Standing before the restaurant he took her to, she was surprised at his choice. Though she really needed to stop being thrown off with his requests and choices today. So far, everything he had chosen for their date, had been really nice. Definitely sending her for a loop when she thought she had him figured out, but still really up her alley.
But while she did have a lingering thought about some high end place she had been expecting him to take her too. She instead had been brought down some back alleys to a more rural area for this place. Looking up at the simple fonted logo, that sat above the entrance. Reading, 'Wild Rose's Chinese Buffet'.
"Really? Out of everything, you want to go here?"
Which just earned an eager nod. "I never got to go to one of these. There isn't really a good, high society buffet place that is worth its salt. Usually the portions are terrible, and the types of food offered are crazy and out there that it isn't really appealing. More a giant garnish with a speck of food, than what Dick and Tim have told me about when they went to a buffet with a group of friends. I never had a opportunity to just go to one, and while I might have been able to hiding as Matches... well, he's not really a good type of personality to be sitting alone in public like that. So, this is really the only time I can try one without any immediate problems."
Placing his hands together, he batted his eyes and begged her to come with him. Earning a groan and her grabbing him by the wrist to drag him into the restaurant to stop him from breaking character... More then he had already done that day so far. Also to stop him from drawing attention with his pleading to her, in front of the building like that.
Passing through some ornate double doors, she watched him stare in wonder as the overly Chinese themed buffet place was decorated in. Actually crossing over a legit stylized indoor bridge, that she didn't even need to look over for her to assume that there were giant koi fish swimming under them and around the water features that ran parallel to the walkway to reach the main desk of the restaurant.
While he was taking in the fish and neat trimmings of the location, Velma moved to talk Chinese to the person behind the register. moving quick before Bruce noticed that she was paying for the meal. Since she could easily afford something like this, especially after he had bought her the book she had been wanting and at such a price. (Secretly thankful that she just didn't make an idiot out of herself, taking Chinese to someone who didn't speak the language.) Ordering the full buffet course for two, and any extra trimmings that came with this particular location.
"BJ, come on. The server is leaving for our seats" Velma tossed over her shoulder, as she watched him look up from watching the fish to cross the gap and end up behind her. Hand waving for him to join her to trail behind the server lady to lead them to their seat.
"Beat me to it, eh Lyds?"
"Your fault for being distracted. I figured you might like a booth?"
"Yeah, that should be ok, right? I don't know how this works and all. Never been here before, remember?"
"Well, it's pretty simple."
The pair got led across the way, to a small booth off in the corner. Sitting themselves down, the server asked them about what drinks they wanted. Though the server was speaking in English, as Gotham wasn't really known for a large Chinese community. Or at least a large one in the area they were in. Maybe more downtown, like it sounded like they were heading after Lunch.
"I would like a water please, Thank you."
"I'll take a sprite!" Chirped Bruce, having noticed the drink options against the wall, and saw something he wanted to have. Also not something he got to enjoy outside of the privacy of home. Needing to constantly have a refined pallet, even when he was out and about as Bruce Wayne. With some rare, occasional acceptations.
"High class there! Pulling out all the stops!" Velma jabbed, accepting her credit card back and slipping it into her wallet into her satchel.
"Got to take advantage of my Sugar mamma spoiling me!" Bruce said from his seat with a dopey grin, earning a bemused eye roll. Though as the server left, Velma took off her bag and placed it beside where she was sitting and got up.
"Need to use the restroom?"
Turning to him confused, her brows furrowed. "No... Getting food."
"..." It was Bruce's turn to look confused. "Wait... you get your own food?"
"Yeah..." It took a second before she realized. "Ah, yeah. In normal people buffets, you get your own plates and go over to the platting and grab what food you want."
"Oh... really? That sounds..."
"Quaint?"
"Amazing actually. I always hated when they rolled by and I was only given such a small portion. So, I just go up and get a plate and put what ever on the plate then?"
"Yeah, basically."
"...What if I want seconds?"
"You go and make a second plate then. This is an all you can eat, you can get seconds, or thirds... And trust me, I have seen the limits pushed with Shaggy and Scooby. It is ALL YOU CAN EAT, for the most part." Velma laughed, seeing her companion and his Dane kicked out and banned at more buffets in their youth. The pair was better now, but Buffet Wednesdays helped 'stem the tide'. Plus, the gang had found a Chinese place that considered Shaggy and Scooby a challenge to satisfy. So, they tended to go there, but call ahead just in case to prep the workers and warn their arrival.
