Date Nightwho → Quentin & Eliot
what → Dinner, dessert, cuddles
where → A restaurant in the city
when → Nov. 12th
Warnings → Nah
Eliot had decided on black pants, a white button up shirt and black jacket with black dress shoes. He didn't have anything really casual. Well, he did have those two pair of blue jeans, but he'd only wore the one pair once and they had been sitting in his closet for months and months now. They weren't really his style, but he had tried once upon a time. He splashed on some cologne then left the bathroom and went out to the living room.
Quentin wasn't there yet so he went to make sure the doors were locked before returning to the living room to find Quentin there. "You look great." He tilted the others chin up then leaned down and kissed him letting his fingers push through his hair. He loved Quentin in black. "Let's get out of here." A night out was just what they needed.
They took the waypoint to the city and Quentin led the way to the restaurant. "Are wee going to be naughty and have dessert tonight?" He chuckled as they walked into the restaurant.
Quentin hadn't decided on a shirt until Eliot suggested his black sweater. He had one he'd bought when they'd gone shopping together but he hadn't worn it yet. Date night sounded like the perfect time to do that. He stood back and looked at himself in the mirror then sighed. No matter what he did, he was always going to feel like Eliot could do better than him. Before he got too far down that train of thought, Quentin ran his fingers through his hair to get it settled into something that resembled a style and grabbed his wallet and keys along with a jacket. It wasn't that cold yet, and he had a sweater on so he didn't need anything too heavy.
He walked out into the living room and furrowed his brows when he found himself alone. Had he gotten the time wrong? Eliot walked up and he smiled and leaned up into the kiss. "Thank you, Sir." He bumped his forehead against Eliot's gently then nodded and headed out the door with the man. He slipped his hand into Eliot's as they walked to the waypoint and then again as they walked to the restaurant. "I don't know, I guess it depends on what you want for dessert." He grinned up at the man and then walked up to the hostess to get them on the list for a table.
"She said it'll be about ten, maybe fifteen minutes for a table." The place was nice, but not fancy and it was pretty busy. But it was Saturday night and that meant date night for a lot of people apparently. IT made him wonder how many people lived in Vallo, and how many of them were native to the area. "They said we need to make sure to try the miso soup. It's really good." OR so he'd been told. He was debating if he should get his usual type of roll or try something completely new.
Eliot smirked then bumped Quentin with his hip. "Definitely not chocolate. I've been nibbling on the leftover Halloween candy. I wonder if they'll have any dessert with fruit." Of course he was thinking about something with strawberries. He sat with Quentin while they waited. "I'm not even sure what Miso soup has in it. Do you know?"
He went to reach for his phone, but stopped himself. Definitely a habit done when having to wait on anything. "Abigail said she'll come for Thanksgiving dinner. She wants to help us cook. I told her I'd talk to you about what time we'll eat so I know what time to tell her to come over to help out cooking. So what time do we want to eat? Oh, she's bringing dessert and wine. Not sure how much wine we'll need, but we should get a couple of bottles as well."
"I think I was chocolated out by the third day. I don't know why I always insist on buying so much at the sales." It was a whole thing. He almost always wound up throwing away lots of the half-priced candies he bought by the time Thanksgiving happened.
Quentin shrugged at the question. "Honestly? I'm not sure exactly what's in it besides strips of nori and onions. Sometimes tofu bits too. I'm pretty sure it starts with fish stock. I've had it in some places where it's really super fishy tasting. I usually don't like it but I have been assured this place makes it right." Whatever right was. Maybe it was supposed to taste fishy and this place did it wrong. Either way, he was honestly looking forward to trying it.
He looked up and smiled at the mention of Abigail and the upcoming holiday. "Sounds good." He thought a minute then shrugged. "We usually aim to eat around two. But I've never actually cooked my own turkey or anything so I don't know if we should aim for earlier or later in the day. What do you think?"
