For Wilke: New York Christmas date

[happy_dsign]

Daphne wasn't going to waste the chance to have an awesome 'Christmas in New York City' type date with no expense spared, even if any shopping would probably not survive the change back to the island. She was okay with that, it would still be fun shopping without a budget.

She also wasn't going to sit around and wait for Wilke to come up with the idea. She had a feeling the island wouldn't stay like this long enough for that to bear fruit, after all. Which is why she bundled up in a cute mint green and cream striped sweater, jeans, and a warm coat, and marched up to Wilke's apartment, knocking firmly.

"Get your coat, you're taking me on a date," she announced as soon as he opened the door.

Comments

[more_than_that]

That made him pause and pick the menu back up again. He looked through it, then his face fell. "That would be a no. If I don't want wine or vodka, I'm relegated to theme drinks of the hard liquor variety. Any of those tempting you?"

[happy_dsign]

She hadn't been entirely serious, but it probably shouldn't be a surprise that a place like this didn't exactly have beer on tap. She looked through the cocktail list, reading the descriptions. "I think I'm going to try the Ballet Russe," she declared, setting it down again. "What about you?"

[more_than_that]

As much as he told himself he wasn't thinking about what might or might not happen later, this was one of those decisions that might very well decide the matter for him. Hard alcohol was his fast track straight to stupid.

"I'm probably going to look through the wine list for something familiar. I don't think I'm going to trust a ghost wine steward, just in case he's got a grudge against the corporeal," he finished with a smirk.

[happy_dsign]

Daphne wasn't looking for stupid, but a little more relaxed was probably a good idea, for what she had in mind. "I want to taste whatever you pick," she remarked with a little giggle at the ghost steward comment.

Just then the ghostly waiter drifted over, poised to take their orders.

[more_than_that]

It didn't take him long to find one of the wines his mother usually drank, then closed his menu and waited for Daphne to order before he did. Even absentee parents managed to teach some manners.

[happy_dsign]

Daphne quickly gave her order, still finding interacting with the ghost citizens vaguely creepy, then smiled at Wilke as he finished his own order. As the waiter wandered away again she stretched her hands across the tabletop, leaving them resting invitingly within reach of his. "Thank you for doing this with me," she said quietly. "I'm having a lot of fun."

[more_than_that]

"You're welcome," he both said and signed back before taking one of her hands in his. "It's been fun. You make it sound like you took me on the Bataan Death March."

[happy_dsign]

"The what?" Daphne snickered and shook her head. "Nevermind. I'm just glad you're enjoying yourself."

[more_than_that]

Wilke fingerspelled the words so she'd know what he said, then smiled again. "Is it living up to everything you imagined?"

[happy_dsign]

Daphne considered the question for a moment, then nodded. "So far, yes. And the rest of the evening is looking pretty good, too."

[more_than_that]

One eyebrow rose almost to his hair line. "Is it? Looking that forward to freezing your ass off at the Empire State Building?" he asked, paused, then continued, "or is there something else going on that I don't know about?"

[happy_dsign]

"Nothing in particular," Daphne replied with a shrug of a shoulder, but she could feel her cheeks warming. Okay, maybe something in particular, but she didn't want to just say it.

[more_than_that]

He was thankful the wine steward showed up then to go through the whole opening/cork sniffing/wine tasting ritual, because that blush on her cheeks was distracting as hell. And not just because of what it might mean.

[happy_dsign]

The dinner was delicious, the conversation easy, and the cocktail was pretty damn good, too. By the time they were ready to leave, Daphne had a pleasantly giddy feeling, and she found herself leaning against Wilke comfortably as they walked out to hail another cab to take them to the Empire State Building.

[more_than_that]

Wilke held the door for her then climbed in after, turning to her when they were on the move. "So. Was it everything you wanted it to be?"

[happy_dsign]

Daphne shrugged. "Mostly. I think the atmosphere would be a little better with real people, but the food was amazing, and it was still really cool getting to eat there." She grinned and nestled against him, resisting the urge to do more--for now.

[more_than_that]

"Yeah, it is kind of creepy when it looks like we're eating on the set of Paranormal Activity or something," he laughed back, fingerspelling the movie's title. "Those things are the only reason I'm going to be glad to have the island back again."

[happy_dsign]

It wasn't the only reason Daphne would be glad to go back, but there were a lot of things she was really going to miss about this city, the food and the shopping only being a few of them. "At least you can tell who's real and who's not, but yeah. It never really stops being creepy, even when you get used to it."

She leaned across him to look up as the cab pulled to a stop in front of the Empire State Building. "Last stop," she announced, pulling back and smiling at him.

[more_than_that]

Wilke opened the door for them and helped her out of the cab. Thankfully, they were right at the front doors, so the dash through the cab was only a few cold steps. Minutes later they were rising high up the elevator - way too fast for his liking.

"Ugh," he said as the floors flew by. "I think I left my stomach back in the lobby."

[happy_dsign]

Daphne laughed, feeling that same drop in her stomach that he described, but finding it thrilling more than anything. "You must be no fun on roller coasters," she teased, clinging to his hand as they shot up to the top of the building.

[more_than_that]

"Oh, I'm very fun on roller coasters," he protested, linking their fingers and tugging her forward; the better to wrap his arms around her. "I just like the wind in my hair when I lose my stomach to the G-forces."

[happy_dsign]

Daphne went into his arms with a smile, leaning against him and looking up at his face. "So if this was an open-air elevator you'd be happier? Do those even exist?" She wrinkled her nose, grinning up at him as the elevator slowed to a stop.

[more_than_that]

"I think so, but I've only ever seen them on construction sites and they don't move fast enough for stomach displacement."

Wilke grinned and dropped a soft kiss to her lips, then lead them out onto the observation deck.

[happy_dsign]

Daphne followed him out, walking straight to the edge of the deck to look out at the city. "From up here it could almost be the real New York," she murmured, taking in the twinkling lights. "If you ignore the company." There weren't many ghosts up here, but there were a few, wandering the observation deck rather aimlessly. They were easy enough to ignore with a view like that, though.

[more_than_that]

Wilke followed her to the railing and stood behind her, his front to her back, blocking the wind from her. Well, that and being as close as possible, too. He wasn't a saint or anything. He could only sign to her in this position, but that wasn't a problem. Sometime over the last year, he'd gotten almost completely fluent in it.

"Funny," he signed, "I barely noticed they were here."