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[kobes]

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[kobes]

I don't. But it

[Another pause, and Koby watches Quentin for a long, long moment before looking back at Tim. He looks -- hopeful and terrified at the same time.]

What do I do?
I don't know what to do. I've never
I mean only once and it did disappear.

[holyposition]

what do you mean when you say "disappear"?

[kobes]

It's not
Whatever he feels is fine, it's okay, I'm not going to
Demand anything.


But nobody stays.
Eventually everything good ends.
At least with Luffy I knew he was somewhere in the same world, which helped a little, even if I never saw him again.

[holyposition]

You don't know that. And even if it does, it doesn't mean it wasn't worth it. I don't regret Hawk.

You'll go to the same place when you're through here, I know it.

[kobes]

You don't?

[Another of those pauses, Koby's expression far away, watching Quentin sleep.]

I know you're right. I don't know what's going to happen next, anything is possible, I can't control it if it does. Usually I'm okay with that.

But [Looking back at Tim, meeting his gaze, speaking soft enough that it won't wake Quentin:] I'm scared.

[holyposition]

I regret a few specific choices I made. But no. I know what I want and what I don't want. That's valuable.

[ So easy to talk about it in the past tense when he's barely seen him for a couple weeks. Anyway, ]

Nothing about this place is under our control. That doesn't mean we should ignore its blessings. What are you afraid of?

[kobes]

I see. [Again, Koby being physically there means that he can't hide the flat, eyebrow-arching skepticism of his expression.]

I promised Quentin that if he ever left here, I'd find a way to go after him. I wouldn't let him be alone.
I'm afraid of not being able to keep that promise.

[holyposition]

[ Shut those eyebrows up Koby, this isn’t about him! ]

Maybe not immediately. I know you don’t believe the same things I do about what all this is, but I believe you will both end up in the same place, eventually.

[kobes]

[Eyebrows continue, he sees you deflecting, Timothy, but he has a sleepy Quentin on him so he isn't gonna push it.]

I don't, but I wish
Sometimes I wish I did.
That I didn't lie awake wondering about what might happen if we go back to our own times and worlds and just
Forget.



Don't tell him.
Please.

[holyposition]

Why would you forget?

I won't. That's not my place. But I could have this exact conversation with him, you know.

[kobes]

I've been reading, about people who get taken to other worlds.
Sometimes, if they go home, rhey forget.

[It takes another moment for the meaning of that statement to hit, but when it does, Koby looks -- comically stunned.]

What?
You mean
He
What??

[holyposition]

That can't happen.

[ It isn't an option, and he won't consider it, and if you make him, he'll throw up, and the commotion will wake Quentin. He looks nauseous. ]

I'm nearsighted, not blind.

[kobes]

[There's a glance upwards, over the tops of his glasses. Then:

You're probably right. I shouldn't get guidance from fairy tales at any rate.

Well, neither am I. What are you talking about?

[holyposition]

He's sweet to everyone, so it's not as obvious. But he's still here constantly. He looks at you like you're the most precious thing in the world.

[kobes]

[Oh god, he's red-faced again, but it's -- worse now. Here come the rationalizations:]

He IS sweet to everyone, that's just how he is.
And he's here because I have nightmares when I sleep alone and I told him about them and
It helps. That's all.

[Because that's...less gay, somehow?]

And he looks at sunrises and the lake and breakfast and the microwave like that it's not
He's just
I'm not


I'm me. I know what I am. I'm just me.

[holyposition]

I've been here for two weeks. He knows you're not alone, he comes anyway.

I think he likes you better than the microwave, Koby.

[kobes]

Well, that could mean anything.

Okay, yes, better than the microwave, obviously, but
That doesn't mean he

I mean, I don't doubt he's very fond of me and has been a very encouraging emotional support and maybe I've done something similar, I don't know?
I don't know.

[holyposition]

It means he's doing it because he wants to.

I know it's overwhelming. And probably unusual, for you sailors.

[kobes]

Well. That's

[Putting down his phone for a moment, crossing his arms and scowling over at Tim. In a stage whisper:] What's your point?

[holyposition]

Nothing.

[ Barely above just mouthing it. ]

Just that you move around a lot. "Someone in every port," you know.

Do you want me to back off? I didn't realize I'd be interrupting a honeymoon.

[kobes]

[Huff, huff, picking up his phone again, ears so red you could see them in the dark, likely.]

That's for sailors and pirates and privateers. Marines aren't supposed to have any of that. Bad for the image.

You aren't interrupting anything, stop that.

[holyposition]

I know, I'm just teasing.

But I mean it, Koby. If you want it to be serious, I can figure something else out, it's a big house.

[kobes]

You are?
You ARE.
When Quentin wakes up I'm throwing this pillow at you.



Do you think "serious" means "no room for anyone else"?

[holyposition]

Just the every port thing. The rest of it is completely true 😊

That’s how it’s always been for me.

[ they both know damn good and well Tim’s only ever been serious about one person, but that's not the point. ]

I felt bad just texting with Quentin, when I was with Hawk. For a minute, I thought that was why he was leaving. “Room for other people” isn’t done, where we’re from.

[kobes]

[Have a scowl, Tim, and a meaningful look at one of the nearby decorative pillows.]

I know it isn't. We're from very different times.

Did you really? Is that what he said?

If what you're saying Quentin feels is true -- and I'm not saying it is, so stop smiling -- then him enjoying himself with other people isn't going to change that. Because it hasn't, yet.

People are complex enough to feel multiple ways about multiple people I think.