4319/Save the date! Also a birthday! Also Thanksgiving

Save the date! Also a birthday! Also Thanksgiving
Date of Scene:	06 December 2020
Location:	5B - Karolina's Greenwich Loft
Synopsis:	Food, drink, and heavy discussions are shared between two Titans. As well as the consideration of a hero moniker and a third date!
Cast of Characters:	Karolina Dean, Kate Bishop

---

Karolina Dean has posed:
    It had been a month since the trip to space and the sweet picnic date. It had been some other things, too. The breaking off with Kori. The meeting Gwen. Karolina's life has been busy, to say nothing of schoolwork and also her limited time actually working with the Titans. But, she has time, and it's the weekend after Thanksgiving weekend. She'd gotten Kate's birthday out of some tower information while seeing if profiles had any mentions of favorite foods.

    Without any family, Karolina hadn't really done any big Thanksgiving thing. So not only is this her chance to do it, she also wants to invite Kate over for a second date at her place in New York. ...and to top it all off, she's throwing her a surprise party. Of. Well. Two. Total. She makes the plan, calls in the singular invitation, and spends a good few hours planning and cooking things... all she needs now is to wait for Kate to arrive.

Kate Bishop has posed:
It had been such a busy month for Kate. School work. Training. Hostage situations where she surprisingly only got deeply bruised thanks to her armor when being shot. Training. Nearly eaten by a haunted house with some majkor bad mojo (and it wasn't even Halloween). Training. Getting stabbed in the shoulder with a Candy Cane sword by a villianous Santa themed baddie. Training.

This isn't even to mention that the wayward Titans came back the day before her Birthday which caused all sorts of chaos in her life.

Kate did do a big family Thanksgiving as always. The Bishop Patriarch expects both his daughters and his son in law to show up with other extended family while Thanksgiving Court is held and chefs prepare meals.

Kate is still a smidge sore from her Candy Cane stabbing the other day but she accepts the invite to dinner with Karo. Somewhat guilty she realizes she let life over take her and weeks had gone by since the space flights (plural) but only one space date.

Dresses in civies, which mostly consist of frightfully expensive but fashionably in season for Winter 2020 clothing, Kate reaches up and knocks on Karo's apartment door. She had no idea what one brings to a dinner date like this so she stole a nice bottle of her dad's wine from one of the wine cellars. The whole vegan business meant she grabbed a white and hoped for the best to be honest. Google failed her.

Karolina Dean has posed:
    Maybe Karolina's pacing. Maybe she isn't. She fidgets with the stereo, trying to find a volume that fits the best. Then paces. And then back to the stereo. The soothing sounds of classical piano from some internet station drift around the apartment, and it's nothing at all related to the holidays. No carols or Christmas music, or retail hell scenarios, thankfully. And then there's the knock. Karolina almost jumps and yelps in surprise, clamping her hands over her mouth and then smoothing out her hair.

    She scurries over to the door and opens it, greeting Kate with a bright smile. Her hair, as always, cascades down her back. Instead of something more colorful, she's.. in a dress! It's a black turtleneck sweater dress, but there's something shimmery in the thread that makes rainbow lines appear depending on how the light hits it. Her bracelet is where it belongs, of course, and she's wearing some strappy flats in shiny black. "Kate!" she claps her hands together, smiling, blushing.

Kate Bishop has posed:
Kate also went in for a dress, a dark blue number. The show stealer though is the warm and cuddly, if expensive, coat. The coat is a full length Toscana sheepskin, which means soft leather on the outside and a lining of the actual Toscana trim. She looks very cozy in it.

She beams though and looks Karo over "Hope I am on time.." she flicks a glance around then blushes. "Pretty sure I am a couple minutes early." not wanting to have been late. Regardless she steps in and slinks Karolina into a hug. Careful to not whack her with the bottle of wine.

Also there is zero chance she is 21 and well neither is Karo.

