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[shipmaster]

Threads, continuations and TDM INSIDE

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[dendarii]

[ Miles shakes his head a bit, but he's grinning despite himself. ]

Clever. I should be mad, I guess, but either we're not going to remember this or we will. And in either case it won't matter if you know.

[shipmaster]

Hm. I like to think the answer is we will.

... I wonder where we'll be in this timeline. [ A smile, as rueful as it is fond. ]

Also I wonder how insufferable you'll be knowing everything long before I do.

[dendarii]

[ Miles just grins harder at that. ]

It's even worse than you think. When I first arrived here, I was twenty.

[ You have eight years of Miles being impossibly insufferable to look forward to. ]

[shipmaster]

[ They start to grin back. Then frown. It deepens into offence. ]

... You're even going to give me hints, aren't you? Knowing that I will abjectly rule out the impossibility that is the actual truth. [U little shit]

[dendarii]

The most maddening ones I can think of. Just to see if you'll break down and confront me.

You'd do the same, of course.

[shipmaster]

Of course I would. But that's irrelevant when I'm the injured party here.

[dendarii]

[ He leans across the table, reaching for Bel's hand. ]

Then I'll make it up to you in advance.

1/2

[shipmaster]

[ A smile breaks over their face - a rare, sincere one. ]

I keep forgetting, or perhaps, disbelieving.

[shipmaster]

[ And in a flash, back to normal. ]

Or I could merely take it out on you. Both make for a good night...

[dendarii]

[ That smile goes right to the core of him. He can't help but warm instantly in response. ]

A little of both? Something romantic, something dangerous?

[shipmaster]

[ Their hand wraps over Miles' long fingers near engulfing the smaller hand. ]

I think that could work quite well.

[dendarii]

[ A bit of that nervousness again. Not as much as before, but his smile goes a bit shy. ]

Good. That's more or less what I was planning. After dinner, anyway. Might as well fit in all we can into one night, right?

[shipmaster]

Oh yes. I intend to. [ Half of time quite childishly insisting that the dinner was wasting time, the more hedonistic, reasonable self insisted this was more than enjoyable as it was. ]


It really is a shame you didn't meet that Jim fellow at twenty in our world.

[dendarii]

[ The entree is out next at least, paired with the vegetarian proscuitto Miles had requested. ]

Would it be as fun now if I hadn't said no all those years?

[shipmaster]

Good Lord, after all this time, do you still imagine it a passing fancy?

Yes, certainly.

[dendarii]

[ He flushes rather abruptly at that. ]

Well - well, there has to be some fun in the longing. In the chase.

[ He's still expecting all of Bel's interest to evaporate the moment they have Miles, even for just one date. Not as a slight against Bel, but rather against himself. ]

[shipmaster]

Well, your expressions have been amazing. I've kept sort of a mental diary of the most offended of them.

[ They take a moment to savour the proscuitto, eyes closing a moment to take in the delicately arranged flavors and colors, and how they blend. ]

But surely you've noticed of me that what I collect is sparing and none of it neglected.

[dendarii]

[ Miles, meanwhile, attends to his main course. Still watching Bel closely. ]

That's ... true. I don't doubt that your feelings are genuine. I'm just not certain I can live up to them.

[shipmaster]

[ That causes a certain open play of emotions across Bel's face. The herm has never been short of expressions, but this one rather outdoes themselves. In short order, the whim to deny - scientifically and at length - the claim, some confusion that it was even there, and settles, simply on some wry, quiet thought that was not so easy to put name to. ]

Does it matter so much? In hours this wont be more than a fond remembrance in that whirlwind of your affairs, Miles.

[dendarii]

[ That's the entire premise of this, isn't it? That Bel and Miles will have this date, and then they will go back to normal. He hasn't discussed anything else with Kitty. He ... doesn't want to, does he?

Miles swallows after a moment, still uncertain about what to say. ]

More important than that. Temporary, but not just - another point on the map, Bel.

[shipmaster]

[ They laugh at it, though there's an unmistakable spark of pleasure in their eyes at that claim from Miles, even as they deny it. ]

Don't deny it, you cure your losses by overfilling your cup and wonder why you're soaked. You'll throw yourself into something til you nearly drown of it.

[ Their hand hasn't left Miles' despite the criticism, and runs a finger over his knuckles fondly. ]

It's amazing you haven't grown gills yet.

[dendarii]

[ Ow. Despite the warmth, that does sting a bit. Miles looks a bit sheepish. ]

I can still do that for something temporary, right? It's all temporary in the end, anyway.

[ Gregor is still here in his head, a quiet influence. ]

[shipmaster]

[ What a question... Bel wasn't a good enough person to say no, really. It wasn't honestly fair to ask. ]

Yes. .. Or with, for a little while. ... It's not easy to see you aggrieved, you know.

[dendarii]

[ He ducks his head again. Dessert arrives: small, delicate bowls of crème brûlée topped with raspberries. ]

I know. And I'm sorry for that. Grateful for all you've done. Even stunning me.

[shipmaster]

And the fact your face wasn't drawn on, despite several excellent ideas. I might add.