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[eloquencejones]

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[sanguinescry]

Tilting her head a little, Lydia smiles. She's not a mind reader or anything, but Lydia's willing to wager a bet that he's gotten a little distracted, given the way he's looking after her friends before looking back at her. Reflex says that he's hopeful he won't have to spend a lunch period by himself, but intuition wonders if there's more to it. She does have a type, after all.

"Lunch, yes," she confirms with a smirk. Lydia pushes herself off the locker beside his and nods toward the door, already picking through her purse for her car keys. "Let's go then. Lucky for you, I'm allowed to leave campus on free periods and my mom works here, plus everyone on staff like loves me, so I can get you out of any trouble I'm about to get you in by taking you with me," she comments, sounding amused.

As she leads the way out, she looks over at him. "So where are you from, Dick Grayson? You're new, that much I know."

[utilitybelted]

Dick shoves the last of his stuff in his locker and closes the door, and there's a tiny part of him that thinks he should probably think twice about breaking rules on his very first day, especially if he's resting his fledgling reputation on her ability to talk him out of trouble based on her word alone, but he also really wants to make a friend, and he's never been all that precious about rules he doesn't see the point of, so while there's a twinge of guilt, he shakes it off as quickly as it appears.

"Gotham City," he tells her as they head off down the corridor "It's... pretty different." that was saying something, swapping the big city for the small town surrounded by woods was just about the biggest change you could make, but Bruce had decided that raising a pack in the city was... not a good idea. So Beacon Hills it was.

[sanguinescry]

Her eyebrows lift with interest. Lydia's heard of Gotham, but she's never been and she doubts she ever will be. Big cities aren't really for her, she thinks, even though she imagines she'd probably thrive in one. Boston is calling her name for college, so she'll have to adjust at some point, but for now she's just been in Beacon Hills her whole life. Lydia never realized how much she appreciated the quiet of a small town until the facade of it was broken.

"I've never been," she comments, pushing the doors open and leading the way to her car. "Do you miss it? It must be so boring going from there to this rinky dink town, huh?" she asks, pressing a button on her key and causing her Prius's headlights to blink as she unlocks it.

[utilitybelted]

"I guess," Dick shrugs. There were some things about Gotham that he missed, it was true, but he didn't exactly have a lot of friends there, and he grew up in the circus so travelling had never really been a problem for him "It's a lot quieter here, but that's not always a bad thing." Even the city had been quieter at first, after life on the road, but it was a dangerous, busy place and he was actually sort of glad to be somewhere with cleaner air and wide open spaces to run through - he almost couldn't wait for full moon.

"I think I'm going to like it here, the people seem nicer." he smiles over at her.

[sanguinescry]

In spite of herself, when Dick refers to Beacon Hills as quiet, Lydia huffs a humorless laugh, shaking her head. Maybe it's quieter for him. He's not the one with all the voices in his head. "It's something, anyway," she remarks in an offhandedly knowing sort of way as they reach her car.

Lydia pulls her driver's side door open and smiles over the top of the car at him. "Well, some of us do try," she says playfully.

Sinking into the car, Lydia settles herself in and buckles up, pushing her key into the ignition and looking over at him. "Drive thru or eat in?" she asks.

[utilitybelted]

Dick glances questioningly at her, because that's the laugh of a person with a story, and he can't help but wonder if maybe this town isn't as quiet as it seems. In fairness, the place already has a pack of werewolves, Dick wouldn't be surprised to hear there's been other strange goings on, supernatural folk tended to seek each other out in his experience. Besides, he was also pretty sure at least one of her friends was one of those werewolves, so it was possible she knew about them, or was otherwise involved in their not-so-quiet goings on.

"Some of you succeed," he smiles. He's incredibly grateful that she came to talk to him, whatever her motivations (because he was cautious enough that he couldn't rule out the possibility she did know about the wolf stuff and that was why she came to talk to him).

"I don't mind," he shrugs easily, getting into the car "But this is a pretty nice car so maybe we should eat in?"

[sanguinescry]

As far as Lydia knows, Dick will never have any idea that this place is anything but quiet; most of the town is in the dark about it, really. He'll be in great company. Sometimes, Lydia actually does miss that blissful ignorance...

"I do what I can," Lydia proclaims with a playful air of mock pride. Once he's in as well, Lydia pulls out of her parking spot and smiles over at him before actually starting forward. "Trust me, she's seen worse, but I meant we could either eat there or always bring it back to the cafeteria if you're worried about getting into trouble." Again, she's confident that she can easily wiggle him back out of it, but all the same, she doesn't want to be the person who's peer pressuring him into something he might not want to do.

[utilitybelted]

Dick can't help but smile, she's funny and sweet and pretty and... oh no. Oh, Dick, no, don't be an idiot, do not get a crush on the first girl you meet in a new town, especially not one who is clearly well, well out of your league. For some reason, his mental berating voice sounds a lot like Jason. Sounds about right, it's usually Jason who gleefully points out his idiocy.