Karolina Dean has posed:
    The first think that will inevitably assault Kate's senses.. is the smell of food. And then the hug. Karolina's arms go around the other girl, sliding under her coat, wrapping around her warmly and firmly. "I missed you. We've all been so busy, I haven't even had time to welcome the others back..." she pouts, eyes closed.

    "...but... um... you're here... you're on time... food's... almost ready.. and.. oh!" She finally notices the bottle of wine, her cheeks darkening for a moment. "...you know... we're not supposed to drink this..." she says, but it's playful teasing, and she doesn't actually seem like she's going to mind. "You really didn't have to bring anything. Just yourself. I might've gone a little overboard, or enthusiastic. I ah... tried to cram in... like... three special days tonight."

Kate Bishop has posed:
"Well..." she doesn't let go of the hug really and just keeps her arms around Karo as she peers past her, nostrils flaring lightly. "It smells absolutely fab Karo. I have no idea what all I am smelling but it smells good." she means it to.

"Three special days?" because well dinner date is on Kate's mind after all but she isn't entirely sure what the other two may be right off the top of her head yet.

"And I'd say don't tell my dad I am drinking wine, but he is the one who wanted his daughters educated in fine wines. I mean I wasn't entirely sure what the menu was so I absconded with a good white that should prove flexible.. I hope. Just don't tell him I looted his wine cellar."

Karolina Dean has posed:
    Karolina doesn't exactly want to let go of the hug either. So much so that she leans heavily into Kate for a moment so she can use her foot to kick the door closed. Then she pulls back just enough to lean in and affectionately bump noses with the ravenette. "Yeah, well... I mean, my folks shared a glass now and then. I mean Hollywood types..." she sighs. "So I have some kind of taste for it but... obviously I can't partake in it most of the time. Like. Almost all of the time. Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of the time. Except when stuff like this happens."

    She nods, and smiles, and glances back over her shoulder. "Well. Um. I didn't... really do anything for Thanksgiving. And. I figured you had to be all stuck in with the family for it. So... while it's... a date.. it's... also kind of a Thanksgiving do-over for you and my first nice one in years..?"

    The third one? Well. She bumps noses again, then steals a brief kiss. "...also for your birthday."

Kate Bishop has posed:
"Well on the bright side of it being December it is already chilled enough to serve I wager without us needing to toss it on ice or into the fridge." bright side.

"Ah yeah I definitely had obligations for Thanksgiving but I am happy to do a do over one with you.. it will likely be way better than the one with family anyhow..." which is fraught with judgement. The holidays with her dad. Not the whole holiday itself. Nor is Kate judging it. Her dad is judgy.

The kiss is returned brief as it is and then she grins. "Oh I see... not sure how you found out about it.. but yes it is this time of year... so I guess that is three for three..." she blushes, just a smidge and offers the bottle. So she has her hands free to reluctantly remove that coat. She could live in that coat.

Karolina Dean has posed:
    Karolina is... likely actually somewhat aware of how much that coat is worth, given her upbringing. The wine, too. "If you want to just drape that over the couch so it doesn't get wrinkly in the closet, feel free? Please, kate, make yourself at home," she says with a sincere smile, carrying the wine off to the kitchen area to uncork it.

    "I... would you believe I was poking around in the Tower computer trying to find lists of favorite foods and allergies of all of you? You know. For like, Christmas cookies, and holiday snacks and the like. Come to think of it, I didn't get any of that, because I saw your birthday first and had to, you know, get everything planned..." she muses aloud, then laughs. "Which... leads me to hope you'll actually like what I made... um, I kind of looked up traditional stuff, and then worked on making it, well... vegan. But I did a thing for dessert I.. hope you'll love."

    She's nervous. It shows.

Kate Bishop has posed:
Her secret ID is .. expensive. Then again her parent is on Forbes Billionaire List.

"Sure thing." she carefully sets it over the couch there adjusting it a bit then walks over to see what you are up to. Peeking into the kitchen.

