OOM sorta -- Outside, a late-night chance encounter

[ikissdhimbck]

It's dark by the time Kate finishes with her evening chores in the stables. The 'time of year' -- or however time works here -- plus a cloud cover that threatens snow above, nudges the darkness deeper despite the fairly early hour.

She coos her goodbyes to Beaut, and then leaves the stables, stuffing her hands into the pockets of her long coat and hunkering against the cold. She makes her way up along the path, boots crunching in uncovered gravel and days-old snow.

The atmosphere tonight strikes her as strange, and frankly she's just ready to get back inside where it's light and warm and crowded.

.

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[ikissdhimbck]

The stillness in the air is palpable, and somewhere in the back of her mind it strikes her as strange. She feels almost weighted, in some odd way.

"Um."

She licks her lips, glancing around -- though, what she's looking for she couldn't begin to say -- and weighs her response carefully.

"Okay," she murmurs at length, smiling wanly. "Sure, I can... can show you around the grounds a bit. If you'd like."

There's a warning bell sounding in some distant part of her brain; something she should know, or remember, but it strays just outside of her reach.

[vojvode]

He dips his chin, his smirk broadening into a smile again. A velvety chuckle of delight lingers in the air between them, wiping away those thoughts.

"I shall count the moments, mademoiselle, jusqu'à demain."

He bows again, and turns to leave, but pauses.

"Oh I almost forgot..."

[scurlock]

When the man (nobody Doc recognizes -- it certainly ain't Ben Wade, even if the impressive headgear might remind him of the outlaw just a bit) turns away, Doc takes a half-step from the shadow, intent on approaching Kate and finding out just who it is she's been walking with.

But then he stops.

Doc does the same, wondering who it could be.

[ikissdhimbck]

She relaxes back into a chuckle, all of those nagging little thoughts suddenly leaving her mind.

She smiles, ducking her chin demurely as he bids her goodnight, and then glances up curiously again when he stops.

"Forgot?"

[vojvode]

He holds her gaze for a long moment, savouring the sound of her laughter.

"Beautiful Kate."

Eventually, he lifts his hand and the breeze rises, carrying the whisper of his thoughts to her.

Dream of me.

The fine powder of recent snow rises, swirls up with the breeze, eddies of white whispers, rising like a veil between them.

When the wind settles again, he is gone.

[scurlock]

His eyes narrow as the snow whips up and forms a blockade between his eyes and her form -- he can't see her, for a moment, nor can he see the gentleman with her.

When the icy crystals flutter and fall from the air, she's alone.

Doc reaches into his pocket for his cigarette tin, eyes roaming the woods as he lights another smoke, shaking the match out before he steps towards the bar.

[ikissdhimbck]

For a moment, she's chilled to the core, and she can't tell whether it's from the cold air whipping through her hair or the smoke and gravel voice echoing in her head.

She exhales a shuddering breath, her insides tied in knots, and when she blinks the night is still once again. She's alone, and the stars are peeking through the cloud cover above, and that voice she had heard fades into confused forgetfulness.




What just happened?





She doesn't turn around or move an inch, but with her thoughts once again freed, her outlaw's senses begin to awaken. The breeze carries the scent of cigarette smoke, and she can hear the shift of his duster as he moves.

"Doc?"

[scurlock]

"S'me, darlin'."

Doc calls to her quietly, footsteps crunching in the days-old snow and ice as he approaches.

She looks...confused.

"What're y'doin' out here by your lonesome?"

Curious, not concerned -- though he is.

[ikissdhimbck]

She feels almost guilty when she sees him, though the emotion feels strange to her, now.

"I was... was comin' in from the stables," she says, turning to face him when she figures out which direction he's coming from. "An' I got waylaid."

[scurlock]

"Who was the gentleman you were talkin' to? He seemed like an awful stately fella, but I didn't recognize him."

Doc glances towards the woods once more as he inhales a drag off his cigarette, scanning the shadows.

[ikissdhimbck]

"Oh. He, um."

She shakes her head almost imperceptibly, trying to clear away the fog.

"He's new. I dropped my gloves along the path, an' he retrieved 'em for me. Then he offered t'escort me back."

She smiles softly, reaching for Doc's free hand.

"His name is Vlad Tepesh. He's a prince."

[scurlock]

"That was awful thoughtful, of him."

Doc can play nice, even if the idea of a prince escorting Kate anywhere does set him on edge.

(And he saw the way he bowed to her. A man himself, there are some things one just...senses.)

He returns his gaze to her, taking her hand as it is offered.

"S'late. Chilly too. We should be headin' in."

[ikissdhimbck]

"You just out for a smoke?"

She curls her cold fingers around his gloved ones, mouth twitching briefly. His tone is measured, if not a little edgy.

She steps in close to his body, eyes intent on his as if to say 'I only have eyes for you, darlin'.'

"Missed you. Lionheart put me through my paces tonight."

[scurlock]

"Well I could've been there t'help y'with him, if someone would let me lift more'n a comb now and then."

Doc gives her a Look -- he's being playful, but at the same time, serious.

[ikissdhimbck]

She chuckles wickedly. Her free hand is cold, so she slips it into his pocket, turning her body into his warmth and shelter from the wind.

"Maybe y'should talk t'Guppy 'bout all them hidden resentments you have for him," she teases right back, nudging his shoulder.

[scurlock]

Doc smokes the last of the cigarette before tossing away the filter into the shadows of the snow near the wall.

"I'll have t'do that."

He smirks, then tips his head to the door.

"Why don't we head in."

[ikissdhimbck]

"If y'buy me a drink, I'll tell you all about what you missed," she smiles, moving towards the backdoor (all the while not breaking the closeness between their bodies). "Had a few more name ideas for the colt."

She slips back into her normal self effortlessly, irreverence in her lilting voice as she pulls Doc inside for the fire and a hot meal. Her mind is back on the stock, and all thoughts of Vlad Tepesh leave her.


Until later that night, when she dreams.