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[flippin_peachy]

[The singing is a surprise but a welcome one and he chuckles while he helps her into her apartment suite.]

All right, where should I put you? Table or couch?

[pagekaren]

[Karen apparently doesn't even realize she'd been doing it, if one were to judge by the fact that she's just immediately putting down her things and stepping out of her shoes to nudge them out of the way by the door.]

I'm going to put myself at the table, if you want to join me.

[She flips on some of the lights as she leads the way in, and then sits down in one of the chairs at the island. As they get the food unpacked, she remembers her threat/promise regarding the fries and shakes, and with a grin, she dunks on of the fries in and offers it to him to take a bite. With the flavor of the ice cream, you can't really taste the potato in the fry - it's just a contrast of hot and cold, sweet and salty.]

[flippin_peachy]

[The way he looks at the milkshake french fry you'd think she just offered him a giant grub on a stick or something but after looking at her carefully he sighs and takes the offered bite.]

Mnngh.

[He says and then shakes his head, swallowing it down with a grimace.]

Nope.
No.
You're a lovely bird but that's awful.

[pagekaren]

[Karen's lips press together, the glimmer of mirth in her eyes making it clear that she's deeply entertained by what's happening.

That grimace, paired with his response, prompts another laugh, and she lets her hand rest on his forearm, giving it a squeeze.]

You totally get points for trying, though. Want to try a bite of a burger?

[She takes another fry, and gives it a liberal swirl in the milkshake before taking a bite of her own. It's clear that by contrast she definitely enjoys the flavor combo.]

[flippin_peachy]

I don't know if I should trust your taste buds now but okay.

[He tries the burger next and seems a little less put off by it.]

That's not awful, despite the horrible name but I think I'll just stick to my own fries and milkshake. Not combined.

[pagekaren]

How dare you. I have amazing taste.

[Her indigence is poorly feigned, largely because she still looks amused. And also because she's already determinedly stirring another fry into her shake with her free hand.]

I do appreciate that you tried it though.

[flippin_peachy]

Well of course, I'm pretty open to trying new things.

[He says, popping a fry into his mouth with a little grin.]

Especially if it's something you like.

[pagekaren]

Have I told you lately that you're ridiculously charming?

[Karen is always compulsively honest, but that's definitely bordering on unthinkingly honest. With a smile, she swaps her fry abominations so she can polish off one of the sliders.]

[flippin_peachy]

Hrmmm not lately no.

[Charming and full of cheek.]

So if you feel like telling me right now I won't stop you.

[pagekaren]

[Well, the cheek is part of the charm. With a smile, she reaches around with her good hand to take his, giving it a squeeze.]

Truly, ridiculously charming. It means a lot to me that you came tonight.

[flippin_peachy]

[His eyes soften and he squeezes back.]

Course I came, I'm not about to let you fend for yourself when you're injured and loopy on drugs.

[pagekaren]

Hey, I'm not loopy. You're loopy.

[Karen's grinning even as she makes her argument, even though she plainly thinks that it's very convincing. After a moment, she continues more seriously.]

I'm still not used to people...turning up on purpose, I guess. So it really does mean a lot. [Which is much more than she'd ever say without the painkillers.]

[flippin_peachy]

You've had to always take care of yourself, haven't you?

[pagekaren]

Mm, yes and no. My dad kicked me out when I was 19, so I've been on my own since then. Things were a lot different before that.

[flippin_peachy]

Can I ask why he kicked you out? Or is that too heavy a story for tonight?

[pagekaren]

[Karen considers the question for a moment - it's not something she usually talks about. But she's been trying to be more open about it, in recent years. And moreover, he deserves to know what exactly she means when she says her life has been a mess for a long time.]

No, it's okay. Uh, my mother died when I was 16, and he just kind of...checked out, you know. He's been in a fog since then. My brother and I were running the diner, but it wasn't exactly turning a profit. So I, uh, started selling coke for my ex. He was a real piece of shit, but I was just an absolute asshole. Anyway, my brother got into it with my ex one night. You know, trying to look out for me. I took off with my ex, we were drinking and getting high, and when we got back to his trailer, Kevin had set it on fire.

[Karen gives him a sad little smile at that.]

My ex went after him, so I shot him in the shoulder and got my brother out of there, but I was driving and I had no business driving. I flipped the car. Kevin died and it was my fault. I don't even blame my father for kicking me out, but uh, yeah. I haven't been back home since then. I couldn't even go to his funeral.

[flippin_peachy]

[Alfred listens quietly but exhales long and low at the news of her brother dying so violently, his eyes growing sympathetic and concerned.]

Sounds like a bloody mess all over, I'm sorry about your brother and father. I can see why you haven't been back home at all, with so many ghosts I wouldn't either.

[pagekaren]

Thank you. I think about sneaking back sometimes, but...[she trails off, her one good shoulder lifting in a shrug. She's never seen her brother's grave. Hasn't seen her mother's since she left.] I don't think there's any way I could go without my dad hearing about it, and that would be...well, messy.

[Not to use the same word twice, but it's the most fitting. She gives him a smile, shifting her hand to pat the back of his.] Sorry. I know that's heavy.

[flippin_peachy]

It's okay, I asked and I appreciate you telling me.

[He appreciates her being open with him and after a small pause he decides to do the same.]

I wasn't kicked out but my father and I had a lot of angry words when I joined the service when I was sixteen, he was furious that I would throw my life away like that and make my Mum worry so much about me.

[pagekaren]

[Karen shifts in her chair a bit, leaning forward so she can rest her chin in her hand. She's listening attentively, a thoughtful furrow in her brow.]

I'm sorry, I can't imagine what that must have felt like. Joining the service is a big decision to make. What made you want to join up? And I think I remember...you said you and your dad made a peace of sorts after a while?

[flippin_peachy]

We did, sadly it wasn't much long after that he died.

And I joined because it was the only chance I had at something better. [He says with a little shrug.] Where I'm from you're basically only ever going to amount to working at a factory, a pub or stealing and dealing.

[pagekaren]

Oh, that's terrible timing. I'm glad you got to reconcile with him, though. I'm sure that meant a lot to him too.

[Her head tips a bit, an understanding smile turning up the corner of her mouth at his shrugged explanation.] Considering I was dealing and working at a diner, I get it. Guess rural Vermont has more in common with England than I thought.

[flippin_peachy]

[Not wanting to get into the details of his father's death, Alfred nods and slowly runs his fingers across the back of Karen's hand.]

Rural Vermont and East London specifically. [He muses and removes his hand from hers so she can go back to eating.]

I can picture you working at a diner though, in one of those short little skirts and aprons...

[pagekaren]

Never would have thought Fagan Corners would have anything in common with a city the size of London.

[Once his fingers run the length of the back of her hand, she turns her hand over to echo the gesture, letting her fingertips graze along the under side of his wrist. She can't help but laugh, moving to eat another fry.]

You're going to feel like a perv when I tell you it was my family's diner. I wore jeans and a tee shirt every day. I only wore short little skirts when I was selling at parties or at the strip club.

[flippin_peachy]

Why would that make me feel like a perv? I wouldn't have been looking at your family and besides I bet you still looked fit in jeans and a t-shirt.

[He says with a grin.]