(Untitled)

[themanclion]

There's the roar of an engine coming from somewhere near the forest. It's a deep, throaty sound and soon accompanied by the squeal of tyres though at first, there's nothing to be seen.

Until there is.

Out of nowhere, a car appears. It's big and bronze and makes a hell of a racket. But possibly not as much of one as Gene.

'...bloody 'ell is goin' on!'

Comments

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy was standing about twenty feet from the back door. And as such, gets the full force of the mudslide whilst trying not to get run over.

"WHAT THE BLOODY FUCKING HELL!" he yells, getting up and squelching over towards the car to find out which delinquants just ruined his clothes.

[themanclion]

Gene blinks.

'We 'ad a car accident?'

Really? He just...drove like he normally does. So he looks confused.

'That magnificent 'andbrake turn, you mean? Bringin' the machine to a glorious an' graceful stop righ' outside our destination? That accident?'

Please.

He glances at Kate and indicates Guppy with a jerk of his head, as if to say what's he like? But he leaves the statement about PTSD alone, for her sake. If it were just the two of them, he'd be making comments about how a man needs to know how to take a few slaps and there's no reason to stress about them unless you're a pansy.

But he's obviously a mate of Kate's, so he refrains. This is quite epic self-control, for him.

[ikissdhimbck]

"We're okay," she stresses once again, using a sleeve to wipe some mud from his face. "You probably fared the worst outta any of us. Jus' let it go, okay?"

She shakes her head slightly in Gene's direction, but there's the faintest smile on her lips. She appreciates the hell out of him for leaving it alone.

And, if we're being honest, it was a pretty fun ride.

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy does let it go, but only because it's Kate.

"Maybe we should all get in and have a hot drink." he suggests. "I overreacted because I was frightened, and I apologise."

[themanclion]

He blinks again. A grown man just openly admitted to being frightened.

That never happens.

'Don' worry abou' it.'

He looks back towards his car.

'You two go on an' I'll catch up. I wan' t'park this somewhere safe. Get one in for me though - double Scotch.'

He'll forgo the hot drink for something a bit more manly.

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate nods.

"I think that sounds like a good idea. Let's get you inside and cleaned up, Guppy, all right?"

Kate glances at Gene, and then lets her eyes rest on the Cortina for a moment. She doesn't want to upset Guppy by asking aloud, but she's hoping she'll get another go at driving sometime soon.

And her eyes say as much.

[guppy_sandhu]

Well, it's easier to admit being frightened and having a problem with it, than to explain having a full-blown panic attack, which he has in the past.

Guppy nods to Gene, and squelches in. He takes his shoes off at the door.

"If you're planning on getting your driving licence, I'd better buy you a Highway Code. And possibly a crash helmet."

He gets her a drink.

"I'm going to shower and get changed. I'll be back in a few."

He goes upstairs and gets showered and changed. Then comes back and gets himself a tea and Gene a scotch, and sits back next to Kate.

"I don't want to make an enemy of him." he says to her. "He seems to be capable of being decent. And he was kind to Alex the other day. Even if he did increase his swearing vocabulary by two words."

[ikissdhimbck]

"...License?"

You mean you need some sort of permit to drive a car?

Kate sits, quietly sipping a whiskey while both men are occupied, and works on getting all the makeup off her face. It feels like she's the one caked in mud.

"Then don't," she says when Guppy returns. By this point, she's already worked her hair free of the ponytail. "He's a bit of a boor, but I think he means well. Y'just hafta learn not t'react to everything he says. All right?"

She squeezes his shoulder gently.

Beat.

"He taught Alex what?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"I wasn't doing it on purpose." Guppy says. "I was frightened and upset because... I could easily have been out there with Alex."

Small grimace.

"'Bugger' and 'Load of bollocks'. The latter of which he has repeated at nursery, in the library, here, and in front of Granny."

[themanclion]

'Who's repeated what?'

Gene dumps himself unceremoniously in a chair, speaks, picks up his drink and makes most of it disappear, all in one smooth movement.

[ikissdhimbck]

"Alex has picked up some of your charmin' diction."

She grins, part sarcastic and part genuinely amused.

She might find this more serious if she understood either of the swears in question.

[guppy_sandhu]

"Yep, I've had to start using the naughty step." Guppy says. "He's taught 'Load of bollocks' to everyone in his nursery class that talks."

[themanclion]

Gene should possibly look contrite right about now. Or something.

He does not. He cackles loudly and claps Guppy on the shoulder.

'Good lad.'

His daddy must be very proud.

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate bites her lip to hide her smile, but has the grace to look sorry about it when she turns her attention to Guppy.

"I know it's awful hard t'believe, but try t'remember what I said."

Gene has been a really decent friend, and that counts for a lot.

Boorishness aside.

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy jumps slightly when he's clapped on the shoulder, But he manages the situation with rolled eyes and a wry smile.

"Okay, it's slightly funny, but I still can't encourage him to do it. It's hard enough getting other people to accommodate him as it is."

Beat.

"Mind you, it was quite funny when he tried to use his new police badge to arrest Granny for kissing his face."

To Kate. "I'll believe you, but only because it's you."

[themanclion]

'See. Smart. No lad likes his Gran swoopin' in fer a snog.'

Bleurgh.

'You bringin' him back in? Not a bad sort, your boy.'

He doesn't have much to do with kids but he does like them. Again, not something he'd admit often.