2013.07.05 - Dinner And A Movie, Hold The Movie

Vance Astrovik lands at the edge of the park, taking the cover of the trees as a way to straighten his clothes and check his hair, peering into a small pond to make sure his reflection is up to snuff. He didn't go too fancy, just a slightly dressy shirt and a pair of khakis, but definitely above his usual t-shirt and jeans set-up, complete with a leather jacket that probably isn't as cool as he thinks it is. With his budget as it is, a full bouquet wasn't an option, but he did select a simple lily from a florist near the newsstands he worked sometimes, keeping it in a TK bubble to prevent it from getting buffeted around by wind or weather, sliding it behind his back to hide as he approaches the big L, taking a deep breath as he wonders if they have some sort of doorbell...

Nerves got Ayla out of the Legion HQ building early, but she would deny that she's been pacing if someone pointed it out. She isn't sure where Garth is, although she thought she saw him in the commissary earlier. With luck, he'll be there a while. For the fiftieth time, at least, she smooths her hands over her skirt. She couldn't find Imra in the short time she had to get any advice, so she just went with her favorite dress and hopes for the best. It's a somewhat vintage piece, modestly fitted at the bodice, the skirt fuller and gathered, but not quite pleated, hitting just above her knees. The pattern could be called garish if not for the fact that the huge flowers and leaves are in muted shades of blue, orange and brown, laid on a white background. Her flat shoes pick out one of the blue shades, and compliment her eyes. In her fifty-first walk past the lobby doors, she turns and catches sight of her date, a smile coming at once as she watches him approach.

Oh, Ayla certainly had seen Garth in the commissary. And Garth had most certainly seen her, looking evasive and all dressed up.

Curiouser and curiouser. His sister had been rather elusive lately, for whatever reason. So just trailing along, Garth seats himself atop the security station indoors watching his sister fidget outside, at least until someone approaches, whereas the bored look on Garth's face is quickly replaced with a curious look. Huh. So his sister was seeing someone...?

Intrigued, he decides to just stick behind the lobby doors waiting to see what comes next.

Vance Astrovik finds Ayla waiting for him at the door, looking...wow. That's a pretty amazing dress, and he already feels like he probably under-dressed. On the other hand, with her around, he figures most people won't be looking much at him, and she didnt' strike him as the type to get too hung up on just what kind of outfit he wore on their date. Just short of the door, he grins and gives a bow, putting on a hoity-toity voice, "Milady, if you would be so kind as to privilege this unworthy, lowly knave with the honor of your presence this evening, for a delightful interlude of culinary tastings and cinematic entertainments?" he grins, the delicate flower swinging out from behind him to be presented to her with a slight flourish.

The greeting is met with a delighted grin, and Ayla pauses a moment as the flower is offered, her face sobering as she makes a show of considering the invitation. As she tries not to smile, she reaches out to take the flower, her fingers brushing lightly against Vance's. "It would be my own honor to accept such an offer, sir." The smile breaks through and she giggles, offering a less formal, "What a beautiful flower, thank you, Vance." Going from nervous to charmed, she remains oblivious to her lurking twin.

If Garth had any idea what the person was saying, he might well make gagging noises and a gesture of a finger down his throat. Still, that his sister giggles has Garth rather curious. Off the security desk he goes, and out the lobby doors.

"Hey! Ayla!" calls Garth as he approaches.

Vance Astrovik smiles and is about to offer his arm in the traditionally chivalrous manner, "I"m glad you like it. I know it's not a rose, but you're kind of non-traditional anyway, so I figured a lily would be --" he's saying, only to hear a voice calling out for Ayla from inside. He looks up, head cocked as he sees Lightning Lad come out. The young hero raises a hand in greeting, "Good to see you again," he says simply, assuming Garth has some sort of Legion business to discuss with Ayla. He hopes she isn't called away on some sort of mission, although maybe he could help, if she is.

The sound of her name... well, more so the voice that speaks it, has Ayla turning toward the doors immediately. "Grife," she hisses softly, before stepping forward, away from Vance even as he greets her brother, to intercept the other redhead. In a louder tone, this time meant to carry, she returns, "Hey, Garth. What?" The words are light, because there's nothing at all unusual going on here.

"Oh not much... I just wanted to say hi," Garth says, giving Vance a once-over. Oh right, he had met him a short while ago. "Good to see you too. Uh, sorry about the delay, we're still trying to sort out the right tests for you. It's got to be... well... we need to get to know you a bit better." He glances at Ayla, smirking. "Though I guess she does have that in hand, doesn't she? So, be nice to my sister, uh..." He tries to remember the name. "... Astro Boy?"

Vance Astrovik arches an eyebrow at Ayla. Sister, eh? He remembers mentioning Lightning Lad during their first conversation and she somehow managed not to mention the familial relationship. He's much more amused by it than anything, "Astrovik, but you can call me Vance. No worries, I'll find a way to keep busy while you figure them out. And yeah, Ayla and I kind of hit it off, and, since she's still adjusting to 21st century culture, I figured I'd help out. Civic duty and whatnot," he says, although he does step a bit closer to her as he does so, putting a hand on her shoulder, "You need to get anything from inside before we head out?"

Ayla arches a brow at her brother's smirk, but she stays silent while Vance speaks up, turning her head to look at him. Her smile is back as she offers to Garth, "Seems like a good idea to learn more from a native." She doesn't shy away from the touch to her shoulder, but shakes her head in response, "No, I've got everything I need." Which appears to be nothing, since she carries no purse.

"Mmmhmmm. Well..." Garth considers this, darting a look towards Ayla, before considering Vance. The earnest, eager beaver look. Well...

Running a hand through his hair, Garth considers. "Nah, you two have fun. Have a good time, okay?" He brings his arm around Ayla, giving his sister a quick hug, then a hair ruffle. "Don't overwhelm him, hear, sis?"

Vance Astrovik steps aside to let Ayla move ahead of him, being a ladies first sort of fellow. He smiles, "Then, we'll be off. And don't worry, I'm sure I can keep up with her," he says to Garth, a little spring in his step as he moves to help guide Ayla away from her home and off towards the restaurant, "Would you like to fly on your own or in the bubble with me?" he grins to her.

Approval? Ayla steps into the hug from Garth, their proximity emphasizing the similarities in the two, like their matching hair color. "Thanks, Garth," she says as she steps back, smiling brightly at him. "Won't be too late. But don't wait up." The fairer of the Ranzz siblings is pleased at this going so well, and it shows undeniably in the appearance of her dimples. Stepping ahead of Vance as he gives her way, Ayla looks back as she walks to answer, "It would probably be better in the bubble with you? Really shouldn't fly in a skirt." There's one more quick wave to Garth.

Approval... for now. Garth returns the hug, casts a glance at Vance with a nod, and then leans in to whisper, "If there's a problem, tase him first, ask questions later." And then pulling back, the young Winathian grins, as he gives one last wave. "Have fun."

As soon as they're gone, though, Garth frowns a bit, and then turns back. Time to do a bit more digging into Vance. If only so he could figure out more about this guy and the tryout...

Vance Astrovik winces as Ayla makes a good point, "Ooooo...hadn't thought of that...hold on..." he says. His eyes glow baby blue as his field reaches out and grabs hold of a limb, drawing down the length as he pulls off some leaves. The field layers them together, weaving them into a sort of makeshift rug, one leaf overlapping the other, until he steps on it and gestures for Ayla to do the same, "Just to keep any peeping eyes from getting fresh ideas." he says, extending his bubble and bringing Ayla into it. He raises a hand again to Garth as he begins to ascend, carrying Garth's little sister off with him...

Ayla watches the 'rug' creation with curiosity, laughing as she realizes its intent. "That's very thoughtful of you," she notes, stepping up close and taking a loose hold on a flap of Vance's shirt. She's very accustomed to flying with the ring. Not so much under someone else's power, so she's not entirely sure what to expect. "You sure you can do this?" She might sound just a tiny bit uncertain, but is willing to take him at his word.

Vance Astrovik seals the bubble around the two of them, "We'll see," he grins and winks. He knows he's plenty strong enough to carry her, but he couldn't resist teasing a bit. He suspends her weight easily as he lifts off, the two of them shooting off into the sky at a moderate, easy pace in the direction of downtown, staying high enough to avoid too much pedestrian panic but not so high as to keep them from sightseeing.

As they take flight Ayla slips her arm around Vance's waist, holding on to him for a few seconds as she grows accustomed to the flying sensation without controlling it. "Do you know what buildings these are? I barely even know them from the ground yet, let alone from the air." She looks around curiously, then realizes she's still nearly clutching her date and she loosens her hold with a soft, "Sorry."

