on possibly being re-apped

[thirtyfiveminutes]

Of course I'm glad. My work on the ship was not complete. [ A beat. ] However, I do not quite believe this nonsense about me making friends.

[ Yet, he's smiling. ] The sooner, the better.

Comments

[routemistress]

Don't call 'im that. Aye. Quantum resonance bites us in the arse again. 'E got the worst of it.

[She doesn't want comfort; there isn't any, it's meaningless. She wants someone who gets it. That's always Adrian.]

[thirtyfiveminutes]

Well.

[He does get it.]

I'm opening my best wine to share once I return.

[routemistress]

[It's not her best smile, but it is a smile.]

I did get a terse little note yesterday, mind.

[Blandly.]

Alex settling in all right?

[Leaving Alexander the Great in New York was either Iris' best idea ever or her worst, and she didn't stick around long enough to find out which.]

[thirtyfiveminutes]

A little better than expected.

[Nearly got his own reality series. Adrian had to make sure nobody had him institutionalised.]

[routemistress]

Oh?

[Only nearly? Also Adrian is probably the best faking-a-historical-death-seamlessly buddy she's ever had.]

[thirtyfiveminutes]

Not to worry.

[Her secret is safe with him.]

[routemistress]

Thought we might do Alexandria next time. There's still a lot of boxes there need shiftin'.


[Hypatia's going to be a challenge, too.]

[thirtyfiveminutes]

[A broad smile.] Oh quite. Although next time you should let me do the translating.

[routemistress]

'Ey, 'ow was I to know sheep dip meant ...what it did. It's not like Urban Dictionary covers bloody Mesopotamia.

...well, it didn't. Any road, it turned out all right, didn't it?

[thirtyfiveminutes]

Wildthyme's Rule Number One, naturally.

[Oh look he can't even hide that he misses you.]

[routemistress]

It's always five o' clock somewhere, love. You'll be 'ome soon.

[Some people would think calling the Barge home was sad. It's really not.]

[thirtyfiveminutes]

Save a bottle for me, Iris.

[routemistress]

The good stuff, sweetheart. The very best.

[AND SHE'S JUST GOING TO SWITCH THIS OFF BEFORE SHE STARTS BAWLING AGAIN.]