(Continued From New York Aquarium)

The cab ride from the New York Aquarium to the Gotham Bar and Grill normally took between twenty-five to thirty minutes... with traffic and a rather slow driver it added up to forty minutes. Thankfully however the ride had been pleasant with idle conversation going back and forth between the blind-man and attractive lady teacher. Luke had been surprised when Raina had taken his arm but he had gone along with it.

"I've eaten here a few times and the food has always been really good." Luke said as he stepped out of the cab and then offered a hand to help Raina out, "My apartment is only about ten minutes from here so it's convenient."

Even as the words left his mouth, Luke knew that might have sounded wrong. Well... Raina had made a comment about wanting to see his apartment sometime so he had let her know it wasn't far away but tonight wouldn't be good. He was sure that the young woman had work the next day at her new job and he had things to do... well he was planning on stopping by the office but that wasn't exactly of huge importance and could be delayed if necessary.

"Good afternoon!" A brown-haired college age hostess greeted as soon as the two of them walked through the door, "Will it just be the two of you?"

"Yes thank you." Luke replied with a smile, his hand gently touching Raina's elbow so that everyone in the room would think she was guiding him.

In a matter of moments the two were seated at a table toward the back of the restaurant. Having arrived before the busiest times the tables on either side of them were empty, allowing a little more privacy than usual. Luke had never truly 'seen' the restaurant before but it had been described to him often enough that he could almost imagine what everything looked like.

Gold painted ceilings and walls gave the restaurant almost a royal feel which combined perfectly with the cloth draped chandeliers that along with plenty of can lights kept the room light enough to easily read the menu. Large bouquets of fresh flowers stood atop pedestals throughout, brightening the room and keeping things bright and cheerful. The tables were somewhat closer together than you would find in other restaurants but there was still an intimacy when dining here that was hard to achieve even in much larger rooms.

With the menu laying in front of him, Luke leaned back against the cushion of his chair allowing his sonar to more carefully examine Raina's features while she studied the menu. She was most undoubtedly a beautiful woman and it had been some time since he had gone out with a lady this attractive. For now he would focus on enjoying exactly what this meal was... a time of friendship. Nothing more.

"Just to warn you, the waiter will ask if you want any type of wine with the meal. Do you see anything that looks particularly good?" Luke asked with a slight smile, "If you're interested in steak the 'Grilled New York Steak' is excellent."

Raina was happy to sit and enjoy the cab ride with Luke, though some New Yorkers couldn't be bothered with cabbies Raina chatted away with theirs.

When they get out she marvelled at the street and watched everything that was going on. Her eyes became big when she saw what building they were going into- she expected it to be a run down pub but it most certainly was not.

When Luke took her by the elbow she resisted the urge to jump. Raina was a touchy feely person it was true, but it was so natural for her she barely noticed when she did it. She reminded herself that Luke was 'blind' and needed to appear so. She gave her head a mental shake embaressed for forgetting.

Luke made it easy to forget he was blind, or a mutant for that matter. She thought about how not using her powers made her blend in as well.

They entered the magnificant building and Raina felt the slightest pain in her chest from the beauty of it- something Luke would probably never be able to fully comprehend. It was sad, but Raina mentally promised herself that whenever she had the chance she'd explain things as thoroughly as she could to Luke.

They took their seats and Raina was overcome by the fragrant smell of the many flowers. She didn't likt artificial scents, they bothered her a lot and hurt her throat so a true scent was a real treat, none of this phony parfume.

The hair on Raina's neck stood up a little and she wondered if that meant Luke was using his sonar on something close to her (she'd never believe it was on her) and made a note to ask him sometime to use it with her knowing so she could see if that energized sort of feeling was a sensativity to his power.

Her head did hurt a little, but she pushed any thoughts of it being caused by Luke to the back of her mind. The front of her mind was busy making excuses about being tired from using so much of her powers, the pressure from being under water, being hungry, and the sudden drop in air pressure.

She reached for her menu and scanned it, it seemed a little pricier than she expected. She could still afford it, it just meant some clever budgeting when she got home.

