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[winscenario]

Good. I like that people feel at ease around me.

[ He squeezes her hand back and smiles, leading the way into the bar, the outside looking as plain and old as the inside. It looks kind of vintage too, the walls, floor and ceiling all made of wood, as is almost the entirety of the furniture, and it's decorated nearly to the roof with old pictures, posters and little trinkets and tools, as well as a few musical instruments, all of it looking pretty old. Antiques, actually.

There are a few people inside but not too many, and the guy behind the counter greets Jim with a big smile and a wave. ]

Let's take the table by the window? [ He gestures to a small booth by the corner, leading her towards it. ]

[dendrites]

[ elsa walked in with a certain set of expectations but it still startles her, the atmosphere, the old musty smell from the walls and the antiques that she's sure aren't preserved the way that they should be considering how old they look.

he's a regular, she notes with a curl of her lip, turning her head to peer at the bartender before following him to their chosen table. a place by the window is good, getting some fresh air might be necessary.

boldly, elsa does not take a seat next to him. in fact, she waits for jim to sit first before sliding right next to him on his side of the booth. ]

[winscenario]

[ Jim can share in that sentiment, at least. He has a pretty impressive antique collection himself but it's far more well-kept than the things here. Still, it's not the kind of thing that bothers him much, and he does like the old and classical atmosphere they lend to the place.

He's a little surprised when she takes a seat right next to him, but he responds with seamless ease, settling an arm over the back of her seat, settling in close to her. ]

What are you having? [ No menus here. It may look like an old place but it does make use of replicator technology, so she can order virtually anything she might want. ]

[dendrites]

A chocolate chip waffle, [ elsa announces without hesitation. it seems like something someone would order during a late night food run after drinking, simple and sweet and exactly what she's craving.

riding on that wave of boldness, she leans into him, against his chest as he drapes his arm over the back of the seat – hey, it's bold for elsa, anyway. ]

And what about you?

[winscenario]

[ Jim hums a little, grin pulling at the corner of his lips. Unexpected for a dinner choice, but she's free to have whatever she likes, so. ]

Cheeseburger and fries. With a big chocolate mint milkshake. [ Evidently pleased by the way she scoots in closer and leans into him, he gestures at the waiter to come over so they can place their order, not particularly interested in putting much distance between them just yet. ]

[dendrites]

[ it's unlike her. but many actions taken this evening have been quite unlike elsa, starting with the amount she had to drink with her sister before she even got to texting jim. what really matters, though, is that she feels comfortable with him, which isn't something she can say about, well, a lot of people. ]

Mm, that sounds good too. But I think I'm sticking to my chocolate chip waffle.

[ her smile is a touch lazy, posture more relaxed than anyone has ever seen on her in photos and news clips. she sighs. ] I don't know many other people who like chocolate and mint milkshakes.

[winscenario]

[ Jim tends to have this way of making people feel at ease. Well, people he likes, anyway, which is definitely the case with Elsa. If alcohol's loosened her up a little he's not about to complain, but all in all he's still glad that she feels comfortable just being around him. ]

I think as queen you're allowed to have as many chocolate chip waffles for dinner as you want.

[ Well, within reason. Wouldn't want her to get sick or anything like that. ]

No? Well, they're all fools, if you ask me. Don't know what they're missing. It's delicious.

[dendrites]

It is. I quite like that and cookies and cream.

[ the very thought just makes her lick her lips and she thinks she can already smell her waffles across the bar. that might be a family trait, those chocolate senses.

her eyes follow a tray move over the tops of heads until the waiter sets it down on another table full of card players and she turns to him again. ]

I daresay I hadn't expected to find myself here when you messaged me this evening.

[winscenario]

Hmm. You've got a sweet tooth.

[ Well now he knows that he can't go wrong with chocolate. If he ever sees himself in the position of getting her something.

He looks over to the same table when she does, then back to her, head tipping a little. ]

No? What did you expect, then? [ Not that Jim expected this either, but then he rarely ever plans ahead. He likes the unexpected, and much prefers to wing it. ]

[dendrites]

Considering that you'd propositioned me to start the conversation, I'm rather pleased that we've at least started with a date.

[ she can be forward-minded but there are some things that she prefers, and a tiny bit of courtship is one of those things. with a small smile, elsa leans forward and presses a lingering kiss to his cheek. ]

It's a nice change from my normal.

[winscenario]

Well, I'm very pleased you answered despite the nature of my text. Although... I guess I can read that as interest. [ Enough interest to go out with him on a date, if nothing else. ]

I'll be honest, I'm not really used to this. But I don't mind it, either. It's pretty nice.

[ He's smiling at her, leaning back when the waiter makes his way over to their table and sets their food down. With a pleased hum, he thanks the waiter and picks up his milkshake, taking a sip. ]

[dendrites]

It would have been a more negative response if I hadn't known you already.

[ also he happened to catch her at a good time. also she was curious about the message itself. also she really just had to stop denying that she has been attracted to him.

in true elsa fashion, she closes her eyes and gets a good whiff of the waffles, leaning into the table to let the scent of the food wash over her. it is immediately comforting and she's grinning as she picks up her fork. ] You're not used to dates?

[winscenario]

To be fair, I wouldn't have been that blunt if I hadn't known you either.

[ Granted, he might have if Elsa were just anyone, but she isn't just anyone. She's a queen and that means at least a certain degree of respect and professionalism... or it did, apparently, until they started flirting.

Whatever. Not like Starfleet can stop them from doing whatever they want.

