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When Tommy opens the door he looks tired, but not recently woken up-- just exhausted, and a little bit haunted.
"I thought you didn't drink?" He eyes the bottles with only some suspicion.
"I thought you didn't drink?" He eyes the bottles with only some suspicion.
Tommy will find a note from Lark in his room, next to the letter Grace left.
Have something for you. Meet me in the Citadel room after dinner when you get this.
- L
Lark has cleaning up to do after Tati's visit, has new plans to finalize, and has plans to just relax a little for once. Which is why he chose a time when Nux will be sure to be out of the room.
Have something for you. Meet me in the Citadel room after dinner when you get this.
- L
Lark has cleaning up to do after Tati's visit, has new plans to finalize, and has plans to just relax a little for once. Which is why he chose a time when Nux will be sure to be out of the room.
He doesn't even notice until he comes back from Furiosa's, when he's been comforted by her arms and her soft resolve. None of it has helped make up his mind for sure, but the thought of Grace makes him feel more melancholy, still. Like he's already lost part of her, perhaps.
He runs his fingers over the note when he sees it and frowns- unmistakable who the note is from. He considers not coming, just going to bed and sleeping off the smell and sound of Grace that lingers in his mind. But curiosity wins out, in the end, and he knocks on the cabin door after dinner.
He runs his fingers over the note when he sees it and frowns- unmistakable who the note is from. He considers not coming, just going to bed and sleeping off the smell and sound of Grace that lingers in his mind. But curiosity wins out, in the end, and he knocks on the cabin door after dinner.
It's not his best night. Make that his morning; it's probably closer to seven by the time he knocks on Tommy's door, and Lark still hasn't slept.
But he does have two coffees and it's a peace offering. Of sorts.
As annoyed as he is at the knot in his stomach from his night with Alec, he's amused that the only place he thinks of to go afterward is to see Tommy fucking Shelby.
But he does have two coffees and it's a peace offering. Of sorts.
As annoyed as he is at the knot in his stomach from his night with Alec, he's amused that the only place he thinks of to go afterward is to see Tommy fucking Shelby.
Tommy'd tried to sleep, but he's been up for a few hours, working at the kitchen table. He's writing letters, makes notes on the other inhabitants of the Barge, he writes down what he can remember about the networks in London, the other big cities.
When there's a knock on his door he takes a minute to open, and when he does he looks a little rumpled, hair mussed, only wearing a henley and suspenders, not the whole suit.
"Morning," he says, flatly amused. "I don't recall placing an order, Mr. Tenannt."
When there's a knock on his door he takes a minute to open, and when he does he looks a little rumpled, hair mussed, only wearing a henley and suspenders, not the whole suit.
"Morning," he says, flatly amused. "I don't recall placing an order, Mr. Tenannt."
Tommy's cabin is familiar to Lark now, and when the door shuts behind them and he smells tobacco smoke and whiskey, dust and horsehair and oak, when the last few sounds of violence from above are muted by the door, all the adrenaline in him rushes away and leaves him stumbling and shaky.
He's been in worse situations than the one with Alec, and come out of them calm and even hungry. Which just goes to show how much getting too close to someone can fuck you up.
"Who was that?" Meaning Chime. "Alec's going to kill him-"
He's been in worse situations than the one with Alec, and come out of them calm and even hungry. Which just goes to show how much getting too close to someone can fuck you up.
"Who was that?" Meaning Chime. "Alec's going to kill him-"
He kicks the door closed behind them and practically shoves Lark down on a kitchen chair, looking completely high on adrenaline and slightly angry. He snatches a bottle of whiskey from a shelf, two glasses- rethinks that, puts one back and pours himself a generous shot.
"I don't fuckin' care what the man's getting himself into- what the bloody hell, Lark? What happened?"
"I don't fuckin' care what the man's getting himself into- what the bloody hell, Lark? What happened?"
[This message comes late at night, when Lark should be sleeping. And it's video, which means Tommy can see he's not in the cabin he shares with Nux, he's in his own, that odd suite with white walls, white floors, and white furniture.]
