[IC] [Mask or Menace] Contact Post

[dendarii]

"This is Miles. Leave a message and I'll respond to you at my earliest convenience."

The line has gone silent; any messages sent to this name only return an error.

Comments

[overemotionally]

Not really.

[He shrugs.]

They're just not my thing. [Which is honestly the most piss poor excuse for glazing over it but he's giving Miles (and more importantly himself) a way out.]

[dendarii]

[ The first rule of dealing with Miles: he never takes the easy way out. ]

... But why? Surely you want something permanent. Someday. It must be terribly lonely otherwise.

[overemotionally]

[...Of course he wouldn't take the easy way out but he had to at least give himself the opportunity. You can't make this easy on him Miles, can you? This conversation was getting more difficult by the second. He really kind of wished he and Miles were making contact so Jim could make some sad attempt at conveying what he wanted to say, at the same time, glad Miles couldn't see the darkness curling around in the back of his mind.]

...If I'm going to be a starship captain, I won't drag anyone down by making them wait for me. I won't leave anyone behind holding their breaths hoping I make it home alive every time I go away. I won't take anyone with me and risk whatever's happening to me happening to them.

[He'd seen his mother growing up torn to shreds after what happened that day. He hated his own birthday because of it. He refused to inflict that kind of pain on someone.]

[dendarii]

[ Miles ... tilts his head a bit. Clearly there's history here. Something he isn't seeing, something Jim isn't saying ... It's too strong of a conviction just spring forth out of nothing. And yet, the first words out of his mouth is: ]

So why not engage with someone on your ship? A fellow officer, perhaps?

[overemotionally]

[He shook his head, then waves his hand as though to wave off his suggestion.]

I'm First Officer. There's all kinds of regs against that.

[Jim's exhaustion is starting to catch up with him. He's looking down at his hands.]

Bottom line of all this: You didn't do anything wrong except want something from me that I couldn't give. I should've said something earlier.

[dendarii]

[ Hmm. He hasn't given up yet, but he decides not to poke at the obvious wound right this second. Instead he just shakes his head quietly. ]

... Let me think about it, then.

[overemotionally]

[Well that went better than he hoped, honestly. Way better. He looks at Miles for a few more seconds before slowly getting up off the bed, grabbing his pants and putting them on.]

You do that.

[He looks around for his shirt and--ah there it is. On the floor on the other side of the bed. He picks that up and throws it on. He puts a hand on Miles' (clothed) shoulder.]

Whatever you decide, it'd be nice to still be friends.

[He lets go and heads towards the door.]

[dendarii]

I'm still friends with Tex. I think I can manage being friends with you.

[ He manages some real warmth there, at least. As awkward as it is to watch Jim walk out of his bedroom ... ]

[overemotionally]

[He lets out a light laugh. He turns and gives Miles a small smile.]

I'm going home to sleep for a couple of days. You know where to find me.

[Jim walks out of the room, shutting the door behind him.]

[keep_nothing]

[ And as Jim goes to leave the house, he'll have to pass by the living room. A certain redhead is sitting on the couch in there, just sipping some tea. She'll glance at Jim as he passes by, offering a small but subdued smile. ]

[overemotionally]

[That actually surprised him.]

Cordelia?

[keep_nothing]

Hello, Jim. Leaving already? [ She asks with the same expression; smiling, somber but polite. ]

[overemotionally]

How long have you been down here?

[Jim has a bad tendency of answering questions with other questions.

He thinks back over the last couple of hours and--

Oh.

They hadn't exactly been quiet.]

[keep_nothing]

[ She does smile a little wider at that, but continues to be vague. ] Not long, don't worry.

But I had thought you would be staying a little longer? [ A question, not an accusation, said over the rim of her mug as she takes another sip of tea. ]

[overemotionally]

[Shit. Yeah. She totally knows.]

Uh...no, wasn't really...planning on it.

[Which is 100% true, if Miles had brought up their relationship status or not.]

[keep_nothing]

[ She gives a slow, small nod, expression turning inward for a moment while he tries to subtly check on Miles without actually getting his attention. What she sees on the other side of their telepathic window is dark and stormy, a fire died out and ash blowing in the breeze. She doesn't frown in front of Jim, her face keeping that neutral calm as she focuses her attention back outward. ] That's your choice, of course.

[ She sips from her tea again, but her eyes don't leave his as she goes on to say, ] Have a good evening then. We'll see you later. [ A dismissal then, polite but neutral. ]

[overemotionally]

[...Well this was awkward. He nods.]

You too. See you around.

[And with that he exits to go sleep for a couple days.]

[keep_nothing]

[ After the front door closes, she waits long enough for the tea she's no longer drinking to turn cold in her mug, then waits a few long moments more before she actually stands from the couch. After yet another moment of hesitation, she heads to the kitchen for a glass and the bottle of the wine they keep stocked in the fridge. She opens the bottle in the kitchen first, being practical, then heads upstairs

She knocked gently on Miles door. ]

[dendarii]

[ Miles is still still and dark and stormy, but not as much so, perhaps; now he's mostly just tired. And starting to feel sorry for himself too. He cracks the door a bit when he hears his mother knock. ]

... Yes?

[keep_nothing]

[ She holds the bottle up to the crack in the door so he's less inclined to turn her away. ]

May I come in?

[dendarii]

[ His mom knows him too well. Reluctantly, he swings open the door to let her in. ]

Why not?

[keep_nothing]

[ She learned from Aral, too. She steps in, handing him a glass and keeping one for herself. She sits on the corner of the bed, making sure to not sit on the sheets that look more ... rumpled than the others.

She holds the bottle out to pour his glass first, then her own. She's quiet until he takes his first drink, her voice soft and low. ] How are you feeling, kiddo?

[dendarii]

[ He's cleaned up the worst of the mess already, at least, and he's back in clean clothes. With a soft sigh, he sinks back onto his bed. Takes a long sip before he says anything at all. ]

I didn't ask him to marry me, if that's what you're thinking.

[keep_nothing]

That's not what I asked.

[dendarii]

[ Another exasperated sigh, another long sip of wine. ]

Am I really that unlovable?