exastris_scientia | the always open post v 3.0

[Swoop in and save the day. That’s exactly what Clark did, and it’s driving Illya mad to think that he had to do that because Illya wasn’t there. Solo is his partner, his coworker, Illya and Solo are supposed to be in this strange place together. But instead he had to hear all of this from Clark, and now the only thing he can do is play nurse.

On the back of his mind he knows he’s making it all about himself when this should be about Solo. Cowboy is the one who got hurt, Cowboy is the one who put himself at a risk that didn’t pay out. But he can’t help but be angry at how the entire thing played out.

He taps taps taps on the nightstand, a gesture Solo should be more than familiar with.]

That’s fine. [It doesn’t sound fine.] But you still need to rest. Clark said they have a TV I can get here, for you to watch something. [Movies are amazing, Illya’s newfound love in this place.] Or something to read.

[ Except it isn't. Solo would like to think he knows a little something about the Red Peril after all this time. His mouth turns down into a frown. There's something else that's causing a sticking point.

He's not sure what it is. He's even less sure what to do about it. ]

Is it? [ Solo finds himself questioning the other man. Something seems different here, or maybe it was always where they were but unsaid. Solo, himself, has never exactly been shy, but he's held certain things back out of necessity. There's a small, fleeting part of him that wants to reach out and gently cover the hand that's tap tap tapping---well, why not?

He has to shift a little, his right is the one he'd managed to get broken after all, and reaches out with his left to carefully place his left over the one that is tapping on the nightstand. He hopes, just maybe, that this can make up for all of the things he has trouble saying, while he works on actually saying them.

It's lingering and---well, maybe it should. So far, so good, right? He tries to find a sort of middle ground for the time being. ]

Wasn't there a movie you wanted to show me?

[The thing about an acquaintanceship between spies is how hyper aware they are. They can’t hide between subtlety because even though their methods are drastically different (which is, at the same time what makes them work so well together) reading people is still what they do. What they were trained to do. So both of them know Solo reaching out for his hand is much more than that a simple calming gesture.

But that doesn’t mean he has to acknowledge it… though he figures not actually pushing the hand away is its own way of acknowledgement.]

Yes, there was. [He allows himself a twitch upwards of his lips, which is pretty close to an Illya-smile.] But I don’t know if you’ll be in the mood for a Western.

[ Solo isn't used to letting anyone see past his subtleties, and in between the lines of his sarcasm. He's acutely aware of how well they've come to work around each other, and make up for where one might lack. He's also aware that there is something neither of them have dared put a name to going on, especially now that they've found themselves stranded in an unfamiliar time.

Acknowledged by silence and a failure to put distance between them when the opportunity arose. He offers a parting, minute squeeze to Illya's hand, realizing he'll have to leave the room in order to get all of this set up. But the twitch of a smile earns a wide one from Solo. ]

I'd be willing to give it a chance.

[Illya pretends he doesn’t feel the squeeze, because he knows Solo will know, for sure that Illya did. And just like not pulling away was an acknowledgement, not glaring at him (or punching him, if he was feeling feisty) at that squeeze is also Illya’s way to show… well. That’s the problem, he isn’t sure what it is that he’s showing. Affection feels like too strong of a word. Tenderness sounds even worse.

Friendship feels a little more accurate, but also not quite what he’s going for. But just like every time that he comes close to trying to put a name to that which shouldn’t be named he changes the subject, even in his mind.]

I will go get the TV set. Mrs Kent will probably want you to eat something, so I’ll probably come back with food as well. Any preferences?

[ Don't they both know already, for all that they fail or refuse to acknowledge? The cautious push and pull and a new sort of give and take that they've found as steps in a dance neither of them realized they were caught up in until someone else brought it to light.

Friendship feels right, more right than most things. It isn't just a partnership, is it? Not anymore. ]

I'll wait here, I suppose. [ Not that he has much of a choice. He isn't even sure if he's supposed to be doing anything while taking these pills he was given. He'll read the bottle after Illya steps out. ] Anything hot will do. I'm ---actually quite hungry.

[ But then, he couldn't have been expected to eat hospital food. That's just crazy talk. ]

Tell her thank you for me?

I will.

[He was going to thank her anyway, but he’s glad to know Solo can show some fucking manners sometimes. Though he isn’t exactly surprised- if being together in this futuristic world where people like Clark exist has shown him something is that Solo can be nice whenever he doesn’t have a reason to be mean.

He seems a little reluctant to leave the room, but that’s not unlike Illya. He hates changes, so whenever he feels they are bordering on something big he’d rather stay to make sure things do not change in his absence. But someone has to bring in the TV set, and so he goes.

He comes back with a TV that’s frankly pretty old for this year’s standards, but to Illya borders on sci-fi. It comes with a little DVD player attached so he doesn’t have to do much to set it up.]

Food will come soon. Where should I put TV?

[ Excuse him, Solo has perfect manners. He just casually forgets them when it comes to Illya. Sometimes. Most of the time.

He can tell that Illya doesn't quite want to leave. It's not unusual for him, but he offers a tired grin with "It's not like I'm going anywhere." He sits up a little when Illya finally comes back with the tv, and tries to find a comfortable spot. ]

On the dresser, I think.

the always open post v 3.0

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