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

[ikissdhimbck]

"I am relaxed."

She's also lying through her teeth.

The fine hairs at the back of her neck stand on end while he trails heat and moisture across her skin. Her hands slip under his jacket, palms flat against his chest. While the rest of her body is still, her fingertips trace the edge of his cravat.

[the_gene_genie]

'You can get that thing off me for a start.'

He has a dislike for things around his neck. And this is no time for feeling overdressed.

His teeth catch lightly on her earlobe, though he's smiling as well.

'An' you're a liar. Your heart's beatin' fit t'burst.'

[ikissdhimbck]

She pinches one end of the necktie and gives a quick tug, loosening the knot as his teeth latch onto her earlobe. She gasps softly, curling her free hand around the back of his neck.

"Fine. I'm a lil' tense."

She pulls in a few deep breaths, slipping one finger under the soft silk to loosen it bit by bit. Her nails very lightly scrape over his adam's apple.

[the_gene_genie]

'No need,' he murmurs, quiet in her ear.

'I'll look after you.'

He instinctively tips his head back a bit, both to help her and because he, unexpectedly, enjoys the feel of her nails there. And he does start on the hooks on her skirt now, popping them one by one; as soon as there's room, he slips a hand inside and squeezes her arse.

'Can' promise I'll help you be quiet...'

[ikissdhimbck]

A smile tugs at the corner of her mouth, and she's a little surprised when an exhale morphs into a quiet moan. She takes a half-step closer to him, pressing her hips up against his.

"That's not what I'm nervous about."

She loosens the first few buttons of his shirt and presses her lips to the hollow of his throat. Only now is she aware of how quickly she's breathing, as she hears the air hissing across his skin.




"Not entirely."

[the_gene_genie]

He makes a small, appreciative noise at the feel of her mouth on his skin, and the press of their bodies.

'...then what?'

He takes care of the last few fastenings without drawing attention to what he's doing, and starts to ease the skirt down. It's made a little harder by the way she's pushing up against him, but he figures she'll get the message.

[ikissdhimbck]

"I jus'..."

Her back arches when she feels his hands working to get the layers of red fabric off of her body. She pulls away from him, disentangling herself with care until only that white, silk blouse is left to cover her undergarments. Silk and lace knickers extend down her thighs, meeting the tops of her black silk stockings. The dull flash of candlelight off the gun still snug in her garter holds her attention for one moment longer.

Her hands curl around his jacket. She isn't sure how to answer him in a way that won't give off the wrong message, without having to explain why she feels as she does. Without having to talk about things neither of them want to hear right now.

"I jus' don't want things t'change between us after this."

She closes her eyes. As soon as the words are out of her mouth she regrets uttering them. It's more than that, but she's too stubborn — or too scared — to dig that deep into her emotions right now. She shakes her head, pushing his jacket off his shoulders.

"Never mind that; forget I — prattlin' on like a demented housewife. It's nothin'," she says, rising up on her tiptoes to kiss him with fervor.

[the_gene_genie]

Well, he never minds being kissed with fervour. But it won't stop him being confused, and that's why he looks confused when they stop, his hand still on her waist.

'How would things change?'

Either she means that she doesn't want things to be weird after this, or she doesn't want things to be any more serious after this. Neither of which he was exactly planning on, but some clarification on the issue would still be good.

[ikissdhimbck]

"It's not important."

Because it isn't either option. It's not even in the same realm as either option. She looks uncomfortable, so she keeps her eyes from his, fussing instead with the buttons on his waistcoat. It's a handsome waistcoat. She should tell him that.

"Jus' never mind it. S'not important."

She sounds more convincing each time she says it, as each time she convinces herself a little more.

"How is it I'm standin' here in my knickers, an' you're still fully dressed? Don't seem fair."

[the_gene_genie]

His hands close over hers, keeping them against his front but not letting them undo the buttons, or move away. Gentle, but firm.

'It's important now you're not tellin' me what it is.'

She should just spit it out. Quite apart from the fact that saying something like that and then refusing to elaborate is bloody annoying, there's also the added thing that if she's got bizarre expectations, he's not going to be able to relax until he knows what they are.

[ikissdhimbck]

She stills against him. Her head bowed, eyes resolutely fixed on those half-done buttons, she doesn't move for what seems like forever.

"I don't know if I can."

She's being completely honest. God damn it, she wishes she didn't have all that whiskey in her blood. Maybe then she could've kept quiet. Or at least...

"I don't ... Don't want you t'look at me different. Later on. I don't want you t'..."

She shakes her head. This is impossible.

"It's nothin'. It don't matter at this point; I shouldn't 've been flappin' my jaw."

[the_gene_genie]

'To look at you different.'

He looks blank.

'Why would I do that?'

Seriously.

[ikissdhimbck]

"You wouldn't."

She let's out a quiet burst of bitter laughter.

"'Cuz y'don't know what the hell I'm talkin' about."

She feels every bit as stupid as she imagines she looks right now. Halfway undressed and standing in the middle of his room is hardly the spot to have this kind of conversation. Jesus.

"An' this ain't how I was s'posed t' ... This isn't how tonight was s'posed t'go. Forget I said anythin', please. I can't explain it."

[the_gene_genie]

He takes a deep breath. No, this was not how things were supposed to go.

'Kate.'

Beat.

'Do you want to?'

[ikissdhimbck]

"Yes."

She looks at him at last.

"I jus' wasn't expectin' it t'happen this soon. An' I — I had this idea in my head that we'd have time t'get all this figured out."

That she'd have time to get this all figured out.

[the_gene_genie]

He holds her gaze, impassive.

Next, and last, question.


'Do you want to wait?'

[ikissdhimbck]

She shakes her head carefully.

Continuously.

Not even knowing the answer to that.


"It's a lil' late for that."

Isn't it?

[the_gene_genie]

He looks down at her, and then down at himself.

'Still dressed. Not in bed yet. It's no' too late.'

Unless this is some existential thing that he'll never understa...wait, of course it is. It's her. But what he means is, up until the moment he actually gets in her, it's never too late for her to say no.

He'd rather she didn't, obviously.

[ikissdhimbck]

She sighs, taking a full step away from him until she's flush with the wall. She tips her head back, letting her eyes linger on his.




"What are we doin'?"

She reaches for him.


"This ... thing that we're doin'?"

[the_gene_genie]

Oh God.

When women start like that, he already knows he's lost. He stifles the sigh, and resists the temptation to light a fag, but only because she's reaching out for him.

'I dunno. You tell me.'

[ikissdhimbck]

"I don't wanna tell you. I want you t'tell me."

[the_gene_genie]

'What're you, me headmistress?'

That's the standard reply of teachers and irritated mothers everywhere. He didn't like it then, and he doesn't like now.

The fags come out of his pocket and one gets lit.

'We fancy each other. We're doin' what people who fancy each other do. Which is, where I come at least, have sex.'

Can't put it much plainer than that.

[ikissdhimbck]

A plain, simple answer was all she wanted.

"So, sex."

If they can just get on the same page, then maybe everything else will fall into place. She nods.

"Just ... sex."

No strings, no commitments, no attachments. Just physical, animal, sexual bonding?

[the_gene_genie]

'...right at this minute, yeah.'

He thought they gave a shit about each other as well, but maybe that's not what she wants.

[ikissdhimbck]

She beetles her brow.

"S'not what I asked."

She didn't think she made any 'now' and 'later' stipulations.

"S'that all we're doin'?"