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]

'Well, so long as it don' matter...'

Gene think it's going just fine. No awkward silences = everything's fine. Doesn't matter to him if the subject of conversation has them both a bit on edge. As long as there is conversation, they're doing alright.

'I'm more than forty.'

Born in 1931.

That's right, isn't it?

Yes.

There is no confusion. He knows when he was born; ergo, he knows how old he is.

'Not many get to be DCI at my age now, let alone the age I was when I got it.'

Just so she knows.

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

"Oh."

She's genuinely surprised. But not at all off-put. If she had married while she was at university, as many of her peers did, she would have more than likely ended up with a suitor fifteen years her senior or more. It wasn't the age that mattered so much as the reputation, and how well a man could provide for a potential wife. Granted, young ladies like Kate did hope for love with a young and attractive suitor, but most accepted the fact that such unions weren't to be expected.

It doesn't matter in any case. She and Gene aren't a long term project. She enjoys his company (most of the time), he's easy enough on the eyes, and he seems to care about her. Anything else is irrelevant.

"Quite the feather in your cap."

She returns to her meal, smiling a bit easier now.

"I guess there must be some basis t'your braggin', then."

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

'About what? My work?'


He stabs a 'chip', wondering why knowing his age would make her relax.

'I. Do not. Brag.'


Well. Much.

Though he certainly intends to tomorrow morning, all being well. Just to her, though. No one else.

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

"Sure thing, sugar."

She's distinctly amused now.

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

He eyes her once more, his good mood dipping a little. He really doesn't like being laughed at, and he knows she knows that.

Plus, it's weird being called 'sugar' by a twenty-three year old.


'What happened to 'Mr. Hunt'?'

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

She glances up at him.

That's a good question.


She takes a quick look around the room, and on an impulse she says:

"Y'wanna get outta here?"

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

He looks down at his rather delicious, half-eaten steak.



'Yeah, I bloody do.'

He really does.

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

She wipes her mouth on her cloth napkin, and sets her cutlery aside.

"Let's git, then."

She catches their waiter's eye, and nods him over.

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

Gene has his priorities right, and finishes his drink immediately. Not going to leave that behind.

He can't be bothered to wait for a bill, though. He just puts ten bucks down - two dinners, four drinks; should cover it - and stands up.

'Shall we?'

He offers her his arm again. Appearances, and all. He's not planning on being so polite later.

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

We'll see how later treats him.

She stands and takes his arm, keeping a respectable distance between them. It's not too difficult, with the difference in their heights.

"All right."

She's had an idea.

"C'mon."

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

'Where we goin'?'

He re-lights his cigar as soon as they get outside, and he looks up and down the street. Doesn't seem too busy, but he still hear sounds of life everywhere around.

'Hotel?'

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

It's full-on dark outside now, just a hint of blue still hanging low in the night sky. Someone's already been down the street to light the lanterns, few that there are. The glow from his flame can be seen down one of the side streets.

"Hold your horses."

Kate's pleased enough that there doesn't seem to be anyone else within earshot as they walk.

"I love the thought, Gene, but I don't think we're suited for traditional datin'. I wanna show y'somethin'."

She's glancing down each side road as they pass, until she sees a path that seems right. She tugs at his hand, and leads him on what's hopefully not a wild goose chase.

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

He's about to object, but then finds that he really can't. As soon as they're anywhere where they have to talk to each other properly, they seem to rub each other up the wrong way. Or misunderstand, or ask awkward questions. Something.

So he just mentally shrugs, and lets her take the lead.


'What're you up to?'

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

"Nothin'."

Her voice is far too sweet to be completely sincere.

They come out on the other side of a back alley street. There's a pen full of cattle in front of them, and Kate leads them left. Walking past one after the other, eventually sounds of music and laughter, rabble-rousing and caterwauling overwhelm the sounds of the animals, and the warmth of bar lights flood the dark streets.

"I learned a thing'r two in New Orleans," Kate says. "The closer y'get t'the stockyards an' factories, the better the parties get."

