(no subject)

[e_delmar]

It's nice on Shadow, quiet. Work's good, even if he ain't sleeping much.

But not sleeping's better'n what happens when he sleeps.



He don't need anything more'n what he's got there, but sometimes when he stares at the ceiling - or the night sky - he can't help but think about a thing or two left behind that maybe he don't want got rid of.


So it could be that it's late one night (on Shadow, anyway, who ever knows how times match up) Ennis sneaks into the bar, headed back towards his (their) room.

He's quick, and he's quiet, but could be you could catch him.

Comments

[gonna_live]

Pretty late if you're Kaylee, too.

She's sitting in a chair, eyes at least theoretically on the fireplace and not really anywhere -- until she spies him.

"Ennis -- Mr. Del Mar -- " Sitting up, hands on the armrests, ready to push herself out.

[e_delmar]

His head turns, though he don't quite lift his eyes yet. They're lined and baggy, and his left hand seems to have taken on an involuntary twitch that he hides by shoving his hand in his pocket but hard. He grunts a greeting and lowers his hat towards her and doesn't move to keep walking.

[gonna_live]

Means she can't see his face. Which...that's a little troublesome.

She's out of the chair, now, walking over. "Captain told me you was stayin' out with his ma, out on Shadow."

[e_delmar]

He nods, his head still tilted a bit to the side, and clears this throat before speaking. And if he has to clear it a few extra times, well, that ain't nothing too out of the ordinary.

"Been doing some work for her up there."

[gonna_live]

"We was there, about six months back." Her smile is easy, even if it's small. "I know she's glad of the help." Beat. "You just...checkin' back in and whatnot?"

[river_meimei]

Someone's in an armchair by the fire, curled up and staring at the flames. She often is. She should be back on the ship by now, and maybe she'll go soon or maybe Simon will come looking -- it's late, and even at Milliways the crowds have died down for a brief while -- but she hasn't gone yet.

The moment before the door opens, her eyes cut to it. She watches in silence, utterly still, as Ennis slips across the room towards the hallway.

And then she rises, silent on bare feet, and follows.

[e_delmar]

He hears her, or maybe he don't, he's awful distracted. But the door opens with a quiet snick, and he stops somewhere just inside the door, stopping to look around and standing frozen.

[river_meimei]

River halts, in the hallway. Silent, and sober, and watching.

She's close enough to see, and any other time he'd have nodded to her a while ago, but maybe not so close that he'll notice her right now. Maybe.

[e_delmar]

He doesn't notice her. He notices the blanket, draped over the chair in the corner. He notices the shirt, left haphazardly on the floor. A sock here, the wrinkled bedding, and a glimmer of metal from near the nightstand.

[river_meimei]

River's never been back to Osiris. Not in five years; not since she bounced down the front walk, fourteen years old and all aflutter with nervous excitement, leaving home for the Academy and its groundbreaking experimental educational program for the best and the brightest.

Maybe it's better that way. Maybe it's not.

One hand toys with a dangling lock of hair, strands sliding between her fingertips. Close to the wall, wrapped in her dead teacher's hand-me-down coat, she watches.

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

Mary watches him come in from her seat at a table, with her usual solemn attention.

She waits until he's almost right in front of her on his path across the room before she remarks, with a small scowl, "You do not look well."

[e_delmar]

And damn if he don't know what to say to that, when it's a little girl sayin' it.

"Guess not."

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

Mary has never been one to beat about the bush.

"Why not?" she demands.

[e_delmar]

Ain't much easier to answer, that. So he shrugs.

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

"Are you ill?" Mary asks, a little suspiciously.

She tilts her head, the better to inspect him.

"Wellard was ill but he would not admit it. It is better to say if you are."

[bev-marsh.livejournal.com]

Beverly hasn't seen Ennis since he left the bar to go home--a few weeks ago for her, years ago for him.

So when she catches sight of him, she starts, staring, and then speaks hesitantly.

"...Mr. Del Mar?"

[e_delmar]

He turns his head, not quickly, but quick enough, and looks at her from under the brim of his hat.

[bev-marsh.livejournal.com]

"You're, um."

You're older is probably not the best way to begin a conversation, is it?

"...Are you alright?"

[e_delmar]

Not so much, but it ain't like he don't know it.

In his strongest (at the moment) voice -- which ain't all that strong at all:

"Sure."

[bev-marsh.livejournal.com]

Bev looks at him like she doesn't entirely believe that for a moment, but doesn't press.

Well, then. Fact: She hasn't seen him around lately. Fact: he's older. Fact: Time can pass differently inside the bar than out of it.

"Were you--did you go back hom or something?"

[kitchen_maid]

It's entirely possible that he'll barely recognize the young woman who speaks to him. She wasn't nearly so regally dressed the last time she was in.

But then, she barely recognizes him, too. Months and years will do that.

"Mr. Ennis?"

[e_delmar]

He hardly does recognize her, that's for sure. He turns his head at the voice, and nods his head lightly, and it's a good minute before that glimmer of recognition fills his eyes.

"Amy."

[kitchen_maid]

"Is . . . is everything all right?"

Well, it sounds slightly better, in her head, than jumping straight to "what's wrong?"

[e_delmar]

He looks at her, confused, and blinks a few times.

He clears his throat and lowers his head.

"You been away, too."

It's not quite a question.

[kitchen_maid]

"Not quite three months, at home. I don't know how long it's been here. Not that long, I don't think.

"It's been more that three months for you."

It's not even remotely a question.