doesntsing | shot through the heart (for allbedestroyed)

That Midge isn't the type to do this, but is doing it anyway is something Muldoon appreciates, both personally and generally. It says a lot about someone when they can step out of their comfort zone without too much hesitation. Still, he intends to make it as easy and fun as possible.

"A friend. I make it a habit to ask for recommendations when I'm going to be staying somewhere for a while. It's a good rule to live by: Always ask the locals."

He glances over at her before looking back to the road. "Are you sure you're alright with this?"

“I usually ask for restaurant recommendations,” Midge teases. She supposes that it’s different if you’re someone who needs to be able to shoot as part of their job. Robert brought several guns that are in cases in the trunk. Midge will either shoot one of his or borrow one at the range.

She nods at his question. “I am. I doubt that I’ll be running out to buy a gun any time soon, but it can’t hurt to learn how to shoot one.” They’re just shooting at targets, not hunting animals. Midge feels safe with him.

“Do you hunt in Kenya?”

The quip does get Muldoon to smile. Midge is fast becoming the world's expert at getting him to smile.

"I do. Not often these days, and when I do it's for food or safety."

"Acting as guide for big game hunters was my first job. There were plenty of times I had to take down animals because of bad would-be hunters."

Midge gets another glance. "I'm glad you're open to trying this. I hope you never have to fire a gun, but better to be prepared than not."

Good. She likes his smile.

Hunting for food is mind blowing for Midge, considering that she hunts for her food at the butcher and the baker. Where he is really remote, isn’t it?

“Because they didn’t know what they were doing?” she asks.

Edited 2025-01-16 20:55 (UTC)

"Because they didn't know what they were doing," he confirms. "Or they didn't listen to the experts they hired. Or both. It's like watching boys trying to show off to their friends, except that they have money and guns."

"I much prefer what I do now," he adds.

“You mean you didn’t like working for a bunch of rich assholes?” Midge says wryly. It sounds insufferable, if she’s being honest. “I don’t enjoy the idea of hunting for sport. Leave the lions and elephants alone. Seems like just another way for men to compensate for what they’re lacking.”

She’s pretty sure Robert isn’t hunting for sport, so hopefully she hasn’t just insulted him. Besides, Robert’s got nothing to compensate for.

Her summary gets a bigger grin. "That's exactly what I mean."

Seeing their destination up ahead, Muldoon keeps his eyes on the road as he starts to slow down to take the right turns.

"I agree. I wouldn't have been in that line of work, except that it's my father's line of work. Helping out his business was my first job."

That’s understandable. He was probably required to help his father and then it was easy to continue in his line of work. As he got older, he realized that it wasn’t right for him.

Midge is fairly sure that Robert told her that his father is now deceased.

After he parks the car, Midge gets out and stretches. They’ll leave their lunch in the car for now, though she takes the thermos of tea. She’ll let Robert handle his guns.

“So… when you’re hunting for food,” Midge asks. “What sort of animals are you hunting?”

Muldoon's father is very much alive, somehow. But given how little they see of each other, and how Muldoon talks as a result, it would be easy to assume otherwise.

Hefting his gun bags up over his shoulders is so natural he doesn't think twice about it. Midge's continued enquiries, on the other hand, does surprise him. He's not used to people outside of his line of work even feigning interest.

"That depends where I am. Gazelle, deer, wildebeest, hogs or boar are all common enough. There are rules to follow, too. They have to be plentiful and it has to be the right time of year... Do your family ever hunt or fish?"

That sounds like a story for another times.

As they walk to small building where they’re supposed to check in, Midge listens as Robert talks about the types of animals he hunts, and apparently eats.

“Are those Kosher?” she muses to herself. “Not hogs or boar.” Then, she huffs a laugh at his question. “Not my father. My ex-husband and ex-father-in-law do some fishing when we’re at Steiner. That’s the summer camp that you think is a luxury resort.” Her tone is teasing.

"Sounds like a luxury resort," he insists with a mumble.

He takes a little time to talk to the man behind the desk to get them checked in. Midge won't have to worry about any of the directions the man gives, Muldoon is more than comfortable with all of it.

"This way," he says once he's done, and starts walking round to the range. "What are the criteria for Kosher meat?"

She can follow instructions. Mostly. A lot of it is about safety and not pointing the guns at any person while at the range. Midge figures that Robert will show her what else to do.

“It’s a little complicated,” she replies. “Animals that don’t have split hooves aren’t Kosher. Pigs aren’t Kosher. Deer are. I’m not sure about wildebeest. I don’t remember what their feet look like. It also matters how the animal is killed though. It’s supposed to be done in accordance with Jewish law, which says that it should be done by cutting their throats. I don’t know where that leaves hunting.”

Midge shrugs. “I’m not incredibly strict about keeping Kosher.”

"Wildebeest have cloven hooves. But the goal of hunting is to put them down as quickly as possible. That's not usually done by cutting their throat. I don't think there's much of a Jewish community in Nairobi, though."

As soon as they step into the range he rattles off the key safety points, mostly in case there are any other shooters they need to be mindful of. After that he sets the guns he has out, he looks over them before turning to her. "I've brought three types of gun with me today. A rifle, a shotgun, and a handgun. If you don't want to use one, or if you're not comfortable, I want you to tell me, alright?"

"They're all unloaded at the minute, so you pick them up and look at them. If you have a preference, we can start with that one."

He can go through more safety and rules then, but he doesn't want to scare her before she's even seen the guns up close. They've been carefully selected, lighter than he'd usually go for, and with less recoil. Though he still has his favourite in one of the bags in case there's time for a few rounds with it.

“That’s not very surprising,” Midge replies. The meat being Kosher isn’t really something she’s worried about at the moment, though she thought of it when Robert mentioned that he eats what he hunts. She supposes that means that he cooks too. It’s something to ask him later, because she probably needs to pay attention while he explains to her how to use his guns.

Midge picks up the handgun and examines it. It’s weighty in her hand, though not too heavy. “I suppose I shouldn’t hold it like a spy in a Hollywood movie?” she jokingly strikes a glamorous pose, holding the gun out in front of her with one hand.

He stands back and watches her while she looks over them, allowing himself the smallest smile at her pose and question. "Only if you want to miss your shot and give yourself a black eye."

Then, putting a hand on her back he positions her over by the stand designated for shooting. It's here Midge will get to experience the time honoured tradition of Totally Not Flirting while he corrects her posture. Since they've already spent a night together he has no qualms about putting his hands on her hips as he explains how to stand, or wrapping his arms around her as he explains how to hold the pistol. Shooting is never as glamorous in real life as in the movies, but learning it can still be fun.

With his hands on her shoulders and his voice low, he asks, "Would you like to try shooting?"

It’s Totally Not Flirting. Not at all. Except for the fact that feeling his hands on her waist like that brings back memories of him holding her there while he fucked her. Those thoughts are incredibly distracting, and it’s all Midge can do to pay attention to the instructions that he’s giving her, considering that they’re for everyone’s safety.

She practices pulling the trigger of the unloaded gun a few times and then nods. “Let’s do this.”

"Alright." He takes the gun from her, but has his eyes pretty much entirely on her while he loads the weapon. "You're going to put on the earmuffs, pick up the pistol, keep it aimed towards the target at all times, take your aim, turn the safety off... and then shoot when you're ready. Take your time, and if you're ever unsure of anything, put the safety back on and put the gun down first."

It would not be a fun date it she ended up accidentally shooting him.