Vance Astrovik grins and gives a little shimmy of the bubble, tilting Ayla in his direction a little bit when she starts to pull away. Not a forceful thing, just a teasing shimmy, "I have no idea what you're apologizing for, because it couldn't possibly be snuggling up close to me, because that is something about which I would not at all complain," he grins. "And yeah, lifelong New Yorker. It's pretty easy to make your way around here, all the streets are letters and numbers except for a few. It's a grid, see..." he says, starting to point out landmarks as the two fly along.

Ayla bumps lightly against Vance with the bubble's shift, the slight offset of her balance succeeding in seeing her once more tightening her hold on him. She laughs softly, looking up at him, "As long as you won't complain then." Her eyes follow as Vance points out notable features of the bustling city, but they stray often to glance up at him before returning to the next 'stop on the tour'. "Travel always seems so congested, in your cars and buses. It's a wonder anyone gets anywhere at all. It's much easier to fly," she notes, as they pass a snarled intersection.

Vance Astrovik nods in agreement, "Traffic is a serious bummer. I've never understood people who have cars in the city. You have the bus, taxis, bikes, the subway...and, for we lucky few, the skies," he smiles, more than comfortable to let Ayla's slight figure snuggle a bit against his side, the leaves beneath their feet crinkling slightly. "Walking around the neighborhoods has something to be said for it, too, but I made an early reservation, so I figured time was more of the essence than culture. Maybe later we can walk around and gawk," he says.

"I think a walk would be nice," Ayla says agreeably. Below, on the sidewalk, something catches her eye. She points, having to reach slightly across Vance to show him the object of interest, "Is it common for someone to have that many dogs?" She's spied a dog walker, a young man easily handling nearly a dozen dogs on leashes. They're all different sizes, but all seem well behaved.

Vance Astrovik catches sight of the guy trying to handle the massive pack of hounds, "Only if they're an aspiring actor," he grins. Realizing that jokes about theatrical under-employment might be a little TOO New York, he grins and elaborates, "He's probably walking the dogs of a lot of much richer people. It's an odd job, kind of like what I do gathering up old newspapers or serving tiny, tiny scraps of meat and dough on trays at weddings a couple weekends a month. Living in New York is expensive, and you've gotta do what you've gotta do to pay the rent. Your landlord does not care," he says. Not wanting to get too derailed with cost of living on a date he scrimped a smidgen to afford, he grins, "Part of the reason why the city never sleeps, I guess. But most of us wouldn't live anywhere else, me included."

Without releasing him again, Alya leans back enough to look at Vance curiously. "Scraps of meat and dough?" Another of the odd customs of this world and time? But she wanders onto the tracks of another train of thought almost immediately. "There's a residence floor at HQ. If you get in, maybe you'd want to check that out? Plus, you'd have use of everything. The gym, the pool, commissary..." She lets the words trail off, smiling before she continues, "They give you a tour when you were there?"

Vance Astrovik laughs, "Traditionally called 'pigs in a blanket'. Very fancy, but not at all kosher. My mother would not be pleased with how many I usually slip in my pockets from the leftovers at the end of the night," he chuckles. At the question, he nods, "I did, although it was brief because...well, because I had to get to work. But I did hear about the facilities. I can't deny, rent-free living in New York's a serious, serious perk to Legion membership, even if it isn't why I applied..." he grins, starting to take the two of you down as he nears your destination.

"And it's not like you'd have to worry about being away from something, living at HQ. You can get anywhere flying," Alya points out reasonably. Not that she's trying to sell Vance the idea of living there, but it's a serious perk, like he said. As they start to descend her arm tightens around him again, until they're settled back on the ground.

Vance Astrovik brings them down at the juncture of Little Italy and the Lower East Side, the old school blending with the new school as the hipsters make their way by, fake glasses and waxed mustaches mingling with very real glasses and...waxed mustaches, as the old-school Italians hold their own. The place you've settled in front of is Parmesano, a small, artisan Italian place with hand-made pasta and fresh baked bread. He opens the door, steaming smell of tomatoes and garlic and olive oil spilling over the two of you, the waiter well-dressed but not too fancy as he guides the two to a table. He's forced to relinquish her hold on his arm, of course, but at least they get a nice corner booth, secluded and dim enough for the flickering candles to actually provide atmosphere instead of just stifling heat.

There's a measure of reluctance in Ayla's pulling away to follow the waiter, but she steps ahead of Vance. At the table, she scoots in one side of the bench seat, laying the flower carefully onto the table. She waits for Vance to join her, leaning toward him to whisper, "It smells so good in here!" There's no question that she approves of his choice, blue eyes wide as she looks around, taking everything in.

Vance Astrovik nods and takes his seat with a grin, finding himself shoulder to shoulder again with her, the two angled so they can look at each other without straining but, at the same time, facing out over the old school facade of the place. "I know, it's sort of a great little hole in the wall," he says. It's a classic New Yorker move, taking the out-of-towner to a hidden little place outside of the tourist traps. "I know tradition says you should avoid garlic on a first date, but sometimes it's worth the risk..." he says. He also brought plenty of mints, just in case. "Everything's great here: alfredo, marinara, meatballs, pizza. Everything fresh, nothing canned. The chef hits the market every morning and just buys what's good, so the menu changes a little bit every day..." he says.

Ayla casts a speculative look at Vance, even squinting a bit before she grins. "Maybe I'll trust you to order me something. Whatever you like most. Seems like a good place to start." Some might be familiar, but she still willing to take a chance. "Avoid garlic?" she questions. "Why is that?" Maybe it's bad luck? There are so many different customs here, Ayla sometimes wonders if she'll ever figure everything out. Or if she'll get home before she has a chance to.

Vance Astrovik realizes it probably wasn't the smoothest move to even bring it up, and he looks slightly abashed as he admits, "Um, the garlic is, um...some people don't like how it smells, so, on your breath when you...are very close, it's not always considered ideal," he smiles. At the former, though, he arches an eyebrow, "I guess I really do have a trustworthy face," he smiles and then signals the waiter that he's ready to start, "Um, stuffed mushrooms, the ones with the ricotta and the oysters and everything? Just for appetizers...we'll figure out entrees in a little bit." He wishes they could have wine, but he's still underage, and he's a bit too much of a boy scout to go the fake ID route, "I'll have a coke to drink. Ayla?" he says, not being so presumptuous as to choose even your beverage.

The explanation is rewarded with a light blush, barely discernible in the flickering candle light but visible to a keen eye, and Ayla is momentarily saved a reply by the appearance of the waiter. "Coke is fine for me, too," she nods, adding as an aside to Vance, "I like the bubbles." She watches the waiter's retreating back before she ventures, "Well, if both people have garlic, neither would even notice." It's totally logical, and not that she might have figured out what he didn't come out and say boldly. "It's nice being with someone who knows what to do. Sometimes I have to guess and that's not always easy."

Vance Astrovik smiles, enjoying having the redhead close to him (and more than glad that she didn't get too flustered by the garlic debate), "Well, I, for one, very much like garlic...and, even if the smell isn't perfect, well...some things are worth a little discomfort,' he says, and now he's the one blushing a bit, "And the important thing to remember is there's no one way to do things. New York's a melting pot. All of America is, but New York's where it gets stirred. Everyone here can trace their roots back somewhere else, and came here with their own way of doing things and their own way of looking at the world. Sure, you're coming from the future, another world, instead of Russia or Italy or China or India. But it's all the same. Learn the ways here, sure, but don't worry if you don't fit in, because there's a place for everyone." he says. "Sorry, didn't meant to monologue. I've been having a lot of debates in my comparative cultures class," he grins.

There's a thoughtful cast to Ayla's eyes as she listens to Vance, and his apology brings her smile. She lays her hand lightly on his arm, reassuring, "No, I liked that. It's made me feel more welcome, more at home, than I have here yet." In her underlying, seldom shown worry for Mekt, the brother left behind in their home world, Ayla hasn't found it easy to really feel connected here, despite Garth's presence. It's just another in the series of disconnects that has proven to be the lives of the Ranzz siblings. "I suppose it's just as difficult for anyone coming from a different culture, but you still feel sort of alone when it's happening to you. Like it never has and never could happen to anyone else, ever. It's good to remember that I'm not alone sometimes. And I have new friends to help." There's a shyness to her smile, and she's saved by the momentary distraction of their drinks being delivered.

Vance Astrovik takes a sip of his drink, swirling his straw around for a moment. He can't begin to imagine how hard it would be to move not only in place, but in time. He's barely been more than twenty miles from the hospital he was born in. Sure, he dreams of going into space, being an astronaut, seeing the world from high above...but he hasn't done it yet, and he knows how hard it will be when and if he does. "I think you're incredibly brave. I don't know what I'd do if I were so cut off from everything familiar. If taking you to a nice dinner and a movie, or just talking to you, can help make things easier for you, it's the least I can do." he smiles, "Of course, the, uh, pretty girl part certainly makes it a much more pleasant task. I mean, your brother seems nice, but, if I'm going to help the time lost heroes from the future adjust, I'd much rather do it while looking at you."

