AU: Western Texas - Gene Hunt - 1888

[ikissdhimbck]

**NOTE: This is part of a plot arc that was meant to occur in Milliways over the Spring/Summer of 2011 in Bar Time. It has since become an AU, and should be treated as a standalone plot not associated with any game, and not fitting into Kate's continuity.**



A door opens out of thin air, admitting a pair of riders. The gentleman in proper Victorian dress astride a perlino gelding is the first to ride out, followed not long after by the woman on the starred bay. It's late April, and Texas lays open on every side of them. Behind them, to the north, is a low rolling mountain range leading to Kenedy; descending ahead is desert plain, pocked with scruff and scraggly trees. Some ways off to their left are train tracks.

It's midday. The sun is hot, but despite being a little muggy the air is withstandably balmy. It's just the way Kate left it when last she was here. She can even see the dust clouds Beaut kicked up still settling behind them. They're just south of Beeville now, and likely there ain't anybody from Kenedy still chasing after her.

She combs a few renegades from her messy braid back behind her ears, and sets her hat down on her head to ward off the winking sun. Glancing at Gene from the corner of her eye, she just manages to bite back a smirk.

"Home sweet home."

Comments

[the_gene_genie]

Gene is torn.

One one hand, there's an automatic, it's bloody hot grumble about to fall - because to him, this is hotter than he's used to. He may already be running a finger under his collar to make sure it stays comfortable.

On the other hand, he's in bloody Texas. This is the Wild West. The real Wild West, and he's on a trail, and on a horse, and this is more than he could ever have dreamed would happen to him.

There's so much space. It's so quiet. It is, without a doubt, the most beautiful place he's ever seen.


'It's bloody hot.'

[ikissdhimbck]

"It's the desert."

Dry as dry.

She gives Beaut a gentle kick, trotting a neat circle around Gene and Concession. Completely unable to hold in her smirk for another moment.

"Don't tell me y'already need a rest?"

[the_gene_genie]

He gives her a sour look, then goes back to inspecting the landscape.

'I'm allowed to look at it, aren' I?'


He just wants to drink it in. He's imagined what the desert would feel like his whole life, staring at it from the darkness of the sticky cinema seats. But he got it wrong. It feels nothing like he thought it would. It's better. It's hot, and there's dust, and he's going to be sweating like a pig by the time they've gone a hundred yards, wearing this bloody waistcoat. But it's worth it.

Still, he doesn't want to look like a ponce in front of her. So he puts his heels to Concession, and wanders off in the direction he assumes they'll be going.

'Come on, then.'

[ikissdhimbck]

Her grin turns almost instantly broad, a spark in her eyes he's likely not seen before. This is Kate in her element, where she feels most in control, most comfortable.

"Yes, y'can look," she singsongs, straightening Beaut out on the path south.

She sweeps a thorough gaze across the horizon, pausing at a few dust devils and the teasing flash of a mirage. A magpie cackles overhead. A dry bush about thirty paces southwest rattles with life. By the time she's satisfied, Gene is already moseying past. She cuts her gaze sidelong, a silent 'Satisfied?' in her expression, and urges Beaut forward.

Giving Gene silence to enjoy the moment.

[the_gene_genie]

He cuts his eyes right back, giving nothing away. He's thinking he'll never be satisfied, can never get enough of this. But there's plenty of time to look, so he doesn't have to stand there and stare like a girl.

He appreciates the silence. He'll just never say so. He doesn't break it either, except to light a fag; a modern one, with his Zippo. He's brought a supply, and inside his head just dares her to complain. He's not going without tobacco for God knows how long until they find somewhere he can buy real stuff here, and he forgot to ask Bar.

Besides, he's the ruddy Marlboro Man for real, now. He can smoke what he likes.

[ikissdhimbck]

"You'll hafta put that out when we get closer t'town."

Marlboro Man or not, Kate's running the show. She dares him to defy her on that.

(Which isn't to say she won't point him in the direction of a tobacco shop once they stop — she'd rather him smoking modern cigarettes than curled up like an old sourpuss without his nicotine.)

[the_gene_genie]

Enraged bear on a path of destruction, more like.

'Yeah yeah yeah,' he says, and drops his Zippo back into his watch-pocket. Handy things, watch pockets!

'How far is it to town?'

Miles, he hopes. Miles and miles and miles.

[ikissdhimbck]

"Next one probably won't come before nightfall. 'Specially if we keep at an unhurried pace."

Yes, that was a thinly veiled jab. She's smiling when she flicks her gaze to him again, however.


And, as they continue along the path, yet another time.


She isn't used to seeing Gene all shined up like this. It suits him.

[the_gene_genie]

He sniffs, and makes no move to step up the pace.

'Are we in a rush?'

He's in the Wild West. He's in the Wild West.

That will never not be amazing.



'What're you gawpin' at?'

It doesn't sound like he minds. She's smiling, not scowling, so it's fine. Unless she's laughing at him, and then it's not.

[ikissdhimbck]

She makes a show of shrugging noncommittally, returning her focus to their course. But the smile stays firmly in place.



"No rush."

She glances over her shoulder.

"Should be nothin' but dust an' sky for miles. Not countin' the odd jackrabbit."

Or rattlesnake. Or scorpion. Or yellow-spotted lizard.

"Speakin' of which, Gene, stay far an' away from any critter you ain't familiar with, all right?"

