(no subject)
Jul. 24th, 2009 10:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gabriel_tamTime passes. Life goes on.
In the absence of Crowley, there's a great deal more to do these days in the way of managing certain business connections and relationships. It's not as though he's a stranger to any of it; Gabriel's years with Birnam have borne that much fruit, and a great deal more.
It's just that it all takes energy, not to mention resources.
When added to the life and strenous daily routine required of a Senator and Council member, well-- it's no surprise that Gabriel should have fallen asleep in his armchair in the den while reading the papers.
Even if he didn't mean to.
In the absence of Crowley, there's a great deal more to do these days in the way of managing certain business connections and relationships. It's not as though he's a stranger to any of it; Gabriel's years with Birnam have borne that much fruit, and a great deal more.
It's just that it all takes energy, not to mention resources.
When added to the life and strenous daily routine required of a Senator and Council member, well-- it's no surprise that Gabriel should have fallen asleep in his armchair in the den while reading the papers.
Even if he didn't mean to.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-01 05:35 am (UTC)"... and I wouldn't want to take you away from that for such an extended period. Maybe we could arrange for you to join me on a few planets, though, as your schedule permits?"
no subject
Date: 2009-10-01 05:56 am (UTC)"Gabriel," Regan says, calmly and conversationally, "if you're trying to demonstrate that you're thinking sensibly about this, you've chosen an extraordinarily bad way to go about it."
no subject
Date: 2009-10-01 06:02 am (UTC)He turns to face her completely, reaching out to brush the side of her face with a gentle touch.
"Wŏ ài nĭ, Regan."
no subject
Date: 2009-10-01 06:12 am (UTC)Regan breathes out, the corner of her mouth crooking reluctantly upwards, and tips her head slightly into his touch.
"I suppose."
She appreciates it, really. If grumpily, just now.
Slightly more tartly, she adds, "But that doesn't make the trip any better. I love you too, Gabriel, that's why I'm worried. It's a terrible risk."
And she can't--
She can, she could, but she refuses to even countenance the notion. Regan has her own core of stubbornness.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-01 06:16 am (UTC)"Everything will be fine. You'll see."
no subject
Date: 2009-10-01 06:50 am (UTC)And then, quietly, "But what if it's not?"
It feels almost like playing dirty, to even ask that; to let anything show, on this. But it's not, because this is the truth.
Because he's her husband, and because she remembers his blood on her hands, and because everything will be fine, you'll see are words she will never be free of the guilt of.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-05 12:23 am (UTC)For all that it's lightly said, the look in his eyes is dark with understanding and sympathy for her concern. He reaches to brush her cheek once more, then takes both her hands and squeezes, reassuring.
"I'll be careful. You have my word."
no subject
Date: 2009-10-05 04:00 am (UTC)What she wants -- what she wants, more than (almost) anything, is to be sure that her husband will still be alive in a month or a year to say I told you so to.
"This isn't careful, Gabriel." She knows there's a hint of pleading in her voice now, and she doesn't try to stifle it. (Much. She does have her pride.)
"I know you'll try, I do, but there's just no way to be careful if you're going to be touring half the Rim."
no subject
Date: 2009-10-05 04:05 am (UTC)For all that he's aware of her worry, Gabriel's determination is clear.
"And I will. Besides, if anything were to go so very wrong along the way, the rest of the trip can always be rescheduled."
no subject
Date: 2009-10-05 04:16 am (UTC)None of them will be any use, and they all boil down to the same thing: Gabriel, your version of careful doesn't satisfy anybody else -- Gabriel, listen to yourself, listen to facts, please -- Gabriel, you're going to drive yourself into a grave. He's so stubborn.
She suspects he actually thinks he's listening to her.
"If Vincent agrees that your precautions are sufficient," is what she does say, tightly and after a long pause, "then I'll agree too."
no subject
Date: 2009-10-05 04:31 am (UTC)"Xiexie ni, Regan."
no subject
Date: 2009-10-05 04:33 am (UTC)"If," she says warningly, even as she allows Gabriel to begin drawing her down the hall again.
"I'll give him a wave."