Clicking the clip back in, he sets the pistol down and directs her to the earmuffs. "When you're ready. Take your time. Breathe."

It’s impressive that he can load the gun without even looking. Midge listens to his instructions, though she’s starting to feel a bit anxious now. She takes a deep breath and puts on the earmuffs before picking up the gun.

She tries not to hold the gun like it’s a bomb about to go off, but she’s being very gentle with it. Her thumb flicks off the safety and then she aims. The target seems extremely far across the grass and her hand shakes a little. As long as she keeps the pistol facing this direction, everything should be alright.

Midge squeezes the trigger, waiting for it to go off and lets out a yelp when it does. The retort is a lot stronger than she expected it to be. She fired something though.

“Did I hit it?” she asks, squinting at the target.

Muldoon is too used to being around guns to worry about putting on ear protection himself. It's why Midge might find him a bit more responsive when she's on his left. He still steps back out of the way when she aims her weapon. The yelp doesn't surprise him, but he manages to wrangle his smile down before he steps back close again.

Setting a hand on her lower back reassuringly, he shakes his head and points to where he saw the dirt scatter. "No, but you're in the right direction. Aim higher, don't lock your arms. Here..."

He gently adjusts her posture, and this time he keeps his hands on her shoulder and waist so she stays in the right place. "Try again."

“I’m supposed to be able to concentrate when you’re touching me like this?” she quips. “For the record, don’t stop touching me like this.” Having him physically show her how to stand is helpful.

Midge aims and fires again, the sound of the shot frightening her less this time. There’s a thunk as it hits the bottom of the target.

She's making it impossible to stop smiling. It's just as well he's nowhere near his workplace or people would stop seeing him as the scarily stern head warden. The comment is all well and good, but seeing her actually hit the target makes him proud.

"There you go! Good job!" He might be a touch excited as he does a few more corrections. "You're shorter than a lot of the people coming here, so you have to aim higher than you'd expect. It might feel wrong, but you'll get results, trust me."

Midge loves that she can make him smile, that she’s able to break through that stern exterior. That’s been one of her goals ever since meeting him. His coworkers would certainly see a whole different side of him if she were ever around while he was working.

“Thanks.” Midge is thrilled to have just hit the target at all. “I have a good teacher. And I’m 5’3”, thank you very much.”

So yes, shorter than most men. Her indignation is fake though.

Midge takes care to remember that she still has a live weapon in her hands. She holds her arms higher than what feels normal and shoots again, hitting the target again.

Just because she didn't hit the dead centre doesn't mean she's bad at all. The fact that she made such a marked improvement makes Muldoon swell with pride, and hope that she feels as much satisfaction as he does with a well made shot.

"Well done! You're a natural!"

Midge laughs and shakes her head. “I think it’s because you showed me what to do,” she tells him. “Although I was pretty good at archery at camp when I was a kid.” See? It is more than a luxury resort.

She shoots a few more times, getting closer to the bullseye before she turns the safety back on and puts the gun down. “Your turn,” she says.

That is a luxury resort! How many city kids get to go and do archery? Muldoon still isn't accepting the brushoffs, though. "You need to have a knack for these things to pick them up so quickly. You're good, Midge."

When the gun goes down and she taps him in, he hesitates as he considers protesting, but reconsiders pretty quickly. They're here to have fun, and he does enjoy shooting. He suspects she expects him to show off, too, and he isn't about to disappoint her.

Nudging her aside playfully, he picks up the weapon and reloads it. His stance is more relaxed than hers, more comfortable with the weapon raised. It isn't all that heavy to him, and he's more than used to holding larger guns up for longer periods.

Muldoon won't notice the way his smile falls away, replaced by a stern expression of concentration as he picks his target, and then fires. One shot, an adjustment of his aim, and then three more in steady succession. The holes are all neatly clustered around the centre, which he finds acceptable, despite what the unhappy tug at the corner of his mouth might suggest.

"It's not my weapon of choice," he concedes as he slips the safety back on. "How did you find it?"

Agree to disagree on Steiner! Apparently it’s not hardcore enough for Robert.

Midge shrugs a shoulder, a smile on her face. “I’m a fast learner,” she concedes.

She watches as he picks up the gun and shoots, his motions much more fluid than hers. Of course, he’s had far more practice. He’s able to get much closer to the bullseye, though he seems frustrated that he doesn’t do better.

“I picked it because it was the smallest one. It seemed fine to me.” But what does she know about guns? “What is your weapon of choice?”

Muldoon hesitates before returning to the bags and pulling out another rifle. This one is notably heavier than the one he brought for Midge. It's been diligently cared for, but still has signs of its years of use.

"I was raised on rifles and shotguns. Big game weapons. I prefer rifles like this one."

He offers it over for her to try holding, but keeps his hands nearby in case it's too heavy or unwieldy.

"I didn't take it out for you because it's not a good weapon for a beginner. The last thing I want is for you to bruise your shoulder with the recoil."

“Tea?” Midge pours a small cup of tea out of the thermos while Robert is retrieving his gun. Once she’s closed the thermos, she takes the rifle in her hands. It’s much heavier than the pistol she just shot.

“Do you carry this around with you?” she asks. Midge can’t imagine lugging around something this heavy. She hands it back to him. “I’d like to watch you shoot it, but I think I’ll stick to the smaller guns, personally.”

Edited 2025-01-21 19:39 (UTC)

"Yes please," to the tea. Despite having shed as much Britishness as he can, tea is always appreciated. A consequence of having been raised by a very English mother.

"I do, when it's appropriate. I've had to bring it on treks that lasted several weeks, through jungles and mountains." Sensing the weight of it might be a key issue here he adds, "The rest of the pack is usually heavier."

Since it's unloaded, he's happy to set it down as he takes the tea and sips at it. "But for where you are, a handgun suits you just fine. They have incredibly small ones for going about the cities. I just didn't have one to hand."

Midge passes him the cup of tea, then pours one for herself. Looks like her intuitions about his Britishness were right.

“Weeks?” Midge asks. “I can’t imagine.” She’d be miserable doing that, but that’s not the sort of life that she’s lived. Robert is used to it. As long as he doesn’t expect her to join him on such treks.

“You know, I usually feel safe in the city,” she continues. “Most of the clubs I perform at are in Midtown and I take taxis if it’s late at night instead of walking.” She’s also a true New Yorker. If anyone gives her shit, she’s going to give it right back to them. Hopefully there’s no need for a gun.

"A lot of places I've worked are extremely remote. You can't drive there. You're lucky if you can get a boat part of the way."

Unless she specifically requested to go out on a hike, he would never look for Midge to join one. Not even a much shorter one. He's seen the sort of clothes she enjoys wearing and that tells him plenty about what she's comfortable with. Hiking through dense jungle or wading through leech infested swamps don't factor into it.

He sips his tea as he listens, nodding approvingly at mention of taxis at night. It doesn't surprise him. Midge has a good head on her shoulders. "Midtown's not the bad part of town, then, is it?"

As long as he still likes her even if she won’t be joining him in any multi-day hikes. Day hikes, she could be persuaded to do. She would dress properly for them and would probably have a lovely time, so long as they don’t involve leeches.

“No,” she says. “It’s a lot of businesses, which are closed at night, but there are restaurants and clubs too. If you stay where there are a lot of people, you’re less likely to get mugged.”

Midge isn’t naive enough to think that she could never get hurt in New York, but she’s not afraid to go out on her own either.

