked to argue, so it kind of made sense." Ciprian leans back, turning his glass around by the stem as he regards her. "I started in high school, but then I took some classes in college and it kind of spiraled from there." He takes another sip, before he continues, "Not a lot. But some things. I vaguely remember you being a black unicorn or something for Halloween in the parade when I was about to go to middle school. I guess you must've been in kindergarten or first grade, right? I remember your younger brother crying because he wanted to walk with you, and he wasn't happy until your mom let him down. Funny the things that stick in your mind."

The slightly less somber subject has him shaking his head a bit, but more as if to clear it. "Oh, I watch plenty of bad TV," he says. "But I think most of mine is any sci-fi show no matter how ridiculous. I don't think there's a Netflix dystopian cyberfuture thing that I haven't seen."

"I have never had an argument with you." Beth points out with a broad smile. She takes a sip of wine before putting it down on the table. Her head turns a little when he describes when she was a black unicorn and her brow furrows ever so slightly before she laughs. "What a funny thing to remember about me. I remember the costume, but I don't remember him crying. I was probably really self-centered in first grade, though."

"We should go to that theater that is opening. The premier is going to be bad sci-fi movies, I think. Oh. Well, I guess people would call them classic now." She gazes at him briefly, as if trying to decide what she should ask him next. "What annoys you the most?"

"Not yet," Ciprian points out, with a little wider smile. It tips wryly when she continues, and he nods, replying, "Yes. I just remember thinking you must be a really good sister for letting him walk with you, and I felt guilty about it because I'd just had a fight with Riya earlier in the day." There's another shrug, before he continues, "Like you said. Funny. Who knows why you remember the things you do?"

He becomes a little bit more thoughtful when she suggests the theater premier, but it doesn't take him long to nod. "That sounds fun," he says. "I wonder if I can put in a request. Starcrash is my favorite terrible sci-fi movie." As for what annoys him the most, he takes a moment, before he says, "Willful ignorance, maybe. I don't care whether people know things or not. There's a lot I don't know. But I just can't stand it when people refuse to hear the truth." There's a little pause, before he adds, "And people who drink the last of the coffee and don't make a new pot, because they're always the same people who reply all to e-mails unnecessarily. You?"

"I had my moments." Beth says with a small smile that is tinged with sadness, as it often is as she thinks of her brother. "I think I remember Minerva more than I do you, but that's because...well-" She gives him an apologetic look before she puts her hand over her eye to indicate his sister's eye patch. "We were also the same age so it makes sense I would remember her more."

"They have a drive-in theater. That, I think, would be fun." She nods her head in agreement when he says willful ignorance as if to say she completely agrees with him. "I deal with that a lot career-wise, too. But on top of it people are grieving and not thinking straight so it's a bad combo." She laughs when he mentions the reply all and ties it to coffee. When he asks her what her pet peeves are she thinks a moment, "People who have to have consequences to do the right thing."

Ciprian smiles, but he doesn't talk about Ricky any further. Instead, he just nods, and replies, "Yeah, that makes sense. I mean, I don't have a lot of memories of you. Just that one sticks out." Their appetizers come, and he picks up a piece of bruschetta, taking a bite from it as he regards Beth. Once he's swallowed, he continues, "That does sound fun. Then when it opens, we'll go."

As for her answer to the question, he lets out a little snort, but nods in agreement. "That is very frustrating," he agrees. "It seems like there are more and more people like that nowadays, but maybe I'm just noticing it more."

"I don't know if it's because people are in bad positions when we have exposure with them in our careers or if it's because I'm getting older and people annoy me more." Beth says of her last answer. "But I agree with you. It seems to be getting worse." The waitress arrives then to bring their appetizers and take their entree orders. She orders a pasta dish. When that is done she picks up her glass of wine to have a sip. "I asked a real bleak question, didn't I? Now we're just bitching like we're retired." She turns her glass casually in her hand. "Do you want to get married again?"

This makes Ciprian laugh in earnest, and he just shakes his head. "So there is hope for this relationship, then," he says. "We're already like old people. That bodes well, doesn't it?" He orders risotto, before he looks back to her. The smile fades a little bit at this question, but not completely. His look is more thoughtful than anything else. "I don't know," he admits after a moment. "It isn't as though I consider the whole institution a terrible thing. I don't know that I can say that I want to, or not. I think it would depend a lot on the circumstances. I haven't ruled it out, but I'm not thinking about it right now."