"Me too," Eliot agreed with a slight face. He did have a sweet tooth, but had admittedly been snacking on the leftover chocolate too much as well as slipping some into his lunch he took to work. "I wonder if they would have strawberry cheesecake here." Probably not, but the more he thought about it the more he wanted something with fruit.
"Gotta be honest, that doesn't sound very good to me. I think you should get it and I'll try yours." He grinned and leaned in to kiss Quentin. "You'll be the guinea pig," he chuckled. Eliot was glad Abigail was coming for the holiday and to help cook. It would be a fun time for them all. "Hmm, lets see." He gave it some thought. "How about three? Not too early, not too late."
The hostess came over to tell them their table was ready and they stood to follow. Once seated Eliot ordered a glass of wine before opening the menu. "Did you want to do anything after we're done here or are we going back home?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. They probably have mochi at least." He looked up. "We can always go somewhere else for dessert and coffee?" It sounded like a good way to end the evening to him anyway. Extend the date a little. "I'm not sure where to go, but I’m sure we can find a place." Not that he knew of any off the top of his head. He was sure there was a coffee shop of some kind with cheesecakes. Or they could always go home and find something there.
Quentin leaned up for that kiss then leaned back in for another one. "Okay. I just hope I like it." It wasn't the most important part of the meal, but it was something he liked when he could find it made right. He shifted and thought about the time. "That sounds good. Plenty of time to make everything and not feel rushed about it." Considering it was the first time he'd be at least partly responsible for cooking the meal. Anything to make it less stressful. "Are you the type who gets up early to watch the parade or the sleeps in as late as you can type?"
He ordered himself a glass of wine then glanced at the menu and back up again. "I hadn't thought about that, other than maybe getting dessert elsewhere. It's not too cold tonight, and the moon is still pretty. Maybe a little walk before we head home?"
"Sure, if you'd like to." There were places they could go to get some kind of dessert. There were a couple of bakeries he went to, but he wasn't sure if they'd be open when they finished dinner. "Alright then, dinner at three and I'll tell Abigail she can come over whenever she likes. Well, after nine anyway." He grinned. "I will sleep in late any chance I get but maybe we should probably start cooking around noon or start prepping then to ensure everything will be ready by three. Hmmm, maybe tell Abigail noon as well. That way we can have a lazy morning."
Eliot reached for his wine and took a drink. The waitress came over and asked if they were ready to order. He was glad to see they had some of the 'usual' rolls and ordered the Boston Roll. He reminded Quentin about the soup then folded the menu. Once they were alone again he looked to Quentin. "Whatever you want to do. If you'd rather go home after we eat we can do that. It will be getting late."
Quentin smiled. "I Would if we find a place that's open." He didn't think it was terribly late yet, though no telling how long they would be at dinner. He was hopeful they'd get out early enough to find a place for cheesecake. Even if they had to just pick it up and take it home. "Lazy mornings are the best mornings." Especially when they got to be lazy in bed together.
Q gave her his order, a dragon roll and almost forgot his miso soup. He added it after being reminded then smiled over. "Thank you, Sir." He reached out and gave Eliot's hand a quick squeeze before taking a sip of his own wine. "I think we could play it by ear a little? I mean right now a little walk after sounds good but no telling what it's going to sound like when we're actually done eating."
"There's bound to be some coffee shop or diner open that serves it. If not we can get something else." The more they talked about it the more he was craving something with fruit. "Especially on cold mornings when you can burrow under the blankets and cuddle or watch something."
Quentin was calling him Sir mostly tonight. Eliot wondered if he was just "feeling" it or if there were some other reason. Either way, he didn't mind. "Playing it by ear sounds like a plan." What would be would be. They talked more as they sat waiting on their food. A little of this and a little of that. "Did we discuss spending Christmas Eve at the cottage?" He thought they had, but maybe not. They had yet to visit it together yet. He'd overwhelmed Quentin after he arrived then it seemed something or another was always happening. "We don't have to. I'd like to spend some time with friends for the holiday as well."
The waitress returned with their food. He thanked her then eyed the soup sat by Quentin. "You have to taste it first..."
