(no subject)

[not_his_pa]

William's over by the fire with a worn dime novel in his hands that he's not really reading. Knowing what's wrong with Mark is good and there's medicine for it, so that's a start.

He knows he worries more than he should but that's what his father did, he has to take care of everyone.

His coffee's going cold and he's close to falling asleep in his chair with his hat pulled down but his thoughts keep going around and around.

Comments

[3nanashi]

Trowa, now changed back into jeans and turtleneck, stops by the bar for water.

And to ask if she wants the workout clothes he borrowed back now, or if he should launder them first. Apparently, the latter.

Fair enough.

So when he settles onto one of the couches near the fire -- not far from William, although with plenty of distance for politely ignoring each other's existence, because that's how Trowa rolls -- it's with a small bundle of slightly sweaty fabric, which he sets down on the floor.

And the water, which he doesn't.

[not_his_pa]

He looks up when Trowa sits down and nods at Trowa and tries to figure out without moving too much if there's something in the bundle of cloth.

[3nanashi]

Something pretty small, if so. The bundle's made up of a t-shirt and loose knit pants, and no bigger than you'd expect such a thing to be. And Trowa wasn't making any effort to be careful with it.

(There's nothing in there.)

Trowa nods back, slightly. Because he's capable of manners, once in a while.

[not_his_pa]

Once he realizes that it kind of looks like laundry, William leans back and tries to get back into his book. The cover has two boys running through a city scene and its printed on cheap paper.

[3nanashi]

Interesting.

Trowa notes it; he's too far away for a good look at the text, though, other than the cover.

So he has some water instead of trying.

[not_his_pa]

On the cover two words aren't too hard to make out, beadle and boys but the rest of its covered by his hand.

[3nanashi]

If Trowa knew more of the history of the 1800s in the Western hemisphere, he might have more context for dime novels.

As it is, he can get the gist -- a cheap action-packed story for mass markets, probably aimed at the young, probably meant as civilian escapism -- but not the specific details.

Ah well.

[not_his_pa]

Currently he's reading one about some boys dealing with opium dens in London and they're rushing to the wharves so he's reading it with a lot of concentration.

[3nanashi]

Okay.

Trowa has water. And a room full of people to take notes on.

I mean, to watch idly.