(no subject)

[aimedforthemoon]

This is starting to be a habit. Not that Esfir minds - your homes are where you can relax, talk openly, not have to pretend.

Which is why when she leads Cal in and points to her bed (presently looking more like a sofa, with how she's arranged the pillows), she turns and locks the door.

Habit.

Comments

[isaysimplewords]

"Nothing special," Cal says. "And probably not too much of it." He knows already he won't be able to eat a full-sized portion.

[aimedforthemoon]

She grins at him, getting to her feet (and wincing briefly at the loss of blood circulation).

"I eat a lot nowdays. We'll manage. I'll be back."

[isaysimplewords]

Cal sort of returns her grin with a thin smile of his own.

"Okay."

[aimedforthemoon]

She shuts the door behind her, and it locks automatically.

[isaysimplewords]

Cal hears the lock click, but it doesn't really register. He tips himself over onto Esfir's side of the bed, head resting on the book.

Just until she gets back.

[aimedforthemoon]

And she does come back, balancing a tray. Simple things, bread and sliced cheese and butter and cutlery, and a small bowl of soup because she feels like it.

Also two glasses for water - the water itself will just have to be from the bathroom.

"Cal?"

[isaysimplewords]

Cal sits back up - a little too quickly, as it turns out, making himself dizzy. He rubs his forehead.

"Uh. You need help with that?"

[aimedforthemoon]

She eyes her bowl of soup sternly.





"Da."

[isaysimplewords]

As soon as his head clears enough for him to move, Cal gets up and takes the tray carefully. His larger hands stabilize it a little more, making the soup situation less precarious.

[aimedforthemoon]

"Just on the desk, I have other chair in bathroom. And bread and things for you, first."

[isaysimplewords]

"Okay." Cal puts the tray where he's told, and turns to see if Esfir needs help getting that chair.

[aimedforthemoon]

She can manage the chair just fine. She also gives him a stern look.

"You. Eat something."

[isaysimplewords]

"You sound like my mother," Cal mutters.

It's truer than Esfir would probably be pleased with. On the other hand, the food is also a better idea than the whiskey was.

Also, Cal is already assembling a sandwich. He responds to that particular tone very quickly.

[aimedforthemoon]

"Your mother."

[isaysimplewords]

Cal glances up.

". . . Except nicer," he offers.

[aimedforthemoon]

"I am not nice. Except to friends. And family. Then I am nice."

[isaysimplewords]

Cal turns his focus back to his sandwich.

"Mother isn't nice to anyone. So you win."

His voice lacks the spark that would make the comment a real swipe at his mother.

[aimedforthemoon]

"It'd be too lonely."

Ah, Bar's soup. Not as good as Aunt Katya's, but close.

[isaysimplewords]

Cal pauses.

That selfish bastard, Mother had said of Grahame's - of Grahame.

Was that what she meant?

No. Couldn't have been. They didn't even like each other, even if they did have to spend a lot of time together.

"She wouldn't have noticed," he says aloud, looking at his now-completed sandwich. There is, possibly, the slightest hint of doubt in his voice.

[aimedforthemoon]

Diplomatic for once, Esfir eats her soup. And occasionally soaks some bread in it.

[isaysimplewords]

Cal falls into silence as well, eating his sandwich. It reminds him of before, having no appetite and eating mostly because others - including the Bar - insisted; he can barely taste it, and it's not long before it becomes a struggle to get each bite down. He hopes this is just temporary.

It's been a hell of a day, after all.

[aimedforthemoon]

"Run tomorrow?"

[isaysimplewords]

Cal nods.

"I do every morning." He almost sounds happy as he continues, "I can go a lot farther than I could before. Been kinda boring by myself, though, be nice to have you there."

[aimedforthemoon]

This is a look of wickedness. Yes, right here.

Wicked glee.

[isaysimplewords]

It might just be a little contagious. A little bit.

"Half my problem before was the all the damage I'd done to myself," he tells her. "The nanogenes cleared that right up." Pause. "I bet I could keep up with you."