or something...
Dec. 18, 1874
Restaurant Dining Room
[Tess]
Soft blonde hair is pulled back from Tess' face in a tight braid and the braid wrapped around itself in a bun at the nape of her neck, the style particularly emphasizing high cheekbones in her heart-shaped face. Wide eyes, so pale a green that they are nearly colorless, seem larger without hair to frame her face; the overall result is that Tess' tiny frame, standing barely three inches over five feet, seems particularly delicate or fragile. Porcelain skin is flushed with pink, a testament to cold winds or exercise. Her dress is of good, lightweight wool, a handsome shade of forest green. Unlike her usual dresses, this one does not have a high, lacy collar; the collar is, indeed, lacy, but exposes a bit of collarbone, modestly alluring. Faintly puffed sleeves add a bit to the width of her, the fullness enhancing a lightly corseted waist. Warm, if attractive, boots are visible when she moves, and when outdoors, she wears a light cloak. At her throat is a tiny, delicate cameo, set in onyx, on a slender silver chain.
[Miss Gem]
Expensive, this lady is, and she looks it. The eyes are a deep blue, the color a man could drown in, and capable of a devestating glance through thick, dark lashes, and the hair is long, rich brown in color, and has a wave to it that is just short of curls. Full lips, often smiling, the sort that promise, and deliver, much; Gem Trotters is nobody's fool, and knows like nobody else how to work a crowd -- though she prefers it one on one. Her dress is of high quality material, perhaps silk, not a practical fabric for bitter Montana days and worse nights, but then, Gem is never at a loss for someone to warm her bed. Teal in color, it sets off her eyes exactly, and the lowcut collar shows off slim, well-formed shoulders. Even cleavage isn't -too- noticable, though it's evident; no sense in giving out the wares for free, boys. Corset shapes her form into an hourglass, and visible under the hem of the dress are ankle-high boots.
Miss Gem strides over from the road.
Meaghan is sitting with Evan at a table, a slate in front of her, though she watches the conversation at the other table with curious eyes.
Miss Gem breezes in, a breath of fresh air in the dark damp winter, a moment of sunshine in the gloom, a song in the silence, and calls out, happily, "Evan, my *dear*!"
Evan nods a little at Catlyn's response, and... interrupts? "How has the boarding house been?" Evan my *dear*? "Um, uh, hello..." He does offer a smile, actually, to Gem...
Sandar grins "Yeah, I suppose. Sometimes I miss the big city though" he glances at Annie "not overly much."
Annie looks up, fork halfway to her mouth, and stops. Wow. Look at her.
Tess sits back, and grins broadly. Gem's in town. This'll be interesting.
Meaghan looks up at Gem and smiles cheerfully.
Gem, that is. Annie lowers the fork and just stares.
Catlyn outright stares at the lady who just walked in. Wow.
"The boarding house," Gem announces, loudly, "is -dreadful-. What poor dear is stuck in there?" She gasps! Evan has *smiled* at her! An invitation! She cheerfully takes a seat with Meaghan and Evan, reaching out boldly towards Meaghan's black curls. "What utterly lovely hair you have, my dear. Priceless. An astonishing fee could be charged just for your hair."
Meaghan blinks and reaches up her own hand to her hair in confusion.
Sandar lives there, and rather likes it.
Catlyn remembers to eat her stew, eyes still on this impressive woman who just flew through the door.
Miss Gem rakes her gaze over Meaghan, appraising. "Indeed. My *goodness*. What do you do, my dear? With that form, you could make nearly as much as *I* do, don't you think, Evan?" In a headlong rush, she turns her attention to Evan, leaning forward to purr at him. "I've *missed* you, you know that?"
Annie says, "The boarding house is nice." But not in an argumentative tone. It's a friendly stunned stare that she's still directing at Gem. Wonder what that dress cost...
Meaghan looks down at herself, now so confused its plain on her face...in her eyes....the way she moves....
Tess nods agreeably. "Th'boardin' house ain' half bad. Ah lived there a long time."