Ayla grins, responding in the typical fashion of one who knows precious little of the art of flirting... by gently nudging Vance with her elbow. "You're very thoughtful." And commenting on his thoughtfulness seems to spark something in her head, and she looks toward the flower. "This should be in water," she says, picking it up and dropping it's stem into her water class. "I won't need to drink this, since we have coke." Her eyes stay on the blossom a moment, fingertips lightly brushing a petal before she draws her hand away, looking to Vance. "I like looking at you, too." Because she's just that smooth.

Vance Astrovik doesn't mind Ayla's direct and frank approach in the least, even if it's more from shyness and cultural disconnect than from bold disdain for convention. He's adept enough at the dating dance, having had his share of girlfriends in high school, but it can become a tiresome thing indeed. "I'm glad," he says simply, watching with a soft smile as the future girl attends to the health of the flower. He pushes back a bit as a steaming tray is brought in, bringing in the mushrooms, and he realizes that neither of you have been looking at the menus, "You know what? Just bring us whatever Chef Marco recommends. The man knows his stuff, and we're willing to put our culinary lives in his hands, aren't we?" he asks, and then his hand actually does catch hers, briefly, letting her fingers dance over his palm as she pulls it away from the flower.

"If you trust him, I trust him," Ayla states, without hesitation. She looks to their hands as her fingers lightly stroke Vance's skin, curiosity suddenly surfacing on her features. With her power being the ability to harness lightning, electricity, she doesn't feel it in the typical way that others do. Still, with the light touch, there's a tingle that intrigues her, although she manages not to blurt it out. It's electricity, yet it's not, and she has no real standard on which to identify it. Before he can withdraw his hand, Ayla captures it lightly in hers, letting her fingers nestle between his own.

Vance Astrovik certainly feels some electricity, although not precisely in the same sense Ayla does. He lets their fingers twine, however, and doesn't push his luck at first by doing anything so foolish as open his mouth or question the whys and wherefores, although he can see there's something on her mind. He just holds the pretty girl's hand, because, more than any delicious Italian food or movie later on, that was what he was here to do. Still, he doesn't let the silence stretch too long, lest things begin to turn awkward, "I'm pretty sure he'll treat us right. And if we don't like it, I'll volunteer to be the target of his wrath," he grins. "You look like you were fascinated by something there, for a second..." he says, maybe prying just a little bit, but gently enough that he can easily be rebuffed.

Letting their joined hands come to rest between them, showing no inclination toward releasing his digits yet, Ayla smiles at Vance. "Always the gentleman," she murmurs with a giggle. At his inquiry she catches her lower lip in her teeth for a second, ducking her head to look at their hands, then raising her eyes to him without tilting her head back up. "It was.... a tingle? On my skin. Not unpleasant," she hastens to add, to keep him from pulling his hand away. "Just... it was different." Her open nature may be part of it, but she doesn't feel a need to rebuff Vance's curiosity.

Vance Astrovik nods his head, swallowing a bit as she states, again, quite frankly, the feeling of when their two hands came together. He dips his head to take a sip from his straw, moistening his suddenly dry mouth before he answers.  he thinks hard to himself as he takes his drink, and then replies, "I...felt that, too. I suppose it might be a result of our powers, the way they interact...you hadn't really explained your powers to me, by the way," he teases lightly. "But I think it's...that is, it could be...well, chemistry. Just two people who like each other and fit together...touching for the first time. I guess that's what went through my mind. I admit, I'm no expert, because it was new to me, too."

When not touched by bouts of shyness, Ayla is open in her regard of new people and experiences. Those bouts come and go around Vance, and she seems devoid of shyness in this moment, as her eyes hold on his own. "Chemistry," she says, as if weighing the word to judge it's validity. Despite her inexperience, she's not entirely unaware of the connection to be felt with others. She'd seen it with her parents, and has a grasp of the concept of the family bond and other bonds that form in life. The family bond is what she feels with most of the Legionnaires. It feels longer than the few moments it actually is as Ayla looks into Vance's warm brown eyes, but it's not an uncomfortable stretch of time to her. She finally lets her eyes drop to find her soda, and she reaches her free hand toward it, not relinquishing Vance's hand unless he sees fit to pull it from her grasp, and she leans to sip from her straw. When she straightens, her smile is crooked. "It's the same as Garth, basically. I'm Lightning Lass. But I have a little different connection with it. Garth and Mekt, that's our older brother, they were hit with it, but I was... well, kind of one with it. Apparently for years."

Vance Astrovik hasn't had so many good examples in his life. His parent's marriage is troubled, abusive and complicated, born out of nursed grudges and perceived slights, moments of forgiveness ruined by bouts of rage. Healthy, sincere affection between a man and a woman is something he's mostly seen in the parents of friends, or idealized in media, although he's savvy enough to know the difference between fiction and reality, at least. But he hasn't had this with the other girlfriends he had - nice girls, to be sure...well, okay, some of them were bad girls, which was part of their appeal. But just girls, fancies passing in the night, with no hope of being anything more than a smile and a memory in a yearbook. Nothing that compares to this, anyway.

As she answers his question, he smiles, "Lightning Lass. I like the sound of that. Being one with it sounds very, very intense, though. I have a lot of physics classes and electricity is an unpredictable, chaotic thing...I'm glad you came out of it okay." he says.

"Sometimes it felt like forever," she confides, having only really talked to Mekt about the experience in full detail. "Sometimes it felt like just a moment between when I left them and when they found me again." Ayla frowns lightly, before adding, "It's how Garth lost his arm... bringing me back into a real form again." While it's not obvious that Garth's limb is mechanical, Ayla doesn't hesitate to admit the truth to Vance. Her hand squeezes his lightly, a reassuring presence that she seeks out as she speaks of having been adrift as she was. "The weirdest thing was that Garth was older when I was finally me again. My twin, and he was ten years older than me."

Vance Astrovik shakes his head in sympathy. He can't begin to imagine what it must have been life. Mutant or not, he's had a fairly conventional life of school and sports, dances and parties, video games and sneaking out late. Getting kicked out of the house at sixteen, his own worst experience, can't begin to compare. Which only reminds him to be grateful and to be sympathetic, "That...must have been very hard," he says, squeezing back in return, letting her feel through that the empathy he was trying to relate, "I'm sure Garth would give both arms, both legs and probably some other parts he doesn't want to talk about, just so long as he got you back. And the lost years suck, but now, at least, you can tease him when his hair starts turning grey before yours." he smiles. "And I can't be too mad, because it would've been much more intimidating to ask you out if you were ten years older. I'd have done it, don't get me wrong, but I would've been way more nervous."

Ayla grins at Vance, his reassurances easing her, and she leans lightly against his arm. "Actually, the way it worked out, if I'd have been dragged here when Garth was, I'd have been ten years younger." Yep, it's a little wonky and weird. "See, to me and Mekt? Garth was taken from us about ten years ago. But it was only a few days to him, here." She shakes her head, "It's really .... well, sometimes I wonder if it happened on purpose. So that I could catch up to him, and we'd be like we should be again. But... that would mean there's some sort of design behind all this..." And this is where her grasp of this whole cosmic stew begins to break down. She looks at Vance apologetically, "It's the whole time thing. It's just.... weird." That pretty much sums it up, really. She pauses, looking at Vance when he talks about asking her out. "I would have said yes," she admits, blushing deeply and looking down at their ignored appetizer. "That's gonna get cold," she declares softly.

Vance Astrovik laughs and nods, "Very observant," he grins. Since taking over on serving will require him to break hand contact, he mitigates the break by very softly leaning in and planting a gentle kiss on one of Ayla's knuckles, "Apologies," he smiles, slowly unfurling his fingers from hers and going about the gentlemanly business of serving up stuffed mushrooms. He puts three on each of their plates, anticipating a healthy appetite, "It's probably best we let it cool a bit, these things will burn your tongue right off fresh from the oven," he smiles. He can see their plates being loaded back there, and grins, seeing chicken Parmesan with large, thick slabs of buttered garlic bread being laid out on their plates, "And here comes dinner, too..." he chuckles.

The kiss to her knuckles only serves to encourage Ayla's blush, and she releases Vance with some reluctance, and a lingering brush of her fingers along his skin. "They smell delicious," she notes, leaning in to take a deep breath in through her nose, letting the fragrance fill her senses for full appreciation. "I wouldn't like to have my tongue burned off, though. You'll let me know when it's ok to try them?" There's a trusting earnestness to her eyes as she regards Vance, putting her faith in his clearly superior judgment in this matter.

