bakerstreet | the i n s o m n i a meme

[ He has lots of nightmares, it's fine. Also: how do you turn off a brain that's always running. ]

[ Even swords can have nightmares... ]

she’d been to his house a ton of times before, had even spent entire afternoons here: studying, talking, and laughing… but, somehow, things were entirely different at night. there were way too many things her imagination could twist into monsters, and way too many times she tensed because his old house kept groaning.
it all kept bringing her thoughts back to mementos, to the times they’d been chased and attacked from the depths of that dark, creepy place.

“ hey, akira …? “ ann peeks out from the covers and around the room, waiting to see if he’d stir. he doesn’t seem to though, and there’s a pause filled only by the snoring of her friends, and the sigh of the wind outside.

“ akira – “ she slips out of the bed and over to the couch where he’s sleeping, careful not to wake morgana. there's a brief moment where she hesitates to shake him, since part of this had been her fault, with her insistence on watching horror movies. it was totally wrong of her to disturb him like this, of course – and she feels bad -- but she can't resist wanting to try.

if he doesn't wake, then it's whatever, though. she’ll have to just spend the rest of the night up on her phone.

cities like tokyo carry within them a certain vibe, a particular energy after dark that certain areas just can't reach. out here in the country everything feels magnified, no matter how whisper-quiet it is, and the overall size of the kurusu house doesn't help matters any.

but it's good for hosting akira's group of friends whenever they have the free time blow in. given the season, it did indeed seem like the perfect night to fire up the grainiest of movies on his parents' old tape deck, insisting it added to the authenticity of the experience. he's ready plenty of books on films and the industry surrounding them, so of course he'd know. never mind morgana's arguments of how totally fake it all looked—he's a cat, what does he know—or yusuke's disdain at the lack of aesthetics. it's all been a good time nonetheless, and with a lionheart like akira's he doesn't think twice about it when everyone's bedded down for the night.

makoto's snoring might, be in fact, be the scariest thing in the room, since he doesn't have the heart to either rouse her or point it out to her after the fact. some things are best left alone, even now, when the former phantom thieves of hearts are crawling that much closer towards adulthood and independence.

so he doesn't expect a visitor to the couch, an unfortunate end result of losing the bet for where everyone was sleeping tonight. how was akira to know futaba had a three of spades up her sleeve? he's dozing away, neither fully awake nor lost to unconsciousness just yet, but it takes a moment to recognize what's going on. that this isn't morgana doing his usual little song and dance at bedtime, kneading adopt his chest, claws pricking through his old bedclothes he can't bring himself to let go of, despite starting to outgrow some of it.

"...?" yeah, this is no cat's doing. it's ann's, if he's making the shape out in the dark correctly, her half-hushed voice. lacking the right control over it is typical ann, though it's hardly his concern if she wakes anyone else up.

"'s it morning...?" of course not, but he knows no other reason of what would bring her over here like this. not unless ryuji's smacked someone in his sleep again. there are reasons why none of the girls choose the same side as he does anymore, and this is one of them.

[ oh boy does he have a lot that could keep him up, but he can easily be the comforting force as well.

Canon, cross canon, OC's, assumed cr, all appreciated! ]

[Badou doesn't sleep much anyway, and especially not at any proper time of night. He's either working or, well, working. Work hard, play hardly ever.

And being stuck in one of the Sohma's creepy, old houses certainly isn't doing anything for his nerves either. So he's taken to wandering, but not very far in fear of one of Haru's many relatives skulking around, ready to scare the crap out of him.

He spots a familiar head of two-toned hair sitting out on one of the porches and helps himself to a seat, and a beer]

You really trynna practice grandpa hobbies?

[ He didn't actually look to see who it was, but as soon as he heard Badou's voice, he visibly relaxed a lot more. His family, depending on who you bump into, could be the biggest pain in the butt, and it was even worse when the maids came around. It felt nicer knowing he wasn't caught and about to be sent to his room or something equally as childish. ]

I'm thinkin' about starting smoking and getting one of those old fashioned pipes.

[Badou pauses because he knows, mostly, that Haru's probably just frustrated-- or at least just expressing something like it. Some restlessness.

But he still feels himself frowning like someone's mom.]

Hell no. You're not going to. That's worse than cigarettes.

[ He let out a soft huff, but it was hard to tell in the dark if it was more of a pout or more in amusement. Smoking wasn't a habit he wanted to get into anyway, but whenever anyone told him he couldn't do something it just made him want to. Who would have thought Grandpa would still have some rebellion left inside him. ]

Maybe that's the point.

[that's the worst kind...doing something just because someone says 'no'. Badou knows a lot about that...his life has taken this turn because he refused being told no as a kid.]

It isn't. Dye your hair, pierce your nips-- don't do something like smoking.

Huh... I wonder what I'd look like with dyed hair. I'd be like a brand new person, right?

[ He glanced over at Badou. Maybe gauging for a reaction, or maybe just wondering if he was paying attention. It probably seemed strange, but Badou was someone Haru felt close to. He was an odd guy, but... so was Haru, and he didn't judge all the weird stuff that came out of his mouth.

In a strange way, he was like an older brother or something. ]

No. No matter what you do, you'll still be the same person you are inside. The same face in the mirror.

[and he at least cares enough about Haru (that he'll never admit) to not lie to him. to not sugarcoat it]

You sure? I feel like pink haired Haru would have different opinions than delinquent!Haru. Maybe more bubbly. And cheerful.

I mean, I dunno-- I think you could play it up, but it wouldn't be...real.

I think you might be right. I don't think I could hold onto that new persona for very long.

Nah you're too-- you. Which isn't a bad thing. But you can't fake it.

Is that your somewhat subtle way of saying you like me for me?

Hey, take that however you want. I'm not the boss of you.

I'm going to take it as your fondness for me, otherwise you probably wouldn't be out here with me in the first place.

[rolls his eye]

Yeah. You're an alright kid. You're not annoying or anything.

[ Badou was free to shove him away if he wanted to, but while he had the moment, Haru scooted closer just to lean his head against his shoulder a little. ]

[jeez...how can he be mean to a goober like Haru? He'd be heartless. He lets him, settles the kid's weight against him and ruffles his hair lightly]

You know... as much as you like to deny your good parts... you really do know how to make me feel more at ease.

Well... [he hums, a little-- bashful? surprised?] It's nice to hear that kinda stuff at this age, I guess?

[ i have no one i can toss at this guy, unless you'd want to do some sort of modern au? but. drive-by love for the fact you're writing him <3 ]

`

[Possible tw as her insomnia is most likely to do with trauma.]

[ shipping for canonmates only ]

tw: bad man

[ interested in something possibly set post-exile? ]

[Yessss, please! Hello!]

You're up late.

[ Which was a funny statement considering Booker was also up. Nile, though, looked tense. This was one of his familiar restless nights. No nightmare woke up. It was just impossible for him to sleep.

He had a book tucked under one arm which was his usual way of dealing with these nights but seeing her sitting alone staring into the middle distance was something he couldn't ignore.

Well, unless she wanted him to. Sometimes a person just needed to be alone. ]

I could get tea or wine, which one? [ Booker's drinking was less than before but it was still a reasonable solution to many situations in his mind. Including this one. ]

[It wasn't really a nightmare, though her dreams were bothering her some. She had always dreamed, and even over the years, she still had awkward dreams of being shot or dying or killing or, or, or...]

[Tonight had been one of those awkward nights, where sleep just didn't come. She had paced the house silently, ate a piece of toast, and sat down on the couch to stare off at nothing for... she had no idea how long.]

[She had lost track of time.]

[When she herd Booker's voice she blinked, turning to look at him, then a lock. Lord, it was late.]

Could say the same of you. [Except he was almost always up late. She swore he barely needed sleep.]

Te--no. Wine. [She decided, tea wouldn't do her any good, and might as well try to relax a bit.]

[ He lifted the book as if to explain everything. It sort of did. The best time to read around all of them was at night when things were quiet and there was no work to be done.

Booker ducked into the kitchen, grabbed two random glasses, and a random bottle of wine. The type didn't really matter. It was something to drink.

He sat down in the chair across from her, opened the wine, and poured them both a glass. ]

Anything keeping you up? [ He raised an eyebrow at her while he sipped at the wine. Turned out to be a dry white. ]

[The book. She nodded, understanding. No work, no chatter. No Nile asking if he had found what they were looking for yet, or Nicky and Joe talking over things. No noise.]

[And yet here she was, awake, about to bother his reading time.]

[When he came back with the glasses and a white wine, she took her own, sitting back on the couch and trying to rest. How to answer that question. She took a sip of wine, giving her time to consider it.]

Just thoughts running in my head. I forgot to shut it down tonight.

[ It was never a bother to help her. This was what they did for each other. Booker didn't mind listening to her troubles. She had heard his often enough. ]

Any of those thoughts you want to talk out? [ If she wants a sympathetic ear he's got one open. ] Or I could bore you with what I'm reading now?

[ There's a little something playful in his gaze when he mentions talking about books. Booker can talk and argue books all night long if left to his devices. ]

[She's almost tempted, to open up. To talk about it. But it's a reoccurring thing, and they've spoken on it before. It's stupid, she thinks, to keep dwelling on these things. More so that they keep popping up in her dreams.]

[They had Booker back. They had a family together. She shouldn't be dwelling on things she should let go.]

[Instead she rested there, cradling her glass of wine and watching him a moment.] It's nothing. Same old, same old.

[She smiled faintly, looking across to him.] You never bore me, Booker. What are you reading tonight?

[ He slid the book across the table to it. It's titled simple "Salt: A World History". ]

I've read it three times already. [ He leaned back in his chair, one ankle resting on his knee and an arm thrown across the back. ] It's a very different way to look at the world. We can't live without salt so it has to be traded and he who controls the salt controls the world, right?

[ It's a very nerdy history book the sort of thing he'd read when he didn't actually want to focus on reading. It was something he'd read to let his mind wander. ]

[She leaned forward, sitting her glass down and picking his book up. She's careful with it, taking it to look over, front and back, and open to the first page, just to glance it over.]

A book on salt. Really? [she said curiously, a faint smile curling at her lips. Of course their Nerdy Booker would be receding a book like this.]

[She closed it again, and slide it back, rather hearing from him about it than anything.]

It must be a really interesting read if you're reading it a fourth time.

[ It's a modern book, not anything historical. Not one of his very important manuscripts or first editions which he treats with utter care and respect. This is a well-worn paperback.

A thick well-worn paperback. ]

I think it is. Sometimes it's good to see history from a different perspective. Instead of living it. [ He picks up the book and flips through it then starts to read outloud. ] In all ages salt has been invested with a significance far exceeding that inherent it its natural properties, interesting and important as these are. Homer calls it a divine substance, Plato describes it as especially dear to the Gods, and we shall presently note the importance attached to it in religious ceremonies, covenants, and magical charms.

[ He has a good reading voice, steady. And as he reads he watches her to see if it entertains her or not. He's trying to amuse her and distract her from troubling thoughts. ]

[New or old book, it's Booker's book, so it deserves respect. She's learned about what types of books he likes, and has to wonder if he's read her favorite book or not.]

[As he reads though, she slides off the couch to sit on the floor before the table. She rests her arm on the edge of it, her other arm propping her head up.]

[In all hornet truth, she could listen to him read the back of a detergent box and he'd make it sound interesting. He just had a really good voice. She let her one hand play with the glass on the table, watching him as he read.]

[It was at least distracting. She gave a small huff of a laugh.]

It also tastes good in food. [as if that had to be pointed out.]

That's probably mentioned in here somewhere. [ He taps the spine of the book against his palm. ][ It got her to laugh a little though. Sort of reminds him of that first conversation they had alone in that cave back when he was a wreck of a human being.

He was better now. Well, better being relative. He wasn't about to turn everyone over just for the chance to die. ]

It's always you and me that end up like this, isn't it? [ If Nicky and Joe have insomnia they keep it to themselves. ] These late night conversations, I mean.

If it's not mentioned, I'd be disappointed. [she mused, taking a sip from her wine before it was forgotten.]

[Had it been up to her, his punishment wouldn't have lasted so long. Or just a slap on the hands and an apology. But that wasn't here or now. Things had changed. Time had passed. She was just glad he was back.]

[As much as she now loves them all, in the start Booker had been the one she bonded with first. Over that camp fire conversation. Which isn't saying much, but she had missed him while he was gone.]

I don't know. I never mind these late nights when your around. [It was easier when he was there, stuck awake as well. Which was a terrible thing to say, but she DID like it. Liked him being around.]

As much as we should both actually sleep, it's nice having someone to sit up with.

Misery loves company. [ He chuckled after he said it to let her know he was kidding about that. There wasn't any misery here tonight just general restlessness. ]

I could read you something. Not Salt. [ He had already set the book down. ] Something you'd like to listen to. A real story. I've got plenty of books around here.

[ Wherever Booker goes books end up gathering. Somewhere in the paperbacks and hardcovers there's a book she'll like. He's certain of that. ]

What sort of story are you in the mood for?

That it does. [She said, just to agree with him. There wasn't misery between them though. Just in her on running thoughts of the past. Her mother, her brother, those she lost. Her optimism wasn't infinite, and once in a while it was low. Like tonight.]

[His offer makes her smile a more genuine smile however. An almost bashful look on her face as she chuckled, looking down to her glass.]

You don't have to entertain me, you know. [She said at first, but listening to Booker read was a comfort. She pressed her lips, glanced back up to him, curiously now.]

You may not have this book, but have you ever read The Neverending Story? By Michael Ende? [She smiled, almost childishly.] The original prints are like a work of art. Two different colors, red and green, for which world you are in, and 26 chapters long. One for each letter in the alphabet.