“If I started carrying that thing around though—“ She points to Robert’s large game rifle. “-I doubt anyone would mess with me.”

Given that his expectations from youth were to marry a homemaker, he's not put off in the slightest that Midge is more of a city woman. Plus, if they did come across leeches he would be inclined to just carry her to spare her the discomfort.

There's more approving nodding as she explains. It's what he'd thought she'd meant, but it's better to hear it said out loud. When they part it's going to be difficult not to worry about her, but this is some consolation.

"I'm shocked anyone would mess with you without a weapon."

Clearly opposites attract in their case.

She will, of course, be worrying about him out in the wilderness as well. So many things could go wrong. Midge will try to remember that as comfortable and confident as she feels in the city, he feels the same way out there.

She smiles slyly at him. “They wouldn’t know what hit them.”

"I have no doubt," he assures her with a grin of his own.

He's thoughtful for a moment as he sips his tea, looking from the range to the way they came, and then back to Midge. "If you like, I could see if they have some smaller models for you to try."

“Smaller pistols?” She asks. “I was actually thinking of trying the rifle - the beginner’s one.” His is so heavy that she would probably find it unwieldy.

“Do you think I’ll need to know how to shoot it if I come to visit you?”

Who knows how remotely he lives? It might feel like being a pioneer in the old west. Those women had to know how to shoot rifles.

That manages to perk him up no end, her answer making him pleasantly surprised. He'd feared she'd written off the larger weapons.

"Of course, you can try whatever you like. You get more range with a rifle, too." As if she cares... He can't help it. He's excited and trying not to show it.

"You won't need to know how to shoot. I'll be with you if you're ever anywhere dangerous," he assures her. "Knowing how to pin a snake down with a broom is useful, but you probably won't have to do that either."

His excitement is obvious, but it’s sweet to see it. He loves sharing this with her, and while she will never be a gun aficionado like he is, she can still enjoy it with him. Besides, she likes how animated he gets when he’s happy about something. It’s the same way when he talks about animals.

“Oh, God. Please tell me that’s a joke.” Midge already knows that it’s not. The entire compound will know if there’s a snake in Robert’s house because she will scream loud enough for everyone to hear.

“I’ll have you to protect me from everything else though?” she asks with a flirtatious smile. Midge puts a hand on his chest, then leans in to steal a kiss from him. “Aren’t I a lucky girl?”

With that, she picks up the rifle and turns it over in her hands. “How do you load this?”

"You're the comedian, not me." That doesn't mean he's not smiling, though. He doesn't plan to leave Midge anywhere she might have to deal with the local wildlife on her own, of course.

It's ridiculous how easy it is for her to distract him. He leans into that kiss and it takes him a second to pull himself back. Now is not the time or place, so he takes a breath to cool down. "I'll protect you from anything. Without a second thought."

Seeing her holding a rifle doesn't help things. He's always had a soft spot for women with guns, but right now he has to focus on safety and practicality. Rather than take it off her, he uses the opportunity to touch her some more, adjusting the weapon and then Midge before showing her how to load the weapon. Then he guides her to the right spot to show her how to stand, how to hold the gun, and how to aim. He does pay special attention to the stock, because it's likely this is where she's going to feel the recoil. Though he doesn't say it, the last thing he wants is to be the cause of her having to wear high collared dresses to hide a nasty bruise.

Midge likes rattling him, making him want her. Before she pulls away, she leans in to whisper in his ear. “Do you know how much that turns me on?” The idea of him being her protector is very arousing to her. While she considers herself a modern woman and can protect herself from some things, there are other things that she would consider to be his specialty.

Midge is glad to let him touch her in order to show her how to load the gun and stand with it. The positioning is different compared to how she held the pistol. She aims, holds the rifle for a moment and then fires.

The shot is louder and the recoil is stronger and Midge lets out an involuntary yelp. Her bullet hits the target, since now she’s used to aiming higher than what seems natural.

As if it isn't difficult enough behaving himself. Then she has to go and say something like that just before he's meant to focus on Serious things like gun safety.

He does manage to focus, though. That little whisper can be kept locked away for later when they don't have dangerous weapons around. He'll hold onto that for a long time yet, in fact.

Seeing her hit the target with a new gun, even with that yelp, is a good distraction. It's not a bullseye, but it's still far better than he'd expect of a beginner. He's not just being polite when he says, "Good shot! I told you you were a natural!"

He’s welcome to save his response for when they’re alone and the guns have been put away. He’s also welcome to act on it in whatever way he sees fit.

Midge laughs lightly. “I don’t know. Is it that hard to hit a non-moving target?” Maybe it is. Midge did kind of think she would be hopeless at this, but she’s doing better than she thought. If a person or animal tried to attack her though, she doubts she’d be able to hit them. It takes her a good ten seconds just to aim.

"It's hard when you've never lifted a gun in your life." And when that gun is primarily suited to a man who has years of experience. "Believe me, I've taught all sorts of people. You're a good shot."

She doesn't need to be good at shooting, he's got that covered for them both, but it's important that she knows her accomplishments. Especially when he's keen for her to have a pleasant, or at least not a frightening, first encounter with guns.-

Midge knows he’s not just indulging her, because he isn’t the type to do that. He’ll tell the truth, even be blunt about it, in most situations. Still, she can’t believe that she’s really impressing him.

“You can call me Midge Oakley from now on,” she says, aiming the rifle again. Quietly, she starts to sing: “Anything you can do, I can do better…”

She fires and the butt of the gun hits her shoulder. “Ow.” She must not have been aiming correctly. At least the bullet manages to sink into one of the rings of the target.

Naturally Midge's instinct is to joke about it. Muldoon does step back to watch her when she lifts the rifle again, but he's got a smile on his lips. Until she makes that sound of pain and his frown is right back where it's used to being.

Coming in closer again, he looks from the range to Midge and looks her over. "Are you alright?"

“Yeah,” she says, rubbing her shoulder with the opposite hand. “I think so.” Hopefully it won’t leave a bruise, but it won’t be the end of the world if it does. “The recoil is definitely stronger with this thing, but I think it’s easier to aim, since you hold onto the barrel when you fire.”

Midge strikes a pose with the rifle, putting the barrel of it up against her shoulder. “Can you see me walking through Central Park with this thing?”

"You'd raise more eyebrows than you do already," he teases gently. "Here..."

Guiding the weapon back down, he steps in to support her as he gets her to aim again. "Now, a lot of instructors explain that when you hold the weapon it helps to imagine you're holding a beautiful woman. Since you are the beautiful woman, maybe hold it like you'd like to be held."

Settling the butt of the gun against her shoulder with warm hands, he explains, "Keep it close, support it. Hold it firmly, but don't grip tightly. You want it against your shoulder so that when it moves suddenly, you move with it." When he turns, his cheek brushes hers. "All make sense?"

“Sounds like you learned something when we danced at that party,” she says, turning her head to kiss his cheek when it brushes against hers. Having him close like this makes her heart beat faster. “Maybe later you can give me a visual demonstration of what you’re talking about.”

Midge takes his advice though, holding the gun steady as she aims again. When she fires, she anticipates the recoil and moves with the gun so that it doesn’t hit her. This time, the bullet hits on one of the rings closer to the center of the bullseye.

It's not often he comes across a lady who's as much of a flirt as him. Probably moreso, really. Things like this are why Midge is so adept at making the normally stoic warden smile. Luckily for him, he gets to step back while she takes her shot. Not that it helps him gather any composure. When he sees where Midge hit he's quick to applaud her.

