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Jane Murphy:
Things had finally come together for Jane to take Micah up on the dinner, and she called him up to meet here tonight. She made sure to take on the same look as before, a bit shorter than she usually was, and a touch younger; her more 'innocent' looking face. This time, the hoodie gave way to a nice yet still casual dress, and she waited outside the fairly nice restaurant with a contented expression as she waited for Micah to meet up with her.
Micah Bradley:
A familiarly built touristy looking guy crossed the street in front of the restaurant and with a big grin, he waved to his dinner date in greeting. "Good evening! I hope your day was pleasant?"
Jane Murphy:
She smiled and nodded to him, that light French accent coming out in her reply, "Yes! I always feel like making an appointment of any kind ensures a hellish day, but I lucked out today." She nods, "How about you?"
Micah Bradley:
"Oh, just another boring day at work." he sighed as he opened the door for her. Micah was dressed casually as well, in a shirt and jeans complete with a ball cap. "But my boredom has lifted upon seeing you! I must say, you look beautiful tonight."
Jane Murphy:
"You flatter me," She chuckles and goes in ahead, "I was trying to be plain."
Micah Bradley:
"Ah, but beauty is everywhere. You only need to know where to look." he replied with a grin as he followed her in. He told the hostess that they wanted a table for 2 and was told to sit anywhere. So he gestured to Jane to give her the decision of their location for the night.
Jane Murphy:
She pointed out a table that seemed a fair distance from most foot traffic and led the way. "That's true, I suppose. Philadelphia's got a lot of beauty to choose from, though. For example: you're looking nice, too."
Micah Bradley:
"Why thank you." he giggled and he stood up with a slightly puffed out appearance as if looking very proud of himself. As they seated themselves, the waitress came by to ask what they wanted to drink. Ever the gentleman, he waited for Jane to order first.
Jane Murphy:
"Oh, just water is fine." She ordered with a smile.
Micah Bradley:
"I will have the same. Thank you." he nodded, smiling as well. He turned back to Jane as he handed her a menu. "Still practicing parkour?"
Jane Murphy:
"Not so much lately. I've had finals, plus work, and now I'm going into a heavy summer course load.." She sighed, "Not as much free time as before, but I'm glad to have the opportunities I have."
Micah Bradley:
"Ah, the life of a student. I wish you all the best on your success. Anything interesting of note?"
Jane Murphy:
"The most important thing I learned is that I will be very glad if I never sit through another lecture on taxonomy." She says, smirking. "I just remind myself it'll be worth it in the end. But how about you? Get any more running in, perhaps raced another two or three women by now?"
Micah Bradley:
"It will be worth it in the end. I enjoyed my time in university, but I am quite happy of my freedom now. Aaah, no one is as brave as you, my dear Jane." he grinned. "But yes, I am keeping up with my workout routine."
Jane Murphy:
"Oh, I might be able to believe that. How about we get together another time after this, for a rematch?"
Micah Bradley:
"You are on." he nodded eagerly. The waitress came back to take their orders and once more, Micah waited for Jane to order first.
Jane Murphy:
Jane ordered up a chicken caesar salad. "Light on the croutons, a little extra parmesan if they'll do it."
Micah Bradley:
"And I will have the special, with a side of fries." he said, pointing to the delicious looking burger.
Jane Murphy:
She watched the waitress leave and looked back to Micah, "Any interesting genealogical discoveries lately?"
Micah Bradley:
"Hmm, interesting yes. But only because I am new to the American family lines. There are a LOT of families here, from so many different origins. It is quite fascinating in how they merged or diverged over time."
Jane Murphy:
"Pennsylvania, certainly; a lot of old families and then layers of new families. But I bet they're particularly interesting in and around Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri, too." She paused and then nervously added, as if not too confident in her point, "Because a lot of North-South and East-West migration went through those states early on?"
Micah Bradley:
He nodded to her explanation, mentally taking notes. This would have to be something he read up on later. "Do you mean migrations of the native tribes?"