The story is fanciful. I mean, it's a kids book, but its better than the movie. [She'd kill to get her hands on a copy again.] Anything like that would do.

Edited 2020-10-02 02:30 (UTC)

I have an original copy. Not here. [ Which he felt slightly bad about. ] It's with my other first editions.

[ Which were all kept safe in the proper climates because he cared about his books. They weren't kept in caves like some of Andy's priceless treasures. ]

When we circle that way I'll get them for you to look at. [ But she's given him an idea of what he can read for her. Booker took a swig of wine then got up and went looking through a stack of books.

He didn't have a flawless memory of where every book was except for the first editions. He had a spreadsheet for those but he knew there was something here. ]

Ah, here it is. [ He pulled the book free and waved it at her. ] The Wizard of Earthsea. Better than Harry Potter in every way. Have you read it?

[She blinked in surprise as he said he had it. A first Edition. Not here, which was fine, but there was the hope to get to read it again after all this time.]

I shouldn't be surprised that you have it somewhere.

[As he got up though, she moved as well, getting to the couch once again and kneeling on it, looking back at him as he looked through a stack. When he pulled a book out, she lifted a brow.]

Can't say I know of it. [She said, moving to sit proper at one end of the couch, watching him return with the book.]

But better than Harry Potter is high praise.

I live up to the name.

[ Booker would never apologize for his love of books and reading. Perhaps he didn't need to keep as many as he did but Booker struggled to throw them away. He liked books. ]

It was published in 1968 and involves a young boy with magical powers going to a wizarding school. [ He came around the couch, sat down opposite her and held out the book to her if she wanted to look at it before he started reading. ]

It's wildly regarded as a classic of fantasy literature and children's fantasy in general. It's also remarkable because the hero of the story? Dark-skinned. Much better than Harry Potter I think personally.

[There was that faint smile again. He lived up to the name. It was nice, the books scattered around every safe house they traveled to. She tended to pick up random books to read on her own because of it.]

It's a charming trait to have at least. A love of books. Could be worse.

[As he sat down on the couch, she shifted, facing him, one leg under her, her arm propped on the back. She took the book to read over the description as she also listened to him.]

It does sound interesting. [She said honestly, now holding it with both hands carefully, looking up to him.] And you don't mind reading it to me? [she asked, almost sheepishly as she handed the book back.]

It's one of my better traits. [ Because Booker's other love would probably always be whiskey. Not as healthy. Though he did also love computers and fast cars.

He waited for her to finish reading the back before he took the book. It had been thumbed through but this was a newer edition, something he had bough in the early two-thousands. ]

If I can convert another person into seeing this book for the treasure it is, it's worth reading to you. [ He ran his thumb along the edge of the pages. ] It should've been as big or bigger than Potter but it didn't take off. But she kept writing which I am very grateful for.

[ He took another drink of wine to wet his throat. ] And... I like reading to you.

You have a few of them. [She said mindlessly about his traits. She thought he was kind and charming, and even the like of whiskey wasn't a TERRIBLE thing. After all, it can't wreck his liver or anything. They shared the same like for fast cars too.]

[as he took the book back, she took one more sip of her wine, sitting it down and started to scoot over. He could clearly read to her from where he was, but she inched closer so she was shoulder to shoulder with him, taking up her drink again and settling in, one leg under her, the other foot on the edge of the couch.]

So long as it's creative, I'm sure I'll love it. [and read in his voice? It'll endear it more to her. She gave him a smile as he said he liked reading to her.] Yes, well... you have a good voice for reading. I don't promise I wont fall asleep while you read though.

[After all, she found his voice calming.]

[ Booker was a little skeptical about those good traits but he'd save the self-deprecating humor for another time. He didn't want to start an argument right now.

When she scooted over he made room for her, adjusting so they'd both be comfortable.

After her comment about falling asleep he adjusted some more so that if she did she'd end up sliding onto him. ] It's fine if you fall asleep. I'll have accomplished my goal helping you relax and actually get some sleep tonight.

[ He wouldn't get much but that was fine. He didn't need much anyway. ]

[Smart man. She'd clearly try to win that argument, and he wouldn't let her. It could become a disturbance.]

[As they both got comfortable, she snuggled down into the couch, trying her best not to just lean into him, yet. She was still one to try and not invade space, even if all the others were very space invaders in all they did. She was still learning that leaning on a person was okay here.]

Yes, but if I fall asleep, your just going to get up and read about salt. I wish I could help you with your late night insomnia as well.

[ After all the time they spent together of course they had very little personal space. Nile was more new than he was. Booker understood it would take time for her to reach that level of comfort.

The best he could do was offer it and let her decide for herself if she wanted to lay her head on his shoulder or not. ]

I had insomnia long before I was immortal and no one could really help me back then either. [ Not his wife. Not his sons. Not his local priest. Sometimes, Booker just... couldn't sleep. It was better than not being able to sleep because of nightmares. ] I won't just read about salt. I'll also drink wine. And get a blanket to tuck you in. It'll be a productive night.

[She was getting better about it at least. She never flinched away from affections. She liked hugs. She just wasn't used to a group of people dog piling on each other for comfort.]

[Still, she leaned into his shoulder a bit, for no.]

Still, it's not good to live off a few hours sleep, Book. [something her mother would tell her after she'd get home from two part time jobs and ready to work on a 3rd before catching a few hours sleep. Bless computers for being easy to work from.]

[She gave him a small sigh though. It did sound like a nice night.] But alright, alright. I'll stop fussing so you can read.

[ It was slightly better to live off a few hours of sleep when the physical effects were almost instantly healed. All he felt was more tired. ]

Maybe I'll fall asleep in the middle of reading. You never know. [ He rubbed his hand over her shoulder for a moment. ] Relax. This is a really good book. Let me enjoy it with a friend.

[ He started reading after that, voice low and steady. While the others were pretty much out he didn't want to wake them. Of course, he also changed tone and pitch for different characters. He was going to have a little fun with it. ]

[the perks of being immortal.]

[His hand rubbed over her shoulder and he told her to relax, and oddly enough she tried to. She let her head rest on his shoulder for now.]

If you do, I'll excuse it. [she teased, but turned a soft smile up to him as he asked to enjoy it with a friend. A nod was given and she settled in.]

[As he read, she relaxed a bit more, clearly growing interested in the story. Her hand rested at his side as she relaxed a bit more, clearly his tone was working well. She curled into him a bit more, not realizing she was resting against him so much.]

[ Booker made an excellent pillow. He had broad shoulders so there was plenty of room for Nile to get comfortable.

And he didn’t mind. In fact, he welcomed the contact. After his exile he would almost do anything to feel close to any of them. It was reassuring that she’d rest against him. A show of trust. Of friendship.

Things he really needed.

He did pause at the end of a paragraph and glance down to see if she was still awake. No point in reading to a sleeping woman, after all. ]

Surprised you’re still with me.

[He does have very good shoulders for a head rest. And it's clear she's relaxed. She didn't relax often enough and really should.]

[HIs voice was doing it for her though, and the soft tone he poke in did help her to unwind.]

[When he paused at the end of a chapter, she paused to look up at him, giving him a faint smile.]

Still with you. You're right, it's a very good book. [she said softly, though it was clear she wouldn't be with him long. She actually looked relaxed.] As odd as this sounds, I like the voices you use.

[Or mostly, she was admitting she liked his voice, but the character tones were good.] Read just a bit more, please?

What's a story if you don't use voices? [ He smiled softly at her, glad to see her relaxed. Whatever had kept her up it wouldn't trouble her for the rest of the night.

That he could do this for her was... really important to him. It mattered a lot more than most missions. Not all because they were more aware of the good they did but she mattered more to him than strangers.

Not the most noble thought but the truth. ] Yeah, of course. I wouldn't stop here.

[ Booker started to read again and idly brushed his fingers up and down her arm. He wasn't even aware he did it. It was just another way to help her relax. ]

I whole heartedly agree. [She smiled to that. Her mother used to do voices when she read to her and her brother. It was always the best part of books, hearing the different tones. She didn't think on that though, as that was part of why she couldn't sleep.]

Good. [Was all she said to his not stopping there. Once he started reading again she settled in again, feeling him run his hand up and down her outer arm. It was warm and it did help.]

[She relaxed once more, letting her eyes close more this time. He'd make it a ways through before her head would droop a bit more, sleeping softly. She didn't miss much, and she might stir if he moved, but she had relaxed enough that she could rest.]

[ Booker didn't say anything when he glanced down and saw she was sleeping. He carefully marked the page and set the book down on the coffee table moving slowly so he wouldn't disturb her.

He also realized he had basically stroked her arm for an unknown amount of time. Since she hadn't objected... he shouldn't worry about it but he didn't want to cross a line accidentally.

The biggest problem Booker had at the moment was he couldn't reach his other book. So he tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling and once again started to idly stroke her arm.

He might not sleep but he was content. ]

[She told him he was going to want to go back to reading about Salt! She warned him about this, but did he listen? No. Then again she honestly hadn't thought she would fall asleep ON him.]

[But he was comfortable, and as much as she might say she wasn't a contact kind of person, she really was. She loved hugs and she was growing more used to leaning on the rest of the Guard. It had taken time, but she was getting better at relaxing with them.]

[The arm rubs helped, a lot, and she seemed oddly comfortable on him. Content. She'll feel bad for keeping him up to do nothing, when she does wake, but for now, she actually got some rest. Sorry Booker, but thank you.]

[ He's not doing nothing. There's a lot of thinking going on. Luckily his thoughts weren't spiraling down dangerous paths as they were prone to do.

He was mostly thinking about books he had read previously and reciting poetry in his head. There were a lot of them rattling in around in his head. Some half remembered. He needed to refresh his memory on plenty.

It was... a really relaxing evening. Or early morning depending on how they looked at it. ]

[If she were honest with herself, this might have been the best sleep she'd gotten in a while. She tended to nod off with the rest of them at night, but half the time she was getting up before Joe and Nicky, and only sometimes before Booker.]

[This morning had brought more than sleep but a relaxed sleep. Rested.]

[Things were still for some time, and it wasn't until the morning did come that she blinked her eyes open. Not moving jut that second, but staring. Staring at his knee for a moment, trying to remember why she was there.]

[Booker, red her to sleep. She smiled, and very slowly moved to tilt her head up, not anting to wake him if he was asleep. If she knew him at all though, she knew he didn't sleep.]

[Her voice was soft, questioning. In case he was asleep, he might not hear it.]

Were you up the entire night?

I dozed.

[ Booker had his head back still looking at the ceiling. If he had slept Booker didn't remember it. He knew he drifted at some point. There were bits of the night that were rather fuzzy in his memory.

Mostly, there was her warmth pressed against him and the comforting sound of her gently breathing. Later, that was the real memory that would stay with him.

His neck cracked when he looked down at her. Honestly, he should take better care of his posture even though he could heal. ]

It's early enough we could be the first to visit the street market. If you want to go do something with the morning, that is.

[Dozed. She snorted softly at that, and started to pull away, her hand had stayed curled to his chest, and it only drifted away now as she streatched her arms high above her head, sitting up almost reluctantly.]

[At least she didn't drool on him.]

[Rested was a nice feeling though. He had been so warm and cozy.]

It's absolutely unfair of me to sleep on you and you simply doze. Just so you know. [She stated, dropping her arms and moving to look over at him. She liked his idea. She knew Joe and Nicky would head for the Market place later, but it seemed like a nice idea for the morning.]

That sounds nice. You feeling up to it?

Next time we'll switch. I'll sleep on you. [ Booker would never impose like that. Not just because she was still adjusting to the touchy ways of the group but also because as mostly muscle he was heavy.

No one needed his weight trapping them against a couch or bed. That was how he thought of it, at least. ]

I want coffee and fresh bread. [ He sat up and stretched his arms above his head, shirt riding up a little before he relaxed. He ran a hand through his hair, mostly messing it instead of fixing it. ] And maybe some fruit. We'll see when we get there.

I'll hold you to that. [She said seriously, reaching the flat of her fist out to give him a tiny bop on the shoulder.] Someday I'm going to watch that you get some sleep. [a pause, and she frowned, brow raising at him.]

Though I didn't mean that in a creepy way. [She chuckled, smiling at him as he stretched.]

[she hummed at the sound of Coffee the most. She loved her some coffee. That was one thing that got her attention for sure.] Mmm that sounds amazing. I'm not even going to change. Just let me grab a jacket and I'll be ready to go.

[She reluctantly moved away from him, pushing to stand and stretch her back again. Maybe sleeping on the couch sitting up was a bad idea, but he was so cozy.]

I'm sure you didn't. [ But her word choice made him chuckle anyway. It did sound almost like a threat as well but Booker knew she meant well. Her worry was touching. ] Usually you're asleep when I'm sleeping. Makes it difficult.

[ He pushed off the couch and cracked his back which felt deeply satisfying. ] Go ahead. I'm going to leave a note for Nicky and Joe just in case they get up.

[ Booker went to the kitchen for scrap paper and a pen. It was a simple note about going to the market with Nile and left it where Nicky, usually up first, would see it right away.

Then he grabbed a gun, tucked it into the small of his back, and made sure it was hidden fairly well under his t-shirt. They weren't in a really dangerous part of the world but better to be safe than sorry.

Once comfortably armed he went to the door to wait for Nile. ]

Yeah, yeah. Technicalities. [she said, brushing off his comment about her being asleep when he's sleeping. His whole, what? 2, maybe 4 hours a night? Or so she guessed.]

[Still, she wandered off to grab her white black coat, pulling it on over her tank top and fitted jeans. A piece was also tucked carefully into the back of her pants, shirt and coat covering it and keeping it safe.]

[Honestly, she had grown so used to having it placed there that it felt weird when it wasn't.]