Vance Astrovik smiles, kind of liking the feeling of her looking to him for guidance. Vance is a progressive and thoughtful young man, but he was raised in a very traditional environment, with very traditional gender roles and, much as he's broken from it, he feels little more...manly in taking care of his date in this way. "I think it should be okay by now," he says, "But just in case..." he says, and he sinks his fork into one, taking the plunge first and eating a mushroom. He closes his eyes, sighing contentedly as he feels it almost melt in his mouth, taking up his napkin to wipe his chin quickly as a little oil has brushed his lips, "They're...just fine. Please, go ahead," he says, leaning back and allowing the waiter to set the chicken parmesan and garlic bread down.

Ayla has no qualms about taking guidance when needed, and giving it when she's able. It's how she got to where she is today, a part of the Legion. Reassured, she follows suit and skewers then savors a mushroom, almost oblivious to their dinner being brought. "Oh..." she says softly, letting the different flavors linger on her tongue. She looks to Vance, grinning, "Wow. That's really good." Now that she's out of the momentary food bliss, she pulls back as well, giving room for the main course to be set before them.

Vance Astrovik smiles to the waiter, thanking him, as the young man steps back quickly to leave the young couple in peace. He puts his knife through the chicken, cutting it open and watching the steam roll off, the breading still crispy in spite of the marinara soaking the outside, "Oh, now that's a fine, fine cutlet," he says, almost able to hear his mother's voice in his own there. He inherited her love of food, only a rigorous workout regimen keeping him from blowing up like a balloon. "I know, right? This place is just the best. Another great thing about New York, you can get any type of food here, made by the people who make it back in their homeland, only usually with bigger portions and a lot more grease, for our American palates," he grins. "I found this place back in high school. My friends and I would come here late, after basketball games, and get a deep dish. New York style pizza is usually floppy and folded, but we all had a secret craving for the Chicago style, and Marco makes the best in New York."

The New York vs. Chicago style pizza debate gets a furrowed brow from Ayla. "I feel luckier every minute to have someone nice like you to teach me things like this." It's a little obscure, but it could qualify as her form of flirting. She reaches for her silverware, following Vance's lead, breathing in again as the steam floats up from the plate. "I never thought we wanted for anything back home, but gosh... this is just... an experience." Perhaps heightened a bit by the company, to be sure, but Ayla is enjoying herself like she hasn't quite managed since finding herself here. "I'll find a way to repay your kindness somehow, Vance," she promises as she slices a little chunk off the chicken, then carefully tests it.

Vance Astrovik bites his lip for a moment, knowing the thoughts that flit through his head at that offer are definitely ungentlemanly and not something he would even consider voicing aloud. He helps suppress such thoughts by quickly stuffing some chicken in his mouth, alternating between appetizer and entree and generally forcing himself to focus on his food. Finally, he smiles and says, "I'll look forward to that. But this is really only the tip of the iceberg. New York has a thousand places, at minimum...well, maybe not as good as this, but, in their own way, just as special. Wait till it gets cold, I'll take you ice skating..." he grins, taking a healthy bite from his garlic bread.

Ayla doesn't have the 'modern' conventions about women eating little more than is required to keep them alive. This girl is a walking conduit, she needs energy from food to balance the energy she expends without even thinking about it. She digs in eagerly, sampling everything before her once, then going back for seconds with relish. Her brows lift as he talks of ice skating. "You will? I'd like that, very much. And I think just about anywhere can be special... in the right company." This comes with another shy glance, before Ayla attempts to cover it by getting right back to their meal.

Vance Astrovik is happy to dig in as well, eating with relish. The portions here are certainly not for a dieter, meaty and starchy and overflowing the plate to the point of nearly spilling. He alternates between all the different options, even teasingly darting his fork over to duel with yours when you go to spear a mushroom off the tray, before drawing back and letting you have it. "I think you are exactly right. Who you're with matters very much more than where you are," he says, meeting that shy gaze with a somewhat bold one of his own this time, "I admit, I"m kind of tempted to skip the movie. It's kind of mundane and we'd have to sit quietly and, while sitting with you in the dark does sound kind of good, I'd rather listen to you than some overpaid movie star..."

Ayla giggles at the mini duel, maneuvering to sneak in past Vance and capture the mushroom treasure, knowing full well that he's relented to allow her victory. After another bite of the chicken parm, she notes, "I don't mind doing whatever you want." It's not a simpering 'you're a man you know best' acquiescence, but a trusting, companionable willingness to compromise, knowing it will likely be enjoyable no matter where they end up. Well, unless it's being caught in an unexpected bid by some evil-doer to take control of the city. While she wouldn't object to working side by side with Vance, there are any number of more pleasurable ways to spend the remainder of their evening together.

Vance Astrovik smiles, "I thought we might do a little walking. New York's a pedestrian's paradise, with something to see on every corner. Lots of history, lots of stores, lots of little landmarks...lots of weirdos," he chuckles, "We can stop and get ice cream cones somewhere..." he says, drawing out the last syllable of the offer as if tantalizing her with the option of the cold treat, even as he takes another bite of the chicken, "If you don't want to wait for winter, we could always find a roller rink, although I think the nearest one is having a derby tonight. The Gotham Grinders and the Village Venom...but I think we should save seeing tough girls elbow each other in the face for our entertainment for at least our second or third date..."

Ayla laughs openly at this, the sound clear in the muted conversation of the restaurant, and she claps her hand over her mouth to stifle it quickly. Moving her hand enough to be heard, she leans close to Vance again, saying through a giggle, "Wouldn't want me to get any ideas?" She hardly needs such coaching, and she's feeling far from a need to employ such tactics on her date, so she nods her head, "I think I'll be able to wait for ice skating." In her head she's working out what she knows about Earth seasons in this time, coming up with winter still being a way off. So... it's an enticement that they may have more chances to share time in the future. That doesn't displease Ayla in the least. But the evening isn't all about her and her issues, it's about sharing themselves, and she's more than passingly interested in Vance. "When did you know you could do the things you do?" she asks, between bites.

Vance Astrovik laughs along with Ayla, finding the reaction contagious and not minding at all the sound of her doing it loudly. Shouldn't laughter be loud, after all, to express the feeling that inspires it? His eyes sparkle as he meets her gaze, thinking that she will look very nice indeed on a pair of skates, balanced on the ice, a bit of snow in her red hair. The question was inevitable, of course, although he probably can't help but hide the moment of pain that flashes in his eyes, looking down at his food for a moment as he gathers himself. He has to tell her, of course, it was inevitable, but that doesn't necessarily make it easy or pleasant to tell. "I, um, was defending myself. My...my father and I got into a...physical disagreement. He lost control and began to hit me," he says, then taking a very long sip of his drink, "And then I used my powers and made sure he knew better than to try it again. It just...kind of happened. Came out of me. Took me a lot of time to get a better handle on it, to learn how to use it consciously," he says, his eyes down as he recites. He's not ashamed, except of his father, because who wants to admit that their father is that kind of man, but he finally forces himself to look back, to meet her eyes. "I could have killed him. I'm lucky that I didn't. He and I...we haven't spoken since. I moved out the next day."

Ayla makes no attempt to interrupt Vance, but her eyes soften as he talks. Finally, she sets her silverware aside, letting the hand nearest her date come to rest softly on his shoulder. When he looks up, her eyes are unwavering, nonjudgmental and she looks truly concerned. "Oh Vance... I'm sorry." She hesitates, before offering softly, "When I was gone from Garth and Mekt all those years.... Mekt blamed himself, I guess. He was... well, there's no light way of putting it. He was evil. He did terrible things. But it's not how he truly was in his heart, because when I came back he regretted everything he had done, and when we lost Garth we worked together to go on, to keep trying to find him, and to not give up on ourselves." She pauses, before finishing. "Just because things aren't the best now, doesn't mean that they won't change one day." There's a soft tenderness in her voice, and she rubs her hand lightly on Vance's arm. "Don't stop hoping that things might change."

Vance Astrovik smiles and takes her hand again, not that he wants to stop the rubbing, but just to show his appreciation. He says, "I...I'm not sure that he will. My father's always been a bad man. A good cop, yes, but a bad husband and a bad father. He is ill-tempered, drinks too much and he hates mutants. Hates what I am, hates that I'm different. I'm not sure if that can be reconciled. But I've accepted that it's not on me to fix. It's on him. I still talk to Ma, whenever I can, which is probably not often enough. I tell her to leave him, at least once a week, but she won't. He's at least stop hitting her, probably because he knows I'll turn him in if I hear he does it again, and he values his shield and his job and his reputation a hell of a lot more than he ever valued his wife and son. Sometimes I hear him, in the background, barking at the TV or shouting something about his freak kid," he says. He kisses her knuckles again lightly, "It is what it is. But, if I caught him hitting my mother again, if i were there...I"m not sure how much my control would matter. That's a hard thing to admit, but it's true. Not very heroic, I know."

