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[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.

[He seems basically oblivious to her manipulation, and he rolls his eyes slightly as he gestures for her to just bring it out.]

Just show it to me.

[Kate saves her smile for when she has her back to him, pulling out another set of clothes from the closet. She's smart enough not to carry it over to the bed piece by piece, not wanting to have too much time to think about it.

She gently laid out a challenge and now she just had to see if it pays off.]

Well?

[Okay, give him a second.

He looks over at her, skeptical for a moment, then realizes....the kinds of things he sees her wear every day.

This is 'normal' to her, it's just not normal to him. Then again, he knows damn well he's pretty far from normal.

He hesitates a moment before:]

You're not going to try to make we wear a hat, are you?

[Her nose wrinkles and she's quick to shake her head.]

No. [I mean... he'd look good in a hat but she also knows who she's dealing with here.] And... you don't have to dress like this all the time or anything I just, would like to see you in it.

[If it helps? That was completely the truth. She didn't want to try and turn him into one of the guys from her hometown, but that didn't mean she wouldn't like to see him dress in a way that felt almost like home to her. ]

[Maybe next Halloween he'll dress up as a baseball player or something. But he's kind of attached to his hair.

Finally, he shrugs. If it'll make her happy, he can deal with it. Besides, she's right. Fitting in might get him farther with the people that actually live here. This isn't the Culebra underworld.]

When in Rome, right?

[Or Wonderland, in this case.]

[Despite her subtle manipulations, she had fully expected him to push back on the last one, had been prepared to go back and choose something that was a little more Richie and a lot less Bethel.

That's why, when he agrees, a wide grin lights up her face, Kate closing the distance between them and moving between his legs. With a hand on his cheek, she tilts his head up, her lips brushing against his in a sweet yet simple kiss.

Open affection like this was still uncertain if anything, but in moments like this one? She stopped thinking and just acted.]

Right. [A thumb running along his cheek bone as she straightens and looks down on him.]

[Oh. Hello.

His hands settle on her waist, and his head moves where she guides it, returning the kiss with similar simplicity, his head tilting into her hand until she pulls away.]

I haven't even put anything on yet.

[Nope. He sure hasn't. He sure is still damp and only wearing sweatpants.

This is fine.]

No, but you will. [She's not even trying to manipulate him with rewards, the smile she wears genuine, Kate's hand moving from his cheek to run her fingers through his damp hair.]

[I mean, they've been in more compromising situations.]

Which one do you want me to start with?

[As he sits here and quietly enjoys her running her hands through his hair.]

[But then it was dark and there were blankets, okay.

Eyebrows raising, as her other hand now moves to join in the touching.]

Are you sure you want me to answer that? [Because, of course she wants to see him in the last outfit, but she knows it's Richie, so.]

I did ask, didn't I?

[Just saying. Though, really, that tells him all he needs to know.]

Or I could just stay like this for awhile.

[Yes, yes he could do that and Kate is a little unimpressed that there's light in the room because she can't exactly disguise the hint of pink in her cheeks.]

You could, do that too... [And she's tempted, God, how she is tempted when he looks like he does right now, but if anything? What would come next would probably be safer if he had more clothes on, not less.]

But if you ever want to leave this room you should... probably... put on clothes.