InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Raise your fist and yell!"

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 2018-05-31 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.

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papahemingway
2018-06-01 05:33 pm UTC (link)

"I'm in the park with another person right now, I'm not a hermit," he insisted, even though he knew she wasn't entirely serious. He felt like he was pretending to be a real person, like he wasn't doing a bad turn of acting whole when in reality he felt all broken up.

"I fucking hate this place," he seethed. "But I must admit, you've vastly improved things recently," he added with a bit of a smile.

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isabellane
2018-06-01 05:40 pm UTC (link)

"That is very true. Good job." She grinned. She wanted to make everything perfect but she also knew it wasn't possible. And she did love him for who he was. She mentally blinked when that word crossed her mind. It hadn't even been a week.

"I'm glad I could help." She squeezed his hand again. "Right when you think things are going good this place comes along and kicks you in the nads." She made a face.

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papahemingway
2018-06-01 06:03 pm UTC (link)

"It's not just this place," he admitted, after a moment's quiet contemplation, slowing a little as the reached the edge of a large man-made lake. "I mean, it doesn't help. Not having a boat, for example, not knowing if or what I can hunt. But a lot of my issues with this place I could probably solve if I just did some research and asked around," he told her. "I don't, because... you know, if I don't try anything then I don't have t find out if I still can or not," he said. "Things were not 'going good'," he added, a little harshly.

Embarrassed by his own words, he let go of her hand and moved to sit on a bench overlooking the water a little way off.

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isabellane
2018-06-01 06:08 pm UTC (link)

Isabel just listened as he talked. He was right about a lot of things. She couldn't even begin to imagine what he had to be going through. She'd never been in that position before. She sighed a little at his last statement and let him go sit down. She did move close to the bench but didn't try to sit next to him just yet.

"You're right, I'm sorry. Poor choice of words." She ran her fingers through her hair. She really didn't know what else yo say. It all sounded so trite in her head.

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papahemingway
2018-06-01 06:16 pm UTC (link)

Ernest put his head in his hands for a moment, mentally berating himself for stupidly ruining the 'normal person' act he'd been doing so well with. A million thoughts raced through his head, and the niggling feeling that he really was just insane and this was all some sort of delusion just wouldn't leave him alone.

"It's fine," he mumbled, eventually lifting his head but looking at the scenery and not to Isabel. "I should've left you alone. You wouldn't need to have any part in this whole mess if I'd just let you be," he admitted. She had to be regretting it considering the new circumstances and the damn state of him now.

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	isabellane 2018-06-01 06:24 pm UTC (link)
	This time she sat next to him, rubbing his back gently. "I'm glad you texted me, Ernest." She lightly kissed his shoulder. "Because if nothing else, I am your friend. And you don't have to go through any of this alone." She sighed a little. "I'm here for you." Her voice shook a little as she said the next part. "No matter what happens." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

papahemingway
2018-06-01 07:20 pm UTC (link)

As much as he appreciated every word she was saying, he hated feeling so weak and vulnerable and pathetic. He needed to pull himself together. He was Ernest fucking Hemingway - or at least, the shadow of him - he didn't do pathetic moping.

"Ah. Okay. I guess we can't ignore the elephant forever," he conceded. "Nothing's changed. Not right this minute. She doesn't know who I am, she might not even like who I am now," he laid out the bare facts of the situation. "As for me, I did my grieving for the loss of that relationship a hell of a long time ago now," he added.

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	isabellane 2018-06-01 07:27 pm UTC (link)
	Isabel took his hand again. She nodded. "So right now we just... go on. See what happens." She offered him a smile but it didn't quite reach her eyes. She wanted to bring up the giant if but wasn't sure it was a good idea. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

papahemingway
2018-06-01 08:56 pm UTC (link)

Ernest paused for a moment. Selfishly, he wanted to say yes. He wanted her to stick around; he liked the affection, the friendship, the sex. Of course he did. But was it fair on her when he knew, deep down, that no matter what he said and how much he tried to be logical, he wasn't completely over Abi.

Eventually, he shrugged. "Only if you want to," he sighed. "I like you. I enjoy your company, you drive me wild with lust, and I would like to get to know you better. I can't make promises outside of that."

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	isabellane 2018-06-01 09:02 pm UTC (link)
	Isabel smiled. There was so much that could happen. She could definitely end up getting hurt. It was actually pretty likely with everything going on. None of that mattered, though. "I'm not asking for any promises. Just one day at a time." She leaned in and gave him a tender kiss on the lips. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)