"Well done! You've got the hang of it now!"

It's difficult to stay back, but he does. "Go on, take a few more!"

He’s more excited about her shooting than she is. With a grin at his reaction, Midge re-aims and fires again. The next few shots land on the target, albeit in inconsistent places.

“Looks like I’ve found a gun that works for me,” she says when she finally lowers it. “Too bad it won’t fit in my purse.”

Robert seems happy and Midge likes making him happy.

"You do look good holding it." Judging by his grin, he means it too. Midge is always pretty, but Muldoon won't lie and say she doesn't look extra good with a rifle in her hands.

Now that the gun is down, he steps up close to her, hands sliding onto her hips as he kisses her shoulder. "Would you like to take some more shots?"

There aren’t a lot of people here at the range with them, so Midge feels comfortable with public displays of affection. She puts the gun down and wraps her arms around his neck.

“I think I want to see you shoot the gun that you brought for yourself,” she tells him, nodding at his heavy gun on the table.

He enjoys the closeness, almost brushing their noses together as she talks. The smallest of smiles tugs incessantly at his lips and he answers with a low, "Alright."

The strong hands on her hips move them in a spin until they've swapped places. Then he pulls away to tidy her weapon away and pick up his own. It might as well have grooves worn down from being handled by him so often. Muldoon pauses to check Midge is alright, and had ear protection on, before loading his weapon and readying it.

This gun is louder than the rest. He picks out targets much further away, too. The warden might not be a bodybuilder, but the muscles in his arms flex as they hold the weight of the rifle steady. He takes the opportunity to show off a little, picking out difficult smaller targets and hitting close to the centre on the circular targets. None of which he wastes any time with, and when he's done he's just as quick in resetting the weapon and getting the safety back on before he turns to Midge for her reaction.

It’s impressive. Midge has never really been impressed by guns in the past, but what Robert can do is nothing short of impressive. She watches as he hits the targets, hardly needing time to reset before moving on to the next one. Her gaze turns to the way the muscles in his arm move and it stirs something deep inside her. Arousal. It’s not difficult for her to get aroused when it comes to him.

He looks to her for her reaction and she’s speechless for a moment, trying to think of something witty to say.

“If you do that again, you might have to take me back to the car for some privacy.”

Muldoon leans on one leg, tilting his head and raising an eyebrow at her. He assumes it's purely joking, but he can't help teasing back, "That is the wrong thing to say if you're looking for me to stop."

He doesn't expect she's as truly impressed as she looks, but she's being a perfect partner regardless. His mouth is going to hurt after all this smiling.

“Keep going and I’ll drag you there myself.”

The way he leans shows off his thigh muscles and now she really is getting hot and bothered. Now probably isn’t the time, but it’s not as if she can help it. He’s put the safety back on the gun, so Midge feels comfortable approaching him. Her fingers play at the collar to his shirt and the buttons down the front of it.

“That was more impressive than I thought it would be,” Midge tells him.

Muldoon is quiet for a moment, taking in the closeness, and the flirting, and trying not to jump her bones then and there.

"Alright," he says after a second. "With that sort of talk you only have two options. One, head to the car and I'll follow with the bags, so we can go somewhere private. Or two, I'll do another round and see how well you drag me to the car."

She bites her lip. Robert is the sort of man who can only be teased so far before things become deadly serious for him. Not that Midge wasn’t intending to deliver, but he’s ready to take her up on it right now.

She weighs the two options. While Midge can be stubborn as a mule, she doesn’t think she could actually drag him anywhere — though she hopes he’d come along willingly. She signals her choice of option one by giving him a little smile and taking off her ear protectors and putting them on the table. After closing up the thermos of tea, she takes her purse and heads off to the car, pausing only once to glance over her shoulder at him.

Not that she really needs to worry that he won’t follow her.

Muldoon watches her for a moment before slowly starting to gather up the weapons and put them away. As soon as she's out of sight, where she can't see his eagerness, he hurries his actions. It doesn't take him long at all to pack everything away and trot after her.

Of course as soon as he's potentially in sight, he switches to a his usual gait. As if he isn't ready to run after her. But even if he's making sure to appear as casual as possible, he can't help swinging the car keys cheerily as he catches up to her.

The car is locked, so Midge leans against it to wait for Robert with the keys. He seems quite casual when he shows up, especially for a man who just suggested that they fuck in a car. Not that Midge is complaining about it. She gives him a sly smile when he approaches.

“Got everything?”

"I've got you, and that's all that really matters," he quips. But he does have everything. Of course he has everything. He's simply determined to play it as cool as possible.

Unlocking the car, he opens the passenger door for her before putting the guns in the boot, and circling round to the driver's side.

"There's a turn down the road to somewhere with a bit more privacy," he explains, starting up the car.

“Did you happen to notice that earlier?” Midge teases. He probably wasn’t planning any of this, because his mind doesn’t seem to be as dirty as Midge’s is.

Once they’re both in the car, Midge can’t help but steal a kiss from him before he starts to drive.

"I did," he answers coyly before admitting, "But only because I plan all my routes meticulously."

The kiss breaks his cool demeanour with a crooked grin as he pulls out of the car park. He's right about the turn not being far. It barely takes a few minutes before he's pulling in again.

"You should have known you were going to get me hot and bothered when you brought the tea."

Midge laughs out loud at that. “You’re right. I should have realized that tea is an aphrodisiac for the British. That was my fault.”

She unbuckles her seatbelt and turns to look at him, leaning against the car door. She’s playing it coy now, looking at him with big eyes and a sweet smile. Completely innocent. Robert looks like a lion who’s had his tail pulled too many times and is ready to pounce on her. That’s exactly what she wants.

“But I’m glad it worked.”

Muldoon unclips his seatbelt and can't help smiling when he looks over at her. She's looking at him, sweet as anything, as if she wasn't playing with his shirt a few minutes ago.

Well he's not grabbing her over the gearbox, so after eyeing her up, he gets out of the car. They can get into the back if they want, but first thing's first. He opens up her door and offers a hand. It's a bit of a trick, really. As soon as she accepts it, he pulls her close suddenly, closes the door, and then presses her up against the car with a kiss.

Such a gentleman, helping her into the backseat where they’ll have more room to do whatever they feel like. Midge graciously puts her hand in his and gets out of the car.

She’s not expecting to be pushed up against the car and she gasps a little in surprise. Then, she wraps her arms around him and holds him close as he kisses her, her mouth opening against his.

A little surprise is good, reminding her of the excitement of being with a man who can handle a rifle as naturally as breathing. His hands run along her body, down the curves of her waist and her hips.

His tongue meets hers and it takes everything in him not to nip her lip when he pulls back for a breath. As much as he would happily stay out here, he suspects she might not be so eager. Taking the pause in their making out, he opens the backseat door and offers her a hand in.

Sex outside might be a consideration for them someday, but Midge is going to need a bit more assured privacy than this. They’re still too close to the road.

She sighs happily at the sensation of his hands all over her body. He’s more than welcome to give her little nips, because she knows that he likes doing it. It feels good for her too.

After allowing him to help her into the backseat, Midge reaches down to untie her boots.

“What a day to wear pants, eh?” Pants make it harder for her, but not impossible. They just need to come off.

Since they're pausing for shoes, he follows suit. He's used to getting a little dirty, so he doesn't need to follow her in immediately. She has more room to work with that way.

Her comment is met with a cheeky grin. "Don't worry, I'll volunteer to help you get them off."