She doesn't attempt to pull back with the hand that Vance has caught, instead letting her other hand drift up, even turning where she sits next to him to face him more fully, the food forgotten for the moment. Her fingertips lightly graze his cheek as her eyes attempt to catch his. "You can be heroic and still be human," she says softly. It's almost a moment out of time, as she seeks to reassure Vance, and convey the faith in him that she already has, even with their short acquaintance. Finally, her eyes drop, and the background noises that seemed to have disappeared for a moment are back... the drone of conversation from the other tables, the light clink of silverware and china. "I think you're heroic," she adds softly.

Vance Astrovik is grateful for the touch of Ayla's hand, as much for the reminder of the here and now as for the simple contact. Like most properly raised Jewish boys, Vance can be prone to bouts of guilt and introspection, but Ayla's quiet reassurance reminds him that he isn't defined entirely by the worst moment of his life. He kisses her knuckles again, this time more fully, closing his eyes as he lets the pain fall away again for the moment. "Well, you at least know I'm a scourge to firecracker vandals," he teases, reminding you of how the two of you met. "I still have some stripes to earn...but I'm glad that you believe in me," he says softly, the candlelight flickering softly over the two as they nestle in the small booth.

The comment brings a soft laugh, and Ayla nods, "You're a natural. And you know good food." She looks back to their plates, her own nearly cleared already, and the lone remaining stuffed mushroom on the appetizer plate. Gently drawing her hands away from Vance, she picks up her fork and knife, cleanly slicing the morsel in two, and spearing half with the fork. This is offered to Vance, wavering temptingly at around lip level, "Share the last one with me?"

Vance Astrovik smiles and leans in, taking a neat bite from the fork, making sure not to overindulge and leaving the majority of the stuffing for his date. He spears the last bite of his chicken, fork twirling the remaining pasta into a bundle around it and extends his own fork in retort. "I'm glad you liked the restaurant," he says, making eye contact with the waiter and nodding for the check. "There's an artisan ice cream place a few blocks away. Should give us a chance to walk a little of this off before he hit dessert," he says. "Plus, when you get a nice night in New York summer, you've got to take advantage of it," he says, the small hint of breeze in the air seemingly tailor made for a nice evening stroll.

"I don't think I've been in this part of the city before," Ayla notes, finishing off her half of the last mushroom. "I've been trying to explore, but I've had to use the beacon in my ring more than once to find my way back to Headquarters." This is admitted with a sheepish smile, and a light shrug of her shoulders. One hand drifts up absently to adjust one of the thin shoulder straps of her dress before she takes her fork back up. "Are we very near to your apartment?" she asks curiously. There's a beat before she realizes that it might sound like she expects an invitation, and she quickly adds, "I mean... I'm just wondering. The City is so big..."

Vance Astrovik is, of course, a boy, and finds his eyes enjoying that bit of exposed shoulder as the strap is adjusted, only to be a bit jolted by the question of his apartment, not that he lets it show. He shouldn't make assumptions, after all, as Ayla is from a different time and culture. Maybe she's not allowed to kiss a boy until she's checked out his feng shui? "It's not that far. I have a loft in the Village. The rent there's cheap, just above a t-shirt shop. It's noisy during the day, but I'm usually out until later at night, so I don't mind..." he says, "We could always walk in that direction. The ice cream's along the way. I mean, not that my place is much to see..."

Again, the low lighting hides much of Ayla's blush, "We'll see where our feet take us." It's quick work to polish off the last few bites of her dinner, and she sighs contentedly as she leans back in the booth, one hand coming to rest on her stomach. "That was so good. I think ice cream will be perfect to top it." Her head tilts, a habit Vance will become familiar with if he spends enough time around Lightning Lass, "Is artisan ice cream a special kind?"

Vance Astrovik gives his credit card to the waiter, having a very calculated balance to keep track of how much he has to spare, and knowing he has more than enough, thankfully. Wouldn't do to have his card turned down, after all. He grins as he sees her clutching her belly a bit, knowing just how filling this much starch and meat and sauce can be. "Artisan means it's crafted locally, by the people who work there. It's not shipped in from outside or made by a big company. It's all local, so you know your money's going into the neighborhood and not getting shipped off to Timbuktu. Not that Timbuktu couldn't use some money, I'm sure, but...it's a good thing to do anyway. It does cost a little more, but it's the pure stuff, with no excess preservatives or chemicals." he says. THe waiter brings back his card, giving Vance a chance to sigh and write in a decent tip. With that, Vance steps from the booth and comes around to Ayla's side, offering his hand, "Shall we?"

It's clear from her posture and the way her eyes hold on him that Ayla actually listens to Vance's answers to the questions she poses, and isn't just asking things to fill space. "I read some articles on the Omnicom where people were saying that the little local places in the city are being shut down by... chains? I think that's what they were called. They think the city is being stripped of it's identity." It was on one of her research tangents, where one thought leads to another, and another, until she's far from the starting point but sure has learned a lot of new things. She scoots out her side of the booth, reaching to put her hand in Vance's as she slips to her feet. "Do you think that?"

Vance Astrovik pulls a little harder than was probably necessary to help Ayla up to her feet, the result being that he pulls her a bit harder into his chest, forcing him to look down at her as she's flattened against him for a moment. He looks down at her for a long moment, and nods, "Sometimes. I don't think it's malicious, but...yeah. So this is a little way of fighting that, of doing a little bit of good while filling ourselves up on ice cream," he says. He moves a bit to the side and lets Ayla past, keeping his grip in her hand so the two can walk out like that together, hand in hand. Chef Marco gives Vance a surreptitious thumbs up on the way out the door. Any girl who eats a full plate of his chicken parmesan is a girl worth keeping in the old Italian's book.

Ayla steps forward with the tug to her hand, bumping lightly against Vance, the hand not held in his raising to rest lightly on his chest. Her head tips enough so she can look back up at him, a half smile curving her lips. "You're always looking for ways to do good, aren't you?" While the words hold a light, comfortable tease, there's a spark of admiration in her eyes. It's not a jab, a taunt of him being a 'do-gooder'. She's one herself. It's more a compliment in the way she says it. She doesn't pull away, letting him be the first to move, stepping past him without releasing his hand. The young Winathian doesn't see the exchange between the Chef and her date, leading the way to the door and back out to the city street beyond.

Vance Astrovik takes the two of them out to the street. It's mid-evening in New York, so it's far from deserted, but neither is it too busy, many people having already expended quite a bit of energy on the recent holiday. So they don't have to work too much to walk along with the rhythm of people, the experienced New Yorker able to lead his date into the flow of foot traffic on the Lower East Side. This is a place of clashing styles, mingling the artistic nature of the village with a little more of the sleazy side of life. He squeezes her hand as they walk, the two making their way towards the ice cream stand, "I try. Kittens in high trees, of course, are my specialty, what with my power and all, but sending a little of my income to local business is another. I also sometimes give time lost superheroines tours of the city, taking only the pleasure of their company in recompense," he smiles, bumping shoulders against her as they walk.

This draws out Ayla's giggle again, and she murmurs, "I feel like a lost kitten now." Granted, this notion doesn't appear to displease her, and she might take advantage of the light bump to stay closer as they walk, her shoulder brushing lightly on his arm from time to time. Her eyes move constantly, taking in the sights, drifting to Vance and then away again to study a storefront as they stroll past. "That's just another sign you're a natural at this, you know. Everyone knows that superheroes don't do it for the rewards. But still, sometimes they deserve to be rewarded."

Vance Astrovik maintains that contact, shoulders and hips bumping as the two walk together. Perhaps not the most efficient way to walk, but Vance certainly doesn't seem to mind, even making sure that her arm loops a bit with his, hands swinging a bit as they go. The neighborhood is certainly colorful, from the guitarist strumming on the corner and singing the blues, his guitar case laid out for change, to the beautiful girl with the green-dyed hair locking up her used clothing boutique for the night, her oversized glasses perched high on a nose gleaming with a couple of piercings. Vance shakes his head self deprecatingly, "I haven't done much yet. Broken up a few small crimes, things of that nature. Nothing to compare with the achievements of Superman or Captain America or Iron Man," he says. "But if having you think I'm heroic means you want to keep spending time with me...well, I'll consider myself plenty rewarded," he says. He's getting his flirt on hard, yes, indeed, but that doesn't mean he's insincere.

She's also done a bit of brushing up on Earth heroes in the Omnicom, because Ayla flips her free hand, as if swiping aside his words. "They're all old guys, they've been doing it longer." It's not said disrespectfully, but just as a matter of fact. There's a sideways glance as she says simply, "I like spending time with you." The green haired girl catches her eye, and while she doesn't exactly stare, Ayla does look openly at the young woman. She leans closer still to Vance, whispering, "Do you think she's from somewhere else? Like...." Her free hand lifts, one finger pointing skyward with a little jab.

