InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Castles don't have phones."

Ernest Hemingway (papahemingway) wrote in spinningcompass,
@ 2018-05-30 23:22:00

Who? Ernest & Isabel (and/or Charlie)
Where? His apartment to start.
When? Shortly after Abi's reappearance.
What? Not having a breakdown.
Rating? TBD
Open? Ask first.

Charlie had done a damn good job of getting rid of all the booze. There was one half bottle of whiskey stashed on top of a tall cabinet in the study that he hadn't managed to find, but after a couple of straight mouthfuls, Ernest had decided to put it back where it was. An emergency supply of sorts.

People were being nice to him about it, and he was running the gamut of emotions. Angry to miserable to apathetic seemed to be the top contenders at the moment. He didn't want their pity, but at the same time he really didn't want to be left alone with himself.

Isabel. There had been an immediate pang of guilt when her message came through. He was going insane over the woman he'd loved over ten years earlier, and he had a perfectly good woman who knew who he was and for some reason still wanted him. How could she want to help him? It felt cruel to ask her for her help, but apparently he was in a cruel mood.

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isabellane
2018-05-30 11:04 pm UTC (link)

Isabel had meant it when she said she'd be there in a blink. She knew what Abi being there could mean. Even if the woman didn't remember anything, it would change things. But regardless of what happened, she was still his friend and she wasn't going to abandon him over something that might happen.

She popped into the apartment, seeming to appear from nowhere in the middle of the living room.

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	papahemingway 2018-05-30 11:08 pm UTC (link)
	"Jesus christ-" he exclaimed with a gasp. Of course he knew that she could appear like that, but being of the standard human variety, these things still tended to surprise him. "Hi," he added, giving her a wavering, wobbly smile. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	isabellane 2018-05-30 11:14 pm UTC (link)
	"Sorry." She gave him a sheepish smile. She sometimes forgot that she startled people. "Hi." Without a word, she pulled him into a hug, just holding him. Of course she'd back off if he wanted but hugs were her guest instinct. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	papahemingway 2018-05-30 11:26 pm UTC (link)
	Ernest let himself sink into her embrace, hiding his face against her shoulder for a moment. She really did give a very good hug, and it was taking all of his strength not to do something pathetic like start blubbering on her. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

isabellane
2018-05-30 11:37 pm UTC (link)

Isabel just held him, rubbing his back gently. She wanted to tell him so many things. Say that everything would be okay. That they could get through this. Everything that was running through her head to try to help him feel better but none of it seemed right. It all seemed more like a placation than a reassurance. So she didn't say anything. At least not at first.

"You wanna get out of here?" She whispered softly, not moving from the hug.

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papahemingway
2018-05-30 11:42 pm UTC (link)

Ernest felt like whining like a child that it just wasn't fair. None of it was fair. The timing of it. Her lack of memory. He knew that Kat was telling him that he had to fight for him, woo her, make her see that he was her soulmate. But he felt so old and so tired, he just wasn't sure that he had it in him anymore. And wasn't that just so incredibly unfair on Isabel? To be with her instead because it was easier? Or was that what people did all the time?

It was entirely possible that he was overthinking it.

"Yes please," he whispered back, holding onto her, already knowing what was going to happen next.

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isabellane
2018-05-30 11:47 pm UTC (link)

Isabel held onto him tight as she transported them to the park. She knew that those that traveled with her tended to feel a little dizzy when they landed but that was why she didn't let go of him. She wasn't even sure where in the park they were, or which park for that matter. She just knew that they were in the middle of a clearing surrounded by trees. It was a pretty secluded place so it was just them. Exactly what they needed just then.

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papahemingway
2018-05-31 12:04 am UTC (link)

Ernest kept his arms wrapped tightly around her in return, and he didn't lift his head from her shoulder even after they had arrived. He wouldn't even have been certain that they had moved yet if it hadn't been for the smell of fresh grass. The air here wasn't the same as the real outdoors, but it was less claustrophobic than other parts of the ship.

Time passed. He realised that at some point he was going to have to lift his head and actually engage with her, but he had no idea what he wanted to do or say.