“I have no doubt.” Fortunately, Midge can manage pretty well on her own. Her boots hit the floor of the car, then she lifts her hips to slide her pants down her legs and off.

“Get in here,” she says teasingly, reaching for his hand.

He is more than willing to hop in after her. Admittedly he never imagined he'd be in the back of the car, but any slight awkwardness or discomfort is well worth it. That much he's certain of.

As soon as he's inside, he closes the door and then cups her face to kiss her. They might not be out on the African plains, but something about seeing Midge staring down the barrel of a rifle really does it for him.

She returns the kiss while slipping off her panties. Once naked from the waist down, Midge pauses the kiss for just a moment so that she can straddle Robert’s lap. After she’s settled, she resumes kissing him. Her hands tug at his belt buckle, pulling the belt open.

Somehow he hadn't expected that she'd want to get right to him, but it only fuels his excitement. Midge knows what she wants and is completely unafraid to go for it. Something Muldoon is not used to, but he's all too happy with.

His hands slip under her blouse so that he can feel along her body and cup her breasts in their bra. They might be confined by the space and their clothing, but it still feels utterly indulgent to touch her like this. The only time he pauses is when Midge undoes his belt and he stops to help shuffle his clothing down his hips. His cock is more than ready for her.

If he’s ready for her, then there’s no sense in waiting much longer. When he reaches under her shirt, Midge peels it up over her head and off. Robert is welcome to unsnap her bra if he wants to touch her breasts more fully.

Midge perches on his muscular thighs and looks down between their bodies at his cock, already standing at attention.

“You really liked watching me shoot that rifle, didn’t you?” she teases, leaning in to lay kisses on his neck. She deftly unbuttons the top few buttons of his shirt so that she can run her fingers through his chest hair.

"You looked so strong and confident and beautiful," he says as he works on her bra before pausing to add, "More than you usually do."

With that he undoes the last clasp and gets it off of her as fast as he can. It's much nicer to feel her without that fabric in the way. He kisses her neck and her collar, both hands feeling out the fullness of her breasts, before one hand slides down to touch between her legs.

"You didn't mind watching me shoot, either," he growls.

“Yeah?” She grins at his compliment, glad that she could turn him on, even if it was by holding a gun. Once her bra is unclasped, she slides it down her arms and off. Midge sighs happily when Robert cups her breasts fully in his hands. She loves when he touches like that, not holding back or hesitating.

Her breath hitches when his hand moves down between her legs, and she moans softly. Robert will find that Midge is very wet for him, and has been for a while.

“I loved it,” she breathes, her hips starting to rock slowly against his hand. “I didn’t know that watching a man shoot could be so sexy.”

If there was any encouragement needed to continue touching her, seeing her move like that would be more than enough. The only difficulty is in his competing desires to enjoy watching her, but also to kiss her.

"You wanted masculine," he points out between kisses, half teasing, half daring her to contradict him. "Now you know I can protect you, hunt for you, fight for you."

He'd do all of that for her in a heartbeat. It's difficult not to feel that especially strongly at this moment.

The noise she makes in response is somewhere between a moan and a sigh. What he’s saying might not be dirty, but it’s pushing every single one of her buttons.

“Fuck…” she whispers. Then, louder: “Yes… you wouldn’t let anything hurt me.” The idea of his protection is, for whatever reason, a huge turn on for her. Maybe she sees it as a type of loyalty, one that was lacking in her previous marriage.

Now that he’s touching her, she can’t help but feel a little greedy, with hopes that he might indulge her. Midge presses her nails into his shoulder through his shirt and puts her lips to his ear. “Put your fingers inside me.”

Truthfully, he half suspects it's simply his voice that's appealing as he speaks. His accent, even with Kenyan influence, is British enough to be considered sexy. That, and the clear declaration that he wants her, that she's desired. The warden isn't well practiced in dirty talk, but letting Midge knows she's wanted is an easy task. Mostly he's just happy she seems to enjoy it.

Just like he enjoys the pinch in his shoulder and her breathy command. His eyebrow twitches and he looks at her, as if considering her words. In reality, he just wants to watch her reaction as her runs his middle finger along her and then slides it inside her, savouring her reaction before his index finger follows suit.

His accent is hot, especially to an American. He also has a deep timbre to his voice, which adds to the sexiness. The words themselves are what she wants to hear though. She loves hearing how much he wants her.

Midge holds his gaze as those fingers that were so recently on the trigger of his rifle are now slid inside her. He’ll notice the slight change of expression as he fills her, a look of desire crossing her face. Leaning in, she kisses him again, sucking gently at his lips.

This time, even though she speaks quietly, she looks directly at him as she asks for what she wants. Robert likes her bold confidence, so that’s what she’ll give him. “Fuck me with your fingers. Rub my clit with your thumb.” After a beat, she adds: “Please?” Because she hasn’t forgotten her manners.

Midge gives his shoulder a dig with her nails as encouragement.

A physical nudge works wonders with the warden. That and clear instructions.

He holds her gaze, eager to watch her expression as his thumb moves over her clit and his fingers start moving in and out of her. Though his voice isn't a whisper, it's low as he tells her, "I'll give you everything you want. Anything you want."

It's impossible not to be flushed with heat as he watches her, as he listens to her, as he feels her. Everything about her is such a turn on he doesn't want to take his eyes off her even for a second.

She’ll have to remember that for the future, since it’s gotten her what she wants.

Midge tosses her head back and moans more loudly this time as his fingers move in and out of her and his thumb circles her clit. Her hips rock back against his hand, eager for more. It’s not going to take him very long to make her come like this.

“Robert…” she gasps, breathless as her pleasure rises. “All I want is you. Mmm, don’t stop…” Midge rests her forehead against his, her lips lightly brushing his.

Whether she's close to coming or not, there's no way he's stopping now. Not when she's enjoying herself so thoroughly, and he's enjoying himself in turn. She's so wet it makes his cock ache.

While he could touch himself, it would be awkward, it might get in the way of her movements and the rhythm they've got. He'd rather wait and savour this, breathing in the little pants slipping from her lips to his. Far from stopping, he speeds up his motions. Just a little. Just enough to increase the intensity that bit more.

"You like that?"

Midge would probably curse him out if he stopped now, and she’s too lost in her own pleasure to think of his at the moment. She’ll be happy to let him take her in whatever position he wants to after she comes though. Hopefully, she’ll be able to come again when he’s inside of her.

Robert isn’t the teasing type, so Midge isn’t worried that he will suddenly withdraw his hand, though she still rides his fingers like they might disappear.

“God, yes. I love it,” she tells him. “I’m gonna come for you…”

Midge can feel herself on the precipice. A few more strokes of his fingers and she’ll fall over the edge.

It's a good thing he has stamina, and that Midge doesn't mind his calloused fingers. Not that it matters much with how slick his fingers are.

There is no way he is going to stop. Watching her move to get her pleasure is as intoxicating as the best whiskey. He can't help himself going just a little bit faster as she gets closer to the edge.

"Come on, Midge," he growls. "Come for me."

“Oh, Robert…”

Her eyes flutter closed and her body stiffens as the orgasm hits her. Midge lets out a long moan of pleasure as her nails dig into his back. Her muscles tighten around his fingers as she rides out her ecstasy. As the waves subside, she collapses against his chest, panting softly against his neck.

Once she's done he pulls his fingers out, rubbing her gently with his palm to ease out the sensation. He kisses her neck and his other hand runs along her body and then rubs her back.

