He understood, at least well enough that Kealey didn’t think she needed to go out of her way to make the point again. That was good. As he digested what she’d said, Kealey watched and digested what he was feeling. More empathy, and he was thinking about it. Then he commented. Kealey nodded, it was tough, ”I also have a real tough time trying to figure out what’s me and what’s spillover from someone else.” She gestured with one finger around her ear, ”I’m a head case.”

More mental digestion, all Kealey could feel was concentration. That was better than what people decided sometimes. Her powers had always had a tendency to make people uncomfortable, and while Kealey understood, it was a nice to be completely open with someone and have them respond favorably. Then Aurum offered lunch.

Kealey stared across the table for a moment, brows drawn together in a silent frown. Her stomach grumbled, she was hungry, and lunch actually sounded like a great idea. At least as far as his emotions were concerned, Aurum had no ulterior motives, either. His anxiety was lessening too. Kealey shrugged, ”I could go for that. My treat though, it’s the least I can do.”

"Head-case isn't the term I'd usually use to describe interesting people," Aurum replied. He realized he'd dodged the 'family' comment, stuck on other things. He'd have to ask about that later. First, though...

He changed the subject, and drained the last of his mocha. Would she be alright if he took her to lunch, he wondered? For a moment, her eyes were drawn into a look of contemplation. Was she still uncertain about him, or...

>>”I could go for that. My treat though, it’s the least I can do.”

She decided. Aurum smiled. "Actually, I was thinking more that I could cook something for you. To prove I've got the skills?" He chuckled. "I could whip something up quick and easy. I think I have the things to make orange chicken with rosemary back at my place." Aurum paused to consider. He held his chin. Though, usually that took an hour to bake. "Or some sort of pasta dish. Those take a bit less time. Tell me, do you like sea food, or spinich?" He was being honest about the cooking thing, too. Right now, his emotions were focused entirely on pondering what would be quick to prepare and delicious. He hoped she'd take him up on the offer. Not that he didn't enjoy eating good food elsewhere. He just preferred to cook his own.

Plus, he'd hate to stick her with the bill. That wasn't very fair, even if she'd volunteered. He smiled quietly at her from across the table, curious of her answer.

‘Interesting.’ Kealey chuckled and shook her head a little bit, not commenting. She’d been called worse, much worse, and Aurum wasn’t being insulting with the word. In fact, he was trying to make her feel better. He was thinking, and Kealey leaned back, the contemplative mood spilling over from her table-mate. They had decided on food and Kealey wagered he was trying to figure out where they were going to go. She was right, partially, and as the suggestion emerged from Aurum, her eyebrows rose.

This was getting more and more interesting, he wanted her to go with him…and eat at his apartment. Kealey studied him again, still no ulterior motives, at least not that she could feel at the moment. In fact, Kealey felt a little guilty for questioning. Hadn’t they just gone over the fact that she’d horribly misjudged him? Her cheeks colored a little bit as she listened. She’d missed some of what he said, but game him her full attention just in time to hear Aurum ask if she liked seafood or spinach.

”I haven’t found much of anything I don’t like.” It was true, Kealey was one of the least picky eaters she knew in New York City. ”And I’m impressed that you accepted the challenge. Maybe you are as good as you think you are….next think you’ll be telling me you know if a real fish and chips shop in this city. It’s one of the only things I miss from Ireland.”

She finished off her mocha and set the cup down with a clink, then frowned, ”If you’re cooking, how am I going to pick up the tab?”

>>”I haven’t found much of anything I don’t like."

That was good. It meant he could go wild with his recipe choices. Maybe he could even try some of that Taiwanese curry that Shin had been begging him to make.

The curious smile turned into a full-on grin as she continued. 'Accepted the challenge'. 'Good as you think you are'? For some reason, he was suddenly reminded of those old 'knight in shining armor' stories he'd heard when he was a kid. King Arthur and the Round Table. Knights, stepping up to inordinate challenges for the whims of a lady. He was slightly amused. Aurum enjoyed a good challenge. As for the fish and chips place?