I've had a hard time deciding if I should ask this--if I had any right to ask it--of you but-
Shit, I'm getting ahead of myself. Are you up? Sorry.
I've had a hard time deciding if I should ask this--if I had any right to ask it--of you but-
Shit, I'm getting ahead of myself. Are you up? Sorry.
[He's sitting on the sofa, his brightly-colored walls clear behind him. He's got a glass of whiskey raised halfway to his mouth when the message comes in, contemplating a book Furiosa had given him. So he replies, nods.]
I'm up, Lark.
Ask.
I'm up, Lark.
Ask.
[He doesn't know if he met her while he was swapped out, and so he hesitates for a long time before replying- she hadn't been on the network with him, but who knows. Perhaps not, if she's still talking to him.]
She deserved nothing less.
I have a sister. I remember when she was that age.
She deserved nothing less.
I have a sister. I remember when she was that age.
This once, Rosethorn gives herself permission to be weak. To wait for Jean to make the announcement for her, so Tommy will hear it from there, first. It's better, she tells herself. He'll have no reason to believe that this is some ruse to get close to him, this way. To hurt him again.
In the meantime, she tries to meditate. Settles herself in among the plants in her cabin and draws their cool strength under her skin. It does precious little to soothe either her anger at T'Pol, or the bitter disgust towards her own self. She shouldn't have let it happen. All her power, all her discipline, and none of it was any use. Her mind was twisted against someone as close as blood, who she'd kill for. Die for.
Meditation doesn't help much. But once she's certain Tommy's seen the message, has had time to digest it, she goes to his door and knocks stiffly.
She has trouble apologizing to begin with. How can she even start to say sorry for being weak?
In the meantime, she tries to meditate. Settles herself in among the plants in her cabin and draws their cool strength under her skin. It does precious little to soothe either her anger at T'Pol, or the bitter disgust towards her own self. She shouldn't have let it happen. All her power, all her discipline, and none of it was any use. Her mind was twisted against someone as close as blood, who she'd kill for. Die for.
Meditation doesn't help much. But once she's certain Tommy's seen the message, has had time to digest it, she goes to his door and knocks stiffly.
She has trouble apologizing to begin with. How can she even start to say sorry for being weak?
He isn't sure who to expect- Lark, maybe, or Nux. It used to be Furiosa or rosethorn but there's still something inside of him that doesn't trust it, that thinks he shouldn't have the hope everything could go back to normal that easily.
But there's a knock, and he has a responsibility, and so he cracks the door open. Even through the small crack the injuries Furiosa had caused are visible.
"Rosethorn," he says, and his voice wavers already.
But there's a knock, and he has a responsibility, and so he cracks the door open. Even through the small crack the injuries Furiosa had caused are visible.
"Rosethorn," he says, and his voice wavers already.
They undid it.
[She says, raggedly.]
I mean, I don't know that you heard- the day I blacked out, it was T'Pol, changing something in my head. They undid it.
I'm sure-
[But...]
-I hope.
I don't know.
[She says, raggedly.]
I mean, I don't know that you heard- the day I blacked out, it was T'Pol, changing something in my head. They undid it.
I'm sure-
[But...]
-I hope.
I don't know.
[She talks about the day she blacked out, but he doesn't know- does she remember? What she did, that it took three men to keep her from murdering him?
He waits for a long time to reply, pushing down the fear and betrayal until he can sound somewhat composed. But he's still so, so hurt.]
What do you remember?
[that, first. Before he gets lost in worry- about her, them, himself.]
He waits for a long time to reply, pushing down the fear and betrayal until he can sound somewhat composed. But he's still so, so hurt.]
What do you remember?
[that, first. Before he gets lost in worry- about her, them, himself.]
[He doesn't even open the door- his cheekbone is still a mess and he's ashamed, really. Besides: this might be another attempt to get at him.]
Why the fuck are you asking?
Why the fuck are you asking?
[Nux ends his argument with Pietro just as irritable as he was when he began it, and though he tried to relieve the feeling (he drinks water, he plays with engines, he runs around the citadel burning off energy with no specific life intentions behind it) nothing quite works.
