After their talk last night, Erin was left refreshed. Optimistic. She sat on the porch in a black skirt and an emerald green turtleneck, a black tailored blazer buttoned around her. She leaned back, to rest on her hands, watching the road. It wasn't cold, yet, but it was brisk. The cutoff tights and black scarf were keeping out the cold as much as they could, but her cheeks were starting to redden. She loved sitting out in the mist like this. It was like home and she could watch people drift in and out of sight on the road as if they were ghosts.

Bastian was exciting and new. She wasn't sure what she felt yet... if theirs was a friendship or more. It was too early after everything to really tell. To know. But she was comfortable around him, could tell him anything, it seemed and she believed he understood her. Unlike Gideon, he also had left his privilege. He saw it as a present and not a gift. It was in that fact alone that she knew they were meant to know each other. To be friends. He was safe, and not in a boring way, but in a comfortable one. Erin liked that, liked that she didn't want to throw herself at him, that she wouldn't. And Bastian liked it, too.. said she was different. Special, perhaps? She couldn't stop running their strange conversation through her head... he had stayed after meeting her twice? After all she worried about... all she feared about herself... she had captivated someone that quickly.

Erin turned her eyes down to look at her watch. She hoped he wouldn't get caught up again. The area could have been better, and the watch wasn't too worried with the block lately. She had felt responsible that he was beaten up the night before. Even more responsible that Gideon went after him just after that. He didn't deserve the cold shoulder. Erin leaned forward, bringing her elbows to rest on her knees and continued to watch the road. Just ten more minutes, then she'd go looking...

She watched him barrel down the street, smile pressed to her face. He was cute... if a bit clueless. Fun to watch and even more fun to be around. People here always seemed so sure of themselves, and she was enjoying finding those that weren't. They made her feel normal for not knowing exactly what she wanted and how to get it...

By the time he flung open the gate and made it up the walk she was chuckling. Her brows rose as he spoke to her, shaking her head a little. "Glad you made it. I would have given you a five minute leeway you know." A faint chuckle as she looked him over once more, taking in his ensemble. "The weather is wonderful! I like to get a little color in my cheeks." She stood, slowly, steading on the heels she was wearing. Erin wasn't sure why she had dressed up.. it had felt right. She knew where he had come from and he knew where she had... she was living up to expectations, yes, but also she just wanted to. Erin had never really dated. Or courted. Or whatever this was.

"There's a great little place around the corner. If you're not too out of breath for a walk that is?" A cheeky smile as she offered him her arm. "I think you'll find it quite agreeable.. if a little less fancy than what you're used to." She nodded to the walk with her head. "Come on then, whatcha waitin' for?"

Erin blushed at the touch. It didn't take much to make that pink rise up her neck and over her face. She led him down the walk, letting the gate slam closed behind them. Down the street they went, silently. It wasn't an awkward silence though, no.. it was comfortable and nice. When they reached the corner she turned them right, another couple passing them as they made their way.

Erin stopped in front of a small hole in the wall storefront. In fact.. it was a greasy spoon. "They have the best fish and chips.." A reach into her bag and she pulled out a bottle of malted vinegar, offering it to him. A lean in and she whispered into his ear. Not seductively, no, playfully, almost like a child. "Always come prepared!"

Erin took hold of Bastian's arm and pulled him towards the door, laughing. She couldn't stay that prim and proper lady around him. She probably couldn't do that at all anymore. "I hope you're ready for something really decadent.. and fried!" The door was pushed open and held for him then, a smirk offered at the change of roles.

Erin let out a hearty laugh, nodding to the "hit and run" boys. They were regulars, too, after all. "Of course they do, silly!" A cautious glance from Sebastian to the counter and back to Sebastian. Had she made a mistake? Taken him a little too fast? Before she left London the first time, Erin had taken afternoon walks.. to pubs and hole in the wall indian places.. just lived. It suddenly became painfully clear that Bastian had never "slummed." Oh, this could be interesting...

She took his arm and guided him into a booth. The cleanest one she could find. It was a little greasy on top.. some crumbs here and there.. but it would have to do. "You stay there." A nod of her head, and a point of the finger to scare him into place. He was not ready to be wandering about alone, even in the confines of the diner. Erin sauntered to the window, smiling at the waitress there. She dipped her head at her, "Hey Maggie."

