Kevin and Domino | Tuesday evening

[xp-domino.livejournal.com]

Kevin and Domino meet at Harry's for a birthday drink. They discuss life since coming to the mansion and the usefulness of various powers when it comes to ensuring comfortable undergarments.

"Y'know what the best things about birthdays is?" Dom asked, wrapping her hand around her glass of jack and coke and surveying Kevin across the table. "I don't have to pay for a single drink all night. I should've started earlier, it could've been a whole day of free booze."

"You don't have the training yet to start boozing with your pancakes." Kevin said, neglecting to mention that his morning coffee was usually heavily irished up. "So what you want to focus on is the quality of your drinking. Stay away from those fruity shots you like to order. Stick with the good stuff."

"What, like scotch that tastes like it's been wrung out of some viking's beard? Just because it's expensive and disgusting doesn't mean it's actually good, Syd. You're confusing 'people will pay a lot for it' with 'is actually worth paying for'."

"I've seen every booze trend go past twice. So don't think I don't know how to judge my drinks." He admonished. "So, other than getting blind drunk and making questionable decisions, what else are you planning for your birthday?"

"I dunno." She shrugged and took a drink, her gaze wandering over his shoulder for a moment before she dragged it back to him. "Birthdays have never really been a big deal for me, guess it's the whole orphan thing. Getting shitfaced and making out with a coworker seems like more than enough celebration to me."

"There is something to be said about aiming higher. But, in the absence of that, you've earned a little fun. Who knew this job would turn out to be this kind of madhouse right off the bat?"

"Pretty sure when Kane said 'they can be rather eccentric' we should've taken off running instead of asking about the meal plan. Remind me to never assume that man is exaggerating ever again." Dom grinned. "But seriously, I don't know what's weirder, all the hormonal mutant teenagers running around or the weirdos we're up against. Like, I was just getting the hang of regular assholes, and now there's ones with magic powers? C'mon..."

"Yeah. For all the weird shit we dealt with at the Agency, this stuff is that on steroids. Oh, what a change a decade makes..." He said, overly theatrically. "By the way. I got you something." He dug out a rectangular package wrapped in dark paper from his pocket and slid it over the table to her.

"Aw, a present for me? That's so sweet. I knew you cared." Despite her teasing Dom accepted the present eagerly, ripping it open to reveal a watch nesting in a felt lined case. It was made of steel, the surfaces brushed and then iodized to remove any shine. The glass face was similarly glareless, and underneath, there was a central watch face as well as an additional pair to one side.

"Yes, I know I'm old and everyone uses their phones to tell time now. But, you know, it's self winding, waterproof, and there's no electronics in it. It's precision work. The guy who built it used to design and fabricate nuclear triggers." He explained, looking a little embarrassed.

"Hey, that's pretty cool," she remarked, fishing the timepiece out of the case and turning it over in her hands. It felt heavy, cool and smooth, just like a good gun would've. She decided she liked it and spent the next thirty seconds slipping it over her hand and fiddling with the catch. Eventually she gave up and held her wrist over the table. "Gimme a hand?"

Kevin unsnapped the catch with two fingers and the segmented strap unrolled down each side. He settled it on her wrist; not flat like she'd been expecting but tilted slightly in towards her body. "Less chance of glare or shine." He said automatically, before clipping the catch on. He pulled at the body for a second, feeling the tautness.

"Ok, you're good to go. You can slip it off your wrist without undoing the clasp if you want to."

She smirked at him as she pulled her arm back, glancing down at the watch once again. "I'm not taking this baby off until I get to show it off. Hell, if it's waterproof maybe I won't take it off ever. Unless I get really drunk and need something to wager in strip poker once I've gone through the rest of my clothes. Speaking of which," she added, picking up her nearly-empty glass. "Next round's on you."

"It usually is. Let's be honest here. You're always the one suggesting strip poker to people because of your powers." Kevin waved for another round from Briar. "At least, that's your excuse for the dozen pair of boxers you've got stashed in your room."

"No, my excuse for the boxers is that they're super comfortable to wear. Seriously, guys get all the best stuff. I mean, you've gotta agree, you've probably worn as many bras and thongs as I have."

"Possibly more." He agreed. Especially since his default female form was a curvy redhead that needed support. Kevin kept a close eye on women's fashion, once pointing out that fashion mistakes were more quickly and seriously registered and remembered. Even minor ones. "Although, shapeshifter. So I can do a little unnoticed redistribution when needed."

"Damn. My powers don't do anything about chafing."

"I'm just lucky, I guess."