Here we go!

[bloodsong1]

"So I tossed my hair over my shoulder and said 'You're not worth that much of my magic.'" I blinked at Sari, who had another faint tinge of pink sliding over her cheeks.

"You said that to Lisa Ortiz, while cosplaying as Lina." This woman has balls!

"Yeah. She got so mad she started swearing at me, in Lina's voice! I got huffy, snagged a jacket that happened to be nearby and threw it over her head shouting 'Cone of Silence!' It landed perfectly. She was so surprised she shut up. I waited about thirty seconds, while everyone else in the room is just gaping at me, then grinned, said 'And now, for my Xellos impression!', grabbed Nick's hand and we ran from the room." The blush flooded her cheeks and down her neck. I watched, fascinated. "Lisa recovered and started shrieking so loudly we could hear her in the hall. We called the elevator and took the stairs instead."

"Wow." I sat back, still a little amazed.

Your turn. Any good con stories?"

"Well, this isn't exactly a con story." I squirmed a bit, not wanting to admit what I was about to. Then again, Sari had the courage to admit she had angered a famous seiyuu. "My junior year of college, I was hanging out with some friends and we all decided to go to Rocky."

"Rocky as in Rocky Horror?" Sari asked. I nodded and she grinned.

"I hadn't been before and everyone else were regulars. So, after a lot of debating in the group, everyone agreed I should be Eddie. They stuffed me into leather pants, a white T-shirt and a leopard print vest. Then I was informed I'd have to shave." I fingered my goatee. "I hadn't seen my chin since high school, but I agreed. I walked out to show off and then it happened." I paused for effect. "The one girl I was interested in, the one I had been working on all summer, took one look and burst out laughing." Sari winced. "Yeah. Laughed her head off."

"I'm so sorry." I shrugged.

"I haven't seen my chin since."

"Can't say I blame you." She leaned back, stretching. I admired the view. "Oh, what time is it?" I glanced at my watch.

"8:30"

"Karaoke starts at 9. We'd better head back." I nodded and signaled for the check. Sari sipped her wine, then reached into her jacket. I leaned over and grabbed her wrist when I saw a wallet come out.

"No."

"Huh?" She stared at me.

"A lady does not pay on the first date." She looked down at her hand, my hand around her wrist and blushed.

"Sorry." She put her wallet back and I slid my hand down her wrist to her hand. She glanced at me. I held her gaze, studying her eyes.

"Big eyes." I whispered.

"What?" She whispered.

"You have such big eyes. Anime eyes." Her cheeks went pink again. "There's that blush again." I stroked her palm. "Am I making you uncomfortable?" She yanked her hand away. I sat back.

"It's not you. At least, it's not all you." She said, linking her fingers. I cocked my head. She sighed. "Ok. Here's the deal. I've had a crush on you for a few years now. I love football and became a hopeful Jets fan the same year I moved to Binghamton. I'd seen you once or twice in the off-season and would get all shivery." I leaned forward, folding my hands and resting my chin on them. This was news! "I always figured it was this fangirl thing, you know?" Her voice changed, becoming high pitched and girly "Oh, he's so kawaii! I'd just DIE if I got his autograph!" She grinned and her voice returned to normal. "But that's as far as I thought it would go. Then, lo and behold, you find MY best friend on an airplane and become so interested or curious or whatever it was you were feeling with his description of ME, that you come with him to meet me. Then you watch me in the airport and then you follow me to a con and ask me to dinner." Sari spread her hands wide. "I'm a little overwhelmed here."

"You handled yourself well at the airport. I thought you didn't know who I was."

"I almost fainted when you left." She admitted, linking her fingers again.

"Oh really?"

"Yep. Had my knees locked." I smiled. A crush? What luck! The check arrived and I paid. I stood up and offered my hand. She reached for my arm, but I captured her hand instead, linking our fingers so she couldn't pull away. She looked down, then at me. "Why?" The question blurted from her lips. I simply winked and led her out of the restaurant. Once at my Jeep, she planted her feet and refused to move. "Why, Kev?"

"Why not?"

"That's not an answer. Why me? You could have...supermodels!" I moved closer, until we were nearly touching. She tipped her head back to stare into my eyes. I couldn't resist and stroked the side of her neck. She gasped.

"I've had supermodels. None of them would sit and watch Evangelion with me." I said softly, trying not to drown in those anime eyes.

"Fooly Cooly's a worse mind trip." She choked out.

"Exactly." I squeezed her hand, let her go and opened the passenger door. She climbed in, looking dazed. Good. Now I'm not the only one.