Jane Murphy:
"Not particularly, I mostly only know about settlers moving around over the past few centuries as things changed. People moving west from the coasts, moving north from the south with industrialization." She says with a nod, "My father's side goes way back a ways to colonial times, moved from Massachusetts to Kentucky, then up to Ohio back around the late 1800's; mother's side came up from Georgia, went to Florida, somehow ended up in Ohio."
Jane smirked shook her head, "Only know all of that because of my uncle being so into the family tree stuff."
Micah Bradley:
Micah chuckled softly. "It is good for family members to keep track of all this. It means I have less customers, but it also makes my job easier!"
He took a sip of water before continuing, "So your family is pretty much all over the United States?"
Jane Murphy:
"If you count people who branched off a long time back. Most of the cousins, uncles, aunts, and my parents are all back where I'm from," she shrugs and adds with a sigh, "My hometown has a very high escape velocity."
Micah Bradley:
"Oh? Is that Ohio? I am guessing you prefer this city?" he asked, all kinds of curious.
Jane Murphy:
"Yup," Jane nodded, "On both counts. How about you? Like it here?"
Micah Bradley:
"Yes, I am starting to settle in quite nicely. The changes were not as drastic as I was led to believe! But perhaps that is what changed my perspectives on it all." he smiled. "The weather, for one. It is not as dreary here."
Jane Murphy:
"Oh yeah, weather is pretty good. Would prefer it to be a little less cold in winter, but no such luck. At least it's not Alaska." She nods, "Definitely a good city: a lot to see, a bunch of good places to hang out, great food. Though I'm not exactly a foodie, I do like the variety."
Micah Bradley:
"Yes! The variety is quite lovely. It can get boring in London." he grinned. "What have you seen that you have enjoyed?"
Jane Murphy:
"I know a deli that makes a killer Reuben, I swear they put something addictive in the sauerkraut." She puts a finger in the air, then adds a second, "There's this Indian place near Rittenhouse that has bhuna gosht and naan bread that is just.." She makes a chef's kiss gesture and uses it to add a third finger, "A great jerk chicken joint, about a block from Einstein."
Micah Bradley:
He was smiling in quite the amused fashion as he watched her describe the different foods and restaurants. "Not a foodie, eh?"
Jane Murphy:
She chuckles, "Okay, I guess what I mean is I'm no snob about it; I just like trying new stuff, and my mother always told me to never complain with my mouth full." A good a time as any for their food to arrive!
Micah Bradley:
He winked at her to indicate that he was teasing. Then he thanked the waitress as he prepared to begin eating. "So what are your plans for after you are done with school?"
Jane Murphy:
She smiles, "Save lives even more, if I can. You have any big plans of your own?" She grabbed a fork and stirred up the salad before taking a bite. "Or is the work undone until you've mapped everyone's history all the way back into one family a long time ago?"
Micah Bradley:
He laughed out loud, enjoying the joke she made. "Hah, that is a great one. My plans involve helping my friends with their past." he then said. He picked up a fry to munch on.
Jane Murphy:
"Oh, wow." Her eyebrows went up a bit, "So, you mean like.. criminal records, or something like support or therapy?"
Micah Bradley:
"I have helped with either." he replied simply with a soft chuckle. "I cannot say much more, you understand. Client privacy is very important to me."
Jane Murphy:
She nods, deeply, several times. "Of course. If you got too specific, I'd worry about you. That's cool, though." She takes a bite of salad and chews it up before adding, a bit solemnly, "People deserve second chances."
Micah Bradley:
"Some do. Some don't. But that is not my place to decide." he smiled. He continued munching on fries until they were gone.
Jane Murphy:
She took another bite and let there be a bit of silence for a moment before speaking up, "So, uhh.. any hobbies? I've been thinking about learning to play music."
Micah Bradley:
He prepared his burger with ketchup before answering. "Besides parkour? Mm... I suppose exploring could be a hobby. I enjoy just... Randomly finding... Interesting areas."
Jane Murphy:
"Oh? I've found myself in a few places, but usually while trying to find a little alone time." She goes straight for a bit of chicken from her salad with her fork. "I'm sure you've got a favorite?"