"This place is really beautiful, I'm surprised it's not filled to the brim with a waiting list to boot." she commented. "I take things like this for granted, I've got to remind myself that we've got nothing like this where I come form. Not poor or anything, it's just that getting anything all that way up north is really expensive so it tends to cost an arm and a leg to eat out. Best we've got is fast food and even then it's a little different than everything else."

Luke commented on the wine and the steak and Raina flashed back to the last two times she had alcohol. If there was one thing Raina knew for sure, it was that she could not hold her alcohol and she was a VERY cheap drunk. "I think I'll pass on the wine. Is there a kind you like? I think if I'm going back to the school probably just water." she smiled sweetly hoping he'd take it for just that and not wonder any other reasons why she wouldn't want a drink.

"That steak sounds great. It's been too long since I've had a real sit down meal, we're always so busy at the mansion!" she added twirling her hair absentmindedly with her hand. Her fingers were long and slender but there was power there from years of playing music.

She took a sideways glance around the room and noticed how well-to-do people seemed. All dressed up (she was thankful her work clothes were nice!) and likely having a lot of money.

"it's convient this place is so close to home, I bet you eat here a lot! They must treat you like a regular."

she made little conversation here and there, talking even more when her stomach was growling so no one would hear it though she knew Luke's strong hearing would likely pick up on it. She scolded herself for not eating properly today and tried to make a note to pack a lunch tomorrow. Swimming like that burned so much energy.

Suddenly she heard a very loud boom and she looked up startled. She was even more startled when no one else seemed to bother with the noise which was soon followed by a brilliant flash of lightning and a down pour. Everything seemed silent for a moment as the water bounced off the windows and roof. It had seemed so nice out earlier... Raina remembered hearing it might rain this afternoon but she had thought she'd been home by then.

"Oh no. We may be here a little longer than I expected..."

"This place is really beautiful, I'm surprised it's not filled to the brim with a waiting list to boot. I take things like this for granted, I've got to remind myself that we've got nothing like this where I come form. Not poor or anything, it's just that getting anything all that way up north is really expensive so it tends to cost an arm and a leg to eat out. Best we've got is fast food and even then it's a little different than everything else."

Suddenly as Raina spoke, Luke realized that for most people this was probably an extremely expensive restaurant. He didn't make so much money that he liked flaunting it or eating out like this several times a week but ever couple of weeks he enjoyed a nice dinner out.

"I'm sorry." Luke apologized, "I'm probably coming across as a spoiled rich boy bringing you here. I'm not trying to show off or anything but I will buy your meal. Consider it... congratulations for your new job."

"I think I'll pass on the wine. Is there a kind you like? I think if I'm going back to the school probably just water."

"Other than the occasional glass of wine with dinner I normally stay away from alcohol, although I do enjoy the flavor of a nice merlot." He replied with a slight chuckle, "I learned while in college that drinking can make you show off and reveal things that you didn't want people to know. I'm probably one of the few to leave basically sober from some of these socialite parties."

"That steak sounds great. It's been too long since I've had a real sit down meal, we're always so busy at the mansion!"

It was nice to hear Raina talking about the mansion... Luke had visited once but it had been in the middle of the night when no one but Neena had been up and about. "I'll have to have you give me a tour during the day sometime. The only time I visted was around one a.m. or something so other than talking with Neena I didn't meet any of the mansion residents or really take a good look around either."

"it's convient this place is so close to home, I bet you eat here a lot! They must treat you like a regular." Raina said before suddenly jumping because of a loud thunder clap from outside. "Oh no. We may be here a little longer than I expected..."

For a moment Luke was confused as he tried to understand what Raina was saying. The rain had started but neither of them would get very wet between the restaurant entrance and their cab. "I know we get a little wet but it's not far from the door to our cab and the doorman will hail one down for us." Luke said slowly, his voice dropping slightly as he realized this had to do something with Rain's mutation. "Does water... affect you?"

Luke knew he was probably stretching a little bit with his assumption but it began to make a little bit of sense. Raina had been carried away from the tank back at the aquarium so maybe her transformation wasn't voluntary. If getting wet was what made things happen then the storm outside could be a problem... a serious problem.

