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Miss Katherine is outside the bar today, collecting leaves. She has never seen color like this before, and she imagines her children would get a thrill out of the fall foliage if she brings a few leaves back with her to her schoolhouse.

Whenever she's able to get back to her schoolhouse, that is.

She's strolling leisurely, a light wool shawl around her shoulders. There is a cool breeze, but the sun is warm, and every now and again you can see her tip her chin into the warm light, drawing in a deep breath, and letting the faintest of smiles grace her sad face.

Distractions are welcome.

[tiny!tag: Miss Katherine Barlow, The Russian Astronaut (Esfir), Arnold, Dan Evans]

ooc: If you can read this... this is still open for new tags. XD

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Katherine is a polite woman, but she has a bit of a fiery streak in her.

Which is why there's a long pause, as she considers.

"He sounds rather domineering.

"Beggin' your pardon."

Tom starts to smile.

"Oh, he is," he says in full agreement. "No pardon needed. I do not agree with much of what he says, nor of what he proposes in court. However, because he is my benefactor, I do what I must."

She nods in understanding.

You do what you have to do. Same for a young man as it is for a woman.

"And what of your parents?"

He hesitates, not so much because he has no parents or anything of that nature, but because ...

"They live in difficult times," he explains. They rely on him. They rely on the Judge. "But it will be better once I have completed my education."

Her face softens, partly out of sympathy and partly out of embarrassment.

"Forgive me for being so bold," she apologizes, recognizing it is perhaps a sensitive subject.

"Times are hard, even in my day."

He shakes his head. He doesn't like for a lady to feel embarrassed, and he considers Katherine a lady.

"Indeed? Do tell me of your world," he says. "I have never been outside of Europe, though I have read a great many thing of it in books."

"You could say the same of me, as it concerns your world," she smiles politely.

"America is... rugged. A bit wild. At least, in my parts it is. I live near a lake, which affords for some rather lovely countryside, but all about us on either side is desert. Beautiful in its own right, but dangerous.

"Lots of folk are just starting to move out West these days, but there's not much around. We're just comin' off a war that's left many settlers in sore straights."

Edited 2008-10-12 21:17 (UTC)

He nods.

"That does sound fascinating, regardless," he says, genuinely. It is certainly a place he would have liked to visit, if given a chance.

"London is, for the most part, rather damp. There isn't very much space to move about in the city, and while we have no nearby desert, we have plentiful countryside. But while the city is crowded, I admit I am rather fond of it."

"Mm, that much is obvious in the way you speak," she smiles. "I've only read of it in literature, but most writers give the impression it's a bit more than just crowded and damp."

She winks good-naturedly.

"I admit I've always wanted to go there. Traveling is a luxury I've never quite been able to afford."

For one reason or another.

"Ah, it is the same for me," he says, speaking in regards to traveling - and the luxury of it.

In fact, he can barely afford any luxuries. (Women and drink, however, always manages to be paid for, whether he can supposedly afford it.)

She nods thoughtfully, spinning a maple leaf between her fingers.

"Does your uncle intend on keeping you in the country long?"

"For as long as necessary, I think," he replies. "At the moment, I am staying with my other relations."

And it is boring. Oh, it is boring.

"And it seems when they are not walking, or attending dinners, they are attending dances."

Katherine chuckles softly.

"And, as we have already ascertained, you're not one for taking walks.

"Though, dancing sounds enjoyable enough?"

It's posed as half a question.

He laughs a little as well.

He is certain he probably sounds utterly ridiculous, rather much like a child; it makes him a little embarrassed.

"Oh, yes. I don't mind dancing," he replies. "And I have never been to one these events, so it ought to be interesting."

Especially when there's a girl involved, a girl he owes an apology to.

He shouldn't feel embarrassed, as she doesn't look like she minds much.

"Ah-ha, a silver lining," she teases.

"To be honest, I don't get the opportunity to do much myself, when I'm not at the schoolhouse. I read, mostly."

Though she would rather be out riding, jumping fences and heading toward the wide, open desert.

"Milliways has been good for broadening my horizons," she smiles.

"It is, at that," he agrees. Milliways has certainly opened his eyes to a lot.

"So you're a teacher, then? What do you teach?"

"A little of everything," she chuckles, shaking her head. "Most of my students are quite young, so I suppose you could say I mostly teach reading and writing and the like.

"But I also hold night classes for some of the adults. We're a simple, small town; lots of farmers and ranchers. Education is hard to come by."

"An honorable occupation," he says with admiration. "I'm afraid I haven't the patience to teach."

He isn't too bad at giving advice, though.

"Oh, but you're a student of the law! That's quite the honorable occupation itself!" she beams back.

Ahahaha - maybe.

"There are some days when I will agree with you, Miss Barlow," he says honestly. "But then there are times when I must question the integrity of our system which is significantly flawed at best."

He shrugs, offering her a small smile.

"Perhaps I am far too cynical."

Considering the sheriff in her old town turned a blind eye when her father was gunned down, only a few years past, Katherine doesn't so much as flinch at his supposed cynicism.

"Is that right?" she remarks softly, motioning to a bench not too far off the beaten path, if Tom is interested in sitting for a spell.

"How so?"

Oh, he would certainly oblige a lady, so he starts towards the bench with her.

"I have seen what court is like, how the division amongst classes is so great that the poor are treated so ill," he says, trying to be as reasonably calm as he can under the circumstances.

Such things anger him greatly, and he would not have known it if he hadn't attended his uncle's courtroom.

She nods, sadly.

"I'm afraid that's still the case in my day. It's incredible how money and title always seem to win out over justice," she mutters, sighing.

"I concur wholeheartedly," he says, sighing as well. "And to hear that it still continues, even in your time ..."

Well, it certainly doesn't keep him particularly optimistic.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you," she says, sounding genuinely apologetic.

"As I said, things out West tend to be wild, and unruly. There aren't many folk about, which gives some the impression they can make their own rules. Lot of innocent folk die."

Her expression darkens slightly.

"Lot of innocent folk."

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