Grabbing Bruce by the hand, she tugged him to his feet and pulled him after her. Lightly grabbing his hand in her own, she gripped the back of his hand as much as her smaller hand could. Her fingers wrapping around the gap between his thumb and pointer finger to get a grip, with her thumb resting between two of his rough knuckles. Dragging him to his feet, bringing him around to the various stations of food under glass that was standard for a Chinese Buffet. Pointing out where it was to get the freshly cleaned plates, still warm from the industrial dish washers. Plus, where the small bowls were for things like soup and rice. Also showing him where those meal options sat as well, among the corners of the displays. Popping open the massive rice cooker that contained the white rice to show the contents to Bruce. Things like egg fried rice, and meat and seafood flavored rice tended to have their own trays. But the plain, white rice sat at the ends of the long serving stations for anyone to take their fill and keep the rest warm for others. Velma made sure to show Bruce where the various utensils were, and hand waved at the cup of chopsticks. Which was her personal preference, since they were eating Chinese Food.
And since she paid for the fancier version of the all you can eat, they had access to the freshly sliced section in the back. Though it was more of a Japanese style for Sushi and other cut seafood types. But, she wasn't going to argue against multiple cultures in one place when it came to good food offered to her. Especially with being able to plate as many crab claws and lobster as she wanted.
"So, that is basically it. Food is in the metal trays. If there isn't any, it's probably on it's way so come back in a bit and it will probably be replaced with very HOT, and fresh entrees. So, don't burn yourself. Rice and soups are over there, and I showed you the plates and silverware. Might need to explore to see all the options, since I don't know how this particular restaurant is laid out. And dessert options are... somewhere. Basically we have full access to the place, feel free to grab what you want and bring it back to booth. And the refills for drinks will be brought to us if we get low. We just have to talk to a server for that. And we can get up and get more any time and they will take away the older, empty plates... Got it?"
An excited nod came from the taller man, his eyes lit up with the possibilities before him. Eager to get to enjoy and indulge as much as he wanted from the bounty before him.
"Ok, meet you back at the table. Have fun!"
Velma chuckled, like letting a kid loose into the place. A six foot, something... kid. She watched as Bruce snatched up a plate and went diving nose first into the various islands of offered food on display. While she herself, moved to get a plate and meander about the rows to find her usual platting options. She tended to hit the appetizers and salad at first, so she would at least get her veggies in... Before she piled on the fancier, and more gratifying picks. Like the high end crab legs and Lobster, and being a bit counter intuitive choices in the pizza, french fries and chicken nuggets that tended to be more of a child friendly option in case they were picky compared to the rest of the Chinese food menu options.
It didn't take Velma long to find what she wanted, and loaded her plate. Wandering back to their booth to see that the drinks had already been dropped off. Reaching forward to put her plate down, she was almost there when Bruce suddenly descended on her.
"Oh my god, this place is amazing!"
Speaking into her ear and wrapping an arm around her her middle, Bruce gave her a joyful hug from behind. As he pulled her close to him, his head hovering around her shoulder as he spoke. But it didn't get the type of response he was used too, as Velma locked up under his grasp. Her body stiffening under him gripping her suddenly and unexpectedly. The plate in her hands dropped the few inches, making a clatter as the ceramic bounced on the table top. Scattering a few bits of her meal across the ornate table cloth and the Chinese Zodiac paper place mats.
The noise spooking him as well, pulling his hand away from her and taking a step back. Stuttering and confused at her reaction. Him almost dropping his own dish, that he had been balancing on his other hand.
"I-I...I'm sorry."
"Sorry!"
They both apologized at the same time. A moment passed between the two of them before they started to chuckle. Caught up in the moment, before moving to clean up.
"I'm sorry, let me help you with that." He put down his own meal, and moved to try to get the few pieces back on her plate. Since they hadn't fell to the floor, and the table seemed clean enough to not have to scrap the few rogue bits that had gotten away from the rest.
"Apology accepted, sorry for reacting like that." Velma moved to grab some of the other ones that were closer. letting Bruce's longer reach pull the further ones and return them to her plate to eat. She didn't even need to rely on the five second rule. Though usually with Scooby around, no food made it past two.
