Al-Farabi ; Wednesday Evening

[necroslacker]

So, it was date night. And since it was Sam's idea, he'd picked the spot after getting some help with the language and the things offered from the hotel staff. And after some discussion, Sam had picked a small place that was both a place to eat, a place to look at art and a place to buy music. He thought it'd be Natalie's heaven and he figured he could enjoy it as well through her eyes.

He'd gotten himself dressed, told her minimal details about the place and was now standing outside the building with her hand in his hand. He still couldn't read the language so he glanced at her said, "You know enough to read any of this yet?"

Hopefully that meant she'd help him not order something with meat in it. Or something else just as gross.

[NFB and for zee girl]

Comments

[necroslacker]

"I know," he said and took some initiative of her own by leaning forward and kissing the back of her neck. "You smell nice tonight. Look nice too."

[whenshewasnice]

She sighed. "Thanks." Her voice was quiet because this was private. "I didn't make an effort."

[necroslacker]

"And I bet a lot of girls hate you for that," Sam said, stepping back and taking a sip of his own drink. He let his shoulder lightly bump against hers as they looked at the books.

[whenshewasnice]

"I'm sure a lot of girls hate me for any number of things," Natalie replied, idly. It sounded like a fact she was about as indifferent about as... well, anything that didn't matter to her.

A book caught her interest, and she tilted her head at the shelf before reaching for the book in question for a look at the cover. "Hey. Breakfast at Tiffany's."

Well, Bonequinha de Luxo. Same thing.

[necroslacker]

"I know that one," he said warmly, looking over at her as he said it. "And girls might hate you but I don't."

Quite the opposite, actually.

"You gonna get that one? Maybe compare and contrast the languages?"

[whenshewasnice]

"Yeah," she decided after a pause, just looking at the cover. "It's a good book, no matter what language it's in."

And she had a bunch of reasons to like it.

[necroslacker]

"Sounds like a good reason to get it," Sam agreed with a nod. He stroked his fingers down her back twice before stepping away to look at a few of the books himself.

He didn't understand the language but he could try to at least decipher some of the words.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie shivered a bit, but wandered a little further away along the bookshelves, grateful that she was coordinated enough to be able to handle carrying a drink and a book and still be able look at books without spilling anything.

He waa right. She was in her element here.

[necroslacker]

Sam wasn't in his element but this had been about her. So, he found a seat amongst the aisles of books and taken it. He'd sipped idly at the drink before he just closed his eyes and listened to the soft strains of music floating through the building.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie wandered around for a good while, getting lost in thought and exploring.

But since this was a date, that didn't last forever. When she showed up again, her drink was almost gone and she had more than just Bonequinha de Luxo in her arms. She'd found a couple more books, and a few vinyl singles that seemed promising and exotic.

She didn't have a player but she figured she could come by and borrow his.

"This place is nice."

[necroslacker]

"Yeah?" He opened his eyes and smiled at her. "Looks like you're taking advantage of it too. Need any help carrying all that?"

[whenshewasnice]

"No, I'm fine." Well, she had a bag to put it all into. "Food?"

Before she spent her travel budget on everything else.

[necroslacker]

"Sure," Sam said, getting to his feet and smiling again. "Worked up a hunger with all your purchases, huh?"

[whenshewasnice]

"Something like that," Natalie agreed, as she managed to get her purchases to go into her bag. "Also it's a dinner date, even if that's not all it is."

[necroslacker]

"Hey, I figured food wouldn't be first on your mind when I brought you here," he said but did gesture towards the little restaurant area where he'd made a reservation so a table was all ready for them. "Books and music in one place? That's like your heaven."

[whenshewasnice]

"Well, there are only a few things that could make it better," Natalie replied as she moved towards where he'd gestured. So, he wasn't wrong. "Good job."

[necroslacker]

"What could have made it better?" he asked curiously, pulling a seat out for her before taking his own seat.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie have him a flicker of a smile for being a gentleman while she took her seat. There was something amused about it, though.

"Nothing in your power."

Because it woud've involved kicking everyone but her out, for one thing.

[necroslacker]

"Tell me anyway," Sam requested, sitting down and reaching for a menu that he wasn't going to be able to understand. "I'm curious."

[whenshewasnice]

"Yes, I can tell." She took a menu for herself, then inclined her head towards the bar and other people. "There are people."

Was that an answer to his question, or a reason she couldn't tell him the answer? That was up to him to decipher.

[necroslacker]

"As there usually are in public places," he said, glancing around. "You don't wanna tell me because there are people around? I doubt they'll care."

[whenshewasnice]

"Well, most of them probably don't speak English," she noted with a shrug. "But, I meant they're a problem for perfection."

[necroslacker]

"Ah, so you'd want this place cleared out so it's just you and me to make it better?" Sam asked, scanning the menu and making faces at the language. "That makes sense, I guess."

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie just offered up another shrug. "I like privacy."

Which was not to say she wasn't loving this. Even if the menu had her looking mildly toughtful as she deciphered it in her head.

[necroslacker]

"I can understand that," Sam said, having decided he was just going to point at something on the menu and hope for the best. "That the only thing that could make it perfect?"