So, eventually, he decides to go see Tommy. Because surely this is what Tommy is for.
He bangs on his warden's cabin door, then slumps against it. Sullen and impatient.]
So, eventually, he decides to go see Tommy. Because surely this is what Tommy is for.
He bangs on his warden's cabin door, then slumps against it. Sullen and impatient.]
Alright, alright-- [He comes to the door looking rumpled and agitated, the latter of which clears away when he sees who it is.]
Nux. What're you looking so glum about, mate?
Nux. What're you looking so glum about, mate?
It is a few days after the explosions and Bull's arm is in a cast and the burns on his stomach bandaged up. He got caught in the gym and weights landed on his arm. He has looked better, but he grins anyway.
He is carrying two mugs of cocoa and carefully tries to balance them in one hand as he knocks on the door with the arm in the cast. He hisses slightly in pain but what can you do. He had planned on taking the cocoa to Tommy when he heard he was in the infirmary, but then shit happened. So now he was at his door.
He is carrying two mugs of cocoa and carefully tries to balance them in one hand as he knocks on the door with the arm in the cast. He hisses slightly in pain but what can you do. He had planned on taking the cocoa to Tommy when he heard he was in the infirmary, but then shit happened. So now he was at his door.
It takes him a while to answer- he's on the other side of his cabin, and he's careful these day. He has to find his gun, and put it in its holster, before he even considers opening the door.
When he does, he looks surprised. "To what do I owe this surprise, then?"
When he does, he looks surprised. "To what do I owe this surprise, then?"
Bull had been itching for a trip to the enclosure and a ride. He had fond memories of stalking dragons in the Frostback mountains. So he made his way to Tommy's cabin and knocked on the door. "Tommy? I have a suggestion I want to hear if you're interested in."
He opens the door wearing a henley, suspenders hanging loose, smoking like usual.
"Hello to you too, Bull. What is it?"
"Hello to you too, Bull. What is it?"
In the months it's been since they've started seeing each other in secret, it's been surprisingly easy to find reasons to get herself alone with Tommy. They can usually escape during balls for some time to themselves, it's entirely normal for her to be sent to the Shelby home with messages from any of the Solomons, and eventually it becomes normal enough to slip through the hallways when no is looking to find his room.
She knows the place well by now, knows where she can dip into an alcove if she hears anyone coming, has never once come anywhere near being caught by the servants, so it shouldn't surprise Tommy too terribly much when the door opens and Rey slips in quickly, closes the door behind her and gives him a bright smile.
"Technically, I'm here to tell you Theodosia is expecting to see you at the ball tomorrow." She says as she comes closer. "So if you're asked, I did in fact tell you that."
She knows the place well by now, knows where she can dip into an alcove if she hears anyone coming, has never once come anywhere near being caught by the servants, so it shouldn't surprise Tommy too terribly much when the door opens and Rey slips in quickly, closes the door behind her and gives him a bright smile.
"Technically, I'm here to tell you Theodosia is expecting to see you at the ball tomorrow." She says as she comes closer. "So if you're asked, I did in fact tell you that."
"I'll be sure to make a note of it in my diary," he says, casually, as he wraps an arm around her waist. He already looks radiantly happy to see her that he'd be disgusted with himself if she didn't take all of that away.
"Tell her I already have my clothing prepared. And then tell her nothing more of what I'm about to say to you."
"Tell her I already have my clothing prepared. And then tell her nothing more of what I'm about to say to you."
[It's not right, any of it. She was prepared, she was, but at the same time she wasn't - and it's wrong and it's strange and it's infuriating, how what nags at her most is not being someone she is not, but having a brother.]
[It would be strange to have a sister, too. She's not someone good at sharing, not in the least; there's an even chance that if she'd had a sibling in her actual life, she'd have drowned it in the bathtub. She is the Zacharov; that's just how it is.]
[But having a brother is worst. All the brothers she knows are Cassel's, and the Sharpe brothers are monsters, Cheshire cat monsters with pretty white teeth. No wonder she wanted so much to be better than Tommy.]
