Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

The restaurant in the hotel was relatively busy, patrons from both the hotel, and outside, enjoying the cuisine. Gerald had booked a table after confirming a time with Julianna, and was, as usual, early. He had ordered a gin and tonic, and was just finishing it when the sommelier, or at least what Americans thought passed as one, appeared with the bottle of wine Gerald had ordered.

"Yes, that's the one," he confirmed when shown the label, nodding when asked if he would like it opened. "Yes, it needs to breath," he told the young man, figuring that if nothing else, at least the chap would have a better understanding of the role he was employed to fulfill. "And another gin and tonic, if you would be so kind," he told him, pleased he hadn't had to tell the chap that the bottle should be opened in front of him and left to breath on the table. At some ghastly restaurant in New York they'd tried to take the bottle away, and tried to act offended when he clearly pointed out that he wasn't about to give them the opportunity to decant the wine in the bottle and replace it with a cheaper variety.

He nodded his approval of the linen napkin that was correctly draped around the neck of the bottle, as he had instructed, and settled back in his chair, returning to observing the tide of humanity that was dining in the Golden Nugget that evening.

Comments

Re: Dinner discussion

[st_clare]

"No, I haven't. The circumstances surrounding it are a bit unusual, and I wouldn't know where to begin."

Would he report her if he knew she was attempting to foster a mentoring relationship with Valerie? Could he report her? Yes, they were friends, and that friendship had deepened over the years. When Elisabeth passed away, she'd extended her condolences. Years before that, when she didn't accept Edmund's marriage proposal, Gerald had been the one she'd explained her reasons to. They'd known each other for a long time, and she trusted him. How much of a stickler for protocol was he?

"I'm trying to get back into the swing of things," she told the other Watcher slowly. Her drink had been freshened, and she looked down into the glass contemplatively. "Professionally, you understand. I seem to have found a bit of light at the end of a very long tunnel, and I've started to work my way towards it. I'm not sure how the Council would react to the situation."

Re: Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

Still relaxed in his chair Gerald observed her still. He had never had to deal with any of the Slayers in anything but a tutorial role, a specialist called upon to instruct them on the signs to be alert for when coming across items that could be anything from an ancient portal key, a goblet or a gourd which could hold the essences capable of protection or harm, to something as innocuous as a garden gnome enchanted to keep rabbits from eating the garden vegetables. While the latter had been something he used purely for variety and entertainment purposes, to prove a point, the former were all objects he had been instrumental in collecting over the years, along with many others. He'd never understood her deep attachment to the Slayer who'd died, whose name he struggled to recall. To him she was too talented in her translations and observations of ancient cultures and he felt it a waster of her abilities, to get herself entangled with the young girls who were called into a life that was not usually conducive to longevity.

"The Council has become a little obtuse, when it comes to management of its affairs," he offered, "and for a number of years I suspect it has been a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing." This was something he had fostered, to his own ends, and was happily overseeing.

"I wouldn't worry, as most still regard the northern Americas as the colonies," he added with a soft laugh, glancing around the room that clearly indicated they were anything but. Mostly. "There is a lot to be said for those of us who know our business, to follow our noses and keep the ship afloat, so don't worry yourself too much about their reactions." As he lifted his glass to take a sip he asked, "what's her name?"