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]

"Psychic energy, perhaps," Julianna suggested. "A location doesn't have to be as grand as Stonehenge to be a nexus for unseen forces. I'd have to do more research to properly develop a theory, but I have the feeling that something must be going on there."

She polished off a few more bites of pasta, a thoughtful expression on her face. With two Watchers in the area, they'd be able to combine their respective resources and share ideas. Gerald wasn't just a friend, he was a respected colleague. If her plan to be good at this again was to succeed, she'd need professional support.

"It's good to see you again. Old soldiers like us need to stick together."

Re: Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

"Yes, yes, psychic energy, a portal of some type, to some other dimension, an evil demonic ritual that is carried out every century, or just a biennial gathering of those whose paths do not match the paths of the majority of the population into the grave. I'm just wondering what it is about this place in particular. Have I missed something in the archives? Has there been any notation of this area being particularly active in the past?"

He nodded in acknowledgement of her comment. "It's old soldiers like us who keep things ticking along," he added. "The youngsters of today want everything to be put in their hand without any groundwork, or effort on their part, with their instant everything, from information, news and weather details, to their food! Those dreadful places that are erroneously called restaurants. They don't serve food, it's false advertising." It was a pet hate of his, the speed with which the younger generation wanted everything done, and he'd given a stern talking to on a recent excavation where a potentially dangerous spirit had almost been released by eager young students, unaware of the meaning of the inscriptions around the neck of the gourd, and when they'd been unable to find any information on their brief search through the online archives, had started to unseal the container.

He had settled a very lucrative deal with a collector who knew the value of such a find only just before learning of the need for him to travel here.

He indicated the last mouthful of food on his fork when he said, "this is food, and no fast food establishment can ever hope to come close to this!" He popped the forkful in his mouth and dabbed at the corner with his serviette.

Re: Dinner discussion

[st_clare]

"Yes, people in these times do want everything too quickly," she agreed. "Forty years ago, there was no such thing as the bloody internet, and there wasn't a television in every home either. I see the laziness on campus, in my classroom and elsewhere. Intellectual sloth. I'm never sure if I should weep or be afraid. There are exceptions, of course, but that's why they're exceptions."

Not that Julianna wanted to turn back her own personal clock. She didn't want to be twenty again. She didn't even want to be forty again. With age came experience, and she didn't want to undo any of that. But every now and then, she did wish the world around her would stop changing so rapidly.

"The meal is quite good," she said with approval. Her plate was nearly empty. A couple two tables over was making selections from a dessert cart. "The restaurant at the hotel I stayed at when I first arrived served a fine dinner as well. I'm sure the people at headquarters didn't know what to make of my list of expenses, but when no one complained I presumed it wasn't an issue."

Re: Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

Gerald huffed a laugh as he picked up his refilled wine glass and leaned back in his chair comfortably. "The individual in charge of the financial reconciliations is an old friend, and has never set foot outside of England, so when it comes to receiving our travel expenses I have begun to think he uses our reports as a way of vicariously traveling the world in our footsteps," he chuckled, taking a sip of the bordeaux and enjoying the taste on his palette.

He studied Julianna for a long moment as she ate some more of her meal, his forefinger rubbing lightly across his lips. "Tell me, Julianna, how have you been finding the support that London has been offering, being out here in the wild west, as it were," he asked her.

Re: Dinner discussion

[st_clare]

To be diplomatic or to say how she felt?

"At first, I felt as if I was living in exile," Julianna said. "I didn't want to come to the States initially, despite the chance for a very good teaching job. Assuming responsibility for the check-in meant facing what happened seven years ago. Really facing it. The Council may not have censured me, but I know they don't tolerate failure."

She paused, because the waiter had returned to ask if they'd like anything else. After a brief pause for thought, the Watcher ordered a third gimlet. All that food would offset the effects of the alcohol well enough. He went away again after asking Gerald if he wanted something too. She waited until he was out of earshot before speaking again.

"However, as time has passed and I've become accustomed to the area, I've realized that I can get assistance if I require it. I've made more than a few trans-Atlantic phone calls since I've been here, and if I don't get immediate results, someone from London gets in touch in a few days. So I'm not feeling as separated anymore."

Re: Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

Gerald absorbed the information, head tilted a little as he listened. The only occasions he'd been in one place for any duration was on some of the more involved 'digs', where there was a great deal to be observed and monitored as items were uncovered that the Council needed to ensure were 'safe', or in some instances, procure them to remove them from circulation, and causing any undue grief. He had always regarding his home as being in London, and it had only been since his wife's death that he had been less anxious about returning home as quickly as possible. Now he was a widower there was less pull on him to return, and if he was honest with himself, he would admit that returning home usually carried a good deal more pain than pleasure, as the empty rooms and darkened drawing room, his wife's favourite room, only served to remind him of his loss. Now he found that having a reason to extend his stay somewhere was more welcome that the journey home.

"So how long have you been here?" he asked, taking a sip from his glass then adding, "and have there been any visits from other Watchers?"