"Hey Erin!" The woman was about five foot five and well built. She wasn't thin, that was for sure, but she was in proportion. Not any older than twenty-five, Maggie had become a casual friend on these daily trips. "You're sure fancy today." Maggie offered Erin a sly smile as she peered around her to get a glance at Bastian sitting at the table. "Gotta date?" She offered a saucy wink.

Erin laughed merrily, reaching over to swat Maggie's arm. "Noooo. We're just friends. I had a..um..a meeting." A slow blush crept over Erin's face as Maggie smiled knowingly down at her.

"Sure ya did, doll. Usual plus one?"

"As always!" Erin adjusted her hair, taking another cautious look back at Bastian. She smiled as she looked at him there. She couldn't help but think of him as a lost puppy... so full of excitement, and yet so confused. She leaned against the counter, waiting for her tray. Maggie had already disappeared into the kitchen leaving Erin alone with her thoughts. Eyes traveled left then right, but always ended back up on him. Oh, this was going to be hard... keeping this friendly. But she trusted it was the right thing...

"There you go, doll! " Maggie exclaimed as she dropped the tray on the counter in front of Erin. Two heaping helpings of fish and chips(extra chips!) leaving greasy stains on the paper placemat. The meal glistened with grease, making Erin beam. It was a mystery how she ate the way she did and remained that willowy.. but she had never even bothered to think about it. "I bet you got that nasty brown stuff in your purse, again, dontcha Erin?" Maggie laughed loudly as Erin stepped away from the counter. She just looked back to roll her eyes at the larger woman and then began back to the table.

She walked slowly, carefully, as not to spill anything. A hang reached out to lower a paper cup with a diet coke in it, bent straw sticking out, in front of him. Another hand went up and down , and there was one in front of her bench as well. Then she slid the basket of fired goodness in front of him. Erin lowered herself onto the bench, letting the tray drop to the table before her. "Okay.. the vinegar.. that's the way we do it back home, yeah? And I find it's good...for the fish at least. But, on the chips." A long dramatic pause. "I use ketchup."

Erin blinked. Actually blinked. A single finger held up and she stepped away, returning with more napkins and a pair of plastic forks. She set hers aside. Way aside. And smiled at him, sympathetically. "Sorry, Bastian, I forgot... how different things are." Erin was kicking herself now, she should have remembered... the disdain, the superiority, the way she was watched before her marriage. But she wanted to share her home with him, her new home. The way in which she had embraced the common side of things. She tended bar, for gods sake!

A delicate finger plucked up a fry, popping it in her mouth, munching away. She reached for the greasy ketchup bottle. It even made her wince a little, nose crinkle. A deep breath and she squirted some into her basket, on top of fries and then into his basket, on the side. "If you hate it.. I can take you somewhere else, yeah? Perhaps we could have tea instead?" She looked at him, her brows raised. The guilt was building up and then she stopped. Another sweep of him with her eyes and she shook her head.

She grabbed another fry, popping it in her mouth. The bottle of vinegar taken from where he had left it, she opened it sprinkling it over the fish. Hand went back down, came back up to his mouth and...crunch. Erin let her mouth spread into a huge smile, eyes falling closed for just a second. Yes, this greasy mess was her favorite food.. heaven even. Clearly the princess had time to adapt. "But... you wanted to get away, right? You left? No need to take baby steps. Just pick up it up with your hands and try it. I promise. It's good." A pause. "Trust me."

Erin looked up to see Bastian's plate completely clean. She blinked. Then blinked again. "You're....done...?" She bit back a look of disappointment. Their lunch should have taken time... involved talking or... something? She let the frown pass, fleeting at that and looked him over once more. She smiled at him, a brow raising. It was funny.. the look of disgust that melted into pure pleasure. That was what she wanted to see. "You liked it then?" Eyes then traveled to her plate. It was only half gone. She was fast, but....

Erin kept up her eating, eyes watching him in between looks down to make sure she was lifting the right thing and actually getting it in her mouth. "You find me that uninteresting, huh? Had to eat as fast as you could?" It was teasing now, light and airy. "Are you sure you want to come with me, then? I mean, I could draw you a map.. let you know what time I come... you could avoid me completely!." The straight face was only held a moment before the giggling starts.