[on the hospital roof]

[inthemoodnow]

[If you happen to be on or near the hospital roof tonight, you'll find one captain up there by himself, looking thoughtful as his greatcoat flaps gently in the breeze. If you're observant, you might catch him taking a drink from a flask every now and then. You might also hear some music wafting faintly through the air nearbyIn any case, he's good

Comments

[ournetprophet]

[brooding on roofs is also traditional where I come from. rolling herself out onto the roof when she sees him]

Ah, it's already occupied.

[inthemoodnow]

There's always room for you, Barbara.

*the reply comes with the usual quickness and a smile, but he's definitely looking a little ragged around the edges*

[ournetprophet]

Flatterer. Thank you.

[and she also looks tired and a little frustrated under the smile]

[inthemoodnow]

Only truth. Camp seems to be pretty big on that, lately.

*offers her his flask*

[ournetprophet]

[considers, and then takes a swallow]

Yes, I noticed. ...And a lot of departures.

[inthemoodnow]

*it's a very classy whiskey -- deep flavor, totally smooth*

You could say that the two are the same thing, sometimes.

[ournetprophet]

[hands it back]

It can certainly feel like it.

[inthemoodnow]

Who was it for you?

[ournetprophet]

My... Protege, I suppose. A part of the family.

[inthemoodnow]

*with the combination of matter-of-factness and sympathy that would suit a person of sincerity who is nevertheless no stranger to dealing with bad news*

I'm sorry.

[ournetprophet]

She can handle herself.

What about you?

[inthemoodnow]

*looking up into the sky*

A couple of people who were very close to me, within a few weeks of each other. And I know for a fact that, unless they make a return trip here, I'll never see either of them again. And that fact is, in one case, entirely my own fault. Which had been true when I got here. I just hadn't been expecting the... short-term second chance.

[ournetprophet]

I'm sorry, as well.

It's a double-edged sword, the potential of meeting people from home here.

[inthemoodnow]

It's a double-edged sword anywhere, the potential of meeting anyone. The blade is just a little bigger here. Still, I wouldn't change it.

*though if anyone who had heard him say something like that before heard him now, they would notice that he doesn't sound quite so sure about it*

[ournetprophet]

That's true enough. Most relationships end up with a little of that. But I'm not much in the business of regretting ever knowing someone in the first place. I'd never get anything done.

[inthemoodnow]

*chuckles*

That is a very good point.