They can have their diamonds and we'll have our pearls

He would have liked to go to a club like Satans, except that Shylock didn't believe Satan's was nearly as upmarket as it liked to pretend to be. Eli's was a proper restaurant; not nearly so fun, but there was nothing stopping them finding a real club after they'd eaten. In the muggle world, even.

Shylock had no real idea why he was here, except that Jane wanted to talk about something. Thus the venue, where talking would actually be possible. Of course, it was always possible that "talk about something" was really just code for "go out and party" in which case, his choice of venue will have been in vain. Sometimes, it was hard to tell with that girl.

Jane had spent the majority of the week working with Kasey and Lyle on an upcoming event for one of the Ministry's departments, but as much as she enjoyed spending time with them and doing her job, she did need a break. She could admit that it irked her to be on yet another team project when she felt she could handle things for herself, and it just made her all the more excited to meet up with Shylock at Eli's. Not that she didn't have potentially heavy stuff to chat about, but still.

Walking in, Jane pushed her sunglasses up to rest them on top of her head, looking around for her friend. Catching sight of him, she walked over and looped her arm through his, playing as casual and confident as she could given the circumstances. "Hiya," she greeted lightly. "Hungry?"

Shylock stiffened as Jane claimed his arm.  She couldn't be trying to have this conversation with him... could she?  Why was everyone suddenly worried about him now?

"I'm always hungry," he murmured, unsure whether she could even hear him, but definitely sure he didn't want anyone else in the restaurant to do so.

"Can we not do this?" he asked, more clearly.  "You're the only person I know who doesn't act like I might break at any moment."

It was just then that their waiter approached, with the suggestion of a table for two and the very obvious assumption that they were a couple. At least they ended up seated in a somewhat secluded corner of the restaurant. If the "something" Jane needed to talk about was Shylock's illness, he certainly didn't want an audience.

Jane glanced up at him, tilting her head to the side as he replied. Something was off but she wasn't sure she knew what. She wasn't sure that he would want to tell her, either. But then he spoke again and her eyebrows lifted. Ah. That explained his hesitance.

"Well," she began, patting his arm as they walked along behind the waiter. "You'll be glad to know that this isn't about you, drama queen. It's my turn to be the center of attention, alright?"

She passed him a cheeky, if not nervous, smile as they sat down. "That alright with you, fam?"

If Shylock was a drama queen, then Jane was just as bad.  It was, of course, one of her most endearing traits.  It wasn't nearly so fun scandalising people if you didn't have anyone to laugh about it with afterwards.

The reassurance that he wouldn't have to talk about himself had gone a long way toward calming him down as well, so Shylock likewise sat and smiled.

"More than all right."

"Provided you can live up to my dramatic standard," he added, flipping over the menu as though to take notes.  "I'll be marking you."