OOM: Surprise Blind Date with Nancy

[thesupersmeller]

After his heart to heart with Demeter, as they were always heart to heart with her, and all the confusion he's felt between his body, mind, and most of all his heart, Gus is more at ease than before but without any answers. He's already told The Devil once and for all it's off, he doesn't want to be that guy that keeps an open option - especially not an open option that could destroy him... and maybe still would. He's not that guy at all. Instead, he's been going through the motions; closing the case and helping get everything ready for the impending party.

The day after Juliet's birthday party, he gets a text message from Shawn telling him to be at Milliways as soon as possible at a bench by the lake. Later, it would occur to him that Shawn was clearly up to something - but as he walks a slow circle around the bench in the pink silk shirt and black slacks he'd worn to work for the day and waits for his friend to show it's more annoying than anything.

Comments

[thesupersmeller]

"Snow White, I bet... that was 1937..." he smiles even wider, showing off in his mind. The VCR clicks and whirrs as he sets up the tape and then the big screen TV - quickly joining her on the couch, nestled into his usual spot at the end opposite the uniforms.

"And probably Pinocchio... that was their second full length feature."

He's a little too proud of his geeky knowledge of things nobody but him cares about.

[iamhismummy]

"And Fantasia, Dumbo and Bambi", she replies with a grin for the showing off. "Sometimes they still show them at the pictures."

[thesupersmeller]

He scoots forward and opens up the bottle of sweet dessert wine, pouring out a pair of shallow glasses before admitting; "All right, all right... that's impressive. But, in all fairness, I wasn't born until '77. I didn't get to see Fantasia on the big screen until the remastered re-release twenty-two years ago... and it blew my thirteen year old mind."

It really did, he even talked Shawn into going with him the second time which inadvertently led to the first and only time he ever snuck into the movies to see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles right after.

[iamhismummy]

"Impressive would be knowing every one that's been made by your time", she counters, laughing as she accepts the glass he offers. "Not five. Fantasia was something special, it's true."

[thesupersmeller]

The movie's started, but he's honestly far more interested in his company than a film he's seen a dozen times - even if she hasn't. He takes a sip, but the replaces the wine with his ice cream as he retreated back to his corner of the soft sofa.

After a long, comfortable quiet, he asks; "Do you ever think about leaving there? You know, your time?" It was a rough time in his world at that point - and hers seems close enough to the same he can only imagine the sort of things she's seen. He knows all too well he wouldn't be one of the strong ones, he never would have survived the war.

[iamhismummy]

She glances over at him at the question, giving her answer real thought.

Eventually, "Thought about it, since Milliways. I'm sure I could find somewhere safer to be, it wouldn't be difficult, and I know I could bring Jamie with me. He's been to the bar before, that's not a problem... it's the other kids. If I left, they'd be all on their own again."

[thesupersmeller]

Considering her answer over two large candy-ice cream bites and a gummy worm, eventually Gus nods.

"I think I can understand that." In so much as anyone who's never been in a situation even close to hers can. "You're an amazing woman, you know that?"

[iamhismummy]

"You said that", is the cheerful response. "And thank you. Never hurts to hear it again."

[thesupersmeller]

"It's all truth, girl. I couldn't do it."

He takes another smaller bite and then tentatively scoots closer to watch the movie.

[iamhismummy]

She doesn't object to the scooting closer, just gives him a smile and settles back against the couch to enjoy the rest of the evening.