(no subject)

[aimedforthemoon]

from here:

Esfir's room looks more like a home, now. The bookcases have been stacked and arranged against a wall, and while they aren't yet full, there are more than enough books to indicate how much she loves them. Her pin-up board of photographs is still up on the wall, and there are still models on the table (new ones - the orignals got blow up alongside the Liberty), and it is still neat, but...

There is more of a sense of someone living here now, instead of just staying for a while.

Of course, the first indication of this is her, "Boots off," once they walk through the doorway. Her own shoes are slipped off and put neatly by the doorway.

Comments

[aimedforthemoon]

She smiles at that, a little crookedly.

"I finally felt like I needed a home."

[almosthonorable]

One corner of his mouth lifts.

"Worse places than this 'un, I reckon."

He places his hat on the table, careful not to disturb any of her models.

"You feel at home here?"

[aimedforthemoon]

"Um," she says, taking off her jumper. She keeps her room warm, quite warm, and in anycase underneath the jumper is a long-sleeved shirt.

"More than anywhere else."

That isn't - not exactly - a yes.

[almosthonorable]

He shrugs off his coat.

"That's close to a yes, but it ain't one."

His fingers work down the buttons on his vest.

"Stayin' here feel better than sleepin' on your side of the door?"

(He's getting better at remembering it's not just Solo's world, now. It's Esfir's, too.)

[aimedforthemoon]

"I don't have to lie so much, and less chance of the ship exploding around me, so...yes."

Then she shrugs.

"It's not so bad, really. But, yes. Here does feel a bit safer."

[almosthonorable]

"Well."

He peels off his vest.

"I'd really appreciate you stayin' in one piece, too."

[aimedforthemoon]

"I'd come back."

[almosthonorable]

"I surely hope so."

A beat, and his somber expression turns the slightest bit teasing.

"Think I might miss seein' you here."

[aimedforthemoon]

She really, really can't help that smile.

"So, it's good thing I'm not going anywhere."

[almosthonorable]

He untucks his shirt and nods.

"Real good thing, in my book."

A beat.

"You ever wanna be somewhere that ain't your ship or the bar, though, you can come ridin' with me sometime."

[aimedforthemoon]

"I'd like that-"

Then she stops, thinking.

"Ben, where are you? In your America?"

[almosthonorable]

"Arizona Territory -- southwest part of the country."

He's unbuttoning his shirt as he speaks.

"Right now, my door opens up to Tombstone."

[aimedforthemoon]

Esfir nods, slowly, and then moves over to her bookcase. Running her fingers over the books, whispering the titles as she does so, she finally pulls out a heavy one. Flicking back into the index, she finds the reference and then hunts for the page.

"So, would...you be anywhere near Canyon Diablo?" She asks once she's found the right page.

(for the record, the book she is holding is an encylopedia on space)

[almosthonorable]

"It's to the north."

He does some quick math, his shirt joining his vest and jacket, and tugs at the hem of his undershirt.

"'Bout a five-day ride or so. Maybe four, dependin' on how hard you push your horse."

[aimedforthemoon]

Finally, she looks up.

"There's something I want to see, about twelve miles southeast of the town. A crator."

[almosthonorable]

He's yanking his henley over his head; it's halfway off when he pauses, his voice muffled by the material.

"You talkin' 'bout Diablo?"

[aimedforthemoon]

"Um?"

Esfir makes a face at him.

"Twelve miles south east of Canyon Diablo is a crator - that is just the closest town."

[almosthonorable]

The shirt gets tugged the rest of the way off and he catches the face she's pulling.

His lips twitch.

"That's the one I'm talkin' 'bout."

A beat.

"Just a big ol' hole in the ground, Lieutenant."

[aimedforthemoon]

"Caused 50, 000 years ago by an object about fifty meters across, that made a hole 1,200 meters in diameter and 170 meters in depth."

[almosthonorable]

"That from the book, or you pull that right off the top of your pretty head?"

[aimedforthemoon]

"I knew the 50, 000 years."

[almosthonorable]

A beat.

"You really wanna see this hole in the desert, don'tcha."

(It's not a question.)

[aimedforthemoon]

She answers anyway,

"Yes. I do."

[almosthonorable]

He smirks.

Disappearing into the bathroom, he washes his face -- the cool water feels incredible on his sandpapered eyes -- and rinses his mouth.

Stepping back out, "Reckon we'll just have to ride out there, then."

[aimedforthemoon]

She is in the middle of hanging her skirt up in her closet when he comes back out. Still dressed in her underwear, she turns and beams at him.

"I'd enjoy that."

[almosthonorable]

"Think I just might, too."

A wink, and he shucks his pants and gets in bed.

"And I think I'd like you over here instead of over there."

[aimedforthemoon]

Not looking away, she twists her hands behind her back to undo the clasp on her bra. Letting it fall to her feet, she raises her eyebrows slightly at him.

"I thought you wanted me to read."

[almosthonorable]

He's not staring.

Except that he is.

"Never said what I'd be doin'."

[aimedforthemoon]

Her knickers join her bra and she rolls her eyes before crouching to pick them up. Neatly, they are put on her chair.

"I'm not reading quantum physics during sex."

[almosthonorable]

"Lieutenant, I didn't breathe a word 'bout sex -- how do you know I wasn't gonna read to you?"

Because quantum physics would be Esfir's favorite bedtime story.

[aimedforthemoon]

"Read to me?" She walks over to her bed and puts her hand against his chest to push him back before moving to stradle him.

"I don't think that was quite-" A slight adjustment and she smiles down at him "-what you have in mind, Ben Wade."

[almosthonorable]

"Ah -- "

His breath hitches and he smirks, hands settling on her hips.

"We can save the bedtime story for later."

(Much later.)