[It shakes her, the first time she sees him in the halls, so much so that she freezes for two whole seconds, her mismatched eyes wide and panicked at the sight of him. But once that moment breaks, she grabs his wrist in her glove-handed vice-grip and drags him into the nearest room, which happens to be the library.]
[It would be strange to have a sister, too. She's not someone good at sharing, not in the least; there's an even chance that if she'd had a sibling in her actual life, she'd have drowned it in the bathtub. She is the Zacharov; that's just how it is.]
[But having a brother is worst. All the brothers she knows are Cassel's, and the Sharpe brothers are monsters, Cheshire cat monsters with pretty white teeth. No wonder she wanted so much to be better than Tommy.]
[It shakes her, the first time she sees him in the halls, so much so that she freezes for two whole seconds, her mismatched eyes wide and panicked at the sight of him. But once that moment breaks, she grabs his wrist in her glove-handed vice-grip and drags him into the nearest room, which happens to be the library.]
[The last time Tommy had been in a breach he'd been an only child- no parents, no siblings, just one aunt. It had been a strange experience, where he'd woken up and missed people that weren't even at the forefront of his mind.
This time had been different- luckily. Even if it had been Lila, who'd always tried to steal what was his, it had still been someone to grow up with. Someone whom he knew inside out, because he'd been there for all of it, her highs and her lows, death and marriage. Someone who knew him for just the same. This time, he felt strengthened in his resolve to do this for family, instead of confused about why that version of himself had never missed siblings.
So, really- the first time he sees her after the breach he's about to greet her, only to see her freeze up and then be dragged into the library.]
What the hell, Lila--
This time had been different- luckily. Even if it had been Lila, who'd always tried to steal what was his, it had still been someone to grow up with. Someone whom he knew inside out, because he'd been there for all of it, her highs and her lows, death and marriage. Someone who knew him for just the same. This time, he felt strengthened in his resolve to do this for family, instead of confused about why that version of himself had never missed siblings.
So, really- the first time he sees her after the breach he's about to greet her, only to see her freeze up and then be dragged into the library.]
What the hell, Lila--
[After the Admiral announcement, there will be a package sitting outside your door.
In it, there are ten packages of rations and three metal canisters of water, along with a handwritten note.]
One of these packets is one meal, to be eaten once a day. That's five days , if the food dries up. The green pieces are a replacement protein that's better cooked, but you can eat it uncooked. The powder is mixed with water, it becomes bread. Use a third of the water in the canister for each serving of bread, just mix the powder in and stir it a little and it does the rest.
My room is my ship from home. There are beds, enough for a handful of people, and the Admiral suggests keeping people we care about close. I don't have many. It won't be crowded. If it's clear things are going to be terrible, please come here. I'm in cabin 5-5.
I have more rations, the Falcon came stocked with enough food to last in space if something happened to the ship, but not enough for the entire barge. If there is someone you cannot bear to see suffer I can give you a share for them, but please think carefully about who that person is.
I've already given the same package to Furiosa. Your extra portions are for Nux. It's still enough for five days.
Rey.
In it, there are ten packages of rations and three metal canisters of water, along with a handwritten note.]
One of these packets is one meal, to be eaten once a day. That's five days , if the food dries up. The green pieces are a replacement protein that's better cooked, but you can eat it uncooked. The powder is mixed with water, it becomes bread. Use a third of the water in the canister for each serving of bread, just mix the powder in and stir it a little and it does the rest.
My room is my ship from home. There are beds, enough for a handful of people, and the Admiral suggests keeping people we care about close. I don't have many. It won't be crowded. If it's clear things are going to be terrible, please come here. I'm in cabin 5-5.
I have more rations, the Falcon came stocked with enough food to last in space if something happened to the ship, but not enough for the entire barge. If there is someone you cannot bear to see suffer I can give you a share for them, but please think carefully about who that person is.
I've already given the same package to Furiosa. Your extra portions are for Nux. It's still enough for five days.
Rey.
When he gets the letter, the rations, he has to take a moment to collect himself. It isn't that he's actively frightened, or worried about what's going to happen- he's been through periods without food, without water.
Honestly, he feels like he's already been to the Land of the Dead. He spent too much time in places where the dead outnumbered the living.