Micah Bradley:
"A few." he nodded as he picked up his burger and then he started chomping at it. Someone was hungry...
Jane Murphy:
"I had a fun time in an old warehouse up in Somerton, bumped into someone there and was able to show off for them, too." She smirked, then kept at eating her salad.
Micah Bradley:
He nodded his head and then lifted a finger for a 'one moment' gesture. Quickly polishing off his burger, he grabbed a napkin to wipe his mouth and hands before he replied. This took about a few minutes.
"You like showing off, do you?" he winked.
Jane Murphy:
She kept the smirk on her face as she shook her head, until it turned into a smile, "Cute. I do enjoy a chance to be caught doing something impressive, yeah."
Micah Bradley:
"Perhaps I can offer you more chances to do so." he said smoothly. He was clearly flirting with her.
Jane Murphy:
"We'll see." She says, with a little bit of playfulness to her voice. "Maybe when you show me one of your favorite places?"
Micah Bradley:
"Hmm. Tempting. I will have to think on it." he said as he tapped his chin with his index finger.
Jane Murphy:
She works her way towards the bottom of her salad. "Hmmm... what kinds of music do you like?"
Micah Bradley:
"I am not too big into music. Though I do enjoy some instrumental once in a while."
Jane Murphy:
"Interesting. Don't meet too many people who aren't into some kind of music," She thought about it a second before finishing off the salad. "I'm a sucker for stuff with 80's synth sounds."
Micah Bradley:
"Oh? Well, I would not mind finding out why." he said as he sipped some water to wash down his meal.
Jane Murphy:
"Why I don't meet too many people who aren't into music, or why I like 80's synths? Latter is easy," she sets down her fork and chuckles, "I kind of like the anime cyberpunk aesthetic and that kind of music fits a lot of the time."
Micah Bradley:
"The latter, yes." he giggled. "Ah, so you are into anime as well?"
Jane Murphy:
"A little. I'm not like, buzzing about the latest stuff, but there's a few I've really enjoyed."
Micah Bradley:
"I will admit, I have never quite understood the attraction to Japanese animation either. What is it about them that you enjoy?"
Jane Murphy:
"Probably the ones that get my attention the most are the sci-fi stuff, Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bebop." She taps the table with the tip of her finger, "I like to think about the themes they're about, what makes us human and what does it mean to be one, dealing with a past that won't leave you alone-- something you help your friends deal with, yeah?" she asks as she nods to him.
"Also just kind of like cool technology stuff."
Micah Bradley:
He nodded as she explained. "Mhmm... Perhaps I should take a look at them again."
Jane Murphy:
"Well.." She looks down at her empty salad bowl, "..are we doing dessert?" and follows the question with a chuckle. "I think this has been a fun not-a-date dinner?" Clearly cheeky.
Micah Bradley:
"We can do dessert if you'd like." he said picking up the menu to offer to her.
Jane Murphy:
"I'm actually fine without it," she shook her head, "Was just curious if you wanted to. Otherwise, I'm fine asking about whether you'd like to get together to run another time?"
Micah Bradley:
He perked up and smiled eagerly. Quickly putting the menu away, he rubbed his hands and leaned forward. "I would enjoy getting to race you again." he nodded. "How about next weekend?"
Jane Murphy:
"That works for me. I hope you'll be ready, best shoes and all."
Micah Bradley:
"Oh, bet on it." he winked. "And this time, I will win."
Jane Murphy:
Jane grinned deviously, "Only if I let you. Do you got a place in mind, or would you rather I choose?"
Micah Bradley:
"How about you choose?" he shot back, also grinning.
Jane Murphy:
She nods and thinks it over, looking up for a moment as if she were looking at a map inside her head. "Alright, let's meet up at.." Jane gives the name of a park and where she'll be, along with a good time. "That work for you?"
Micah Bradley:
"Yes. Excellent. Well, thank you for the wonderful evening. I had a nice time." he chuckled as he prepared to get up.
Jane Murphy:
"Same, and I'll be looking forward to our rematch." She gave a perky wave and got up.
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