"We can base our whole relationship on Statler and Waldorf. It'll be real hot." Beth grins broadly, but it also fades as she listens to his response. "That's fair. You're getting back into it after having left a marriage. It makes sense you wouldn't be thinking about it." She has a sip of wine before she reaches for one of the appetizers.

"Definitely." Ciprian is a little bit more staid now in his expression, though he doesn't seem somber, certainly. It's still a date, and he's still enjoying himself. "I just don't want you to feel like you're wasting your time," he says. "But I mean, I'm not going to begin a relationship that I don't think is going to go somewhere serious, and I know you want to get married. I'm certainly not opposed to it, if a relationship I'm in works out."

"Honestly? Just knowing that makes this more worthwhile than most of the dates I have been on in years. Men are staying fuckboys into their thirties. Who would have thought?" Beth says a little dryly before she adds, "And I also like you. A lot. I probably could have gotten married by now if I had lowered my standards." She smiles before adding jokingly, "At least that's what my mother says. But I'm glad I'm here with you right now. Even if it doesn't work out."

"I'd say that when you have a kid, things change, but I'm not going to pretend that it changes for everyone who has a kid," Ciprian admits with another shake of his head. The wry tone fades a little bit then, though, before he says, "I'm glad I am, too. Even if it doesn't work out." Perhaps he feels as though he has to make sure she knows that. "But I hope it does."

"I can't imagine you were a fuckboy ever. Even when you were nineteen." Beth laughs a little at herself before she says, "And now I keep saying fuckboy and I hope no one can overhear us because I know I sound ridiculous each time I say it." She finishes off her first glass of wine and puts the empty glass off to the side so she isn't tempted to refill it before they have their dinner. She doesn't actually want to be drunk right now. "And now that I feel awkward for being so direct with the marriage thing can I just say you look really hot. Like that button down? It must be tailored or something."

"I wasn't," Ciprian confirms, reaching for his water. "It probably had a lot to do with the fact that I was a giant nerd." He takes a sip, studying her over the rim of the glass as she goes on, and his smile pulls a little bit wider when she does. "All my clothes are tailored," he says with a little chuckle. "It's hard to find things that fit right when you're very tall. You've probably run into that." Since she is also tall. "So now that I can afford it, I figured, why not?" Just glossing over the whole 'you look really hot' thing, are we? Well, actually, apparently not, because after a moment he says, "You look beautiful."

"There are fuckboy nerds. It's that you're you." Beth says, and when he tells her his clothes are tailored she laughs. Then she nods her head. "It depends. If it's higher end I'm lucky in that I'm around the same height as a fashion model." She then adds wryly, "If only I weighed as much. Or as little." She then adds, "But if it's more mass produced? I generally have to buy talls and get them tailored. By my mom." Her smile widens into a grin when she admits she has her mom tailor her clothes. When he tells her she looks beautiful she beams at him, "I am so glad that I can flirt with you as much as I want to now. Because I've been holding back so much."

"Are there? That seems counterintuitive, but I'll take your word for it." Ciprian shakes his head, though, and continues, "I know your body is your business and you don't need validation from me or anything like that, but you're beautiful the way you are." He had just said that, of course, but still. "And I think it's cute your mom tailors your clothing." He sits back as their food arrives, though he's looking at her most of the time besides a murmured thank you to their waitress. "Have you?" he asks when she's gone. "I'm not sure if I should be afraid or intrigued, or both."

"I know. But thank you." Beth says, and she doesn't sound offended in the least. She's more interested in looking back at him. She murmurs a distracted little 'thank you' to the waitress as well, but doesn't bother reaching for the food just yet. "I have. I've almost reached out and touched you or thought a lot about it, but stopped myself. It turns out it is really hard to be friends with someone you are attracted to." She glances down at the pasta before she looks up at him, "I'm going to be honest with you I'm not super hungry at the moment. This does look amazing..."

Another laugh escapes Ciprian at this, but it's a bit more subdued -- or maybe there's just a different quality to it now, considering the topic. "You know, I've heard that," he says, and he looks down at his food as well, before his eyes return to her. "I'm going to go out on a limb here," he continues after a moment, "but do you just want to have them back it up for us?"

Beth gives him a shy little smile before nodding her head. Yes. She would like that very much. She waits for the waitress to return and asks for the food to be packaged up. She watches him across the table with a look of nervous anticipation. Her hands smooth over her sweater dress.

Ciprian doesn't really seem nervous -- but then, he's relatively calm in general, or at least doesn't show what he's feeling. He does smile, though, and the packing up and the check are dealt with in short order. Once they've gotten their boxes, he stands up, offering Beth his arm again. "Come on," he says, his voice a little bit lower than it was, "let's go."