[Sure, they weren't in a bad place in the world, a easy place to lay low for a while, but it was more a comfort to have it. And no one would know too.]

[She made sure her shoes were laced tight and headed for the door.]

Alright. Let's get some coffee. [She said with a hum. The best part of the morning ~~besides waking up beside Booker~~ would be a hot cup of coffee in the crisp morning. Sure, there was a coffee maker in the house, but that didn't matter right now.]

Edited (html fail) 2020-10-03 02:02 (UTC)

[ Booker got the door for her out of habit and let her lead the way from the safe house. They're tucked in a back corner of the neighborhood. It was hard to find unless you knew where to go down a few twisting streets. ]

Now, you said you liked the story but did you think it was better than Harry Potter? [ He put himself at her left shoulder walking slightly behind. That was where he always tended to position himself in the group. He was left handed and it made sense for him to cover the left.

It wouldn't be a long walk to the market. They might even beat some of the vendors at this rate which practically guaranteed them the best coffee, freshest bread, and anything they wanted really. ]

[She nodded her head in thanks to him holding the door, waited for him to close it, then they fell into line, Booker at her shoulder, just back a step. She didn't even think anything about it. It's just how they'd worked out over the years.]

[It might have bothered her at first, for a short period of time, but now it was old hat. It's just how they moved.]

Ah, I can't tell you that yet, you haven't finished this story. [she said, lifting a finger and pointing at him, smiling faintly.] Once you finish it, I will give you that information, but as a general feel? Yes, it's coming off as much better.

[she stuffed her hands into her pockets, walking the short distance there. She didn't always get to go to the market, so this felt nice.]

Maybe I'll see if I can get you to read more tonight when I inevitably get up again?

Oh, bullshit. [ He chuckled even as he glared at her. ] The story and world building is already miles better than Potter. It's not just rehashed British boarding school.

[ Booker was always a fan of the market wherever they went but that had more to do with his upbringing than anything else. No supermarkets in his day. ]

If you're up two nights in a row I'm going to make you talk about it. [ Booker made his tone gentle but insistent. It was a bad sign when she couldn't sleep. He was a mess when it came to a sleep schedule.

He didn't have one.

But Nile usually slept fairly well most nights. If she had that much trouble, they'd have to talk. He was the only one who understood her pain in a very real, very recent way. ]

[She smiled more as he called Bullshit. It was always interesting to see how he reacted to his books. She reached over to poke his side lightly, giving him that smile a moment longer.]

You may be right, but I want to hear the rest of the story before I decide! [Honestly, she was loving it, a lot.]

[Ah, then her smile faded as he mentioned talking about it. She tried to keep it in place, but it was clearly just put on now.]

[She shrugged, hands pushing down in her pockets a bit as they walked, the market in view.]

There's nothing to talk about. I'll get over it sooner or later. I always do. [She said, feeling that tightness in her chest again. Out of all of them, Booker would understand. But she also didn't want to burden him with it. To bring back those memories for him too.]

[It's not like her mother or brother's deaths were fresh. After all this time, after Booker managing his long time away, she had figured it out on herself, the hurt, the loneliness. It wasn't fresh, just reoccurring.]

[She definitely shouldn't have kept a check on social media about relatives. Her brothers daughters. None of it.]

[The smile was gone now, her eyes on the ground.] I'll sleep fine tomorrow.

[ It would always come back around. Booker still carried the wound but it didn't bleed as constantly as it used to. And he would reopen it if it helped her. He was the only one she could really talk about it. ]

Nile. [ He reached out and squeezed the back of her neck in his hand, meant to comfort and reassure all in one. ] We can talk about it. You're not going to break me if we talk about family.

[ Since his exile he actually talked about them a little more. The good times, not the bad ones that haunted him. It hurt in the way loss would always hurt. ] We talk and then we read and maybe this time we both sleep.

[ Emotional exhaustion was one way to get Booker to sleep. He needed it to recover from the heavier conversations. ]

['You're not going to break me if we talk about family'. The words settle in her chest. It was the last thing she wanted to do, to help reopen those wounds. She loved it when he talked about his family though. Hearing his history helped.]

[Still, she felt bad. And maybe knew she was being stupid about this. She had ALL the time to let them go, and then she did things like look them up on facebook and it was a mess all over again.]

[The hand to her neck was a comfort though, and for all of a moment she let herself lean into him as they walked, very lightly.]

I know. [she said softly, taking a moment to keep herself composed.] I just... should have outgrown this my now.

[She pushed a smile and looked to him again.] Mistakes were made. But I'll be fine. If I can't sleep again, we'll talk about it.

I'm a lot older than you and I haven't outgrown it. [ There was never enough time to let it go. To be alive and unable to see family in a world of social media was almost like going back to them. Booker understood on a deep level. ] We can talk even if you think you can fall asleep.

[ But he let her build up her walls again and let his hand drop. They could talk about it in a more private place than this open street in the middle of town.

The market was not terribly busy but vendors were ready to sell. Booker followed his nose to the first cafe and the coffee Nile desperately needed. ]

I'm going to guess you want the biggest size of coffee they have? [ There, an out to the conversation. ]

[She winced silently, knowing as soon as she said that she hadn't thought about it. Still, she thinks his loss is more tragic than hers. But she doesn't say that.]

[She doesn't say much, but nods. She'd talk about it. Tonight. And she's grateful to the distraction of coffee. She chuckled at his comment, running a hand over her face as if she were just sleepy.]

[Her smile was faint but more real at least. She was three seconds away from bouncing up to kiss his cheek, for understanding. For being him. For--she didn't. She just gave him that faint smile.]

You know me so well. Biggest they have. Black. Even if I feel rested, it feels like coffee is highly needed.

You think coffee is needed at all hours of the day.

[ Booker went up to the vendor with seemingly effortless charm and got her the largest sized coffee the man offered and a more reasonable size for himself. ]

Cream and sugar are on the side of the cart. [ He jerked his chin in the right direction as he handed her the large, hot, fresh coffee. It was a very dark roast judging from the color of the coffee and the smell. ] What should we find next now that you're properly caffeinated?

[ There were a lot of options for them. Booker was content to wander the market and find whatever she wanted. Usually, Nicky was the one who went and got provisions. ]

I'm not wrong, and I stand by that.

[she countered, and let him go to make the order. When he came back with a very tall cup, she smiled warmly, accepting this gift from the gods with open hands. She smelled it, and it smelled so fresh. No crema or sugar needed.]

Thank you. This should do for now. [Dark roast. Fresh as fresh can be. It was perfect for this kind of morning. A nice crisp day, a perfect crisp coffee. Now what?]

Bread. While it's still fresh. Then fruit. There's yogurt and granola at the house. I could go for a fruit salad.

[In truth, she didn't care what they got right now, she had coffee, and good company.]

What impresses me is that you can have coffee at six and be asleep at eight like it did nothing.

[ He preferred his coffee black as well so they start looking for bread almost immediately. There’s a lot of sweet pastry being offered which makes sense for breakfast.

Booker, though, was in the mood for rich, yeasty plain bread. It was the French in him. ]

Yogurt is not breakfast. Eggs. Ham. Cheese. That’s breakfast. [ He’s mostly kidding. He likes to tease about healthy eating because after growing up damn near starving he really doesn’t understand dieting and heath food crazes. ] We’re going to find some good ham.

[ They already have eggs and cheese back at the house. ]

It just tastes good, what can I say. Selective caffeine tolerance maybe? [She said with a grin, holding her cup in both hands for the moment and warming her face with her cup.]

[She would not deny the French in him for that type of bread. Most of them looked amazing, and she did love a good pastry, but actual bread sounded great.]

When else do you eat yogurt? Breakfast. Though I will not turn my nose up to your kind of breakfast. [She didn't eat it as a health craze, but because she liked it. Then again Nile could eat like no ones business.]

Ham does sound good... [She hummed as she considered it, then glanced to him curiously.] Are you cooking this morning then?

If Nicky's not up to cook, I'll cook. [ They could all cook and sew and other little things that they've picked up simply by being alive for as long as they have.

But they also had their preferences. Nicky liked to cook. Booker tended to organize all their stuff. He loved a good spreadsheet. ] What are you, starving?

[ Finally, he found the right sort of bread he was looking for and bought a large loaf. After a bit of conversation with the baker he got good tip on where to find well made ham in this place. ]

See any fruits you want? [ He was considering some dates as they wove their way through various stalls. It was still early but the locals who knew when it was best to get to the market were starting to appear. They wouldn't have the place to practically themselves for much longer. ]

Mmm. [She hummed as he said Nicky or he would cook. She liked when any of them cooked. She was learning to make more than crap food from them all. She was very much a military cook level of girl. So she had taken time over the eras to learn to make food.]

[Still, she loved the simple things.] I've got coffee. I can go the day without food now. But, food does sound good.

[she followed along with the other, looking over stands here and there. More people were showing up, so that was their sign they needed to hurry up. Booker would know she was very attached to Apples, especially a good crisp red apple. But also...]

These look divine. [Strawberries. A little bushel of them. Overly large and ripe. Just how she loved them.] Berries go good with ham and eggs. [She reasoned.]

[ Booker shot her a look. Yeah, they could go a day without food and be fine but it was definitely not good. It wasn't a benefit to immortality but he was still mostly of the mindset this was a curse. ]

Berries are also good with yogurt. [ He found the vendor and paid for two. One he kept in the paper bag but the other he brought out and held out to her. ] Pre-breakfast snack?

[ His smile was a little more playful almost like a silent dare. Had she ever walked around an open air market and eaten freshly bought fruit? Booker didn't know but it was a tradition worth introducing now. ]

[You know sometimes she doesn't THINK about her bad jokes like that. He gallows humor isn't the same as his real gallows. But she hadn't meant that she WOULD go all day with out, just that, like her old work days, once she had coffee she could do anything. Even forget to eat.]

[If not for the guys and their habit of actually cooking meals, she might still actually skip a few.] Yes, they are.

[As he bought two and kept one out, she blinked, then smiled fondly. It felt almost childish to be unable to wait. Out of all these years, she generally forced herself to wait for the good things. His offer (and she noticed the smile too) was nice. She reached a warmed hand out to pluck up a strawberry by the greens.]

Thank you. [She inspected it, looking at it with a pleased expression. Took a careful sniff of it, before taking a small bite at the end, humming a pleased tone at the flavor.] These... these are very good.

[His hands full with bags of bread, berries and a coffee, she thought to lift part of the large berry up to him in offering.] Bite?

They should be. It's the middle of the season. [ Booker guessed about that actually. He was a city boy. While he knew a ridiculous amount about tides and fish thanks to growing up in a port city he knew nothing about farming and seasons. ] And market stuff is always better than store bought.

[ He leaned down and carefully took a bite. The careful didn't matter though juice still went dripping down his chin and into his beard. ] Shit.

[ He laughed a little as he turned his head and rubbed his chin against his shoulder. ] That is really good. Juicy. Obviously.

[ Booker licked his lips. ] Do I look respectable again?

Is it? [Nile was most definitely a city kid. They had markets once in a great while in her time in California, but not really in Chicago. And mot the time it was a supermarket life for her. Why bother with anything else?]

[Living with the boys had taught her a lot of good things in life, but farming wasn't one of them. Farmers Markets, oh yes. She was getting used to the good tastes.]

I'm learning that. I am. I think Nicky would kick me out of the house if I mentioned I miss frozen pizza. And don't look at me like I have two heads either. I wont say that in front of HIM, but you can handle my atrocious memories.

[the Juice dripped into his beard and she chuckled. An actually amused sound in her tone. She watched him take care of it, and lick his lips, asking something. Maybe she focused too long on his lips and she had to take a sip of her coffee to recover her thoughts.]

Mmm, you? Respectable? I suppose. [She teased, then cleared her throat, finishing the bit of berry that was left and resting the greens on the top of her cup.] You look fine. Was there anything else we should get, Monsieur?

According to Nicky. [ Who actually knew how to garden and grow things. Booker, it was said, could kill a cactus. ]

He will grumble and make a fuss but if you bought some he wouldn't disown you. Joe likes you too much. [ There was no judgement about frozen food. He had survived off a lot of frozen meals while in exile and wildly too depressed to cook.

Privately he agreed with Nicky that home cooked and fresh was always better. If he caught her little slip he didn't say anything. It wasn't his style. ]

There's good ham at a butcher over there. [ He nodded his head in the right direction. ] According to the guy we got the strawberries from. We'll get some and head home. Unless you're in a hurry?

Ah, and here I thought you had some great secret. [Nicky being the one to know all about growing things always made sense. Cactus Killer Booker on the other hand... also made sense.]

[Nile had no green thumb but it wasn't black either. They just never stayed in one place long enough to get a plant.] Oh, I can deal without. When we go off on our own, I can devour the disgusting foods once again. It's fine.

[She reached over and took another strawberry, curling her arm around her cup, she broke it in half, took the green off, and offered him one half as they turned for the butcher.]

Seriously, I'm in no rush at all. It's a good morning. Good coffee, good strawberries, good company? What more can I ask for? Well, besides getting ham. [MOST Importantly, her mind was off her earlier thoughts. That was the best part. Popping a piece of straw berry in her mouth, then rubbed her hand dry on her pants hip, she gave him a smile. She meant it. The good company.]

I'll tell you a secret. [ There was that playful look in his eyes again. ] Pearl oysters are not actually oysters.

[ Booker always had some stupid fact lurking in the back of his mind. The strangest things stuck in his brain from reading damn near constantly.

He didn't like to think about when they went on their own. After his exile any sort of splitting up was hard on him. ] Well, we're doing a pretty good job expanding your pallet. Maybe we'll break you of some of those habits.

