As usual, Nic was having trouble expressing... well, anything really. But he was doing his best. He seemed to be a little uncomfortable with everything.

Laurel either didn't notice for at least pretended not to. Instead of sitting across from him she sat next to him. The table itself was very informal, it was set up like she usually set the table on the Juttle. "I know you haven't been eating very well... so eat up." Laurel said as she grabbed her napkin. One thing that was strange was that Laurel was actually eating small amounts of blander foods. Some of the bread, a little bit of the not so spicy Thai as well as her usual shake.

So Nic didn't say anything as he started to eat. Unlike usual, he seemed to be enforcing some sort of dinner etiquette he had picked up somewhere.

Laurel blinked, "Nic, it's just us." she said to him with a chuckle, "Dates don't have to be so formal." she reassured him, "Sorry if my dress threw you off."

"... I'm not sure what's appropriate," he replied.

Laurel considered the question for a moment, "Act like you would when you're having dinner with a close friend." she decided with a smile, "I suppose if I'd be in jeans it would be more natural." she sighed, "But... you and I had dinner together on my RV those months ago. I guess it's kinda like that accept we know each other much better now." she reasoned.

Nic looked like he disagreed, but he didn't argue with her. He dropped most of the etiquette, but some seemed to stick around a little subconsciously.

"I mean... loving each other shouldn't affect table manners, right? What's the point of acting all formal now since I know how you normally stuff food in your face." she chuckled, punching his knee lightly.

"... I don't know," Nic replied a little sheepishly. "... I think it kicked in because you're dressed up."

Laurel blinked then giggled a little, "I suddenly look pretty, huh? Must have been a shock." she teased.

"... Not like that," Nic tried to explain.

Laurel shook her head a little with a smile, "It's not like I know anything about dates. This is my first one... I just assumed it went something like this and being formal sounded like no fun." she added before biting into another small bite of bread.

Nic didn't say anything else as he went back to his food.

Laurel smiled and went back to her food as well. Though after a few minutes she put her hand over her mouth and swallowed, she suddenly didn't look too good.

"... You alright?" Nic asked.

Laurel was silent a moment longer and then uncovered her mouth, waving it at Nic. "Yeah, yeah... got too excited and ate too much." she sighed, "You make her nervous sometimes." she admitted grudgingly as she picked up her normal shake.

"... Then don't eat any more," he replied.

Laurel frowned, "I can drink my shake." she explained, "It just doesn't taste as good. But now there's more for you I guess... so eat up." she nodded.

So Nic let Laurel be and continued to eat.

"When was your last date?" Laurel asked Nic after he had finished chewing a mouthful.

"... I don't know," he answered.

Laurel blinked, "You have memory loss?" she asked, confused.

"... It depends upon what you mean by date," Nic clarified.

Laurel blinked, "Went... out to supper with a girl you liked?" she offered.

Nic put some thought into it. "... Maybe two years ago?" he guessed.

Laurel nodded, "How did you two date?" she asked, genuinely curious, "Should we be doing something else?"

"... I don't think that applies here," Nic shrugged. Then to try to satisfy her curiosity, he continued a little. "It didn't last very long. Most of the time there's only been one date."

Surprisingly, Laurel laughed rather loudly at that. "Why? Did you scare them off with your wit and humor?" she teased, "Or perhaps your perfect manners? Oh wait, I know, it was that charming smile, right?" she was cracking herself up.

Nic blinked at Laurel. He didn't seem upset. Or confused. Just curious at her reaction. After awhile he noted, "... I haven't really had much time for a relationship."

"You haven't had time?" she teased, leaning back in her chair a bit as she studied him, "Look at me. This is my first date. Ever." she shook her head, still chuckling, "I always thought dates were awkward... well, in the few spare moment I had to daydream about them." she noted with a smirk.

Nic didn't comment.

Laurel sighed with a smile, "Even though you don't talk much... it's not awkward. I suppose I tend to ramble enough for the two of us anyway." she admitted.

Nic shrugged.

"I have dessert too." Laurel smiled, "But don't worry, it's nothing too sugary." she reassured him as she placed a hand on his leg.

Nic didn't say anything as he finished up his food.

Once he was done Laurel smiled, "Okay, close your eyes." she told him as she got up to get desert.

So Nic followed Laurel's instructions and closed his eyes.

He smelled some delicious coffee but before Laurel told him to open his eyes, he felt a quick kiss on his lips. "Alright, open then." she directed. In front of him sat a cup of coffee with a small bearlike pastry sitting in the coffee. "It's a sweetbun but not too sugary." Laurel informed him, "I think it's to your taste." she smiled.

Nic stared for a few moments at the bear staring back at him. "... Where do you get these ideas?" he suddenly asked.

Laurel chuckled, "I experiment a lot." she told him, "I like animals... and I like cooking. They're the only things I'm really good at." she shrugged.