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	isabellane 2018-05-31 12:12 am UTC (link)
	Isabel moved one hand up to gently run her fingers through his hair as she held onto him. She was okay with just holding him. Letting him process everything. There was a part of her that wanted to scream. Wanted to yell at whoever was responsible and tell them to fuck off, but that wouldn't solve the problem at hand. So instead she focused on comforting him. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	papahemingway 2018-05-31 07:38 am UTC (link)
	There was nothing to say. They both knew it was bullshut, they both knew just how cruel this world could be. Talking about it, as far as Ernest was concerned, wouldn't help a damn thing. Instead, after a few minutes silence had passed, Ernest lifted his head from her shoulder and pulled her into a kiss. He had said that he wanted a distraction, after all. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	isabellane 2018-05-31 02:12 pm UTC (link)
	She smiled a little when he lifted his head and wasn't completely surprised by the kiss. Yes, they'd have to deal with their feelings eventually but that could wait. Right this second it was just them. She kept her hand on the back of his head, holding him into the kiss. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	papahemingway 2018-05-31 02:29 pm UTC (link)
	It was clear that his head was somewhere else; although it was a perfectly pleasant kiss, he was lacking the fervour and passion that had been features during their dates. Still, a little tenderness was sometimes more what the situation called for. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	isabellane 2018-05-31 02:35 pm UTC (link)
	She let the kiss go on for a bit. Just being in the moment. Eventually breathing was necessary so she moved away a little. Her hand went to his cheek and she gave him several smaller, sweeter kisses before looking him in the eye. "Hi." It felt a little ridiculous but it was the only thing that came to mind just then. She smiled a little. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

papahemingway
2018-05-31 02:46 pm UTC (link)

She pulled back, and he smiled a little at the smattering of kisses she offered. He knew they were going to have to talk about it in a moment, and he was filling up to the brim with dread.

"Hi," he responded, managing to give her a smile in return. "Okay, so I know there's a massive elephant in the room, but can we just not for a minute?" he requested suddenly. "Let's take a stroll and you can tell me about your day."

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	isabellane 2018-05-31 02:49 pm UTC (link)
	She gave him one more quick kiss. "The elephant can wait." She nodded. There were certain things you had to be mentally prepared to talk about and she knew if she wasn't quite there, he was probably further from it. She took his hand and laced their fingers together. "Want me to start from the beginning?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	papahemingway 2018-05-31 02:56 pm UTC (link)
	"Thank you," he told her, with a sigh of relief. He hadn't realised just how much tension he was holding onto. He gave her hand a quick squeeze as they started their casual walk. "Yeah, tell me everything, all the details," he nodded. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	isabellane 2018-05-31 03:11 pm UTC (link)
	Isabel smiled. "Well, it started with my alarm interrupted a rather nice dream about this guy I've been seeing." She nodded. "Had to take a cold shower just so I could handle getting dressed. I replied to a text from Leif before heading to the kitchen. Had to get started on breakfast prep." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	papahemingway 2018-05-31 08:26 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh, really? Wow, must be some guy," he joked, an amused smile playing on his lips as she spoke. "And what was on the menu for breakfast?" he asked conversationally. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	isabellane 2018-05-31 08:31 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh he is. He's handsome and smart, and has a great cock. Knows how to use it, too." She smirked at him, squeezing his hand a bit. "I went with the basics this morning. Pancakes with fruit, scrambled eggs and sausage. Or oatmeal with brown sugar and cinnamon. Nothing too difficult. And of course coffee." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

papahemingway
2018-05-31 09:58 pm UTC (link)

Isabel started listing his good points, and he really hadn't been expecting the third descriptor. He gave an appreciative laugh. "Wow, sounds like you really lucked out," he teased, giving her a cheeky wink. "Did many people come along for breakfast?" he asked, not because he was actually interested in the residents eating habits, but just to keep her talking about something.

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	isabellane 2018-05-31 10:10 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh I definitely did." Isabel paused just long enough to kiss his cheek before continuing the walk. She shrugged a little at his question. "Most people just pick stuff up and take it home. TJ brought Maggie with him. She's so cute. Getting big, too. And a few other people stopped in." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	papahemingway 2018-06-01 07:04 am UTC (link)
	Her cheek kiss warmed him, and just for a second he was able to pretend that they were just on a regular date with nothing else going on in the background. Ernest stayed silent, not wanting to admit that he couldnt remember who TJ and Maggie actually were. "You sure know how to keep yourself busy." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	isabellane 2018-06-01 02:03 pm UTC (link)
	Isabel chuckled a little. "It's easy not to be bored in this place." Even if she wasn't trying to make sure she had enough food for everybody, there was a lot to explore. "Cleaning up after I cook usually kills some time, too." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

papahemingway
2018-06-01 04:59 pm UTC (link)

"Really? I can't say I've found that to be true," he admitted. But then, a lot of that wasn't the space station's fault. There was so much he'd used to love that he just couldn't handle anymore. "Some exceptions, of course," he added, in case it sounded like he was bored of her already. Christ, there was a small mercy- at least his cock still worked. He was good for something at least.

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isabellane
2018-06-01 05:11 pm UTC (link)

"Well, yeah. It's kind of hard to find things to do when you're a hermet." She chuckled. She gave his hand another squeeze. "I will happily provide any entertainment you might require." She winked with a smirk. The physical aspect of their relationship hadn't even been in her original plan when asking him out on that first date but it was definitely an added bonus.