[ Once again he leaned over and for the sake of simplicity ate the whole strawberry straight from her fingers. It kept some juice from getting in his beard but it still escaped from the corners of his mouth slightly. ]

It sounds like you're questioning the good company part. A man with less of an ego might take offense. [ Inside the butcher was a great deal of meat and Booker looked like he was very happy with what he saw. ] Next time we do this, remind me to grab a bag of some sort.

[ He went up to the counter to get ham and anything else that caught his eye. They'd have to juggle things around between the two of them to get it all home. ]

[Her brow raised at his cute little fact.] What? Can't you eat them?

[She chuckled at the pallet comment, liking to not think about separating either. Sometimes they needed the breaks. A vacation, but lately they had been doing SO WELL together. It felt... proper.] You can pry hot-pockets from my warm comfy hands, thanks.

[She smiled as he at the strawberry chunk, taking up her coffee again and sipping it.] Not questioning the company. Honestly, that's the best part.

[At the butcher stand she sat her coffee down carefully, reaching to help take thing. Putting the left over strawberries in the bag, and taking it and the bread.] I've got these. Do your meat thing. We can juggle this all back just fine.

[encouraging him to get what he wanted, or at least could carry. A bag would be good though. Next time. She liked the idea of next time, as much as she knew there was no meaning to it other than they'd get up early again some time in the future.]

Pearl oysters? I imagine you can but they're not the species people eat in restaurants. They're not the same family. [ Believe it or not he had a whole book on the history of oysters and many facts had stuck in his mind.

After trading things off so that they were both carrying a little bit it was a lot easier to get a pound of good ham sliced right off the bone. He asked for a sample, torn it in half and held it out for Nile to try.

Perhaps more than the others he liked to share things with her and encourage her to explore. Seeing Nile experience the world that felt so old to him reminded him of how much there was to enjoy. ] This will be very good with that bread.

[ It was a little expensive but worth it for good food. He even tipped the butcher. It was a dying art in his opinion. ] Come on, let's go back before I make us buy half the market.

Huh. I wouldn't know. I've actually never had oysters. Or, I don't think I have. I've had crab at least. [She points out, as if that's something to be proud of. His little random facts were always interesting to her though.]

[She balanced their packages, letting him spend what he wanted on ham. The smells of the market were wonderful. The fresh foods and the meats and even just the stalls themselves smelled good. The crisp morning air helped.]

[She wasn't thinking of family. She wasn't thinking of the things she missed or wanted. Instead she was thinking about the Booker and how he interacted with the people here. So kind. So comfortable. When he offered her a bit of the sample she took it, giving it a try. A soft Mmmm of sound and she closed her eyes, savoring the bit.]

I suppose I am hungry, because that tastes wonderful. [a dying art indeed. As old as she was now, there was still so much she had to experience for the first time, or for the first time in a while, and she had always learned to savor food. There was never much of it when she was a teen, so you learned to love what you had.]

The boys should be happy with our foraging. This is a good little market. [And again, some good company. She enjoyed sharing things with Booker. She wouldn't mind making a habit of this, even if Nicky beat them to it.]

You’d remember eating oysters. They’re very distinct. [ Booker will not say it’s like swallowing a pad of salty snot because that never appeals to anyone even though it’s close to the truth. He loves them but he grew up on seafood of all kinds. ] If we ever go to Brittany, I’ll take you to get some. They’re the best there.

[ He shoulders the door open for her as they leave the butcher shop. The market is more awake now. It’s been a good hour and the locals were there to do their shopping before the tourists arrived.

Once again, he took up position by her shoulder and slightly behind her. ] Nicky might be happy that he doesn’t have to make breakfast. He might even sleep in.

[ Maybe. If Booker actually slept, Nicky was always the first one up. He looked at his watch for a second. ] We might have even given them enough time to fuck as loud as they want.

[ His tone was teasing, of course. There was nothing wrong with Joe and Nicky’s sex life and after all these centuries he didn’t give a damn if they were loud or quiet. ]

We’ll see how much they’re smiling when we get back.

[Yes, saying they re like salty snot and they are the best wouldn't have computed in her head. Instead she nods, thinking about Brittany now for a moment. She's not ready to move yet, but it's a good idea.] I'll hold you to that.

[You know, she could open a door for them, she has enough balance for opening a door, but it's nice that he always jumps to it for her. She stepped out into the still crisp morning air and ducked around a local going by with a box of fruit. It was growing busy but for some reason that just made it more charming.]

"Sleep" in he says. We both know down well they're taking the opportunity for a good fuck.

[That had taken some getting used to for Nile in the start. It never bothered her, but it was a surprise. Now it was old hat, though still charming. She sometimes got jealous about the two of them, and realized this must be ho the others had felt after so much longer together. Still, she was happy for them.]

[Starting to weave through the crowds, leading the way, she headed back for home.] Its a fools bet, but I'm willing to bet they are absolutely glowing this morning.

[ Booker laughed loudly at her comment about a good fuck. Yeah, that's definitely what Joe and Nicky were doing this morning. Not that he blamed them. He might do the same if he had a lover and a whole morning alone. ]

Then we should make Nicky cook. He always cooks better when he's in a good mood. [ He finished the last of his coffee and tossed the cup away in a nearby trash can. Now he had another hand free and he held it out, offering to take something from her. ]

Do you want me to look for work? [ They were on something of a break. More like a pause, really, between jobs. He could spend the day searching around for a worthy cause.

But they deferred to her now. Nile had stepped in to Andy's leadership role almost naturally. They could all lead though if the situation called for it. ]

[She loved it when Booker laughed. It was this rich tone that favored him. She smiled to him as they walked, giving firm and pleased nod.] Agreed. That will give you time to go back to Salt, if you wanted too.

Though... [Work. That wasn't a bad ide. They were on a short brake, yes, and it was helping everyone, she thought. Being domestic for a bit never hurt. She hummed as he took the bred from her, and considered this. The rest had been good but...]

Take a look around. If something jumps out at you, we'll consider it.

[They were huge shoes to fill, but Andy taught her well over the years. She liked to think she was doing a OK job, and she liked to think that everyone had a say in everything, so it balanced out just fine. She'd still be bit on edge about leading the team, for another century or so.]

Maybe. [ A genuine laugh was still a rare sound. Booker chuckled and smiled more than before but a loud, free laugh was just... different. ] Maybe I'll grab a shower and change first.

[ Since he couldn't give her a sarcastic salute he made a little bow instead. If asked, Booker would tell Nile she was doing a good job.

It was a big role to fill but she led with strength and compassion. She could never be the same as Andy but she didn't need to be. Her own style worked for them. ]

There's always something. [ But find something that put more good in the world was sometimes the tricky part.

He might look for something not militaristic. They did that sometimes assisting in humanitarian efforts instead. Building houses. Rescuing people from flooding. Carrying supplies into dangerous territory. Simple but good. ]

A shower would be good. I might manage one of those after breakfast. [she agreed, keeping out of her head that she could join him. That wat NOT the thought she was looking for. Absolutely inappropriate, Nile.]

[That was at least one thing she didn't try to be. Andy. She didn't lead the same as Andy did, but she took her advice and lessons and used them practically. Or so she hoped. She would never ask though. She hoped if she was doing something wrong someone would speak up to her.]

{She liked to think she was open to that kind of thing.]

There's always something. [she agreed with a darker tone, shaking her head a bit.] We could use something light though, I think. Something to keep us moving. As much as I like it here...

You can have one first if you want. [ The safe house was in good condition so the water heater could handle two hot showers back to back. If she wanted to go first, Booker could wait. ]

Light and quick, I'll keep that in mind. [ He let her open the door to the safe house when they got there but once he was inside he shouted to Joe and Nicky they were back and there better not be any fucking in the kitchen right now.

He got a snarky response in Italian that made him chuckle under his breath. ]

We're safe. Want me to take that all into the kitchen? [ He nodded his head at their haul from the market. ]

No, I'm alright. You go ahead and shower after we drop off this in the kitchen. It's been a beautiful morning, Booker. Thank you.

[and she meant that. It felt like a good start to a day, and though she might nap a little later, she felt good.]

[When they got the all clear from Nicky and Joe she chuckled softly, and shook her head. She could carry this to the kitchen.]

I've got it.

[And it would be a nice continue to the morning too. Nile giving Nicky a kiss on the cheek and a hug to Joe as she greeted them for the morning. Her plans today was to look into some things on the internet, relax, have more coffee, enjoy the day, take a nap, and see what Booker found for work. She really had little else to do, other than train a bit.]

Last night... [ He paused for a moment to consider his words. ] I enjoyed it. Even if I didn't sleep much. It was calming. Thank you for... sharing that with me.

[ She didn't have to indulge him like that. Nile could've said no and they could've spent the night in silence. Instead she had humored him about book choice and let him read and relaxed enough to sleep against him.

That really meant a lot even if he didn't fully express that. Booker could only hope she understood what he said between the words. ]

Make sure to save some bread for me. [ He handed off the bags and then walked away into the house for a shower and some clean clothes. ]

[She stood there, a bit surprised at what he said, but then smiled fondly. And here I was worried about making him read to me. She thought, but did not say it, she just nodded with a fond smile.] Well, thank you for being patient with me.

[She took the bags and chuckled.] There will be plenty to go around, but I will save you some.

[She wanted to thank him, again, for last night and this good morning, but once was enough, and as he took off to the rooms, she took off to the kitchen, practically humming in a good mood.]

[The day went by as one did while cooped up in a safe house, but something about it felt nicer today than it had the day before. Maybe she shouldn't keep looking over saved images on her phone, but even that didn't feel terrible this time. Night maybe be different, but right now she felt good.]

[ There really isn't much to do around a safe house. The whole point was to lay low and not be noticed. After years together it was easy to exist in such a small space in silence without it being awkward.

After breakfast Booker got out his laptop and hunched over it in a corner silently looking for work somewhere far from where they were. He would sit there for hours if no one interrupted him.

Luckily, Nicky did for lunch at least.

There wasn't much light work, unfortunately but Booker saw something that was hard for him to ignore. ]

Nile, you got a minute? [ He leaned back from his laptop and looked around for her, expecting she'd be close. It was another one of those things that happened after a long time. They could roughly all sense each other as a presence in the room. ] I've got something interesting here.

[After all this time she didn't mind the silences. It used to feel awkward to her, with so little to do and all the time sitting, but she learned how to put a work out routine in, and training here and there. Where Nicky and Joe had swords, she got them to teach her to fight better with a dagger, just to have something that didn't run out of ammo. She took those lessons to heart and trained on her own most days.]

[At the moment, after lunch, she wasn't doing anything. Nicky and Joe were tending to something on their own, together, being cute no doubt. Booker was slumped over his laptop doing his thing, and Nile? She was stretched out on the couch, phone hovered over her face, looking at pictures she shouldn't be curious about.]

[When her name was called she sat up, peeking over the back of the couch and over to where Booker was.]

Oh? [She rolled off the couch into a crouch, then stood, stretching her arms over her head as she walked, a bit of belly exposed as she did. She gave a soft groan, and rounded over to Booker, crouching down beside him where he sat in his corner.] How interesting?

I was looking for work and this isn't exactly it but... two months ago a thirteen year old girl went missing in Corfu. It's a city in Greece. [ He turned his laptop towards her so she could see the article headline which was in Greek. The important part was the picture under the headline of the missing girl. ] Nothing too unusual except two weeks later another girl went missing and the police have no leads.

[ He clicked over to the second headline and there was another picture of a young girl. Booker had a hard time ignoring anything with children. It was his blind spot, honestly.

This was why he wanted to show her. Booker wanted to sweep in and find these girls but sometimes it was better they stay out of things like this. There was a lot of media attention and the police were involved. ] Greece is far from here. And we can ask around in ways the cops can't.

[ And they could also be noticed and attract too much attention to themselves. He needed a second opinion. ]

[None of them liked it when children were the topic of something bad. It seemed like all of the Old Guard had a oft spot for Children, even Nile. But there was a lot to consider.]

[On one hand, missing children cases were a constant. All over the world a constant. They couldn't step into every case and save every child, as callous as that felt to think.]

[She looked at the pictures, frowning. They were so young in her eyes now. SHe ran a hand over her chin and mouth, considering it. They shouldn't get involved, but then again...]

[She thought about her Great Niece being of this age, and how would she feel if she went missing? --No. Keep work life separate, Nile.]

No leads at all? [She found herself asking, wondering how hard it would be to pop in, find two children who had been missing for other a few months, and... not be seen.]

[Greece as far from here, so they wouldn't bring attention to this area. They could come back to this safe house. It could he a simple job. It could be something they were in and out of. It could also give them unwanted attention.]

[She took a knee, sighing.] No leads but you think we can find something on our own. [It wasn't a question. She looked u to his face, studying it a moment.] Missing children happen every day. [She hated saying that. And she wasn't dismissing it, but she needed more.] Is there anything in this that leads you to think we can find them?

[ This was why he called her over. Booker needed the reality pointed out to him. None of them had children and could see a lot clearer when kids were involved even though they all had the soft spot. ]

No ransom calls. No bodies. Just seemed to be swept up from the street and gone. [ Greek wasn't his strongest language but Booker had a decent idea of the article. ] Honestly, I have no idea if we can find something. It's just the first decent thing I've found.

[ He tabbed over to another window and started scrolling. ] Unless you want to possibly look into some gang wars in Chile and illegal poaching in Botswana. Those are the only other good options I've found.

[ Before he saw one little girl staring up from a news article and completely distracted him. ]

[It was a tough one. Where Gang wars were normal enough too to not get involved, a wake of bodies there wouldn't go noticed. Same with poaching some poachers. Those would be simple to go in, get shit done, and leave. And Nile always did like animals. the Poaching one resonated more with her in one way, but...]

