Manchester with ds_rockgod

[have_no_mercy]

Over the years, Tess has travelled quite a bit. Most of it was for research in the warm climates of the Caribbean or South America, and the rest was pure pleasure - scuba diving. England never made it to her list. Or Europe in general, to tell the truth

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[ds_rockgod]

Charlie has never set foot inside the Lowry before, even though he's seen it from the outside on several occasions. With the pay of a musician of limited and decreasing popularity, he's rarely been able to afford anything this fancy.

So it's with a sort of awe that he sets foot in it now. Of course, he also feels a bit out of place among the posh Englishmen in ties and all that rubbish.

But once he's gathered his wits about him again, he makes his way over to the front desk and inquires if a Tess Mercer has checked in. He's told that she'll be notified of his presence shortly, and he goes to wait rather awkwardly in a seat that is unnecessarily comfortable.

[have_no_mercy]

It doesn't take Tess long to make it down to the lobby, dressed down in casual black slacks and a dark blue blouse. As mentioned, she's on the tall side and her red hair makes her quite noticeable.

Which Charlie also is, if only because he looks so out of place. Tess wanders over to him and offers a small smile.

"Mr. Pace, I presume?"

[ds_rockgod]

Charlie looks up and gives her a smile of his own, quickly rising to his feet. "Charlie," he corrects with amusement. No one has called him "Mr. Pace" in a while. "And I take it you're Tess?"

[have_no_mercy]

"Indeed I am." She holds her hand out. "Nice to finally meet you face to face."

[ds_rockgod]

He nods and extends his own hand to shake hers.

"It is," he agrees, giving her a quick glance up and down. "And I see no sticks or clubs. This is a good sign, yeah?"

[have_no_mercy]

She smiles again. "No sticks and definitely no clubs." A gun, on the other hand? Yes. But that's upstairs.

"So, are we still on for dinner?"

[ds_rockgod]

Charlie nods a second time and turns back toward the entrance, perhaps a bit relieved to leave for a more comfortable setting. "Definitely. Any food preference?"

[have_no_mercy]

"I'm okay with just about anything. I've moved around so much I don't have many nutritional attachments."

She pauses. "Chocolate aside, so someplace with an amazing dessert selection wouldn't go amiss."

[ds_rockgod]

He gives her another small smile at that. "Who doesn't love chocolate, mate? I'll see what I can do," he assures her, pushing the door open and motioning for her to exit the hotel first.

[have_no_mercy]

"Oh, I know someone who's less than impressed with it. I don't know how." Tess shakes her head half in amusement and steps out onto the street, waiting for him to join her.

"You know, this is my first time here."

[ds_rockgod]

Charlie joins her a moment later and nods slowly. "I've spent most of my life here, love. Saw Oasis play in this city before they were even Oasis." He smiles again at the memory, though it's to himself this time. "Which you'll hear all about soon enough if I have any say in the matter," he adds after a moment, shooting her another grin.

[have_no_mercy]

"Well, I am here to learn about music." Which is true, but she also just needed to get away from her own life for a while. "But sadly, the UK isn't really a hotbed of marine biology. I did most of my trvelling when I was in that field."

[ds_rockgod]

He glances at her curiously as he leads the way toward his car, which is parked a few feet away. "You used to be a marine biologist?"

[have_no_mercy]

She nods and follows, only hesitating for a moment before making her way to the proper car door.

"A long time ago now. Field research, mostly."

[ds_rockgod]

Charlie takes note of the slight hesitation and is inclined to smile to himself about it, though he is also rather impressed that she didn't try to get in on the wrong side.

"So what field are you in now?" he asks as he opens his own car door and slides inside.

[have_no_mercy]

Tess enters the car as well and frowns slightly. This is always a somewhat complicated question.

"My companies work on several different projects. One is more bio-chemical, another is more philanthropical and I also own a national newspaper."