Lulu will show you how it's done. (ultimafury) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-05-28 00:01:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | !complete, lulu, mr. gold (rumplestiltskin) |
Who: Gold + Lulu
What: Drinking, talking
When: After this
Where: A bar.
Rating: PG-13.
Status: Complete.
He didn't know Lulu very well, but he had been at her wedding - having been a vague friend to Nikola, and the person that had sold him the wedding rings. And so, in a round about sort of way, he and Lulu were friends enough.
And he was always in the market for more of them.
Robert Gold met her at the specified bar in a timely manner - this was a nicer one, specializing in top shelf liquors and wines - and as such he was dressed well to match. He did not feel that he needed to warn Lulu on how to dress, considering.
Lulu knew how to dress. She tended to dress up daily for work anyway, and this day was no different. She was in a little black dress with a faux fur stole. Her heels clicked lightly as she walked toward Mr. Gold, smiling a little to herself. “Mr. Gold.”
“Mrs. Tesla, looking lovely as ever.” he greeted, using her new last name, despite the fact that he had a half assumption that this was part of the reason she had wanted to go drinking in the first place. Oh well, no turning back now, right?
He gestured to the seat across from him at the table with a half nod.
Nodding, Lulu moved to sit down across from him. “Let’s not talk about Nikola, shall we? My first name will suffice for this evening.” She sat down, removing her stole and crossing her legs. “How have you been? I haven’t seen you since the wedding.”
Ah, so he had not been wrong in that regard. Being nosy paid off, apparently. He gave a nod of acquiescence at the request and said no more on it. He was good like that.
“Oh, I’ve been quite fine. It’s all business as usual.” Not that she’d especially know, so he elaborated with concision. “I deal in politics, and own an antique shop. It’s rare to have a day off. But I quite like it. And how is your business doing?”
“Very busy.” She smiled thinly, leaning back. “It’s been exhausting, but enjoyable. The menswear that my co-worker designed is taking off like mad, so I’ve been working ten hour days every day since I returned from my honeymoon.”
“It’s good to keep busy. Particularly with something cultivated with passion and imagination.” Gold flagged down a waiter because it was totally that kind of bar, and ordered a bottle of wine - giving Lulu only a raised eyebrow to either protest or agree with his choice on the matter of drinks. He was a classy fellow though, and thought his opinion a fine one.
She just nodded. Wine selection didn’t really matter when she was in a bad mood. “What about you? How’s your shop doing? I wasn’t aware you were in politics.” Talking about herself was something for later, thanks.
“I’m a councilman,” Gold nodded, giving a nearly apologetic look about it. Politics weren’t for everyone. In fact, he wasn’t even sure they were for him. Still, he’d always had a bit of a quest for power, and this suited him in that regard. “I’m afraid it’s mostly just a lot of reading and listening to other people complain. My shop, on the other hand, is splendid.” His passion really did lay there, and he spent a good deal of time behind the little glass counter. It was a clear preference, even if it wasn’t the business that paid the bills.
“Well, if you like it, then you should keep at it. I never made much money before the shop took off, but it didn’t matter. I’d much rather do what I love and not get paid much for it than the other way round.”
“Oh, I agree.” The wine was delivered and poured, and Gold took a moment to relish the dark red he’d ordered, sipping and then giving half a nod over it. “Honestly, I worked at the place whilst I was in college -- some time ago, indeed -- and have since then taken over the business. I spend more time there than in City Hall, certainly.”
Sipping contentedly, Lulu was just glad to have a glass of wine around. It tasted fantastic, and she closed her eyes. “I’ll have to track a bottle of this down.” Leaning back, she smiled at him. “And what did you major in whilst in college?”
“Law, political science. And yourself?” You know, what most politicians major in. Or something. He sipped his wine again, liking the faint taste of strawberry amongst the grape there. He wondered, idly, if Lulu intended to get drunk. Admittedly it was something he had not done in a long while, but couldn’t find a reason to actually be adverse to it. “It’s a local wine, I believe.” So helpful, Gold was.
“Fashion design.” She smiled, chuckling to herself. “You haven’t asked why I’m upset yet. I appreciate your discretion, but you don’t have to be so subtle.”
Oh, good. There it was. Gold leaned forward, probably too interested for his own good. But then, he was in politics as well as the business of ripping people off whenever he so chose, so it couldn’t be a huge surprise to many that he was a bit -- well. “So?” He asked, all eyebrow quirks and vague politeness. “What has your new husband gone and done to already manage his way from your good graces during a phase that should be considered honeymoon?”
“He’s left to go find his university sweetheart. Apparently she was so upset that Nikola and I wed, she walked out on her practice, her children - and Nikola’s the only one who can find her or some drivel.” She sighed, folding her arms. “Would you mind if I smoked?”
He gave a little go-ahead gesture with his hand, as if to tell her to do whatever she pleased. “He went out on a self driven quest for lost love? Odd. He struck me as more clever than that.” Judging people based on intelligence levels was really the only way to go.
She took out a cigarette and lit it with a tiny flame that came out of her fingertip. Magic had been great; she hadn’t had to worry about anyone borrowing her lighter in ages. “He went with her fiancé or boyfriend or whatever Varric is to her. Men are so - I hate how asinine this is. Were I Helen’s, I’d have let her know she could stay gone, changed the locks, and I’d be happily ignoring her.”
Gold was impressed by the magic, but said nothing about it. It was a thing that seemed strange and familiar all at the same time. He wondered if he would ever have the sort of dreams that produced strange almost memories and powers. He wondered what might be actually familiar when he did.