But he hadn't expected help like this. Not from a woman who ate the jerky he'd planned on giving to the horses- not from a woman who grew up the way she did. It isn't that he judges her badly, but he wouldn't have blamed her if she kept everything to herself.
Instead she gave him her rations; gave him enough for Nux, to boot. And he needs it, if things get back- he doesn't have the cans of food they gave them in the war, doesn't have anything like an ice box to keep the food fresh. He's incredibly grateful for this. So grateful that it takes him a bit to even react.
When he finally does, it isn't via letter, or communicator. He decides to go to her, her letter tucked into an inside pocket, and he knocks on her door.
After a certain point, Rey realizes she's going to have to be honest with someone about why the recent events on the barge are upsetting her to the point where she's choosing to isolate herself, communicating mostly in texts, and with few exceptions not reaching out to new people. It's not that she wants to share her feelings with anyone, but the burden is getting too heavy to for her own two shoulders. She can only cope with this kind of fear on her own for s long, and her options for who to turn to are limited.
There is Luke and Han, but she can't take even the thought of their pity. They'll only feel bad for her, that'll try to find the right words to tell her everything will be fine when they have no idea if that's even true. She doesn't want that, she wants someone who will listen and understand and not immediately try to hold her hand or rub her back and tell her not to worry.
Tommy is the only person that makes sense, and to Rey's extreme relief things between them are still good after the breach that could have ruined everything. They've set all that firmly in the past, agreed it was never real, and she's been able to just focus on the here and now. So she sends him a text to ask him to meet her in the Enclosure, punches in the settings for Jakku, and goes there to wait for him.
When he arrives he'll find her sitting in the sand on a dune overlooking the downed AT-AT she called home, her speeder tucked into the safety of its legs, and off in the distance there's Niima Outpost far closer than it actually is on the real version of Jakku. She can see the fake people she'd programmed in, milling around and trading and cleaning, and just the shadow of a very fat creature in the center of town, locked behind bars to keep him safe. None of them are real recreations of people there, but she wanted to see it, for some reason.
It's hot, and the wind is dry, and her stomach is empty because she's already getting used to not having enough to eat, and she feels so stuck it's like she never left Jakku at all.
There is Luke and Han, but she can't take even the thought of their pity. They'll only feel bad for her, that'll try to find the right words to tell her everything will be fine when they have no idea if that's even true. She doesn't want that, she wants someone who will listen and understand and not immediately try to hold her hand or rub her back and tell her not to worry.
Tommy is the only person that makes sense, and to Rey's extreme relief things between them are still good after the breach that could have ruined everything. They've set all that firmly in the past, agreed it was never real, and she's been able to just focus on the here and now. So she sends him a text to ask him to meet her in the Enclosure, punches in the settings for Jakku, and goes there to wait for him.
When he arrives he'll find her sitting in the sand on a dune overlooking the downed AT-AT she called home, her speeder tucked into the safety of its legs, and off in the distance there's Niima Outpost far closer than it actually is on the real version of Jakku. She can see the fake people she'd programmed in, milling around and trading and cleaning, and just the shadow of a very fat creature in the center of town, locked behind bars to keep him safe. None of them are real recreations of people there, but she wanted to see it, for some reason.
It's hot, and the wind is dry, and her stomach is empty because she's already getting used to not having enough to eat, and she feels so stuck it's like she never left Jakku at all.
She'd asked him to come, and he'd wondered- why now? When the whole ship is on lockdown mode, when everyone is trying their best to just conserve energy. Why would he ask him?
But she isn't a frivolous woman. That's what he likes about her. And so he dresses light, tucks his pistol into its holster, and throws his cigarette out before he pushes open the door. He'd remembered what she said- a desert planet, scorched and empty. But it's still an adjustment when he feels the heat, when he sees the sun beat down on the metal houses and abandoned ships. He shivers, then carefully closes the door behind him.
"Alright?" He calls out, to get her attention.
