watching_you | OOM: Suite 130

Veronica simply nods.

She feels charged up, full of energy that rattles around in her stomach, desperate to escape. Stupid conscience. Swallowing hard, she presses a palm against his left cheek, then as her one concession to being that kind of impulsive this evening, quickly leans in and gives him a tiny kiss on the right one, just outside the corner of his mouth.

Then she moves back, hands and all, disentangling her personal space from his.

He allowed himself to lean into the kiss, just for a moment, and then he's grinning at her as she pulls away.

He pulls himself up out of the couch and rises, disappearing into the kitchen. There's the sound of running water for a moment, and he returns, carrying a tall glass of water.

"Drink," he says, handing it to her.

She takes it with both hands, giving him a lopsided, grateful smile.

"Don't have to tell me twice."

She attacks it with the same enthusiasm she had the shots, earlier.

He watches her drink, and when she's done, he takes the glass back to the kitchen. She hears the water running again, and then silence.

He stands over the sink and drinks from the same glass. Always a good guest, he washes said glass and stands it upside down in the drainer.

He turns around and leans on the counter, thinking face on. "What do you think about Italian food?"

During the time it takes him to drink she takes her time wandering over towards the kitchen area; when he goes to the counter she's across it, taking one of the tall seats.

In response to his question, she shrugs. "I like it fine. Hungry?"

He leans in closer, mock frown on his lips. His answer is a succinct growl, "Yes."

The wild energy she was feeling seems to be contagious.

"I would cook for you, but your fridge is not nearly as well-stocked as you led me to believe."

"Yeah, I meant my bar fridge. Sorry."

She drums her fingers on the counter, and gives him a guilty look.

"I'm living in my world right now, so I try not to keep too much around. Plus I, you know, live above a restaurant."

He drops to his elbows on the counter, effectively putting them eye to eye.

"What's today, Friday? There's a farmer's market just up the street from my apartment." He raises an eyebrow. "Up for an adventure?"

The looks this earns him is highly skeptical.

"Right now? You want to go grocery shopping -- now?" She shakes her head, grinning despite herself. "I'm all for adventure, but... I'm not exactly tequila-free just yet."

The corners of his mouth draw down a bit. "It's just a short walk. Come on. The fresh air will clear your head."

"Oh, come on, don't -- are you pouting? Don't pout at me."

She gives him a good-natured eyeroll. "Fine. We'll go."

His eyes light up and he smirks at her. "Right."

He stands and walks around the bar, pausing to bend and kiss her cheek. Just a peck, over before it's begun, and then he's moving to put his shoes back on.

"They actually have a cheese guy at the market. Fresh mozzarella. That and the first roma tomatoes are in season. A little basil, a little olive oil. I would suggest a little wine, but I think we can skip that. This time anyway."

The kiss comes unexpectedly, and for a moment she sits there, blinking in surprise.

Eventually she realizes Mills is still speaking.

"Hm? Oh. Yes. Good idea."

Shoes on, he reaches for his holster, unfurling it and slipping it back around his shoulders. It's then that he notices she's still sitting at the bar.

"I could go by myself, I guess. Bring it back here, if you wanted."

There are key advantages to his suggestion -- namely that it would grant her time to have the cold shower she'd like for so many reasons -- but instead she hops off her seat.

"No, no. I'm coming."

She hurries to the front hall and slips into some flats, then considers the contents of her front closet.

"What's the weather like in your universe today?"

"It was in the low seventies when I entered the bar, so..."

He's folding his shirt sleeves down and buttoning up again, slipping his jacket back on and checking the pockets. She might notice the mobile phone he glances at and then puts away. He also taps his breast pocket, making sure his wallet is still where it's supposed to be.

"I'd take something light to cover up with, just in case."

"Hm."

She settles on a double-breasted red trench coat. It's just slightly flashy, and gives off a pulp detective vibe. It's exactly the kind of thing unsuited to undercover work, which is why Veronica, to her great regret, hasn't been able to wear it in months.

She scoops up her purse and goes to stand by the door, looking back at Mills expectantly.

He looks up from straightening his cuffs and stops dead. And then he whistles, the traditional wolf whistle of course, soft and low. "Miss Mars, I am going to be fending off the paparazzi with you dressed like that. Lucky for you, I've had experience doing just that."

He steps passed her to open the door, gesturing her through.

"I think you mean Agent Mars. But thanks."

She does preen a little as she steps out into the hall. When he follows she locks the door behind them, then heads down the corridor to the stairs.

"It's been a while since I've been on an alternate-dimensional field trip." A quick sidelong glance in his direction. "This would probably be a good time to tell me about anything... weird in your world."

Mills frowns, humming as he thinks.

"No superheroes, no talking animals unless you count Disney, no ghosts, no werewolves -- that I know of. New Kids On The Block are still touring but they're almost forty now, and that's kinda strange, if you ask me."

"Sky's still blue, right?"

She takes the stairs a little more slowly than usual, one hand on the banister.

"Here's an important one: what year is it?"

"Sky is blue and the year is 2009."

His motions seem more fluid, and he's resting his hand in the small of her back again. Just the lightest of touches. He steps ahead of her into the bar, his eyes scanning the crowd.

"Right this way, pretty lady." He holds his own Door open for her with a bit of a flourish.

It opens on a rather nondescript alley a few steps off of Ventura Boulevard. It's mid-afternoon, partly cloudy and cool.

As she steps through the door the wind catches her hair, and she takes a second to simply enjoy the feeling. Tilting her head back she drinks in what little sunlight the day offers.

"Mmm... you know, back in my world I haven't properly been outside in weeks? Not during the day, anyway. It's always just me and three computers and it rains all the time, Mills, all the damn time."

Once she's done this little speech she spins back to face him again.

"Okay. Where to?"

Mills takes in the sight of her, still very aware of the alcohol coursing through his system.

For some reason, keeping his distance doesn't seem near the priority it did just a half hour before.

He leans down to offer her his arm, his voice far more gravelled than he perhaps intended. "Somewhere it isn't raining."

She examines him for a moment. It's one thing to drink far too much tequila and maybe-almost-kiss; it's another entirely to wander arm-in-arm down the street to pick up supplies for a dinner together. This is starting to seem more and more like a date -- or, possibly, a date in reverse -- and Veronica's not sure what to think about that.

Well, it's just a couple of blocks, right? A couple of blocks never hurt anyone. To her mind, still buzzing as it is, this makes sense.

She slips her arm into his, and smiles. "Sounds perfect."

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