[She reached up to tab back to the kids, looking over the article. Her Greek wasn't as good yet but she had been learning. She looked over the articles and frowned. This resonated more with her. And she knew with Booker's past, it would call to him too.]

Let's look into Greece. [She said after a moments consideration, a hand pulling at her lips as she thought it over.] Also check into the poachers in Botswana. Let's see what we can find on these girls. If there is a link to them. Relatives and what not. Research the hell out of this while you can and I'll bring these up to Nicky and Joe as well. See how they feel.

But Book, we might not find anything. Be ready for that. [A pause, before standing, hands on her hips.] And if we don't, you can take it out on some poachers.

Edited (html fail) 2020-10-05 02:58 (UTC)

Okay. I'll keep digging. [ It wasn't a yes, they could go but it was something. Booker could dig and maybe put his mind at ease. He looked up at her with a little smile. He was glad he called her over for this. ] And hopefully have more for you all at dinner.

[ The poachers would probably pan out easier in the long run. No one would mourn them if they suddenly turned up dead in the middle of the wilderness. Or if they were dropped off hot tied in front of the local authorities.

Social media was a hell hole in most cases but it did allow for easier research these days. He would have a lot more information by the end of the day on just about every aspect of these girls lives he could find. And on their family. On the cops investigating.

And they could make their decision as a group together over dinner. ]

[She reached out to fluff his hair a moment after that smile. Just a quick soft gesture, letting her hand drop away after, back to pulling her hone out of her pocket.]

Knowing you, you'll find something useful. [The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to do it, so she hoped he'd find something more on the girls. Places to start. People to speak to. A lead to some leads.]

[She spent some time on her phone, but her mind wandered to those little girls. While helping Joe and Nicky with dinner, she spoke to them about the two cases. They seemed to agree with her on both accounts, that they were worth looking into. Do some good in this world. She just hoped Booker had found some intel for them.]

[Something that could get them wheels up tomorrow morning maybe.]

[Dinner set on the table, with Nile's help tonight (the boys helping her learn to cook better was always a good thing). She ducked into the living room space and found Booker, walking over to him and resting a hand on his shoulder.]

How goes it?

You're an optimist. [ But he appreciated her faith in his abilities. Booker tossed his head back to fix the few strands that had fallen in front of his face then got back to work.

Which meant they immediately fell forwards again.

It was like Booker came out of a trance when Nile touched him, bringing him back to the present and not the digital world. He groaned a little as he rolled his shoulders and stretched his neck. Fuck, he was getting too old to sit like this for long. ]

Not bad. The girls have no connection to each other except they went to the same public school. No classes overlap from what I've found but my guess is they might be aware of each other like students are. [ He closed his laptop and got to his feet. Now that he was aware of the world around him Booker realized he was starving. ]

I'll show you what I've found at dinner with the others. [ He put a hand on the small of her back for just a moment to give her a gentle nudge towards the kitchen. Then his hand was gone. Booker was always a little more cautious about physical contact. ]

[She was in fact an optimist, but she believed in his abilities as well. If he put himself to a task he'd find something.]

[When she grounded him back to the world and he closed the laptop with a bit of intel, she nodded, taking that in.] I've told Nicky and Joe about it. They seem interested as well.

[The light touch to her back did get her moving, leading the ay back to the kitchen. Joe already at the table and Nicky dishing up for everyone. Nile was interested in what Booker found though. Not the best dinner conversation, but this family was a bit like that anyhow.]

[ Booker patted Joe on the shoulder as he passed him and sat down. He made room for his laptop which made Nicky roll his eyes fondly. There were times Booker's work took over everything. ]

I've been trying to find the girls cellphone. I feel like there's a lot of information there but I can't find the numbers or the provider to hack in. [ While he talked Booker reached around the table to grab bits of dinner. He put them on his plate but he didn't eat right away. ] But I did manage to get in the newspaper's system and reading the reporter's notes another girl went missing five months ago but she was poor and no one gave a shit.

[ He drummed his fingers against the table in annoyance. ] Something's here but no one was paying attention before these girls.

[Nile took her seat beside Booker, her foot drawn up under her in the chair, making her sit a bit taller. She reached for some of the left over bread first, putting it on her plate and poking at a few other things, waiting for Nicky to take his place before she started to eat.]

[Booker had her full attention though. She didn't mind the laptop at the table or the fact this was shop talk at dinner. It was as good of a time as any.]

So that's at least three girls missing in five months? Do any of the girls have traits that match that we can see? Dark hair, skin color? ['Age'. Nicky popped in to help toss ideas out.] Age. [She pointed with her fork in agreement with Nicky] Height. Thin, or over weight? [Something that a person might target. So far there was one poor girl and two public school girls.]

And the Police in Greece don't seem to be investigating at all? [That could go in their favor of not being caught up in shit they don't want to be caught up in.]

Age. Roughly safe body shape. Skin color. One girl had blue hair. [ He gestured to his own head when he said that. ] Like streaks. But they're generally all the same.

[ He glanced over at each of them. ] They're investigating. They're doing what they can within the bounds of the law but... we could do more. I mean, more outside of the law.

[ Booker had a feeling the girls were dead. Kidnapped, abused, and killed for some asshole's sick pleasure. He didn't want to say that out loud but he had a feeling. This pattern was familiar. ]

As for the poachers. They're taking any ivory they can find and they've killed two wildlife agents. [ A lot simpler of a situation. Just as innocent victims. Booker would keep an eye on Greece if Nile and the others decided that they should hunt the poachers. ] No one's been able to find them in the bush and Interpol hasn't seen the ivory they've taken appear on the market. They've got alerts out for it though.

[Nile hummed and considered it. She glanced to the others and considered the intel. Three missing girls. Most likely dead. Would they be able to track down the kidnappers though? There were a lot of If's but she was still interested.]

[Then there was the Poachers. More concrete facts. Easier to get away with. Take out the scum and save wildlife and it's protectors.]

[Maybe they could split up and take both. Nicky and Joe take the poachers, she and Booker could look into the children. Maybe she wasn't in the best mindset for this because of her own issues with family she's missing. Maybe she wasn't thinking properly too, but she wanted to investigate.]

Honestly, the first case sounds like it's going to take a bit more searching. You're right that we can ask around better than the law. On the other hand the poachers seems point blank. I'm thinking Joe and Nicky; you think you can take that on? Get in contact with Quynh and take her as a third. [Taking Quynh along would be like taking a full team anyhow, and she delighted in killing things.]

Booker and I can go to Greece and start some intel hunting. We keep in contact and if a problem crops up, we'll go from there. Thoughts? [She asked the boys to see what they thought about this idea. She knew Joe and Nicky, with Quynh would be a deadly force, and she and Booker could handle intel things until the others get back.]

[ Booker shot Nile a little grateful smile. He was glad he didn't have to walk away from these girls. Or maybe it was the hope that he could protect some other girl from this fate. ]

I'll whip up some identities for us. International reporters or something like that. [ He almost turned to do it right now but Joe gently closed his laptop and gave his food a pointed look.

Right, dinner. Booker shrugged. He couldn't be blamed for being ready to work. This could put some good back in the world. What they were supposed to do. ]

And make sure you and Nicky have transportation. If we can get in touch with Quynh I'll get her some as well. [ But he made sure not to touch the laptop and actually ate a few bites of food. ]

[She gave him a faint sad smile. It was hitting home for her as well, especially right now, so why not look into it. It's the least they can do.]

Reporters work. [She said with a nod, and as Joe closed Booker's laptop he mentioned that He and Nicky could handle Botswana. Nicky said he would call Quynh after dinner and get her caught up. It felt like this plan would work out. Which ever team was done first could back up the other if needed, but for now, this should get shit done and covered.]

Okay then, it sounds settled. Get to work on that after dinner. If you need some help, ask. [She took a bite of bread, considering all this, then nodded again. This could work fine. It's not like the team has never split up for a job before.] Can you get all this done by the morning?

Oh, easily. [ Booker had years of practice and if he didn't sleep it would easily get done. Well, he'd probably get it done because he wouldn't sleep. It went in phases for him. He wouldn't sleep well for a few days and then crash hard for days. And then it would start again.

Dinner conversation was a bit more pleasant after that. They roughly planned for Joe and Nicky but also just general conversation about anything and everything. With a little laughter tossed in.

When he was done, though, Booker grabbed his laptop and topped off his wine glass. ] I'll see you all in the morning. With new identities for us and travel arraignments for you two.

[ And he went to find a comfortable chair to do his work which was more staring at a screen and typing and occasional muttering under his breath in various languages. ]

[The plans felt good, and dinner finished on a good note. She watched as Booker left the room, then went back to her own glass of wine, finishing it at the table.]

[She was thoughtful, but trying not to look like she was. Not wanting to drag things down.] I'll get the dishes tonight. You two get ready for tomorrow. [She said to wave off Nicky stacking plates.]

[She did the dishes in peace, thinking about those little girls. Thinking again to her great niece and her former family. She should talk to Booker about it, but now she had him focused on something important. She said if she couldn't sleep, she would talk, but now she was determined to sleep, for her sake but also so she didn't have to talk.]

[As she finished up in the kitchen, slow and casual, she had sat there at the kitchen table with another glass of wine and her phone, reading things. Trying to wind down for the night. She had to pack still. Essentials. Something that looked reporter-y.]

[When she was down winding down she got up and wandered past Booker and his chair. She paused behind it, leaning in a bit to look at his work, a hand softly brushing back his hair as she peeked in on him.]

Try to get some rest tonight, Sebastien. [she spoke softly, looking down at him and not his computer.]

[ Booker tilted his head back a little, unconsciously leaning into the touch. ]

Mm. I'll be fine. [ He continued to tilt his head back so he could meet her eyes. ] How are you feeling? I could take a break and we could read a little more?

[ If he kept his laptop close when she fell asleep he could simply continue working without bothering her. He hadn't forgotten that she hadn't been able to fall asleep before and they still hadn't talked about it.

The work was important but he had learned the hard way taking care of yourself was also important. Work should be put aside sometimes to deal with it. ]

[Her hands drifted through his hair and back once more, and held there as he tilted to look up at her. She was leaned over a bit, looking down to him.]

I'll be fine. [She repeated what he just said back to him. A faint smile at her lips. She wanted to lean down and kiss his forehead. Something she has done with Nicky or Joe. Forehead or cheek. She wasn't sure why she didn't do that with Booker. Maybe because they started that kind of action with her. Who knows, but she almost did it tonight, then... let his hair go, drawing back to lean on the back of the chair.]

I think after I pack I should be good to rest. I'd rather you get your work done and get some rest too, than read to me tonight. As much as I would like that.

[and she would like that. And if she can't rest, she'd come back out to bother him, or at least sit with him while he finished his work.]

[ Booker chuckled as she tossed his words back at him. He walked into that one, didn't he? ]

Alright. I've got Nicky and Joe's transport out of the way. They can leave as soon as they're ready. [ It was the easiest part to handle. Building new identities that would pass background checks and any digging another journalist might do. He hadn't even gotten to making the physical ids and some fake articles.

It would be a long night for him so if she couldn't sleep he would be out here working away. Booker would probably sleep on the plane they took to Greece. They'd have to travel like normal people for awhile just because that fit with the cover. ]

Would you mind packing something for me? Since I'll be doing this? [ He nodded his head towards his laptop. ] Just whatever. You know I don't care that much.

I'll let them know. And I heard Qyunh was contacted? IS she set up for transport as well, or is she just doing her own thing like normal?

[She didn't worry about their fifth too much. She came and went like the wind and always managed to stay out of sight.]

[When he asked if she could pack for him she nodded] Sure, of course. I'll pack the brightest things you own and not a single denim shirt. [she teased softly, starting to drift away to the rooms.] I got you. But try and sneak some rest in too? [A finger gun shot and she would duck off to the bedrooms to pack for them both.]

[as for sleep, that was what she attempted. With bags dropped to the floor, packed light for two people pretending to be Journalists, she flopped into her bed and curled up, blanket pulled over her head and trying not to let her mind wander.]

[It wandered.]

[She lay there awake for a few hours. Read on her phone a bit. Tried again. Thought of the case. Of those girls. Of a flight. Of all the things that could go wrong. This was normal for a pre case set up for her. She needed to learn to relax and go with it. Even Andy used to tell her that. It would be fine. But her brain wandered, and she peeked out the door a few times to see if Booker was still working. Of course he was.]

[Letting out a sigh she got to sleep, for a few hours, before waking with a start. Her hand going to her neck as she rolled over onto her back. This again. She shook her head and got up, pulling socks on and silently wandering out to see Booker, still in his chair. She plopped down on the couch, running her hands over her face.]

How's it going?

Quynh can handle her own.

[ Booker had a very... complex relationship with Quynh what with her kidnapping him and using him as bait to bring in the others just to get at Andy.

Things were tense. He would help her if the others asked him to but usually he left her alone and she left him alone and it worked for them. ]

Jokes on you, the brightest thing I own is denim. [ He trusted she wouldn't pack him ugly clothes because he really didn't own anything brightly colored. Booker tended to muted colors.

The rest of the group went to bed around him while he continued to work. He bid Joe and Nicky goodnight and then there was just him and the sound of typing until Nile came out and joined him. ]

It's going. We'll be ready. [ He saved his work quickly and then closed the laptop. ] Now you're going to tell me what's been bothering you.

[She knows it's difficult, the Quynh problem. But she was one of them, to a point. It came in handy at times like this. She didn't like what she did to Booker, but that was... a long time ago now.]

[His joke about his brightest clothing made her walk off chuckling. She would be sure to make him look good and not look ridiculous, just because she was nice like that.]