Vance Astrovik laughs and shakes his head, squeezing Ayla's hand affectionately. It's not mocking or belittling, but genuine amusement, because he can easily see how, from her perspective, that might be the case. "I guess it's possible, but I think she's just a little bit punk. Some people like to dye their hair unusual colors or wear piercings in unusual places. Some people get tattoos. Just like some people have different cultures based on where they come from, some join different, smaller cultures as they grow up. Punk, emo, hipsters," he says, gesturing towards a bearded man with a pair of oversized glasses, his overalls clearly one size too big for him, "goth, hip-hop, ratchet...there are probably as many as there are nations. But, yeah, she could be an alien, too..." he says. "You never can tell."

"No, you can't," Ayla agrees. She hesitates, her eyes dropping to the sidewalk as they make their way along. Vance knows that she's not from this time, but she's not really sure if he has a complete grasp of her background. "I'm not from... Earth... in my time." It's not glaringly obvious, as it is for someone like Brainiac 5, with his green skin. Winathians are conventionally human in appearance, with nothing notable to set them apart, as well as biologically. The Ranzz sibling's power isn't even a characteristic of their race, but the result of a misadventure shared by the trio. "But we're not really different," she hastens to tack on. Her hand tightens just a bit on his, as if to prevent it, should the news cause him to pull away.

Vance Astrovik stops and slips them from the flow of traffic, ending up stopped at the window of a flower shop. The dramatic backdrop of massive flowers, lilies and orchids and roses, off to the side (in fact, this is where he bought the lily he got for her, which Marco has thankfully preserved for the absent-minded couple). He takes both hands now, turning her to face him as he shakes his head, "Ayla...I don't care where you're from, if you're human, any of that nonsense. If you're different, then I like how you're different and, if you're the same, well, I like the same parts, too. I like you...a lot." he says, and then he pulls her close and actually lays his forehead against hers, taking a bit of advantage of the height difference, "Now, I admit, if you've got, like, tentacles hidden under your dress, I might be a little shocked at first...but I'm sure I'd get over it," he says softly.

Ayla follows as Vance pulls them aside and stops to look down at her, her head tilted back enough to look into his eyes. The smile slowly comes back to her lips with his reassurance, and by the time she's pulled close, the dimples are there in full force. Her eyes close and she giggles, shaking her head barely without breaking the contact of their foreheads. "Nope, nothing like that." There's a pause, a moment to just enjoy the closeness, the girl comfortable in it and the nearness to Vance that it brings. "I like you too," she finally says.

Vance Astrovik knows he's supposed to wait for the end of the date, until they've both sated themselves on ice cream and had longer talks, in which they've revealed their dreams for the future, their first pets, the nicknames they got in kindergarten. He doesn't know her favorite color or her favorite song. He couldn't begin to imagine where she went to school, or what she might have learned there. He should get to know her better, he should take his time and take it slow, he should be wary of this strange, alien girl from the future, this girl who doesn't belong, who could disappear tomorrow back to her own time and never be seen again.

Instead, he kisses her.

It's not aggressive or overwhelming, not an intense movie kiss of lashing tongues and panting breath. It's just a kiss, mouth to mouth, warm and soft and gentle and even a bit tentative, for all that he takes the initiative, giving her a chance to draw away if she chooses, but making his intentions clear. He doesn't want to just be her pal.

It isn't until his lips touch hers that Ayla realizes she'd hoped for this. Not from the first time she saw him, no, but as something that grew through their conversation, the comfortable feeling of him so close, and that chemistry they seem to share. It's a sweet, perfect first kiss, returned, not withdrawn from, and she pushes up onto her toes to make the press that bit less tentative. For a few moments she lingers, until settling back onto her heels, opening her eyes to look up at him as the kiss breaks. After a second her grin returns, and she says softly, "I liked that, too."

Vance Astrovik laughs and clears his throat, not having realized he was holding his breath until she spoke. He re-assumes his grip on one of her hand more properly and gestures down the street with the other, "I did, too...and now I definitely think ice cream is in order," he says, "Do they have ice cream where you come from? And, if they do, what are the flavors? Is there an alien animal with already sugared milk?" he says, letting his imagination run a little wild and, yes, maybe chattering a bit in his excitement. It's all he can do to keep from taking off into the sky as it is.

Ayla might be feeling just a bit light headed, and her grin might be slightly goofy, but she resumes walking with Vance, close again as they were before stopping. "It's different, what we have. Freeze dried. And you could get any flavor you could imagine from the replicators." She lets her hand swing lightly with his, her step very nearly a skip in the aftermath of the kiss. "But no," she teases, "No animals with already sugared milk. Silly."

Vance Astrovik grins as they finally reach their destination, an ice cream shop with the word "Cowabunga!" in bright letters on the window. He, of course, opens the door for Ayla, letting his date precede him into the shop. The sound of machines whipping up fresh batches of ice cream provides a low background hum, the case set up just like any other ice cream shop, with metal canisters displaying all the different flavors. The range is pretty broad, from straight vanilla to rocky road to exotics like cotton candy or salted caramel and graham cracker. "I dunno, if science isn't going to give us naturally sugared milk straight from the udder, I might just lose my faith in science and progress," he teases, leading her in front of the case, "Whatever you want. Get a couple scoops of different things if you like..." he says.

Although she enters first, and it takes a little bit of a twist, Ayla doesn't let go of Vance's hand, and moves close up next to him again as they step up to look at the colorful sweet offerings in the display case. Immediately, her eyes are drawn to the mint chocolate chip, reminding her of the girl's hair that got them on the subject of aliens. "I think I'd like to try that," she says, pausing as she lets her eyes sweep again. "And that pink one?" she asks, nodding toward the strawberry, looking up at her date. "I like pink and green together." Yep, rather than going by flavor, she's choosing to color coordinate her treat.

Vance Astrovik doesn't mind in the least, keeping Ayla's hand interlaced with his as he considers his own options. At her choice, he grins, "That's an intriguing combination. I'm a big mint chocolate chipper myself. Very appropriate after Italian food," he says. With some due consideration, he points out his own choices, "I'm going to get blueberry, because it's blue and it's berry and it's blueberry and...I just love blueberries. And I'm going to get a scoop of the fudge brownie one, because... fudge brownie," he laughs, "Waffle cones, I think. Messy but tasty. All things should come in edible plates and bowls, I think," he says, mostly joking as he finds himself almost twirling about, a little giddy, the sight of the young couple making one of the girl servers smile while one of the teenaged boys pretends to barf behind the counter where they can't see.

Ayla grins at Vance's little ramble, as oblivious to the teenage boy as she was of Garth, having developed something of a filter for 'boys'. Or her date has just been keeping her attention that well, which is likely more the reason in this case. "And you'll let me taste yours? I'll let you taste mine," she promises in exchange. Ice cream is, after all, better when shared, like most things. She's also pretty clearly not germ-phobic, having willingly shared her fork and now offering up her dessert.

Vance Astrovik bites his tongue a bit, just a bit, to keep from commenting on the double entendre. He doesn't assume Ayla's an innocent, per se, but that one might be just a little too crude to voice on a first date, no matter how good the kiss was. Vance does admire the way she goes into things with such gusto, though, and he nods, "Of course. Both scoops. I'll definitely have to try yours as well. I've never had those two flavors together..." he says. The teens get the scoops assembled pretty quickly, passing them over the counter while Vance quickly counts out a couple of bills, "Keep the change,' he smiles.

While Vance sorts out the payment, Ayla takes temporary custody of his ice cream, offering it out to him once his attention returns. She's too distracted to notice her own words, thankfully, and looks up at him with bright eyes. As soon as he takes possession of his dessert, her hand is waiting to slip back into his, and she brings her cone up for the first lick at the green ice cream dotted with chips of dark chocolate. Creamy, minty, it still pales when compared to that first kiss as far as new experiences of the night goes, but she gives it a very appreciative "Mmmmmm... it's wonderful."

Young men have been getting strange feelings watching young women lick ice cream cones since the invention of the ice cream cone, so it's not surprise when Vance is momentarily dumbfounded at watching Ayla beginning to enjoy her new treat. He distracts himself with his own, the chocolate on top getting the first swipe of his tongue. His eyes flare baby blue for a moment as he telekinetically snags a voluminous amount of napkins, correctly assuming they'll be useful, almost making the faux-barfing teen drop his tray of ice cream scoops when he sees it. Vance, for once, is oblivious to the side effects of his mutancy, "It is," he says and, after a few obligatory tastes of his own, proffers his cone out for trading.

Ayla is only too happy to swap cones, grinning as she hands her own off and takes his. She looks thoughtful as she tastes each of his flavors, then does it again, taking this sampling very seriously. Or so it seems, until she giggles, and decides, "The blueberry is nice, but I really like the brownie. But out of all four, I think I like the minty one the very best. What about you?" Unbidden, her eyes drift to Vance's lips, the question coming to her head ''Would his lips be cold now? What would that feel like?'' It's not obvious why her blush comes again this time.