With her food back on the dish, she took her seat and motioned for him to sit as well. Trying to ignore the look on his face, since he obviously felt bad for having her react like that.
'God, he could give Scooby a run for it, with those puppy faces. Though, I think I am emotionally involved enough that those are super effective against me.' She mentally signed, noting her weakness to him. Though it was a weakness she didn't really stress about to much, since it could be worse. Since her Kryptonite was the sad, sulking face of Bruce Wayne. Who also happened to be Batman. So, it was less of a physical weakness then a mental one.
And at least those, she was used too.
"Nothing you need to apologize for. I... I..." He chewed on his words as he tried to speak to her. Keeping his voice low to not draw attention to the other patrons of the restaurant. And relying on the earbud for her to be able to hear him. "... I'm used to the women I have been 'with' before, being all over me. I feel bad trying to be affectionate to you, but I seem to keep causing you stress." He told her, fumbling with his own hands. Pushing his thumbs against one another as he spoke.
"It's not that, I just..." Velma started before she stopped, noticing Bruce's expression changing.
But then something dawned on him, his face shifting as he realized something. Brows knit, he looked over at her. His vision drifting to one side before he looked back at her.
"Shoot, you need that reaction, don't you?" He said with a serious look on his face. Really thinking about it. "With being on mysteries and having people come out of nowhere and grab you..."
"I can't say that it doesn't happen. But it is usually Daphne who has to worry more about that. But yes, it has happened to me over the years. Never knowing when someone might come out of nowhere and come after us. And being chased after by men in masks all the time, can kinda train one for being a moment of caution and unease with being touched suddenly. So, it's more a gut reaction. I even do it when the gang sneak up on..."
"Noooo.." He whined, being crestfallen at the thought, cutting Velma off. "I'm not a big scary man in a mask..."
Which just earns her to burst out into laughter. Much louder then the more hushed tones that they had been using a second ago.
"You ARE a big scary man in a mask. Just not one that should be scary to me. I just need to get used to it. My family was never much for lots of hugs, my father being awkward and my extended family a mix of overly affectionate people or people you only hugged once per holiday. Tie that together with high tension for my work, which sometimes touch can be a bad thing, or a good thing depending on who is behind it. And growing up living out of the back of a van, with my best friends and often sleeping all over one another. And well, you have see us just up and grab one another. I was saying before, I even get spooked by the Gang sneaking up on me. But I will get used to it... well, mostly."
"But..."
Before he could finish saying what he was going to, Velma cut him off. Picking up one of the things she had on her plate between two chopsticks, she held it out in front of his mouth. Though she had to restrain from tossing food at him, since he probably wouldn't snap the morsel up out of gut reaction that the rest of the gang tended to have because of Shaggy and Scooby's influence. (Give him time, hopefully.) And she also fought against the urge to just silence him with shoving the food in his open mouth. Not wanting to make him choke, or also possibly jabbing him with the wooden utensils. So, she just thrust the morsel at his face, and waited for his reaction at her food distraction. Which did cut him off, earning him a cross eyed look at the offered bit of food at the end of her chopsticks.
"You... are offering?"
"Yes. Try it."
"Well, I am not going to refuse your kind offer! As the Japanese say, Itadakimasu!"
In the blink of an eye, Bruce descended on the small offered food tidbit. But what Velma didn't realize the meaning behind questioning of her offering to him. As it took a second for her to realize the true meaning behind his words. With his lips brushing upon the wooden tools in her hand. Making it that if she had plans to use it as well, it would mean that she would be sharing an indirect kiss with him. Something that she had done with the gang out of instinct for years... never thinking anything about it. But now all of a sudden, it held more meaning then she realized with this new dynamic.
"..."
She could never tell Daphne a word. Velma would never live it down.
'Daphne did say that I know how to flirt, I just don't realize it. This might be what she means.' Velma mentally lamented to herself. Staring at the tips of her chopsticks with concern.
"Oh, wow! What was that? That tasted really good." Surprised at the amount of flavor that he had once he bit down, it seemed that Bruce was curious at the treat. Totally forgetting his moment of sulking from early.
"I could get used to that, though. Being fed by my cute girlfriend."
'Cute? Oh god this man...' Startling her a bit at his comment. Embarrassed but not against the idea of feeding him again. Especially it gave her a really nice view down his open shirt at the bare chest under the gaudy golden chains he was wearing. Mentally trying to swat away such distracting thoughts... but making sure to save them for later.
