AU: Oakville, Texas - 1888 - Morning, with Gene

[ikissdhimbck]

**NOTE: This is part of a plot arc that was meant to occur in Milliways over the Spring/Summer of 2011 in Bar Time. It has since become an AU, and should be treated as a standalone plot not associated with any game, and not fitting into Kate's continuity. This thread was never finished.**She wakes with a start

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[themanclion]

He mutters, and rolls, finding he suddenly has room to move.

'Runny egg, luv' he says, obviously still mostly asleep. 'Crisp bacon.'

[ikissdhimbck]

"Gene."

She frowns as he presents his back to her. She doesn't want to call attention by raising her voice any louder.

Beat.

Smirking, she pulls the sheets back. Having a clear shot of his bare ass, she then gives him a good smack.

[themanclion]

His eyes shoot open. There's a surprised yelp. Then he turns to look at her slowly, not looking pleased.

'...ow.'

That stings.

[ikissdhimbck]

She smiles sweetly.

"Good mornin'."

She looks every inch as innocent as an angel, with her tousled hair and clean dress, the morning light hitting her at just the right angle.

"Want me t'kiss it better?"

Of course, angels aren't typically so tickled by someone else's pain. Nor would they be dressed without their bloomers on.

[themanclion]

She may look innocent, but he knows better. So his expression doesn't get any less unimpressed.

'You kissin' my arse? That'll be the day.'

She'd never do it.

He squints at the window, and then back at her.

'Time is it?'

[ikissdhimbck]

"Quarter 'til eight."

She leans down and presses a quick kiss to his cheek.

"Get outta bed, y'big ass."

It's said with affection.

She grabs a horsehair brush from the wash basin, and starts combing out her hair.

"M'gonna go downstairs an' ask for a bath. Shouldn't be gone long; they're gonna start lookin' at me funny for all the baths we've been buyin'. Anyhow, y'don't wanna keep anybody waitin', so y'better think 'bout rousin' yourself. I'll be back in a jiff, all right?"

[themanclion]

'If it's quarter to eight,' he says, quite reasonably, he feels, 'why the bloody 'ell would I want t'get out of bed?'

He flops back to the pillow.

'Buy a bath for me an' all, would ya? I'll have it later.'

[ikissdhimbck]

"Because most everybody's already up."

She pokes him gently.

"I'm typically downstairs jus' finishin' up breakfast right around now. An' you will hafta sort out your own bath. Looks strange, me speakin' for you; besides, I mean t'go first."

And they can only manage one bath at a time.

[themanclion]

'So?' he mutters into the pillow.

As far as he's concerned, only weirdos and freaks are up at this time of the day. Before this trip, he can't remember the last time he saw 8am, from the right side at least.

He does turn though, and fix her with an impish grin.

'Can't we jus' share? I'll wait 'til you're in, an' follow. No one'll notice.'

He's that inconspicuous. Honestly.

[ikissdhimbck]

Her eyebrow tics.

"Would that get you up?"

[themanclion]

So does his.

'This is one of those things where I say yes, an' you leave me dangling, isn't it?'

Another thought breaks over his face. It's quite obvious.

'We could jus'...y'know. Stay in here a bit.'

[ikissdhimbck]

A second eyebrow joins the first.

She opens her mouth to say something, but all she can do is laugh.

"I've never known a more eager man."

She loops her forefinger through his gold chain, and tugs lightly.

"Wake up, an' we'll talk. But I'm gonna go have 'em get the water started."

She sets the brush down, and heads for the door. Gene gets one last look, and another soft laugh before she leaves the room.

[themanclion]

'Mmm,' he says. It doesn't sound promising, but it was worth a go.

And as soon as she's gone, he contemplates just going back to sleep. But damnit, he's awake now, and hungry. So he lights a fag, and rests while he smokes it, then sighs and drags himself up. Just as far as pulling some underwear on. His clothes from yesterday are fairly disgusting, and he doesn't have any more clean. He'll need to get her to sort that out some time today.

He wanders over to the window to look out. It seems stupid to think, 'it all seems so real', but that's the overriding thought in his head. Ridiculous, but there it is.

[ikissdhimbck]

Well, the aches in Kate's body are certainly real enough. She isn't gone long, but before she can steel herself for the stairs she lingers outside her door, winding her hair into a braided tress and carefully stretching her limbs.

Lord have mercy.

She gets a surreptitious once-over from the keep while she's requesting the bath, but a little extra coin keeps his mouth shut. She's determined not to be seen (or smelled) by anyone else until she's washed up.

"You're up."

She sounds surprised to find Gene at the window when she makes it back.

[themanclion]

He raises his eyebrows at her. If there's any possibility of more, did she really think he'd stay in bed?

Mind you, he still feels half asleep. But for the sake of show - and his ego - he'll make like he's completely up for it.

'Didn' bring any tea back, I s'pose?'

He lives in hope.

[ikissdhimbck]

Before she can answer, she has to look him over. It's practically reflex. The underwear they make in the future may never strike her as anything less than outrageously funny.

She reins it all in to nothing more than a smile, though.

"Thought 'bout it. But I still smell like you."