A Club in Baltimore, Monday Night

[arboreal_priestess]

Between snake cults, dragons, and now singing fish going evil for a lack of participation trophies, it had been awhile since Verity and Liam had had anything resembling a real date. So Verity had skipped out on her shift at the Devil's Nest and headed out to the mainland with him, dressed to kill (both literally and metaphorically), and looking for a good time.

The club they'd ended up at was a lot smaller and quieter, one where they could have dinner the second floor up and actually hear themselves talk. "Oooh, good call," she said as they were led to their table. "Dinner and dancing. It's like you know how to show me a good time."

Comments

[firstofitskind]

"We wouldn't be us if we didn't have a backup plan," Liam pointed out with a grin.

[arboreal_priestess]

"Backup plans are how you manage to survive when your first plan inevitably explodes," Verity agreed.

The 'explodes' was also meant to be taken literally, not figuratively. Because their life.

[firstofitskind]

"Hey now, things don't always explode. Sometimes they implode," Liam pointed out. Reasonably.

[arboreal_priestess]

"Fair point," Verity agreed as the waiter brought out their meals. "And rarely, it's some other kind of catastrophic failure. That's when things get really exciting."

[firstofitskind]

A statement that got them something of an odd look from the waiter, but Liam just smiled and shrugged.

“Not the kind of excitement I’m hoping for tonight,” Liam said.

[arboreal_priestess]

"I dunno," Verity said, pretending to give it some thought. "Fireworks count as explosions, don't they?"

[firstofitskind]

“Controlled ones, I suppose,” Liam said slowly. Were they still being literal, or was she now talking about metaphorical fireworks?

[arboreal_priestess]

Fair question. She was talking metaphorical ones, but his confusion was understandable.

"Controlled explosions are a Questing Beast of another color," she said, grinning at him. "Those are signs that everything is going exactly as planned."

[firstofitskind]

"Well, I have no literal controlled explosions on the agenda, personally," Liam admitted.

The metaphorical ones, on the other hand...

[arboreal_priestess]

"Well, if you're just gonna say no to all my fun ideas," Verity said, cutting into her roast. "I guess I'll just have to expect metaphorical ones."

They were on similar wavelengths, yeah.

[firstofitskind]

“How about I leave planning the next date to you, then?” Liam said. “Feel free to include all the controlled explosions you’d like.”

[arboreal_priestess]

Verity grinned up at him. "Be careful what you wish for," she said, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

[firstofitskind]

“I know what I signed up for, don’t worry,” Liam said with a smirk to match that mischievous look.

[arboreal_priestess]

"I can only assume you were missing all the excitement that comes from the constant threat of bodily harm when you decided to kiss me at the bar," Verity teased. "Going from near death experiences on the regular to sternly talking to bee ladies is a hell of an adjustment."

[firstofitskind]

"That was definitely the primary motivating factor," Liam said solemnly. "And not at all the fact that I thought you were incredibly hot."

[arboreal_priestess]

"I knew it," Verity said, heaving a giant sigh. "Just when you think you found somebody who wants you, you discover it's just a subconscious death-wish manifesting as desire."

[firstofitskind]

Liam tried to keep a straight face and... failed miserably after about two seconds.

"Nah," he shook his head. "Take it from someone who's been there and done that; dating you is far more preferable."

[arboreal_priestess]

Verity had been all set to make a 'little death' joke, only remembering at the last minute that, right, he actually had.

"I'm glad that I rate higher than that," she said, squeezing his hand. "I think dating you is preferable to a lot of what I've gotten up to other weekends, too."

Like getting kidnapped by a snake cult. Liam was way better than that.

[firstofitskind]

"Which will hardly stop you from getting in to that kind of trouble," Liam said, glancing down at their clasped hands and smiling softly. "But then, like I said: I know what I signed up for."

[arboreal_priestess]

"Turns out that kind of trouble is a lot less troublesome when you're around," Verity said softly.

[firstofitskind]

"I've got your back," Liam promised. "Always." A beat. "... Well, you might want to keep your dance partner around when it comes to competitions, but other than that, I've got you."

[arboreal_priestess]

"You're many things for me," Verity agreed, "but not my gay chupacabra dance partner. And I'm good with that."

How was her plate half-empty already? Oh right, they had dancing to get to.

[firstofitskind]

"So long as you keep me around for any dancing that doesn't involve a scorecard," Liam said. "Otherwise, what was the point of all this practicing?"

[arboreal_priestess]

"Oh, believe me," Verity said with a huge grin, "unless there's a judge waiting, James has nothing on you as a partner. We're gonna dance your feet off."

And then find a place and go do a different kind of dancing.

[firstofitskind]

"I'm ready when you are," Liam replied, finishing off the last of his plate.