He shakes his head a little as he pulls his arm from behind her so he can pick up his burger. ] Not really, no. [ He figures she can put two and two together, though. It's not like Jim's at all inexperienced, his version of intimacy just doesn't often involve romance.

Still, he glances at her. ] Is that a problem?

[dendrites]

[ she is, thankfully, not bound by rules of marriage anymore. she's a modern queen, after all, unhindered by archaic traditions. flirting and more are on the table. (that has, historically, never stopped royalty before, but she puts that thought aside.)

her brow wrinkles for a moment as elsa quietly cuts a piece of her waffle, but she eventually shakes her head. ] No. [ a little something new for them both, it seems.

she finally takes a bite. ]

I am still open to such things after this date.

[winscenario]

[ Maybe it wouldn't have stopped her, but it might've stopped Jim. For all the recklessness and hedonism he's shown over the years, he's a little more responsible now, and too respectful of his own title and the good relations of the Federation to just risk any kind of scandal like that.

He's just glad that's not something he needs to worry about though. Because, historically, Jim's always been terrible at resisting a nice smile and a pretty face. ]

Good. [ He takes a bite from his burger, chewing and swallowing it down quickly so he can add. ] Not that it would be a deal breaker. I like spending time with you either way.

[dendrites]

I'm glad.

[ the notion still tickles her. people vie for her attention every day, but to hear that from someone she really, truly likes is enough to make her feel as if she's just a girl figuring out a crush. and, in a way, she kind of is. it's exciting, as small as of this may seem in the grand scheme of things.

there is a comfortable quiet that follows, filled more with the sounds of eating and the glasses clinking and maybe a few arguments in other languages.

elsa gets a bit of melted chocolate on the corner of her mouth that she licks first before chasing it with the napkin she had set in her lap. ]

[winscenario]

[ Small things are important too, though. Sometimes they're even more important. The smell of grass after the rain, the textured pages of an old book, deep and genuine laughter, the way your heart can pick up pace by just looking at someone you like. Not everything has to be as high up as her throne or as far and wide as his galaxy; it can be simple and even commonplace but be valued all the same.

Like the little piece of chocolate at the corner of her mouth. It's cute, and he smiles when she swipes it clean with her tongue, unaware all the while that he has a bit of mustard at the corner of his own. ]

[dendrites]

Oh, you've got –

[ but instead of gesturing, elsa reaches over for the napkin dispenser, puling one out so that she can turn to him and swipe that bit of mustard off his face. she leans close to him and dabs, removing the offending condiment. the napkin crumbles in her hands and she discards it, only to gently let her fingers run over the line of his jaw. ]

There are are, [ elsa concludes softly, reluctant to pull away despite the fact that they are in the middle of their meal here. ]

[winscenario]

[ Jim turns to her when she leans in and wipes the corner of his mouth clean. It should probably feel a little silly, like he's some kid who needs to be cleaned up after, but it actually feels kind of nice, and he thoughtlessly and easily leans in close too, setting the rest of his burger down on his plate.

His smile is warm and a little slow to show, his hand dropping so his fingertips brush near her elbow. If she doesn't want to pull away, then far be it from him to make her. ]

Thanks.

[dendrites]

[ as if pulled by a magnet, elsa leans forward and kisses him; it's short and sweet because she doesn't want to get into it here, of all places. for someone so cold, it is surprisingly warm.

she closes her eyes and rests her forehead against his, lips still puckered until she licks them again. ]

My pleasure, [ comes her delayed response as she opens her eyes again. ]

[winscenario]

[ The kiss is a little sudden and a little too quick for Jim to really get into it, but at least he has enough foresight and presence of mind to return it for that brief moment. He stops himself from chasing after when she pulls away, slowly opening his eyes and his lips quirking into a small smile. ]

That's really very unfair, you know. [ Before she asks what he means, he goes on to add. ] Kissing me like that, when I can't do anything about it.

[dendrites]

Is that so?

[ briefly, there's a glass of water between them as elsa takes a sip through a straw, looking up at him almost innocently through her long lashes. she grins around the plastic. ]

You could certainly do something about it, Captain, [ she uses the title teasingly this time, setting the glass down on the table, next to her half-empty plate of chocolate waffle. ] The question is, do you want to?

[winscenario]

[ Little too innocent for it to be genuine, there. Jim actually narrows his eyes at her, though it's all playful and in good fun, his own lips stretching into a smaller and quieter smile.

It's close enough to permission and he'll take it, though he moves slowly and carefully enough that she can stop him if she wants to. With the glass out of the way, he leans in and tips his head, kissing her again and lingering a little longer this time. ]

[dendrites]

[ there was a time when she avoided romantic complications, turning down offers for courtship, disregarding love letters. with anna engaged, she still feels the need to protect her, but it has eased somewhat now that she knows they will have more family.

besides, anna would want her to be happy too, and not just by performing sisterly duties.

her flirting seems strongest today especially. and if it brings her kisses like this one, she must be doing something right. elsa doesn't care who sees, if anyone is even looking as she curves her hand around his shoulder, closing the space between them where she can. ]

[winscenario]

[ Luckily Jim's not actually proposing to her. While he does like her, enough to want to pursue something romantic with her, he doubts either of them are interested in anything more... official. He's definitely not fit to be a king of any sorts, for one, nor does he have any interest in that.

But that's the farthest thing from his mind right now, especially when she doesn't pull from the kiss as quickly as before. He turns a little more towards her when she cups his shoulder, his head tipping to better fit their mouths together while his own hand drops lower and settles on her waist.

Where they are or who might see them couldn't be any farther from his mind right now. Jim never really cared either way, and thankfully they're both free to do whatever they like. ]