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Renee has reserved a table in a quiet corner of the bar, and had it kitted out with a white tablecloth, a candle and even a flower in a vase. She's going to do this right.

And "right" also includes a button down shirt with a tie.

Except now she's worried Helena will think she's just dressed for work.

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Renee isn't the only one who's been worried about doing this right and what she's wearing. It took Helena most of the afternoon to settle on an outfit she was happy with, and even then she changed her mind twice before she left her room.

When she finally leaves her room - crap, five minutes late - she's wearing a blue dress which comes just above her knees and a pair of strappy heels.

She takes the corridor at a brisk walk (the fastest she can go in the heels) and just hopes that Renee won't be too mad that she's running late.

Renee isn't mad so much as growing more worried Helena would have changed her mind. She's even at the point of checking under her fingernails for dirt and regretting not filing all the roughness off the edges after her shower this morning.

She's been looking up every time someone appears from the bedrooms, growing more and more aware that she looks like an idiot when she does so. that doesn't stop her looking up sharply again when Helena appears.

God, she looks gorgeous.

"Hey!"

Renee isn't the only one who thinks her date looks gorgeous. Helena never realised that women in suits could be a thing.

She smiles nervously and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear as she crosses the bar.

"Sorry I'm late."

"You're late?"

Renee stands, tugging her vest down as she does, and kisses Helena on her cheek before pulling out a chair for her.

"Maybe ten minutes. I've been later."

Helena leans in to Renee as she kisses her cheek, resting a hand gently on Renee's hip.

"Thanks," she says sitting down.

"As long as we're not late saving the world, I suppose."

"Late in saving the world or late because we're saving the world?" Renee asks, lingering for a second to enjoy the contact of Helena's hand before moving to sit.

"Because I think I'll forgive the latter."

Edited 2013-01-12 18:50 (UTC)

"I meant late in saving the world. But if you'll forgive lateness because of saving the world, then that's the reason I was late."

She conquered the Crisis in Infinite Wardrobes like a pro.

"Really?" Renee says her eyes lighting up in a smile.

"What were you saving it from this time?"

"Exploding wardrobes and some truly criminal clothes. It was looking bad there for a while, but I think we're safe for now."

Renee grins.

"Well," she allows. "For what it's worth - it was definitely worth the wait."

Helena looks damn fine.

Compliments - compliments she normally shrugs off. But the compliments normally come from men out to get something, not beautiful women grinning at her in a way that makes her heart skip beats.

A faint red blush tints Helena's cheeks, and she smiles back.

"I really am sorry about that," she says. It's entirely possible she's not just talking about the date right now.

Renee holds up a finger quickly to stop that where it is.

"Worth," she repeats, "the wait.

"Now, you want something to drink?"

She wants to ask how Renee can be so sure, but she bites back her words and nods.

"Some wine would be good."

Renee grins and leans back in order to get the attention of a waitrat.

"You don't mind if I don't join you? Glass or bottle?"

Oh right. Renee doesn't drink.

"Just a glass is fine. Red."

It's probably not a good idea to look like an alcoholic on a first date with a teetotaller.

Renee's open minded and non-judgmental about other people drinking. She hopes she gets points for this.

The waitrat takes the order and stays, just in case there's more.

"....actually, I have no idea what I want to eat."

Yes, she gets points. Renee doesn't seem bothered at all and that helps Helena relax a little.

"Personally I've got my heart set on pasta alla Norma," she says. "They do the best Sicilian food you'll ever taste outside of Sicily here."

"Really?"

Renee grins.

"Okay, I'll follow your lead on that one. Two pastas alla Norma."

Italian food is delicious.

Well of course it is, but then Helena is biased.

"I hope you like eggplant, then," she says as the waitrat disappears to place their order.

"Who doesn't like eggplant?" Renee says.

And glances at Helena with a look of surprise and disappointment at the world.

"Does someone not like eggplant?"

"It's not out of the realm of possibility," she says with a shrug, smiling at the cute 'someone kicked my puppy' expression Renee is pulling right now.

"America is full of food philistines."

"Yeah," Renee agrees. "How else do you explain Burger King?"

"I try not to explain it as much as I try to forget it exists entirely."

"Wise woman," says Renee.

She shrugs a little.

"I try," she says. "Sometimes I even succeed."

She tries not to think too much about the times she doesn't.