exsiliumlogs | (no subject) (part 2)

I have a hat. [ That's about all the cowboy anyone's likely to get out of him, anyway. ] I meant we're only supposed to be here for like, a week, apparently, but if you're that worried about having a strange man in your room...

It's a great hat, but that doesn't make you a cowboy. [ And a little roll of her eyes, but she's sort of smiling at the edges of her mouth. ] It was a joke. Sometimes I make jokes.

[ As pleased as he is to see the smile, that gets her a look anyway. ] Wow, I'm just, like really, because everything I've said up until this point has been one hundred percent sincere.

Hasn't it been? I could have sworn you were one of those truth telling types. [ Unlocking the door to her room and walking in ahead of him. ] Come to think of it, when was the last time you ate?

[ Wait - ] what? I don't know. Before we got here? There was some kind of roll in the bar I didn't totally trust but it wasn't any worse than the whisky here. Why do you care?

You don't eat. [ Look, she's just - noticed, she works in your lab a lot, she's observant. It's not that she cares so much as she's just trying to keep you from falling over and dying. Right? Right. ] I'm just making sure you don't go getting into more trouble.

[ He looks at her a little bit more in question and then slowly glances around for food. ] Okay. So what do you want to eat?

[ Pouring him water and handing it over. ] I don't keep food in my room, I'm just strongly suggesting you go to a real restaurant instead of another bar once you've drunk water.

Aw, baby, and here I thought we might be going on a date. [ He'll take the water but he's not particularly inclined to drink it just yet. Mostly because there are more important things to do atm, like talking. ]

Because I'm such dating material. [ Flippantly easy, and she pours herself some water in the hopes that if she takes a drink he might too. Seriously, Tony, you are so difficult sometimes. ] I think that would require some more prior coordination.

Why wouldn't you be? [ Vaguely curious, and checking her out as she gets her own water. ] Nah, spontaneous dates are just as fun.

I've just never been very good at it. [ Okay, checking her out she can live with, it's not a bad thing really. He's hot, she's not dead, every woman likes a little flattery here and there. ] Again, not overly good at dating, I've never really tried that.

At dating? Why not? It's easy. C'mon, you can practice on me - I'm even slightly buzzed, so. Accuracy. Go for it.

[ this confused beat, because no really, she meant it, she doesn't know what to do with the idea of a date. ] Seriously, Tony, I don't -

[ slightly off balance, but then she clears her throat, because give her a challenge and she'll find a way to rise to it. ] Where would you like to go to dinner?

[ hah he thought she might be like that. it doesn't mean he's not vaguely surprised she went for it, but still. hah.

also hah. hahaha, okay ]

Whichever place makes me feel less like you're only staying at knifepoint. Is there more than one 'real restaurant' in this town?

[ the worst part is she can tell she just sort of got played and she can't stop herself anyways.

chin up, perfectly smooth. ] You couldn't make me stay anywhere. And probably not, I don't think it's big enough. And I'm ruling out taverns.

[ yeahhhhhh she sort of did but at least it wasn't on purpose? does that make it worse or better ]

Okay then, as per your directive, I vote we go to the only real restaurant in town.

[ worse. definitely worse. ]

Drink your water first. [ because okay she is winning that one small victory. ]

[ he looks at her again, blankly, and then oh right he had water in his hand sure, okay, what the hell, he'll drink it. ] Happy now? God, the water here is almost as bad as the alcohol. [ And holding an elbow out for her, since they're going to a restaurant. Fancy. ] Shall we?

Satisfied. [ she's picky about her word usage sometimes, okay, happy does not apply. But yeah she'll admit the water's not that great. Okay, wait, arm, right yes totally reasonable, she did this just a little bit ago. She moves forward and tucks her hand onto his elbow and starts to head out the door. ] Yes, sure.

[ Okay, whatever, sure. Use whatever synonyms you want. He moves with her pretty easily, mostly just following her lead but staying pretty steadily alongside her when the architecture allows for it. ]

You seriously just, don't? Like ever?

[ Choosing her words a little carefully, because she's never tried to sell him on her cover story but that doesn't mean she's going to tell him the actual truth. ]

I think the correct term is married to my job.

You're actually able to continue it to that same degree and intensity here? That's kind of impressive.

No, but dating wasn't the first activity I thought of when I got here. Or the second, or the third, or even on the list.

Reversing my previous statement - while somewhat impressive, that's also pretty sad. Not that dating was super high on my list either - well, sort of, but not really for the purposes of dating here, whatever - but anyway, yeah, it's also kind of sad.