But she isn't a frivolous woman. That's what he likes about her. And so he dresses light, tucks his pistol into its holster, and throws his cigarette out before he pushes open the door. He'd remembered what she said- a desert planet, scorched and empty. But it's still an adjustment when he feels the heat, when he sees the sun beat down on the metal houses and abandoned ships. He shivers, then carefully closes the door behind him.
"Alright?" He calls out, to get her attention.
[He takes a while to answer, because now that the flood is over, it means he spent hours locked inside a small box with Rey; it means she held him through a bad flashback, comforted him through intense, irrational fear; listened to his explanation and understood.
And it means he felt how grateful she was that she could help him. She was happy, relieved, and enjoyed it when he held her in turn. She didn't even know he could hear that, feel that.
Well. In the end, it just means that things have shifted between them.]
I think you're up to something if you're including Alec, but who am I to turn down dinner at your renovated pad, Lark?
And it means he felt how grateful she was that she could help him. She was happy, relieved, and enjoyed it when he held her in turn. She didn't even know he could hear that, feel that.
Well. In the end, it just means that things have shifted between them.]
I think you're up to something if you're including Alec, but who am I to turn down dinner at your renovated pad, Lark?
She's not really sure how, after what she's done, she ends up at Tommy's door. She doesn't even remember walking there, honestly, but that's her hand knocking on the wood. Why would she go here? She has her own room, there are people from her own universe, but...
She's here. At Tommy's door. Knocking on the wood and feeling like she might vomit and not feeling any of the cuts or bruises from the fight. She realizes only after she's knocked she has to look horrible because the fight might have gone her way, but it was against a giant and he'd gotten his fair share of hits in before it was over. She's pale, too, she knows she has to be pale. She feels partly dead herself, numb down to her very bones, and she's gripping her staff so tightly her knuckles are white.
But she just keeps knocking. She's not sure why.
She's here. At Tommy's door. Knocking on the wood and feeling like she might vomit and not feeling any of the cuts or bruises from the fight. She realizes only after she's knocked she has to look horrible because the fight might have gone her way, but it was against a giant and he'd gotten his fair share of hits in before it was over. She's pale, too, she knows she has to be pale. She feels partly dead herself, numb down to her very bones, and she's gripping her staff so tightly her knuckles are white.
But she just keeps knocking. She's not sure why.
Edited 2016-04-28 20:26 (UTC)
"Alright, alright," he calls through the door, obviously a few feet away. "Hold your horse--"
He cuts himself off when he opens the door and sees Rey- and sees her like that. She looks like she's been in a fight, and she looks like she lost besides. Not because of her injuries, per se, but because of the way she looks haunted by what just happened.
He immediately pulls her inside, to get her out of the public eye, and then leans down slightly so he can run fast, efficient hands up her arms and over her face to check for injuries. "What happened?"
Is there someone he needs to hurt for her?
He cuts himself off when he opens the door and sees Rey- and sees her like that. She looks like she's been in a fight, and she looks like she lost besides. Not because of her injuries, per se, but because of the way she looks haunted by what just happened.
He immediately pulls her inside, to get her out of the public eye, and then leans down slightly so he can run fast, efficient hands up her arms and over her face to check for injuries. "What happened?"
Is there someone he needs to hurt for her?
Rey is entirely aware of the fact that walking around with her staff on her back right after beating someone with it is probably not in good taste, but if she were to be asked directly about it her only answer would be that she just doesn't care if the people who know what she did judge her for staying armed. The staff might be a beacon now, a clear sign of what she's capable of, but she's fine with that and not she's not risking being unsafe in this place just to spare a few feelings.
It's possible that going up to the deck to train with it after what she did to the Iron Bull is pushing the line a little considering this is where he died, but it's less crowded than the gym and she doesn't risk the Enclosure anymore, so this is where she is now, staff in hand while she goes through some drills to test how her back is healing. The bruise on her face is almost gone entirely, just a small shadow under her eye now, but the one on her back is just a little more stubborn. She has to keep active to keep the muscles strong, so if anyone has any complaints they'll have to accept that for her answer.
