milliways_bar | (no subject)

She's soon joined by Joe. "Evenin', dear."

She smiles to him and steals a kiss. "Hello, love. It was good to have you 'home' most of the night, this time around."

He smiles back, almost a grin. "Was nice to be home. You got anything planned for this evening?"

She smiles and shakes her head. "I've been immersed in those books too long. I just want to relax. What about you?"

He shakes his briefly. "Me neither. Thought I'd take it easy." After a moment: "Those dreams have stopped."

She raises her eyebrows. "Stopped?"

He nods. "They went on happening for a while--" --more than a week, in reality-- "--but they kind of faded out. Last night they were gone altogether."

"Perhaps it's a sign you need more sleep at night than you've been allowing yourself." A small smile.

Joe nods. "Might be. But if I didn't cover things with Jake, Roland'd stop sleeping altogether to watch out for Walter." He sighs. "Maybe havin' his friend show up'll turn things for the better for him."

He shakes his head, trying to clear his head of other people's problems for now.

She grins, knowing a sure way to distract Joe from said problems. Young Cat on the shoulder.

Despite the weeks of living together, Mr. Q has never ceased his fascination with Joe's ears.

"Gack." It is fairly impossible to duck something that is on your own shoulder. Watch him try anyway.

Claws sink in to the poncho as the shoulder ducks.

Mina smirks. At least Joe's not worrying about others at the moment. She knew that look.

Yes, this is much better. Joe takes off his hat and tries to shift the cat into it, and away from his ears.

Cat in the Hat!

He attacks the fingers holding the hat (no claws).

He supports the hat from underneath and plays with Mr Q with the others.

In a dignified, macho way. What? It's possible. Go watch the canon.

After a few moments of overstimulation, he jumps out of the hat and dashes up the stairs, where it's safe and dark.

Mina laughs gently, putting her arm around Joe.

He smiles and puts an arm around her waist. "How are your friends?"

"They seem to be doing well, for the most part. Except for Meg." She sighs.

Joe nods. "She told me she got someone to relieve her on guarding Anthy, so she's getting more rest too. And she practices all the time."

She sighs and nods. "I could almost wish Anthy had never come here. Or that I'd never met her."

"Almost?"

"I got Mr. Q from her. I'd miss him."

Joe snorts at that. "An' I'd miss Jack, that's true. For all that he's the laziest damn cat in the world."

She smiles. "No, he merely knows one thing that us other, busier people should learn: A life without fuss is a content life."

"I had a life without fuss, back when I didn't have friends," he says dryly.

She gives him a look. "Would you turn me out of it?"

She gives him a smirk.

He pulls her closer. "You know the answer."

She smiles and runs her hand over his semi-bearded jaw. "Yes, I do. Forgive my teasing, please . . ."

"Well, since you ask so nicely..."

"I've got Valentine working on finding someone to marry us. Have you decided on the venue for your bachelor party yet?"

He shouldn't have it here. Too much chance she'd . . . accidentally . . . walk in on them.

"Bachelor party?"

"I believe it's tradition for the groom to have one last wild party before being chained to his betrothed." She gives him a smile. "And there is also one for the bride-to-be, as well."

"I can't see Arithon involved in a wild party. Nor Roland, really." Well, he can. As long as he was crashing it. "Mebbe Spike and Shipwreck'll want to do something."

She smiles. "I believe it's the duty of the Best Man to arrange it. Has he mentioned it?"

She shakes her head at herself. "Nevermind. We're still months away . . ."

"I haven't seen Spike in some time." He smiles. "A few. Not too long, now."

She melts with a grin to him. "Far too long, to me . . ."

Her hand slips into his.

He squeezes her hand. "Well, there's no law here but the barman anyway, so the ceremony's the thing. An' that takes time. Otherwise I'd say we could just elope."

She grins. "We could . . . go out into Africa, or Kansas or wherever. Never come back."

Joe grins back, for a wonder, and for a moment, he thinks of doing just that.

Then he shakes his head. "An' where else could you go an' feel comfortable as who you are? I want you to have the wedding you want, with all your friends there."

Again, she runs her hand over Joe's chin and jaw. "Anywhere, love. So long as you are by my side."

He takes her hand and kisses it. "I don't plan to go anywhere without you."

"Then I will be comfortable anywhere. . ."

He doesn't say anything at all, just squeezes her hand, his face glad and at peace.