Raina laughed at his mention of college parties. "I'm not sorry I missed out on those, and I happily accept your congradulations." she laughed as a nurse appeared bringing them each a glass of water. She looked down at the glass for a moment

"You will have to come back to the mansion, it's a huge place and a lot of it has recently been rebuilt so it's top notch. Plus I think you'd feel good meeting others like us. It's always a unique experieince."

Raina looked up a little embaressed when he asked about the water. "A little wont hurt, I mean... very little. I recently had some testing done. I can handle things that are part water and part something else. Like rubbing alcohol. A lot of times I use it to get clean so I wont transform. I can drink, touching it to my lips quickly wont change me but if I have a lot to drink or I hold my water there I will. It doesn't seem to be affected by body fluids, I recently had a dog knock me down and lick my face and I was pretty relieved I didn't change...."

She started thinking about how severely this really did affect her. "but rain is the enemy. I basically need to wear a survival suit and a plastic mask or something!" she joked. "clothes work fine but if they get wet my skin gets wet, and outside even for a minute there's so much potential, all it takes is one little splash or a couple of rain drops on my skin and poof... fish lady." she was trying to have a sarcastic tone but anyone could see she was quite troubled and annoyed by this.

"Some doctors thought they could help me control it a whileback... but that was a dead end. I find if I put a lot of mosituriser on I can condition my skin to standing some moisture, or if I wear waterproof sunblock it can sometimes keep a small thin barrier to last a few seconds... but honestly anything I had on has been washed off from being in the tank earlier."

As Raina spoke, Luke just remained quiet... patiently listening as he recounted yet more of her troubles. The poor girl had faced so much and now her very transformation made her a prisoner from the elements. There was no way she could step out and just enjoy the feeling of rain falling down on her face without becoming a mermaid and revealing herself to anyone nearby. Luke had always enjoyed moving freely through the elements... without normal sight the things that he could taste, touch, and smell had always provided extra wonder for him. The scent of rain in the air and the feeling of it touching his skin was one of the things that he had taken for granted but yet here was a young woman that had to be so concerned about the feeling that she couldn't just enjoy it.

"You've really been put through the ringer over this past year." Luke said quietly as he reached out and grabbed his own glass of water, taking a small sip before placing it back down on the table. "Well she doesn't need me making her any more nervous than she is already." He thought to himself as he brought his aura of awareness inward until it only extended out about two feet in all directions. It was enough that he could still see his glass of water and the spot where his food would be set, but he wouldn't be bothering Raina with the nervous side of his gift.

"Can I assume you have some close friends at the Mansion that have helped you through everything?" Luke asked, doing his best to keep her engaged in conversation and hopefully thinking about happier thoughts. She had to have some close friends... didn't she?

Raina was relieved when he didn't talk anymore about her having to go out in the rain but remained content to stay inside and talk. "Well, I don't like to complain." she sighed. "I think most mutants have been put through the ringer this year dont you think? What with the camps and all. I'm making the best of it. I enjoy my work at the mansion and this new job at the aquarium is making life wonderful. I figure I've payed my dues it's about time to start enjoying things."

She laughed. "I've got friends I guess at the mansion. We all sorta stick togeather because we have to. To survive. But Sara whom you've already met, she and I are about as close as a fish and cat can be." she giggled. "I'd say we're friends, don't see each other much. Neena's really nice, and I have a friend Iris. My friend Ted hasnt been around for a while." she thought of the people she knew. "But you know, it's hard for anyone."

She paused "what about you? any friends in the city... any... girlfriends?"

Luke leaned back in his chair with a thoughtful expression on his face as he thought about the people he knew here in New York City. Was there anyone he would classify as a friend? There was no extremely close friends he could think of, at least noone he would trust with every secret in his life.

"Friends have always been few and far between for me... at least close friends. I make aquaintences very easily but to let someone get that close is very rare. Miss Langstan, my secretary at Jacobs and Jacobs is probably the person that knows me best but only in a business sense. We have very clear boundaries in our relationship and we maintain a good business friendship and that's all." The blind man said slowly as one after another he thought of a name and then discarded it, "And girlfriends... I've had arm trophies that I could escort to different parties but once again I never found anyone that I knew I could trust with every secret about my life."

Ok... things were getting way to serious an even a little depressing. Thinking about how few friends he actually had was not Luke's idea of a good time and so he needed to find a way out and quick.

