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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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From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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."

From:

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.

From:

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."

From:

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."

From:

e_delmar

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

"Guess not."

From:

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?"

From:

mistressmaryquitecontrary

Mary has never been one to beat about the bush.

"Why not?" she demands.

From:

e_delmar

He nods again, gestures towards the staff hall with his head, and could be she can get a look of him when he does.

"Pickin' up a few things."

From:

gonna_live

...so he's not doing all that great.

Quiet: "Oh."

"You -- got time for a cup of coffee? Or somethin' else?" Purposefully structured so he can have an easy out, if he wants it.

From:

e_delmar

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

From:

e_delmar

Voice in his head's saying no, but all he's got in front of him's the (empty) room so he takes a deep breath and looks up at her and nods.

From:

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.

From:

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."

From:

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.

From:

e_delmar

"Ain't sick."

It's the one thing he knows he isn't, at least.

From:

gonna_live

Back to warmth.

With a side order of relief.

"Okay. Just coffee? Or do you want somethin' else."

From:

e_delmar

"Coffee."

The word comes out like gravel and he clears his throat again and brings his non-shaking hand up to light a cigarette as he looks for and finds a chair to sit in.

From:

mistressmaryquitecontrary

Mary does not look convinced.

"You look sick," she says, stubbornly.

"There are good doctors here - I mean there are not everywhere, but there are here."

From:

e_delmar

When he opens his mouth again, his words a more harsh than he means for them to be.

"I said I ain't sick."

From:

gonna_live

A minute later and she's got a mug in front of him, and pulls out the nearest chair for herself. " -- you take it black? Or did you want somethin' to go in it?"

From:

e_delmar

He shakes his head no and almost chuckles at the idea of tryin' to get anything in your coffee up in the mountains; hell, most times you were lucky if it was recognizable as coffee. Ain't nobody could ruin a decent pot of coffee like J-

"Black," he finally says, and stirs the spoon in the cup over and over and over again.