Vance Astrovik takes his own tastes, savoring the mint as well, although the strawberry is certainly good, too, "Brownie is always, always good, but I agree about the mint..." he says. He catches her looking at his mouth, memory of the kiss still fresh on his mind and he darts his head in, giving another, lips brushing and pressing together, almost catching her breath in his mouth. There is the barest hint of tongue this time, though, as he takes the flavor of the ice cream from her mouth as he draws back. His lips are, indeed, quite cold, "I like the way they mix together, too."

For a moment Ayla can't help but wonder if reading minds is another of Vance's talents, and then there's no thought. Had he been able to pick it up, there would be a sudden absence brought by the surprise at the light touch of his tongue. It's instinct that guides her own taste of him rather than any experience, and she looks a bit stunned as her eyes meet his. She just nods in agreement with his statement, licking her lips for the lingering taste of him, not of ice cream. That's something she could get dangerously accustomed to.

Vance Astrovik wasn't so much reading minds as being of very like mind. Truth be told, he hasn't really wanted to stop kissing her since about twenty minutes before he actually did. It's probably taking more effort for him not to kiss her at this point, than it is for him to do just about anything else. Cones gripped, he takes her free hand and leads her back into the street, "Let's keep walking," he says, if only because the longer he keeps still, the more that willpower will begin to erode, leading her back into walking along with him, occasionally tasting of his ice cream and sneaking glances over at the redhead, trying not to be distracted by her shoulders (There's that kissing urge again).

Ayla follows Vance's lead, torn between disappointment and gratitude for the distraction, her step light as she falls in beside him back on the street. Thankfully, New Yorkers, in their devout oblivion to the people around them, pay no attention to the crooked grin that could easily be identified as the beginning sign of 'twitterpation'. She's not oblivious herself to the stolen glances although she doesn't realize what a distraction the curve of pale skin might be to her young suitor. Finally, her eyes straight ahead, she tosses out, as if having just confirmed speculation, "Yes. I like it when you kiss me."

Since stopping in mid-stride and just planting one on her again might end up with the two of them getting run over by the mass of people behind them, he finds a momentarily ingenious solution. He lets Ayla step just a little in front of him and moves behind, his shoulder coming in line with hers, letting him be close and at her back, pulling her hand a bit behind her...and letting him lean down and kiss at her shoulder, right where it touches her neck, just a soft one. Positioned as he is, he's almost whispering in her ear as they walk, "That's good. I want to do a lot more of it." he says with a soft laugh. "Because I like kissing you, very, very much."

A curious glance darts over as Vance falls a step behind her, and Ayla bends her elbow as he draws her hand back. The kiss to her shoulder is unexpected, bringing that tingle back, raising the hair on the back of her neck as her breath catches. Her step falters, but she recovers quickly, barely pausing long enough for Vance to bump her lightly as she gets moving again. She catches her bottom lip in her teeth, before chastising him with absolutely zero sincerity, "You're making my ice cream melt."

Vance Astrovik laughs softly, his voice in her ear, and gives another kiss, this on the side of her neck, just below the ear where he whispers, "Well, since you're the one who feels so warm, at least to my lips, I'm going to let all the blame for the melting ice cream fall on your very pretty shoulders," he smiles. His eyes flare again and he telekinetically cups both ice cream cones, his and hers, making sure they don't fall as he moves around behind her to the other side, enabling them to switch hands as he falls back into step with her, "Maybe we should go to the park. It's lovely at night, and there are several nice, secluded benches if we want to...um, learn more about each other without getting run over..." he says, "And I don't think we have much to fear from nighttime muggers."

It's the coolness of the field that drops Ayla's eyes, and she looks back up and over her shoulder but... Vance has already sidestepped. Her head swivels as she releases the cone, switching hands to take his again without missing a beat. His suggestion is met with a nod. "I like the park, all the green, living things. Even with all the people around, there's always something peaceful about it." No objection comes at mention of the secluded benches, but a smirk comes at the last comment. "Certainly not. I know you'll protect me." She may be well able to take care of herself with a well placed zap, but it never hurts to remind your date of your faith in him.

Vance Astrovik easily leads the two of you a bit away from the beaten path and, in fact, Ayla feels her feet leave the ground as he causes the two of them to rise, ice cream and all, into the air. His power brings them together again, slipping an arm around the small of her back as they're pushed against one another, "I absolutely would, if only to save those poor, foolish muggers from getting a lightning bolt in the behind," he smiles, and then he's kissing her again, mouth to mouth, his power making them spin a little bit, as if his ability were corresponding to the rushing of blood in his ears. He lingers this time, letting the two of them explore in their kissing, again adding that little hint of something more than chasteness, the tip of his tongue just barely brushing against her lips. HIs lifelong understanding of the city's layout is probably the only thing that keeps them vaguely on course, although he's probably rising faster than he should, taking them out of the reach of pesky, interfering pedestrians and gawkers.

Ayla laughs as the pair lift, turning toward him and letting her arm sling lightly over Vance's shoulder, the ice cream still held but all but forgotten. Before she can reply his lips are on hers again, the kiss returned willingly, even eagerly this time. Her fingers twine lightly into his hair as her lips part in response, and she lets her tongue touch his, a brief contact that sends a shiver down her spine. She breaks the kiss but doesn't pull back, tilting her head to rub her nose lightly against his. "You melt my ice cream and you make me feel dizzy," she says softly, although it's far from a complaint.

Vance Astrovik manages to handle the cones, keeping them in their own little bubbles of telekinetic energy within the overall bubble. Admittedly, it won't do much to prevent melting, although he can at least keep the mess from getting all over their clothes. With his hands free, he can commit to proper kissing, pulling Ayla into an embrace and turning her to face him, his arms reaching around to lace his fingers at the small of her back and draw her in as he leans down into the kiss, a long, lingering connection followed up by quick, light butterfly brushes of his mouth to hers, finally giving up to the need to breathe and panting just a little bit. "I confess, I do think your dizziness is quite contagious," he laughs, the two now more or less stationary above the city. Here, they are alone and have quite a view already, and, frankly, he just doesn't really want to be anywhere else except holding her right now, "I hope you don't think I'm too...forward. I don't know what dating rituals are like where you're from. But I kinda hope this makes you my girlfriend..."

As soon as she feels the telekinetic field on her hand again, Ayla releases the cone and immediately lets her arm loop around Vance's neck. She's a little more bold herself this time, and matches his breathlessness when they come up for air. A deep breath is drawn in, and she shivers lightly as it's released. It's a shame that such a spectacular view isn't properly appreciated, but her eyes never leave Vance's face to look around and take it in. "Well, being on Earth, in this time, I don't suppose it matters what dating rituals are where I'm from. When in Rome..." She lets the words trail off into a giggle, but her eyes widen slightly as she processes the rest. Her nod comes immediately, dimples deep with the wideness of her smile. "And it kinda makes you my boyfriend then."

Vance Astrovik smiles and actually darts his mouth in, kissing each of those dimples in turn and completing the triad with a trip to her mouth, savoring the warm, intense mingling of their heat and breath, his breathing deep and rhythmic. "To hell with Rome, I'm pretty sure this is the only place I wanna be right now...and yeah, I think boyfriend is the best idea for a codename I've heard in a while," he teases. His hands squeeze softly at her waist, holding her steady as the two kind of dreamily just float and drift above New York, letting the buildings pass them by as they drift. "I'm pretty sure we've missed the movie for sure now,' He says with a small laugh.

Ayla looses one hand from it's press at the back of Vance's neck, letting her fingertips drift lightly along his jaw, tracing it's line. Her head shakes lightly, "No... I don't want everyone calling you boyfriend. Just me. But I think Marvel Boy and Lightning Lass sound kind of nice together." A soft sigh comes, an almost regretful little sound as the movie is brought up. Almost. "Gosh, I guess we'll just have to go out again sometime, so you can take me to see a movie."

Vance Astrovik laughs, "Well, if I absolutely must, I suppose it's only my duty..." he says. It's probably just as well for the night, because now he knows he wouldn't have been paying much attention to the screen at all. He definitely likes the Marvel Boy name, too, much better now that he's heard her say it paired with her own codename. He brushes kisses over her fingers as they stroke along his jaw, and, sure, maybe the fingers at her waist are getting just a little, teensy bit of bottom, too, but it's not his fault her body's so compact. "So, what exactly is your curfew? How late can I keep you out before the Legion comes looking for my head and accusing me of kidnapping?"

