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Tweak says, "Not the gumdrop buttons!!"

Robert Alistair MacKenzie (robertmackenzie) wrote in oldwest_rpg,
@ 2008-05-11 21:36:00

Entry tags:

robert mackenzie, stella cooper

Drinks at The Heel Kicker
Who: Robert MacKenzie & Stella Cooper [Open]
Where: The Heel Kicker
When: May 11th, evening (~9pm)
Status: Complete
Summary: Robert comes in for a drink after a long day.

Robert tipped his hat to the bartender as he entered The Heel Kicker. The saloon was a favorite place in the evening, always bustling with interesting people in the midst of card games and drinks. There was rarely a dull moment in evenings here, but Robert wasn't in here looking for excitement. He'd spent the majority of the day inspecting chicken coops in a trio of farms outside of town. A blight was going through and he sincerely hoped that he could keep it from migrating into town. He was rather sure that he caught it early enough, but time would be the great answer to that question.

And after a day in the coops, Robert wanted whisky. Oh, the whisky available in these parts was a pale imitation of the single-malts back home, but it was foolish to think that he'd find a replacement for his beloved Glenlivet this far away from civilization. Freedom has its price, but he never guessed that the cost would be good liquor.

He sat down at one of the free tables not taken up by card games or raucous boys just old enough to find themselves in such an establishment, and settled himself in for people watching.

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stellacooper
2008-05-11 09:29 pm UTC (link)

The girls often slipped out into the crowd to mingle between sets, to chat with the customers and encourage the spending of their coin, and Stella's first stage set was safely over and done. She'd ducked into the back just long enough to don a lace shawl -- there was no sense tempting fate, after all, since the brightly colored costumes were a touch on the revealing side for mingling amongst the patrons -- and slipped out into the main room to judge the crowd for herself.

It always amused her to realize that a fair number of tonight's rougher patrons would present their faces at church the next morning, brawls and gambling and excessive drinking all but forgotten. Then again, a fair few of them would still be nursing hangovers and sick stomachs, and the Lord's forgiveness the furthest thing from their minds.

Stella didn't spot the Scotsman until she was halfway across the room on her way to the bar, and she grinned. Robert MacKenzie was a rare one, all right -- unfailingly polite, with a taste for fine whiskey and the air of a gentlemen, although he never quite seemed to look out of place against the ruffians that sometimes frequented the saloon. Considering the rough sorts they usually got in the saloon of a night, MacKenzie was quite welcome; at least she could trust him not to try to sneak a hand up her skirts, as a few of the more tedious regulars tended to.

"Taking in the scenery, Dr. MacKenzie?" Stella asked cheerfully as she paused to flash him a smile. "Shall I fetch you a whiskey, then?"

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robertmackenzie
2008-05-11 09:44 pm UTC (link)

"Am I so predictable?" Robert laughed, turning to smile up at the dancing girl at his table. Stella Cooper was easy to pick out of the crowd and up on stage, with her bright red hair and cheerful smile. His eyes always seemed to go to her when he was lucky enough to come in on her dancing nights, although it seemed he was too late to catch her on stage this evening. "Perhaps I should vary my order, go a different route, surprise you with something new."

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stellacooper
2008-05-11 09:59 pm UTC (link)

"Don't you dare," Stella scolded him. "If you go changing your order on me, how am I supposed to look knowing and superior in front of the newer girls?" She tossed her hair over her shoulder with a coy little lift of one eyebrow. "It makes me look good, and that's always appreciated." Her grin turned wicked and she prodded him lightly in the shoulder. "There's a new one with her eye on you, you know -- one of the serving girls," she teased. "Charity's off tonight, she'll be devastated that she missed you."

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	robertmackenzie 2008-05-11 10:10 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh really now?" Robert chuckled. "Well I will just have to do better next time -- shame to miss one of the new ones. Although there is something to be said for experience," he tagged on, leaning forward to grin at Stella. "And far be it from me to deny you your moment of superiority. Two fingers of your finest whisky, as always." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

stellacooper
2008-05-11 11:15 pm UTC (link)

"Yes, sir," Stella answered cheerfully. "And I'll tell Charity you'll watch for her -- she'll be wanting educating, you'll see," she tossed over her shoulder with a grin, and made her way to the bar to place his order.

Saturdays were busy nights in The Heel Kicker, naturally, since many of the townspeople had a day of rest to look forward to on the morrow. Stella wove her way through the crowd expertly, skirting the card games in progress and catching one of the serving girls to let her know that Robert MacKenzie would be taken care off for the moment. She might not be serving tonight, but it wouldn't hurt for her to lend a hand now and again, and if she could keep Robert in whiskey until her next set, that was one less patron for the overburdened girls to worry about.

It took her a moment to get the barkeep's attention, and she let her gaze sweep across the room as she waited for the drink. The thick haze of smoke did little to muffle the noise, and there were more than a few of her fellow dancers perched in some lucky man's lap. Stella idly wondered how many of them were working on more private negotiations on the sly; Madame Reed's ladies weren't particularly welcome inside the saloon, but that didn't stop a man from trying, most of the time. And she had no illusions about the so-called chastity of her peers. Just because she drew the line at harmless flirting didn't mean the rest of them did, and she could hardly blame them for it.

