nextgenerationmarvel | An Entirely Decent (If Ill-informed) Proposal (set after Asgard and Valentine's Day)

Entry tags:

An Entirely Decent (If Ill-informed) Proposal (set after Asgard and Valentine's Day)

Vincent had deliberated for some time after receiving Erin's Valentine's Day present. He was reasonably flattered, but more than that, he was annoyed with himself and confused. The confusion was since he was still on the rebound from Roxanne, and wasn't quite sure he was ready for another relationship. On the other hand, there was no need for it to be particularly serious, right? He could just go on a normal date with this girl who was apparently interested in him, right?

The fact that he hadn't noticed her attraction to him was the cause for the annoyance. Distraught over Roxanne or not, he should be more perceptive than that. For shame.

So, when next he finds her by herself at the Mansion, he's worked up the resolve to ask her out.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's funny because Vincent is reading into this the wrong way. Erin had been finishing up some studying for the afternoon when he would find her in one of the sitting areas. She took her classes very seriously and was scrawling down numbers for a math problem.

She is focusing so hard she doesn't even notice he's there. Her nose is wrinkled in heavy focus and she is biting her tongue lightly. She demands the best from herself and messing up just won't do.

After she doesn't seem to notice him, he sits down across from her and clears his throat. "Hey you."

Cue jumping and a few papers going up into the air. She does catch her book and her other hand gets bonked by her calculator.

"Oh! Hi Vincent!" Have a friendly smile and a slight laugh. "Sorry. I totally didn't know you were there."

Vincent smiles and puts her calculator back in place for her. "That's all right. I wanted to ask you if you were busy Friday night."

No. Why would she?

What is this about? She's a little confused. "No plans. My parents cancelled. Dad has to fly to London for the next few weeks."

Mom is.... busy as far as Erin is concerned.

"Oh... I hope it wasn't anything you were especially looking forward to.

But, since you're free, would you like to go to dinner and a movie?"

"No really." She shrugs her shoulders feeling comfortable in her very teenager reaction to them.

Huh. Wait.

Buh?

"Um." Why not? It's not like the person she's interested in would notice. "Sure!"

He smiles, relieved. "Oh, good. I mean, I was really surprised when you got me that present, but I thought about it, and realized there wasn't really any problem. I'm flattered that you're interested in me. I'm sorry if I've seemed rude or anything until now."

Oh my god he really read the signals wrong. Erin can't help but smile sheepishly and giggle.

Yeah she's not sure she should tell him now.

Vincent raises an eyebrow.

"Did I say something funny?"

"Vincent. I'm sure you're very flattered but... I think you're reading signals wrong," Erin says after she stops being a bit silly.

"I got everyone something special. I gave everyone as much thought as I could.... I think I missed Roxeanne but I'll apollogise to her for that. I was trying to be... nice. Because I'm new and don't really know anyone on the team that well."

"...Oh."

Oh no.

"...I'm sorry..."

Is there an available hole for him to crawl into?

"Vincent? I'm flattered you asked me out though," she smiles at him.

"I'd really like it if you didn't retract the offer."

"...even though you weren't interested in me?" Vincent responds cautiously. Previously, that had been the major reason in asking Erin out. Granted, she was certainly lovely enough for his taste, and seemed perfectly nice, but he didn't really know that much about her.

What's the worst that could happen?

"Well. There's no reason why we shouldn't. I'm not seeing anyone and ... your relationship status is open." She smiles a bit awkwardly feeling stupid for bringing that up.

"We also don't really know each other so... it's a chance to get to know each other. No pressure."

Although he's too polite to say so, Vincent would agree, as while he doesn't quite flinch, an eye does twitch at the mention of his 'status'.

"So... a date for Friday night then." He smiles, a bit more reassured.

That gets a smile from Erin.

"So long as the world doesn't end." She's kidding of course.

Vincent arrives with flowers, and nicely dressed (not quite dressed up, but still), to pick up Erin for their date.

Erin answered the door dressed up pretty nicely. She is in a long sweater knit dress in a dark shade of green. She has tasteful black leggings on and warm looking winter boots that hit her mid calf in a soft gray color.

And she is pulling on warm cloves and a scarf because it might get chilly out tonight.

She can't seem to find her jacket.

"Hi Vincent! Just a moment, I can't find my coat." She flashes him a grin.

Vincent just smiles as he gets to give her the once over. "Take your time. The restaurant isn't going anywhere."

"Uh-huh." She smirks over his shoulder as she starts to poke around. She finds a coat. Not the one she is looking for though.

"I just don't want to freeze. Using that water heating trick... yeah no. It would just give me a headache."

"I could enchant your clothing if you like." Vincent offers. "Environmental protection is rather basic transmutation or enchantment. It's effective enough you could go out wearing less than half what you are now and not feel a thing---," he pauses and clears his throat.

"Let's just pretend that didn't sound like it sounded."

She found her jacket. It's very nice looking and matches the pattern on her leggings if he looks.

"Vincent.... You haven't dated very often, have you?" She smiles at him just a little bit.

Yes. He's been noticing that pattern since he showed up. It's very... striking.

He maybe blushes just a little, turning his head. "I... I've dated quite extensively, one would say... it's just almost all been with the same person."

"Uh-huh." She lets one eyebrow go up.

"I know it's easy to get caught up in one person but... different people have different limits and boundaries...And comfort zones."

He nods and bows slightly. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. Do you still want to go out?"

