Into the Deep End

Jude was finishing off his food, clearing his plate as manner dictated before carefully setting his cutlery aside. It gave him time to think, but really? There wasn't that much to think about. Alma was nice. She was his type. She was open to gently introducing him to things. She wasn't rushing. She wasn't pushy.

"I'd like that," Jude said. "I figure we can, uh, talk after this? Maybe hang out in the park or something." Which was a pretty roundabout way of saying he was trying to avoid too much sex talk with people all around them. It was... okay, well, he was better than he was, but he wasn't that good, and he was trying really hard not to start blushing.

The waitress arrived, complete with bill, and Jude was... well, fast. Fast to go for it, only then he paused, squinting at Alma, suddenly uncertain.

"Is it... uh, going to be an issue if I grab the bill?"

Jude let out a small sigh of relief, happy it wasn't going to be an argument. Some people argued, and it had driven him insane. Rory was one of those--the kind of person who'd never accept someone else paying for their things because that was charity. There wasn't anything wrong with charity in Jude's opinion, but paying for a friend's meal was absolutely not charity. Not even close.

So Jude paid for the meal, and made a note she was going to get it next time. He had no idea what kind of means Alma had, but she seemed comfortable enough with the idea that he wasn't going to worry about it.

Jude paid quickly, gathering up his things rather than lingering around. If they were going to walk, he'd rather spend his time walking then lurking around the restaurant.

"Ready to go?" He said, offering his hand to her.