"So the girlfriend position is available, if that's why you were asking. I'm always glad to take applications." Luke teased, a sly smile apearing on his face for several moments before he decided to allow Raina to relax. "Just teasing Raina."

Any embaressment on Raina or Luke's parts was spared as the waiter came up, asking in a very conversational tone whether the two were ready to order.

"I'll take the three course lunch starting with your 'Beet and Mango Salad' followed by the 'Grilled N.Y. Steak' cooked to medium rare. I believe I'll finish with an 'Apple & Plum Tart'. Just water to drink will be fine." Luke said as he turned his head to face the waiter, offering his own smile before turning back to Raina with an upraised eyebrow.

"Do you know what you would like Raina?"

Raina listened intently as Luke talked about the people in his life. "I know what you mean, there's people you know but then there's people WHO know" She tried not to change her expression much when he spoke about his secretary. Was he just one of these playboy kinda guys who lured girls in with his sense of vulnerability? She sure hoped not because this didn't seem to be like an 'attraction' that she could stop.

When he said the girlfriend position was avalible she made a face and then added "Sorry, you'll have to get in line!" it made her think of Flloyd and she wondered if she should explain the situation there... but shrugged it off telling herself it wasn't like she was dating Luke or about to rush into anything. "Besides, I've done the, 'hello we just met let's date' bit once too often I''m afraid Luke Jacobs" she joked.

She was going to keep going with the joke when the waitress arrived to take their orders. "I'd like the Grilled NY Steak." she said with a big devious grin. "With mashed potatoes and sautaed onions!" her mouth was already watering. "And if the host doesn't mind, I'll have the biggest chocolate shake you've got. No cherry."

As the waitress left with their orders she peered out the window again. "Stil coming down out there. This place ever have any live entertainment?" she found her thoughts wandering back to music as it often did.

ooc: sorry for the long wait and the sort of fragmented reply. Lost my groove because I had to head to work!

(OOC: No problem on the wait. I figured it was work or something so it's no big deal.)

IC:
So he would have to get in line if he wanted to date Raina... that was an interesting bit of information to store for future use. Apparently she had at least one other suitor beyond that cop she had once been involved with and maybe even more. It wouldn't be a big surprise to find men jumping at the chance to date a woman like her, even if she did turn into a mermaid when she got wet.

As Raina placed her order Luke found himself getting a small smile on his face. It was obvious from the way she said the names of the food that she was hungry and that was fine by him. It was nice to eat out with someone that did more than just pick at their food.

"Still coming down out there. This place ever have any live entertainment?"

"Not that I know of... there are a couple of different coffee shops near here that have live entertainment, and of course the clubs down town, but I don't think they ever have any performers in here." Luke replied. It was strange sitting at a table and talking to someone that was right across from and be unable to see them. He knew keeping the sonar pulled in would make her more comfortable but it was still an odd experience for him.

"Can I assume that along with appreciating art you have a taste for music? " Luke asked, keeping the conversation general and safe. It was obvious to him now that Raina wasn't out to get a boyfriend but it sounded like she could use another real friend and... honestly... so could Luke. "Any particular genre or basically everything under the sun?"

Raina was feeling much more comfortable though she didn't realize it was because of Luke. She was a little surprised that she felt so good considering it was pouring out and she wasn't sure when it would stop or how she'd get home.

"I'm native." she replied. "Native Canadian eh?" she joked. "Not my real hair." she admitted pulling at the red. It was hard to tell her ethnicity. she totally had that ethnic look to her but it was rather ambiguous and hard to nail down. A closer look at her face and one could see clear features about her gray eyes. "But I suppose you don't see just how flaming red my hair is." she laughed. "Think of the heat from fire. Thats essentially my hair." she'd gone off track just a little. "back home with my tribe I was trained as a chanter, a singer mainly. It's what triggered my mutation later on in life but for a good majority of my life I took part in various traditions that required me chanting to the sun, the earth, the sea..." she was thoughtful for a moment and happily reminded of her roots.

"When my power came and ice came out of me every time I sang you can imagine it put a damper on my creative spirit to not be able to sing. So I learned to play every instrument that I could. I'm partial to guitar.... even have one back at the mansion!" she grinned. "If you don't let you creative soul come out it'll find a way to come out..."