[the_gene_genie]

'Define 'critter'.'

He looks vaguely alarmed. Gene does not mix all that well with animals.

[ikissdhimbck]

Pardon the chuckle that rumbles from the back of her throat.

"Anythin' that hisses or snaps at you."

[the_gene_genie]

His eyes snap forward.

'Righ'.'

Of course, he knows that the desert houses all kinds of snakes and whatnot. Everyone knows that. It's just that it's a bit different when they're on a screen, or in a book. When one might actually be near you...yeah. Bit different.

And of course, there are many he's 'not familiar with'. Just about all of them.

[ikissdhimbck]

"Don't look so worried."

She smirks at him sidelong.

"You're a fair shot."

[the_gene_genie]

'Fair? Fair!?'

Rude!



He reminds himself to always check his gun's loaded. It's more important here than at home, clearly.

[ikissdhimbck]

The horses nicker, and Beaut pins her ears back and wags her head.

Kate, on the other hand, is laughing. She's purposely deviling him; it don't usually take so much to get a rise out of Gene. This subdued awe of his is near to unsettling.

"All right then, hotshot. You can snag us dinner tonight," she grins. "C'mon, now. Don't tell me y'spent all that time out back complainin' on how you wanted a real ride just so's you could get out to the long lonely stretches and clam up!"

Kate's just itching to kick up some dust.

[the_gene_genie]

'Who's clammin' up? I was just lookin' at it.'

His look at her is disapproving but yeah, OK, now isn't the time to turn into a ponce. Sounds like there'll be plenty of landscape to look at anyway.

'Didn' you bring any food with you?'

He wanted to bring some Curly-Wurly's, but realised they'd just melt. Shame. He may have a few cans of Heinz's finest with him though; he even remembered to take the label off. They may not pass as beans circa. 1888, but he likes knowing they're there all the same.

[ikissdhimbck]

He might be pleasantly surprised the first town they ride through with a decent general store. Or perhaps he won't; but at least that sweet tooth of his won't go without.

Kate doesn't answer his question with much other than a cat-who-ate-the-canary grin. She reckons he'll figure things out as he goes.

[the_gene_genie]

He'll believe it when he sees it. As it is, he answers her grin with a dour look, and puts his heels to Concession.

'C'mon then! Now who's dawdling?'

[ikissdhimbck]

Not anticipating the command, Concession gives a little kick as he takes off down the path.




"Jus' appreciatin' the view."


Kate grins and clucks her tongue, urging Beaut into gallop with a 'yah!'

They're beyond the hottest part of the day, but the air is still wet. It's akin to being slapped in the face with a used rag as they ride, but with the air moving it ain't so unpleasant.

And this is the way to see Texas: dirt swirling around the horse's hooves and leaving clouds behind them; a limitless blue sky spread out in a dare, a taunt, you'll never reach the horizon no matter how hard you ride; the beat of the earth pounding in your chest like a dual heartbeat.

[the_gene_genie]

He's not as ued to Concession as he is Duncan; he wasn't expecting him to kick out and it kind of throws him off balance for a bit. But he regains his balance, takes a firm grip with his knees and then...

...and then, he really knows why he's been staring at this landsape since he was a kid. Because really being here, riding like this, hell, even dressed like this - this is real. It's not a fantasy, or him calling himself the Sheriff, or watching a movie. It's real, and he can't stop the grin on his face, or the swell of excitement boiling up through him that he hasn't felt in more years than he can remember.

[ikissdhimbck]

She knows he's okay once he starts grinning. Still, as she comes up beside him, she can't help but shout:

"What'd I tell you 'bout keepin' an easy hand with him?"

She looks stern — for all of a second — and then hoots with laughter, pushing Beaut on ahead because she can. The bay mare slices a purposely showy zigzag, and then shoots off to the west. If Gene keeps lightly on the reins, Concession should naturally follow.

[the_gene_genie]

'Oh, don' be a nancy!' he yells right back, and then very nearly falls off when the horse veers to follow Beaut.

'Bloody animal,' gets lost to the wind, but he kicks him again anyway to make sure he at least keeps up with her. Overtaking would be better, if stupid seeing as he has no idea where they're going.

But it doesn't matter anyway. He could ride like this forever. Getting lost doesn't worry him.

[ikissdhimbck]

The insult loses a little ferocity when it's shouted at a woman who, for better or worse, doesn't know to take it as such.


All Kate has ever wanted to do her whole life is ride like this forever. She lives for it. But, of course, horses have limits same as anybody, and she does let Gene catch up to her (and just barely overtake her  —  he's living the dream, she can give him that much), before a more respectable pace is set for the rest of the ride.

Their changed course sends them right past Mineral City, well before nightfall. They can ride on for a good few hours yet, but it wouldn't hurt to stop and let the horses rest. The town is named for the water, after all. It's said to have mysterious healing properties, which local folk take fairly seriously if the traveling tents set up all along the town borders are any indication.

[the_gene_genie]

The tents get a curious look from him, though he doesn't ask until they've passed a good many of them.

'Wha's all this about, then? Somethin' goin' on here I should know about?'

He's surprised to find that he actually feels a bit nervous as they get closer to the town proper. Interacting with these people is a whole other level of reality. He's also acutely aware of the money he's carrying - exchange rates at the Bar were favourable even for 1973 cash. If watching Westerns has taught him anything, it's that some bastard's always going to try and steal your loot.