Evan watches Gem settle into a seat close by... ahem. Um, she could get... form? Haven't thought about form... Missed me? "Um, missed me?" he manages to say to Gem. "No, you couldn't have..." Surprised you _remember_ me...
Sandar mutters to Annie, "You... lady?"
Annie jumps and looks at Sandar. She mutters to Sandar, "... pretty?"
Miss Gem's smile is slow, deliberate, and teasing, as she studies Evan's shoulders. "My dear Evan. How could I *possibly* forget you? A single night -- " She breaks off dramatically, letting out a woeful sigh, and turns her attention right back to Meaghan. "No, really, what .do. you do? I'm sure Miss Wilona would be interested, if you're available for Working." Yes, working with a capital W. You know. *Working*. "We'd make a splendid pair, with my blue eyes and your green."
Sandar shakes his head. He mutters to Annie, "Gaudy..."
Meaghan blinks at Gem again and reaches for her slate, where she writes on it in her careful printing, "I sew."
Annie looks at the lady. Oh. Softly, to Sandar, "Well, it's a pretty color."
Miss Gem's eyebrows shoot up, and she glances towards Sandar. "Gaudy? My dear man, I'm not gaudy. I'm *trashy*. And more expensive than you can afford." She grins quickly at him, and then glances at the slate before her. Evan, right next to her, .might. catch the sudden and very brief crestfallen expression in her eyes before she waves her hand at the slate. "I'm afraid I can't read a word of it. What .does. it say, Evan?"
Evan blushes, of course. Then looks back and forth between Gem and Meaghan before settling on the slate. Yes, an answer to the question. Evan blinks. Um uh what? "Um, she sews." Can't make it out? Oh.....
Sandar nods "Yes, I supose so." Sandar mutters to Annie.
Tess sits back, watching in silent fascination. You know, she really can't *blame* Miguel...
Catlyn concentrates on her stew, not having the faintest clue what the conversations around her are about.
"Sews!" Gem looks horrified. "My dear, with *that* body, you waste your time sewing? We could set you up at a task far, far more profitable. Don' you think we'd make a delightful couple, Evan?" Gem's eyes turn back to the man at her table, and it's quite clear what sort of couple she has in mind.
Annie nods to Sandar, reluctantly. Losing the enchantment. She was _mean_ to Sandar.
Meaghan's eyes are wide as she has very little to /no/ clue what Gem is talking about. She writes down on the slate, "Why would my body affect my sewing?" Yup. Doesnt get it.
Evan might burst a blood vessel, if he gets many more questions like that. He stays quite pink, yes he does. Dodging Gem's question, he reads the slate. "Um, Gem works at the saloon." Get it? Works? Saloon?
Meaghan glances at Abagail here and seems to get it. Tips and all.
Miss Gem was not mean. She's really *mean* to people who make her angry. She just ... okay, maybe she was mean. "Is that," she breathes, "chocolate cake?" Well, chocolate cake crumbs. "Tess, won't you get me some cake? Thank you so much." To Meaghan, in case Evan's explanation wasn't quite enough, she says, "I'm a whore, my dear, and you're quite lovely, so you'd make a splendid one too."
Sandar grins "I can just imagine what it will do for the figure you are so proud of."
Tess blinks rapidly at Gem. "Er," she says, and then goes to get some cake for Gem, glancing at the other table to see if Sandar and Company are ready for their cake.
Catlyn oh wows! And concentrates on the stew.
Evan does _not_ think about how Gem might work off that cake. Not at all. Instead, he... watches the slate, yeah. Slate, sewing...
Meaghan blinks at Gem a few times then blushes a very interesting shade of red. But she can't...or is too stubborn to...turn her eyes down.
Annie's eyes widen at Gem. Oh. _Oh_. She knows the word, certainly. She Reads Books. A little bit vague on the details, but... She looks at Sandar, to see if he looks surprised.
Miss Gem turns her attention back to Sandar, thoughtfully. "I work it off," she explains, "on a nightly basis. On second thought, perhaps you could afford it. You've got good eyes." She drops Sandar a wink, then smiles at Meaghan. "No, really, my dear. Can't you imagine? Your black curls and green eyes -- you'd break hearts. And with my blue eyes and black -- well almost -- curls -- oh, it would be *fun*!"