'I walked right into that one.' She said to herself while she unconsciously picked up one of the same treats and ate it. Only realizing what she had just done, especially with the Cheshire grin spreading across Bruce's face as she accepted his 'offering'. She brought up the back of her hand that was holding the chopsticks to her face, trying to fight off the blush that was growing across her face and letting her hide behind it for a moment.
'Well, it would be a waste of chopsticks had I just thrown them away because of that...' She tried to logic her way out of it. Distracting herself aloud with what she knew of the dumpling. Hoping it would distract him as well.
"It's... It's called many things. But they seem to call them Crab Rangoon's here. But I have seen them called cheese wantons, Crab pillows, or crab puffs. Usually an appetizer that is a combination of crab, imitation crab, or some type of fish wrapped in a wanton wrapping with cream cheese and sometimes various spices. They come in a variety of shapes, but most of them are bite sized... and really really good."
'In for a penny, in for a pound.' Velma shook her head, before grabbing another Rangoon and offering it to Bruce. With the same chopsticks she had just used. Though not making eye contact as he accepted the second one. Only feeling the gesture lightly through the chopsticks in her hand as he took the food.
'And I thought HE was supposed to be the playboy. Maybe it's his bad influence.'
"Oh, I'll have to see if Alfred can learn this, if he doesn't know them already. To add for some snacks for the b...For my Man Cave."
Earning a snort and a cough as Velma fought to not choke on the fry she had been munching on. Inhaling the little potato slice in her surprise of his choice of words. Catching her off guard. Taking in some water and a light thump on her chest to help work the food down from his comment.
"Cough-Really? A Man Cave? Well, it certainly is something you 'men' have..." Velma mused, knowing what he meant, but it certainly made it easier to talk about in public, if he was referring to it like that.
"I am a man, and it is a cave. So, seems appropriate. Though, you ok there? Down the wrong tube?"
"Yeah, cough... ugh." Velma took another drink, lightly shaking her head. A few more pats to her upper chest, trying to work the piece of food down to the right place. But she couldn't say that she wasn't eager to get to go back to that man cave at some point.
"Your man cave... does have all the fun toys, technology and gadgets."
"Eventually I can take you down there. Mystery not withstanding. We need to work on a few things when we made this all public. Can't just take you home with me. I mean, there is the 'back way'. But the main house usually has a small pack of roving paparazzi about the place. So, while the rumors are mainly contained at work at the moment, that isn't going to last too long. At some point soon, we'll have to make it official." Bruce took in a deep breath and sighed into his meal. Shoveling a large bite of steak into his mouth from his plate. Politely chewing on it, his years of etiquette still making sure he ate neatly when he wasn't fully paying attention. Even with the large bite he had taken in with a huff.
"Well, we'll worry about that when the time comes. For now, let's just enjoy the meal and the rest of our date and worry about the harder stuff later. I need to worry about talking to the gang and how I plan to drop THAT bomb first... before I'm ready to face the public." Velma wasn't looking forward to once she got home from the last bits of testing would be done and she had no reason to stay other then to spend more time with him. But that would then be the very thing he was sighing about, making this all public.
Since as much fun as it was to sneak about, they would get caught eventually if they did it too often enough. So, it was better to form a plan before the reveal. So, the pair could release the information in a controlled manner. Well, as controlled as one can be by admitting to the world to be dating Bruce.
The pair ate, chewing on their own mental thoughts and meals for a bit before Velma had finished her first plate. Pushing her dish to the side, she grabbed the little paper that had held her chopsticks. Usually she did this first, but Bruce had distracted her and she hadn't gotten the chance.
Mentally apologizing for her rude actions, Velma placed her chopsticks side by side on the plate and made quick work of folding the paper slip that came with them. Folding it in half once, and then a second time; it gave Velma a small two inches of paper to work with. Folding that in half horizontally, she made a crease and then unfolded it to then fold the two edges vertically to make a small raised platform to gently lay her chopsticks on. Keeping the ends that she ate with, off the table and the chopsticks together. While she didn't understand all the proper ways to eat with chopsticks and all the rules that came with the culture, she did know that it was rude to cross them and it was best to use some type of rest to lay them on when not in use.