She talked for a bit describing her tribe, what it was like living in a part of the world that got so much light and darkness in a year, and the effects global warming was having when their food arrived.

"Oh Excellent!" a steaming plate was put in front of her and she dug in instantly. The food was mouth watering and every bit as good as she hoped. She took a loud sip through the straw of her shake. "How's your food?" she asked then added. "What sort of hobbies do you have?

She was glad to talk to someone new, meeting someone new was always exciting, but she felt she was talking a lot about herself here and didn't want to come off as shallow or vain.

She was a native that had flaming red hair... interesting combination, although Luke really couldn't envision what it would look like. He knew about colors from people describing them to him and he knew that flaming red hair was not the norm, but without actually seeing the colors he had no way of truly experiencing it.

When the food arrived, Luke turned his attention down to the plates that had been placed before him. The steak smelled very tantalizing but he restricted himself to starting with the beet and mango salad in order to be at least a little bit healthy. The slight crunch of the beets combines with the creaminess and sweetness of the mango to make a beautiful medley that many people would never even dream of trying.

"How's your food? What sort of hobbies do you have?

Luke smiled slightly and finished chewing and swallowing his current bite of food before once again addressing his dining partner.

"The food's wonderful... it normally is here. Definitely one of the reasons I keep coming back. And hobbies... well, I've always enjoyed cooking. Cooking is one of the things that you don't have to have eyes to experience because of the scents and flavors you can get from each thing. I've been able to find a few braille cookbooks but for the most part I learned in class and in experimenting."

"A lot of people would think I'm strange," Luke said with a slight chuckle, "but probably my most prized possession is my set of cooking knives. I invested in them right out of college because I couldn't stand substandard knives when I'm trying to slice or chop my ingredients."

It had been some time since Luke had an opportunity to really cook a full meal... sure he cooked for himself but nothing to extravagant. Basic sandwiches, sauteed chicken or fish, and a few casseroles were the food he normally lived on but it was always nice when he could really go all out and cook for someone else.

"Maybe I can cook for you and some other friends sometime. It's been quite a while since I've had a chance to do anything like that." Luke said as he turned his 'gaze' back down to the plate in front of him. "And your singing could always be the entertainment... at least we wouldn't run out of ice." He finished in a teasing voice before digging back into the salad. The scent of the steak was starting to be overwhelming and he knew if he didn't finish the salad now, he might never get back to it.

Raina looked down at the colourful food placed in front of Luke. She wondered if he could tell how beautiful it looked before it was eaten.

"Cooking" she said dreamily. "I like food. I eat a lot..."she was off in a far away land for a second until she snapped back to reality embaressed. "I mean, well, mutants burn a lot of energy using our powers. I find we need to eat more than the average human. I appreciate all foods there isn't really anything I don't like. Well, maybe liver. Ick." she laughed.

She listened to him talk about his passion for cooking, how silly he felt over his knifes and she was touched. "It's important to have good cooks in the world. The most depressed person can be cheered up by a well cooked meal, a busy family can come togeather over one, and problems can be solved. Friends can be made and people met over good food."

She straightened in her seat popping a spoonful of moist mashed potatoes in her mouth. She'd been considering adding gravy or butter to them but they tasted so amazing on their own she didnt.

"If you cooked for me..." she started. "I'd keep you all to myself. No sharing. You can be my little cook friend and I'll keep you in my closet and bring you fresh ingrediants every day and maybe let you out for fresh air once in a while." she teased right back. "I'd be the envy at all the dinner parties, and my friends would be jealous."

He joked about her ice and she laughed. "Actually, they got me icing the walrus and penguin exhibits routinely back at the park!"

Luke was getting confused and he wasn't afraid to admit that to himself... this girl sent out more mixed signals than a Mets catcher trying to call for the next pitch. First she said she had a boyfriend and Luke would have to get in line and then she starts talking about keeping him all to herself. A little good natured teasing was one thing but this was beginning to get ridiculous.

"Well at least you'd let me out for air occasionally." Luke chuckled at her teasing, "And exercise... don't forget about exercise."