Meaghan shakes her head quietly and reaches over to the slate underlining the word 'sew' once or twice.
Tess, after a moment, determines it safest to fetch cake for everyone, so brings some to Annie and Catlyn first, then brings Gem hers.
Evan swallows. "Um, I don't think she's interested....." To Gem. About Meaghan. He's pretty sure Gem's interested in the cake. If only as a prop.
Annie looks pleased. She's met a Deputy, she's met a Mayor, and now she's met... oh, cake! "Thank you."
Miss Gem ignores the slate. "You must have a sense of *adventure*, my dear. Truly. Oh, *thank* you, Tess." She looks through long dark lashes up at the petite blonde. "*Do* let me thank you for it properly, dear lady. It's a terrible shame Miguel made you respectable." A pause. "And far *more* of a shame that you made *him* respectable." She clicks her tongue in disappointment. "Maybe I could thank *both* of you."
Catlyn pushes the empty bowl away, smiling at Tess and eyeing the cake greedily then glances towards her waistline with a frown. Her own waistline, that is.
Tess gapes slightly at Gem, and colors faintly. "You...Ah..." Tess is rarely at a loss for words, but for once, she just sort of backs away, nervously.
Meaghan doesn't seem to mind her waistline at all, but she ignores the cake, watching Gem with fascination and a faint smile.
Miss Gem slides a fork into the cake, breaking off a delicate piece, and slips it into her mouth. "Ooooh, *mmmm*." Her eyes close. "Bliss," she murmurs. "Utter bliss." She draws the fork out of her mouth slowly, licks the tines, and contemplates Tess with a steady blue gaze. "Please, my dear lady," she says, "I can't imagine Miguel marrying someone with no backbone. Can't you do better than that?"
Sandar shakes his head, yes, he supposes Miss Gem does know about utter bliss.
Annie starts on her cake, and looks at Sandar. "It's good." He seems grumpy. She smiles her best smile.
Catlyn toys with her fork, stabbing tentatively at the chocolate cake as she listens unashamedly to the conversations around her.
Evan bites his lip. Gem, you're terrible.... "Um, take it easy," he says quietly. Who does Gem have no interest in?
Meaghan turns her curious eyes from Gem only to see where she's aiming her fork. They never had food this good where she's from.
Sandar glances at Annie, smiling back at her. "Yes, it is, don't mind me dear, just a bit moody."
Tess stops in her retreat, and walks forward, to plant her hands on the edge of the table, leaning forward to speak softly to Gem. "Ah reckon," she says quietly, "Ah reckon Ah can do better than that, yes, Miss Trotters. Ah reckon that f'all that you're th'top dollar girl in town, an' for all that you've gone to th'trouble of tellin' th'whole town just how good Miguel is, Ah figure this: he married *me*, an' he ain' been back t'your bed since. So Ah reckon, sugah, that Ah can do jus' fine, an' maybe even a damned sight better than you."
Annie nods at Sandar. "What's wrong?" She blinks at the words behind her.
Meaghan looks up at Tess and grins widely. Good. Very good.
Catlyn can't help but laugh, biting her lip very hard in an attempt to stop.
Evan closes his eyes and prepares to be collateral damage in a catfight.
Miss Gem's finely shaped eyebrows elevate, one at a time. She puts the fork down, and licks her lips, slowly, carefully, so they glisten. Then she places her own hands on the edge of the table, and stands, leaning over to match Tess' pose. "Oh, *my*," she purrs. "That was *very* good." She leans forward just a little more -- everyone admire the cleavage -- and kisses Tess full on the lips. Seriously.
Sandar grins "Oh, wish I knew, little darling. Just thoughtful, sorry." He smiles a bright smile, where did he get that from. "I am fine."
Meaghan's eyes widen at that, though she continues to grin.
Annie nods. She quite missed the scene over there. A shame. So she just asks, "What're you thinking about?"
Evan opens his eyes at the silence above him and looks. Eep. He stops, stunned.
Catlyn braces herself to eat the cake. She /can't/ look at the other table. Oh dear.
