Arthur Pellew | Admiral William Adama (so_sayweall) wrote in thereincarnates, @ 2012-10-03 16:05:00 |
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Entry tags: | arthur pellew, caroline ross |
WHO. Arthur Pellew & Caroline Ross
WHAT. A joyride (and a secret surprise dinner date)
WHERE. The Agency, then London in general, ending up in a riverside Japanese restaurant (also in London).
WHEN. Mid-weekish? The evening of the same day this text message conversation happened.
WARNINGS. TBD
He was nervous.
He'd travelled the world, met numerous politicians and the Queen (several times), flown helicopters in warzones (and at the Olympics), landed commandos on embassy roofs in Kuwait, gotten drunk with the Duke of Edinburgh at his grandson's wedding, worked undercover in Northern Ireland...and yet, the prospect of taking one woman on a date made his palms go sweaty.
Granted, he had no idea if the woman in question actually was interested in a date with him or not. And to make matters worse, when she agreed to taking a spin with him, she didn't even know it was actually a date she was agreeing to. In fact, he wouldn't even have gone ahead with the whole idea if the Admiral hadn't suggested - no, ordered - it. Seems like the Old Man was missing 'his' Laura, and was sick of Arthur 'pussyfooting around the lady'. Or as he'd put it, finally: Time to roll the hard six, son.
Which was why Arthur was waiting outside the Agency, leaning against his bike and checking his watch and his phone for the zillionth time.
His message tone went off, and he almost dropped his phone on the pavement in his haste to check it. Arthur groaned aloud at his sister's teasing tone of her message - "Operation Seduction is a go. Have fun, and don't break any public decency laws!" - but her and her partner's influence paid off. He now had a table for two at an exclusive Japanese restaurant on the South Bank near the London Eye, with a good view of the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben across the river.
His father had immediately offered him the use of the House of Lords dining room when Arthur first suggested the idea, but his sister-in-law shot down that idea immediately: "If she's not intimidated by her surroundings, it'll give her the impression that you're proposing a business partnership, not a romantic one." His mother had agreed with his sister-in-law: "Honestly, Fleet. Where's your sense of romance? Off on a fishing trip with Paddy Ashdown?" His two year old nephew had just giggled and promptly flung his cornflakes at him.
Apparently his whole family was rather thrilled with the idea that he found a woman interesting enough to take somewhere romantic - "and on his Triumph, too!" his sister had crowed. "She must be some woman for my big brother to allow her sainted backside to touch his beloved motorcycle." At which point Arthur had taken his cue from his nephew and flung cornflakes at her....though she might have a point.
He'd made the same offer to his ex-wife, but she'd turned him down every time. So maybe the very fact that Caroline was willing to hop on his bike in the first place (and in fact, seemed very keen on the idea) was a good sign.
After sending a reply to his sister ("I'll know if you stake out the restaurant, so don't even try. Spookiness runs in the family, remember? P.S. I owe you several babysitting nights."), he thumbed down to his 'R' contacts and typed out a message.
Ready for an adventure, Madam President?