With Robert's drink in hand, Stella dodged bodies on the way back to his table. She set the glass down in front of him with a flourish, her skirts swirling around her jauntily. "There you are, Dr. MacKenzie -- best we've got, although I'm no expert." She flashed him another smile as she tucked one hand on her hip. "Would there be anything else you're wanting, then, for the moment?"

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robertmackenzie
2008-05-11 11:34 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, the whisky is good for now, lass," Robert replied easily, taking a long sip of the liquor. Average at best, but the top of the shelf that he could get out in these parts. "Best in New Shelby, hands down. As always."

He set the glass down and smiled once again at Stella. She was beautiful, no doubt about that. And it made him happy to see her working here instead of at that brothel down the way. He always felt sorry for the girls reduced to whoring to pay their bills, with no man and no skills to put food on their table otherwise. And while he'd never visited such an establishment as a paying customer, he could understand the allure of the submissive whore. He'd been raised to expect a different sort of woman, of course. Not that he was in an active search for a wife at the moment. That could easily wait until he returned to Edinburgh. But it didn't stop him from considering the women that he came across out here in California.

Women like Stella were much more interesting. A more reputable job than whoring, making her own money unless there was a man behind her that he just never met or heard about, and a delightful conversationalist to boot.

And it was that skill that he was most interested in tonight.

"Although," he tagged on before she could turn and disappear back into the crowd. "I... I don't know how much time you have, but if you have a moment, you're more than welcome to join me. I've been dealing with chickens all day and while I love the wee buggers, they aren't much for conversation," he chuckled.

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stellacooper
2008-05-12 12:41 am UTC (link)

"I've a bit of time before I'm due on stage again," Stella acquiesced with a gracious nod. Of all the men currently patronizing the saloon, Robert was definitely one of the more pleasant to pass the time with -- particularly since she had no intention of ending up in anyone's lap.

Her expression shifted to one of mild distaste as she pulled out one of the nearby chairs, and she wrinkled her nose at him. "Chickens?" she echoed. "You're a braver soul than I, then. All of the chickens I've ever known are mean, ill-tempered creatures, not lovable in the least."

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	robertmackenzie 2008-05-12 07:38 am UTC (link)
	"Oh, they're all mean as dragons," Robert agreed. "A nasty sort they are, there's a reason our Lord created them for the oven and the spit. But they serve their purpose, and it's my job to keep them healthy for the oven and the spit," he explain as he held out his glass for her, silently offering a sip of his whisky. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

stellacooper
2008-05-12 08:21 am UTC (link)

Stella reached for the glass almost absently, and took a small sip with a nod of thanks. She'd had to learn long before to hold her liquor better than most women, given her work settings, and hardly even thought about what people might think about the unladylike skill anymore. That didn't mean she was likely to drink all the man's good whiskey, though.

"I'll have to extend my own personal thanks to you, then," she told him as she handed the glass back with a laugh. "I may not much like the creatures themselves, but I'm as partial to a roasted one as the next girl." She tilted her head at him, an amused grin tugging at her mouth. "It's men like you, Dr. MacKenzie, that keep the rest of us from eating nothing but turnips," she added solemnly.

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robertmackenzie
2008-05-12 08:51 am UTC (link)

"I am fully aware of the importance of my position and I relish the responsibility," Robert replied, taking a long drink of his whisky. "It would be an unfortunate day where my job was rendered obsolete and the lot of you decided that turnips and lettuce and carrots were a more proper diet. I would be forced to get a proper job, and that, lass, is just a travesty. A bloody travesty. Although, if you wanted to extend a personal thanks," he tagged on, leaning forward and grinning, "I do accept gifts of a bakery nature."

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stellacooper
2008-05-12 09:06 am UTC (link)

Stella laughed aloud at that. "Not from me, unfortunately," she said wryly. "I'm not a very accomplished cook, I'm afraid. Lack of practice, mostly -- I used to manage halfway decent cinnamon biscuits, but that was under the watchful eye of my mother when I was just a little thing." A flicker of regret might have passed through her eyes at that, but she shoved it aside ruthlessly. "And I wouldn't dare subject you to anything that comes from the kitchen of the boarding house -- I don't know if our good cook remembers that chickens exist, much less pastries," she said, sniffing tragically. "But despite all that, I think we'll do our best to keep you in business a bit longer," she added with a grin.

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	robertmackenzie 2008-05-12 09:20 am UTC (link)
	Robert smiled and reached over to give her hand a friendly pat. "I appreciate it, lass. Any help is never turned away. I know my way around a kitchen a wee bit, but pastries always escaped my talents. So I cannot judge you for your talents lying in other areas. Dancing is a fine area for talents." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

stellacooper
2008-05-12 01:39 pm UTC (link)

"It puts chicken on the table, so to speak, even if I've no idea how to cook it," Stella chuckled. She made no attempt to shake him off, but instead propped her free hand underneath her chin and tilted her head at him curiously. "And what about you? Doctoring chickens and horses and livestock, not to mention a hand in the kitchen -- what other talents are you hiding, Dr. MacKenzie?" she prodded, her eyes twinkling.

