Who: Gold and Tesla When: June 4 Where: Gold’s shop What: A visit, and some shopping Rating/Status: Low Status: Complete!
Nikola had a lot of things on his mind. Helen was staying up in Seattle, and Nikola was trying to think of ways to make this up to Lulu. He thought maybe it was time for a nice present, even though he’d already done the jewelry thing.
Lulu had mentioned drinking with Gold, so Nikola came into the shop to thank him for keeping her company as well as buy her something pretty for the house. Maybe a lamp or a vase or something.
As always, Gold was behind his counter. Today he was reading the paper, but was honestly glad for the interruption. News could be so droll on some days. It was rare for him to be interested in the sports headliners, and today he certainly wasn’t. “Ah, Mr. Tesla,” he greeted, both intrigued and amused by his entrance.
“Hello, Mister Gold.” Tesla said, entering the shop. Never one to beat around the bush, he gave the other man a gentle smile. “I hear I owe you a debt. Taking care of my wife while I was away.” He said, moving slowly through the room, looking at all the merchandise.
Leaning against his cane, as if it were more of a prop than something that was actually there to help him, Gold didn’t hide his amusement. “Least I could do,” he said with a nonchalant sort of shrug. “It’s very ungentlemanly to leave a woman in distress. Wine helped.”
“I appreciate it, though.” Nikola said. Honestly, Gold seemed to be the kind that you should keep an eye on, but not the kind that might steal his wife while he was away. And definitely not the kind to take advantage of a drunk and hurting woman. “I shouldn’t have left her the way I did. It was a terrible mistake and I’m sure I’ll be paying for it for a long time.”
Nikola’s assessment was more or less spot on. Gold dealt in favors and trades, items and information. His interests did not include being a poor human being when it came to the treatment of women. And anyway, he had one of his own, thanks.
“I suppose you might be,” Gold said, although seemed a bit amused by it. Lulu had not seemed the sort to just let things slide once she’d been slighted. “But I expect that’s very much up to Mrs. Tesla.”
Nikola also liked to believe that Lulu was the faithful type. He was, and he’d done his best to surround himself with folks who were, but people had an odd way of surprising him. “She does rule the roost,” he offered, somewhat playfully. “That being said, I’m starting to think that she might appreciate a gesture. Something a bit more... meaningful than flowers and candy. Perhaps something for our home?” He glanced around the shop.
“Buying something permanent instead of something fleeting might be proper for your cause,” Gold agreed. And it was sort of true -- there was little more useless than flowers and candies as gifts - especially on holidays and as apologies. “Anything in mind?”
“I don’t know. A lamp? A vase? A chess set?” Nikola asked. “Something that says ‘I want you in my life forever.’” He was actually pretty terrible at this sort of thing. Things were things. Signs of wealth and status, and he never really had to think too deeply into their meanings before. He figured, though, that if anyone knew what sort of thing to buy, it was someone who ran an antiques shop.
“I don’t know that a chess set is gift telling of a deep and endless commitment,” Gold said a bit wryly. Unless, of course, they played a lot of chess together. Neither Nikola or Lulu seemed the type, but he could be wrong. Then again, he highly doubted either had a lamp or vase fetish either, so it was more likely that Tesla was just poor at buying gifts.
“You might want to consider a clock?” he suggested, gesturing to the side wall of his shop. “It’s hardly subtle in meaning, but sometimes it’s just best not to be. I have several kinds, including the larger grandfathers, and more ornate mantle pieces.”
Nikola turned to look. “Absolutely brilliant. Whatever you’re making, you should double it.” He gave Gold a little smirk, then turned to step over closer to the wall and looked around at each of the clocks in turn. His eyes finally stopped roaming when he found the perfect one; it was a mantle clock, though it wasn’t ornately carved. Simple, elegant, and yet still antique-feeling. It would fit into their modernly styled apartment rather well. “This one.” He said, motioning to it. “It’s exquisite.”
“It is nice,” Gold demurred, because he was well aware of just how nice. “A wise choice. That one runs on being wound. A perfect show of dedication.”
“I’ll have it.” Nikola said, nodding. He stepped forward, reached up, and took the clock into his hands. It was a bit heavier than he thought it was going to be. He turned around to bring it back to the register to pay for it. Money was really no object for Nikola Tesla.
No, it probably wasn’t, was it? As such, Gold rung it up, only mentioning the price once a credit card was already exchanging hands. As the card was running, Gold wrapped the clock up before placing it in a sturdy box. “You will have to tell me how the Mrs. likes it,” he said, conversationally.
“I absolutely will.” Nikola said, bringing the box into his hands once it was wrapped up. “Thank you again for all of your help.” He said, then turned to head out of the shop.
“Until next time,” Gold said in parting. And it might have been a little jibe at Nikola’s ability to piss his wife off, yes. Maybe.