milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

Warren certainly isn't sneaking away from the little woman for an evening alone. He's been having evenings alone. He doesn't like them.

Even Warren knows he isn't very good company.

It's something which has been learned through experience, yet is still the lesser of two evils. But wife, Isabel, is home now. Yet Warren is in the bar.

Ah, yes. He's having thinking time. It may hurt. Just a little prick.

Thank you, I'll be here all night.

...

Not literally.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

*Meg glances up, as she sees Warren, and waves a little.

You know, someone uses you as a human shield, it creates a bond . . .*

It does. And when someone uses you as a human weapon you gain the ability to speak telepathically, so let's hold off on that. Warren makes his way over to her.

"Hey."

It's not just for horses anymore.

Salut, Warren.

*Meg cocks her head.* How's life out there in the world of the future?

Warren wiggles his fingers and half-heartedly says:

"Greetings: from the world of tomorrow."

He lets his hand drop back down to his sides.

"Isabel's home."

*Meg eyes him.*

How's she doing? I've not seen her since we came back - well, obviously -

"I don't know," Warren says. It's a knee jerk reaction, and he re-thinks it as soon as its out of his mouth.

"Not good, I think. And I don't think she really realizes. Like, she...was talking about it, saying she wasn't fine, but I don't think she realizes how not fine she is. Does that make sense?"

*Meg nods.*

- yeah, I think I do.

Like, saying it as a thing makes it easy to brush it off and not think about how serious the problem is. Like that?

"Not that I'm a psychologist, or care for that crap at all, but I think she's subconciously trying to push people away. Or me away, at least," Warren says.

"The first thing she said when she got home was that she didn't feel bad about killing...you know. And I don't think she should and I told her. And then she went on to tell me that she still loved...that guy that came before me. That she loved me, but she still loved him. It's like she wants a big fight, and I don't want to give it to her, you know? I can't do that anymore. But I'm afraid of what she'll do if I don't. Like, how far will she go? Maybe I'm just being paranoid..."

*Meg hesitates.*

I -

I don't think you're being paranoid, necessarily.

I think - I dunno, that she feels like she should be blamed or punished, or something. And so she's trying to get you to do that. Maybe.

Warren sighs.

"I'd do it if I could, I just really don't have that fight in me anymore. I used to. I dunno where it went."

Who stole it? Fess up. Jonathan? I'm looking at you.

- did you try telling her that? *Meg suggests, rather hesitantly.*

I mean. Don't get me wrong, I'm not so great at the relationship counselling, but you probably can't go wrong with the honesty tactic -

"No, I just...tried to be nonconfrontational," Warren admits.

"Just with the nodding and reassuring and stuff. I mean, what did she expect me to say to that? The 'I still love', especially. You don't say that. It's not something I needed to know."

She was trying to get a rise out of you, *Meg says, with a bit of a shrug.*

I mean - I'm very fond of her, but you know Isabel. Attention is something she feels like she needs. A lot.

"Well, I'll give it to her," Warren says. "She just has to come home and get it."

Come home? *Meg repeats, puzzled.* Didn't you say she was home already, now?

"She is, I'm just..."

Warren pinches the bridge of his nose.

"I meant she should have come home sooner. And that she shouldn't leave again. I'd do anything for her."

In that most frightening of all possible ways.

- I know you would, *Meg says, honestly.*

But people need space, too. I mean, you guys are just recently married, you're still figuring things out, learning to live with each other -

*Listen to Meg try and sound smart.*

"Right," Warren mutters.

"But I don't need space. I need...not space. I need the least amount of space possible.

...

I should probably get back home."

. . . which is why you come to a bar in space.

*Meg sighs.*

- well, tell Isabel I say hi, anyways.

"I'll do that," Warren promises.

He gathers himself, then starts for the door and home.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only