Sept 8th - A barbed Vixen

[Constantine McGraw]

"Sure, I won't be able to admire your new ink otherwise."

Of course, that wasn't all he was admiring at that particular point in time. If Victoria wanted to strip off he knew better than to argue. That didn't mean he wasn't going to take advantage of the opportunity.

[Victoria Valentine]

"Good," she said, tossing him the jacket before she started rearranging her top and securing it on.

[Constantine McGraw]

Con chuckled, waiting until Victoria was ready then heading for the car.

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria followed along, not particularly concerned about being ready, and got into his car when they reached it.

[Constantine McGraw]

About 10 minutes later they pulled up outside a small, slightly pokey looking restaurant named Dino's, Con slotting the Morano into a recently vacated spot.

Inside, the place was cheaply but cleanly furnished, a dozen or so unfinished wood tables and vinyl covered chairs. All but two of the tables were occupied, despite it being a tuesday night and the waitress look a little harried, taking a moment before she greeted them and gave them a table.

Given the name, the menu when it came was unsurprisingly Italian. There was no alcohol listed, like many establishments in London, including many on the East End's Brick Lane, it was bring your own.

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria told the waitress to take her time coming back for their order, assuring her that she usually took a while deciding. She looked the menu over once, then started again, looking in detail. "What do they do best here?" All in all, Victoria seemed pleased with what she'd seen of the restaurant, and she'd made more than a cursory glance at other people's food as they passed tables.

[Constantine McGraw]

"The risotto and the veal are both good. My personal favourite though is Dino's handmade ravioli."

There were several people eating risotto or ravioli, seemingly just one with the veal.

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria nodded, looking over the menu another time. when the waitress finally returned, she ordered the raviolli.

[Constantine McGraw]

Con ordered the same, along with water.

"I think his name's John actually." Con said when the waitress had left. "I guess 'John's' isn't much of a name for an Italian place."

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria gave a little laugh. "Well, image is everything, after all. I was just lucky enough that my mother kept that in mind when she named me."

[Constantine McGraw]

"Personally, I think Vix suits you."

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria made a face. "Is 'Victoria' too hard for you to remember?" she asked with a smirk.

[Constantine McGraw]

"I can only remember 5 letters, I have to stop at Vixen." Con replied with a smirk of his own.

[Victoria Valentine]

Victoria smirked. "All right, that one I think I can live with."

[Constantine McGraw]

"But Vix is out, Vixen?"

[Victoria Valentine]

"Nicknames can be shortened. My name on the other hand? Shortening that is just disrespectful."

[Constantine McGraw]

"Well, if I call you Vix, you'll know what I mean now. Call it in joke, other people will hear something else entirely."

[Victoria Valentine]

"If people start calling me that on their own, it's your job to smack them and tell them to quit it," she warned, smirking at him.

[Constantine McGraw]

"Do I have to smack them or will dropping them off a tall building do?"

[Victoria Valentine]

"I've never been one to curb creativity."

[Constantine McGraw]

Con smirked, just as their food arrived. The ravioli was, as promised, excellent.

[Victoria Valentine]

"Mm. Very good. Remind me to get your recommendations on more places to eat," she said after swallowing.

[Constantine McGraw]

"That all depends what you're hungry for." Con replied with a smirk.

[Victoria Valentine]

"That, I get on my own. As you recall," she smirked.

[Constantine McGraw]

Con tried to look innocent. It was valiant, determined and yet sadly, ulitmately futile.

[Victoria Valentine]

"Right. That's so believable," she said, rolling her eyes. "Now finish eating, I'm sure there's more things you can do that I want you to show me," she added, a wicked gleam in her eyes.

[Constantine McGraw]

"I'm sure there are." Con agreed.

[Victoria Valentine]

"Welllllll... show me, an I'll make it worth your while."

[Constantine McGraw]

"I'm sure you will." Con replied with a wanton smirk, finishing the last of his ravioli. Stuffing a twenty under his plate. "Shall we go find out, on both counts?"

[Victoria Valentine]

"Yes, I really think we shall," Victoria said, before taking her last bite of raviolli.

[Constantine McGraw]

Once Victoria had finished, Con got to his feet and led her out to the waiting car.

((and on to here.))