Of Love and Regret; Baltimore, MD, Tuesday Evening [01/14].

[somethingwithturquoise]

Today was the day that had been ultimately ascribed to be Stark's Official Unofficial Birthday, and, so, of course, Summer asked what he would like to do for it. And Stark, of course, had been predictably vague and uncertain. She managed to squeeze out of him the idea of a nice fancy dinner date, and so she put gears into motion and got them a nice reservation at a local Baltimore restaurant.

Sure, they could've gone almost anywhere in the multiverse, but there was a certain sweet quaintness to just hopping over to the nearest mainland city.

And also Summer had been seeing Of Love and Regrets popping off on some of her more culinary hipster social media radars, so that made it a done deal.

"The regret," she had assured him with convincing confidence "refers to the morning after having a few too many of their cocktails."

Probably. But she had already anticipated that the place's name would immediately cause some concern.

Anyway, they were there now and Summer was looking cute as hell and positioning her phone to get a good shot of her Pink Opps drink.

Because of course that was the one she'd get.

[[ for the birthday bf! And nfb for distance, unless Leroy really wants to be a creepy weirdo about it ]]

Comments

[somethingwithturquoise]

Summer was already pulling Stark's drink closer and into better lighting before he even finished asking the question.

"You're welcome," she said, "but, like, duh, it's your birthday. What kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn't?"

[stykera]

"I have no basis for comparison," Stark reminded her. "But...i just like to take the time to let you know you're appreciated. Always. Even when you bring me places with frightening names."

He grinned. He'd gotten over the worry. Mostly.

[somethingwithturquoise]

"Well, I mean," said Summer, and no amount of cheerfulness that she might have said it with was likely helping with those last lingering concerns, "just don't go and make it all prophetic, and we'll be all good. It is a little hipster-y, it's true, but I'll take a pretentious hipster joint over some overstuffed corporate fanciest any day of the week."

Just a few more angles and shots and there! Now you could have your drink back, Stark.

[stykera]

"I wasn't planning on it!" Stark said quickly.

Then he took a breath, picked up his drink, and took a sip.

"Unless I regret too many drinks, later."

Or maybe one of them would regret ordering something called Pull It & Pork It?

"I don't mind hipster-y." Possibly because he wasn't entirely sure what that really meant, sometimes. "And the drink is good. And I have the best company."

[somethingwithturquoise]

Did anyone really know what it meant anymore? Really?

"That is true, you do," Summer agreed confidently, because what? Like she was going to deny it??

She picked up her drink, too, and held it up in a toast, with a soft, fond smile at him. "Happy birthday, Stark. Here's to at least drinking enough of these things to make up for some of the ones you've missed."

[stykera]

Summer should own being the best company! It was true.

"I'll do my best," Stark said, offering a soft smile in return as he lifted his glass and gently clinked it against hers.

"You've given me 3 birthdays now, you know. That must make up for some that were missed."

[somethingwithturquoise]

"I didn't give them to you," Summer pointed out, after taking a long swig of her drink and then giving the glass an appraising, approving sort of look before having another sip and continuing. "You always had them. You just didn't know when to celebrate them. The only thing I gave you was a swift kick in the ass on finally deciding on a day."

[stykera]

"You gave me parties," Stark pointed out. "And picked the day for me when I couldn't decide."

And made him really consider the idea he could be celebrated like that which was important.

"And now you've taken me out to have drinking regrets."

There would likely be more regrets Thursday morning, honestly.

He lifted his glass to take another sip then held it out to her. "Would you like to taste?"

[somethingwithturquoise]

"Ooh, yes!" Summer reached out to take it. "Do you like it? Here." She held out hers for him as well. "You'll have to try mine, too."

[stykera]

"Thank you," Stark said, taking the pink drink and taking a sip.

"That's nice. But I thought it might taste...pinker?"

That made sense to him, at least.

"Do you think we should have the pretzelll?" he asked, sounding out the extra Ls. "Or. Oh. The brie? Or...crab balls?"