Before answering the question, Ayla leans forward, this time initiating a kiss herself, gentle, lingering, but undemanding. As she draws back, there's a thoughtful cast to her eyes. "I don't know, actually. It's never come up. Still, I probably shouldn't stay out too late. I like that Garth was nice to you, I'd like it to stay that way," she says with a grin. There's a pause before she adds, out of the blue, "You have a cute nose." One finger lightly traces the bridge of said cute nose, and it's punctuated with another fast, soft kiss.

Vance Astrovik arches an eyebrow, with a playful grin, "I think you're officially the first girl to compliment a Jewish boy on his cute nose," he grins teasingly, "And I think I already complimented your shoulders, your hair...did I compliment your eyes? I should compliment your eyes, because they're just a little hypnotic. Are you sure you don't have mesmerism in your power set?" he asks, his hands playing and swaying her back and forth, just little pivots that bump her back and forth against him.

Those eyes turn thoughtful again, and Ayla 'hmmmmmms' softly. "I don't think so, no, but maybe it's part of the way that chemistry works," she suggests. "I think it must be, because when I look into your eyes I don't want to look away. I'm pretty sure that's not part of your power, either." She moves easily with the little urges from Vance's hands, the only thing missing is music. Tipping her head, her nose touches lightly to his throat as she breathes in, adding to the compliment of his nose, "And you smell good."

Vance Astrovik smiles, "I'm sure Calvin Klein will be pleased to know their cologne works. Maybe I can give them an endorsement when I'm a superhero," he smiles. Lips keep brushing, as if he can't quite bring himself to pull fully away, the soft skin of the girl from the future so delicate and teasing against his. His hands stroke over the small of her back gently, feeling the lithe muscles there, that Legion training giving her a very fit frame indeed, and he...he takes a breath and bites his lip. Be good, hands, be good. "You...taste good," he murmurs softly.

While he may not have intended it as such, the soft words prove further encouragement for the Legionnaire, and Ayla brings her lips to touch his again. But where the last kisses were quick and soft, this one presses more deeply. Supple lips touch his, then part, her tongue sliding along Vance's lips before her arm around his neck pulls him closer and she delves to taste him more fully. The garlic goes unnoticed (it was a good idea that they both had it), and the flavors of their melting ice cream have faded, leaving only the sweetness that comes naturally to each of them. When she has to catch her breath again she doesn't pull back, but whispers in a soft puff of air against his lips, "Wow."

Vance Astrovik stiffens at that brush of air against his mouth, partially because of the intensity of feelings, that dizziness being so very present in his mind, but because of the...well the stiffening. He's become suddenly, intensely aware of the effect that the slender girl has had on his body, now trapped against her body in a very incriminating fashion. And, for all of his teenage hormones and the sheer intensity of the feelings he's having for Ayla at the moment, which are anything but gentlemanly, he slowly takes her hands and disengages his body from hers, meeting her eyes as he tries not to point out the rather obvious erection currently sported below his belt, "I, um, uh..." he says, trying to find an excuse not to keep making out other than,  but unable to come up with one, just kind of staring at the girl for a long moment, "I...wow is good. Wow is...descriptive."

While Ayla doesn't have the practical experience, she's not unaware of the mechanics of attraction and reproduction. So it takes her a moment to realize what that new pressure is, and when she does blue eyes widen almost comically, her lips an O of surprise. Her eyes drop to focus on Vance's Adam's Apple, definitely not lowering any further, and she says softly but sincerely, "I'm sorry." She's certainly never been the cause of such a reaction and she has to quell her own curiosity about it, and the corresponding warmth in the pit of her own stomach. "We should have some more ice cream," she suggests. If it's not already melted into slightly chilled soup.

Vance Astrovik makes sure not to lose grip with Ayla's hand, keeping her from pulling away too much, even if he did technically initiate the pulling away, because he doesn't want her to get the idea that he wants her to pull away, because he doesn't, he just doesn't want to go too far because he knows she isn't that kind of...yeah. Anyway, he darts his head in and gives her another swift kiss on her lips at that O of surprise, shaking his head, "You didn't need to be sorry for anything. It's not even...bad. It's...believe me, it's good, it's just...we're not...yeah. Um, ice cream! yes, ice cream." he says, floating the cones back to the two of them. They are, indeed, fairly soupy, but that's at least softened the waffle cones!

Ayla can't help but giggle at Vance's little spate of blathering. Seriously, what girl isn't that little bit pleased the first time she turns a boy into a nearly senseless bundle of hormones? She takes her cone from the field, dropping her eyes to look at it. "Oh.... it's hardly ice cream any more, it's all melty." Still, she tips it back for another taste, licking her lips as she looks at her date a little sheepishly. "Let's go for a walk," she suggests, "Before you take me back to Headquarters." At the heart of it, they're both good and responsible young adults. At least when sense prevails. Ayla leans to softly kiss Vance's cheek, then gives his hand a soft squeeze. "And you can decide when you're going to invite me out again."

Vance Astrovik slowly begins to lower the two of them towards the park, the deep breaths and slightly lukewarm ice cream doing their jobs of getting that rampaging teenaged endocrine system under control, making him capable of walking in snug pants without embarrassing himself in public. He trails downward and laughs, "A walk would probably be good...and I think the only question of when I want to invite you out again is when you're available to be invited out again..." Looks like those sick days he's been saving up for work might be coming in handy after all.

When they touch ground and Ayla looks around, she's surprised to see they made it almost all the way back to Legion HQ. She takes a step back as the field that was holding them aloft disappears, but reaches for Vance's hand, staying near to him. "I know you have to work," she says, starting on a slow walk toward home. "I can change shifts on watch with someone easily, if I need to. And there's no one I'd rather rearrange my shifts for," she adds lightly.

Vance Astrovik smiles, letting the two of them stay hand in hand, sometimes stretching out and letting the two of them enjoy the barest touch of fingers, other times reeling her back in so they're shoulder to shoulder, occasionally brushing a soft kiss on those shoulders (they are awfully irresistible). "Well, one of the good things about my jobs it they're part time. Instead of just one job, I have, like, four, but I can re-arrange the scheduling pretty much how I like. And, if I actually pass my Legion test and can get a place in the headquarters, I won't need to work nearly as much to pay for my room and board and bills...and you're so confident that I'll pass, maybe I'll go ahead and give notice to a couple of them. Y'know, just as a display of confidence," he smiles.

Ayla follows easily with Vance's playfulness, her light steps almost a dance until she finally lifts his hand so she can do a turn under his arm, coming close next to him and draping his arm over her shoulders. She slides her arm behind his back, settling it around his waist, and weaves the fingers of her other hand with his on her shoulder. "Then, as soon as you can," she says simply. "We could go on a picnic? Get some things from the replicators and go to the park one afternoon." Nearing the entrance to Headquarters, mindful that someone may be lurking about, Ayla pulls Vance to a gentle stop, stepping in front of him and looking into his eyes. "I've had a wonderful time tonight. Thank you so much."

Vance Astrovik smiles, "Oooh, I get to try future food. Everything's made out of soy, isn't it? That's okay, I don't mind..." he teases, and then lets out a soft sound in his throat as she pulls close to him, repeating that forehead to forehead move he did when they first kisses, allowing them to gaze into each other's eyes with proper teenaged, romantic fervor, "A picnic sounds great. And I've had the best time. Categorically. I'm training to be a scientist, I can make you a graph to prove it." he smiles, and then leans in to give her a good, proper and probably as long as he can stretch it out goodnight kiss.

Small hands come to rest lightly at Vance's hips, and Ayla smiles up at him from close quarters, looking every bit as addled as a girl ending her first date ought to. Her resolve to keep the kiss short dissolves in the touch of his lips, and it's not until they're both pleasantly breathless again that she pulls back. She takes a deep breath, smiling at Vance. "I don't think it's customary anywhere to make a boyfriend do homework after a date," she observes. She steps back, letting her fingers slide from his slowly, reluctant to break the contact. And it finally dawns on her, "I forgot my flower at the restaurant." A disappointed frown pulls her lips down, the dimples lost.

Vance Astrovik does everything short of slapping his forehead for forgetting it himself, but smiles, "I'll go back and see if I can rescue it. And I'll have another one to match it the next time you see me, either way. If I save it tonight, I'll...drop it off out front," he says, knowing better to show up at his new girlfriend's house and try to gain entry up to her room in the middle of the night on the pretense of a forgotten flower, even if it's true. "So, I guess it'll just be an errand instead of homework, but well worth it. I will see you very, very soon, Ayla Ranzz from the future. I look forward to our picnic," he says, beginning to sheathe himself in power and rise again, the shield as much to keep him from diving in and kissing her again as it is to lift him from the earth.

"Thank you, Vance. You're already the best boyfriend ever." Ayla grins and takes a few more steps backward, watching as the blue glow blooms and Vance lifts into the air. Her hand lifts, waving, and she finally takes a deep breath, turning to go inside. It'll be a while before sleep comes, as she relives the night, still smiling as she finally drifts off.