She's been keeping a small window to the Force open lately, just to keep herself aware of potential attacks now that she's permanently paired with Alfie and the Iron Bull apparently has friends, but when she feels she's no longer alone on the deck, feels who it is, she smiles to herself and calls out to him, back still facing him as she swings her staff forward.
"Hello, Tommy." She says, and the warmth in her voice knowing he's here now would be embarrassing if she wasn't incredibly pleased to know he was there.
It's possible that going up to the deck to train with it after what she did to the Iron Bull is pushing the line a little considering this is where he died, but it's less crowded than the gym and she doesn't risk the Enclosure anymore, so this is where she is now, staff in hand while she goes through some drills to test how her back is healing. The bruise on her face is almost gone entirely, just a small shadow under her eye now, but the one on her back is just a little more stubborn. She has to keep active to keep the muscles strong, so if anyone has any complaints they'll have to accept that for her answer.
She's been keeping a small window to the Force open lately, just to keep herself aware of potential attacks now that she's permanently paired with Alfie and the Iron Bull apparently has friends, but when she feels she's no longer alone on the deck, feels who it is, she smiles to herself and calls out to him, back still facing him as she swings her staff forward.
"Hello, Tommy." She says, and the warmth in her voice knowing he's here now would be embarrassing if she wasn't incredibly pleased to know he was there.
It wouldn't seem likely anyway, but considering the fact that Tommy always carries a pistol (or a blaster, these days) and a knife in his boot. Being armed is the smart thing to do, any day.
He'd been looking at her for a minute, watching her form, the way she moves, and when he replies the smile in his voice is obvious. "Hello, Rey," he rumbles, stepping forward, cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth.
"Not cheating, are you?"
He'd been looking at her for a minute, watching her form, the way she moves, and when he replies the smile in his voice is obvious. "Hello, Rey," he rumbles, stepping forward, cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth.
"Not cheating, are you?"
As much as Rey enjoys the days during this port, she's coming to like the nights much more. The air is warm enough that she'd never get cold even if she did leave the campfire, but she rarely does. More often than not Tommy is with her and that's the part she's coming to like the most about this, as soft as that makes her feel. The time they have alone together, just them in this place, is something she's starting to love so much she knows she's going to miss it terribly when they leave.
She's with him now, sitting on a soft blanket in front of the fire with him behind her checking on the harpy scratches down her back. She's long since given up on bothering to put anything on them, but it's become a habit to let Tommy check them to be sure nothing odd is happening to them.
"When we have to leave here, I'm probably going to recreate this exact spot in the Enclosure once a week," she tells him absently, eyes closed while she tracks the movements of his fingertips on her back.
She's with him now, sitting on a soft blanket in front of the fire with him behind her checking on the harpy scratches down her back. She's long since given up on bothering to put anything on them, but it's become a habit to let Tommy check them to be sure nothing odd is happening to them.
"When we have to leave here, I'm probably going to recreate this exact spot in the Enclosure once a week," she tells him absently, eyes closed while she tracks the movements of his fingertips on her back.
"I don't think you're the only one," he murmurs. He brought his salve tonight, from the Barge, and he's checking over the worst parts and rubbing the salve on them. It's not helping, but he can't help but want to do something.
"We'll throw parties in there."
"We'll throw parties in there."
[The Admiral lets him know, in the form of a sign that Nux can not possibly decipher.
A clean, perfect white shower, complete with running water, embedded into the stone of the Citadel.
So naturally, Nux stands under it for a while. Drinks from it for a while. Sprays water on all of his belongings for a while. Then goes out to find Tommy, to tell him about this novel new development.
And, maybe, slightly, to make sure that his warden is feeling all right after the port. He returned from the land on the dead, with blood on his hands that reached up to his elbows.
So Nux head's to Tommy's cabin, and bangs on the door with three, noisy knocks.]
A clean, perfect white shower, complete with running water, embedded into the stone of the Citadel.
So naturally, Nux stands under it for a while. Drinks from it for a while. Sprays water on all of his belongings for a while. Then goes out to find Tommy, to tell him about this novel new development.
And, maybe, slightly, to make sure that his warden is feeling all right after the port. He returned from the land on the dead, with blood on his hands that reached up to his elbows.