Though thinking about it, she wasn't sure if what she did earlier with offering food to Bruce, was rude. She would have to brush up on her cultural etiquette... For many countries.
"Oh, that is really smart." Bruce, having been watching her actions, repeated the simple folds she had done to try to make the small platform for his chopsticks. But couldn't quite get it.
"You need to push at this part." Getting up, since she was planning on getting more food anyway. She moved around the table to stand beside him, pointing out where he needed to pinched and bend the last bits to get it. Concentrating on what she was telling him, Bruce was able to fix it for the most part, abet a bit lopsided to contain his pair properly.
"You got it. Though this is the best I know how to make. Shaggy is the one with all the origami skills, making it into like a boat, or a small duck. But this keeps the chopsticks together and off the table. So, it works well enough for me. Alright, I'll be back."
Leaving Bruce to his plate, still about half done from the overflowing pile he had taken as his first plate. It was time to indulge! Making sure to pile her second plate, with almost as much food as he had on his first. Making sure to nab a few more Crab Rangoons, in case she needed more distractions for him. (If she didn't just eat them all herself.) Making sure to snag a second plate, to help have a place to put the crab leg shells once she broke through them to get at the delicious centers.
By the time she came back, Bruce was gone. His dish almost licked clean, leaving not much behind. Enough so, that she figured that Shaggy and Scooby would approve of such a clean plate.
Starting without him, Velma moved to start breaking into the crab legs. Having been taught by Daphne how to properly deal with them, with little mess. Letting her get to the delicious meat that was contained inside with minimal hassle. Her crab shell piled was slowly growing, when Bruce returned. Coming up behind her before she noticed his presence.
"I can't believe this amazing woman is with me..."
Came the barely audible whisper of praise from Bruce, only heard because of the earbud in her ear. Part of her didn't know how to react to all his positive comments at her, opting to feel flush in the face at his words. But her snark and inner doubt also didn't believe him fully, since he probably said this to countless women before her. So, to split the difference, she tried to resist the praise and go for a mild quip. Reminding herself that she would need to build up a tolerance to such things, less she faint from all his commentary.
The bookstore had been hard enough.
"Your inner monologue is showing." Velma tilted her head and saw him arrive to the table. Pointing to her ear to indicate that she had heard him over the din of the restaurant because of his present. Calling him out that she had heard what he spoke under his breath. Earning her a surprise when a blush came upon his face, abet slightly offset by the scar that marred his face. But she saw it as he tried to tilt his head to fight it off as he sat down. An even more overflowing plate was in his hands, earning a spot in front of him on the table. Using it to distract himself.
'Well, I glad that it's not just one way then.' Velma took mental note, earning a point in her favor against the suave playboy. 'Though, I guess it's only fair that he's weak to me as well. Oh... that is the problem, isn't it?'
But before she was able to go down that line of thought, Bruce spoke up from his plate.
"I had been worried that you might be a lighter eater before we came here. It was frustrating to be stuck with ladies in the past that ate like rabbits. It was hard to enjoy a larger meal when my company was barely touching a salad. But I was worried for naught, and frankly I think that Alfred won't have that much to teach you for eating in public with that display!"
He made a gesture at her growing pile of discarded bits of the crab on her second plate. Earning her to look at it before coming back to him.
"So, my man handling of the burger wasn't enough to convince you?"
"Well, it was a large burger, and you still brought some home with you. So, while you did finish the fries, I was worried I guess. It's still all new for us."
"Point, but we also had our time cut short with the lab being on literal fire. It certainly didn't help."
"Ah, yeah, that did interrupt our time together."
"But, it isn't something you need to worry about. With living with two garbage disposables, and often on the run for work, it certainly helps build a healthy appetite. As well as having to defend our meals from the grabby hands of the guys, we sometimes get a larger portion just to end up having something to eat. And well, having leftovers was never a bad thing."
"True as well. Having leftovers is nice. Though sometimes not finishing a meal put in front of you can have negative connotations. But it also depends on the host an which culture, and ugh."
She watched him place his head in his hand, groaning as she thought that he was recalling about what happened in the past with other women he dated. Not realizing his actual thoughts were on actually how she was eating and if when left alone in a restaurant where you can eat as much as you want, she was still overall very proper about it. From her chopstick skills, and her immaculate crab eating. But groaning about the large amount of eating etiquette he had packed in his head.
