Jolyon smiled up to the water, "Two lasagnas please, plus bottle of red wine and two chilled ciders." Releasing his menu to the waiter with a smile, and he looked back to Juliane and leaned forward. "I could not quite make up my mind which to drink so I hope you do not mind me ordering both."

She chuckled softly as the waiter held out his hands for her menu. Obliging him, she took another nibble from the breadstick. "An' why should I mind, yeah? Yer a big boy, Jolly. Ya can order whatever ya like ta drink whenever ya like."

"Well, the presumption to order for you, still," he grinned, "I am very glad you came with me. It is reminiscent of Italian, though in my world it is called Vicirio. Do you have a favorite food, Halo?"

"Not a presumption. More of a help ta keep Juliane from soundin' like a country bumpkin." She smiled and rested the breadstick to her bread plate. "Not really, yeah? Haven't tried a lot of different stuff ta tell which is my favorite, and th' stuff on Hope was more for sustenance than it was fer enjoyment, yeah?"

A nod to that. He did understand, and now wondered if she felt uncomfortable. Looking around at the others there, all the myriads that tend to walk the city, though most looked as simply human as they. "You would never sound like a country bumpkin, Halo, and you fit anywhere you want to be." A confident and reassuring smile, he wanted to reach for her hand and share the confidence in the touch, but his hand flopped rather lamely and to cover for the motion, pretended something was on the tablecloth that he was cleaning it away.

Blinking up at her, hoping she did not catch the ruse, and yet, some part of him hoping she did so she would call him on it, he rushed ahead with an idea. "I would like to see what cultures have established their cuisines here. Would you," he cleared his throat looked down at this plate, then at the breadsticks and up to her, the rotation to continue through the question, "like to join me in that exploration?"

There really were breadcrumbs on her portion of the table, and missing the ruse, she followed suit and brushed them from the table. Smiling back at him, she chuckled. "Thanks fer th' vote of confidence, Jolly... but when ya come from farm country, there isn't anythin' ta prepare ya for lah-sahn-yuh. I'm jus' tryin' ta pick up what I can as I go along, yeah?"

"So," a puzzled frown, "is that a no or a yes?"

She had been reaching for her water, to take a sip, but paused with it halfway to her lips. Something had tickled the back of her throat. To stave off a cough, she took a quick sip. "Sorry 'bout that. It's a yes."

"Excellent," he smiled. "Perhaps our regular beginning of the week evening meal. It would certainly set my week starting off well." The bottle of red wine arrived, and with an expert twist, the waiter poured. Leaving the bottle to the table, the ciders soon followed as did a bowl of salad with olives, "Ooh, olives, it has been months!" and other vegetables. The glasses of chilled cider arrived soon after, and the waiter bowed and smiled as he departed.

Jolyon took up his glass of wine and gave a silent toast to Juliane.

She lifted her glass in a matching salute before taking an appropriate sip. Draping her napkin across her lap, she took the fork in hand and ate a bite of salad. The exploration was underway.

As Flo gave a nod and went off to get their drinks, Jolyon mouthed, "Ice tea?" as if it were the strangest thing. When he voiced his question, he started off with, "I have read of such a custom, but really, is it good cold?" It was an entirely strange way of having tea from his home. "I have also heard of putting lemon in it. Now we sometimes have lemon in certain blends of hot tea, but do you have lemon in your cold tea, too?"

"Oh yeah, it's very good. Ya steep th' tea in big jars of water an' let it sit in th' sun ta brew it proper. Some call it sun tea fer tha' very reason, yeah? Bu' it's cool an' refreshin' in th' spring an' summer when ya turn green at th' thought of drinkin' more water." Cracking open the menu, she began to peruse it lightly, never dropping the strain of explanation. "An' I s'pect lemon would be good in it, bu' was too expensive ta have it tha' way at home, so we drank it plain... or wi' some mint fer a treat."

