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[It's not all that often that Kate manages to win a point with a Gecko and yet while she's quietly thrilled, smug and more than a little amused... she knows better than to show it, in case stubbornness kicks in.]

Isn't that all the more reason to do it?

[Idly, she turns his hand over, fingers disengaging so that she can lay the back of his hand in the palm of her own, the other drawing unintelligible patterns as she speaks.]

I'm not sayin' always... But we could use some people who might be willin' to have our back in this place.

[Why yes, yes her southern drawl does sound a little stronger right now; Kate knows how to catch flies with honey when she wants.]

[Usually he feels like he needs it in order for anyone to even remotely take him seriously. It was like a second skin, the persona that he wore when dealing with other people, so that he could be intimidating or professional or whatever else he needed to be to get people to listen.

He still wanted people to take him seriously here, too.]

And dressing like a 'normal' person is supposed to, what? Help me make friends?

[This is his skeptical face.]

[It was a costume for him, a mask for him to hide behind, at least that's how she might have seen it had she been inside of his head and maybe if she understood how deep his insecurities ran, she wouldn't be pushing this suggestion.

To Kate, it was simple. The suit in and of itself was intimidating. People might steer clear of him. She suspected that might be part of the reason why he wore it. Kate honestly believed that if he relaxed, if he let people see him and get to know him, they'd see exactly what she did.

The other people there to potentially have their backs? That was just a bonus.]

Richie, you could make friends all on your own if you wanted. [And he'd done okay, at least he had with Len. Then again with some of what Len had said? She suspected they were more alike than either realized just yet.]

It's supposed to... disarm people. [And then there's the simple fact that she just really wants to see him in a pair of jeans, okay?!]

[He knew the benefits of not appearing threatening, of fitting in with everyone else and being less noticeable. It also meant forgettable and unimportant.

But if that meant they could get more reliable allies in a place that wasn't filled with people like him? Just regular people trying to survive in a crazy, fucked up alternate dimension? Maybe Kate had a point.]

Fine, under one condition.

[You wanna play this game, Kate? He's gonna make you earn it.]

We'll go in my room and I'll let you pick me out a few outfits. In return, the next time there's an upscale party, you have to let me dress you.

[Maybe she was biased but Richie Gecko, you couldn't be forgettable if you tried, darlin.

Kate watches the cogs slowly turn in his head, continuing to trace patterns across the palm of his hand and the victorious smile that threatens to light up her face, falters when she hears there's a catch.

A catch that has her eyes narrowing.

Her mouth opens - closes - opens again but the words don't come straight away, her mind racing with the many ways in which this could end badly for her.]

Do I get... some kind of idea of what you might expect me to wear?

[But she already knows, no matter what, she has to agree to this. It doesn't mean she wants to agree to it blindly. ~~At least he didn't say quid pro quo okay~~.]

[To be fair, he wouldn't want her dressing the way a woman in his profession would on a daily basis. It would attract attention, and not the kind Richie in any way wants placed on her.

Thus, a more appropriate solution.]

A dress. Shoes. Jewelry. [He's being vague and that's...the point.] It won't be in bad taste, I promise.

[That should be plenty of reassurance if she at all trusts his judgement.]

[We're all pretty sure that's code for Richie will rip peoples throats out if they get all up in her grill.

JS.

A touch defensive;]

I wore a dress to New Years. [ And shoes. And jewelry. Okay not much of the jewelry but still.

Oh she trusts his judgement, he's just walked into a trap with his words and now he has to get himself out of it.

Good luck, son.]

And you looked amazing.

[He shouldn't have to say that, considering he had to fend off that creepy dude who looked like he might eat her if he had the chance. ~~As if he has any room to talk on that one.~~]

However, I think it would be nice if we matched.

[As he quietly turns the trap back on her. You do want to match him, don't you Kate? You're not trying to act like there are things happening behind the scenes, are you?]

[Well yes that. Certainly was an answer and she takes a moment to process it.

There was a lot to be inferred from two people attending an event in matching attire and Kate was now trying to work out exactly what was driving this.]

You want us to match. [Kate giving very little away as she repeats his words back to him, trying to decide if this was a couple thing or if this was a 'you can't talk to her she's with me' thing.

~~It's both Kate, c'mon.~~]

Okay. [Kate really wishing this soul reading thing was a two-way street. She could ask him to clarify, but that meant running the risk of him being offended or her being pissed off.]

[It's definitely both. Obviously both. He's not ashamed of that.]

Unless you have plans to go with someone else?

[At least he doesn't sound like he actually thinks that. It's not even a deliberate jab, but an attempt at humor.

Something he sometimes misses the mark on.

He holds his hand out so that she'll shake it.]

Then we have a deal.

[She's not even going to justify that with a response, her head tilting, eyebrows raising, the 'shut-up Richie' going unspoken.

At least she's not offended.

Without hesitation now, she pulls her hand out from under his, accepting his hand and offering a firm shake.]

Deal... [Holding onto him rather than letting go.] But you better be tellin' the truth about the no bad taste thing, Mister.

[His grip is firm as they shake hand, his smirk reappearing and in full effect.]

Scout's honor.

[He gestures with an open palm toward his room.]

Shall we?

[She's pretty sure that smirk should worry her, eyes even narrowing despite the glint of humor that shines behind them.]

Were you even a boy scout?