"I would believe it wasn't nefarious snooping yes. Then again the computer does have a calendar for the team and it lists everyone but Robin's birthday on it. I suspect he is very paranoid about even that." she grins as she leans against the doorjam to the Kitchen.

"It smells wonderful Karo.. I am sure I will like it. It also looks like you did.. much.. so I am sure there is stuff I will enjoy." vegan or not. She already had the ultra traditional meal that catered to omnivores.

Karolina Dean has posed:
    "I'm sure someone can tell me what kind of cookies Robin likes at least, right?" Karolina asks, moving to get a couple of wine glasses and a proper corkscrew. She does have the right gear, at least. "Ah, well... I mean..." she absently pops the cork with fairly practiced skill. "..culinary classes.." she says, just off-hand, and starts to pour.

    "I took a lot of the usual stuff and. Made it. Myself. Like. Green bean casserole... mashed turnips... gravy. Even hot, thick slices of not-turkey," she laughs at that last one. "...I really don't know what to call it, honestly..." she sighs. "And, of course, dessert stuff. But. If. All of this sounds good to you, I can grab some plates...?"

    She carries the glasses of wine over to Kate, sounding hopeful, giving a half-smile. "Or, if it doesn't, I mean, we can always order pizza," she says, "if you had too much of the Thanksgiving stuff, or you don't like it, I mean..." her confidence falters, more worried about how her friend, her date, might feel about her culinary offerings.

Kate Bishop has posed:
"You know. I am not sure I have ever seen Robin eat a cookie. Or anything sweet." she is puzzling on that now. "I... think he might have had doughnuts with us. Once."

"Oh professionally trained. Winner." she teases but watches you pour the wine. "All of that sounds great. I mean not turkey sounds like some sort of mystery. The beyond meat and all that though is remarkable. I admittedly have been getting that a lot instead of beef for all sorts of reasons when I eat out somewhere with it."

She accepts the glass and raises it lightly. "To birthdays, second dates, and quiet holidays?" she waits for you to tink glasses.

Karolina Dean has posed:
    Karolina looks bewildered, "..really? No cookies? Maybe brownies? I think I'm just going to have to ask him..." she huhs softly. Then it's all the talk about food, and she seems... relieved. "Yeah it's... kind of like the beyond, or impossible stuff... a mixture of vegetable proteins and spices and herbs and usually a healthy portion of bean curd, for shaping and the like. Ah but the magician shouldn't reveal her secrets!"

    She's upbeat again, and then clinks glasses softly. "..I mean if I can... get my nerves in order and stop talking... yes, quiet holiday, too..." she laughs.

Kate Bishop has posed:
"I think it is honestly more that I haven't seen him eat very often.. and not really things like cake orsweats. I mean it makes a bit of sense. He is kind of anal about everything. He probably would sneer and say it is poisoning him and his perfect workout routine to be the ultimate hero..." she laughs. "That or he would just go into a sugar coma not having indulged."

Once the glasses are clinked she takes a sip and then beams. "I like listening to you Karo. No need to be so nervous." she grins. "That said.. lets try all this food you made before my stomach demands a sacrifice of some sort smelling it..."

Karolina Dean has posed:
    The rainbow-threaded blonde laughs, nodding, "You're probably right... on all counts. Still. Vegan stuff is really healthy! I'm sure I could get him to eat a cookie or two if they were low fat, high fiber, and protein enriched or something... You can really make a cookie that eats like a meal..." she nods knowingly.

    "College students love stuff like that, trust me, I am one..." she winks. Then sips. Then puts down her glass to hurry and get things from casserole dishes and stove stuff. It's a pretty good spread! Slices of 'turkey', a big spoonful of gooey green beans with mushroom and cream and crunchy onions, and a mound of white fluff that's probably turnips. Herbed, bready stuffing. And the gravy. Thick and greyish-brown, smelling savory.

    "Don't want to be drinking just wine on an empty stomach, anyway..."