Flo returned with the drinks and Jolyon looked at the light pink color of his with some amusement. "Be right back to getcher orders, sweeties," Flo said before turning on heel and zooming to help another with a bona fide sway to her hips.

Jolyon looked to Juliane's tea, but took a sip of his pink lemonade. "Hmm, it is good, but why pink?" He questioned without really expecting an answer and then turned his attention to the menu as well. The variety was at least understandable among the steaks, sandwiches, fried chickens, but when he came to chicken fried steak and chicken friend chicken, he became confused. Lips pursed together a moment, and he looked from one side to another. Couples were eating and having a good time. Children, a rare sight to see out and about with adults at dinner, were also enjoying their meals and balloons tied to their wrists.

Still, Jolyon was puzzled, but just as he was leaning forward to ask in a lowered voice his question, the music turned up. It meant something, and with the hurrying of the waitstaff into a line down one of the main aisles, Jolyon was rather certain this was the infamous dance he heard about.

"Well, she did say it was pink lemonade, yeah? Mebbe it's cause they use pink lemons?" Her query was drowned out most decidedly by the blaring of some "boot-scootin'" something or other, the nimble feet of the waitresses weaving them in, out and around the others in an intricate sort of pattern, accented with whoops and hollers throughout. Juliane grinned wide at the entertainment, her fingers tapping lightly against the tablecloth.

Jolyon looked about, head turning one way and then another, mouth slightly agape as the routine was performed. The patrons all seemed to get into it, smiling, kids bouncing and giggling, and it fascinated him. "Amazing," he breathed out.

As the dance came to an end, the waitstaff went on about their business as if they had not just done an entertainment for the entire restaurant. "That's simply fascinating. Do they--" he looked to Juliane, a wiggle of his raised finger to indicate what just happened, "Do they do something like this where you're from? It's just that, you seemed to understand it."

"Somethin' similar, though not 'xactly th' same. A way fer everyone ta dance together an' no' rely on there bein' even numbers of girls ta boys." A sip of her ice tea as she continued to read about several entrees. "I'm assumin' ya don't have anythin' similar where ya come from, Jolly. Or per'aps ya jus' dance in pairs." Placing her finger on a listing in the menu so she wouldn't forget it, watching him in anticipation of his answer.

"Well, no, we have dances that do not necessarily require partners, but I will admit they are rare and we do not perform them...out of the blue in the middle of a restaurant." He smiled and then leaned forward. "What is chicken fried steak, and if the chicken is fried, why then chicken fried chicken? Is that not redundant?"

"Then wha' did ya mean, hmmm?" Her curiosity was piqued now and she posed her question around a bite and swallow of baked good. "An' I'll be happy ta come look at th' vineyard whenever ya have th' time. Seein' it'll help me get a feel fer th' final label."

"I meant," he said slowly, "that you are a naturally lovely woman." Trying the butter with the bread this time and using the bite of that to dissuade from further requirement of him to give details, because he would give away too much. He looked up over the architecture and nodded. Pointing to the rafters and some of the decorations. "Interesting. It is as if memorabilia is used to decorate."

"Well thanks, Jolly. Very nice of ya ta say so, didn't 'spect ta get compliments as well as treated ta dinner." She chuckled softly and turned her attention to where he pointed, a large tin sign advertising vegetable seeds hanging overhead. "Yeah, seems it is." Another sip of tea. "It definitely works for th' theme of th' place, yeah?"

"Oh, I heartily agree," he nodded. A smile was sent to her, and chuckled. "Honest compliments at that! I may even spring for dessert." The smile warmed his eyes. "But I do not serenade without extreme compulsion."

"Jolly, are ya tryin' ta tell me ya don't sing for yer supper? Maybe I'll hav' ta give a key word ta Flo 'bout that." Another bite of roll, this time with the butter, a tinge of cinnamon exploding on her tongue.

