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)

[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?"

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

'No.'

He eyes her around his glass, holding it with fingers slightly bent. He's telling the truth. She's a hard nut, and a pain in the arse sometimes, but he's seen her vulnerability enough to know that she's nothing to be scared of, even if he were inclined to be scared of anyone.

He's seen it often enough to know that he'd be a real shit if he used it against her too. He's aware of having to tread carefully sometimes, and that doesn't come natural to him most of the time.

So OK, yes. She makes him a bit nervous, but probably not for the reasons she might imagine.

'The Gene Genie doesn' get frightened by girls, luv.'

Beat.



'...how old are you, anyway?'

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

Her lips twitch.

"Cheeky."

Though, she's more intrigued by his first statement rather than the question. She eyes him for good while.

"Three-and-twenty."

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

He blinks.




'I'm sorry; you what?'



She didn't just say...what he thought she said. Did she?

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

"You've got me uncomfortable now."

Way to make a girl feel special, Gene.

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

He puts his fork down. And lets out a long breath. And has a drink - all without taking his eyes off her.

'Don' feel uncomfortable. No need f'that.'

Because on the one hand - result! Twenty-three!

On the other...on the other, that's only just alright, in his book. If she thinks she's uncomfortable right now, he's willing to bet it's nothing to how he feels.



'Just surprised me a bit, tha's all. Thought you were older. You act it.'

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

She watches him warily.

Well, if she didn't feel awkward before she certainly does now. Does her age matter, for some reason? She can't figure why it would, and she reasons there must be something else he's not saying. But what? She combs at her hair again, unconsciously checking it's in place, and smooths her skirt.

"Do I? I was introduced to society at fifteen. Quite ordinary."

And she's been a woman long before that. The only woman, in fact, to mind the estate she grew up on since her mother's passing, to tend to the necessities of ranch living, and care for her father.

"Though, I s'pose with time spent in the bar an' other worlds my age has grown suspect."

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

'So you're probably a bit older?'

Good. That's good.

It's not her age that's the problem. Because there's no other way to look at this - he's old enough to be her dad. And while sleazy remarks about birds and tarts are bread-and-butter to him, he's really not the type of bloke to go running around after young girls.

...well. OK, so he has. And he certainly never asks the age of the hour-long encounters he sometimes finds himself involved in. He certainly looks at birds that age. But when it comes to actually caring about one, and getting involved properly, it just feels a bit...off.

He waves a hand, and then picks up his fork again.

'Don' worry about it. Honestly. I jus' never really thought about it before. It's not anythin' t'fuss over.'

When push comes to shove, he's not her dad. He's a bloke, and she's a woman. They fancy easch other. If he doesn't think about it any deeper than that, everything's fine.