the_gene_genie: (LoM - Chillin')
DCI Gene Hunt ([personal profile] the_gene_genie) wrote2010-06-08 08:30 pm
Entry tags:

OOM: Pre-Dinner



At this time every year, Gene makes himself scarce from other people. As it used to be him, his mam and his missus this means, basically, he left them in the kitchen and parked himself in front of the TV with a can of beer and a bottle of whiskey.

This year? No different. Especially with the size of this particular hangover. His mum takes him a cup of tea and then returns to the kitchen, where Alex had volunteered to help prepare the veg.

'You really don' 'ave t'do that, luv. I don' mind, it's not often I get t'cook for 'im anymore.'
lady_bols: (s2 what?)

[personal profile] lady_bols 2010-06-08 09:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Alex just stares at Betty, hands offering up the bowl in mute astonishment.

"You think...? Oh please."

The way she disposes of the egg shells, one would think they'd committed any number of heinous crimes.

"His ideal woman is someone who never speaks out of turn, who brings him tea and irons his shirts and and and... never once opens dares to have an opinion in her pretty, vacuous little head."

[identity profile] manclioness.livejournal.com 2010-06-08 09:30 pm (UTC)(link)
She snorts out loud. Really out loud, a genuine burst of pure amusement.

'So you're a psychologist who...never mind.'

She's still chuckling to herself.

'When I came down this monrnin', noticed one o' the pans 'ad been used last nigh'. And Gene don' cook.'

Another pause while she starts whisking the eggs into the cream.

'Preten' you don' know 'im, luv, never worked with 'im. A file with his personality spelled ou' lands on yer desk. What sor' of woman would you recommend 'e be with? An' keep in min' tha' men 'ardly ever want what they think they want.'
lady_bols: (s1 looking down)

[personal profile] lady_bols 2010-06-08 09:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Alex is quiet for a long moment at that and when Betty glances across at her, she'll see that same intent expression that Gene knows so well.

She never once thought of actually profiling Gene Hunt.

He's a mass of contradictions, a bull in a china shop, and a childlike tyrant. He's boorish, rude, racist, homophobic, misogynistic, and an alcoholic to boot. But she's seen him be amazingly deft at handling sensitive witnesses, and he commands the respect and really, the love of his entire team. Not a one of them wouldn't wade into battle behind him. They'd follow him to the ends of the earth and beyond.

Her hands go through the motions, taking a rag and wiping the counters down, tidying aimlessly.

"We had a bit of an -- early breakfast, when we got home from the pub," she says, her voice quiet now. "Didn't want to have too much of a hangover for Christmas dinner. And anyway, he was collecting me in lieu of actually eating supper before he came. It was only fair."

[identity profile] manclioness.livejournal.com 2010-06-08 09:55 pm (UTC)(link)
'Mmm. I don' mind luv, you can both 'ave whatever you wan'. I were just pointin' out that fer a woman who thinks he wan's someone to look after 'im, you don' mind gettin' the pans out when he needs it.'

Custard, done. She pours it over the trifle base, covers it with a tea towel and puts it back in the fridge to set. On to the cream.

'Explains why 'e was so pissed though. Normally takes a bit o' bad news to make 'im get tha' bad.'

She had heard the car when it pulled up and peeked out of the window on her way to the bathroom. Just long enough to see that Alex was driving and get the obvious implications of that.
lady_bols: (s1 looking down)

[personal profile] lady_bols 2010-06-08 10:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Alex coughs, turning to refill her own tea, two sugars, splash of milk. Something to collect herself before turning back.

"Maybe you should have thought of that before inviting me along then. Your mum was just telling me I should work up a profile of you."

Her eyes narrow at him, as if the wheels are already turning.
lady_bols: (s3 really)

[personal profile] lady_bols 2010-06-08 10:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"Psychology," Alex corrects, sipping her tea and watching him intently, her eyes glittering with mirth.

(Real. He feels real.)

"And I wouldn't worry, if I were you. It is my clinical and professional opinion that you, Gene Hunt, utterly defy explanation."
Edited 2010-06-08 22:34 (UTC)

[identity profile] manclioness.livejournal.com 2010-06-08 10:39 pm (UTC)(link)
She rolls her eyes and shoves the bowl of half-whipped cream at him.

'I've go' a son tha's gettin' pissed again and is abou' to go finish whippin' that fer me, 'cos my arm's knackered.'

He stares at it and sighs.

'Alrigh', mam.'

'No' too stiff, mind. It's f'the trifle. Go on, shoo.'

He shoos. He knows better than to get underfoot when his mum's cooking a big dinner. He does cast a look at Alex though, to see whether she's laughing at him getting bossed around by an old woman.
lady_bols: (s1 doing all right)

[personal profile] lady_bols 2010-06-08 10:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Alex is not laughing at him, no. She doesn't want to walk back to London. She just smiles, eyebrows high, grinning at him.

When he's gone, she leans out to see that he's ended up back in front of the telly. "I bought him a little gift, on the way up. In addition to the bottle I left on his desk at work. Can you keep an eye on him for a moment?"

She fishes in her pocket and comes up with the tie pin to show Betty.
Edited 2010-06-08 22:51 (UTC)

[identity profile] manclioness.livejournal.com 2010-06-08 10:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Her face...she's smiling but she looks sad too, all in the instant she sees the gift. Her finger touches it briefly, eyes far away.

'He always wanted t'be a Sheriff. Ever since he were a lad.'

A beat of silence, then she looks up at Alex, snaps out of it.

'He'll love it, pet. s'very thoughtful of you. I 'ope the big lummox got you somethin' an' all.'
lady_bols: (s1 smirk)

[personal profile] lady_bols 2010-06-08 11:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"He got me out of the flat for awhile. That's gift enough for me."

Alex knows. Seeing the confirmation in his mum's eyes, though, makes her heart swell.

"I'm just going to go put it in his tie, and we can see if he even notices."

She gives Betty an impish little smile and steals off to see if Gene left his clothes hanging in the bathroom.
lady_bols: (s1 soft smile)

[personal profile] lady_bols 2010-06-08 11:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Alex pauses in the door, watching him without saying a word. She stands there for a long time, until she hears Betty moving in the kitchen, and then there's work to be done. Table to be set, napkins to be folded, she busies her hands, humming a bit of Winter Wonderland under her breath.
lady_bols: (Default)

[personal profile] lady_bols 2010-06-11 06:06 am (UTC)(link)
[ cont'd here ]