As much as he enjoyed watching her, there's a certain loss of interest in his own pleasure once she's done. Something which clashes with his body's readiness. Still, he takes a certain enjoyment in the discipline of focusing solely on her which causes that uncomfortable clash.

He'd much rather tease her by asking, "Enjoy that, did you?"

Midge laughs breathlessly at his words. “So smug,” she huffs before kissing him, a long, slow kiss. When she pulls back, she speaks again. “I enjoyed it a lot.” Just so he’s perfectly clear about that.

She appreciates that he’s giving her a moment to rest after such a strong orgasm, but she hasn’t forgotten about him. Although, for a moment, she did forget that they were in a car. The sight of the half-fogged windows brings her back to that reality.

“How do you want me?” She asks him. “In your lap like this? On my back? From behind?” It’s his choice after making her feel so fucking good.

Oh that kiss is good. It distracts him from the choices to be made right up until she starts asking him questions.

The smugness returns, but it's partly to hide his genuine hesitation. "Are you sure you can go for round two?"

“Mmm, if you give me a minute… actually, it’s better to just keep going if you want to try to make a woman come twice.”

Midge pulls back from the kiss to look at him. Despite the smugness, there’s a hint of anxiety in his eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Midge asks. He’s plenty hard and Midge would think that he would be more than ready to go. If he needs her to make some choices for him, she’s happy to oblige.

"Nothing." An insistence which is reinforced by the kiss he follows up with, and by how he wraps an arm around her to shift them both.

He's used to making decisions, even if he's not sure which is the right one, especially in relationships. Like pretty much all his previous partners, Midge is drawn to his masculinity, and that means being commanding, taking charge, and making choices. Being assured that she wants to continue will have to be enough.

Him on top of her seems like it will work best, though there are no truly comfortable options. That's part of the appeal, really, to be so eager that comfort becomes an afterthought.

Midge returns the kiss, her own worries aroused now. She certainly loves his masculinity and decisiveness, but she wouldn’t want that to become a burden for him. If he defers to her, it won’t make her think less of him. In this situation, she just wanted to let him pick whatever he thought might feel best for him, as a thank you for making her feel so good. Midge figures she’ll have a good time regardless. He always makes sure of that.

Robert lays her down on the car’s backseat and Midge looks up at him, concern in her blue eyes. Reaching up, one hand tangles in his hair and the other strokes his chest. Midge tugs on his shirt so that he’ll lean down again. She gives him the most reassuring kiss that she can muster, gently sucking at his lips before pulling back.

“I just want to make you feel good, darling,” she whispers. “You always make me feel like I’m the only woman in the world.”

The very idea that she might be worried doesn't even cross his mind. His concerns are his and his alone. All he has to focus on is making sure she's happy. Besides, the kiss helps put things back on track.

"You're the only woman in the world who matters," he tells her, voice low as he kisses her neck. His hands roam again, feeling out her breasts to help him get more excited again.

That’s not how a relationship works, Robert. In all fairness, Midge isn’t sure if they can call this a relationship. They enjoy each other, but there are so many factors complicating things, the least of which is that he’s leaving in a few days’ time. In any case, she cares about his concerns, especially if they relate to her.

She closes her eyes for a moment, enjoying the feeling of his lips and hands on her skin. Midge digs her fingers into his hair as the hand on his chest shifts downward. Her fingers wrap around his cock, still hard. Maybe he needs a bit of assurance, though Midge isn’t sure why.

No one comes out for relationships without some skewed perceptions. His just happen to have been rather consistent.

He takes the hand on his cock as a sign that Midge is getting impatient. With his hands on her hips he tugs her closer. Then he nudges her with his erection while he kisses her.

His voice rumbles in her ear. "Are you ready for me?"

Midge tries to put her worries to the back of her mind and enjoy herself, while also making this good for Robert. Ultimately, that’s what she wants.

She shivers in delight at that rumble in her ear. Does he even know how easily he’s able to turn her on?

“Yes,” she tells him. Her legs hike up over his hips, opening herself for him to push inside of her.

With her hands out of the way and her legs around his hips, it takes little more than a single slow thrust to enter her. Sometimes he forgets how good it feels, though the low groan gives it away.

She's already wet, and tight, and he's been riled up watching her be exceptionally hot. It's easy enough to put everything else aside while he focuses on the here and now. The difficulty is in not immediately going hard and fast. He does his best to start slow, but he quickly gets into a rhythm as he fucks her.

Midge moans and arches her back as Robert slides into her. He’s big enough that it feels like he’s filling her up completely, a wonderful sensation. She meets his rhythm with her hips, squeezing her muscles around his cock with each stroke out that he makes. The newness has certainly not worn off of their lovemaking and Midge hopes that it never does.

She claws at his shirt to pull him down for another kiss, something that he seems to greatly enjoy. She does as well. Their kisses are hot and desperate as he speeds up his pace, Midge taking a gasp of air before going back in for another kiss. Her nails rake down his back, trying to gain purchase against his body.

The kisses turn each breath into a pant, and he growls happily as her nails dig into his back.

The back seat area is small, his knees bang off of seats and his head risks banging off the roof or door every second. But it's all worth it. For all his hesitation, she seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself, and he is too. But this isn't intended to be a drawn out session. Midge has already been pleased, so there's no need to slow things down.

Bit by bit he lets go of himself until he's fucking her as hard and fast as he can safely do in the confines of the car. The whole vehicle rocks with each thrust, and it doesn't take too long before the warden comes with a low groan.

The backseat of a car is not exactly a place to stretch out, but that’s part of the fun, or at least for her it is. Midge can tell that Robert is trying not to inevitably bang something against the door, including her head. She keeps pushing her hips down to make sure that she stays flat on the seat.

Watching him let himself fall into pleasure is a sight to behold though. Midge can’t help but let out a little squeal when he starts to fuck her hard. She scratches his back as he gets closer and closer to orgasm.

“That’s it… come for me.”

Midge smiles as he rides it out, then falls back against the seat when he finishes. She kisses him sweetly, fingers sifting through his hair as she takes a moment to enjoy the afterglow.

It's only now that he realises how stuffy the car has become. Yet all his aches and scratches feel incredibly nice right now.

As he comes back down to Earth he kisses Midge again. Gentler kisses to match her sweet ones. Then he pulls out slowly, tucking himself back away to pull his shorts up so that he doesn't fall over. He sits down and pulls Midge close to give her some more affection by way of kissing and stroking her bare skin.

It’s quite warm in the car. After sitting up, Midge reaches for the window crank and pushes the window down a half an inch to let some of the cold air from the outside in.

She sits in his lap again, though this time she’s sideways with her legs draped across his thighs rather than straddling him. Her nose nuzzles his as she receives his sweet kisses.

With her arms around him, she pulls back and takes a deep breath before speaking, choosing her words carefully.

“Something tells me we won’t be having sex in a car again.”

Part of him wants to protest and say that he'd have sex with her anywhere... but inside the car isn't the most comfortable place. He wraps his arms around her, letting his hands move over her ridiculously soft skin as he enjoys the closeness and the after-sex haze.

"I prefer on a car to in one," he admits before continuing to kiss her cheek and neck.

Midge hums her approval at that. “I could be persuaded, provided there’s a bit more privacy than what we’re being afforded at the moment.”

He’s still touching her and kissing her and it feels so delightful. Midge sighs happily and gently strokes his chest.

“I do hope that you’ll fuck me with your fingers again. Not to take anything away from your cock, but that felt really fucking good.”