"Actually, they got me icing the walrus and penguin exhibits routinely back at the park!" She responded to his ice joke with a laugh of her one.

"It's good that you found a job where you can use your gifts and enjoy the work all at the same time." Luke replied with a smile as he set his empty salad plate to the side and moved the entree so that it was centered right in front of him. The aromas had begun to mellow just a tad as the steak had cooled a little but it still smelled absolutely wonderful. Lifting his knife and fork he carefully carved off a bite sized piece and then placed it in its mouth. Seasoned with butter, garlic, salt... and at least a few other things the piece of meat almost melted as it touched his tongue. This was what a steak was truly meant to be.

"So tell me what kind of ideas you have about water training with my sonar." Luke spoke again after he had finished chewing this first morsal, "I'm curious to hear your thoughts and opinions." As she began to speak Luke placed the second piece of steak in his mouth. Oh yeah... this was deffinately a good lunch date. A trifle... not a lot confusing, but still good.

Raina mentally slapped herself. "Oh yah, sonar! I almost forgot!" she giggled. "All this talk about keeping you in closets." she beamed poking at her food.

"I guess there's not a whole lot to say really..." she started. "I'm not educated in the matter and these are all just my theories but I think it might give your head a relief to use your sonar in a high capcity underwater." she took another slurp of the drink and continued. "The water would absorb most of the sound shock I think, and keep it from hurting others around you while giving you the chance to get rid of the extra energy that gives you headaches."

She paused and took another bite of steak chewing it quickly. "I think also, if my theory is correct you may find it 100 times better using your sonar under water, or perhaps in areas like caves and canyons where the sound is amplified. If you practice with it in these conditions I think it would improve your overal fighting strategy..."

whoops. X-men leak for a second there! "...er... well... sorry I'm thinking with an offensive brain here... I don't know do you need to fight at your job?" she gave her musical laugh. "plus, conditioning the body to do anything underwater makes it more agile on land. It may help with lots of things... or maybe it wont do anything at all but I bet it's worth a try." she added.

"I mean, it works for bats and dolphins. Why not you? Wouldn't it be nice to just feel natural and not have to worry about hurting anyone?" she looked up at him with such ernest she could have been speaking about herself at this point.

She found herself curiously studying his eyes... knowing he'd likely not notice the action... there seemed to be whole worlds behind them.

Luke listened attentively as Raina spoke about her thoughts and ideas. She said that she didn't completely understand the way sonar worked but knowing anything about dolphins or bats gave her at least a working knowledge on the subject. Taking the time to cut off another piece of meat, he began to chew this latest bite of food just as she made the comment about fighting strategy.

"Does she know about Wraith?" Luke thought in shock, his chewing pausing momentarily as his mind began racing, "Where... How?"

"...er... well... sorry I'm thinking with an offensive brain here... I don't know do you need to fight at your job?"

Ok... so maybe it had just been a slip on her part but that still left a nagging question in the back of Luke's mind... why did she immediately think about fighting? Combat was something that filled most day to day life but maybe... "Did I mention my Bartitsu training? That's got to be it. Doesn't it?"

"It would be interesting to see if it did help me 'see' more clearly." Luke replied after have swallowed his last bite of steak, "And better physical conditioning is always a plus... I'm not the most fit person in the world."

Luke knew his last statement wasn't exactly a lie but it was definitely fudging the truth a little... he was fit and he knew it. How many other people could use the city as a jungle gym when looking for crime? True he didn't have enhanced strength or speed... or at least he didn't know about it if he did but he was definitely on the high end as far as humans went.

"Not having to worry about hurting anyone would be an even bigger plus." Luke said as he laid his silverware down and then steepled his hands in front of him with his elbows resting against the table.

It was nice to hear someone with actual suggestions and thoughts on how to help with his ability... the idea of better power under water was interesting but what mattered more to Luke was the control he could attain. Martial arts had taught him it wasn't always the most powerful being that won the match... often it was the person that could maintain discipline and control the best.

"If you don't mind my asking... is the mansion's pool that you mentioned before really big enough for this kind of training?" Luke had no idea what size pool the mansion would have but even an Olympic size seemed like it would be a bit small, but maybe he was wrong. He had never worked under water before so his idea about how things should fit might be just a little bit skewed.