"You didn't exactly." She offers him her hand.

"Come on. I'm ready to go." She's not going to let him being an awkward thing ruin the evening so early on.

"As the lady wishes." He smiles and takes her hand, tucking her arm into his as he sets his gaze on the nearest doorway. As they walk through it, they emerge out of a shop door near Union Square, and he leads her down the sidewalk.

"I've been to this place a couple times before. They have the best chocolate in the city, and their food is excellent without being overbearing."

"I don't eat out on my own very often," she admits. "Most of the time my parents drag me to.... annoyingly high brow places."

This looks almost normal to her. She likes that. Vincent is going to get a very cheerful grin from Erin. She is obviously pleased.

"Well, I wouldn't come in in a t-shirt and jeans, but it's not uptight, either." He shrugs. He gives their name to the hostess, and they're seated shortly. He holds out Erin's chair for her. "I imagine we all have our own parental issues."

"Y-yeah.... It was weird seeing Doom bots fight Frost Giants," she supplies choosing to not focus on her own family. her coat gets hun up on her seat before she sits down.

"Those were under Kristoff's orders." Vincent states, although he pauses to wonder at what point 'Dr Vernard' became 'Kristoff'. "It's... strange. Seeing him, and her, and it not being the real them. The real ones to me, anyway." He seats himself and just requests a glass of water for the time being.

"So what have you been doing lately?"

"Who do you think allowed it?" She raises an eyebrow not knowing she is taking after her father when it comes to diplomacy.

She's fine with water since realistically she can't drink very many thing anyways die to her water dependency.

"Mostly the same old, same old. School is going as well as it can. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do for my senior project.... Maybe something involving math. I'm having a blast with statistics this year after all."

She feels talking about her family is unfair. Vincent has enough on his plate without adding her own drama to the mix.

Vincent just looks over his menu, picking out a starter. The spiked hot chocolates sound awfully good, but he wants one too badly to allow himself one.

"Statistics are always useful. The number of simulations you need to run to make sure a new robotic design isn't going to run rampant is always important."

He says this without a hint of sarcasm.

She's happy to order something as well not even worried about it as long as it's healthy. Money doesn't factor into things very often but she'll still probably leave some kind of big tip because she loves tipping waiters.

"You're serious." She tilts her head a bit then laughs.

"Wow. I'm half way tempted to do something about Ultron for the project.... most of my classmates are doing lame stuff about whatever company they'll one day be working at because their parents work there. God. My Dad will kill me if I get lazy like that... not that we even technically have a company anymore. We just have lots of shares in different places, lots of land..... The usual boring stuff as far as I know. I just want to do something and not be a classic trust fund brat."

"Wait, haven't I mentioned it before? I was... partially raised by Ultron. He was my tutor, along with my father's lessons." He inclines his head slightly. "Your father expects a lot from you, I take it?"

"We haven't talked much. You were dealing with an imploded relationship.... then that Cow Horned Jerk stole your kid sister," Erin pointed out.

She takes a sip of her water and nods.

"Yeah. Both my parents are old money. He became a diplomat to prove he wasn't just another rich lay about. He's good at it too. If I don't give it my all? He.... makes his displeasure obvious. Mom is a bit more difficult to deal with. She's a harpy and sort of anti-mutant and occasionally anti-superhero."

Vincent takes all that in for a minute, then rubs his chin in thought.

"Would you like me to turn her into a toad? I could set up a very nice terrarium for you to keep her in."

He might be joking.

"Naw," she shakes her head.

"As angry as I get at her... she's still my Mother. One day she might open her eyes." She sips her water again and smiles a bit.

"Besides. She didn't really raise me. She sent me to boarding schools and summer camps."

Doesn't sound like much of a mother. is what Vincent does not say out loud.

"What kind of camps? Just generic sleep-away, or any kind of specialty?"

"Whatever I was really into. Mostly horse back riding.... then there was just this three year period where she had me go to a finishing school in the summer instead.... Thank goodness the woman running the place was essentially someone's sweet old aunt," her mouth curves up in amusement.

"First world problems, right?"

"I would imagine so. My father's idea of 'vacation' was intensive combat training, as a break from library study periods." Vincent shrugs. "I didn't really grow up around the other children much.

I've never been on a horse. Never really came up."

Erin just gives him a look then smirks.

"I know this date is mostly for .... fun but, I'm sort of tempted to invite you to come with me the next time I go horse back riding. I have a horse you could ride that I think you'd like. Lex is a total sweet heart."

He thinks it over for a moment, then nods. "I think I could manage that." He smiles.

"And for the record, I am having fun so far." The smile turns to a full grin.

"Awesome. You'll love it. I know they're not fast like cars or other mechanical technology but... they're amazing,," Erin is grinning really widely. She loves her horses so much.

"I'm glad. You need to relax more," Erin says in that very self-assured manner.

"I know... I've just been busy lately. Recent events have not been very conducive to relaxing." He shrugs uneasily, and is grateful for the interruption when their appetizers arrive.

"That I can understand." She recalls the battle in New York then Asgard.

She also knows she is a very busy person herself. The food is well appreciated as a distraction though. She's rather hungry.

Vincent pokes at his food, eating absentmindedly for a little bit. "Would you like to go anywhere after dinner? Tokyo? Lima? Sydney?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

An Entirely Decent (If Ill-informed) Proposal (set after Asgard and Valentine's Day)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date

Re: The Date