"I wonder if it's your parent's doing." He wonder aloud at her, waving his hand at the pile of shells. The meat had been extracted perfectly, and efficiently. With the least amount of effort on her part to remove the meat from the hard parts, and in the cleanest manner he had ever seen. Even if he had been eating it, he would have been making more of a mess then she was. But he figured her background helped. Which earned him a look at his comment.
"What do you mean my parents? They are not anyone fancy. Why would they know how to shell a crab?"
"Yes, but with you being you, I figure there was nothing standing between you and a good book. And they are marine biologists, correct?"
"Yeah but I'm not seeing how that ties in with me eating the crab here."
"Well, I figure that big worded books, was a minor inconvenience to the young little V...Lydia of old. Probably dragging a dictionary with her when she snuck in to her parents study or where ever the books were stored. And pulling them down one by one, they were consumed by your young mind like a sponge. And well, marine biologist tend to know the anatomy of various sea life, so I figure that did include things in the crustacean family."
"Well... your not wrong." Though he wasn't far off, she did more then just pull a dictionary behind her. She also had access to an encyclopedia set and if there wasn't something she couldn't grasp between the two, her parents were more then willing to fill her in. Answering her insistent questions for hours at a time. She did appreciate that he thought so highly about her mind, complimenting her like that. And his high opinion on her parents, if abet odd reasonings.
"Though eating at the Blakes did have a certain level of expectation to eating over their house. So, that might have also helped."
"Ok, so between the Blakes and your parents, you have one less thing to worry about once we come out about this. Alfred can brush you up on anything you are rusty with, but at this point I might have to have you teach me your ways!" Bruce said with a laugh, leaning over to pluck a shell to examine the almost whole piece of exoskeleton between his fingers.
She had been thinking she would need to build up a tolerance, but it was hard when he was hitting all her weak points. Not only praising her own mind, but her best friend as well. And her parents. And she figured it was a honest compliment, since there was no reason for it to be otherwise against such a random subject as 'eating crabs properly'.
"I think going to a restaurant for our first official date, is probably the easiest to do. Thinking about it. Somewhere nice, but good food. Nothing too complicated just yet, culture wise. Less for either of us to study up on. And sadly, expensive as all get out. I won't let you look at the bill if that will make it easier on you, but that isn't something you'll have to concern yourself about." Bruce sighed into his meal before him. His words whispered into her ear, since he didn't want to say too much but was still trying to talk it out to voice his thoughts. Pushing around some of his plate to stab a piece of food to huff and munch on as he pondered their reveal a bit vocally.
"We'll probably have to tip off some news outlets, just so they will have a heads up. But other then those few things, you'll just need to focus on having a good time, and hopefully not mind me having to behave like well... You know." He sighed, laying his face into an open palm and leaning on his elbow begrudgingly. Not exactly jumping for this eventually.
"A necessary evil for sure, but not one you really need to worry about yet. We can always plan another office date, to iron out more of the specifics." Plucking one of the last Rangoons on her plate, she offered it to try to cheer him up from the heavier thoughts he was having.
"But, that isn't today. So, let's enjoy being able not be in the public eye and do what we want to do... Okay Beej?"
Looking over at the offered treat, Bruce's eyes softened. Taking the offered treat before offering his gratitude to her. Eating the tasty dumpling from her chopsticks. Making sure to finish it before speaking, less he be rude.
"Yeah, thanks Lyds."
"Plus, I really want to tell the gang myself, before they find it out on the local newspaper." Now it was Velma's time to sigh, "I'm pretty sure if... no when it becomes public. Ohio news outlets are going to have a field day with all the advertising. Especially the local papers, since well..."
"...You're famous?" Bruce said with an all knowing grin. Earning an annoyed squint at him, and a snort. As he was making a call back to their first date.
"Yeah yeah, har har. But jab at my self doubt aside, I want to still tell them myself... As hard as that is going to be. Before the papers tell the world. Though I feel that I'm going to earn a new scrap book with this." Velma groaned.
"Eager Aunt who documents your adventures and stuff?"
"That might be easier to deal with, no... More local. Fred's parents specifically, his mom the main culprit. She has her own scrapbooking club that loves to make albums and this would just be a new one for her group to work on. They have one for each of us, from when we were little, and several volumes of..." Velma was cut off with the wide eyed look from Bruce across the table.