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	robertmackenzie 2008-05-12 01:58 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh, you can't think that I'd give up such sensitive information as that without more prodding, lass," Robert laughed. "I'm not sure I can trust my virtue with you holding such knowledge." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	stellacooper 2008-05-12 02:08 pm UTC (link)
	Stella's eyes widened, her expression innocent and wounded. "Why, doctor, I'm sure I have no idea what you mean," she said sweetly. "You can't honestly believe that I'd do anything untoward with anything you told me? A mere woman such as myself? I can't even imagine it." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	robertmackenzie 2008-05-12 02:14 pm UTC (link)
	"Aye, you're wicked an no amount of your sweet talk is going to convince me otherwise," Robert pointed out, finishing off his whisky and fighting off a grin. "You have more tricks than petticoats and I would never, could never imagine letting you find out that I was quite the dancer myself growing up." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	stellacooper 2008-05-12 02:56 pm UTC (link)
	Stella's expression brightened, and her eyes glinted with amusement. "Really, now?" she drawled, lifting one curious eyebrow. "I do believe I'm going to need to see this at some point, Dr. MacKenzie. Why, if you run out of work with chickens and horses, I'm sure I could talk to Mr. Dagfinn about finding you a position here," she teased. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	robertmackenzie 2008-05-12 04:59 pm UTC (link)
	Robert traced an absent finger along the rim of his glass. "While I appreciate the sentiment, I'm afraid that I'm not nearly a bonnie enough lass to do the dress justice and might turn off customers with my high kicks," he chuckled. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	stellacooper 2008-05-12 07:46 pm UTC (link)
	"You never know -- you might be a hit," Stella said with a laugh. "I bet Charity would watch," she added slyly. With She waved one hand to flick her fingers toward his empty glass. "Get you another, then?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	robertmackenzie 2008-05-12 08:28 pm UTC (link)
	Robert lifted his glass her her and nodded. "Oh, let's go with one more. A pleasant end to a long day. And you forget anything I said about dancing, lass," he scolded. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

stellacooper
2008-05-12 09:39 pm UTC (link)

"Don't count on it," Stella laughed. She rose in one smooth motion, catching up the empty glass with an impish smile. "I have a very long memory, you'll find."

Stella wasted no time retrieving his second drink, and checked on the hour in the process. She still had plenty of time before she'd have to prepare for her second set, and she was actually enjoying the break between performances for a change. It was refreshing to pass the time with someone who actually looked her in the eye, instead of his gaze wandering down to her bodice constantly. Even more importantly, Robert didn't seem to consider her inferior or flawed for working for her supper, and if he did, he was good at hiding it; her own father hadn't been so forgiving. Too many of the men she encountered seemed to think she cared what they thought of her, she'd found.

With a smile, Stella banished such thoughts from her mind, and slid the freshly filled glass of whiskey in front of Robert as she resumed her seat. "Were you planning to stay long, then, Dr. MacKenzie?" she asked curiously. "There should be music when it settles down a bit more, and another performance within the hour."

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robertmackenzie
2008-05-12 10:08 pm UTC (link)

Robert mulled the statement over as he took a drink of the new whisky. He had only been planning on staying for one drink, but the conversation was too good to pass up. And while he knew that she could be making many more tips if she was working the room, he was glad to have her all to himself for a little bit. "I think it would be quite rude of me to leave before getting a chance to see you dance," he decided. "Since I missed your first set. And you to have such a talent for movement."

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stellacooper
2008-05-12 10:29 pm UTC (link)

Stella lifted an eyebrow at him archly, a smile tugging at her lips. "A girl has to be good at something," she replied, and propped her chin on one hand again. Whether or not she'd be taking in more tips was debatable; more patrons, yes, but since she wasn't as friendly as some of the other girls, she preferred to take her chances with men she felt comfortable with. "I'm certain we'll make it well worth your time, at least. And I promise not to try and pull you up on stage, how's that?" she added with an impish little wink.

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	robertmackenzie 2008-05-12 10:40 pm UTC (link)
	"Don't trust you as far as I can throw you, lass," Robert chuckled. "But I'm willing to take a chance on you. Not that I have anywhere to be. Alright. You promise not to pull me on stage and I promise to sit here and clap loudest for you when you dance." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

stellacooper
2008-05-12 10:55 pm UTC (link)

"Don't think I won't be listening," Stella assured him with a lazy grin. She wagged one finger at him idly. "I don't take promises like that lightly. We performers need encouragement, you know, or there's no telling what we might do," she added, her smile sweet and as innocent as she could manage. "I might even decide to forget about your own dancing past for you -- for now, at least."

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	robertmackenzie 2008-05-12 11:16 pm UTC (link)
	"I thank you, lass, for that," Robert replied. "And I promise to be the best bloody audience you can find in these parts. And I don't take promises like that lightly either," he tagged on with a grin. (Reply to this) (Parent)