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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'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."

'What's wrong?'

That's a weird reaction to being invited to a party.

"Mardi Gras. It's loud and annoying."

Even in the bayou.

"I'll see. Maybe I can use it as a dry run for setting foot back in Louisiana."

'Of course it is. That's the point of it.'

He grins, sharp and sudden.

'The key is to either be louder and more annoying than everyone else, or just disappear into the shadows where the real fun is.'

Beat.

'And it's not your world, so it's not like truly going back.'

"The shadows is where I tend to be during a party."

Not the most social woman, she.

"Tell that to my brain."

'It's not up to me to tell your brain anything.'

He curls up sideways again, half watching her, and half looking like he might doze off.

'You should try the dance floor sometimes. It's fun.'

"I'll be dancing tonight."

Probably not the kind he means.

Yeah, no.

'Have you got his pants off yet?'

Another one of those smiles.

"Valentine's. As expected, he was kind and gentle but I sense much potential."

'Kind and gentle.'

Jim makes no effort to keep the derision out of his voice. If this were his younger self, he might well pretend to stick two fingers down his throat. Luckily, it's not.

'Well, that'll keep you interested I'm sure.'