1stwitness | (no subject)

"It is hardly the same thing", he retorts. "My lack of what you call a proper shirt will do me no physical harm. But I suppose, if you insist..."

"It's a matter of principle, Ichabod. And comfort. Honestly, have you seen the little divots those things make in the side of your nose?"

Her brow furrows and she shakes her head.

"I'd rather squint."

"But these lenses you spoke of... surely those leave no such divots? Or is it that you do not like applying them - in which case, yes, I can quite see your point?"

"Yes, they're supposedly quite easy to manage, but the thought of putting my finger in my eye does not appeal."

Really, she's in denial and she knows it.

"And I don't need lenses all the time. Just when I'm reading."

Which is pretty much all the time for Alex.

"Hmm." He eyes her. "Have you taken any advice on the matter? From those more qualified than I?"

...not that the optometrists of the 18th century were up to much.

She fixes him with a Look, one eyebrow raised.

"If you don't leave off, I'm going to take you shopping for a suit. A proper suit, with a tie. And a shirt in colours utterly unheard of in your day and age."

"You can take me shopping for it", he says, cheerfully unrepentant, "but you cannot make me wear it."

...he probably would, though. At least the suit and tie.

"Is that a wager you offer, sir? Because I am a formidable opponent, and not one to be trifled with."

"A wager? Perhaps. Find me a modern shirt I will consent to wear, or you must see an eye doctor."

She sits back on her heels, arms crossed over her chest. Her gaze rakes up and down his long frame.

"How long have I got?"

"...three months", he decides after a moment. "I am not exactly in a position at the moment to bring people into my world for shopping expeditions, but I hope for that to change shortly."

"You're on. If I can't find you a suit that you look good in and are comfortable with, I will see someone about my eyes."

"Then we have a deal. And I must find an acceptable tailor in Sleepy Hollow."

"Sleepy Hollow is in upstate New York, isn't it? We could always go into the City."

She raises an eyebrow in query.

"If transport could be secured. The world doesn't seem to be very amenable to travelling on horseback, in these times."

"Hmm. Point. Something else to research. I suppose you've never ridden on a train?"

She remembers New York having a fairly accessible public transit system.

"No. In a car, since I arrived in this time, and young Mr Todd has been teaching me about motorcycles. But not on a train."

"Well, if the opportunity arises, we could take a train into the City, and then a cab everywhere else. Or -- just find a nice tailor in Sleepy Hollow, though I will cry foul if he's anything less than cosmopolitan."

"I'll look into it", he promises. "And with no deliberate cheating."

She smirks at him, and nods.

"I look forward to it. Until then, I'm curious. Have you, erm... Found the end of the Library yet?"

It's not an offer, it's a genuine question.

"...no." He peers down the stacks. "I was starting to wonder if there was one."

"Same here." She pushes off from where she's been leaning against the table, and follows his gaze.

"I've been coming here for six months, and I haven't either. I always end up with too much to carry before I found the end."

"Would you like to investigate?" Beat. "Although perhaps we should take a hint from Theseus and bring a ball of thread."

"Psh, nonsense. It's a Library, not the Labyrinth of Daedalus."

"You haven't seen the garage."