He succeeded in not looking too long or too hard at her. Just a confirmation that the shirt did its job, and a slight smile.
What now?
He just stood where he was, alternately looking at her and out the window.
A new universe. The same old universe. An end. A beginning. What?
They could talk, he supposed. There really wasn't anyone else he'd confide in—confess to—try to plan with. But even with her, he didn't want that. Talking had its uses but right now…
It was one vast, bottomless wait and see. What the Rebellion might be—step aside for or become—whether he still had a place in it, what that place might even look like assuming any of his skills or being could be repurposed for peace…
Would the peace even last? And for how long? How peaceful could any new transition really be?
Was retirement an option? The war no longer had him from without; could he ever remove it from within?
And if he did, what would that even look like? Would he be able to take it? Could he ever accept it? When what he deserved…
He looked back at her, that precipice behind his face. He couldn't think what to suggest or ask or say.
Maybe comm channels would be catching up. Maybe there were reports and announcements to listen to.
Even that, though…
For the next five, ten, hundred minutes… there was nothing immediately to do.
And without that…
He thought about asking why her. Why did she come to tell him, this way. But he knew that already.
"Do you have any idea," he said at last, "what comes next? After we go back?" Or… right now?
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2019-12-16 05:02 am (UTC)What now?
He just stood where he was, alternately looking at her and out the window.
A new universe. The same old universe. An end. A beginning. What?
They could talk, he supposed. There really wasn't anyone else he'd confide in—confess to—try to plan with. But even with her, he didn't want that. Talking had its uses but right now…
It was one vast, bottomless wait and see. What the Rebellion might be—step aside for or become—whether he still had a place in it, what that place might even look like assuming any of his skills or being could be repurposed for peace…
Would the peace even last? And for how long? How peaceful could any new transition really be?
Was retirement an option? The war no longer had him from without; could he ever remove it from within?
And if he did, what would that even look like? Would he be able to take it? Could he ever accept it? When what he deserved…
He looked back at her, that precipice behind his face. He couldn't think what to suggest or ask or say.
Maybe comm channels would be catching up. Maybe there were reports and announcements to listen to.
Even that, though…
For the next five, ten, hundred minutes… there was nothing immediately to do.
And without that…
He thought about asking why her. Why did she come to tell him, this way. But he knew that already.
"Do you have any idea," he said at last, "what comes next? After we go back?" Or… right now?