"If my supper requires my singing, yes, but I do not think I would be fed well on its earning." He laughed. "At least you can paint for your supper or do something worth seeing. What is the next project after the acrylics?"

It was her turn to chuckle. "Don' say so 'round Si or she'll be wantin' ta recruit ya for a student. Then ya'd be known as th' singin' grape doctor." She grinned wide. "Don' have a new project lined up though. Gonna be watchin' th' Lark while Jo an' Si are off on their honeymoon."

At the title, he laughed bright and unfettered. "What a horrendous title. Let us keep it a secret, shall we?" He nodded, rather happy with the news. "You will be tending to customers then, and perhaps be inspired by what you see coming in the shop." He took a drink and then added, "Unless it has four legs and a tiara."

"No animals allowed. If I hav' ta, I'll make th' sign m'self." A chuckle. She was about to say more, but before the first word escaped, huge platters heaped high with food were slid in front of each of them.

"Enjoy yer vit'les, peaches." Flo gave a wiggle of her fingers. "Youn's be sure ta clean th' plates and I'll be back wi' th' refills ri' quick."

"Thank you," Jolyon smiled to Flo and looked over his steaming plate, and then up to Juliane. "How does yours look? Good?" His certainly did and smelled good, too. Watering mouth and grumbling stomach were key evidence to that.

She smiled slowly, a forkful of apples already placed in her mouth. Drawing the tines out of her mouth, she chewed quickly before sputtering out, "Yep."

"Excellent." His anticipation of his first bite was satisfied by the chicken fried steak. He chewed thoughtfully and nodded. The second bite combined with some of the mashed potatoes and gravy and that elicited a small moan of delight at the taste. Once swallowed, he nodded, "It has a bit of spice, abundance of pepper, I think, but it tastes very good at that."

"'M glad ya like it, Jolly. Mine's tasty too. Would ya like a taste of somethin'?" Nudging the plate towards him as she takes another swallow of iced tea.

The very word "okra" turns him off, but the apples looked appealing, and he took one onto his fork and tasted its splendid blend of spices and caramelization from cooking. "That is not unlike one of the apple tortes of home, without the pastry, but very good." He looked over his plate, "I suspect none of my fare is interesting or unfamiliar to you, but you are welcome to try any that you like."

"An' ruin m' appetite for all this tasty okra?" A forkful of okra waved slightly before eaten. "Nah, I'll pass bu' thanks jus' th' same."Another chuckle as her knife is taken up, the porkchop being cut into appropriate bites. "So, how's things at th' vineyard b'sides th' roof? Everythin' lookin' good?"

His mouth turned down at the waved forkful of okra, a distinct "bleck" look. "That is all yours, trust me." He took another bite, this time of potatoes and corn, rather fond of mixing flavors. Once swallowed, never one to talk with his mouth full if he can help it, "The roof is mended, thanks to Mister Kaiser and company. Now, if the weather will warm there may be some hope yet. Hamish does not seem worried yet, but it certainly is late for me to have such cold weather."

He was rescued by a waitress greeting them with a sweet smile, bounce to her ponytail, and conducting them to a booth. "Patty's gonna be your waitress, and she'll be right with ya, okay?"

"Yes," Jolyon smiled and waited for Juliane to take a seat before he did, "yes thank you."

Sliding along the bench seat of the booth, she rested her bag in the inside corner. A smile to the waitress and then to Jolyon, she noticed two menus propped between the plastic ketchup and mustard containers. Handing one across the table to him, she flipped hers open and began to browse the offerings listed within.

"Thank you," taking up the menu offered by Juliane. He looked over the listings. Mouth twisting one way and then the other as he read the descriptions and tried to decipher what exactly he was hungry for -- that was on the menu. A glance up to Juliane, "Have you been to a place like this before?"

"Never in m' life. But there's a first time fer everythin', yeah?" She grinned as she chuckled at a particularly robust description of a burger -- The Brahma Bronco Rider.

