OH BABY

“I suppose that I am.” He said, with a small smile upon his features. He did hate to wait. But it was all part of it, really. He was glad that he had suggested it too. He had been missing her company and this way they could spend some time together sober for once. “It’s lovely to see you, as well. And we’re sober for the moment so who knows what might happen.”

"Do you really want a hint?” The blonde asked as she quirked a light eye brow over at him. So far the whole thing was rather impressive she wouldn’t deny that. Granted the time prior they had both been intoxicated, but her memory had clearly served her correctly. He was as handsome and charming as she recalled, which was pleasing to say the very least. “Key word being the moment, but we can definitely change that darling. And you’re right, who knows.”

“The question remains is the flattery working.” He asked, curiously. He had to take a look around at the restaurant himself and he had to admit it was definitely very Valentine’s day themed. He couldn’t quite get over it. But he had assumed everywhere they went would be the same especially on the actual day. “Well, I was looking up restaurants that had good reviews and this one did. I  was also looking for places that were still taking bookings for Valentine’s day, obviously and they were. So I thought why not.”

“I guess you’re going to have to wait and find that out aren’t you darling?” Tallulah spoke a light teasing smile pulling easily onto her lips as she glanced over at him. Though it was pretty easy to say, that with his charming words and handsome face, it would be hard for it not to. The English woman listened, giving a single nod here and there to show she was paying attention before agreeing simply with a smile: “Why not.” Pausing for a brief moment before adding: “Either way darling, I’m glad you suggested it. It’s good to see you again.”

Basil thought for a few moments trying to come up with a good question.  He had a feeling that this could be the woman he was supposed to be tracking down about pictures but he couldn’t just ask that.  “Alright how long have you been in the states?  What made you move?”  Those seemed like safe enough questions.

Taking a drag from the cigarette as she waited for his question, she tilted her head to the side away from him again as she let it curl easily from her lips. “A few months maybe?” Tallulah alluded with a single shrug of her shoulder as she looked over at him. “I got a job offer here and needed a change of scenery.” Of course that wasn’t the full story or reason, but that was a need to know basis.

Charles shrugged. “We can’t be sure, love. Maybe tonight you were not in the mood for it.” He smirked before finishing his drink. “Alright. Have you ever robbed someone? A good kind of rob, it’s what I mean. That it won’t hurt physically.” Cheshire raised a brow. There was this man at The Red, which Charles hated, that could lose some money. And Talulah could be a good help with it.

“You want me to help you rob- who?” Talulah asked with a light quirk of an eye brow over at the male, shaking her head lightly as she took another sip from her drink. She wasn’t overly surprised, she’d known him long enough by now. Still she wasn’t convinced. “So you want me to ‘charm’ them?” The blonde reiterated as she watched the other, in truth a little skeptical. “And what do I get out of this little plan of yours?”

“No but I just don’t really share with people or get close to very many people.  I don’t really like people,” Basil answered shaking his head.  “You ask a lot of questions for someone who says I don’t have to tell you anything.  Almost feels like I’m the one being questioned for a change,” he muttered.  “Not really, things have been sort of slow lately.  Mostly been dealing with short, easy to wrap up cases and now apparently picking out dogs for people.”

The blonde just stood and listened, quirking an eye brow lightly at one of too words every once in a while. It seemed she’d have her job cut out for her here. Tapping the ash off the end of her cigarette, her eyes flickering over him as she took note of what he was saying. Even if they had met a few times before, it had become quite apart that Basil wasn’t like the other men she knew. “Alright darling, then how about you ask me something? Anything you want.”

“Yeah, there is that too.” He smirked. “Teddy bear that can sing to a cheesy love song or they can that they love you, as well. It can’t get more lonely than that.” Charles chuckled. “I have nothing against it, though, but truth be told, most people that enjoy are in a relationship.”

“Why on earth would someone want a bear to sing when finding someone who can actually serenade you is alot better. You wouldn’t be wrong there darling. Umhm, I don’t know, I get more tips at work, what’s not to like?” The blonde uttered sarcastically a small smirk tugging at the edge of her lips as she gave a single shrug of her shoulder. It was true she was always busier around this time, with performing and the men she kept ‘company’ wanting to feel less lonely on the holiday; she couldn’t exactly complain. Hell, she’d take valentines over Easter any day. 

“I suppose so. But you always look lovely. So I doubt that you had to take extra time for that.” He insisted, with a shake of his head. He smiled as he felt her thumb running circles over t he back of his hand. He led them inside. The restaurant was fairly crowded for Valentine’s Day. The woman at the front asked for their name and John offered his for the reservation and they were led back to their table. He pulled out her chair for her and waited for her to sit. “Nice place, right?” He asked.