Quentin just nodded. There had to be a twenty-four hour diner somewhere that had an acceptable dessert selection. "Exactly! Sounds like the best way to spend a holiday morning."
Conversation was thankfully coming easily. It always worried him when they seemed to have trouble with it. He always felt like it was his own fault somehow. That whole thing was something he was definitely working on, and he hoped he was getting better with it. He thought a minute then nodded. "Yeah we did. We talked about Christmas Eve at the cottage. And I think there was some questions about having two trees. One for home and one for the cottage." He also remembered wanting to make some cat beds that looked like presents to go under the tree for the cats. "Do we want to have a holiday party at some point?" It sounded like a good way for him to meet some of Eliot's friends that he hadn't met yet.
He smiled and thanked the waitress then looked over his food to make sure he got everything he ordered, and that it was correct. "It looks good." He eyed the soup then picked up his spoon and took a taste. And then he nodded before he had another one. "IT's really good! You might like it." He pushed the bowl over for Eliot to try it out.
It was coming back to him now and he did recall their conversation. "There's already a tree at the cottage, but we can get a new one if you;d like." It was one he and the other version of Quentin had bought last year. When Christmas was over he'd taken it down and left the two boxes at the cottage. They didn't take up much space as it was a smaller tree. "I think a holiday party would be nice. Dinner and drinks? Maybe some games."
Eliot thought it would have been romantic if Quentin had fed him a taste of the soup instead of pushing the bowl over to him. Perhaps he wasn't the type. Though that thought didn't seem right to him given how well he knew Quentin, but that was his opinion only. He pulled the bowl closer then took a bite. He shook his head. "No, that's not for me, but I'm glad you like it." He carefully pushed the bowl back over to Quentin then started in on his sushi.
"Pretty good," he declared after swallowing. "Would making the Christmas party formal be too much?" Eliot liked the idea and a more fancy party would be a change of pace. He hadn't worn formal attire in what seemed like centuries.
He shook his head. "If you have one already, there is no need to buy a new one. Unless it needs replacing. We should go out there at some point soon to see if it's still in good condition, then decide if we need a new one." It sounded logical to him. He didn't even consider when it had been purchased, or by whom. It made perfect sense that Eliot would have a tree for each house, even if he primarily lived in only one of them.
Quentin watched him try the soup and then laughed softly. "It's not for everyone." He took the bowl back and leaned over to place a quick kiss on his cheek before he had a bit more of the soup. Just the right amount of umami and fishiness for his tastes. He had a couple of bites of his roll and nodded. "This is good. Definitely going to want to come here again. Try the other rolls." He tilted his head and arched a brow. "A formal party at the house?" He thought about it and shook his head. "I don't think it would be too much. Need to pick a date and get the guest list sorted out really soon though. Give everyone time to prepare properly." He hadn't been to a formal anything since...he couldn't even remember. But it was probably in Fillory.
"It should be okay. I put it in the box along with the ornaments and stored it under the bed, but we can check on it." Eliot had last been to the Fillory cottage a few months ago and everything was still intact.
Eliot watched Quentin for his reaction to the formal holiday party suggestion. "That's okay. We'll have a more regular party." He ate more of his sushi then took a drink of wine. "It would probably be more comfortable and fun anyway. Easier. Everyone is so busy around the holidays, so." He finished off his last two rolls and washed them down with the rest of his wine. "We should get stockings with Houdini and Kismet's name on them. I think that would be cute. Last year Kismet wasn't part of the family yet so she doesn't even have a stocking yet."
Quentin got that confused slightly lost look going. He didn't understand why Eliot would change his mind from the formal party but it didn't have to be his call did it? "Why not go with the formal party though? It sounds nice, just takes a little extra planning for some people." Not everyone had the kind of wardrobe that Eliot did. Some of them might have to actually buy something new just for the party. He knew he would, but he kinda liked the idea of it. "I haven't seen you get all dressed up in forever...and you can help me find something that makes me look good." He smiled then went back to eat a bit more.
