(no subject)

[the_gene_genie]

 
Looks like Mel was true to her word. Gene picks up the badge that's presented to him with his afternoon pint, and weighs it in his hand. It's more like a Sheriff's badge than the ones they get at home, even. Brilliant.

There's a note from Guppy that makes him smile. There's also a note about staff quarters, which he sticks in his pocket. Useful to know, but arguments about living space will have to wait for another time. He pins the badge to his shirt - which, by happy coincidence, is white today - and heads to a table at the back where he can see, and be seen. 

There're one or two bastards he'll be having a word with later. For now, he's got a paper and a pint, and is probably watching you.


[OOC: Open for new tags through tomorrow afternoon.]

Comments

[nitro_is_ace]

She comes in through the front door, weaving her way through the bar without looking up from the child-written pages in her hand.

She has managed to recreate (or at least, re-start) her long-lost bepatched coat, and while the patches may be different, the attitude's the same.

And there's an old (but still deeply opportunistic) Doberman dogging her steps.

She'll give Gene grief about his affinity for Westerns in a minute. That, or she'll smack into the bar because she hasn't realized where she is. One or the other.

OOC: ( a) yeeeeah, so maybe Gene can have an old-skool Ace for a bit? b) so instaslowtime, but I'll be back at lunch. *flees*)

[the_gene_genie]

'Oi.'

He's been following her progress, and picked up a beer mat about ten paces ago. This is the point he aims it at her head, and lets fly.

'Watch where you're goin'.'


[OOC: a) \o/! b) Sweet! Catch ya later. :)]

[nitro_is_ace]

She catches it one-handed and sends it sailing back along the same trajectory.

And then looks up, blinking somewhat owlishly.

"... An' here I thought that door was broken. This police harassment, Guv, or are y'just happy t'see me?"

[the_gene_genie]

Gene is blinking at being hit in the forehead with his own beer mat. Less owlish, more what the hell was that?

'...what?'

He looks around.

'Why, you done anythin' I need to harass you for?'

[nitro_is_ace]

"When have I not?" Ace asks, somewhat rhetorically, as she settles onto a bar stool. "What, now I'm supposed t'just confess things?"

[the_gene_genie]

'If you want to make my job easier, that'd be nice.'

It'd be fairly boring though. Plus, she'd have to do something pretty bad for him to bang her up anyway.

He has a drink, and looks at her suspiciously.

'You're acting more like you.'

[nitro_is_ace]

She eyes him right on back, since it seems like the thing to do. She still isn't quite completely unscrambled from the mess the Time War had become, and sometimes resorts to mimicry.

"... Is there someone else I'm supposed t'be today?"

[ostro_goth]

"She did hire you, then," Teja says, passing by. "Good."

[the_gene_genie]

'Aye.'

He looks over the top of his paper, nods at Teja and reaches for his pint.

'Woman's got sense.'

[ostro_goth]

"That she does, very much," Teja says. "I may not always share her actual opinions, but do admire her sense, and will follow her advice over my own, if she says so."

[the_gene_genie]

'You'd follow her advice over your own?'

Gene looks at him with clear incredulity.

'Why?'

[ostro_goth]

"If there is doubt, then I would not go against her orders," Teja says. "She is the head of security: - I will follow her lead. That is not to say I would not follow my own council while there is latitude."

[the_gene_genie]

He pulls a face - which very much looks like he's thinking you ponce - and shrugs.

'She didn't seem like she had orders more clear than, 'don't take shit' and 'stop the innocent ones getting hurt'. In fact, I know she didn't because that's what she said.'

That right there being reason number one why he's always liked Mel.

'It's just a matter of common sense, mate. It's not like this is a force commanded by anything higher.'

[guppy_sandhu]

There is a small person staring at the badge in awe.

"Daddy, look!" Fry points to Gene's shiny badge, before bouncing over. Guppy follows, giving Gene a nod.

"Hey Gene. Congratulations." he says.

The crime rate ought to fall considerably with Gene on Security. At one point he seemed to be getting arrested on a weekly basis...

[the_gene_genie]

Misunderstandings, all of 'em.

Gene folds his page down to see over, manages a grin at the lad and nods back at Guppy.

'Hiya, mate.'

He'd ruffle his hair if it was allowed.

To Guppy, he just shrugs. 'Didn't win a prize. An' I'm not sure working two jobs is cause for celebration.'

But he wants to anyway.

'What's with the note?'

[guppy_sandhu]

"Hiya, mate." Fry says, in a precise imitation of his accent.

Guppy nods. "I know the feeling. Sometimes it's like doing a double shift in two dimensions... oh wait."

"I socked Patrick in the face." Fry says. "With my sock. Miss Hebblethewaite said it was in a prope ree ate, but mostly it was on my foot."

[the_gene_genie]

He snorts.

'I hope it was a smelly sock.'

Because clearly this Patrick git must have deserved it. And it's probably better than Fry having realised what socking someone actually means. The consequences for that might be worse than a note home.

[guppy_sandhu]

"My sock is only a little bit smelly." Fry says.

The school probably wouldn't expel a three year old for hitting someone, but he'd certainly be in bad books. So far it hasn't been necessary, as Guppy already explained to him that at very least, hitting someone would lose him a star, and he definitely doesn't want that.

"And you were doing it for a kind reason, which makes a difference too." Guppy says.

"I didn't do it to be kind, I did it because he was wrong." Fry says.

[the_gene_genie]

'Why, what'd he do?'

The morality of three-year-olds is strangely compelling. Simple in a way he likes.

[not_his_pa]

William's fallen asleep over his book at the counter, the book's just a dime novel but he's had a long day.

Now that he's not going to school but Mark is, he's trying to get more work done during the day.

[the_gene_genie]

Gene wanders up to the bar to get a refill on his pint - he could get it off a rat, but needs to stretch his legs - and eyes William as he sorts through the change in his hand.

Then he nicks his book, and starts flicking through it.

[not_his_pa]

Its about a boy helping a Pinkerton in New York catch a gang of thieves, its not one of the best of its type but exciting reading.

When the book gets taken away, William murmurs something in his sleep but doesn't wake up.

[the_gene_genie]

He sits down, and starts on the first page. He was given a few books like this from American G.Is in the war, ones they'd bought with them, that their dads and grandads had given them.

It's weird. Like taking a step back in his own life.

He won't wake William up intentionally. The lad looks like he needs the kip. He'll just sit here and read, and drink, and smoke a few fags.

[not_his_pa]

As he read, William tries to get more comfortable on the counter and when someone farther down the counter coughs from a cold wakes up quick, "Mark, you alright?"

Then realizes where he is and rubs his face, he didn't realize he was that tired.

[the_gene_genie]

Gene glances over, then nudges him lightly.

'You look knackered. Go an' get a room.'