what the hell am i doing here, what do i deserve?

[coppelganger]

WHO: Sarah Manning and George O'Malley
WHERE: Nonah, #007 > Some bar
WHEN: Backdated to September 7
WHAT: A ~DATE~
WARNINGS: Language, probably. Thanks, Sarah.



[ Sarah has never really done dates. Not the kind where the guy picks you up at the door at a prearranged time, anyway. Her romantic life has always been less… structured. Yeah, that's a good word for it. God, what a joke. Even with Cal, arguably the most sane relationship she's had in a long time, things have been so hectic and filled with clone drama that they hadn't had a chance to do much of anything together before she got Ported in. And now this seemingly normal guy. He's a nurse, for god's sake. Well, surgeon-turned-nurse, anyway.

She's not sure which bar they're going to, but she has a feeling punk rock's not George's style, so she dresses a bit nicer than she might be otherwise. Better to save the real punk stuff for later. Assuming there is a later. She can't help but be nervous as she answers the door—for a lot of reasons—but she manages to hide it well. Acting's always been her thing, after all. ]

Hey, man.

Comments

[coppelganger]

[ Cool. Cool cool cool. Sliding out of her seat as he finishes his drink. ]

My place or yours?

[puppydoctor]

[The flush comes back just a little bit, but it's not 100% shyness this time.]

I, uh. Mine's good. Pretty Spartan, but I've got hot chocolate.

[coppelganger]

Oh, we've got a winner.

[ Because her place is probably just as empty, but with nothing to drink except water and maybe half a bottle of bourbon, and she figures getting completely trashed on a first date wouldn't be the greatest plan. ]

[puppydoctor]

[He grins and offers his arm to her as they leave the bar.]

And I might possibly make some of the best hot chocolate on the planet.

[coppelganger]

Yeah? What about in multiple universes?

[ She takes his arm, leaning closer to him this time as they walk, enjoying herself. ]

[puppydoctor]

You can be the judge of that. I don't want to get too proud. You know, hubris and all that.

[He stiffens up for a moment when she gets closer, but relaxes into it. This is nice. This is very nice.]

[coppelganger]

Don't worry. I'll tell you how it is.

[puppydoctor]

I'll anxiously await your evaluation, Miss Manning.

[coppelganger]

I bet you will.

[ Squeezing his arm a bit. ]

[puppydoctor]

[That was somehow the sexiest thing she's said yet, and George swallows, reaching his hand up to grab hers.]

I, uh, feel like I'm about to walk up to the wrong house, every time I leave. It's like Pleasantville.

[coppelganger]

[ She lets him take her hand and looks out at the houses along the street, sighing. ]

I know what you mean. It kinda depresses me.

[puppydoctor]

[He could really get used to this, he thinks hesitantly. And he's not sure if that's a comforting thought or not.]

My friend's mom left her an old Queen Anne, back in Seattle, and for the longest time that was home for me. It had these weird windows that went from my room to the hallway, and fuses blew basically every week, but I don't know how to live in a cardboard box like these.

[coppelganger]

I totally get what you mean, though. I was crashing at my brother's most recently. His place doesn't even have a lock. He just uses a bloody screwdriver to secure the door in place. And there's no bathroom door, just one of those ugly beaded curtains. But it's...

[ She shrugs, not knowing how to describe it, exactly. ]

It's familiar and it feels like home to me.

[puppydoctor]

[He smiles. Felix's place sounds a bit like the Crapartment, if he's honest, but he really knows what she means, and it warms his heart to think about. It's just how he feels about Ellis Grey's old Queen Anne.]

Yeah, that's how I feel too.

[They arrive at #002 pretty quickly, and George opens the door for her. The inside is dark and sterile - his roommates keep to themselves, and it's a clear path to where the kitchen light flickers ahead. He keeps his grip on Sarah's hand.]

... Well, here it is. Totally unfamiliar surroundings, huh?

[coppelganger]

God, yeah. I've never seen anything like it.

[ If he's not letting go of her hand, she's content to stay like this. ]

[puppydoctor]

[He could gladly hold onto her hand indefinitely, and does so as he leads her towards the kitchen.]

I know, the craftsmanship is impressive.

[When they get there, he finally does let go of Sarah, and starts moving to get together the ingredients for hot chocolate.]

[coppelganger]

[ She hops up onto the counter so she can watch him. Sitting at the kitchen table is for squares. ]

[puppydoctor]

[Milk, a splash of cream, two kinds of chocolate, a pinch of salt - he sets the ingredients out and starts up the gas stove, maneuvering around Sarah's legs to get out the little saucepan from a lower cabinet.]

You cook, ever?

[It's small-talk again, but he's honestly curious. And the way she smiles sort of makes him want to learn every tiny mundane thing about her.]

[coppelganger]

Not a lot, but some.

[ The simpler, the better, but she's not about to starve or start subsisting entirely off takeout. ]

My specialty's animal pancakes. A real hit with the elementary school crowd.

[puppydoctor]

Oh man, gourmet.

[He smiles wide at her, though. He approved heartily.]

That's really great, though. And you're never too old to think animal pancakes are cool.

[coppelganger]

Yeah, I'm a right chef.

[ She can't help but smile back at him. It's infectious. ]

What about you? You cook much, aside from breakfast and hot chocolate?

[puppydoctor]

[He has to laugh at himself just a little.]

No, not at all. I mean, I can take care of myself, but I'm more of a takeout guy just because of time. And my best friend was always hogging the kitchen, back home.

[coppelganger]

Oh yeah? I guess you're not used to keeping regular hours, huh.

[puppydoctor]

Yeah, I think the longest I went without leaving work was... four days?

[coppelganger]

[ She whistles, impressed. And also a little horrified. ]

Hoooly shite.