Kate Bishop has posed:
"I mean.. yes of course you can. Those aren't cookies but some sort of cookie shaped protien bar though. Cookies. Well they have to be cookies. Bad for you but sweetly delicious Karo."

"So not knocking the turnips but wouldn't mash potatoes also be Vegan or am I missing something?" I mean she might be. She isn't at all sure. She has a lot to learn about vegan cooking preferences after all. Her wine is sipped as she watches the prep.

Karolina Dean has posed:
    There's a big smile as she slides the plate over the table to Kate and then gets her own sorted out. "But do they have to be bad for you to be deliciously sweet? Honey here, some brown sugar there, some fruit juice, some cinnamon... bits of fruit..." she does a little twirl, her hair swooping around, showing that her dress is indeed backless. A lovely stretch of that smooth skin, right down to the little decorative belt around her waist.

    "Well, for the turnips... it's just something different. They offer a different flavor. It could be other things. Potatoes. Rutabagas. Cauliflower. I just happen to like turnips... I use them in curry, too.." she smiles and brings a gravy boat over after scooping some from a pot on the stove onto her own meal. "I didn't make a gigantic meal, a little of everything, enough for seconds for both of us, and hopefully room for dessert..."

Kate Bishop has posed:
"This is wonderful Karo and I look forward with trying the turnips and everything else. Was more trying to make sure I wasn't missing something about sweet potatoes.. regular poteatoes.. yams or the like." a grin. She looks her plate over and gets her fork.

"Always room for dessert though." she notes then sets in eating. Pausing after a couple of bites "This tastes great Karo. No need for nerves." a grin.

Karolina Dean has posed:
    Karolina's cheeks turn a nice shade of crison and she smiles. She doesn't tuck in until she's gotten an appraisal from her friend. It really is good food. She put a lot of effort and love into it, but cooking is quite clearly one of her passions.

    "Well, as far as dessert... I made some great muffins... and, um. Some cupcakes. Because a giant cake is really a pain in the ass to make, and it's just the two of us."

Kate Bishop has posed:
"Good call. I may not be Robin.... but I could probably do without eating half a cake all said." she grins. There is more eating as she watches you., "So cupcakes and muffins sound well planned and a good way to cap it all off."

"So what have you been busy with the last couple of weeks, I got stabbed by a candy cane a couple days ago." itr was on the news and cape watch but you have to be a junkie to keep up with all that.

Karolina Dean has posed:
    It's eating, and chatter, and eating. Karolina shakes her head, "Last classes before holiday breaks, really. Just finishing up stuff before everyone goes on vacay..." she sighs, nibbling between this and that. She blinks and stands up sudenly at that news, though.

    "Stabbed? With a -what-?! Where? Are you okay?" she seems poised to leap over the table and dote on her friend. "What happened?"

Kate Bishop has posed:
"Woah.. I am fine. I mean... if people panicked everytime I was shot or stabbed or had my ribs broken we would always be panicking Karo..." she smiles a bit amused, not mean tho. The reaction is quite endearing.

She pauses the whole eating business to shift her dress's collar a bit showing a bandage on the front of her left shoulder. "It wasn't too deep. Bad guy triad to rob the big Toy Story .. FAO you know the one.. with a holiday themed schtick. Had a candy cane sword.. we sword fought. I underestimated him because it was absolutely silly. He is in jail now."

Karolina Dean has posed:
    Karolina stands down, relaxing back into her seat. "..I.. right. You're a Titan. We both are. I guess I'm still not used to the whole hero thing yet... And I'm still trying to figure out a lot of other things..." She stirs her turnips a bit, then noms on a big floofy blob of delicious before peering at Kate.

    "Oh... wow. And you still made it out here dressed all cute and fancy? And isn't that the place with the big piano you can dance on?" she asks, smiling.

Kate Bishop has posed:
"Right giant piano for dancing. I was in the area trying to do some Christmas shopping and of course ridiculous bad guy. I am really not sure what is up with that. Why even would you dress as a Christmas themed bad guy." she just sighs "And rob a toy store. I really think most villains just need therapy."