Sandar winks "You mainly." he glances up at Catlyn "Like another piece m'dear?"
There is a very long instant in which Tess does not move at all, as she calculates her options. Oh, what the hell. She breaks away just far enough to whisper, "Is .that. th'best y'all can do?" and leans forward again to give Gem *another* kiss. Considerably more, ah. Wet. Than Gem's kiss was.
Meaghan places her hand over her mouth, shaking, even though she couldnt have really laughed if she wanted to.
Annie asks, "What about me?" She looks around at the silence from Over There, and stares. Uh?
Evan makes no sound whatsoever. This is not happening. Not like he's looking elsewhere.....
Sandar glances over at that, "I wonder if Tess will get billed." he mutters to himself.
Catlyn concentrates her gaze on Sandar, her cheeks bright red (as only a red-head can do), "Err.. no, thankyou.." She has barely touched the first one.
Gem's problem is that she cannot abide being anything less than the most notorious woman in town. Hence, she is utterly flabbergasted by Mrs. Mendez' response; that's *not* what the woman was supposed to do. So *Gem* breaks away, now startled beyond belief, and pants slightly at Tess. "Oh my," she repeats, "oh my. Mrs. Mendez, I salute you." And, gods help us all, she actually does. Straightens up and actually salutes Tess. "You ever want to stop by the Grey Horse, Tess, it's on the house. My oh my." Gem drops her devestating blue gaze down to Evan. "Now," she purrs, "wouldn't .we. be even more fun? One blonde, one dark?"
Annie looks back to the table. Not talking. She's going to have to think about this one.
Meaghan rakes a hand through her short curls, still grinning at the two women. Not exactly understanding.....but knowing /something/ is going on.
van will not be able to sleep tonight, after seeing that. "Um, ah, you two...." A quick look from Gem to Tess, and he goes _bright_ red. "Um, you'd...." The sharp-eared among you might hear something leaving skidmarks on the inside of Evan's skull.
Sandar mutters to Annie, "You..."
Tess, without moving, smiles at Gem. "You couldn't handle me, sugah." Then, with a grin to Evan -- a particularly wicked grin, actually -- she returns to her seat and her cup of tea.
Meaghan is also beet red - but from her silent laughter.
Miss Gem lost. She'll be damned. Miss Gem *lost*. She sits down, watching Tess in unabashed awe. "What a woman," she breathes, and takes another bite of chocolate cake, this time puting on the slow antics for Tess' benefit. Well. Okay. And Evan's, too. Pretty little pink tongue, wot eh?
Annie asks Sandar, "Why not?" She's not even eating her cake.
Meaghan shakes her head faintly, almost disbelievingly, and digs into her own cake, still smiling.
Sandar sighs "Well forget it temporarlily, for about three more years."
Catlyn concentrates on her chocolate cake. What a strange town.
Sandar mutters to Catlyn, "This... kissing..."
Evan is dumbfounded at Tess's wicked grin. Oh, my.... Mr. Mendez, you've got.... um, nevermind. A quick look at Gem, after her breathed tribute, and he actually shivers just a little.
Annie twists around for one more look at the two women, and then nods obediently. "If you want." It would require too much research anyway.
Catlyn giggles at Sandar, and pops a large morsel of cake in her mouth.
Envy Miguel, Evan. Envy him. And be in awe of him, to be able to put up with Tess. She only acts the dumb blonde, you see. She, still smiling a smug smile, sips her tea, and watches the room. Hah.
Meaghan looks around the room and begins to wonder why her shy quiet friend liked it here so much. She does faintly remember a letter describing someone that acted like Miss Gem. Proably was her.
Evan looks down at the table and realizes his coffee's nearly empty. And then realizes that he'd really prefer something a bit stronger. But that would mean getting up and going to the saloon. And that's not going to happen right now. So he sips what's left of his coffee. No, no sleep.
Sandar nods "You can manage to finish that." He indicates Annie's half eaten steak, assuming it is half eaten.
