OOM: Oakville, Texas, 1888. Dinner.

[the_gene_genie]

Even by 70s standards, this place is basic. But it looks brilliant to him, because it's real - proper, authentic Old West chairs, and tables; wooden floor and burning candles, and the smell of the desert right outside the door. It'll do him. Anything else just wouldn't be the same.

They're shown to a table and he makes sure to sit opposite her. All very proper. There doesn't seem to be too many other people here, which is good, because he hasn't yet worked out what counts as inappropriate for her, and it'd be all too easy for him to open his big trap and say the wrong thing. All too easy to mess this up, and get her into trouble.

As soon as a waiter comes near, he says, 'Whiskey. Double, no ice. Two of 'em.'

The food can wait until after.

Comments

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

She's going to need another whiskey.

"Business," she informs the waiter, smiling serenely. "Can't get enough cattle."

Living, stolen, cooked...

"I'll have the chicken an' dumplin's, please. Thank you."

She combs an errant curl behind her ear and brings her eyes back to Gene's.

"So, there's a cattle thief about, and nobody's doin' a thing about it. And this is surprisin' to you?"

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

He has no idea why steak would be a problem. Or maybe it's the chips? Either way, her serene smile is noted, but not commented on.

'Well? Why shouldn' they do somethin' about it? I mean, I know cattle rustlin' is a problem out here, but I didn' know it mostly got ignored.'

You'd think, seeing as cattle are so important out here, that people would show more interest in stopping them.

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

"I wouldn't go that far, as a general rule. Y'just look at the place around you, Mr. Hunt. Oakville's a good-sized place; there are a lot of folk comin' and goin'; a lot of merchandise tradin' hands; no steady law."

She sips at her whiskey as a lady would, keeping her voice soft.

"People out here are scrapin' to get by. Folks get taken advantage of. It's the way of the world. Then you got the law hangin' fourteen year olds for swipin' ponies. I ain't sayin' any of it's right."

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

He looks like he's swallowing a smile.

'All I'm sayin' is, I would've expected folk to show a bit more care, tha's all. If they're scrapin' to get by, then they shouldn' just give up when bastards nick their stuff. An' they should have a Sheriff around to help 'em out.'

He looks around, making a show of checking that there's no one within earshot. Then he leans in with half a grin, and stage-whispers;

'I like you callin' me 'Mr. Hunt'. Gives me the 'orn.'

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

She just stares at him.

Or she would, if she wasn't trying so hard to fight back a laugh. Impossible man.

"Try t'contain yourself. It stops the moment we're back in the bar."

Maybe.

"Don't shortchange the people 'round here just yet, either. Wait 'til mornin'; I guarantee you it's not the last you'll hear about the matter. Sometimes a town doesn't need a sheriff."

But there's no hopefulness in her voice signaling a trust in the townsfolk. Just the pure facts: that an angry posse can shed just as much blood as a lawman.

Her lips twitch.

"Mr. Hunt."

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

'Yeah well, I'm not sayin' they should take the law into their own hands either. They'll only drop it.'

He's openly smirking.

'...an' I'm sure by the time we get back t'the bar, you'll be callin' me somethin' else entirely.'

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

"Hope springs eternal?"

Her eyes glint at him, filled with all the playfulness she refuses to allow on her countenance.

"I'll be disappointed if y'don't pick up a few new name for me."

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

He leans in once more, making no effort to hide the playfulness on his.

'I'm countin' on it, luv.'

He has no doubt he won't be disappointed.

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

Well, this won't do. She imagines the tips of her ears are the fiery points they feel like at the moment. She clears her throat gently, and redirects conversation.

"If y'like, we can take a ride past the stockyard tomorrow. Get an eye for things. I reckon we can afford t'spend a few days here before movin' on."

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

He cackles a quiet laugh, but relents, and leans back in his chair once more. The cigar is dragged on, and he glances up for the waiter, wanting a refill.

'Aye, could do. Be nice to be near a pub for a few days.'

And there's no objection to going to the stockyard, either. He wants to see it all.

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

"Well, I wouldn't want you havin' withdrawals."

Plus, after spending a night in a real feather bed she imagines he won't be in much of a state to ride come morning.

"Your drink's the second-most thing I've heard you yawp on about since we set out."

She doesn't need to remind them what the foremost thing has been.

"And I wouldn't mind showin' you around."

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

No, he doesn't need a reminder of what's foremost in his mind at the moment. And he'd comment on it (again), but the waiter's bringing their food.

'Though' you hadn't been here before.'

This steak looks practically raw. Lovely.

'Ta, mate. Another couple of whiskey's an' all, if you'd be so kind.'

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

"I haven't. But I know the lay of the land."

There's a number of differences between Texas and Manchester, even forgetting the eighty-five year time difference; but there's not a lot of change from town to town for Kate.