Fingers can be much more precise than a cock and Robert made her come very hard.

Muldoon can't help but sound especially pleased by her answer when he says, "I'll keep that in mind."

It seems foolish not to enjoy her while he can. He knows all too well that in a few days he'll miss this. He needs to savour every minute.

"I had a good instructor." And while he prefers to make her come while fucking her, it's more important that she enjoys herself. So he pushes away any hesitation to assure her, "I'm always glad do what makes you happy."

Midge plans to fully enjoy any remaining time they have left.

“Thank you, darling,” she says with another kiss. It’s not that his cock is inadequate. She enjoys his cock greatly. It just so happens that his fingers are divine.

“Well. Lunch?” Midge looks around the floor of the car for her panties.

Muldoon laughs at her immediate turn to the thought of food. "Sure."

He stays still while she moves, except to do up his shirt again. "You didn't pack anything with that tea, did you? There was a place back down the road I had my eye on in case we got hungry."

“Sounds perfect.”

After Midge locates her panties and pulls them on, she finds the rest of her clothing in the backseat and starts to redress.

“It’s been a really long time since I’ve had sex in the back of a car,” she tells him. Midge scoots off of his lap so that Robert can get his pants back up, but not before stealing one more kiss.

Muldoon huffs a laugh as he gets his shorts sorted and his belt done up. "You make it sound like something you used to do regularly."

Shifting to one side, he waits until Midge is dressed before he opens the door. He waits there to offer her a hand out. At least sex in a car isn't liable to give her shaky legs.

“Just a few times in college,” Midge replies. “Both Joel and I had roommates that hung around all the time.” Never getting a room alone meant that a car had to be utilized.

She takes his hand and gets out of the car before walking back around to the passenger seat. Robert gets in the driver’s seat and they’re back on the road in a few minutes.

“I actually had fun today shooting your guns,” Midge tells him.

It still seems strange how easily she brings up her ex. Muldoon's not looking forward to that interaction, should it happen. Though that won't be for a long time, at least. Being on the road helps get Muldoon, literally and figuratively, back on track.

He glances over at her. "You sound surprised."

Their divorce was relatively amicable, plus they’re raising kids together and their families are close. She and Joel are still friends. Midge has no idea what Joel will think of Robert, but Midge hopes they will come to an understanding. Fortunately, them meeting is still a while off.

“I didn’t think I would enjoy it,” she admits. “I thought it would be too loud or that I’d be frightened.”

Those are all fair things to assume of a gun range. Guns are loud, and they can definitely be frightening to some people. It just sort of loses its fear when you've grown up with them. Midge made a tremendous effort in stepping out of her comfort zone.

"And now?"

“Not as frightening as I thought, though your huge rifle is still rather scary. I don’t think I’ll be taking a spin with that one any time soon.” She’ll stick with the regular rifle and the handgun. “And I had fun today trying to hit the targets. You were a good teacher. Very hands-on.” Midge grins at that.

“I don’t think that I would enjoy killing anything though,” she muses.

"I would never ask you to kill anything," he assures her firmly. Not that he assumed she'd think that, but he knows it helps to hear it aloud.

"But I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. I always enjoy the satisfaction of hitting the targets. It's the same when someone I teach gets the hang of it too." The corner of his mouth twitches in a smile and he adds, "Though you didn't need much guidance. You're a real natural."

Midge trusts that Robert will protect her in that sense. If an animal has to be shot for their protection, he’s going to take care of it. Visiting him out in whatever wilderness he lives in seems less worrisome now.

She responds with another grin. “Thank you. I learned something at my luxury summer camp, didn’t I?”

"I'm not sure about that," Muldoon protests in playful stubbornness. "I think it was your killer instinct." With a smile he adds, "Which you're too nice to use against anything other than targets."

“I really need to take you to Steiner one year, though I think you’ll absolutely hate it,” Midge replies with a smile. He can go stay in a tent out in the woods while the rest of them sleep in the cabin. He’ll be hunting for food rather than eating in the dining hall.

“I didn’t know I had killer instinct,” she continues. “Better watch out. More than killer instinct, I think I just like to be good at everything I try.”

Proving people wrong and doing what they say she can’t.

"If anyone could persuade me to do something I hate, it would be you," he teases fondly. Though she's probably right. It sounds entirely too... cheery for him.

Her correction gets a snort. Though he's spotted the little food place he'd seen before, so works on getting parked while he talks. "I wouldn't bet against you, that much is for sure. You're a true force of nature."

“And I wouldn’t want to make you do something you hated unless it was absolutely necessary.” Midge realizes that she talks about them as if they’re going to be together and she doesn’t know why. Wishful thinking? Instinct? She probably needs to get her head out of the clouds. Robert will be leaving in a few days.

She doesn’t want her time spent with him to be bittersweet though, so she would rather focus on being happy, pretending that they have all the time in the world.

“Am I?” She asks with a smile. Midge just hopes that she’s brought a little bit of light into his world. After parking the car, Robert comes around to her side to help her out. Midge takes his hand and stands on her tip toes to steal a kiss from him. Her hand remains in his as they enter the restaurant.

Muldoon hums in faux-thoughtfulness. "I suppose I shouldn't knock it 'til I try it, hm?"

It's not like it could be the worst thing he's endured. Hammond's fancy parties are hard to beat in that department.

Midge's question gets a grin and a confident, "You are." Then he gets out of the car and helps her out.

He doesn't expect her hand to stay in his, and it makes him do a double-take as he looks down at their locked fingers. But his sets aside his bemusement since they have people to interact with in the form of servers. Hopefully Midge won't mind him instigating the separation of their hands as he guides her to her seat, as attentive as can be.

His reactions to her displays of affection are sweet, but also a little bit sad in her eyes. She’s not sure if Robert finds it incredulous that someone like her wants to display affection towards him or if that incredulity extends to anyone at all. Regardless, she’s going to keep doing it.

Once seated in the booth, Midge peruses the menu and continues their conversation. “I’m curious what you mean when you say I’m a force of nature,” she says. “Does that mean I’m like a hurricane? An earthquake?”

Midge is teasing, but also not. She wants to know what made him use that particular phrase to describe her.

His general stoicism is a fairly good indicator. That calm, collected demeanour works well in high stress situations, but he never quite learned how to let it go when things were relaxed again. He is, however, always determined never to dissuade his partners from showing as much or as little affection as they like.

When Midge investigates his comment a little further, he allows a small smile over his menu. It's only natural for people to be curious about what others think of them. Especially someone they're close to.

"I mean it's more destructive to get in your way when you've set your mind to something than to work with you. Less an earthquake or hurricane than a wildfire or flood, in my opinion. Sure, there will be some destruction, but ultimately the land will be healthier at the end of it."

Midge listens to his explanation, her smile growing as he continues speaking.

“I like the idea of being a wildfire,” she says. “It’s definitely wise to not get in my way when I’ve decided that I want something.” Case in point, the two of them.

She rests her chin in her hand, thinking for a moment. “You’re… a rock. Or a mountain.”

"You have the flare for it," he agrees. It's not that she doesn't need and deserve tenderness sometimes, but that in the general day-to-day, she's just as stubborn and wilful as he is. If not more.

He is, however, extremely glad she didn't take his comparison the wrong way. In fact, she seems to like it enough to return the favour, which only makes him smile more.

"We sound like an unstoppable force and an immovable object."

She is very stubborn. It remains to be seen whether or not their mutual stubbornness will cause them to butt heads at some point.

