video;

[anewlanguage]

Well waddaya know. I've got a shower of my own.

[Actually he's been home (or in his cabin anyway) over an hour. He'd returned from his shift, and bam. Shower.

So of course he had to test it out before announcing anything. Maybe it was a trick, after all--but nope.

He's graduated.]

...Thanks, Dean.

Comments

[routemistress]

You're a man of extraordinary grace and integrity. You never weren't.

[Perhaps it's the shock of relief, watching the other conversation . Perhas it's just a thing Iris has been holding in her mind to say for a long time, and this seems like a moment to say it in.]

I am so glad.

[She doesn't say glad I met you as distinct from glad you graduated, but that's what she means.]

[anewlanguage]

Me too.

[He could just about glow from the praise right now.]

I'm taking a couple days' vacation, since I can do that without having to drag Dean along now. Any brochures in your pockets you want to give me?

[routemistress]

[She tries not to let the tears spill over; it's not that she's not happy, deliriously so since the news she heard him tell Barbara. But she wanted to do this with him and she's stuck. She has a list of places as long as her arm and they're all places she wanted to watch him see, walk through holding his arm.

A place to send him alone? She has no ideas at all.]

...I'll need to think on it, my love. What kind of 'oliday did you 'ave in mind?

[anewlanguage]

Oh, just a week or so, somewhere warm, somewhere with food I haven't even dreamed of. Somewhere I might be tempted to get into trouble, just so I can see how I deal with it.

[routemistress]

[That's a broad set of specs. Iris forces herself to relax; it's going to be all right, she tells herself. He'll be back. Hyspero, the Proximan Chain - we'll still have those.]

Somewhere warm with food and trouble, coming right up, love. I'll send you the coordinates.

[anewlanguage]

You could always hop the train with me, show me how to order my meals. Pick out the sandy hut where we'll be lounging.

[routemistress]

I -

[Every line of her face and body screams yes.]

...Me bus, though. I know the Admiral can swing it, but...

[And then she bites the halfspoken doubt off visibly. Yes, it's actually terrifying to think of travelling under someone else's steam. She'd hate herself forever if she turned it down for that reason.]

I'd love to.

[anewlanguage]

[He can see it. And the fact she trusts him anyway is probably the best thing he could ever have asked for.]

I'll show you how to travel low-class, like an assassin on the run.

[routemistress]

[She smirks widely.]

...Sweetheart, 'ave you met me? No one ever accused me of being classy.

It's going to be brilliant.

[anewlanguage]

I'll have to get clothes and supplies when I get there; I have this side of nothing here on the Barge.

[He's hardly had a change of clothes this whole time.]

[routemistress]

I 'ave a definite hankering to see you in a shirt covered in pineapples.

[She may be actually serious here.]

...shopping trip first, I'm in. Or we can just give the Admiral a list. 'E owes you.

[anewlanguage]

Nah, if the Admiral gives me anything it'd have pink cupcakes on it. And it'd take all the fun out of trying on those garish Hawaiian shirts.

[routemistress]

[Iris was already lit up from inside with anticipation; this notches up the delight perceptibly. Because how many men would enjoy that?

THIS ONE. LIFE IS GOOD.]

Good point. 1970s London? Easier to nick stuff before they brought in all the electronics.

[anewlanguage]

[He has one of those smiles, the one that sent shivers down his employers' spines, the one that promises he's out to have fun.]

Count me in. You know I was actually there, way back then? I wonder if our versions'll have the same chips vendor I liked.

[routemistress]

[It does things to Iris' spine as well, it has to be said. She looks ready to lift off the ground with excited pleasure.]

'Course they will, all the best chippies are crossdimensional. Oooh, and I can show you all me favourite pubs.

...all right, maybe not all, we'd never make it to the beach.

[anewlanguage]

We'll do a pub crawl, see how far we get. Question is, what are you going to have me drink that I've never had before?

[routemistress]

...You might want to let me clone you a spare liver first, my love. You've not seen me do a full-on interdimensional pub crawl yet.