"Oh we can't have that! What kind of cat dads are we that we don't even have stockings for our babies yet?" He took the last drink of his wine then looked up. "Do I have a stocking?" It might have been made or purchased for the other version of Quentin, but it would still be his stocking. Unless Eliot wanted to get him a new one. And he would have to get Eliot something real good for Christmas, and he had no idea where to start looking. He should check with Abigail for ideas.
"Whichever one you want to do is fine with me. If the formal then I will help you pick something out to wear." Eliot looked around for the waitress and when he saw her motioned her over to let her know they were ready for the check.
"Not very good ones. There's a Christmas shop in the city that has everything." He'd gone last year and felt like a kid looking at everything. "No, you don't have a stocking. The other Quentin did, but we'll get you one when we get ones for the cats. And anything else you want." He hadn't bought much in the way of decor last year. He'd only been working a few months and part time at the holidays last year.
When the waitress returned Eliot slipped his credit card in the little binder and handed it back to her before she left. "Are we ready to go then?"
Quentin just nodded. "Okay, El." He still didn't get the change but he kept that to himself and perked up a little at the mention of a Christmas shop. "Is it open already?" Not that it would surprise him if they were. Places like that seemed to be opening up earlier and earlier. Or maybe it was one of those places that was open all year for those people who had to get their holiday shopping done by July. He was not one of those people. He was lucky if he managed to get it all done before the twenty-fourth. But this year he didn't have as many people to shop for all things considered. Unless they did an office secret santa thing. He'd have to ask about that.
He debated if he should look up a place where they could get dessert on his phone or if he wanted to just walk around the area and see if they found a suitable place. He nodded at the question. "Yeah. Ready when you are." He waited for the waitress to come back with the receipt to be signed. Once that was all done he stood up and held his hand out to Eliot. "Still want to find dessert?"
"Yes, it's been opened since the beginning of November," he smiled. "They have some nice things. We can get stockings for you and Kismet there and anything else we'd like. Maybe some new ornaments. One for our first Christmas together?" He suggested then signed the receipt and they were ready to go.
He took Quentin's hand as they made their way outside. "Of course I still want dessert and now I want some coffee to go with it. How about we get dessert and I'll make some coffee at home then cuddles?" He pulled out his phone to look at the time. It wasn't that late. "We're going to this cute little bakery I found last year. I know she's open til at least nine so we have time to get there." He led then to the nearest waypoint and in no time they were less than a block away from the bakery.
Once inside the shop the smell of warm baked goods filled his senses. The owner, Kelly was working and Eliot greeted her as he stepped up to the counter. "I'll have a small strawberry cheesecake. What do you want, beautiful?"
The mention of doing something for their first Christmas together brought a goofy grin to Quentin's face. He couldn't help it. Cute couple of things like that were a weakness. "I love that idea." Of course, he would love it. Who wouldn't?
Quentin let Eliot lead the way. "That sounds perfect actually." As much as he was enjoying a night out, relaxing at home sounded like a great way to end the night. HE wondered what made it a cute bakery until they got there. When they walked in he looked around and nodded. "It is cute...and smells like heaven." He eyed everything on display and took a minute to decide on what he wanted. "I can't decide between the baklava and the tres leches cake. They both look so good." He thought for another moment. "I'll take the tres leches cake. I haven't had that in a long time."
Eliot returned the smile warmly happy that Quentin liked the idea. He wanted their first Christmas together to be special and had already been thinking of things they could do.
"Oooh, baklava is so rich and sweet." He paused for a moment. "Add two pieces of baklava to the order. We can have it tomorrow or the next day. You made it sound good, so it's all your fault," he grinned. Once everything was packed up Eliot paid and wished Kelly a goodnight before they left.
The nearest waypoint wasn't far and they were back at the cottage in no time. "I'll get the coffee going and you can grab us some forks and plates.” Coffee, dessert and some cuddling was the perfect way to end their evening.