"Eating there sounds good," he shrugs, and maybe he's just trying to prove he doesn't care about getting in trouble, maybe he wants to spend more time with just her, either way he's probably acting in a less-than-intelligent way. He is not thinking with his brain right now.

[sanguinescry]

With a nod at his decision, Lydia starts off, heading out of the school's student parking lot and into the street. They can see the Taco Bell billboard from there, a few lights down. "Eating in it is, then," she says.

Lydia doesn't frequent Taco Bell or anything — she'd never be able to keep her figure if she did — but she can't help it if sometimes she feels inclined to indulge and introducing the new guy to her friends right away doesn't feel like a great idea. Scott and Stiles would be fine but...Malia?

The thing about Malia is that she's still learning what's socially acceptable to say out loud and what is better left kept to herself. Most people probably think it's pretty weird right out of the gate and would likely be suspicious of a high school girl who clearly has no idea why a brain to mouth filter is important. Not wanting to explain that — or worse, listen to Stiles try to excuse it — is a major driver for this little field trip.

A few minutes later they're there and Lydia shuts off the car, taking off her seat belt. "I'm so here for this today," she mutters to herself with a grin. It's been exactly 46 days since her last trip here...and yes, of course she's counting.

Sorry for the shortness!!

[utilitybelted]

"In need of junk food?" he asks with a smile as he climbs out of the car as well "Been having one of those days?"

He feels a little glad he's there, even if she would have come here anyway, it's no fun doing this kind of thing on your own if you are feeling down, it's always nice to have a friend - even a new one.

[sanguinescry]

Lydia bobs her head somewhere between a nod and a shake before looking over at him with a little smirk. "Something like that, yeah," she agrees. It's probably been one of those weeks, more accurately, but...yeah. She'll go with that.

"Come on," she prompts, finally getting out of the car to lead the way inside. The line is short because it's the first lunch period of the day and most students in that lunch period don't have Senior Privilege. That's a relief since they only have about half an hour to order, eat, and get back to school. Not that she's super worried about the time line, but she figures he might be. He probably has a class. She doesn't. Perks of being a genius.

[utilitybelted]

Dick nods, following her into the building. He takes a deep breath as they step inside, inhaling the scents. It's partly because he enjoys the delicious smells the place had to offer, and partly out of habit - looking out for any indication of danger.

"Well, since you're in such desperate need, and since you were kind enough to bring me here, let's make it my treat?" he offers, tugging his wallet out of his pocket. It's not like he doesn't have plenty of cash, his dad's basically a billionaire after all.

[sanguinescry]

Lydia looks curiously over at him when she noticed Dick taking a deep breath once they get inside. It isn't followed by a sigh and she pulls a facial shrug as they get in line. That's the kind of thing Scott does, but it's probably just a coincidence.

His offer makes her smile, though, setting aside her observation entirely. "Does that make this a date?" she asks playfully, lifting her eyebrows with amusement.

[utilitybelted]

Dick tried to reply but it just came out as a splutter, cheeks flushing red. He really wanted to have given a smooth response that would have impressed her and maybe got him an actual date, but of course that wasn't the way his luck worked was it? He probably had the best luck with girls of any of his brothers, but that didn't actually mean he was actually any good.

"Uh..." he tried again, slightly more successfully "Do..you... want it to be?"

[sanguinescry]

At the sputtering, Lydia can't help the little giggle of amusement that escapes her. That's adorable. Something as simple as asking whether him paying would make this a date gets him all flushed and out of sorts. Wait until she gets you in the bedroom, Dick.

"Maybe," she replies coyly with a grin to match her tone. She's clearly going to have to take the lead on this though because apparently all the girls in Gotham were completely blind. "Or...this could just be lunch and you could take me out to dinner," she offers nonchalantly before reaching the front of the line and making her order with the guy behind the counter. Lydia turns back to Dick when it's his turn. "Up to you."

[utilitybelted]

Oh great, and now she was laughing at him, good job Dick, really impressing people on your first day. Dick Grayson you are a god damn creature of the night, act like it. And what? Bite her? Yea that'd make a great impression. Clearly his brain had abandoned him to humiliation.

Only.. then she seemed to actually be wanting him to take her out on a date and did that really happen? Did cute redheads really just whisk you away to taco bell and heavily imply (ok, outright say) that they wanted you to ask them out? Man he loved Beacon Hills.

He stammers out his order in a rush, trying not to blush, and turns back to Lydia with what he hopes is a charming smile "I'd like to take you out to dinner."

[sanguinescry]

Lydia doesn't really mind having to take charge to get what she wants. It's something she's been doing for the larger part of her life and she doesn't really s any reason to pump the brakes on it now. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, as the saying goes.

