[[ milliways ]]

[almosthonorable]

whitetextiswhite

It's early -- early enough that the bar proper is more quiet than loud. Ben likes mornings like this in here, when he can sit with his coffee at one elbow and his hat by the other on the counter, and he isn't taking up more space than might be considered polite.

This particular morning, he's also got a box of ammunition in front of him, courtesy of Bar; as soon as the gray light outside bleeds to red-gold, he'll stride out back for some target practice.

Comments

[ellectrical]

"I don't need the money."

Her eyes flicker away to the target for a moment, then back.

"Sometimes - other stuff. But not that."

[almosthonorable]

The answer earns another nod, short and quick.

He's still curious, but he won't press the issue; Lord knows he's the last person who should ask others about their motivations when it comes to dangerous lines of work.

[ellectrical]

But Elle lingers, making no more motion than to tilt her head slightly.

Maybe waiting to see if he'll ask, or lead into something else.

[almosthonorable]

Ben tips his head toward the range.

"All done out here?"

[ellectrical]

She glances toward the target, then back again.

And in a manner that probably doesn't need to be so coy, "Can I try it with yours?"

[almosthonorable]

"You can," he says, one corner of his mouth quirking upward. "Just not with this one."

("Gun's got a curse on it.")

"You mind waitin' out here for a minute while I go get another one of mine for you?"

[ellectrical]

But something goes slightly distant in her expression (the arrangement doesn't make her very comfortable, especially as she'd been playing her own game), and she moves to slip her own gun back in her holster.

"I think I'll wait 'til next time."

[almosthonorable]

Gauging her reaction -- and he's sure he's disappointed her -- he steps closer.

"All right."

He takes off his hat and sets it lightly on Elle's head.

"Next time it is, Goliath. I'll be sure to bring a spare every time I come out here, just in case."

[ellectrical]

Elle manages to not show much reaction to the hat, just staying still enough so that it doesn't slip off.

But after a few moments, she gets bored trying to think of an answer, and in lieu of it straightens up, needing to move up to her toes and limit the incline of her head so that the hat stays on. Her right hand presses against his shoulder for balance as she takes her time with it, but ultimately kisses his cheek.

There are some sparks with it, but only a few, and nothing that's enough to hurt.

[almosthonorable]

Ben's stubbled cheek is tingling -- it's not unpleasant, just unexpected, but he doesn't jerk away from the contact.

" -- you're welcome," he says, but somehow it sounds more like thank you.

[ellectrical]

She's still not particularly quick about it, but Elle lowers herself to her feet, and moves her hand from his shoulder again.

Her only response is a smile that edges awfully close to a grin, before she takes a step away, and turns.



Ben may want to stop her before she (only maybe inadvertently) walks off still wearing his hat.

[almosthonorable]

Swallowing back a bemused chuckle, his longer strides bring him even with her a moment later.

That hat's on loan, after all.

[ellectrical]

Elle just glances over, her smile intact, and makes no move to step away.

But Ben is going to have to take his hat back.

[almosthonorable]

"You know," he says, conversational as can be as they approach the bar's back door, "you don't look half-bad in that. We may have to see about gettin' you one of your own, that'll actually fit."

[ellectrical]

If she didn't forget, the look she gets, with her eyes moving upward and her mouth curling into a faintly surprised expression, is not an unconvincing one.

But she still doesn't hand it back; instead, she quickens her pace, then cuts across to stop in front of him.

"It'd stand out in my world." Elle sounds just a little regretful about it.

[almosthonorable]

"Even if you're on a horse?"

Assuming Elle has access to horses at home, and actually rides.

[ellectrical]

Elle bites her lip.

(She's done cars, vans, motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles, and even, because her father absolutely made her, a motorized boat. Thus it was for two people whose abilities didn't include teleportation or flight.

But even with all that preparedness, horses had never come up.)

[almosthonorable]

After a pause, "You've never been on a horse."

[ellectrical]

"We have cars in my world."

She's just saying.

[almosthonorable]

Ben's lips twitch.

"But you still have horses there, too, don't you?"

[ellectrical]

"... yeah."

The pause is only because Elle's not sure how much they're used as practical transportation. Even the most remote parts of the world she's been to still had motorcycles and pick up trucks.

"But most people don't use them," she decides, brushing off most of the uncertainty in her voice.

[almosthonorable]

"They get replaced with machines that go even faster," he says with a single nod. "But."

He offers her half a grin.

"That don't mean you can't ride for fun."

[ellectrical]

It's not that Elle doesn't understand 'fun' - but most of what she understands as fun still has some practical purpose behind it.

(Or is what no one should really consider 'fun.')

Still, she answers, a little coy again, "Maybe."

"But not in my world."

[almosthonorable]

"Fine, be that way," Ben says good-naturedly.

"You can still ride here -- there's stables and horses available."

A beat.

"Assumin' you and animals get along all right, of course."

[ellectrical]

Elle glances to the side, looking a little dubious.

Still, she looks back to him, and takes a step forward, closing the space between them. (Or at least, leaving less space between them than most people likely would.)

"Are you going to take your hat back?"