om_main | Caius and Harry, November 21

Harry takes his contractor, Caius, out for a celebratory dinner on the town. Caius wants info on what's next, but Harry's not quite ready to divulge it. Yet.

Caius had suggested that a nice dinner would be a good starting point, and Harry was more than happy to oblige. He owed the guy--and his company was extremely entertaining, not to mention easy on the eyes. However, when he'd asked about the paparazzi situation, Caius hadn't seemed enthusiastic about the prospect--or anti, either, but still. Harry kept things on the downlow all the same, for him.

So when they were wedged into a private table in an adorable-but-modern small-plate French place at last--lively and buzzing and everyone minding their own business--Harry asked his guest, "Will this do? The service is meant to be great here; I've been meaning to try it."

"I do love romantic little French restaurants," said Caius as he settled in his seat. "I haven't been to nearly enough of them." He looked around the room and sighed. "It is unfortunate that we will have to pass on the wine though."

"Never," Harry said with a smirk. "I'm Harry Osborn, and they know it. Including the sommelier.

"So you're a wine guy, Caius? That suits you."

Caius smiled. "And yourself?"

"Depends on the company, food, and environment," Harry said. "What should we start with? Cheese and charcuterie, do the whole nine yards? Wine to match?"

"Absolutely." Harry was paying after all. He glanced over the menu and could already spot a few appetizers he wouldn't mind ordering. "We have to try the escargots as well. It would be a crime to pass that up."

So Harry ordered a plate of three cheeses and the charcuterie, plus the escargot and some dates with bleu cheese and bacon. "And whatever the sommelier wants to send with each is fine," he finished agreeably, cracking open the bottle of San Pellegrino and waving off the offer of help. "We're feeling adventurous."

When the server disappeared again, clearly pleased with the massive tip they had incoming, Harry poured Caius some water and then himself. "I get the feeling you're always up for adventure. Three security guards and you didn't even flinch."

"If I had, we would have been in trouble," Caius pointed out. "That was the first time I managed to create a solid illusion for three people at one time. I suppose I work well under pressure." He would have to practice it again so he could work on controlling all five senses instead of just two.

"Did you like it? The planning, the execution? Your idea of a good time?" Harry asked--both out of curiosity and because he had a feeling he was going to need to do much, much more of the same in future.

"Are you asking if I'm available if you need to do it again?" asked Caius.

"More than that," Harry said bluntly. "I genuinely want to know if you enjoyed it. But also if you're available, yes."

"I did," said Caius. "I enjoyed it greatly."

Harry smiled and sat back in his chair, obviously pleased. "I thought so, but I wanted to be sure. There's a lot on the horizon--and some of it's even more, ah, high pressure. I'd like to know I can rely on you again."

"What is your goal in all this?" asked Caius. "Are you looking to make a statement or take over your father's company?"

"It's implausible, not to say impossible, for me to accomplish the latter at my age. They know it, my father knows it, and I know it." Harry waited while the server came with a half-bottle carafe of a very fine California Chardonnay--a good place to start, and it'd be lovely with the escargot. Harry swirled, sipped, and approved it before the man poured and left them to their business again. "There's a lot of making a statement involved, yes, but it's more than that. There are certain aspects of the business that I need them to realize I won't sit by and watch go places I don't like. If I need to wrest temporary control of certain projects, I can and will."

"And you have the power to do that?" asked Caius as he swirled his wine and then tasted it.

"On paper, no," Harry said easily, little smirk reappearing. "In reality--even if I didn't have a few tricks up my sleeve they'll never see coming... I'm Harry Osborn." He raised his eyebrows.

"Mmm," Caius said before taking another sip of his wine. Though he was interested in being a part of Harry's plans, he wasn't stupid. There was no sense in getting involved in something you didn't know the end game on.

The arrival of the appetizers dispelled the need to further conversation for the moment and Caius smiled as he took a taste of the escargot.

Harry opted to start with the charcuterie, spearing a bit of prosciutto. He was perfectly happy to spend the rest of the evening wining, dining, and flirting with Caius merrily--he'd said his bit. "Are snails a favorite of yours, or is it your first time?"

"Second, actually, but it has been too long for me to remember properly what my opinion was back then," Caius said, taking another snail. "I do believe it is worth the reminder. These are delicious. We may have to come here again."

Harry smiled. "I'm flattered that you'd consider it, without the excuse of celebration."

Caius had thought nothing of it when he first mentioned it but now he smiled. "Is that what this was? An excuse to take me to dinner?" he teased.

With a chuckle, Harry replied, "It must happen to you a lot, right?" Caius was, in a word, lovely. Weird as hell, but when one was that pretty, it wasn't exactly an impediment.

"Well no one has used espionage to get me on a date before, so that part is refreshingly new."

"Espionage has so many uses," Harry said with a smirk.

"Yes it does," said Caius. He took a sip of his water and then set about pulling another snail from its shell. "Have you used it as a pick up method before?"

"Never," Harry said, lifting his wine glass. "I think it's fitting that someone so good at it himself was my first, don't you?"

"I do," Caius agreed. "I'm not sure it would have worked so well otherwise." Caius liked to feel special.

"Note to self: only one-of-a-kind and/or first-of-a-kind things for Caius." Harry chuckled silently. "Good to know."

"You're taking notes," Caius observed. "Are you planning on taking me out a lot in the future?"

"I suppose it depends," Harry allowed. "On whether you'd rather celebrate successful joint ventures in the future--assuming we have them--in other ways. Apart from that, it's not really mine to say whether I'm planning on taking you anywhere. It's more whether you're willing to be taken."

"I do believe dates are supposed to have willingness on both sides," Caius said. "Unless I'm mistaken?" he teased.

"Usually that's the way of it," Harry agreed with a chuckle. He took another drink. "But I know my own feelings on the subject."

Caius picked up his glass. "Mine are amenable," he said, before taking a sip.

Harry chuckled silently. "Anything else you'd like? It's sort of like you've done some work on contract for me, so you should be able to ask for fair terms. A shopping trip? A night at the ballet?"

Date negotiations? What a novel concept. "It would be unfair for me to ask for more from this venture," he said. "We did agree on dinner for it. I supposed I'll have to be more extravagant with my requests in the future. Unless you are offering a sort of bonus? I do love the ballet."

"Anything you want," Harry assured him with a little smile.

"The ballet it is then," Caius said. "I haven't had the pleasure in a while."

"Ask, and ye shall receive."