Buon Appetito! RP for lieu_murphy

[cant_have_any]

Alright, so the pizzeria near the plaza wasn't exactly as cracked-up as House had made it out to be but the pride of New Jersey had been at stake. Besides, if Murphy wasn't familiar with his tall tales by now she was sleeping on the job. Romeo's was still a decent restaurant, one of House's favorites in fact, though most of his visits had either

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[lieu_murphy]

For once, by some small miracle or karmatic fluke, Murphy got done with work on time. It made her a little uneasy. If she finished work on time, it meant later something big, bad and bloody was going to go down. She also had a date, which meant her chances of getting called in late nearly doubled. Or maybe they only did that when both parties considered it a date. House wasn't going to call it that and she was fine with that. Half the fun was watching him squirm about it.

Getting out on time also gave her a chance to change from work. Not that she changed much. She pulled her hair back with a clip, leaving it half up, but that was really the only obvious change, the slick black slacks and flattering red sweater with heels wasn't much different from what she'd wear at work. It was just a little more form fitting, just a little more dressy than normal. She hoped it wouldn't put up all his red flags.

Being prompt, she was outside his door at seven and knocked. Probably be rude to barge in with her key.

[cant_have_any]

House took his time answering the door. He wasn't about to go to any great lengths that might lead her to believe that this was anything other than a casual dinner and, from his standpoint, a free meal that wouldn't be spent alone. He limped heavily towards the door, tie and jacket in one hand, the other braced against the wall to ease the strain on his leg. His cane, a sleek, entirely black number he'd bought last year, was still somewhere in the back of the closet. He doubted Romeo's would appreciate flames very much.

With a casual jerk of the handle, he opened the door and immediately turned away, pointedly refusing to stand on ceremony to compliment either her hair, her earrings or her shoes. When in doubt, he much preferred cold familiarity. Turning back towards the living room, he tossed his armload over the back of the couch and began tucking in his shirt.

Was proving a point worth all this?

"Mi casa and all that crap." Better to lower expectations right from the get go.

[lieu_murphy]

If she hadn't expected House to stay House, Murphy would have been seriously offended. Luckily, she had half a brain and knew how to use it. The only change House was going to make was probably be surlier than usual. Very third grade of him and since she had survived third grade, she'd survive him.

She stepped inside and closed the door behind her. It was hard not to smirk watching him tuck his shirt in. The sight of him, slacks, buttoned shirt, tie and a jacket clashed with her mental picture of him. It was a little startling, but mostly amusing.

"Considering I lived here for awhile, I figured that out already." She said, putting her hands in her pockets. "I'm glad you didn't shave. I might not have recognized you otherwise."

She was going to have way too much fun teasing him tonight. Hopefully, he wouldn't notice the devil horns.

[cant_have_any]

He replied with a glare and a mutinous look at the tie he was now reaching for, giving it one last attempt.

"Thought about it," he admitted, pulling the tie over his head. "Didn't want you getting the wrong impression."

There. He'd said it. Better to set the ground rules as early as possible. The one House wanted to make absolutely clear was that this was not a date.