She has half an eye on the waiter, adding a polite 'thank you' before he leaves. He smiles, and nods, and she thinks he must be used to folks around here needing their privacy, as quiet as he is.

"I'd one day like you t'show me around Manchester, if there's a way for it. I doubt by your time I'd have any family still livin' in the area, or that they'd even know who I was. But, it would still be ... interestin' to find out."

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

'Yeah, you can come an' see it.'

He's pleased she wants to. Even if it is to see if there's family around, and not just to appreciate how brilliant Manchester is.

'If you want t'find people, you're askin' the right bloke. Mind you, we'd better let Gladys know you're comin' before you leave the bar. I'll only remember the drivin' lesson, so he'd better be aroun' to back up whatever story we come up with for ya.'

The steak is really good. He's not sure why he's surprised, but he is.

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

"Why do you call 'im 'Gladys'?"

She smirks, eying him around her first forkful of supper.

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

He shrugs loosely.

'Why not? Gladys, Dorothy, Sammyboy; suits him, doesn' it? He's a bloody big girl.'

And actually, he is discovering, rather brilliant. Might even go as far as to call him a mate, on a good day.

'He needs to not take himself so seriously. And he needs to wind his neck in, so knockin' him down a peg or two won' do him any harm.'

Giving him a girl's name is one of the nicer ways he could do it.

He spears more steak, eyeing the chips. Don't they know what chips are, here? Because those don't look like anything he recognises.

'Anyway, nicknames are good for the team, when they earn 'em. Good for morale. Makes 'em feel part of it.'

Plus, it makes him laugh. Which is, in fact, the main reason.

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

"Good for morale."

She snickers softly, and shakes her head. She can't imagine any fella's pride bolstered by being called a girl, but menfolk have strange ways of showing affection for one another. Besides, this is Gene.

"He seems like a nice man. Though, I guess that's what makes him a big girl, hmm? Will y'let me drive your automobile again if he's agreeable to my comin'?"

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

He shoots her a dark look.

'I don' need his permission. It's my bloody city.'

So there.

'I just said it'd be easier if he knew. An' yeah, he has his moments. But I could jus' as easy ask Ray or Chris to back me up. They both come t'the bar.'

The dark look turns thoughtful for a moment.

'...maybe not Chris.'

He's Chris.

'An' I might let you drive me car. If you're nice to me.'

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

She says nothing in response to the dark look. She merely arches her eyebrows, shooting him a look in return.

Touchy touchy.

"So long as it ain't trouble for you."

She smirks, and her voice drops a hint softer.

"An' when am I ever not nice t'you?"

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

'No, it won' be no trouble.'

As long as they don't run into the missus. Which he will ensure doesn't happen. So.

His eyebrows quirk upwards a little.

'We've had a few fights, as I recall.'

Beat.

'...and you told me you didn' fancy me. Not good for a bloke, that.'

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

She ponders her meal for a quiet moment.

"But I didn't shoot you."

See? Nice.

"An' you held your own all right, as I recall. Wouldn't bother fightin' with you if I didn't think you was worth it."

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

'Didn' know that at the time though, did I?'

He's not going to drag all that up again, though. The last thing he wants is to break what they've got going right now. Their balance is never that strong at the best of times, as the past has shown.

'It don' matter. How's your chicken?'

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

"We wasn't doin' much talkin' back then."

Mostly just arguing, fighting, and throwing around sarcasms and coquetry.

Which, admittedly, isn't all that different from what they do now. But at the moment her voice is hovering between an even keel and a lilt, all in good-humor.

"It's good."


Beat.


Beat.



"I'm not sure what, um, one talks about," she admits. "I reckon we're doin' all right, but I haven't ever been on a dinner date before."

She lowers her voice drastically, lest anyone nearby hear such vulgar words.

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

He doesn't know how he can bear such vulgarity.

Honestly.

'It's been a good few years for me, an' all.'

Because taking the missus out doesn't really count. There's not going to be any awkwardness with her, and he doesn't have to romance her either.

'I dunno,' He shrugs, and tries one of the dodgy chips. Not as bas as it looks. 'If we have to stand on ceremony, I reckon we're doin' it wrong. An' seein' as last night we were...well, y'know...I reckon we should be past bein' awkward.'


...although with the two of them, there never seems to be a point where they get past the Awkward.

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

"Awkward?"

She makes a considering sound.

She hadn't thought of things in quite those terms, but she supposes he isn't wrong. The reminder of last night puts a small fire in her cheeks. She bites the inside of her lip, putting an end to eating for a few seconds until she can manage to will the smirk away.

They're sort of backwards, if by 'sort of' the narration really means completely. If they were to stand on tradition, they'd be doing it all wrong.

"Do I make you nervous, Mr. Hunt?"