Midge hums her agreement. “And what’s supposed to happen when those two meet?”

They will undoubtedly butt heads at some point. It's the resolution that's more uncertain.

Muldoon's smile twists cheekily as he holds her gaze. "From what I'm seeing? Sparks fly."

They will, but hopefully they’ll also be able to work it out.

Midge grins at him, feeling her heart flutter in her chest. “See? You are a romantic.”

If the past few days are any indication, that shouldn't be a problem.

That smile widens and he shakes his head in a half-hearted protest. "I'm just sharing my observations."

She hums her agreement as she goes back to perusing the menu, a smile still on her face. “Give yourself some credit, Robert. You’re not as awkward in social situations as you think. It just needs to be with the right person.”

"I don't think I'm awkward," he assures her. "But I have been told I can be a bit rough around the edges."

He gestures to her as he adds, "Which you help smooth over."

She nods, conceding that. “I like how blunt you are,” she says. “You say what everyone else is thinking. You’re also immensely practical.” Midge needs someone like Robert to help ground her. A rock. A mountain.

“I’m happy to smooth your edges and anything else that might need to be smoothed.” She playfully sticks the toe of her shoe under the hem of one of his pants legs.

"Remember that next time I say something at the wrong time." He's not too worried, though. Midge knows he doesn't mean anything bad, even if what he says comes across as cold. He's about to add something about how she compliments his life when movement under the table distracts him. She really does make it hard not to smile.

"Down girl," he growls playfully.

She nods. “I’ll try not to laugh too hard at how offended everyone else is,” she replies. It takes a lot to really offend Midge. Social faux pas won’t do it most of the time.

A sly grin crosses her face, followed by a little shiver of desire. That growl gets her every time. “See, that’s what I really think you are,” Midge tells him. “A lion.”

"I appreciate it." Though truthfully he appreciates how unfazed she is more. They have enough in inevitable culture clashes to deal with without adding a difference in approach on top of it.

It's as much her smile as her answer which makes it impossible to smother his own grin. "A lion? Those are dangerous, you know."

“So I’ve heard, but I’ve also heard that there are men who punch them in the face.” That will never not be impressive to her. “You are more of a benevolent lion. Generally good-natured unless someone really makes you angry or tries to hurt someone you care about greatly.”

The waitress approaches and asks about drinks. Midge orders some coffee before going back to their conversation.

He should probably regret telling her about that, but right now he doesn't. It's sweet that she recalls it so often.

When the waitress comes over, Muldoon echoes Midge's order. Coffee isn't his go-to, but he's learned to live with it. But he's much happier to return his attention to Midge.

"I'd say you'd make a good lioness, too. Strong, protective, loves her family... and is unmistakably in charge."

“Am I?” There’s a little smile on her face. “Even in charge of my lion?”

She does have a tendency to take charge, doesn’t she? Fortunately, Robert doesn’t fight her for it most of the time.

Muldoon sets the menu down, folds his arms on the table, and leans in towards her. She has his full, uninterrupted gaze as he lowers his voice to inform her, "Midge. Only as a very desperate measure would I ever try to get in your way."

Midge is a little worried for a moment about the serious look on Robert’s face, but she relaxes when she hears his words.

She leans in too. “Way to make a girl feel invincible.”

The seriousness was important. She wouldn't have listened to him properly if he'd joked about it. His jokes aren't as good as hers.

"If you haven't figured that out by now, I'll have to make sure to remind you."

“You’ve given me a lot of power, Robert. Hopefully I’ll choose to use it for good.” She will. Probably. Depends on his definition of good.

The waitress brings their coffee and takes their lunch orders. Midge orders a Reuben sandwich - not technically Kosher, but very good.

After a second of consideration, Muldoon opts for the same. It's not something he often gets, and it has plenty of meat in it. Win-win.

"I've seen you on the stage," he continues once they're alone again. "You use your power for good and just the right amount of bad."

Midge nods knowingly. “I think you approve of that little bit of bad.”

It’s the part of her that says what she thinks, regardless of the consequences. The part of her that calls out the problems in society.

"I do," he confirms. "I think the world's a better place for it."

Being someone who often has to bite his tongue, it's cathartic to watch someone as quick witted as Midge get to voice what so many people wish they could say.

“Thank you,” she replies with a grin. At least he understands her comedy and why she does it. It’d be difficult for them to be together if he didn’t see the purpose of something that’s such a huge part of her life.

“What haven’t we talked about yet?” Midge asks. “Family?”

No they haven't talked about family. In part because he hadn't wanted to overstep. Not when what they have together is so... nebulous. He hadn't wanted to scare her off by coming on too strongly.

But since she's brought the topic up, he nods thoughtfully. "Well I've met your two children. And you kept me away from your parents. Who else do you have in your family?"

She huffs a laugh. “Trust me. I saved your ass that night.” If things continue to develop between them, Midge is sure that he will meet her parents. She’s just got to figure out the best way to present a man like Robert to them. To say that he’s the polar opposite of Joel is an understatement.

“I have a brother named Noah who lives in Washington DC. The worst kept secret in the family is that he works for the CIA.” She takes a sip of her coffee. Midge had brought this topic up to see if she could learn more about his family. Robert is relatively tight-lipped about it.

“Both of your parents are in Nairobi? Do have any siblings?”

"The CIA?" His brow shoots up and he says before a pointed sip of coffee, "I'd better be on my best behaviour, then."

It was not really his intention to be secretive. Her family is simply more interconnected than his is. Which is what you get with a family full of professional hunters and guides.

"No siblings. A handful of cousins, but mostly family get-togethers consist of my uncles, their wives, and a lot of competitiveness."

Midge nods. “Hopefully he’s doing his best to keep me off of whatever list they put radicals on.” Not that Midge thinks she’s so radical, but anything that challenges the status quo in this country is liable to be questioned, her comedy included.

“What are you competitive about?”

"He'll have to work hard. I could see them locking you up just so they'd get front row tickets to your show." He wouldn't particularly blame them, either.

"Everything. My father's family is full of soldiers and hunters, and they're all trying to outdo each other all the time. With stories, or trick shots, or football. Anything and everything."

“I’d be willing to give them tickets as bribery to keep me out of prison.” Better than having to pay them.

Midge hums in her throat. “Is it good-natured?” She asks. “Do you enjoy competing with them?”

To her, Robert seems like the type of man who needs to one up someone else.

"If they have any sense they'll take that deal."

Muldoon tilts his head at her as he considers the question. "It's good-natured enough. We all enjoy it. No one's fallen out over it, and it's very rare someone has to see the doctor because of it."

[ OOC: just realized I made a mistake on my last tag. It should have read that Robert seems like the type of man who DOESN’T need to one up someone else. Welp… ]

“Rare but not unheard of?” Midge asks with a wry smile. “Are you the best shot?”

It’s hard for her to believe that many people could be better than him. He makes it look completely effortless.

((Haha, that makes more sense!))

"Once we had to take two cars to get people stitches." It's less of a boast and more of an amused anecdote.

Her question has him meeting her smile with one of his own. He fails to smother it as he answers with a coy, "Yes..."

Which is when the waitress slides their food in front of them, distracting him briefly as he thanks her.

“How did that happen?” Midge can’t help but ask.

His coy response makes her grin in return. “Of course you are,” she replies. “There’s something very sexy about a man who’s so competent at something that he makes it look effortless.”

The waitress interrupts Midge’s flirtation with their sandwiches.

shot through the heart (for allbedestroyed)

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