[Still she gets up, her hand turning to capture his so she can lead him back there.]

Is there anything you refuse to wear?

I can do everything an Eagle Scout can do and then some. Like a lot of somes.

[That doesn't mean shit, Richie, but okay.

He lets her take his hand, following after her towards his bedroom.]

If you're trusting me, I have to trust you, right?

Mmmm Hmmm. [She'll just take that as a no and shake her head, fighting the smile that threatens to spill across her lips.

Given that she's presently wearing flannel, Kate throws him a sideways glance, eyebrows raised, waiting for him to make any amendments to that statement.]

Okay...

[She is not, however, stupid. She knows full well that if she really does want to see Richie embrace something other than three piece suits, then she was going to need to gently ease him into it.

So when they reach his room, she leads him to the bed, encouraging him to perch on the edge before stepping back, Kate releasing his hand and folding an arm across her chest, drumming her fingers along her chin as she sizes him up.

After a silent appraisal, she turns to where his closet is, Kate concentrating on what she has in mind before opening it. From there, he'd see her select a number of different things, jeans included but she's careful to keep it close to his usual style.]

You can still be you, without the suit. [Kate laying out the various articles of clothing on the bed next to him.]

[He has a seat on the edge of the bed, props his ankle up on his other leg, and leans back a bit on his hands as he watches her study him.

His eyes follow her as she makes her way over to the closet, opening it to reveal an entire wardrobe.

At first glance, it doesn't look too bad, really. A lot more color than he's used to, but they're dark, at least.

He sits up straight as she lays out the pieces of the first outfit.]

You realize everyone's going to immediately think I'm some sort of hipster, right?

[He raises a brow at her, but he doesn't actually sound too pressed about it. ~~Probably because hipster isn't entirely inaccurate. <.<]~~

[Somehow, Kate thinks that pointing out that people thinking he's some sort of hipster could be because he sort of... is one, might not be so well received, instead trying a more tactful response that could see him make that connection himself.]

Well it's... mostly what you wear already, just... less formal. [Richie Gecko: Next Level Hipster.]

I mean you could go a different coat I just thought it would look good on you. [See what she did there?

Yeah, she looks like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth but the girl does know how to manipulate men sometimes. Some good had to come from the endless sausage party that has been her life lately.]

[The corner of his mouth perks up at that.]

No, I like the coat. Just not used to the whole...patterns thing.

[Or mixing them at least. And if any of his shirts did have patterns, they were subtle af.]

I like it, though. [Kate:1, Richie:0. He reaches over and grabs the jeans, running his hand over the fabric after laying it in his lab.] These aren't as stiff as I thought they'd be.

Well, we could... go with a different tie if you want?

[Because she wasn't giving him the option of changing the shirt, though. She was sure he'd choose something plain and simple that was very him, but very not what she was trying to get him to do.]

Really? [Her eyebrows raising in surprise, and she has to stifle the chuckle that wants to spill over as he examines the jeans.] You wear suits every day and you were worried that the jeans would be too stiff?

[But Kate's probably never had to worry about wearing a cheap pair of jeans in her life. Her family were never rich by any means but they had enough to get by comfortably.]

I thought this would be a good place to start. Still you but just, casual you.

[And yeah okay, she's quietly pleased with herself on this one. She doesn't exactly have a whole lot of experience with dressing guys because it's not like she's ever dressed Scott, you only have to look at him to know that.]

Or ditch it all together.

[She wanted him to go casual after all.]

Hey, don't knock it til you try it. [His mild offense is completely feigned.] Besides, I don't wear shitty slacks. It's no good if you can't move in them.

[Reaction time can be key to getting out of a sticky situation.]

'Start?' [He gives her a look.] And where else are we going with this?

Or, that. [Kate trying not to look too pleased with this plan, lest he think she hates his ties normally. She likes the suit okay, but mixing things up wouldn't hurt.]

I'll leave the suit wearing to you and Seth. [Mildly amused.]

Well you did say a few outfits. [And she didn't intend to go quite so easy on him with the others.] You sure you wanna do this now? Or baby steps?

Except he half-asses it a half the time.

[Just saying.

His eyebrow lifts further.]

You make it sound like we're going to the gallows or something. I think I can handle it.

[Instead of arguing, Kate just fixes Richie with a 'look, because please. He's not even here and you're bickering with him.

You really are both as bad as each other.]

Okaaaay. [Making a show of seeming skeptical. She figured the more she seemed to doubt he'd wear something, the less arguments she might get.

She's not going to be too awful however, Kate moving back and forth from the bed and the closet as she pieces together another outfit.]

It's a little more casual but? [Eyebrows raising as she lays a leather jacket alongside the rest of it.]

[He falls for it, hook-line-and-sinker.]

No, I can definitely pull off badass black leather, alright. [He looks impressed, honestly.] What else you got?

[Clearly he just wants to be intimidating. It's fine.]

[Badass black leather really wasn't going to help him appear more approachable. What she had in mind would but she was pretty sure he was going to laugh her out of his bedroom when she suggested it. Which was why this;]

Well... I mean there was something I saw that would look real great on you... [He should know that the syrupy sweet sound of her southern accent was setting him up for trouble.]

But - [Her nose wrinkles, Kate looking properly disappointed as she continues.] I don't know. You're probably just goin' to say no.