"What is it?" he laughed in a soft echo of her chuckle and leaning a bit tried to see what it was on her menu that was funny.

"A half pound patty slabbed high with mushrooms, smoked cheddar, bacon, a deep fried onion ring and Brahma bar-be-que sauce." She could barely read it for giggling.

"It seems enough to feed two at least," he laughed as well and flashed eyes over the menu to read the description again. "And what of --" but he was interrupted by the arrival of a young, pretty, redhaired ponytailed, freckle faced girl named Patty.

"Hiya, can I get you some drinks or answer questions about the menu?" Blue eyes blinking from one to the other.

"Um... I'll have a chocolate shake ta drink, if ya please. An' I'm still ta busy readin' th' menu ta have any questions." She flashed the infamous Smith grin and turned her head back to the menu, allowing Jolyon to place his order.

"What is a frog shake. It isn't really made out of frogs, is it?" Jolyon asked.

The girl laughed like a hyena, poor thing, and shook her head. "No, sir, it's a chocolate and mint shake -- just looks green, so we call it The Frog."

A bit shame faced, he grinned and the flush reached up his neck. "Oh, yes, well, I think a glass of water will be fine."

"Sure thing. Well, I'll give ya time to decide on the meal and be back with your drinks in a jiffy." She smiled and bounced away.

Jolyon leaned forward to whisper, "Well that was embarrassing." He was obviously easy with making fun of himself though, as he laughed again.

"Why? I would've thought th' same thing, this bein' Rhy'din an' all. Ya never can tell if stuff's literal or no', yeah?" Closing her menu, she returned it to the spot she had plucked it from. "So have ya decided on what yer gettin'?"

Frowning at the menu, he shook his head. "Not yet." Interested raise of his brows, he asked, "What are you having, then?"

"'M thinkin' th' reuben sandwich. Wi' a side of onion rings." Grinning broadly and patting her lithe stomach. "Jus' sounds grand an' I'm starved."

"Well, good thing I came along then, hm?" He teased and then looked over his menu for the umpteenth time. A furrow began to draw a line between his brows though his forehead remained smooth enough. He had managed to be clean shaven today in deference to working in the warehouse instead of in the dirt.

"Oh yeah, otherwise I'd have been left ta somethin' no' half as tasty as I'm thinkin' this is goin' ta be." A blonde brow arched as he studied some more. "Lookin' for clues or fer somethin' ta jump out and pique yer interest?"

"I think the latter," he lifted one brow and looked up at her without lifting his head. A wiggle of brows, and then he laughed and set aside the menu. "And I think I have it."

He laughed and near choked on his bite, but swallowed and took a drink of water. "Is that how you settle disagreements with your brother?" He laughed again, though this time with no threat of choking.

A mischievous grin as she took a drink of her shake. "Mmm, only in very dire cirumstances." Wiping her hands on a napkin she took another onion ring. "'S very convincin' and most useful."

"I should say so. I am glad my sister never tried such a tactic on me, but then again, I am not ticklish." This was said with too much confidence for it to be true. But he did not give way for further debate on the subject as he returned to enjoying the meal and the company of the lovely lady.

"All tha' means is yer tickle spot has yet ta be discovered." Stated succinctly, as if that was the only logical opinion. Juliane tucked into the sandwich again, loving the mingle of flavors. "So how's things at Rumors Mill, yeah?" The question followed-up by a mouthful of food, waiting for his reply.

A snicker at that declaration, he still did not debate it, but he did answer her question. "Going well. The vines are growing, there's only been one or two threats of pests that were seen to, and I have my home back, which, believe you me, is a good thing." A few fries in, he looked about a moment to the dancing and the ornamentation and decoration, before he looked back to his meal.

"Yer home back?" Green gaze rounded as she searched her brain for a reference to such information. She came up empty-handed. "Had ya been invaded or somethin'?"