"I know a couple. The Golden Bee has a good 'fish and chips' special, if I recall correctly... but there are other good places I could point out." He paused, and considered something. After a second, he shook his head with a disappointed smile. "It's just too bad I don't have any fish at my house right now. If I did, I could make you some..."

He trailed off, giving her room for her next statement. The thought struck him. "Maybe..." He held his chin overdramatically.

He was pleased when she said that she hadn’t found much food she didn’t like and Kealey was amused in return. Some of it was the spillover of emotions from Aurum, some of it was honest amusement. It was interesting how different American’s were from the general perception of them overseas. Growing up, it had been impressed upon Kealey how American men wanted women to be delicate things, eating a lettuce leaf here, a cheese cube there, and always leaving something on their plate. It had been like that in American movies too, but not a single man she’d met in America had thought it odd when Kealey attacked her food with a vigor that befitted someone with a much larger waistline. As it was, Kealey thanked metabolism and constant nervous energy for her slender frame.

He was thinking again and Kealey watched attentively, curious to what she had said to peak his interest so completely. Aurum spoke and Kealey nearly asked what a Golden Bee was, but her table-mate continued and it became obvious that it was a restaurant. Apparently it served a Fish and chips special. A skeptical blond eyebrow rose, Kealey had tasted American ‘Fish and Chips’ they definitely needed the quotes…even in her head. She didn’t say anything, better not to dash his….the second eyebrow joined the first. He would make fish and chips?

”Now if you could do that…. I’m not sure impressed wou…” she cut off mid-sentence when Aurum’s emotions changed from contemplative and slightly regretful to downright enigmatic. He’d had an idea. Kealey blinked, slightly elated in spite of herself.

”Maybe what? It must be a good idea.”

>>”Now if you could do that…. I’m not sure impressed wou…”

>>”Maybe what? It must be a good idea.”

He smirked to himself. She certainly sounded excited.

"Maybe," Aurum started off innocuously. "We could handle that 'tab issue' with a little grocery shopping. I know what I need to make some really good fish and chips. I've got the list all up here," He tapped his skull. "With your help, we could gather it... like bringing all the pieces of the treasure map together to find the gold."

Hmmm. Or mmmmm. Kealey didn’t know which one to go with at that moment. What Aurum proposed was bold, it was brave, it was…awesome. There really wasn’t another word for it, and the blond had to shake herself a little bit to shrug off some of the excitement that had suddenly infused her. Not even hours before she’d been a panicked mess, now she was staring the prospect of real fish and chips in the face. The frying was going to be a problem though…unless Aurum had a deep fryer in his apartment. That made Kealey smile…the guy was American. They fried everything.

Aurum’s description of what they’d need to do made Kealey laugh out loud a little bit and she found herself very pleased that he’d taken her offer to pick up the tab seriously. Too many men thought they needed to pay for everything. It wasn’t like this was a date, after all, and he’d done her a great service in the bank. Kealey definitely owed Aurum, and if he thought paying for fish and chips ingredients covered the tab, far be it for her to argue.

”You sir, have a deal.” she said, impressed when he said that the recipe for fish and chips was in his head. More and more his claim to be a great cook seemed legit. She’d know soon enough for sure, though, and Kealey grabbed her things, looking again at her table-mate, ”I just hope we can find the x that marks the spot.”

He could do it. He had the technology. He could make the fish and chips, stronger, faster, more savory, than the average hack-job restaurant chain. A bit of cayenne pepper, some salt... he had the seasonings. He had the flour, the baking powder, the russet potatoes, and the corn starch. What he needed... hmm... beer. And a couple pounds of firm-fleshed whitefish. Either tilapia, pollock, or cod. Aaaaaaaaaand... safflower oil.

That was it. By those ingredients combined, he'd make chips and fish!!

It was probably cheaper than going out to eat at some fancy fish and chips restaurant, too.

>>”You sir, have a deal.”

Aurum was pleased. "Great." He wouldn't disappoint.

They both rose from the table, grabbing their things. He grinned at her last comment, and turned to lead them out the door. "By Gold Roger's beard, I think we will."

((OOC: Continued in Gold Doubloons (The Fish and Chips Scenario) ))