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Ravenscry is looking better and better, no?

And in other news, water is wet. [Sorry, Vinnie, but you had to have seen some sort of smartass comment coming.]

You and Blondie haven't found anything you like? Not even a little?

[ Vinnie sighs and leans back in his chair, running his hands through his hair. ] Oh, we've found plenty of places. But nothing that, like, we can actually afford without pledging our first-born son to the dark side first.

Ravenscry looks great. It's just a little far from the city.

That you can't afford as in neither of you can afford or that you can't afford because your D'Agosta pride won't let your disgustingly rich girlfriend pay more than half the rent?

Both? [ Vinnie screws up his face momentarily. He's been out hunting for places on the UES all day; most of the properties he's looked at have either been too small to accommodate the both of them, or too large to justify not immediately starting a family of circus performers. Too, he's reluctant to accept anything other than an equal share of the rent from Isabella, even though she could probably have her pick of any of the properties they'd looked at. ]

I don't know. I mean, I want us both to be comfortable. I want a place that's not too far away from the precinct; we both want a place that's equidistant from you and Pendergast. And I... [ a pause ] ...I want to give her the kind of life that she deserves to have.

A little. But I'm beginning to find the distance a small inconvenience; and one much preferred to dealing with real estate agents. [Still. She knows it's not exactly a practical choice.]

What about a row house? [It's not an apartment, but then...maybe they needed something other than an apartment.] There's a few off of Madison we could look at.

Hey. I may tease, but you know Blondie doesn't care about that shit. [Did the younger Pendergast enjoy the finer things in life? Certainly. And why shouldn't she? But Vincent would never think her one that valued those things over Vinnie. Or their relationship.] She cares about you. And being with you. Whatever place you two decide on, she's going to love.

[ Vinnie half smiles, ducking his head. ] I'm going to ask her to marry me, dad. Before Christmas.

[There's a beat before D'Agosta breaks out in a wide grin.] 'Bout damn time. Know how you're going to do it yet?

[ Vinnie winces. Madison was definitely outside of his price range. In fact, it was in another zip code from his price range.

Maybe they could economize: Vinnie could sell his Jeep and take the subway, or even a bus. Who had a car in New York anyway? Except for Pendergast, of course. The thought of the man on the subway made Vinnie's grimace melt into a softer expression. ]

Yeah, okay. I mean, we can look, right? I'm getting pretty used to nodding and smiling like I know what I'm talking about when the real estate agent starts going on about square footage and "flow through."

[Don't think she doesn't see that wince. She does. And it makes her wonder if she hasn't overstepped with her suggestion.] Or not. It was just a thought. I'm not wedded to anything in particular.

No, I think we should go. I just... [ He snares his lower lip between his teeth and gives a half shrug. ] ...I want to make sure that you, like, I don't know... [ nice verbal gymnastics there, Vinnie. ]

I want to make sure you're comfortable, wherever we are. This is the first time you're going to be out from under your dad's roof. And that's a big adjustment. [ It is. But it's only half the reason Vinnie is worried about finding a spot that suits them. ]

I don't know. I'll probably figure it out five minutes before I do it. I've been carrying the ring -- [ he reaches into his pocket and takes out a small, velvet box ] -- around with me for the last, oh, I don't know, year? Year and a half?

Just as well. Blondie doesn't strike me as the carriage ride through Central Park type.

Just make sure that whatever it is...however you do it...it fits the two of you.

So, you know, propose over the next corpse we find or something. [Teasing, Vinnie. He's teasing. Please do not propose over a corpse.]

[ Vinnie laughs. ] I can just hear the ME now: "Mazel tov, you two. Now, help us look for the other severed limbs."

Exactly. Perfect for the two of you.