pullmeoutalive | Ramey

[ he grins, shrugging a shoulder. ]

I mean, factor booze and incidentals in there, but considering the way you’ve got me runnin’ around, I don’t think I’ve got much to worry about as far as staying fit goes.

[ He watches her move around the kitchen for a few seconds, hands in his pockets, before he ventures slowly, ]

You… want any help at all?

Nah. I’ve been working all night so I have energy to spare.

[ She motions to the nearby kitchen table. ] Take a seat. I’ll just bask in the pleasure of your company as I cook.

[ He hesitates, but he wasn’t quite joking when he said he probably shouldn’t be anywhere near a stove. He and cooking are not on friendly terms, and he’s left a long trail of burnt foods behind him in his attempts.

So he sighs a little, taking the offered seat, folding his arms on the table’s surface. ]

Well, if you put it that way, then bask away. I’ve been told I have a very warm aura.

It's true. You're like a ray of sunshine.

[ She may mean that in a deeper sense, at least when it comes to his presence around the club and the way the girls all like having him around. ]

[ He puts on that bashful little look again, ducking his head and wrinkling his nose. ] Stop. You’re making me blush.

[ She’s doing no such thing, though. In fact, he figures she’s just being nice, trying to lift his mood after the shock of seeing Wickman and the others. Kind of her, he thinks, and very much in line with what he knows of her, but he hardly needs it; the gift did more than enough to help him try to put this night behind him.

It’s why he says lightly, ] As much as I appreciate it, you don’t have to keep tryin’ to make me feel better, you know. I think I’m good.

[ It's jut as well that he doesn't seem to sense something genuine in that sentiment ]

I'm just teasing you, sunshine, but if you want me to stop, I will.

[ He waves a hand, as if to brush off the words. He smiles wryly. ]

Did I say I minded?

I mean, I love praise, especially the unwarranted and overblown kind. I just wanna make sure you know you don't have to keep it up unless you really want to.

I'm not in the habit of doing things I don't want to do.

[ He settles back in his chair, spreading out his hands with a bright little smile. ]

Then, hey, as long as you're doing it for you and only a little for me, then play on. I won't stop you.

And that's what I like about you, Peter. You're so generous.

[ He grins. ]

Thank you, thank you. I try my best to be charitable, especially when it happens to benefit me the most and results in a gorgeous woman saying ridiculous things about me.

You think I'm gorgeous?

[ With a flat sort of look, ] Of course I think you're gorgeous. Me and the entire sighted world think you're gorgeous.

I know that, but you could at least be a little more enthusiastic about it.

[ She places the lid on the skillet to let it simmer for a few, and hops up to sit on the counter next to the stove while she waits, bare feet dangling. ]

Since you didn’t get employment papers for some bizarre reason, I also wanted you to know that if you ever need time off, all you have to do is ask.

[ Peter rests both elbows on the table, chin resting in his hands long enough to say in a wondering sort of voice, ] Madigan, you’re the prettiest girl in the world.

[ But the act is short-lived, once Madigan changes the topic, and he drops one hand, lifting a shoulder in a shrug. ]

Noted and appreciated. But it’s not like I’ve got anywhere to go or anyone to go with. I’m good.

Much better.

[ She tilts her head a little at his response, a slight frown on her face ] Nobody at all?

[ A stupid question, she realizes. If he had someone to go to, he would have done so instead of ending up on Charlie's doorstep again. ]

[ He snorts a little at the question – easier to take it as a joke than feeling sorry for himself or bringing the mood back down, after they’d already dragged it, kicking and screaming, into something more manageable. ]

Pretty sure every friend I’ve got lives or works here. No point in wandering much further.

[ That, and he has no idea what the fuck Maybelline is up to. The old gang clearly still held a grudge; who knows if that creep does, too? ]

Edited 2016-09-27 18:43 (UTC)

I guess that’s fair. I do close the place down for Christmas, though. Some of the girls go home, but most of them stay. We just kind of hang out for a week and get ready for the New Year.

Yeah? So what do you guys do, watch A Christmas Story or It’s A Wonderful Life and wear ugly sweaters?

We have a little party, exchange gifts and that kind of thing. Beyond that, you’re free to watch or not watch as many Christmas movies as you want. I always try to squeeze in a viewing of The Muppet Christmas Carol, myself.

And come on, I look good in anything, even an ugly sweater.

Right, right. [ He gestures vaguely with his free hand. ] Everything, anything, nothing – it’s all the same.

Well, I guess I’ll be sticking around for the holidays, then. Unless you want this to be a girls’ thing, in which case I’m game to holing up in my room while you all, I dunno, do your nails and talk about boys.

[ She wrinkles her nose a little, but about then the kitchen timer beeps and she moves to pull the skillet from the stove and fish a couple of plates from the cabinet. ]

Of course you’re welcome to come. Charlie usually does. Jacob and his merry little band do, too.

[ Ah. The cop. Peter’s lips draw into a thin line for a second, something approaching distaste, but he refrains from saying or doing much else. Family ties and everything. ]

I’ll think it over. Not like I’ve got any shortage of time, right?

[ She slides him a plate, taking a seat across from him with her own food ]

Jacob's not all that bad, I promise.

[ He offers a quick word of thanks as she passes over the plate. ]

I’ll take your word for it. [ … that sounded kind of dismissive, didn’t it? Which is why he frowns at himself and adds, ] I mean, yeah. I’m sure he’s fine.

[ yeah, that was much better. He decides relatively quickly that maybe he should stick some food in his mouth before it gets much worse. ]

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