“You flatter me darling.” Talulah hummed, an easy smile laced on her lips as she glanced up at him briefly before turning her gaze back to their surroundings. The blonde followed suit, with fingers laced together it wasn’t a hard task to stay by his side as they weaved through the crowds. Everything was without question, very pink. They definitely hadn’t half hearted the decorations that was for certain. Her hand detaching from his, the blonde smiled as he pulled out her chair, her hand brushing over his arm lightly before she took a seat and tucked herself in. “Thank you darling and yes it’s definitely nice. I haven’t been here before, how did you hear about it?”

“Looks like you and I have that in common,” he laughed, “Exactly! But I guess the cops just didn’t get that memo.” Levi drank her in. She was exactly his type and he was never known to turn down the opportunity to be prince charming. “What’s a beauty like yourself doing in a shady part like this anyways?”

A light smile pulled at the edge of her pink lips at his compliment, tilting her head to look back at the male. "You might be innocent darling, I never claimed I was.” She teased lightly a small smirk tugging onto the edge of her features before she gave a single shake of her head. “I work in a club not far from here. The underworld? Have you heard of it?”

Jim smiled, nodding slowly as she spoke. “I guess so, yeah,” He laughed before tilting his head. “Oh really now?” A smirk grew across his face. Jim lifted his arm to rest it along the back of the bench before sliding over. “Why don’t you tell me more about this good view?” Then without another work he leant in to press his lips to hers.

“Umhm-” The blonde hummed in response, an almost teasing glint to the edge of her smile as she caught sight of the smirk on his features. Her eye fluttered closed instantly as he leaned in for a kiss, her hand moving up to brush gently over his cheek before it slipped to the back of his neck. If anything to hold him there a few moments longer as she pressed her lips back against his. 

It was probably a bold move to ask her out on Valentine’s day of all things. But, he figured they weren’t 12 years old and he didn’t really see what the big deal was. Valentine’s day only held an ulterior meaning if you gave it one, right? Right. He was waiting outside of the restaurant when she walked up. He smiled as she pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Yeah, I’m ready to go in.” He said, offering her his hand if she wanted it. “And don’t worry, you’re fashionably late which makes it okay.”

A light smile tugged at the corners of her features at his words. It was true, if ever she was late it was in the name of her appearance she he definitely wasn’t wrong. “Well I had to make sure I looked nice for you didn’t I?” The blonde teased lightly, pausing briefly before taking his hand. Her long delicate fingers lacing with his, her thumb running a small circle over the back of his hand as she nodded for him to lead the way. “After you darling.”

“Sure,” he answered carefully inspecting the packet and cigarettes.  There was something about her that he didn’t quite trust.  He felt a need to be extra cautious around her.  “Yes?” he answered shrugging.  He wasn’t quite sure if he did or not but saying he took everything literally sounded more like him than not.  “Why would you hope that?  We’re practically strangers.  I don’t like talking about cases with people who aren’t involved.”

“Is it so terrible for me to want to get to know you better?” Talulah asked with a quirk of a brow at him. “That’s fine darling, you don’t have to tell me anything. I was just trying make conversation.” She spoke simply with a delicate hand raised briefly in defense before she took another drag from the cigarette between her lips. Tilting her head to the side away from him as she blew the smoke up and into the air, pausing briefly to pull the lighter out of her pocket as well to offer to him. “Busy day?”

Feeling himself get self conscious, he fidgeted where he was sat seeing as she’d already moved his hand. Jim let out a small laugh at her comment. “Favorite places?” He asked with a raised eyebrow eventually, mimicking her and looking back out over the view. “Probably, yeah.” Jim slowly reclined on the bench, both arms spreading out across the back. “It’s not even that amazing. Like, it’s not the top of some wild tower or anything. It’s just always quite still, which is nice.”

“You can’t help what you like darling.” She said simply with a single shrug of her shoulder. “Whether it’s the top of some wild tower or a view like this. But for the record, it’s pretty nice, serene even” Talulah agreed, a light smile tugging onto the edge of her lips as she turned her head to look over at him. “Besides, it doesn’t look so bad from where I’m sitting.

“And I apologize for that, love.” Charles gave her his best “lost kitty” face, with his cheek on his fist. “I didn’t see you after we spoke, but hey there is tonight and it’s not even midnight yet!” He winked at her with a smirk. “If you’re in then I’m too.” Cheshire tilted his head before taking a sip of the drink.

A smirk tugged onto the edge of her features to match his own, shifting in her stance as she leaned against the bar. “I like the way you think Darling and you never need to ask that, of course I’m in.” Talulah spoke as her eyes flickered over the male before she took another sip from her drink. “So, what did you have in mind?”

“Oh, I don’t know about the ‘good’ part,” he laughed, “Some might argue with you there. Just the typical run in with the law. Cops just don’t seem to like me and I can’t for the life of me figure out why.” It was a joke, obviously. But the blonde didn’t know that yet.

“Well then, if not good, then I’m not known to say no to a pretty face.” A smile tugging at the edge of her features. “Can’t figure out why? Huh, if I had a dollar for every person I’ve heard say that. Innocent till proven guilty, isn’t that what they say?” The blonde spoke a smirk pulled at the edge of her features as she glanced over at him.