[she leaned into the arm of the couch, looking over to him. She wasn't going to come out because of this reason, but there was something about it that she might want to talk about. Maybe. God damn it.]

[She rested her head on a fist, her elbow on the couch arm.] I notice that wasn't a question.

[Stalling]

We made a deal. [ He set the laptop aside and crossed his leg over his knee. Booker studied her his head tilted slightly. Once again, they were across from each other having a heart to heart.

They always seemed to end up like this though he knew the others talked with her too. She was the youngest and while also the leader they tended to look after her. ]

What's bothering you? [ There, he put it as a question for her. Not that it would get her out of answering. Booker could be relentless when it came to these things.

Also, patient. He could wait her out simply because he was a stubborn bastard. ]

[She frowned, knowing he's stubborn and knowing that coming out here meant she was going to have to talk. She knew he'd handle it too. This was fine.]

[She talked to all of them, naturally, but where Nicky or Joe would let her get away with a vagueness sometimes, Booker always waited it out.]

[she was silent for a long minute, just staring at him. Then softly...]

I did something stupid.

[and for a moment that might have been all she was going to say, but then she shrugged, looking at her hand in her lap now.] Checked in on my relatives. On one of my nieces.

[ All she had to say was 'something stupid' and he knew. There was only one stupid thing she could talk to him and him alone about. He looked away for a second and rubbed his hand over his mouth.

He gave her a look that was sympathetic. Right now, her family was still so fresh. It would start to disperse and be less tempting as the years went on but right now it was there within reach. ]

You're not part of their lives, Nile. Never have been except as a story. [ He knew the words would hurt. They were meant to. She had to remember the cost before she ended up torn apart like he was. ] You can't go back, even just to pretend you're a stranger and accidentally cross paths.

[ He didn't think she'd be as weak as he had been. Booker had fought so hard to be with his family again and it only destroyed him. Nile was better than that. ]

[She knows. She knows she can't make contact. Her mother died and she had to not go to the funeral. Her brother passed on by now and she skipped that, all the same. She distanced herself as best she could, but it was so hard.]

[His words did hurt, but she understood why they were spoken. Her hand raised to her eyes and rubbed at them, not crying, but sleepy.]

I promise, I'm not going to make contact. As easy as it would be. Make a facebook profile or something. I don't know. It's stupid. [she hunkered down farther into her couch, legs curling under her more.] And I wont. I know better. But...

But you miss them.

[ Booker understood.

His family was all gone and if anyone traced their roots back to Sebastien le Livre they were so much a stranger that Booker didn't feel that same ache thinking of his sons did.

He could go see his family's graves though. There was no risk of anyone stumbling on him and asking what they were doing there. No temptation to go see living family. ]

And it's hard to stop thinking about them so you can actually sleep.

But I miss them... yeah. I miss my mom and brother, and I missed out on his daughters lives, because I promised not to. I missed out on the next set of my nieces.

[she sighed deeply.] Nilla is going into the Marines. Neema is having a fit about it, and there's nothing I can say to either of them about it, and it's very, very stupid of me to check in on them like this.

[She curled in on herself more, both elbows on her knees, her hands on her head. She's embarrassed for one, and upset for another. It's stupid, she tells herself. It's torture and she shouldn't care but she does.]

It is very hard to let go. There's no shame in that. Look at me.

[ Booker held on to his family for much, much longer and it destroyed him. Nile was handling immortality and living family much better than he had. ]

Nile... they're your family. And you have to trust that... they'll keep on living even though you're not there to help them. [ She could watch but never interact. It was not easy but it was what had to be done. ] They've made it this far. Trust they'll keep going.

And delete Facebook. The amount of data that thing tracks is bad anyway. Worse if you have an account. [ Don't make him rant about the evils of social media, Nile. Booker will do it. ]

[It's so hard. And she KNOWS he knows it's hard. That's why she can talk to him, but she doesn't want to make it a problem for him either. God. This was hard. It was the stupidest thing to stress about.]

[He said to look at her and she pulled her hands tighter over her head a moment, then sighed, relaxed and peeked out at him as he spoke.]

I trust them. I know there's nothing I can do, but the thoughts are still roaming in my head. I miss them. I missed my moms own funeral. My brothers. His kids are so old now. Babies having babies, and I'm missing it all. I don't know any of them.

[She crossed her arms over her knees and peeked over at him from over her arms.] And I don't hold an account anymore. I know better than that. I know social media is evil. [Pre-emptively stopping a rant maybe]

[ It won't be a problem for him. He can, at least, see the graves of his family if he aches for them too much. Nile didn't even have that peace.

He got up and went over to her. Kneeling in front of her chair he slid a hand around the back of her neck and pulled her forward until they were forehead to forehead. It was a gesture he did with Andy all the time.

One he had started with her only recently. It was meant to comfort and give strength. ]

And they don't know you. Let them have the legend of Nile Freeman. A woman they admire and mourn and will always be a hero.

[ He squeezed his hand against her neck. ] We've got you.

[She didn't fight it, the touch to the back of her head, pulling her forward to him, forehead to forehead. It was really amazing how well that felt like the best comfort. She was holding herself together as best as she could. She refused to cry over this. He was right though.]

I... [She choked a bit on her words, then held a breath, leaning there, eyes closed. Taking the moment as it was. He was right. Leve them alone. They don't know her. It's for the best.]

I've got you. I've got all of you. I don't need more than that. [her hand reached out to his other hand, grasping it.] I'm sorry. I know it's so, so stupid. I wont go back to checking up on them. I'll make that a promise.

[ He brought her hand up and laid it over his heart so she could feel it beating. It was another one of those gestures he used to share with Andy, the simple reassurance of both of them being alive and not alone in the world. ]

You sure you can keep that promise? [ Because Booker sure as hell hadn't been able to. He didn't want her torturing herself dying to know about her family and trying not to disappoint them by failing on that. ] If you can't, there's no shame in it. We'll be here for you.

[ He thumped her hand against his chest. ] I'll be here. A living reminder of the scars it'll leave.

[ No one needed to carry the grief he did but especially her. ]

[she felt his heart beat, eyes closed, forehead forward. She let out a breath, nice and slow. Took in another, breathing him in.]

[Could she do it? Could she keep that promise?] If I make it to you, I will keep it. I've... got to let go.

[Of all people he new this pain, more than even she did. She took another breath, curling her hand at his chest. Near his heart.]

Sorry. Sorry. I can normally keep it together better than this.

Don't feel guilty if it takes a long time to do that.

[ It had taken him almost three hundred years to get to a point where he could live with his grief. Even then, it could still overwhelm him but Booker knew he had a lot of things wrong with his brain. ]

I've got you. It's okay if you need to let it go for a little bit. [ No one survived immortality if they were stone. All those years became crushing if one didn't let go now and then.

Again, another hard learned lesson for him. Exile had been hell on Earth but Booker had learned a lot. ] Promise I won't tell the others you're still human and not some fierce modern warrior goddess.

I do feel guilty though. I said I would let them go and here I am... not.

[she moved to scoot over to him, closer to where he crouched before her on the couch. She leaned in to steal a hug, ducking her head to rest on his shoulder, letting go another breath.]

We've got missing children to find. I don't need to 'let go' right now. Bad timing. [and she gave a hallow huffed laugh at his last comment.] NO one is going to mistake me for that. That role was already taken.

I'm sorry you feel that way. You're only human though. We all fail at certain things.

[ Booker didn't have the same way with words that Joe did but he was trying his best here. He knew from personal experience that it was damn hard to get past these feelings.

He wrapped his arm around her more firmly and returned the hug. If it would help her feel better he was all for it. ]

We're finding them tomorrow. You can let go for tonight. [ It was true there was no way to replace Andy but he thought she did an admirable job. ] But if you'd rather not I can read to you. Distract you with the problems of a young wizard and the shadow he's trying to chase.

[He was doing as well as he could, and she was trying to hold it all in as best she could. But hugging him helped. It hid her face and hid the fact she was trying to cry.]

[She stayed there for a moment, hearing him out. She can let go today. Be better tomorrow. Be on her game.] Give me a minute. [She tightened her hug on him for a moment longer, then loosened her arms, though she stayed close.]

Distract me soon. It's so... I'm so... [She pushed her hand up to her face and rubbed at it roughly, drawing back a bit again.] I just need a minute, and then I will be fine again. [She said it like she was telling herself that at least. That if she just took a minute, she could school herself to be fine again.]

Thank you, Booker.

[ There really weren't good words for this sort of grief. To live while your family died. Booker was grateful that Nile didn't have children. That was a special sort of hell to live through. He wouldn't wish that on his worse enemy.

So, he let her hide against him and held her. Maybe he could come up with some good words but that wasn't what she needed. He let her work through it. Sometimes, that was really the only way as hard and miserable as it was. ]

Any time, Nile.

[ And he meant that. Booker would help her through these moods whenever they hit her. ]

[She does take her time, just for a few minutes. She's trying not to cry but there is a moment if tears on his shoulder. Her hand rubbed at her face once more and she let out a deep sign.]

[She drew back from him after a few minutes, then nodded.] Okay. I got this. I've got you guys. I got you. [she drew back, patting his arm and reaching up to rub her eye again. This was the last thing she wanted, to break down before him. To break down before any of them about this, but she knows he's safe to do this with.]

I'm together again. Promise.

[ Considering one of their first real conversations had resulted in him crying in front of her Booker didn't judge her for having a few tears now. She held it together a lot better than he did.

When she drew back he sat on his heels his hands resting on his knees. She did look together again even though she was a bit puff around the eyes. ]

Yeah, I can tell. [ He patted her knee before he stood up. ] You still want me to read to you? Or just go to bed?

[ They could also sit up in silence if she'd rather do that. Booker still had work to do. ]

[She took another breath, slow and easy. Gave another nod, looking at him this time. She was puffy eyed, yes, but not crying now. She was trying to hold it together.]

[she reached out to his hands and gave a small squeeze.]

I know you have work still to do, but could you read a little. Just... a little?

[She wants to sleep, and she could, now, maybe. But she wants to hear him read to her too. That was a comfort she needed.] I won't keep you from your work long.

Of course. [ He wouldn't have made the offer if he wasn't willing to do that. Part of the reason he loved books so much was how they took him out of his head and gave him an escape from the ugliness that circled there.

Booker grabbed the book from the coffee table and sat at the far end of the couch. There was plenty of room if she wanted to get up from her chair and stretched out.

He didn't push. Sometimes, people wanted distance after showing their vulnerable side. Nile was a big girl, she could decide for herself. ]

When we last left off... [ He did a quick recap of the story so far and then went right into narrating in the same steady voice as the night before. His laptop was in easy reach for when Nile fell asleep. He wasn't sure how long it would take but they had all night.

And he was skilled enough to make hours of work fit into a smaller time frame. No one needed to feel guilty. ]

(good morning!)

[In all truth, it wouldn't take much to put her to sleep. Right now she just really wanted to hear his voice as she drifted.]

[When he moved to the couch he made room for her there. She got up and moved to join him, but instead of curling up tightly beside him, she sat down in the middle, then moved to lay down, resting her head on his thigh, a hand resting on his knee, and looking out into the room. Listening as he read.]

[She really was enjoying the book, and she wanted to hear all of it, but he might find that he barely got through one chapter and she had topped staring. She had closed her eyes and inched close, curled up and asleep.]

[Crying was hard, and holding back emotions was harder. She got some out, and that was enough. Enough to give her rest. And a promise she knew she would force herself to keep, no matter ho sad it made her feel. She didn't know those kids and she never would. She had to get over it. She promised she would.]

[Asleep, he would be left to work on his work the rest of the night. He might even be able to move if he wanted to, she was that out of it this time.]

[ They all had to break eventually. Immortality couldn't be an endless stoic struggle. Booker waited until he was absolutely certain she was asleep before he shrugged out of the light button up he had on over his t-shirt. He draped it over her like a blanket.

Then he grabbed his laptop and got back to work. By morning, they'd have rock solid identities as reports for a small news magazine. Nile was the writer and he was the photographer.

There was probably some sort of camera around here he could bring with. Or they'd get one in Greece at one of those tourists shops.

He stretched his legs out and tipped his head back. It would be dawn in just two hours but that was enough for a quick nap. That should be all he needed it to get through the rest of the day. ]

[He was going to get those two hours too, because she was completely out of it. When he placed his button up over her, she seemed to curl into it at one point, pulling it over her face and tucking in more.]

[She stayed passed out, stretched on the couch, curled to his leg and actually slept well. Asa much as she tried not to break, she did need it. She needed to get over it, and she knew now that it would help. The job would help as well. Having something to put her mind to always felt better.]

[Nicky, like always, was first up, coming out silently and standing there a moment, looking at the two of them passed out on the couch. He shook his head and went to the kitchen. There would be a quick and fast breakfast for the four of them before they all take off to different locations.]

[When she did stir, it was because she smelled...] Mmm, coffee. [She mumbled softly, blinking her eyes and... she felt alright. Waking up groggy, her eyes a little puffy, but alright. As she sat up, she felt the cover shirt start to fall off a bit, pulling at it in surprise. She glanced to Booker, then smiled.]

[ The moment Nile stirred Booker woke up. He snorted softly before rubbing his hands over his eyes. Even though they were in a safe house he still woke up quickly once he was awake.

He glanced down and then up when he saw she wasn't asleep against him. Nile looked better this morning. More herself and less like she was going to crack.

Booker gave her a little salute. ] Breakfast?

[ He could smell coffee and hear Nicky moving around in the kitchen. Clearly, it was time for breakfast. ]

Work's done, by the way. I got us a flight for one this afternoon. First class. [ He smirked a little. ]

[She didn't mean to wake him, but she also knew the moment she moved he'd wake. They were all light sleepers, though honestly, he could have moved her last night and she'd have just rolled over and went back to sleep.]

