Video

[trenchknives]

So it comes down to this, huh? A bunch of people wantin' to go home, but not wantin' to leave each other behind?

[He shakes his head, sighs, refuses to make eye contact with the camera. It's obvious that he's blinking back tears.]

I'm gonna miss every single one of you. Even the ones of you that I got into fights with, 'n believe me, I know that was more of you than it should've been. Thing is, I've been here for eighteen months now. I got a lot of memories. I don't wanna...

[This is ridiculous. He's not good at farewell speeches. He waves a hand.]

Anyway, forget about it. You wanna come say goodbye to me, or you wanna do it here, do it. This is fuckin' agonizin'.

Comments

[water_wine_wizard]

Can I stay the night?

[trenchknives]

No way in hell I'd say no to that. You can come on over right now, if you want.

[water_wine_wizard]

I will!

[And twenty minutes later she's there. With a box and beer.]

It's my birthday tomorrow. I brought cake.

[trenchknives]

Shit, your birthday 'n I've been worryin' about all this sad stuff? We gotta celebrate!

[water_wine_wizard]

I know! All this sad stuff has lousy timing! It couldn't have waited a month, couldn't it have? And it's a big birthday too!

[trenchknives]

Yeah? How old're you?

[water_wine_wizard]

Twenty five. A legal adult!

[trenchknives]

Back where I come from, you're a legal adult at eighteen.

But, y'know, you're older than me, now.

[A big grin.]

[water_wine_wizard]

My people mature slower than humans. It takes us about twice as long, but we live about twice as long.

[She handed him the beer and cake.]

Is that a bad thing? Sleeping with an older woman?

[trenchknives]

[He takes it, grinning and shaking his head.]

Nah. I'd say it's a damn good thing. I got the habit of doin' that, anyway.

[water_wine_wizard]

Like us mature?

[trenchknives]

Well, someone's gotta be the mature one, right?

Besides, ain't like you're that much older'n me. Less than a year.

[water_wine_wizard]

I don't want to be the mature one. You can be the mature one.

[And in an act of maturity she sticks her tongue out at him.]

[trenchknives]

I don't wanna be the mature one, either. How about we have some beer 'n cake 'n both be immature for awhile?

[water_wine_wizard]

That sounds perfect to me.

[She sits on the familiar couch and stretches out.]

I'm going to miss this.

[She wants to ask him where he's going. What's he going to do? Was he going to go home. Was he going to miss her? Would he want her to go with him? Hundreds of little awkward questions bubbling inside of her.]

[trenchknives]

I am, too. I keep thinkin' about ways you could come home with me, but...

[He shrugs, opens up a bottle, passes it to her.]

I don't think you'd like it, 'n y'know, you gotta be in your own world. It'd be selfish to suggest otherwise.

[water_wine_wizard]

[The beer is taken and she takes a gulp. And then she doesn't look at him, trying to hide a pleased smile and a sad sigh at the same time.]

I could talk to Alec. I bet he could make a doorway. It feels like cheating saying that, but I don't really care. I'd miss you too much to care.

You're one of the ... well... best ... I... don't know what.. but... I don't think I could deal with not seeing you again.

[Well... there she said something.]

[trenchknives]

You really think that'd work? 'n then we'd actually be able to see each other once in awhile?

[He knows he sounds overeager, but he's not even trying to hide it.]

I couldn't deal with it, either. It wouldn't feel right. I've gotten to be real fond of you, kid.

[water_wine_wizard]

I don't see why not. He was studying the doorway here the last time and I'm sure he could replicate it. It's just getting him to do it. There'd be rules... there's always rules in these things... like fairy stories... but yeah.

[That makes her feel a lot better with her idea. She was afraid he wouldn't go for it.]

I've gotten too fond of you. If that's a thing. Our Tuesday nights and just... all the random things...

[trenchknives]

Well, this whole thing kinda feels like a fairy story, so that makes a lotta sense, surprisingly.

[A slow nod, then a sip of his own beer.]

We probably couldn't see each other every Tuesday night anymore, I know, but we could do it sometimes. If the doorway worked. I'd like that.

[water_wine_wizard]

No. Not every Tuesday.

[She leans on him.]

Probably once every full moon that falls on Tuesday or something like that. Before we go through, we'll talk to him. He'll be there to make sure I actually go home.

[There's a soft laugh. Even though it wouldn't feel like home without Jimmy.]

[trenchknives]

Okay. I'd like that. I'd like that a lot.

[He wraps an arm around her, pulling her closer, as he's done so many times before. She's good for him, he thinks, but he won't say it out loud.]

video;

[othersdie]

It was strange meeting you.

[...]

Thank you for not killing me that one time.

Re: video;

[trenchknives]

[Okay, now he's laughing, because honestly...]

I think that's the best goddamn goodbye I've ever heard. 'Weird to meet you, 'n thanks for not murderin' me'? You got a real way with words.

Anyway, for what it's worth, I feel the same.

[water_wine_wizard]

[No. Of course not. They don't say those things out loud. That would be deeper emotional feelings. Like she's been happily content with Jimmy, more so than anyone back home. That maybe he could have been more than a friend if they'd had more time. If they'd been different kinds of people.]

I would hope so. Or I'd dump my beer on you. [That's what she can say out loud.]