Miss Gem leans over, very close to Evan's ear. She mutters to Evan, ".That.... have gotten your... boiling,... it,... I... know.... the... girls..." She trails off, leaving whatever she's saying to Evan's imagination.
Meaghan glances between Evan and Miss Gem and grins again.
Sandar nods "That is usually the way it is done."
Annie nods obediently again and starts to eat the lukewarm remains of her steak. "You want some?"
Catlyn hoes into her cake with abandon, having decided to hell with her waistline.
Meaghan has never cared about her waistline. She eats her whole piece of cake and wonders if she should have another.
Tess will be delighted to provide one, but she's lost her Deanna Troi abilities -- probably they were sucked away during that kiss -- so you'll have to ask. Or get Evan to. Assuming Evan is still capable of speech.
Evan pries his eyes back to the tabletop. That motion from the corner of his eye -- Gem leaning over -- got his attention for a moment there. Not hard to imagine. "Um..... you flatter me." Yes, you flatter me quite a bit. Someone would _kill_ if they knew Gem said that.
Miss Gem reaches up to artlessly push a curl back from her shoulder, and then places her hand on Evan's knee, under the table. "Flatter? Oh, I don't think so. That implies I'm lying about something. I assure you," and her voice drops to that purrrrrr again, "I'm not." Prrrrrrr.
Sandar glances at the Annie's half eaten steak. "Nah, but you can go ahead and start on your cake."
Meaghan erases her slate then writes on it again, pushing it towards Gem and Evan, "Should I leave?"
Miss Gem arches her eyebrows, curiously, at the slate, and waits for Evan to translate it. Assuming Evan is still breathing...
Catlyn pushes the remains of her cake away with a satisfied groan, smiling slightly as she glances at Sandar and Annie.
Evan's eyes widen briefly, then he blinks a few times. A quick blushing glance at Meaghan -- yes, I'm being teased for your amusement -- and he swallows. He clears his throat and answers Meaghan's written question. "Um, no, don't...." Don't leave me trapped in this spider's web. A look over at Gem. Not at all sure how to respond to what she's said...
Sandar glances at Catlyn "I assume you have a place at the boarding house?"
Annie grins at Sandar and attacks the cake.
Meaghan nods and just sits there, chin resting on her palm.
Catlyn nods quickly, "Yes.. I have a room there... and I've been working there a bit.."
Sandar nods "Good, good. If you need some help getting around, talk to Annie here, if you need some help getting lost, I am your man."
Don't be absurd. Gem's not teasing Evan for Meaghan's amusement. She's teasing him for .her. amusement. Well. That and she hopes it'll work, but that's neither here nor there. Is it? She takes another bite of cake, as Evan looks at her, and smiles at him, languidly. You'd *like* to go back to the saloon with her, wouldn't you? "Maybe I could buy you a drink, Evan."
Catlyn grins at Sandar, "Thankyou... I will, definately.. I have /no/ sense of direction.."
Sandar grins "Neither do I, and I never ask for directions, being a male and all, so I just sort of wander around, thankfully it is not a big town, some place like Chicago it could take me days to get where I am going.
Evan is quite capable of buying his own drinks. From a monetary point of view, at least. Like to go back? Might even survive the trip. It's the second admission to someone that he might not survive. What's really terrible is that he'd like to talk to her about something else entirely, sometime... maybe a couple of things. But her feminine wiles probably don't have an off switch.
Meaghan smiles quietly at Evan and Gem, but points outside at the darkness and deliberately puts away her slate.
Catlyn laughs lightly at Sandar's comment, "I mainly just stayed in the house I worked at in Chicago, so I didn't have that problem."
Sandar says "Oh? What did you do?"
Actually, they do, but Gem has to be convinced that you mean it, and Evan is generally too flustered by Gem to believe he means it. So. She chuckles, retrieves her hand, and tilts her head at Meaghan. "Leaving us? Do be careful. I still think that hair of yours would bring in a bundle."
Evan gulps at Meaghan's packing up. "Um, you're going?" Leaving me with this... um, uh, how should I put this? Fully-automatic assault woman?
[Meaghan had to go, at this point, and the absurdity factor dropped from here on out, so I close the log... :)]