"Baby Lydia pictures! Oh man! Now I can't wait even more, for you to tell the gang and for them to find out. So I can visit and get to see baby pictures of you!"
"Well, rightly so, I was a darn cute kid if I do say so myself!" Velma boasted, there were a few things she was very proud of herself for. Her brains, her skill... and she was a super cute kid when she was little. "But fair is only fair if that is the case. I'll show you mine if you will show me yours."
"I think you will find Alfred more then willing to uphold that trade." Bruce said with a laugh. "Darn, I finished another plate."
"Well, if you won't get full for walking, go and get another one." Velma pointed out simply.
"Well, do you plan to eat any more?" He gave her an expectant look, she figured he was asking for permission to eat more with her, if she didn't mind. Something he might have to get used to, that she would never mind if he ate his full. She wasn't like those other ladies he talked about, and she lived with two garbage disposals. She would be in the wrong household if she saw limited to what one could eat.
"You don't need ask me if it is ok to eat until your full. Don't have to hold back on my account. But, I am done with this plate, so I want to get a bit more before dessert."
"Mmmmm, I wonder what they have for dessert. But I'm not full yet, so I wanted to get a bit more. What were you planning on getting?" Pushing his second plate next to where she put hers, she found him trailing after her as she moved to get her next bit of her meal. A looming, though eager shadow behind her, earning her to have to look back and up at him to reply.
"Well, I like to get some white rice in a bowl, and then drizzle it in some sauce from one of the other dishes. It might not be culturally appropriate, I think. But it is really tasty. So, I'll have to restrain myself if we go somewhere fancy, but I'm going to be bad and do it here."
"Well, I know it's rude to put soy sauce on white rice, but not sure about other sauces. But you might be right. Though which flavor do you have in mind?"
"I am not sure if I want some Chicken and broccoli juices, or there is a really good cashew chicken over there that might be good. And there is beef dish, I forgot its name... that also I've lightly drizzled it on. I like the flavor of the white rice in general, but adding a tiny bit of flavor is nice. Abet probably not something I would do outside the buffet setting."
"Well, good thing we are in one. So, we can try all of that, since it sounds really good! How about we each grab some, and give it a try? You get one, and I'll try the other two and we can share!"
"Oh, well... that is an option."
Velma was new to the idea that she was perfectly allowed to share food with Bruce. While she often shared with the gang, it wasn't something she saw a lot of people do normally and figured it was just the gang being odd as usual. (At least it wasn't common back home for most friends to share food. But it might have been a local thing.) But she was allowed to, with her boyfriend to share things like that and it was considered a perfectly 'normal' couple thing to do.
It didn't take long for them to scour the various dishes that had some type of sauce in them, earning the pair a beef and chicken in each hand, providing four different flavors to test out. Returning to the table, the rice dishes were placed in the center of the table for unrestrained access. The bowls didn't last long, between the pair. Bruce personally liked the Beef with a garlic sauce, while Velma liked the Cashew Chicken at this particular restaurant.
"I'm glad you aren't a vampire bat, or you would be having trouble right now." Velma snarked with a snicker, low into her earpiece. Unable to refrain from the comment, but made sure that only they would be able to hear it.
"Been there, done that. Still like garlic. Yum!"
"..." Shooting him a side eye. Velma wasn't sure how to take that. But from the few things she had been through herself. Him being who he is, probably had enough stories to surpass her own.
She ONLY was a werewolf... As she was chasing after a fairy on Halloween. Almost died to a pack of werecats in a Louisiana plantation, and was saved by some Zombies. Got her heart crushed by a warlock she flirted with, as a giant turkey rampaged. And met a lovely pack of monsters for a school reunion...To list a few. So, him being a vampire or something like that... Was probably in the cards.
Shaking her head, she set aside the empty bowls for the server to pick them up when they got a chance. Taking in and out a deep breath, she let out a content sigh. The food was good, the company was even better... And she wasn't stuffed to the brim, that she would still be able to enjoy a dessert and be able to walk the streets of Gotham without feeling like a blimp. Not that it wouldn't take her only a bit of walking to feel less full, but still nicer to not cross that line if she could help it. Less urpy moments of being too stuffed.
"Ok, I judged it, and I still have room for some dessert. Time for some ice-cream!" Velma declared, pushing to her feet.
"Wait, this place has Ice-cream?"