And, predictably, it works like a charm. Lydia smiles back at him. "Then you probably should, don't you think?" she asks as they call her number and she picks up her tray — a power bowl with chicken and a cup for her to get herself some iced tea from the fountain machine. "I'm free tonight," she adds offhandedly.

ack sorry for the html fail

[utilitybelted]

Dick grabs his own food and smiles, feeling a little more comfortable now she'd actually agreed to it (even if it was clearly her idea in the first place, and hey, isn't that a bit of an ego boost, that she wanted him to ask her out), "Well, as you can imagine my social calendar is absolutely packed being the new kid in town, so I'm free as a bird."

Heading over to a table, he can't quite keep the grin from his face "You'll have to tell me where the best place in town is though, I'd hate to take you somewhere not very goo-" he froze mid-step. Tonight. Full Moon. Well. Damn.

"...I can't. Not tonight."

[sanguinescry]

Lydia grins, taking her tray to a seat after filling her cup with raspberry iced tea. "It'll fill up, just give it a minute," she says confidently. Lydia pulls her drink closer, pushing the straw into it and taking a sip as he goes on.

When he stops short and says that he can't tonight even though he seemed pretty enthusiastic about it a second ago, her brow creases with confusion. "...why not? You got another hot date that beat me to the punch?"

[utilitybelted]

"Uh, not exactly," he grins awkwardly, he feels pretty terrible having to change his mind right away and he really hopes that what he's about to say doesn't just sound like a terrible excuse. "It's actually..uh... it's kind of a family thing? I mean we've just moved here and everybody's been so busy and it's kind of a big family, I have three brothers, and it's this family bonding thing we do every month we kind of have to..." and yea he's telling her way too much information now and probably overselling it, but he really wants her to understand.

[sanguinescry]

Lydia gives a little nod. She hasn't had a "family thing" in a long time and she kind of misses those, really, but she can't help being a little bit relieved that they aren't as much of a thing because she'd probably have to explain her way out of them more often than not the way things seem to go around here lately.

She's totally bought into the family thing until he continues and her eyebrows lift both knowingly and with interest. Then, she gives a facial shrug. "Mmm, yeah I get you. You know, I should probably actually make myself available to my friends tonight, come to think of it. Sometimes crazy things happen on the full moon," she answers casually, but the look in her eye says she's testing him with that comment.

She's curious whether it's a coincidence the way the monthly thing happens to fall on the full moon and if he'll laugh and think her superstitious or if he just babbled a little too much and didn't realize it until it had already been said and the day actually does hold some significance. If it's the latter, he'll know that she knows, because he'll have smelled it on Scott and Malia or at least Scott.

Lydia takes another sip and then pops the top off her salad. "Another night, then?"

[utilitybelted]

Dick's expression turns startled at her comment, and he frowns slightly, suspicious. He'd definitely picked up the scent back at the school and it had definitely come from her friends, and while Bruce was obsessed with secrecy the same couldn't be said for all werewolves. Could it be that she...

"Oh yea?" He asks slowly, "Do these crazy things tend to happen to your friends?" He really wants to ask her outright, but he knows that if he's got the wrong end of the stick it's going to go particularly badly for him, having the only person who's been nice to him so far thinking he was insane was not the impression he wanted to make, so he has to dance around it, try and figure her out without saying anything that would sound too weird.

"Another night would be great."

[sanguinescry]

Ah, okay, now we're on the same wavelength, Lydia thinks to herself. "They used to," she says loftily, raising a sporkful of taco salad up. "Not so much these days. Practice makes perfect, after all," she adds before bringing the food to her mouth to start eating.

Of course he's a werewolf, no wonder she was drawn to him. She's like a damn magnet for supernatural creatures, she thinks. Even Jackson had taken the bite.

"So what about you? Do crazy things happen to you on the full moon?" Lydia keeps her voice light because she doesn't want to give him the impression that she's afraid or intimidated when she isn't.

[utilitybelted]

Dick tucks into his own food as she speaks, a little more relaxed than he might otherwise have been with a new person and eating with just a pinch more enthusiasm than was probably polite, though he's at least sensible enough to swallow before he speaks again.

"Not so much, I don't think my dad would let anything crazy happen, and we all kind of grew up with.. family, of one sort or another," he explains delicately, though it's increasingly obvious that they're definitely talking about the same thing, and it's sort of nice to know that if this lunch or their date turns into something more, he isn't going to have to lie to her. "We're all used to it."

[sanguinescry]

"Mmm," Lydia hums her understanding as she nods. At least she won't have to keep secrets from him if anything actually comes out of their lunch and subsequent dinner date. That's a relief. Lydia's actually more certain, now that she's thinking about it, that him not understanding the realm of the supernatural would've been more of a deal breaker than anything else. God, her life is weird…

She takes another sip of her tea. "So, if not tonight, then when?" she asks, looking back at him with earnest interest.