OOM: Suite 130

[watching_you]

Veronica leads Mills through the labyrinthine corridors of the Milliways guest area until, eventually, they reach the right hallway.

"This place can be a bit confusing at times," she offers apologetically. "Things have a tendency to move. But I'm right up here --"

She cuts off, stopping short. This hallway's not empty.

Super.

Comments

[watching_you]

"It might be if it could be trusted to work in a pinch."

She tucks the necklace back under her shirt and moves to his side. This time she doesn't wait for him to offer before slipping her hand around his arm.

"Lead on."

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

He peers through the door, assessing the crowd and the room beyond. It looked just as it had when they'd left.

He steps through, keeping her close to his side.

"What did you do when it stopped working? And what made you think to try again?"

[watching_you]

With a shrug, "I lived my life. Finished school, worked for a while, went to the academy, got -- got a job. Seven years. I stopped trying to get back. Left this thing in a drawer.

"Then one day I'm opening the door to my apartment and hey, there it is."

Her tone is difficult to read.

"I was gone for seven years and only a couple of months had passed. Far as my friends were concerned I was on a summer vacation or something. That's Milliways for you.

"Anyway, since the door started appearing regularly again, I dug the necklace up and started wearing it again. Hasn't failed me since."

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

"So it wasn't that the necklace stopped working, it was that the Bar stopped coming for you. I've heard other patrons talk about that happening. I guess even the end of the universe can't be relied upon 100% of the time."

He stops in the middle of the room, eying the tables. When he turns back to her, he's got that look in his eye again.

"I've seen Bar give people pretty much anything they ask for..."

[watching_you]

She eyes him.

"Well, bar the building and Bar the big sexy hunk o' wood are two entirely different things. One is friendly and serves drinks and a miscellany of other objects; the other is huge and ambivalent and lets in terrorists and schoolkids without giving a damn. So I'm not sure what you're thinking."

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

"Bar, the entity," he clarifies. "Could get you a file on me, if you asked for it."

His voice is carefully neutral.

[watching_you]

She steps back from him slightly, startled.

"I -- I don't know. I suppose she might, if I asked... Why?"

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

"I know you, Agent Mars. The moment I walk away, you'll have questions. And I see no reason not to answer them, if I can."

"I mean, you know about the... accounting." The euphemism makes him chuckle a little. "Hell, forget I said anything."

Because the next logical step is him asking for her file. And he's not sure he's ready for everything that implies.

[watching_you]

"I'm not going to do that." She's frowning, annoyed. "I shouldn't have done it in the first place and I'm sure as hell not going to do it to you. Anything you want to tell me you can tell me yourself."

A pause.

"And I hope that goes both ways."

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

He can't help but give her a wry smirk at that.

"It does. Damn you," he teases.

[watching_you]

"Good."

Her feathers de-ruffle.

"Is there anything you want to tell me?"

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

"Nothing you don't want to find out on your own in good time," he deadpans, still deeply amused.

He gestures to an empty table.

[watching_you]

"Fair enough."

A glance to the table, then back to him, and she takes a seat.

"So. What shall we do next?"

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

"Well, let's review, shall we?" He sits beside her, his back to the wall. "There was beer with advanced evasion techniques, and then tequila and impertinent questions." He leans in a bit. "Footrubs at no extra charge. We did impromptu criminal intervention at the farmer's market. Feel free to jump in here at any time."

[watching_you]

"You bought me a flower and I freaked out your neighbour and then we ate dinner."

She ticks off her fingers as she recites, not counting to anything in particular.

"And then, we, ah..."

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

"Ah, yes. Can't forget that, can we?"

"Not that I'd want to," he adds quickly.

[watching_you]

"Yes, well."

She's blushing, just a little.

"Point is, I think we've covered all the bases, really."

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

"Right."

He looks at his hands, and then back at her.

"Walk you home?" There's a hopeful look in his eyes.

[watching_you]

He looks like he doesn't want this day to end.

She can't blame him.

"That would be nice."

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

He nods and stands, holding her chair for her and then offering her his arm.

"We should do this again," he says. "Sooner rather than later."

[watching_you]

"I don't think I would object to that."

She grins, looking thoughtful as they make their way to the stairs.

"Part of me wants to suggest paintball in our future, just for the trouble I know we'd cause."

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

"Mmm, possibly."

He holds the door for her.

"Or you mentioned something about karaoke."

He manages to keep a straight face for all of three paces.

[watching_you]

She hops up a couple of stairs ahead of him, then turns.

"Yes!" It's enthused, at first, then insistent. "Yes. We'll do that. Good idea."

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

Mills' laugh fills the enclosed space. "Get up the stairs, you." The moment she turns to head back up the stairs, there's a playful swat across her backside.

[watching_you]

She stops at the first landing and turns to stare at him, her face reading, 'you are completely insane and you will suffer for your impudence.'

It's a very expressive look.

"You want to try that again? Do you? Punk?"