Pause

"Then again look at Arkham..."

"Anyhow I wouldn't miss this for the world."

Karolina Dean has posed:
    Karolina laughs softly, shaking her head. "Yes, well.... I mean look at us... you, me, the rest of the Titans... we're all a little oddball, too... we just, you know... chose to do better, right?" she asks.

    "Um, thanks for making it out here... it's been a while since... space... and... things still feel weird with Kori... and I wanted to talk about stuff but also wanted to celebrate a holiday, and your birthday, and go on another date. Am I doing this right?" she asks, idly fidgeting with her wine glass before taking a slow drink.

Kate Bishop has posed:
"I mean. I am pretty sure you are doing it just fine Karo....?" her head tilting. ""The food is good. The company is good. Like you said.. we are all a little oddball. So odd multi-event birthday thanksgiving date is good."

She grins. "Also you are right I suppose we could all use therapy but at least we apply our problems to helping people."

Karolina Dean has posed:
    "I mean therapy's no fun, I've been there. Not entirely sure it helped," Karolina laughs, "I mean you did mention Arkham, too..." she shakes her head. "Right. I did kind of want to talk about something. Not related to all this. But I mean, relates to us. And the date..." she fidgets, taking another drink. One might wonder if the alcohol can actually affect her alien physiology.

    "Or should I bribe you with dessert first?" she asks, playful, but also timid.

Kate Bishop has posed:
Kate is mostly wrapped up with thew main meal at this point. She is well versed in holding conversation and also eating. Ah dinner parties.

Her wine is sipped and she tilts her head "How about you talk about what you are about to have an anxiety attack about while we go get the desset?" she pushes her chair back and heads kitchenward with a smile.

No off the hook after that tease of serious talk.

Karolina Dean has posed:
    A soft little 'pfff' and she shakes her head. At least Kate is good at keeping things... casual. Friendly. Funny. It's obvious that Karolina isn't so much used to dinner parties, or holding conversations during them. But she has food, and she has dessert, and she goes to take the muffins out of the still-warm oven, ensuring they're soft, and peel some foil off of a six pack of home-made cupcakes.

    "It's all kind of pumpkin themed, but the cupcakes are pumpkin spice, and there's a honey frosting on those... and the muffins have.. brown sugar icing... with cranberries and nuts inside..." she takes a breath, "...you're not allergic are you?" she asks. There's a few beats, silence, and she sighs.

    "I like you. Like. A lot. And. Um. I've. still been trying to figure out other stuff. Because. I like other people, too. And.. I know polyamorous people are a thing.. but.. there's figuring out if the other people you like are cool with that?" Karolina wavers a bit, like she's still trying to get the words together in her head. "Way to go, 'Lina... it's crazy enough that you're a rainbow lesbian alien but now you've got to work with this, too.." she murmurs under her breath.

Kate Bishop has posed:
Kate is honestly mostly in the way and knows it but she lured you in here for desserts and what seemed like a harder conversation.

Anyhow she pushes up to sit on the edge of the counter and watches you reveal the various options. At the question about allergies. "No nut allergy thank god. The mighty Hawkeye laid low..by a peanut. Man. Nope thankfully. No foods allergies to worry about Karo and those look sinful and yet somehow vaguely healthy." teasing call back to the cookie conversation.

"I mean.. half the kids at my school are pretty sure they poly. It isn't that big a deal really.... you should date the people you want to date and care about." she watches you and then tosses a papertowel ball at you. "The lesbian poly part isn't crazy. The rainbow alien is definitely pretty wierd but then you are an alien super hero....." she grins. "I would say we need to do the whole good communication thing but lots of people date more than one person... it is just old people like my dad that would probably have a problem with it."

Karolina Dean has posed:
Serious desserts, for a serious conversation. Yep. Karolina pours her heart out, and listens to the responses, all while getting a muffin and a cupcake put on a plate and cut in half. Just one plate, though. Like she wants to share it with Kate. "I mean... communication is key, right? I just... wanted to be able to tell all this too you before..." she considers. Before what?