There's a gaming house, better than the set up in the bar where Kate found him earlier; there's a fighting ring next door; the obligatory whorehouse, which seems not to be hurting for money at the moment; there's a dance hall, and bar; and what looks like a hole-in-the-wall theater that dabbles in a bit of everything.

Kate grins up at Gene.

"Take your pick. Jus' remember y'got a lady to entertain."

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

He's relaxing as soon as he hears the sounds of people having fun - he knows those sounds. Pubs are pubs the world over.

He wants to head straight for the fighting ring, but he's got a lady to entertain. He imagines she'd probably like the dance hall best but, he just can't bring himself to willingly submit to that. Not without a few more drinks inside him, anyway.

So he compromises, and points at the gaming house, with a grin on his face too.

'That one. We can go an' clean 'em out together.'

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

Her smile only grows.

"Deal."

Ah, to hell with good appearances.

"Buy us some drinks, an' I'll find us a good table?"

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

'Yep, no problem.'

He gives her hand a brief squeeze once they get through the door, and he lets her go to head in the direction of the bar.

For some reason, he has no doubt at all that she knows a good table when she sees one.

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

If Gene has any trouble finding her once he comes looking, he only has to follow the sound of laughter.

It looks like roulette is first up tonight, and Kate has already introduced herself to the croupier and a few nearby gentlemen, and played her luck once. She seems to be making friends easy enough, but Gene shouldn't have to worry about that. Once she sees him her eyes keep gravitating his way, and a smile hangs on her lips that isn't wholly manufactured.

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

It's nice to see her looking at him like that. Even he doesn't miss the way her eyes are pulling towards him, just as his are to her. The uneasiness that arose over finding out her age hasn't entirely gone away, but expressions like that certainly help him ignore the lingering aftermath of it easily enough.

He wanders over, glancing at the men around before holding her drink out to her.

'Any luck?'

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

"Remarkably."

She beams at him and accepts the glass, sipping daintily.

"They're callin' it 'beginners luck'."

"Everyone has a touch of it," one man remarks, smiling crookedly.

"Well, since the first column served me so well, let's see if we can't make that luck stretch on to the third," Kate hums, placing down her bet.

The American style table is hopefully not so different from something Gene would see in Manchester, save for the double zero wheel.

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

The smiling man gets a look slightly longer than he might find comfortable, then Gene turns to the table, also sipping his drink. But not daintily. In a manly way.

He doesn't have time to bet on this one, as the wheel is starting to spin, but watches Kate, and then remarks;

'If you win a lot, I'll be expectin' a payrise.'

Women in a casino, and not serving drinks. Weird.

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

"Don't count on it."

She tips her head back so she can see him, a glint in her eyes.

"You should be content if I win that it'll put me in a good mood."

How good a mood is for Gene — and whomever else might be listening in — to decide.

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

Oh, that's not fair. There are so many comments he could make! But he can't, because he has to be polite.

Needless to say, she gets a black look. Though if she's looking closely, she'll see the spark in his eyes too.

'When are you not in a good?' He glances at the once-smiling man. 'Regular little ray of sunshine, my boss.'

(frozen comment)

[ikissdhimbck]

"It's like there's an echo."

The remark is made with a smile, her eyes on the wheel up until the moment it stops and she lets out a little whoop. She covers her mouth. How unladylike, showing such enthusiasm.

"You have lady luck on your arm tonight, mister," says another gentleman, seeing as Gene put the first quite in his place. "Ready t'place your bet?"

"Don't you forget it, neither."

Kate gives Gene a little nudge, refraining from any remarks on her being his 'boss'. She could easily say something, but she's never quite sure what he'll take seriously, and this is about getting him to relax.

(frozen comment)

[the_gene_genie]

He cashes in twenty bucks for chips, and immediately places three on black seven.

'You have no idea how lucky I feel,' he tells the other guy, his tone dry as the desert outside.

Truth be told, he does. Who else gets an opportunity like this, and with someone like Kate thrown in as well? It's brilliant. But he can't show all that much exuberance; for one, he's supposed to be subordinate to a woman, and for another, Gary Cooper was never a grinning ball of joy.

'As for you,' he tells her, flicking his eyes sideways, 'just you concentrate on bein' lucky. Then you can get the next round in.'