17898/A Dinner Owed

A Dinner Owed
Date of Scene:	10 May 2024
Location:	Vanessa's Apartment
Synopsis:	Vanessa pays back some plumbing help with takeout
Cast of Characters:	Vanessa Carlysle, Robbie Reyes

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Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
After meeting Robbie Reyes via a mutual friend in the building, Vanessa had promised him dinner for fixing the problem with her water pipes. And rather than subject him to one of her culinary creations, which get as bold as putting cut up hot dogs into macaroni cheese or something like that, Vanessa stopped at a Puerto Rican restaurant down the street.

She checks things out. She has a little tablecloth over the table, dishes and glasses set out. The food is on the counter, having just been delivered. "Ok, think that's everything," she says, glancing towards the door and it's trio of locks, two deadbolts and a chain.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
It was a whirlwind kind of moment.

Robbie definitely didn't think he was going to get a free dinner out of it...and honestly, he feels like there was a different kind of tension between them. It felt like a date of sorts...and so, Robbie had a mind to go actually put something nice on. He puts on his usual leather jacket, a nice polo shirt, some decent jeans, and nice shoes. It doesn't take him long to make sure Gabe was well-watched before he made his way to Vanessa's apartment.

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

Robbie's fist raps against the hard surface of the door, clearing his throat a little bit as he takes a step back to be clearly visible through the eyehole.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa Carlysle has changed since Robbie saw her last as well. No longer wearing sweaty workout sports top and spandex shorts, she's wearing jeans and a nice blouse as she goes over to check through the peephole. She smiles as she sees it is Robbie, and then undoes each of the locks.

"Hey there stranger," she says as she opens up the door. "Come on in. To... Chez Carlysle," she says, with a soft laugh. "Oh, I could have put a candle on the table. Except the one I have is orange scented and not sure that would go well with what we're having," she says.

She'll wait for him to enter, then close the door and lock it up again. "You look nice. Mechanic cleans up well," she says, flashing a pretty smile over at Robbie.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
When Robbie hears each of the locks unravel thanks to Vanessa's attentions, only for the door to be opened up and a warm welcome to be given. "Heh, thanks." Robbie takes a step through that open door with that invitation given, a little smile touching his face. "Chez Carlysle...I like the ring of that." He looks around for a second, though he hums. "I...should've brought drinks or something, shouldn't I?" He questions her with a bit of guilt on his face.

Though he hears she would've used an orange scented candle and he smirks at her. "I mean, I feel like it would've worked, so feel free to bust it out if you want." He teases her. "Hey thanks-" a slight blush crosse shis features. "You look nice too. I try to at least smell nice for dinners, you know." He winks at her.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa gestures over towards her kitchen sink. "Nah, you already supplied the beverages I most needed. Besides I've got a six pack of mostly passable beer if that works. Are you a beer drinker? I don't have any wine though if I did it would probably be Boone's Farm. So you're better off with the beer anyway," she says, grinning at him.

"Have a seat," she says, going over to where the food containers are. "We have tostones," she says, which are a savory green plantain dish. "And Lechon asado," she says, which is a nice seasoned pork. "And some various vegetables. And then a keylime pie for dessert," she says as she brings the food over to the table before taking a seat.

She takes a moment then to look over at Robbie more fully and smile at him. "I usually end up eating alone. Unless I'm over at Fred's or somewhere," she says, naming a low end diner nearby. "Nice to have company."

Robbie Reyes has posed:
"Alright, alright, you got me there." Robbie suggests about getting drinks, but a little laugh leaves him when Vanessa admits she already got a six pack of passable, if slightly questionable, beer. "You're an absolute saint." Robbie grins at her. "and trust me, I'm not much of a wine drinker. I don't feel fancy enough to drink that stuff." He suggests to her with a kind smile, though gestured to a seat, he happily takes one, pulling out a chair for himself and just neatly sitting down. His back is straight, his hands are in his lap. He's trying ot make a good impression.

God knows if he's actually succeeding.

"This all looks delicious." Thoug hbefore she takes a seat, he extends his foot to push her chair out for her, since he's still a gentleman - even if he's a little rough and tough on the outside. "Heh, me too. By the time I eat, Gabe's usually asleep, so...you know, it's a nice change of pace." He winks at Vanessa.

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa Carlysle serves the food, doling it out between their plates, after Robbie earned a smile for pushing her chair out for her. "So how old is your brother anyway?" she asks. "Is he going to the public school down there," she says, gesturing in the direction of the nearest middle school, probably taking a guess as to his age just based on how old Robbie is.

"Oh, the beer," she says, rising to go to the fridge and get them two bottles. She opens them, getting two glasses from the freezer and pouring the beers in. "Nice and cold," she says, bringing the frosted glasses back to the table and setting Robbie's before him as she retakes her seat.

"I really do appreciate your help with the plumbing. Not having water you can actually drink makes it feel like, I don't know. Living in the 1800s or something," she says, shaking her head and then trying the pork. "Mmm, I do like this," she says of the flavoring.

Robbie Reyes has posed:
The food is served out, and Robbie looks at Vanessa. "Oh yeah, he's fourteen. He goes to the middle school just down the way." Robbie shrugs. "He's paraplegic, so I have to look after him a bit more than the average kid, but he has good friends who don't ditch him - so, you know, I don't have to worry as much and I'm allowed to have dinner with nice ladies." He chuckles a little bit. "His name's Gabriel. Like the angel. He's got the heart ofo ne."

She produces two bottles and gave him a nice, cold glass. "Thanks, Vanessa." He smiles at her, taking a sip of the drink before he shakes his head. "Oh, no sweat. I'm always fixing things." He chuckles before digging into the pork. "Mmm...the seasoning is pretty good. Do you like to cook?" He asks her. "I try to cook every now and again, but...man, I'm awful at it."

Vanessa Carlysle has posed:
Vanessa Carlysle's pretty, dark eyes shine with levity across the table at Robbie. "You're allowed to have dinner with nice ladies, and you still agreed to come -here-?" Vanessa says in a voice of mock surprise. She grins at him and then takes another bite of her food.

"Well I can't afford to eat out all the time so I'm pretty much forced to make something," she admits. "A lot of sandwiches. PBJs. Ramen. Mac and cheese. Though you know, there's nothing like getting a pizza. The frozen ones just don't really live up to ordering one. I had some friends who were always ordering pizzas and I'd get a slice, but... I'm not really sure what happened to them," she comments, and her eyes glance to the side as if in thought. Though in reality she's looking to the window that the Turtles usually used when they would come visit.

"Oh did I get the door locked?" She comments as she rises and moves over, unlocking and relocking each of the three locks. "There we go, think that one wasn't all the way closed," she lies to cover the behavior, before returning to the table. "Had someone try to break in once," she says as if in explanation. "So is your apartment pretty decent? Quiet neighbors I hope?"