[She pulled his button up off her, handing it back with a small] Thanks. [then stretched as tall as she cough, wrists crossing over her head as she yawned.]

Mmm, I think Breakfast. I smell coffee.

[She glanced back to the kitchen, then back to him, smiling as he said he got First Class.] Oh, how fancy. Been a while since we did first class. One sounds good though.

[ He shrugged a shoulder as he took his shirt back. Booker shrugged it on. ]

I figured it works better for international reporters. And it's mostly money from that Russian human trafficker we took down. [ A job Booker had enjoyed immensely. They had stopped that piece of shit and stolen a lot of money. What more could he want out of a job? ]

You go get breakfast I'll grab our things, make sure we're good to go. [ He needed to pack his laptop and a few others things as well as make sure they could smuggle a few weapons with them. All things that were well practiced now. ]

[She dropped her arms and yawned, waving at Joe as he came out, brow raised at them, and moving past, ruffling both Booker than Nile's hair, saying a good morning to them both and wandering to the kitchen.]

I like it. And all the better spent. [Hell, even she felt satisfaction in that job.]

[She stood, moving to crack her back and groan.] I packed your bag. It's on the floor with mine. I figured you were going to take photographer, so I tossed in that broken camera. I'm all packed and ready. We'll want to get to the air port early to get past security.

[she started for the kitchen, paused and glanced back at him.] And in case I didn't say it. Good work yesterday.

It's what I do.

[ Booker shrugged but he appreciated her praise. It meant a lot coming from their newly elected leader.

He got their things together, making sure to conceal a few weapons. There was a stash in Greece though it was closer to Athens and it would take them awhile to get it if they needed serious weaponry.

All the bags ended up by the door before he joined them all for breakfast. He had a print out for Joe and Nicky of their transport and lodgings for their mission. He had another for Nile of her new cover and all the details. He made her a graduate of the University of Chicago just because. ]

[She gave him a grin and a wink for his comment, heading off into the kitchen. She had wanted to make sure that they knew she appreciated what they did. For her. For the team. For the world. Just, what ever it was they did, she wanted to make sure someone was grateful for it. And even if it was just her, she felt that was something.]

[She knew she could do the computer work like Booker did, but not LIKE Booker did, and the forgery would be, well, a disaster. It was his specialty and she valued it.]

[She got coffee, and more coffee. And some toast. Nicky had made real breakfast again. A 'one last morning before we split up' moment. Nile hated the feeling of splitting up, but she knew they would be together again shortly.]

[Joe and Nicky ate, and looked over what Booker got for them. They were packed and ready to take off as soon as they were done with food. Nile said she'd take care of dishes. She hugged each of the boys and wished them luck, and watched them leave before them, leaving the lock up of the safe house to Booker and her.]

[While she cleaned up the kitchen, and then took a quick shower herself, she changed into appropriate travel clothing for a graduate of UoC. Which she HAD noticed, and smiled sadly about. In all truth, she should have graduated there. it was her goal after the marines.]

[Washed up and changed, she waited on the arm of the couch for Booker to finish what he was doing, be it a shower himself or just locking down.]

You almost ready? [She called, swinging a leg lazily off the couch.]

[ Booker showered and trimmed up his beard. He wanted to look at least somewhat respectable for this cover though he guessed that would fade after awhile of asking around and investigating.

He dressed a little nicer too but comfortable for the plane because he fully intended to sleep the whole time and make up for what he's lost. The last thing he grabbed was the book he's been reading to her. Booker doubted there would be quiet nights like before while they were working but he wanted it.

Just in case. ]

Yeah, yeah, I'm ready. [ He swung his backpack over his shoulder. ] Let's get the hell out of here.

[She stood as she saw him coming, grabbing her own duffle bag and slinging cross her body to tuck behind her. She almost opened her mouth to say 'You clean up nice' but decided she shouldn't.]

[then that she wanted to.]

[Then it felt awkwardly too late, so she shut up and followed him out the door, stepping ahead of him and letting him lock it down.] Greece, here we go.

It was cold. Normally Andy dealt fairly well with chilly conditions, but tonight for some reason she couldn't stop feeling it, even curled into a ball under a doubled-up blanket. She didn't want to wake any of the others: Joe and Nicky were cuddled up to each other as they liked to be, and Nile had burrito-ed herself into a roll where only her face was visible.

And Andy knew Booker hated the cold--it was unlikely he'd be peacefully sleeping anyway. All of which led to her climbing in next to him with her blanket and pillow, hoping to share warmth. Booker was always warm.

"Book," she murmured. "You awake?"

"Yeah," he said with a sigh. "I'm up."

There was no way he'd really sleep in this cold. He could doze and sort of drift away but it wasn't actual sleep. Once they were somewhere a proper temperature he would catch up on the missed sleep.

He lifted the blanket he had to let her climb in and then immediately shifted to his side so she could curl up against him.

"You alright?" He asked as he rested his chin on top of her head.

"Can't sleep," she murmured, tucking in next to him after she'd thrown the extra blanket across. It wouldn't hurt either of them to be under another layer. The arrangement of bodies, sliding up close and fitting their curves an edges together was a long-practiced motion; she curled towards his chest and slipped her knee between his thighs, letting his arms band around her back.

"It's cold. And it feels...lonely over there." Their beds were less than twenty feet apart, honestly, but sleeping alone wasn't happening. Sleep at all was looking unlikely. "Talk to me? About anything."

This wasn't the first night they've ended up like this. They share a lot of sleeplessness. It's better they've curled up together instead of drinking their sorrows away which is another answer to this sort of problem.

"I found a book I thought I'd lost," he said softly. The others were close by and he didn't want to wake them. They might stir a little but when they knew nothing was wrong they should drift right back to sleep.

"Turns out it was here. I thought I had left it in Belgium. I'm glad I found it." It was nothing important but that was sort of the point. She just wanted to hear his voice.

"What book was it?" she asked, looking up at his face; she could make out the edges of his features in the dark, comforting as their breaths heated up the enclosed space between them, surrounded by blankets.

This was better than finding the bottle of vodka in the next room and stealing Booker's sweater until morning, but the next job they took was going to be someplace warm. Tropical, if need be. Andy was sick of feeling cold and restless and lonely. "Maybe you could tell me about it." Unspoken, though almost certainly understood between them went the addendum: or just distract me from feeling so old and so alone.

"Hm, it's a second printing which is why I lost track of it." Booker had his first editions stored safely and a spreadsheet with their various safe locations listed.

He did not leave first editions in caves unlike Andy and her priceless art.

"It's a Raymond Chandler, the High Window. It's one of my favorites because it's got a rare coin at the center of the mystery." Booker smiled a little. He had faked a few rare coins in his day so of course it appealed to him.

To Andy, art was art, regardless of what other people paid for it. The statue Rodin had made, a painting from da Vinci, and Joe's sketchbooks full of nothing but half-done drawings of them all doing silly domestic things were of equal value to her. What made the art important was the meaning, not the popularity or price.

She knew Booker felt the same, he just had better tendencies to take care of things.

"That's...the detective one? Mason, or Marlowe or something, I never get his name right," she hummed gently. "I remember you talking about it because of the coins." She also remembered him faking valuable coins, and Andy had sat for hours one time just watching him do it. His concentration had been fascinating. "It's not the one with the sisters, is it?"

He chuckled softly. "Marlowe. And yes, he's a private detective. It's a classic of mysteries and noirs. Well, the movie versions are usually shot noir style."

Booker preferred books and plays to television and movies. He appreciated the technology behind them they never entertained him as much as the classics. Though, he was glad to watch football whenever he wanted.

"No, that's a different book." He nuzzled her hair. "This one has blackmail and a lot of murder."

Which probably wouldn't help her but that was sort of the point. He was teasing.

She snorted at that, shaking her head and pulling in close. She was pressed against Booker from neck to knees already, but that never stopped her from wanting to touch. He was easily the tallest and broaest of them all, and could envelop her so handily sometimes. "You're so patient when I mix them all up," Andy murmured, nuzzling into his collarbone.

"The other one, that's the one where all the girls come onto him?" There was a lot of finding naked women in other people's beds in some of the noir books he liked.

Booker held his tongue for a moment. He had learned patience raising three boys and it came in handy when dealing with her. Definitely wasn't going to compare her mixing up Chandler stories with trying to get three children to actually do their reading.

"Chandler reused a lot of themes and story elements," he agreed with a little nod. "That's what people wanted to read in a Marlowe story. Intrigues, scandals, and sex. Not that there are any actual sex scenes, I believe. It's been awhile since I read all his work."

But now he's got one book to read, at least.

That got a little chuckle out of her, half-closing her eyes when she felt Booker nod, his cheek shifting her hair. "Not too far off what we do," Andy said quietly, reaching up to tilt his chin down to her.

"Let's skip the intrigue part. Come here, Book." Andy stretched up to reach him, tilting to press a kiss to his lips. Neither of them were in a hurried mood, and it was finally starting to warm up between their body heat and the blankets. Even if all they did was cuddle up and talk, it would have been worthwhile to kiss him.

"What scandal have we been involved in recently?" Booker didn't think anything they had done recently had caused a scandal. Andy had caused a few scandals with her behavior in the past.

The world was much more accepting now.

He snorts softly before he kisses her lightly. "You're going to be bored if we don't have some intrigue once and awhile."

He rubbed his hand against her back to get some more warmth back into her. She did feel a little cold even though it was warming up under the blankets.

"Depends on your definition of recently," Andy murmured in reply, lips brushing against Booker's skin as he rubbed her back, very nearly getting a purr.

She liked being warmed up. "I think I can handle some boredom now and then, thank you," she chuckled, but it was genuinely soft and lacking in any irritation. Andy just let him kiss her, sighing against him and loving the way Booker held her close and wrapped himself around her. It was comforting.

"You know I love you. Intrigue or not."

They could certainly all use a little peace. Booker would argue he liked boredom more than the rest of them but he was never a warrior in the first place.

"I do even though you crawl into bed with freezing cold feet." He trapped her feet between his and rubbed them together trying to get some warmth into them.

His wife had the same problem. At this point, he assume it must be a thing for women. "It's a cruel thing to do to someone."

She had to laugh at that, and flexed her bare toes: they were cold, though she normally wore socks. She loved socks, liked having warm toes. "Blame Nicky," she murmured, nuzzling up and tilting her head so her nose was buried in the crook of Booker's neck and shoulder.

"He stole my socks."

Her fingers threaded into Booker's hair, tugging gently and scratching at his neck. "You love me anyway. Because you're good like that."

"Stop having interesting socks." Booker glanced over his shoulder but no, he couldn't see Nicky's feet. They were hidden under a pile of blankets and probably also tangled with Joe's.

"It's not the first time I've loved a woman with cold feet," he said dryly but his eyes drifted closed and he relaxed in contentment. Especially when his hair was long he liked having it played with.

Booker was essentially a dog. He liked getting pet and pleasing the people around him.

"You bought them," Andy protested with a soft snort. "They were the dinosaur ones. From that movie." Said socks were bright yellow and patterned with raptors and the near-eponymous clever girl. Few people ever guessed that she loved silly things like that, but socks were one of Andy's simple pleasures, along with little sweets.

They all had their loves, each other, and their gentle enjoyments. And right now Andy had all three, snuggled in with Booker as she petted his hair and wriggled up just enough that she could kiss him more easily. Things were good right now, right here in their little cozy blanket-nest. It was almost enough for her to forgive being stuck in the cold weather for another night.

"I like the way you taste right now."

"They made me think of you." Booker was not a fan of movies. In general the technology was incredible but he'd much rather read and use his own imagination. The phrase and the dangerous creature? Very much reminded him of Andy.

He hummed softly against her lips. "You are full of compliments when you're sleepy."

Andy was clearly more relaxed than usual and full of sleepy affection. Booker didn't mind. It was nice but it always amused him when she let her guard down like this.

"I'm scaly and eat people? Thanks," she chuckled, happy and content to tease and be teased. Yes, she'd let her guard down around him; it was impossible for her not to love Booker. He understood her when she wanted to just be taken care of, rare though the sentiment was, and still respected her abilities when she didn't. He could make love to her all night, and still follow her through anything they could face together, no questions asked in the face of her fury with her axe.

"Maybe. Maybe you just bring it out in me," Andy murmured.

"Hey, you're also clever."

Andy was a vicious, merciless hunter and a fearless leader. Well, not really fearless. She worried about all of them because she loved and cared for all of them.

He pressed a kiss to her temple. "I like to think you're more honest when you're sleepy."

A very different energy than tired. Tired made Andy quiet.

She chuckled against his skin, snuggled close and stretching lazily. "Clever too? How flattering," Andy murmured.

Sleepy Andy was honest, open, and unguarded; a rare circumstance for her, but it made her attitude all the sweeter when it happened. "I love you when I'm not sleepy too," she whispered softly.

"Never doubted it." Booker might struggle to believe any of them loved him at times but right now he knew it was true. Andy loved him whether half asleep or fully awake.

"But you should get some sleep anyway. It won't help if we're both tired." Booker could be her space heater and keep everything warm while she slept.

He would go back to dozing though maybe with Andy here he would sleep. Sometimes all he needed was another body warm against his.

"You should too," she argued, pushing at his shoulder until he laid back where she could settle down on top of him; it was fairly often she slept best with some kind of weight--like a solid body--on top of her to force her muscles to relax, and it stood to reason having her in his arms and her head on his chest would help Booker. Andy could drift off with his heartbeat in her ear, and his hands on her back.

But not before one more kiss, slow and humming as she settled down and carded her fingers through his hair, over the shell of one ear.