“I don’t disagree,” he told her, honestly. He couldn’t imagine. Robert had a possessive streak a mile long when he was actually with someone, and was sure he would never tolerate anything like this. “How will you deal with this?” He liked Nikola - liked how blunt the other man was, but he also saw the same nature in Lulu. Clearly they suited each other. Even when they didn’t.
“I’ll let him come home. Then if he pulls this sort of thing again I’ll eviscerate him.” She ashed carefully and sighed a little to herself. “Honestly? I don’t know. I’m so angry I could scream, but I’ve always known they’re still in love. It’s not like I went into this thinking he’d ever love just me.”
“You don’t strike me as the type who would be willing to share.” He sipped his wine again, and focused on the way she exhaled, watching the smoke drift up into the air. Good thing for outdoor seating.
“Share, no. I wouldn’t want him to see her romantically, obviously. You underestimate my husband’s talent for repressing his emotions.” She didn’t want to say his name at that moment, she was too upset.
Was repression a talent? Gold only smiled and topped off the both of their glasses again. "You're allowed to be angry. Did he ask permission?"
“Nikola Tesla isn’t in the habit of asking for permission,” Lulu smiled. “He came home from work one day and started to pack. I told him to enjoy himself.” The better for him to feel guilty with. She wanted him to feel as terrible as she did, which she supposed was her failing: she was spiteful at times.
Gold gave a snort at that. He didn’t know either of them well enough to make any big judgements, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t try. “Well, since you’ve already said you’d let him come home, it sounds to me like what you really need is to get roaring drunk and just forget about it for the night.” He rose his glass in cheers, smiling sardonically. “Drink up.”
“Precisely.” Lulu toasted him and took another sip of her wine. “I do hope they left the bottle.”
“We can always get another or three,” He sipped again as well, leaning back into his seat a bit. “My treat tonight.” Because even Gold knew that it was best to dote on a woman who was pissed enough to use the word ‘eviscerate’ in regards to... well. Anything.
“You don’t have to do that,” Lulu smiled absently. “It’s sweet of you to come out with me, that alone makes me thankful.”
“One does what one can,” Gold said simply - neither agreeing or disagreeing about the eventual bill. Both were well off enough where it hardly mattered, anyway.
Lulu just nodded, smiling to herself. “Well. It’s very kind of you all the same. Have you ever been married, Mr. Gold?”
“Not as such.” He seemed almost embarrassed about that. He was, after all, nearly fifty. He’d thought he’d have gotten to it by now. “I fell off the dating wagon a while back, and I’m honestly a bit unsure of how to get back on.” Not that he wasn’t trying. But every time he went on a date with Ms. Carter, it ended in some very awkward staring. It was frustrating for a man who was usually all confidence.
“Someone who isn’t completely daft will scoop you up. You’re handsome and you’re kind. What more could a woman want?” Lulu certainly didn’t have a lot more criteria.
Clearly. But Gold wasn’t going to go into her criteria currently. Considering. “Possibly someone who wasn’t as married to their jobs?” But self deprecation didn’t suit him, and so he smiled. “I’ve been seeing someone on and off. I think it might be time to try and step it up a notch.”
“So you simply need to see someone who respects your job as much as you do.” Lulu lit another cigarette; she smoked like a brushfire when she was irritated.
“Wise advice.” He simply watched her smoke for a moment - he’d never had the habit himself, but could see the appeal to it. Probably, it was a bit late in life to start now, though. He’d stick to his wines. “Someday, perhaps. I’m in no rush, I suppose.”
“You can’t hurry love.” Lulu sighed a little to herself, wondering if she looked as sad as she felt. “Tell me about her.”
She did, a little. Gold wasn’t big on empathy, but felt a bit bad for her anyway. And so, he did what he could to distract her with conversation. “Her name is Samantha. She’s a teacher of physics and astronomy.” A pause, as he sipped at his wine and put on a suitably wry expression. “We tend to enjoy pointing out the idiocy of others together.” So romantic, Gold was.
That made Lulu laugh. “She sounds like a find. Smart women are a blessing.” Lulu patted Mr. Gold’s hand. “You also sound like you recognize what a catch she is. That’s important too.”
“You’re right.” He gave a peculiar smile with a crooked twist of his lips, and nodded. “I suppose I should tell her so.” He’d been kind of slacking, there. All in due time; Gold was the type to let things cultivate on the back burner until he was ready to address them -- perhaps that was why he was so suited for politics.
“I suppose you should.” That made Lulu laugh. “Men tend to forget that sort of thing, but it’s very much necessary.”
He laughed at that too, a tiny little chuckle. “I expect that’s one of the reasons why we need women around. What’s the saying? Behind every good man is a better woman?” He was sure that was at least the truth in Lulu’s position.
“Sometimes there’s just better women, too. I always wanted a good man along whom I could stand side by side.” She supposed she’d just have to kick Nikola in the ass.
“Perhaps it’s an outdated phrasing, then.” She probably would have to do that. No one could blame her, probably. Gold, in fact, suspected that probably not even Nikola might.
“You should take your lady out. Something she’d like to do, to prove you’ve been paying attention. We like that.” Lulu winked at him.
“Such wisdom,” Gold demurred playfully. “Teach me your ways.”
“Just do what you think she’d like. It’s fairly simple, really.” Lulu chuckled. “If she’s smart, and you said she is, she’ll see she’s got a good thing.”
“Fair enough,” Gold said. “But if this backfires, I know who to blame.”