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Sweeney thought he'd covered that in the 'all I could think about was you and how I didn't want to hurt you', but he also understands that a lot has happened since then, and she didn't have context in the first place. He takes her hand, his expression softening.
"'Cause I don't wanna hurt you. The idea of it drowns me. That was all I could come back to. That it might, an' it weren't worth the risk. Yer too precious ta me fer me ta do that." Sweeney presses his lips, trying to swallow to manage the rest of his first point.
"I'm willin' ta give up what I was, if that means you don't hav'ta feel that."
Sacrifice. For her.
"'Cause I don't wanna hurt you. The idea of it drowns me. That was all I could come back to. That it might, an' it weren't worth the risk. Yer too precious ta me fer me ta do that." Sweeney presses his lips, trying to swallow to manage the rest of his first point.
"I'm willin' ta give up what I was, if that means you don't hav'ta feel that."
Sacrifice. For her.
headed your way, of course.
the beach is big. give me a landmark.
the beach is big. give me a landmark.
got it. be there shortly.
[ it's not too long before she's flopping down beside Shaw, proudly showing off the fact she brought some extra drink in the form of a bottle of whiskey she forgot she had. ]
Hey hot stuff. What's happenin'?
[ it's not too long before she's flopping down beside Shaw, proudly showing off the fact she brought some extra drink in the form of a bottle of whiskey she forgot she had. ]
Hey hot stuff. What's happenin'?
[Shaw is lying on her back on the grass, legs crossed at the ankle and a bottle of whiskey laid sideways across her stomach. She does stillness well when she's exhausted, or when she's lying in wait for a target with a sniper rifle in her hands. She doesn't normally do well with stillness in the service of relaxation, but alcohol is one of only a few things that can change that. And even though she already has her own bottle, she makes grabby hands for Laura's, sitting up on her elbows as she does so.]
Nothing much. You bring me a present?
Nothing much. You bring me a present?
I sure did.
[ laura holds it out by the neck until it's taken and looks her friend over. ]
So, are we celebrating something or drinking for distraction?
[ either or is fine. she's good at helping with both. ]
[ laura holds it out by the neck until it's taken and looks her friend over. ]
So, are we celebrating something or drinking for distraction?
[ either or is fine. she's good at helping with both. ]
[That insistence makes him smile, a little, despite himself. It's - touching, that she cares for him like that.]
I will.
[He even means it!]
Mostly just gotta wait it out, you know? [He knows she does.] And it sounds like there won't be a shortage of work for me to do once I have.
I will.
[He even means it!]
Mostly just gotta wait it out, you know? [He knows she does.] And it sounds like there won't be a shortage of work for me to do once I have.
Reason enough.
[ she makes the switch and looks at the label of the bottle Shaw gives her and unscrews the lid to give it a taste, which turns out to be not too bad.
laura pulls her legs in and shifts to face the other woman more. ]
So, we haven't talked much. How's things going with you?
[ she makes the switch and looks at the label of the bottle Shaw gives her and unscrews the lid to give it a taste, which turns out to be not too bad.
laura pulls her legs in and shifts to face the other woman more. ]
So, we haven't talked much. How's things going with you?
[Shaw, by all appearances, looks okay - which is to say that she's uninjured, and her face shows no signs of major sleep deprivation. Beyond that, it's usually not so easy to tell with her, and today is no exception.]
Same old, same old.
[She sighs, tilting her head back to look up at the stars.]
Port could've been worse.
Same old, same old.
[She sighs, tilting her head back to look up at the stars.]
Port could've been worse.
[ that's exactly when laura becomes stumped. not that she expected to hear from her, nor did she expect the invitation to come hang out, which makes her think tonight is more of a distraction.
and that was more than fine with her.
laura glances up, too. ]
It really could have. I mean the whole daylight in a cup is bad enough, but at least people can avoid it so none of their truths come spilling out.
and that was more than fine with her.
laura glances up, too. ]
It really could have. I mean the whole daylight in a cup is bad enough, but at least people can avoid it so none of their truths come spilling out.
What was it like then?
[ since it sounds like she experienced it. ]
[ since it sounds like she experienced it. ]
That's not so bad then.
[ she takes a decent swig off the bottle and leans over, propping herself with a hand down on the grass. it puts her slightly more closer and after a second she bumps Shaw's knee gently with her own. ]
You okay?
[ she takes a decent swig off the bottle and leans over, propping herself with a hand down on the grass. it puts her slightly more closer and after a second she bumps Shaw's knee gently with her own. ]
You okay?
[ laura watches shaw, brow pinching after she's done talking. ]
Doesn't it help that you have people here -- a wife? I mean I hear you. It's reached peak level of predictable in that you can always expect something to happen every few weeks.
[ she slowly combs through the grass, shrugging lightly. ]
What's really holding you here, besides Root?
Doesn't it help that you have people here -- a wife? I mean I hear you. It's reached peak level of predictable in that you can always expect something to happen every few weeks.
[ she slowly combs through the grass, shrugging lightly. ]
What's really holding you here, besides Root?
[ shoulders lift in a silent laugh and laura looks up with a small smile. ]
The feelings mutual, you know.
[ then comes an amused snort ]
So much so that there might be a small part of me that regrets not sleeping with you more than the one time.
The feelings mutual, you know.
[ then comes an amused snort ]
So much so that there might be a small part of me that regrets not sleeping with you more than the one time.
My second. But for how drunk I was, you might as well have been my first.
[ she brings the bottle up and nods assuringly. ]
I'm not going to forget that night.
[ or shaw, for that matter. ]
[ she brings the bottle up and nods assuringly. ]
I'm not going to forget that night.
[ or shaw, for that matter. ]
[The unspoken sentiment is heard and understood, and she bumps Laura with her shoulder again. Affection may not come naturally or easily to her, but she's still capable of making an effort, if a little awkwardly sometimes.]
Back at you. But, uh-- are you okay?
Back at you. But, uh-- are you okay?
What's your definition of 'okay'?
[ she knows what question follows that so she takes another full swig and swallows it back. ]
But yeah, I'm Feeling something.
[ she pauses before settling her gaze back on shaw again. ]
[ she knows what question follows that so she takes another full swig and swallows it back. ]
But yeah, I'm Feeling something.
[ she pauses before settling her gaze back on shaw again. ]
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