He had forgotten that all the events of the last weeks had not been shared, and he tried to choose his words carefully. A napkin brought up to wipe his mouth gave him the chance to think. "Well, yes, I had some unexpected visitors, and after a few weeks, it was time they found their own place, which they did. So, all is well again." He grinned and gave a nod to her food. "So, the meal is good? Mine certainly is."

She suspected there was more that was not being communicated but did not press the issue, seeing as it was not polite for her to pry. "Well, glad ta hear things are goin' so well fer ya, Jolly. Any idea when ya will want ta get started on th' mural?" A nod as she offered him an onion ring. "Oh, yeah. Delicious."

"I suppose later in the summer. I hope the vineyard will be a bit more inspirational then, and all the construction work should be done. Besides, I think you are a bit busy right now, would you not agree?" He smiled as he sat back. "And speaking of being busy, time to hold up your deal of the dance. You cannot say you have an empty stomach nor a too full stomach."

"But I'm no' finished yet!" She scrambled, trying to make the excuse stick. "Would ya have such a tasty meal go uneaten?" Now that the sandwich was a more manageable size, she picked up the one half she'd been cutting off of and took a large bite. A slow grin curved her lips as she chewed.

"It will not go wandering off, Juliane." He gave her a look that brooked no refusal. And in fact, he stood and held a hand out for her. "Would you embarrass me by refusing me standing here?"

"No, but I prob'ly will once I start dancin'." Her fingers were quickly wiped in a napkin before she slid out of the booth and took his hand. "Didn't realize I'd have ta dance fer m' lunch."

He laughed and leaned close to whisper. "I won't let you down, Halo." When they arrived at the dance floor, Jolyon took both her hands in his. "We will start slow, okay? Just something to get you relaxed. So, I want you to just step forward when I give a little tug of our hands outwards, then step back when I push a bit on your hands, okay?" It should prove to be a simple in and out to the beat of the song dictated by his touch, but he's prepared for loss of beat.

For some reason, it took her a full second after he applied the appropriate pressure to her hands for her to move in either direction. The end result had them moving against the tempo of the music instead of with it. Her brow furrowed and a frown on her face, she shook her head in silent apology. Moving to take another step forward, she nearly trips her own self up. "Don' say I didn' try ta warn ya."

He smiled and shook his head, hands to her arms to support her so she would not fall. "Don't worry so, Juliane. Let me try this. We're going to do the same thing." But this time, he thinks ahead, and he starts giving the signals a half beat before the movement is required.

While he intended it to be reassuring, she could not tamp down the feeling of being remedial and failing to capture something as easy as moving on the beat. His adjustments help some, but there is no fluidity, no grace in her movements.

"There you go," he smiled, but just then the song changed to a ballad. He smiled and gave her a reassuring look before he tried to draw her close. "Just rock back and forth, Juliane. Think of how your brush glides across the canvas."

She was awkward and the more she tried not to be, the more it was accentuated. Unable to track how many times she stepped on his toes, her body seemed to stutter and twitch instead of sway and glide. Her cheeks heavily bloomed with color.

He ignored the stepping on of his toes, but he could feel she was getting more and more tense. It hurt inside more than anything, and in that thought he lost the beat and stepped on her foot. "Oh, Juliane, I'm sorry. I lost track of what I was doing. Shall we go finish our meal?"

She felt horrible, like a gangly giraffe. Juliane squeezed his shoulder lightly, her face averted so that he wouldn't see her embarrassment until she could regain her control. Misunderstandings abounded as Jolyon assumed Juliane's tenseness was related to her comfort level with him. Her unhappiness stemmed from the idea that her errors made him regret his invitation and eager to end the experiment. "'S no' yer fault. I'm th' sorry one." The song ended and there was a pause in the music, the two of them just standing there.

He reached for her hand, "Come on, Halo, we still have our food waiting for us. Next time, we'll eat at some place that you pick, okay?" It was a friendly sort of smile.