[gotham - going out]

[sweet_caroline]

Caroline isn't sure how long it's been since she's actually had to get ready for a date. So far everything with Eddie and Jonathan has been uh... spur of the moment? You know, impromptu post-hostage situation dinner, meeting up in random places via text after helping a ghost commit murder. Stuff like that. All totally normal.

So when Eddie finally insists on planning something in advance, he of course picks a place way beyond Caroline's few remaining "nice" outfits. And well, she knows enough to know she's probably not ever owned anything nice enough to go to the damn Iceberg Lounge in. Nor does she have the cash to fix that. Oh well. In the grand scheme of things, stealing a damn dress isn't much of an ordeal. From some place on the other side of town, thank you very much. Which is why she's a bit short on time to get ready now. Not enough to make her late, but she doesn't have any of that buffer time to futz around the hotel before leaving.

With one last glance in the mirror-- yup, everything looks good (ayy)-- Caroline grabs her coat and heads for the door. She swings her purse onto her shoulder and yanks the door open...

...Only to find Jonathan standing there, hand raised to knock. Uh. They blink awkwardly at each other for a small eternity. "Uh, hi?" Caroline says automatically.

Comments

[jcrane]

Jonathan doesn't even get a chance to knock. Well. He certainly guessed how this would play out correctly. At least he got here in time, he supposes. Though the awkwardness of the moment is not lost on him in the slightest (nor the inexplicable feeling of being caught), Crane finds himself very quickly distracted by... well. By Caroline.

He clears his throat. "Yes. Hello." Oh yes, excellent start Crane. This should not be so difficult, surely. Caroline shifts over enough to let him by, and Jonathan decides to interpret that as an invitation before this gets any worse.

"I was uh, just about to head out," Caroline says as she shuts the door behind him.

"Yes, I thought that might be the case." Crane folds his arms behind his back, mostly for something to do. "Which might prove rather awkward when Edward arrives to pick you up very shortly." Well, that would be 'us' now, wouldn't it? Right.

Caroline blinks. "Oh. Yeah, that would be awkward, wouldn't it?" Jonathan can see her mentally adjusting her plans. "All right then," she continues after a moment, shifting closer, "how soon do you thi--" She's interrupted by a knock at the door.

Well then. Jonathan was right on time then, wasn't he?

[confound]

Eddie's nerves are a mess, as usual. It's not the first time the three of them have gone out. It's the first time they've actually planned it beforehand. If anything, it should be less anxiety inducing. And it's his idea, his choice of location, his plan. And yet... Eddie frets over the smallest stupidest things.

It's the Iceberg Lounge. He'd like to not embarrass himself. At least, not any more than usual.

It's not until after he's gotten himself together, gotten in his car, and mostly driven to Caroline's that he realizes he's forgotten probably one of the most important elements of their, er, date. He has no idea where they're going to meet. He guessed he'd pick up Caroline, at least. He just hadn't put much thought there until it was past Too Late to coordinate it.

Damnit.

He'd text Caroline but he's already going to show up at her place in a minute, so he sucks it up and drives on. With any luck he won't be too late to catch her.

It's a relief when he sees Caroline's car still outside. He pauses at the door only briefly before going ahead and knocking.

[jcrane]

Caroline's giving Jonathan a look. He blinks at her, then actually looks around. Ah. That's right. She's currently staying in some sort of extended stay hotel, the quality of which is... comparable to other places she's been staying. Right. He nods and moves to stand near the door. Herding Edward is remarkably like herding cats, but Jonathan has some experience in this.

So when Caroline pulls open the door again, Crane's lurking behind her. He can't see her expression, but given how cheery a hello she gives Edward it's probably a full wattage Caroline smile. Even Edward has trouble with those. Jonathan can't really match that, but looking bored and grouchy is both normal for him and apparently distracting from time to time. Somehow.

"Right on time I see." It's not his driest professor voice, but it'll do.