e_delmar | (no subject)

(no subject)

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.

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

"You're, um."

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

"...Are you alright?"

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 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?"

"Ten years."

Even his voice is different, more worn, more gravelly.

"Ten years?"

Beverly's eyes widen, and her eyebrows go up.

"Jeez."

That gets a chuckle- half of one anyway, and he nods.

"Been a damn long time."

He doesn't even check himself for cursing.

"Yeah, really."

She glances to where the door still isn't, for her, then back at him.

"So...can you go back and forth, now? Or are you stuck here again?"

"Ain't tried."

He follows her glance to the door and gives her a sad smile.

"Been stayin' out with a lady called Mrs. Reynolds."

"Well, if you can at least go back and forth to her place, that's nice," Bev comments. Then, curiously, "Where's she from?"

"Place called Shadow, up in space."

Up in space is about as close as Ennis can get as to figurin' out where it is.

"...Space?"

Oh look, Bev's gobsmacked.

"Like, another planet?"

Ennis nods.

"Don't seem like it, though."

Headtilt. "It's a lot like Earth, then?"

This, like the lack of Martians on Mars, is a bit of a disappointment. What's the point of going to other planets if they're going to be just like Earth?

...Still, though, it's another planet.

There're Martians and ain't no way in hell Ennis' going to another planet.

"Mostly like home."

Home back there, not home here.

Ennis is no fun.

Just because Martian-human contact in fiction usually seems to end in death and destruction is no reason to be unadventurous.

"Like, ranches and horses and stuff? That's pretty cool."

Even if it's weird for there to be horses on other planets and not aliens.

It ain't the death and destruction he's got a problem with so much's the funny lookin' people.

. . . well, it's true.

"Been workin' with the horses, some, and doin' odd jobs 'n such."

Beverly draws one leg up, resting her chin on her knee and looking at him speculatively.

"I though--have you still got your job working with the horses here?"

"I- when I come back, I will."

Bev studies him, weighing curiosity--and a certain amount of concern--against Ennis's reticence and how much she's willing to question an adult.

Her tone is artificially light as she asks, "Any special reason you left, or did you just...want a break from this place?"

He seems to give this a lot of thought as he lights a cigarette, his foot tapping nervously.

"Sometimes, a thing happens, and people've gotta go away for a bit."

This...does not make Bev look any less concerned.

"What happened?" she asks without thinking. Then, a bit sheepishly, "I mean--if you want to talk about it."

"Friend left."

The world left almost falls out of his mout, disgustted.

"Oh."

Must've been a pretty good friend for you to take it this bad, she doesn't say, and thinks about Richie and Ben.

"I'm sorry."

"Thanks."

And then he shifts awkwardly from one foot to the other, eyes on the floor.