(no subject)

[gonna_live]

Simon's idea of making up for missing a week is for the two of them to pick something they want to do the next week. Something special. And they each get to pick something.

When you think of something you want us to do, name it and we'll do it, he tells her. Absolutely anything.

Kaylee doesn't know what she wants to pick.

Simon's pick is a fancy dinner out at some restaurant that's apparently got to be serving edible gold on a plate for how hard it is to get a reservation. And they have a dress code.

One problem at a time.

At their appointment, Diana suggests a trip to the formal boutique within the Galeries Lafayette, saying that they're known for being helpful and discreet.

What if they laugh, Kaylee says, and Diana shakes her head, and tells her they won't: the store is old, really old, and one of their business tenets since their reformation after the exodus is to be all things to everyone, no exceptions, no matter the event. One of the benefits of jamming everyone from Earth-that-was together -- some of us did learn how to get along, she says, and smiles.

Thus it is that Kaylee enters a small showroom within a ten-story department store, looking nervous, and almost hellaciously awkward.

Comments

[simon_doctor]

"You do not have bad taste," he says, sounding a little startled.

[gonna_live]

"When it comes to anything real fancy I do."

She doesn't lift her head.

"Party the captain and I went to -- it counts. And everything else was pretty much picked out for me, any time it mattered. And it matters this time and nobody was there to pick it out."

[simon_doctor]

He's not sure what to say; he rubs her shoulder, instead.

After a moment: "Do you want to show me what you picked?"

[gonna_live]

She nods.

"On me, or on the hanger?"

[simon_doctor]

The hand that was on her shoulder moves up to brush her hair back. "On you?"

[gonna_live]

One more nod, and she pulls away, and Kaylee doesn't look at him when she turns to leave the kitchen.

She picks up the shoes on her way to the bedroom.

The door closes behind her.

[simon_doctor]

He waits.

The water hasn't boiled yet; he gets down two mugs, and a canister from the pantry.

[gonna_live]

Her clothes go on the bed, layer after layer.

The dress slips on over her head. She zips it up the side, adjusts it, looks at herself in the mirror.

The shoes come out of the box; Kaylee is two inches taller.

Kaylee looks at herself in the mirror.





Slowly her hands rise to her throat.

The scarf goes on the bed, on top of her shirt.

Kaylee opens the door, and walks out.

[simon_doctor]

He hears the bedroom door open and close, hears the click of dress shoes against the floor, and steps out of the --

-- stops in the kitchen door and just gazes at her, a wholly unconscious smile lighting his face.

[gonna_live]

Well. That's --

That's not a bad reaction.

"Is it appropriate?"

[simon_doctor]

"Completely," he tells her. "And it's beautiful on you."

[gonna_live]

She reddens a little, and looks out the window.

"Tried to find the plainest thing there was."

[simon_doctor]

Pause.

A touch uncertainly: "Do you like it?"

[gonna_live]

"It's appropriate, ain't it?"

[simon_doctor]

That isn't what he asked.

He nods, though, silently.

[gonna_live]

"Okay," Kaylee says, soft, and turns to go back in the bedroom.

[simon_doctor]

The kettle starts to whistle, and Simon turns to take it off the heat; sets it aside, and rummages for spoons in the drawer.

[gonna_live]

She's wearing her pajamas when she comes out again, with one of his sweaters over.

"Heard the kettle," she says, leaning against the doorjamb.

(Everything hangs too big on her now, like a child playing dress-up.

She still doesn't have her scarf on, though.)

[simon_doctor]

"I was going to make cocoa," he says, looking over his shoulder. "D'you want some?"

[gonna_live]

"Reckon I could be convinced."




She waits until he's turned around again before padding forward, near-silent and taking no trouble with it, settling her arms around his waist, and resting her head against a shoulder blade.

[simon_doctor]

"Hey," he says softly, smiling.

[gonna_live]

"Mm."

It sounds like a sigh.

After another moment: "So. How'd your day go?"

(Sheepishly.)

[simon_doctor]

He finishes spooning cocoa into the mugs, and reaches for the kettle.

"It's looking up."

(Outside, dimly, there's a faint pattering sound. The rain that's been threatening all afternoon has finally begun to fall.)

[gonna_live]

"Yeah?" She lifts her head long enough to stand on her tiptoes, and look down at the kettle. "One day I'm teachin' you to do this from scratch."

[simon_doctor]

"That sounds nice." The spoon clinks against the mug as he stirs, and the scent of the cocoa blend wafts upward with the steam: chocolate predominating, with cinnamon and ginger and a touch of pepper involved in there somewhere.

"Do we want to be decadent and put cream in this?"