milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Jim has been rather enjoying spending weeks being moody and depressed in his suite, mainly because Sherlock's up there to make sure he's not actually all that moody and depressed. Bloody boyfriends, and their way of making life better. Jim would grump about that if he weren't pleased by it.

He's only in the bar now because his favourite distraction is asleep and anyway, they need food. Jim puts in a large order and, on a whim, asks for a current newspaper from their world. Bar provides an iPad with various headlines, and he scrolls through until he hits upon the news that NASA has discovered a solar system where life might have evolved.

He forgets about the food, and pretty much everything else for a while. Eventually he wanders over to the Window, still reading, and then just sits looking out at the explosions.

(The ice cream he bought will be melting all over the Bar at some point, so if anyone wants free food he's probably not going to object, or even notice.)

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"This is exactly what I was trying to avoid. I hate to break it to you, but you don't always know what I'm thinking."

The fact that he thinks this has anything to do with Sherlock is proof of that.

'Well, there's no avoiding it now.'

He stretches his neck to the side, awkwardly given the way he's sitting.

'If I'm wrong, prove it. Your constant attitude is irritating - but it's never present with the boy. If this is about you thinking I've lost my edge again, I refer you to my previous comments.'

She crosses her arms, refusing to rise to the bait.

Mostly.

"What I'd like is to not have to walk on egg shells during every conversation, or if I make one snippy comment it isn't because 'Sherlock bad'. My own life can make me irritable, you know."

'If you want that, you should never have developed such a stupid attitude towards him.'

He still doesn't get it.

'And for God's sake Tess, you're not walking on eggshells because of him, or because of whatever your problem is.'

Even without any of that...this is what talking to Jim is like. Even he doesn't know what'll set him off half the time, not now he's refusing to wear a persona that makes him appear normal.

He opens his eyes now, and regards her.

'If you want to make nice small talk with safe people, go and do that, darling. If you want something more interesting, then stop hedging and talk like you want to, not how you think you should.'

She's going to let that one go, because really. But she didn't feel as uneasy as she does now around him and it's different and uncomfortable because it's new. And she doesn't like it, mostly as she can't pinpoint why or what to do about it.

"You know I haven't had a proper drink in days?"

This may also be why she's cranky.

'I did offer. But you have your nice sensible dinner with your nice sensible man to get to.'

Come on, Tess. Be better. Jim has had a very odd month, and has got an even odder one coming up, and he is so ready to burn the world down. If he weren't committed, he'd suggest they just fuck the mood out of each other. But he doesn't want that now, even if it would work and set them right again.

He rolls in his seat and sprawls on his back, legs hanging over the arm and head rolled towards her.

'You could find me something to break on your world. You could come and break it with me.'

"I'll be drinking at that."

Wine, but it counts.

"That sounds tempting, though I'd prefer to keep my world intact. Care to spill the details on your project?"

'Which one?'

He smirks, and looks up at the ceiling. His legs bounce a little against the arm, restless.

'And I wasn't threatening the whole of your world, just part of it. You must have some problem you want taken care of somewhere.'

"The one about breaking another world."

She thinks for a moment.

"Nothing immediately comes to mind."

Which is why life is so boring lately.

'Oh, that.'

He smirks.

'I could tell you, but I don't trust you wouldn't run off and tell the person who's world it is.'

That would never do.

Hardly likely.

"Maybe I'd want to help."

'That would depend on me letting you, wouldn't it? Though either way, there's no reason you couldn't come and visit.'

Bit awkward when pretending to still be dead, perhaps. But not insurmountable. Perhaps even useful.

'It's Wilford's place. I've set up some false IDs already, I just need to go back out and pick up the paperwork, buy a house, that sort of thing.'

"You think I'd go tell Wilford?"

Really, Jim?

"Sounds ambitious. Setting up shop there?"

'I think you'd tell anyone if it suited your ends.'

One of the reasons he likes you, Tess.

'And yes - and no. I won't run a full operation when I can only stay there three days at a time, and this place might choose to lock me in any time. Too unreliable. But it'll be there to stretch my legs on when I need a change in scenery.'

"There is that."

She raises an eyebrow.

"You're just going to hang out, or is there more to it?"

Jim rolls his head to fix his eyes on her.

C'mon, Tess. Just hang out? As if.

That's what she thought.

"I might stop by after all."

She tilts her head at him.

"You know, if you ever do just need a change of scenery I have plenty of properties you can borrow."

He blinks slowly.

'I thought I wasn't allowed out of your special base.'

She was very clear on that last time.

'And can Sherlock come?'

"I may have overreacted."

Just perhaps.

"Yes, he can come with you."

'Awww, does that mean you trust me now?'

Foolish. Very foolish. He nods though.

'Thanks. I'll keep it in mind. I always want new scenery - and Sherlock's never been to New York, you know. I have to fix that.'

Superman's Earth has New York, right? He forgets. Gotham is Chicago, as far as he recalls.

"No. But I have a feeling we'll both be careful should you visit."

Of course they have New York. What do you think this is, pretend world?

"I can get you to Kansas. The rest is up to you."

Jim won't be careful. If it's not his world, he's on holiday. Which means he gets to do what he likes.

'I expect I can manage. If I try really hard.'

Tess will be keeping an eye on him, so she's not as worried as she was before. This doesn't mean she isn't worried at all.

"I'm sure you can."

She has faith in you!

'All right, well, I'll let you know.'

A thought occurs.

'Are you coming out to New Orleans for Mardi Gras? Yrael's opening his door for the duration.'

She closes her eyes briefly, pressing a hand to her forehead.

"I hadn't planned on it."