So Nux head's to Tommy's cabin, and bangs on the door with three, noisy knocks.]
He can tell just from the knocking who it is, and he opens the door with a very, very minimal flourish. They'd had some good talks in the land of the dead, but he still feels a little raw, a little like he doesn't need to show his face so much.
"Alright, mate?"
"Alright, mate?"
After she's checked in with Alfie, Rey discovers she really has no desire to be out among the rest of the population of the Barge. There's too much that's happened, too many questions to answer and people to reassure and she will get to that at some point, but it's too soon. Checking in with Alfie is something she has to do, but it's less because he's her inmate and more because she just cares for him, as a person, and he's just died.
So once he's checked on, once she's done there, she makes her way to Tommy's room. It feels a little like a retreat to immediately go see him, but how can she do anything else? She can't imagine how it must have been for him this last week and now that she's alert and feeling well she doesn't want much more than she wants to show him exactly that.
So she knocks on his door, stands up straighter, and has a smile for him when he opens up.
So once he's checked on, once she's done there, she makes her way to Tommy's room. It feels a little like a retreat to immediately go see him, but how can she do anything else? She can't imagine how it must have been for him this last week and now that she's alert and feeling well she doesn't want much more than she wants to show him exactly that.
So she knocks on his door, stands up straighter, and has a smile for him when he opens up.
He's freshly showered, and even though he isn't rested up at all that makes him feel a little more human. He rakes a hand through his hair to get it out of his eyes before he opens his eyes--
And she's there, smiling, and his heart fills up with the kind of relief he remembers from the war: seeing a man he'd thought was lost in a trench somewhere, or in an infirmary. She's alive, and she's smiling, and he immediately steps forward and wraps her up in the tightest hug.
And she's there, smiling, and his heart fills up with the kind of relief he remembers from the war: seeing a man he'd thought was lost in a trench somewhere, or in an infirmary. She's alive, and she's smiling, and he immediately steps forward and wraps her up in the tightest hug.
[It comes in late at night, that first night, and what she has to say gets straight to the point.]
The Admiral changed your room, you can use it now.
The Admiral changed your room, you can use it now.
The first time Rey stumbles across the pool it's in clothes she doesn't really want to get wet, so she spends her time there inspecting the area, the little chairs, magazines and books left behind, feeling the water temperature with her fingertips and dipping her toes in, but eventually she does have to move on.
Later, though, after she finds a few scraps of cloth that match the outfits she saw in the magazines labeled swimwear, she makes a second go of it. There had been no one there on her first visit so she expects no one to be there now, so she arrives again already dressed to get straight into the water.
There's some strange draw there, something that has her putting caution to the wind, but this time when she comes in she very nearly runs squarely into a man she knows she doesn't know.
"Oh-" she exclaims it softly, eyes wide in surprise. "There was no one here before."
Later, though, after she finds a few scraps of cloth that match the outfits she saw in the magazines labeled swimwear, she makes a second go of it. There had been no one there on her first visit so she expects no one to be there now, so she arrives again already dressed to get straight into the water.
There's some strange draw there, something that has her putting caution to the wind, but this time when she comes in she very nearly runs squarely into a man she knows she doesn't know.
"Oh-" she exclaims it softly, eyes wide in surprise. "There was no one here before."
Tommy isn't sure that he has anything he can swim in, but he's already enjoying rolling up his trousers to his knees, taking off his shirt and sitting there with his feet in the water. It's alright that he knows he can swim but has no memory of learning; he'll sit here contemplating that.
When Rey walks into him he's just gotten up, and he smiles and steadies her with his hands on her arms. "Well, it's a big boat, love. Sorry for scaring you."
When Rey walks into him he's just gotten up, and he smiles and steadies her with his hands on her arms. "Well, it's a big boat, love. Sorry for scaring you."
[He looks a little better by now, though he's still very much annoyed, and is still very much the kind of man that he is. But it's better than before.
He doesn't like that he's paired up again, but at least this time it's an actual adult, and if he were honest he doesn't mind that it's a man. If it has to happen, that's going to be easier to relate to.]
Right. Pinkman.
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