Booker grunted when she pushed but he didn't fight it. He settled on his back, folding one arm behind his head. Them other he draped around her.

"Don't worry, I'll get some sleep." He pressed another quick kiss to her lips. "Just takes me awhile, you know."

Next to Nicky, he was the worst at actually sleeping. Sometimes, it just didn't happen no matter what.

"Was it this bad before us?" Andy asked, letting herself be moved however Booker was the most comfortable; she rested her cheek on his chest just below his shoulder, hearing his breathing and his pulse thudding below where her head rested.

She knew they all had sleep problems: Nicky barely rested at all sometimes, and Andy herself had insomnia more often than not, though given enough quiet she could drift off to the edges of sleep. Usually while traveling, when one of the others was driving.

"Yes. It was always bad. Worse after Russia." Booker wouldn't mention the nightmares of drowning that also fucked up his sleep. He had plenty of other nightmares about his son and war to mention instead. "I think too much. That's all."

At least over the years he had learned to make those sleepless nights somewhat meditative. He got rest that way though it was never true sleep. As long as he was awake enough to protect everyone the next day it was fine.

It was ironic considering he could also sleep anywhere and in any position if he was tired enough. Beds were just... not good for sleep.

Andy drew her fingertips along the line of Booker's jawbone, listening and watching his face as he spoke. "Will you tell me what you're thinking about tonight?" she asked.

"I was thinking about the last time we can this far north. That job in Oslo," she murmured. "You remember that bar we went to afterward, where that blonde girl was trying so desperately to hit on Nicky?"

"To be fair Nicky was one of the more handsome men in that bar." Booker chuckled softly as he rubbed his fingers along her back. "He was fine once Joe stepped in."

Booker had tried to run interference but she had no interest in an "old man". She had no idea Nicky was the much, much older man.

"I've been thinking about Paris and the Resistance." World War Two was probably the longest he spent away from the group. While the others where all over being a pain in the ass for Nazis he had stayed most in Paris working as an agent for them.

Andy shook her head. "She was selectively blind. You were there too," she murmured with a hum. "And Joe, neither of whom she was stuck on."

Andy might be biased, though.

"I remember. We were worried about you," she said softly. "Would you want to go back to Paris with us?"

"He's the prettiest of us." Nicky had the softer features and the warm eyes. Booker didn't blame the girl for getting hooked on that.

Booker started to circle his touch around the small of Andy's back. More and more he was trying to soothe her into sleep.

"I was fine. The resistance was a good group." Booker had really liked those people and their passion for their country. His country. "We could go to Paris."

It's Marseille that Booker couldn't handle. It hurt even to think of his home.

Andy stretched, toes pointed, and relaxed with a yawn as Booker rubbed circles against her back; he knew the repetitive gentle touch was one of the quickest ways to actually lull her to sleep short of sex or driving. She felt safe in Booker's arms, in the rapidly-warming nest of blankets and with his heartbeat thudding gently beneath her cheek.

"We could go back there," she hummed. "It's been a while. It's warm in the summer," Andy sighed.

"We could." Booker wouldn't push for it though. There wasn't much of a reason to go back. None of them were very good at playing tourist. If there wasn't work, what was the point really?

But if Andy wanted to imagine Paris in summer that was fine with him. Booker did love his home country even if they rarely spent any time there.

"It's also very crowded in the summer with tourists and you hate crowds."

"Not if you're all there," she murmured sleepily, eyes drifting closed.

She could handle anything the world threw at them, with the boys around her, and now Nile. They were the reason she felt capable of even waking up in the mornings. "Could kiss you. On the...mmm. Anywhere." Names of landmarks were just not going to come to her right now, but she didn't mind. Couldn't bring herself to care about it.

"Making me sleepy."

"Uh huh. I'm doing it on purpose."

Andy clearly needed sleep. Booker probably did too but it was harder to get there. Probably easier with an Andy shaped blanket lying on top of him but he wasn't there yet.

"Don't make me hum." He had a decent enough singing voice. He could hum a fair tune. A little lullaby would just push her right over the edge into sleep he was certain.

Andy breathed deep, shifting her hips and sinking her weight into Booker as she unwound, tilting her head back though she didn't quite manage opening her eyes or making it to a whole sentence.

"Should."

She liked his voice, and the way he hummed; he'd done it to her to put her to sleep more than once. "Like that song you do." He'd know which one.

Booker chuckled softly. Andy with single word responses was a very good sign she was about to drift off. This was what she wanted, after all, when she climbed into bed with him.

He was her living heated blanket and her soothing white noise. That was fine with Booker. He felt a real sense of satisfaction being able to help like this. It was one little way he could help and something he was good at.

So, Booker started humming an old lullaby under his breath. He didn't want to bother the others sleeping nearby. It was just to put Andy that last little bit over the edge into sleep.

His company had been what she wanted, though sleep was a handy side benefit: Andy was tired, and now warm, and Booker's arms and voice around her meant she would not long be in the land of the wakeful. She didn't fight it, only curling her fingertips in the ends of his hair as she let out a sigh, breaths deepening as she dropped off the edge.

Booker did so much for her, comforting and loving and knowing exactly what to do to calm or soothe her even when Andy herself didn't. She hated that she could do so little for him, and just clung on the only way he'd let her.

( crosscanon loved! )

( voicetesting. mostly book canon. very much here for aus. )

[ any interest in a Booker? ]

[ yeah, sure! open to whatever, missing scenes or even post-movie. ]

[ Booker makes his way to the kitchen late at night seeking something to eat and something to drink. Something alcoholic, wine or whiskey whatever he can find.

He can't sleep so he might as well get something and then find a quiet corner to read something somewhere in the house.

He didn't expect to find Nicky there already.

He pauses in the doorway of the kitchen, unsure if the other man wants company or not. ]

[ Crosscanon and assumed CR welcome! ]

(ooc: ahoy, it's Matthew's mun with another disaster child. Is there any chance Carle's the one who can't sleep and is out somewhere he'd run into a vampire?)

( voicetesting! )

[ as always— it's silence that accompanies her approach. the hunter's wing of the manor is, perhaps, far more subdued than the survivor's wing. this has been so for as long as she can recall, and michiko has bore witness to many, many bright mooned nights, where the sky was clear of clouds and even the stars seemed to let her take center stage out here. "here" was an approximation, anyway. she's not sure of his time period or lifestyle or anything of the sort but she's sure it's completely removed from her own. michiko had been draped in the scent of tea leaves and sweets, tobacco and fine silks, the tuning of shamisens and hum of dancing lessons always weighing down on her ears. surely, joseph had known these things, but she wasn't quite so sure he knew electricity, for example. she'd never thought to ask, she'd admit, having only taken to offering him tea and sweets on those nights where each of them gathered around the table and waited for match summonings to roll in.

this late evening had seen her host such a match, playing goose to the survivor's ducks and chasing them round and round the stage like a good little actress with a role to play would. these matches are not always so easy on the body, of course. she had served tea to her fellow hunters as always: chai and milk chocolate. the remnants of their sweet and spicy meal were left behind and it was her own mess to clean, as always. still, a pallet had struck her over head and upon the back, leaving angry red marks in it's wooden wake. what had been a momentary task, something accomplished easily at the end of the night, had dragged itself out into a several hours long ordeal. surely, a woman like her needs and even craves beauty sleep, no? so as she collects scraps of the wrapping from the chocolate bars that had been set out, the exhaustion tugging at her black eyes is clear.

she sits at the head of the table, watching the candles burn down. the white wax has long since begun dirtying the tablecloth. it is a task for someone else to clean, but michiko...

turns her head, twisting at the hip in her elaborate kimono to peer over at joseph. ]

Hunter Joseph. [ her voice is melodic and sweet, high enough to sound like a bird's song. ] Were you looking for a late night snack?

[ a smile tugs at her lips, head canted in such a manner that she seems to urge him to elaborate. the mess from their tea party sits beyond her shoulder, still. ]

( on nights he's not selected to hunt, he prefers to spend his time peacefully. unlike some of the other hunters, he's not particularly interested in playing or socializing; rather, he drinks with one of the colorless guards, lets his fingers glide over the surface of the photographs he's taken recently, or watches the moon, as lonely and permanent as ever. they're hunters; they hardly ever check each other's health, especially after matches, considering they've all been given a considerable advantage over the survivors — though joseph has to admit some of them are peskier than others.

still, when michiko returns from her game, hardly anything within the manor stirs.

it's late — far too late to be lingering about, but joseph has always been restless. sleepless nights spent with wonders of eternity; long, torturous hours mulling over the past, again, and again, and again. but he's a creature of habit: after a few hours of such ordeals, he heads downstairs, to find something to help him sleep, or to keep him awake. he'd hardly call himself a sweet tooth, but he's a noble: he's got refined tastes, and michiko's never failed to deliver. )

My lady, ( always polite, always elegant. she's a sight for sore eyes, at least, among all the monsters and ghosts playing-pretend at being men. ) Perhaps. Some leftovers from earlier are perfectly fine, but — ( he's mostly just looking for wine.

that said, something else catches his attention. )

It's unlike you to linger here. Have you returned late? ( a roundabout way to ask how the match went, maybe. as comfortable as he's gotten with the people here, he's scarcely ever a to-the-point kind of a man. again, habit. 'you've seen better days,' he wants to say, but doesn't; he's a gentleman, after all, and so he avoids commenting on anything that could possibly make her bristle. instead, he quietly gathers some of the scattered cups from the table, lips curving in a small frown. ) One can hardly make a proper living in a mess, no? Allow me to lend a hand.

( he might be a noble, but what of it? a count chased away from his home; a spirit, at best, lingering where he shouldn't, long since abandoning any riches or titles that might have come from his family. no, he's not above cleaning, and she looks tired; he wants to help, because one should never leave a lady to do all the work herself. )

[ this man always had a sort of elegance to him, like a finely tuned piano waiting to be played. she thinks of joseph in such ways; someone who has been observed and not played with much in their life. it isn't that he is lacking, or that he is too distant, or even that he seems out of reach. perhaps, indeed, he has refined coldness to him, but it is not an unpleasant sense. she's never felt a bother to this man, or spirit, or whatever he is, now. in fact, she would not say she pities him, either, as lonely as her impression of him might be. perhaps all he needs is a good conversation.

or wine. it's usually wine.

with a tight smile, she inclines her head, looking away from him. the show of embarrassment is dramatic, as always, a performance she never break. michiko's always been in her role, playing it well. ] They have gotten stronger. Our dear survivors have certainly found more energy in themselves... Almost as they do truly wish to win, even as we dance this endless waltz. [ exhaling, she stands to collect an unopened bottle of wine. ] Still, it is to be expected. To be treated as a beast out on that playing field, it is something we all must endure.

[ for other hunters, it is easier. perhaps joseph understands in that regard; though michiko is an entertainer first and foremost, she isn't from the bottom of the social rung, either. she's not mary, but she knows many people he and her. ] You needn't worry yourself with my mess. I'll clean it soon enough, but I trust your thirst for wine hasn't dimmed. [ from the tray of unused glasses, delivered earlier, she plucks a wine flute. her pale flesh, snow white and paler than a corpse, peeks out beneath the sleeve of her long, heavy kimono. a display that many would pay top dollar for.

she's always been excellent at serving on others. perhaps joseph can appreciate the artistic and dramatic flourish of it. ] Allow me to pour you a drink. I hope it wasn't the clattering of dishes that brought you out.

( she couldn't be more accurate in her assumption, really — given the life of a noble, and being able to maintain a lavish existence meant nothing to him, after he'd lost his brother. pleasures of all sorts tasted like ash on his tongue; he didn't partake in life beyond capturing it with his camera, but he doesn't think of that as time lost. if anything, the cold distance he'd always maintained between himself and whoever had tried to get close has come in handy, here.

if he doesn't socialize, that's less trouble for him. alcohol keeps him good company, even if this body is hardly capable of getting actually drunk. )

Does it bother you? ( being treated like a monster, he means. he can't imagine she's ever experienced that outside of his place — joseph himself, well, he's used to it. there was no shortage of angry mob wanting to ambush him at his home, back in england. the news of the survivors gaining some determination does please him, though, even if he wouldn't admit it; they should, by all means, cling to their lives while they still have them. you can't take the manor for granted, after all; the rules of the game are ever-changing, and who knows what'll happen tomorrow?

setting the tray aside, he offers her a small nod and takes a seat. if she wishes to serve him wine first, so be it — it is what he came out of his room for, after all. )

Very well, ( with a nonchalant gesture, he leans back in his seat, watching her. she's clearly used to it — servitude, he means, though his lips remain sealed. there's something inherently graceful about her, though; he'd never guess she's spent her life serving ungrateful men, if someone asked about it. ) Don't worry; it's my own restlessness that makes me wander the manor at odd hours of the night. With the moon so high in the sky, I can't seem to get any shuteye.

( but wine helps, as per usual. it doesn't get him drunk, but it certainly provides some assistance in drifting off. )

Will you drink with me?

the i n s o m n i a meme

Izuku Midoriya | My Hero Academia | OTA

Izuminokami Kanesada | Touken Ranbu | ota

akira kurusu (joker) | persona 5 | OTA

ann takamaki | persona 5 | 1

finally gets to this eight years later,

Hatsuharu Sohma | Fruits Basket | ota

time for badou 2 comfort his sad insomniac grandpa

What a kind and loving grandson he is

he tries

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Richie Tozier || IT

the hound | got

Re: the hound | got

peregrine | oc

Puck/Robin Goodfellow | A Midsummer Night's Dream | OTA

Karen Donahue | OC

Caleb Widogast | Critical Role

william lewis | law & order svu

keith | vld

Nile Freeman | The Old Guard

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