    "Before a third date, or something..." she squeaks in surprise, rubbing the spot she'd been hit with the paper towel. It didn't look like it hurt, but she rubs the area on reflex, and laughs. "I mean, if you're okay with me being all of those things... and I cook again... third date on the table maybe?" she asks.

    "Oh.... what would your dad think if you brought me home? As, like, your girlfriend or something? Rainbows on or off?" she jangles her bracelet, but she's laughing again. Good signs.

Kate Bishop has posed:
"Communication is key and we definitely needed to have .. like this whole conversation before a third date." she smiles amused and then slides off the counter carefully to her feet. "I vote couch, more wine, dessert." heading to the table to refill glasses since you have the plate under control now.

"Karo my dad like doesn't approve of anything anyone does unless it is his idea. Unless your wealthy new or old money no way he would approve. He probably would grudgingly accept the gay thing since my sister is married and in line for the grandkid delivery that is expected." a sigh.

"As for the alien thing or the hero thing.. my dad would kill me if he found out I was doing the hero thing..." she sounds exhasperated and not at all serious though. Just more using it to make a point how much he would flip out.

I mean the irony later will be steep on that prophetic statement.

Still she plops down on the couch with the wine glasses.

Karolina Dean has posed:
    Karolina grabs a couple of forks and follows you to the couch. "So nix on the aliens and heroes thing..." she muses, "...I mean, my parents were Hollywood stars. Would that meet his approval? California blonde living in a rooftop apartment in New York?" she flumps down next to you, offering a fork and holding the plate on her lap.

    "Not that I care about impressing -him-.. I just.. want there to be less friction for him to complain about with..." her eyes stare blankly for a moment. "..us. I mean, if there's an us. After all the talk, I mean..." she swishes her own fork around in circles.

Kate Bishop has posed:
"You are a cute worrier.. yes I would like a third date. Tonight had been great." she sets your wine glass down near you then snags her own fork and forks a piece of the cupcake.

"Also he might be fine with it... you are pretty and the kid of Hollywood elite. The paparazzi in the rival rags are likely to like you and not make it a scandal.. well much of a scandal." she considers.

"Also I am not big on impressing him. I am doing the hero thing after all.. if secretly. Not like that would ever be for his approval."

Karolina Dean has posed:
    The blonde's cheeks bloom pink at the compliments, and the confirmation. "...I promise next time less awkward conversations and more treats..." she says softly, but scoots closer to get cozy next to you and gently lean against your side.

    "I guess the sooner I get some kind of... moniker and costume the better? I mean.... it's... not hard putting two and two together when you see rainbow girl flying over the city, and then attending class at NYU an hour later..." she sighs and lays her head on your shoulder. The good shoulder.

Kate Bishop has posed:
"Uh..well I assume Karolina attends class not rainbow alien named Karolina?"

She peers at you. "That said yes I think you need to settle on a callsign for the Titans for sure.... I bet Nadia's mom could help with costume stuff."

She is still picking at the dessert but does lean back when you rest your head.

Karolina Dean has posed:
    "I mean, people have seen me do the bracelet thing in public..." Karolina shrugs a little, shifting the plate to your lap before snatching up a good piece of a cupcake half. "I'm not good at callsigns. Shimmer's out, anyway. She's not my favorite pony, and I think there's a criminal named that too... so there's... got to be some kind of list or something..?" she mutters a little bit and gets a bit cozier.

Kate Bishop has posed:
"Right no Shimmer, go with Radiant. Has anyone put the whole Karolina Dean is a rainbow Alien or a Titan on Capewatch or reddit or anything?" she looks thoughtful about it now. The last bite of cupcake done she sets it aside and curls in more cozily with her wine still in hand.

"If not then I imagine we can salvage the whole secret ID.. if they have well then no putting cat back in bag."