[Thankfully he is still welcome in the diner, his failed 'date' with Gwen Stacy having remained relatively tame until they were safely back in the lab. He's on his own in the lab now, programming the settings into a simulation he'll start running while they're off having lunch together.
He wonders if either of them will touch on the elephant in the room or if it will end up a congenial lunch between colleagues.]
[ She takes the morning off, which is fairly easy considering there's no real hierarchy here, just colleagues working together, sharing information and helping each other. They've both put off this lunch, given what's happened this month. She isn't sure if she wants to talk about that today, though, if she's ready to really broach the subject.
Lingering in the doorway, she watches him work for a few moments, not sure if she wants to interrupt him while he's finishing up. Caitlin knocks on the door frame. ] Harrison? Are you ready?
[He glances over his shoulder and smiles, putting those thoughts aside for now. It'll come up or it won't.] Caitlin. Just finishing up, come in.
[It still feels strange in a way to call her Caitlin, and to hear 'Harrison' from her—it had been 'Harry' and 'Snow' for so long—but that's just another way they've changed since arriving here. Amazing what not living in the shadow of constant threat will do. He only has a few numbers left to plug into the program before he can start it running, and then they can go.]
I never thought I'd get used to you calling me Snow, and that I'd miss it a little when you didn't.
[ Does it make them closer, now that he's Harrison and she's Caitlin? Or maybe it's just a change, too subtle to really signify anything. The more things change, the more they stay the same — that's the line, isn't it?
She moves closer at his invitation, her arms folded across her chest to curb the urge to fidget. Not sure whether to sit or stay standing (he did say he's finishing up), she hovers by his shoulder, looking at the computer screen. ]
[He glances up over his shoulder at her for a moment before turning back to the screen, inputting a few more values.]
I could still call you Snow. But then you might switch back to 'Harry.'
[Last few numbers, a couple clicks, and he sits back as the computer begins spooling out its calculations.] Now I'm ready. This will take a while. Shall we?
As extended as you want, it's a comfortable enough place if you get a booth. Which we should. We'll be early for the lunch rush.
[It's only about a ten minute walk from the lab, which is one of the best things about it, and it's not quite open 24 hours but it's open absurdly late, which is another of the best things about it. The food itself is good too, but even bad diner food is good when it's 2 am and you realize you haven't eaten since breakfast.
It isn't crowded yet. The counter is full, the late breakfast crowd still filtering out, but most of the tables are still empty. They get a booth.]
[ All of the places Caitlin likes so far are a ways from the lab, which she did on purpose. It made for an easy excuse to slow down, to pull herself out of being completely in her head and shut away with a computer and numbers. Plus, they were all near her apartment.
She slides into the bench seat across from him, setting her bag on the seat next to her. Looking up from her menu, she smiles at him. ]
Then I definitely will need some fries. I haven't had any since— [ —Hunter left. ] —since a few days after the beach party. Besides, the only other acceptable side with a burger is onion rings, and I'm even pickier about those.
Those I can't help you with, I haven't entered that phase of the field testing. [Science jokes, everyone loves those.
A few days after the beach party was the last time they'd seen Hunter. But there are a lot of reasons for significant pauses. ...they are going to need to talk about him eventually, but that's a discussion best had over alcohol, he's fairly certain.]
You could give them a shot, see how they measure up. Need to start somewhere.
[ Anyone who says they don't love science jokes is... probably not a scientist. It's the kind of joke that would have made Joe roll his eyes, if they were back in Central City.
She's grateful that he doesn't ask, that he doesn't press on the reason for her hesitating. She's also fairly certain he knows why. It's a topic that they're both carefully skirting, carefully dancing around. ]
Might as well. Order some fries as backup, too. I'll probably end up taking most of this home.
Good idea. Comparison testing. Tell you what, I'll get the sweet potato fries this time, we'll be thorough.
[Luckily it isn't the only topic they could cover over lunch. Even if it's a topic they probably ought to cover sometime soon. But it's also a nice break, something normal, getting lunch and talking about nothing in particular. Probably something they both ought to do more often.]
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[Thankfully he is still welcome in the diner, his failed 'date' with Gwen Stacy having remained relatively tame until they were safely back in the lab. He's on his own in the lab now, programming the settings into a simulation he'll start running while they're off having lunch together.
He wonders if either of them will touch on the elephant in the room or if it will end up a congenial lunch between colleagues.]
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Lingering in the doorway, she watches him work for a few moments, not sure if she wants to interrupt him while he's finishing up. Caitlin knocks on the door frame. ] Harrison? Are you ready?
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[It still feels strange in a way to call her Caitlin, and to hear 'Harrison' from her—it had been 'Harry' and 'Snow' for so long—but that's just another way they've changed since arriving here. Amazing what not living in the shadow of constant threat will do. He only has a few numbers left to plug into the program before he can start it running, and then they can go.]
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[ Does it make them closer, now that he's Harrison and she's Caitlin? Or maybe it's just a change, too subtle to really signify anything. The more things change, the more they stay the same — that's the line, isn't it?
She moves closer at his invitation, her arms folded across her chest to curb the urge to fidget. Not sure whether to sit or stay standing (he did say he's finishing up), she hovers by his shoulder, looking at the computer screen. ]
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I could still call you Snow. But then you might switch back to 'Harry.'
[Last few numbers, a couple clicks, and he sits back as the computer begins spooling out its calculations.] Now I'm ready. This will take a while. Shall we?
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[ The amusement in her expression would say that, truthfully, she wouldn't use it at all. Possibly only under extreme duress. Maybe. ]
It taking a while, that means an extended lunch, right?
[ As she speaks, she moves back to the doorway. ]
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[It's only about a ten minute walk from the lab, which is one of the best things about it, and it's not quite open 24 hours but it's open absurdly late, which is another of the best things about it. The food itself is good too, but even bad diner food is good when it's 2 am and you realize you haven't eaten since breakfast.
It isn't crowded yet. The counter is full, the late breakfast crowd still filtering out, but most of the tables are still empty. They get a booth.]
The fries here. Worth it.
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She slides into the bench seat across from him, setting her bag on the seat next to her. Looking up from her menu, she smiles at him. ]
Then I definitely will need some fries. I haven't had any since— [ —Hunter left. ] —since a few days after the beach party. Besides, the only other acceptable side with a burger is onion rings, and I'm even pickier about those.
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A few days after the beach party was the last time they'd seen Hunter. But there are a lot of reasons for significant pauses. ...they are going to need to talk about him eventually, but that's a discussion best had over alcohol, he's fairly certain.]
You could give them a shot, see how they measure up. Need to start somewhere.
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She's grateful that he doesn't ask, that he doesn't press on the reason for her hesitating. She's also fairly certain he knows why. It's a topic that they're both carefully skirting, carefully dancing around. ]
Might as well. Order some fries as backup, too. I'll probably end up taking most of this home.
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[Luckily it isn't the only topic they could cover over lunch. Even if it's a topic they probably ought to cover sometime soon. But it's also a nice break, something normal, getting lunch and talking about nothing in particular. Probably something they both ought to do more often.]